Chapter Text

Grian Featherwood was one of the rare avians in his city, and worse than that, he did not have the majestic feathers of a Raptor like hawks or eagles. No, Grian was a mere Parrot. A lousy, noisy and pesky Parrot with too-big and too-colorful wings. Like most avians, he had a small build, but he hid his particularly bony figure under sweaters that seemed to swallow him whole. Unlike most avians, though, he possessed an extra pair of wings that adorned the sides of his head, which meant he was not only cast out as a “lesser” hybrid, but his earwings made it so, so much worse. He was an anomaly. And as such, finding, let alone keeping, a job was difficult. He had been lucky recently, and had been hired by a nice man who went by Impulse, who owned a small café on the corner of a decently populated street. It was a little far from his rickety apartment, but it was a job. And Grian was currently on his way to be late if he didn’t start running. Flying in streets was frowned upon -unless you were a Raptor, and he wasn’t about to give police a reason to make him waste even more of his time.

                Out of breath, Grian finally entered the store, talons clicking against the wooden floor, and was greeted by the soothing scent of coffee grounds and pastries. He greeted his new employer, the man who had essentially saved him from becoming homeless, who grinned at his arrival and gestured for him to come past the counter.

Impulse was taller than Grian was, which wasn’t too hard of a task for an adult human, and bulkier than most humans he saw every day. Smiling like he usually did, Impulse showed Grian the backside of the store, where his locker was, and the uniform -a simple black apron that Grian put on over his grey jeans and red sweater- before walking back to the kitchen area.

-“Alright” Impulse started, clapping his hands together with a smile “First of all- Are you cold, my dude?” he interrupted himself as he realized Grian was wearing an impossibly big, thick sweater

-“Sort of? I just wear this all the time, I’m sorry” Grian replied, his earwings fluttering as he tried to not hide his eyes behind them

-“Ah… I wont pry. Just make sure you’re not overheating yourself, it gets pretty warm in here.” Impulse said easily, his smile unfaltering before he turned to the machinery “These babies are your coworkers. In a way. Today should be pretty calm, we don’t get a lot of people on most days, except for a few of my friends who insist on coming over here” he chuckled

Grian smiled nervously, but felt relieved knowing that there wouldn’t be too many patrons on his first day. He followed Impulse and watched his every move as he was shown how to prepare each drink the café proposed, and shot a look to the pastries, that Impulse caught.

-“Did you eat today?” he asked as he opened the display case, as if his question was only optional “Employees get one free a day, plus the unsold stuff”

-“Unsold stuff? And ah, I didn’t… I live a bit far and didn’t realise the time-

-It’s fine, it’s one of the job’s perks anyway! So what would you like?” Impulse smiled “they’re homemade” he added in a coaxing tone that made Grian chuckle

-“Alright, if it’s part of the job…” He looked at the pastries and blanked; all of them looked so appetizing “uh. I actually don’t know. Uhm, what do you recommend? I’ll take that”

Impulse laughed light-heartedly as Grian’s earwings fluttered in embarrassment again and picked up a wonderful-looking chocolate and pecan pie that made Grian tense up and pale, feathers ruffling.

-“Are you okay?” Impulse asked worriedly “you don’t like-

-I can’t eat chocolate” Grian blurted out “It doesn’t have anything to do with things I like, or your baking” he reassured, and lost the battle to his earwings as they covered his eyes

-“Oh. Does it have to do with your species or…?” Impulse asked, ‘oohh’-ing at Grian’s nod

-“Yeah, I’m a parrot hybrid and uh. We don’t take chocolate well.” He grimaced “It’s not like it’s gonna kill us like actual parrots!” Grian added quickly with an anxious ruffle of his feathers “It’s just- ah, like lactose intolerance? But, really bad intolerance.

-Oh! I see. Uhm.” Impulse scratched his chin as he looked at the other pastries before jumping back from the counter he had sat on -a bad habit of his- “I know! I made this this morning, it’s a new recipe I’m trying!” impulse jogged to the back of the kitchen before turning to Grian “Do you, uh. Would you mind taste-testing it? No chocolate, I promise!” he chuckled

-“Oh, sure! If I can be of any help.

Okay okay, here it is. It’s a mixed nuts mini-pie, we have pecan, chestnut, almond, peanuts-

Grian unintentionally interrupted a very excited Impulse when he snickered, making him look up from the tiny pie in his hand to look at his employee with a confused smile.

-“Did I say something dumb?

-No, no, it’s just… I thought you were being patronizing for a second, because, you know. Nuts and seeds for a bird hybrid? But then I saw you were excited and… I don’t know, it’s kinda stupid” Grian deflated, realizing he was talking to his employer as if they were friends

Impulse looked at Grian, then the pie in his hand, and seemed to understand how it could’ve been perceived as he gasped:

-“Oh! Oh no! I swear it wasn’t intentional! I made this this morning and got excited because, well, I don’t really have anyone to taste-test anything, except my friends, but they’re the kind of people who would eat a piece of burnt cake and say it’s good just because it’s their friend who made it”

Grian sighed and shook his head with a smile, extending his hand out for the mini pie.

-“Don’t worry, boss, you looked excited enough for me to know it wasn’t offensive. I’ll let you know what I think, but I’m warning you, I have a bit of a bias towards seeds” he said neutrally, but the flutter of his earwings gave his amusement away

-“You have a- oh!” Impulse snickered as he understood the joke and handed Grian the pie

As he took a bite out of it, Grian’s eyes widened and he practically melted on the spot, his wings lowering as his entire body relaxed, and he let out a soft coo. The mini pie was still warm, with the perfect amount of sweetness, and the different nuts that composed it made for a perfect mix that made his heart swell. He grinned at Impulse, who grinned back at him excitedly.

-“Ay? I take it it’s pretty good, then?” Impulse chuckled

-“It’s so good! It’s gonna sell like it’s nothing” Grian chirped before taking another bite

The two of them chit-chatted for a while, as there were no patrons in sight and Impulse needed to wait for his latest batch of pastries to cool off to put them on display. As per his -definitely questionable- habit, the man was sat on the counter, as Grian sat on the stool next to the register, his thin legs dangling, his talons and wings flexing relaxedly as he spoke. Impulse was easy to talk to and his warmth made the entire shop feel safe and comfortable.

                When the door chime went off, signaling a customer entering, the both of them jumped and scrambled to seem a little more professional, although the person who had entered had most likely seen them relaxing a second ago. Grian’s wings fluffed up when Impulse bursted out laughing, quickly followed by snickers from the newcomer, a long and thick-bodied Anaconda Naga with tan skin and piercing emerald eyes and messy short brown hair, who had a pristine white smile barely revealing the fangs that Grian knew to be oh so sharp. He quickly composed himself to try and greet his first customer, but Impulse waved him off as he walked around the counter to greet the Naga, who greeted him back, his voice rich and cheerful.

-“Scar! My friend!

-Impulse, hello there !” the naga -Scar- replied before his eyes fell on Grian for a second too fast. “You’ve got yourself an employee, I see?

-Yeah! This is Grian, our new barista! It’s his first day, be cool okay?”

Scar snickered once again and made his way to the counter, holding himself at eye level and bunching up into coils around himself to take up less space. Even then, his snake half was thick enough that he took up the same amount of space a small group of people would. Grian swallowed and gave his customer a small smile.

-“Hello, what can I help you with, Sir?

-Sir ?! My, oh my, you’re gonna make me feel old!” he chuckled “Please. Call me Scar.

-Ah- alright then… Scar. What can I get you?

-Could get me a Churapaca special?” Scar’s nose scrunched up “That’s not the right word, is it?

-I…” Grian glanced at a very amused Impulse “I don’t think we have that..?

-Chuparapa? No that’s not right either…”

Impulse bursted out laughing once again.

-“Scar! Are you really trying to ask for a ‘chupacabra special’ ?!” impulse managed out in his laughter

-“A… Chupacabra special? What even IS that?” Grian exclaimed, repressing a flinch when Scar reared up to laugh, a hearty laugh that tugged to the corners of his mouth despite his nervousness

-“It’s not an actual drink, Scar just wanted to mess with you a little.

-I was being a little meschi… Misc? It was a prank!”

Grian caught himself smiling lightly at the Naga’s antics and shook his head, barely noticing Scar lowering himself again to not appear too big.

-“Alright, alright mister. For real this time, I’ll take a…” Scar looked at him again, purposefully brief before he looked just above grian’s head, seemingly purposefully not looking at his wings. “Your intolerance doesn’t stop you from making hot chocolate, does it?” he inquired, eyebrows furrowing.

-“Yes it does, even the smell makes me sick.” Grian deadpanned, cackling at Scar’s face dropping “No it doesn’t, Scar. I just can’t eat or drink any or my stomach will be upset.” He reached for the register “I take it you want a hot chocolate, then?

-Yes please, a large one ! And I’m gonna get a snack as well uhm…” Scar leaned to the side to look at the display case before pouting “I don’t know what to get, so. Surprise me!” he grinned

Grian looked at Impulse, who walked up to him.

-“Don’t worry about allergies, he’s good.” Impulse told him with a smile, checking as Grian made the hot chocolate as he thought about what to give Scar

-“Mhm, I was thinking about the mixed nuts pie, but I don’t know if you want to sell them today or anything.” He showed impulse the cup “Is this good?”

-“Perfect! And you’re right, I’ll go get one, I’m sure he’ll love it”

Impulse went and grabbed a mini-pie while Grian typed in the register, and left it on the counter for his employee to pick up and give to Scar while he typed in the price for the pie. Looking up after  preparing the paper bag to go, Grian caught the curious green gaze fixed on him, although Scar looked away nearly instantaneously. He felt his wings shift behind him but he ignored it as he handed the bag to Scar with a light smile.

-“I think you’re gonna love this one” he smiled

-“I’ll trust you on that, then, thank you!” Scar replied easily, uncurling slowly to make his way out “Well then, until next time guys!” he looked at Grian for a second “I hope you’ll still be there, blondie!”

After Scar left, Impulse congratulated Grian for his first sale and showed him a few more tricks. The day went by with a few more customers, most of them being hybrids who seemed to be regulars. Impulse had to save him from a sweet old sparrow lady that had apparently decided to tell grian everything about the neighborhood and the shop, and had been talking for nearly half an hour before the man came over and gently reminded her that Grian had a job to do. Once she left, the door sign was turned to “closed” and Impulse showed Grian how to clean everything for the day, and how to lock the shop for the next day. Before he left to go back to his apartment, Impulse handed him a bag of unsold goods that would otherwise be thrown as it wasn’t fit for selling, but still good to eat.

                Grian flopped on his bed with a heavy sigh. Being in his apartment made him feel very alone, and even though there hadn’t been many patrons, it had been enough to take a toll on him. He wasn’t used to socializing as much anymore, but he figured he’d get used to it again with this job. He lifted his head from his pillow and looked at the bag of pastries he could see from there. At least he wouldn’t go hungry.

A tinge of anxiety mixed with annoyance passed through him, the feeling unfamiliar enough to make him straighten up, sitting on his bed and shuffling his wings around. He knew how soul bonds worked enough to realize it wasn’t his own feelings, so he tentatively sent a hint of curiosity towards the foreign yet ever-present mass of muted feelings. A prickling of surprise emerged from the back of his mind in response, and he let out a breathless laugh as he realized his soulmate had felt him, voluntarily. Through the bond emerged a timid feeling, like a hand reached out in curiosity, mixed with a hardly-concealed hope. He mirrored the feeling, his cheeks dusted with pink as it felt intimate, hyperaware of their souls tentatively reaching out to each other consciously for the first time. Excitement and hope rushed through him, and he struggled to tell if it was his own or his soulmate’s.

Giddy, Grian threw himself on his bed again, a happy trill escaping him at the thought that he had a soulmate and that they were able to somewhat communicate. The amusement, endearment and a tinge of apprehension that he felt from his soulmate sent his head spinning, and for the first time in a very long time, Grian didn’t feel so alone. However, he did feel very tired, and decided the time had come for a nap.