Chapter 1: Chapter I
Chapter Text
The feeling of uncertainty grew with every passing minute. While they allowed her out of the birdcage for the first time since the last auction, nobody told her why. They bathed her without saying a word. They even used warm water for once, but the unusually comfortable treatment was too foreign for her to enjoy. Her hair was braided, her feathers groomed and her claws polished before she was led to yet another cage on the back of a carriage. As they clicked the locks in place, relief flooded her - the cage was safe, albeit different. The bars were ornate, golden and shiny. A stark contrast to the rusty, tiny cage that could barely contain her wings.
A silken blanket was thrown over her enclosure and she closed her eyes.
The air smelled different, saltier. A harsh breeze played with the soft fabric around her, allowing her scant glimpses of the road travelled. In the distance, she heard an alluring melody carried by the wind.
While she has lost her sense of time in the darkness of her cage, she knew they travelled a long distance, assumingly to the coast.
Once the carriage came to a halt, her cage was placed onto a gravelled floor. The melody, now closer, ended abruptly.
Behind her, a door opened and polite conversation was held. She learned to ignore human exchanges, as the information gathered from those was liable to only cause despair.
The gravel crunched under the wheels of the carriage as the horses set in motion. She quietly listened to the sound becoming quiet in the distance. Her mind wandered as she listened to the sounds of nature, fantasising how soothing the wind would feel in her feathers - if only she would be allowed to spread her stiff wings.
“Go on, my love. Unwrap your present.” A smooth, measured voice resonated behind her and she immediately recognised it - It was the tall, slender man from the last auction. His face concealed by a smooth, pale mask that lacked emotion. Flowing garments of ivory and crimson hung from his frame, adorned with gold accents, giving him the air of a performer on stage. She could only hope he was once again accompanied by the younger man.
She remembered him clearly. Beautiful, dark teal hair with a faint violet sheen, falling across his face. Mesmerising, half-shadowed eyes seemed lost in thought, until he caught hers. The way he looked at her was almost affectionate.
“Jhin… Is this..?” The soft voice, almost weightless, as if spoken from a distance, joined in. He was here, too…
“The little bird, yes. She's all yours.”
It was difficult to ignore them, no matter how hard she tried - their words held no malice, much like back at the auction, but she knew cruel intentions could be hidden behind gentle words.
The young man carefully lifted the blanket. After so long in the dark, her eyes would sting whenever light touched them. She flinched in pain and closed her eyes shut. “Oh no, poor girl! I didn't mean to blind you. Let's get you inside.”
Once again protected from the bright light outside, she felt the cage being moved.
The two men quietly talked about how to make life more comfortable for her. She was taken aback by this level of consideration for her needs. However, humans that would even consider buying a living, thinking creature, especially a Vastaya, couldn't have a good soul, even if they seemed kind so far.
“We will lift the blanket now. Cover your eyes if necessary.” The man with the smooth voice, Jhin, said. Fear froze her in place, but she mustered the courage to slowly open her eyes. There weren't any blinding lights anymore, only a few candles scattered across a rustic, colourful room. The walls were cluttered with painted canvas and dried flowers. As she looked around, her eyes fell on the two men. She hurriedly lowered her gaze, scared there may be punishment for her curiosity.
“Say, do you remember us?” The young man asked hesitantly. He seemed too gentle to buy the life of another being, yet Jhin said she was a present for him... Maybe he was the one with the cruel intentions.
In her time being held captive she didn't speak a word, and for the time being, she would stick to it. She had no reason to trust the unique pair.
Whether the man in front of her took her silence for denial or shyness, he introduced himself and his partner. “I'm Hwei, this is Jhin. We saw you at the… auction…” The excitement in his voice faltered and took up a hint of melancholy.
Jhin, who observed their interaction from the corner of the room, took a few steps closer. “I can imagine you're not exactly thrilled about your current situation, but we can guarantee that you will live a better life with us than you did with your previous owner.” With fluent movements, he unlocked the cage and Hwei offered her his delicate hand. “You should rest a bit, but feel free to explore your room as much as you like.” Hwei vaguely gestured around them. “For now, we will lock the door…” He seemed hesitant to finish his sentence, but Jhin continued for him. “It doesn't have to stay that way, but you surely understand that trust is to be earned.”
Startled and still frozen, she watched Jhin embracing Hwei’s waist with his robotic arm, guiding him out of the room.
The lock of the door clicked and she was once again left alone with her thoughts.
As interesting as the pair was, the uncertainty of why they had bought her left her anxious. So far, they did not lie. Having a room definitely beats being imprisoned in a cage. Here, she could spread her wings and even walk around. It was an impressive room. It would be flooded by sunlight, if it weren't for the thick curtains. Across from the covered windows was a rustic studying desk adorned with all sorts of dried flowers, the same that decorated the walls. The part that piqued her curiosity the most was a large bed topped with soft and fluffy cushions. Not once had she seen such comfortable bedding, much less slept in one. Hwei even called it her room. Despite all of that, she couldn’t help but long for the only safety she knew - the cage.
The following days went by with frequent visits from both men, sometimes together, sometimes alone. While Jhin was reserved, Hwei did his best to make her feel comfortable - he brought her food, blankets and encouraged her to nest in the bed, outside of the cage. It seemed that he put a lot of effort into researching her race. He even invited her to watch his art and it was the most beautiful thing she ever witnessed.
The brush dipped into an unseen color and with a jagged stroke he pulled a cliff from the void - stone rising in pale gold, edges sharp against the air. A softer curve followed, silver and azure unraveling into wind that tugged and swirled, playful and unbound.
Then, she appeared. Each stroke breathed her into being: arms lifted, a dress spun wide in the gale, hair like dark ink scattering into the sky. The world itself bent to her, holding her steady at the edge.
The pigments shimmered, alive. For as long as he willed it, she danced there, eternal, caught in the wind he had painted into life.
She watched in awe and, for the first time since she was captured, she felt true joy.
One day, he suggested a walk through their gardens. The prospect of feeling nature around her almost made her thank him, yet she remained silent. They still didn't share their intentions with her, so she would respond in kind.
It was clearly visible on Hwei’s face that he was uncomfortable with the condition that came with her leaving the house - she needed to wear a collar and a leash, but she agreed and silently waited for him to fasten the leather around her neck.
As the first breeze danced through her feathers, tears welled in her eyes. While she was finally able to stretch her wings in her room, she didn't bother with grooming them. In the past it only got her hurt to be caught doing so…
“It feels good right? I love to feel the wind waft through my hair…” Hwei told her dreamily - she liked that about him, his speech so deliberate and never forceful - calm, introspective, and tinged with a subtle fragility, half-absorbed in thoughts she couldn't follow.
“They told us you can't fly anymore… that made me think…” He cut his sentence short and led her through the beautiful gardens that surrounded their manor up to a cliff, a familiar cliff.
The wind’s intensity increased the further they went up the cliff and her gaze was drawn to the soft silk of Hwei’s robe, swirling behind him, much like the dancer's dress in his art.
“I know it will never be the same… but…” Coming to a halt on top of the cliff, he spread his arms and threw his head back - the leash loosely tangling from his hand. She took a moment to observe him, her eyes drawn to his beautiful face, to his melancholic smile… she spread her wings as wide as her severed tendons would allow. One of her wings momentarily brushed Hwei’s shoulder before it unfolded into a colourful display of greenish-blues and dark greys. “I wish you would be able to fly again… I really do.” He whispered before they both fell into a comfortable silence - both enjoying the moment. It was too easy to believe that, maybe, he indeed had a good soul.
After the day on the cliff, both men let her roam more freely. They told her that they locked all doors, and she didn't even try to escape. She would someday - maybe. But for now, she decided to stay and explore the curiosity she fostered for them. Maybe it was the solitude, but at least they treated her well, gave her food and a safe place to nest. That alone was more than she had before she was captured.
On some nights, she wondered how the pair worked out. She remembered how Jhin called Hwei my love, yet the masked man remained mostly secretive about his affection for the young painter.
Most days she spent watching them creating their art. Jhin was truly a virtuoso, the alluring melody she heard on her way here, written by his own hand. It was captivating to watch him fully devoted to his passion, yet he was a man full of secrets. While Hwei told her many different stories, mostly through his art, Jhin rarely shared his thoughts with her. She wondered if it was his punishment for her own silence...
As much as she got used to life around them, she was still unable to trust humans who intentionally bought her. Sometimes, when she wandered around the manor, she noticed how they would stop talking as soon as she was in reach. She couldn’t trust them.
As time went by, the excursions with Hwei became more frequent. Sometimes, Jhin accompanied them and if he did, they would move much farther out, visiting the beaches and the forests. The leash became her constant companion while outside, but she almost didn't notice it anymore. Hwei made sure to never pull on it, holding it more like a statement than a confinement.
A few days ago she decided to finally put the blankets Hwei brought her to good use. She wanted to build a nest, make herself a comfortable place to rest - outside of the cage.
It was foreign to sleep covered in blankets, safe and warm. She never had the luxury of peaceful nights.
The moon had already risen as she heard muffled sobs from across the hallway. The thin feathers in her neck bristled and when the sobs turned into yelps, she left her nest to have a look. It sounded like Hwei… like he was in pain. Jhin should be with him but seemingly didn't do anything to help. “Jhin!” The young artist screamed. There was desperation in his voice. She flexed her claws and reached for the door handle - ready to fight the man whose name Hwei screamed in agony.
To her surprise it was neither agony nor desperation the beautiful young man screamed in. Not in a bad way at least…
While Hwei didn’t seem to notice her, ready to fight, Jhin did.
No longer hidden behind a mask, a sharp jawline and straight nose were revealed. His eyes were piercing, but his beauty was equal to his partners. His lips formed a faint, confident smile, giving him a composed and commanding presence as he watched her standing on the threshold of the door. “Please… Jhin… I need more… I can't… can't wait.” Hwei pleaded, winding in the sheets. His slim waist was held in place by Jhin's robotic arm, while the other worked the fingers of his hands deep inside the young painter, making him yelp relentlessly - his flushed, hard length leaving behind a glistening trail on his defined stomach.
“He's gorgeous, isn't he, little bird?”
Startled and panting, she laid in her nest, eyes wide open as she tried to process what she just witnessed. Hwei’s beautiful, flushed face, twisted in pleasure, desperate for more… Jhin's smile, challenging and inviting at once. He knew she was watching… knew she was as captivated in the younger man's beauty as he himself was. She felt the wetness between her thighs grow as she recreated the obscene picture of him sprawled out in front of Jhin - hips desperately trying to chase the pleasure inflicted by the virtuoso's fingers.
That night, her loneliness felt overwhelming. It's been so long since she had a mate… Sleep didn't come easy…
Chapter 2: Chapter II
Chapter Text
A knock on the door startled her out of a restless night. Without waiting for a response, Jhin let himself in - a tray with breakfast balanced on his robotic arm. “Good morning, little bird.” He wasn’t wearing the theatre mask she got so used to, allowing her to witness his gentle smile.
She wasn't sure how she should feel about the events of last night. What she saw… and what Jhin knew she saw.
“Still mute, I take it?” He placed the tray next to her nest. “Well that's alright. For now. Today, I would like to take you for a walk. Hwei will be occupied with painting… it seemed that a muse kissed him last night.” She didn’t dare to look into the virtuoso’s eyes, still too tangled up in her memories. She was aware that his gaze never left her.
They walked towards the cliff in silence, the leash loosely wrapped around Jhin's wrist. It was uncommon that they were alone and she couldn't help but wonder what his intentions were.
On top of the cliff she let herself enjoy the wind stroking her feathers before she fully unfolded her wings. While she was told that she didn't need permission to do so, she still wouldn't take it for granted. She noticed how Jhin’s eyes never left her, much like this morning. They watched the sea for a moment before he turned to her. “Say, did you have someone before they captured you?" For a moment, she considered answering him, yet ultimately just shook her head. It was rare for her to meet another Vastaya living in the wilds and the few times she did, it was clear that they wouldn't be a long-term mate. It was only ever temporary, like most things in life.
“I see.” Jhin’s gaze wandered past her, back to the manor. "When the time comes that you are certain you found the love of your life, your reason to live... you will change.” He paused for a moment and looked at her before facing the sea again. “You would live for them, die for them, kill for them. But the most complicated part is... you will actually change for them. You will quit habits, alter your standards and begin to see the world through their eyes. You will do anything to make them happy. To keep them happy. Even if it goes against everything that you once thought was important to you.” With his gaze averted from her, he couldn't see the confusion painted on her face. She was well aware by now that Jhin and Hwei were lovers, mates or even something more fundamental, but there wasn't a reason for Jhin to impart what he just did.
“Years ago, when Hwei decided to leave Koyehn to travel with me, I left a trail of dead bodies behind us.” His deliberate words made her flinch. Even through his mask, she knew he smiled as challengingly as he did last night. “No man, no woman ever got the chance to express their affinity before my bullets hit them. The first one to their left hand. The second to the right. The third to their heart and the grand final - the fourth one - to their face, twisted in disbelief.”
She watched in shock as Jhin became ecstatic revealing his gruesome past. There wasn’t a shred of guilt in his words. She all but wondered if this was the reason he brought her here. Maybe this is where she would meet her end.
“Don't get me wrong, little bird. Hwei always adored the art I created for him. Took pride in the fact that I did it for him. And he never fancied someone else... Not until the night of the auction, that is.” Slowly, carefully, almost as if not to startle her, he lifted his robotic hand, gently tracing her skin just below the collar. “Where is that fighting spirit now, little bird? I saw it. Right when you opened the door, ready to fight me off for him.” His words should have threatened her, but she saw the curiosity in his eye and as he realised that she didn't even tense up, he took a step back - facing the sea once more.
“Hwei adores you. And who am I to deny my beautiful love? He loves me. He belongs to me as much as I belong to him. But I know I have changed. For him. And I will do anything to keep him happy.” She let his words sink in, wondering about what he is implying. Before she could finish her thought, he looked at her as if he just realised she was here with him. “Would you like to walk a little further, or would you prefer to go home, little bird?"
As they walked back to the manor, Jhin hummed a familiar melody.
"Look who's already waiting for us.” The virtuoso said, gesturing to the balcony where Hwei stood, head lazily draped on his arms resting on the railing - a beautiful silken garment flattered his teal hair.
As soon as they entered their home, she quickly withdrew to her room and curled up in her nest. While the revelations of today may give her a hint as to why they bought her, she wasn't sure how to feel about it at all. While trying to process everything, she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
Hwei entered the room, quietly followed by his lover. Clumsily, she rose from her nest to prepare for whatever reason they seeked her out for.
“Wait…” Hwei said and approached her. "You have a leaf stuck in your feathers, darling. Let me help you.” He walked behind her and carefully touched her back. His fingers were so delicate and, as he plucked out the leaf from the junction where her wings met her shoulders, a small moan escaped her. The little feathers bristled in excitement where Hwei’s fingers still lingered in the fuzz around her wings. The painter seemed as startled as she was, but carefully moved his fingers in a stroking gesture. “Sensitive, are you?” Hwei asked and chuckled slightly.
She immediately tensed up, trying her hardest not to show how much it affected her - how much she liked it. Since yesterday night, arousal simmered deep inside her and now, being touched reverently at such a sensitive spot, it burned up into a searing flame.
“Do… do you want me to stop?” Hwei asked, clearly fascinated, yet still hesitant. It was a question she didn't know how to answer - the man that owned her asked for permission to touch while his lover, who just told her he killed the people fancying him, watched. Her honest answer would be that she didn't want him to stop. It felt too good, almost like a mate grooming her as an intuitive foreplay. She nearly lost herself in pleasure as Hwei continued his caress, even amplifying it by brushing his fingertips at the soft feathers near the base. Only the burning feeling of Jhin’s eyes on her made her hold back. He expected her to make a decision… And ultimately, she shook her head - no, she didn't want Hwei to stop.
“We need words, little bird. Actual consent.” The familiar, challenging smile formed on Jhin’s face before he continued. “You are his muse, not his whore. If you want him to stop, he will stop. If you want him to go on… you will need to tell him so." It was undeniably hard for her to form a coherent thought. Not only was she distracted by the pleasant touches from Hwei, but also by Jhin using her desperation for caress as leverage. However, she was granted the privilege of choice. A privilege she didn't have for so long…
“P…Please. Don't stop.” Her words came out rough. It’s been so long since she last spoke. “Look at me, darling." Hwei whispered in her ear. She turned around and was immediately mesmerized. Hwei’s eyes, normally in a hue of gold, gleamed passionately in a deep purple. “There you are, my darling, my muse." He gently smiled at her, his gaze drifting between her eyes and her lips. "May I kiss you?”
"Yes… please.” And as his plush lips captured hers, something changed. The world around her came to a halt and she was no longer a captured wildling, no longer a bought property, only the muse of a beautiful painter - adored and desired like never before.
After their passionate kiss, she tentatively looked at Jhin. For once, his smile wasn’t challenging, but pleased. “He's breathtaking isn't he?" It was more of a statement than a question and he didn't wait for her answer, making his way over to lean against the windowsill - with a perfect view of the pair in front of him. Slowly, Hwei stepped behind her again, slightly turning her so she was facing the virtuoso. “Let me make you feel good, darling. Let me create a new piece… of art.” He breathed into her ear. And with her eyes still fixated on Jhin, she let go of all inhibitions. “I.. I'm all yours."
Hwei walked around her. She braced herself for the light touch of his fingers but she instead felt his soft lips against her back, gently sweeping over her skin, moving through fuzz and feathers. This time, she didn't try to stop the moan erupting from deep inside of her. While Hwei’s hands wandered over her back and her sides, his lips remained nuzzled against her sensitive parts. Without any haste, Hwei explored her body freely, skilled fingers opening her garment until they rested against her bare skin - every movement observed by Jhin's haunting eyes.
She took a sharp breath and almost yelped as the painter’s tongue danced over the ridge of her wing. “Hwei…” She pleaded a broken moan. "Do you want him to touch you, little bird?" The virtuoso asked, his presence as confident and composed as usual. "Please…" She gasped and grinded back against the young man.
Hwei noticed her growing desperation and a moment later, his fingers slipped between her legs. “Oh darling… so wet for us. So desperate…” Slowly, he stroked through her glistening folds, making her cry out in pleasure. “The sound of pleasure, truly the most inspiring melody…” Jhin mused, uncaring to hide his obvious excitement. "Well spoken, my love. Let's see how beautiful our songbird can sing.” Hwei said, his voice layered with lust and adoration. As his first finger dipped inside her, he gently guided her forward, devoting his mouth fully to her sensitive skin on the back, while his free arm encouraged her to grind against his palm. “H…Hwei… I…” The intensity of his touch made her feathers bristle and her claws twitch. In no time she succumbed to a pleasure she never experienced like that before - with the painter’s name on her lips she felt herself fall.
“Your art never ceases to amaze me, my love." Faintly, she perceived Jhin's voice as her body started to recover from the overwhelming pleasure she still shook with. As she was lifted off her feet she tensed up until she realised that Hwei carried her back to lay down in her nest. She wanted to reciprocate the pleasure, wanted to be the one that had Hwei desperate for more, panting and all flushed…
“Tell us, darling, what do you need?" The painter didn't seem to mind his own straining arousal - he once again prioritised her comfort. Meanwhile, Jhin remained at the window, giving the pair some sense of privacy. She was confused, uncertain about her feelings regarding the unique artist couple and what just happened, so she spoke what was on her mind. “H… Hold me. Please…”
Hwei, as well as Jhin, seemed surprised by her request. “Are you sure you want me in your nest?" The young man hesitantly asked.
"I want both of you… in my nest. At… my side." The two lovers looked at each other, seemingly holding a silent conversation before they laid beside her. Hwei pressed against her back and her head rested on Jhin’s chest.
Bathing in the painter's gentle caress and listening to the virtuoso’s steady heartbeat, she became painfully aware of the fact that, if she wasn't careful, the leash wouldn't be the only thing binding her to them.
Eepy_Ness on Chapter 1 Wed 01 Oct 2025 02:49PM UTC
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HaloCreates on Chapter 1 Wed 01 Oct 2025 03:27PM UTC
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xmarionette on Chapter 1 Thu 02 Oct 2025 10:00AM UTC
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HaloCreates on Chapter 1 Thu 02 Oct 2025 10:41AM UTC
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xmarionette on Chapter 2 Tue 07 Oct 2025 11:11AM UTC
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HaloCreates on Chapter 2 Tue 07 Oct 2025 11:22AM UTC
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