A bird in a cage

It was their only salvation, working for the Zoldycks. It was either that or being run over by the Phantom Troupe of Meteor city.

Either way they were slaves, but at least with the Zoldycks they were slaves with respect.

Zoldycks didn't accept merely anyone in their hefty estate, that's why when Canary was chosen to be trained as an intern butler, she was proud.

They have acknowledged that she had potential and her young age was not taken as a disadvantage.

Potential of course leaded to tests of ability, and she took everything they threw at her and did not disappoint.

Killua was the third son in the family, yet he was the one to be throne the family business of assassination. Canary always tried her best whenever he was watching.

She followed him everywhere claiming that it was part of her duty while being in his presence was her only guilty pleasure.

He wasn't fully corrupted yet, he had humanity leftovers in his bored cyan eyes. She could see that dim gleam of guilt in them whenever he came back of one of his assigned missions.

Canary would walk with him in silence until he passes her territory and then she would bow in respect and leave him be.

She always called him a master regardless of his dismay; however Canary had rules to follow. And she always abided by the rules.

She knew her rank was far below her masters.

She was expendable, just another pawn in their endless strategic chess game. Her movements were restricted and watched and any toe out of line would be dissected.

Therefore, when master Killua asked for her friendship, and she was able to feel his mother's red laser on the back of her neck, ready to strike at the wrong syllable.

She was his first ever rejection.

She couldn't explain how she didn't qualify or how honored she was for the sheer offer.

She obeyed the rules, knew her place and plainly said no.

Killua was always able to dominate his emotions enslaving them like tamed dragons.

His perfectly trained face didn't move a muscle. It was his voice that wavered and betrayed him for a millisecond. He said one word before walking away from her with his hand holding his skateboard a bit tighter than necessary.

"Lame" yet one word was all she needed to hear the underlying hurt.

She never heard tangling feelings in his voice after that day, his guards isolated him while his spoken words become a broken mono-toned record.

Canary always blamed herself for the iciness in his blue tornado eyes and the death of the last traces of humanity in them…