The Grimm Huntress

Wings

Whitley didn't like being touched, that was a fact everyone who knew him knew. There was one exception though.

He woke up to arms wrapped around him and a head on his shoulder. He woke up like this almost every day now that he stayed over the Kamiya's more often than not. He usually tried to find a way out of Apollo's arms before he woke up and got ready for the day.

He went back to his house sometimes so his father wouldn't be too upset but mainly stayed at the manor. He had to practice and his father wouldn't let that happen; he was meant to be an heir, not a fighter.

When he stayed over, the schedule quickly turned into: get out of Apollo's grip, get dressed, finally wake up Apollo (if it was before sunrise) go to the field/backyard, train until meals, continue to train until he was close to passing out, then have Apollo help him back to their bedroom and sleep while Apollo started on a project of some sort or played piano or violin.

Some days though they would stay in their room and Apollo worked on something he wouldn't let Whitley see.

As the sun rose behind the thin curtains Apollo sat up and rubbed his eyes. It was another thing Whitley found fascinating about his friend. He woke up at sunrise no matter how tired he was the day before.

Whitley pulled on a black sweater, either Apollo's or Esteban's (it was hard to tell with them) and fixed the sleeves so they didn't fall over his hands. Though he did like how that felt more. "What will it be today?"

"My project's almost done." Apollo stretched his arms above his head. "And no you can't see it yet."

"It better be pretty damn good if you won't even show me," Whitley huffed.

"Oh for sure. You're gonna love it."

"It's for me?"

"Yep!" Apollo grinned. Bright. "I'll get working, you find a book."

That was another thing they'd been doing. On the off chance Apollo didn't want to listen to music (he went through phases when he was obsessed then turned away from it) he'd have Whitley read any random book he found aloud while he tinkered.

"How does a play sound?"

"What play?"

Whitley tried to make out the title but the words had long since faded. "The one with the fairies."

"Gay people are in most plays, Whitley, have you seen my school?"

"Fairies as in the magical creatures that fly around," he said through gritted teeth. "Not the homophobic term."

"Hey, with your dad, I never know. But, sounds good. It's Sunday so it's gonna be a while until everyone else wakes up."

"Then get dressed and we can get started after." Apollo grinned and disappeared into his closet. "And don't match me!"

He matched him.

"Apollo, what did I just say?"

Apollo shrugged and straightened his collar. "Hey, it's my clothes."

"Whatever." Whitley rolled his eyes. "Just start working..."

It took maybe an hour for Esteban and Thea to interrupt them. Esteban looked pissed and Thea looked ready to kill or die, no in between. She opened her mouth to speak but Esteban beat her to it.

"You little rodent," he hissed.

"Well good morning to you too, Essie, can I help you?" Apollo didn't need to turn around for Whitley to know he had a sardonic smile.

"Do not give me that shit, you know what you did."

"No I don't. I just woke up almost an hour ago."

"More than enough time."

"Get to it."

"Es told me you stole his monkey wrench or something," Thea said. "Just... give it back or argue about it quietly. He woke me and Weiss up."

Apollo hummed. "Oh yeah, I guess I did do that, but you can't have it back yet. I need it."

"WHAT?!"

"What did I just say?" Thea asked. She waved a hand in dismissal and made her way out, saying, "I'm not fucking with you guys, good night."

Whitley wished he could just leave like that.

The fight was mainly verbal; a shoe flew out the open window at one point but other than that there was no physical violence. After maybe seventeen threats that Whitley was sure the brothers would go through with, Esteban left, stealing a pillow on his way out.

"Why can't you guys be normal?" Whitley asked.

"Like you know normal." Apollo snorted and turned to face him leaning against his workbench. "Siblings fight and make up, your family are the strange ones."

"Yeah right we're not the ones with workbenches in our rooms."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night princey." He turned back to his project and picked up a tool most likely the one Esteban was yelling about and hummed. "Finished! C'mere!"

Whitley stood from the bed and joined him at the table. Apollo presented the bracelets to him.

"For you, my prince."

"What, I don't get some flashy weapon like you all?" Whitley picked up a gun only for Apollo to snatch it from him.

"Your Semblance isn't strong enough for a sword or gun yet." He twirled the gun then set it back on his desk. "These babies will channel your aura and Semblance making it stabler and, bonus, you can use Dust now."

"So I just wear the bracelets and use my Semblance?"

"They're arm bracers but basically yes."

"Please tell me there's no possibility of me blowing up."

"Princey, do you really doubt me that much?"

"I refuse to answer that question." He watched Apollo's hopeful face and sighed clamping on the arm bracers. "If I die, burn all my stuff."

"Understood."

Whitley sighed and held one hand out the same way he'd seen his sister's do with their weapons. A glyph appeared on the ground and slowly ice formed. He stood back staring in awe at the sculpture of what looked like wings.

Apollo whistled. "Holy hell."

Whitley leaned over hands on his knees. "Yeah. Holy hell."

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another Whitley pov chapter set before Eclipse goes to talk to Zeus last chapter