Work Text:
||₊‧ ꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱‧⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ Grian ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆‧꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱ ‧₊||
Blood dripped down his back, sharp parallel lines marring the skin. Grian winced as he got up from where he had been lying down, energy sapping out of him like the blood being drained from his body.
The watchers had been livid when Grian had decided to help a blaze-born hybrid that had been sleeping on the street. The despair in their eyes had cut deep to Grian, the feeling of hopelessness so relatable that he was compelled to do something.
It didn’t matter that the man was older then Grian, nor the fire that burned from his head. Instead, Grian saw his far too slim arms and legs, and the sad shelter built out of sight. He heard the slurs thrown at the man, more than just verbal insults directed at him. The Species Equality Act had been passed just
When the watcher escort with him had looked away, Grian had slipped money into the man’s hand, discreetly snatching it from the watcher with him. Besides, they didn’t need the money, the city’s rulers controlling the entire economy.
Viade hadn’t noticed that Grian had stolen from them until a week later. The elder had ripped through his mind, investigating every memory they could access, and finding the confession they sought. While Grian could hide some information from them, there was little else they could do in the face of the watchers infinite power.
With the confirmation of Grian’s crime, their mentor had dragged them to the council, who had demanded punishment for the kindness. He had held his head high throughout every smack on his back. Flinching in pain but denying the watchers his screams.
Skin split, angry red marks soon covered in blood, the sacrifice he had made for another well worth it. Even if he could only do little, Grian would contribute to those who the watchers sneered upon.
It was clear he couldn’t act out against the watchers so obviously again though.
Not for fear of punishment – Grian would take 1000 lashes if it meant freeing someone from the restraints of the watchers.
No – The watchers had threatened to punish Pearl. His younger sister, the innocent one, who Grian protected from every backhand, every insult, every hurt the watchers tried to throw her way. For Pearl, the one light left in his life, he would do almost anything.
The reminder of the light he’d lost still ached, golden feathers shining as bright as the sun. The literal embodiment of sunshine, his younger cousin had been taken from them far too soon. Grian had accepted reality a long time ago – that he was dead. No young avian would survive being abandoned on the streets, especially not before the new laws passed that at least partially helped decreased hybrid discrimination.
Instead, he would have to find another way to rebel against the watchers. He had very little in the way of possessions, and zero funds. He needed something that the watchers wouldn’t notice missing but would send them a message.
Grian’s mind flicked back to all the minor rebellions the watchers had taught them about, the uprisings not publicly acknowledged in the normal education system. They had discussed how to prevent the spread of information if insurgents do appear, and how to correctly deal with rebels.
The ‘revolutions’ had ranged in scale from full blown civil war to minor pranks defiling the watcher headquarters.
Grian did have access to the watchers towers now that he thought about it. But even with his enchantment skills, he couldn’t set fire to literal obsidian. What other ways could he desecrate their towers?
Water wouldn’t do anything, the hard mineral completely water resistant. It would be costly and hard to obtain any explosives to blow the towers up, so that was out of reach.
His mind flashed back to a prank he had seen in the southern district a few days back- teenagers egging and toilet paper rolling a house. Those materials were plausible, but how could he actually do the prank without being caught?
Toilet papering a tower would mean flying, and their were very few winged hybrids in this area of town he could blame. Eggs on the other hand – he could just through them. They’d be easy to steal from the dining room or the supermarket as well.
He would still need a disguise. He wasn’t worried about the watchers powers – more so that civilians would report him and his appearance. What could he use that would cover his face and body? He didn’t want to make it obvious he was a kid.
Grian’s face lit up with the prospect of an absolutely hilarious costume. He could dress up as a chicken! Stars it would be funny, a man in a chicken costume egging the watchers base before fleeing. And the mess it would leave – Grian couldn’t wait to see how the watchers would react. It was just irresistible.
---------- A Week Later -----------
Grian had secured a chicken costume from a nearby store. His wings were handy for flying into small openings and shoplifting. He felt a little bad, but this was more important than some big chain probably funded by the watchers anyway. They wouldn’t notice the loss of one chicken costume – and probably not the 20 or so cartons of eggs he had stolen.
At the very least, the eggs were renewable. Grian had snuck away to a run-down alley in the southern district and found a couple of live hens to lay eggs for him. He’d treat them well but it also meant he was less likely to get caught stealing.
He flew above the city, carefully maintaining his wards to shield him from the watcher sight. He had learnt how to do so years ago, but the enchantment was heavy and required a large amount of magic to maintain over a period of hours. Magic reserves tended to grow exponentially until about 16. Grian was an exception for his age, his enchantment exceptional, his reserves expected to surpass all but the senior watchers by the time he was initiated.
The thought of his eventual inevitable introduction was scary, and if Grian had his way, he’d never join the watchers. This was just the first step to do something.
He grabbed eggs out from his satchel, swooping slightly closer to the tower, and lobbed the first one.
It cracked in the middle of the obsidian eye at the centre of the tower, and Grian cackled. He flew down to the ground to continue his fight, constantly throwing eggs. Some of them spawned chickens – he didn’t question it, the excessive enchantment he tended to constantly emit did weird things – but most of them just left greasy yellow marks all over the smooth black tower.
It looked horrible, and the watchers – well their cleaners – were certainly going to have a field day cleaning it up. The shells were shattered everywhere, brown and white dots scattered through the thick viscous substance that marked the landing sights.
Grian finished throwing all four dozen eggs with him far to soon, the adrenaline high of fighting the watchers fading with the last thrown. He admired his work, then quickly fled the scene. It was already being noticed, and Grian didn’t want to be suspiciously away from the tower when the watchers found his prank.
He flew through the window to his room, located in the apprentices dorm, having left it open earlier to allow easy access. Grian quickly stripped off his chicken costume, hiding it in his closet and covering it with other clothes then a layer of enchantment and illusions. His magic was struggling now, put he pushed through the strain to hide the evidence. He was going to have a bad headache later, but it would most definitely be worth it.
He walked to Pearl’s room, knocking on the door and slipping into to see his sister watching the news on her phone. She looked up as Grian entered the room, a smile on her face.
“Did you see this G?” She asked, grinning wildly. Grian nodded and pointed to himself when Pearl showed him the blurry images that had been captured of the man in the chicken costume.
“No way!” Pearl whisper shouted. “That’s awesome!”
“I know.” He replied smirking. “I am collecting more eggs for next time. Imagine how the heroes base would look covered in eggs.” The two siblings giggled together at the mental image of the pristine hero headquarters splattered with eggs and covered in chicken feathers.
“Look!” Pearl pointed, laughing even harder, “The feathers are stuck to the egg whites. That is going to be so annoying to clean up.” Grian laughed even harder, his plan going even better than he expected.
The watchers spokesperson – the so-called deities would never lower themselves so much as to appear on the news – looked furious, though her expression remained a strained smile as she reassured the news anchor that the culprit would be caught. The news was all censored any way, so it wasn’t like the people would know either way, but Grian doubted they would catch him for a long time
As long as he was careful, he could use his disguise for years to cause havoc upon the watchers. A nuisance, but not enough of a problem to waste resources on finding. It was perfect.
“Before our viewers leave, do you have any last assurances for the civilians of this city?” The reporter asked, clearly wrapping up the brief interview.
“The watchers are already searching the city for Poultry Man, and he will be apprehended soon. In the meantime, may the eyes watch over you.” The reporter repeated the goodbye before clicking off the camera, Pearl’s news channel going black.
Poultry man?
It looked like Grian just found his new persona.
“Looks like I’m poultry man now.” He turned to Pearl, who grinned back at him. His sister may just be 8, but she hated the watchers as much as he did. Now they had a chance to get back at their evil overlords, his life was looking up. Maybe one day he’d even be able to escape them, taking Pearl with him.
The watchers better watch out; Poultry Man was on Patrol.