Chapter Text
The festival wasn't what Berdly had imagined it would be.
If he was going to be honest, Berdly had really been hoping to go with Kris. After getting outright rejected by Susie and Noelle it had apparently opened his not so straight third eye. Walking up to Kris had felt like swimming through molten lava—excrutiatingly painful and boiling hot.
All his nerves had been on fire and his breathing had hitched before he even realized. Berdly had wondered if he was always this nervous around Kris… and maybe that was true. Looking back, he had always been a bit apprehensive when approaching the human. Not outright flustered or anything. Just… cautious. It didn't help that before he could even properly ask them, Susie had rejected him FOR them! Talk about total embarrassment.
Sitting on the curb, Berdly sighed in boredom. Okay, yeah, he had agreed to be the wingman for Noelles beautiful romance (by staying out of it) but he was starting to wonder if the group had completely forgotten about him. The festival had been over for, what, 4 hours? It was completely dark out and Berdly was beginning to get tired… maybe its time to go home.
"Berdly."
Kris' voice broke the dead silence ringing across the empty. A familiar, horrified squawk escaped his throat and Berdly jumped off the curb in surprise.
"K-Kris?! What are you doing outside at this… outrageous hour??" Clearing his throat, Berdly had to manually relax the muscles in his body. Kris just stared at the concrete with an unreadable expression. What was even weirder was the fact that they had a balloon in their hand?? WIth a heart in it???? When were those ever at the festival?
"Can I…" Kris looked up. "Tell you something?" Tears were streaming down their face. The human looked like they had been sobbing for Angel knows how long. Berdly started in shock, worry painting his face and scrunching up his eyes. The emotions that flooded his head were hard to place because there were just so many. Maybe he was angry, upset, or possibly even protective of them? Whatever. What mattered more was figuring out what had happened to Kris.
"Are you alright?? What happened? You haven't been at the Festival all day, where in the Angel's Heaven were you?!" He rushed up towards them, sending a rush of cold air towards Kris that made them shiver… No. It was the words he said that made Kris shiver. Berdly gently placed his wings on their shoulders and made them sit on the curb.
Kris didn't give any rebuttal. It seemed like they were too busy crying. Before Berdly could become even more overbearing and pull out a handkerchief for them to use, the human used their sleeves to wipe their tears. They turned around and tied to balloon to the tree behind them.
With a bittersweet smile, they faced him. "I… really like Susie."
What?
"I said I like Susie…"
…Did he say that out loud?
Berdly swore he could hear his heart shatter into pieces and scatter all over the street. Wait, why is he even this distraught? He assumed he might've liked them just a little but not to the point where tears bubbled up in his throat! While Kris just stared at him with a pathetic look on their face, all his organs were being repeatedly and violently stabbed by a knife and gutted out of his body. Or, uhm, that's what it felt like.
Composing himself, Berdly immediately began compensating for the immediate heartbreak. "Oh. Well, erm, I'm glad to hear it Kristopher! Just know that I'm hoping your love for each other grows wings and soars across the seven seas!"
Berdly was of course met with an annoyed look. Maybe that was a bit too over the top? Kris sighed, looking back at the street. Their smile from earlier completely faded.
"Love for each other isn't… accurate." More tears welled up in their eyes. "…You already know that Susie and Noelle like each other." Kris attempted to laugh but their sorrow had seemingly took them over. Curling up into a ball, their shoulders shook as they sobbed once again.
Berdly had to physically hold back his hope. It might've been selfish to think, but he was really hoping Kris would get over Susie. The one person who might even have a chance at reciprocating his feelings couldn't just leave him. Even if he didn't realize it, Berdly needed Kris—but his brain was telling him that Kris needed him.
"Kris-" Reaching out to put a wing on their shoulder, Berdly froze in shock as they unexpectedly leapt to hug him. Their tears immediately began to soak his shirt. He had to physically hold himself back from puffing up in a ball from being so flustered.
His wings slowly wrapped around their back to reciprocate, praying that they couldn't heart his heartbeat from laying on his chest. Berdly knew he was selfish for enjoying the attention and trust he was receiving from them. He knew he should be feeling sympathetic. Which he does!… But the pure joy he was feeling from the recognition had flooded his mind. Before Berdly knew it, his tail had begun to swish excitedly behind him.
Berdly used his hand to slam his tail into to concrete before Kris could notice. Speaking of Kris, they had finally gotten over their crying fit and looked up at Berdly. They wiped their tears as they spoke.
"Sorry… thanks for letting me use you as a tissue." Weakly giggling to themself, Berdly looked down and saw the dark stain on his blouse. He immediately pulled out his handkerchief and began wiping off their tears in a panic.
Berdly felt his face get even redder as Kris continued to laugh at him. Shoving the cloth back into his pocket, he pouted and looked the other way. Even if he was slightly annoyed with their incessant teasing, Berdly had to admit that he missed this. The teasing, the games, and the lack of Susie. Everything was perfectly fine before she moved to Hometown. He began to get bullied, got ditched by Noelle, and even got abandoned by Kris. But now was his chance. He might be able to take Kris back and protect them from that delinquent.
Kris poked his shoulder. "Heh, is someone mad?" He turned back to face them, slapping their hand away and crossing his arms.
"Yes, Kristine. I'm mad. Now I have to wash this shirt…" As he said this, the thought of Susie running off with Kris in her arms crossed his mind. Berdly swore he could feel a vein pop out of his forehead. He just needs to treat them extra special… maybe that'll work.
Get their mind off Susie for good.
"…But, being serious for a moment. Thank you for trusting me with your feelings, Kris." He gave them the warmest smile he could muster through his anger. Kris looked a bit shocked. It took them a moment to smile back.
"Of course, dude."