Chapter Text
it was a picture-perfect day, one that natsumi would remember for years to come. she twirled in circles, her white sundress flaring out around her in the meadow littered in yellow daffodils. the warm sun blessed her skin with its gentle kiss, beckoning her to bask in its vibrant glory. the damp grass tickled her toes as she spun feeling alive and free.
the meadow sang to her in a sweet symphony- birds chirping, dragonflies buzzing, the trees rustling. natsumi couldn't help but dance to the beat until she fell to the ground, her arms outstretched, and a smile adorning her rosy face.
she looked up at the baby blue sky and she giggled seeing a fish shaped cloud eating a slice of bread. she turns her head to the side and wraps her fingers around a small daffodil, admiring its delicate silk petals between her fingers. she plucked the flower gently and laced it in her hair and continued to gaze up at the infinite ocean abyss above.
but suddenly, a deep and heavy groan rumbled through the field, jolting her out of her reverie. her eyes snapped open, and she leaned up, scanning the area for the source.
maybe it's a badger? she thought, but another groan erupted, and she dismissed the idea. natsumi narrows her brows and follows the sound with her eyes. slowly getting to her feet and cautiously making her way around the meadow, she begins to search.
with each step, her bare feet sunk into the wet soil, creating a soft crunch. she wondered what the strange noise could be. maybe it was a mother goat giving birth? or a bear cub playing around in the grass? her mind raced with exciting possibilities.
she stopped in her tracks at the sight of bright red liquid staining the wildflowers and grass. a mixture of curiosity and fear washed over her as she gradually approaches the source of the blood, wondering what kind of creature could be in trouble.
she hums a soft tune following the trail left glistening on nature's floor. she crosses her fingers hoping it's an animal giving birth- oh, how she loved babies dearly. but the further she followed the blood and the larger the drops got, it's there she finds a man lying on the grass. he's face up, near still, and soaked in blood. she skips over to him and ogles the sight.
"oh!" she gasped in surprise. he has an awfully large beak. he must have heard her gasp because his glaring golden eyes pop open.
natsumi falls to her knees next to the injured hybrid. she gives him a soft smile, "good morning, mr. birdman!"
his body writhes in agony, barely clinging on consciousness and even in this state of near-death, his eyes manage to twitch with anger. how dare she call him filthy vermin! his rage subsides as he lacks the energy, and he looks her over her. "are you alright?" she asks, her voice sweet and gentle.
he wanted to scream in hysteria and retort, "no, not really. i'm bleeding to my death and you and your crown of heinous weeds will be my final image of this dreadful world." but all he could muster was a scowl.
the gash in his torso throbbed as she grabbed a flower from her dress pocket and stuck it between his ear. his face stiffens, is this woman mocking him? does he deserve this? death by blood loss seems merciful compared to being in the presence of this skin curling aphid steward. "that's a nasty slice in your tummy," she coos, oblivious to his pain. "would you like me to get you an ambulance?"
the man's gloved hands twitch in the congealed grass. "no," he rasps through clenched teeth. her pink lips stretch wide, "ah, you can speak! i was afraid you could only chirp."
his eyes close praying and welcoming deaths cruel arms. she moves to sit on her butt, her knees now held to her chest, "so are you half-human and half-bird? you don't have any wings, but i hear penguins don't either. is that your quirk? i don't have one, but if i did i'd love to be half-human and half-animal. maybe half deer? i love their antlers, they're so pretty. what do you think abo-"
chisaki stares at the sky as the girl mindlessly rants. "i don't have one" rings in his head like a sick mantra. here in a desolate field, tens of miles away from civilization, and there's this lunatic girl with her repulsive antics and asinine ravings about dirty swine- and she is quirkless. did he hear her correctly or was he imagining it?
"i don't have one"
he glanced at her, she is still talking. he rolls his eyes at her nonsense and groans deeply. natsumi's voice falters, her eyes on his gaping wound. her face twists in worry as she realizes the severity of his injury. "you're hurting pretty bad, aren't ya?" she says, concern evident in her tone. "i'm not a professional, but if i wrap a cloth tightly around your chest, it might keep you from bleeding out."
ignoring her completely, he awaits for eternal darkness. how cruel, he thought, how cruel fate is to finally bestow him what he's yearned for all these years. surely, fate won't be as cruel to not grant him death as well?
"i don't understand your bird man body language, so i'm going to assume you'd want me to wrap you up." natsumi tears the hem of her dress and rips a long piece off. she loves this dress, she embroidered sunflowers all over them, but birdman has become her friend, and she can't let him die.
"mr. birdman, i need to wrap this around your chest. can i lift you up?" again, no response. so she covers the wound and lifts each hip to wrap his torso twice and tight. he grimaced and grunts at the pain. seeing black spots in his vision, his consciousness slowly fading, his remaining thoughts were, how dare she touch him.
♡
he must have passed out, because when his eyes flutter open, the sun is setting and the world around him is cloaked in twilight. he was disoriented, his mind a fog- where was he again?
he turns to his side, soiled daffodils stare back at him.
that's right. that good for nothing hero killer betrayed him. torn his flesh, touching his skin- how dare someone so vile and filthy touch him. rage wafts off the maimed man. seething, he clutches his throbbing chest. he'll pay for this for treating him like just another diseased stricken rat. when he's through with him, there won't even be enough left of him to leave a stain.
his pain intensifies and squeezes his eyes shut.
"are you awake?"
his eyes snap open and land on the girl leering over him. her white dress is torn, soiled with dirt and his blood. if it didn't hurt so bad, he'd sigh. he forgot about the perky thorn in his side.
"i'm worried about you, mr. birdman. you need medical attention. i know you don't want an ambulance, but i assure you, that's their job."
the sun's lingering rays cast a sickening glow around her figure. she's still here, the one whom hasn't been tainted by the foul curses of humanity. still here wearing more of those bug-infested nests, and still talking.
"i don't want you to die, mr. birdman." she huffs twirling her back to him, "you're very kind and you look like your important and that means that there's things that are important to you. don't give up." she turns around again rummaging through her pocket. "here," she lays a white flower on his chest, "this is a white geranium. i snubbed it from the chili farm earlier- don't tell anyone. geraniums encourage strength and resemble purity and fruitfulness."
she plops down beside him crossing her legs, "and daffodils symbolize hope and rebirth." she looked at him with her sparkling eyes and whispered fondly, "may these flowers mend your wounds and strengthen your spirit." silence fell upon the two for a while, crickets and bats chirping faintly.
his gaze, wrought in exhaustion, watches the colors fade in the sky. her words soft yet pierced him like a knife. there are important tasks he still must complete, and death won't claim him just yet. no, not when there is so much left to do.
who else will rid the plagues of this filthy word if he perished? only he possesses the power to change- to fix- to purify this virus.
a twisted smirk tugs at his lips, rebirth, she says? yes, rebirth indeed. this world needs an overhaul, and he will rise from his shed blood, tearing down the contaminated and rebuild something better. and she, he looks at the brunette fiddling with her dress, will rise with him and conquer this wretched world. whether she wants to join him or not- whether she liked to roll around in the dirt like a pig- it doesn't faze him. if her words ring true, he'll test her genes and find out how clean she really is.
a vibration in his pocket breaks his thoughts and he scowls digging in his soaked jacket. he looks at the number on the screen and declines. he turns his to the girl mumbling nonsense about butterflies. "what is your name, woman?"
she beams at the sound of his voice, "my name is natsumi! it's nice to meet you, mr. birdie."
he shakes his head, disbelieved a girl could be so disrespectful. "it's overhaul. you will address me as overhaul. don't ever call me a bird again or i will make your death the most unpleasant."
she giggles sweetly, "birdie is much cuter." she smiles at the man lying in pool of blood then to the sunken horizon, a picture-perfect day indeed! ✿♡