"What use is a bird that cannot fly?"
Keigo was the number one avian hero, once in the top five. How high he had soared and his success had fit him. A bird's one purpose was to fly and that's exactly what he did, wings spread, never tiring as he continued to climb higher. Far above those below him, envy and admiration regarding him with hooded eyes. He was everything people wanted to be, divine in both body and soul. So that's why Keigo was so confused when he fell so suddenly. Wings torn off and melted, vermilion leaves falling heavily from soft branches. An Icarus that had flown too close to the sun. A broken hero, a broken bird. Ambition and pride keeping him upright.
"I can go back towards the sun. Let it not leave me." The words left tormented lips, strangled and soft amongst the harsh fire above him. Yet he was met with striking fury, burns leaving him scathed and hurt and as his wings once more bled with ash and blood he threw away his pride in order to welcome the hands of his fellow comrades. Gentle hands caressing tender and broken bones. Settling down, buried beneath bandages and care. For he knew that if he stayed feral in the wild lands alone he would surely perish to the harshness of the world. But the memory left scars, jagged and apparent upon his face and mind. Pink and raised upon his skin, now pale from the lack of sunlight and his once sun-bleached waves turned dark among his sheltered body. Hair cut short against his head and he had lost the once charming youthfulness he had held in his old days. His mind was often filled with bitter thoughts or what if's and should haves. If only's.
If only he hadn't chased that villain one last time. Perhaps he'd have been able to save everyone, perhaps he'd been able keep his dream afloat with him.
How did it come to this? The hero thought, the question stinging him with the familiar pain of failure he often felt when it came to this. Yes, Keigo could barely remember, the horrid memories swept away and cast deep within the dark enclosures of his mind.
He barely recalled his confession, desperation peaking as he fled to his colleague, Tsunagu Hakamata. Although the man was not the most outwardly affectionate friend, the blonde male still regarded him with deep trust. He remembered the jean clad man's worried gaze as he sat across from the winged hero, a cup of coffee in hand as he stared at him, brows furrowed. Thin fingers fiddled with the mug with a certain apprehensiveness. Yet as Keigo opened his mouth to speak the words that wanted to come out, he failed for shame kept him silenced. It was a heavy rope among his neck that would be his downfall, but Tsunagu's hands wove through and gripped the knot with a sudden ferocious grip. Keeping him afloat and lifting it from his weakened spirit.
"You've changed," the male said simply yet the words held many unspoken words stirring up the storm within Keigo's heart as he turned away, lips pressed into a thin line as the light fell from his once, easy-going and mischievous gaze. Keigo felt his hands tense as he clasped them together, hands wet and slippery underneath the worn leather, hot and stuffy. His throat felt dry as he searched desperately for a response, one that would deflect from his now reserved body. Just as the hero had freed him he had also caught him quite wickedly into a trap.
"Is it really that obvious?" he asked softly, eyes meeting Tsunagu's in a wide frown, yet he attempted to make himself seem okay with the awkward stretch of his lips into a half-hearted smile. "I'm a lot more observant towards you than you'd like to think Hawks. I've noticed you've become quiet... I want to know where the man I once knew and admittedly even admired has gone. What happened to you?" Tsunagu pressed gently, as he set down his beverage to lean in, elbows resting on his thighs as he peered over the blue jean that oft obscured his face so that he could get a better view of his friend's face. His eyes gazed at him encouragingly, urging him to admit his fault. Admit his failure, and that's when Keigo finally felt himself break, persistence and concern breaking through his guarded walls. Who was he to refuse him? He swallowed thickly, pondering a response. After coming to the beginning he opened his mouth, it was time to tell his story.
a/n: just a small teaser, or perhaps a prologue for my story Icarus. This is a drabble story so most chapter will remain short and may even obtain only one sentence. This is all just for fun though and I hope you enjoy this story. Will try and keep boring author's notes to the minimum, haha.
Also, please excuse the cover image, I don't have anything to make a more fitting cover at the moment so it doesn't look very nice.
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𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐔𝐒. keigo takami
Fanfiction"What use is a bird that cannot fly?" That was the question that struck pro-hero keigo takami when he found himself stripped of his purpose in life. "When a bird cannot fly, then it dies."
