Chapter Text
Soft fingers, unhurried and sure, brushed through Tsukishima’s vibrant red wings, aligning the soft, glossy feathers. Every touch made him want to stiffen, his spine straightening as he instinctually tried to move away from the intrusion on his personal space. He held himself perfectly still, however, knees to his chest and wings spread wide.
Typically when an angel was going to leave their Division for any reason, permanently or not, the entire group would gather to groom the departing’s wings. It was supposed to harbor intimacy and closeness amongst the members, but Tsukishima was thankful he’d been exempted from that part of the tradition and that Daichi alone sat behind him, hands soothing if not intrusive. If he had to endure the entire Division touching him he might actually reconsider his decision to leave. Not to mention the action seemed almost malevolent considering he was about to lose the very things Daichi was taking the time to clean and shine.
He sighed, dropping his head to rest against his knees and Daichi’s movements stilled.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine,” he mumbled, giving his shoulders a few rolls to loosen his muscles. Holding his wings straight out was starting to get tiresome.
Daichi resumed his grooming, but his silence was expectant, like he knew Tsukishima was planning on continuing at his own pace. There was a reason his wings were a dark burgundy, the color of leadership and respect. And it wasn’t just because he held one of the highest ranks in their Division.
Tsukishima supposed the decision he’d made proved the coloring of his own wings; scarlet red flecked with spots of a deeper shade. They’d yet to start fading to white, the way aging angels’ did, but the few hundred years he’d lived held nothing in comparison to his overall life span. They’d turn in time.
“I don’t regret it,” he said eventually to the open air. “I want to go.”
A soft breeze rustled the trees, the long grass surrounding them bending against its soft push. Heaven was unique in that it could be anything that you wanted it to be. It was infinite, vast and complicated. He wondered briefly why Daichi had chosen to bring him here, of all places. The wind smelled of leaf litter and warm sun, but there were areas Tsukishima far preferred to this one.
Daichi hummed quietly. “I understand. It’s your purpose calling after all, of course you’d want to go, but you’re still nervous. That’s okay.”
Tsukishima didn’t have anything to say to that so he closed his eyes and tried to let his mind wander. He was disturbed almost immediately by the sound of grass being crushed under foot.
“Yo!” came an all too familiar voice.
Unwillingly, Tsukishima cracked open one eye to peer at the collection of individuals before him. Great, seemed like everyone from the Division had arrived. Before anyone got any brilliant ideas, he folded his wings primly, nearly catching Daichi’s fingers in the process and not caring.
Tanaka, who had spoken first, stepped forward. “We wanted to see you off!”
Somewhere from the back of the group came Hinata’s cry of agreement, and Tsukishima forced himself not to roll his eyes as he stood to greet them. Daichi followed suit, stepping around the blonde towards the crowd and, thankfully, out of his personal space.
Takeda and Ukai, Division leaders and the oldest of them all, white streaked wings as proof, both gave him winning smiles.
“You’ll do great!” Takeda chimed, and Ukai threw in a, “Don’t get distracted while you’re away.” Suddenly the entire group was speaking, throwing advice and farewells and good lucks. Tsuskishima ducked his head slightly, overwhelmed and appreciative but unwilling to show it in any form other than the scowl on his face.
He opened his mouth to speak, maybe to thank them, maybe to tell them all to be quiet, but was interrupted by a soft voice in his mind. It was neither masculine nor feminine, high nor deep, more of a feeling and a presence than an actual sound, and yet it still drowned out the din of the Division entirely. His Father.
“Are you ready?”
He didn’t hesitate before answering. “Yes.”