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“Um… Berdly? You’re a great friend, but… I don’t want to be your pity date.”
“Oh.”
Berdly shimmies 3 steps to the right.
“Well then, Susan, I suppose today is your lucky day…”
“I’m with Noelle, dumbass.”
“Oh.”
Berdly shimmies once more.
“Kris… Kris-Cross-Applesauce-“
“We, uh, need them.”
“Oh.” Berdly, slightly dejected, begins to open their beak to pad the interaction with comic relief.
“I’ll go with you, Berdly.” Kris cuts in expressionless as ever.
“H-huh?” Susie questions. She grabs Kris’s shoulders and whispers, “Dude, are you alright? Are you like being possessed or something?”
Kris stares at Susie.
“Kris… Ohhh…” Susie’s concern shifts to a smile, “I get it, this is like your wingtheying right? Alright I trust you dude, I can handle myself you’re right.”
“Alright, you can go with Berdly then. Me and Noelle will head to the teacups.” Susie loosens her grip on Kris’s shoulders.
Susie grabs Noelle’s hand and pulls her away. The purple lizard flashes a smile at Kris and gestures a thumbs up as the two go off into the distance.
“T-thank you, Kris.” Noelle whispers before she gets swept away.
Now that the lovebirds are gone, the bluebird stands there silent trying to process what just happened. Kris’s piercing red eyes meet Berdly’s and he quickly shuffles back into his usual confident posture.
Berdly slicks back the feathers on his head only for them to set themselves right back into their usual position, “Ah well then. Kris, it seems it is just the two of us now. You’re about to have the luxury of being on a date with
me. Do not worry Kris, although you protest-“
“I’m not protesting.” Kris cuts him off, “I want to be on a date with you.”.
Berdly pauses for an uncomfortably long time. He squints while glaring at Kris. This HAS to be another one of Kris’s pranks.
They’d never agree to a date with Berdly, at least not one that doesn’t entail playing video games or eating the pasta he cooks..
Kris stands there, stiff as a board.
“What are we going to do then?” Kris asks clearly.
“Y-yes! Our agenda. The itinerary. Oh it’s awfully too long and extravagant to talk about.” Berdly claims with a quiver in his voice, “I’ll just walk you through it. Think of it as a surprise… yes… a surprise”.
Kris stays still.
“…”
“W-why don’t you lead the way then, Kris?”
Kris starts walking down the street with Berdly following suit. How strange. Although Kris is no stranger to being strange. They seem different today. Berdly just can’t put their finger on it.
It’s probably just nerves from being on a date with someone like him. Who wouldn’t be placed into a state of stasis at that opportunity.
“Ough!” Berdly bumps into a stationary Kris. Berdly realizes they are now standing next to the ice cream stand.
“So uh… you just had ice cream. I don’t know if your mom would approve of having this many in one day.”
Kris stares at the skeleton with a tinge of annoyance, despite it being the same expression they always wear.
“Hey kid, don't look at me like that. Your stare is more chilling than these ice cream cones could ever be.” The skeleton pauses and looks at Berdly. Then back to Kris, “So what’ll it be for the two of you.”
“I’ll have a Pecan Delight, sir.”
“Alright and you’ll get the same thing you got earlier. I know your type.” The skeleton winks.
The vendor grabs two cones and hands them to Kris and Berdly respectively, “Here you go.”
“Um. How much-“
“Don’t worry about it, enjoy the festival. That deer kid from earlier felt bad they didn’t pay and ended up giving me like 20 bucks.”
“O-Oh alright then.”
Berdly looks over at Kris to see them staring right at him. Ice cream gone, the only trace of it being the cone crumbs on their lips and cheek. That is… impressive. Berdly smirks and starts licking his own cone. |
He notices Kris is bobbing their head up and down. Well not exactly up and down but, it’s as if they’re gesturing for something.
Berdly finishes his ice cream and Kris immediately starts pacing down the street again. Berdly bolts to catch up. Seriously what is up with them. The two of them haven’t hung out in person in a week. Think Berdly think.
They’ve been acting different ever since that day Susie and them went to grab the chalk. Now that he thinks about it, they were acting like this in his dream at the computer lab too..
They’ve made no attempt at teasing. They’re speaking loud and clear, very different from their usual deadpan mumbles. Is something bothering them? If something is then it is Berdly’s duty as their rival to alleviate them of
such quandaries. What are they up to currently? Perhaps he could figure something out.
Berdly looks over at Kris to see them bumping into objects and seemingly pausing to observe every object they can reach.
“Very interested in those flower boxes I see. Kris, are you aware of what species these particular flowers are?” Berdly places a wing on his chest and the other gesturing towards the flower box.
“No.”
“Well let me enlighten you. These are Asters. Aster comes from the Greek word for star, which refers to their star shaped flower heads.” Berdly points towards the sky as if he were in a class presentation.
Berdly peeks at Kris’s expression. Still as blank as ever, “Perhaps, that isn’t the most interesting fact. It’s kind of obvious where the name comes from I guess haha.”
“…”
Kris proceeds to walk through the streets.
I’m losing them. Berdly thinks to himself. No, I can't think like that. The next spot, he’ll impress them at the next spot. If he can’t figure out what’s wrong, he can at the very least show Kris a good time.
Kris pauses to look at the dunk game.
“Ah the dunk game! A classic festival activity. One so simple, yet so enjoyable. Here Kris, let me show you the pleasures of such a game.”
Berdly winds up their arm and throws a ball at the target. It makes contact. thunk. The mechanism stays still.
“P-Propesterous! This machine must be broken. What a scam!” Berdly shakes his wings in the air furiously.
Kris walks up to the target and smacks it with their bare fist. Splash. Well then if it works it works.
“How very, ingenious of you, Kris. This is precisely why you're third place in class. You come up with solutions I may overlook. Your simplicity is truly a gift.”
Berdly turns away to fist pump the air. Perfect compliment Berdly, you’re doing great. He turns back to see Kris has already started moving.
“H-Hey wait for me!”
Berdly catches up to Kris. He looks up to see the hammer game. Oh boy. Now Berdly is adept at many things. His stat array is excellently distributed, but strength was certainly his dump stat.
“Kris, are you certain you’d want to try this? It seems a little… barbaric don’t you think?”
Kris looks at them for an uncomfortably long time, “You’re just chicken.” they say as they flap their arms up and down.
“E-Excuse you, Kris! Hmph! I’ll show you who’s chicken. It’s me, I’ll have you know chickens are surprisingly powerful and corageous. Move aside, we’ll see just how much power I contribute to this relationship.”
Kris, expressionless as ever, starts to have the faintest red show on their cheeks.
The two prepare their stances. Berdly stares at Kris, “Ok. On go. Pay attention now, Krissy.”
“3”
“2”
“1”
“Go!”
The two slam their hammers down onto the device. Berdly looks at the meter. It barely fills up to a quarter.
Berdly clears his throat, “Ah. Well then. Off to the next activity…”
The two continue to walk through Hometown. Berdly wonders how Kris is faring on their “date”. He looks over to see them. Staring into nothing, walking like they’re on a mission. Though once again, they are gesturing with
their head. Berdly now realizes they’re gesturing towards his wing and their hand. Hmm.
“Hey, Kris.”
They turn to look at Berdly whose hand is now raised.
“High five!”
Kris leaves the bluebird hanging. He swears for the slightest second, Kris stared at him with a look of disappointment he’s only ever seen from his mother.
“R-right. Not the time.”
The “couple” enter the church. Berdly admires the decorations while Kris speaks with Alvin the pastor. He looks around and sees a bowl of eyeballs. How wonderfully tacky. He whips his head around and notices Catti staring
at him. The moment their eyes meet Catti looks away and starts sweating. Surely intimidated by his presence perhaps Berdly should keep his distance.
Kris finishes speaking with Alvin and drags Berdly towards Catti’s fortune teller booth, “Well, if it isn’t the traitors.” Catti sneers.
“P-pardon me?” Berdly stiffens his posture and places his wings behind his back.
“You know I had expected it from Berdly.” She turns to glare at Kris, “But you, Kris? I can’t believe you.”
“What exactly are you talking about, Catti?”
“The beast… how could you two let poor Noelle near her.” Catti clutches her star pendant, “I can only imagine what foul things Susie would have Noelle endure…”
“H-Hey! I’ll have you know Susan is not a terrible beast, nor did we let Noelle near her!” Berdly places his wings on the table, “She wants to be with Susie! That’s her choice and as her friend I ask you to respect that choice.”
“B-Berdly I-“
“Even if we all know the most correct choice would’ve been to attend the festival with me. She’s enjoying herself. Let her be, Catti.” Berdly lifts his wings from the table.
Kris stares at Catti. Then nods at Berdly. They leave with Berdly following close behind with his eyes and arms crossed.
“Hmph. The nerve some people have, am I right, Kris?”
Kris continues to walk towards the next location. Ah right. Berdly follows. Did he do something wrong recently? Well Kris did nod at them after his lecture to Catti. Perhaps he did the right thing there? Kris is so hard to read.
If only they had a likes and dislikes chart and guide to their friendship. But alas, life cannot be so simple.
Berdly slows down. His footsteps are starting to drag. Berdly is used to walking back and forth through hometown but with the various activities the festival has held, his body is slowly starting to fatigue.
“Kris- Kris! My human friend, perhaps we could find a place to rest for a while? Not that I need it, I am just sure you must be tired right?”
Kris is unresponsive.
Pant. Pant. “A-Alright Kris, if you are in a state capable of continuing then by all means, just give me a second…”
Berdly bumps into Kris again, he hadn’t realized it but the two were now at the ferris wheel. Kris speaks with the skeleton. Wasn’t he at the ice cream stand? Kris gestures for Berdly to enter with their head.
“Ah no Kris, I insist. ‘Theydies’ first.” He says as he outstretches his wings towards the gondola.
Kris grimaces.
Berdly quickly straightens his posture and gets into the gondola. He takes a seat and sees Kris quickly walking away from the ferris wheel.
“H-Hey! Kris you’re not just… going to leave me here right?” Berdly reaches his hand out but slowly lowers it.
Ah. So that’s what this must’ve been. Just another one of Kris’s pranks. Well at least they’re back to normal. Heh. Everyone’s doing good. Susie and Noelle are on their date and Kris is up to their usual scheme… I just wish-
Berdly’s thoughts are cut off by the sound of footsteps and Kris bolting back into view.
“Kris?!?”
Kris almost stumbles into the wagon. Shaking it. They get up and into their seat and give a thumbs up to the ferris wheel’s operator.
Kris takes a deep breath, “Hey, Berdly.” they say leaning forward.
“H-Hi, Kris?” Berdly squeaks.
Kris for the first time today smirks. They turn up to look Berdly in the eyes. Their red eyes lasering down Berdly. The bluebird’s cheeks turn a plush purple and he averts his gaze, it’s hard to look them in the eyes sometimes. His eyes wander off to look at the other thing in the ferris wheel with them.
“Kris, if I may ask, why do you have a balloon?”
“A-Ah that’s just for- Uh-“ Kris blushes and presses their fingers against each other.
Kris embarrassed? Now being flustered around Berdly made sense, his charms would work on almost anyone. Keyword being almost. Kris has always been the one to fluster Berdly with their incessant teasing, to see them be the one flustered was an uncommon sight. Could his charms through the festival be catching up to them? Is Kris beginning to go yandere for him?
…
Perhaps there’s another explanation.
He looks at the balloon. Kris quickly attempts to redirect attention from it and hide it with their arms. But through the helium filled rubber object he notices something inside. A heart shaped-object. Was this meant for him? Berdly’s cheeks turn that flush shade of purple. Could Kris really be?
“I-It’s nothing don’t look at that.”
It’s as clear as day from their reaction. Their flush cheeks, their upturned eyebrows and dilated pupils, their attempt to hide it. Kris might as well be screaming at him to take their hand into theirs this instant. Oh Berdly, please haven’t I impressed you today? Surely I deserve to be the suitor of which you spoke of earlier. Berdly sees it as clear as day.
“Kris. Kris-Cross-Applesauce-“ Berdly places his finger atop his beak, “You need not be embarrassed, nor must you hide it from me anymore. Your love for me is not only as clear as day, but valid and understandable.”
“…”
Berdly peeks open his eye to see Kris’s reaction. Kris sits there expressionless staring at him. Then they smirk, then giggle, then place their arms on their belly and start laughing.
They open their eyes then look at Berdly who is holding a stupid anime pose.
“Sure, dude. Let’s go with that. Such an idiot.” They say wistfully looking down at the floor.
Berdly’s gaze stays on Kris. Now what. Kris just confirmed they like him. Oh my Rune. Kris just said they like me. Berdly’s always seen their relationship as something special but this is different. This completely changes things. They’ve always been rivals, what is Berdly to do now, how is he supposed to act? From rivals to lovers? If only he could ask Noelle what to do. Berdly recalls her reading something with a tag like “rivals to lovers” before. Multiple actually. Are they supposed to hold hands? Kiss? Should Berdly perform a mating dance to court them? Wait court them. Right Kris just said they liked him. They haven’t even discussed what that means, it’s not like they’re dating immediately right?
“Hey, Berdly.” Kris cuts through the thoughts escorting the bluebird back to reality, “You there?”
“Ah yes, Kris. I am indeed here.”
The wagon grows silent again. Should he ask what liking him means? He supposes there’s no harm right? Noelle said that when it comes to these types of things you have to be honest.
“Kris, so you love me… What does that mean exactly?”
Kris looks at him long and hard. They perk up and smirk. Kris leans forward and places their arms over Berdly's shoulders. Hands on the backrest of his seat. Their face over top of Berdly’s. Berdly’s plumage puffs up.
“I don’t know. I guess the first step would be finding out if you liked me. So… Do you?” Kris leans in even closer.
“H-Heh.” Berdly sweats, looking everywhere to avoid Kris’s gaze.
Kris’s smirk turns to a wide grin as they pull away and laugh.
“I-I-I-“ Berdly stammers before being cut off by Kris.
“Ride’s over, dummy. Come on.” Kris grabs a hold on the side of the doorway and exits the wagon.
Berdly’s heart is racing. Was every single bit of that just a leadup for that prank? Could you even call that a prank? The stunts Kris pulls are always so odd. It brings out a feeling in Berdly he never feels with anyone else.It’s exhilarating, yet scary. Kris is always a surprise aren’t they. Berdly finally exits the wagon.
“A-Are you serious?” Kris asks.
Berdly looks up to realize Kris had their hand outstretched to help Berdly get out of the wagon.
“Do-Do you not want to hold my hand?” Kris mumbles.
“O-Oh no I’m sorry, Kris. I do not need your help to get out, do not worry my friend. I’m sorry I also just didn’t see-“
“Bullshit you didn’t say. You saw me asking to hold your hand the whole day. You noticed. I saw you notice.”
“Asking to hold…” Berdly lowers their head. Oh my days is that what that was?
“I-I’m so sorry, Kris! I didn’t understand what you wanted. I just-“
Kris sighs. Then smirks again. “It’s alright, man.”
It isn’t. Not to Berdly at least.
“Kris!” Berdly yells with an outstretched hand, “Apologies, Kris. I am not the best at noticing things, or understanding people. Especially you. But if you would allow it, I’d like to make it up to you.”
Kris pauses. With a red starting to seep through their cheeks they reach out to grab Berdly’s hand.
“How do you plan on making it up to me then, dork?
“Don’t let go of my hand. Just follow close behind and I’ll show you the best of times, my dear Kris.”
Berdly leads Kris to the shore. Though the plan originally was to have more fun activities with Kris. Berdly’s sore talons decided to change the plan to something more relaxed.
“Here, take a seat, M’they’dy.”
Kris somehow both cringes and blushes at the same time. Berdly truly is a miracle.
Kris takes their seat with him quickly following suit. The breeze is gentle. The sun is beginning to set. The low sound of the wind rustling the leaves. The sound of the tides being pushed and pulled. It really is nice. The two
have been sat silent for a bit now.
Berdly turns to look at Kris. Their hair gently waving as the breeze hits them. Kris realizes and meets his gaze. Berdly is taken aback by Kris. He often says it without much thought but Kris really is beautiful. He wonders how
nice it would be, being together with them that is.
Not to mention how nice it would be for them to be with Berdly. What an honor. Though perhaps it would be difficult. Kris is- No Berdy can’t do this. Berdly might not bethe best fit to be with Kris. He’s smart, but he isn’t even that smart. He couldn’t even tell what they wanted earlier. He doesn't really deserve to be with someone as wonderful as Kris. He could never do that.
Berdly turns his head down, but Noelle’s words echo in his head. “You’re so cool, Berdly!” No not those words (She also never said that). “There’s no harm in trying to do things which you might be bad at. And if you’re
scared, you should face it. You know?”. That’s right. Noelle’s wisdom saves the bluebird once again. He whips his head towards Kris. Kris recoils back.
“Kris.”
“Y-yeah?” Kris says with wide eyes. Their hair slightly covering their red eyes. They sure are handsome. Welp. There goes all of Berdly’s ability to say things confidently.
“A-Ah. So… earlier you said you did love me. Is that true? Love as in like- romantic?” Berdly mumbled.
Kris looks to the ground then back up to him.
“I-I’m not sure- but I like being around you. You’re fun to be around, and you’re kind of cute I guess. It’s fun seeing you blush and stuff. If you liked me like that too then maybe we could…” Kris pauses, “Do you like me like that?”
“I think I do. You’re always so good at things we do together. Like Minecrap or Super Smashing Fighters. And you’re one of the few people who I feel like indulges me in my interests. Despite your constant teasing, it feels
like you always listen. How else would your teasing be so directed haha. Heh.”
“So if we both like each other then…”
“Yeah?” Kris leans in closer to Berdly.
“Then I suppose we could start-“
“Start what?” Kris tilts their head like a dog.
“W-why are you so close! And are you really going to make me say it!”
“Saaaay what?” Kris leans into Berdly and lays their head on his shoulder.
Berdy looks away with his eyes squinted. Face flushed.
“We could start… dating.”
“You wish.”
“W-what!” The bluebird squawked.
“Heh. Kidding.” Kris teased, “I’d like that.”
“T-Then that’s that then? We’re dating now?”
“I guess.”
Berdly’s heart starts racing. He’s really dating Kris. Like as of now. It’s happening. They are in the state of dating each other. They’re together.
“Don’t get too excited, bird boy.” Kris closes their eyes as they lean further into Berdly, “Like literally don’t get too excited, I can feel you breathe heavier and your chest is beating faster. Makes it hard to relax on your chest.”
“O-Oh! A-Apologies, I just can’t help it. Having someone so cute be so close to me.”
Kris opens their eyes. They put their arms up to push Berdly then lower them before actually going through with it.
“S-Shut up, Idiot. Don’t say stuff like that or I’ll break up with you.”
Berdly knows Kris well enough to tell this is an empty threat and chuckles. It’s Kris’s time to be on the receiving end of the teasing.
“Alright.” Berdly chuckles, “You know I said before you’d go yandere for me. It turns out you’re more of a tsun-“
Kris shoots Berdly a death glare. This is no longer an empty threat.
Berdly zips his mouth and just places his wing on Kris’s hip. Pulling them closer. The two sit silent in each other’s comfort for a bit. Taking in the reality that is being a couple.
“Hey, Berdly.”
“Yes, Kris?”
Kris looks up at Berdly with a soft expression. “This is starting to get really uncomfortable. We’re like the same height, this doesn’t work that well.”
“O-Oh yes that is fair.” Berdly loosens his posture to allow Kris to reposition themselves. They sit upright then turn their head to look him in the eyes. Their smile turns to a wide grin.
“Beeeerdly.”
“Yes? Is something the matter?”
“Beeeeeeerdly.” Kris says as they lean closer.
“Kris w-what are you-“ Berdly’s plumage fluffs up as they lean closer.
Kris giggles.
“So you find this funny?”
“A little. I mostly find it adorable.” Kris teases, leaning in even closer.
“Look at how close my lips are to your beak, if you leaned forward and spoke we’d basically be…”
This is it. Is it? This seems very soon. It’s very forward. This whole day has been very forward. It might be wrong to do it on the first date. Though if Kris wants to.
Berdly also wants to so what’s the harm? The two of them could definitely-
“Hey, Noelle! Look, it's Kris and Berdly! Dude, where’d you get that balloon?”