SongBird

I

"Song Bird, come here." A stern but calm voice demanded. A small boy barely over six stiffly and shyly stepped into the training room. It was a large room made of all concrete. "Song Bird!" the child, Song Bird, heard his code name again. I hate that name. It was forced upon him after his first week here. They told him he had to lose his real name and disconnect from his past. I don't wanna train today. "If you want to be a hero you have to be braver. Now step up."

They spoke again as they pushed his back towards who he would be fighting today. She was tall, much taller than any average women. Scary. He watched as the women's dark blue hair slowly changed to a raven black. He peered up at his own dark hair that laid gently on his forehead. His face remained blank as he took another step towards the stoic giant. She looked down at his small frame.

"A child? I am not fighting a child." she spoke clearly. Her voice carried throughout the cold room so all could hear her.

"He is more than capable, Matsushita. " The man removed his hand from Song Bird's back. The loss of contact made him feel less secure. He felt the fear crawling up his throat like drying clay making it harder to breath. It made the corners of his eyes sting a little more and his lip quiver only once before he gritted his teeth and tried to swallow. The women, Matsushita, he tried to hold onto her name, even though he was sure he would forget it by the end of training. What if he comes and I can't make him go away again? I don't want him to come back. The thought of his father alone terrified him, but the knowledge that the aftereffects of his quirk would bring him back. It'll be okay. He's not real. Remember what they taught you. He's just a-.

"Kid!" He looked up to see the women, No Harue, Matsushi! No, Matsusa? Matsushita! Matsushi- "his attention span's pretty short huh?" Matsushita spoke keeping her ruby eyes on him. She was towering right above him. His head barely reached her knee cap. She slowly bent down to be face to face with him. She sighed as she settled into her new position on the floor. Her knees now barely half a centimeter from him. She had to slouch to truly meet his eyes. His ocean blue eyes shown into her much scarier red ones. A small huff left her lips as her face softened just a bit. Her eyes fell to the floor. "Song Bird? He looks like a scared hummingbird. Nothing but prey. I'm not going to fight him. Send him off to another training room." She finalized as she stood again.

No, no, no, please fight me! I can take it! Please I don't want to go back! Please. He didn't speak, but his eyes said it all. His eyed were wide and pleading, they begged for her to look at him once more so she could see that he needed her to fight him. It was either she fought him, or he was put back in the medicine room. He didn't want to have to face another 'episode' today. One single tear slipped down his face. The lump in his throat rose higher. It hurt as he kept trying to suppress it. Stop crying it'll only make it worse. Focus Harue, you can't let them see you cry. Think of something. Hawks. He said he was making chicken tonight. But he says that every day. Maybe he'll let you choose the movie tonight. I wanna watch- A hand pressed the top of his head, ruffling the messy black strands and pulling him from his thoughts. He peered up through his eyebrows. He saw Matsushita mouth a small 'sorry'. So small that only he would be able to read it. He knew she meant well, but also knew she must know what is to come.

"Song Bird, let's go. The doctor will see you early instead." It was inevitable, but hearing his instructor say it out loud made it real. Matsushita's hand slipped down to the back of his head and after a soft scratch her hand left. It was a small gesture but every small amount of comfort he could get he would take. He let a small shiver run through his bones before slowly moving towards his instructor with his head bowed.

I don't want to be a hero anymore.

...

"Asleep already?" Harue could just barely hear someone speak. His head was spinning. His stomach churned, he felt like he was stuck on a roller coaster that just kept going, and going, and going. He refused to open his eyes. If he did he might throw up what little he had eaten today. At least he wasn't seeing his father today. Just hallucinating small barely audible whispers and the constant spinning feeling in his head that kept him on the ground. He had long abandoned the bed he was placed in only 2 hours ago.