Chapter Text
Sigh. Yet another saturday spent alone, in his head, in his room. Its quiet and calm, little to no movement. Yet, its not completely silent, nor tranquil. Berdly’s mother can be heard from downstairs, on the phone with somebody. She was loud and confident in her words, but it was slightly muffled from inside his closed door.
He lay still on his back, his mind was cloudly and fogged, he focused on nothing. Berdly’s wings were spread out on his matress, the air coming in from his window slightly pushing them around a bit. he was in his pajamas, or wrather just a lame game tee’ and some shorts. Berdly slowy rose, blinking and rubbing his eyes gently. He opened and closed his parched beak as if licking some form of nonexistent lips. He looked around for a moment, observing his neat bedroom. The homework he forgot to finished scattered about on a brown pine wood desk, atop it sat a PC and a light up LED keyboard. His chair was leather and accented blue, a slightly darker shade than his feathers, and it was neatly pushed in at the desk. He looks away, and to another thing to focus on, to describe in his mind. He looked to a corner, it was neatly swept, and had a small beanbag, ridded with feathers. It was where he preened, he liked to keep his feathers in good quality. Berdly had now seemed calm enough to think properly, but that always happened. His therapist told him when he was disassociating, that he should look around, list things. But he already knew all those things by heart, He need’nt memorize it again, since it barely helped with major things anymore. He needed to just clear his mind. Berdly pushed up from his spot on his neatly made matress, stumbling a bit before catching himself on his talons. He began to walk, opening his door and making his way downstairs with a clicking sound. He needed to trim his talons again. He saw his mother standing in the kitchen, leaned on the marble counter, still on the phone, debating with the person on the other line about some kind of due date, persistent that it should instead be on the day after her sons recital. But it just didn’t work out, apparently. She didn’t seem too upset about it, but when she noticed Bedrlt peeking around the corner, she flashed him a faked saddend frown, before turning back around to confirm the date of his violin recital.
”Mom?..” Berdly began, voice quite quiet and hoarse from not speaking a while. She turnned her head in his direction after hanging up, looking a bit annoyed.
”Sorry sweetheart, i uh-uhm. Needed to get this one done. I swear i’ll be there as soon as im finished. Okay?”
Berdly took a deep breath, breathing in through his nostrils, closing his eyes and hanging his head for a moment, before lifting it and softly smiling
“Of course..! Thank you, mother.”
He said, not expextant but hopeful in his mothers word. He looked at her for a moment, and she started back and forth between him and her phone. She opened her mouth as if to talk, but closed it back at a loss of words. Berdly began to speak in her place instead.
”Since you are gonna be busy for the reast of the week..do you, uh, want to go to the mall?..now?..” He shyly asked his mother, smiling awkwardly and tensing his shoulders upwards.
His mother sighed, and Berdly’s face falterd. She began to look at his face with something he couldn’t quite grasp. Not yet guilt or sadness, just pity. She felt pity for the fact her son was so desperate to be with her so much. But berdly did not want pity. He wanted her company. She placed her phone on the counter and reached into her pocket. Berdly slightly frowned as she yet again pulled out a debit card with her name on, reaching out to hand it to him. She didn’t even bother waiting for him to take it, placing it into his hands and picking up her phone to call another person. The card was now shoved into his open talons, he knew the pin by heart but was desperate to ask her again just to talk to her some more. He lowered his arm and looked back up at her with a saddend look, but she didn’t see it.
He turned to go upstairs to ask his friends to go to the mall with him, and hopefully they would be willing to spend time with him. Be began walking away from the kitchen, unfocused rambles from his mother playing in the back of his head. He grabbed onto the railing at the staircase for support to avoid falling, a measure he always took, even if he wasn’t woozy at the time. He wondered how, if he were to fall, would his mother care? No, of course she would. Don’t think like that, Berdly. He got to his room and turned the knob, pushing the door open and stepping through. He looked around, eyes suddenly glued to a specific drawer with clothes in it. Since it was a bit cold, he went for a hooded grey sweater, clean and unwrinkled, rid of any stains. He threw it over his shirt, then facing towards a pair of socks. He pulled them up his legs, then out on the shoes in the corner. He was so quick to get dressed. He grabbed his phone and checked the bus app. The next bus out to the city was 40 minutes away, and thats jusg enought time to go ask around who wants to go with him. He walked downstairs, said his farewells to his mother, and went out by grabbing his keys from the rack. He looked around his neatly mowed lawn, thanks to him. He walked down the pathway, slowly yet steadily, time to spare until he got to the bus station. He decided to go to Noelles house first, hers being the closest. He walked down the sidewalk, his legs keeping pace and sway. He looked at his surroundings, the trees, the housed, everything was so subtle and peaceful. There was no house that particularly stood out, because they were all some kind of unique and crazy. He liked that about his neighborhood, and it kept order. He made his way down to her front gates, checking his phone time. It read “4:37”. he had 36 minutes to ask all three friends to go with him. He made good time. He rund the camera doorbell on her gate, waiting dor it to be answered. He got distracted by a certain noise, only to get distracted by the camera being answered on voice chat by Noelle.
“Hello..? Oh, hi Berdly!” she answered cheerfully, she sounded happy to see him. He smiled awkwardly and faced the camera to speak into the speaker.
“Hey, Noelle! I was wondering if you wanted to come to the mall with right now? I uh- bought the bus ticket! I can afford another..?” He grinned, keeping up a smart and cocky image by even throwing in a smart chuckle at the end. He looked expectantly at the camera.
”O-Oh, sorry Berdly. Im baking right now. Maybe a-another time? Lo siento..? Hehe, sorry. I’m practicing my Spanish..! Well, bye!” she hung up the camera footage before he got to wave to her. He felt awkward just standing in front of her gate, so he began to move his legs again, his smile faded. He decided to go to Kris’s, his partners house next. He takes his job as a boyfriend very seriously and felt they should have a chance to go aswell!
He moved up the streets, almost marching towards the Dreemurr household. He held himself confidently, checking his phone to see the time. “4:47” He had 26 minutes. Not too long, but good enough. He got to their house, stopping at the front door. He knocked 3 times rhythmicly, waiting for an answer. Kris opened the door, rubbing their eyes and smiling at him, and Berdly smiled back.
“Hello, m’theydy, would you like to attend the mall with me? I bought my bus pass already, i can buy you one too?~” He asked, trying to persuade his partner to go with him, even slightly bowing to flattery them. They smile and chuckle, even pat his shoulder, but then they open their mouth.
”Sorry, birdbrains. Asriel is coming back today, actually, in like 2 hours since last time he only came back for the fair. This time he’s staying longer, and i get to hang out with his college friend! I heard he is super cool, but he’s not sleeping over at our house like Azzy.”
Berdly slightly frowned, but recovered and smirked, nodding and shrugging his shoulders. He opened his beak and began to speak.
”Ah, of course. Do you happen to know the wereabouts of our dear friend Susie?”
He asked, attempting to kill two birds with one stone to minimize the chance of missing his bus. Kris thought for a moment, staring intensely into Berdly’s eyes, before opening their mouth wide and let out a happy “ah!”
”Susie is getting tutored by my mom, they are at the diner. I forgot they were doing that today.”
They had a simple explanation, and Berdly was not very pleased bye it, but he could not let that shoe right now. He picked up his feet, gathered his wits and said his farewells. He checked his phone and saw he had about 13 minutes to make his way to the bus station. He picked up his feet towards the graveyard next to the church. It is so ironic how the first thing you see coming into this small town, is a graveyard for old and young, no more than 3 gravestones. He sat in a bench slightly past the graveyard, next to the bus sign. he sighed, A large mass of air leaving his beak as he closed His eyes to breathe, really breathe. He took in the smells around him. The smells of damp soil and grass, they blend and make a beautiful burt of earthiness, and the smell of the trees as they shake and whisper, the leaves turning old and crisp until they are ready to fall and wither. The sounds of people around the quiet town,
talking and walking from different places, since it was midday and college was on a fall leave, more students were coming back to visit their families. The families reuniting always reminded him of how him and his mother used to be, how they used to be so close before his father died. He missed their closenes, but now all his mother wants is money and success. Not that that’s a bad thing, but.. how he wishes that she wanted more familiarity among the two again. The day was slightly gloomy, and the sun most likely was gonna set sooner than usual, so he shouldn’t spend too long in the city.
After a moment, the bus had pulled up in front of him. He stoood up, pushing himself off the bench and walked up to the open doors and watched as the bus drivers face contorted in disgust. She scowled as Berdly scanned his digital ticket and sat on the empty but. It was usual for humans to act this way towards monsters, especially on public transmit, nothing that Berdly wasn’t used to. It was horrible, but it was just how the world worked, apparently. The bus began to turn and move, heading out of Hometown. He was quiet and focused on something on his phone. He wanted to enjoy this before any other humans got on the bus, since this was the first stop of this bus route, but the kast stop was right outside of town due to people wanting to get into hometown needed to use specific cards to scan in throught he gate. He was reading a video game article on his phone, something about the new mechanics in the newest verion of Super Smash Fighters. He was excited to learn how to computer mash his way through this one, and happily read for another 20 minutes before they got to the next stop, right on the brink of the city highway. The bus let on 2 people, both humans. It was awkward how they both stared at the teenage bird monster, it was both rude and intimidating to him. He just continued ready his article until he was doen. Then he looked around, as they pulled up to a college. No people got on st this stop, so they continued on for an hour until they got to the mall. The bus came to a stop, letting everyone off the bus. Berdly was the last one off, and he thanked the bus driver, but sadly rescieved a disgusted grunt and a scowl from her. He continued towards the mall.
Berdly didn’t like shopping much. He bought a shirt, a few figures from a StopGameTM and a necklace for Kris. Kris always liked his pendants. He decided to get food, since he been walking for about 4 hours now, and the whole time he got disgusted looks from humans. It was so humiliating. He attempted to order from a hot dog place, but was straight up refused service. He went to a burger shop, but they told him that they were full, despite the three free booths inside and two empty tabkes outside. Finally, he went to a small sushi restaurant in the corner, and they gladly let him in and served him. The food was great, he got crunchy california rolls, and enjoyed every moment of it!
But, the joy was short lived. Two humans, both men, approached him and scowled.
”Hey bro, this ain’t an establishment for monsters, unless it dingy…”
“Heh, yeah, bro, get a move on before we make you. You best pack up that sushi before we gun you down, like the bird you are.”
…His appetite was ruined. Berdly slowly stood up with his place and slowly walked past the humans with his head hung low to avoid eye contact without mumbling a word. He went to the counter and asked for a bag to go, and once received he decided to go catch the bus back home. it was, after all… 8:47?!
The last bus leaves in 18 minutes!
He rushed out the sushi restaurant, 4 bags in hand and to the bus stop, panting and sighing as he grabbed his emergency bus pass in a hurry, no time to huy a ticket. Usually it was only for emergencies where he had no cash, but he just wanted to go home after today. The bus was mostly empty and quiet, and most movement was still. There were at most 5 people on the bus, and it moved smoothly and swiftly, very light. the ambience of the bus mechanisms turning and working were like white noise, and it was very relaxing and soothing to Berdly, who was on the verge of a Panic Attack. This is what his therapist recommended. This is what he needed. The trees and buildings they passed blurred, the sound of the different pavements agaisnt the tires, so much city scenery for such a small town monster. He was caught in a haze staring out rhe window, his mind preoccupied, the bags placed under his seat shifted softly, but not yet falling. It was all so perfect, just for a moment. Just for now, nothing was wrong. It almost felt as amazinf as when he and Kris had first kissed, but nothing would compare to that to be fair. After about 27 minutes of cruising, they stopped at the college, and he heard the bus doors open, gently snapping him out of his haze. One person came on, a hooded person. they were tall and wore baggy clothes, but he could see strange and consistent outlines around there hips. When they sat down, they made a strange rattling, but he paid less attention to that. he slowly dozed off, after all only 33 minutes of the ride remained. He should just, close..
his..
eyes…
.….
He woke up with a sudden jolt. It was the last stop. Right outside the gate. He slowly stood up, but.. so did the hooded monster? Who was still on the bus, mind you. This wasn’t weird though, but something felt off. If this really was their stop, berdly would know them. Just by their clothes. Evryone knew everyone in Hometown. He left the bus, slowly stepping off. it was quite the walk to the gate, it was all thw ay down, about 60 feet away from the bus stop. Awfully eerie, but its never been a problem for Berdly. Until it brings the fact someone else is walking behind him. He was being as high alert as he could, but couldn’t shake the anxiety, and quickened his pace. He heard the person behind him stopped walking for a moment, before hearing them picking up their speed aswell. At this point, Fight or Flight had kicked in for Berdly, no pun intended. Thanks to being a bird, He was awfully light weight, in some cases, that was terrifying, because it was easier to scoop him up and pin him down, but right now?
It meant he could run as fast as he could.
Berdly had began to book it at this point, fumbling to grab his red town card from his pocket, nearly tripping on air, as he sacenned in and slammed the gate behind him, falling on to the hard pavement ground and facing behind him, towards the hooded figure. He panted and panted, attempting to catch his breath as he slowly backed away from the gate, but his eyes quickly widened in shock as they pulled out a purple town card from his hoodie pocket. Berdly had felt his heart nearly stop, he watched the persons hand scan, before his eyes darted to the other. His heart dropped even deeper down, straight to his feet. They had his wallet. He turned around and began running through the dark again, imthe night time air harsh and persistent against his cold, feathery face.
A tear rolled down his cheek, and he just needed to get somewhere, fast. Kris was guaranteed to be awake right now.
He darted towards the end of town, to the Dreemurr household, like his life demanded he needed it to stay alive. It felt like he was only getting further and further, each step he took it felt like time got slower, and he was nearly out of breath, his throat hoarse and dry, at this point his face was coated with tears, and his bags from the mall were only weighing his arms down.
He looked around, still seeing the persons behind him, and he nearly sobbed, and his legs were going to give out. After what felt like ages of running towards their house, he began to violently pound on the fromt door, crying and shaking. He knocked frantically as his legs gave way to the floor and his hands were shvering from the cold, yet his warm body temperature radiated everywhere. The door swung open, Asriel looking around, then down to the mess of a monster at his doorstep.
“W-Wheres Kris..?! Please-Pl- let me in..!” His voice was coarse and shredded, he stood up and shoved past the tall, furry goat, his eyes immediately landing on his partner, dartinf toward them and into their arms as Asriel stood confused in the doorway.
”Close the front door..! Close it-..!” he stuttered and sputtered towards the goat, who did exactly so. He sat down with Berdly and Kris, so entirely confused on wether this was a normal occurrence or not now.
”K-Kris? Is this uhh.. The boyfriend i heard about..?? Is he okay?? It this normal??” He asked confused, and just as Kris was about to answer him, already in the process of comforting a frantic Berdly, there was a knock at the door. Berdly took a deep breath and almost died. Kris decided to open the door. They stood up, slowly walking towards the door with caution and bravery. They held their breath and counted to 10, and looked back at Beedly who was frantically shaking his head before opening the door. They twisted the knob and pulled the door open, and looked open to see the hooded monster. Berdly’s eyes widened as Asrie smirked and moved up to the door. Kris opened their mouth to reply to them.
“Can i help you?” they asked, and they sounded a bit skeptical. After, a louder and more cheerful voice spoke up.
”Uh, actually yes. A bird had dropped his wallet and i saw him come here. I think i scared the poor kid.. what do you recon, Az’?” The hooded monster pulled his hood down, and with a funny laugh. He was a skeleton monster, no wonder he was so tall and lanky. Ariel had laughed and reached out to dal the monster up????
”its ok, Paps. You should go talk to him AND me though, say sorry, you got here late and your terrifying as shit dude?”
The skeleton had giggled a bit and stepped inside after being welcomed in by Asriel, Kris was confused for a second, before realizing this was the college friend Azzy was talking about hanging out with.
“Azzy, dude, your friend took so long to come i thought you meant an imaginary friend.” Kris had laughed, pointing out thw tardy of the monster. The skeleton opened his mouth awkwardly and smiled.
”Ah.. Well, thats my fault. I suppose i lost track of time and missed my first bus, but..hey, uh, sir? Do you want your wallet?” he gently held out his cold and boney hand towards Berdly. Berdly stoop up and wiped his face with his arm. He shivered before reaching out and receiving the wallet, it was completely intact, no money stolen, no cards missing.
Maybe he really did need to talk to his therapist again.