Chapter Text
Takeshi’s hands brushed the cell wall. From here he could look out the barred window, watching what happened around him. Much of his free time was spent here, one of the few quiet spaces available. Kai knew not to bother him there, and until their other cellmates escaped solitary, this was the place he could call his own.
Although the prison wall blocked most of the light and everything else outside the complex, if he stood on the tips of his feet he could just make out the green of trees in the distance. The sky was a moody gray, with wind swinging and stirring up that patch of green. He flexed his fingers, pressing them against the wall. It was always this weather that drew up old memories.
Running a hand through his hair, Takeshi ducked behind a wall. The wind whipped at his exposed skin, stinging the cut on his face. His heavy breathing hurt as he gulped in the cold air, clutching at the front of his shirt. Quickly he brought his hand up to his face, stifling a cough.
He noticed a dumpster and garbage bags against the wall and quickly dodged between them, pressing his hands to the metal container. It smelled foul and something was sticking to his hand, but he figured no one would bother looking amongst the trash. As footsteps pounded past, a wave of relief ran through him. Letting out a sigh, he leaned his head against the bin.
His relief was short lived, as suddenly he heard someone walking back. Takeshi held his breath, freezing in place. His heart pounded, hard enough that he wondered if it was audible to whoever had circled back. Maybe it was, as the footsteps suddenly paused.
“Fucking coward,” someone hissed. Takeshi felt someone push the garbage bags out of the way, completely exposing him. He instinctively pressed back against the wall, scanning his surroundings for a way out. He was being blocked by a man about his height, but who seemed older, likely stronger as well.
“You ain’t going anywhere now,” the man blocking him shifted around. Takeshi groaned, resigning himself to beating he was certain to receive. He saw the man reach up and swing before closing his eyes, but impact never came.
“What the hell?”
Takeshi opened one eye, seeing only black around him. He panicked for a moment, then looked around and realized that the world hadn’t gone dark around him, but his upper half had been surrounded by...something. It seemed to be some kind of creature with long wings, curling around him protectively. To Takeshi, it seemed that a monster had taken to him.
He wasn’t sure what the other man saw, but it was enough to make him run. Takeshi smiled for the first time in weeks, reaching out to touch the wings around him. They felt rough, but just feeling them gave him an electrifying sensation of power.
“What are you?” he asked, still running his hands over the creature. It rested its long head on top of his, curling in closer affectionately. For once, he felt safe.
“Dinner’s soon,” Kai said, poking at Takeshi’s back. The ajin nodded, moving away from the window.
“What were ya thinking about? You seemed real distracted.”
Takeshi brushed his hand against his now shortened hair.
“Just reminiscing.”