And Back To The Creation Nest
After the nobles of my court all left I slouch in my chair and let out an audible groan. “I hate dealing with the court. They are the worst. This isn’t even my court, this was my father’s. Full of a bunch of people he trusted.”
I let my eyes wonder and they land on the other side of the table where Phoenix still sat still in his chair. “Why can’t you make a new one? Make a new court?”
“If it was that easy I would do it. But even if I kicked them out, they don’t respect me enough to actually leave.”
I blink and the next thing that I notice is that the avian is standing in front of me. “Why did you change the archery suggestion to a hunt?” The bird leans in as he moves my bangs out of my face gazing into my eyes as he seems to look at me with the utmost care.
“If I were to tell you that the goal was to hunt something small. Would you do it, or would you think that I don’t know what I am talking about and ignore my request to give me something ‘more impressive.’” The question leaves my mouth as I know what the noble’s of the court would do.
“If the goal was small game and who brought back the best of said small prey, then why wouldn’t I listen to that?”
“Be cause you don’t see me as potential property to own. This court doesn’t respect me. They respected my father. But because my parents didn’t produce a son, they all see me as something that they think they have the right to and not someone that is able to work and do what needs to be done in this country.” I- we are not even a woman, yet we’re treated like one. Are the words that I never speak out loud but seem to echo through the room silently.
I watch as the avian looks away. “I would go to war for you if you asked. I could never see my friend that I cherish as property.”
“I could never send my little bird off to war.” I pause as I see his reaction to my statement as he seems to be trying to collect his thoughts before responding. “I too see you as someone precious to me. I could never use you for my own gain.”
His wings break through his binding as their eyes seem to move back and forth as if he is looking for something that isn’t there. “I still don’t know if I believe that. The- the last person that said- they- I still have a pull to listen to-”
“Little bird, Phee, come here.” He slowly makes his way over as I see his wings shaking as he seems to be struggling to keep them hidden.
“I don’t know what happened. But I am here for you.” I reach out and wrap my arms around him as he breaks down in tears. “I won’t let anyone take advantage of you again. I promise.” I rub his back and notice a set of binding on his chest that seems to be make shift. “How long have you been wearing that? Love that can’t be good for your ribs.”
The avian yanks away quickly and then frantically tries to cover up what I only found through feeling. “I’m sorry, I- I didn’t- I really am- please, please don’t- don’t think differently of me. Please. I- I mean if you want I- I can leave and you’ll never have to see-”
“Phoenix stop.” I said his name as the avian in front of me processed what I said as and order and silenced himself. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. You are still you after all how could I ever hate you?”
I watch as his wings seem to tremble. “You aren’t lying to me right? You wouldn’t lie to me, right?”
Tears are streaming down his face as I feel a pull from him tug at my heart. “No, I can’t lie, even if I could, I would never lie to you.”
I watch them mess with their wings as he pulls at the feathers rather roughly. I get up and look out the door and find a maid telling her to not let anyone other then Olive into this room. After I shut the door I watch as Phoenix’s body stiffens.
“Hey no one is going to come in here birdie. don’t worry. It will just be us. Breath in... hold... then back out.” I continue to step him through some breathing exercise that I have had to do for him prior.
He lets go of his wings as a couple feathers that were ripped out fall to the ground. “Why are you doing this? Why try so hard for just me? I- I’m no longer- I am not anyone important.”
“Do you consider me part of your flock?” The question that is asked from me has an obvious answer in my mind. That answer being yes, he does. I do enjoy the avian’s presence as I know that he enjoys mine.
“Well, y- yes I do think of you as that. You, Corvus, and Olive are all part of that to me.” Phoenix looks away as his wings seem to flap slightly. they seem to be in a slight disarray from being bound for the four hour meeting.
“How can I help you feel like I care about you Phee?”
The avian seems to heasitate slightly. “Can you help me with my wings? Normally we would do each others but I- I can do your hair instead since- since you don’t have wings.”
As I nod Phoenix seems to hesitate but heads over and removes his shirt that ripped in the back. I watch as he sits and his wings start to shake again. He seems terrified of something. What that is I am not sure.
“We can not do this if you are not comfirtable. I don’t want to force you.”
“I- I- it will be fine. I just am not used to letting someone else do this anymore. I- I know that I said that I wanted this, it is just terrifying.”
The avian stumbles through his words as he seems to be trying to convince himself that this is something that he wants. “Consent can be taken away at anytime little birdy. You know that, right?”
“You’ve always respected me like that. I trust you. I am just scared.”
I place my hand on his back where his wings meet up with it. I feel the muscles tense up there as he seems to want to fly away. “I understand. If this gets too much we can stop.”
With those words he seems to relax. “Okay.”
“Can I remove your chest binding for now so your ribs can have a break.”
He quickly shakes his head. “I don’t like it. I don’t want you to see me any differently.”
I move my hands around his back as I think on what to say next. I understand that he is scared. But what would assure him that I would never see him any differently. “Do you see me as a woman because I look like one?”
“Why would I? You are Lu, my dear friend.”
“And removing this binding won’t make you someone that you are not. Right, you will still be Phee, with or without the binding and I will not see you as someone that you are not.”
His wings seem to instinctually flap loosening some feathers that were ready to fall off as the lost their grip on his wings. “Well if you promise that I am still- I am still going to be who I was prior in your eyes.”
“I promise. I’ll wrap you back up when we are done but we should get you a proper binder at some point.”
“I- I don’t want a seamstress to see my wings.” a brief pause was deafening as I could hear his breathing get ragged. “I- I was able to get out last time, but my fam- my flock- everyone- never again.”
I let out a sigh as I remove the binding on his chest. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“You can’t make that promise. People I know my limits.” Phoenix’s wings become still as if what he is talking about is fact. That people will just hurt him and I won’t be able to stop it.
I move my fingers through his wings as I let his words sit with me. “I will just say your full name that you gave me by mistake and that will over-ride your instincts, right?”
“Why, why go so far to protect me?”
“You are my precious friend and I love you.”
With the words that I said, he shoots up and quickly tuns around as his remaining loose feathers fall to the ground with his wings quickly flapping as if he was about to take off.
He looks into my eyes with his that seem to be about to leak. Phoenix makes his way closer to me as he does the same motion that I had provided on his wings to my hair. He removes a few lose strands as he pushes my hair to the side. “You are an amazing friend. I will happily fight for your independence. W- I love you too.”
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Sorry for this one coming out a little late, but here is chapter 7. While I am here and not in too much of a haze I will be reading through chapter 8 which will be the first POV switch. Here is my ko-fi link as my supporters get future chapters once every five chapter updates.
