Chapter Text
Kris was eating an entire pie in their dark room. The SOUL zoomed around in the birdcage as always. Kris lets out a quiet squeal of excitement, kicking their feet as they ate another slice. It. Was. So. Good!! Toriel would be so upset if she saw them, but the house was dark and quiet, which gave Kris a private moment where they could eat as much pie as they want and reminiscence over life. As excited as they were about pie, one thing was on their mind, the festival. Susie already had a date, and that was Noelle, but Kris didn't have someone to go with, and Asriel wasn't home to take them. That only had 2 options, Catti and Berdly. Kris crossed Catti off of their imaginary list, Catti was most likely going with Jockington, or just going alone, plus they haven't really talked in ages. That only left one option, Berdly. Kris ponders about Berdly for a bit, they wondered how Berdly would react, they snicker softly thinking about it, yet they are admittingly excited to tell him.
The SOUL seems to sense their thoughts, and moves around quickly in the cage, probably really liking the idea of going with Berdly.
"Glad you agree. I'm going with him, and its either going to be the best decision of my life, or the funniest. Probably both." They said to the SOUL, which spun around faster at their words and excitement, making Kris laugh more, covering their mouth so they don't alert their mom. Speaking of Berdly, Kris had to go ask him, and Kris was a bit err... impatient to say the least. They stepped off their bed, walking to their window, and unlocked it silently, turning their head to check if they hear footsteps, before quietly slipping out, landing on the grass with a soft thud. They could still faintly hear the SOUL spin around in the cage, OKAY. They had like.. 3 hours to talk with Berdly before they had to get home, and before they had to get the SOUL to possess them, and before Kris ultimately dies from not having the SOUL in their body.
They walk around, the only sounds that accompanied Kris was cicadas and their footsteps. Every few minutes, they pause and check their phone, it was mostly texts from Susie asking them what to say to Noelle during the festival. Using their basic knowledge on flirting, they text some things and shoves their phone back in their pocket as they start to walk.
As they approach Berdly's home. They walk where the blue bird's bedroom window is, and pick up a small rock, before tossing it at the window to alert Berdly.
Ah, Berdly's still up. His lights are on.. why? Kris wondered, as they say the figure of Berdly shove open the curtains and look at Kris with his usual smug face. "Oh Kristopher! I wasn't expecting you to be here, what could you be POSSIBLY doing at this hour?" He asks, his feathers a bit messy from tossing and turning in bed.
Kris glances up at him slightly, their face feels warm, but despite their embarrassment, they clear their throat, and say, "...Sorry for waking you, or disturbing you." They mumble, they did feel a bit guilty, it was literally 3 AM, and they have school tomorrow.
Berdly looks touched at the concern Kris is giving, and says dramatically, "Oh, I never thought I'd see the day! Where Kris treats me with so much respect..! Alas, I am treated like royalty!"
Kris rolls their eyes, replying bluntly, "...I regret my words, anyways. I need to ask something from you!" Kris shouted, now sitting down on the grass.
Berdly, now intrigued, asked, "Oh? What is it, Kristopher? Homework answers, because the answer is no-"
"Do you want to go to the festival with me?"
The Human interjected, the Avian froze up, his curious expression now changed to one of sheer shock and confusion.
"...Kris!? ... Hm. Your voice doesn't sound so sarcastic."
"...Yeah, what if I'm being genuine?"
Berdly thinks over it a bit more, before his smug expression returns and he replies confidently
"Hmm... Why of course! You can be my date, on ONE condition. You must fight for my love, between Susie and Noelle! Whoever impresses me most... will be my date. Kris, may the best suitor win!"
Kris raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly in amusement, before replying
"Well, Susie told me shes going with Noelle. And I'm not sure you've realized this by now, but Noelle is wanting to go with her real bad. So either way I win. But if I must... I will win you over."
Berdly perks up at that, "Ah! It seems Kristopher is already eager to swoon me! How romantic... Kris your tactics better be good, I do NOT want a repeat of the last festival!" He squawks at Kris, who snickered quietly, before climbing the tree right by the window.
"Okay Burghley, can you help me climb in?" They asked, already sitting on a loose branch, which creaks dangerously under their weight.
Berdly jumps in alarm at the noise, sputtering, "Kris! Why are you sitting on the branch?! Its gonna-"
As he says that, the branch collapses under Kris's weight, and Kris goes falling to the floor, making a gasp of surprise as they fall. "Woah-" As they go falling to the ground, landing with a firm THUD! on a mix of grass, sticks, and rocks. The human lets out a yelp, quickly covering their mouth to ensure no one heard that.
Berdly face palms, and hops through the window, flapping to ensure a safe landing, before he runs over to Kris. "Kristopher! I know your the number 3 student, but this is just stupid! Why did you seriously think that your weight could be supported on that-"
Kris smirks faintly, and interrupts with, "Oh, Mr. 'Kris is my rival whom I despise so much' seems to care about me a LOT right now. Anyways, it was the clearest path to me Berdly. I'm not scaling up your brick wall again."
The Avian's face reddens, and he protests, "What- That isn't true! I'm just... checking up on you! And according to several reliable sources, you've fallen off of plenty loose tree branches before! I thought you'd learn, but alas you still pick the same path.."
Kris rolls their eyes, "Well it will work someday! You're just a doubter." They grasp Berdly's hand as they are pulled up to their feet, "Thank you, seriously. But can you like, sneak me through your window?"
Berdly nods, the human warns, "Can you support someone on your back?" Berdly nods confidently, "Well of course I can! A genius like me shouldn't just be wasting his time on books!"
Kris climbed onto Berdly's back, immediately relaxing against him, they missed this. They used to do this with Asriel a lot, just relax against his soft fur, so Kris just had to relax and feel the soft feathers of Berdly's head. If Kris had to admit something, they were getting a BIT too comfortable laying against Berdly, but they'd never spill that in a million years. They let out a quiet laugh as they hear Berdly let out a "Ooft-."
"Kris-! You're surprisingly light...!" Berdly comments, he was expecting Kris to be a bit heavier for some reason, Heh. Time to show Kris just how much powerful I am! Berdly proceeds to flap a few inches off the ground, before plopping back onto the grass roughly, and landing on top of Kris. He lets out a whine of frustration, Kris laughs, after a few moments, he starts to laugh with them.
"Hah.. Anyways, Kristopher. I believe we should both ACTUALLY go to bed now. Seeing how I can't fly us up to my humble chambers."
Kris pouts, sits up, and looks at Berdly with the saddest puppy eyes that they can achieve. Kris was GOOD at convincing people, convincing people to do dumb shit was Kris's specialty, and it's all Asriel's fault that they're good at it.
Berdly couldn't say no to a face like that! Berdly lets out an audible groan, dragging his feathered hands over his face, as he murmurs, "Fine! Just because of that stupid face.. I'll try this once." Kris cheers, it was kinda cute. Wait- Berdly what are you thinking!? Ugh, ignore it!
Kris climbs back on Berdly's back, and Berdly breathes in and out. Before with a strong jump and flap of his arms, manages to just barely get them both tumbling into Berdly's room.
Berdly's room was what you expected out of geek like him, books stacked neatly on his shelves, his desk filled with scattered notes and pencils. Along with the countless number of Dragon Blazers posters and merch, Berdly had his gaming set up in the corner, on the screen was Dragon Blazers, it was on the pause screen right now.
Kris knew Berdly's room pretty well, they instinctively walk to his bed and sit down on the edge of it. They then ask, "...you speed running?" pointing to the paused timer on Berdly's screen.
Berdly nods, sitting down in his gaming chair, "Of course! I am trying to beat your run, remember?"
Kris nods, then asking, "..Glitched?"
The Avian nods, the human then asks more questions, "What character did you pick? Did you do the huge boss skip glitch between 3 & 4?"
Berdly responds, "I obviously picked the ice mage! And I felt like the boss skip would be too simple for a genius like me, so I am trying a more complicated one!"
Kris gestures to his computer, "Can you split the screen so we can speed run?"
Berdly nods vigorously, already feeling his confidence and determination set in to beat Kris. "Well of course Kristen! I will obviously win this battle, be prepared, for I have been practicing!"
Kris raises an eyebrow, looking at him with a questionable look, as Berdly hands them his controller (Kris is better with a controller, Berdly is better with a keyboard. This is meant so they are even) "..rules rules.. We need rules, we both have to choose the same character."
Berdly nods acceptingly at the rule, "Whoever wins gets to buy the other the overpriced food from the festival!" Berdly exclaims, Kris smiles knowingly. "Ahem. Apologies, anyways, I will restart the timer, and we will both get to playing! I hope your ready for my tactics Kris! I've been prepping for this for days!"
Kris nods firmly, turning to look at the computer screen, their fingers tapping the X button aggressively in preparation for skipping dialogue. Berdly spamming the Z key, as he starts the timer, and the speed run starts.
(okay so i really don't know how to write speed runs but uh, image like breath of the wild type glitches. also both of them pick the brute just to make life harder. both of them end up messing up a really important glitch and end up failing the entire speed run so they rage and call quits on the speed run)
Kris was busy screaming in Berdly's pillow, pounding their fists into his mattress.
Berdly was making aggressive gestures at the computer screen, he turns his head 180 degrees and says to Kris, "I cannot even fathom how we BOTH ended up messing up the most important glitch! I swear I practiced that glitch for days, practiced my mashing, and for what?!-"
Both of them froze as they heard a soft knock on his door, and the soft, tired squawk of Berdly's mother, "Berdly... its 3 AM. You have school tomorrow... please get some sleep dear."
Berdly, now embarrassed, stammers, "I-I will!"
His mother sighed softly on the other side of the door, opening the door just a crack to check up on Berdly. "Please turn off your computer sweetie- Kris? What are you doing here..? You should be asleep as well...."
Kris simply burrows their face deeper into Berdly's pillow, muttering just loud enough for her to hear, "Sorry.. I'll return back home-"
"No no Kris please stay! I do not want you to get hurt at this time in the night..."
Kris freezes at that, they still had the SOUL in the cage. If their mom walked in and saw THAT she might die of a heart attack.
"What about my mom-"
Berdly's mom pulls out her phone, staring at the bright screen with squinted eyes, going to text Toriel. "Texting her, no need to worry dearie."
Kris slumps slightly, muttering, "My mom probably isn't even awake-"
"She's alright with it, but she said that you don't get anymore pie for the week!" Berdly's mom says in a stern motherly voice.
Kris was more stunned that their mom was awake if anything.
Berdly cracked his head to look at his mother, looking just as shocked as Kris is, "Mother, I do NOT agree to-"
His mother shoots him a stern glance, "Accept it, its what Ms. Toriel said. Now, dearie, we do have some spare blankets and pillows for you if you want it." She says kindly, turning back to look at Kris, who is now barely glancing at her through the pillow.
Their grip tightens on the pillow, "...Alright." They slowly let go of Berdly's pillow, as they walk off to go get some pillows and blankets.
"...Berdly."
"...Yes mom?"
". . . Please try to get some rest, I'm getting worried about you." She gently hugs Berdly, who hugs back, she gently pecks his forehead, before she walks back to her bedroom.
Berdly flops back on his bed, rubbing his eyes. He glances at the door, just as Kris walks through, dragging along 2 long, thick, fluffy blankets, and holding a pillow tightly to their chest like a child. Kris then sets down their newly acquired items, sitting down on the floor and pulling their knees to their chest.
Their red eyes slightly moving to look at Berdly, who was staring at the ceiling. "...goodnight." The human mutters quietly, as they lay down and curl up in the fetal position, their eyes flickering shut.
Now Berdly just has the still running fans on his PC, and the occasional rustling of blankets from Kris. He lets a quiet sigh, he couldn't rest easy. For the past week he wasn't able to rest, all he was thinking about was that weird dream he had. Where Susie, Kris, and Noelle were in. And that Queen person, it all felt too real! He still felt aches in his face from having a plug shoved into his face, sometimes he swore he could hear Queen's laughter in his mind. That wasn't what his mind was focusing on however.
Kris... they gave me that wonderful plushie to me. They even seemed a bit too eager to ask me out to the festival, and eagerly accepted my challenge... Aha! Kris must be catching romantic feelings for me! That's why they were speaking so quietly, and why they keep on looking at me with those stupid, cute puppy eyes--! Arghh shut up! I cannot be catching feelings back for Kris so quickly!!
"...berdly I know you're still awake." Kris spoke in a raspy voice, turning to look at him, their red eyes seemed to glow in the dark room.
Berdly jolts, he was so lost in thought he completely forgot Kris was here! "Ahem-! I am simply just.. pondering on past events! There is simply no need to look further into it Kristopher!"
Kris's expression doesn't change, but their expression turns a bit curious. Is he thinking about the cyber dark world? "...do you want to talk about it?"
Berdly swore he felt his cheeks heat up at that, he huffs,
"Fine. I am thinking about that weirdly realistic dream we were in! I simply cannot fathom to think about the events that happened, it all felt so real right?! My face is still aching, and I swear I can hear that Queen's laughter in my head!" Berdly exclaims, waving his hands around dramatically.
Kris adjusts their position before replying, fainting ignorance, "...It did, I feel some aches in my limbs. I can hear Queen's voice as well."
Berdly's mind seemed to be working on overdrive, thinking of every possible reason that could've let that happen.
"Hm.. Kris. Do you ever wonder if it WAS real? I mean, you and Susie didn't even react after the dream! You treated it completely normally!"
Kris gulped slightly at that, coughing softly to cover it up, replying quietly, "...sometimes, but I've been thinking about other things. Not that place. And, Susie and me have had weird dreams in the past so it's normal for us to not react crazily."
Berdly felt a bit envious of Kris, how they could clear their mind of the dream so easily, the one thing Berdly was never good at was clearing his mind.
"I admit Kris.. I feel a bit envious of how easily you can wash away the thought of that place so quickly."
Kris turns to face away from him, now mindlessly tracing patterns on his carpeted floor.
"That's why you've been looking more tired lately..."
Berdly nods, resting one of his feathered hands on his forehead, waving his other hand around in the air dramatically.
"Exactly! How can one simply move on from that event? I cannot even conceive the idea that you and Susie have brushed past the dream like it was nothing!"
Kris can't help but snicker.
"I think you just need to get better at clearing your head Berdly."
Berdly sputters, now looking VERY offended and squawks quietly at Kris,
"Kris!! You know I simply have too many thoughts in my head! Even the #1 student sometimes has trouble removing information from his head!"
Kris smiles in amusement as he whisper yelled, then yawns, wiping a tear that formed from the yawn from their eye.
"I think that's just a skill issue dude. Anyways... I'm pretty tired. I'm gonna actually sleep now, goodnight birdbrain."
Berdly was about to protest again, but Kris was already knocked out.
He instead sighed, and laid back down, turning to face the wall, he noticed something weird about Kris. Their skin was like a sickly shade of green... were they okay? I've known Kris for ages, and I know humans skins don't turn GREEN after a while. Even if they seemed more normal, he couldn't help but wonder what was wrong with Kris.
He couldn't ponder on that for too long though, as he felt his eyelids shut and he drifted off into sleep.