Chapter Text
" G-gah! ! Who— ! " Waking with a start, Shedletsky would've waved his arms blindly, wings puffed out defensively, heart racing.
" Ay ! Birdbrain, i(t)'s me ! Look, no one else (h)ere. Jus(t) me. " As if this statement was false, Builderman lifted his hands in surrender, as if to emphasise his point.
" Ah— sorry Builds, didn't expect to see anyone this late... or early. Ahah.. " Scratching his head awkwardly, he winced, realising it was sore and... bloody!? He felt blood on his fingertips. Though the black ichor wouldn't be any different from the black gradient on his clawed fingers. Wait. Since when was that!?
" Soo, care t' explain why're you've been absent these pas'(t) few rounds then, mmh? "
The shorter man had raised an eyebrow at Shedletsky, expecting an answer.
"Well... uh, mh. It's kinda... well.." Sputtering out an excuse out of the blue was NOT something Shedletsky was good at. Infact, Shedletsky was terrible at lying altogether. Worst liar ever infact.
"Well.. uh.."
"Just spit it out, Shedletsky. I ain'(t) gonna judge ya. We all jus'(t) need an explanation, yknow? We're worried about ya."
...
"Well, to be honest... mh... well.. it's just the fact I ain't ever gotten a chance to preen my wings with all these rounds and all,
and, er—"
"D'ya want me to help with that?"
"E-eh-!?"
"I said what I said, Shedletsky. I can maybe help ya, since I knew someone who had, er, wings. Like ya. Yeah."
Shedletsky blinked once, twice. Is this dude seriously referencing when he was TELAMON..? Well... having help would be nice, he could agree there..
"Er... are you sure you know how to preen wings? Just 'cause Brighteyes sometimes pulls my feathers and all sometimes, ahah.. mainly why I do it myself. Yknow? "
"Yeah, well... I know we ain'(t) close as I was with m'(y) friend, but maybe I can help ya? I promise I'll be careful! Jus' tell me t' stop when it's uncomfortable."
"Mh.. fine."
Staring awkwardly for a minute, Shedletsky would turn around, facing the wall and looking down as Builderman moved forward slightly and started to clear the avian's feathers, some crooked ones being put back into place, some pin feathers being cleared...
After a while, Builderman would speak up, attempting to start small talk.
"Soo, Shedletsky.. I do hope ya know all of us are here for ya, right ? I mean... you don't have to punish yerself fer anythin' outta yer control, mh ?"
So much for small talk.
"Er... well, I do, it's just..." ("I don't know if you'll ever forgive me") " ..personal stuff."
The grey-skinned man would raise an eyebrow at this, but he'd say nothing.
...
Soon enough, the awkwardness would melt to comfortability. The other not speaking, yet everything was said. Everything that was needed anyways.
Shedletsky stared at his talons, occasionally touching his head, and he could feel claw marks left on his head. How bad was his dream that he scratched his head this badly...?(!) Well... whatever it was, he'd already forgotten... tch. He can't keep going on like this...
...
"Well, thanks for the help, Builds.. I'm glad they're clean now."
["You should've taken care of them properly, Shedletsky. Then there'd be no need to lower yourself down to this level of humiliation!"]
Shedletsky ignored the voice, knowing it was just bait for his anger.
"I(t)'s no issue, really.."
Stretching his wings, Shedletsky would stand up, flexing his wing muscles, which would cause him to wince slightly; not using them for a while results in this. He hadn't taken care of them in a significantly long time... and he was thankful for the help, truly.
"Seriously though, thanks... I wouldn't know how to keep going if it wasn't for ya."
"So.. I trus'(t) we'll be seein'(g) ya in rounds then, Shed? Or outside o'(f) rounds. That'd be a real pleasure fo'(r) all o'(f) us." Builderman's eyes had a warmer tone to them while he spoke, sitting opposite the avian.
"Yeah... I guess so, ahah." Shedletsky offered a soft smile, not realising how close he was to the admin, or maybe he didn't care. Was it just him or was it warmer around here? His face felt hotter than usual, and he felt his fingertips were burning aswell.
"I guess I'll be off then..? Ah! Also thought I'd warn ya that a round should be startin'(g) soon, so meet up in the cabin with all o'(f) us when yer ready."
"Mmh.. thanks for the heads up."
Shedletsky would watch as Builderman would stand up. Eyes lingering on the other man's face for a little too long, studying his features.... woah! Okay! Maybe a bit too personal there...
Steering clear of his thoughts, Shedletsky would've decided to get ready. Maybe clean up a bit. Motivational and positive thinking! Yay! Though he knows it won't serve any good against the killers.