Work Text:
Lute thought being part bird was pretty cool. After all, she had wings! But of course, it had it’s setbacks. Eg; her bones would break easier because they were hollow for when she flew, smaller size made her get wasted faster, etc but the one that was the most embarrassing? She would occasionally go completely non-verbal and was reduced to making small bird trills and squeaks
It would happen about once a month for a few days or whenever she got sick (Thankfully, never on extermination but some of her sister’s were not so lucky) And during that time frame she would mostly stay home unless training was on.
Adam knew about this and would help Lute out during her non-verbal times, even making small hand gestures for Lute to use if she needed something (Food, warmth, water, medicine, you get it)
Lute was resting in the nest of blankets she had made in her bed, her wings puffed up and overall, one feathery ball. It was peaceful and she had been scrolling on her phone for a bit before Adam knocked on the door. She set her phone down and made a short cawing sound, allowing Adam to come in.
“Lutey, there you are! Is it pidgeon time?” Adam asked with a stupid grin on his face, Lute made a grumbling sound in response. Adam had always called her nonverbal episodes “pidgeon time” much to Lute’s dismay.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Do you need anything?” Adam asked, tilting his head slightly. Lute thought about it for a second before making the “warmth” gesture.
“Okay cool. Do you want another blanket, the heater on or do you want me to join you?” He asks, Lute points at him and makes a clicking sound. Adam chuckles and joins her in the nest. Lute immediately cuddles up to him and starts trilling happily.
“Yes, Yes I know. Did ya miss me? I was out for bit longer, Sera kept trying to get me to do some paperwork so I had to do that quickly” Adam talks and Lute nods and keeps herself just under Adam’s arm.
Adam knew Lute was very cuddly during her “pidgeon time” so he let her lay next to him as he went on about his day and other things. He didn’t mind when she was like this, in fact, he thought it was cute.
Lute wasn’t really physically affectionate normally. It wasn’t because she didn’t love Adam, Of course she loved him but she was made for exterminating, she didn’t have time or know how to be soft with people. Her non-verbal episodes made her act differently but they got her to be close with people, to be close to Adam.
Adam changed a lot when she was non verbal. Normally, he curses so much he would make a sailor blush. Now though? He was gentle. The main reason why she would be non verbal is because of bird instincts so he knew that she would react intensely if he came across as aggressive.
Eventually Lute falls asleep and Adam follows shortly after. Cut to a few hours later and Adam wakes up and Lute is still sleeping. Lute was a light sleep so Adam was extra careful when getting up. Unfortunately, Lute still woke up and let out a little whine, wrapping her arms around his leg as he stood.
“Oh I know, I know. I was gonna make you some toast? Do you want toast?” Adam pat Lute’s head and crouched down at the side of the bed to make eye contact with Lute. The girl nodded and Adam smiled. “Okay then, you gotta let me go if you want me to make you toast”
Lute reluctantly complies and let Adam go to make toast. He leaves and now Lute is left all alone. She tries to distract herself by checking her phone for a few minutes but is still hyper aware of the cold space next to her where Adam would have been. After a few minutes go by, Lute grumbles and crawls out of her nest to stand up and find Adam. A good minute of aimless when wandering around the apartment they were in and Lute squawks in hopes of a response.
“Lute? Where are ya, tweety-bird!?” Adam calls out in response, noticing she wasn’t in the room anymore. She hears him and follows the noise, eventually she finds him in the kitchen cooking some bacon for the two of them. She waddles up behind him and hugs him, wrapping her arms and wings around him.
“There you are! You’re so cuddly when it’s pidgeon time, it’s cute” Adam chuckles and wraps one of his wings around her he sees Lute’s flustered face. Lute starts chirping absentmindedly and Adam responds jokingly
*tweet!*
“Yes”
*tweet-tweet!*
“Yes, I know Lute”
*tweet!*
“Ugh, so deep. Have you ever considered writing poetry?”
*tweet!*
“Oh my, Lute! Let’s not get too controversial now!” Adam scolds jokingly and laughs while Lute make a clicking sound which was meant to imitate a laugh.
“Pidgeon time” could be embarrassing for Lute sometimes, but her and Adam would always make it work...