章 5: Cut Them Off
"Hey Keigo, do your nails seem...sharper than normal?"
It had been a few days since training had started, and let me just tell you, it is hell. The workers were determined to work everyone down to the bone, only giving 5-minute breaks in between intense workouts.
Our trio had their fair share of cuts and bruises, bandages plastered all over their skin. They had just come back from their individual training, chucking their dirty shirts into a pile in the corner and were busy tending to their wounds when Kio had noticed Keigo struggling slightly with his bandages.
Keigo was trying to put a plaster over a particularly nasty cut on his arm but his talons had grown and sharpened to the point where it hurt just to graze them along his sensitive skin. He looked up at Kio's question, a proud grin making its way onto his face.
"Yep! My talons are finally growing back. My parents cut them before sending me here."
Touya sat up from where he was lying in bed, having already finished bandaging himself up.
"Do you not usually cut your talons?"
At this, Keigo gave a furious shake of his head, hands curling together on his chest.
"No way! It hurt so much when they were cut that one time. I usually just keep them trimmed and blunt at most, but I never fully cut them."
He turned towards Kio, eyeing his hands which looked very much talon-less.
"Do you not have talons, Kio?"
"Hm? Oh, no I suppose I do, but I cut mine. The people at the orphanage used to do it all the time so that I didn't accidentally hurt any of the other kids. Of course, it hurt at the start but I've gotten used to it."
Touya and Kio made their way over to Keigo, taking a hand each and examining his long nails. They poked and prodded at them for a while, before offering to help bandage him up since he couldn't do it himself. Keigo happily accepted their offer and sat there, quite content, as they wrapped him in bandages.
While Touya sat in front of Keigo, tending to his knee, Kio was sat behind him, putting a plaster on a small cut near the base of his wings. His fingers lingered near the soft feathers.
"Hey Keigo, can we feel your wings?"
Keigo glanced over his shoulder at the wondering gaze, glancing down at Touya and seeing the same excitement in his blue eyes, before giving them a hesitant nod. Touya and Kio glanced at each other with joyous grins, before situating themselves behind Keigo on the single bed. They started with small, gentle touches, stroking his feathers and feeling how soft and smooth they were.
Keigo shivered at the strange sensation, no one had ever touched his wings before. It felt nice, calming.
Once they felt Keigo relax into their touch, they started running their hands through his feathers, straightening a few out which had fallen out of place. They listened to his content coos as he fell back against them, completely relaxed. His wings stretched out, giving them more room to work with as they preened his feathers.
It was a relaxing activity for all three of them, Touya and Kio listening to Keigo's soft coos and deep breaths, feeling their own eyelids become heavier. They fell asleep curled around each other that night, wrapped in soft crimson feathers.
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"What do you think's taking Keigo so long?"
It was almost 10 pm, a few days after their little wing session, and Keigo hadn't returned from his training. Touya and Kio were currently doing their homework on the floor, cause, of course, they would get homework on top of all this training, but they were starting to worry about Keigo.
Just as they were about to go look for him, the door slammed open, banging against the wall. They turned just in time to see two men shove Keigo to the floor.
"Keigo!"
They rushed to his side, pulling him into their arms and saw the wave of tears running down his cheeks. His wings were pressed tightly to his back, the feathers feeling stiff and unpleasant. He gripped onto them tightly, muffled sobs wracking his form. He shook violently, trying so desperately to keep his cries at bay but to no avail.
Touya and Kio's minds were swirling with panic, confusion and worry. Kio wrapped his wings around them, trying to offer as much comfort as he could while Touya whispered soothingly in his ear. That's when they noticed the blood-covered bandages on his hands. They looked up at the men, seeing the cruel sneers on their faces.
"Next time you won't get off so easy."
The door closed, locking manually from the other side. The moment the lock clicked shut, Keigo released a heart-wrenching wail that tore at their souls. He gripped the front of their shirts, crying out in pain.
"My talons! They cut my talons!"
His voice was hoarse and rough from crying, high pitched and screaming out at the pain that emanated from his hands. Touya and Kio were quick to remove his hands from their shirts, seeing the blood seep through the poorly wrapped bandages.
Touya looked to Kio for help, since he was the only one who knew how painful getting talons cut must be. Seeing the helpless look in his eyes and hearing Keigo's screams only raise in volume spurred Kio into action. He raised slowly with Keigo in his arms, being extra careful with his hands.
"Can you get the first aid kit and some warm water?"
With a determined nod, Touya bolted to the bathroom, grabbing the things they needed.
Meanwhile, Kio had laid Keigo down on the single bed, keeping a gentle but firm hold on his wrists so that he couldn't hurt his hands any more. He sat beside him on the bed, whispering soft reassurances to him.
"Hey hey, it's ok. Just focus on my voice, it's gonna be alright. Me and Touya are gonna take care of you. You're safe with us ok? We'll make the pain go away."
By the time Touya returned, Keigo had quietened to little sniffles, body still trembling with pain. He set the bowl of water on the dresser and handed Kio the first aid kit. He climbed over to sit on Keigo's other side as Kio gently unwrapped the bandages around his hands. Keigo whimpered softly upon seeing his cut hands, the talons completely cut off.
Touya ran his hands through Keigo's hair, turning his face towards him. He smiled gently at him, watching as his eyes tried to stay focused on his face and away from his hands. He lay down next to him, stroking his hair and whispering comforting words in his ear.
Kio winced, seeing the damage the commission had done to Keigo's talons. He could tell they weren't careful when they had cut them. They were dangerously short, blood seeping out from the sides and fingertips. He had various other cuts around his hand too. He worked quickly but gently, disinfecting the cuts and cleaning the blood with the warm water. Touya kept Keigo distracted, holding him through the pain as Kio dabbed at his wounds.
Keigo was in a world of pain, Touya's soothing words and actions the only thing keeping him grounded. He could feel Kio's gentle hands tending to his talons, he was being so careful but it still hurt like hell. He tried to focus on Touya instead, at the fingers running through his hair. He felt a wave of gratitude hit him at that moment. Being tended to so gently, so warmly did wonders for his aching heart, deprived of affection for all these years. He cuddled closer to Touya, fresh tears burning his already sore eyes.
Touya said nothing as he held him tighter, watching Kio wrap up Keigo's hands expertly. Once they were properly tended to, Kio released a heavy sigh. He looked down at Keigo, whose wings twitched at the feeling of new, more secure bandages around his hands. He still refused to look at them though, not quite wanting to acknowledge what had happened. He buried his face in Touya's shoulder, shaky breaths leaving his lips.
Kio held his bandaged hands, contemplating, before bending down and kissing them gently. He watched Keigo's wings puff up in surprise, golden eyes snapping in his direction as a soft blush coated his cheeks. He gave him a small smile, settling down behind him and wrapping his arms around him. He kept a gentle hold on his hands, his thumbs tracing small circles onto the back of his hands.
He saw Touya's lips tremble, trying to fight back his giggles at Kio's actions. Kio sent him a mischievous grin, watching his blue eyes light up in anticipation.
A pink blush still dusted Keigo's cheeks, fading with every passing second before it came back full force when he felt Kio kiss the top of his head. Kio watched in amusement as the tips of his ears turned red. A giggle escaped Touya's lips as Keigo buried his face in his chest, trying to hide his burning cheeks. Kio cuddled in closer behind him, effectively squishing Keigo between the two.
As much as Keigo would've liked to complain, he couldn't bring himself to say anything against his current position. He felt safe and loved, heart beating a mile a minute between the two he considered his family. He felt Kio's warm wings wrap around them, a comforting and familiar heat encompassing the trio. Kio held his hands as Touya reached back and stroked gently at his wings. He felt himself relax in their hold, heart filled with nothing but love as he let himself drift away in their arms.
Safe and secure, in the arms of his family.
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