The Bird Tamer

27

"Morning!",hawks greeted you just as the sun was barely beginning to show

You turned to him and had to admire how the sun would make his red feathers shine like rubies. Yet there was something off you couldn't put your finger on it.

"Morning",you greeted back as you were currently frying some eggs over the fire

"And Tokoyami?",he asked as he came to your side

"Sleeping he kept me company last night so he's sleepy",you explained

"Ah I see...",he trailed off making you turn to him only for him to already be looking at you

"What?",you asked as you stood up

"Songbird..I promised you I'd stay alive, right?"

"Yeah?",you replied frowning,"Hawks what's this about?"

"Promise me you'll also stay alive...if not for me then for the others!"

His sudden outburst had you surprised, you bit your lip. Where had this suddenly come from. He stood silently waiting your response

"Keigo why suddenly I mean we have the time in the world to-"

"No we dont! Dammit (y/n)! Don't you see!?",he yelled suddenly stepped closer,"I assumed I was losing my mind, or maybe just thinking the worst but I couldn't keep being ignorant, I saw the hints..."

"Keigo?",you stepped forwards reaching a hand softly out to touch him but he brushed it aside making you flinch

"I know you're dying."

You body tensed up, you felt your lungs squeeze in as you stared at his serious expression. All traces of his earlier happy mood were gone, he'd found out.

Did I not hide it well? Why now, no no You looked around for a possible answer or a distraction, anything.

"(Y/n) please..",his voice cracked making you pause, you stared.

He was crying visible tears streamed down his face, his usual cocky smile was replaced by trembling lips. His beautiful golden eyes, were red from crying. This man who you hadn't seen shed a tear before...was crying....why?

"I am just a tool a killing machine, at first I admit I was using you! I wanted revenge for my people for myself, I needed your trust and leadership but...",his voice became hoarse as his body trembled,"You looked so weak, so vulnerable I kept seeing an old version of myself. I wanted to hold you to protect you! All my selfishness disappeared as you saw me as a real being but then life happened!"

He paused as quiet sobs escaped him, You couldn't speak and even if you could what would you say? You swallowed your throat feeling suddenly dry. He was using you, but you didn't feel hurt...no you didnt have a right. After all you were using him to fulfill your mission, you were both the same.

"...when those bastards hurt you I-I...know you might die and I barely found you",he looked back up as he suddenly lunged wrapping his arms around you,"I barely found you, I can't lose you now."

Slowly your arms wrapped themselves around him brushing past his soft feathers. You pressed him close to you, the man before you was being vulnerable and being open about himself yet you were hiding. You made a bond a promise to him, but you still kept a facade on. How much longer were you going to hurt the poor boy.

"Keigo I-",you stopped...words weren't going to help but something else could.

Taking his face in your palms you leaned your foreheads together. That's right he reached out first it was only normal for you to meet him halfway. His tear filled eyes met yours as his eyes slowly closed and a bright light absorbed him.
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He felt himself floating, nothing but pure emptiness filled him. He opened his eyes, nothing but himself for miles. He moved forward his eyes searching but for what? Sudden movement made him turn quickly as a small girl ran past him-no through him as if he wasnt there.

"(Y/n)!",a voice called out as a boy with white hair and red tips followed another boy with long bluish hair ran too

You recognized the first boy, without the scars it'd been the man from the town. The friend you'd mourned. He found himself running after, he watched the three kids running together, laughing, living in their own world a world without hate or meaningless deaths. The scenery changed nothing but fire and smoke for miles away.

Once again the small girl, no more like a young teenage girl stood, no layed among the burnt wood and debris. Giant waves of blue flames appeared everywhere, and the owner could be found staring at you.

"Touya!",you screamed out as tears poured down

Touya turned towards you his cold eyes meeting yours,"Touya is dead I'm Dabi."

He watched as the man walked away leaving you for dead, anger filled him as he sprung forward his hand ready to grab him. Just as he did his hand went through him reminding him these weren't real but memories. He watched as a younger version of aizawa swooped down and took you from danger.

The ground broke from under him as he fell even his wings couldn't help him, He gasped. As the sudden suffocating sensation of betrayal, anger, remorse, sadness began drowning him. His eyes watered at the lack of oxygen as more memories swarmed past him as he kept following. Memories of training, constant fear of failures, so much fear.

He came to a sudden stop as a new memory appeared before him, here stood current you. Taking on Dabi, he watched as you conjured your magic but now he could see everything from your point of view. The pain of seeing your friend lost in power, knowing you'd be the one to put a stop to it.

He then appeared blocking you from Dabi, he watched as you were hunched in pain, coughing up blood, how had he not seen it? He'd been so observed in the fight to notice your state.

As each memory replayed, he realized he'd chosen to be ignorant. He'd seen the signs but decided to ignore them for himself out of fear. He'd already made a dumb decision making you his soul partner and accepting you were temporary was his fear.

His knees buckled as an overwhelming sense of dread filled him. Yet a warm feeling of safety began surrounding him, as he looked up. He gasped, there was the memory of you both that time you'd made the pact. This feeling was what you were feeling in that moment?

"Keigo",you voice distantly called out

Making him turn, searching for the source.

"Was this..your way of telling?",he chuckled as he stood up

His eyes opened to meet yours, the same pair of (e/c) that had memorized. A soft chuckled broke the silence as he leaned his head on your shoulder.

"I'm sorry",you spoke up

"No let me apologize",he interrupted as you frowned,"I want to be selfish, so just for right now....I love you."

Your eyes widened, your reply was lost as he pressed a tender kiss to your lips.

"No, Don't answer me. I just want to be selfish."
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