Chapter Text
Laughter had filled the vast open field, flashes of all the colors surrounding the area had filled Parrot's vision as he and his best friend had spun in circles, unguarded and light giggles had been passed back and forth, doing little to help catch their breaths before they crashed to the ground.
The crash, meaning to deter them, did little to suppress their insistent giggles. Hands finding each others once more, before Wifies—Parrot's best friend who just so happened to be a dog hybrid, contradicting the usual prey-prey, or, predator-predator friendships—had intertwined their fingers.
Tugging the avian against himself, Parrot allowed a light gasp before a small, pleased, laughter escaped him.
Doubling over further against the other's chest, Wifies took the moment in. Squeezing the younger against himself, his arms wrapped tightly around Parrot's waist.
As if savoring it all, Wifies smiled, a lopsided one, almost longingly.
Practically, as if Parrot noticed everything, he had peeked his head up from the older's chest.
Once non stop laughter had turned into puffs of breathy air, the remnants of laughter clinging to the air instead of the two. An analytical, yet overjoyed look pressed onto the avian's face, overtaking the unguarded one from before.
Watching the other, Wifies, tilt his head to the side, completely on instinct, had Parrot shake his head as lighter laughs left him now.
Less intrusive and more controlled as the avian hybrid reached a hand up to the other hybrid's ears, sneaking a small hand behind said ears, Parrot scratched firmly—though without too much pressure, earning him soft, pleased noises.
Feeling Wifies begin to rub the side of his face alongside Parrot's, a deliberate sign of affection, Parrot switched to softly petting over the brown ears that were nearly hidden in the others mess of hair.
Eventually, Parrot's hand had begun to hurt, causing the hybrid to retract his hand, earning him a less pleased sound—one just about bordering a dog's whine— before Parrot yelped, as he was tackled backwards.
Tumbling the both of them off the small hill they had been perched on, the avian couldn't help but cling further to the dog hybrid, despite his wings fluttering behind himself.
Squeezing his eyes shut, Parrot could almost feel the dog's tail wagging as the avian clung further to him.
Huffing as soon as they had reached the bottom of the hill, Parrot elbowed Wifies side, sticking his tongue out at him, before rolling off of him, and onto the plain grass beside him.
Grunting as he rolled off, the distance didn't last long before the dog hybrid had begun whining insistently. Inching closer every so often, Parrot attempted to look annoyed at the action as he had just created distance.. though, he couldn't suppress the small grin forming as Wifies had pressed into his side.
And, before Parrot was able to realize what he was reaching for, Wifies had started tickling Parrot.
Eliciting a loud SQUAWK! of offense from the avian—unfortunately causing the once peaceful birds around them to scatter—loud, unrestrained bursts of laughter came from the shorter. Pushing against Wifies' chest, light hits knocking against it as Parrot shouted through giggles—
"W-WIFIES! QUIT!"
Rolling around in half attempts to push away from the mutt, gasps of breath emitting from the bird hybrid—followed by soft, breathless giggles. Only making the dog hybrid's tail wag further, clinging to the avian relentlessly, his hands had eased up; only now teasing the others' sides—before stopping entirely, and dropping his head down right at the bird's collarbone.
An exasperated breath leaving Wifies as if he was the one being tickled.
Huffs once more retreated to the parrot hybrid, this time to one with a confused look on his face.
Nudging Wifies every other second, forcing muffled 'hmphs' out of the other, Parrot gave up. Fully resting on his back, feeling his wings twitch ever so lightly, they seemingly didn't ache at all throughout their entire antics.
Soon enough, finding himself growing tired of staying faceplanted in the other's collarbone; Wifies had lifted his face half a fraction to begin nosing at the area connecting Parrot's neck, and shoulder.
Pushing his face away in mock irritation upon recognition, only causing the dog hybrid to nip at his fingers, Parrot hissed in defeat as Wifies returned to his previous position.
Narrowing his eyes at the mutt, earning an apologetic smile; the sun of the afternoon just so 'accidentally' caught on the other's canines in the process, as if poking fun at Parrot's state.
Light pants of hot air had escaped Parrot still, though not as heavy as before, as the younger boy tried to catch his breath from all the dog's scattered behavior.
Clutching his fingers in his opposite hand's palm, the older watched as Parrot squeezed them once, before dropping both arms at his sides.
Glancing down at Wifies once more as he had done a thousand times before, catching on as he tried to look away before Parrot caught him staring, a lazy smile had crept onto the avian hybrid's face.
Shaking his head slowly, the best he could, Parrot rolled his head to the side. Watching the trees, the occasional whip of the grass as the winds ran through, the wave of the flower's on the opposing side of the field—Parrot could barely tell if he was in a dream.
Though, regardless of what anyone could convince him was true—dream world, or not—Parrot was right where he wanted to be.
With Wifies. That's where he's safest.
Allowing a few lingering thoughts to follow past that, Parrot couldn't help but wonder of the future.. and, as if like clockwork, the cogs had begin to turn behind Wifies head as his eyes had retracted back to watching Parrot's face.
Calculating each twitch, every small expression of surprise, or consideration; everything Parrot would and wouldn't display for him. He kept a mental note of it all.
And, if Wifies knew Parrot as well as he thought he did, it was clear as day Parrot was tracking through all of his thoughts—Extremely loud.
It would almost be suffocating, if Wifies minded it.
"Parrot," Wifies had called out once, a sort of softness in his voice that was never used towards anyone but Parrot.
Lifting his head up from Parrot's neck, he had instead settled for resting it on his stomach.
Staring up at the pretty avian, Wifies found himself losing all train of thought as he let every detail of Parrot's face be saved in his mind. As if he hadn't done such before at their last hangout, and the one before, and the one following that;
Wifies exhaled, tickling Parrot's skin with his breath, even through the fabric, which seemed to snap the bird out of his thoughts.
Pausing for a moment, Parrot's eyes tracked down to where Wifies was now.
Taking in the sight before him.. those soft, puppy ears, alongside his fluff of a tail that had begun to thump side-to-side. A slow, melodic pattern, continuing ever since their hangout started.
Deep, chocolate brown eyes staring back up at him, a light grin forming on the other's face. Eyes flickering down to the other's smile—Parrot paused.
Dimples.
Huh.
Parrot didn't know Wifies had those.
Adorable, he smiled with that thought. A low trill humming throughout his brain at that—as if satisfactory.
A soft hum followed a minute after Wifies had called Parrot's name, the avian only just now recognizing he had been calling out to him.
Allowing the peaceful moment to settle, Wifies breathed lightly; tickling Parrot's skin ever so faintly now, watching as a shiver ran through his birdie, before his voice came out.
Sweet, considerate.
"What's on your mind?"
An amused, short, laugh had followed from Parrot seconds later.
Wifies was always direct with his questions, though, Parrot didn't mind too much. It wasn't intrusive, nor was it invading upon anywhere he wouldn't like him to be.
Easing his throat, humming once more in thought—a contemplative tune this time—Parrot's mind felt stuck.
Dragging his eyes back to the sky, the avian had barely any clue, but.. he guesses that that isn't an answer, as he was thinking of.. something at least. So, settling on the first thing his brain could think of, Parrot blurted out;
"Do you think we'll always be together.."
The words came out in a hushed tone, but, as soon as Parrot had realized what he'd said, his hands immediately shot up to his mouth. Attempting to cover his mouth from whatever else could follow, or maybe to erase the suspicion that Parrot had said that...
Wifies blinked once.
Then twice. A soft laugh had left his lips.
Pushing his head up from the other's stomach, now leaning over Parrot—pushing the avian's breath to hitch for a second—Wifies' eyes found the other's, nothing less of love swirling behind them before he allowed himself to speak as well.
"I believe so." A small, firm nod woven into his words, before Wifies had begun rubbing their noses against one another.
Despite having more human traits, Parrot guesses that instincts never die down, regardless of what hybrid you are.
Moving from Parrot's face to his neck and collarbone once more (attempting to rub his scent all over the other afterwards), Parrot had coughed out light; half-hearted 'eugh's, and displeased sounds—causing the dog hybrid above him to chuckle.
Feigning defense that his scent isn't that bad, before returning to nosing at Parrot's neck, settling down.
Feeling as the avian tilted his head on instinct; huffing with annoyance, allowing Wifies to push his face further into the side of the boy's head. Wifies' chest rumbled with a satisfied.. purr.. of sorts.
Parrot thinks, at least. He could barely tell with the dog hybrid anymore.
Averting his gaze back up to the afternoon sky, watching as the clouds danced along one another, silently.
Parrot wondered, if maybe one day, they'd stay as careless as the clouds with their movements.
'No,' he concluded. Maybe not careless, but definitely care free.
Nodding internally, Parrot's trail of thoughts rambled on further.. before halting, trailing back on an interesting one.
Parrot always wondered. He was naturally curious, naturally observant, naturally.. everything.
Parrot was a sort of 'rare' case, he remembers his aunt explaining. Too curious, too serious, always pushing to be smarter—to know more, to achieve more.
Though, as curious as Parrot was, he never wondered.. too far about things. He believed it wasn't his place to if it didn't come to him first.
In the midst of Parrot's thinking habits, allowing his mind to flow freely again—a low sound, one indicating that one was pleased; had drifted from Wifies' chest, though his eyes remained closed. A comfortable position he had found himself in; Parrot assumed.
Parrot's gaze had flickered over Wifies' form once.
Then twice. Then again.
A pattern.
Moving a hand up from his side, Parrot weaved his fingers through Wifies' hair, careful to not tug on knots too harshly, or part his hair in odd ways.
Thinking once more, Parrot paused, not allowing his hands to follow, regardless, considering Wifies was long at rest by now due to the action..
Maybe in some other universe, Parrot would wonder, would consider, if this is what friend's were meant to do.
If friend's were meant to be so affectionate, if friend's were meant to look at each other with the same amount of love that lovers would hold.
Sighing without much thought—as entirely as Parrot would like to care about that between them.. he just can't be bothered to bring himself to do so.
Did it really matter anyways? He didn't think so.
Parrot would still stay by Wifies' side, regardless of.. what they were.... Parrot could just only hope Wifies would do the same.
Brushing past that, with the feeling of his best friend holding him closely, with so much love, almost angelic hums (majority chirps, which did little to settle the birds perched on trees) had begun to release from the avian as their hangout had dragged on.
Soft hands had stayed petting the dog hybrid's ears, and in return, skilled hands eventually had caressed the avian's wings with as much care as they knew to give.
Surprising the avian at the other boy's sudden consciousness, Parrot guesses he never fully fell asleep.
Maybe Parrot was thankful, he's honestly unsure. He's not too aware where his thoughts would've went without Wifies' grounding touch, though he doesn't wish for Wifies to find interest in what his mind has to offer.
Few birds around them had chirped every now and then—following Parrot's own, after recognizing where the noise was coming from. The light winds had easily shifted to pestering the trees to swish back and forth, acting as a lullaby to the both of them.
But, if they were any further aware, they would present that it's the rhythmic beats of their hearts acting to lull them to sleep—together—as well as their chests rising, and falling in sync, doing nothing more than easing the two of their nerves.
Though, as much as the two had tried to prolong their hangout, it was beginning to come to an end, and they simply couldn't sleep in a field.. much to both of their dismay.
Parrot would've argued that it didn't matter, as there was never any other animals in this exact field.. minus the birds.. though, the unguarded look of worry on Wifies' face was enough to shut down the avian's argument.
Deciding to settle for that he wasn't tired—that he swears their hangout can go on longer—a yawn from the avian, and a soft stretch with the light tremor of his back wings had been enough evidence for Wifies to sit upright, catching the avian by surprise.
With a look of puzzlement still evident on the bird boy's face, Wifies had stood up—before yanking Parrot up towards him, eliciting another offended squawk as Parrot's wings had flared out this time. A beautiful gradient being presented to the dog hybrid in front of him.
Cooing silently, Wifies knuckles brushed the feathers, causing an annoyed Parrot to swat at his hand.
Though, knowingly, with his best friend's promise to return to the same field one day, to come earlier, and hangout longer, Parrot could do nothing but squeeze the other's hand tight, and hope that he'd stick to it.
That he'd stick with him.
Pushing both of themselves away from the hill, albeit begrudgingly as their time to depart from one another would come sooner, Wifies stayed guiding them through the trail positioned directly in the middle of the field.
Parrot assumes Wifies thinks of him like glass—despite having tackled him earlier—considering he had to guide Parrot in an open field.
Even attempting to be upset at that was no use though.
Parrot understood well enough it wasn't meant rudely—Wifies had specified long before why he was so protective over Parrot anyways.
Always placing a hand on his back to guide him places, even in the simplest of areas.
Parrot would never question the weird habit anyways, as he had weird habits of his own.
Despite all distractions there could be given, similar to his interesting thinking and the scenery of beauty surrounding them as they neared the end of the trail back to an empty parking lot, Parrot couldn't help but think back on the other hybrid's words..
'I believe so.'
Smiling to himself, probably looking as stupid as ever smiling at 'nothing'...
Parrot considered it all.
Such simple words, and yet—so hopeful..
Parrot couldn't deny that: despite those being the most simple words Wifies could ever pick, the avian had found himself trusting it with all of his heart.
And, if Parrot was any smarter, maybe he would've acknowledged the fluttering of his heart at the memory of his words.
Maybe, if he had any other bravery to dive deeper into topics he knew he shouldn't, he would've acknowledged the longing look in the other's eyes long before.
Because maybe, if he did, he could've prevented this.
He could've prevented having to only look back on Wifies as a memory, rather than having to focus on what was in the present, and what was not Wifies.
Maybe, if Parrot had a second chance, he would've spent their time wisely.
Because then maybe, he would understand what to do when in 10th grade year, he's faced with that same dog hybrid.
Two summers after that one.
Ending middle school unsure if he was coming back.
The same hybrid who distanced himself from the avian that summer day.
No words, nothing.
Cancelled study sessions; sudden cancelled hangouts—passed by with 'dad in town this week, sorry.'
That exact same dog hybrid who excused it with grades, and that exams were coming up—that he had to focus on his work first, which. Parrot never denied him that, so he's.. unsure why he Wifies had acted as if he did.
Offense was taken to that, though it didn't stay long when the distance grew more, and conversations stopped entirely—forcing the avian to give up.
Though, no matter anything, Parrot never forgot those words.
Those exact words.
That exact. Same. Dog Hybrid.
The exact same one who believed in the both of them staying together, forever—the same one who promised.
Maybe, if Parrot could go back, he'd have confronted Wifies, because what could he do now when faced with a stranger who wears the face of a person he used to know, but is far different?