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Twisted Fate hadn’t seen his partner in ten years but if there was one thing he remembered, it was that Graves had beautiful wings- and he wasn’t afraid to use them. That should have been the first tip-off that things had changed more than he could imagine.
The job should have been easy. In and out- but then he showed up, and of course- T.F had bigger things to worry about than the man’s appearance. If he’d taken just a second longer to look, maybe he would have remembered that Graves never wore anything that covered his wings like that before. It only occurred to him in hindsight that the man didn’t even fly after him, even given the opportunity. At the time he figured it was to avoid drawing attention but his trigger finger made it very obvious he didn’t care about that.
And then later, putting it together, he figured the other was covering his back for a reason.
It took more than just that for him to really think about it. Their renewed partnership had a rocky start and it quickly became clear that it simply wasn’t his place to question the other. However, that didn’t stop him from noticing things.
The way Malcolm would be fully prepared to jump and fly to escape on jobs before a strange look would wash over his face as he found himself taking a different exit. The longing in his eyes watching others glide overhead, as he and T.F walked in what he’d assumed was for his sake. Finally, though, the thing that strung it all together was catching glimpses of Graves staring at his wings.
Tobias never used them, shamefully too afraid to, but he still preened and cared for them. In his eyes they were dull- the most close comparison being a common starling, how embarrassing. And yet, Graves seemed envious of them.
He never had been before. And then it clicked.
The Locker was an awful place, notorious for torture and inhumane treatment of its prisoners and Graves certainly had scars to show for it. Torture wasn’t uncommon in there,
And neither was clipping wings.
So it made sense that that was what Fate assumed had been done. Why would Graves want to show off his wings knowing he couldn’t use them anymore. Covering them up was a way to avoid rubbing salt in the wound.
It was an explanation that T.F felt satisfied with. One that he was certain of.
Sometimes Graves would appear pained despite being unharmed, wincing and gritting his teeth, clearly tense. The first time he noticed- he felt the need to ask. “What’s wrong? You don’t look well.”
“Is this your way of calling me ugly?” Graves jokes back, smiling in a way that looks just strained enough to be concerning. “I’m fine, Fate. Nothing you need to worry about.”
“If you say so.” He responds curtly, but he isn’t convinced. Malcolm wasn’t exactly careless but he wasn’t careful either, especially not when it came to getting hurt on a job. He didn’t exactly hide injuries more than he thought they simply weren’t a big deal. T.F figured that’s what this was.
Until it happened again, and again- and Fate gave up on asking only to receive deflection in return. The other man seemed to be getting irritated with him anyway- clearly Graves just didn’t want him to know.
But then he saw something he wasn’t meant to see, and everything else suddenly made sense.
He knows he wasn’t meant to see it because the door was only barely open. Really, he should have known Graves wanted privacy- but after a night in the bar- he didn’t think twice before pushing it further open.
And he found himself unable to bite back a horrified gasp at the sight he was met with.
Really he’d been foolish to think Malcolm’s wings had only been clipped but it was hard to believe what he was seeing. The wings that Graves had been so proud of were carved down to nothing. All that remained were two small, feathered stumps on his back, the surrounding skin rough and scarred.
Fate had been staring so much at them that he didn’t notice Graves glaring at him. “What are you staring at?” He looked angry but the other knew him better than that. He was exposed- vulnerable- and he didn’t like it.
“I- your wings-“ Tobias stammers, shocked enough to be rendered unsure of how to respond. Usually he was good with his words but not in a situation like this-
“Don’t act like you didn’t know.” Graves snaps, turning away from the other with a scowl. “I see how you keep looking, well here you go. They’re gone. ” The admission sounds like it pains him, spat through gritted teeth.
“I didn’t realise they were-“ He can't bring himself to say it, eyes still fixed on the scarring as his mind conjures images of what they did- what Graves felt- “I’m sorry.”
“Save it. I don’t want your pity.” Graves snaps, Tobias flinching at his tone. “Not like you’re the one who hacked them up, right?” He ends the sentence with a bitter, humourless laugh, and the other man feels his heart sink.
This is his fault. If he’d broken Graves out sooner- if he hadn’t given up then-
“ Stop looking at me like that.” The brown haired man says sternly, now staring him down. T.F hadn’t even realised but tears were brimming in his eyes, the urge to apologise and spill his welling guilt growing by the second- “Nothing you do or say is gonna bring them back.” He declares, his own eyes beginning to glisten. “ Nothing.”
“I know. God, Malcolm, I’m so sorry-“ he reaches out, hoping to comfort the other but finds his hand being slapped away as Graves flinches, expression hardening.
“No, Tobias, you don’t know shit- you have no idea. ” He begins to lose composure, breathing growing sharp and fast as he continues. “Every day I have to watch you fuss over your wings, only to never use them like the coward you are-“ He ignores how Fate flinches at the word.
“You treat these Damn things like a prop- you don’t deserve them- not when you choose not to fly-“ his voice grows shakier and more unsteady as he steps toward T.F, the man stepping back- intimidated by Graves’ rage. “ I DON’T GET THAT CHOICE. I will never have that freedom again.”
Before Tobias knows it, Malcolm lunges forward- too fast for him to react. He feels the pain before he realises what’s happening- Graves had grabbed a fistful of feathers and yanked them out without hesitation, yelling over the other’s cry of pain. “An ungrateful bastard like you could never understand-“
And then he locks eyes with the other and sees nothing but terror.
That seems to snap him out of his anger, his eyes widening as he looks from T.F’s fearful expression to the feathers gripped between his fingers. Instantly he drops them, frantically rubbing his hands together as if to cleanse the feeling. “I’m sorry.” He gasps out, looking horrified.
“What the fuck- “ It takes a second for Tobias to overcome the shock of pain, now dulled to a slight sting. He wants to scream at Graves, to cry even- but the sight of the other looking so utterly afraid, so distant , it renders him speechless.
The ugly bald patch left on his wing is forgotten in an instant. “Hey- hey it’s fine.” It’s not. They’d have to talk about it later- “It- it’s just the feathers.”
“No- no no no- I didn’t mean to-“ He wouldn’t dream of damaging the other’s wings. Of the two of them, he was the one who should know how terrible that could be- and yet he still did it. He’s just as bad as them- “I’m sorry. ”
“Malcolm, they're fine. Feathers will grow back-“ He swallows a lump in his throat as he tries to remember how long that might be- normally he was good at keeping track of molting but in the moment his mind is overrun by panic- god it could take a year-
But regardless of his attempts to reassure both himself and Graves, the brown haired man is inconsolable. In the span of seconds, Graves had backed himself into a corner, tears streaming down his face as his breathing came in rapid, harsh bursts. He wasn’t even looking at T.F- still staring down at his hands in horror.
His hands, which had hurt Tobias, hurt his wings. He can still feel the feathers against his palm- the brief resistance as he tore them away. All the while, the stumps on his back ache , sharp pains wracking his body. It was suffocating.
And then somewhere amidst the agony, he feels arms wrap around him. He writhes, struggling for a moment in panic until he hears T.F’s voice in his ear. “ Breathe, Malcolm. I’m fine.”
It takes a moment for the words to sink in, Graves taking in a few shaky, but deep breaths. Even as he calms down he still feels immensely guilty- struggling to find more words than yet another “I’m sorry.”
“I-“ Tobias hesitates with a sigh before he continues. “I’m not gonna say it’s alright. But I forgive you.” Graves seems to relax slightly at that, pulling away slowly to look the other in the eyes.
He quickly glances down to the damaged patch he’d left on T.F’s wing, resisting the urge to apologise again, instead explaining “I didn’t mean it… what I said.”
He wipes his eyes, Tobias watching him, concerned as he goes on “I wouldn’t wish this on you.” He shrugs, unable to gesture to his back- but the other knows what he was referring to.
“I know.” The black haired man replies. “I just wish you would’ve told me. I didn’t mean to see- it’s just- it can’t be easy-“
“It’s not. I can still feel them sometimes… it’s easier to just, not have to see-“ Graves admits, wrapping his arms around himself “They’re-“ he bites back a sob “They were the only part of me I loved. And now all that’s left is scars and I just-“ he shakes his head. “I don’t know what I am without them. What’s left of me. ”
“Malcolm..” Tobias mutters, taking Graves’ hands and gently pulling them into his own. “I know you don’t feel whole, and I can’t say you will again” he states, frowning as Graves seems to wilt “But you’re alive, and you’re still my partner.” He shrugs. “For what it’s worth I’m just glad you’re still here.”
There are a few seconds of silence before Graves mumbles a small “Thank you…for putting up with this, I mean.”
“I already told you, I forgive you. You weren’t in your right mind- I can imagine I caught you off guard.” T.F reassures. “But I just wish you knew you didn’t have to hide from me.”
“Well not like there’s much to hide now.” Graves shrugs, chewing the inside of his cheek nervously before he asks “Does your wing still hurt?”
“What?-“ some point during the discussion, Tobias had completely forgotten about that. “Oh, not anymore. It’s just on the surface- though it is a bit of an eyesore.”
“Any way I could help?” Graves asks- more out of courtesy than anything, not expecting to be able to. Tobias just smirks softly.
“What, wanna kiss it better?” In all honesty, he was touched by the offer- thinking it to be quite sweet- but he wasn’t exactly the type to admit that.
Graves’ face flushes a little. “Well do you want me to?” He responds, sounding serious enough that Tobias can’t hold back his laughter.
“Well, I’ll think about it.” He smiles, ignoring the eye roll he receives in response.
“As if I’d want to anyway.“ Graves scoffs, jokingly, his mood significantly lightened. Tobias almost forgets to take offense to the jab- simply relieved to see the other smiling.