A Gilded Cage of Broken Wings (Oneshot Collection)

The Scars Left By Angry Men

Michigan had tiny wing stumps. Ontario had seen them before, the few times Michigan wore the shirts that allowed them to show. It scared Ontario. His big brother seemed so strong and infallible. How could someone have cut off his wings?

Ontario knew the tiny stumps hurt Michigan sometimes because he had seen his brother's face tight with pain as their father massaged aches out of Michigan's muscles, trying to do something to relieve the pain.

Ontario tried not to ask about it, but as time went on, he grew more and more curious until, finally, he couldn't take not knowing anymore.

Michigan was lying face down on the couch, wearing one of the specially tailored shirts that allowed the small stumps on his back to show.

"Michi?" Ontario asked. His brother lifted his head from the couch, dark hair falling into his eyes.

"Hmm? Yes, 'Tario? What do you need?" Michigan sounded tired, and Ontario almost backed out of it because of that, not wanting to bother Michigan.

"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you," Ontario said. Michigan smiled, sitting up and stretching his arms.

"It's alright. What do you need?" Michigan asked again. Ontario scuffed his foot against the floor, looking away, nervous.

"I was wondering...I was wondering about your back. Those things...those are wings, right? Or were wings, once?" Ontario asked, looking back up at his brother. Michigan stilled, pain flashing through his eyes.

"They were once, yes," Michigan said, something...his voice sounded hurt or ashamed. Michigan looked ashamed. Why would he be ashamed? It wasn't his fault his wings were gone, right?

"What happened?" Ontario pried hesitantly. Michigan looked away but sighed.

"It's the remains of something a very bad man did to me," Michigan said, gaze growing distant. Ontario felt rage burn through him. How dare someone do this to his brother? How dare someone hurt him like that?

"I'm sorry. It must hurt a lot," Ontario said. Michigan sighed.

"It does hurt sometimes...I don't know why...but it's okay. Father helps me with the pain, and Grandfather was a big help in curing me from what that man did to me. You don't need to worry, Ontario. I'm okay now." Michigan said, a soft smile on his face as he pulled Ontario into a hug.

Ontario leaned into the hug, happy that his brother had healed from whatever had happened to him.

Yet, he still felt a burning anger at the person who did that to Michigan. He wanted to find them and beat them up for hurting his brother so permanently. He was so mad. He hated the idea that someone could even think to harm another person like that, a person like his brother.

How could someone live with themselves if they held someone down and cut off their limbs? How could that person live with themselves?

It wasn't fair! Michigan deserved to have his wings back. He deserved to live without the pain Ontario had seen haunt him. He deserved better.

It wasn't fair.

Frustrated tears escaped as he buried his face into Michigan's side.

"Are you okay?" Michigan asked, his tone kind and gentle, proving that he didn't deserve that.

"I wish you didn't have to go through that pain. I wish I could have stopped it," Ontario said, voice muffled by Michigan's shirt. Michigan's hand ran through his hair before trailing down to the small of his back.

"It's okay. It's not your job to stop it. Grandfather and Father took care of things. I've healed. I'm okay. You don't need to worry," Michigan said. Ontario pulled away, looking his brother in the eyes.

"Do you promise?" he asked. Michigan nodded.

"I promise."

Ontario looked over Michigan's shoulder, wondering what his brother would have been like if he had wings. Would he have been able to fly? Would he have flow Ontario and Quebec around? Would he look happier without any dark sadness clouding his eyes when he thought Ontario wasn't looking?

"Can I touch them?" Ontario asked. Michigan startled, giving Ontario a shocked look.

"What?" he asked, his voice full of confusion.

"The wings. Can I touch them?" Ontario asked. Michigan looked so baffled at Ontario's request, eyes alight with confusion.

"Uh...sure?" Michigan said moving positions, so his back was to Ontario. "Just be gentle. I'm more sensitive there."

Ontario nodded, reaching out a cautious hand on the rightmost stump, the longer one. It still had feathers on it, although they were in a horrible state themselves, like when you find a feather on the ground that's been chewed up by an animal.

It was weird. When Ontario touched it, the wing stumps twitched slightly, and he pulled his hand back.

"Sorry!" He exclaimed. Michigan let out a small laugh.

"It's okay. It didn't hurt. I would have told you if it did." Michigan said. Reassured by that, Ontario reached out again, laying a gentle hand on the wing stump. It was less than a foot long, and he could feel where the rest of the wing once was, a jagged scar hidden under broken feathers.

He traced the scar with this finger, feeling anger well up again. It wasn't fair that Michigan had to deal with this kind of injury. Ontario then went to place his hand on the spot between Michigan's wing stumps but was cut off by Michigan's sharp voice.

"Stop!" he exclaimed, causing Ontario to jump slightly, "Sorry, it hurts there."

"I'm sorry. I don't want to hurt you," Ontario said as Michigan turned back to face him.

"I know you don't. You're too kind to want to hurt people," Michigan said, ruffling Ontario's hair, causing the younger province to squawk in indignation, pushing Michigan's hand off his hair, sticking out his tongue at his older brother.

"No, I'm not. Imma beat up the person that hurt you." Ontario said. Michigan laughed, a fond look in his eyes.

"Father took care of that already. He ensured that the person who hurt me will never touch our family again." Michigan said, "I'm safe, so you don't have to beat anyone up."

"Well, anyone else that tries to hurt you, I'll beat them up," Ontario said, crossing his arms. Michigan laughed.

"Sure, Ontario. If anyone else tries to hurt me, I'll tell you so you can do that," Michigan said. Ontario grinned at that.

His brother had always done so much for him. Ontario was glad that he would have the chance to return the favor and make sure no one hurt his brother like that again.