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Staffs wings had been a struggle to maintain, no. Seriously. It was just getting annoying to deal with such huge wings, and the fact they had to hide such elegant things from the other weapons was a burden they hated putting themselves through. It wasn't like Staff disliked their wings, nor did they feel ashamed of them. It was that if they had shown their wings to any of the other fighters, it'd cause a scene and moreover expose a sensitive area which some fighters would definitely exploit to get the upper hand against Staff in battle.
Sometimes Staff wondered how they managed to hide their large wings like this.. Maybe it was under the layers of clothing they usually wore–or maybe nobody bothered to ask or paid too much attention to their visuals. In fact, there were also a few close calls to the others finding out about their wings. Such as the one time they'd accidentally left a pile of feathers on the couch.. Everyone had assumed Scepter had let in some birds and they had Earclacks come in to scold them about letting in wildlife inside the household.
It was a funny sight to see of course, but just as how Staff was.. They felt slight pity for having to put Scepter through such a scene, it wasn't even their fault. But low and behold.
Soon enough, Staff was soon snapped right out of their thoughts as they suddenly passed over a specifically tangled clump of feathers on their wings. Wincing in pain just subtly enough as they glanced over to the clump, expression narrowing as they wondered how on earth they could possibly get THAT undone before someone decided to barge into their room and see the mature and guardianlike figure Staff, shirtless and just trying to preen their large wings.
This'll take awhile.. A long while.
However, just as Staff was continuing to fix their wings—a harsh 5 knocks were heard by the door... Of course, easily recognizable according to Staff. They'd memorized the way everyone knocks a long time ago. It was like that each time a new fighter entered the household. Staff felt like a parental figure sometimes, usually have to take care for the others. Sometimes getting help from Scepter.
Glancing at the door. Staff didn't say anything, but their wings folded back to the subtly smaller shape Staff had usually kept to hide their wings. They waited, staring at the door for the knocker to leave.. Who was the knocker? It was most likely Dagger or Scythe. The two usually had the same knock, if it was Scythe.. Staff wouldn't exactly bother to go and hide their wings, Scythe already knew due to their..past relationship. But if it was Dagger.. It was quite literally a whole different story. The ecstatic and hyper fighter, always too stubborn and confident for their own good. They were quite an expert with ambushing and taking down opponents with surprise. But fighting skills aside, if Dagger were to walk in and see Staffs wings.. Word would get out in less than an hour about their wings.
Staff braced, internally hoping that the knocker would just walk off.. But, unfortunately. They didn't. Knocking a harsh two more times before suddenly calling out, during that.. It revealed who was knocking so harshly on Staffs door. Scythe
“ Oi, mage! How long are you gonna take in there?—Scepters been askin where ya are for awhile. ”
They gritted out, before eventually with zero warning whatsoever.. Opening the door as they step in, glancing off to the side before look back. Their eyes landing right on Staff awkwardly sitting on the their bed with their wings laid against the messy blankets. Scythe blinked awkwardly at the sight, clearly surprised at the sight of Staffs wings not being hidden. Of course, it was reasonable. They were hiding in their own room just to fix their wings.
Scythe said nothing, calmly closing the door behind them as they sighed. A soft smug smirk on their face as they sat beside Staff on the soft mattress, glancing over to their wings then back over at their face. Blinking a few times.
Staff in response, awkwardly glanced off away. Subtly embarrassed to be seen in such a situation.. Especially by their past partner. Jaw tensed as their face flushed red in embarrassment, holding their legs close to themselves as their wings just laid there. Not folded or anything, just.. There. No point in hiding them if they only other person in the room knows they exist.
Suddenly, the awkwardly tense silence was cut like a knife as Scythes voice spoke through. Their hand raising half close to the others wings.
“ Want help with that?. ”
They weren't the best with asking for permission or any stuff like that. But they knew better than to touch Staffs wings without any warning whatsoever, especially because they didn't want Staff to thwack them in the face with their wings in retaliation at the sudden touch. Still staring at Staff with a more subtly softer expression on their face, letting out a small breath.
Staff perked up subtly at the offer.. Help with their wings?.. That was more than definitely a blessing, but to accept help by their past partner felt like an unnecessary petty luxury to accept.. And Staff didn't exactly want that, especially with help over such a small thing like wings.
They blinked, processing.. They were getting annoyed from having to preen their wings on their own anyway. Some help would be nice... Plus who else would they ask?. Their wings were only a thing to be known by themselves and Scythe. So, if they really wanted to get their wings groomed properly..
They sighed.
Guess they had to accept help, even if they were stubborn.
“ .. Fine, don't try getting any dumb ideas when doing it though. ”
They gritted out reluctantly, agreeing to the touch that they'd have to face. Nodding as they reached their messier wing out in front of Scythe, still not facing them directly.. But it was some development atleast. That was for sure.
Scythe reached out, their hand calmly grazing against the soft yet messy feathers. All tangled and messed up due to being hidden constantly 24/7, their expression remained calm at all this. Getting to work as they focused on preening the wings of their.. associate. To say the least. That was definitely for sure if anything, more or less.
Their hands moved with subtle rhythm and in a delicate pattern, careful to not pull anything too harshly that could piss off Staff.. And also to not accidentally, well. Damage their wings. If anything, hurting Staff was ironically enough the last thing they wanted to do in this situation.
As they fixed up Staffs wings.. They suddenly got an idea, a stupid one at best. They reached for one of the feathers, just one that didn't seem too dangerous to.. Remove. Plucking it off harshly, before glancing up at Staff to see their reaction. As for Staff, their reaction certainly did anything but disappoint. Immediately jolting to the act as they turned, glaring at Scythe with an annoyed glare like they had insulted their bloodline. Swatting them back out of spite as their jaw tensed, finally gritting something out.
“ Are you seriously just doing that on purpose!?. ”
Scythe snickered at the winged mages reaction, smirking like a dumbass as they grazed the plucked feather around Staffs shoulder to tick them off further.
“ Maybe. ”
They merely replied bluntly, still smirking as they shrugged. Before then being thwacked in the face by Staffs wing, feathers now all over their face as they blinked in surprise at the sudden action. Glancing over to Staff as they wiped the feathers off, letting out a short stiffle of laughter as they smiled further.