Work Text:
The air inside the store was thick with the scent of nether wart. Parrot moved methodically between his brewing stands, adjusting the flames to ensure the latest batch of Swiftness was perfect. Theo leaned against the counter, tapping his fingers impatiently on the wood while watching the window. It was supposed to be a night of celebration, new years and all you know? but Parrot felt more comfortable surrounded by his glass bottles than the growing crowds outside.
“Parrot come out! People are about to shoot fireworks” Theo says, already dragging parrot to the front of the shop.
Theo didn’t wait for an answer, his hand clamping firmly onto Parrot's sleeve with a burst of energy. He pulled his friend away from the brewing stands, ignoring the protest in Parrot's eyes. Theo’s voice was bright with anticipation, They stumbled through the doorway together, Theo was already looking toward the sky, his grip never loosening as he positioned them both at the very edge of the shop’s porch.
Capital city was loud tonight and so Shop keepers were outside, most had abandoned their stalls. They stood in small groups, sharing drinks and stories under the flickering lanterns. They leaned against their doorframes, watching the streets fill with a rare sense of peace. Players with their loved ones, Groups of friends huddled together, sharing jokes and bread. You could see couples holding hands, Laughter erupted from every corner,
Parrot checked his watch, His hand trembled slightly as he lifted his wrist to look at the ticking clock, He took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart.
11:59 pm.
The final minute of the year had arrived, hanging over the city. A strange, expectant hush began to ripple through the crowd. The glowing numbers on Parrot's watch seemed to burn into his vision,
Parrot looked at his bird friend. Theo’s profile was illuminated by the flickering torches, He watched him for a moment, Despite his own growing dread, Parrot felt a flicker of gratitude for the presence of the Theo by his side. He wanted to say something, to thank him for being there, but the words felt stuck in his throat.
He saw how Theo's wings fluttered slightly from excitement.
Parrot never really liked explosions,
The very thought of it sent a shiver down Parrot's spine. Memories of TNT and the smell of sulfur always seemed to linger in the back of his mind.
Boom.
The sound was sudden and violent, tearing through the silence of the city.
The first fireworks went up.
A streak of light sliced through the darkness, trailing a tail of golden sparks. It climbed higher and higher before it finally reached its peak. Then, it burst into a massive flower of light with a rainbow hue, a lot followed. Before the first could even fade, three more streaks of light chased it into the sky. red, green, and purple explosions bloomed in rapid succession
Cheers erupted from the people as the crowd went wild, their voices rising. People were jumping and waving their arms "Happy New Year!" echoed, different voices wishing for a better future. The joy was infectious for most,
A wide grin stretched across Theo’s face as he looked up at the sky. He let out a loud whistle of approval, his head tilting back to take in the full scale of the display.
Theo was exactly where he wanted to be.
Parrot wasn’t.
his jaw locked so tight it ached. While everyone else looked up, Parrot’s gaze was fixed on the ground, his eyes darting back and forth. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. Every flash of light felt like a blow to his eyes, making his head throb with a growing ache. He squawked. A sharp, involuntary sound escaped his throat.
He hated explosions.
Ever since Wifies—
No. He didn't want to think about that.
Parrot shook his head violently, trying to physically dislodge the thoughts. He squeezed his eyes shut for a second, He slammed a mental door on those memories, locking them away in the darkest corner of his mind. He had to stay in the present, even if the present was terrifying.
He had to calm down.
He took a jagged breath, trying to force his lungs to expand against the tightness in his chest. "Count to ten," he whispered to himself. He felt sweat on his forehead, the way his knees felt weak and ready to buckle. He tried to focus on the feeling of his boots on the ground, seeking any sense of stability.
He tried to mimic Theo’s breathing, watching his friend's chest rise and fall
He tried to cancel out the noise.
Parrot pressed his hands over his ears, but the sound seemed to vibrate through his skull. He tried to hum a low, steady note to create his own sound, but it was pathetic compared to the fireworks. The crowd felt like they were inside his head, clawing at his thoughts. He wished for the silence of the ocean or the void of the End. The world was simply too loud, too bright, and too much for him to handle.
His wings flared out to their full wingspan, The feathers were puffed up, making him look larger but feeling fragile. The tips of his primary feathers brushed against the people standing near him, but he barely noticed. He was trying to shield himself with his own body, They trembled with the same intensity as his hands.
The world had become an unrecognizable smear of neon lights and dark shadows. He could no longer distinguish the buildings from the sky, as everything melted into each other. The bright flashes left spots in his eyes, making it impossible to see Theo clearly.
Some people opted to ring bells instead of fireworks. Bells began to cut through the sharp cracks of the fireworks. It was another layer of sound that he simply didn't have the room to process.
The combination of the lights, the cheers, the bells, and the explosions was reaching a breaking point. Parrot felt like his senses were being shredded, leaving him raw and exposed. There was nowhere to look that wasn't flashing, and nowhere to go that wasn't shouting. He felt the familiar urge to simply disappear, to blink out of existence until it was all over.
He looked toward the door of the shop, His movements were uncoordinated, his legs feeling like lead as he tried to shift his weight. He was a second away from bolting, his mind already calculating the distance to the safety of the potion shop. He just needed one moment of stillness to regain his footing.
Despite his own panic, he couldn't help but notice how different Theo’s reaction was. Theo’s wings were dancing, catching the light in a way that looked almost like liquid gold. Parrot felt a pang of guilt, seeing how much Theo was enjoying this moment. He didn't want to be the one to ruin it.
Maybe he should tell Theo he's not good with explosions. He opened his mouth to speak, But the words died before they could form, He didn't want to be a burden, not on a night that meant so much to his best friend.
Bang.
A firework launched, much closer than the ones before it. The sound was sharp, sounding like a gunshot. Parrot’s entire body jolted that sent him stumbling a step back. The heat of the spark seemed to brush against his cheek
Parrot squawked and flinched. His body curled inward, his shoulders hunching as he tried to make himself as small as possible. He couldn't stop the shaking that he nearly lost his balance
The crowd erupted with cheering and celebrating.
People were hugging, jumping, and screaming their joy into the night. He felt isolated in the middle of the crowd
Theo looked at him and pulled him into a hug.
Sensing something was off, Theo finally turned his gaze away from the sky and toward his partner. Without a word, he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Parrot's trembling frame. The hug was firm and warm,It was the first time all night that Parrot felt like he might not actually break into pieces.
Parrot was shaking, but Theo mustve thought it was because of excitement.
His whole body vibrating against Theo’s chest. Theo squeezed him tighter, perhaps misinterpreting the shivers as the same adrenaline he was feeling. Parrot didn't correct him; he just leaned into the warmth, desperate for the contact. He hid his face against Theo’s shoulder, using the fabric of his friend's shirt to shield his eyes from the flashes. The shaking didn't stop, but it felt less lonely now that someone was holding him.
His arms came up slowly, clutching at Theo’s back with a desperate grip. He buried his fingers in the fabric
He hated explosions ever since—
No. he didn't want to think about him right now.
It was a new year, and he wouldn't let the ghosts win tonight. He focused on the steady beat of Theo’s heart
Parrot brought his wings forward, curving them around himself and Theo. They created a small cocoon. The soft down feathers muffled the sounds outside, The darkness inside the wing-tent was soothing, It was his way of protecting them both—protecting Theo from the world, and protecting himself from the light.
He started to feel a tiny bit of control returning, his breathing finally beginning to even out. He thought he might actually make it through the night without a total breakdown. He gave Theo’s back a small, reassuring pat, he was almost there.
At the corner of his eyes, he saw a firework malfunction, it went up not even 5 blocks of the ground before it went haywire and flew.
Just as he let his guard down, a streak of green light caught his attention through a gap in his feathers. It didn't climb toward the sky like the others; instead, it sputtered and hissed, steering sharply to the side. Trailing dangerous sparks as it whistled through the air at chest height.
He heard people panic. People began to scramble, pushing and shoving to get out of the path of the stray firework. “Look out!" someone screamed, their voice cracking with fear.
Then, he watched as the firework went straight at someone.
Parrot froze, his wings paralyzing again as he watched the green spark zoom across the open space. It moved with terrifying speed, a literal bolt of fire aimed at a player who hadn't seen it coming. The player was laughing, looking the other way, completely unaware of the danger hurtling toward them. Time seemed to slow down for Parrot as he watched the collision.
Bang.
The firework hit its target and detonated with an explosion of green light and smoke. The sound was flat and ugly, the sound of something breaking. The light flared one last time, illuminating the shocked faces of the people nearby.
Nyxxxxintrus went off with a bang due to Kichi.
He saw the explosion.
Parrot didn't just hear it; he saw the way the light expanded and the way the air shimmered with the heat. He saw the smoke curling into the air, The way the player who presumably shot the firework ran to where the explosion happened, falling to the ground.
He watched as Kichi sprinted toward the spot, their movements frantic and filled with regret. They collapsed to their knees in the middle of the city, their head in their hands as they realized what they had done. The grief was visible even from a distance.
People began to gather around the site of the accident, their voices low and hushed. Some tried to help, while others simply stood and stared. The bells were still ringing in the distance, The celebration was over, even if the sky was still technically full of light.
He shoved Theo away from him as he ran inside. He broke the hug with a sudden shove, He didn't look at Theo’s confused face as he scrambled back through the shop door. His wings were tucked tight against his body now
"Parrot! Wait! What's wrong?" Theo shouted after him, his voice filled with concern and confusion. Parrot didn't turn back, couldn't turn back, as the sound of his own name felt like another explosion. He stumbled over a crate of empty bottles, the glass clinking loudly in the shop. He
He reached the furthest corner of the brewing room and hit the wall with a thud. He slid down the wall, His breath was coming in sobs now, He pressed his back as hard as he could against the stone, as if he could merge with the wall and disappear.
His legs had completely given out, leaving him curled into a ball on the wooden planks. The floorboards were cold, but he didn't care as he tucked his head between his knees. He felt small, insignificant, and broken. The muffled sounds of the fireworks outside still reached him, but they were distant, He was safe for now.
He squeezed his eyes shut so hard it hurt.
He bit his lip so hard he tasted copper.
He pulled his wings in close, wrapping them around his body like a heavy blanket. He could feel the individual feathers brushing against his skin,
Parrot stiffened, his breath hitching in his throat as he heard footsteps. He wanted to shout at whoever it was to go away, but he couldn't find his voice. The footsteps grew closer, echoing slightly in the shop.
He assumed it was Theo. He didn't have to look up to know that Theo had followed him into the shop. A part of him felt a wave of relief, while another part felt shame. He didn't want Theo to see him like this—vulnerable, shaking, and hiding on the floor.
The sound of the boots on the wood ceased just a few feet away from where Parrot was curled up. There was a long, heavy silence that followed, filled only by the distant, muffled bangs from outside. Parrot held his breath, wondering what Theo was thinking as he looked down at him.
There was the rustle of fabric and the soft thud of Theo dropping his weight onto the floorboards. He didn't try to force Parrot to look at him or demand an explanation right away. He simply occupied the space beside him. The floor creaked slightly under Theo’s weight
He then feels Theo outstretch one of his wings, putting it behind parrots back, covering him and pushing him closer.
Theo’s wing was warm and heavy, Theo pulled him in gently, closing the small gap between them until their shoulders touched. The extra layer of protection made him feel even safer, even more impenetrable. Parrot let out a long, shaky exhale, finally allowing some of the tension to leave his body.
After awhile the shouts outside and the fireworks stopped, and parrots calmed down.
The night slowly reclaimed its silence as the celebration wound down and the crowds dispersed. The smell of smoke began to fade, Parrot's breathing finally returned to a steady rhythm, He felt exhausted, as if he had run a marathon, He leaned his head against Theo’s shoulder, finally feeling like he was back in his own body.
Parrot slowly uncurled his wings, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the shop’s lanterns. Theo was sitting there, his expression soft and patient, his gaze fixed on the opposite wall. He didn't look annoyed or bored; he looked like he was exactly where he wanted to be. The light caught the golden tips of Theo’s feathers,
Theo was looking at him “you okay, dude?” Theo turned his head, his voice low and gentle, His eyes searched Parrot's face, looking for any lingering signs of distress. It was a simple question.
Parrot nodded “yeah, I just don't do well with explosions” he offered a small, weary nod, his voice sounding a bit hoarse. He looked down at his hands, which were finally still, and took a deep, clear breath. He was okay, or at least, he was on his way to being okay.
“Why didn't you tell me?” Theo asked. His brow furrowed slightly, not in anger, but in a sort of sad confusion. He sounded like he wished he had known sooner. He tilted his head, waiting for the answer that Parrot had been holding back all night. He wanted to understand.
“Because, I didn't want to like.. Bum you out or sour the mood or something" Parrot admits. He looked away, a faint flush of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. He felt a bit foolish now, seeing how much Theo clearly cared about his well-being.
“Dude it's fine, you don't have to force yourself for anything or anyone, okay?” Theo reached out and gave Parrot’s shoulder a firm squeeze.
“Yeah.. okay..” Parrot gave a small smile, the first one that had reached his eyes all night. He accepted the comfort, letting the words sink into his mind and soothe the remaining edges of his anxiety. He knew that he didn't have to hide his broken parts from Theo, and that realization was the best gift of the new year. He felt lighter
“Now get up, let's celebrate new years.” Theo stood up first, offering a hand to pull Parrot up from the dusty floorboards. His tone was light again, He wasn't going to let the night end on a sad note; they still had a whole new year to conquer. He nudged Parrot playfully, They would celebrate their own way—quietly, safely, and together.
Parrot smiled, Theo did too.
The two of them stood in the center of the quiet potion shop, the lanterns casting long, warm shadows against the walls. The smile on Parrot's face was small but real, Theo’s grin was as bright as ever, a beacon of light that didn't hurt Parrot's eyes. They just needed each other, and for the first time in a long time, the future looked bright.