Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You remember it like it was yesterday, the day your family moved to Hometown, the day you met the Holidays and the Dreemurrs, the day you finally felt at home.
You had friends and a loving family, in a lovely lil community where everyone knew each other. And yet it wasn't yesterday, it was years ago and now things are a little different.

For starters Noelles big sister, Dess went missing. That messed all of us up. Noelle got the worst of it she was devastated, sometimes she wouldn't even come out of her room but we could hear her crying.
Kris didn’t have it any better either, they distanced themselves from you and Noelle, not that they were ever that close to you to begin with. Asriel leaving for collage didn’t help either.

Mr. Dreemurr got fired for failing to find Dess, and my dad took his place as the head of police. Good for us but you alwaysed felt bad for Kris’ dad.
Your mom’s job didn’t change, she was still working for Mayor Holiday.

And whilst Kris stopped talking to you, wich is something you never quite understood since as the only humans in Hometown you two should stick together. But Noelle was still very much your closest friend, she was your support as much as you were hers.
And when you were old enough for school, Noelle made a friend, a little blue nerd and any friend of Noelles is a fiend of yours.

That’s how you met Berdly.

Chapter Text

You weren't even paying attention when the bell rang, announcing the end of the school day. You rise up your head from your notebook to look at the teacher, Ms. Alphys who is stuttering at the class.

“P-please actually remember to d-do your homework this time."

Dang she’s onto you.

Well not just you, a decent part of your classmates don’t do the homework either. And thinking about that you look around the classroom.

The benches are organized in column of 3, with every column having 4 beaches. You’re sitting in the second row on the left. In front of you is Noelle, who is packing her books, as the 2nd smartest student, of course she would sit in front of the class.

In the bench next to her is Berdly your second bestest friend, he’s trying really hard to finish writing the lesson in his notebook. He’s the 1st kid in class and thus has a bit of an ego, he’s a great friend tho, even with the condescending attitude. Super cute too.

Next to him is Temmie, your cousin. She's so silly, always trying her best to get good grades, hoping to get into the same ‘col leg’ her sister is currently attending.
Right next to you would have been Catti and Jockington, but they already left. Catti has a job after all and Jock would never be too far away from his ultimate academic bestie, they have the coolest origin story.

The benches behind your row go like this from left to right, Mk, they’re still packing up, it takes a little longer when you have no arms.

Then Kris who’s still sleeping with on the table. And to the right would have been Snowy, he already left.

And then there’s the last row of beaches... well those are mostly empty except for the middle one, the one behind Kris.

That's where Susie sits.

Honestly you have nothing against her, but she can be a bit violent at times, thankfully she doesn’t usually pick on you, not that it never happens, she’ll pick on anyone except Noelle, strange.

But you’re stopped from your train of thought by Noelle with Berdly by her side.

“Come on Y/n, even Kris will finish packing up before you at this rate!” she snickered

“Oh! Sorry guys!” you say as you start packing as fast as you can.

“In fact…” started Berdly “at this rate even Temmie’s egg will hatch before you’re done.” He said full of snarkiness.

“Says the guy who was behind on writing the lesson.” you snark right back.

“W-was not!” Berdly says cut off guard “I was simply just- letting the knowledge marinate in my head a lil’ longer- yea, let it get absorbed in my massive intellect.”

“Whatever you say smart guy.” you respond.

“Come on guys, let’s go.” Noelle called out from the classroom door.

You guys make your way through the hallway, none of you need anything from your lockers so you may be away to the school exit. And as you walk past the Librarby you hear from beside you.

“Hey guys, what was the homework again?” asked the bird monster.

“Did you not have time to write it? It was from page 21, exercises 9 and 10.” Answered the reindeer.

“Ah, why thank you dear Noelle, I’ll be sure to remember that!” he says.

As we come to a cross in the road and you all go to the right, walking through the beautiful autumn scenery of the town. Coming to another crossroad, you and Noelle keep going forward but Berdly makes his way to the right, where the convenience store is and where most of the Hometown’s residents live.

“You’re not coming with us, Berdly?” you asked a little confused, you thought he was coming with you to Noelle’s house.

“I'm afraid not my dear compadres.” He stated obviously a little bummed “My parents need my help today and what kind of prodigy would I be if I didn’t help them, they’d be lost without my great mind!”

Noelle turns to you and then to Berdly.

“Aw man, well... good luck with your parents Berdly!” Noelle says cheerfully.

“Yea, we can all play video games another time, don’t worry” you chime in with a smile.

“See you at school, Berdly!”

“Bye, Berdly!”

You two wave a goodbye to Berdly and go on your way to Noelle’s house

“Goodbye to you two, dearest Noelle and Y/n!” he said as he left.

To be fair you’d be lying if you said it didn’t nag you when he calls Noelle ‘dear’ or ‘dearest’ all the time, but never has a similar nickname for you. You know it’s a silly thing that shouldn't bother you, but you really can’t help it.

You along with Noelle pass by Catti’s house and get stopped by a big iron gate. It’s the gate to her Home, her mom is the mayor, so they have the biggest house in town, to bad she’s all alone in there most of the time. You sometimes feel like an outcast due to the fact you and Kris are the only humans, but those feelings disappear when you're with Noelle and Berdly. You worry about her sometimes, all you do can is hope that your presents helps out as much as her’s helps you.

As you walk down the path to the Holiday residents Noelle searches for her key in her skirt’s pockets thankfully, she didn't forget it at home this time. Taking out her keys with two little peppermint and hot cocoa decorations, she unlocks the big door.

As you enter the house pleasant fragrance of pine and freshly baked sugar cookies fills your nostrils, you'll never get tired of how good Noelle's home smells. Walking into the Holiday’s home is always such a delight, you really have to agree this family has great taste interior decoration.

Walking alongside Noelle into her room, the decor is the same as the last time you were here, with white fairy lights hung on the walls like the ones in Librarby, then her bed looking as soft as fresh snow and lastly her desk nicely organised but not to a robotic degree.

“So, do you still want to play video games even without player nr three?” you start as you hop on her bed.

“Uh yea sure, got anything in mind?” she asked politely.

“uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh we could have played Crossing animals, but my Switcheroo is at home” you say disappointingly
“Aw, that WOULD have been fun” Noelles says with a sad tone.

You both sit there in silence, staring at each other. Noelle on her desk chair and you sitting on her bed just looking at each other for like 30 seconds straight.

“You wanna play super smashing fighters.” she interrupts the silence, with a slime on her face.

“Yes definitely.” you say with a smile just as big.

So that's what you did, you both played a lot of super smashing fighters, for at least a couple of hours. Neither of you are exactly great at this game but you enjoy it anyway but you are a bit better than Noelle but not by a lot. While you're playing what feels like your 50th match, you ask Noelle.

“You know that festival that's coming up in a couple weeks, right?”

“Yeah, what about it?” She asked trying to concentrate.

“I heard there’s gonna be a spooky haunted house, just your style!”

“Pff, how is that my style?! you know I get scared really easily!” She says in a very playful manner.

“Because you love scary things! You might get scared easily but you still enjoy it just like horror games for creepypastas woo”

“Ok first of all, I haven't been scared of a creepypasta since I was 12, ok! Geez!”

“You're not denying my allegations Noelle!” You say all cheeky like.

“Why are we even talking about this? And don’t act like you don't get scared either!” Noelle tried sassing you.

“We're talking about this, because I'm trying to distract you” you stick out your tongue at her, trying to nudge her off the bed.

“Y/N NO! stop that you cheater!!” She said trying to sound angry.

“Heheheheheehee” you chuckle like a little goblin.

“Gosh! I swear sometimes you're worse than Kris!” Pushing back into you trying to keep her balance on the bed.

You stop your directed attack at your friend and sit back in your place on the other side of the bed and turning your head towards the tv screen again.

“Oooo, if Kris heard you say that they would double down and make it your problem”

“it already is my problem!” Noelle speaks through the giggles.

‘GAME……. over’ yelled the tv indicating that someone has lost the game, it was you.

“See your cheating didn't even help you win.” She speaks with an aura of superiority.

“Well going back to our conversation  I just wanted to ask...” You get a conversation back on tracks.

“What?”

“Are you playing on inviting someone with you?” You speak up with a cheeky grin.

At that Noelle almost dropped her controller, she was really caught off by that, because yeah, she did plan on inviting someone. She just didn't think it was that obvious.

“W-What makes you say that?” Sounding obviously nervous.

“I just had a hunch… a purple hunch… one might even say a purple lizard hunch” you say smirk getting bigger.

And she just sits there contemplating what to say. A little bit of time passes before she talks.

“Is it… Is it that, obvious...?” she said very quietly, as she brings her hands to cover her face in embarrassment.

“Yeah. But don’t worry girl, your secret’s safe with me” you assure her whilst putting a hand on your chest where your heart would be and raising the other next to your body.

“Thanks Y/n.” Noelle whispered even more quietly whilst bringing her head up from her hands to look at you.

“Would… it make you feel any better if I said I also have a crush on one of our classmates but just as a hypothetical, not really… hehe...” You say totally not feeling a little bit embarrassed yourself.

“WHAT?!...... ON WHO????????? She screamed and surprised.

“berdly……..”

“…”

“…”

“WHAAT!!!”

“OW, Noelle! You’re gonna burst my ear drums screaming like that!” You whine in pain.

“Sorry, sorry… but seriously Berdly?? Why Berdly????????” She questioned still clearly confused.

“Wow Noelle, what the heck……. What if I reacted like that to you liking Susie, how would that make you feel hmmm?” You respond a little taken aback.

“Sorry, but… you can’t really fault me for being surprised.” Noelle states honestly, tilting her head.

To that you don't really have an answer, you just sit there staring at her stunned, well not really that stunned pretty much anyone in your classroom would have that reaction you think. But still sometimes you can forget how bold she can be around the people she trusts.

“I don't even know who you are anymore, I can't take it! Goodbye, Noelle goodbye!” You say well putting on your best performance.

“No, no come back I’m sorry” she says putting a hand to her mouth, trying her hardest not to giggle.

You hop off of the bed as dramatically as you can, making your way to your school bag grabbing it. Marching your way to the door still putting on a dramatic performance for Noelle, who’s now fully laughing at you. Reaching the door, you open it wide and then turn around towards her.

“It just cannot go on like this any longer, it's not me it's very much you. Goodbye Noelle.” Finishing the act, you put your backpack on your back and bring your and gaze up to look at Noelle.

“Goodnight, Noelle see you at school!” You almost finish saying goodbye, but you stop yourself keeping quiet ,her face slightly sadder then before.

“Hey uh, you sure you don’t want me to come with you tomorrow?” Do you say with all of the humour leaving your voice.

“Yeah no, it’s fine, I’ll be fine going alone, don’t worry.” She says with as much reassurance as she can.

“Ok good that’s all I needed to hear, bye Noelle!”

“Goodbye Y/n!”

With that, you leave Noelle’s home and start making your way towards your own house. The sun is barely visible in the sky and it's decently dark outside, you feel that cold breeze of autumn brush against your skin as you make your way towards the apartment buildings, it's not far so it doesn't take long to get there.

Walking up the stairs to your apartment you walk in inside, the door already open since your parents are at home by now. Looking inside your house you're greeted by the delicious smell of dinner, and you hear a greeting from your dad who's in the kitchen.

“Welcome back sweetie, how was school honeydrop?” Says your dad as he sees you coming into the kitchen, he’s next to the stove with a pan in his paws cooking some vegetables and meat.

And speaking of meat your dad's real beefcake he's decently tall for a monster and his petty physically built too, which is to be expected from a lion monster. With light yellow fur and orange mane he looks a lot like the waitress that works at QC’s diner, that's because they're twins.

Your mom is sitting at the dinner table looking over some paperwork. The second she spots you she greets you as lovingly as a mother should.

“Hoi ma bAbeY! wElcom3s bAC HouM!” Your mother says with as much enthusiasm as always. Your mother’s a Temmie. She looks pretty normal for a Temmie just with slightly lighter hair which is more professionally styled, the hairs of Temmie’s get lighter in colour as they age or gain more political power and she's got coin earings. Also, she's got a slightly longer body then the average Temmie.

“Hai mom, hi dad! School was ok today, I'm just happy it's the weekend!” You've always felt like you can be honest with your parents, you feel safe around them.

“You and me both kiddo!” He chuckles with roaring voice.

“TeMMEs agr33z” said your mother, never lacking energy in her voice even when she is tired.

All three of you sit down at the dinner table and enjoy your meal, making small talk about what happened today, and what you might do tomorrow. The food as usual is great being a good cook just seems to run in your dad's family. Dads on dishes duty tonight, so is mom goes to change in our pyjamas and dad stays to clean can you go to my room.

You drop off your bag change it to your pyjamas, all clean, nice and cosy in your bed look at a YouseTube video or two, you allow yourself to do it because you don't have school tomorrow.
Ok it was more that a a couple of YouseTube videos but who's counting, not you that’s for sure.

And as you finish watching a review of a movie you haven't seen since you are 5, you close your laptop, turn off the lights, and get nice and cosy in your bed. Sleep slowly taking over your mind.

_

The next day you're rudely awakened not by an alarm like usually, but by your own internal clock and the powerful sun rays coming from your window. You wish it wasn't this way, on a regular working day your internal clock wouldn't work like this and would instead just tell you to sleep more even if you have to go to school but on the two days of the week you actually want to sleep in it doesn't like you. God dammit.

Your dad screaming from the other room wasn't helping either.

“Hey, honeydrop are you up yet???” Whisper yells your dad.

You respond groggily “I am now…” you yawn.

“Can you get up, I gotta ask you something.” He calls out from the living room.

“One sec...” You sluggishly get up from bed water closet grab whatever clothes you grab first. You put them on still have asleep and when you're done making returns to the living room. And go to sit at the table.

Your mom already left, she was probably called in earlier today, the mayor is a bit bossy and really hates when people are late but that comes with the job.

“G’morning dad.” You say still having a noticeable morning voice.

“Morning, sweetie how did you sleep?” he coos.

“Fine...” you grumble, looking for breakfast but there is none.

“So, since your mom's busy today and we both know you're not gonna do any homework, how about you come to work with me? Doesn't that sound fun? We can pass by the diner get some breakfast and-” your dad abruptly stops when his phone starts ringing

He looks at it confused for a second before he looks at the ID caller, then immediately picks it up.

Turning on his work voice he goes “Officer Morheart speaking, what is it, officer Undyne?”

You just sit there looking at him from the other side of the table, only being able to hear very quiet shouts coming from the phone. It was no doubt officer Undyne and her way of speaking was indistinguishable.

And after a very short pause from the other side of the phone your dad speaks up.

“I'll be right there officer Undyne!” He speaks with a slight urgency, then hang up.

At lightning fast speed he grabs his officer's uniform, then reaches for his badge on the table and as he grabs and put it on his on his chest, he looks at you.

You're just staring at him waiting for him to talk.

“Sweetie there's an emergency, I really gotta go!” he's back to his sad voice but still a little firm. Stomping over to the door grabbing his hat from the hanger, then opens the door to walk out but before he closes it, he looks back at you.

“Can you please go to the diner and get some breakfast there, I'll come get you when I'm done! Bye!” Then he slams the door shut.

After a couple minutes of just standing there trying to process what just happened with your still half-asleep brain, you figure out you should probably get ready to go outside.

You're already dressed so you just grab a bag pack with a bit of money in it since even if your aunt works at the diner, you don't get constant free food. Grabbing your house keys, looking in the mirror, making sure you don't look like ass, do you leave the house.

Walking down the stairs of the apartment building you passed by Berdly’s Apartment door. You ponder if you should ask him to go with you to the diner, standing there thinking about it you decided that nah he's still probably asleep, you don't wanna disturb him.

As you exit the building you put in your headphones and select a song on your phone.

Catching a glimpse of something purple in the alleyway between the two biggest buildings, you take a closer look. Walking closer you spot Susie, crouch down drinking something from a pet bowl.

You decide this isn't worth your time or getting your face bit off so you just make your way towards the diner. Waving hellos to your neighbours as you pass by them.

The walk from your house to QC’s diner is barely 4 minutes long, so you're just making the most of it by listening to music, at the moment you're listening to your favorite Minecrap parody song.
Slightly bopping your head with the music. God it's so good.

Reaching QC's diner you spot Catti and your aunt Loni who’s smoking, next to the entry, they seem to be on break since there's not that many people during the morning. Getting closer you greet your classmate and your aunt.

“Goog morning, Aunty Lee! G’mornig Catti, slow morning girls?” you question.

“Mornin’ Y/n, ya can say that again.” responds your aunt, while slightly bumping your shoulder with her fist.

“What’s up Y/n?” says Catti in her classic monotone voice.

She throws her cigarette underground and stomps it, she gives you the ‘I know I smoke but you shouldn’t, and I’ll kick your ass if I find you smoking’ kind of look. Catti opens the door and goes back inside and you to follow suit right behind her.

“So, what got cha’ here so early, little hun?” questions your aunt.

“Dad didn't have time to make breakfast today, so I came here.” You say absentmindedly only thinking about the food you’re gonna eat.

“Did… did something happen?” You can hear a bit of worry in her voice but not a lot.

“He got a call from Undyne, said it was urgent” you answer truthfully.

“And he left cha’ at home to starve alone, huh?” you can hear the humour in her voice.

“I mean I could have made my own breakfast, but he already wanted to come by here later so I'm just waiting for him, with the plus side of getting breakfast” you sit down at one of the booths, enjoying the plushness of the seat. Watching your aunt go behind the counter to grab a menu and bring it back to you, gets you super excited for some pancakes or waffles or bacon and eggs or French toast or an omelette for a-

Your hungry hungry brain is interrupted by the menu being placed in front of you in the sound of your auntie's voice.

“So, what can I get chu’ young lady?” She Snickers.

“So uhhhhhhh…………. pancakes with hazelnut spread, a bit of toast, two sunny eggs and a glass of OJ, please and thank you” you say with a huge smile on your face.

“coming right up miss!” Says you're aunt after finishing writing down your order she heads to the back to tell the chef the order.

You wait there for what feels like years, waiting, hungerly, the anticipation of nutrients makes every second feel like forever. You look at the décor, out the window in the other booths, anything to get your mind off the pain of not eating right now. Just sitting here in agony. You're not gonna make it, you have to ask your aunt to tell your parents that you love them, tell Noelle to go for it to not let her fear define her, and tell Berdly that you-

“Here's yur food, hun” your aunty’s right here to snap you out of your cringe inducing thoughts.

“Thanks aunt Lee! I’m starving!” You immediately start digging in.

“I can tell, gosh what's got cha’so hungry?” She says taking up a seat in front of you.

“I hvan’h eten aa ay” you say with a mouthful of food.

“Don't talk with chur’ mouth full hun, you'll choke.” This isn't the first time she's told you this, so she's clearly displeased
“But I mean like, plenty a' people eat a lot when they have a lot on their mind, that's what I meant. I'm asking you if ya have something on yur mind or maybe… someone?”.

You almost choke. She smirks a little, watching your reaction as if to say ‘I told you so’.
“So, I AM right?” She asked with the biggest grin on her face.

“…yea” you admit in a very timid voice well playing with your food.

“Heh knew it, so who’s it hm? Noelle, Kris? It better not be Catti, I don’t need chu’ distracting her from work-“she get interrupted.

“What, no no no no no, it’s not her……it’s uh” you mumble nervously.

“Oh, come on hun. I’m yur aunt, ya can tell me anythang!” Loni encourages you to tell her.

“It’s, Berdly.” You say as quietly as possible as for no one else hear.

“……Berdly, the little scrawny bird nerd, right?” says your aunt with no filter.

“Aunt Lee! Not so loud, please!” You freak out, burying your face in your hands.

She puts a hand on your shoulder “don't worry Hun yur secret's safe with me, and Catti probably, I mean she's in the same room as us.” She says throwing a glance at the girl in question.
Still not taking your face out of your hands you hear voice from the other side of the room.

“Don't worry Y/n, I don't care”

Well that's one thing you don't have to worry about.

Chapter Text

You’re back at school on Monday, today you have science and physics classes, both are taught by professor Alphys, oh who are you kidding, all your classes are with mrs Alphys, she's the only teacher, other than ms Toriel that is.

You couldn't pay any less attention to the classes though, you have other things in your mind.

Today is the day you’re going to ask Berdly to tutor you.

Now this might sound silly, considering the fact that you, Noelle and Berdly have study sessions all the time, to actually study or to play video games mostly.

So then why would asking Berdly to help you with studies be any different than those other times?

It's a simple answer really, it's because you're going to be alone with him, a one-on-one kind of thing. Not date, but definitely more private that normal.

And even though you already spend time alone with Berdly, when you're playing video games together and hanging out around the Town, this is gonna be different.
You don't really know how, but you can tell it's different.

Waiting for the classes to be done and dusted felt like years, it was agony. It seemed like the clock couldn’t be ticking any slower. GOD.

You felt like you were starting to fuse into to your seat when the bell, indicating the end of the school day, chimed.

As fast as you could you peel yourself off of your chair grab all of your things off your bench and stuffed then into your backpack, then immediately went over to Berdly’s table.

Who barely just started packing his stuff.

“Hey Berdly, uhm, so you know about the test we have next week, well I was wondering if you could help me study for that…” you muster up to say in a very bashful tone.

“Why of course I'll help you study for this upcoming trial of wit, my fair friend. That's what we have study sessions for!” he says with utmost charisma.

“No, I meant like, for a bit more learning you know like a tutoring session…?” you say wanting to make your idea clear.

“A…a, you want me to tutor you?” asked Berdly in disbelief.

“Y-Yes, I mean you are the smartest kid in class, Berdly. I'm asking help from the best there is.” you try to sound less nervous.

“Oh, oh yes, of course, it's only natural to require help from the nr 1 student here! Do not worry Y/n, I will assist you in gaining the knowledge you seek.” he said with a quiver still in his voice.

You watch him as he packs his stuff in a hurry. And as he does You see Noelle in the corner of your eye coming over to you too.

Turning your head towards her to give her a smile, you barely realise that the split second Berdly already made his way to the door of the classroom.

“Bye Y/n! Bye Noelle!” he yelps as he sprints out the door not looking back at either of you.

“Wait what, where you going, Berdly!?” asks Noelle

You tilt your head in confusion, as to why he's in such a hurry. Walking into the hallway with Noelle behind you, you called out to him.

“Hey, weren't we going to play video games today???”

“CAN’T TODAY! I'm... busy, sorry, bye!” you hear him yell as he’s leaving the building.

You and Noelle just kind of sit there in this belief as to what just happened, then she turns to you.

“What… what was that?????? Why is he in such a hurry?”

“I don't know! I- I just asked him for help with the upcoming test and he just zoomed out of here!” you answer her trying not to sound freaked out.

“Wait, really? Why would he be so embarrassed about that?” she questions with a chuckle in her voice.

“I don't know, we study together all the time, I don't understand why it made him react like that.” you say with a frown.

“Pf, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, Berdly just is like that sometimes, you know?”

“Yea I guess you’re right...” still sounding a little mopey.

Walking out of the school and past the Librarby, you hear a buzzing sound coming from Noelle’s pocket. She took her phone out of her pocket and looked curious at the notification.

She looked a little confused at first, but then her expression changed into something a little worried.

“Is something wrong Noelle?”

“No, no it's nothing important.” she looked as if she was calculating something in her mind.

Getting closer to QC’s diner, you turn to look at Noelle since this is going to be were you split ways.

“Well, if you say so, goodbye Noelle. See you tomorrow.” you turn to leave towards your house but then she stops you.

“Wait! Uhm… I actually need tooo- give MK some papers from Mrs Alphy’s, she asked me to give it to them…” she fumbles to form her words into a coherent sentence.

“Oh… okey...”

‘Why is everyone acting stranger than usual today?’ you thought to yourself.

You two continue walking towards the apartment blocks, in a more awkward silence than usual. You don't really have a reason to not believe what Noelle is telling you, but it still seems a little weird.

Reaching the door of your block you open it to get in, but then you see Noelle also trying to get in even though MK’s apartment is in a different block.

You give her a look up confusion.

“Oh! Right, right, MK lives next door, oops.” And see a slight blush of embarrassment on her face.

You chuckle at her and wave her hey goodbye as you enter the building, leaving her outside.
Walking up the stairs you realise that you and Bedly haven't even decided on when he has time to tutor you. Forcing your legs to keep climbing up the stairs you decide they're gonna send him a text when you get inside.

Getting to your door, going inside and saying hi to your parents whilst a little tired end zoned out. With your mind still thinking about Berdly’s reaction.
You slump down hard on your soft bed looking at the ceiling.

Maybe he reacted like that because he thinks you're not smart enough to understand the hard stuff. You are nr. 4 smartest after all.
He gives Kris a hard time and they’re nr. 3 in class.
You frown and close your eyes, trying not to think about that.

_
Noelle waited for a bit outside, until she was sure that you would be at your door by now.
Then she went inside a little nervous since she doesn't like lying to her friends, it makes her feel guilty. Climbing up the stairs all she can hear is the sound of her hooves hitting the smooth cement staircase.

Finally reaching Berdly’s apartment door, she lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding, then knocked on the door.

Almost immediately as she finished knocking, is the door swung open and two feathery arms grabbed her and pulled her inside.

The action startled her making her jam her eyes shut in fear.

“Ah dear Noelle, thank you for coming over! I have something rather important that I wanted to speak to you about.” she heard Berdly speak sounding a little erratic.

Opening her eyes she was greeted with the sight of Berdly looking a little messy, with his feathers ruffled a little and with slightly worried looking eyes.

Noelle took a second to just look at him.

“So why did you need my help for badly, Berdly?” She says as she lays down on a chair.

“Our dearest friend Y/n needs help to pass the chemistry test, which is to be expected.” he explains in a melancholic way.

“Ok but-“ Noelle starts but she gets cut off.

“BUT that's not the worst part, she… she asked me for help!”

“And… how is that bad????”

“Because I can't teach her, Noelle! We both know that I’m not actually the smartest in class!” he sounds defeated.

“What does that have to do with teaching Y/n though?”

“Noelle, you help me study, and I understand very well when you are there to support my knowledge gathering. But I’m not so sure on how ‘good’ of a teacher I would be…” Berdly mopes defeated.

“But if you understand it, can't you just explain it to her?”

“I've tried doing that before, yeah it didn't work. I might have all the Knowledge I need in my luxurious mind, I just don't know how to explain it to someone else.”

“Hmm… oh how about I join you two, and coach you along the way to make sure she understands?” suggests Noelle.

“Noelle that's genius! No wonder you're the 2nd smartest!” claims Berdly.

But his excitement is cut short when he get some notification on this phone.

Grabbing his phone looking at it's screen his face getting as pale as a ghost monster.

“It’s Y/n!” he exclaims with panic

“Wait, why are you scared? Don’t tell me you don't want to help her!”

“I do I do! But… I just.” he mumbles nervously.

Noelle squints her eyes at him for a couple of seconds then her eyes go wide.

“No way… Theres no way!” said Noelle shocked. Both of them just sit there looking at each other, Noelle is looking wide eye and jaw on the floor at Berdly who is blushing in twiddling his fingers with embarrassment. And after a couple seconds of silence.

“It’s… it’s not like THAT ok…. also she's asking when I can come over… to her house I mean.” he's barely audible.

“I uh, I’m free this weekend...?” response Noelle still a little shocked.

“Yea me too, I'll ask her if it's ok then.” he started typing a message. Then a lil’ chirping noise can be heard coming from his phone.

“She said it’s fine by her.”

“Good.” she starts getting up. “Berdly, do you wanna talk about it?” She asks very tenderly.

“No, no I’m sure it must pain you to think about it.” he yaps while acting like a hero protecting someone from an evil truth.

“What are you-“ before she can finish talking Berdly starts pushing her from behind to the door.

“Noelle, I don't want to pain you further, now go! And thank you, bye dearest Noelle.” and before she can even comprehend what is going on Berdly shuts the door behind her.

Staring at the wall still frozen in thought, Noelle decides she has had enough for today and starts going home, where she can relax a bit.

_
Before you even realise it’s already the next day, and you went to school, and you somewhat paid attention in class.
Not really, you’re not the best at English.

But going to school isn't the focal point of today. Because today you, Noelle and Berdly are going to the Librarby to hang out, play some games on the computers, maybe read some books.

Yea… maybe not.

Reaching the Librarby you notice that you and your friends are not the only kids who are headed to go inside.

Your cousin Temmie is also coming this way, and so are Lokington and Catti, you presume they're all going to study. Temmie just in general, and Jock and Catti probably for the test next week.

Entering the public book house of the town you're hit with the smell old books and of computer air, you know the plastic-y smell.

And whilst Noelle and Berdly are enjoying looking at the books, sitting down and reading books that they started another time when they came here, you are just moving around the place, with no actual direction like a lost animal.

Walking in Berdly’s direction you try to think of something you three could do for a little more fun.
So, when you reach the table they’re reading. You speak up.

“Hey, I know you guys really like reading and stuff but how about we do something a lil’ more fun.”

“And by fun you mean..?” Noelle pondered, Berdly also looking intrigued.

“We can play on the computers.” you say with a smile.

“Ah, I’m quite pleasantly surprised this proposal of yours Y/n” he compliments you “Let’s finish updating our lexicon, then we'll play video games!”

“I’m almost done with this chapter, so it won’t take long.” explains Noelle softly.

She was right, they both were done in a couple of minutes, then they grab their books put them back in their places enjoined you as you walk into the computer room.

“So, what kind of intellectual stimulation are we going to play?”

“I was thinking Minecrap, what about you Noelle?”

“Oh, I'm fine with whatever.” giving Berdly a look to see what he thinks, he seems pleased with the idea of Minecrap.

“Minecrap it is then!” you pause a second “I call shotgun on the laptop!!”

“Hey! Not fair you always get laptop! It should be my turn now!” squawked Berdly unamused.

“Fine, fine you can have it, this time...” you back off from the laptop, but sit down at the computer right next to it. With Noelle sitting at the computer next to yours.

Booting up the computers punting in the public password and selecting the Minecrap icon on the desktop you will select the world you three have played on before, ‘Too cool to crap’.

You and your friends have already built a house, it's nothing special really.

No seriously, it's a box made of wood plank blocks, not even a roof. At least it has windows on each side.

Noelle is deep in the mine searching for iron ore and diamonds. Whilst you and Berdly are arguing about the house’s design.

“No house is complete without a chimney!” argues Berdly.

“We don't even have a roof yet! Where are you gonna put the chimney?” you argue right back.

“We’ll build it around the chimney!”

“You know what! Fine!” you yell as your character is walking away from the house “I’m going to get some animals!” you say then grabbing wheat and carrots from the nearby chest and leaving.

You find a pair of cows and sheep, but you can’t find pigs anywhere. Walking a little bit more through the tall pixel-y grass you spot the mineshaft that Noelle is mining in right now.

“Hey, Noelle, do you need any help?”

“Nope, I’m good, I’ve already got fifty-seven iron ore!” she announces proudly.

“WHAT?!” both you and Berdly exclaim.

“How… how did you get that many!? We just barely started playing!!” he questioned with surprise.

“Oh, I’m just working at the optimal Y level.”

You go back to watching what your character sees as they're walking back to the house, going past the little taiga village you guys found in reaching your base.

As you get closer, you see what Berdly had built while you were gone. As he promised, he built a chimney, he even put a campfire on top to make smoke come out, he also built the roof around it just plain cobblestone stairs and it honestly didn't look too shabby.

For a basic ass, beginner Minecrap house.

But then you spot it, through the window on the far wall of the house you see a fireplace.

“Berdly? What is there a fireplace in the house????” You ask a little stunned.

“Wait there’s a what- “ Noelle started concern.

“Well, you must know, that you can't have a chimney without a fireplace, just like the chicken and the egg!” He sounded proud of himself.

“Berdly… WE HAVE A WOOD HOME!!”

“…. oh”

“OMG, IT’S ALREDY BURING!!”

“Gosh damn it Berdly…” said Noelle defeated, reaching a hand to her face to cover her eyes.

"Put it out! Put it out!!" 

"Aahhhhhhhhh-"

___

So, you're house burnt down.
At least Berdly learned his lesson of not bringing fire into a wooden building.

And after our home base was rebuilt, all the iron was smelted into ingots and the animals were put in a pen. You guys logged of Minecrap and shut down your PC’s. Leaving the Librarby to go to your individual houses, that are not as flammable.

_
The next day, really nothing interesting happened. Except for the fact that Susie was a little more violent today with Kris then usual.

You know that Kris doesn't really like you… but it's hard not to feel bad for them. They always seemed so tired it feels like they can't stick up for themselves.

Other than that, neither Noelle nor Berdly could hang out today, so you just went straight home after school.

Still, you're excited for tomorrow since your dad promised you'll go to the diner to get some hot cocoa together.

Chapter Text

In the morning you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. Climbing out of bed and getting ready to leave the house You hear your dad from the other room.

“Honey don't forget today we're gonna go eat at the diner today!” he roars Not aggressive but firm.

“Yea I didn’t forget dad!” You yell right back as you’re making sure you are for ready school. Putting on your usual outfit for school and checking yourself in the full-length mirror in your room, then going to the bathroom to brush your teeth and take care of the rest of the morning hygiene.

_
You’re usually one of the firsts students to arrive at school in the moring, Noelle is already at her bench when you got there, with her school supplies organised neatly.

You greet your friend and sit down behind her, not long after that Berdly also arrives.

Bursting through the door, making his presence known with semi yelled ‘salutations’ to the calss.

Setting his backpack on his table he rummages through it, then finding a shiny red apple. Placing it gently on the corner of the teacher’s desk, next to the other ones she hasn't eaten. It’s he’s lil’ ritual.

‘He’s such a dork.’ You think with a soft smile on your face.

Finally Ms. Alphys arrives, looking around the class her eyes landing on the spot where Kris should be sitting, then signing and rolling her eyes tiredly.

Class goes on as usually, the teacher asks a question, no one wants to answer, Noelle offers to answer then gets cut off by Berdly. It’s like a cycle, never ending and constantly repeating…kinda.

Kris eventually also arrives, but you're too bored out of your mind to notice. But Noelle gives them an apologetic look.
Eventually classes are over, and you're finally free to leave, not that you don't enjoy school, you do.

You get to spend time with your friends, and even some of the classes are kind of interesting and fun, sometimes.

You were gathering your things, jumping up and down with excitement as you put your books in your bag pack, out of the blue you got a text from your dad, saying you can bring your friends to eat lunch with you.

Turning your head towards your best friends.

“Hey Noelle, Berdly, me and my folks, we're gonna go to the diner to get some grub. How about you two come with?”

“Oh, I’d like to Y/n, but… I can’t today. I’m going to go see my dad…”

“Oh… right, well no worries, Noelle! What about you Berdly, you feeling hungry?”

He took a second to respond, “Yea sure… if it’s not any trouble with your parents of course!” he sounds a little nervous.

“It was actually their idea to invite you so don't worry, dude.” you explain as you bump him on the shoulder playfully, giving him a warm smile.

So was decided you in Berdly go your separate way towards QC’s diner, saying goodbye to Noelle is heading towards the hospital.

The walk with Berdly is comfortable, you find it very easy to converse with him, usually about video games. You have known each other since you were kids after all, maybe that's why you like him so much, he gives you a sense of familiarity of comfort in warmth.

When he’s not being a total asshat, being mean to anyone he deams has a 'low lvl IQ'.

You give a long sigh.

Sheesh that kinda was sappy, you two are just going to eat some food... With your parents also there, yup… not awkward at all.

WHY did you only NOW realise that a lunch with you your parents and Berdly what's going super awkward and weird… darn it.

But brushing your thoughts aside as you finally get to the restaurant you look through the windows and see that your parents are already at a table, waiting for you.

Before going inside, you look back a Berdly who looked a little stiff.

“Hey, there's no need to worry, my parents like you, you know with you being the smartest in class and all.” You give him a sassy look.

“Well of course they do, everyone in town is aware of my prodigy level intellect!”

“Yes, us ‘low levels’ can't even compere to you.” You say playing into his delusion.

Stepping into QC’s diner you feel smell the food immediately hit your nostrils like a powerful blow of wind to the face one that smells like chicken nuggets and French fries.

Looking around the diner you spot your aunt serving at one of the tables and there was also Catti who is still putting on her uniform.

You wave them both a little hello before you two make your way to your parents table, which is in the left corner of the diner. “Precisely”

Your mom already spotted you when you entered and started excitedly waving at you her arm flailing around like a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man. Both as a greeting and as an invitation to get over there.

Her doing that along with your dad who turned his head in your direction and was also clearly excited to see you.

“Theres my lil, honeydrop! Took you long enough to get here, honestly, I feel like school is just getting longer and longer, but school is very important, never forget that Y/n.” you roll your eyes gosh I swear that if we let him, he would talk our ears off.

Both you and Berdly sit yourselves down on the other side of the table from your parents with your dad sitting in front of you and with Berdly sitting across from your mom, who immediately as you sit down speaks up.

“Hoi mai bAbeY!1 Hau wAz scool 2dAy, y/N?!”

“It was fine mom, nothing too interesting…” you shut up for a second, your started darting from your parents to the bird boy who sitting next to you, both your parents are looking at Berdly right now as if waiting for something, then you figure out what it is.

“This is Berdly my classmate and friend… I also invited Noelle, but she was busy today so…”

“Wel dat’s jus FinE, aNd cus wii kn0w hoo Birdly iz!1 Hez sMortest kiD In da viLLage, ya ya1!” god your mom is awesome.

“Yea there’s no way we wouldn't know the town’s prodigy!” your dad gave a roar of laughter.

“I wouldn't expect it any other way sir, ma’am... heh…” he looked a little sweaty searching for something else to say. Raising a brow at him you decide to change the subject of the conversation.

“Have you guys ordered anything yet?”

“No not yet, we wanted to wait for you. We all know you get prissy when you we don’t wait for you.” He reached across the table to gently pinch cheek, in a loving manner, but still embarrassing for you.

“Daaad…” you complain swatting his hand away with your own.

“Wel itz tRu!” you mother added.

You glance at Berdly next to you and are surprised to see him looking rigid, almost like he's frozen in place. Giving him a worried look you reach your hand out and open your mouth to say something but your cutoff by the waitress putting the menus on the table, touching everyone's attention in the process.

She places a menu in front of everyone, with the grace and quickness of someone who's been doing this for a long time. Then she opens her mouth.

“Hi lil’ bro, what brings ya here? Finally coming by to see yur sister, or did ya just not feel like making lunch today, hm?” Giving him a good hearty slap on his back.

“Can’t it be both sis?” he says giving a timid smile, clearly happy to see his bearly older sister. Your aunt seemed satisfied with that answer then diverted her attention to you and your mom.

“Temmie! Good to see my sister-in-law isn’t forever stuck in that mayoral office. It feels like ya work more than the mayor sometimes gurl.”

“Dat iT d0es, dat iT d0es.” They continued doing their boring adult talk, about the state of the town but gosh about the people that kind of stuff. And you took the opportunity to see what’s got Berdly’s feathers so ruffled.

His face was shoved into menu he was just given, trying to clearly hideaway.

“Whoa, Berdly what’s wrong? You feeling, okay? You say gently trying to lower the menu so you can see his face.

“Huh?! Oh, yea I’m fine… just a little… nervous I think?” He tried explaining as he let go of the menu putting it on the table.

“Berdly, I'm not trying to be mean, but everyone knows each other in this town… there really is no need to worry, plus I don't even know why you're worrying, my parents like you just fine.”

“I suppose that… yeah, you're right! I have no need for this brain stuttering! I can totally win in a 1V2 social interaction!” and there he is back to his normal self, you love to see it when he's acting like a total nerd.

The bird monsters and your conversation is cut shot by your aunt realising, Berdlly’s been here the entire time.

“Ohh hi there lil’ Einstein! What are you doing at this family’s booth?” She asked sounding slightly mean, but not on purpose.

“He’s an honorary guest for today!” explains your dad.

“Indeed! I was invited and I just couldn't refuse such a kind offer, from my classmate here.” He addresses your aunty Lee, you can kinda tell he still a little jittery but he's handling the situation well.

After a bit more small talk with your parents and aunt, she leaves your table to let you all decide what you wanted to order and to check on the other table she was serving at. And so, you four started discussing with each other what you are going to order.

After not a lot of talk and not a lot of time your waitress came back to take your order, your dad wanted a big juicy steak with grilled asparagus, your mom decided on a grilled cheese and a bowl of fruty cereal without the milk, whilst Berdly ordered some grilled anchovies with fries and for you some chicken Nuggets with fries for the gluttonous monster that you are.

And as you are ordering you make sure to look at Berdly’s expression when you ordered the chicken Nuggets to make sure you weren't being… insensitive, but he didn't have any kind of reaction so you're in the clear,

maybe...

hopefuly.

Waiting for the food was…well it was waiting and you would assume that no one likes waiting for their food, it should be seen as a type of psychological torture.

Which is why you assume people ate together to have someone distract you from the draining suffering of not having your food yet.

Your aunt comes back, and she starts having a conversation with your parents again you honestly can't blame them they're all adults with busy lives and they don't get to hang around all that often, so you just let them be well you started a conversation with Berdly.

“So, why'd you get anchovies? I could have sworn you said you didn’t like fish?”

“Fish is food for the brain, do you really think that you can have a brain like mine without putting in the effort? No, you cannot!”

“So, your idea of ‘putting in the effort’ is eating… things you don't like?”

“N-no! And I don’t... hate anchovies...ok.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” you say smugly.

He puffs in frustration. Turning his attention towards your parents on the other side of the table, looking at them for a bit then turning back to you.

“Soooo… not to be insensitive but… how did your parents end up together? And why… you know…?” He said motioning towards you.

“Are you asking how two monsters made a human or why did they adopt me? Because both questions are stupid.”

“Y-yea you’re right… I’m sorry for putting it so bluntly. I was just… just trying to have a conversation with a fellow… friend. With whom else would I allow myself to discuss such things?”

“You wanna asks me about why my parents adopted me, in a diner, while we're waiting for food, and said parents are on the other side of the table?” it's clear your voice that this is more or so funny to you rather than offensive.

The smile on your face making that fact known.

“It's… good thing to know each other backstories, helps with erm… our character development?”

You chuckle hard at that, this guy really has a way with words. A shitty way with words but it's endearing, nonetheless.

“Heh, alright I'll tell you, but I'll warn you it's kind of a boring story.” You can see his eyes widen in excitement, then you’re allowed to continue.

“Both my parents were actually from in this town crazy how that can happen, but after a bit they both left because of job opportunities. And then. By pure coincidence, they found each other working in the same big city. They recognised each other. They fell in love yadda yadda adopted a baby girl. Moved back to their home town. And the rest is history...” you didn't even realise when you started playing with the cloth under table, moving it in between your fingers and making lil' wavy shapes with it.

But when you did, you also became aware of the silence on your side of the table.

Bring your head up slowly from the tablecloth, you look at Berdly who's sitting silently, not uttering a word. Then when you meet his eyes, he slowly opens his mouth.

“That’s it?”

“I told you it was boring!”

“Yea, ok! But I wasn’t expecting THAT boring!” you roll your eyes at that.

You were giving him the ‘wow’ face as if to say, ‘can't believe you're insulting my parents to my face like that’. But almost immediately I mischievous grin appears on your face.

“Your turn.”

“W-what?” he says utterly confused

“Your, turn to tell me your backstory.” the smirk never leaving your face.

“I…I don’t have a backstory!!... I was born a genius! Unlike everybody else of course!”

“Oh, come on! No one is born a lv 100!” You try to make fun of him for making stuff up.

"I'll get that backstory from you one day. Heed my words Berdie" you grin.

Your food came shortly after that and you all enjoyed it. Even Berdly, who ate all of his anchovies, but he still made a comment similar to ‘next time I'm getting chicken Nuggets’ which made you turn and eye, but decided it's not worth the brain racking.

_
Due to the fact is that Home Town is a pretty small community, there is no local convenience store.

Which means that every time someone in town needs something they need to drive to the next town over, just to buy some groceries. The opposite of convenience.

But there have been some rumours going around lately. That the Mayor, dissatisfied with the fact that there's always at least a person missing because they’re at a convenience store, that she’s considering turn the old bar into a one.

You really hope she does this it, would be for the better.

But what's on this talk about convenience stores, you'd ask yourself if you didn't already know the answer.

Today it's your family’s day to go to the market. And because dad doesn't want to leave you alone at home, he decided for you, that you're coming with him. Yippe.

And as you get in the car, staring back at your window you see all the lazy things you could have done today turning to ash before your eyes. The drive to the nearest store wasn't really all that long, but it was long enough to be inconvenient.

At least you can listen to some music while you wait in the car aka. the only good thing about this trip and maybe getting some snacks.

‘Snacks, hm.’
Then an idea hit you. You're going to buy snacks four the tutoring session you have tomorrow with Berdly! Man, I’m smart you think proudly.

So that's exactly what you do, when you and your dad finally reached the store, you ask him if it's okay to buy a few more snacks since you have friends coming over tomorrow.

And he agrees, hehhe.

The first things you go for are Dorito chips and Gatorade, a gamers delight. And of course you can't forget the Dorito chips fried in Gatorade, it's a local specialty.

Then actually getting the stuff you needed, helping your dad carry the thing this you just thought to the car and that makes a mission accomplished.

_
Well today's the day! Berdly's coming over to help you study for school. From the moment you woke up today you haven't been able to stop smiling.

Even your parents were a little suspicious of what might be a foot. But neither of them could be bothered with the mischief at hand since they both have jobs to get to.

Waiting for the clock to reach that time you both agreed on was a pain. If it wasn't obvious by now, your primary soul trait was most certainly not patience.

To say you were excited to see your Berdbly when you heard the doorbell ring, was an understatement.

To say your heart fluttered when you opened the door and saw him, was a pretty accurate statemen.

And to say you were in utter disbelief, and shock when you saw Noelle standing behind him in the doorway, would not do justice to the thoughts running through your mind.

What is Noelle doing here???? What????

“Hello Berdly…… Noelle…???” You can barely hold back the sourness your voice.

“Salutations Y/n! Me and Noelle have arrived for our very serious study session!” he announces as he steps through the door, with Noelle just behind him not saying anything.

“Glad to see you both could make it, I only remember asking one of you two, but that’s… just fine.” you say, clearly not fine.

“Do not worry my friend! Now that the smartest of the smartest are in your presents, you will have no problem in understanding intricate knowledge required to ace that test!”

“That’s great… thanks you guys…” looking at Noelle she looked like she wanted to turn into a bunch of snowflakes and melt away, the awkwardness was too much for her, but she couldn't leave.

You welcome them into your room. You all three sit down at your desk where you have stood many times before, but now on it was chemistry books and snacks on the desk, clearly meant for just two people.

Still, you really couldn't be mad for too long, like sure Noelle being there stopped you from your goal of spending more alone time with Berdly, but they’re your best friends and no matter who stupid the situation is you still get along with them just fine.

So, what was originally going to be a one-on-one type of deal with you and Berdly turned into one of your regular ‘study sessions’.

Which means you guys studied for like 10 minutes then play games for the rest of the day. It wasn't what you planned for today, but it was still fun.

So, you can't really be too mad about it.
And when the time eventually came you guided your friends to the door to say goodbye.

And that's just what you did, closing the door behind them when they left.

But on the other side of the door Noelle and Berdly started making their way down the stairs, and started a conversation.

“Berdly… I really can't help you tomorrow. I mean did you see how mad she was when she saw me?!”

“I know… she did want this to be a 2 player run...”

“And you thought bringing me along, was a good idea???” she sounded disappointed.

“Sigh… if only there was a way for you to help me whilst not being there…hmm”

They both reached his apartment door and just sat there a second he was thinking.

“Eureka! Noelle, I have a plan!”

Chapter Text

“I don’t like this idea, Berdly.”

“Worry not, Noelle! My plan is foolproof.” He says into the mic that's clumsily stuck to the side of this head with tape, with the nervous reindeer monster on the other side.

Doing his best to hide the microphone in his feathers and making sure the tape doesn't fall off, he knocks on your apartment door.

_
Hearing a soft knock coming from the hallway, you put your phone down next to the books you have ready on the table for the study date, getting up from your bed you make your way towards the front door, walking through an empty house since both your parents are in fact at work.

Walking up to the door and grabbing the handle with caution, as you are not sure if Noelle is gonna make a surprise appearance again and to your delight she doesn’t.

As you’re greeted by Berdly’s stupid face and his stupid face alone. You tilt your head, why are his feathers so ruffled?

“Hi Berdly!” you glance around him as if looking for something

“Noelle couldn’t make it today?” acidentlly sounding a lot more happy then you'd like.

‘She’s this happy I’m not there??? Gosh.’

“Oh, yea she... was um, busy!” He says as he stumbled his way inside.

“Well, no matter, we can study just fine without her.” You say as you grab his arm and drag him to your room. He gulps as he’s being pulled along like a ragdoll.

Studying was more or less the same as yesterday, no hiccups and no big distractions to interrupt you’re oh so important study time, well that's what you would say if that was the case. But it wasn't.

Berdly was acting very strangely, for example every time you would have a question on something he would just stand there staring blankly at the page somethimes repeating the question for at least a couple of minutes at a time.

He also kept ruffling his feathers as if they were itching him or something.
Aaaaand then you realized he had a headphone in his bird ear…

“Berdly…? Are you listening to music??”

“W-what! Of course not, what makes you say that…”

You stare at him for a second.

“You’re wearing headphones.”

“N-no I’m not!” he tried to cover where his ears would be with his hands, as if trying to tune you out.

“Berdly, if you wanted to listen to music, you should have just said so!” You say try not to laugh at his frankly adorable shenanigans.

‘Ah, I told you this was a bad idea Berdly!’

“Is that what you've been so unresponsive today?”

“Uh…yea…sorry…” he mumbled while scratching the back of his head nervously.

You pause for a good minute, looking around the room at all the scattered books then school supplies and you decide that you've had enough learning for a single day.

“You know what, I think we've done plenty studying for today. Why don’t we play some games?”

“Yeah, yea that sounds like an adequate to continue today's schedule. So, video games?” He speaks as if all that nervousness from before just evaporated into thin air.

“We don't have to play video games, we could go outside and just hang around… doing stuff, actually I don't know.”

“I much preferred the video games.” He said bluntly.

“Why, you don't wanna touch grass?” you tease.

“Shut up.”

“Whatever you say Berdie.” You say sticking your tongue out at him.

You both started gathering your things and other knickknacks to make room for playing video games. You gathered all your books Berdly gathered all the pencils and papers, and then you two realized that Berdly would probably need a laptop of his own.

So Berdly went a few stories down to his apartment to get his gaming laptop, as the try hard he is he was heaving as he went up the stairs with the laptop in hand.

And you welcomed him by giggling at how 'weak' he is.

You grab your laptop and sit beside Berdly, who was laying comfortably on your bed.

“So, any games in mind?” you ask

“I've been meaning to continue working on our Moondrop Valley file. Sound good?”

“Yup, sounds good.” You respond as you boot up the computer on your lap.

You two watch your computer screens as the opening title screen captivates both of you with its serene beauty and calming energy. And as you press on the load button to load your multiplayer save file, you look over at Berdly Who's trying to find the game in a mountain of saved games.

“Why do you have so many save files???”

“I stream my speed runs, and I seep run this game a lot. Why do you only have two???”

“Well… well, my first one was a learning experience, and the second one is for perfection. Simple as that I don't like when things get complicated.”

“Fair, fair.”

Loading the save file, you spawn in the big house on the farm, since you're the host of the game and Berdly spawn in the small house next to yours. You two had a pretty standard form, a small fenced in area for your animals

A small little place next to the houses where you had all of your machines and such and pretty much the rest of the farm was just covered in formable land for the crops.

As soon as you got out of the house you started making a schedule for the next couple of hours you were gonna be playing, well more like a to do list really.

Berdly is going to all the fish available in this season that you haven't caught yet, and you're going to go to the mines and gather up a bunch of materials to upgrade your tools. So, you leave the farm and start making your way there.

“Do we have enough wood for a horse pen, for Wren to bild?” you ask as your character makes her way to the mines passing by Wren’s shop.

“Why didn't you check when you where here?” he asks back annoyed.

“Because I just got the idea now. Can’t you check please?”

“I have more important stuff to do!” He's looking through the chests, to find items to restore energy for the fishing trip.

“Fine, fine… geez.”

Going through the mines with your gold pickaxe and steel blade was routine by now, having to kill multiple monsters on each floor while looking for the staircase and making sure you don't miss any ore nodes was quite doable, but you quickly found yourself going on autopilot and just letting your head be empty for a bit.

You were resetting the floors going back again together more ores and then Berdly snaps you out of your gameplay trance.

“UH! I hate this stupid fish! Why is it sooo hard!?”

“What’d you lose?”

“A dorado.” He huffs crossing his hands.

“Can you even catch those this early in the game???” you ponder.

“Yeah, why wouldn't you be able to catch one?”

“I don't know man it's just I've never caught one this early. I thought it was like a total catch requirement or something.”

“No. No that's a gameplay mechanic in Crossing Animals but not in this game! How do you not know that?!” He said flexing his gamer knowledge through anger.

You shrug your shoulders, voicing an ‘I donno’.

He puffed clearly annoyed and done with the conversation and went back to fishing. So did you go back to mining, but not after long you're interrupted again.

“Can you not catch catfish in spring? We need one.” Asked the game master, who forgot the catching requirements.

“It needs to be raining.” you enlighten him.

“Oh. Well, what am I supposed to do now, it’s the last fish we need!”

“Check to see if it's raining tomorrow… stupid.”

“You don’t get to call me stupid! You… you… you idiot!” he spat back at you.

“Pff” you giggle.

Feeling satisfied with the amount of loot you have collected you decide to also head back to the farm.

“It's not gonna rain tomorrow. Do we have a rain totem?”

“Yeah, I think we got one in one of the chests or something.”

“Nope, that one I used a bit ago, it was required for something.” He said puffing up his chest clearly seeing his usage of your only totem as a worthy sacrifice.

“What did you use for?”

“I used it for a cutscene.” He said still clearly proud of himself.

“Bruh… whatever just craft a new one.” You say focusing back on your screen.

“Well, we don't have truffle oil, so I can't make it”

“Yes, we do!”

“No, we don’t, we don’t have pigs!”

“I got some from the traveling card lady!”

“Where is it??” he questions as he’s is looking through the chest.

“It’s in the blue one.” You say rising your head up from the screen as you finally reach the farm.

“Why is it in the blue one?! It should clearly be in the orange one! That's just basic logic!”

“Well I put in the blue one, sue me!”

…

……

………

Now you're done screaming at each other for no good reason, you two peacefully go back to playing together. You've done this routine multiple times and you're not gonna get tired of it or him anytime soon.

“Need help with anything else?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

You go back to playing.

__
The next day, you and Noelle are going to visit Noelle’s dad, Ruby, at the Hospital. Noelle goes to visit her dad quite often since he was hospitalized a few weeks ago.

You decide tag along with Noelle today since, he may not be your dad, but he's always been there when you were younger and has always been an important role model in your life.

And since your dad and her dad have been friends a long time, you and Noelle growing up around each other's families was inevitable.

Entering the hospital through doors with Noelle by your side the sterile air of the medical facility hits you like a truck, you've never really liked the smell of hospitals and such it always reminded you of the scary trips to the dentist.

Whilst freeting the nurse siting at the reception table, you spot the piano in the corner of the room getting a flashback, those times when you went to visit the Holiday family’s home and Kris was just playing the piano but they stoped quickly as they’d heard you enter, they would go back to Noelle’s room as if your mere presents disturbed them, do they hate uou that much?

Getting back on track you follow Noelle through the clean sanitary halls and finally reaching Rudy’s door.

As soon as you two enter he greets you with so much energy and enthusiasm you'd swear he wasn't in the hospital.

“Hello sweetie! Say, are my meds acting up because I'm seeing double! Haha, hi Y/n. Finally got over your fear the hospital to visit ol' Rudolph?” he laughs.

“No sir, sill got some chills when I walked in here, heh……hm.”

“How you feeling dad? The nurse say anything?” she says as she steps next to the bed.

“Nope, the same as yesterday and the day before…and before that.” Noelle didn’t look to pleased to hear that.

You detach yourself from the conversation for a bit, letting your mind wander to how things used to be and how one little mistake ruined it all, you know it's not your fault it's no one’s really but you'll never be able to reed yourself of the guilt and pain, like you could have done something you just didn't know how or what.

By the time your little existential crisis was over Rudy was asking you about that upcoming text.

“So, heard you two got a big test with a capital T coming up ey Y/n?”

“Huh… Oh yea that one’s been stressing me out a bit.” You admit feeling a lil’ embarrassed.

“Well, I hope that my dear ol’ daughter’s been helping her friend out with that.” He says giving Noelle a friendly nudge.

“I have! And Berdly’s been helping out too!”

“Ah, your lil' nerd friend, right?” he chuckled in your direction.

“Yeah, yep that's him……ahem.” Said Noelle very suspiciously as if she said too much making you slowly turn your head towards her.

“I’ll kick his ass.”

“Dad!”
“What.”

Rudy gives a a hearty laugh.

“If he does anything stupid, I’m here to help. I’m sure you could lure him in here right Y/n?" he nudges you with his elbow. "Bring him to the window so I can throw something at him!” He says that in such a cheerful way that you're not sure if he's actually kidding.

“You know what I think we're gonna leave early! Hehe bye dad!” no grabs you by the shoulders and pushes you out of the room.

Sitting there in shock for a second as to what just happened, you slowly turn your head towards Noelle giving her a ‘gurl wtf’ look.

“He's the only one who knows I swear!” Waiting her hands in front of her chest defending herself.

you're still giving her a disappointing look, shaking your head with your arms crossed.

But eventually you roll your eyes and put on a forgiving smile.

“It's fine. Honestly your dad knowing it makes me feel a little better, you know?”

Noelle gives a sigh of relief.

“And who's he gonna tell anyway, the nurse? Pff.”

“Y/n!” she giggles.

__
The next morning when you wake up, nothing feeling out of the ordinary. Until a single thought pops into your head.

The test is tomorrow.

Shit.

Chapter Text

The piece of paper is put on your school desk, by the teacher’s dinosaur claw, and so the test starts.

You sigh and take a moment to shake off your nerves as best you can.

Checking both sides of the test paper to see if there's any more exercises then there already is on the front.

There isn’t.

Another sign escapes from within you.

‘Alright let's do this.’

You quickly jot down your full name on the papers corner, Ms. Alphys doesn’t expect you to write the the date in the corner, since she’ll be correcting your tests immediately after you finish them.

Which is good since you won't have to be stressed out and anxious not knowing the result until a day or so passes.

And as you're trying your best to remember the answer for the second problem, your eyes start up at the teacher’s desk.

There you see Ms. Alphys looking slightly sweaty and nervous, it gives you the impression that she wants to walk around the class looking at how everybody's doing and giving them little hints, you know, like a ‘cool’ teacher.
But it's clear that she’s petrified in her seat.

As an empathetic person but right now is not really the time, so you go back to your work.

You breeze through the easy questions the ones that you basically memorized and get to the more difficult and brain churning problem is that at the bottom of the page, every time you feel stumped you put your hand on your chin make the ‘thinker’ pose as if that's gonna increase your brain power and help you understand atoms any better.

Your pen is moving across the paper writing as clearly and as quickly as you can, but as you do, you're slightly interrupted by the sound of paper shuffling and seats moving from behind.

You glance back to see Susie trying to sneak a glance at Kris’ paper, and like the doofus that Kris is, they don't even notice the purple lizard standing menacingly behind them.

Susie moved her entire desk slowly closer to Kris’ just so she could sneek a peek.

Turning back to your paper, you realize that you're finally finished and so you start reevaluating everything making sure that no mistakes slipped through the ridges of your brain.

And you’re almost done with that, when you hear the teacher speak.

“A-alright class, t-times up! P-please p-put your pens down.” She says trying to sound assertive yet falling.

“N-Noelle, c-can you please g-gather everybody's tests.”

“Alright.” says Noelle as she gets up and starts going around the class getting everybody’s papers. Then she lays them on the teacher’s desk.

You're staring down at your table as your classmates start talking, and the more they talk the louder they get, until.

“K-kids! P-please pipe down, I-I need to focus.”

So, you just wait there…

…

Man, this is nerve wracking.

Noelle turns around in her chair to look at you and give you a big bright ‘you got this smile’ even though it looks a little apologetic, you retuns her smile even though she can easily see you’re nervous.

You turn your head to the right to look at Berdly, who was looking super smug in his chair, he catches you looking and tuns to also look at you his smug expression still not changing.

The expression on his face gives off an ‘I know for a fact I got an A+’ kind of feeling.

But looking at your saddened face, his features quickly become more apologetic and concerned. He whispers.

“Don’t worry, I tutored you, you’ve nothing to worry about.” and he also gives you a warm smile and two feathered thumbs up.
After a little bit more waiting Ms. Alphys was done with correcting your tests and so she started handing them out to everybody, first she gave everybody in the 1st row their test, Bedly and Noelle both having A+’s and Temmie having an A then she handed them out to the second row, stopping by your table last then went on with the next students.

You look down.

…

Holy crap.

You got an A-!

You actually got an A-! finally a good grade in chemistry!

You excitedly look up at Noelle and Berdly who were already looking at you trying to read your reaction, and seeing your shoulders relax and that big happy smile on your face was good sign.

“I got an A-!” you whisper yell.

“Good job Y/n! “says Noelle cheerfully

“Congratulations, Y/n. I personally had all the faith in you.” Adds Berdly.

“Thanks so much Berdly. I couldn’t have done it without your help!”

And once your teacher’s done with handing out the papers, Ms. Alphys excuses you all, considering it's the end of the school day so everybody starts packing up their school materials and such, you're personally doing it in a very giddy and fat moving manner.

You put your backpack on and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off your shoulders and you're finally allowed to relax a little bit.

Working with your two best friends outside of the classroom and into the schools hallway.

Then you hear Noelle speak up.

“Well… if you ask me this deserves a better celebration, ey Berdly” she suggests as she's elbowing Berdly’s side and staring him down.

“Ouch!... Hehe yea uhm I was thinking Y/n, maybe we could get some food and celebrate by the lake… if you want to” Noelle seems satisfied enough with that response to stop nudging him.

“Yeah, I really like that.”

“Cool cool…”

…

Alright then.

You threer start walking to the exit but you have to slow down a bit since every one of your classmates are crowded in the door way but you slowly make your way out the door.

Noelle has had enough of this awkward silence.

“Well. I’m sure you two are gonna have fun.”

Your mind pauses for a second.

“Noelle, you’re not coming with…?” You say, trying your hardest not to sound excited at the thought of being alone with Berdly.

“No, sorry I can't, going to see my dad today. But you two have fun!” She cheers ohh she's waving you goodbye, heading on her separate way.

Berdly I didn't expect Noelle to just head out like that, leaving him and you standing in front of the school.

Turing his head from Noelle’s now far away silhouette to you and seeing you seemingly happy at the idea of just hanging out with him, helped him chill out a bit.

The game plan was to get some food and go chill out by the lake for a couple of hours, enjoy your moment of relaxation tranquility, serenity, something like that.

“I was thinking we could get some pizza from Ice-E’s. What do you think Berdly?”

“A wonderful idea, dear Y/n! You go to the lake, I'm going to bring you a nice steamy cheesy pizza, for us to enjoy.” He says proudly with a hand on his chest.

You pause. Did he just call you ‘dear’, that’s new.

You wanted to ask him about it, but he quickly started heading the other way towards Ice-E’s pizzeria. He doesn't even make it five feet in that direction before he makes a U-turn coming right back to you.

“Can I borrow some money?”

You’re holding in a laugh. This mother fluffer offered to buy you pizza but he doesn't even have money on him, God why are you so attracted to this dumbass. You smile and hand him enough money to buy a medium pizza for the two of you.

He starts heading on his merry way, but not before you tenderly punch him in the shoulder, you both let out a chuckle.

Making your way to the nearby lake at the edge of the town what exactly what you needed right now.

The grainy texture of the gravel underneath your feet as you took your every step, the chill autumn breeze running through your hair is very pleasant.

With trees from the the forest that surrounds your village and either side of your vision as you look towards the lake filled with Lily pads and with frogs and ducks scattered about on its surface.

You reach the edge of the lake and so do your eyes reach your final destination up to the skies, sitting down with your legs hanging over the side you watch the clouds drift by, slowly but not slow enough then you can see the constant change in movement through the great blue above you.

,Blue’ you think. Blue is your favorite color, or at least you think it is.

It makes you think of all your favorite things that are blue, the sky, the water, those flowers that bloom in spring, Berd-

Your train of thought is caught off by rustle of the gravel coming up behind you.

Turing around to find what is causing the commotion you’re met with Berdly making his tords you, which makes you jump a little bit. But you quickly relax as he sits down beside you, putting the pizza box in between you two.

“What did you get?” you ask referring to the pizza.

“I got your favorite…” he looks bashful.

You're a little stunned, when did you ever tell him that, you don’t remember.

“How did you know?”

“What?”

“How did you know this is my favorite pizza?”

“Oh… yea you told me once.” He shifts his gaze off to the side.

“Really? I don’t remember doing that…”

He hasn't forgotten something so meaningless that you told him once, that even you forgot about telling him.

Has he always cared this much about what you say? It makes you blush a lil’.

You two started digging into the pizza, swinging your feet off the edge of the lake as you started having the most jovial of conversations.

Sometimes you wonder how it feels so natural to have such weird conversations with him.

Like he has the most weirdest of ways of starting conversations and and ending them, he'll start by talking about how this one game is really unbalanced or how some of its mechanics really suck and then he’d end the back and forth between you with something like ‘I think they should have allowed both male and female player characters to get pregnant’ or ‘sometimes I wonder what I taste like’.

The most random of things and yet you find yourself enjoying talking to him about any topic you're just enjoying his presence, it doesn't matter what crap he comes up with next.

Not that you talk about sane things either but still.

Talking to him came naturally to you and it’s one of the most enjoyable parts of your day sometimes.

‘Man… I really really like this idiot’ you think to yourself.

Finishing the last slice of pizza and putting the box off to the side to be thrown away later, you finally found yourself able to look at him for a little longer.

He’s still talking but when he catches your your gaze solely focusing on him, he turns his eyes towards you and you should just stare at each other.

You both have been sitting there for a couple of hours, chatting up a storm together. You've been hanging out for so long now that the sun has started to set, the warm light of the golden orange sun setting illuminating both of your faces.

You start leaning in.

You're just barely halfway to him, when he realizes you're leaning in, he seems taken aback.

So, you stop right there, waiting for him to close the gap.

His eyes widen as he picks up what you're putting down.

So, cautiously closes the distance between you. And you kiss Berdly.

And you're going to be honest, this is your first kiss and for a first kiss you'd say it's pretty good. Whenever you imagined yourself kissing Berdly you always assumed that it'd be a little weird, ‘I mean he's got a break, there is no way that feels normal’ you always thought to yourself.

But it's not as wierd as i imagined it be, it felts smoother than lips human definitely, but it also felt good, like the feeling of a big warm hug when you’re sad or like you're cozying up in your blankets on a rainy day with a cup of cocoa or tea at your side.

You can feel the butterflies in your stomach and the blush on your face as you slowly open your eyes and break apart from him, with him doing the same.

You look into each other's eyes, your faces red and you're hand in his hand, and you just enjoy this sweet moment.

Then you realize.

You just kissed Berdly…

‘OMG I JUST KISSED BERDLY!’

And before you can say anything Berdly grabs his bag in a flash, face completely red as he makes a run for it, with his head low.

“B-BYE Y/N! SEE Y-YOU TOMORROW!”

…

He just left you here…

What a fricking jerk!

Chapter Text

Waking up the next morning in your bed you’re still super ticked off by Berdly just ditching you like that after you two kissed!

‘I mean come on who kisses someone then just dips! Asshat!’

Him being an idiot isn't news to anybody, especially to you but not even on a bad day is he this oblivious.

Covering your face with your hands and your blanket, you let out a scream of frustration and then a sigh of this appointment. You're going through an emotional roller coaster right now.

‘Did he hate the kiss that much?’ you ask yourself with worry.

That's probably what he left, unable to look me after the betrayal what we did, you frown releasing your face from your blanket, a tear threatening to escape from your eye.

‘That’s still not an excuse to leave me like that!’ You’re still mad at him, but also mad at yourself.

You sigh.

‘Does he even want to be friends anyore?’

___

"SHE DEFENTLY DOESN’T EVEN WANNA BE FRIENDS ANYMORE, NOELLE!” screamed Berdly into his phone

“… Berdly why did you call me at 3am to tell me this?” asked the sleep deprived reindeer.

“…I can’t sleep I feel awful, Noelle…” he answered voice full of dread.

“…Wha- “

“What am I going to do! I don't think I can stand the embarrassment of seeing her tomorrow!”

“…” a yawn is heard from the other side.

“She 100% hates me now! She’s going to ask me to unfriend her on all of my platforms!”

“She doesn’t hate y- “

“YES, SHE DOES!” Noelle can hear him crying.

“sweet christmas… this guy…” she whispers to herself. “Berdly you can just- “

“Wait! I can just ask for forgiveness with material goods, that way she’ll have to forgive me! Noelle you’re almost as smart as me! Good night recharge!” he then hangs up on her.

“-Just say you’re sorry…” she sighs heavily.

“’night Berdly.” She says to no one, putting her phone down on her night stand and going back to sleep.

___

Back in the morning you have just arrived at school, feeling a little nervous before going into your classroom.

You're just standing in front of the door your hand on the handle we're not quite ready to open it yet.

What happened yesterday between us is a little complicated, you think see yourself.

So, I'll give him a grace period, if he doesn't apologize until the end of the school day, you’re gonna have a couple harsh words to tell him.

Finally entering through the door you're surprised to see that Berdly’s desk is empty.

‘He’s not here yet, that’s… odd.’

But you're not going to acknowledge it out loud even if he's not here he doesn't deserve your attention.

You say your salutations to Noelle and your other friends, then sit down at your desk waiting for the teacher to arrive.

And by the time Ms. Alphys shows up and starts the lesson you’re in disbelief, not once since you moved to Hometown has Berdly been late to class, not once!

Even Kris is here on time!

Is he sick? But even when he’s sick, he just puts on a mask and powers through the day to get home faster.

He's got a perfect record in one day has he was absent. Strange…

You're too busy not paying attention to the teacher when the classroom door is kicked open, taking everyone's attention from Ms. Alphys, her attention included, everyone now is staring at the person who slammed the door open.

Berdly.

He looks, well he’s panting like he just ran a marathon he's also a sweating.

Taking a moment to look at him you can see that one in one of his hands he's got an apple that he swiftly places on the teacher's desk, but that's not the weird part he does that every day the thing that grabs your attention is the big bag he's got hanging from his shoulder, with a box inside of it.

You eye him suspiciously wondering what he's up to.

And then he makes his way to his desk, he shoots you an apologetic smile and a wave.

You turn you head way from him, not reciprocating the gesture.

He frowns and sits down. And the teacher starts the lesson again.

___

Hearing the ring of the school bell, you start packing your books into your backpack, being too busy and broody to notice the blue (basted) bird standing right in front of your desk.

Lifting your eyes from your backpack you’re startled and jump ever so slightly, not being aware of his presence.

And you stare at him waiting for him to say something.

“H-Hi Y/n, meet me at the lake, ok”

You stare, unimpressed.

“P-Plesse…?” he makes big sad puppy eyes at you.

Sigh.

“Fine.” you say.

He jumps in the air a couple of times, making his excitement and happiness known to you and everyone around.

Which isn't a lot anymore since most of your classmates have already left, not all though.

You watch as Berdly skips his way through the door and into the halls of the school.
You’d giggle at that if you weren’t still mad at him.

When you finish packing up you notice that Noelle is waiting for you next to the door, that's nice I've heard to wait for you, when you join her at the door, she seemed a bit hesitant to leave and you two walked out of the classroom and into the hallway she stops.

You want to ask her what’s wrong but then you hear something coming from behind you two.

It’s Susie’s voice, echoing from inside of the classroom.

“Hey, idiot.” You heard her speak.

As soon as her voice was heard Noelle, who's at the door peeking through the small crack of the semi closed door.

You followed suit, looking into the room by putting your head above hers, to be able to see.

Susie was at the teacher's desk with her feet resting on top of it like she owns the place with the apple that Berdly gave Ms. Alphys today in her hand.

The only other person in the room, the person she was talking to is Kris.

Who is still at their own desk with their head resting on it. Not responding to Susie.

“HEY IDIOT!”

Kris didn’t look up.

“KRIS!”

At that they look up at her. Susie was unimpressed and bared her teeth like a wild animal.

“Nice shampoo, apple flavor, right?” her teeth still on full display.

“Better be careful wearing that around me.”

What does she mean by that you ponder, not needing to wait long for an answer.

She bits as hard as she could into the apple, chopping it clean and half. You and Noelle have very different reactions to that whilst Kris has no reaction.

After she finishes the half, she continues with her monologue’

“Keep smelling like apple… you might and up like this.”

There’s no response from Kris.

“Bitten…” she holds up the apple “In HALF.”

There’s a silence that settles for a moment.

It doesn’t last long. You hear snickering, you, Noelle and Susie are completely taken aback.

Kris’ laughter just barely audible.

You've never heard that sound before, it was alien to you and it's certainly caught you off guard because... why are they laughing? ‘She is threatening you, Kris! What.’

Susie didn't really appreciate Kris snickers, she probably assumed they were laughing at her, her guess is as good as yours honestly.

In her anger in frustration, she threw the apple at Kris with all her might, aming for their head you presume.

But Kris raised their notebook to block the apple in such a way that it made it go up.

And they actually CAUGHT the apple!

Both you and Noelle are completely stunned with your mouths hanging open in shock and awe. So cool.

Susie wasn't at his impressed though, she was furious.

“You a little…” she grumbles she angrily stomps her towards Kris, grabbing them by the hair and staring daggers at them. Her face REALLY close to Kris’.

That won't stand! Kris may not like you but you're not about to stand around and watch them get bullied like this. You try pushing Noelle aside to enter the room to separate those two.

But Noelle won't budge, she's completely frozen stiff and you're unable to move her out of the way.

“noelle please move!” you whisper at her. With her still not budging.

You are not paying attention to Susie and Kris until you hear a booming laugh echoing inside the classroom. Making you look up again.

“Someone might make you disappear. And she'll finally realize how happy she was without you.” what the heck is she talking about? Whatever it is you don't like it one bit.

Even after all of that, Kris still didn’t respond.

Which pisssed Susie off and she exploded.

“SAY SOMETHING, YOU IDIOT!!!”

You could feel her voice echoing throughout your head, booming in your ears.

Then when it finally went quiet.

Kris’ mouth moved a little.

You have no idea of the even said anything it’s so quiet in there. Ohh whatever they said Susie didn't like it one bit.

Her hand removed itself from their hair like it was burning her, backing off in the process, then she started rapidly approaching the door.

Seeing her approach, you and Noelle stumble over each other to to click to quickly hide before she leaves the room.

Seeing Noelle jump in her locker and closing the door influences you to do the same, hiding in your own locker and waiting for Susie to pass you.

Seeing her walking by your locker it felt like your heart has stopped beating and going too fast at the same time. And when she was finally out of the building you could hear Noelle exclaim.

“Holy cheese and crackers!” You hear her slight panting almost turn into a laughter of relief.

You're also giving yourself a moment to breathe and as you do you see another shadow pass by you your locker, then you're here no well yell in surprise. Opening your locker door to see that Noelle’s locker has been open my Kris who is now menacingly standing over her.

“h-h-hello kris…” she stuttered.

Without saying a word Kris slowly, slowly, slowly starts closing the door in Noelle’s face.

And when they're done, they look in your direction absolutely emotionless not uttering a word and then they leave.

THEY JUST LEFT.

Allowing you and Noelle to wonder what just happened…

"...Well that just happened-" 

"Oh my god, shut up!" She cuts you off, with a smile on her face.

___

Almost forgetting that you promised to meet up with Berdly, you start making your way towards the lake, confusing Noelle in the process but she was still stunned from earlier, so she didn’t ask any questions, going her separate way.

Walking down the gravel path that leads to the lake nearing its end you start hearing quiet sobs. You start walking a little faster causing the gravel underneath your feet to rumble loudly, the sound of crying makes you worry.

Bradley is sitting on the edge of the lake with the big bag right next to him, his shoulders going slightly up and down repeatedly, the movement coming to an abrupt stop when he hears footsteps approaching.

You slow down your pace when you're in short distance from him moving with careful steps and eventually sitting down next to him.

He doesn't say anything, his face slightly turned away from you.

“Berdly why are you crying? You, ok?”

“Y-Yea, I’m fine. I just… thought you ditched me…” his voice a lil’ trembly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Something… uh happened uhm… I’ll tell you later.”

“You wanna talk to me latter!” he said cheerfully finally truing his hard to look you in the eyes, with his now bright ones.

You look into each other’s eyes for a minute, both of you unable to look away. ‘Is he really this happy that I still wanted to talk to him’ a faint blush appears on your face.

In that moment you completely forget your still supposed to be mad at him.

He's the first to break eye contact, looking next to him at the bag he brought, putting his hand on it, thinking about something.

You break the silence.

“So why did you ask me to come here?” You tilt your head trying to get a peek at what's inside the bag, but he moves it behind himself so you can't look.
“I-well- uhm…”

He takes a second to breathe.

“Iboughtyouaplaycenter5IknowyouwantedoneforyourbirthdaybutsoIgotyouoneerly!”

“I accept your apology- WHAT??!...”

You stare at him.

“You… bought… me… a… pc5…... wha- WHY?!” you say stunned.

“to make up for yesterday…” he said voice soft, bringing his index feathers together.

“You could have just said sorry Berdly… I would have forgiven you…” your mouth is haginng open.

“…”

“…”

“REALLY??” he says batting his lashes at you as if the fact that you would forgive him is the most flattering thing you could have told him. This flipping guy.

“You're returning that.” this is not up for discussion.

“No, no I’m sorry!”

“You're returning it and you're getting your money back!” you put your hands on his shoulders shaking him lightly.

“NOO, it’s for you, Y/n! Keep it!” he buries his head in your chest pleading with you.

“Nuh uh.” you cross your arms in disagreement, pushing his face away.

“Yuh uh.” He squints his eyes at you.

“NUH UH!”

“YUH UH!”

“You keep it it’s yours YOU bought it!” you point at him.

“YEA! FOR YOU!” he points at you.

You both angrily squint at each other. This is going nowhere…

“I got is so you can forgive me!”

“I already did!”

“Then take it!!”

“You keep it!!”

“I'm keeping it under only one condition.” he negotiates, he raises his index feather in the air.

“What?” your arms crossed again.

“I keep it. If you agree to play with me on it.”

“You don't have to ask, of course gonna play with you, Berdly!”

“Oh…” he smiles.

"..."

‘heh idiot’ you mumble under your breath, a smile on your face.

“that all you wanted to tell me?” You tilt your head at him.

“uh hu…” he says nervously blushing hand scratching the back of his head.

You chuckle at how gosh darn cute he is, leaning in and giving him a peck on the cheek, making him freeze in place, as you push yourself on your feet and start going on your way.

“Alrighty, see you tomorrow Berdly!”

“…wat” his face completely red, he’s left there to wonder what just happened?

Chapter Text

For no discernible reason you wake up actually excited to go to school this morning, yeah for no reason at all, it's not like there's a total snack of a nerd waiting for you-

But the stupid narration in your brain stops in its tracks the second it spots a new landmark on your way to school.

You had just come out of your apartment buildings door and started making your way towards school on your regular path, when IT catches your attention.

‘WHERE DID THIS BUILDING COME FROM????’

And you are NOT in fact still asleep, there’s a new grocery store right next to the house that no one lives in. Which weirdly enough is also a little different, there's clothes hanging off the balcony and there's a new door mat, maybe someone moved in.

But you don't catch on to the differences with the old house, you're still completely stunned as to how an entire GROCERY STORE just manifested out of thin air, almost like someone had teleported there.

You swear in was not there when you came home last night not even the foundation of the building was there, there was no way they built this thing in one night.

You're stunned.

But not too for long, you still have school to get to after all, you take one more second to gawk at the building then you start going your way.

At least the mayor finally got us a grocery store.

___

You are never late to school, and you never will be, well except that one time but we don't talk about that…
You're the type to arrive very on point, never too late, never too early, punctuality means a lot to you. Entering the classroom and passing by the teachers desk you spot Noelle and Berdly already… ready for classes.

Saying good morning to your classmates and best friends, you give Noelle a friendly wave and give Berdly a ‘hi handsome’ kind of smirk.

He doesn’t catch on, but he enjoys your greeting nevertheless, and so do you with his you just couldn't wait to get here and his goofy goober face.

So squishable, so fluffy.

…

Anyway, you walk to your desk in the 2nd row and take a seat, you take out your books and supplies from your backpack, placing them on your table, and start conversation with Noelle and Berdly, waiting for the teacher to arrive.

Eventually everyone eventually arrives and takes their seat, with Kris as usual coming in after the teacher arrives with a drowsy look on their face.

Seeing their face makes you remember what happened here yesterday, making you worry a lil’.

They take their seat and plop their head on their desk as the teacher continues on with the lesson, glance back at them for a second before turning your head around to face the blackboard.

___
The school day goes on as normal, boring but normal.

The bell rings signaling your freedom, and everyone including you starts packing up. And most of your classmates have already bolted out the door.

You get up on your feet and look at the back of the classroom wanting to make your way over there to talk to Kris about what happened with Susie.

Will you stop when you spot Noelle already next to Kris, presumably making sure they're ok after what happened yesterday. And as you're looking at them only now do you realize that Susie isn't here.

‘Huh, guess she didn’t come to school…’

You let your mind wander, but only for a split second.
Good thing Noelle’s talking to them, not like they’d want you helping them anyway. It’s for the better.

You turn away from the two of them, with the intention of making your way to the door but you're stopped dead in your tracks yet again.

This time you find yourself face to face with Berdly who was sitting right behind you when you turned around.

You jump and yelp in surprise at the sight of someone this close to you.

Only after you realize who it is do you relax your shoulders, giving Berdly a warm smile, with him returning the gesture.

“What?” you ask with amusement in your tone.

He's a little taken aback by your question, as if he just wanted to stay like that for a little while longer.

“Ah… right.” he clears his throat. “I was wandering if you wanted to, I mean- I rented a movie from the Librarby and uh I was wandering if you’d like to watch it… with me… you know, like a d-“he doesn’t get to finish

“A date?” you say your eyes a lil’ wider than before.

“Ah uh-no, of course not, what I meant to say was a d…. definitely platonic hangout……yea.” Not even he believes what he’s saying.

“Sure.” You giggle “I’d love to Berdly.” wide smile on your face.

He seems a little taken aback by your response, but his look of surprise quickly changes into one of giddy happiness with a matching smile on his face.

Oh my god, can this guy get any cuter! Before he gets a chance to say anything you grab his wing, he blushes, you start walking out of out of the classroom, with him just allowing you to drag him along.

You swear, if this was a cartoon he’d be floating in the air trailing behind you with hearts coming out of his head.

The both of you decided that Sunday will be the day you two will hang out and watch that movie and that you will be coming over to his place to see it. Since he had ‘better’ screen as he puts it.

He’s not wrong, he has a TV screen in his room not even, Noelle has that and her mom,s the mayor.

___
The wait from Friday to Sunday was excruciating! All you wanted to do was go over to Berdly’s apartment just a few floors below yours and smooch the ever-living daylights out of him.

But no, you had to wait plus you aren't even a couple technically.

Yeah, sure you've kissed a few times but that doesn't mean much- I meant it means a lot to you and you you're sure it means a lot to him too, but that’s not enough to call yourselves a boyfriend and girlfriend.

And that kinda hurt…

That’s it.

You are sure as heck going to ask him to be your boyfriend when you go over to his place today. You can't take it anymore you're at your fucking limit.

You need to embrace your little bird boy, and you need to embrace him now.

So, when push comes to shove and it’s finally time for you to go, you are sprinting out of your apartment making your way down the stairs in a flash not able to hold your excitement any longer.

Stopping right in front of Berdly’s apartment door, you take a second to compose yourself and softly knock on it.

To your delight, Berdly opens the door greeting you but not stepping aside to let you inside. You didn't even realize this until you saw the look on his face, his eyes were glued to the floor, his expression reading of guilt.

So, you ask him what’s wrong.

“Hey Berdly… um you feeling, ok?” the concern in your voice clear.

“Yea I’m fine, it’s just my dad… he uh…” he meets your eyes for just a slit second before darting down at the floor again.

“He wants me to focus more on my studies so, he’s not allowing me to have friend over, unless it’s for studying… he says it’s so I don’t get distracted from what’s important…”

“But… you’re the smartest in class… why would you need to focus MORE on your studies?” you ask bewildered.

He doesn't seem to have an answer, just staring blankly at the floor unable to meet your gaze, it breaks your heart to see him this guilty.

But I don't really know what you could do in this situation, it's not like you can make his dad change his mind.

“Alright then…” the sadness in your cracking voice evident.

“I guess I’ll see you at school… bye Berdly…” you say as you start making your way towards the stairs.

But you stop dead in your tracks and go back to standing face to face with Berdly, out of curiosity for why you came back, he looks up at you.

“Your dad said you can only bring friends over if you study together, right?” the slight smile on your face only serving to confuse him.

“Yea…”

“Well, in that case... I'm gonna go bring some books, can’t have a ‘study DATE’ without them, right?” you say with a grin on your face.

“Oh… OOH! YES, yes of course, can't study without the greatness of the records bearing knowledge that are books, yup...” as Berdly’s saying this he's turned his head to the inside of his apartment making it clearer for the people inside to hear, then turning back to you with a goofy grin, matching the one that you have on your face.

“Great! I’ll be right back.” You say as you look at each other for a second longer or so, before you break out of your trance and step away from the door making your way towards the stairs.

You can still feel his eyes on you as you're making your way up the stairs before he closes the door.

It doesn't take you long to go back to your home, grab whatever books seemed most ‘studious’ then return to Berdly’s apartment, he lets you inside with that grin that still hasn’t left his face.

You greet his mother and father as you walk by the living room where they are seated on their couch watching TV, his mom gives you a friendly wave and a smile whilst his dad only offers you a simple nod.

Berdly then drags you by the hand to his room, you didn’t even realize you’re holding hands until you find yourself sitting in his room, with the door closed behind you.

You look down at your hands, completely enamored by the gesture.

He takes a second, almost like you're celebrating the victory of getting to hang out with you, he looks at you, then his eyes follow your gaze to where he’s holding your hand.

Out of what you assume is embarrassment, he pulls his wing away from your hand to rub back his head nervously.

You give him a knowing smile as you start placing your books on his table to make it seem like you're getting ready for studying and he does the same pulling out his books and notebooks, opening some of them at specific lectures and leaving them open to seem like they have some type of correlation between them.

When you two are satisfied with the diversion, you lay down on his bed and he opens the TV screen then turns to you.

“Soooo… you wanna watch the movie first, or do you wanna play on the Play Center 5, which shall it be m’lady?” he questions while bowling at you.

You put the hand over your face to hide your giggles.

“My my what a charmer you are today Berdly.” you grab the blanket on top of the bed and cover yourself with it like a cocoon but leaving a little space by your side for him to join you in the blanket nest.

“Let’s watch the movie first, ohh Berdly, knight in shining armor.” You say as you bring your hand to your head in a damsel like fashion, earning a laugh from him.

“What movie did you rent, Berdly?” you ask.

“A HORROR MOVIE!” he said trying to sound as dramatic as possible, as he starts the movie.

“Oooo, I'm gonna soooo scared. I’m gonna need a real tough guy to protect me.” you absolutely adore playing into this guy's delusions.

He hops in bed next to you can you fold the blanket over him covering him like a big soft wing.

You wonder if this horror movie is an attempt to get you to snuggle up to him when you're scared, which backtracks entirely since at the scariest part he ends up screaming like a chicken, pun intended, burying his head in your chest.

The sound of screaming alerted his parents, so as you heard his dad’s foot steps you two scramble to get over to the table and look like you're actually deep in thought.

And what response did you give to his dad when he asks what that was:

“Oh, we're all right, Berdly just saw a spelling error in the English book. That really shook him up, huh Berdly.” you elbow him as you give his father an innocent smile.

Berdly is not amused by that claim. He even refuses to snuggle up with you… for about 5 minutes.

You just have to give him a kiss and all is forgiven.

After the movie's over you and Berdly play on the Play Center 5, still nice and cozy under the blanket, though the safe space that is the blanket cocoon it is not spared the playful elbow nudging and all kinds of other friendly fire.

His dad comes by a couple of other times, but you feign innocence with the books on your lap and Berdly's quick fingers closing the game.

You played decently late into the night to the point where Berdly falls asleep on your shoulder and gods did you want to join him in that peacefull slumber. All you wanted most tonight with him by your side.

But that's not really an option so all you do is slowly lay his head on the pillow, cover him with the soft blanket and give him a goodnight kiss on the cheek.

As quietly as possible you grab your books and make your way out of his room.
You say goodnight and goodbye to his parents, and you go home.

____
The next morning you wake up in a great mood probably due to last night’s events. But everything goes just as normal, you go to school you still are bewildered by the grocery store that spawned yesterday, say hi to your friends, you take your seat, Kris is late like usual.

Ms. Alphys gives your class a project to do, we are grouped into teams, and even if you would like to team with Berdly for once you already know he's gonna team with Noelle.

Which you honestly have no problem with since you always team up with your cousin, Temmie.

By the time everyone made teams with each other Kris finally arrived, looking much worse than usual tho that's not saying much.

You also realize Susie is also late.

The teacher informs Kris that they must be part of a team to complete the project, so they start asking around the class.

But when they come up to you and ask if YOU can team up, well you're not sure how to put it into words but they just felt different. Not bad, not good, it's just different.

You respond by informing them that you are in fact in a team with your cousin…. And her egg…. Her hard-boiled egg.

Kris makes their way to Nolle’s table and asks if they can make a team of three since there’s no one else left to team up with them, almost as if they forgot Susie's existence, weird.

Berdly was very much not into that idea making his opinion known, Noelle didn't seem opposed to it at all, presenting the possibility to Ms. Alphys.

But out of nowhere, Susie burst through the closed door, making herself known to the entire class. And since the teacher doesn't have any chalk left, she sends Kris and Susie so go get more from the supply closet.

You'd be lying if you said you weren't a little concerned Kris in this situation, there's not much you can do about it so you wait for them to come back with the chalk.

And when they don't the teacher just goes on with the lesson as best she can without writing.

Nothing eventful happens during the school day after that, other than Kris and Susie still not coming back. You guess they skiped? Together? Odd...

And as you're chilling inside of the Libraby, reading up on the project subject with Temmie by your side, you're actually approached by Kris.

Do you honestly thought they were just going to talk to your cousin or something, but no they actively interacted with you, they made the decision to interact with you and not be caused by anyone.

This is all kinds of bizarre.

Like yes sure they don’t hate me enough to avoid being in my general vicinity at all costs but it's not like they go out of their way to talk to me, ever.

This tells you something is definitely afoot.

Chapter Text

The next day, nothing of note happened at school, everything was pretty ordinary. The teacher goes on with her lesson until it's time to leave.

You and Berdly are waiting outside of the school for Noelle to show up, she said she was going to invite Susie and Kris to study with you at the Librarby.

She didn't take long to show up, with a big smile and red face, clearly flustered. She gabs you gently, hurrying you and Berdly along the road.
It was pretty clear to you what got her so red, but you aren’t going tease her right now.

You’ll do it when Susie’s there.

You know, to increase the embarrassment.

You snicker at the thought.

But before you could continue on with your mischievous planning, you three got to the Librarby front door.

Berdly the ever so kind ‘gentleman’ that he is opened and held the door open of you and Noelle, while giving you a goofy smile, proud of himself like always.

You guys made your way to the computer lab, and taking your seats, Noelle having a laptop right this time, so she got right on using it for that sweet, sweet knowledge.

Opening tabs related to her projects theme.

With you and Berdly taking a spot on each side of Noelle, Berdly setting on her left and you on her right on the corner of the table.

Noelle turns to look at you and asks.

“By the way, Y/n, I've been meaning to ask why your cousin didn't come along with us?”

“Ah, well she had an… egg eggmergency…”

“Do you mean ‘emergency’?” Questions Berdly.

“No…”

“…”
“…”

That's the end of that conversation.

___
By the time you took out all your books and notes your body was starting to feel really heavy, as if full of bricks and the room looked as if it was…

Filing up with black smoke…?

How do you work so hard at school that you were starting to hallucinate?

No that can’t be right. You struggle to lift up your head to look at your classmates, they seem to be in the same predicament as you.

Berdly’s trying to keep his head up with his wings and Noelle’s antlers are bumping into the laptop’s screen, her head almost resting on its keyboard.

And before you know it the whole room goes dark, your vision goes black, and you almost pass out.

But you’re awakened by the feeling of free falling, like in a dream except this time it felt way too real.

You can feel the air hitting your body rapidly, making it too hard for you to open your eyes.

All you can see is a flash of pale yellow and blue and the ever-approaching bottom of wherever you are falling to.

When your body hits the floor with a ‘thud’ you pass out for real this time.

You're not unconscious for long though, at least you presume you weren't, your eyes begin to flutter open as you push yourself to sit on your butt. Trying to get a good look at your surroundings.

The first thing that catches your eye is the bright minty neon ground? Floor? The texture of it felt like the kind of plastic that a laptop or a computer would be made out of, Durable but you feel like you could crack it with your bare hands.

The next thing that attracts your attention is a pale white and yellow lump on the ground, which after closer inspection…

OH, WAIT THAT’S NOELLE!
You're a little taken aback by Noelle’s presence in this… you’re not sure what to call it.

Your first thought was that you were in a lucid dream, but everything feels so real.

As you try to make sense of it all a loud noise up ahead, grabs your attention.

Startled and unsure of what to do you crawl to Noelle’s side and gently wakeing her up.

“Noelle… Noelle get up…!”

Her eyes are slowly opening, but another loud crash in the distance causes both of you to jolt up waking her up instantly.

You both give each other worried looks as if asking one another ‘what is making all this noise’. You sit up and help Noelle onto her hooves.

Silently deciding to make your way towards the ruckus, with Noelle right behind you quivering slightly as you two start walking on the mint green road.

Making your way down the road You don't count the little pink people, with faces that look like electrical outlets, all of them appearing to be spooked by something up ahead.

You turn Your head back to look at Noelle, inspecting her frightened expression, you give her a reassuring look and grab her hand and squeeze it gently to put her more at ease.

Up ahead you can see a person with a huge visor on their face sitting on a floating throne, that’s being propelled with a flame underneath it, they seem to be talking with…

“Berdly??!”

“What!?” Noelle asks confused finally Coming out from behind you to sit next to you, as she looks up ahead.

Both of you quicken your pace but before you can get there Berdly already was taking his leave.

“Oh, Thank God. I Thought He Was Never Gonna Leave…” The regal yet cold voice of the person sitting on the floating throne catches your attention.

She also finally takes notice of you and Noelles arrival as well. Her expression bored changing into one of delight and excitement.

“Oh Goodie! More Peons Por Moi!” she giggles bringing a hand to cover her mouth.

“W-Who are you?” asks Noelle still a lil shaken up.

“Ah Of Course. My Apologies My Soon To Be Minions, My Name Is Serial Number Q5U4EX7YY2E9N.” she after not stuttering once, takes a sip out of her martini glass.

“What…” you question bewildered.

“Q5U4…uh…9N…” Noelle being just as confused.

“Or Since You're Comprehension Skills Are Lacking, You May Refer To Me As Queen.” she takes another sip. “You're Going To Need A Nickname For Me Anyway When You'll Be Serving Me.”

“E-Excuse me?! Who says we'll be serving you?” you say defensively.

“Me, I Say.” grin never leaving her face.

Noelle takes a step back to hide behing you, as you take a defensive stance.

“NO CHANCE! I don't know what Berdly agreed to! But we are not working for you!”

She puts her hand on her chin and scratches it pondering the situation, and then scratched her head confused, her face monitor showing a red question mark.

“No, Huh?” she laughs sinisterly.

“Well Too Bad You Don’t Have A Choice!” Her hand gets ready to press a button on the armrest of her chair, but her action is interrupted by silence coming from behind you and Noelle.

The world takes the opportunity and calls out for help from whoever is about to join you.

“Somebody please help… please help us”

And the mysterious strangers make their presence known. And they are none other than… Kris and Susie…

What is going on in this dream…

WHY IS KRIS BLUE?????

“Susie??? Wait get out of here before-” askes Noelle.

But before she can finish her Sentence, two giant cages with the boys made from green lasers hover above you and Noelle and capture both of you, moving you away from Susie and Kris at insane speed.

___
You and Noelle sit around it the cages, you’re trying to find a way to get out of yours but every time you Even as much as graze the bars you get a controlled shock.

No i was just quivering in the middle of her cage trying to keep as far away from all the bars as possible.

It also indicates that you realize both you, Noelle and presumably Berdly (since he was decked in armor) got outfit changes.

Noelle looks like a spellcaster from Dragon Blazers, and you look like a support or all-rounder type. Your color is also a lil different as if you where hue sifted.

But your thoughts were stopped dead in their tracks, as ‘Queen’ makes her appearance.

“Hello Again My Sweety Pies! Ready To Become My Minions?” the glee in her voice clear.

“Hell no..” you say a lil tried from all the electric shocks.

“You Say That, And Yet In Ihis Current Situation You Two Are ‘Toast’!” she laughs at her own joke.

“Noelle Honey, Y/n Sweety Become My Willing Peons And I Will Free You. All You Have To Do…”

Two floating hologram contracts appear In front of both you and Noelle.

“Is Sign The Peon Release Form.”

You give her a dirty look.

Noelle turns slightly to you.

“I… I’m scared…”

“It’s going to be ok Noelle…” you try to reassure your friend.

“Oh, Have You Never Signed A Form Before?”

“No! it’s everything else that’s scary!!”

“Hey, leave her alone-“ you Say as you tried to reach queen through the bars without getting electrocuted.

“Please You Two Abort Your Sadness Protocol. I Told You Being A Peon Will Be Cool.”

You're about to spew more insults at her when Kris and Susie join you guys, with a fluffy friend in tow.

“Noelle!” exclaims Susie as she spots her classmate in a cage.

“Are you guys, ok?” was you first instinct.

“S-Susie?! Kris…?!” Quivers Noelle still scared.

“WE SOULD BE ASKING YOU THAT! Don’t worry we won’t let your faces get roboticized!” Susie tries to comfort us, mostly Noelle.

“What did you just say-“ you’re cut off.

“THAT’S SOMETING THEY’RE GOING TO DO!?” screamed Noelle.

“Woops, thought uh, you knew that.” says Susie while scratching the back of her head awkwardly.

“Oh Dear That Was Going To Be A Surprise. Bumer.” Queen readies her arm.

“Hey Susie!” you get her attention.

“What?”

“Kick her ass for me pleEEAAAA-“ With the wave of her hand queen launches both your cages into the air, sending you flying.

You can imagine Susie responding with a ‘heh, you got it!’ or something.

___
One thing you weren't expecting when your cages finally came back down to ground was Berdly just standing there.

“Salutations my fair maidens!” he does a lil bow.

“BERDLY!!” you exclaim overjoyed to see your pookie.
“B… Berdly…?!”

“Yes! It is I your knight in glow-in-the-dark armor!! Need not fret, I shall save you!!” he puffs up his chest.

“Great! Get us out, Berdly!” you jump with excitement at the thought of being free.

“uh…” he’s frozen in place.

“Berdly…?” questions Noel for voice trembling slightly.

“You can get us out, RIGHT??!”

“No…” he puts it bluntly. “But look what a CAN do!!”

He pulls out of thin air a giant halberd axe, it’s bright green and shines in the dark. The tip of the blade is a lemony yellow.

“Pretty cool right!!? I don't even know where I got it!! I can just consider this halberd whenever-” he continues to ramble on.

You and Noelle stare in disbelief at this nerd gushing over his new axe

“Well, can’t you use that axe to break us out…?” Noelle ponders.

“hehe… well about that…” He twiddles with his thumbs. “I’m under contract…” he rubs the back of his head, blushing embarrassed.

“God damnit it Berdly…” both you and Noelle sigh.

“BUT! I do know how you can be free!” He puts his hand out in front of his chest, trying to look at himself.

“How?!” you and Noelle exclaim with smiles on your faces.

“You just have to the release form.” He sais with a goofy smile on his face.

Noelle and you groan audibly and fall to your knees on the floor of the cage.

Noelle is covering her face with her heands.

“We… Were not making of of here…” she starts to panic.

“Hey, hey! It’s gonna be just fine Noelle. We're gonna be fine just breathe…

“But don’t you see?! This ‘cyber world’ is a cornucopia of possibilities!! We can rule here! Make this place our own Smart-topia!!”

I shoot him a dirty look. How can he be so enchanted with this world we know nothing about.

Before I get the chance to question his motivations the big visor lady comes back.

“Oh Ho Ho Ho! Still Haven't Convinced Them To Join Us I See” she asks playfully, descending with her thrown.

“Eek!” Noelle shrieks startled by the Queen presents.

You just sit there on the floor of your enclosure arm is crossed pout on your face waiting for whatever buffoonery is about to happen.

“No, my Queen… but I’m sure with your radiance here they’ll see the proper choice-“ she puts her hand in front his face silencing him immediately.

“Yea, Whatever Shush.” she floats up to your cages.

“I’m Sure… Now That I’m Here. Convincing These Sweet Little Darlings Will Be NO Problem.” She Pinches your cheek end gives you sinister grin.

___
You both agree to join her side and be her willing peons. Noelle was the first to cave, She barely lasted a minute into queen going:

“Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz Plz-“

You would have lasted longer but you folded after Noelle gave up, what wa the point anyway.

And now you’re standing on a roller coaster ride… and you have to beat up Kris, Susie and their fully boy…

Your roller coaster (which looks like you funnily enough) is sitting right next to Noelle's coaster and in front of you are standing your opponents.

Noelles coaster look all icey and shiny, Kris’s looked exactly like them same goes for the fluffer and Susie’s is more metal than all the others.

How did it all come to this.

“Uh…S-Sorry… I just couldn’t say no…” Noelle tries to explain herself to Susie and Kris.

“Noelle!?”

“H…Hi Susie. Umm, how are you?” Noelle brings her hand to her cheek trying to hide her embarrassed deminer.

“Umm, ok I guess?” answers Susie confused.

She goes on for a couple of minutes trying to compliment Susie but failing. You’d think it was cute if it wasn’t so awkward.

Queen also gets tired of it eventually too.

“Ok, This Isn’t Working Bring In The Next Guy.” the disappointment in her voice clear.

Berdly’s coaster comes up from behind Noelle at and bumps into her’s at such speed that it sends her flying into the air and of the roler coaster…

You would be incredibly worried about Noelle getting catapulted into the stratosphere IF you didn't know that at the bottom of this coaster there is a gigantic pile of soft cushions to break anyone's fall.

Thank god for that.

“Fear not, my beloved Y/n and Noelle!!” he’s acting as if he didn’t just send Noelle flying.

”This valiant warrior of brave intelligence. Will be you knight in glow-in-the-dark armor!”

“Berdly?! You asked BERDLY to be on you team??!!” roared the purple lizard.

You'd be offended on his behalf, but you on the same page completely agree with Susie’s sentiment.

“I Did Not Ask Him I Did Not Ask Him I Did Not Ask Him I Did Not Ask Him” whispers Queen.

“That’s LORD Berdly to you simpletons!! And soon SUPER lord Berdly!” he grins proud of himself.

Him Insulting your classmates like that while unsurprising for him really doesn't seem right with you.

“HEY, cut them some slack Berdly! They haven’t done anything wrong!” you friendly fire back at him.

“But they have! We are standing in the way of our perfect utopian fantasy!!”

“… The hell does that mean??” Intervenes Susie.

“(I Have No Damn Clue Just Go With It.)” Queen tried to remedy the situation.

“Ah, of course you wouldn't understand, allow me to explain!” He coughs out an ‘ahem’

“You see, thanks to our WONDROUS Queen… WE… will soon RULE the WORLD! And turn this land of FOOL” he points at the Fun Gang

“Into a Smart-topia. A true Scientocracy where the geniuses of the world, can bathe freely in pools of fresh fruit and ambrosia. No longer held back by protozoans like YOU!”

You Slowly turn your head up towards Queen, when she catches you gaze you give her an expression saying ‘what the hell is he yapping about????’.

Her reaction to that question was her vizor screen displaying a big red ‘DIK BRO’, you let out a heavy sigh.

“And the key to that? Is US. Y/n and I (and Noelle).” He points at you.

“Our power the ‘Light Nerd’s’ power…” he sounds proud of himself.

The Fluffy guy finally opens him mouth to add something, which makes you realize how stinking CUTE he is. He also looks a bit like…

“You mean… ‘Lightner’s Power’?” he’s voice is just as cute as him!

“Um, no. Queen said ‘Light Nerds’.” he turns to look up at her. She give a laugh.

“I Actually Did!” she swirls the beverage in her hands.

“Berdly, Queen’s lust manipulating you!!” mr. Fluffyngton remarks.

“Honestly… I wouldn't be surprised.” You reciprocate that sentiment.

“SEE!? Even your stupid girlfriend agrees with is!!” Susie tries to embarrass him.

“Heh, that’s what she SAID you’d say to m- wait what…” his face fell, and he started blushing ever so slightly.

You'd be examining his face and expression to understand what he thinks of the idea of you being together if you weren't also caught off guard by that comment.

With rosy cheeks bashfully looking off to the side.

Queen did not read any of the tension going on and continued on with her dialogue.

“I Actually Did!”

There is a bit of awkward silence after Queen finished talking, but in was cut short by a cough coming from the Fun Gang, presumably from Kris.

Which causes Berdly to cough a couple of times embarrassed, then getting back on track with what he was saying.

“NOW, Kris! I must admit, I feel pity for you. Unlike Susie I always saw some potential in you.”

Susie holds her hands in front of her chest with an expression that reads ‘DUDE what the hell’.

You honestly can’t blame her.

“Join our side, and I might let you scrub the royal toilets!”

To no one’s surprise they refused the offer.

“I’m not doing that.” Their monotone voice rings clear, almost as if it's coming from inside your head.

“Ah, Kris. I suppose I knew you would never amount to much. Well, if you’re so dead set on proving your inferiority…”

God, if you didn’t like him so much, you’d slap the crap out of him for being so mean for no reason, but to be fair his always been like this...

Pompous and up his own as-

Big boy Berdly does the Halberg trick again and takes on an offensive stance.

You follow suit, conjuring your own weapon out of the blue. Yea you got one too.

“Allow us to assist you!!”

A battle against you, Berdly and the other three starts. This is your first battle in this weird world, and for some reason you feel like that’s important, somehow.

You can faintly hear a song coming from somewhere, but you are too preoccupied with getting your ass beat to care.

And by ‘getting your ass beat’ you really mean watching Berdly get his butt handed to him.

At one point in the battle, it was your turn to use you bulett atack but You are so caught off guard by the idea of being able to send projectiles from your soul that… nothing happened that round.

Everyone on the opposing team is bumping their coasters into Berdly’s slowly dismantling it. And eventually his coaster Couldn't take it anymore and blew up.

Sending him flying along with it, falling off the roller coaster.

You exchange an Awkward glance with the opposite team, and excuse your self out of there.

“Yea… I’m not fighting you guys. GERONIMOOOoooo-!” you jump down the side of the coaster, waiting to hit the pillows at bottom, and reunite with your team.

Chapter Text

Regrouping with your team at the bottom of the roller coaster Wasn't as easy as you'd hope it'd be.

You found Berdly no problem, he’s pretty hard to miss. But you are having no such luck with finding Noelle.

“Do you think she left so Queen wouldn’t find-“ you are trying to say but got interrupted.

“Dear Noelle must have fled away from here, so our glorious Queen does not find her!” he puts his wing over his chest dramatically.

‘God I wanna kiss him… SO HE SHUTS UP.’ you sigh.

“Come on Birdie Boy, let’s go find our scaredy dear.” You grab his hand and that shuts him up pretty quickly, you both blush a bit, but you’ve got a grin on your face while he’s just stunned.

You two love birds finally make your way into the cyder city. The city is big even now when you're on ground level you can feel the gigantic aura of this metropolis, even so it has a lot of lil’ tucked away little corners and nooks and crannies hidden away from the blinding dark lights of the more populated areas.

The walls of the buildings you pass and even the streets u walk on have a plastic like feel to them but are as strong as metal or cement. Everywhere you go or look there’s neon light at every corner Illuminating the main streets but not reaching into the darker alleys.

At one point you wanted to throw something away in one of the many garbage bins, and then a weird dolphin creature jumped out at you from inside it! Then it showed you and Berdly weird floating advertisements, stuff like ‘50% off on bird seeds’ or ‘top 10 gifts for humans’.

And right before you two spared the add was saying ‘order now we’ll throw iin a free inter species dating manual’!

Good thing you got out of that mess, but you still haven’t found Noelle.

You decide that splitting up is a good idea, you'd be able to cover more ground this way, and it seemed to do the trick.

It didn't take you long after that until you find Noelle.

You find her in a dimly lit alley way alongside Kris, Noelle seemed to be pleading with them for something.

Approaching the two I startled Noelle in the process, making her jump a little bit.

“Oh Y/n! Thank goodness it’s you, I thought you were someone else for a second…” she let’s out a sigh of relief.

You don’t get any time to say something to your friend, being interrupted by a booming voice coming from behind you.

“Oh Noelle Swettie.”

Noelle Immediately recognizes the voice and pulls you with her in a in a small dark alleyway, to hide away from the perceived danger.

She Whispers to Kris to not let HER find you.

Queen Emerges from beyond the concrete corner, making her presents known.

“Noelle, Sweetie Darling Honey Where Are You?”

“All Three Of Us Are A Team Now Remember? You Still Have To Be My Willing Minion!”

She finally notices Kris standing there.

“…Kris Our Comrades Have Pressed The Escape Key On Us… So It Has Come To This… In Order To Find Our Teams.” she pause it for a second.

“We Must Form An Uneasy Truce…” but Kris doesn’t get the change to react to her proposition, as another player joins the cut-scene.

“Queen!! My splendid Queen!! Where are you!!” Berdly’s voice is heard before he even shows up.

Realizing who the voice belongs to Queen decides her next move.

“Oh No Don’t Let Him Find Me!”

She runs into the alley you and Noelle are hiding in, jumps above you two doing the splits in midair and suspends herself with a foot on each wall. Weirdly enough not noticing either you or Noelle.

After this crazy stunt, best boy Berdly appears in front of Kris.

“Ah, Kris… Not the lifeform I was looking for.” he notices that Kris’ team mates are missing.

“And what this? Where’s the rest of the C+ Squad? Don’t tell me you got abandoned!? HA! HAHA!! Tat’s what you get fot trustin Susan! HA!!”

You would slap right now him for being so mean if Noelle’s hug wasn’t crushing your lungs, in fear of getting caught by Queen.

Kris doesn’t let that slide either, asking him in turn, where HIS team is?

“H…Huh!? Noelle? Y/n?... Queen? They’re just… busy retro gaming somewhere!! I bet they are waiting fot me on the player select screen!! Listening to strangly groovy music! HA HAHA…HA!!” he takes an awkward break, then sighs.

Kris is unimpressed.

“So it’s come to this. It ored to find our respective teams… It APPEARS… We must form an uneasy truce.”

Queen speaks up at this.

“What The- Who The Beep Said You Could Double Trucies!” she was a bit too vocal with her distaste at the idea.

“Huh? Did you hear something?” he look around a second.

“Honk Honk! No It’s Just The Sounds Of The City!” there’s no way he falls for that…

“Oh okay.”

‘HUUHH???’ thoughts at this moment.

“Hmph. Well I’ll be ahead, don’t be late!!” he skedaddle was out of here.

Quenn comes down from her hiding spot in one elegant move.

“Kris As Part Of Your Truce (The Best One), Keep Distracting Berdly And Find Y/n and Noelle. For You See…”

“Berdly He’s… OK There’s Nothing Wrong With Him He’s Just Annoying…Toodls” with that she also takes her leave.

You’d swear Noelle hasn’t taken a breath since Queen showed up, with how big her sigh of relief was when she left.

Noelle makes her way out of the dark alley way with you following right behind her

She walks up to Kris to resumes her ‘rudely interrupted’ conversation with them. You wait just behind her not wanting to insert yourself in their interaction.

“Kris, I…um… if it’s okay…G-got any room for another truce?” she askes sheepishly.

You have expected them to say something like ‘nuh uh no triple trucies Noelle’ but they seem to be in a good mood today, so they humor her.

“Thanks Kris…” she turns to look at you.

“Oh… Is it ok if Y/n join us? I’d feel much better with the both of you here…heh…”

Doubting that Kris would be ok with you tagging along, you try to cut in.

“I’m gonna be fine, I could just find Berdly-“ but Kris answers before you get to finish.

“She can come with, I don’t mind.”

‘Huh’ now that out of character…

You’re left dumbfounded as Noelle thanks Kris for being so understanding. You’ve joined Kris’ Party!

___
Being part of a party consisting of ‘social wreck 1’ ‘social wreck 2’ and youself, isn’t exactly what you'd expect it to be.

The first obstacle that stood in your way was a puzzle room where you had to get little electronic mice into a mous hole to progress into the next part of the city. It wouldn’t have been hard at all, if Noelle was in deadly afraid of mice, she jumped in our arms like a cartoon character when she saw them.

And now it’s time to introduce Noelle to fighting the streets like an wild animal…

You encountered a Virovirokun.

And since Noelle wasn't part of the roller coaster battle, she doesn't know what's going on, thankfully the Virovirokun is nice enough to explain everything to her in a very comprehensive manner.

To be fair you need the explanation just as much as she did, you've only fought against fellow lighteners not darkness. It’s good to know the basics.

The basics being that if you want to spare this enemy, you must show it tender loving care, AKA you need to dress up in a cute nurse outfit.

That seems to do the trick.

After that fight your party proceeds into the next couple of rooms up ahead. You fight some more enemies find the loot and chests, solve traffic related puzzles, well Kris does they finish it before you even get a chance to understand what the purpose of the buttons was.

At one point you spot Kris’ team on the other side of some traffic cones would dog faces on them. With Noelle Seemingly recognizing the other one that you don’t know… what was his name again… Rallzi??? Eh, it doesn’t matter right now.

You gus also take the time to talk a bit with the locals, and a merchant? He was trying to sell Noelle and Kris ‘Dating Shoes’, and when he got rejected he offered them ‘Divorcing Shoes’.

Passing by a poster advertising the festival that's coming up Noelle admits to contemplating asking Susie to go with her but she doubts that Susie would go with her.

To that both you and Kris reassure her that she’s got nothing to worry about and that even if Susie doesn’t go with her its her loss.

That seems to make her feel a lil’ better.

__
After passing a simple button puzzle your gang steps foot into a big but empty area. At than exact moment you hear Queen’s goofy ahh laugh coming from the other side of the big room.

Noelle scared out of her mind at the idea of being found by the robotic ruler, pleas with you and Kris to distract her somehow as she goes to find a place to hide.

You both step into the room.

Queen spots the two of you, with a green beverage in hand and rossy cheeks.

“Oh, Lmao You’re Here” she says as she throws her glass on the ground and it explodes.

You give her a wide eye look and Kris doesn’t react.

“Oops” is all she has to her for herself.

She starts going on about needing to find Noelle and… playing video games with Kris like the good old days??? Whispering to them about how HER minions don't never do fun stuff with her while pointing her finger at you.

Trowing even more glass on the floor, setting up an archade game to play with Kris and going ‘Oops Sorry Sweety It’s Only Two Players Game L’.

You try to be the bigger person here by not reacting but it’s harder than you’d think.

Thankfully you are sent an angel from above to save you… in the form of Berdly.

He comes rolling down from the ceiling along with a giant golden statue of himself with a golden you and Queen holding onto his massive biceps, it’s also wearing Crocs and a diper.

The statue crushed the arcade machine when it landed.

“Queen!! Y/n!! I’ve been looking everywhere to show you this!!” he points to the golden version of himself.

“A monument to our greatness… Together.”

Queen starts to short circuit, being unable to form a coherent sentence she just keeps on mumbling for a couple of seconds.

But the only thing you’re thinking right now is…

“Why’s Noelle not up there?” you ask Berdly.

“Oh… I didn’t want to give her false hopes you see…” he makes a sad face.

“What does that even mea-“ you get cut off by Queen who finally found her words.

“How Do I Put This. Very… Smart…” she seems pleased with that answer.

“Smart So Smart You Are… I Love Tolerating You…” her face vizor is displaying he word ‘LYING’ huh wander what that could mean.

It seems like Either he can't read or his head is too big to see it because he actually takes that ‘compliment’ to heart.

“Haha! I KNEW you’d be enamored. Such perfect taste. Such finesse!”

“Very Cool Statue. I Did Not Know You Had… Nipples”

Only NOW do you notice the two nipples that the statue is adorned with.

You’re stunned for second unable to take your eyes off the statues chest.

“I will SOON… in our ideal world.”

“WHAT!!”

Everyone turns to look at you.

“Heh… Berdly, buddy boy… we've been friends for how many years? And you've never told me about THIS!?” you’re about to burst into laughter, falling to conceal you snickers.

“W-well it never fit into our conversation topics so…” he’s blushing a tad bit.

That’s when it hits you again, this is a dream… you wish it was real and it feels so real. But it has to be a dream… right?

Berdly took your moment of silence to regroup himself.

“Hehe… heh… KRIS! Feel free to admire our artisanship.” he changes the subject.

“US three have plans to consider.” se smirks.

Queen is not at all pleased at that revelation.

And apparently you're going to be joining them, which means you have to say goodbye to your party. You turn towards Kris who you honestly forgot who's there for second.

“Kris be there for ‘you know who’ while I’m gone k?” you whisper.

They give you a thumbs up.

“Thanks” you say grateful.

“Let’s Go Y/n And Burghley.” That’s your cue to leave.

You and Berdly start walking side by side down the hallway on the other side of the room. But as you two make your way further into the alley Queen footsteps and voice sounds more and more quiet.

By the time you look behind you to if she’s even there anymore she’s completely gone.

What the heck!? Why did she ditch you like that???

You know what who even cares, screw her. It’s not like Berdly even notice.

___
By the time he realizes Queen wasn’t there, the two of you have already gone to far to go back. You seem to have reached some sort of cybernetic marketplace, with Addisons and their shops that they’re advertising for.

You stop him from going back because as he puts it ‘We must go back!! She certainly under peril right now, why else would she abandon us????’ you can think of a few reasons

You explains that she most likely 100% fine also suggesting you can also hang around here for a bit. Hearing that he can do a bit of window shopping along with you seems to do the trick in calming him down.

Grabbing him by the arm and dragging him along to look at the windows and try the various free samples is how the both of you spend the next small while.

Stopping at a tea-shop you feel the thirst of not drinking anything since you arrived here is really getting to you.

The Addison says that they sell tea with the flavor of party members, whatever that means…

You honestly couldn’t care less what was in that tea in was INCREDIBLE, you drank it in less than a second it was that good. For some weird reason it made you think of the bird boy standing right across from you.

He seems to have enjoyed just as much if not more than you and now has a look of shock and sight blush at how something can be so good.

At the sight of his bewildered face you give a giggle and take his free hand in yours which seems to brack his train of thought.

He looks down at your hand in his than looks up at you.

You know what. You don’t care it’s a dream you’re going to enjoy it drammit!

Seizing the moment, you kiss Berdly.

He is a little surmised for a moment but immediately melts into the kiss.

The feeling of him against your body was magical, the tender embrace you shred was truly an example on why you NEED to bag this guy the second you wake up from this wonderful dream.

That’s until you realize that you have an audience…

You’re still in from of the Addisons shop and they are just, standing there not entirely sure Why there's two teenagers making out in front of their shop.

The wide eye look on your faces is the last thing the Add sees before you both book it out of there, giggleing like two lil’ kids.

___
The two little love birds finally slow down their paces to stop and catch your breaths.

You lie down and allow yourself to breathe in some well needed oxygen. Ans as you’re starting to feel less tired Berdly who is still standing trying to look al macho, spots something in the upcoming room.

“Aha! There seems to be a difficult puzzle ahead! You need not follow my lady for I Lord Berdly shall solve it in to time!!”

You give him a knowing grin.

“A-alight… I’ll go do it now, I’ll inform you when its ready for now you can rest my sweet maiden”

“Hehe… dork.” But he left before he could hear you.

You would normally wait for him to come back victorious after his battle with the puzzle.

But you’re bored out of your mind and so after you’ve rested enough you make your way towards the puzzle room but you don’t enter it, stopping just outside the entrance as you hear him talking to someone.

You let your curiosity get the best of you and you start listening in on their conversation.

“Arter all, you can’t understand Noelle like I can.” \

Who is he talking to??

“You may be her lifelong neighbor. But...”

You think he’s speaking with Kris?? Maybe?

“I am a maestro of emotional intelligence.”

‘Like heck you are, you can’t pick up on social clues for shit.’ You think.

“I can read my friends feelings like a strategy guide. Which I don’t EVEN need by the way!”

What is he going on about.

“YOU may see her a simple girl next door. But the reality is that she is… a lovetrsuck girl with her heart on her sleeve…And… Kris...”

So, he IS talking with Kris or maybe he’s hallucinating because Kris is not responding back, but wait if Kris is there with him where is Noelle?

“The target of her affection, may be surprising to you.”

Now that has you shocked. NO WAY Berdly knows who Noelles crush is!

“It’s… Truly sad, such love… may never fruit… For the person she’s head over heels for is in love with another!”

What… Susie likes someone? And even if she did how would HE know that??? It’s almost like he’s referring to himself instead of Sus-

…

Theres no way…

“But still, I have to support her, Kris. She’s my friend.”

‘Aww.’

Also, my only worthy opponent at racing games… But don’t tell Y/n that ok!!”

…

‘HOW DARE YOU!!’

Right after that you heard a clicking sound, almost like the puzzle has been completed. Which is odd Beardly was keener on talking than concentrating on a puzzle...

“What… How did you… HOW DID YOU SLOVE THAT??”

‘Ohh Kris was doing the puzzle…’ it explains why they were so quiet.

Berdly gives an arrogant huff.

“Even a broken clock is right a day… Kris if anyone askes… I solved the puzzle!!”

Then and only then does Berdly finally call out to you to progress through the room and continue going on quest. He grabs your hand before you can even say hi to Kris and drags you forward.

This guy's gonna be the death of you… and you’re not complaining.