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Parker sat down at the bus stop, tired after a whole day of being the world’s best errand enby. They kind of just wanted to pass out for 16 hours if they were completely honest.
The air was calm, almost inviting Parker to sleep but they sat firm, staying awake to catch their bus on time. Lest they be late to their bed once more.
But perchance… shutting their eyes for a moment wouldn’t hurt…
“Is this seat taken?” The most androgynous voice Parker had ever heard spoke up, breaking them out of their thoughts.
They opened their eyes to see a person, a very nice looking person. They had that adventurers look about them. And the look in their eyes, it was one Parker recognized.
Parker blinked, their face flushing from staring a bit too long, “oh— uh, it’s free!” They smiled at them.
“Okay, great!” They plopped down right next to Parker, “good lord, I’m beat…”
“Heh, yeah…it’s been exhausting lately.”
“You too?”
“Yuup… these swords don’t collect themselves…”
The other person froze before looking at Parker “you collect swords?”
“Yeah, the SFOTH swords.”
“No way! Same!!”
Parker lit up, “NO WAY!!” They smiled, extending their hand “I’m Player, you can call me Parker though.”
“Funny, I also go by Player” they shook their hand
“Crazy coincidence” Parker laughed “it’s a small world, huh?”
A comfortable silence went over the two, their bus taking its sweet time. They could see just from looking at each other the effects the swords had. However both differed in how they hid such scars and imperfections.
Parker stared at Players bandaged arm for a moment before their gaze turned up at Players face. They weren’t going to pry into what’s going on with their arm. after all, everyone’s got their own secrets to keep and internal demons to battle. It wasn’t their business anyway.
Player on the other hand was more focused on Parker’s little head wings, reaching up and poking at them. “…” they squint, leaning in.
Parker’s face flushed more at the proximity, “uh…?”
“Oh, sorry” they pulled back, gently touching Parker’s head wings “I just wanted to ask…how do these work?”
“Oh!! Uh, yeah, they don’t work on me very well… uhm…help steering when flying and it makes it easier for avians like myself to know the direction of the wind! But you know… they don’t work for me anymore.” They explained.
“Oh Cool… Wait— why don’t they work on you anymore?”
“You can’t see it very well but…” they turned to show their back, which was mostly exposed due to them wearing a crop top. Under the reddish brown feathers, two very small distinct scars were shown.
“…oh.” They reached out before pausing.
“You can touch, It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Player leaned in, touching their back, being gentle as their thumb went over the scar. “Did this happen recently?”
“It happened when I was like… eleven. I’m okay now. Or you know, as much as one can be” they smiled back at player, turning back forward. “It’s not anything you should pity me for. It has its perks.”
“Like what?”
“I’m a damn good surfer for one” Parker chuckles
“Really? We should get out on the water if we get time.”
“For real… you too?”
Player nodded, their usual smirk plastered on their face “absolutely!”
“Neato…”
…
More silence went over them before their bus had finally arrived… and it was getting dark too. What was the hold up? Well— regardless, it’s here now.
They decided to just sit together, it’s safer that way anyways, they both rationalized.
However, it didn’t take long for Parker to doze off, their head landing on Player’s shoulder.
Player looked down at them as soon as their curly hair landed on their shoulder. Seeing their head-wings over their eyes like a blindfold, they couldn’t help but think it was cute.
It was almost a bit impressive to player how fast they could fall asleep. It made them wonder what they did to help them fall asleep easier. It had not been easy on player for a long while…. They made a mental note to ask later.
Eventually they both got to their stop, Parker groggily walking with Player into the hotel.
They both got to their rooms, which happened to be adjacent to each other. Another funny coincidence!
“Goodnight, don’t let the bedbugs bite” player waved
“Gnight…!” Parker waved sleepily, “sweet dreams!”
…..
Player sat at the edge of their bed, unwrapping the bandages of their rotting arm. How disgusting.
They never wanted anyone to see how horrible they’ve gotten, not to them, not to anyone. Especially not to Parker. They had just met— if they showed them how fucked up their arm was…they would run for the hills.
Even if Parker had gone through the same things they did, even if they used and collected the same cursed swords as they did… would it be worth the trouble? Would it be worth going through that pain?
Player looked down at their trembling hand, the thing that slowed them down the most. They felt sick to their stomach just merely thinking about what everyone else would think. Kyoko, Jim….. griefer. It tore them apart.
…..
Parker on the other hand, went into the bathroom and stared at themself in the mirror, seeing the red fucker they call hatred mocking them. Haunting them. Red was all they could see in that mirror. Their eyes hurt.
And they didnt say anything to hatred this time. They just wanted to preen themself and go to bed… but oddly enough they didn’t trust themself to be gentle with themself tonight.
It was one of those nights where they needed help. It was pathetic to be constantly looked after. They felt so useless… but it got bad again.
Parker doubted anyone else would be awake… and they certainly didn’t want to use the ghost potion again to have kitchen wizard preen them.
However, an idea dawned on them. It was risky. But they had to try.
…..
(“This is stupid. We just met why would they want to help me..”) Parker thought to themself, standing outside of Player’s door in their pajamas. They knocked on the door, almost expecting them not to answer.
But they did… it wasn’t in a way Parker expected though, “I’ll be right there— shit!” They exclaimed quietly, a small crash sound followed right after.
Parker frowned, more worried about Player now. “Uh… everything alright in there?”
“Yep!” They opened the door, their right arm behind their back.
“I.. I see.” They cleared their voice, “sorry if this is like, super forward, but I need help preening.”
“Preening?”
“Yeah, just like brushing through my feathers and pulling out damaged or loose feathers.”
“Ohh gotcha… yeah I just need to wrap something up real quick.” They seemed to want to have privacy as quickly as possible.
Parker put their foot into the door before it closed all the way. “I can help! If you want of course.” They offered.
“…” they hesitated, their heart telling them to slam the door and to go to bed. To shut them out and leave.
“You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.” Parker continued, “and I wont…like….judge. Yknow?”
Player’s expression was unreadable, but they’re didn’t make any move to shut the door.
“If you got any secrets they’re safe with me. I won’t tell a soul. I swear on…. Uh… I swear on my baller card.”
“… fine.” Player laughed breathlessly, letting them in. Parker’s determination to help them was…admirable. And maybe a little stupid. But who were they to deny such an offer?
“Great! Now... You said you need to wrap something up?”
“Yeah. Bandages are in my bag.”
“Alrighttt” they dug around in Players bag for a bit, before finding the roll of bandages they mentioned. Parker stood back up, facing Player. “What do I gotta wrap?”
Player showed them their right arm, the arm they use the swords with. the effects of each shown clearly from the frostbite of the ice dagger to the burns of the firebrand. A disgusting sight…
They had expected them to recoil back or show any disgust or discomfort. But they just looked at them with a sort of understanding. A knowing look in their eyes that made it feel okay for a moment to be this vulnerable.
“You know…” they started, wrapping up their hand carefully, “I’ve never seen the swords affect someone like this.”
“… they don’t affect you like this?”
“Nah, my scars are all over.” They chuckled. “I could show you later. If you want of course. You don’t gotta see my hot bod” they winked, trying to keep the mood light
“Hm.” They looked away from Parker, their heart pounding, their head screaming at them to just have Parker go back to whatever they were doing before this. To just get them to leave. Why did they care so much?
“Bruh” Parker scoffed lightheartedly, “you’re shaking a lot. Something on your mind?” They looked up at them, concern in their eyes.
They looked down at Parker, who was almost done wrapping up their arm, “no.” They lied. They didn’t want them to worry anymore than they already have.
“…” Parker’s eyebrows rose in disbelief, but they didn’t pry. “Alrighty then…” They pulled back after they finished, watching Players expression as they looked at their now covered arm.
Player looked at their arm, then at Parker, unsure of what to say. “Thanks.” They inspected how much it covered.
“Anytime! You would’ve done the same for me” they smiled.
Player nodded, staring at them for a bit too long before going up to them. “You needed your little head-wings cleaned up?”
“Yeah, if—if that’s okay of course! I totally understand if you’re too tired!”
“No, no it’s okay.” They sat on their bed, patting the spot next to them, which Parker obliged, plopping down next to them.
“So how do you do this?” They asked, distracting themself from their thoughts.
“It’s like running your hands through your hair, but with feathers!” They demonstrated the action for them, which Player replicated quite well.
“You’re soft..” they whispered, pulling out loose feathers, feeling it in their fingers of their left hand. They made sure they weren’t being too tough with Parker, still coming down from the anxiety they had earlier.
“I guess I am pretty soft…” they chuckled, staying still as player helped them preen their head wings and back feathers.
The moment was quiet, and strangely normal for both of them. It was weird to feel this comfortable around someone they just met…
But at the same time, it was like looking in a mirror. They had both lived through many of the same events… used many of the same items, talked with the same people…
Once all the loose and dirty feathers were off, Parker scooped them all up to throw away.
“Wait.”
Parker turned to them “Yah?”
“Could I… keep one of your feathers? They’re kind of cool looking.”
Parker blushed “well…I uh… I think it’s best if I give it to you after we know each other for a bit longer.” They chuckled. It would’ve been very awkward for Parker to simply give them a feather now. That’s like proposing to a stranger.
“Fair..” they nodded, taking off their beanie and headphones as winded down.
Parker yawned, “I’m gonna head back to my room if you need me” they said after tossing the feathers away.
“Alright, sweet dreams!”
After they left, Player got cozy in their own bed after getting ready to sleep.
…..
“You’re only going to hurt them. Leave them while you still can.” The hatred haunting their heart whispered. “They’re too good for you.”
Player jerked awake, nightmares plagued them. “Fuckkk…” they muttered, frustrated. They ran their hands over their face, having just a horrid time.
They got up trudging out of their room to walk off their anxiety. At this point they didn’t care much for appearances as their hair had fallen out of its ponytail.
….
Parker, suffering a similar situation, was just in the hallway, getting water.
“Evening player….” They mumbled, hearing them walk past.
Player paused before looking at Parker. “Evening. You couldn’t sleep either?”
They drank some water from their water bottle before answering, “Yuup….” They sighed, looking up at Player, “nightmares?”
Player nodded, confirming that they were both going through the same things. It was almost like they were the same person. Almost.
“Just nightmares and anxiety. It’s nothing” Player deflected quietly, rubbing the bandages on their arm subconsciously.
“Same… something that helps me is having something weighted on my chest.”
“Really? Hm…”
“Yeah, I could…uhh” their eyes widened as they flushed, realizing what they were about to offer.
“You could what?”
“I could… help you sleep?” They squeaked, their head-wings hiding their face. “Like— lay on your chest? We don’t have to— after all we just met that’s weird of me to cuddle you when were—“
“Sure.” Player nodded thoughtfully, “it’ll be worth a shot, right?”
Parker stopped their rambling, one of the wings moving so they could peak at player. “Really!?” They put a hand over their mouth, “sorry— that was loud.”
It was endearing to Player though, their enthusiasm to help. “No worries.”
“So…your room or mine?” They asked before realizing the connotation behind that question. “To sleep. To snooze. That’s all we’re doing.”
Player chuckled, amused. “Uh-huh.” They teased, watching Parker’s face turn into a tomato with how red they were.
“You—“ they pout, “just answer the question before I combust and die” they sighed.
“Alright. Let’s go to your room. I’m not sure if I can go back to my room right now.”
“Fair.” They nodded “let’s go then.” They led the way.
….
The walk was fairly short and quiet, neither of them wanted to be that asshole who woke their neighbors.
Parker unlocked the door and lets them go in first. “Make your self at home!” They smiled, shutting the door behind them.
It looked similar to Players own hotel room. This one looked slightly more lived in though. Picture frames were placed face down, there was a towel over the mirror, and a plushie— a very well loved one— sat nicely on Parker’s bed. How cute.
Parker went and turned off all the lights as player laid down, their eyes trained on the childish item. What even was it? A cartoon character? They were too tired to tell.
But eventually, Parker got in bed and pulled the covers over the two of them, stiffly adjusting themself over player. “Is this okay?” They asked softly
“Mhm…”
“Okay. Good.” They whispered, “tell me if anything happens.” Parker laid their head on their chest, their head-wings going over their eyes as they relaxed.
Player could feel Parker’s heartbeat. It was a bit fast at first, but eased the more comfortable the two were. Players hand eventually found its way to Parker’s neck. Their feathers were soft and comforting. Unlike the dread they felt just then.
They could not deny that Parker’s presence did help though. It was odd meeting someone so alike to them. So tired and suffering the same ways they were. And why they were so determined to help someone they just met is still beyond them.
But for once, their eyes drifted close without any night terrors.