Chapter Text
Mellohi was a name well known to the people of L’manburg ever since he had made it onto the scene, a blaze of glory accompanied by the glorious crimson wings of an avian.
He was sought after by the villains and held close to the heroes. You would never see the blonde anywhere without at least two other high ranked heroes.
But it became apparent that Mellohi was no damsel in distress. He was dangerous because every taunt or mocking remark he flew at a villain was accompanied with brutal efficiency. He had the skill to back his claims.
However, it wasn’t just his wings that drew the eyes of villains. While avians were rare, Mellohi possessed something much more dangerous, more desirable.
Mellohi had the ability to mimic any power.
The only confirmed limitations to this power is he needs to know what the power is and he can only mimic one at a time. But in the grand scheme of things, Mellohi had an advantage over any opponent.
Well… maybe not any opponent.
After all, when Mellohi stops speaking, you have to wonder how powerful they are.
Or… maybe it’s because elytrians are natural predators to avians.
˙⊹܀☁︎˚˙⊹⁺.
The blow came hard and fast, almost knocking Wilbur off his feet. He had to stumble back a few steps, falling back into a defensive position.
Mellohi grinned, sliding back in the natural lull in the fight. “What, can’t keep up old man?”
“What– I’m not old!” Wilbur squawked, scowling. He grabbed another dagger, mentally noting he was getting low. “You’re just a baby!”
The blond scoffed, shaking out his hands. “I’m not a baby! I’m–” He grit his teeth suddenly and Wilbur gave him a mocking smile.
“Care to finish that sentence?”
Mellohi didn’t, instead he just lunged forward again, expertly dodging the knife thrown his way.
Where was his family when he needed them?
Rolling out of the way of a high kick, Wilbur stuck his leg out to trip the kid, missing by an inch. It was hard, he was used to using people’s strength against them, not hitting an impossible target.
Turning rapidly, Mellohi’s wings splayed out to balance him, a grand display that had Wilbur pausing. The light spilling in from the only entrance through the roof made everything glow, his perfectly preened wings lit up. It was strange, most avians preferred to keep out of battles, often going into more entertainment careers like acting or singing.
With the rapid decrease of avians over the years, it was surprising to see such a powerful hero like Mellohi. Although, he supposed, Mellohi was very powerful. If the heroes knew about him, well… it might not have been his choice…
There were many reasons for his family’s protest against the heroes. Forced enrollment was just one of them. A certain enderman hybrid came to mind.
But as Wilbur was looking at Mellohi, a pose struck that would be the inspiration to countless artworks and music covers, he saw the second Mellohi froze in place.
A familiar chill filled the air, a feeling that had a grin spreading across Wilbur’s face.
The Angel of Death was here.
“Took you long enough.” Wilbur didn’t look back, but he could hear the near silent sound of Phil’s wings beating before two boots landed. He must have come from the entrance through the roof rather than the doors that lined the abandoned building.
Phil stepped in line with Wilbur, his veil giving no indication to where he was looking. “Yeah mate, just needed to handle some heroes.”
Speaking of, where were the heroes? Wilbur hadn’t seen any near Mellohi which was strange to say the least. Usually they flocked to him, making sure the bird wasn’t killed or kidnapped.
Mellohi’s body was tense, his wings almost shrinking back at the sight of Phil. Although Wilbur couldn’t see where the kid was looking, he knew it had to be at the elytrin.
Phil turned his attention to Mellohi, cocking his head curiously. “Hey mate, I don’t think I’ve met you before.”
It was a facade, all of them knew it. Despite his friendly demeanour, Wilbur had seen his father rip out the throats of heroes. No light words or tone could mask his reputation. Mellohi was smart for being afraid.
Without a word, Mellohi spun around and set off onto a sprint, seeing as he was outnumbered. Unluckily for him, he had to skid to a stop when he spotted, across the room, Blade.
Techno’s axe slowly trailed across the floor with every heavy step, his eyes completely covered with the boar skull mask.
Mellohi was outnumbered and cornered.
Wilbur almost felt a little bad for the guy, but then he remembered what a little shit he was and quickly diminished that pity.
Mellohi turned slowly, like he was surveying the situation, trying to find some way out.
The only exits were locked doors, or–
Mellohi bent his legs and spread his brilliant wings, and Wilbur watched in what felt like slow motion of Mellohi launching himself off, straight towards the hole in the roof.
But Phil didn’t get his name for nothing, and in a second that Wil could barely comprehend, Phil had taken off.
The fact of the matter was this; no matter how much Mellohi had trained or how fast he was, no avian could ever win a race with an elytrian.
It was over before it started, and with a brutal collision, Phil had crashed into the hero, pulling him down the few metres he was able to gain.
Phil’s wingspan almost doubled Mellohi’s, almost completely blocking him from view. But from what Wilbur could see of the action, he could only compare it to Icarus falling.
Just as quickly as it had started, it finished when Mellohi’s back collided with the ground, a cry that sounded more bird than man escaping him.
Wilbur and Techno closed in, but it didn’t matter. Phil had Mellohi pinned down.
It was over.
There were no quips thrown, no insults hurled. Mellohi’s movements felt frantic, not the practiced moves he’d just been using.
“Calm down.” Phil commanded, but it didn’t exactly help the situation. When it was clear he wasn’t going to settle down, Phil let out a low rattle like hiss, leaning his head a little closer.
Like a switch, Mellohi froze, his chest barely moving under Phil’s grip.
“What did you do?” Wilbur frowned, leaning down himself.
Phil didn’t turn his head and kept his wings open and in view. “Just something to get him to stop fighting me.”
Techno and Wilbur exchanged looks. From Phil, that could mean anything. Wilbur broke the silence again. “Well, whatever you did, it worked! Now what?”
“I say we kill him.” Techno spoke up for the first time, sounding uninterested. When Wilbur shot him a look, he shrugged. “I mean, what else? He’s a liability and it’s not like we can keep him.”
Wilbur shoved him and crossed his arms. “Avians are almost extinct and you want to kill him? Don’t you have a heart?”
“Phantom…” His younger brother said slowly like he was an idiot. “You kill people for a living.”
“Yeah, but not avians!”
“Enough.” Phil said, looking up at his sons. “We’re not killing anyone today.”
With his eyes locked on the hero, Wilbur noticed the stutter of his chest at the confirmation he wasn’t going to die. Had he been holding his breath the whole time?
Wilbur shook his head, focusing back on the matter at hand. “Well what are we going to do?”
Phil looked back down at the blond, his head cocked slightly. Wilbur was starting to get a very bad feeling about this.
“Angel?”
Techno apparently had the same thought, running a hand down his mask and face. “Don’t–”
Phil didn’t answer, all his attention on Mellohi. Wilbur was about to say something again before he was silenced when Phil chirped something out to the boy.
There was a visible struggle for Mellohi, but a second later he let out a shaky, high pitched chirp back.
Both Phil and Mellohi froze.
“No…” Phil whispered, horror in his tone. “Surely…?”
In a moment, Mellohi was struggling again, somehow more frantic than before, squawks and shrill chirps of panic accompanying every thrash.
Wilbur dropped to his knees to push Mellohi down further, no chance he’d escape. Then he looked up at Phil. “What’s going on? What was that?”
He could see past the veil that Phil was grimacing, a familiar dark look overtaking him. “Take off his mask.”
Mellohi gasped in breaths, his chest shuddering in an irregular rhythm. “No!” The protest was weak, pushed past weak intakes of breath and wheezing outtakes.
Wilbur didn’t wait. He knew when Phil gave an order, it was final.
His hands clasped around Mellohi’s mask, loosening the edges and unclasping the little mechanisms Ranboo had taught them were in hero masks.
He pulled back, and with the removal of the mask, Wilbur was met with bright blue eyes.
Mellohi froze, baby blue eyes wide and tearing up.
“Oh prime…” Wilbur mumbled.
That was– that was straight up a child.
“That’s a child.” Deadpanned Techno, although Wilbur could hear the slight note of shock in his voice.
Then Phil chirped.
Both Techno and Wilbur knew that chirp despite not being anything close to birds themselves. No, they knew what that was.
That was Phil saying ‘This one is mine and if anyone tries to touch him I will kill them’.
After all, they both had to deal with it themselves.
If they were to see Phil’s eyes, Wilbur would bet his pupils were blown wide, completely blocking out the blue.
Oh dear, they were going to have to deal with overprotective bird brain Phil for weeks because some stupid brat was putting his life in danger–
Wilbur frowned, a thought coming over him.
Someone in the hero commission must have known Mellohi to be a child, right?
Pieces fell into place and Wilbur kicked himself for not figuring it out sooner.
Of course the other heroes were so protective! Not only was this an avian with a ridiculously overpowered power, but if anyone found out they were putting a child on the front line, they’d be screwed!
Well, Wilbur began to grin as he looked down at the two birds, Mellohi’s pupils blown wide, It’s not like they’ll be getting him back any time soon.