#tdmt

Ever since Lazuli had found it’s tattered jacket on the rocks, Neb had spent every moment possible out over the sea, flying between islands and ship decks hoping for a glimpse of their best friend– no matter the state of it.

Now, in the dead of night and freezing rain, Neb’s tired eyes followed the glow of town back home. They hadn’t even stopped to hunt in days, and that had been a habit developed in the months of searching. The weight they’d lost to worry set Lazuli off in a tizzy when they stopped long enough to let her notice.

But there was little else they could do but search. The mantra echoing in their head was loud as ever; not again. Never again. They’d lost family before. This would be different. It had to be different.

When they banked down to the Heron corner of town, Neb noticed the darkness of Lazuli’s windows. They hoped the siren was asleep, even if they knew better.

Stumbling on the landing, Neb steadied themself against a wall.

“About fuckin’ time.”

They didn’t even have the energy to be afraid. “Please, leave us alone.”

Dante scoffed, shoving Neb into the wall. When he leaned into their face, his breath stank of cheap alcohol and grime. “Just here to deliver a message.”

Neb clicked their beak, anger bubbling up at his audacity. “What more do you want?” He held total control of them through the information he held. They both knew it.

“It’s not about what I want anymore, idiot bird.” He sneered and buried his fingers in their chest, bruisingly pushing them back and taking hold of feathers, even as they flattened against Neb’s skin. “I’ve sold everything I have on you. Made me a decent sum. Turns out, I’m not the only one who likes the idea of having you in their pocket.” 

Anger cooled to icy fear. At least with Dante, they knew what to expect. At least with Dante, they could keep his abuse to themself, and far away from their pod. “Who?” Exhaustion and fear– for their family and for themself, built into a tremble through their very bones.

Dante tightened his grip, starting to pull feathers from their skin. “You’ll know if you need to. Like I said, I’m just the messenger.” His other hand tapped the side of their head, where they both knew a set of scars hid beneath the down. “You’re usually a better listener than that.”

Neb closed their eyes, desperate to steady themself. All they needed to do was get through this incident. Then they could find Lazuli, ask for an update, and get back out there to search. Nothing else mattered. Dante didn’t matter. They would handle whatever he’d done after Finn was home safe.

“So, that message.”

They flinched as Dante tapped their head again.

“You’re no longer my problem. And you’ll hear from them when you’re needed.” He yanked his hand away, tearing out a handful of feathers and making Neb stumble forward. “That’s it. Message delivered.”

They blinked away spots in their sight and tried to balance on aching, unsteady talons.

Dante crossed his arms, watching them recover with something bordering on unsurety in his gaze. Then he shook his head and turned to leave. “By the way, they fished up Blackwood a few days ago. Better get to it before they decide to throw it back.”

And in the flurry of wings and terror Neb became, they didn’t even notice Dante slipping into the trees, headed in the direction of a secret dock with a ship no one would notice missing.

Neb was bad at reading social subtleties on their best day. This was not their best day.

Nor was it Finn’s.

But with the day they’d had– the week and months they’d just lived, Neb would have done this even if physical cues had been simple as a well-kept ledger. Ignoring the warnings Joanna had laid thick upon their arrival, Neb approached Finn.

And it was Finn. It was. No one else had those sad, emotion-filled eyes, or that clench of the jaw that preceded its attack.

So when the mer lunged, Neb expected it. Welcomed it. Arms and wings wide, they let their best friend do his damndest to rip their throat out.

“I’m sorry, I know I’m frightening.” They whispered, hugging the thrashing creature to themself, trying not to wince as a mouthful of feathers was bitten. “I missed you. I suspect that won’t mean much to you, that you’re scared–” the keening beneath his growl said as much, “but the first time we met you nearly killed me. So this is a perfect reintroduction.”

Finn’s tail was powerful, and very nearly dislocated Neb’s knee as it impacted. His claws tore into their chest and shoulders, but his teeth at least seemed to have been deterred by their feathers.

Neb didn’t care. It was their Finn drawing blood, so it didn’t matter how much damage was done. “I’ve got you. I’m not going anywhere. You’re not alone, Finn. You’re not going to be alone.” They cooed, letting their words trail off into comfort in the shape of soft vocalizations and burying their beak in its hair. One arm still firmly around its torso, wings cocooning it in, Neb lifted their other hand to cup its cheek. A difficult task, with Finn’s movements, but one that was second nature to Neb.

Holding Finn’s face, lifting his eyes to meet theirs, not allowing him to avert his gaze and doubt his worth. It was something Neb had done a thousand times over. And even now, as they brushed a thumb over his cheek, now speckled with scales, Finn settled.

“That’s right.” They leaned back, watching the storm of emotions on the mer’s face. “You’re still my best friend. Still my Finn. You don’t have to remember, but I do. I’ll remember for us both.”

It looked confused. Still tense and afraid, but its tail relaxed and its claws simply rested on top of the blood soaked feathers.

Neb rested their forehead against Finn’s. “Even if you don’t remember, you know me. And I know you. You’ll be okay.” Their eyes closed as their vision swam. Exhaustion and pain and blood loss pulled at their consciousness. “You’ll be okay.”

~~~~

mermay au nonsense that is getting out of control

Osomatsu-san season 2, 6 days left!