Chapter Text
Parrot watched as those two friends walked away into the sunset; his eyes lingered with a special sparkle on the angel walking a few steps behind the purple demon, both of them chatting. The sunset painted the sky in warm hues, which were reflected in the angel’s white hair and pair of wings.
“I’ve always thought it’s good to dream big, but you’re taking it too far, Parrot,” Jaden’s voice sounded behind the parrot hybrid, who jumped, turning around. “Jaden!” he shouted in that way Parrot has, bringing a hand to his heart. Jaden laughed as he watched the bird hybrid’s face turn bright red.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the candidate said to the pirate, who crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Parrot, we may all have been busy with the war against the Law, but you found time to see Egg.” said the dark-haired man, approaching Parrot. “Weren’t you supposed to have left already?” said the hybrid with brown hair and strands of other colors. “Without coming to bother you because it turns out you have a crush on Egg?”
“I don’t have a crush on Egg!” Parrot shouted at the pirate. Jaden kept looking at him, not believing him. He raised his hand and waved—either greeting or waving goodbye to someone.
“Egg is saying goodbye,” he said calmly. The bird hybrid turned around quickly, eyes wide and a silly smile on his face, raising his hand to wave goodbye to the angel as well. Who, in reality, wasn’t even near the spot. Jaden’s mocking laughter rang out again. The parrot turned red with anger, looking for the pirate who had already fled with the trident.
Parrot was left alone once more; his face turned red. He likes the angel—an angel who is the best friend of an unbearable, childish, and dangerous demon named Wemmbu.
Several months had passed since the last time I’d spoken with the others: Following a new election by the players, Parrot had established himself as the king of Unstable Universe, but he is a king rejected by his people. He had done everything in his power: ensuring Spawn’s safety, and clearing his name after being blamed for murders he hadn’t committed. A few days ago, he’d spoken with Spoke about an organization called “Null”—he didn’t know who they were, and apparently Spoke and Jumper weren’t sure either who they were or what their motives were—but he hadn’t heard anything from the angel. Or from Wemmbu about Eggchan.
The door was opened by Theo, who had become his personal guard and current recruit trainer. Parrot looked up from his papers to see who it was; Wemmbu, and behind him, Eggchan. Eggchan was mesmerized, staring at the place.
“Parrot! How’s it going?” said Wemmbu, approaching and shaking hands with Parrot. Eggchan bowed slightly to greet him. “It’s been a long time, Your Majesty.” Eggchan’s voice made the bird’s heart skip a beat. Wemmbu gave Eggchan a slap on the shoulder.
“No need to be so formal, Egg,” said the hybrid, letting go of Wemmbu’s hand. “What brings you here?” asked the king with a smile. Wemmbu looked at Theo. Theo, looking a little nervous, turned to Parrot. “Well, after what happened with ShoeBilly, I thought I’d train with Wemmbu to figure out how to defeat him,” he said with a smile, twirling the feathers on his wrists. “And, well, I brought Egg along so he wouldn’t be left alone at the base,” Wemmbu finished the explanation.
Parrot nodded at what both warriors had said, and an idea came to mind: to meet the angel and—and keep him safe while Wemmbu and Theo trained. “Okay, and will Eggchan stay at the castle, or will he go with you?” Parrot asked, looking at the three of them. “I’m fine staying here if it doesn’t bother you,” Eggchan said with a gentle smile. Wemmbu didn’t seem opposed; in fact, he seemed fine with the idea.
But Theo approached Parrot. “Parrot, can we talk—quickly, alone?” he asked. Parrot nodded, getting up from his seat and following the bird.
They had reached a corner, and Theo looked at the pair who had stayed behind talking. “What’s up, Theo?” the bird asked the blond, who sighed. “Do you think it’s a good idea for Eggchan to stay with you? I mean…” Theo grabbed the brown-haired man by the shoulders. Parrot didn’t understand what he meant; he could imagine the hybrid rolling his eyes behind his glasses. “You have… feelings for Eggchan, and well—you,” he tried to remind Parrot, but the latter didn’t get what he was getting at. “Theo, you don’t have to worry; it’s not like I’m going to court Eggchan,” he said, giving Theo a carefree smile, but the cockatoo hybrid exhaled in exasperation.
Parrot and Eggchan stood side by side, waving goodbye to the departing duo. The angel had blessed Wemmbu and Theo before they left with spells of protection and invisibility to other players who might come too close to the area where they were training.
Parrot looked at Eggchan with a warm smile. “Egg, you like to read, don’t you?” he asked as they returned to the palace. The angel nodded. “Yes, I was in the middle of writing a book about everything I’ve experienced… but I lost it weeks ago,” he said, following the green-winged one as the bird continued walking.
The hallways were large, high, and bright; the exterior might seem intimidating because of how massive the castle is, but in reality, it’s a pretty comfortable place to walk around and observe the details left behind by Horeca.
They arrived at some large wooden doors; they looked heavy, and apparently they were. “Need some help?” Eggchan said, stepping forward to take the handles. Parrot was about to refuse and turned away, but he just bumped into Eggchan’s body. Parrot stood still, lowered his head, and let the angel open the doors.
“Ohh, it’s been ages since I’ve seen a library this big, not since I was in Alexandria,” Eggchan remarked, resting his hands on Parrot’s shoulders. “Yeah—well, they’re books on all sorts of things that various people have written about everything that’s happened, and more books.” Parrot fiddled with the fabric of his clothes; he could feel the warmth of the taller figure’s body, and he could even smell the faint scent of soap.
“Can I take a couple of books?” the angel asked with a smile, and the hybrid nodded without hesitation. Eggchan walked quickly, scanning the titles, and soon grabbed a couple of interesting ones.
Parrot stayed at the entrance; he could still feel the angel’s heartbeat trembling at the back of his head. He smiled as the angel moved joyfully, his four wings spreading and lifting the angel, who already had several books in his arms.
The parrot-hybrid was fixing up that space for the angel, where he always spent the day writing and reading, sometimes talking to him. He had added more pillows, blankets, a small table with a water jug, and some snacks.
He had placed a music block and a bookshelf with the books the angel had left behind after reading. A hairbrush and a feather brush, a mirror. It’s perfect, cute, comfortable for a creature with four wings, and there’s even plenty of space to spare. A perfect nest.
Parrot realized he had created a nest, not a resting spot. The bird thought hard about how to change it—or maybe he could manage to make Eggchan believe it wasn’t a nest?
“Parrot? Everything okay?” Eggchan’s soft, slightly concerned voice sounded behind the hybrid, who had thought about grabbing a few pillows but hadn’t had the time. “No, everything’s fine—uh—I…” he stammered, not knowing what to say, but Eggchan moved; the angel had taken a spot in the center of the pile of sheets and pillows, holding a plate of cookies in his hands.
The hybrid stood still, staring at the angel in the center of the nest. He looked happy, his wings spread slightly, calm, completely letting his guard down. Eggchan smiled at the hybrid and held out the plate. “For you—I made them for you,” he said with a loving smile. Parrot took them, his heart pounding against his chest.
“Thanks, Egg.” Parrot hoped his face wasn’t red; he could already feel the heat rushing to his cheeks. “You’re welcome. I’ll always be happy to help my king.” Eggchan bowed his head respectfully, and the parrot hybrid felt his feathers spread.
It was morning. Parrot had gone out to get some fresh air when he sensed someone watching him. It was Eggchan, up on the balcony of the room the angel rarely uses. Parrot felt an even greater urge to stretch; his vibrantly colored wings—green, red, blue, and yellow—looked even more vivid in the morning light.
His wings aren’t the longest, since someone had cut the tips so he couldn’t fly. But his wings were still beautiful and well-kept. Parrot glanced up out of the corner of his eye; the angel was already gone.
Parrot blushed; he was at it again—doing something that could be considered courtship. But what could he do? His body sometimes ignores everything and moves on instinct, wanting the angel to accept him as a mate.
The night was calm and silent. Parrot had let the guards go to sleep; he kept reviewing papers—plans, other people’s wishes—and figuring out how to pay off his debt. But the words barely registered in his mind; he was sleepy and drifting off.
He didn’t realize it when he closed his eyes for a few seconds and fell asleep.
But the one who noticed was the angel who was reading in the nest made by the parrot hybrid. Eggchan looked at the hybrid sleeping on the giant table. He couldn’t leave him there when there was another good place to rest, so the angel got up and walked over to the hybrid.
Lifting him out of the chair, the angel carefully carried him and placed him in the nest. The angel moved gently, folding his own wings, and lay down beside Parrot. He gazed at the hybrid; the angel’s cheeks flushed when the hybrid moved to embrace him. Eggchan closed his eyes, also falling into the arms of Morpheus.
Hours passed; dawn was already breaking when Parrot began to wake up.
His face was buried in the angel’s body, his hand resting on the angel’s hip, holding him close. Parrot finally opened his eyes and noticed the sleeping angel; they were in the nest.
Parrot’s hand moved across the angel’s body, moving down to touch his thighs and then up to his waist. The hand moved up and brushed some hair away from the angel’s face and neck; Eggchan’s neck looked more provocative, white, and surely warm. A red mark would stand out there.
He wanted to leave a bite mark there, to leave his mark on him, but the problems that would come with it were too many. The angel wouldn’t take it well, and Wemmbu even less so unless his best friend were marked. From there, the chaos would ensue for various reasons, to the point where Unstable would once again become more insecure and dangerous.
But these are things he’s going to ignore.
Eggchan woke up, feeling a burning sensation on his neck, a breath on his neck, hands holding him in place. His hands rose and gripped the body that was biting him, his head falling onto Parrot’s.
“Good morning—” Eggchan murmured as his wings spread and wrapped around Parrot’s body, who had finally let go of his skin. “Egg—I—uh,” the hybrid wanted the ground to swallow him up and cast him into the void, but Eggchan’s finger silenced him. The angel laid him down in the nest; Eggchan straddled Parrot and then lay down on top of him. “Go back to sleep,” Eggchan hummed, leaving a kiss on Parrot’s lips.
Parrot lay still, watching the angel fall asleep. He brought his hands to the other’s hips, his face turning red. His bird brain began to think; one part wondering if that was what he was thinking, and the other proud of himself.