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Chapter Text

Another night filled with an enchanting glow and the laughter of the fey, another night the King, Keigo, grows bored. You would think being King of the Fey would be a non-stop party of fun and laughter, right? Right?! WRONG! It’s boring, and repetitive, and, and… Lonely. Keigo was lonely. He had no mate, no queen, no partner. He was a solitary King, in dire need of a Queen, not just for the sake of his solemn life, but for the sake of the kingdom as well! Sure, Keigo could just marry another nymph or fairy to serve as a temporal queen, but it wasn’t enough. Keigo was just… too big for them. The fairies were able to fit in the palm of his hands and the nymphs were too needy for his taste. Sure, Keigo could just use his fey magic to keep the nymphs from being a hassle, and sure he could use his magic to increase the size of the fairies, but what good is that? Of course, there were also your changelings and Lady of the Lake, but Keigo wasn't a fan of water… or shapeshifters. There was the occasional human lured in by the pixies and elves, doomed by their foolish mentality, and yet, they seemed to be filled with knowledge and life. Keigo wondered what it would be like to spend time with a human, a stupid and foolish thought. His loyal subjects would never approve of a mortal as their new Queen. Fey preyed on mortals, luring them into traps to do as they pleased, whether it be taking their hearts, names, or bodies…

Keigo lazed about on his perch, overseeing his land, his kingdom, his realm. The Dryads and Undines were partaking in a game of who can drink the most mead without passing out. Some Gnomes and Elves were singing, faces flushed and drunk. There of course were some harpies who sang their songs, trying to appease Keigo, but he only sighed. It seemed everyone was having fun. Everyone was enjoying their time. Everyone seemed happy. So why didn’t Keigo feel the same? He was the one who would host these parties every night, and yet he felt like an outcast. Was it because he lacked a mate? A Queen? A partner? Was the voice in the back of his head, telling him he would live a life of solitude and isolation, correct? Maybe he wasn’t attractive. No, that couldn’t be it, Keigo could have any man or woman in his realm with a simple smile alone. His looks were not the issue. Maybe it was his feathers, perhaps they weren’t at their best. No, that couldn’t be it either, Keigo made sure to preen daily. Maybe it was his preference, surely that was it, it had to be it. Fairies were too small for his liking, Elves were know-it-alls that would not shut up about literally anything. The nymphs, while attractive, would ask too much out of him, always trying to ruffle him up in the most unpleasant way possible. Sure there were the harpies, lovely creatures that could meet his needs, but… for some reason, Keigo could never find himself to actually love them back. None of them.
“Sir, are you not enjoying the party?” A Pixie asked Keigo, hovering in his personal bubble. Keigo frog blinked as he turned his gaze from his land to the small, winged creature. His golden eyes were filled with boredom and reluctance, but of course, he had to put his own feelings aside to tend to his subjects. Keigo straightened up and wore a plastic smile as he gave a rehearsed chuckle, shaking his head.

“The party is lovely, as always, though you shouldn’t worry about your king. These parties are meant for you all, my lovely subjects, to enjoy yourselves and have a gay ol’ time.” Keigo’s smooth voice, and golden gaze enamored the Pixie as she flushed at his response. She looked away as she cleared her throat.

“Well, sir, I was just wondering if you were willing to join the other Pixies and Banshees and I in a round of songs. We all greatly appreciate hearing your voice as you sing your songs about the land and kingdom.” The pixie's voice was a tad quiet as she spoke. Maybe that’s what Keigo needed to get his mind off of everything, some music. He loved to sing and dance, he loved to show off, and receive praise. Yes, this will do. Keigo will join his people in singing and dancing, maybe a drink or two wouldn’t hurt either. Yes, this is what he needed to push back the creeping feeling of loneliness. Keigo smiled and nodded, standing up from his perch and joining the Pixies and Banshees, singing, dancing, drinking. He can worry about his troubles later. A new mate, queen, partner. That can wait. Right now, all Keigo cared about was showing off his magnificent wings and the way his feathers moved as he danced. Right now, all Keigo wanted was praise and affirmation from his subjects. A lover can wait.

Chapter Text

Keigo knew what he looked like to mortals outside his realm. Outside of the fey realm, Keigo looked different, looked horrendous. Humans would see him as a freak, a savage, a… monster. He still remembers the first time he crossed realms, from Fey to Mortal, his transformation was a sight to behold. His beautiful vermillion feathers adorned his neck, shoulders, back and wings. They went from glowing with health and magic, to withered and decrepit, like an old hag. His usually trimmed and maintained talons, now long, sharp, lethal. That golden gaze and charming smile, more of a murderous stare with a daunting smirk. Mortals would run or scream at the sight. His wings would wrap around his body like a cloak, his long feathers covering his body. His smooth as silk voice, now raspy and deep. He didn’t look like the Fey King his subjects loved. Then again he would sometimes hear mortals call the fairies, ‘sharp teeth that can fly’. He knows that the fey in the mortal realm looked more monstrous, and horrific, than in the fey realm. 

Rumors would spread that if ‘Hawks’, as mortals would call him, laid his raptor-like gaze on you, it would only be a matter of time before you became his next meal. They didn’t nickname him Hawks because of his wings, no. It was for the hawk-like markings and eyes, the carnivorous diet and long talons that could rip flesh with ease. The uneasy feeling you’d get when he stalked you like prey. If only they knew… If only a human was brave enough to get to know the monster that is the Fey King. Know he isn’t a monster, he isn’t a creature of ill intent. If only they knew about his caring nature, and careful actions. His over the top dances and enchanting voice, his drop dead gorgeous smile, that captivating gaze. If only they knew his ‘stalking’ was actually observations of interest. Keigo would never eat a human, no. He was merely infatuated with how they went along their lives, so fragile and temporary.

 Humans only averaged a lifespan of about 80-100 years depending on how well they took care of themselves, but not Keigo. No, he was well over that age. Fey, magical, immortal creatures, never knew the meaning of mortality. Keigo was well over 10,000 years old, a fossil, an ancient creature, and yet… he always stayed young, healthy, strong. In his realm, he was full of life, and full of energy. But not in the mortal realm. No. In the mortal realm, he looked like a harpish creature that would kill you, not sparing a second glance. If only they knew… The few times Keigo has gotten close to a human, it was always the same reaction, they’d scream, then run in terror before Keigo could even get a word out. He would lift a taloned hand in surrender as to show he meant no harm, but it would get lost in translation. Humans thought he was reaching to kill them, but no. Keigo would never, right? He had no reason to kill a human, why would he? He liked humans, the way they were so oblivious to the world around them, the way they valued their fleeting time in this world, the way they stared at him like a monster… Okay maybe he had a little reason to resent humans for how they treated him, but he would still never lay a hand on them with ill intention. Keigo knew better than to rile up a crowd of humans. One is plenty to handle, but a crowd? A group of humans could lash out, become hostile, turn against him. A group could kill him, could rip his feathers, could hurt him. Fey may be immortal in an aging sense, but they could still get hurt and die. Sometimes, an unfortunate fairy would get caught in a trap, only for a human to appear and… well the details are rather gruesome for Keigo to think about. 

Keigo woke up, his feathers in disarray and a hangover as big as his realm. He groaned and sat up, his head pounding as he looked around. He found himself on his circular bed, covered in blankets and a few creatures entangled as well. A Satyr and a Banshee were located on body sides of Keigo, asleep and more than likely just as fucked up as him. ‘That’s the last time I get carried away with the wine,’ Keigo thought to himself as he climbed out of bed. He made his way to his bathroom, a lavish spring with different lavender petals on top of the water. A few bottles nearby the spring, most likely oils, soaps and elixirs meant for grooming. He dove into the spring and cleaned himself off, preening his feathers and oiling them. The lavender fragrance of the spring helped his hangover, and his overall mind calmed down. He took a moment to relax before exiting the spring, drying himself off as his wings fluffed for a moment. He smoothed his feathers down and walked over to his room, grabbing his toga and wearing it. Sure the fey didn't need clothes, but Keigo was always self aware. He felt that his body often distracted others when he tried to converse with them, so he learned that covering up a bit made it easier for his people to take him seriously.

Walking out of his room, Keigo flew down to the ground of his home, really it was a colossal tree, hollowed out and decorated to his liking. His room was actually at the very top of the tree, the center carved to as a circular bed frame, filled with wool, straw and leaves, compacted and covered by a massive silk sheet. The sheet was massive, overhanging around the wooden frame, and tied by vine to keep it in place, making for a rather comfortable bed.  In front of the room, there was a ‘window’ cut out that cascaded light into Keigo’s room. The window led to a massive branch that Keigo could walk on, and sometimes perch if he felt like brooding. The window also served as a way towards Keigo’s ‘bathroom’, really it was a hot spring on a hill that was just reachable from the branch. Talk about convenience am I right? Keigo thought of everything when picking a place to make his home.

 A hole led to large, flat, carved stone stairs that were wedged into the walls, meant for when Keigo was too tired to fly up to his room, or if he had guests. Whenever Keigo got into one of his ‘spring cleaning’ moods, he would make sure to add a special resin that acted as a strong adhesive to keep the stone from falling out of the wall. Regular renovations were made to his tree, to keep it from falling apart or coming undone. The tree of course, filled with life and magic, had to be maintained just as much as Keigo’s wings did, and he made sure to stay on top of it all. At the ‘second floor’ of his home, it was fully hollowed out, of course a few holes that acted as windows, here and there. There was plenty of space for activities, such as dancing… and… well, Keigo hadn't fully figured out what he wanted to do with the space. 

Down another hole and set of stone stairs, was the base of the tree. The ‘living room’ of sorts, where he often held his parties and where his throne was displayed. Well, the throne was one way to put it, it was a wooden swing made from the branches of the tree, that was tied to the ceiling of the room with vines by the arm rests. A large chair swing was one way to think of it. There of course was furniture around the room, there was a large table with stump-like chairs around it. On the table was a large wooden bowl that contained different fruits. There was an apple, a honey crisp, that Keigo took and ate as he stretched.

‘What to do today?’ Keigo thought to himself. He went out the entrance of his home, a massive arched hole that would be covered with vine and leaves as a door of sorts. Brushing past the leaves and vines of the door, he outlooked the land he ruled. The sun had already risen, the clouds sparse in the sky, the breeze light and comforting. As Keigo ate his apple and traversed through the land, he felt that bitter thought in the back of his brain again. That daunting lonely feeling, like claws raking the back of his mind, an unpleasant feeling. He felt his wings shudder as those feelings ate him inside, he hated that feeling. Lonely, empty, incomplete. Maybe it was the bird instincts in his harpish mind. 

Not everyone understood Keigo, the fairies, pixies, nymphs, none of them knew him truly. After all, a Harpy? They aren’t really considered fey, and yet… Here Keigo was, the Fey KING, the King of the fey. How? Well, pretty simple actually, his father, before him, fell in love with a harpy. He was traversing through the mountains in search for a mushroom, in the mortal realm. He heard humans talking of the mushroom and how it could be used to cure sickness in an instant, and to his curiosity, he just had to know. And so, off the Fey King went, in search of the mushroom, found a harpy instead. One thing led to another and Keigo was born, the prince and then, King. It’s also why there are harpies in the fey realm, Keigo’s mother only agreed to go back with his father if he promised her tribe could come with. He happily agreed, and now a rather decent population lived within the fey realm. 

So why was it that nothing did it for Keigo? Perhaps it was because he knew all the harpies in his kingdom? Was he so used to his subjects that he could never see them as potential mates? Was it that he himself felt like an outcast at times? Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t, all he knew was that he was lonely. Spring had already ended so his harpish mind didn't have any sort of bird ruts or urge to mate, not that he really acted on them to begin with… He just used the instincts to clean and renovate his home, something about how his mother reminded him not to just try and act on instincts, or it may lead to trouble. He was a good little boy after all, he loved his mother and his father. Even if his father did resent him slightly for taking more of his mother’s appearance than his, he still loved his son nonetheless.

Keigo decided that maybe a walk through the mortal realm will clear his mind, he hasn’t been there in over 300 years after all. He knew he scared humans, as they saw his true form that wasn’t hidden or altered by magic. Outside the fey realm, all fey had a different look, some more terrifying than others. Fairies had small sunken in black eyes, and large mouths with razor sharp, jagged teeth. No hair or ears either, something you would never expect really. Some would show off their wings, others kept them hidden. Pixies had long, fingers with sharp claws, and no eyes at all, just a large mouth, similar to the fairy but also very different. Banshees looked like ugly hags who shrieked so loud it’d burst your eardrums. The Unicorns and Kelpie looked like utter nightmares, as big as shires but not as bulky, with lizard tongues and sharp teeth. Unicorns had a  long, piercing horn on their head, usually jagged and covered in blood. Kelpies had seaweed like manes and tails, with glowing white eyes, their calls, a hypnotic sound that lured humans to them, their fates sealed. 

And so, Keigo went, he made a portal to the mortal realm and found himself in a forest, how cliché. He knew how he looked, he knew that if a mortal happened to see him, they would run in fear. His long, vermillion feathers are now crimson and decrepit, no longer blooming with life. His usually maintained nails, now long, sharp, curved talons. That charming smile, those perfect teeth? Sharp fangs and canines, still perfect, but now more lethal and threatening. His soothing voice? A bit raspy, and deep, but still oddly captivating. He walked a bit, his wings wrapped around his whole body like a red, feathery cloak, as his taloned, bird feet pressed against the cool earthy dirt (Think like, Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle, when he’s more bird than human, yeah that, you know the scene.1:11: 13 for those who don’t know. But you know, still a bit different, you get the picture.). It was a peaceful journey through the wooded lands, the sound of birds tweeting, the flapping of butterflies, the occasional deer trotting… All of it sounded so calming, like it was a soothing reminder that Keigo wasn’t just a fey being. He had Harpy DNA in him, bird instinct, those traits that differentiate him from everyone else. Those sounds that soothed those thoughts and calmed his heart.

The walk through the forest was calming, it was nice, being alone in a forest unknown and yet beautiful. All of it felt like an elysian reality to him, perfect, peaceful, beautiful. For once, Keigo felt at peace, the first time he felt that way in decades. Everything felt… Right, perfect, just… Keigo wanted to sing his new found happiness. He tried. It sounded more like a shriek of a Hawk than anything, a noise that would startle someone. Someone Keigo didn’t realize was watching him, from the moment he entered the mortal realm till now. He heard the leaves shift under a sudden weight, as if something moved so suddenly. He turned to find out what it was, was it a predator? A deer? Maybe a fox. No. Keigo knew those smells, this wasn't that. It wasn't the smell of a mindless animal, no. This smell was unique, it had a delicate scent, a sentient aroma to it. His gaze landed, his eyes pinning and his feathers fluffing. His eyes met another pair, curious, amazed, scared… He met you.

Chapter Text

Foraging, you had enjoyed that a lot when your parents were still around. Your father would bring you outside and show you safe trails and where to stay away from, while your mother pointed out what mushrooms, nuts and herbs were edible and which were poisonous. When you wanted to learn more about it, you got a herbology book and a journal, tools that would help you record your findings. Where certain plants grew, what fungus was around your home and nearby forests, the growth cycles, etcetera. You loved the outside world, better than being trapped indoors or to the gates of your village, sure it was a lovely community, but even you needed a break at times. You remember sometimes hearing stories of why the gates were built, something about fey wild or monsters of some sorts. Piqued interest led to visits to the library, which led to a rabbit hole of studying myths and folklore, but myths and folklore were just that, right? Tales to scare you into behaving, or inspiring you to be better or some shit. Surely that was the case, right? Unfortunately not, the fey did exist, and you found out the hard way.

You were maybe 8 or 9 when the first sighting was reported, a black horse with glowing white eyes, sharp teeth, that lizard tongue and a seaweed mane and tail. Kelpie. You remember reading about them, how they would lure victims to lakes or ponds that looked deceivingly shallow, only to be dragged in and well… fate sealed. You at first didn’t believe it, thought it was just some old man drunk off their ass, spouting nonsense, until it happened again. Another sighting (For those who love D&D, you may know this creature.) . This time, a hound-like… THING. A face resembling more of a man than a dog, but that body for sure was canine. It was the middle of the night, and a wolf managed to get into the chicken coop the local farmer kept, except it wasn’t a wolf. It was that thing . Then you remember hearing it, that howl, that fear inducing howl that still haunts you to this day. The farmer screamed as that thing growled and came towards him, you managed to catch a glimpse of it then from your window, the moonlight cascading just right for you to get a pretty good look of the hound. It was maybe 5 feet tall at the shoulder, black fur that blended into the night, those glowing red eyes, that face . You wish it was just a bad dream, you wish that was the case, until morning came. The farmer managed to shoot the monster just in time, within an inch of his life. The beast was taken care of, but when you finally got a good look at it, you knew exactly what it was, a Yeth Hound. It was so rare to see one, let alone one by itself and so far from the darker parts of the forest, must have been desperate. From then on, you made sure to be more cautious when foraging in the forests.

14 years had passed since that incident, the sightings fluctuating from frequent to almost never. Luckily your village took measures into consideration and made the large wooden walls and two way gate around the village. Some men and women would take shifts keeping watch at night, if sightings were reported. You however, seemed to just forget about the dangers of the fey. You loved how they were described, as either beings of terror, or of beauty. You wished to one day meet a fey in the wild, maybe with your wit and knowledge, you could keep from falling for any tricks and become friends! 

A stupid and foolish thought.

Your journey today in the forest was rather pleasant. It was calming, it was nice, it was… a loud shriek could be heard in the distance, one that resembled a Hawk. A shriek that spooked you out of your dissociative mind and back to reality, your first instinct to hide behind the nearest thing, an old tree.  You peaked around the tree at what caused the loud noise, then you saw it, you saw him . Crimson feathers, dirty blond hair with bits of red poking through, raptor-like eyes. You saw a being unknown even to you. The way its feathers fluffed, those eyes pinned, its nose twitching slightly, the deep trill rumbling from its throat. It sensed something, its eyes searching, its ears fluffy ears twitching, listening, then its head moved, its golden, daunting gaze locked onto you. The air felt thin, the world around painfully quiet as you two locked eyes, neither of you wanting to move. Your feet felt pinned to the ground, the way its intimidating stature instilled your body with fear, but also curiosity. Your mouth felt dry as you felt your heart race, you didn’t know what this thing was, only that it made a horrendous sound and that it looked like it would kill you if you tried to move. Fight, Flight, Freeze. Of course your instincts chose to freeze, which you cursed yourself mentally for being too scared to move. Then that staring contest was broken.

Slowly, it moved, lowering its body almost as if it was crouching down or on all fours, trying to make itself look smaller. You blinked finally, not realizing your eyes were burning due to staring at this beast. It slowly moved towards you, eyes focused, studying you as it approached. You swallowed, deciding to play a game of fate and chance, slowly moving out from behind the tree and towards the creature. You noticed how its feathers fluffed as you approached, its eyes still pinning as it gazed at you, almost like it was relieved you didn’t run away. The both of you slowly inching towards each other until the space between was a mere three feet apart.

“Hello” The creature spoke to you, catching you a bit off guard, its voice raspy and deep. You watched as it stood up once more, towering over you in an intimidating stature. The facial features reminded you of the beautiful fairies you’d see drawings of in books, but the feathers all over gave it a harpish look. The way the crimson feathers wrapped around its entire body, almost like a cloak, the small feathers on the face near the jaw, ears and forehead. The long, elf-like ears, covered in red baby feathers make them look soft and fluffy, just like its dirty blond eyebrows. You noticed the pure black eyes, glowing golden iris’, that raptor-like gaze, the way it stared at you as if it was waiting for something... Was it waiting for something? It spoke to you, it said hello. How rude of you not to respond . You clear your throat as you break from your trance, taking a breath before finally responding.

“Um, hello.” You replied, your voice a bit uneasy from the intimidating creature. Then you noticed it, its eyes widening, the feathers fluffing, eyes pinning, its ears perking up, that smile. You couldn’t tell what this creature was thinking, but you could for sure tell it seemed excited that you responded. You didn’t run away, you didn’t scream, you actually stood your ground and said hello.

“You said it back…” The creature spoke softly, that joy in its voice unmistakable. This made you raise a brow in confusion. Why wouldn’t you respond? Sure you were a bit fearful of this being, but you did at least have some decency to reply. You forget, it’s not human. A human with any sort of survival instincts would have ran away. How stupid and foolish of you to stay . Your confusion made the creature clear its throat with a smile.

“Forgive me, let me introduce myself. I am Keigo, King of the Fey. Oh, and forgive my appearance, it alters between realms.” It, he? Keigo, speaks. This newfound knowledge catches you off guard, he looked nothing like a fey king, even from the different books and stories you’ve read. Do you really believe that a fey wild would look exactly as they are described in books? This isn’t some fairytale, authors will describe creatures however they want you to see them, not how they actually look.

“I’m sorry, you said you were The Fey King? You don’t look anything like a fairy king.” You point out. Keigo chuckles and shakes his head, he moves to lift a hand up, and under him, a tree stump grows allowing for him to sit. A little magic to show a bit of truth to his words.

“Allow me to explain.” And he does, Keigo goes on to explain his parents, his father, his mother, and him. The story intrigued you, you never heard of a story where a fairy fell in love with a harpy before, both lived in different plains, it just didn’t make sense. The genuine tone from Keigo however made it hard to believe it as a lie. Did you think fey would just stick to other fey? Come on, you know there are different hybrids in the world, there's recorded cases in the library.

“So, you are half harpy, half fairy king?” You question. Keigo raises a brow in confusion then shakes his head, he straightens his back and looks down at you.

“I am half and half, but the half that is Fairy King will always be seen in the fey realm. Even if I look different, my magical prowess will always shine over my harpy characteristics, at least to other fey that is.” Keigo tries to explain. You try to understand what he is saying, and nod. In short he explained that his royal blood will be seen over the harpy in him. Other fey don't see him as a harpy, they see him as a Fairy King. Keigo stares at you with a look in his eyes, a curious yet heartwarming gaze. You didn’t know how to feel about it, but you tried not to show indifference towards him. Harpy on the outside, fairy king on the inside? Interesting…

“So then… Why are you in the forest?” You ask, Keigo laughs and stands up once more, looking down at you. He tried not to look menacing towards you, but you couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated by his stature. Keigo turned his gaze from you, to around the forest, the oak trees, tall grass, the nearby river, then back to you.

“Simply put, I just needed to clear my head. Being king can be very tiring at times, especially when ruling over an entire realm. That and well, sometimes the fey can be overbearing, so a new scenery is always appreciated from time to time.” Keigo speaks with a distant tone, as if he is reflecting on something, maybe his home, maybe his life, you didn’t know.

“What about you?” Keigo throws the question back at you, catching you a bit off guard. True you really shouldn’t be in the forest when fey have been active as of late, Keigo being living proof of that. Fey aren’t to be trusted, they aren’t to be befriended, so why even talk to Keigo? Why trust him enough to tell him your reasoning? He did answer your question, so it was only fair, right? 

You wanted to befriend the fey . YOU wished that you could befriend the fey. Why have doubts now?

“Foraging.” You simply stated. What a lie, you don’t even have your foraging basket or notebook, you are afraid, aren’t you? You tensed slightly when Keigo’s gaze on you changed, studying you.

“Foraging?”

“Foraging.” You repeated, a lump in your throat, dread perhaps? Lying to fey? Lying to the king of the fey? How could you lie to someone you wanted to befriend? You’re too afraid to even try, aren’t you? I bet you thought that someone like him wouldn’t be as terrifying as you thought, hm? Having doubts? You know that books lie, it's why they are called fairy tales .

“Why not tell me about what you are foraging then, perhaps I’ve heard of it.” Keigo offered, he didn’t seem to catch on to your lie, at least that’s what you want to believe.

“Snake Fruit.” You blurt immediately, even surprising yourself with how fast you said the fruit. Keigo chuckled, he knew that Snake Fruit were not native to the forest the two of you were in, you knew this as well, but he decided to humor you. 

“Very well then, let us look for some Snake Fruit, shall we?” Keigo gave a toothy grin, that deep, raspy voice sending a chill down your spine. The predatory gaze and sharp fangs increase your heart rate. You swallow your fear and nod. Keigo could smell the rising cortisol from you, causing him to drop his smile and avert his gaze back to the forest. You felt a bit of relief when he did. You are scared of him. You feel more safe when his gaze isn’t on you, when those fangs aren’t flashing. What, do you think he will eat you? He could, you know. Harpies are known to have carnivorous diets, and you know that there have been cases of Harpies eating humans. You don’t trust him? Good. Don’t trust a harpy, or the fey. It will only lead to disaster if you do.

“Sure, let’s look for some snake fruit.” You agreed. You figured you will just spend maybe an hour or two ‘ searching ’ for the fruit, then make an excuse to leave. That will work, surely. It has to work.

Chapter Text

“Um, hello” You said to Keigo. You actually said it back. Keigo didn’t even realize how much his body changed, his feathers fluffing, eyes widening, his fluffy ears perking up, his whole demeanor going from cautious to excited. Never before had a human said hello back.

“You said it back…” Keigo whispered, mostly to himself, however it was just loud enough for you to hear, causing you to raise your eyebrow. Keigo noticed the confusion, then it took him a moment to realize he hadn't even introduced himself.

“Forgive me, let me introduce myself. I am Keigo, King of the Fey. Oh, and forgive my appearance, it alters between realms.” I greeted the human, with a warm smile. Keigo could sense the doubt, after all who’d believe a harpy is THE Fey King? After all he looked nothing like his father, besides the face and humanoid body. But other than that, he had red feathers all over, on his chest, shoulders, back, neck, even in his hair. He didn't have human-like feet, instead he had massive talons, with legs that made him look like he was part theropod. But the bird feet came in handy when it came to partying around with his subjects, swinging on branches, dangling upside down or if he needed to carry things over long distances. His wings were massive, at the very least a 16 ft. wingspan. The talons on his hands weren’t as long, but were still sharp and lethal. Nothing of him screamed ‘fairy king’ but his facial structure and human upper body. His height, you’d think would be around 5’8”, but no, he got his father’s height of 6’ 7” which was very intimidating. 

“I’m sorry, you said you were The Fey King? You don’t look anything like a fairy king.” You point out. Keigo chuckles and shakes his head, he moves to lift a hand up, and under him, a tree stump grows allowing for him to sit. The magic used like second nature, it took no effort and did nothing to exhaust him. Some magic was instinctual, natural, part of him. Other magics he learned, but never really used for he didn’t have many uses for them.

“Allow me to explain.” And he does, Keigo goes on to explain his parents, his father, his mother, and him. The story intrigued you, you never heard of a story where a fairy fell in love with a harpy before, both lived in different plains. Keigo could tell you were intrigued with the story, he could see your wander and curiosity, but he can also see your doubt. 

“So, you are half harpy, half fairy king?” You question. Keigo raises a brow in confusion then shakes his head, he straightens his back and looks down at you. He can understand it, his father a fairy king, and his mother a harpy, two unlikely beings having an offspring is unheard of, but not impossible. It wasn’t that hard to understand his appearance, he was mostly harpy, but with the attributes of a fairy king.

“I am half and half, but the half that is Fairy King will always be seen in the fey realm. Even if I look different, my magical prowess will always shine over my harpy characteristics, at least to other fey that is.” Keigo tries to explain. The fey don’t see Keigo as a harpy, they don’t even acknowledge it, it's as if the harpy part of him doesn’t even exist in their eyes. The harpies see him as a harpy, but don’t see the fairy king in him. It’s like the eyes of his subjects only see what they want to, the fey only seeing him as a fairy king, and the harpies seeing him as one of them. None of his subjects see him as having both, a bit of a sad truth but something he isn’t bothered by. Just another reason why no one will ever understand him. Keigo noticed that you were still a bit doubtful, almost indifferent about his dilemma, even if you tried to hide it. Keigo only gives another heartwarming smile to you.

“So then… Why are you in the forest?” You ask, Keigo laughs and stands up once more, looking down at you. He tried not to look menacing towards you, but you couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated by his stature. Keigo turned his gaze from you, to around the forest, the oak trees, tall grass, the nearby river, then back to you. He could tell he was scaring you slightly.

“Simply put, I just needed to clear my head. Being king can be very tiring at times, especially when ruling over an entire realm. That and well, sometimes the fey can be overbearing, so a new scenery is always appreciated from time to time.” Keigo speaks with a distant tone, as if he is reflecting on something, maybe his home, maybe his life, you didn’t know. You didn’t need to know either, it wasn’t your business after all. Keigo’s problems were his own and he didn’t feel the need to press them onto you. It wasn’t like Keigo was lying either, he did need to clear his head, and he wanted a change of scenery. After all, he hasn’t visited the mortal realm in 300 years, so he was also curious on what changed since he had last seen it all.

“What about you?” Keigo throws the question back at you, catching you a bit off guard. Keigo found it amusing that you were caught off guard, but kept his thoughts to himself. He could sense how nervous you were, almost like you didn’t know why you were in the forest. Or, maybe you didn’t want to tell him.

“Foraging.” You simply stated. Keigo could sense the lie, it wasn’t true. His gaze shifted a bit on you as he studied your body language, nervous, tense, anxious. He could sense the rising cortisol in your body, causing him to snap out of his focus.

“Foraging?” Keigo asked, a brow raised.

“Foraging.” You repeated. The overwhelming dread was something Keigo found a bit unsettling.

“Why not tell me about what you are foraging then, perhaps I’ve heard of it.” Keigo offered, hoping to lighten the mood, he knew you were lying, but he didn’t want to say anything about it. Humans had their reasons to be deceptive and untruthful when scared. He understood that. He wasn’t born yesterday. Keigo knows that his appearance is terrifying, that it invokes fear into mortals.

“Snake Fruit.” You blurt immediately, even surprising yourself with how fast you said the fruit. Keigo chuckled, he knew that Snake Fruit were not native to the forest the two of you were in, you knew this as well, but he decided to humor you. Keigo could easily grow the snake fruit and give it to you, but he wanted to take the chance to learn more about you. After all, it was the first time he had a conversation with a human in centuries.

“Very well then, let us look for some Snake Fruit, shall we?” Keigo gave a toothy grin, that deep, raspy voice sending a chill down your spine. He saw it. The predatory gaze and sharp fangs increase your heart rate. He heard it. Keigo could smell the rising cortisol from you once more, causing him to drop his smile and avert his gaze back to the forest. You felt a bit of relief when he did, this caused him his throat to release a low warble, not audible to you. Even though you were putting on a brave act for him, he knew you wanted nothing to do with him. Maybe you took pity on him, maybe you didn’t know how to react, maybe you were just scared. He knew you were, he also knew that at some point you would make an excuse to leave. He didn’t let his disappointment show, instead he gave a plastic smile, without teeth this time, and waited.

“Sure, let’s look for some snake fruit.” You agreed. Keigo nodded.

“Lead the way then.” Keigo spoke gently, he didn’t want to cause any more stress or discomfort for you than he already had. You nodded and led the way further into the forest, unsure of where to go, but you weren’t going to let that show.  Keigo could tell you had no idea where to go, but he still followed behind at a safe distance. He took the time to enjoy the scenery once more, the big trees, the sound of birds singing and squirrels chittering, the distant sound of running water from the river a ways away from where you two were. About thirty minutes into the walk, Keigo could sense your nerve increase, he knew you were not only lost, but also scared, he honored your foolish bravery anyways. Throughout the walk you made small comments on how there weren’t any fruit on this tree or that tree, something about maybe they weren’t in season or maybe you took a wrong turn. Keigo let you speak, he knew all these words were false and that you were just trying to cope with the fact you were deep in the forest with the fey king. The tension was growing and Keigo wasn’t really a fan of it, so he decided to break the ice.

“So… why snake fruit?” Keigo asked. He was curious if you wanted to try the fruit, or if it was a favorite of yours. 

“Ah, well… yeah, I’ve always wanted to try it, I had a friend who used to talk about them all the time. Something about how they are sweet and savory or bitter yet juicy, and how the skin of one is similar to a snake which is how it got its name. There was also the Dragon Fruit that had always interested me, the way it looks is so unique and the inside is supposed to be tender and easy to scoop with a sweet taste. “ You began ranting about fruit, different kinds. All the kinds that Keigo knew were not native to the land, but rather expensive imports, at least. He knew they used to be the last time he visited the mortal realm, he has no idea if the price for goods has increased or decreased. Then again, Keigo knows how to create fruitful plants, so if he really wanted to, he could sprout a tree ripe with snake fruit. A handy magic he learned from the gnomes and nymphs as a child. 

“And how rare is it to come by these fruits?” Keigo questioned, perhaps this could give a bit of insight on whether or not trade has changed.

“Well, they are rare to come by, some merchants sell them for five pounds of gold just for one fruit. Too expensive for my liking, I could buy a month’s worth of food with that kind of money.” You comment.

“So then I assume that snake fruits are hard to find in this region?” Keigo’s smile could be heard through his words, and of course you got caught in his little trap.

“Well, they aren’t native to this region so it’s very unlikely that-”  Your eyes widened, you’ve been caught. You turn around to find an innocent smile on Keigo, looking at the nearby trees. Keigo was amused that you were that easy to catch. 

“You knew, didn’t you.” You huff and scowl at Keigo.

“Knew what? I haven’t been to the mortal realm in three hundred years, I’m merely asking questions out of curiosity.” Keigo replied innocently. That playful expression in his eyes said otherwise, he knew what he did and you fell for it.

“Why you…” You grumbled, disgruntled that your plan was now thrown out the window.

“If you truly wish to try snake fruit, however. I could always grow some for you.” Keigo offered. That’s right, Keigo is fey, he knows magic, you’ve seen him do magic before. With a wave of his hand, a tree sprung from the ground, bunches of snake fruit littering the tree. Keigo could see the wonder in your eyes. Keigo carefully harvested the tree, taking a few fruit’s before waving his hand once more and the tree now retracting back into the soil. He decides to offer you a fruit.

“Here. Perhaps this will suffice as a peace offering? I really do not mean you any harm and I apologize for the scare I've given you. But hopefully we could learn more about each other and maybe become friends?” Keigo hoped you would agree, he’d been so lonely for so long. He wished for a friend, someone who understood him, someone who didn’t only see half of him, but all of him. He was tired of being alone, his people were not his friends, only those he had to look after. He wanted a friend, a real friend. A low rumbling trill coming from his throat, the sound too low for you to hear. He was anxious. When was the last time he was so nervous? Maybe when he was a child, or when he first took up the position as king? He doesn’t remember. He watched and waited. Then finally, an answer.

You took the fruit from Keigo’s talons and stared at it. Keigo was happy, his fluffy ears perking up, his pupils blown and his feathers fluffed. No matter how hard Keigo tried to hide his emotions, the harpy in him always gave him away. He then noticed you staring at him, which caused him to blink and avert his gaze, that small blush creeping up his neck and onto his face in embarrassment.

“Thank you.” You spoke, the gratitude in your voice unmistakable. Keigo whipped his head back to look at you, excitement rising once more.

“You said that merchants sell these fruits for five pounds of gold?” Keigo questioned, as he took one of the several other fruits in his hand and inspected it. You nodded, and Keigo handed you the one he was inspecting, then the rest.

“Well then, I hope you can perhaps sell a few to make a nice profit.” Keigo gave another heartwarming smile. He didn’t want you to be afraid of him, and he didn’t want today to be a one time thing. He wanted to see you again, hell he would do anything to talk to you again. For once, a human who didn’t run away, even if they feared him. For once, a human who talked to him, even held a conversation with him and listened to his stories. Keigo wanted more of it, he wanted more of you. This is what he needed, it was refreshing and it was intoxicating. Sure, he could just kidnap you and whisk you off to his realm, but what good is that if you feared him and wanted nothing to do with him? You’d end up a snack to the fairies, that’s what would happen.

“Thank you, really, this means a lot.” You smiled. You SMILED at HIM . Keigo’s wings fluffed, and instead of a response, a chirp came out instead, surprising the both of you. Keigo cleared his throat and bowed. 

“You are very welcome.” Keigo did his best to keep from scaring you. He liked that smile, it was his new favorite thing in the whole world. Your smile will forever be ingrained into his mind, the moment he knew he could make someone happy. He could make a mortal smile. No fear, or disgust, or anxiety behind the smile. It wasn’t fake, it was genuine, which made it all the more worthwhile. If Keigo could make you smile all the time, he would. Then it dawned on him, he COULD . He could make you smile, he could give you whatever you wanted if you asked. Hell, he would cut off his wings and give them to you if you asked. Okay maybe not everything, Keigo couldn’t do that, no no. Keigo was being stupid, he was just riding the high he got from the positive expression he caused.

Keigo watched your expression change from gratitude to confusion, your brows furrowing as you looked around. Keigo was now filled with confusion as well, what was wrong? Then he remembered, the two of you were deep in the forest, miles from civilization. He could sense your anxiety increasing. This was bad, he didn’t like that smell, he didn’t like seeing you in distress. He had to fix it. He needed to see that smile again. He could get you out of here, his senses were greatly enhanced, he could get you out.

“Ah, don’t worry. I can bring you back to your home.” Keigo offered. The quick relief in your expression calmed him down. A chirp escaped Keigo’s lips, which he covered with a taloned hand, looking away in embarrassment. With his other hand, he pointed to a direction, the direction the two of you came from.

“This way.” Keigo’s voice is now soft and quiet, as he leads the way back. You followed behind him, fruit in hand. Forty five minutes of silence, it was a comfortable silence for Keigo, but an awkward silence for you. You couldn’t help but gaze at the crimson feathers that cloaked Keigo, and he could feel your gaze on him. He didn’t bother to look behind himself to get a peek of you, the feeling of your eyes on him was enough for him to be content. Finally the two of you make it back to where you had met. Keigo stopped in his tracks and slowly turned back to you, careful not to make any sudden movements. 

“Here we are, back to where we met. I assume you know your way back from here?” Keigo questioned a fluffy brow raised. You nod and thank Keigo for bringing you back. Keigo smiled, his feathers fluffing up and his ears perking. He loved it when you showed gratitude to him, when you spoke kindly to him. 

“You are very welcome.” Keigo practically sang, even if it was deep and scratchy and rather off key. Not that he could help it, his appearance in the mortal realm was such a drastic change compared to in the fey realm. Keigo cleared his throat and smiled, waving goodbye, watching you leave back to your village. Now alone once more, Keigo opened a portal back to his own realm, and made his way back home. He felt like he was on cloud nine from the whole interaction with you. The party he hosted tonight was more lively, and Keigo indulged himself as he sang and danced and rode the high he got from envisioning your smile. Everyone could tell Keigo was in a happy mood, which meant nothing but good for the kingdom. Tonight, the fey celebrated as if it was their last day to live.

Chapter Text

It became a cycle, Keigo would visit the mortal realm every day for a few hours, in hopes of seeing you again. He would wait and see if you would come by, but most times he would keep himself occupied. If he did see you however, he would be over the moon. Keigo would give you gifts, either trinkets from his realm, or fruits he’d cultivate. He would tell stories, whether it be about some of the parties he’d throw, some old folklore, or of his previous encounters with humans. Keigo would also try his best not to scare you. He knew he would terrify you every time he got close, or his voice raised even the slightest. Keigo would cover his mouth with his wing whenever he got excited, he knew his sharp fangs and teeth would cause you to flinch or spike in stress. He only wished to see you happy, to see your smile, he couldn’t do that if his appearance frightened you half the time. Sometimes, Keigo wouldn't even show himself to you, he would instead leave you a gift on that tree stump he made the first time the two of you met. A basket of fruit, some mushrooms, even some seeds you could plant and grow. On days that were especially hard for you, Keigo would create a patch of grass that was soft and comforting to lay on, and he’d let you sit or lay there while you vented to him, he’d listen to every word only ever putting his two cents if you allowed him. There were times Keigo would give you a shed feather, however the feather was a bright vermillion red, full of color and health. It would look completely different from the feathers he had on his body. Keigo knew why, he’d get them from his realm and bring them to the mortal realm, their appearance not changing since they were no longer attached to him. Keigo explained it to you, how his appearance changed from how he truly looks in his realm, to how he looks in the mortal realm, something about the lack of magic in the mortal realm. Whenever you accepted his feathers as gifts, and played with them, he beamed, chirps escaping his lips and his pupils blown, his feathers puffed up.

Keigo became so enamored by you, he didn’t realize he would do things subconsciously. He would preen his feathers sometimes while listening to you speak. He would make different bird noises and his bird mannerisms would be more expressive. He wouldn’t realize his eyes pinning when he listened to you speak for hours on end, or how his feathers puffed up. He wouldn’t realize how his fluffy, feathered ears would perk up whenever he saw you, or how they lowered when you had to go. He would let out upset croons whenever he heard you talk about sad experiences or encounters in your life. Keigo had no idea that he would act so much like the harpy he is around you. It made you question even more if he truly was the fey king. 

Keigo showed you his realm once, or well, he created a portal and showed you a peek of his home. He loved seeing your curious and excited expressions, he loved whenever you asked about the fey wild, and he loved seeing your smile. He loved that you wouldn’t try to run, even when you were scared. He loved when you would move closer to him during the times you got spooked by the wildlife in the forest. Any time you made an effort to get near him, his entire being would light up. Of course this wouldn’t always be the case. There were times when Keigo visited the mortal realm and he was too in his head to notice you. He’d apologize to you, his usual raspy deep voice, sounding just a little more genuine. When you offered to listen to his troubles, he’d make up some lie, not wanting to get you involved in matters you don’t understand. He didn’t want to trouble you with his own problems, that burden was his to deal with on his own. 

Keigo had spent months in this cycle. Visiting the mortal realm and spending however long he could on the days he saw you. He would give you gifts, show you portals into his realm, provide you comfortable places to sit or lay in the forest, listen to your troubles, and always keep you company. Keigo didn’t realize what he was doing until it hit him one night, unbeknownst to him, he was courting you. How could he know? He didn’t talk to any about his romantic life, or how to even properly date. Keigo didn’t know he was trying to make you his, it was just some instinct in his mind telling him to do these things. You didn’t seem to mind how he acted, so how could he tell? Keigo had no idea, it wasn’t until a harpy informed him that he seemed to be excessively preening himself lately during his nightly parties. When he brushed it off, the harpy asked if he was courting someone, or perhaps, in love with someone. That stopped him in his tracks, his ears perking and his eyes widening. He pulled the harpy aside to his room and had them explain what courting meant. The harpy spent the night explaining courting and mating and what not to Keigo, giving him brief flashbacks to when his mother told him about these things. Of course he forgot about it, that information was given to him over two hundred years ago! The explanation reminded him of it all, and the next day when he visited the mortal realm, he seemed more nervous than usual. Something you picked up right away with how he acted.

When you questioned Keigo, he tried to brush it off. His whole demeanor seemed like a shy school boy in front of his crush. You decided to press him about how he was acting and he would always divert the conversation. He would grow apples or berries and hand them to you, tell you different facts about the trees and wildlife, or impersonate different birds. He would call upon the birds in the trees and have them perch on his shoulder and arms as he tweeted to them, conversing with them for advice. You didn’t understand anything, but you knew he was talking to the birds. The birds would sing and Keigo would chirp along, it was a sight that made you both stifle a laugh, and become lost in admiration. Keigo felt your eyes on him causing him to stop twittering to the birds, and turned to face you, a bit flushed in embarrassment. He apologized, and the birds flew off from his shoulder and arms. Keigo tried to calm himself and talk to you as he normally does, but he would always be shy about how he spoke to you. When you move closer, a fire of courage in you makes you more bold, Keigo peeped and his face was flushed. This new revelation to you, amused you. Getting a reaction out of Keigo became your new favorite game, you would sometimes tease Keigo and he would get flustered or forget how to speak. When you moved closer to him, he would lose his words and chirp like a bird. When you said his name, his pupils would be blown and his feathers would puff up. This made Keigo happy, that you were growing used to him, that you made efforts to get closer to him. Your cortisol levels slowly decrease over time, which was good. He didn’t stress you out as much anymore, he didn’t scare you as much, he didn’t feel like he had to hide his true self around you anymore. Keigo could let his walls crumble around you, and he was more confident when courting you, even if he didn’t tell you he was.

Chapter Text

Something was different, he was different, you couldn’t figure it out though. Even though his feathers were muted and withered, they still seemed to have a sort of shine to them. His demeanor was always calm, careful, soft, like he didn’t want to be seen as hostile. He was making more bird noises than usual, almost after every time you spoke. It was either a chirp, or a trill, hell, even a squawk at times. His pupils were always changing size, pinning. He looked like a mountain of soft, fluffy feathers every time he stared at you. Maybe it was just how harpies acted? You knew more about the fey than anything else, maybe your village library had a book on harpies. That would be a start, right? Yes. It would be a start, and perhaps an eye opener of how to truly understand Keigo. That’s what you would do, you would get a book on Harpies and try to understand Keigo more. The two of you were already decent friends, with Keigo always giving you gifts, and providing for you, even lending an ear for you to rant to. Surely you could do something for him as well right? You got more comfortable around him to get near him, so why not do something nice for him for how nicely he has treated you? That’s what you’ll do, you will do something nice for him. How cute… are you getting comfortable around that monster ? Don’t you think that’s just what he wants? For you to let your guard down, so he can take you when you least expect it? You know what the Fey do, don’t you? They steal from you, whether it's your heart, your name, your body, hell why not your mind? You know that harpies are even worse don’t you? There’s records of them attacking and EATING humans, and other humanoids. Do you really think a mix of those two abominations is good? How naïve and stupid you are.

A visit to the library, and you find a few books on Harpies, stories, records of attacks, but nothing on behaviors. You read the books there anyway, finding out Keigo’s heritage comes from the mountains, from a tribe of Hawk Harpies. His looks matched the descriptions written, besides the crimson feathers, which you now knew were a bright vermillion red. Perhaps the red was from his father’s genes? After all, females in nature are known to have more muted and dull colors whilst the males were more bright and vibrant. You continued your search for answers, only to come across another story, one of a monstrous harpy that was known as the omen of death. 

Hawks: The omen of death. A cloak of crimson, with claws so sharp, even a tiny graze is enough to leave a lethal gash to the skin. Avoid at all costs. Raptor-like features with a voracious appetite for human flesh. It’s said that if you hear a scream in the middle of the night, Hawks has come to claim a victim, a meal. Be weary of this monster from hell, for if you get too close, your fate is already sealed.

Your brows furrowed as you read more of this story about Hawks, it sounded almost exactly like Keigo, but surely there's no way… right? This story was published over 500 years ago, surely it can’t be true, right? Keigo said he hadn’t visited the mortal realm in over 300 years, and yet there are stories in this book that date to over 800 years ago. The ink on the book was so faded, you could barely make out the words. Surely it wasn’t actually true… You know it is, you know ‘Keigo’ is only trying to lure you into his trap so he could devour you. After all, what made you so special that he would actually spare your life and befriend you? Nothing . You better keep your distance, in fact, get rid of every gift you kept. For all you know, they could be cursed. Stay away from him, you know what he is capable of. No, no, you weren’t going to let your doubts get the better of you. You knew that Keigo wouldn’t hurt you, right? Wrong . He even told you that he has never laid a talon on a human before. A lie to put you into a false sense of security. You saw him communicating with birds for heaven sake! Birds! Birds? Birds… BIRDS! RIGHT! Harpies were avian! They had bird instincts and genetics within them! Surely that could be a clue, right?! There was an encyclopedia of birds somewhere in the library, you just needed to find it and find Hawk species, then you would get a clue about Keigo’s weird behavior as of late.

It took you about 30 minutes to find the Encyclopedia Of Birds, and around 5 minutes just to find the chapter on different types of Hawks. You weren’t sure what species of hawk, Keigo, was related to the most, so you spent the next three hours reading the whole chapter on hawks. You found out some interesting facts and traits that Keigo for sure portrayed. The different sounds he made when he was expressive, how his feathers fluffed, his eyes pinning. You were able to find out the reasons for all of those, the different calls Keigo made were a bit more difficult. Then you got to the section about courting, and your face was as bright as a tomato. Usually, most hawks will court their mates in the air, putting on spectacular shows and even live hunting to give to the females, but of course, you couldn’t fly, so you couldn’t join Keigo in the air for that. However, he did a lot of other things, he did provide you food, he would give you fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, even the rare times of rabbit if you asked. The way he presented himself was also different, he looked more groomed, his feathers, even though crimson and decrepit in the mortal realm, had a gloss to them that gave them a polished look. He kept himself looking presentable, which is something most male birds did when it came to looking for mates. Keigo never performed for you, he didn’t dance or sing for you, but he did mention how he would if you ever asked. So you could assume that if you did ask, he would take it as you showing interest in him. He always made his presence known to you, he didn’t want to scare you. One could assume he wanted to show he wasn’t interested in being seen as a threat, but as a potential partner. Of course there were his feathers, the ones he would give you, that was something that you kind of got a clue on from the other books you read. Harpies, and some other species of birds, would give feathers, sticks, rocks, or little trinkets as a sign of courtship, if accepted, it means you were interested. Oh, he liked you, he liked you liked you. And you have been leading him on by accepting all these gifts and getting closer and comfortable around him.

There's no way, right? There’s no way he was courting you, or let alone, had a romantic interest in you, it had to be coincidence. Is it? You saw how he acted when you smiled, when you joked and teased him, when you confided in him with your rants. Sure but maybe he was just happy to finally have a friend, anyone would be happy over that. The way his eyes would pin, how his feathers fluffed, oh and lets not forget how nervous he had been acting around you. Those coons, trills, even those peeps and cheeps, oh he was in love with you. ‘Love? No no no. We will not take it that far. Interest, he had interest in me, that sounds more likely’ You thought to yourself. The info dump of hawk behaviors was starting to make your head spin, and so you tried to look at the other birds in the encyclopedia. Oh look at that, this species of bird builds nests as a form of courting. This one dances, while this one sings. There's one that would preen itself into perfection to attract a mate, and another that would give their hunt to the female. Keigo preened himself in front of you when you would talk to him. He would offer you food, feathers, even make you a bed of grass for you to lay on. Okay that last one was just to provide comfort for you to vent, nothing more! He always left you a gift even when he wasn’t able to stay long. It’s just a gift, nothing more or less. But if you look at it from a different perspective, one could say he was providing for you like a mate would their partner. No no, that’s ridiculous. 

You decided it was enough reading, and went to clear your head by taking a stroll through the forest. As you usually would. It was only noon, meaning plenty of sunlight left for you to try and calm down. Through your journey in the forest, you noticed how calm it was, almost too calm. It was quiet, there were no birds chirping, no deer trotting, no squirrels chittering. The only sound that could be heard was the rushing water from the distant river within the forest. It was quiet, too quiet. Something was off. You went deeper into the forest, maybe you were just thinking too much. Stupid, naïve, blind. Don't you know that a quiet forest is a deadly forest? The walk seemed to calm you down, it wasn’t bad, in fact it was so calming, you didn’t realize how deep you were in the forest. That was, until everything looked the same to you. Each tree was identical, the leaves created a roof making it hard to tell the time of day, the path you normally took was nowhere to be seen. Everything was becoming a bit harder to see, it was getting darker, almost like it was turning night, but a bit too suddenly. You had a hard time realizing the claws on your stomach or how you were pinned down, or the putrid stench near your face, the drool hitting your cheek. What a life you lived, shouldn’t have gone into the forest when it was quiet.

Why can’t you focus? Oh… That's why. The fear invoked freeze response kept you from realizing the panic attack you were in. Then that’s when you heard it, the shrill scream that came from your mouth as you saw the bear readying to swipe at you with its massive claws.

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Keigo was anxious, he couldn't tell why. Something didn’t feel right to him, almost as if something in his bird brain was nagging him to go to the mortal realm. Maybe he was just nervous about seeing you, that seemed to be the case as of late. He would have to calm his nerves when he went to the mortal realm, just so he wouldn't act a fool in front of you. Have you eaten? Have you bathed? Maybe you forgot your foraging basket at the stump? No no no, those were the problems. He could smell the soap you used, the last time he saw you. Yesterday. He always provided you with food to eat, so it couldn't be hunger. He saw you leave with your basket full of foraged goods, so it wasn’t that. So why did he feel like something was wrong? Maybe it was just in his head. Yeah that was it. He was just thinking too much of it. Maybe he would visit the mortal realm earlier than usual, give him some time to clear his head while he waits for you as he always did. That bed of grass he made you was becoming flat, maybe he could spend his time making it more comfortable for you. Yeah, he could do that to clear his mind. 

And so he left, Keigo went to the mortal realm, and began to fix the bed of grass he made for you. That anxious feeling in the pit of his stomach felt worse. The forest was so quiet, it made his feathers stand on end. He tried to shake off the feeling, and went back to fixing the grass bed, making it the most comfortable thing you laid on. This would clear his mind, if you were happy and comfortable, he could see you smile, and your smile always brightened his day. The thought of your smile and laughter had his face flushed and his feathers puffed, and how he chirped just thinking of it. Right as Keigo was about to finish, he heard it, he heard a scream. But not just any scream, it was a scream that made his heart sink. You, it was your scream, a sound that would invoke nightmares for the rest of his life. The way it echoed in the forest and how it pierce his eardrums, it was enough for his wings to unfurl and for him to take flight. He was moving, he was flying. He was flying so fast, he was a blur of crimson to the naked eye. What felt like milliseconds to the world, felt like hours for Keigo, he didn't feel like he was flying fast enough, he needed to get to you quicker. And so he did, he used his magic to warp the trees so he didn't have to bob and weave through them. He used his magic to locate you, to locate your heartbeat, oh how it was racing, and oh how it made Keigo's heart sink. He located your heart, and then another, it was a bigger heart. The smell that hit him, he recognized it, bear. A bear, there was a bear attacking you, oh, oh no. Keigo could feel his senses enhance, and his instincts kick in. Keigo could only see red, a red that wasn't his feathers, no. It was blood, but it wasn't your blood and it wasn't his blood, no. It was the bear's blood, on his talons, on his face, in his mouth, on his teeth, on his tongue. He could taste it, the blood of the bear. Oh how he wanted to devour this bear for daring to raise a claw to you. How dare this animal touch what belonged to him. 

Chapter Text

Keigo couldn’t think, no he could not. All he did was sink his talons into the already dead bear, that poor animal. Talons shredded fur, skin, and organs of the bear, all while Keigo’s pupils were constricted, his face manic. There was a spine chilling crack and crunch that came from the body. Bones, bones were being crushed within Keigo's talons, at this point the poor bear had been mutilated. Keigo was not himself, he was not lucid at all, his feathers were fluffed yet sharpened, surely some sort of magic, his hair was raised the way a cockatoo would raise the feathers on their crest, his fangs were bared and at one point you could have sworn you saw Keigo grind the large intestine within his teeth. The smell of blood and sound of the gushing meat and blood brought you out of your panic attack, the horrible sight now causing a wave of nausea to hit you. You lurched over and threw up, trying to look away from the horrific display Keigo put on. The sound of you vomiting was enough for Keigo to regain control over himself, he stopped and looked at the mess he made, then he looked over to you. Your cortisol had skyrocketed, you were on your hands and knees throwing up your lunch, all while your body shook. Keigo let out a sad warble as he tried to move over to you, the moment you saw him move, you jumped and crawled away from him. The sight of you moving away from him broke his heart, but he understood why. In an act to protect you, he went too far, he lost control and showed a side of himself he tried to repress. After all, Harpies are known to be very violent and messy when attacking and/or killing. Keigo hated that part of him, and tried to repress those instincts as best he could.

“I’m sorry.” Keigo finally spoke, his voice was low and raspy, his eyes looking towards the ground. “I went too far, and now I’ve scared you.” He sighed, and snapped his finger, behind him vines grew and wrapped around what was left of the bear, and the earth split creating a hole. The vines began dragging the body underground then the hold closed as a giant patch of flowers grew in its place. The blood remained, staining the grass but at least the corpse was gone. Keigo looked down at himself, the blood all over his feathers caused them to shine. He finally looked up back towards you, you calmed down a bit, but were still in a panicked state. Keigo kept his distance as he spoke.

“I’m going to clean myself off in the river… if you wish to join me, I can take you back home after.” Keigo offered. You blinked, then took a deep breath. 

Keigo was only protecting you, that’s all, he wouldn’t raise a talon to harm you ever. He mutilated that bear with ease, you think he wouldn’t do the same to you? He was just making sure the bear wouldn't hurt you is all. He killed the bear then proceeded to have a field day with its innards. He… He apologized for his actions. Who wouldn’t after they scared the shit out of the person they love? He doesn’t love me, we are just friends. Is that so? Yes. Right…  

After the internal battle with yourself, you decide to come with Keigo, but keep a distance. Keigo understood, but he was happy to see you join him. He tried not to let it show, but the happy little trill he made was enough to let you know. He didn’t love you… right? He didn’t show any interest, surely… No, that’d be absurd, he is royalty, to an extent, and you were just your average villager, why would he take interest in you? Why not ask? Why don’t you ask? Wouldn’t hurt right? If you’re wrong wouldn't that make things awkward? Oh no, don’t you try to turn things around on yourself. This internal conflict was causing you to scowl as you followed behind Keigo. He wasn’t looking behind him however, he knew you were behind him, that’s all he needed for now. He didn’t want to push you or scare you even more. As you continued to battle with your inner monologue, your stress increased from the idea that Keigo might actually love you, like who the hell would love you? You know who. NO! Yes. No, he doesn’t love you, no one has ever lov-

“Are you alright?” Keigo’s voice broke your internal conflict, as you shook your head and faced him. He had stopped walking as he gazed at you with a look of concern. Right… He can smell your emotions or some shit like that.

“I’m fine, just… processing, is all.” You spoke, which Keigo nodded and continued walking towards the river.

“If I may ask, what is it you are processing? If it’s about earlier… I really am sorry you had to see that. I try to repress those instincts, but I can lose control pretty fast if someone or something tries to cause harm to someone I…” Keigo trailed off for a moment. “To someone I care about.” Keigo nods. You gulp, what was he going to say? Why did he pause?

“What do you mean, by someone you care about?” You decide to ask. “Do you… care about me?” Keigo halts and turns towards you, an alerted squawk coming from him as his brows raise.

“What made you think I didn’t care about you?!” Keigo rushed to say, he seemed alarmed by your question. “I thought I made it pretty clear how much I care about you, I wouldn’t have saved you if I didn’t care about you.” Keigo began to ramble. “There’s a lot about you that’s very appealing and very likable. You have a wonderful smile and laugh, and you always have such insightful stories, let’s not forget how accepting you are. You make me happy, your presence is enough to brighten anyone’s mood, and the problems and issues you deal with are always a pleasure to listen to, I mean that I always enjoy being there to comfort you, is what I mean.”  You feel a light blush spread across your face, when you hear Keigo compliment you. Keigo realized what he said, it was basically a confession, but he hoped it didn’t come out that way. “What I mean is, yes I do care about you. I care very much about you.” Keigo says. You nod, then avert your gaze for a moment, then look back towards him.

“How far does that go? Like, you care about me deeply as a friend, right?” You try to push your luck. Keigo’s eyes pin and his feathers puff up, then his brows furrow as he averts his gaze.

“No, more than that.” He admits, taking a deep breath he continues. “I.. look, for a while now I have been er… I’ve been courting you. At first, I didn’t even realize until I came to the realization, and when I found out, I continued, in the hopes you’d feel the same. But saying it out loud, it makes me realize how stupid and foolish that thought is… I messed up, I really did. I scared you, I did something I didn’t want to ever do again. I don’t want you to see me as some monster, or some beast to be afraid of. That’s not who I am.” Keigo confesses. “I do care about you, a lot, I care about you very much. I can only hope that you’d care about me in the same way as I do you, or at the very least… do not push me away.” Keigo crouches down so he is eye level with you, the blood on his face still present. “Even if you don’t feel the same way about me, please don’t push me away.” Keigo was on the verge of tears. The very idea of you resenting him or pushing him away was enough to pull on his heartstrings. He could not bear the idea of losing you, even if it was your own decision. He could not lose his only friend, you. His, you were his, and he would not allow himself to lose you, he forbade it. He wanted you more than anything and he would do anything to keep you, even if it meant hurting others.

You were left speechless, you didn’t know what to say, let alone what to do with the confession thrown at you. See? He does love you. Love was never said, he said he cared. More than a friend. SHUT IT. What are you going to do now? How will you respond? You took a moment to gather your thoughts before speaking.

“I… You’ve been courting me, so you see me as a potential mate, er partner. You see me as a potential partner. That’s a lot to take in, really it is. I don’t know what to say about it really, but… I won’t push you away. I still want to be your friend, Keigo, and maybe… maybe if I grow to feel the same way, I wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.” You comment. Keigo’s eyes light up as his feathers puff up once again, his ear perk and his lips form a smile. As much as he wants to cheer and jump and celebrate that you are willing to be his mate, he knows that it isn’t a guarantee. You said if, if is good. It just means Keigo has to try harder, he just needs to put more effort into showing you how good of a partner he can be. He can provide, he can protect, he can do so much more. Keigo calms down and nods, his smile never leaving his face.

“Let’s continue heading towards the river, I don’t want to smell around you.” Keigo chuckles as he stands up and guides you to the river with him. You follow, if only you knew what accepting his feeling meant for you.

Chapter Text

It had been months since Keigo’s confession, and every time he sees you, his heart pounds. You didn’t say no, you didn’t deny his feelings, nor did you push him away. The two of you grew close, bantering about and always exploring new areas together. Keigo showed you the different magic he knew, the ones that he knew instinctively and the ones that were taught. Anything to do with his feathers and wings, were part of the magic that naturally flowed through his body, he could sharpen, harden, soften, enlarge or shrink his feathers if he so wished. It would take no energy to do so, and he could do so without even needing to think about it. Other magics, like cultivation and manipulation, were taught. He grew a tree that sprouted vines, and he manipulated the vines to wrap around each other to create a hammock for you and him to lay in. Keigo would gently pick you up and set you in the hammock as he climbed in next to you, a bit cozy in your opinion. The two of you laid there all day, and when night came, you decided to stay there with him, stargazing and telling stories. You woke up wrapped in the arms of Keigo, as his wing covered you like a blanket. It made for a rather tense morning, but the lighthearted jokes were enough to break the tension. You didn’t admit it to Keigo, but it was the best you had slept in over a decade. It soon became a rather continuous cycle, spending one night with Keigo in that hammock he made for you and him to relax in. You would always seem happy and comfortable when that day of the week came. You weren’t alone, you had someone to spend time with, someone to sleep next to, someone to comfort you. It had been months since Keigo’s confession, and every time you see him, you can feel your heartbeat just a little faster. You would confide in him, joke with him, and even show him some of the rare finds you kept when you went on foraging trips. You showed him your bunches of wild black trumpets and lobster mushrooms that you preserved. You showed him your homemade jams and elderberry honey, he found the taste of the honey to be his favorite, even asking you how you made it. It was a family secret you wouldn’t expose. He made a joke of having you being a part of his family, you blushed, he smiled. The more you two spent time together, the more you felt your feelings for him grow. You wanted to be around him more, even when you clearly weren't in the mood to talk to him or go outside. You had your own problems and insecurities, you had your own troubles, but you didn’t let them get to you.

He loved that, he loved that you wanted to continue to be around him. He loved that you were willing to try to be with him if your feelings ever got that far. He loved… you. He wouldn’t tell you that though, not yet. He didn’t want to scare you off with his feelings. He needed to find ways to get you to fall in love with him, we could do so much, he could only do so much. Then an idea, he could take you to his realm. Yes, he could show you his world, his home. He could show you the wonders of the fey, and even him. He could show you the real him. He could show you how he really looks, his vibrant wings, his gorgeous hair, his smooth and bright skin. Yes, he could do that, he could show you his world. What a wonderful idea, a stupid and foolish, yet wonderful idea. He could bring you to his realm and show you everything you always talked about wanting to see, you could see his home, his tree, his lovely tree. Keigo would do just that, he would get up from his throne and make his way to the mortal realm. Oh how his heart raced at the idea of bringing you here, and how his smile never seemed to fade as he began looking for you in the mortal realm. Oh how stupid and foolish of him to leave the forest.

You so happened to be in your home, reading about the different wildlife, and how common it was for a bear to be in the forest. Turns out bears are more fond of forests and mountains than anything else, so it is rather common to find a bear in the forest. Just your luck, right? You know you were very lucky to even survive, Hawks could have killed you without even realizing. Keigo, and he wouldn’t do that. Of course he would, you saw that manic gaze and feral smile, he wasn’t even himself when he killed that bear. You don’t know anything, he was just being protective. He only stopped because he heard you throw up. That just means he was paying attention, then, he wouldn’t have stopped if he truly lost it. Or maybe the sound of you throwing up, the sound of you being weak, is what made him come back to his senses. He was just concerned, is all. You were scared, you backed away from him, your body knew what to fear. You were in shock, that's different, you weren’t scared. Your body was shaking, your face had the expression of fear, you did not want to be anywhere near that monster . Keigo is not a monster, he isn’t. Oh really? I bet if anyone else says Hawks, they would for sure treat him like one. His name is Kiego, not Hawks. Only you would know his name, no one else would. Oh shut it already. 

You decide to get some air and head outside for a walk, and oh are you glad you did, but at the same time you wish you didn’t. In the distance, at the edge of the forest, you saw a familiar crimson, a familiar face and those familiar eyes. Keigo was there, he seemed lost in thought almost, as he made his way out of the forest and towards your village. Your house happened to be near the gates of your village, and since they were open during the day, you could see him making his way over, sticking out like a sore thumb. Maybe if you were quick enough you could lead him awa- The sound of a horn went off, and a few of the villagers with pitchforks and spears made their way towards the gate. Too late. Well… shit. You rushed over towards the gate, and tried to get in front to see what was going on. Keigo looked terrified as he saw the angry villagers try and take a poke or stab at him, of course he kept his distance. Some villagers climbed up the posts on the walls and aimed bows, trying to hit Keigo. Keigo, of course, used his magic to block the arrows, creating a shield with his wings as the feathers hardened. This scared a few of the villagers as they shouted at him, calling him a monster. 

“It’s Hawks! The omen of death!” An elderly villager shouted from behind, scaring a few of the others. The villagers started creeping towards Keigo, mockingly jabbing the air to get him to back up, and he did. Then his eyes landed on you and his gaze softened, he wanted to talk to you, but the angry mob refused to let him get closer. When the villagers noticed Keigo not backing away, they became more aggressive, yelling, pushing, shoving to get near him and try to stab him. As they did so, one of the spears sliced your arm, causing you to yelp in pain and fall to your knees, blood dripping down as you instinctively held your arm. That was more than Keigo could handle before his feathers sharpened and his wings spread, a crowd of screams and gasps came from the crowd as some of the villagers backed away. Keigo’s eyes were blown and his crest feathers raised, while some feathers detached from his wings and were aimed at the mob. He made a promise to himself, to never let anyone hurt you, and he would be damned if he was going to allow the ignorant folk of your village get in his way. A flurry of arrows went his way, and with one powerful flap of the wings, the arrows were sent back. The detached, sharpened feathers were sent into the crowd, slicing every pitchfork, bow and spear in half, along with severing the arm of the careless man who sliced your arm with a spear. You were focused on the pain in your arm to notice everything around you, the screams and clutter of movement seems to be so muted and slow for you. It wasn’t until you felt a taloned hand on your shoulder that you finally looked up, a pair of golden eyes staring at you with a soft expression. You looked around, and saw that everyone had been magically encapsulated, or well frozen in time so to speak.

“Are you alright?” Keigo asked, his voice deep, raspy, and soft. He carefully removes your hand from your arm to inspect the gash in your arm, the cut was deep, but not deep enough for stitches thankfully. Keigo flexed his hand and from the ground below, a plant sprouted, he picked it and wrapped it around your wound. You tried to identify the plant, but you figured with how it glowed a golden hue, it wasn't from the mortal world. You felt a light sting, almost like a paper cut, where your wound was, then all pain ceased.

“Doesn’t hurt anymore.” You mumble, looking at your arm, wrapped in the golden plant. Keigo sighed as a wave of relief hit him. He rested his head on your shoulder, his ears and wings drooping as he inhaled and exhaled deeply.

“Thank the gods you are okay. I don’t know what I would have done if you had gotten more hurt.” Keigo’s voice was a bit shaky, but also filled with concern. You huff and smile, a light chuckle escaping your lips.

“It was just a light gash, I’m okay, I’ll live.” You joke, as you take your hand and gently run your fingers through Keigo’s hair, the feeling of his fluffy hair mixed with the soft feathers made for a rather heavenly feeling. A croon could be heard coming from Keigo as his body relaxed.

“It’s not that. I will always heal your wounds, I will always keep you safe, but… Are you always neglected by your neighbors? Not a single one showed any concern for you when you got hurt and made a sound of pain. Not a single one. Does no one here care for you?” Keigo questioned, lifting his head to look down at you, his fluffy brows furrowing. No one cares for you in this village, you have been alone for over 12 years now, why would someone bother to help the outcast of the village? You aren’t an outcast, you were just by yourself is all. Your parents died when you were only a child, and it’s your fault after all. It’s not your fault! You were just a kid, how could you know? Chasing fairytales only to lose your family, isn’t that a funny story. You weren’t chasing fairytales, you didn’t know that you were wandering near a cave that inhabited an owlbear. You shouldn’t have wandered. You were just curious is all. And looked who paid the price. You didn’t realize tears were falling down your cheeks until Keigo reached out to wipe them away. He took a deep breath then nodded. He picked you up, cradling you in his arms, wrapping a wing around you, and stood up.

“Come, let me take you away from here, let me take you home.” Keigo spoke gently as he entered the village. You showed him which house was yours and he nodded. Once the two of you were inside, he closed the door and gently set you down on your couch. After you two were in the safety of your home, Keigo snapped his finger, and from outside you could hear the paused screams resume, then die down. ‘Ah, Keigo unfroze everyone’ you thought to yourself. Keigo took this moment to look around your home, it was a small cottage, yet it was also cozy. The kitchen had baskets of fruits, vegetables and forageables, he even spotted some of the gifts he had given you, all taken care of. The living room consisted of a large couch at the back of a wall, then a loveseat facing the fireplace, a bearskin rug in between. There were a few trophies hanging above the fireplace, back when your father did hunting, he would taxidermy his prizes and hang them up. A few deer, one 12 point buck and the grand prize being a massive elk. Keigo found them oddly appetizing. There was a dining room, small but practical. There was a handmade oak table, with three handmade chairs to match. There was a small hallway with a few doors. Keigo decided to sit on the floor in front of the couch, facing you.

“Are you okay?” Keigo asked once more, this time not asking about the now healed wound on your arm, but rather you in general. You take a moment to look at Keigo and think. He could have killed you. He didn’t.

“Would you ever hurt me?” You decide to just ask, to get your inner monologue to shut up for once. Keigo was taken back by your question and shook his head. 

“No, I would never hurt you. Never would I ever dream of it.” Keigo told you, which seemed to calm you down a bit. You nod and sigh, taking a deep breath as you look down at him.

“Why do you ask, is there something bothering you?” Keigo queried, his head tilting in a bird-like manner as he looked up at you. You found it endearing.

“No, just going through it is all, since that bear attack, I just… I don’t know.” You seem a bit unsure of your words, granted the attack happened months ago, but you still can’t seem to get that image out of your head. The image of Keigo acting so feral and not himself. Keigo could sense it, your underlying fear of him, and he hated it. If only there was a way to erase that image of him from your mind… Oh, oh wait. Keigo nearly forgot the entire reason why he came to visit you in the first place. He looks up at you with a sincere smile and places his taloned hand on your knee.

“Come with me. I want to show you my home. I want to show you the real me.” Keigo spoke softly, gazing at you gently and warmly. The sudden request catches you a bit off guard, a request to go with him to his realm, his home, to see the real him. You were always fascinated with his world, you’ve seen bits of it when he opened portals to it. You wanted to see more, plus it’s not like it was a permanent thing, he wasn’t going to trap you there… right? Don’t go with him.

“Okay… yeah sure, that sounds like it could be fun.” You say with an hopeful tone. Keigo perked up, letting out a happy trill and stood up. He held out his hand for you to take, when you did he pulled you up to him. 

“Let’s get going then.” Keigo took his hand from you and wrapped it around your shoulder, his other hand glowing as he created a portal to his realm. Your heart raced, knowing you were about to explore a whole new world, and a whole new side of Keigo. Your emotions ran wild, anxiety, excitement, fear, horrified, thrilled. Keigo looked down at you when he sensed your heart rate spike, and gave your shoulder a gentle squeeze.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be by your side the whole time, I will never let any harm come to you in my realm.” Keigo reassured you, causing you to relax a bit. Keigo began to lead you into the portal with him, holding you every step of the way. When you entered through the portal, you were met with a whole new world, filled with life and color. You saw animals only described in fairytales, and plants you’ve never even heard of. It was like you walked into a world of complete fantasy. Your eyes brighten and your lips curve into a smile, your expression willed with joy and wonder. Then you turn to face Keigo, and oh if you weren’t swooning over him before, you most certainly were now.

Chapter Text

In the Fey Realm, Keigo looks majestic. A young and strong body, glorious red wings that adorn his back, no longer looking like a cloak wrapped around him. Golden Hawk-like eyes, bushy brows,and golden blond hair. Markings on his face, and around his eyes. He looks younger, a perfect smile, and a handsome face. His talons look less lethal and more well maintained, more human-like. Small red feathers adorning his neck and shoulders, some mixing in with his hair at the back. His demeanor is nothing but charming, it was as if he was a completely different being. He was beautiful. He IS beautiful. You could have sworn you felt your heart swell, you were swooning, looking dazed, just staring at him.

Keigo noticed your stare and cocked his head in confusion before realizing. He let out a hearty chuckle, and oh how it made your heart melt, oh how you could listen to his voice forever. It was as if his voice had a unique charm to it, one you never wanted to be freed from.

“I guess the change in looks is rather dramatic, sorry if I didn’t warn you about that, or if I did and forgot to remind you, sorry about that too.” Keigo laughed, his face adorning a warm smile. He placed a gentle hand on your back and began walking, guiding you with him.

“Come, let me show you around my kingdom and home.” Keigo spoke, he began showing you the different flora and fauna around. Every so often, small pixies would come by and greet Kiego, and you as well. They would question Keigo about you, bombarding him with questions about you, overwhelming him. He dismissed them and pretty soon everyone knew of your arrival. 

Satyrs and fairies came by, then the dryads, followed by the gnomes and nymphs. By the time the harpies came by, Keigo had enough and grabbed you, pulling you into his embrace and flying off with you. He held you close, making sure not to drop you, his body warm and surprisingly soft. With a few beats of his wings, he landed on the branch of a tree, a big tree, a massive tree. He walked into the tree, the inside was… lived in? There was a bed in the middle, a large circular bed. It was the only piece of furniture in the room, a large hole nearby on the floor that led deeper into the tree.

“Sorry about that, my people can get very curious.” Keigo chuckled, setting you down, a pang of disappointment filled you, an invisible frown. You turned to face Keigo, admiring his features, he stared back, a soft gaze that made your heart melt. A faint smile appeared on your face, your face feeling warm under his gaze.

“It’s okay. People are naturally curious about the unknown.” You tell Keigo, breaking your gaze on him and looking around the hollow tree.

“Do you live here?” You questioned, walking towards the hole on the floor. Peering down you saw a set of stairs that led to a lower floor of the tree. Keigo noticed your curiosity, and walked towards the hole, heading down the stairs and offering you a hand. You graciously took his hand, and he escorted you down the stairs.

“I do, this is my home, and the realm is my kingdom, mine to rule” Keigo smiled, you could have sworn you heard him whisper something, something about you, but you couldn’t pick up what he said. The next room was large and barren, no furniture only windows, made for lots of room for activity. Keigo led you down the next flight of stairs, which led to the main room.  The ‘living room’ of sorts, where Keigo’s throne was displayed. Well, the throne was one way to put it, it was a wooden swing made from the branches of the tree, that was tied to the ceiling of the room with vines by the arm rests. A large chair swing was one way to think of it. There of course was furniture around the room, there was a large table with stump-like chairs around it. On the table was a large wooden bowl that contained different fruits. There wasn’t much to it, but it was enough for Keigo, and hopefully… Hopefully it'll be enough for you too.

“It’s not much, but it's enough.” Keigo spoke, grabbing an orange from the bowl of fruits, peeling then eating it. He offered you a slice, and you took it, the orange slice was heavenly. You never expected it to be so bitterly sweet and juicy, more than your normal orange would be. Keigo took notice of your pleased expression and offered you half of the orange, to which you took with no hesitation. You at the very least knew, you’d never go hungry with Keigo with you by your side. The simplicity of his home, combined with the bounty of nature, felt more inviting and warm than any opulent palace.

"You know…" Keigo started, leaning casually against the wall.

"this place is enchanted. The tree, the fruits, the air—everything here is alive with magic. It's all interconnected, and being here keeps me... well, let's just say it keeps me looking this way." He chuckled, the sound echoing softly around the room.

You felt a smile creep onto your face, taking in all the new information and the vibrant beauty surrounding you. 

"It's incredible. I've never seen anything like it." You admired the warm air and peaceful aura the fey realm provided. Keigo's golden eyes softened as he looked at you.

"I'm glad you like it. I wanted to share this part of my life with you because... well, because you're important to me." His voice grew quieter with the last words, but they resonated deeply within you. A flutter of emotion rose in your chest. The admiration you felt for Keigo in the mortal realm had grown exponentially here. His charm, his kindness, and now his openness made your heart race.

"Thank you, Keigo." You said softly. "For bringing me here, for sharing this with me." He took a step closer, his wings rustling slightly. 

"There's one more thing I want to show you." He said, a mysterious glint in his eye. He led you to another part of the room where a small, almost hidden door was nestled among the tree. He opened it, revealing a spiral staircase that seemed to glow with a soft light.

"Where does this lead?" you asked, curiosity piqued.

"To the heart of the tree." Keigo replied. "It's a place only a few ever see, but I want you to see it."

As you descended the stairs, the air grew warmer and the glow brighter. At the bottom, you entered a chamber unlike any other. The walls seemed to pulse with a gentle, golden light, and in the center stood a pool of crystal-clear water. The air was filled with a sweet, floral scent that made you feel both relaxed and invigorated.

"This is the heart of the tree." Keigo said, his voice reverent. "It's where the magic is strongest. It's a place of healing and renewal." Y ou approached the pool, mesmerized by its tranquility.

"It's beautiful." you whispered.

"It's a sanctuary within the realm, a place where one can find solace and rejuvenation." Keigo smiled softly, his gaze following yours as you admired the serene pool. You nodded in awe, feeling a sense of reverence wash over you in the presence of such magic.

"It's truly remarkable." you murmured, unable to tear your eyes away from the shimmering surface of the water. As you stood there, lost in the tranquil atmosphere, Keigo's hand found yours once again, his touch grounding you in the moment.

 "Would you like to take a closer look?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. You turned to him, finding comfort in the warmth of his gaze.

"Yes, please." you replied, your curiosity piqued. With a gentle smile, Keigo led you to the edge of the pool, his presence reassuring as you knelt down to dip your fingers into the cool water. As your fingertips made contact with the surface, you felt a gentle tingling sensation, as if the magic of the pool was reaching out to embrace you.

"It's like... it's like the water is alive." you murmured, marveling at the sensation. Keigo nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting the wonder mirrored in your own.

"In a way, it is. This pool is connected to the very essence of the tree, drawing upon its magic to bring comfort and healing to those who seek it." Keigo explained, watching as you played with the water.

As you continued to gaze into the depths of the pool, you felt a sense of peace wash over you. Keigo then stood up, bringing you up with him. His smile never faded as he moved closer to you, you could feel his other arm snake around your waist, pulling you closer to him.

“I do have to confess, being here with you right now, I’ve never felt more happy and content in my life… and that’s saying something considering I am thousands of years old.” Keigo spoke, a light chuckle at the end making you swoon over him more. Surely he isn’t… Oh you know he is.

“I… it’s funny, I’ve known you for quite some time, and fell for you and yet, I still don't even know your name. I never had the courage to ask.” Keigo whispered, his smile faltering slightly as his wings drooped. That’s true, not once, ever did Keigo ask you your name, you never told him it for fear he would take it. Surely he wouldn't do that now, not after everything he had confessed to you. It wouldn't hurt you to tell him, now would it? Yes it would. No it wouldn’t. Fey will always take, it's only in their nature to do so.

"I find that endearing.” You admitted. Keigo knew about the rumors and tales the mortals told of the fey, he knew of your caution. Keigo wrapped his wings around you pulling you closer to him, the shimmering light that reflected off the pool of water cascaded over him, giving him an ethereal glow. Your heart paced, your pupils dilating, the feeling of being so close to him had you overwhelmed with desire. Keigo sensed it, he could hear your heart, the way it raced, he could sense the dopamine rush throughout your body as he held you, causing his wings to fluff up.

Keigo let out a low, rumbling trill, a noise of content and happiness. His face neared yours as he stared at you, nothing but the promise of safety and compassion behind his gaze. He pulled you closer, your bodies pressed against one another as his breath tickled your lips. Being this close to someone should not feel this heavenly and yet it does. His lips connected with yours, soft, warm, inviting, intoxicating. You melted into the kiss, your free arm wrapping around his neck to pull him closer to you. You could feel the small feathers that adorned the back of his neck, how soft they were, and how Keigo’s body shivered in delight, his breath staggering. He broke the kiss to catch his breath, then went back in for another kiss, and then a third. Fourth. Fifth kiss, each more passionate than the last. Finally, finally after breaking the kiss once more he pulled away slightly. His eyes were large circles of black with a thin golden rim, his feathers were fluffed up to the max, a happy rumble vibrating within his throat and chest as he stared at you.

“You have no idea. No idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” Keigo’s smile only grew as his body felt warm and content. You were left speechless, but also wanting more, you wanted to feel his lips against yours once more, you wanted- Moving too fast over a kiss, what are you, touch starved and deprived of affection? You wanted to strangle your inner monologue for ruining your fantasies from forming.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while as well.” You admitted. Keigo let out a happy chirp, pulling you closer to him and nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck. Keigo was overwhelmed with love and adoration, wanting nothing more than to be with you for as long as he could. A few years of happiness, yes you could provide that. You weren't immortal like him, but he didn't care, he would provide and protect you for as long as he could.

“Stay with me? I would love nothing more than for you to be with me. To be mine. Say you will, I really want you to be mine. I will do everything for you, you wouldn't need to lift a finger. Anything you want, I will-” You cut Keigo off with another passionate, intimate kiss, to which he responded gingerly. After a moment, Keigo broke the kiss and pulled away, almost regretfully, his face flushed as he looked towards the stairs.

“We should head back up, you can relax on my bed or anywhere in my home while I go take care of some of my duties as king of the fey.” Keigo cleared his throat as he lifted you with no effort, holding you close and walking up the stairs. You smiled, a giggle escaping your lips as you wrapped your hands around his neck. Playing with the small feathers on the back caused Keigo’s wings to flutter and his eyes to pin on you, a low chitter of pleasure escaping his lips. He loved it, he loved kissing you, he loved holding you, he loved… you.

Once back to the main floor of his home, he closed the hidden door and carried you up to his room, setting you on his bed and placing a kiss on your forehead before pulling away. A pained look in his eyes as he stood up and moved towards the massive window in his room, ready to take off.

“I will be back later, don’t worry. I shouldn’t be long.” Keigo spoke, flying off to do his royal duties for the day.

As Keigo flew off to attend to his duties, you couldn't shake the feeling of longing that filled your chest. Watching him vanish into the distance, you couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness creeping in. However, the memory of his touch, his warmth, and his tender kisses lingered, comforting you in his absence. Settling onto Keigo's bed, you found yourself surrounded by the comforting embrace of his home. The soft rustle of leaves outside the window and the gentle sway of the branches lulled you into a state of relaxation. Closing your eyes, you allowed yourself to bask in the memories of your time with Keigo, replaying each moment in your mind with a fond smile. As time passed, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the room in a warm, golden glow. You couldn't help but wonder when Keigo would return, yearning for his presence once more. The thought of being apart from him felt unbearable, yet you knew that duty called for him as king of the fey. Lost in your thoughts, you didn't notice the soft fluttering of wings outside the window until Keigo's familiar voice filled the room. Turning to face him, you found him standing in the doorway, his golden eyes filled with warmth and affection.

"I'm back." he said softly, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. Crossing the room in a few strides, he took your hand in his, his touch sending a wave of comfort washing over you.

"Welcome back." you greeted Keigo, unable to hide the joy in your voice. Keigo's smile widened, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of your hand.

"Thank you, I missed you." he replied, his gaze filled with an intensity that sent your heart racing. Moving closer, he wrapped you in his embrace, his wings enfolding you in a cocoon of warmth and safety, his body hovering over you.

“So, about earlier… I would like to know your response to my request.” Keigo’s voice has a slight tremble, as if he was afraid of your answer, doubt clouding his mind.

As Keigo's warm embrace enveloped you, his question lingered in the air, hanging between you like a delicate thread. You could feel the weight of his words, the depth of his emotions, and the sincerity in his gaze. Taking a moment to gather your thoughts, you let the silence stretch between you, savoring the feeling of being held in Keigo's arms. His presence was both comforting and exhilarating, grounding you in the moment even as your mind raced with countless possibilities. Finally, you spoke, your voice soft but steady. 

"Keigo, being with you here in the Fey Realm has been nothing short of magical. It’s been wonderful, amazing even, the memories I’ve made with you, they've all been unforgettable." Keigo's eyes searched yours, a flicker of hope dancing within their depths.

"But…" he began, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his voice.

"But…" you continued, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips, "I have to admit, I've been very appreciative of your charm, your kindness, and your unwavering affection. And while I may not fully understand the intricacies of the Fey Realm or the responsibilities that come with being by your side, I know one thing for certain." Leaning in closer, you locked eyes with Keigo, your heart pounding in your chest.

"I want to be with you, Keigo. I want to explore this realm with you, to stand by your side as your equal, and to build a future together, whatever it may hold." As your words hung in the air, a wave of relief washed over Keigo's features, his golden eyes shining with unbridled joy. Without hesitation, he pulled you into a passionate kiss, pouring all of his love and gratitude into the tender embrace. Breaking away, Keigo's smile was radiant, his wings fluttering with excitement.

"I couldn't ask for anything more," he murmured, his voice filled with reverence. "To have you by my side is all I've ever wanted." Your heart swelled with love at Keigo’s words, pulling him in for another kiss. He adjusted himself over you, his body pressed nice and flush against yours. Your fingers entangled within his hair, his hands on your waist in an affectionate, yet respectful manner. You pulled away and smiled as Keigo’s eyes dilated once more.

“Funny. You couldn't ask for anything more than to have me by your side, yet you don't even know what to call me.” You chuckled at the embarrassed flush that crept onto his cheeks. You placed a gentle kiss on his nose and let out a sigh of content.

“Call me by my name.” Your smile widened seeing his eyes widened. You told him your name, he repeated your name back to you, testing it on his tongue. A happy grin plastered onto his face as he kissed you again.

“Thank you.” Keigo murmured, kissing you again. He broke the kiss and called you by your name to get your attention.

“Yes?” You laughed, raising a brow as you saw his eyes light up. He repeated your name again, and then again and again, feeling more elated and exhilarated with each repetitive call of your name. Keigo had never felt so loved, so happy, so content in his life than right now. He couldn't help but pull you into another kiss.

“I promise to love and cherish you forever, my partner, my queen, my mate.” Keigo mumbled into the kiss. You pulled him closer, deepening the kiss, he happily reciprocated. His words echoed into your mind, making your heart flutter with love and affection. His partner, his queen, his mate. The idea of being Keigo’s made you smile into the kiss. A stupid and foolish idea. A stupid and foolish idea that you would forever indulge.

Chapter Text

You had woken up sometime in the middle of the night, your body was hot and sweating. Opening your eyes you now realize why. You were covered by red feathers, Keigo’s wing. He held you close to his chest as his face was buried in the back of your neck. Tiny chirps came from him as he slept peacefully. You couldn't help but smile knowing how cute Keigo was when he slept, curled up against you, the big spoon of the two. He would make sure you are comfortable before he even thought about getting comfortable himself. Keigo always made sure to put you before him, before anyone else. You didn’t think that saying yes, would result in years of being spoiled rotten. Keigo never asked anything from you, and always made sure you were content. He couldn’t help but hover over you whenever you didn’t seem okay. He would constantly ask if you were okay, if you needed anything, if he did anything wrong. He would smother you in his wings, and carry you around until you told him what was wrong. You couldn't help but smile and laugh, his efforts of affection and attention always brought a smile to your face and drowned out your worries.

Just as you were about to fall back asleep, you groaned in pain, feeling a kick on the inside of your lower abdomen. The sound of your distress, caused Keigo to wake up within the second. He stared at you in concern as he used his magic to create light in the room. He listened closely to the sound of your heartbeat, then the smaller one inside you.

“Are you alright, dove?” Keigo asked you as his arm loosened around you, his hand traveling to your round belly. He could sense the discomfort of the baby growing inside you, the hunger of the little eyas that cried for chicken and salmon. Keigo rose from the bed and spread his wings, stretching them fully before relaxing them behind his back.

“I want-”

“Chicken and Salmon, I know. I’ll be back soon, dove.” Keigo murmured as he leaned down to press a kiss to your forehead, and then your belly.

You laid on your side, hugging the handcrafted pregnancy pillow Keigo made just for you. If you knew that carrying a half fey, half harpy, half human baby would be this much of a handful, you would have taken care of yourself a bit more. You couldn’t help but indulge in the foods in the fey realm, it was divine, unlike anything you had before. You had gained a healthy amount of weight since living with Keigo. If you ever became self conscious of yourself, Keigo always reassured you he loved you no matter how you looked. Keigo didn’t care if you decided to put on weight, or if you wanted to lose weight. Hell, Keigo didn't care if you were a worm, he’d laugh at your question and joke about devouring you in the most loving and sincere way. You knew he was only partially joking when he said it, he’d never harm you, but he would certainly be loving and sincere with you.

You tried falling back asleep, but anytime you felt your eyelids grow heavy, the little devil inside you would kick or punch, forcing you to stay awake. It didn’t take long for Keigo to return with a plate of honey glazed salmon and chicken cooked to perfection. It wasn’t that odd of a craving, in fact it was one of the few cravings you thanked was normal. It wasn’t like the turkey marinated in honey, peanut butter, and vinegar. Keigo helped you sit up and held the plate for you as you began to eat. You couldn’t help but scarf down the food, Keigo had to move the plate away and feed you himself. He knew his little prince was eager for food, but he couldn’t risk you choking. You slowed down, taking your time chewing your food and savoring the delightful taste. Once you finished eating, Keigo placed his hand on your belly again to check on his pride and joy. He was content, which meant you would be content.

“Looks like eyas is satisfied and will let you sleep peacefully.” Keigo spoke softly, carefully laying you down on the bed, bringing your pillow to you to hold. You found a position that provided you the most comfort, relaxing your body and letting out a content sigh. Keigo moved to his side of the bed, and laid beside you, moving close to you and resting a hand on your lower abdomen. Keigo decided to stay away as he let you rest, he made sure to keep an eye on you and the baby. Once he sensed your slumbering state, Keigo dispelled the magic lights, the room dark once more. The rest of the night, you slept peacefully and Keigo watched over you. It wouldn’t be long before the arrival of the baby, only a few more weeks. But then again, with pregnancies, a few weeks could be later tonight or even tomorrow. Keigo would be ready for when, even if you weren’t. Both of you were excited yet terrified at the same time. Your first child, with Keigo, and in general. Keigo couldn’t be more happy to start a family with you.

The delivery was easy thanks to Keigo’s magic. He made sure you felt no pain, and stayed by your side the entire time, holding your hand. A two hour delivery before the young prince was born. Keigo cleaned him off with a wet cloth and wrapped him in a small blanket before handing him to you. The little prince had nubs on his back, an indication of wings. He had a small tuft of golden-blond hair on his head, and tiny little markings by his eyes, just like his father. He had your nose, and lips, his eyes were still closed, so there was no determination who he took after in that aspect. The little bundle of joy was silent during the delivery, he didn’t cry or make any noise. Keigo checked on him, sensing the content emotion of the little eyas. Keigo was a happy mess, making all sorts of noises at his newborn son. His eyes were blown, the feathers of his wings were puffed up, his crest was raised and he couldn't help but make little chirps at the baby. You found it endearing, smiling at the interaction between your son and partner. It wasn’t long before Keigo took the baby to place him in the little nest by their bed. Once the little prince was settled, Keigo returned to you, cleaning you up and carrying you to the bed. He settled you down, then left to clean up the mess. 

It was early in the morning by the time the little prince was born. Of course, later in the afternoon, when you had woken back up, you found both Keigo and your son missing. Next to you on the bed, however, was one of Keigo’s feathers, his has a luminescent glow to it as it laid beside you. You figured Keigo would take your son and show him off, after all, he was the prince of the fey realm. Even though you knew the both of them would be fine, you couldn’t help but be worried. And worrying was all it took for Keigo to be back as fast, yet as careful, as possible. He checked up on you, the little prince cradled in his arms.

“What’s wrong, dove?” Keigo questioned, as he moved to your side. He brought your son into your arms, letting you hold him, and you instantly felt relieved. Keigo calmed down a bit, and moved to sit next to you on the bed.

“You didn’t tell me you left.” You told Keigo, holding your baby closer to you, his eyes matched yours as he stared at you. The little prince’s eyes were filled with wonder and curiosity as he reached out to you with a tiny hand. You reached out with your finger for him to grab, a smile on your face. Keigo pressed his face into your neck as his wings fluffed, his arm wrapped around you as he pulled you into his embrace, mindful of the baby.

“Sorry dove. I was showing our prince to our people, everyone was so excited to meet him.” Keigo apologized. You forgave him and relaxed into his embrace. Keigo couldn’t be anymore happy, he had you, he had his son, he had his family. You couldn’t be anymore happy either, a king willing to do anything for you, a son to love and adore, a family to cherish. 

“So, what should we name him?” Keigo asked. You thought about it for a moment, thinking of different names. You couldn't decide, there were so many possibilities. Keigo had a few in mind, but none that really stuck. Eventually, the both of you came down to a few names, and then finally decided a name for your son. It was a name you both adored, and a name that would symbolize the next king of the Fey realm.