Chapter Text
Shadows lurked through darkened alleys, screams had echoed here not too long ago but now it was silent. He swore he saw someone run this way…
As he rounded yet another corner of the maze he came up on… an angel? Another boy holding one of the hunters by the back of their neck, searing his blood into their skin and clothes. He let go and they crumpled to the ground along side the other hunters. The cuts all over him closed up in an instant. "W… who… who are you…" He made ready to pick up another rock.
Sakura held his hands up, the shadows on the walls grew in response. "Don't worry. I'm like you."
Sakura had no clue what compelled him to do this. He hadn't thought to do this in a while… However there he was, leading this… bird… angel… in his apartment. He checked to make sure no one followed before locking the door.
"Well make yourself comfortable."
Awkward pan out to show the bare living room, there was a single pillow on the floor, a ton of boxes and folding chairs. The angel sat on the pillow, it almost looked normal… He folded his wings shut and folded his hands on his lap. So proper…
"So… your name?"
"Nirei…"
"Cool. Sakura." He walked over. "You're some sorta mutant? A bird or… angel… given what you were doing with your blood."
"I'm not sure." He whispered.
That's not reassuring.
"Okay let's start from the top then. What can you do." Sakura sat in front of him.
"Good morning Suou!" Nirei waved. It had been a few months now since the three of them have gotten to know each other. "Are we running errands today?" He offered him a plate. Suou hummed, "Yes… I have a few things to do. You can come with if you can stay out of trouble." He took the cup off the counter instead and walked on.
Nirei frowned and began eating from the bowl. When Suou returned he took it and placed the cup in Nireis hands. "Go wash up and change. Then we can go." He smiled. Nirei nodded and walked off towards the bathroom.
Sakura was there. Though as usual he was asleep, and knowing him he'd be gone when they returned. He was usually gone all day, he'd return briefly during the evening and then he'd vanish into the night, appearing when they woke up.
Nirei brushed through his hair before puffing his wings up and shaking them to get the loose feathers out. Next he washed his face and brushed his teeth, he then stared at himself in the mirror.
He can't remember what he used to look like, it wasn't a drastic change but… it was enough that he knew it wasn't how he was before. His hair had a little gotten longer, his eyes had gotten longer and his pupils thinned… Not to mention his teeth were all sharp and uneven now.
Nirei finally came back out and shut the door, he wrapped his wings down around his waist and tucked them in before putting his coat on. "Ready!"
Suou helped him tie his coat up before nodding. "Let's go then."
The two walked closely side by side. Thankfully it wasn't so crowded today, and the three lived quite close to a shopping plaza that had quite a few things they usually needed. "So, what is it you're getting today?" Nirei looked up. Suou didn't say anything.
The plaza itself was quite crowded, so Suou put his arm around Nirei to keep him close. Also to not risk anyone brushing against him. The small… small… not very small side effect of Nirei's powers was that he was way way warmer than the normal person, warm as in near a fever. Nirei didn't feel that but of course any other normal person could.
The first place they stopped was a general store, it was run by another person with powers so Nirei stood off away from the window and let his wings out while Suou walked around and grabbed what they needed. When he returned to Nirei he was being swarmed by the clerks kids who were pressing stickers all over his face and wings. After getting his coat on and his wings tucked back away they went on to the next place.
The second place… Nirei actually never knew what it was. Though he always had to wait outside. He simply crouched there and played with a small cat while he waited for Suou to come back. After a while Suou stepped back out, tucking something into his jacket. "What an adorable little guy." He smiled.
"It kinda looks like Sakura…" Nirei smiled up at him. The little tuxedo cat swatted at his hand one last time before scurrying off.
The last place they visited was a medicinal shop. Just to grab seeds and other things, also Suou was selling the herbs he had been growing in the window. No it was not weed. It was a short visit, so once they finished the two began on their way home. The plaza was so unusually crowded today… Though it figured… there were people bantering back and fourth as usual. Those who disliked the idea of others with powers living among them, and those who were fine with it. Though neither sides actually had probably ever spoken or seen with someone with powers who wasn't on TV or a forced laborer. It was best to go back home as soon as possible.
After making sure no one followed them, Suou locked the door and handed the bags to Nirei. "Alright, let's get this all unpacked."
Nirei nodded and followed him around as they unpacked everything. At some point they did split up to make it quicker and he pulled something out of the bag. "A brush… this doesn't look like a hair brush…" he turned it over and tilted his head.
"It's for your wings."
Nirei yelled and nearly dropped it. "D… Don't do that!" He turned around.
"Sorry sorry. I finished in the kitchen." He held his hand out and Nirei gave him the brush. "Usually, birds preen with their beaks, however you obviously don't have one and you aren't a bird so this brush is supposed to imitate that." He ran his finger along it as he spoke.
"I… See…" Nirei looked at the brush.
Suou held it up. "Want to try?"
Sakura returned quite late as usual. He used his powers to unlock the door before locking it back once he was inside. The sight that greeted him however was not what he expected. Nirei sitting there covered in stickers while Suou was brushing his wings which were also covered in stickers that were falling off with each shake from the brush raking through them.
"Good evening Sakura~" Suou called.
"E…Evening!" Nirei waved.
The hell did these two do all day… Does he even wanna know? "Uh… Evening." He walked by. He needed a shower before he went back out. Nirei continued to sit still as Suou brushed his wings, once he finished he stood and began to pluck the feathers out, setting it on one of the boxes. "Alright, I'll start dinner now, don't forget to change out of your clothes."
"Oh… Right." Nirei got up and went in the room. He folded his jacket up and placed it in the suitcase with his clothes before changing into what he had on before they left. There was a small mirror in the room that had a blanket over it, for Suou's sake, so he scooted over to it and moved the blanket a bit. Staring at himself. The feathers dotting his legs was so odd… his nails were blackened at the end and hardened… Not to mention the other changes he already had been grappling with.
Nearly a year ago… he was completely normal… and now he has powers and he's here…
Nirei let go of the blanket and stood up, looking around the room, it was a tiny room. The apartment was a tiny apartment clearly meant for a one person or a couple… but instead it was the three of them with nothing. The bedroom was just a pile of blankets and one pillow for each of them.
Along the wall was the suitcase with Nirei's clothes, A box of Sakura's, and a crate… that he's never dared to look into… with the covered mirror.
Nirei shook his head. It's been almost a year, he needs to accept it already, he never expected to gain powers but he did and there was no point fretting over it… hopefully.