𝑺𝑾𝑰𝑴 | ᴰᵃᵇⁱʰᵃʷᵏˢ

Codenames

God, it's so fucking hot. I'll be a rotisserie chicken before I even arrive!

Keigo wiped away the sweat on his forehead and stepped out of the bus, public transportation was hell in summer but he didn't have any choice. His driving skills were a danger to this country.

Plus he wasn't allowed to fly around without his hero license so this had to do.

I won't need the wings as a lifeguard anyway, he probably just hired me so no one dies in case of an emergency. Even if I'm not legally allowed to use my feathers, who would stop me?

"Mom, look! He must be a hero!" a kid yelled from far away and the blonde just started jogging away. It's true, his wings gave him a heroic look but it annoyed him more that it did him good. Being a hero would suck, he just knew it.

Mostly he didn't want to be late so he just ran faster until there was a corner.

Any usual idiot would stop to not run into anyone, but well, he did not. And with a loud 'bong' his head hit another. His eyes met deep blue ones before both squinched them in pain. What an idiot, wait, I'm the idiot.

Then he just ran off again, not even asking the guy if he was okay. He just yelled "Watch where you're going punk!"

It's my fault but who cares, I'll never see him again tsk.

With a sly grin he held his head and stopped when he was at the back entrence of the pool. Now that he thinks about it, this must be the cities biggest open pool. There were multiple smaller areas and a gigantic grass field to lay in.

Only now he realized the responsibility was gonna be on his shoulders.

"Takami-san, glad to see you at least barely punctual to your first shift." wait, that wasn't the sound of the old man from yesterday? It was a womans voice.

Now a little nervous he shuffled his wings automatically and fully entered the office. The stinging sun finally stopped blinding him. Again with his back as straight as a pole he did a polite bow and scanned the little woman. She was a dark skinned goddess!

Her hair is so prettily white and with those vampire eyes though. "Yes, the bus was running late I apologize." he did another bow and went for his locker.

"You can change behind the curtains bird guy, then we'll talk about your name." wait what? "What do you mean my name, I'm Keigo?" the blonde kept his stuff on his arms and lifts an eyebrow.

She just sighs and puts a cap on. "Our lifeguards have code names, I'm Mirko but in private you can call me Rumi."

Codenames? How lame.

"Why would we need code names, that's too hero-ish." the lifeguard, who barely even made it to his first day on time, rolled his eyes. He held back any attitude and slipped behind the curtain. Swiftly he changed into a red pair of shirts and a white tank top. It's a shame baywatch didn't cast him.

"Just think of something that suits you and makes people remember your presence. Stupid teens tend to be less annoying when they think you're cool!" Mirko had to take the cap off to properly put it on her ears, after everything was in place, her new colleague already sat patiently behind her.

Keigo just huffs at that. "So let me say this in other words, we're pretending to be like heroes so less shit happens?"

For a moment Mirko started contemplating if she should just nod or deny it, but in the end she choose to just say "Yeah, like that. But trust me, you wanna be on these people's good side. Especially if that one guy starts to act up, you'll see who I'm talking about today."

The woman with the bunny ears sticking out of her cap grinned at Keigo, who unknowingly returned it.

Out of all the people she could have meant, Keigo had no idea as it was his first day. So he wanted to be prepared. As he was putting on a pair of slippers he asked "Anymore details of this guy?" and was met with a worrying answer.

"Oh, it's some guy with black hair and piercings. A few scars but that's not the thing." She paused for a moment to make sure there was no one in the room. "He's a fucking brat with his friends, pushing each other around and yelling, constantly making side remarks about the lifeguards and getting in their personal space. You get it."

Keigos eyes widen, why would they still let him inside then if he was so bad?

"Damn, I'll keep it in mind. But my personal space? Hell if he comes to close I'll-" "You can't or you'll get fired, his family is funding this whole place."

How annoying, but I bet he's not gonna be that bad. And even if, I'll manage.

The blonde was just about to open the door to the outside pool when Mirko stopped him mid movement. She clicked her tongue in a disapproving manner mumbling "You need to pick a name first, something cool. Something outstanding!"

"Your name is literally-" "Shhh, just pick something. You have wings so maybe uhh, Falcon?" Mirko rubbed her head unsurely. She wasn't very creative when it came to this.

So for a moment he went into his mind, Falcon was definitely off the table but there was something on his mind. He had heard another bird species once but what was it?

"Ah, you're thinking." she leaned against the wall patiently waiting when it hit the blonde. "Hawk, that's what boss called me last time. But it sounds soo..."

Silence, but not for long. "Go with Hawks, the s at the and makes it sound like a hero name!" Mirko had hit the jackpot with the idea and she knew. Still, the word 'hero' put Keigo a little off.

"Then it's decided, I'll go with Hawks."

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Published 05.01.24/ 1000 words

Currently I'm reading no longer human by Osamu dazai and wow, so many new words 😀