A/N: The general consensus is that you guys want three updates a week... So, here we go! New update days are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Warning for... well, we'll call it self-harm just to be safe, but it's really not much of anything. I'd rather be overly cautious on the warnings then post something upsetting.
...
...
Origins: Bofur
…
Bofur shifted at his school desk and cringed as the sharp jolt of pain along his shoulder blades. I probably pulled somethin' wrestlin' with Bombur last night. It's no fair that I'm so much lighter than he is! A glare from the teacher stilled his movements, but the pull at his skin persisted, making it impossible to focus on the biology lesson. Not like we're learnin' anything useful. What kind of 14-year-old cares about bird anatomy? A freak, that's who. A few kids in the front row of desks were taking diligent notes, but the rest of the class looked bored. At least no one would notice his uncomfortable twitching.
The school bell rang, Finally! And Bofur rushed into the hall and past the other kids. Usually he'd hang around with his friends before walking home, but the pain in his shoulders was getting worse. Maybe I'm gettin' sick an' can stay home from school tomorrow...
Bofur used his key to get into the house and frowned at the silence. Bombur wouldn't be home from his elementary school for a few more hours, but their mom... Oh yeah, she's workin'. Tonight's a Bifur night. His cousin was older and cool. Hopefully he'd know what to do about the strange pain.
His t-shirt felt sticky against his back, like sweat even though it wasn't hot outside. Going into the bathroom Bofur twisted around to look in the mirror. Is that blood? Why am I bleeding?! He pulled his shirt off, balling it on the floor, and stared in horror at his back. The flesh on his shoulder blades was pulled away, a thin bone-like protrusion forcing itself out through the skin, covered in Feathers? Are those feathers?! He grabbed one and pulled, crying out in pain as the shaft came loose in his hand. Clutching the bloody feather, he sat down on the tile floor and cried. What's happenin' t' me?
...
Bifur came into the house half an hour later and was met with the quiet sounds of crying. He rushed to the bathroom where he found Bofur surrounded by broken feathers, with a large expanse of mangled wing extending out of his shoulder blades. "Bofur?"
"They won't go away. I keep pullin' out the feathers, but they won't go away." His voice sounded small and far away.
"Holy shit, kid! What did ya do?" He knelt and scooped his cousin up, marveling at how light the boy was. "C'mon now, it's okay."
Bifur's spindly wings shot out as he was moved. "No it's not! I'm a freak!"
"You're not a freak. I guess powers run in our family." Bifur managed a tight smile as he sat Bofur on the edge of the bathtub. "You're growing wings, kid. And a pretty awesome set, if ya ask me."
"Yeh think they're awesome?" He peered up at his cousin, his eyes wide.
"Totally! I'll bet once they come in all the way that you'll be able to fly with 'em too!"
Bofur's cheeks dimpled in a slight smile. "Really? That would be cool..."
"Yup! Ya just gotta promise me you'll stop plucking them. Okay, kid?"
He looked up from his perch and nodded. "I promise."
"Good." Bifur glanced down at the bloody feathers that littered the floor. "We should clean up before your mom gets home. Explaining the wings will be hard enough, she don't need to know 'bout the rest of this."
"Do you think she'll make me go back t' school? I don't think I can hide these. The other kids will think I'm a freak."
"I told ya, you're not a freak!" Bifur's voice was firm. "Ya gotta trust me. Everything's gonna be fine."
Bofur looked down and shrugged, his wings ruffling as his shoulders flexed. "I'm scared, Bifur."
"I know, kid." He ruffled his cousin's messy hair. "But you'll be okay. I'm not going anywhere."
...
...
A/N: See you Friday for the next plot chapter!