A tiktok video made me decide to post this after having it rot in my wattpad drafts for... a year? two? or maybe 13 months- I'll finish it later if it's worth something 😭
It was raining, and the temperature was way too low to anyone's liking. Even within the walls of your workplace, you could see the faint cloud of your breathing as you typed your consciousness away on the computer screen. Your eyelids were heavier than ever, more than relieved to finally click the save button and shut your computer into rest. You starred at your reflection for a good while, before blinking twice and leaning back on your chair. Sighing in relief, stretching your arms and arcing your back, instantly whining as the cracking of your vertebrates echoed in your ears. You're not getting paid enough for this. You gladly got up, cleaning the desk after yourself as you wrapped your coat around your body. As you passed the giant glass windows you watched the crystal raindrops hit the surface and slide down, mentally picking one of the drops to race with near ones, proudly walking away when it was the first to leave your sight. You grabbed your umbrella and locked the place, then took your way out the building.
You walked your way home, eyes half closed at the ground with a hand in your pocket, the other holding the umbrella as it leaned in your chest. You didn't think of anything beside the bed, right now. As you passed the park, you saw something moving near a tree around the entry, by the fence. You kept walking, ignoring it until you heard loud chirping of distress, and as you looked through the iron poles of the fence, you saw the prettiest crimson bird you've ever seen among the tree roots. You watched for a moment, as it breathed heavily, and you could've sworn the eyes got watery, before hopelessly closing. You instantly walked a few feet back, entering the park, and walking to the tree. You looked at the bird, caring the umbrella over it as you hovered down.
You moved your hand closer to it's head, watching as the bird's eyes started to open slightly at your voice, then the chirping started again. The eyes were an unnatural golden, and they looked familiar, but you were too tired to think about it.
"Shhhh, you poor thing." You layed your hand on it's head, gently running your thumb over the beak.
The bird calmed down, with the breaths and chirping, not removing the eyes off of you. Even when you moved your other hand to lay underneath the creature, picking it up, the eyes kept scanning you.
You kept running your thumb over the beak as you placed the bird inside your coat, against your chest. You continued your way to home, slightly getting uncomfortable from the water and probably muddy stain that was starting to form on your chest.
"Almost there, buddy." You briefly moved the bird to the other part of your chest, that was warm and dry.
You fastened your pace, as your building came to sight. Walking inside the dry walls, and taking the elevator finally closing your umbrella. You pulled your keys out and entered, keeping the bird to your warm chest, setting a pillow on your desk, and placing a folded blanket on it, before laying the bird on it, and bringing your lamp close to it's back.
"There you go.." You patted it's head, as the breathing softened.
You walked away, removing your coat and unbuttoning your blouse to slide it over your shoulders. It was warmer in your apartment, still cold but walking around in your bra is better than walking around with a wet shirt. You turned around and saw the bird had turned it's head, so you went to the kitchen and brought a plastic plate filled with warm water, a clothing and some aid equipment to patch the bird although you didn't put your finger on where or what's injured in him.
You turned on your television because you hated silence, and turned on to the latest news, although you didn't pay attention to it.
"Alright little guy, come 'ere." You patted the bird, and gently set him in the warm water, rubbing off the mud and dirt from his feathers.
It's breath hitched, opening it's eyes to watch your hand as you rubbed at it's feathers.
"Sshh, you're alright." You comforted as you cleaned it's wing.
As you lifted the other wing, it chirped roughly and pulled away.
"Aw? Is it broken?" You turned the bird to lay on it's back, so the hurt wing was closer to you.
You saw a really bad burn mark at the basic bone of the wing, whatever baby feathers that were there have no trace.
"You poor baby, what happened?" You pouted, as you used your quirk to bend some water drops into the air.
The bird chirped roughly, as it watched the bubble of water start to glow a pale blue.
"Sshh, it's a healing trick." You rubbed it's stomach with your finger, as you let the water surround the burnt mark and cycle around on the surface of the harmed skin.
The bird almost purred, as you watch it stretch it's legs.
"Ya like that buddy?" You smiled, wielding your fingers to keep the water moving on the mark.
After some more minutes, when the redness of the injury lost a little shade, you wrapped the bird in a towel then started to bandage the wing, before the breaking news' music caught your ear, and you couldn't help but eavesdrop on your own television.
"And now with our latest breaking news, Hawks, our number two hero has been reported missing by his own agency ever since the latest villian's attack this afternoon."
"Keigo?" You whispered in shock.
The bird chirped, and you subconsciously placed your palm on it's head, face still turned to the television.
"Last witnessed was against a solo working villian known to have collaborated with the league of villians. Kritika Shang, also known as Father Nature. Investigation of all task forces in all police stations is ongoing,"
The bird shook it's head, watching your face from between your fingers as you had an expression of disbelief. It chirped some more to grab your attention, but no use. You completely forgot about the little creature under your palm, until the commercial started. You blinked twice and turned back to the bird, rubbing it's tummy with your pointer slowly.
"They can't find Keigo..." You whispered.
The bird chirped softly, as it breathed calmly while looking at you.
"Keigo? The number two hero... we used to be friends... I doubt he remembers me, though. He'll be fine.. right?" You ran a hand through your hair, before moving the lamp closer to the bird and getting up.
"He's always been worrisome." You sighed then walked to the bathroom, while looking at the floor.
"Don't move buddy, I gotta shower too."
The bird's vision was blurry, and he wanted to sleep, but as much he wanted to tell you he's right here, he's safe, and that he remembers you, he couldn't. As he kept thinking about what to do, how to get out of this mess, how to communicate with you, anything. He was struck by a villian, and the counter attack turned him into a bird. His vision got more blurry, as the last thing he saw was the steam exiting the bathroom door as it opened.
He let himself drown in his slumber, although he felt something sweet poke at his beak so he parted it slightly and swallowed, you must be feeding him, he was famished laying under that tree for almost 8 hours in the cold with no water or food. Until he was full, he closed his beak firmly and not so long after a few more pokes whatever sweet was there is gone, and he went back to his own dream land.
The next morning, the blinding lights of the sun beams peaked in to your room, and the bird slowly opened his eyes to see a few posters of his usual self on your room, it was two, one poster was an enlarged photo shoot, of 4 pictures, all were a younger you and a younger him.
That day you told him you want him more than just a best friend, so you two went on a date together, and entered an instant photoshoot chamber machine.
One of the pictures were both of you carrying a large smile with peace signs, the second was him cupping your face tightly while biting your cheek as you tugged on his arm because his fingers squeezed your face a little too much, another picture had you both with your shirts on your shoulders over your heads, backs to the camera to reveal the matching tattoos you had on the right shoulder, while he had it on the left shoulder, so that when you stood close to eachother it would make a whole picture, like puzzle pieces. The last picture were you two looking eachother in the eyes with a light blush and a sincere smile.
It was really nothing, but it was a years ago memory you didn't let go off. You lost count of how many copies you have of that photo.
He blinked twice as his eyes flickered from the posters to observe your room, it smelled like cinnamon. Wherever you lived smelled like cinnamon, cause you would put those scent sticks along side the walls, at first when he rarely visited your dorm back in highschool, he found it absurd but then he started finding it very pleasant, and ever since then he'd remember you and wonder how are you doing whenever he enters a cafe for a lunch break, and gets hit by a similar sweet scent. Now is no different, he felt young and safe surrounded by you.
As he turned to where your bed was, he watched you breath peacefully as you were hugging a body pillow and keeping it close between your legs, you had a shirt he recognised to be one he gave forever ago, besides the fact it was already oversized on you, you didn't grow that much so you wore it randomly, it was officially yours, but your favourite. He would literally watch you forever if he could, right now he was hungry and it was painful probably due to his animal self, so he chirped. His heart skipped a beat as you stirred to lay on your back, moaning in annoyance as you laid an arm on your head to block the light. He'd love to hear that version of your voice on different occasions, though. As you moved your legs he looked down at the desk out of respect, seeing you only had your panties on, and were he, was giving him an unholy angle. He watched your eyes flutter open, starring at the ceiling for a bit before getting up and stretching your arms.
"Good morning little birdie, slept well?" You smiled at him from your bed, before getting up and walking to him.
"I should call you something, but last time I got really attached to a bird he flew away on me."
You giggled and kissed the beak, before leaving the room. Once you stepped out of the door, the bird chirped loudly, so you peaked your head back in, and it immediately went down. You pulled your head back, and the chirping started again so you peaked it back in with a smile of disbelief.
"Com'ere." You softly grabbed the bird, letting him settle on your palm as you stroked it's healthy wing.
You walked around with the bird to your chest, going on about your day whether laundry, cleaning or what not, but with one hand. You lived alone, so it all didn't take so much. You flopped down on the couch, placing a pillow on your lap, and placing the bird on it, then turned on the news.
"They still can't find him..." You murmured against your palm, as you rested your elbow on the arm.
"He'll be okay, he always will." You looked down and stroked the crimson feathers of the bird.
"You know? You kinda look a lot like him. You two have the same golden eyes." You smiled down at the bird, before giving a sigh of defeat.
"Where could he possibly be."
It really hurt the kind of pain medicine can't fix, to be calling and unheard. He was never used to it, attention was the one that seeked him out wherever he went. Now, people randomly passed him by as he cried underneath a tree in the rain, cold, hurt and hungry. The only person who helped him, was someone he forgot all about ever since he started his agency.
"So- I just... I really really like you." You stared at the ground, cupping your reddening face as you stuttered your confession out.
Keigo just watched you speak, amused by how the tip of your ears almost bought disgrace to the crimson of his own wings.
You were set on the counter island in his dorm kitchen, he invited you over last night because the heater in the building where your dorm was broke down, and it was a freezing winter. You woke up around 12 in the middle of the night, freezing, and checked your phone to see the news. It was announced 15 minutes ago, and not so long after, aggressive knocking on your door jolted you out of bed. You were basically literally dragged to his dorm. A part of you was a bit excited about sleeping next to him, but he ended up sleeping on the couch while you took his bed. However though, a couple of minutes later you went and slept next to him and on top of him on the couch, but then he carried you to his bed and slept there next to you.
He didn't deny how nice it was to you have you there, not to himself, you all huddled up to his chest with your arms around him, as he wrapped an arm around you and laid a leg on your hip, his heel brushing ever lightly against the bare soft skin of your leg. Inappropriate, but really nice.
The next morning tho, the loveable asshole cornered you about it, bringing your words to life.
"We're best friends, so... it's ok if you don't see me otherwise, I just- had to let that off my chest, you know?" You bowed down your head, staring at your thighs, as you placed your hand on the counter between them.
It was the worst moment of silence you've ever experienced in your life, for a good minute or two that actually felt like an hour or two.
Until Keigo shuffled his waist between your knees, forcefully parting them to fit in.
You only stared intensely at his toned stomach, until his fingers found their way to your chin, guiding your head up to look at him.
"Nothing to be embarrassed about, pretty bird." He murmured with half closed eyes, and the signature smirk that made your heart do unexplained things.
"I know I like you too." He looked down at your lips, as his other arm rested around your waist, palm at the small of your back as his fingers kept tracing the elastic band of your shorts while sliding up underneath your shirt every now and then.
"Eh- as a friend?" You said, oblivious of how red your face is right now.
You blinked, your face flushing as you felt fuzzy, happy, relieved and surprised.
"How about.. I take you out on a date, your favorite- no... somewhere you've never been, hm?"
You smiled bashfully, cupping your face with a smile as you looked down to hide your blush.
He chuckled then kissed your fingers, before pulling you into a hug which you so happily returned.
That day after class, he did take you somewhere special. Somewhere new. He used his resources and took you to a rented amusement park where it was just you and him.
(For explanation, I like to think that after the government took Keigo Tamaki in as a kid, they must've still provided him with excellent education, and before he was 18, they were pretty much at his whim. He wasn't spoiled, obviously, but he'd threaten them to get a bad grade or dump his studies every now and then if they got too tight. So basically, in that same highschool, the reader got in by a scholarship, kapeesh?)
You were surprised, but he just said his friend owned him a favor, so his dad who's in the hero board, rented the park for them.
You two did almost everything, played every single game, and ate all the junk food and candy there was. You even turned on a haunted house, but just stayed in the watching rooms to observe how the effects work, which for some reason was more fun. He -and without cheating- won you a few plushies too, a memorial, and you made sure to enter an instant photo shoot boothe, getting two copies of the photos strip. As far as you knew, it was quite the date you've ever been on. By the end, you got on a carousel to watch the sunrise, and when you two reached the highest point, he used one of his feathers to turn off the carousel, so you can just observe the sky for a moment, in which case he could fly you both down anyway.
The silence was... comforting. You felt no pressure to say anything, after all.. you had forever.
"Hey... Kei." You turned to him, watching the golden pink rays hit those beautiful amber irises, and he gave you a warm smile.
"Do you want to be a hero?"
His smile almost fell, as he gave you a simple shrug.
"Who wouldn't want to make the world a better place?"
You rested your cheek on the obnoxiously large unicorn plush that he won you and stared at the sunrise.
"Am I selfish for not wanting to..?"
"I wouldn't say that. Who wouldn't want a cozy secure life either?" He rested back against the chair of that small chamber you two were in.
He was quite broad and tall, when he stretched his legs, they reached the wall of your chair. Your legs were closed between his feet.
"you'll be a great hero, though.." You muttered.
"Yeah? I sure hope so.. either way, make sure you visit my hero agency, hm?"
In a few years and after graduation you went to college, and he opened his own agency. You visited him as regularly as possible for support, and for old time's sake, but when he got famous- which was surprisingly too soon after his official opening, it started getting harder. You'd show up, but the new secretary thought you were some sort of freaky fan, and when he wasn't there, you won't be let in. You tried a few more times visiting even though you were pretty sure she didn't deliver your messages, but it never worked. You tried calling him, but when he didn't pick up thrice, your pride started telling you not to. Until you saw him in public once, and you didn't know whether to approach him and say hi or not. He was the number three hero, surrounded by fans, known, popular among the girls, and you... you were an A plus student, with an excellent college degree, how famous. You stood away, just watching how he changed. He didn't exactly change, he was always popular among the girls, but he never used his real name now. When your gazes met, your heart skipped a beat like a high school girl again, and you smiled softly, giving him a wave.
For a moment you thought he'd walk up to you, say hi, apologize for ignoring you
A routine-ass, professionally put up fan service wink.
Sure, you didn't have a pastel colored band aids on your face anymore, and maybe your face was better cause now you take care of your skin, and maybe your hair was longer, but you were the same. He should've recognized you. Should've at least tried to, should've noticed the earrings he gave you that matched his own, but he winked.
With a heavy heart, you walked away knowing there's nothing you can do about it, but at least it was yout final sign to leave the Keigo you knew behind.
"And yeah, maybe I still have some photos up in my room like a silly little lovesick girl, but in my defense- I had more photos of other friends, and I'm allowed to miss people-"
You pointed at the bird who was staring at you in awe, and you froze for a moment, then stared at your finger.
"Hey so, I'm not crazy... I just- I never had a pet bird before. What am I supposed to do with you?"
You picked it up in your gentle palms and brought it up to your face, as if examining it.
"What kind of bird are you? Can you fetch a stick?"
You blinked twice, before kissing it's beak softly and setting it back on the pillow.
