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The Astral Express was quiet tonight, everyone had just gotten back from a pretty tiring mission that lasted a good week and a half. The trailblazer, Dan Heng, and March had all settled themselves in their rooms doing whatever they usually do. Welt was talking with Pom-pom about their future destination, and Himiko was sitting next to Sunday, quietly sipping her coffee and scrolling through her phone while Sunday read a book that Aventurine had lent him the last time he’d visited.
If Sunday was being honest, he was still uncomfortable around the members of the Astral Express. Having, you know, tried to kill them. Of course the others try to make him feel at home and have all expressed their forgiveness, but he still feels like he needs to repent for his actions. His father always knew how to appropriately punish him for his sinful actions. The silence in the room began to cause Sunday anxiety, which caused sharp pain to penetrate his back, his wings. He grunted and furrowed his brows slightly, looking down to keep his face from view.
Sunday had noticed Himiko looking in his direction, still continuing to be silent. As if waiting for him to make a noise or any sudden movements again. He tried to keep his composure, however the jabbing in his back kept him from keeping a neutral face. The silence was broken.
“Are you alright?” Himiko finally asked, her voice was gentle and kind. It honestly reminded Sunday of his sister, perhaps even his mother. His head snapped a silent nod, which in return caused him to hurt more. Himiko sat her phone down beside her and pressed a hand to his shoulder, pulling herself closer. Sunday grimaced lightly, he couldn’t tell which was worse, the pain in his back or the way Himiko treated him so delicately. He counted the amount of times the pattern on the carpet repeated.
“Let me take a look at your back okay? We can do it here or the bathroom, whichever is more comfortable to you.” Sunday thought about it. He really didn’t want to be stuck in a small bathroom with a woman, but he also didn’t want other people to see what he was hiding under his clothing.
“Um.. The bathroom..please..?” He gritted, he phrased it like a question and mentally smacked himself in the face, but could you really blame him for his bad phrasing when he honestly couldn’t feel like he could stand? Himeko nodded with a smile and stood up.
Sunday attempted to stand with her and his knees immediately locked up, he would have fallen if the other hadn’t had such a strong grip on his arm and practically pulled him to her chest. He whined quietly, attempting to push himself off her and failing miserably. He felt uncoordinated and dizzy. Even when he wasn’t looking at Himeko he could feel her concerned eyes staring down at him. His halo buzzed in his ear loudly.
“Let’s get you in there alright?” Himeko’s voice had managed to become incredibly softer, if that was even possible. Almost as if she was talking to a child. It made him feel safe. So so safe.
Himeko helped drag Sunday’s wobbly figure into the bathroom and sat him on the edge of the bathtub.
“Can you turn around for me, dear?” She said softly. Sunday did as he was told. Himeko gently placed her hands right below the end of his shirt, “Can I take this off of you to see the problem?” After receiving a hum in response, she carefully pulled the fabric over his head and sat it on the toilet seat behind them. What she saw was.. Not what she expected.
“Um..Sunday?” She started.
“Hm?” Himeko placed her hand in the middle of his back.
“Where are your wings?”
There were two huge scars on Sundays back where his wings should be. He whined when she brushed her fingers over one and pulled away. The wings behind his ears covered his eyes and shook violently.
“I thought they were only clipped… Did he..?” She gulped, not wanting to finish her sentence as she was horrified to receive a response.
“I was bad.” Sunday simply said, “I had to repent.” His voice was breathy and quiet. Anger flashed across Himeko’s face.
“So he ripped your wings off you? He clipped your wings and then ripped them off you!? Was putting holes in your smaller wings not enough!? God! What kind of man—!” Her rant was cut off by a whimper, so small she almost missed it. Sunday was shaking violently and wet sniffles could be heard.
“ M’ sorry..” He whispered, “wanna be good..”
His voice was relatively higher than usual and his words were slurred. Himeko pulled him in for an embrace from behind, looking over his shoulder and gently moving his smaller wings from his face, wiping his tears.
“Oh no, Baby, you’re so good. It’s okay.” She hushed him. He turned around and slid off the edge of the bathtub to the floor, Himeko slowly fell with him. His whole body rested in her embrace as he sobbed quietly. Too quiet for Himeko’s liking, like he was forced to be silent or something of the sort. It hurt to think about that. There was a knock on the door.
“Is everything okay in there?” It was Welt, “I heard some crying.” Sunday immediately hushed up, using his fist to hide his cries, causing the woman to sigh.
“We’re okay Welt, just…some problems.” Himeko couldn’t come up with an excuse, thankfully she didn’t need to.
“I see. Well, if you need help let me know.” And he walked away, leaving it at that.
Eventually when Sunday felt Welt was far enough, his crying picked up again. Himeko rocked him and shushed him in order to calm him down. He had his pointer and middle finger in his mouth, biting at his nails and the skin around them. She brought her hand up to his and tenderly brought his fingers out of his mouth.
“Hey, we don’t do that. It’s icky.” Sunday whined but complained no further. She chuckled lightly at his childish display, then it hit her that they really should get out of this stuffy bathroom and possibly into a bedroom.
“Do you think you’re ready to get on your bed?” Himeko asked, the halovian nodded and the two stood up together, Sunday tightly holding onto her sleeve. She opened the door and swiftly headed out with Sunday trying to keep up and keep his balance at once. He really did seem like a little kid.
Once they officially got inside Sunday’s room he threw his uncomfy clothes off and slid into some pajamas, then plopped onto his bed. Himeko sat beside him, caressing his hair and massaging his scalp with the utmost care. He pulled himself impossibly closer to her and she wrapped her other arm around his waist, he buried his head into the crook of her neck and hummed quietly.
“G’night, Himi” He whispered to her.
“Goodnight.” And just like that he drifted off, which gave Himeko a lot of time to think.
Himi? Why was he acting like that? Why did Gopher take his wings. He couldn’t have been older than 11 maybe 12. He was just a child.
She wanted answers to these questions, otherwise they’d eat her up inside. But right now, she was just happy she was able to become closer to Sunday.