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The sound of leaves rustling on the ground filled the air alongside the whistling of the wind as Stardust made his way towards the quieter part of the town. Most avian shapeshifters would not prefer travelling through the air in such weather, the harsh winds usually being an unwelcome slap to the face (quite literally). The sharp-eyed eagle shapeshifter with flowing obsidian-black hair and large feathered wings, however, was not known as the resident aerial champion for no reason. For someone with his speed, it was only a short flight to his destination, and he quite enjoyed the coolness of the air while he was in flight.
His destination in question was a quaint little house that a lot of times felt like a cottage for where it was located, at the edge of the town where the forest borders were close by. Stardust could see why it was preferable for some shapeshifters, though, as the tranquil birdsong and fresh, crisp air would filter through the windows every day, the beauty of nature untouched by the noisiness the city central would bring.
Landing steadily on the doorstep without making a sound, Stardust knocked on the wooden door a few times, making sure to be gentle enough to not startle his quiet friend living within. As he waited for an answer, a small blush crept up to his cheeks as he contemplated if "friend" was the right role to assign to a certain dove he was visiting. He tried to dismiss any stray thoughts that might have allowed the redness of his cheeks to linger - it would be quite embarrassing if Empyreal himself caught him in that state.
Sure enough, said shapeshifter in his mind opened the door and peeked through the crack, revealing gleaming aquamarine eyes that admittedly made Stardust's heart skip a beat every time he saw them. When he had fully registered who his guest was, those eyes visibly lit up as the door fully opened to reveal a cozy living space with dim lighting.
Stardust, however, could only pay attention to the figure standing before him.
Empyreal looked just like his usual self - golden-blonde hair that shimmered in the sunlight complementing the sweet, shy expression on his face perfectly. A pair of pure white, feathered wings sat on his rather small frame, and it was obvious that the dove was a lot more tiny than most other shapeshifters of his age, but it only made him look more adorable in Stardust's opinion, at least.
It came as a surprise to a lot of his acquaintances and even friends that the eagle has taken a liking to Empyreal - despite both of them being avian shapeshifters, their animal forms were known for very different temperaments. Stardust himself found those claims to be amusing - he was no more aggressive or physically powerful than any of his other winged friends. However, Empyreal seemed to tick all the boxes - he was just as sweet as his appearance suggested, and his gentle temperament as a whole made him seem extra cute in Stardust's eyes.
Nonetheless, he was still glad for that tiny little event that led to their chance encounter, and from there an unlikely friendship had quickly sparked between the two. He expected Empyreal to be just another friend like the various he already had, but Stardust had only felt his heart grow fonder over time, often seeking out the shapeshifter on his own accord.
"Hello, Empy. I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," Stardust greeted with a smile. The smaller shapeshifter's cheeks were slightly dusted with pink as he shook his head and beckoned the eagle to follow him to a small table before a window, where he proceeded to quickly scribble on a piece of paper.
Hey, Stardust. I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you to visit today, I assumed you would be busy with your training or something similar. I wrote a few responses for possible visitors in advance today, but I didn't consider you as a possible option. I'm really sorry...
"It's okay, you don't have to apologize," Stardust reassured his friend, who seemed to relax slightly at those words. "It's a weekend, so I decided to take things easy for once. After all, it's always a good time to visit a dear friend, no?"
Empyreal noticeably exhaled in relief as he picked up the pen again, his fingers working dexterously to move it across the paper. Stardust was often fascinated by how fast the dove could write, yet still producing an elegant and distinctly recognizable script.
Of course! I'm happy to see you. You received my letter, right?
"Yes, I did. As you probably expected, I would normally send one back today... but I figured the real company would be more desirable."
The other winged shapeshifter blushed at those words, a sight that he found absolutely endearing. Empyreal didn't need to respond in words for Stardust to understand that he clearly shared the sentiment, and this knowledge caused sparks of happiness that were dancing in his heart.
"So... what are you up to? Coming up with another novel idea? Or maybe you're continuing the next issue of that one popular series this month?" The eagle inquired curiously as he took a seat on the couch nearby. His friend contemplated for a moment before returning his gaze to the paper.
You mean "The Final Snowfall?" No, not quite, that is a collaboration between many authors, after all, I doubt what I did contribute made a huge difference. I was only writing something in my spare time - it's nothing to do with work, just something light for me to unwind a bit.
"I see. Well, it seems like I won't be unwelcome company, then." Stardust responded with a small chuckle. "But, you know, I disagree with what you said - I'm pretty sure what you wrote was amazing, and that's a huge part of what made the whole visual novel stand out."
The comment seemed to fluster Empyreal as his face grew noticeably red. Stardust did find this cute, just like his many other little actions, but it did make him feel an odd stab of emotion in his heart upon seeing how unused the dove was to compliments. It occurred to the eagle somewhere along the line that Empyreal had never received much of them, and he had made it a personal goal to change that.
Fortunately, the quiet shapeshifter didn't seem too bothered by it, as he simply returned with two glasses of water and offered one to Stardust, who gladly accepted it. Empyreal had asked if he would mind that he finish writing what he was working on before he joined him, which the eagle had agreed to. It did give him some time to further admire the shapeshifter from a distance without being disturbed.
Stardust should have realized long ago that his feelings for the dove were no longer fully platonic. Even without verbally speaking, he found it very easy to understand and communicate with Empyreal, and despite their hangouts together being mostly slow and generally uneventful, it was far from boring or unexciting. Even though Empyreal was very shy and secretive, Stardust wasn't bothered by this in the slightest (he found the shy part to be really cute, honestly), and was content to give him as much time and space as he needed.
Sometimes, in moments such as this one, the eagle would find himself caught up in the natural beauty and charming adorableness the other avian shapeshifter radiated, enjoying how his aquamarine eyes sparkled in the light, and how his expressions would change with his emotions. Empyreal looked especially cute when he was deep in thought, and the sight made a fire Stardust didn't even know existed in his body spread through his veins.
The warm fluttering in his chest was so distracting that he didn't even notice he spaced out for a moment before a loud crash snapped him out of his trance, directing his gaze to the source of the sound. Empyreal seemed to have the same reaction, jumping slightly and turning around to see what had happened.
A strong gust of wind was blowing through the window, and the dove had hurriedly closed them before anymore papers could fly off the desk. Stardust noticed that a few stray books had fallen off the shelf nearby, and he slowly stood up, stretching his wings while doing so. He reached out a hand for the first book he saw on the ground, not knowing that the other shapeshifter in the room was witnessing this action in horror.
The eagle was caught off guard by a sudden smack on his wrist, which made him retract his hand immediately in pain. Before he could even register what was happening, Empyreal was standing in front of the shelf, his wings spread in an odd manner, seemingly in an attempt to shield the fallen books from view. He signed a simple message that was easily understood, one of the few phrases that Stardust was taught to recognize from the first few times he had communicated with the dove.
Back off.
Stardust was caught off guard for a moment - Empyreal, the quiet, passive shapeshifter who would never lift a finger to harm another living soul even in self-defense, had just struck him hard enough to hurt. However, as much as he expected to feel upset, the expression on the dove's face turned all the bubbling feelings into concern instead.
Despite the hostile action, Empyreal looked more terrified than actually angry, and after a moment of silence, the weight of his own actions seemed to sink in for the shapeshifter as well. A look of immediate shock and regret was seen in his eyes, before he stepped away from the shelf and backed away from Stardust.
I'm sorry, the dove had written an apology quickly, but Stardust was more focused on the distress that was quickly showing in his expression instead of the message. I'm really sorry, I understand if you're mad at me, I didn't mean to hurt you-
"Empy," the eagle said softly, laying a reassuring hand on his shoulder, feeling worried as the shapeshifter visibly flinched. "It's okay. I'm not hurt or anything. Are... are you feeling alright?"
Silence fell between them as Stardust patiently waited for a response. He kept his hand on the dove's back in a form of quiet encouragement, wondering if he should stop the physical contact from the reaction he received earlier, but decided against it when Empyreal didn't move away.
It took him a bit, but the quiet shapeshifter eventually picked up the pen again, with his hands visibly shaking. Stardust was growing more concerned by the minute - he knew Empyreal was sensitive and much more emotional than most shapeshifters he met, but even this was out of character for the usually composed persona he was used to.
You're... not going to hurt me?
The eagle frowned slightly upon reading the message, and was confused upon feeling a wetness at the corner of the paper which wasn't present before - until realization dawned on him when he looked up and saw tears in Empyreal's eyes.
"Of course not, why would you think that?" Stardust responded slowly, wondering if he had said something wrong. Hesitantly, he reached out and gently took one of the dove's hands in his own - again, Empyreal flinched slightly, but made no other sign of protest. The shapeshifter was looking away now, but he could see the tears falling from his eyes and the tension built up in his body.
A desire to properly comfort his friend rose within him, and it was so great that Stardust was unable to deny its call. From how the dove reacted to sudden touches, however, he had to be much more careful and upfront about it to avoid startling the shapeshifter even further.
"Empy," The eagle spoke his nickname softly, something that the dove had agreed to being called from their first few meetings, while moving a hand to his shoulder again in a small nudge - a request for permission. "Would you like a hug?"
Stardust could barely feel it, but Empyreal gave the tiniest of nods, and he gave into his instincts, firmly but gently putting his arms around the smaller shapeshifter and pulling him closer into the warm embrace of his golden-brown feathers.
The action seemed to have broke something in the dove, for the silence that previously hung in the air was shattered by sudden choked sobs. The eagle was shocked for only a few seconds, before a look of sadness and sympathy crossed his face as he gazed upon Empyreal, who was shaking and crying while leaning against his chest.
Stardust had slowly led the two of them to the couch, where he managed to sit down comfortably with the dove now laying his head on his shoulder. He had knew that Empyreal was capable of speaking since day one, but to hear any sort of vocalization from the quiet shapeshifter was incredibly rare, and it was heartbreaking for him to witness it occur in this manner.
"It's okay, Empy. I'm here," he whispered, hoping to soothe his troubled friend (or something more) a little. He could tell that this wasn't an outburst caused by one simple event - Empyreal had clearly stored away a lot of pent-up feelings up until this point, probably too much for his heart to take, and he finally couldn't bear the pain anymore.
Stardust didn't know how many minutes had passed with him just keeping a wing around the dove, occasionally patting his back to offer more comfort with some spoken words of reassurance in between. Slowly, but surely, it seemed to work - the shudders coming from Empyreal's body ceased and his breathing felt a lot less jagged. He didn't mind it - Stardust would gladly take as much time as he needed just to ensure the shapeshifter felt safe and content again.
"Feeling better?" The eagle finally asked when he heard that Empyreal had stopped crying actively, leaving him with mostly quiet but still audible sniffles. He looked up into Stardust's purple eyes with red, tear-stained ones of his own before nodding, and the taller shapeshifter felt his heart wrench in both pain and pity.
"You don't have to tell me anything. I just want to make sure you feel comforted, alright?" Stardust told him with a kind voice. Empyreal looked down at where the eagle's wing was still draped over him, and he could tell the dove had something to say, but he couldn't quite convey it with a distant, troubled look. From his expression, Stardust recognized doubt... and perhaps, a longing that couldn't quite be explained...
Oh.
"Would you like another hug, maybe?" He offered with a small smile. Much to his relief (and delight), Empyreal slowly looked up at him again and nodded, a familiar shy expression present on his face again. Stardust wasted no time after registering the confirmation, wrapping his arms around the dove and feeling the warmth curl up in his chest again.
This time, however, Empyreal moved closer and returned the hug, and Stardust felt the smaller shapeshifter's white wings on his back, the feeling almost akin to a soft, heavenly cloud on his body. He blushed as he realized just how close they were - the eagle had always gave Empyreal enough personal space, and apart from the occasional wing brush and light taps on the back that he allowed, he had never witnessed the dove being this physically affectionate before.
He had never expected to enjoy it this much, either.
When Stardust finally released him from his hold (albeit a little reluctantly), he was glad to see that the smaller shapeshifter had stopped crying entirely and was breathing normally. Empyreal seemed to look embarrassed, and despite the lingering sadness still being obvious, the eagle was glad to see him act normal again. Of course, even then, with his tear-streaked face, he still looked effortlessly adorable.
He pondered whether he should ask about what happened, but before he could even say a word, Empyreal had already gotten up and made his way over to another blank sheet of paper. Stardust was initially concerned if the dove was pushing himself too hard - he could wait for a bit before revealing anything if he wanted - but he was relieved to see that Empyreal could at least write with a steady hand once more.
I apologize for all of that. I didn't know what came over me... but thank you, Stardust. Thank you for comforting me. I really needed that. I can tell you what happened, but I need time to write it down if you wish to hear it.
Stardust smiled at the message, feeling the warmth in his chest increase tenfold knowing that the dove had also enjoyed the gestures of affection. A slightly more uncomfortable implication crept into his brain, but he decided to ignore it with a more pressing matter at hand.
"I'm glad you're feeling a bit better, Empy. Again, you don't have to tell me anything if you're not ready. I know whatever happened isn't your fault."
Empyreal shook his head slightly before turning back to write. No, that's fine, I feel like if anything, I've been keeping it to myself for far too long. I just hope I'm not taking up your time with this.
"You could never be a waste of time, Empy. That's what friends are for, right? If you're sure, I'm very happy to listen to you." Stardust didn't know why, but saying "friends" felt a little unnatural to the tongue. Again, he pushed that feeling aside for the time being.
The dove nodded with a shy smile before he continued to write his response, the cuteness of the action making Stardust's heart race again. The voice in his head was screaming and demanding him to address the truth that had settled in long ago, but he was persistent about shutting it out.
First of all, I'm sorry for hitting you, it was a reflex I didn't even know I had... I forgot that I still have the habit of keeping everything I write a secret. I just don't feel safe letting anyone read something they knew I wrote personally. I know you probably didn't intend to do it either, you were just trying to help, so it was my fault.
Empyreal paused to allow Stardust to read his message, seemingly nervous as he paced slightly while waiting for his response. The eagle looked a little confused, but upon noticing the anxiety present in the smaller shapeshifter's expression, his gaze softened and he reached out a hand to gently hold Empyreal's in his own.
"Again, you don't need to apologize, Empy. I'm not mad at you. I just don't get this part - how are you okay with being a writer if you don't feel safe showing anyone your writing? Aren't many people probably reading your published works at this very moment?"
Sadness crept into the dove's beautiful aquamarine eyes again, and Stardust was worried he'd asked the wrong question, but Empyreal started answering regardless.
My parents didn't approve of me being interested in writing - well, my mother, at least. I enjoyed writing as a hobby ever since I was young, and when I got older, she found out some things that I've been writing - they were just little stories based off random thoughts, or even just some ideas I came up with. In the end, she yelled at me and told me I was wasting my time. I thought she just had a bad day, but it would happen again, and it got worse the more I grew up.
Stardust froze slightly after he finished reading this note, noticing how the dove was tearing up again. He wanted to tell him that it was fine and he didn't have to continue, but Empyreal seemed determined to finish whatever he had to say, as he was already scribbling down the next set of words before Stardust could give another response.
I was forced to sometimes come up with excuses if I ever thought she was going to catch me again. I never showed anyone what I wrote because I was too afraid they'd respond the same way. Even now when I'm publishing anything official, I have a different pen name, and I'm fine with people knowing me as something else other than Empyreal. It's why I reacted that way just now - you knew my real name and who I am, just like my mother, who would have used that against me.
The eagle felt a knot of horror twist in his stomach as he processed the words - he almost wanted to reach out and physically stop Empyreal from continuing, but seeing how focused the other shapeshifter was still writing down his next sentences even with pain clearly visible in his eyes, he refrained. After all, if Stardust himself felt sick just reading - who knew how the writer himself was feeling right now?
I grew up fearing her, and being touched in general, because she would never hug me anymore, and every time she did lay a hand on me, she would strike me, and I didn't always understood why. Maybe if my father had still been around, everything would have been different, but he left us, both figuratively and literally, from... overdose. I left the house as soon as I could, but with how little I can speak, I stayed alone most of the time. I used to be able to speak just fine, but every time I remember her yelling at me to shut up, or calling me other... things, it's just too much pain...
"... oh, Empy," Stardust said softly after he finished reading everything, the weight of the truth sinking in his heart. From the way the dove was visibly shaking and almost panting from writing all those words, he could tell that this was the end. Sure enough, Empyreal slowly slumped back against the chair as Stardust was left to silently reflect on what he had just been told.
He had never imagined the pain his friend had been going through this whole time - desiring physical comfort yet also being afraid of it due to circumstances that weren't his fault. When he looked back, he realized that Empyreal never mentioned his personal life much - and he fully understood it now.
"Hey, it's alright. I'm here for you," The eagle walked over to the desk where Empyreal was seated, now with his face buried in his hands. The quiet sobs coming from the shapeshifter once again caused a fresh wave of pain in Stardust's heart - he couldn't bear to see the poor dove suffer - at least, not all alone in his current state.
The eagle slowly reached out a hand and laid it on Empyreal's shoulder, pleasantly surprised when he didn't flinch this time. When he was sure that the other shapeshifter had gotten used to being touched - at least by him, Stardust laid a wing comfortingly over his back before speaking again.
"Empy, can you come over here, please? I'd like to give you a hug, if you're okay with that." The dove looked up at Stardust with tear-filled eyes, and he simply gave a small nod of encouragement. It was apparently enough - Empyreal slowly got up and walked into Stardust's waiting arms.
The pair stayed like that for a while, their wings wrapped around each other as Empyreal cried from all the stress that he had bottled up. All the while, Stardust spoke to him soothingly, sometimes stroking his back to feel his shallow breaths. Even when the tears had stopped falling, neither of them moved away immediately - Stardust could tell that Empyreal really needed this moment, and he himself enjoyed the warm feeling of holding the dove against his chest.
It was a selfish thought - but Stardust silently prayed that he would have a good reason to hug Empyreal again very soon.
"... thank you," The sudden voice caught the eagle off guard, completely not expecting Empyreal to verbally respond. The normally quiet shapeshifter looked up at Stardust, a vulnerable yet simultaneously trusting gaze present in his eyes. The eagle's heart almost stopped beating at that moment as he ironically found himself speechless instead, the shocking realization finally settling in.
Oh no, I've fallen in love.
"No, Empy, thank you for telling me everything. I know it must have been difficult for you, and... you must have been feeling lonely for quite some time, right?" The dove nodded, looking down with a sad expression. Stardust pulled the smaller shapeshifter into a hug again, happiness blooming in his own chest as he saw how contentedly Empyreal seemed to settle in his embrace.
"That's alright. You won't be alone anymore - I'm here for you. If you need anything, just reach out to me, okay? I'll always be here if you need some comfort - or anything, really."
The smaller shapeshifter in his arms visibly blushed at the statement, and if Stardust wasn't so oblivious to the signs, he might have figured out his not-so-secret crush was not as one-sided as he perceived it. For now, however, he simply settled for enjoying how adorable Empyreal looked, and he hoped that he wasn't being too overbearing with his approaches.
The dove seemed to pick up on this, though, as he quickly untangled himself from Stardust's embrace, leaving the eagle missing the warmth that he radiated immediately. Much to his relief, Empyreal had returned to his side quickly after fetching another notebook and pen nearby, on which he now wrote a message.
Thank you so much, Stardust. I can't put into words just how much that meant to me. You don't have to be worried about touching me - I was only surprised at first, but I trust you. You're the only one who has heard my voice and never demanded me to speak. If I had to admit, I loved it when you hugged me. It's been far too long since I felt that.
Stardust was struggling not to let his heart leap out of his chest upon reading the last few sentences. Sure, it didn't mean anything, his logic said. Empyreal could very well be only interpreting this as a simple gesture of friendship. Regardless, knowing that he had the dove's trust - from allowing Stardust to call him a cute nickname to now revealing his past - it made him smile so brightly that his cheeks almost hurt.
"It's my pleasure. Everyone needs a hug from time to time, and you most certainly deserve them." To prove his point, Stardust wrapped a wing around the smaller shapeshifter again, causing Empyreal to let out a small, cute squeak that almost made him explode. The electricity that flowed through his veins intensified as the dove sidled closer to him, prompting Stardust to lean in and embrace him with his arms.
"... stay, please?" Empyreal's voice surprised Stardust again, clearly weak from the lack of use and hoarse from his crying earlier. Yet, he still found it charming and sweet, just like the rest of the shapeshifter it belonged to.
"Of course, I won't leave you anytime soon, Empy. I came here to enjoy your company, after all." The eagle bit his tongue, praying that he had not revealed just how much he was taking advantage of the opportunity to show his practically overflowing affection for the dove. He also hoped that one day, he would be able to cuddle and kiss the shapeshifter in his arms while calling him his own.
Today was not that day though. One step at a time, after all.
So, the two winged shapeshifters simply sat close to each other for the rest of the afternoon, sharing some stories and laughing at them while having light-hearted quips here and there. Eventually, Empyreal got visibly tired, and before he knew it, the dove passed out with his head laid on Stardust's shoulder.
"Looks like someone needed some rest," he said with a smile, his cheeks taking on a familiar red hue as he simply observed the smaller shapeshifter's natural cuteness as he quietly snored. Feeling a similar sleepiness clouding his thoughts, Stardust leaned back slightly, ensuring his wing was still warmly folded around Empyreal before he let himself close his eyes and drift off with one last sentence.
"Sleep well, Empy."
The pair's nap would go on undisturbed, even as the raging winds that revealed the secrets between pages died down and left in its wake a blissful silence, a feeling shared by both Stardust and Empyreal over their unknown yet mutual affection for each other.