Chapter Text
The house was quiet again.
Not the same quiet as before.
This one lingered.
Parrot didn’t say anything as they came back inside.
He walked ahead of them, steady, controlled, like nothing had happened, even though everything still sat just under the surface. His expression hadn’t changed. His movements hadn’t changed.
That was the part that made it worse.
“Sit,” he said, gesturing toward the table.
They did.
Immediately.
Spoke hovered near the hallway, unsure, watching all of them carefully.
Parrot noticed but didn’t call him over this time.
Not yet.
He set the supplies down again, even though he’d already cleaned them up outside. He adjusted the bandage on Flame’s cheek, then checked the one on Wemmbu’s wrist again.
Still careful.
Still gentle.
Even now.
And then
He stepped back.
Looked at both of them properly.
“Look at me.”
They both did.
Slower this time.
Parrot folded his arms loosely-not tense, not aggressive. Just… contained.
“What,” he said, voice low and even, “made you think that was acceptable?”
Neither of them answered.
Parrot tilted his head slightly.
“No-say it,” he continued. “I want to understand how either of you thought that was going to end well.”
Silence stretched.
Flame shifted slightly.
“…it got out of hand.”
Parrot’s gaze didn’t move.
“It didn’t just ‘get out of hand,’” he said. “It started, and you both kept going.”
His eyes moved to Wemmbu.
“You had chances to stop,” he added. “Both of you did.”
Wemmbu looked down.
“…we were just...”
“Angry?” Parrot finished for him.
Wemmbu nodded slightly.
Parrot let out a quiet breath.
“Being angry doesn’t mean you get to lose control,” he said.
Still calm.
Still quiet.
But every word landed.
“You don’t get to take it out on each other,” he continued. “Not like that. Not ever.”
They stayed silent.
Because there wasn’t anything to argue against.
Parrot stepped a little closer to the table, resting his hands on the edge of it.
Not leaning in aggressively.
Just enough to make sure they heard him.
“I trust you to be better than that,” he said.
And that word
trust
hit harder than anything else.
Flame swallowed.
“…we know.”
“Do you?” Parrot asked.
Not harsh per say just direct.
Because right now,
It didn’t look like they did.
Wemmbu shifted again, his voice quieter than before.
“…we didn’t think it’d go that far.”
Parrot’s expression didn’t change.
“But it did,” he said.
A pause.
Then softer
“And it could’ve gone further.”
That settled heavier than everything else.
“You think I want to walk outside and see that?” Parrot continued. “Because I don’t.”
Still steady.
Still controlled.
“But I will if I have to. Every time.”
Neither of them looked up now.
“And Spoke?” Parrot added, glancing briefly toward the hallway. “You think he needed to see that?”
That made both of them flinch slightly.
“No,” Parrot said for them.
Another quiet pause.
“You don’t do that to him,” he said. “And you don’t do that to each other.”
The room felt smaller somehow.
More contained.
Like everything was being held in the same way Parrot held himself together.
“I am very mad right now,” he said again.
Not louder.
Just clearer.
“And I’m choosing not to shout.”
That got their attention.
Both of them looked up slightly at that.
"But don’t mistake that for this not being serious,” he added.
Silence.
Heavy.
Intentional.
“…sorry,” Flame said after a moment.
Wemmbu nodded quickly. “…we’re really sorry.”
Parrot didn’t react straight away.
Of course he didn’t.
He just looked at them.
Let it settle.
Let it matter.
Then finally, he exhaled quietly.
“You’re going to stay in here for a while,” he said. “Both of you. Separate corners if you need to.”
No argument.
“Cool off,” he added. “Think about what just happened.”
They nodded.
Again.
Immediate.
Parrot straightened slightly.
His gaze softened-just a fraction-but only for a second.
“Lunch is still there,” he said. “Eat when you’re ready.”
And then he stepped back.
Turned.
Walked toward the hallway.
Spoke looked up as he approached.
“…are they in trouble?” he asked quietly.
Parrot paused beside him.
“…Maybe,” he said.
Spoke nodded, glancing back toward the kitchen.
“…you were really calm.”
Parrot let out a small breath.
“…had to be.”
He rested a hand briefly on Spoke’s shoulder, steadying.
“Go on,” he said gently. “Give them space.”
Spoke nodded and headed off.
Parrot stood there alone for a second.
Just one.
Then he moved again.
Because things weren’t fixed.
They were just… contained.
And for now, that had to be enough.