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Wifies idly tended to his crops. His hands plucking out weeds to throw them in his pouch, where he would later dump them out. His house sat not far from where he was, and where Parrot was currently located as well.
The hybrid probably cooking or perhaps reading.
Wifies didn’t know, but he guessed the latter.
He pulled another weed. It snapped out of the dirt and coated Wifies’s hands in grime. He casually wiped it across his pants- barely thinking of the action.
He continued the work till a certain colorful hybrid strided out, tail feathers occasionally brushing the grass when he decided to see what his friend was doing. Parrot leaned into his vision.
Wifies blinked and paused his massacre of weeds. Tilting his chin up to meet the dark eyes of Parrot, to which he lightly chirped.
Wifies smiled. “Hey”
“Sup, you're almost done? Or do you need help” The avian asked.
He thought about it. Eyes narrowing as he examined his work. Truthfully he was basically done- he had already replanted most of his seeds and watered it. The weeds were thoroughly taken care of.
“Nah I think it’s good”
Parrot nodded. Feathers ruffling when he straightened his posture, eyes soft. Something serene when he was so used to seeing the usual serious glint that seemed to always adorn the avian’s gaze.
“We should get you cleaned up cause you seriously look like a worm crawled out of dirt bro” Parrot teased, grinning.
Wifies snorted- his own lips upturning into a smile. The hybrid then began to head back into the house. Wifies not far from him, occasionally scratching the dirt out of his nail beds.
Parrot opened the door with a flick of his wrist. The wood cringing as it creaked open, revealing a room filled with home decor and chests. Wifies sat on a chair, his back hitting the wall.
Parrot went elsewhere. Getting supplies to rid him of his grime if he had to guess.
Soon enough his questions were answered. The hybrid strided back to where Wifies was, arms full of water, towels and a fresh pair of clothes.
Wifies blinked at it. “I could do it myself y’know”
Parrot snorted. Already arranging the items in a clean manner. “I got it bro, just trust me”
He shut up any more comments. The hybrid already dipping the cloth into the water and patting it against his dirty skin, careful but not overly. Grime wasn’t easy to clean off anyway.
The room was quiet. Save for the hushed moment of ParrotX2 tugging his arm to scrub away the dirt of his skin. Wifies lightly giggled at the action, watching how he rolled up his sleeve to reach the other dirt.
“Youre so dirty- how long were you out there for?” Parrot asked, tilting his head to observe the work. The feathers in his hair followed the action.
Wifies hummed. Rolling the question in his head around while he idly watched Parrot.
“Two hours? Farm work takes a surprisingly amount of time”
Parrot flitted his black gaze to Wifies heterochromia ones. The avian raising a brow. “Two hours? Didn’t know you were a farmer boy”
Wifies rolled his eyes playfully.
“I actually enjoyed farming quite a bit before you invited me to your adventures” Wifies told, shoulders shrugging.
Parrot perked up slightly at the information. The other not usually sharing what he did beforehand. Whenever Parrot asked him what he used to do, Wifies told him that it was boring stuff that was not worth explaining.
Wifies himself doesn’t usually think of it. Always concerned more about the trouble Parrot gets in. The hybrid seemed to always put others before himself, and that irked him.
“Have you always done farming?” Parrot attempted to push for more info.
Wifies examined the other’s expression. His own neutral as he decided if he should explain more.
He caved. “I only picked it up for essential purposes, but I like to do it for fun nowadays”
Parrot nodded at the information. The cloth in his hand continued to scrub- silence slipping into the room as the conversation died. Parrot stopped when he saw that Wifies was clean again. The dirt gone.
“There”
Wifies smiled. “Thank you Parrot”
The avian chirped his way and stood up. Stretching as his wings flexed to its full length. Nearly hitting the walls with their beautiful colors.
Wifies examined them with curiosity. In awe of the array of colors being displayed and their appearance. Each color complimenting the next- even the ones in Parrot’s hair were matching with his wings.
But, he also noticed some of the feathers were askew, tangled or loose. Wifies narrowed his eyes at it.
“You’re taking care of your feathers, right?” Wifies asked.
Parrot paused mid stretch, eyes blinking open as he relaxed his posture. Wings returning to their respective sides, close to Parrot’s back to avoid taking up space.
“Uhh I mean I haven't.. really thought about them. We’ve been busy these past few days. Parrot explained, his tone shifting into a sheepish one.
Wifies sighed through his nose. Lips thinning as he beckoned the avian over, expression slightly dismayed. Parrot hesitated but complied anyway, taking steps to the other. Curious if anything.
“Turn around? I need a better look at your wings” Wifies ordered, rolling up his sleeves again. Already making a plan for his preening job.
Parrot’s expression clicked as he realized what the other wanted to do. This was truly the first time he let Wifies preen his feathers. Always tending to it himself. Wifies knew this, and hoped the other wouldn’t back away.
Isn’t this what Parrots do in the wild? To build friendship? Wifies read it in a book once. That Parrots preen each other to build relationships.
Parrot then sat down, wings flexing outward for Wifies to clean. He reached out to fix a misplaced plumage, aligning it with the rest. He paused as the realization of the fact that he never actually got to feel Parrot’s feathers.
The level of trust that was needed for him to do so was huge. Wifies softly smiled at the fact.
He continued his work. Hands brushing against the feathers in search for any feathers askew. This took a while, as the avian’s wingspan was quite long. On a different note, his wings were soft. Almost like sheep wool. Wifies ran his hand across them, savouring the comfort.
The avian in question was quiet. Wifies looked over to see his head feathers fluff up. If he remembered it correctly, it meant that he liked it.
Wifies went back to preening. A small smile stretched his face.
“I’m done” he said after a while.
Parrot hummed after a moment. His wings retracted as he got up. Wifies noted that he looked relaxed. His face void of any worry lines or anything. Soft is the word Wifies would use.
“Thank you…Wifies. I appreciate it” Parrot chirped, smiling as he looked at him.
Wifies nodded. “Of course. Anytime”
This was one of the many times Wifies had tended and cared for the hybrid, and one of many Parrot had done the same.
But there are always endings.
Paragon seemed colder when alone. Which Wifies slowly grown used to. The prison was grand- full of artificial trees, grass and even flowers. Everything here was placed by hand, by his own command.
Safe. Away from everything and everyone- and made for one person solely.
ParrotX2.
The avian was placed here not long ago. Which was good, and all according to his plan. Which is coming to fruition.
Parrot was safe. Is Safe.
If anything he should be glad. He gave him a place void of any danger and possibility of death.
So as Wifies watched Parrot sit there, head bowed and still as a rock to avoid using energy, he wondered why Parrot looked depressed.
He’s been watching him for a while. Over the span of several days. Picking up habits the hybrid had made, which weren’t good at all.
Parrot seemed to pluck out his own feathers. The plumage falling to the floor while he looked at it, almost confused. Even if he acknowledged it, he continued to preen. Eventually overpreening till feathers littered the ground concerningly.
Whenever Wifies goes to deliver food. He notices the tense ruffles of his feathers as well, fluffed up in defence or stress. Parrot however doesn’t speak about it, only asking to be let out .
It was a little after that when Parrot decided to sit in the middle of the platform. Barely moved whenever Wifies checked up on the avian. His wings stayed by his sides the entire time, and Wifies was worried that they would get hurt if not stretched enough.
So the next time Wifies came to drop off food. He hopped on the platform to persuade Parrot to take care of himself, and if Wifies needed to do it himself. Fine.
“Parrot”
The avian blinked in his direction. Brows furrowing as he stood up, his wings tensing up as he warily gazed at the director.
“Wifies” He spoke like the name was unforeign on his tongue.
The director sighed. Eyes analyzing the other with critical precision for any wounds or damage. His face seemed paler, odd considering how fair his olive skin was. Now it seemed shrunken, dark circles rounding his face. Stress lines etched his features and lips dry with flakes and chewed swollen red.
Even his hair was disheveled. The feathers in his brown hair were askew and dull. Dull like his wings that no longer shone with color that Wifies used to stare at in awe.
The only good thing, even if Wifies didn’t consider it good, was that determined stubborn glint in his eyes.
“You need to be cleaned up…I fear that..you don’t look well, Parrot” Wifies said, his voice monotone. His gaze even with the avian.
Parrot’s brows furrowed. Then he huffed out a laugh, humourless as he shook his head.
“Seriously Wifies? Maybe I wouldn’t look so ill if you didn’t trap me in here!” Parrot erupted with emotion, voice cracking as he extended his arms as if showing the ridiculousness of Paragon.
Wifies didn’t react. Only stifling a disappointed huff from escaping his lungs. The director took a few steps forward, a plan already forming in his head.
“Turn around” he ordered.
Parrot stiffened, eyes going wide. His wings fluffing up against his back, reminding Wifies of their possible discomfort. Why is Parrot being stubborn? He’s just trying to help.
The hybrid shook his head. Defiant till the end.
“No bro. I think you overstayed your welcome” He retorted back. Taking a small step away from Wifies.
Wifies’s frowned, his eye twitching.
“Turn around or I’ll make you” He tried instead. His voice dipping into a warning.
Parrot’s face dropped as he examined the other’s face. Mouth slightly agape and expression troubled yet hesitant.
Wifies should get some medicine maybe. With the worried look Parrot wore, he looked even more sickly than before.
“Wifies..” Parrot muttered, surprisingly quiet.
“Parrot I mean it. Turn around so I can help you”
The avian complied, almost mechanically as he turned his back to Wifies. His shoulders tensed with caution, and maybe even distrust. His wings tight against his back, dull as dead pastel.
A band. More so resembling a rope or wire that wrapped around the base of Parrot’s wings. A substitute to stop the avian from simply flying out of the prison. After all, Wifies didn’t want to trim Parrot’s feathers.
He knew how much the other loved the skies. Even if Wifies killed his old self, he wouldn’t dare to bring himself to do it
But this wire shouldn’t disable the ability to stretch Parrot’s wings. He made sure of that. Paragon was perfect by design, and that follows everything in it.
Wifies hands idly ran through the dull plumage. Parrot’s wings seemed to flinch against the touch, folding tightly.
“Parrot”
His wings immediately relaxed. As relaxed as they can be anyway.
The avian turned his head slightly. “Can you remove the wire?” He asked, tentive.
Wifies complied, but warned the other if he tried to fly off. He won’t get far.
His hands grasped the wire, carefully unraveling it till it sat beside him in a neat spiral. The avian let out a relieved breath, shuttering if Wifies listened close enough.
“Can you stretch them? I know you haven’t been doing so, I also know that you could’ve done it before hand” Wifies asked, eyes narrowed.
Parrot didn’t make a notable expression. Only standing up to flare his wings out, feathers bristling as he eased the muscles back into motion. His face cringing from the discomfort of the burn that flowed through his wings muscles.
Wifies watched. Like he used to.
A memory surfaced. Melancholy that scratched at his ribcage.
—
Parrot was looking out, gazing up at the clouds that passed by slowly. Wifies was with him. His eyes were downcast as he stared at the salty shore of the sea, the aroma filling his nose.
The avian’s hair blew in the wind. Wifies blinking his direction as he joined the sightseeing of the blue skies, sun high above.
“It’s nice out” Wifies idly said.
Parrot nodded, wings ruffling. “Yeah”
The wind continued to whip around the duo. Sea salt filled the air, and the sun filled Wifies pores.
“You want to fly out, don’t you?” He asked after a while of standing around. Eyes soft.
Parrot finally met his eyes, dark meeting grey and black. The avian sheepishly smiled as his wings fluttered from the anticipation.
“Maybe. You don’t mind, right?” Parrot asked.
Wifies snorted. Grinning as he extended his hand to the open sky. “Go ahead”
Parrot nodded and his wings snapped open. The wind caught his feathers and he flapped them as he threw himself in the air. He lifted in the wind. His plumage bright with color when the sun shone onto the avian.
Wifies’s breath was taken away at the sight. The freedom Parrot was displaying was charming. Endearing. Wifies knew that he needed it, the stress of being constantly chased by a killer clown wasn’t ideal. So Wifes was happy to watch him be happy, free temporarily from the bounds of looming death.
Parrot was grinning as he danced with the wind.
—
Wifies blinked the haze that blotched his vision. Ignoring the tangent feeling forming deep inside his chest. He killed the version of himself inside that memory, and for good reason too. Wifies then wouldn’t have had the heart to do what he had to do now.
Parrot settled himself down again. His dull plumage brushed the ground. He looked the other direction, away from the prying eyes of the director.
“Just..get it done or whatever”
Wifies paused his motion forward. The words circulating around his brain. No no, he’s just helping him. Parrot didn’t bother to take care of himself so he’s doing it for him.
The director reached forward and started to rearrange the feathers. Running his hand over to make sure he correctly placed them in the right place. Even scratching the pin feathers- releasing the keratin sheath coating the pin feather.
After a while of that, he saw that he was finished. Now Wifies couldn’t fix the dull color, but he’s sure it will return when Parrot gets outside of the tower.
“I’m done” he said after a while.
Parrot hummed, shoulders still tensed as he stood up. Glancing at his plumage with mild interest. Wifies searched for a reaction, but the other hadn’t given one.
He noticed that his wings were fluffing up again. A sign of distress. Parrot was always easy to read, easy for Wifies anyway. Open hearted.
Parrot flapped his wings a few times, getting a feel in them. Even extending them to their full length. Wifies had an urge to run his hand across them, but held back to avoid spooking the avian.
“You should put the wire around your wings again. I will also remind you to stretch your wings often as well, and don’t pluck them out anymore. It’s unhealthy” Wifies said, eyeing the other.
Parrot flitted his dark gaze to Wifies. Almost sad in a way, but still glinting with defiance.
“Why can’t you just let me out? Why are you doing all this?” His voice was quiet, unguarded in a sensitive tone.
Wifies forced an answer out. His tongue heavy against his mouth.
“I have to Parrot, I can’t let you die. I won’t” He replied, serious.
Parrot’s haze drifted to the floor, frowning at the answer. Wifies didn’t make an attempt to continue the conversation. It was dead the moment it was brought up.
Silence stretched. Wifies could see thoughts whirling around Parrot’s mind.
The wire sat unused in his hands. “Parrot, come here. I need to wra-”
Parrot decked it. Sprinting to the edge as his wings opened up, quickly catching the air as he flew off. Messy in his strokes, desperate as he weaved to the nearest platform.
Wifies cursed under his breath and jumped off the ledge as well. Pearling to the edge before Parrot could reach it, and as his feet met the ground. Just as Parrot came barreling down. Wire in hand.
Wifies threw a wind charge. Several to ensure his flight path as askew. He knew the avian hadn’t flown in a long while, and he’ll use this advantage to his benefit.
The windcharge hit Parrot’s wing. Causing the other to tumble in the air slightly, eyes wide as he attempted to avoid the other three windcharges.
“Don’t make this difficult Parrot!” Wifies yelled, already throwing another wind charge.
He didn’t want to directly pearl onto the avian. It wouldn’t end well.
The windcharge hit him right in the centre of his right wing. The limb failing to cooperate with the other wing and Parrot was sent tumbling to the ground, his left wing softening his fall but only hurting it in the process.
Parrot groaned, his form shaking as he hauled himself up. Breathing heavily as he winced in pain- hims left wing hanging beside him uselessly.
Parrot stared at it. Wide eyed as he wrestled the pain away from showing. His frame shook from the throb of his newly broken wing.
Wifies stood still. Shoving the pang of remorse down as he walked to where Parrot was.
“See what I mean? How self destructive you can be? This is why I made Paragon Parrot. To save you” Wifies huffed out, crouching down to examine the damage.
His hand gently wrapped around the feathered limb. Parrot flinched away from the touch, like it burned him. Wifies frowned.
“Parrot, it’ll only get worse if I don’t wrap it”
Parrot shook his head. Expression almost defeated from this whole interaction.
“Can you just leave me alone? You’ve done enough” The avian choked out.
Wifies ignored the demand and reached forward anyway. Using spare items to make a makeshift splint till he could get the proper materials. Parrot stopped trying to fight, now realizing it wasn’t worth it.
Wifies didn’t understand it. Why doesn’t Parrot let him help?
…
No, he’ll understand eventually.
He has to.
Wifies doesn’t want to have regrets in life.
Especially with how far he’s gone to do this.
Not with Parror’s life constantly being on the line in the past. Wifies fixed that.
Paragon was perfect by design.
But does Wifies reflect that?