Chapter Text
When Wifies died, Parrot also died alongside him.
His reason for living is gone; what is there yet to live for?
Who would make food for him?
Who would guide him?
Who would tend his wounds?
Who would help him when he fell?
Who would protect him?
Who would fight for him?
Who would make decisions for him?
Who?
There was nobody.
Maybe Parrot shouldn't have tried to escape.
Parrot ran aimlessly as soon as he landed at spawn.
“Parrot!" someone yelled, Parrot didn't know who.
He turned around meeting Theo's eyes.
His cousin.
"Theo?” Parrot whispered his name, afraid he'd disappear.
“Parrot, get out of spawn, now! There's withers everywhere,” Theo pleaded. "Here, take some carrots.” He dropped him some food.
"Thanks…” Parrot mumbled, chewing on the carrots.
“What happened, dude, why are you at spawn with like carrots and no armour? That's—”
“Just... don't ask."
“Okay, dude, let's fly and get outta here."
Parrot stared at Theo.
“Parrot?" Theo said. "Let’s go and fly?’
“I can't… fly,” he admitted, embarrassed.
"Okay, let's just walk.”
Theo was the one who filled up the silence.
"Wait, Parrot, I'm starving. Can you make those delicious foods you made before?” Theo pleaded.
“Uh…” Parrot didn't know what to say.
How could he say, I forgot how to cook because my best friend locked me up in a prison and never let me do anything?
He stared straight ahead, not bothering to look at Theo’s direction.
"I... quit cooking, my bad,” Parrot apologized. It was technically the truth. Parrot quit cooking after that one time.
“Aw, man, I love your cooking.”
They walked in silence after that.
“Parrot, do you wanna make a little potion shop in Capital City?" Theo asked, already walking towards Capital City.
Parrot stopped walking. The words wouldn't form.
What could he say?
He didn't know what to say.
Wifies was the one who decided things for him, not Parrot.
He didn't realize that he was standing for quite a while till Theo ended up beside him, looking concerned. "Parrot?”
Parrot blinked. "I…"
“Do you wanna go to Capital City?" the other repeated slowly.
Parrot stayed silent, waiting for someone to answer for him.
But no one was coming to answer for him.
.
.
.
?
?
?
What if my choices are wrong?
Why did Wifies die?
I'm sorry, Wifies, come back, please.
I can't decide.
I hate this, I can't do this.
Wifies, please help me.
Parrot stared at the other like Theo was the one who was going to answer for him.
“Parrot? It's your choice if you want to go or not.”
?
?
?
.
??
His choice?
It was Parrot’s choice if he wanted to go…
"It's… I don't know,” he finally said.
Theo frowned. “What do you mean I don't know?" Theo asked, baffled. “We can like, not go if you don't wanna."
“No— no…" Parrot shook his head. “Do what you want."
Theo didn't move an inch. "I’m asking about you. Do you wanna go?"
Parrot’s brain completely shut down.
.
.
.
“...we can… go, I guess,” he struggled to say the words.
"Okay, dude, it's that easy, why didn't you, like, say it already?” Theo laughed and grabbed Parrot’s wrist to drag him.
“I… don't know.”
Theo dragged Parrot to Capital City, giggling and laughing all the way there.
Parrot was confused, why was Theo laughing? He pondered at the thought.
“Dude, I feel so… free just by running.”
That made Parrot more confused. How was someone happy just by running?
How did running make someone feel free?
Parrot had never experienced that feeling in his life.
Did he?
"C’mon, dude, let's run around,” Theo insisted, gesturing at the fields. "It's pretty cool running around.”
Parrot chuckled, “Whatever." And joined him on running.
"Dude, look, it's so pretty out here. But it's so hot and that sucks,” Theo whined, wiping his forehead for the fifth time. "I need some cold air right now, or else I'll pass out while we're walking and that would be embarrassing for me."
Parrot laughed, a real laugh. “Alright, bro," he breathed.
He stopped running so he could catch his breath.
He pondered about what Theo said; it felt familiar, somewhat. Like he said it before.
Whatever, he should stop thinking about this or he'll spiral.
“Parrot!" Theo yelled, running over to the other. “Are you okay? I'm sorry for not being there when you were getting attacked."
“I'm… okay, I guess," Parrot grunted.
“Why didn't you fight them off? You are a good fighter from what I have seen back in the Mafia days,” Theo asked, grabbing a bucket of water.
The words he wanted to say wouldn’t leave his mouth.
How could he tell Theo that he forgot how to fight?
He forgot how to defend himself?
How could he tell Theo?
"Uh, I quit also…” he lied.
Lying was a part of Parrot now, he couldn't stop, how could he stop?
If he stopped lying, there would be questions. More questions that he didn't wanna answer.
People would ask him how he forgot? How?
Theo splashed the bucket of water on Parrot’s leg. "Oh my, did you retire after the Mafia era or what?” Theo joked.
"You could call it that.”
.
.
.
"Parrot, can you clean up your wounds for a moment? I have to get something.” Theo stopped cleaning his leg.
Parrot’s brain stopped working.
"No,” he said, shaking his head. He couldn't clean up his wounds anymore.
He forgot how to clean up his wounds.
Wifies would never let him get injured, so what wounds were there for Parrot to clean?
Theo hummed, "What do you mean by ‘no’?”
"I can't… clean my wounds.”
Theo looked concerned. “Why?"
“I… don't know how."
Please believe the lie, please believe the lie.
“Parrot, what do you mean: ‘I don't know how’? You always cleaned my wounds before." Theo grabbed a soap.
"I…" Parrot shook his head, closing his eyes. “I don't wanna talk about it."
“Okay, dude, but if anything is bothering you just tell me."
.
There was someone who was getting attacked.
Theo stopped in his tracks and stared at Parrot, it was like Theo was waiting for something to happen.
But Parrot didn't do anything, he glanced at it once, shaking his head then kept walking.
"Parrot,” Theo said, stopping Parrot.
"Yeah?”
"Why aren't you helping him?”
"It's not my business.”
Theo was baffled, Parrot used to jump into dangers just to protect someone who he didn't even know.
Something was wrong with Parrot.
And Theo had to figure it out.
"Hey, Parrot.”
Parrot looked up. “Yeah?"
“Come help me cook," Theo said, smiling with that crooked smile.
"Theo, you know I for— can't— I stopped cooking.”
"Yeah, you stopped cooking," Theo replied, “you didn't forget how to cook.”
That time, Parrot didn't know what to say. He was scrambling to find his words but all he could say was: "Fine, I'll help you.”
.
.
.
The food ended up burnt, but it was okay since Parrot felt this weird feeling.
How do you feel happy at the mess you have created?
"That was… fun,” Parrot admitted, smiling at the burnt food.
Theo nodded and watched Parrot closely.
.
.
.
The two avians sat on their roof, watching the clouds.
“Dude, let's fly up,” Theo said, startling Parrot.
“What? You know I can't… fly," Parrot whispered.
"Well, I'll teach you how to fly.”
Parrot scoffed, crossing his arms. “There's no need for that."
“Yes there is, every bird needs to — you know — fly!" Theo gestured, his wings stretching out. He sat up and looked at Parrot.
“Ugh, fine. Teach me or whatever.”
Theo grinned at Parrot; Parrot regretted his decision.
.
.
.
.
.
After months of effort, days of frustration, Parrot finally flew.
“Holy crap, bro, I'm actually— flying,” Parrot chuckled, holding Theo’s hand for support. “It's… awesome. I missed the feeling.”
Parrot felt the exhilaration rush through his veins. Alive. He finally felt alive. Oh how he loved flying, the feeling washing over him.
He laughed — a real one, not the fake ones he made back in Paragon when he tried to keep up the happy facade — and let go of Theo’s hand, flying for a while by himself before clutching back on Theo’s wrist.
“See, it is fun.”
Theo looked at Parrot with an unreadable expression.
Theo stopped speaking for a while after that, his eyes darted around and his mouth kept opening and closing.
“Theo, you good?” Parrot asked, furrowing his brows.
“Nothing, just thinking,” Theo replied quickly.
Parrot raised an eyebrow. “About what?”
“Stuff, you know.”
“Okay well, stop thinking, teach me some tricks!” Parrot grinned.
Theo grinned back.
“If you say so.”
Parrot touched the clouds and giggled. He felt free, safe and calm. All his problems went away by just flying.
He was so glad that Theo insisted that he should try to fly again.
“Theo, I've never felt… happier than I feel right now,” Parrot admitted, the breeze kissing his face.
Parrot felt so cold, however he didn't care; he was happy.
“Glad that you're happy, bro.”
“Hey,” Theo said, smirking. This was a smirk that Parrot was terrified to see.
Theo had something up his sleeve and Parrot didn't know what he was up to.
“Yeah?” Parrot replied, swallowing his suspicion — suspicion of Theo doing something unstable that Parrot had to deal with the aftermath.
Theo grabbed Parrot’s hands. “You gotta learn how to fight, dude,” Theo insisted.
“You gotta learn how to fight, like what if I’m not there, you know? I can't always be there to help you,” Theo explained before Parrot could say anything.
Theo couldn't always be there to help me?
But why was Wifies always there when I needed help?
“Uh—I—” Parrot stammered. “What— ugh, whatever, but you better teach me some good tricks.”
“You bet I will.” Theo smirked.
“Okay, dude, you hit me too hard—” Parrot groaned. “I mean, it's not that bad but it's bleeding” He clutched his side, dropping the sword he was holding.
He sat down to take a breath.
"Parrot, my bad— I'm so so sorry,” Theo apologized, running over to his side and checking his side.
“It's bleeding, a little, I hope, but it's okay, here– here, I got some gaps and potions.” Theo opened his ender chest, grabbing the materials and placing it aside.
“I’m so sorry, Parrot; for hitting you too hard,” he apologized again.
"It's all good…" Parrot mumbled. “Everyone makes mistakes so it's fine, dude. It's not even that– ‘mm, bad."
"Should’ve worn diamond armour,” Theo muttered under his breath. "Can you tend your wound for a bit? I have to get more materials back at the base.”
Parrot looked down at his bleeding side and back at Theo. "No…" he whispered.
He was terrified that Theo would get mad at him for not knowing how to tend his wounds. He told Theo that he didn't know how but the other was suspicious about it.
“Here, just watch and learn, ‘kay?"
Parrot nodded, watching as Theo lifted the side of his shirt, and cursed. "I need a cloth,” he whispered mostly to himself. "Stay here, I'll get a wet cloth.”
Parrot chirped in response.
“Okay, I got actual stuff now, hopefully this will stop the bleeding."
Parrot laughed seeing Theo. “Gosh, bro, why do you have a whole bucket of water?"
Theo gently pressed the cloth on Parrot’s wound. "I need to clean your wounds, dude, did you forget about that?”
"Right, my bad.”
"Okay, now watch how a professional does it.”
Parrot chuckled, "Alright, bro."
“Ta-da!" Theo said proudly, gesturing at his ‘work’ which was Parrot’s bandaged side.
“Thanks, Theo," Parrot snorted.
“So, did you learn a thing or two while I was bandaging you up?"
“Yeah, I guess so."
“Be serious, dude, did you?"
A beat of silence. “Yes, bro, but I might have to start reading books just to understand more."
Theo clapped. “Yes!"
“Why are you so happy about that?" Parrot asked, tilting his head.
"Nothing, let's go and rest for now.” Theo offered his hand.
"Okay,” Parrot said, taking Theo’s hand.
Theo started packing up his med-kit.
"Theo?” Parrot called.
“Yeah?" Theo stopped packing up his med-kit
“Thanks for being here, bro."
“Anytime, dude."
These days, Parrot had been learning a lot of new stuff, he could fight, fly, run, clean up his wounds on his own, make his own decisions and that was… something.
He thought his life was over when Wifies died, but thanks to Theo his life didn't end.
His life is finally getting together.
All thanks to Theo.
He started doing the things he loved — reading, writing, singing, talking, cooking (even though he burned the food a lot of times while he was cooking), preening his wings, making joyful bird sounds, and most importantly — protecting others.
Parrot could cook.
He started teaching himself how to cook again, he read books and books.
One time Theo found him late at night on the floor, reading some cooking book for kids.
He started getting better and better each time he cooked. He rarely burned food.
“Parrot," Theo said, voice muffled. "This is so delicious.” He stuffed more food in his mouth. "This was the cooking I've been yearning for after the Mafia days where everyone, like, retired!"
Parrot chuckled, “Thanks but it's not that good."
Theo was saying something but Parrot couldn't make out the words.
"Stop eating with your mouth full.”
Theo rolled his eyes at that and swallowed his food.
“What I'm saying is: what do you mean ‘not that good?’ I swear, Parrot, I will strap you in a chair and tell you a hundred times a day that your food is delicious until you finally agree that it is,” Theo said, furrowing his brows.
"Holy, bro,” Parrot laughed, clutching his stomach. "I get it, I get it, my food is… delicious."
“Good, now come over here and eat with me."
Parrot couldn't wipe the smile off his own face after that.
Parrot could run.
Oh he could run since he was a kid, but the enthusiasm when running; he finally got it back.
Finally understood why Theo felt happy when he was running.
He understood it after multiple chases from the Law.
He understood the exhilaration while running, the feeling of being free from chains.
He ran out in the same grassy fields where both him and Wifies were, but instead of Wifies — it was Theo.
“Hah, you look so silly when you run!” Parrot joked, grinning at Theo.
Theo pouted. "Hey!”
Parrot laughed, "Come on, catch me; to prove you are the biggest bird.”
He ran without worry, running freely out in the green grassy fields.
In another life, it would be him and Wifies, running together side by side.
In another life, it would be him and his brothers, running around and joking.
He missed his brothers, maybe he should say hi to them.
Parrot could make his own decisions.
It was hard making his own decisions after the person who made it for him died.
But he learned how to make his own decision.
When did he learn how to make his own decisions?
“Parrot, do you wanna visit your siblings?"
Parrot nodded and it surprised him. Before, he would freeze and wait for someone to answer for him.
"Let's go right now,” Parrot urged Theo.
“Dude, we gotta get materials you know."
Parrot chuckled, "I honestly forgot about that.”
“Unc."
“You're older than me!" Parrot argued.
Parrot could fly.
“Honestly let's just fly all the way there," Parrot suggested, stretching his wings.
“Alright." Theo rolled his shoulders and stretched his wings.
Parrot laughed, “I'm faster than you, bro, this means I'm the biggest bird."
Theo huffed, but before he could say anything Parrot pushed off the ground.
Theo’s voice blurred out as wind rushed past his ear, loud and familiar.
The ground beneath him slowly shrunk.
“Try to keep up!”
He’s been flying a lot. Everyday after his shift in the potion shop, he would fly around while singing his favourite songs.
.
.
.
Parrot landed down on Spoke’s house with a thud. He stumbled when he landed, laughing and clutching his stomach.
“Theo, you idiot!" he wheezed, wings behind him flapped. “Why did you just— hit your head on the building!”
"In my defense, I didn't see it! Theo argued, rubbing his head.
Parrot calmed down a little and glanced up. “Spoke!" Parrot grinned, running at Spoke and crushing him into a hug.
“Parrot! And Theo!" Spoke hugged Parrot back and pulled away.
“Sup, dude," Theo greeted and stepped back to chat with Mapicc.
“My, my, Parrot, you have not changed a bit! Where have you been all these months? I've been looking for you everywhere!” Spoke said, crossing his arms.
Parrot’s grin faltered for a half second, he laughed nervously. It seemed Spoke caught it, his eyebrow raised a bit, looking at Parrot differently now.
"You know, exploring?”
"Okay, whatever, what are you guys doing here?”
"Just visiting, missed you, dude.”
Spoke’s mouth fell. "Woah there. Parrot, missing me?”
"What, can't I miss my siblings?”
"No, dude, it's just you never say that,” Spoke grinned. "What has changed, man?”
"Nothing much. Just chaos here and there with the potion shops and I got chased by the law a few days back because I apparently broke one of their laws.”
“What? ParrotX2 breaking laws, oh, dude, how much have you changed?" Spoke joked, smirking.
"Hey! I didn't even know I broke a law, it just happened so suddenly.”
For a while, it was quiet.
"Wanna visit Wemmbu and Flame?” Parrot said, beaming before he even finished the sentence.
"Oh, yes, bro, I wanna troll them again."
“Again? Spoke, what did you do now…”
Spoke laughed nervously and rubbed his temples. "Um, I kinda made them fight each other…?"
Parrot sighed, "How do you manage to do that?”
"Well… it's complicated and a long story, okay? I forgot half of it.”
"Alright, wanna head over to where they are?”
"Sure.”
“Hey, Theo and Mapicc, do you wanna come with us to visit Flame and Wemmbu?” Parrot asked, unfurling his wings.
Theo paused. “No, I'll stay here with Mapicc," he replied, then his gaze moved to Spoke. “Spoke, come with me.”
"Um, okay," Spoke replied, scratching his head. “I'll be back."
.
.
When they came back, Spoke acted weird. He kept narrowing his eyes at Parrot, asking Parrot about strange questions on what he was doing after the Mafia.
"Dude, stop asking these stupid questions and let's just go.”
Spoke hummed and nodded.
“Parrot, Parrot," Spoke called his name frantically, jumping around and gesturing. “Someone's getting attacked out there—"
“What where?" Parrot asked, guard up. He pulled out his sword.
“I— I don't know!” Spoke replied, running around. "They were, like, fighting!”
"Okay, bring me to where you found them fighting.”
Spoke nodded.
"—ou stu—” Clash.
Swing. "—op fig—”
“—nnoyin—" Slam.
Parrot crouched down and covered Spoke’s mouth with his palm. “Shh," he whispered, crouching towards the sound.
A purple-haired and brown-haired guy was fighting each other. They screamed insults at one another, cursing and grunting in pain.
"Hey— hey,” Parrot yelled, trying to get them to stop. "Let's calm down and talk this out like an adult!” Parrot yelped as he barely dodged an arrow.
“Wait," one of them said, stopping. “That voice sounds… familiar."
“Parrot?!" both of them yelled, dropping their swords.
Parrot groaned, running a hand through his hair.
"Oh God, did I hit you somewhere?" someone said.
“No, none of you hit me." Parrot looked up and was met with his brothers — FlameFrags and Wemmbu.
Spoke peeked from behind the blocks he placed and his entire face lit up. “Flame! Wemmbu!" He ran towards them and hugged Wemmbu.
“Dude, get off me!" Wemmbu struggled, trying to push Spoke.
Flame scoffed, “Whatever, bro." He offered a hand to Parrot
“Flame, Wemmbu!" Parrot grinned and took Flame’s hand, standing up and brushing dirt off his pants.
Flame crossed his arms. “So, what are you two doing here?"
“Nothing, we decided to visit our siblings cause it's been so long since we last met,” Parrot replied smoothly. "Do you have a base nearby that we can catch up on?”
"Um, yeah,” Flame said, nodding towards his small little house-cave.
"Guys, stop wrestling on the floor, oh my gosh,” Parrot sighed, grabbing Spoke's shoulder, yanking him backwards.
Wemmbu stood up, brushing the dirt from his pants and glaring at Spoke.
“Aight, let's go to Flame’s ugly base," Wemmbu teased. Flame punched his shoulder. "Ow.”
They stood around the table.
“Okay, bro, seriously, why are you here?" Flame asked, crossing his arms.
Parrot chuckled, “What? Can't I visit my siblings?"
“He missed us," Spoke added proudly. Parrot punched his shoulder lightly. "Yo—”
“Nah, Parrot missing us?” Wemmbu cackled, drumming his fingers rhythmically on the table.
"Okay, dude, I just wanted a bonding experience with my siblings, you know! We haven't seen each other in over months!” Parrot sighed, smiling at them.
Spoke narrowed his eyes at Parrot. "We haven't seen you in months…” He started fidgeting with his bandana.
Parrot’s smile wavered, then it was completely wiped off his face.
“Okay, yeah, I haven't seen Parrot in months, I've seen Spoke and Flame, but you? Where have you been?” Wemmbu said, a frown plastering on his face. He stopped drumming his fingers.
"I was travelling, okay. Plus, um, we did meet right? Because of B.A.T. right?" Parrot replied, pressing his lips together when Wemmbu furrowed his brows and shook his head.
"I've traveled the world with Eggchan and I genuinely have never seen you once after B.A.T. Never, bro,” Wemmbu said, sighing.
Flame leaned forward. “Parrot, you better tell the truth, like, we won't be angry, okay, bro?”
Parrot shook his head. “Do you guys promise?"
“We promise, right, Flame and Wemmbu?" Spoke stopped fidgeting with his bandana.
"Yeah, bro, whatever.” Flame was then punched by Wemmbu. “Okay! We promise." He rubbed his shoulder, glaring daggers at Wemmbu even though no one could see it due to the blindfold.
“Um." Parrot paused. Should he say it?
Would they be mad?
He sighed.
Maybe he should explain.
Afterall, they're family.
“Uh, after the Mafia," he started, fidgeting with the empty sling bag where the spyglass used to be. “You guys know Wifies, right?" All of them nodded simultaneously.
"Yeah, um, he died and, like, I joined B.A.T. Do you guys know B.A.T.?”
Spoke nodded. "Yeah, I was a part of their team before.”
"Okay. I was a part of their team too and at that time I was getting hunted by The Director.”
Spoke cackled, “I remember that. I was there during your little discussion about The Director."
“Right, I forgot about that," Parrot admitted, laughing. “Back to the topic, um, assassins, yeah. The Director was sending assassins at me. I almost died multiple times, but, um, B.A.T. was always there to help me.”
“Uh, after a couple of months being hunted left and right. Then I, like, went back to me and Wifies’ old house since I think we had a trap or something I forgot." Parrot started sweating. His chest tightened just by remembering that day. "The Director was there too, and they… revealed their identity.”
Spoke leaned forward, hands on the table, he was intrigued. "So, so? Who’s The Director?"
Parrot laughed nervously, "We're getting to that part, okay?” He rubbed his hands. "Um... The Director was my best friend, Wifies.”
Wemmbu froze. "What? Why would he send out assassins after you?”
Parrot sighed, "He did it to quote unquote ‘protect me’.” He aggressively did air quotes.
“How was that protection?" Flame asked, completely baffled.
"To study how I’d act.”
"That's insane, bro.” Spoke shook his head.
"Yeah, insane.”
"Then what happened after that?” Flame asked, interested in the conversation.
Parrot sighed, "He locked me in a ‘world’.” He did air quotes, rolling his eyes. "It was called Paragon. To me, it wasn't a world, it was a prison and I was the prisoner. But before I entered the world, I had to give my items to Wifies. I had to throw the spyglass away.”
Spoke gasped, "The spyglass you wouldn't even give me?" Parrot nodded.
Wifies, if you are listening.
“Anyways, I tried to kill Wifies but it failed — since he had a totem and he would teleport away if it popped — so when he teleported away I took the opportunity to grab the spyglass I dropped. Um, anyway, I barely had any items — no, I had items but it was practically useless and I couldn't escape." Parrot paused, taking a breath. “While in prison… Wifies forbid me to do anything dangerous, and his mindset of danger was literally everything I loved which was: flying, cooking, fighting, protecting people. He never ever let me do any of those.”
Spoke hummed softly, urging Parrot to continue.
Flame was muttering something under his breath.
Wemmbu was shaking his head.
I'm sorry, Wifies.
Parrot paused, thinking about his words. “I mean he did let me do those, but he kept watching my every move and I felt so unsafe, so uncomfortable. Being in that prison was hell in disguise, I barely spoke to anyone, I only spoke to Wifies and the guards which were my old friends — Jumper, Leo, and Derap, I think."
Spoke’s eyes widened, mouth hung open. "Woah,” he muttered.
I promised to talk about you about the Wifies that was kind to people.
"Then, slowly, I started relying on Wifies to do everything for me, to decide for me, to cook for me, to speak for me, to do everything. I was like a doll in his sick, twisted world. After my one last attempt at escaping Paragon, Wifies caught me and made me drop all my items and brought me to a room with two pressure plates, where if either of us steps off; we blow up,” Parrot explained, voice shaking.
Spoke froze. "The scavenger hunt,” he whispered.
Flame raised an eyebrow at Spoke.
Wemmbu tilted his head.
The Wifies who cared. Not the Wifies who trapped me.
"Um, I, I. The spyglass I sneaked in, yeah, I dropped it on the pressure plate and, like, left him to die. And,” he gulped, "I counted the seconds down, Wifies exploded nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds. Not ten, so Wifies picked it up and…” Tears were welling up, he sat down, taking a breath before continuing.
A tear slipped and fell. “He died, holding the spyglass,” Parrot sniffled, wiping his tears. His shoulders shook with every breath he took.
His hands shook and clenched it, trying to stop it.
I'm sorry, Wifies, for talking about you like this.
Spoke rubbed Parrot’s back while Flame and Wemmbu stood there, not knowing what to do.
“Spoke, was it my fault for killing— um, Wifies," he sniffed. His breathing patterns became erratic. Tears poured down his cheek.
Please, don't cry.
Don't cry.
“No, Parrot, it was never your fault," Spoke reassured the other, patting his back.
“But," he snorted. “All he— um, wanted to, hah, do was to protect me, I killed my protector, Spoke," Parrot sobbed, burying his face onto his palm.
Flame shook his head. “Parrot, whatever Wifies did was messed up and it was not your fault when he died,” Flame assured him, crouching down to meet his eye-level.
“I agree with Flame, it was messed up," Wemmbu spoke up, jaw tightening.
"Parrot, you were hunted, controlled, locked up and you're here asking if it was your fault that he died?" Wemmbu crossed his arms, eyes narrowing.
“Nah, bro. I'm not letting you think like that." Wemmbu walked beside Spoke.
"You didn't kill your protector. You escaped someone who was controlling you.”
Parrot sighed, wiping his eyes.
“Parrot," Spoke said, gentle. “If I were in your place, would you blame me?”
Parrot imagined it, if Spoke was in his place. "No,” he whispered.
"See,” Spoke said, patting his shoulder. “It was not your fault."
Parrot’s lip twitched. “Thank you, guys."
“No worries dude." Flame stood up. "If you need us, just text us.”
"Communicators are glitchy, did you forget about that?”
Flame cursed something under his breath while Wemmbu laughed at him.
“Whatever, just go to our base if you need something, okay?"
“Okay."
Theo was suspicious of Parrot.
Why was he acting weird?
Why did he forget the things he loves?
Nonetheless, he should get to the bottom of this.
For weeks that they were together, Parrot always seemed to forget things like: flying, cooking, tending wounds, and making his own decisions.
It seemed like Parrot had lost himself after the Mafia.
What had happened to Parrot after the Mafia?
It seemed like he disappeared from the face of the world.
Theo watched Parrot, not in a stalker way, but in a way where he's worried.
Parrot has been relying on Theo and it was weird. Parrot never relied on anyone, he trusts in himself. But he's acting odd.
Was this the ParrotX2 he once knew before?
Was this the ParrotX2 whom he fought alongside multiple times?
Was this his ParrotX2?
His cousin?
His family?
This was not the ParrotX2 he once knew.
And he had to figure it out.
He started stepping back from Parrot, letting the avian figure things out on himself, letting him be independent again.
He taught the avian how to cook, to clean, to decide, to have a mind of his own.
Theo watched as Parrot improved — as he stopped hesitating when he had to decide for himself.
Theo taught Parrot on how to decide on his own, but Parrot didn't know that Theo was even teaching him in the first place.
Theo pulled Spoke aside.
“Spoke," Theo whispered, crouching down.
“Yeah, bro?"
“Um, about Parrot, you should keep an eye on him, see if he's acting… weird.”
Spoke raised an eyebrow. "Define weird…"
“Parrot, um, not being able to cook, or whatever, do things he loves, uh, him not deciding for himself or not protecting others.”
"Why would Parrot act like that? You just named all the things he loves to do." Spoke tilted his head.
“Just, keep an eye out, okay?"
“But why? Parrot’s like, strong or whatever," Spoke argued.
“Okay, dude, don't tell him this," he said, voice dropping below a whisper, "but he's been acting weird when I met him in spawn a couple months back.”
"Oh,” Spoke murmured.
Theo gestured, shaking his head and stuttering. "I—I… uh, he's, he didn't know how to fly when I saw him back at spawn… he didn't know how to be himself! It was like he lost himself after the Mafia.”
Theo let the silence hang.
“Oh, okay…" Spoke nodded.
Parrot was the biggest bird.
Theo wouldn't say it outloud but Parrot is the biggest bird.
He will always be the biggest bird.