A/N: hiori's kink being 'fractured' (mentally ill) girls will never stop surprising me
TW: on tags (to avoid spoilers for those who don't care about tws, feel free to check the tags if you feel like you need it) + author's first language not being english + no proofreading
HATO (鳩)
(noun)
/ha-toh/
A dove; a gentle symbol of peace, purity, and love. Often associated with quiet grace and soft affection, it carries the beauty of fleeting moments, the warmth of a homeward journey, and the promise of serenity.
₊˙♡﹗˚ ༘ A name whispered like a melody, tender as the brush of wings.
Hiori needs you.
And you need him too. That’s why he quietly observes your face contort in a mix of mock disapproval and amusement with slight disappointment.
You chuckle between the sips of the strawberry yakult Hiori gave you. “Leaving? Pfft, sure. We can also rob a bank while we’re at it.. and y’know what? Hell, let’s also burn this stupid, dead town and hide in a mountain temple– Okay, dollface?”
You laughed, finding your ideas extremely hilarious, as if you didn't realize the seriousness with which he expressed his wishes. He tries to hide the way his cheeks slightly blush at your affective and teasing nickname, tilting his head in embarrassment. Oh, how not. You weren’t even aware. But it’s okay, you’re just too confused. Like a bird whose wings have been broken, you don’t know that you can fly. But it’s fine— everything is fine, he is here to fix you. No matter how broken, how unstable you are.
The truth is, it's because he likes it that way. He doesn’t really want to heal you. He wants to take care of your broken wings, so he himself knows better than anyone how to break them even harder again, and once you’re in his hold, you can’t fly out– you can’t walk away. You can’t leave.
“Wait… you’re joking right?”
No he’s not. His hands grab your wrists and pull you back to the comfortable bed you both were sitting at with ease–he’s tall, very tall, but maybe with too much ease.
“No. I’m serious, [name], we don’t need anyone else. We can be together forever, and be finally happy.” He smiles, his eyes glimmering in hope and his plushy lips curling upwards in a doll-like expression. “Isn’t that what you want, too?”
He looks at you with pleading eyes, but when your eyes widen in surprise, they quickly become impassive. Did he just confess to you? No, that wasn’t the question-was he actually serious?
“Huh?”
Well, it’s okay. He knew this wouldn’t be easy.
That’s why he meddled a little bit with the drink.
“...I—”
The intensity in his gaze doesn’t waver, and you try to meet his eyes, but your vision is starting to swim. You blinked again, but it didn't help. You feel your breath coming out in short bursts as though you’re struggling to catch it. Your mouth feels dry, like the words you try to form won’t come out right.
He watches you carefully, and when your eyes widen in shock, he knows. He knows that you’re starting to feel it too. The confusion turns to something else, something more dangerous.
“[name]?”
You swallow, your throat tight. “I—hhh... I don’t fffeel..right…” You try to speak, but the words are difficult to hold onto, slurred, slipping between your lips as if they weren’t yours to say.
He doesn’t reply, watching your face like a little kid watches his favourite cartoons when your shocked expression slowly morphs into a dazed one, blinking in dizziness. His soft lips part in half curiosity half… excitement? You’re not too sure of what’s happening– But you aren’t dumb, and the pieces soon fall into place. You quickly try to stand up, not even glancing at him before trying to get the hell out, but it’s just too much. You can’t even take two entire steps towards the door of his room before losing control and plummeting down to the floor with a harsh thud.
His expression serene, he watched you struggle, almost tenderly, as though he were watching a child stumble while learning to walk. His doll-like smile doesn’t falter, not even as you gasp for breath, your limbs weak and trembling, your consciousness slipping away before you can slip away from his reach.
Then, he smiled again. Looks like the wingless bird finally has found her new cage.
He approaches slowly, crouching beside you with an air of calmness that contrasts with the frenetic chaos of your mind. His slender fingers brush a strand of hair from your face, tucking it neatly behind your ear.
“I promise you, hato, this is for the best,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing, like a lullaby meant to coax you into submission. As if you even had an option. “Are you scared? I know you think you need to leave, but you don’t. I’ll take care of you.”
Your lips part, words slurred and incoherent, but he hushed you softly, pressing a finger to your lips. “Shh, it’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. I understand you better than anyone else ever could.”
He lifts you effortlessly, cradling you in his arms like you’re something fragile—something precious. His steps are measured as he carries you back to the bed, laying you down as though placing a delicate porcelain doll on display.
“You’ve been through so much, haven’t you? No one sees how much you’re hurting, how tired you are of pretending everything’s fine.”
He sits down, knees on the floor, his fingers brushing over your cheek in a touch that’s far too intimate for the circumstances. “But it’s okay now. You don’t have to pretend anymore. Not with me. I’ll make sure no one ever hurts you again. I will never leave you.”
A pause, his hand stilling against your skin. Your cheeks are round, they look like soft mochis. He tries hard to not give in to his urges and pinch them. However, he can't help but to let his lips softly curl upwards at the sight of a tear falling from your eye, and he softly pecks the spongy tissue of the wet trail in your eye. He’s a sadist, after all. And you, his little caged bird.
