Birds of a feather; Flock together [Cyro] Day 2

Wandering off on his own, his thoughts get lost with the sound of the breeze blowing past his ears. A whisper of his own worries and memories flickering along his mind. A father who tore him down. A mother who enabled the tearing down. A beautiful girlfriend who saved him from it all. A son who became a light in the dark. Cyro Krane could remember every single reason why he never wished that same hurt upon anyone else. The fear of harm or abuse prominent in her eyes. The way his own hands clenched tighter as he hit harder; knowing full well his own body was reacting similarly. The desire to fight whoever it was that caused Meredith Strauss to feel what it was like to fear someone in that way.

Cyro wanted to know who did it, who made Meredith Strauss afraid of messing up.

He wanted to find out so he can rip their life apart.

No one deserved to suffer through that.

A chill runs down his spine at the thoughts of late nights spent asking for someone to save him from it all. The memory of his own will to survive and stay hidden away filling his mind. All he had back then were the Katelyn Persimmon posters along his walls with phrases he never truly learned. Blonde hair and a smile that was meant to be comforting, but looked more like Katelyn Persimmon had been uncomfortable staring back at him then. Katelyn Persimmon's posters had made him feel less alone in Eleven. Was it strange to have his cousin's district partner hanging up in his room as a kid? Yes, but he didn't ever think it would bother him.

Eleven trusted Katelyn with their lives.

Cyro grew up to hate those posters in the way they stared at him. Never caring enough to check on Levi's family. Never worried enough to make sure that Cyro Krane would be okay. Katelyn Persimmon had left him alone and afraid. No significant sign that she would ever save him like he had dreamed for her to for years. As a teenager, he tore them down, piece by piece, except one. One that still sits in a box in his home; an actual smile from a moment passed. Katelyn could have been talking to Opal during then, she could have been happily chatting with Kirito or Harbinger during that picture, but he could see a genuine person. Someone who had a heart and he never go rid of it.

Cyro cried in his room alone, stuffing it in the box in his closet, only to find it when he moved out.

He's shocked back into focus as a honking sound reaches his ears. Leaning on the sword, he can see a bird flying down before him, standing on the windy ground as if the petals didn't bother it or the exhaustion of fighting it going through it. Scary, but strong, he can see it. Remembering the past games, where words would send messages he had an idea brewing. Eyes glance to the bird for a moment as he lets himself breath for a second. The bird was there and he had an idea; all he needed to do was catch it.

He was strong.

Cyro Krane could do this.

Even with a broken leg.

He could catch a bird and see if his idea would work.

Maybe it'd be entertaining enough for Meredith to trust him and have a conversation.

Let her tell him who had done that to her.

Only so he can plan how to ruin the life of whoever did that.

No one gets in the way of an exhausted pissed off father.

Lunging forward, he pushes the sword down, trying to block the flight path so he can catch it.