Work Text:
>> Fly, fly away
Like a bird in the sky
See the world on my behalf
To the heavens may you fly <<
The young male paused the music which was played through his turquoise headphones when his friend approached the table. „What took you so long? I'm starving!“ Discomfort laid in his clear voice and he frowned. The other snickered.
„Oh my, so urgent? I'm so sorry.“ The student with the long white hair took a seat across the square table and put his tray down. „Looks like everyone wants fish today. The queue was ridiculously long.“
The two music students were enjoying their break in the canteen of their university. Venti shrugged, questioned why people would choose warm meals on such a hot day anyway and sounded almost proud of his salad. His eyes wandered from his friend to somewhere outside the window next to them, paused in his movements and his fingers played with his braids which had a far brighter blue than the rest of his hair. Slowly drifting apart, he turned his head back to Kazuha who waved at him to get his attention back. Venti grinned. „Kazu, how about we skip classes and hit the outdoor pool?“ His suggestion hit rock bottom, because his friend was too diligent. Though Venti knew that he only needed a few more attempts to pursue Kazuha and there was no way he would spend the whole day listening to the blabbering of docents. And he wasn’t ready to hear something about the baroque age when it was 35°C degrees.
„We have neither swim trunks nor towels. How should we go swimming like this?“ Kazuha stated when they returned the trays after they finished their meals.
Venti knew he was one step closer to his success. „So what? We wear shorts, right? And they won’t take long in the sun until they are dry. See? There is no- Kazu?“ He was already walking down the floor, when he noticed his friend wasn’t actually walking besides him. Utterly confused he turned around, almost bumping into Kazuha when he moved towards the canteen’s entrance. Upon request the classmate explained that a boy who had the same hair colour and style as Venti had caught his attention. Venti only raised his eyebrows in response. „Your hairstyle isn’t something you see everyday,“ Kazuha added when they passed through the foyer of the ground floor, „Do you have a sibling I don’t know of? Maybe even a hidden twin?“ Both laughed and Venti declined, mentioning he was an only child. Suddenly he grabbed Kazuha’s wrist, took the chance of his puzzlement and dragged him through the exit. „We can’t skip music history! Mr. Morax would notice your absence!“ And again Kazuha complained. Couldn’t he just give in to Venti’s suggestions without resistance at least once? Though he was speaking the truth. Despite there being many students who attended Mr. Morax‘ lessons, Venti had the ability to catch the docent‘s attention – mostly by skipping classes or being busy with anything else.
Kazuha’s argument wasn’t really convincing, so they took the next bus which brought them to the outdoor pool at the edge of the city. They put their shirts and trousers over their bags and soon jumped into the welcoming cooling down.
„It was a good idea,“ Kazuha admitted when they waded through the water.
„See? Sometimes you have to follow your inner voice and pursue what you want.“ Venti let himself sink into the water with a sigh until it reached his shoulders. It was indeed a good idea; he wasn’t made for such high temperatures. „Kazu, here! Look!“ When his friend turned to him in confusion over his sudden shouts, Venti launched a water splash attack and under laughter he witnessed how Kazuha looked like a startled cat.
„This demands revenge!“ A counter splash followed and soon a fierce war broke out until both clinged on the edge of the pool, breathless. They called it a draw and took a rest in the shadow of a big tree.
Venti laid on his back while his eyes wandered over the branches high above his head. A breeze rustled through his hair and sunbeams flickered through the waging leaves. He stretched his hand towards the sky when a single white feather danced through the air and landed in his palm.
„May the wind carry forth
My soul when I’m gone
May the harsh of the storm
Never linger for long
May the birds ever fly
Where their journey leads them
May the land and the skies
Be ever blessed with freedom“
„Did you come up with a new song?“ Venti heard his friend’s voice only muffled as if his ears were under water. The young musician blinked twice, before he turned his head towards the voice’s source. Kazuha had faced him and narrowed his brows as he didn’t receive an answer right away. It took Venti a moment to pick up where he was and his head was slightly spinning. Maybe he dozed off and didn’t notice it.
„Ah, yes. This melody was suddenly on my mind.“ Not only the melody, but also the lyrics, as if he already knew that song despite the fact that he never heard it before. Venti took a look inside his palm and the feather was gone. Did he really fall asleep right here, right now? And what was this sting inside his chest? Like he was missing something. Or someone.
„Venti.“ Kazuha looked serious and gently stroked over his friend‘s bare shoulders. „Are you alright?“ When Venti turned towards him, the male let his hand wander down his arm. „I think it was enough for you. Let’s leave, okay?“ While he was speaking, Kazuha’s eyes rested on the male’s face. Did he notice that Venti’s head was in the clouds? It wouldn’t be the first time, though. Since they became friends in their second semester, the two were inseparable - it was a classic example of „opposites attract“.
„Just look at what the sun has done to you in that short time. You are completely burned. Maybe your spontaneous idea backfired, hm?“ Kazuha added that parts of his skin were red as well. Naturally, as both males had rather pale skin and without proper sun protection, they had to face the consequences when they went swimming during the midday heat. Only then Venti checked his body, which was mostly gleaming in a painful red. Maybe this was a wise decision to get out of the sun and go somewhere inside. So they took their leave and visited an ice cream shop close nearby, but soon parted ways, because Venti wasn’t feeling well. His limbs were covered in goosebumps and he accused the ice cream at first for his dull feeling inside his stomach. Right after he entered his small flat, he ran into the bath because he had to throw up. Then Venti laid down there on the cold tiles of the floor to cool his bad sunburn. Maybe this was the price he had to pay for skipping classes again.
In the upcoming night he didn’t catch much sleep. The heat and pain on his skin didn’t let Venti rest properly; even stripping off every cloth on his body and without a blanket was no relief. The dull feeling in his stomach remained and additionally his head was spinning. Something was definitely not right, putting the sunburn aside. Venti often struggled during extreme heat and this summer had an extraordinarily bad and long heat wave. He couldn’t wait for autumn.
It had to be around 4am when the short male woke up from his delirium, completely covered in sweat. With the last bits of strength he managed to slouch into the shower with slight hope it would give him some relief. While water ran over his tired body, patches of his dream popped up in his mind. He soared through the air, careful and free; how he played with leaves and enjoyed the taste of a delicious apple. More disturbing was the fact that the apple was almost his size. Back in his living-sleeping-room he sunk down on the couch instead of on his bed, hoping he would get some more sleep like this.
The alarm went off at 6:30am and Venti felt like he was crushed by a boulder. His head was driving carousel - similar to the aftermath of an intense night of drinking - and his limbs were heavy as if they were made of lead. He somehow get to his phone, called in sick and informed Kazuha, before he returned to his half awake- half asleep delirium. Venti wasn’t capable of anything on this day and was somehow glad that his friend decided to pay him a visit in the afternoon. It was a surprise and luckily Venti somehow managed to answer the door, more or less dressed properly with just some blue shorts and a white t-shirt. „Hey, how are you? No, don’t say anything. You look awful.“ Kazuha greeted him, checking on Venti who still kept his hair in braids from the day before, which now looked like a mess. Small eyes looked at Kazuha which were underlined by dark eyebags. The male stroked wet hair which was clutched on Venti’s forehead to the side, checking his temperature when he continued: „I got you cooling pads, water ice, cooled water bottles, fresh fruits and salad.“ Kazuha held a watermelon in his hand like it was a trophy, suggesting they could share it right now. A smile crawled on Venti’s tired lips, thanked him for the groceries. „Though I don’t know if I could eat it,“ he added. His stomach was still sore and it would be such a bummer, if he couldn’t enjoy the big sweet fruit. Kazuha however insisted that Venti had to eat anything, so the two males took a seat on the couch after Kazuha had cut the melon into pieces. It was a good idea and some energy returned into Venti’s body. Since they left the ice cream shop, he barely ate or drink anything, of course he felt powerless. Also Kazuha’s presence ceased Venti’s worries.
„I wonder, do you plan on working on your new song from yesterday?“ Venti’s friend asked somewhen mid-conversation who earned a confused look. „The song you sang when we were at the pool.“ Venti knew what he was talking about, but strangely it was completely gone. No melody, no lyrics. Nothing. The male narrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he shared this with the other and blamed his sunstroke for the memory loss. Surely he would remember soon when he was feeling better.
Once he recovered from his gaffe, Venti went back to his daily life as a 21-year-old who studied music pedagogy and composition and had a part-time job at a café of a famous brand to afford his student life. And the heat wave ended along with the last summer month. The days became rainy and were the herald of autumn. With the hot weather gone, Venti found his creativity back and typed down a brand new idea into his phone when Kazuha pulled on the sleeve of his green cardigan. „Venti, look! Now!“
„By all the petals of a Cecilia, what’s the urge? I almost dropped my phone!“
„That male who looks like you-„ Kazuha didn’t need to speak any further as Venti wheeled around and darted into the direction his friend pointed, but the floor was crowded with students bustling about, so that a single person could easily get lost. No male with two braids stood out from the rest. Disappointment and a wave of sadness spread in his chest. Why did it feel like he missed on something important?
„You really want to meet your secret twin, huh?“ Kazuha had caught up to him. „I wonder that no one else mentioned it to you. Your similarity is striking.“
„Of course! I’m crazily curious, because you keep mentioning him.“ Who was that mysterious stranger who seemed to look like him?
In the following days Venti walked extra observant through the building or outside on the campus terrain, but the odds were against him and he just didn’t encounter him. Maybe it was just not meant to be, but Venti wanted to reason the unknown tightness he felt in his chest, when Kazuha mentioned him or when he thought about him.
After the last lectures Venti walked through the nicely designed area of the campus with a lot of seating possibilities and planted areas. He had to walk to the tram alone today, because Kazuha was picked up by his boyfriend. So Venti minded his own business as he watched the sparrows, how they flew from bush to bush, followed by loud chirping. He pricked up his ears. Through the bird’s noises… was there someone singing? Venti’s feet moved on his own as he was drawn by the sound of this clear and beautiful voice, curious who its owner was. Slowly words reached his ears when he discovered someone sitting on one of the stoney benches which surrounded the big flowerbeds - a young male with dark short hair and two braids.
„…ever blessed with freedom.
Come gather ‚round and I spin you a tale
One of tyranny and humble dreams
And those who prevail.“
Then the song stopped when another person approached the sitting one. The person on the bench stood up and proceeded to walk away with them. Every inch of Venti’s body screamed to move, but his legs were frozen in place.
„It starts with a hopeful young bard
And a song
Through his melody
The wicked King wouldn’t rule for long“
Venti sang under his breath, continuing the song he just witnessed as his eyes rested on the male with the dark hair who slowly disappeared in the distance. Drip, drop. Drip drop. Everything was silent; enough that the rain drops hitting the stone plates could be heard and soon it was raining cats and dogs. Venti put a hand on his chest where a sting hurted his heart when he slowly slouched towards the bench where the other male sat before. He really wasted an opportunity, right? Wait, what was that? A single white feather laid in the middle of the bench...
After this encounter, Venti had unexplainable, rather vivid dreams. He heard the wooden sound of a self made lyre, accompanied by the voice of a boy. The same voice often talked to him about freedom and how he wished to see the birds fly at the wide horizon. Venti remembered the large brown cape, the green vest and the raven hair of this nameless bard. Everything, but not the face which was enframed by two braids.
Venti yawned heartily when he returned behind the counter after cleaning up behind some left customers. His dreams were so lively that the student didn’t feel refreshed in the morning. It was like he lived a second life and did not sleep during those nights. No wonder he felt sleep deprived even with 7 hours of night rest. Earlier that day he had complained to Kazuha that he would rather take a good nap instead of serving customers and making coffee. But Kazuha only shrugged and tried to encourage Venti with the words, that he might miss on something good - you never knew. What a cheesy statement, but apparently it was enough to pursue Venti not to cancel work. And the urge to get the money was probably also a good reason. Another yawn followed before he was startled to death when his coworker approached him.
„Venti, could you hold the fort, please? I need to place a call.“ A nod as answer was enough before she disappeared behind the ‚staff only‘ door, leaving the short male on his own. Currently there weren’t many customers anyway – one or two on the upper floor – so it wasn’t a problem. Venti grabbed a sponge and cleaned the surfaces to stay awake somehow.
A tiny bell chimed, indicated the door was opened and Venti looked up to welcome the new customer. His heart skipped a beat when his viridian eyes caught the sight of his counterpart, who had the same hairstyle as him. Two greyish blue eyes were focussed on the menu board above Venti, then found their way towards the part-time barista. The other greeted him with a smile. „Hello.“
Venti took a few breaths to keep calm, because he couldn’t believe what he saw. This boy looked just like him!
„Hello and welcome,“ he greeted back, trying to ignore a strange feeling in his guts and how his heart beated faster, „What can I do for you?“ Venti caught himself scanning the stranger. The way the other wore a green vest over a white loose shirt which he had combined with a thin brown scarf was somehow familiar. And his face. He was finally seeing his face! Confused by that thought, Venti quietly cleared his throat.
„I would like to have a caramel macchiato, grande size, please.“ The way he spoke, his voice – it was all too familiar! Venti scoured his mind for anything and then it dawned him. His voice was the same as the one from the bard out of his dreams! Warm liquid tickled his cheek when he snapped out of his daydreams. „Sure,“ Venti murmured irritatedly as he turned around to prepare the order. But then the sponge from earlier became his undoing. Somehow it was on the ground and suddenly under his foot and… whoosh! Venti slipped on this wet thing, desperately grabbed something to hold on, but caught some cups and dragged them with him into the doom. With a deafening clattering they bursted and before he knew it, Venti found himself on the floor amongst white shards. He had difficulties to collect himself or progress the situation right now. What happened?
„Oh my god. Are you okay?“ Venti heard the boy asking who then appeared behind the counter to rush to his side. „Venti, are you okay?“
Then their eyes met and both were simply looking at each other. Surprised. Puzzled. Astonished. It was as if time had stopped for a moment. Memories were slowly dawning in Venti’s mind. Memories from a life far in the past. Where he wasn’t human, but a windborne spirit, who was befriended with a young bard with raven hair.
Without further ado the boy hugged Venti. „Finally,“ The boy whispered.
>> Fly, fly away
Like a bird in the sky
Take me to see this world
To the heavens may we fly <<