Child Of the Swan

“May I be if any assistance, young miss?”

“Eh-? O--Oh...!”

Jumping almost guiltily, the maiden turned, blinking big, startled blue eyes at the man who had addressed her.

“O--Oh, I... Um...” 

Blushing, she took a small step back, fiddling shyly with the hem of the oversized cloak she wore. 

     For the most part, when Mishima wasn’t at school or volleyball practice (if it could even be considered practice at this point), he was usually hidden away in his bedroom, using his computer to take his mind off things or curled up on his bed. Most of the time that was really all he needed to feel a little better, a little safer until the next day - But today was worse than others, and the walls of his bedroom were only making him feel more trapped than ever. So, despite how sore his entire body felt, he trudged into the forest, just wanting to… Get away from everything. He knew he would have to be back in time for school tomorrow, but at least for now he could pretend he got away. 

     There was nothing unusual about the forest, it seemed - It was only when he was about a mile or so that something caught his attention enough to make him stop. It almost looked like the trees and plants were forming some sort of gateway, like you’d see in a fairytale. That was ridiculous, of course, but Mishima couldn’t help but stop and stare for a moment - It was a beautiful bit of scenery after all, so he might as well take in the view…

    … Until a girl in a cloak seemed to appear out of nowhere from the ‘gateway’, scaring the absolute shit out of him and causing him to jump with a slight yelp.

    “Ack-! Wh-what the…? I-I mean, s-sorry, you just, u-uh, startled me…”

“Aah--!!” 

Evidently, the girl was just as surprised by him as he was of her-- with a startled, almost birdlike squeak, she jumped as well, hood falling back around her shoulders to reveal a head of short, rosy pink hair, fading to white at the tips.

 “Who-- who’s there-? I mean-- I... I-Is anyone-- oh...!” 

Spotting him, her eyes widened, and she jumped again, pressing her hand to her mouth, arm still swathed in the wine-colored velvet of her cloak so that barely even her fingertips were visible. A blush rose in her cheeks, and she looked, for some reason, inordinately guilty. 

While entering Earth was technically against Rindlocke law, there could be a few exceptions. On this particular morning, it was reported to Radcliffe that one of the dull-witted dwarves that inhabited the Realm’s center had gone through the tunnel entrance and onto the planet, and that he needed to return them before they got into trouble.

As much as he didn’t want to step into Earth, it was his job to do whatever it took to insure all of Rindlocke’s citizens were safe and sound at the end of the day. It wasn’t the world itself that he hated, it was its own inhabitants. The knight captain hardly had patience for most people in THIS world, but Earth-dwellers were a different story. It was difficult for Radcliffe to accomplish anything while these people stopped him to ask ridiculous questions like ‘Could I ride your horse?’ and ‘Can you stop for a picture?’.

As the Realm’s king gave him the assignment, Radcliffe pulled out a small, explosive sphere from the side-satchel on his steed. When slammed onto the ground, he would be transported to Earth to complete his quest. Which is almost what happened this time. Only this explosive sphere took him and the horse somewhere completely different than Earth…

In the moments before the chaos broke out, the princess was at the flower seller’s stand, chatting happily with the proprietor and holding the small bouquet that was always presented to her whenever she visited, despite her insistence that it really wasn’t necessary and she would be more than happy to pay. 

It was a wonderful day– bright and sunny, and the castle village was bustling, and everyone smiled and waved at her when they saw her, greeting her with cries of “Highness!” or “Lady Etulliana!” or even “Princess Tutu!” 

She’d even managed to contain her ‘escort’ to a single knight, who seemed much happier to sit in the sun and chat with the village ladies than actually follow her, which was supposed to be his job, but it suited her just fine. 

But suddenly there was a bang, screams rang out, there was the sound of clanking metal and hooves– people were rushing to get away, and Tutu was rattled back and forth in the sudden crush of bodies before she fell, the flowers in her hand scattering across the ground as the breath was knocked out of her delicate frame and she found herself prone in front of a man in armor astride a horse, practically underhoof as it reared back.

“Ah–!” 

“Oh-- I- I--“ 

Before she could even finish her thought, whatever that may have been (she wasn’t quite sure herself, to be honest), there was another shout, and suddenly another knight-- on foot rather than mounted, and had evidently forgotten his helmet in his apparent haste-- shoved his way in between the horse and the princess, one arm thrown out protectively and the other hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

“Eh…? Oh– n-no- I- um...” 

Flushing, the poor maiden took several steps back as he approached, pressing the knuckles of her small, feathered hand to her lips. 

She really didn’t like this man…! Everything about him unnerved her– from his strange appearance (not that she was really one to comment, but even by her metric he was odd, bordering on frightening) to his overeager, brazen attitude and demeanor. 

Of course, first impressions weren’t everything, but something about him made her feathers stand on end– almost literally. Even now, the ones in her rosy pink hair were beginning to fluff up, like a startled bird… 

“I– I’m afraid I don’t quite- understand, sir… D-Do you.. Need anything? From me? I mean– I’d be more than happy to help, but- but– um…”

    He was like a vicious predator, moving in on his next meal. This was child’s play for him.     The fear that he instilled in people gave him a power that others envied. Hard not to fear a man whose disfigurement burned on him the appearance of a clown! A man whose make-up could not come off.

 “U--Um- Um...” 

Even as her distress grew, obvious in the stiffening of her shoulders, the widening of her eyes and, of course, the fanning of her feathers, her every step still managed to be exquisitely graceful-- almost like elegance was a state as natural as breathing to her. 

Everything about her was otherworldly, unreal-- but not in a frightening way; no, she was ethereal, angelic, and undeniably innocent... A stark contrast to the man before her, creeping towards her with the knifelike smile whose every breath screamed malice. 

 What should she do... What could she do?! 

She wasn’t supposed to be seen by people of the outside world-- truthfully, she wasn’t even supposed to leave the safety of her kingdom at all, but it was far too late for that...!

“I... I’m.. W--Well, yes, I- I’m real-- I mean, I exist, of course, but I- I’m not.... I mean, I’m really... I mean, I’m only human on my mother’s side, so— that is to say, as a person, in the sense that you would be-- might be- used to, s-sir, I... I’m not really....”

She’d been waiting for him, of course– she always waited for him- but eventually, her waiting turned into half-dozing, eyes closed and head lolling against the wall as she sat on his mattress with her legs curled up under her. 

Hovering just on the bare edge of sleep, she didn’t consciously hear the door open, but started to stir nonetheless– and at the sound of his skull connecting with the floor, she scrambled upright almost on instinct, bolting out of the room and out into the hallway, staring around with confused blue eyes. 

“Izuku–!”

A startled shriek, and she clapped her hands over her mouth, running to his side and dropping to her knees. 

“Izuku…? Izuku-!! Oh, Izuku, please…” 

Pulling him into her wings in a slumped sitting position, she cupped his face in her hands, gasping quietly as she felt how hot his skin was. She knew he hadn’t been well recently, but this…! Why hadn’t he told her?! Didn’t he trust her? She just wanted to help him, and he– he… 

Choking back a sob, she stroked his hair back gently, pressing her lips together tightly. 

“Izuku, please– please, can you hear me? Are you alright? Oh, Izuku, you– ohh, you poor thing…!”

     Izuku was out cold, but he wasn’t out for long, bleary eyes opening again after about half a minute of solid unconsciousness. His head hurt, and he felt so dizzy… What was happening…? His eyes were unfocused as he looked up at Tutu, squinting as he tried to figure out what was going on, what she was saying. It took him a minute, but he realized he was on the floor and she was clearly worried, and he finally put two and two together - he must’ve passed out or something.

     “Tutu, I’m… Sorry for worrying you… I’m alright, I just… I don’t feel too good.”

     He answered, though his words were slow and drawn out, like it was hard for him to form them at the moment. He sat up a little bit, clutching the back of his head with one hand. He wanted to get up, but the world was still spinning…

As his eyes opened, she made an involuntary, half-sobbing sound of relief- he still wasn’t well, obviously, but at least he was conscious...! 

 “Oh, thank goodness..! Izuku--“ 

With a rather soggy-sounding laugh, she beamed down at him with rapidly moistening eyes, taking one of his hands and pressing his palm gently against her cheek. 

“Y-You have to stop making me worry like this-- Oh, Izuku...” 

As he began to sit up, she gave a small gasp, quickly releasing his hand and shifting hurriedly to his side, one wing already around his shoulders in an effort to support him. “Oh, n-not so fast-! not so fast, Izuku, please-- Just be careful..”

 Oh, how awful...! Seeing him like this- how sick he looked, how unfocused his gaze was, how much pain he must be in- was like a knife to her heart, throbbing painfully with every beat. 

She really should have been used to this by now- it wasn’t exactly an easy life they lived, even more so for him-- but she just couldn’t... She could never ‘get used’ to seeing him suffering, no matter how often that happened. 

Putting her other hand on his chest in a further attempt to steady him, she tilted her head to gaze worriedly into his face, eyes darting from hollow eyes to flushed cheeks with mounting concern. 

       ❛ You’re really workin’ hard there ! ❜ Nejire is perched on the most convenient seat she can find, the grin at her lips warmed all the way through and entirely enthusiastic. ❛ D’you think that dancing helps with your course work ? Ooh ! D’you have any special moves based on your dancing ?? Because if you don’t then that’d be totally cool and original !! ❜ 

“Oh-- senpai...!” 

Turning to look at the older girl, the dancer put a hand to her mouth, a surprised, flattered blush deepening the flush of exertion in her cheeks. 

“Why-- thank you! Though- I- um...” Shuffling her pointe-clad feet shyly- and somehow managing to look just as graceful as she’d been while in motion- she twirled a strand of pink hair around her fingers, glancing to the side with a small, self-conscious smile. 

 “I-- I don’t actually... Do any course-specific work. You see, I’m actually... Class 1-A- my class, I suppose, technically-- has agreed to participate in a demonstration of a possible close protection services curriculum, and I am the- um-- the party in need of protection... Only hypothetically, o-of course-- so I... don’t have any special moves, or... anything like that.. Oh--!” 

Perking up suddenly, she clapped her hands together eagerly, as if she’d just remembered something.