Chapter Text
Shouyou only vaguely remembered that place, the cold steel that slipped up his back as he was pinned down to an operating table. The smell of medicine curling around his nose and the cold sting as fresh wounds touched sanitized metal. The amount of pain was always rather excruciating, the ploy being that this would make everything easier on him. He wasn’t a moron, however, he knew this was nothing more than yet another one of the experiments. Something to make him a better crow, a better…slave? Was that the word for it? He wasn’t entirely sure, but it wasn’t like he liked the sound of anything that had to do with servitude.
He fought tooth and nail while in that place, doing all he could to get thrown out. Many of the other–“splices”–as they were known, had spread word that if they didn’t die here, and were rendered salvageable, they’d be sold to the lowest of the low. Usually these were meager folk, trying to get the most affording housekeeper. Many splices, once they saw their chance, they took it. So many would have rather died than be used for the betterment of humans, such a vile race they were. Shouyou had seen the results first hand. The scars he and his fellow brothers and sisters owned were not for nothing.
Shouyou could still feel the slashing whips, the fights they had instigated. To pit two against one another, and whomever came out victor would get another chance at taking one more breath–the other would be less fortunate. He didn’t want to come to face this as a never ending reality. He wanted to break free, he belonged outside. Every day as he managed to catch a glimpse of the morning sun outside the barred windows of his cell, he could almost feel the air, his wings slowly unfurling even in the cramp space. He sought it out so much…
“Stupid! Wake up! You gotta show to do if you want to even smell your dinner!” The loud shouting pulled Shouyou out of his memories, eyes slowly opening to see the snarl of his current owner’s face. A very well put together man on the outside, clean, good condition, but of course–Shouyou had learned the hard way that wolves in sheeps’ clothing occurred far more frequently than believed.
He slowly raised himself, minding the chains that bound him to the cage, wings stretching as much as they could from the inside, “We’ve drawn quite the crowd here in Japan, stupid little countryside towns–they always give up more than big cities,” Commented Milliano, almost expecting Shouyou to answer what he could not.
He understood perfectly well, but he couldn’t speak, not that he would speak with a disgusting human such as this one.
“You’re our big performance, stupid bird, you got that~? If it goes awry like last time, me breaking one of your arms is going to be the least of your worries,” Milliano snarled viciously, heading off to look at the other poor beasts that were trapped just like Shouyou was. However, some of them lacked the sentience he held. It made the entire ordeal worse than it had to be.
His ears twitched slightly as he heard the shuffling of feet, a group of people chattering among themselves as they entered the tent. The familiar sounds of children, smells of popcorn and all sorts of fattening delicacies filled the air. Even though he was in the cages, stuffed away into one of the cars in the back, he could smell all of it. A pang of hunger ran through his body, causing Shouyou to solemnly smooth claws over his belly. If he got through this, he would get fed, he would get his meal, live the rest of his time here in quiet peaceful tranquility–as long as he ignored the fact it was literal hell–and finally rest and die.
Shouyou watched as other animals began being wheeled or lead away, he was always the last to be dragged out. No one wanted to chance him being left alone with a few people for longer than need. He apparently had cost them a “pretty penny”, whatever that meant. Sure, he raked in enough money for that to not be a problem, but the reality became that no other human saw this as a problem. Shouyou couldn’t find himself willing to understand, how could they think this was a show? A freak show, a game, someone not being worth what they are truly worth all because they were seen as otherworldly. They worshiped angels or beings with wings.
And yet they treated him like a toy.
It didn’t take more than an hour before a group of men came back for him. He heard them unlock the car, open the door and walk up to the cage very swiftly. Standard routine, play it off as easily as they could without getting caught. They make the entire ordeal quick this time, covering the lingering scars with some type of liquid, making sure he looked happy–by threatening him with no dinner like usual. Shouyou wished he had been a plant at that point, at least those understood and knew how to generate food themselves.
Slowly, black and orange ribbons were tied to his hands and feet, smaller ones attached to the tips of his wings. Shouyou knew better than to complain about the inevitable, having resigned himself to being nothing more than a prop. Perhaps it was better than being wherever some of his brethren ended up, to the slaughter or in the hands of the government. He had a circus to be a part of, and although he got mistreated daily, he didn’t have to face absolute horror. He initially believed he had it the worst, but slowly, just like the desires for freedom, those beliefs were stopped into the ground. No delicacy, no formality. Just placed were they belonged, on the floor, with him.
Shouyou was lead toward the circus, shackles attached to his feet while two people held onto the chains to keep him from flying away. The only time they’d be removed was once he was inside the actual tent, and while most would have assumed that he would spring free as soon as he was let go, they were wrong. Shouyou lived in fear, lived shaking to the core on the inside and only wished to live. He wanted to be free, but the fear strangled him mercilessly, like everyone and anything he’d ever come in contact with. He wasn’t a fighter, he was a free roamer, a crow–not a predatory bird, not a bird of paradise, a regular crow.
“And for our grande finale! We have one of the greatest wonders of the world, perhaps a fallen angel himself,” Oh that was a riot wasn’t it? “The ethereal being himself!” Funny, he didn’t feel very ethereal at the moment, “Shouyou Hinata!” And then the screaming crowds, most of which had probably seen footage of him somewhere, who wanted to see if it was true. Did this circus really have a boy that could fly, real wings with real feathers. No one liked to believe it at first, but if there was anything Shouyou had learned about humanity was that–while they were easily impressed by things that seemed extraordinary, they also sought to crush those things into their control.
He stuck his chin out, raising his head up high as walked out delicately onto the center floor. Shouyou had one say at least, and it was what routine he chose to perform. Did he want to use something he had already done before, or something he had come up with on the spot? Nothing he did was particularly stupendous, but again–humans were simple minded. As long as it was magnificent, in their control and not of any harm, they could have come here to see him glide and they’d chalk it up to flying.
Clawed toes dug into the dirt, waiting for the music he had been trained to move to started playing. The crowd watched, mystified at the sight of the long black, feathered appendages that graced his back, his large orange eyes, orange hair. The talons he donned on both his hands and feet, everything about him was mythical–broken as well, not that they needed to know.
He twirled slowly, spreading his wings out and dancing rhythmically to the beat. Every movement was fluid, from how he delicately grazed his legs on the floor, to how he moved his wings in time with his arms. Every motion became much more rushed, Shouyou sensing himself coming closer to the center stage stand. The room became live wire, watching him prance about, animal-like at times, and others much more human. Shouyou stretched his arms out, dipping his body slightly before preforming a cart wheel, balancing on the palm of his hand on the second turn. He bent his arm slightly, using the strength he had to propel himself up into the air, do a twirl and land directly on the center platform.
The room clapped for a moment before realizing he wasn’t done. Shouyou balanced on the tips of his toes, bending his knee slightly and jumping into the air. Wings instinctively spread to their massive length, flapping at keeping him in the air. No noise came from the audience, all notably starstruck at the sight of someone who looked so terribly human in flight. He didn’t finish it there, offering a majestic twirl before flying all around the tent. Shouyou briefly made eye contact with some of the audience, a striking flash of yellow catching him momentarily off guard before he sped off. He dipped slightly, performing several rolls, diving down with easy once he got to the top center of the tent. With grace, he tilted backward, performing a few more twirls on his way down before flipping right side up and landing easily on the center platform.
Shouyou bowed, the room erupting into cheers and screams. At least they were happy, he figured, unwilling to stay there longer than he had to. He shifted his gaze, landing on the men off to the side who were more than ready to shackle him up and lead him away again. He didn’t hesitate to bow one more time, waving before jumping off the platform and making his way toward the circus members in waiting.
They moved swiftly, removing the ribbons that decorated his wrists and ankles. Shackles replaced the decorations on his ankles, closing his eyes as he was lead away from the tent. The afternoon had gone by quickly, only leaving the slowly setting sun to coat the darkening sky in a sheet of orange. It was these moments that Shouyou lived for. He could feel the fresh air brush tenderly against the rough patches on his face, coiling around his wings, causing them to stir and twitch excitedly. It held him close, allowing him to drink in all that potential freedom, the air, the smell of the trees that tickled his nose. It was enough to satisfy him, to keep him alive and wishing for the day where he’d finally be set free.
After being locked up and placed inside the dusty, smelly, car again, he was given a plate filled with his favorite fruits and small lizards. The plate was relatively small, the usual portion to keep him in check, but Shouyou couldn’t bring himself to care much for the amount. He happily began munching on the fruits he had been given, wanting to savor them before moving onto the lizards. His stomach and body sang
merrily upon being fed, his mouth practically salivating buckets even as he ate. Whether or not it was worth all the tears was debatable.
He was about to move onto the last lizard on the plate when his ears twitched, hearing a vague rustling noise coming from outside the cart. Shouyou decided to push the lizard off to the side for a moment, hands wrapping around the bars on his cage as he tried sticking his head through the bars. His hearing was strained, trying to listen in to what sounded like soft voices he didn’t recognize. He almost wondered if he was imagining things, there was no one here he didn’t recognize. Perhaps they had gotten newcomers, but it being as late as it was made him doubt that they were. On top of that, very few people were allowed near Shouyou.
He flinched notably when he heard a loud snap and the falling of a heavy metal lock, fingers slipping through one of the doors and pulling it open.
Shouyou’s eyes shot open, recognizing those golden eyes. Strange hairstyle, even stranger clothing options–the most plain thing he’d ever seen. A white shirt, black pants and a sweater wrapped around his waist. His companion was an angry looking man, strange haircut, clothing as simple as his friend. He was so awestruck he jolted when they began speaking.
“Noya, I don’t wanna tell you how to live your life,” Began the taller man, appearing to have a look of concern on his face, “ But I’m pretty sure this is kidnappin’.”
A snort came from the one named “Noya”, the clearly energetic boy coming up to the front of Shouyou’s cage. He could almost feel how genuine and honest the other boy was, the warmth radiating pulling him closer to the edges of the cage. Shouyou watched carefully as the boy reached an arm up, small hand extending out to offer itself to Shouyou. He beamed, making soft pigeon noises before nuzzling into that hand.
“Ryuu, you see this? I told you!” Exclaimed Noya cheerily, brushing his calloused fingers against the rough, dry patches of skin that decorated Shouyou’s face, “I think I’m pretty smart when it comes to telling how animals feel, remember that rabbit you had? If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t have known it wasn’t happy with diet you were feeding it.”
Shouyou watched as the other boy rolled his eyes, crossing his arms, “If you keep yelling, they’re gonna come runnin’ and besides, I didn’t need ya’ to tell me what Fluffles was feeling,” Ryuu spat, looking a bit anxious, “Yo, Noya. I know you said that we gotta get this poor guy out of here, but if we’re gonna do it we gotta hurry. We ain’t got much time.”
Shouyou felt himself still, his heart beat slowing down tremendously. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. They wanted to get him out, they wanted to set him free. He never thought that humans were capable of understanding, of seeing through the facades he had grown to place over the agony in his heart. The pain that he lived every day, the scars that coated his arms and body, the clearly different conditions he was held in as opposed to anyone else. He was looked more human than crow, and yet he was treated even less than a crow.
Then his saviors, a boy with a strange hair cut and a boy with an even stranger one. The shortest one seemed determined to break him free, a feeling he could almost feel translated from that tiny body into his own relatively small one. If Shouyou could cry, he would have. He would have broken, allowed the waterfall of anguish and glee overcome his calm demeanor.
All he could do was smile.
“We’re getting you out, okay?” Noya repeated, voice reassuring, stretching a hand out in Ryuu’s direction.
Ryuu, without missing a beat, handed over a pair of bolt cutters. Shouyou’s eyes widened at that, making a sound in response, chirping out of curiosity. He leaned forward, watching intently as Noya brandished the tool, a grin meeting his curious eyes.
“I had to run all the way back for these things, but it was totally worth it,” He admitted, a proud smile coming over Ryuu’s face.
Noya decided not to waste any more time, slipping the ends of the tool over the lock and snapping it easily. He handed the item back to Ryuu, who took it the way one would brandish a weapon. He moved back toward the door to the cart, playing the role of look out while Noya removed the lock. The door parted open and Shouyou almost threw himself at the slightly shorter man. He could hear the soft laugh that rumbled through Noya’s body, the embrace returned fully.
“I’m gonna protect you,” Noya said as he pulled away, keeping hands on Shouyou’s shoulders.
“Fuckin’ animal whisperer,” Ryuu commented, stifling a laugh as he stuck his head out again, “We should get out of here, though. They got security makin’ rounds and I ain’t too keen on getting caught.”
Noya turned back to look at Shouyou, “Just follow us, okay? It’s gonna be cramp for a little bit but I don’t want to leave you here.”
Shouyou nodded quietly, flapping his wings slightly before being led out by the two boys.
Humans were peculiar creatures weren’t they, was the only thing on Shouyou’s mind. He didn’t even consider himself human, he considered himself more animal. The reason being that humans were callous, destructive creatures that had graced this Earth only to decimate and destroy. They rarely cherished the land they were offered, and complained when they didn’t receive more. He had been all over the world, and never was he regarded this way, he had never felt closer to a human than he did now.
He kept his eye on them carefully, following them out of the small park the circus had planted itself in, keeping in the darkness of the trees. Shouyou figured he could have flown now, flown away, they wouldn’t chase him. Not them, not these boys–but there was something wrong with the notion, something that felt far too off. How could he leave the first individuals to regard him with so much kindness that they were jeopardizing themselves to save him.
Every moment Noya would look back to him, making sure he was still there, those light touches that Ryuu placed on Noya’s shoulder to make sure they knew where they were going. Then he’d turn around and do the same with him, not communicating much but speaking all the more. The expressions these two boys had spoke more volumes than anything he had ever heard. They drowned out the faces that terrorized him in his dreams.
The freedom he yearned was right with them, beyond the doors that they opened and far beyond the lands he had come from. The mother he never knew, the family he didn’t remember, and the cold steel that gave birth to him.
Shouyou pressed himself against a nearby wall, eyes shifting from one area to another. On one side, he had Ryuu, who was being every vigilant. Those large, almost horrifying eyes were squinting, trying to listen in for sounds he couldn’t even hear. Every flicker of lights from cars passing by was registered by his eyes widening suspiciously as he pressed his back against the cold brick. Despite the obviously wary look displayed on his features, Shouyou noted that he wasn’t trembling. Every movement was calculated and every inch of his body refined to a point, it was as though he had undergone training of some kind. Shouyou himself couldn’t say he had that type of discipline, he only knew how to fly and fight. How to gouge out someone’s eyes because it was always a matter of life and death, whether or not he really wanted to feel the sensation of squishy tendons against his hardened skin. It was a memory best left forgotten, along with all those whose lives were stopped in the middle of their prime because their prime just wasn’t good enough against another’s.
He readjusted his attention, turning around to look at Noya, who was inching closer to the end of the alleyway. He looked like a bird himself almost, delicate and serene. Noya stuck his head out, a smile lighting up even the darkest parts of the alleyway as he turned back to make a gesture with his hand, a signal that the area was clear. Shouyou didn’t wait, pressing his wings together as he stalked along the ground. A slight shuffling the only thing capable of registering that he was there, that and the tapping of footsteps right behind him.
“We’re almost there, sorry if we’re being extra careful Shouyou, don’t worry, we’ll get there,” Noya whispered, offering a gentle smile before turning back and walking down one of the darker sections of the sidewalk.
“Stay behind us,” Ryuu ordered, walking after Noya and leaving room to their side.
It took Shouyou a moment, but he came to understand exactly what they wanted him to do. The crow turned the corner quickly, placing himself in the crack on the boy’s right side. They were going to hide him, under the cover of darkness using themselves. Shouyou made the space darker by blanketing himself with his wings, almost blending into the pitch black background while Noya and Ryuu walked calmly. They even attempted to hold a random conversation, to seem inconspicuous.
“So, what do you think Kageyama will say, eh?” Ryuu asked, and although his shoulders were slumped and he was walking casually, Shouyou could practically feel the all seeing atmosphere that enveloped the taller boy.
“Nothin’–probably yell, the usual, like when I brought that raccoon,” Noya replied, wagging a finger at Ryuu, making Shouyou want to stifle a laugh.
“He almost kicked you out for that, think he wouldn’t this time?”
“I kept it in my room anyway, it wasn’t that hard–and I doubt he will,” Noya added solemnly, turning to look directly at Shouyou. Shouyou himself couldn’t believe the amount of concern in those eyes, how easily he could read Noya–they really were someone that placed their emotions out for everyone to see. The type of person Shouyou was. It made him feel warm.
“I wouldn’t let him.”
“You’re not the one paying rent.”
“I don’t care, he can give Shouyou my room, he’s not kicking Shouyou out,” The response was adamant, earning another prideful glance, a little bit of something else lying under that. Ryuu was also like Noya, easily readable.
Shouyou kept his eyes open, watching as they walked a few more blocks, made a turn and then walked into an apartment complex. He knew better than to raise his head out of curiosity, staying quiet and keeping down until they made it into an elevator. Shouyou didn’t necessarily like tiny spaces, his wings folding in around him around him when they got in.
Noya noticed his discomfort, and came over to gentle ruffle up his hair, trying his hand at chirping for Shouyou’s amusement.
A smile lit up his face, Shouyou chirping back at him properly, awfully proud for someone who couldn’t speak another language that wasn’t bird. That didn’t seem to phase Noya though, who merely laughed and continued trying until the elevator made it to the seventh floor.
Ryuu was quick to check the time on his phone, muttering a obscenity of some kind that Shouyou couldn’t exactly hear.
“He’ll be here in a few minutes,” Was all Ryuu said, shoving his phone back in his pocket in favor of a set of keys.
Noya only grunted, offering Shouyou his hand, “Don’t you worry about anything. Alright? We got this,” He assured, eyes lighting up with fire. It startled Shouyou a bit, how powerful someone could appear when they didn’t have the physical ability to crush.
Shouyou truly admired Noya more than he thought.
Tentatively, he took the hand offered to him, making sure to carefully curl his fingers. The hand that touched him was warmer than his own, softer even. These hands belonged to a species that long mistreated his own, and yet here he was, having his thoughts corrected slowly, one by one. Shouyou wasn’t all too surprised by the development, he knew himself all too well, he was impressionable.
And he loathed fighting.
Ryuu unlocked the door, ushering in both Noya and Shouyou before staying in place for a few moments. He looked around, making sure no one was looking at them or for them. He only came in once he felt the coast was clear and they were able to relax.
Shouyou stood there, looking at his hands and feet. Orange eyes were completely taken aback once the danger was over, his brain rushing to process everything. There was carpet under his feet, enough of it that he could feel well enough under his toes. He could spread his wings out slightly, the dark room slowly lighting up when one of the two boys decided to turn on one of the lights and the TV. There was no cold, no steel, no bars. The scents of a home whipped around his sensitive nose, large eyes darting around.
“Shouyou! Don’t worry, sit down wherever or explore,” He heard Noya say, a large toothy grin gracing his face, “Are you hungry or something? I can make you something before I sit down.”
Ryuu piped before he was even done saying anything, “Don’t let him, he can’t make food.”
Noya shot him a glare, making mock gestures of the way Ryuu talked before turning back to look at Shouyou, “I was thinking a sandwich or something, actually.”
Looks betrayed Shouyou, he wanted to say no, he had just eaten something that…most humans wouldn’t really find appetizing but the sound of more food only made his stomach growl again. He could only simmer down instead, appearing wounded when Noya laughed at him. He knew he had no reason, but it was troublesome wasn’t it?
“Don’t worry about it, didn’t I tell you?” Noya repeated, tugging Shouyou along tenderly, “There isn’t anything wrong with being hungry.”
Ryuu busied himself with trying to come up with an excuse while Noya and Shouyou went off into the kitchen, sandwich pulled out of the fridge. It was simple enough, Shouyou becoming distracted by it and the random assortment of food that seemed to clog up of the fridge.
Noya handed it to him after unwrapping it, “Think of this as the first present of many, okay?” He said, patting Shouyou atop the head before leading him out.
They stopped at the doorway, Shouyou feeling his body run cold upon hearing the doorknob wiggle a bit. Keys scraping and a few choice words that weren’t meant for the ears of children, Noya and Ryuu seemed more scared than he did.
Ryuu quickly bolted toward where Shouyou stood, effectively sandwiching the crow between both of their bodies. Shouyou didn’t mind for now, the sinking feeling of being squished the last of his worries as the door opened and a very angry individual stepped in.
“The store was closed,” They began, eyes focused on locking the door, letting out a bitter sight of contempt, “I don’t even know why you need hydrogen peroxide at this hour–..”
Whatever else the other man was going to say was lost when he turned around completely, eyes widening extraordinarily wide. Both Noya and Ryu pursed their lips together, Shouyou gripping so tightly onto the food he was offered that he might have ripped it to shreds had Noya not spoken up.
“We can explain, Kageyama.”
“What is this bullshit?” He asked, eyes flaring up so quickly that Shouyou flinched, “Maybe you could /ask/ next time, dumbass, before you bring random people into my home?”
Noya bit the inside of his cheek, stepping away and pulling at one of Shouyou’s wings, earning an even more exasperated expression from Kageyama. One of absolute disbelief, it almost looked like he was about to blow a few right then and there.
“Ryuu and I went to go see this show today, and they had this kid. I don’t know about you, but I had a bad feelin’–like he wasn’t all that happy.”
Ryuu crossed his arms, eyes narrowing toward Kageyama, “I told him not to get too involved with this type of shit again, you know how it is. But he was so sure that the poor guy was being mistreated–said it had something to do with the way his eyes looked.”
Right, Shouyou had briefly made eye contact with a pair of golden eyes, the best mistake he’d ever made.
“Dumbass, might as well become an animal,” Kageyama muttered, rubbing his face slowly before letting out a groan.
“I’ll be real, Noya was right on the money with this one. We found him all caged up, these weird marks on him, nothing we saw during the show. Noya had me go get the bolt clippers and meet with him again while he took the time to fuckin’ memorize where the guards were,” Ryuu added with a shake of his head, “I know we ain’t the best roomies, never really tell you much but–honestly I don’t feel good tossing this guy out–.”
“I'd move out before I let you kick him out.”
The flames died out as quickly as they sprang, replaced by a more tired facial expression, “Okay, we’ll just…talk about this tomorrow morning, he can sleep on the couch or something, I don’t have the energy to care right now,” Kageyama finished, treading quietly as he walked into his room.
Noya’s eyes lit up, turning to look at Shouyou, giving him another embrace, “Welcome home.”