Safe in Brother's Wings Chapter 29: Dashi-Hiro, a DuckTales + Big Hero 6 Crossover fanfic

Chapter 29, everybody! With this chapter being written before the ones preceding it even. I hope you all have been liking the bird-kids' sections, because this entire chapter (all sixteen pages of it!) are written from Nox's point of view. ^^

Continuing blanket disclaimer: I still have not finished Season Two. We're flying blind, boys.

And Tumblr informs me that today is Tadashi Hamada's birthday? Happy birthday to the best bird boi big brother have some more gray hair for your trouble. ^^;

Again, reading up on Japanese food for Big Hero 6 fics makes me really want to try some of these dishes. Reign of Feathers is a story concept I came up with one day with a friend over the phone—mostly because my Molouccan Cockatoo was also loudly demanding my time and got very vocal when I stopped petting her.

Angelwings2002, thanks for the review! *screams with you* YES! And yes but we can argue that that's part of what got swiss-cheesed and not that the writer totally forgot about it/learned about it later and forgot to add it in earlier. XD True…and yes. And got your form back, your number is 24—good luck.

SilverPhoenix, thanks for the review! Aw, thanks! :D Yes please, Tadashi, get more sleep this isn't helping anyone. And stay, Nox. Oh yes I learned that and went that must go in this. XD

Hexyah, thanks for the review! Yes he is! And I do love writing those two together so I'm glad you do too. :D HMMM…and yes! Wait we had snacks all this time? :O

Nox had explored the entirety of this place, and he had come to the conclusion that he was trapped.

Trapped was bad—trapped was very bad, made worse by the open sky above his head, because open sky above his head meant he could fly out, but he couldn't fly not with a wing broken and bound he needed his wing—

It was still tingling, still there, but the gnawing feeling was beginning to creep up his neck to his head he didn't need whatever bite had happened eating his brain no—he needed 'Dashi, 'Dashi would fix things 'Dashi would make things better 'Dashi was good and older-brother and safe and he needed all of that right now 'Dashi please—

He was pacing the cliff-face for the third time now, hoping for a different outcome—gone one way, followed it all the way around to the big nest, turn the other way, followed it all the way around to the big nest, turn the other way, followed it all the way around to the big nest—

Maybe he could dig under—they had dug in the ground before, him and the others—there were tasty wrigglies in the ground and if you were fast you could eat them before the olders said no don't do that—but digging under a cliff was foolishness, cliffs were the start of a different level that wouldn't work—

Stand, put his hands flat against the cliff face, scraping his claws experimentally—jump, slap his hands to it, dig claws in—sharp scrape as his claws found no traction on the way down, their bases aching, worse than when he clawed against bark, clawing against bark made them feel good because it was a just-right tug but this was bad-bad-bad—

No. Think. Couldn't fly out couldn't dig out couldn't climb out—there had to be another way.

Start looking at the trees critically as he made his way to the big nest again—they grew tall and leafy, would be great fun to climb, that branch would be great to hang upside-down from—

He missed the others.

No, focus—the trees grew nice and tall, and some grew close to the cliffs—if he could climb all the way up to them, he could reach the clifftops, jump over and out. He could do that.

And then what? Even with the bite that made his wing feel like nothing, nothing had happened here that was bad—it wasn't the bad-place, it was safe it was like the forest and hills but…fake. It felt fake.

Cage.

That was a word, one he had heard a lot in the bad-place, before 'Dashi saved him—and that was the main problem, 'Dashi wasn't here he needed 'Dashi he wanted 'Dashi 'Dashi was good and safe and older-brother and if he was here Nox would feel better because then he'd have warm and safe and older-brother and safe but this was too much emptiness and echoing there were no others here he needed a flock a flight he couldn't stomach being by himself being only it made him think too much of the bad-place—

He was shivering—shake himself to work it out, feathers on end—only one wing free to flash out.

Could you fly with only one wing? He tried—beat as hard as he could, ended up only going in circles and rolling himself—he needed both wings free and working.

Poke at his bound wing experimentally, thought that even if he did tear it free it would be useless so long as that tingling nothing feeling was still there—and then the remember of what his wing had done after the pain-snap-bend-WRONG—he knew his wings had to feel a certain way to work, knew it as instinctively as breathing—so long as his wing still had pain-bend-WRONG, it wouldn't work.

No—pace, thinking—there had to be a way out, there had to be a way to 'Dashi—no flying, no climbing, no digging—he could climb a tree, jump, escape, but then what? He was a—a fledgling-youngling-hatchling-younger…kid, 'Dashi said kid—ground-bound, no way to fly if danger-bad-no good-danger threatened—the world wasn't so scary when the air was always a safe space only a few wingbeats away, but now….

Now the sky was as far away as the clouds in it, high-high-high and unreachable—gravity sucked at his bones, the ground tugging him down and into it—

He shot up the nearest tree, trying to escape that pull—no—he still felt it, trying to suck him down, trying to undermine his climbing because now even climbing had a risk because if he slipped he couldn't just fling his wings out to catch himself—no no no no no—

Sit in the crook of a branch, claws digging in tight, trying hard to choke down the sad trying to claw its way out—no no no he needed his wings he needed 'Dashi he needed to be able to fly he needed 'Dashi he needed 'Dashi like he needed air needed to be able to fly—

Claws still digging into the bark, face pressed against it, trying to keep the keening in—he wanted 'Dashi where was 'Dashi 'Dashi needed to be here 'Dashi was good and older-brother and safe—

I'll find you, okay? I'LL FIND YOU!

'Dashi didn't lie, 'Dashi didn't tell not-true things 'Dashi would come and find him….

Did that mean he needed to stay here?

No, 'Dashi told him to go to the river mouth he'd be looking for him there—but he couldn't fly there now, he'd have to go on foot and that was too far, that was walking and it would be dangerous—here was safe, trapped but safe, there was no bad-smells nothing lurking that he could sense…just Not-Dashi's-Hiro and Maybe-Baymax.

His ears perked at a new sound—a familiar sound—one he had heard last night—Not-Dashi's-Hiro and Maybe-Baymax were part of a flock a flight he remembered—

He couldn't see from here, and branching was scary now that he couldn't catch himself if he missed…he'd have to climb down to see.

Gingerly, carefully, digging claws in deep as he inched his way down…the ground felt solid and safe and he felt bad for feeling like that ground was not safe sky was safe he needed to be able to fly—

Slink-pad-sneak through the brush, paws just so in the shh-quiet way, wings tucked in tight, tail loose but not twitching, ears constantly pricked for noise as he slipped through this fake-fake forest everything was put just so and it being just so meant it wasn't real—

Just enough brush between him and open to see Not-Dashi's-Hiro and Maybe-Baymax in the clearing with Fwah, Not-Dashi's-Hiro and Fwah holding things, looking around—

"Hey little dude!" Fwah was calling, holding his thing up. "We got breakfast! You're sure he's still here?"

"Baymax said so," Not-Dashi's-Hiro said, shoulders twitching like he wanted to settle wings—maybe—maybe—

An awful thought occurred to him—maybe that was 'Dashi's Hiro, and the awful-bad-no good poison that 'Dashi had found had taken his wings—fight to keep a shiver down no—

Maybe-Baymax looked around, looked right at him—stay still stay hidden he was hidden his wings and feathers blended in he was good at hiding he could sneak up on the others and play hide-and-find easy—

Maybe-Baymax looked at Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro and Fwah, pointed right at Nox. "The: bird-kid, is over there."

Stiffen—duck down, move through the brush as fast as he could around the clearing without making sound while still being shh-quiet he couldn't tell which way downwind was but maybe—Maybe-Baymax was tracking him though, how-how-how this wasn't good he needed to get out of here this wasn't like when the others knew he was there this was different this could be bad he needed to be off the ground he needed to be high-high-high—

He was firmly up a tree and wedged in a crook of branch, claws dug in tight and well-hidden by leaves—at least, he thought so, until Maybe-Baymax waddled up to the tree, looked up at him, blinked—waved in the little circle.

"Hello," Maybe-Baymax greeted, non-threatening.

Nox hissed weakly—Maybe-Baymax would be too good at hide-and-find.

Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro and Fwah came over too, looked up—took a moment to pick Nox out.

"Dude," Fwah said.

"How did you even…you know what, nevermind," Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro said, holding his thing up for Nox to better see. "Are you hungry? I got a bento box from Aunt Cass."

"And I have leftover pancakes from Mom—they're really tasty!"

Hungry yes hungry he hadn't eaten in ages and ages and ages not since they managed to sneak a few wrigglies without the olders noticing he was pretty sure he dreamt eating last night but he didn't trust them wasn't sure he trusted them maybe definitely not trusted Maybe-Baymax his wing was still tingling nothingness even though he could still feel its weight—claw the branch under him and ruffle his feathers in anxious, he didn't know what a bento box was didn't know what a pancakes was but their body tone said yes-good-come-see-good-come down-yes-please and wasn't threatening—Maybe-Baymax, he didn't know, Maybe-Baymax didn't really have body tone or wings or feathers or a face he could search to see what he was thinking Maybe-Baymax had little beady eyes that didn't give away anything but Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro and Fwah didn't seem to think he was threatening but they didn't have wings so they didn't know—

Scent—something smelled good yes good made his stomach rumble—Fwah waved the thing he was holding up, stepped back a few paces—

Nox was tearing up chunks of bark now, resolve weakening—up in the tree was probably-safe, not as safe as flying but maybe-safe—but that smelled so good and he was hungry-hungry-hungry and wanted food and that was maybe-food—

Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro opened the thing he had, showing lots of different colors—picked something out and put it in his mouth—

Food!

Less-care more-care went into getting down the tree—food-food-food yes food please food he was hungry-hungry-hungry and he hadn't eaten in forever and ever and ever and ages and ages and ages—bolt for Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro the moment he touched ground, earlier caution forgotten that was food and maybe Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro was okay—

Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro yeeped and dodged behind Maybe-Baymax—Fwah was still out in the open, Fwah had something that smelled like food—Nox adjusted his trajectory minutely, there would be no speed lost and speed was everything when there was food he needed to get his mouthful before others got it and olders stopped it—

Fwah yelped in alarm, skidded back, fell down, arm still holding up the thing—Nox bounced on his chest, claws already up and reaching for the thing that smelled like food—

Big-soft-white wrapped around his middle, hauled him up away from food—Maybe-Baymax had him no no no no he needed his wings but he needed food too let him go no no no no no—

"Manners are important to safety and general health," Maybe-Baymax said. "I also recommend eating slowly."

No no no no food was fast it didn't last long he needed it it was right there let him have it please—

"Want-want-want!" Nox barked in the middle of his indignant squawking and screeching—words, 'Dashi would say, use your words—"Want-want-want-want—"

"Oh…kay," Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro noised. "So…Fred, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm cool," Fwah said, popping up. "I'm guessing little dude is mondo hungry though, amirite?"

Nox didn't know who little dude was, but he kept pawing at the thing Fwah was holding that smelled good smelled like food please food please—

Fwah picked something off the thing, held it out—Nox's claws caught it—

"Please eat slowly," Maybe-Baymax said. "Eating too fast can result in choking."

Nox didn't listen Nox stuffed the whole thing in his mouth he could chew once it was in there but it had to get to his mouth first if it wasn't in his mouth it was fair game and wrestling with the others taught him that food went in the mouth first above all else don't wait around with food out in the open until it was in the mouth someone else could snatch it and it needed to be in there and this was so good yes good good good—

"I am thinking the little dude is very hungry," Fwah said once the food was safe in Nox's mouth, tongue making sure the drool didn't escape that tasted good too—

"No kidding," Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro said. "Let's just…go back to the patio. Baymax?"

Maybe-Baymax started waddling away no no no Nox still wanted the food there was more food no no no scrabble and try to squirm food please food—

Fwah handed him a smaller piece of food that quickly disappeared, then another one and another one and suddenly Maybe-Baymax was on the flat hollow log-thing in front of the nest asking if he should put Nox down now yes yes yes let go let go let go—

"Okay, easy—" Fwah managed to get out, putting the thing down as Maybe-Baymax let go—Nox immediately shot for it, squawking and making sure to look big just in case—Fwah scurried back—food food food food food—

"Okay yo bro wait a minute we don't eat the good dishes," Fwah said once the soft sweet good yes good food was gone and Nox had moved on to gnawing on the thing it had been on—Fwah grabbed it, Nox tugged back, claws scraping, squawking no no no no no—

"Ah-hem," Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro noised, like 'Dashi would do—look to see him with the thing on the ground, lifting a section to reveal more food—

This food was different—this food was all sorts of different he had never had food like this before and every bite made his mouth water and explode and tingle and this was so so good—

By the time his claws scraped nothing but wood, when he had to concede that the thing was empty and he had eaten all the food, Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro had moved away, and Fwah was coming back out with something that smelled of food—

"Now, this is milk," Fwah said, holding it up for Nox to see. "You drink it like this."

Nox watched, still working on getting his tongue into every little crevice in the thing to get every last bit of food out of it—it had been like a log full of wrigglies except these wrigglies hadn't tried to escape and no one had told him no don't do that—put the thing aside and accepted the thing Fwah handed him—sniff—the contents sloshed inside when he moved—touch his tongue to it—

Trying to be greedy about it made it run down his jaw and into his feathers and clothes, and that was just unpleasant-feeling—throw the thing away, work on licking himself clean—

"Okay, so glad I went with the plastic," Fwah said, pointing where the thing had flown.

"You think?" Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro asked, looking up from—

Nox quickly finished up his cleaning, hissed when Maybe-Baymax sprayed a little water on him—scrubbed at himself, keeping an eye on the thing in Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro's lap, because that was a 'Dashi-thing, he knew it he remembered how much fun it was even though it had been ages and ages and ages since 'Dashi had pulled it out for play—

Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro held it away from Nox when he came over to see though, like 'Dashi would—whistle disappointment, bound around a little—maybe he could trick Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro away from the thing so he could play with it—and this time without Grump trying to tell him what to do!

Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro wasn't having it, Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro was watching him warily, like he thought Nox would pounce, and not in a good way in a bad way like the cougar had tried to pounce on Louie—

Thinking of the others subdued him a little—this was the first time in a long while where he was full-happy-full, but he didn't have any of the others to play with or sleep against or 'Dashi he missed 'Dashi—

But this could be 'Dashi's-Hiro, which might mean….

Try bouncing around the big log a few more times, to see if anyone was in a play mood—no one, not even Maybe-Baymax when he tackled him—or tried to, he bounced off of him which was weird and he wasn't sure if he liked Maybe-Baymax anyway because he took wings—circle around widely, giving Maybe-Baymax pointed no like-don't trust-no-no-no-no looks—warble and chirp at Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro, making him glance up again—keeping Nox in the corner of his eye as Nox circled over, padding up and mumbling and warbling, leaning against his back—

"What are you doing?" Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro asked, faint notes of alarm trickling into the flat question—Nox looked around, ears pricked—relaxed when there was no threat to see or scent or hear, flopped down against Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro, curling up around him and favoring his broken wing and murmuring and mumbling 'Dashi would be here soon 'Dashi would come find them and then everything would be good—

Blinked in surprise when Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro moved away, sat somewhere else. Hmm, maybe he suspected trick, that would take the 'Dashi-thing away from him.

…Come to think of it, that was a fine idea.

Go back up to him, chirping and whistling, make a few false swipes at the 'Dashi-thing, slow and obvious miss—go sit next to him, make it look like he was just looking—it was different than how 'Dashi liked it to look how Grump wanted it to look maybe Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro wasn't doing it right—spread his good unbound wing, gently, quietly, slowly—around Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro, waggle the wingtip so the movement made him look—

Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro was ready to intercept though—he must know this game.

"This isn't a toy," Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro said sternly.

"But this is!" Fwah said, coming out of the nest and holding something round and colorful up. "Check this out!"

Fwah shook it—

Nox's attention snapped fully to him and the thing, mostly the thing—it was round it was SHINY it was colorful and it jingled—

Fwah threw it.

Nox didn't care that he threw it, didn't care that his wing clipped Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro in his pursuit, didn't care that his claws dug deep scrapes in the log, didn't care that he just tore off, what he did care about was that the colorful jingle-thing was bounding away, that it was escaping—

His claws struck it and it went fleeing—pursue—close close close JUMP—

It slipped out of his paws, still fleeing, still jingling—he kept on it, mind chanting want-want-WANT as he ran after it—for a moment nothing existed except chase, him and the colorful jingling thing that he wanted-wanted-wanted and would hunt and catch—THERE!

He was ready this time, angling his paws so it had nowhere to flee, digging his claws in, rolling it—still jingling it jingled with every move he didn't know what this was but he WANTED IT YES and he had it he had it had it had it it was his now no one else's—

"Did you get it?" Fwah asked, coming over—Nox nodded, screeching win—

Fwah assumed a going to pounce stance. "I'm gonna get it."

No—no this was his he had hunted it it was his-his-his and he was going to hiss and squawk and defend it—

"I'm gonna get it—I'm gonna get it," Fwah insisted, going bounce-bounce-bounce around Nox, making him swerve to keep him in full sight—tail was whipping, claws gripping the ground—he was enjoying this new play despite himself, because Fwah was obvious not actually trying to get the colorful jingle but he was pretending like he was going to and Nox had to defend it and Nox liked this game this was good play—

"Hey Fred!" Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro called. "I think I got something!"

"Ooh! Be right back, little dude," Fwah said, retreating.

Nox squawked in surprise and indignant—what was so important that play was abandoned? It didn't even sound urgent-danger-run!

Bat around the jingle-thing for a few moments, grip hard to pick up without it escaping—trying to fit it into his mouth didn't work, he had to hold it tucked tight to his chest so he could walk on three paws instead of just two walking on two legs was bleh—climb up the side of the log-thing to see Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro and Fwah looking at the 'Dashi-thing sure the 'Dashi-thing was fun but the jingle-thing was new and more fun—

Put down the jingle-thing, paw it back and forth before making sure it was between his front paws, draw himself up, wing extended as far as it would go before mantling, tail thrashing as he loudly proclaimed that the jingle-thing was his it was his no one else could get it mine-mine-mine no one could take it from him—

They glanced at him but didn't seem to want to play, Fwah going "One minute little dude, okay?"

No that was not okay—minutes were forever, and playing by himself was no-fun no-fun no-fun—flop down, sending the jingle-thing escaping wait no—

Finally retrieve the jingle-thing, pad back up to Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro and Fwah, chirp and squawk and whistle to try to get their attention again—the 'Dashi-thing was fun but the jingle-thing was more fun play-play-play please play playing by himself made it too obvious that he was by himself and only and that was bad-bad-no good-bad—

"So those warehouses were definitely Sycorax," Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro said, scratching his face and glaring at the 'Dashi-thing. "Except…I don't know, keeping living things there seems…kind of stupid."

"Very stupid," Fwah agreed. "Everyone knows warehouses are for illegal object-things. Now labs—labs are for the illegal living stuff."

Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro had a look on his face, eyes closed and muscles twitching—like 'Dashi got when Louie or Nox or one of the others did something and he was trying to keep from squawking. Maybe Fwah was about to get a time-out.

Glance at Maybe-Baymax, blinking at Nox occasionally before looking back at Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro and Fwah, keeping an eye on all of them—Nox still didn't trust him, wasn't sure about trying to get him to play…really at this point he wanted to get Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro playing, to see if maybe he was definitely 'Dashi's-Hiro—

And if he was, that meant that that nasty no good-bad poison that 'Dashi had found had been used on him, had stripped him of his wings and tail and feathers and everything good that made him flock made him flight—but 'Dashi would fix that, 'Dashi would know what to do, 'Dashi was good and safe and older-brother and knows-everything 'Dashi would fix it—

Mince closer, jingle the jingle-thing a little—hold it out and use it to poke Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro in the arm, light enough to be annoying but with enough force that he couldn't just ignore.

Fwah looked first. "Want me to throw that again, little dude?"

Nox wobbled his head—yes-no-maybe—he wanted play, yes but he wanted Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro to play—

Poke Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro again with the jingle-thing—usual talk wasn't working, maybe the poison took that understanding too. Words, Nox, use your words—

"Hrrh—Hurrruhh. Hhhruh-Hhroh-Hirrruh—Hirrro—Hirro. 'Dashi-Hiro."

Maybe-Dashi's-Hiro had been glancing at him every time he tried to get the word right—attention snapped to him on the last try. "What?"

Nox chirped at his success—maybe 'Dashi was right, maybe words really did do things. "'Dashi-Hiro." Poke him again when he reacted—excitement was starting to boil in him, it wasn't a maybe this might actually definitely maybe really be 'Dashi's-Hiro—"'Dashi-Hiro! 'Dashi-Hiro!"

"Hey, that's great little dude!" Fwah said excitedly, shuffling closer and pointing at himself. "Say my name—is my name Fred?"

That was a 'Dashi-thing they knew 'Dashi they had to—

"Want 'Dashi," Nox told Fwah with all the certainty he could muster—they knew 'Dashi they'd be able to find him—

"Working on it my dude. Can you say Fred?"

If that's what it took to get 'Dashi—"Fwah."

"No, Fred."

"Fwah."

"Fred."

"Fwah."

"Pretty sure there's an R in there somewhere."

"Fwah."

"Wait," Definitely-Dashi's-Hiro said, paw out—pointed at Nox. "'Dashi—you mean Tadashi? T-Tadashi Hamada?"

Nox fweed and chirped and nodded, bouncing in place as Fwah slowly looked stunned and Definitely-Dashi's-Hiro dug around in his clothes, pulled something out to play with before holding it out to Nox.

"This Tadashi," he said, tone question-scared. Nox blinked at the thing he was holding—

Recognized the face on it.

"Yes!" Nox squeaked, claws tapping on the thing gripping it trying to see around and into it that was 'Dashi—"Yes 'Dashi yes—" squawk when 'Dashi's-Hiro took it back, looking all sorts of concern-worry-scared as he showed it to Fwah, looked back up at Nox—

"Wait," Fwah said slowly, pointing.

"This doesn't make any sense," 'Dashi's-Hiro muttered. "How would he—"

Nox was bounding all over the log-thing now, chirping and fweeing and cheering yes-yes-yes this was 'Dashi's-Hiro I ever tell you you remind me of my little brother Hiro? THIS was what 'Dashi had been looking for, this was why they had been going all over it wasn't because any one and all places had been bad-bad-no good-bad—it was because this was 'Dashi's-Hiro this was I ever tell you you remind me of my little brother Hiro this was flock was flight and meant that 'Dashi knew he was here and was looking for him had been looking for him—

This meant 'Dashi would find him.

I'll find you, okay? I'LL FIND YOU!

'Dashi was looking for 'Dashi's-Hiro that meant he'd find 'Dashi's-Hiro and so long as Nox stayed with 'Dashi's-Hiro that meant 'Dashi would find Nox too all he had to do was stay in the safe-nest fake-nest with 'Dashi's-Hiro and that meant 'Dashi would FIND HIM.

"Your mood has improved," Maybe-Baymax observed as Nox bounded by—yes-yes-yes his mood had very much improved 'Dashi was coming 'Dashi was coming here—

Bound back to 'Dashi's-Hiro, chirping and warbling and happy good yes good 'Dashi was coming 'Dashi was good and safe and older-brother and this was 'Dashi's-Hiro which meant he was flock was flight—

Which meant Nox wasn't only anymore, there was at least one other here with him and so long as there was at least one other it meant they weren't only they were flock were flight—

"Ack—what are you doing—Fred, help," 'Dashi's-Hiro squawked, not expecting the hug the wing-wrap which was a lousy one because one wing was still bound and one arm was still preoccupied with the jingle-thing—

The jingle-thing.

Let go, back up—go back to poking 'Dashi's-Hiro with the jingle-thing, chirping and squawking play-play-play this was 'Dashi's-Hiro 'Dashi was coming YES—

'Dashi's-Hiro glanced at Fwah, who made two fists with thumbs poking up—he had seen the olders do it and usually it was with a happy expression like Fwah had right now so it must mean something good—'Dashi's-Hiro hesitated, took the jingle-thing—Nox glanced at the 'Dashi-thing—

The 'Dashi-thing was unattended—

Louie wasn't there, but his voice rang in Nox's head clear as the sky—opportunity-chance-distraction-GO—

"HEY!" 'Dashi's-Hiro barked—but it was too late too late too late Nox had the 'Dashi-thing scurried up a straight-tree-thing with it carefully hugged to his chest sat up in a branch of the straight-tree-thing, tail and toes curled, 'Dashi-thing on his lap, whistling and squawking success and WIN and mine-mine-mine—

"Give me that back!" 'Dashi's-Hiro squawked—HA! That wasn't enough come up here and get it—meantime….

Flex his claws a little, blinking at the screen where things were supposed to show up—couldn't see anything…mantle a wing overhead like Lena did when trying to see through water that had sun shining on it—aha.

There were things Nox knew, even without any of the olders telling him even without 'Dashi or Grump telling him—like how the little squares did things that showed up on the screen, and how if you did certain things certain things would happen—'Dashi's-Hiro wasn't anywhere near what 'Dashi always wanted to see on the screen what Grump rumbled about 'Dashi's-Hiro obviously didn't know how to play this game—

"Please be careful," Maybe-Baymax said, interrupting Nox's play—look up to see 'Dashi's-Hiro balancing on Maybe-Baymax with Fwah hopping about, hauling himself up onto one of the branches of the straight-tree-thing—back paws were encased in something and front paws had only nubs for claws and with no tail no wonder he wasn't doing well—whistle concern and no-no-no mine-mine-mine-mine—

'Dashi's-Hiro reached for the 'Dashi-thing—Nox lifted it away—'Dashi's-Hiro pulled back, face scrunched in obvious thinking—

Looked down. "Fred, hand me that ball, will you?"

"On it," Fwah said—Nox looked down, interested, saw Fwah holding a paw up to 'Dashi's-Hiro, 'Dashi's-Hiro taking—

Holding up the jingle-thing.

"Trade you," 'Dashi's-Hiro offered.

Nox was familiar with this 'Dashi would do this sometimes when Nox or one of the others had something he wanted or thought was no don't do that—and he liked the jingle-thing the 'Dashi-thing was fun but the jingle-thing was more fun and he had done the thing with the 'Dashi-thing and that was pretty much it he thought but the jingle-thing was more fun—

Whistle, giving him an I suspect-you-trick look—carefully balance the 'Dashi-thing on a branch between them—'Dashi's-Hiro grabbed it, Nox wasn't letting go just yet—held out the jingle-thing—

Fake-out toss—Nox looked but his ears said that the jingle-thing was still in 'Dashi's-Hiro's paw—snap his attention back to him, hiss at the trick—

'Dashi's-Hiro tossed the jingle-thing at Nox.

Nox immediately let go of the 'Dashi-thing, caught the jingle-thing—the jingle-thing was his now squawk win—

'Dashi's-Hiro was already handing the 'Dashi-thing down to Fwah, didn't seem bothered by the loss of the jingle-thing—WHY the jingle-thing was much more interesting—

Poke 'Dashi's-Hiro with the jingle-thing, whistle play-play-play the jingle-thing was much better play please play—

'Dashi's-Hiro was trying to climb down now, Maybe-Baymax underneath and paws up to catch—hesitation and no-bad in his actions—without tail to balance and tell without wings to catch without claws to grip 'Dashi's-Hiro was having a hard time with something so basic as climbing—

It takes your wings.

No more feathers no more tail no more wings—

Nox shivered violently—that was what happened with that no-good bad poison that 'Dashi had found, that was bad and it was best if everyone stayed far away from it—

Lean down as he watched 'Dashi's-Hiro lower himself, whistle and chirp comfort and okay and 'Dashi 'Dashi was coming 'Dashi would fix everything 'Dashi would make it so he had wings and tail and feathers again 'Dashi was good and older-brother and safe—the poison robbed understanding, too; words, Nox, use your words.

"'Dashi good okay yes good yes," he said instead, prompting 'Dashi's-Hiro to look up at him—sort through the rest of the words he knew…maybe 'Dashi was right, maybe he should have been working harder like Webby and Huey to learn words. "'Dashi 'Dashi 'Dashi hiir 'Dashi yes want 'Dashi—"

'Dashi's-Hiro was hanging there now, looking hurt-pain now—maybe—maybe he thought that 'Dashi wasn't coming, that it had been so long (and it had been ages and ages and ages of flying through desert and woods and cabin and hills and rocks and around towns)—that it had been so long that 'Dashi had forgotten but 'Dashi hadn't forgotten 'Dashi was coming 'Dashi was coming right now 'Dashi would be here any moment—

This conviction seized him so strongly that he looked up, scanning the skies, looking for yellow-orange-red-brown feathers and green hoodie, ears pricked for his name—'Dashi was coming 'Dashi was coming here 'Dashi would find them and make everything good and safe again—

No wingbeats stirred the air, no one called his name—disappoint pain-hurt dug into him, inside-pain worse than when Louie had called him a stupid bald-face no-beak—but 'Dashi was coming. 'Dashi was definitely coming because Nox was here and 'Dashi's-Hiro was here 'Dashi's-Hiro was I ever tell you you remind me of my little brother Hiro and he was here now which meant that 'Dashi was coming—

Look down to see that 'Dashi's-Hiro was on the ground again, looking up at him—scrape drop bounce ground crouch, reach up and hug again before he could flinch away that was awful that he thought hug was bad had he been in the bad-place too that would make sense she would rob him of wings for no reason she liked to make pain and hurt and scared but 'Dashi had saved Nox 'Dashi had saved everyone 'Dashi was coming and he was good and older brother and safe—

"Fred, help," 'Dashi's-Hiro squeaked, still tight under the hug.

"Okay okay," Fwah said. "How about I'm gonna get it? I'm gonna get that ball huh? Huh?"

Nox hissed at Fwah, he was not getting the jingle-thing the jingle-thing was his—but ball sounded fun too…keep his good wing half-wrapped around 'Dashi's-Hiro, glance around for what ball was—

'Dashi's-Hiro ducked out from under his wing and dove for the 'Dashi-thing.

Hiss at Fwah again—that was trick and trick was not fun when you were on the receiving end—keep tight hold on the jingle-thing, look big-scary-threaten his jingle-thing his—

"What on earth," 'Dashi's-Hiro muttered, looking at the 'Dashi-thing. "Fred, come look at this."

"No!" Nox squawked, aggravated that play was interrupted again play was important why why WHY did they keep not playing—

Fwah and 'Dashi's-Hiro glanced up—Fwah held up a finger. "One minute little dude, honest."

NO minutes were FOREVER flop down, jingle-thing tight in his grip this time, have a tantrum.

Wiff-wiff-wiff-wiff—

No no no no not Maybe-Baymax Maybe-Baymax stole wings—jump up and run behind 'Dashi's-Hiro—shouldn't use other for shield against wing-stealers but 'Dashi's-Hiro didn't have wings to steal—

It takes your wings.

Another shiver—no wings no wings that had to be the worst thing ever that had to be worse than even the bad-place at least he had never been without wings in the bad-place—

'Dashi's-Hiro didn't even look up from the 'Dashi-thing, not concerned in the slightest about Maybe-Baymax-Maybe-Wing-Stealer.

"I don't get it," 'Dashi's-Hiro said, tilting the 'Dashi-thing a little—Nox spread a wing over his head to be helpful. "Too close," 'Dashi's-Hiro protested, pushing up on his wing. "But this—this is inside Sycorax—how—"

"Was this something you had on the computer before?" Fwah asked.

"No—no I hadn't gotten to hacking their system yet—"

'Dashi's-Hiro cut off, looked at Nox with I suspect-you-trick all over his face—shook his head—

"No," he said. "No way, that's not possible."

"What?" Fwah asked.

"This—the bird-kid—this happened in between him taking the computer and me getting it back—"

Fwah gasped. "A mini bird-hacker!"

"And HOW would he know this!?"

"Maybe this is why birds are on wires all the time—all this time, they were hacking our systems. The bird uprising is at hand, I can sense it."

"Fred, no."

"Fred yes—it's true, I read it in Reign of Feathers. Bird-people are the next step—oh gasp it's happening."

'Dashi's-Hiro snapped fingers at Fwah—Nox fweed interest at that. "Fred, birds are not going to overthrow us and turn us into slaves, you can't believe everything you read."

"But that's what they want you to think."

"I give up," 'Dashi's-Hiro sighed, closing the 'Dashi-thing—

Nox squawked in alarm when he turned it over and pulled it apart.

'Dashi's-Hiro flinched, looked at him and his no-no-no—"No, you're supposed to do this—when you hack something, especially if you left it long enough for them to track you—you're supposed to take the battery out and the GPS too." Blink, look like 'Dashi did when one of them did something they shouldn't. "Wait, why am I explaining this to you?"

"Because you two are getting along and I'd like to revisit the idea of adopting a bird-kid and making him like, team mascot," Fwah said.

"What happened to fearing the bird-people because it means the birds are going to overthrow us?" 'Dashi's-Hiro asked, taking the 'Dashi-thing further apart—Nox picked up one of the pieces, turned it over—got ready to put it in his mouth, got it snatched away by 'Dashi's-Hiro.

"No, that's not for eating," 'Dashi's-Hiro said, erasing any doubt that this was I ever tell you you remind me of my little brother Hiro? Because that was definitely 'Dashi.

"I'm not discounting the birds-overthrowing-us theory," Fwah said, fingers up. "But I'm just saying, he's right here right now and come on, flying supers are TOTALLY a thing—he needs a code-name. Like—like Bird-Boy, or-or Feather Dude or—I'll come up with something good, I swear, just give me a minute."

Minute meant forever which meant no play—and Nox wasn't sure about giving the jingle-thing to 'Dashi's-Hiro if he made it a habit of tearing up things—

Which was about the time 'Dashi's-Hiro looked at the jingle-thing, calculate-plan-trick on his face.

"No," Nox noised, holding the jingle-thing away from 'Dashi's-Hiro—Fwah tried to grab it—'Dashi's-Hiro got it when Nox moved it away from Fwah—squawk, flap his good unbound wing, digging his claws in and leaning back—no-no-no the jingle-thing was HIS—

"Fred," 'Dashi's-Hiro grunted, wrapped back feet slipping on the hollow log-thing. "A little help…."

Fwah considered, moved around behind Nox, avoiding his wing—

"AAAH gotcha!"

Jabbing fingers like Lena's poking made startled skittering feelings in his stomach like when 'Dashi did BBPPTH, made him shriek-NO and let go—Nox went tumbling one way, 'Dashi's-Hiro went tumbling the other way, jingle-thing went flying—flail, kick his feet, not-fun trick—

Pain suddenly lanced up his broken-bound wing, made him roll over with shreee that hurt it hurt he wanted 'Dashi—

Fwah went sorry-sorry-sorry, 'Dashi's-Hiro squawked and asked if he was okay—

Wiff-wiff-wiff-wiff-wiff—

Nox scrambled to his feet, puffed up and hissing at Maybe-Baymax, skittering behind Fwah before dodging behind 'Dashi's-Hiro no-no-no Maybe-Baymax stole wings no—

"Seriously?" 'Dashi's-Hiro asked, looking at him no no keep an eye on Maybe-Baymax you don't take your eye off of something that could be danger—

"Dude," Fwah said. "Baymax is like the least-threatening thing on the planet. Jell-O is more threatening. No offense."

Maybe-Baymax looked at Fwah. "I am a robot—I cannot be offended." Attention back to Nox puff up and hiss look big-threatening-GRRR maybe Maybe-Baymax would back down then—

"Is the: broken wing, causing you any distress?" Maybe-Baymax asked.

Yes yes it was but he didn't want Maybe-Baymax near him Maybe-Baymax stole wings and he had seen 'Dashi's-Hiro's expression when Fwah said that Maybe-Baymax wasn't threat 'Dashi's-Hiro looked like that was a not-truth 'Dashi's-Hiro had looked concerned and worried like at a bad remember and Nox wasn't going to risk it look up at 'Dashi's-Hiro again and aark run-yes-go-yes-not here-yes—

"Look," 'Dashi's-Hiro said, turning to face Nox and gesturing at Maybe-Baymax no-no-no you didn't take eye off of threat—"Baymax isn't going to hurt you—his whole thing is helping people."

"If you are experiencing pain, it could be from the: anesthetic wearing off," Maybe-Baymax said, looking at Nox. "It may also be that you jostled the: broken bone, and that it needs to be examined."

Nox hissed again, ears flat, baring teeth—he still didn't trust Maybe-Baymax Maybe-Baymax stole wings—

"Ooh wait I think I get it," Fwah said, skittering around to stick an arm out in front of Maybe-Baymax. "Poke me."

Maybe-Baymax blinked at Fwah's arm, blinked at Fwah. "You are uninjured."

"Fred means—just kind of touch Fred's arm," 'Dashi's-Hiro said, gesturing at Nox. "So he knows you're not actually hurting anything?"

Maybe-Baymax blinked at 'Dashi's-Hiro, blinked at Fwah, poked his arm.

"Oh hey, look at that!" Fwah said, flexing his fingers and moving his arm around. "Totally all right. Not a problem."

Nox shuffled his front paws, putting more weight on his haunches, shifting so he was hiding behind 'Dashi's-Hiro better—no-no-no he didn't trust Maybe-Baymax but Fwah and 'Dashi's-Hiro did but they didn't have wings they didn't know—

"Hey," 'Dashi's-Hiro said, turning to face him, getting down on his haunches so he couldn't lower himself and pretend no—"Baymax isn't going to hurt you, okay? Baymax is fine. You're okay, all right? It's okay."

Fear was making shiver go under his feathers—and 'Dashi's-Hiro sounded so much like 'Dashi right then—

'Dashi's-Hiro fell back with squawk but stayed upright startled at Nox diving at him and hanging on tight and burying his face in his shoulder and curling up against him tight wilfed down to nothing no-no-no he wanted to be away from this from Maybe-Baymax but 'Dashi's-Hiro wouldn't go and Nox couldn't leave because 'Dashi was looking for them and 'Dashi needed them together 'Dashi was good and safe and he wanted. 'DASHI.

Ginger patting on his back, 'Dashi's-Hiro saying okay-okay in strained voice, wiff-wiff-wiff coming close Nox squeaked in fear and buried his face tighter against 'Dashi's-Hiro—

"The: broken bone, is not out of alignment," Maybe-Baymax said. "The impact may have caused pain, however, and the: local anesthetic, has possibly worn off. I recommend another dose."

"Go for it, Baymax," 'Dashi's-Hiro said, causing Nox to whimper. "Hey, it's okay—Baymax isn't going to hurt you."

Whimper again no no no Maybe-Baymax stole wings and Nox needed his wings he needed to be able to fly like he needed to breathe needed 'Dashi—

Poke to his good wing made him squawk, look—saw 'Dashi's-Hiro's paw waving—

Poke to his broken-bound wing made him look, see Maybe-Baymax pulling a paw away, felt fresh tingling eating away at his wing no—

"No panicking this time," 'Dashi's-Hiro said, putting a paw on Nox's forehead. "Look at Fred, does Fred look bothered?"

"Fred is totally not bothered," Fwah put in.

Nox wasn't sure who Fred was Nox didn't much care Nox was whimpering again because he didn't WANT to be okay with losing his wing he didn't WANT to be okay with being ground-bound flying was everything it might not be as important as 'Dashi but it was IMPORTANT—

"Um," 'Dashi's-Hiro noised. "Baymax, maybe you can tell him how long it'll take before his wing's better."

"Judging from his current health and age, the: broken bone, will take four to six weeks to heal," Maybe-Baymax said.

Nox hissed weakly at Maybe-Baymax none of that sounded good he didn't know what week was he just wanted his wing back he wanted 'Dashi he wanted 'Dashi so bad—

"Want 'Dashi," he muttered, burying his face against 'Dashi's-Hiro's shoulder, sorry that 'Dashi's-Hiro didn't have wings wings were important he should know this why—

He felt hesitate from 'Dashi's-Hiro, like he had been hit and was more surprised than hurt—felt gentle pat-pat-pat on his wing—

"Yeah," 'Dashi's-Hiro said quietly. "I do too."

Soft fwee—'Dashi's-Hiro knew 'Dashi's-Hiro understood—'Dashi was important he wanted 'Dashi too and maybe Nox would be all right with sharing because this was I ever tell you how much you remind me of my little brother Hiro? This was flock was flight most definitely—

He slowly stopped shaking, let go enough to back up so 'Dashi's-Hiro was between him and Maybe-Baymax, hiss at Maybe-Baymax again—charge him and bounce off his stomach what? Roll upright, fluff his feathers, go back around to behind 'Dashi's-Hiro and act like he meant to do that, ignoring Fwah and 'Dashi's-Hiro snickering like he didn't mean to do that.

"Are you okay now?" 'Dashi's-Hiro asked, looking at him.

"Okay," Nox echoed, feeling the start of sleep trying to sneak up and pounce on him. "Okay. Okay…." Drift, try to jerk awake—maybe it was time for sleep. At least for a little bit—and when he woke up, 'Dashi would be here!

Nox curled back up around 'Dashi's-Hiro, hooking his good wing around 'Dashi's-Hiro's waist, ignoring uhs and attempts to tug his wing off, drifting in and out of sleep he was good he was full he was content and happy not as happy as if 'Dashi and the others were here but they would be here because 'Dashi's-Hiro was here 'Dashi was looking for them 'Dashi would find them—

Half-dreaming now, satisfied 'Dashi would fix everything…Nox's wing would be better not broken not bound and they'd be far far away from here—not that the Fwah-nest was bad…maybe the others could come here would their two flocks two flights get along?

'Dashi's-Hiro would be better too, after 'Dashi fixed what the no-good bad poison had done—maybe black feathers like Nox's that turned shimmery and pretty in bright sun, maybe with splotches of warm colors like in 'Dashi's feathers—would be closer to Nox's though because I ever tell you you remind me of my little brother Hiro? Bald-faced no-beak like Nox, but that wouldn't be bad it would be good because then it was more than the one Nox wouldn't be only Nox would have someone else his age with no beak who'd understand and come up with new games new tricks new fun…wings ached and claws twitched at the thought….

'Dashi's-Hiro tried to move away, tighten his wing a little and whimper—no. No Nox didn't want to sleep alone he wasn't only if 'Dashi's-Hiro was here and 'Dashi's-Hiro wasn't only with Nox here had it been so long of being only that 'Dashi's-Hiro just didn't know?

Curl up tighter and flip his tail across 'Dashi's-Hiro's legs, warble comfort and okay and others-safe-here…'Dashi would be coming soon everything would be all right then everything would be good then…'Dashi's-Hiro would be able to do everything properly again, run cling climb play fly curl up with others and sleep….

And sleep finally came for Nox.