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Parrot sat still, his legs dangling over the edge of the land pillar in the center of Paragon’s coral reef.
A gust of wind blew in from behind him. It would have sent him over the edge of the cliff if he was standing. As it was, it brought an uncomfortably welcome instability, a hint of the freedom of the sky. Grounded as he was with clipped wings, it felt almost like a mercy, like the wind would carry him out of this prison if he shifted forward just slightly…
Instead, Parrot looked down at the coral. The coral was bright and colorful, but the hues were made almost invisible by the reflection of the sun on the water. It was a shame.
Parrot heard a footstep in the grass behind him. He closed his eyes. He should have known he couldn’t escape him for long.
He hadn't seen Wifies since yesterday, when he had found Parrot fishing at the river. Their conversation there had ended… uncomfortably to say the least. Parrot was working on another escape attempt, but he needed more time. He had been hoping Wifies would leave him alone for at least another day, but alas.
Parrot heard Wifies pause a few feet behind him. Wifies didn't say anything so Parrot didn't either.
Parrot refused to look around and see what he was doing, so he just sat there, enjoying the breeze and trying not to acknowledge the way Wifies’ gaze burned into his back.
If Wifies would only come sit down, Parrot could have almost pretended that they were still happy. He could have pretended that they were on a scavenger hunt, or that they were looking for the Farlands. He could have pretended the breeze was the rushing air of flight.
He could have pretended the gusting wind was the reason his eyes were watering.
But with Wifies standing over him, watching in fraught silence, he couldn’t make himself believe anything other than the truth.
He was trapped in another prison, and Wifies was not his friend. They were not happy.
They hadn't been happy in a long time.
Parrot pulled his aviator goggles down over his eyes in hopes it would hide the tears.
Wifies finally broke the silence, “Your feathers are messed up.”
Parrot shook his head and scoffed bitterly. “And whose fault is that?”
There was a quiet rustle of grass behind him as Wifies moved closer. Parrot screwed his eyes shut. Don’t look back. Don’t look back. Don’t look back.
He jumped slightly as he felt hands run along the clipped edge of his wings.
Wifies shushed slowly, as if that would help. As if anything could help while his hands were still in Parrot’s feathers.
Parrot was hyperaware of every single one of Wifies’ movements in his wings. One part of Parrot wished he could just relax and enjoy it like he used to, but another part was glad for his own fear. If he was afraid, he was less likely to get hurt. If he was able to keep hating The Director, maybe he could survive. Maybe he could escape.
But even as he thought it. Wifies reached around and rezipped one of the feathers on the underside of his wings.
Parrot let out an involuntary trill, jolting slightly. The undersides of his wings were extremely sensitive. When Wifies had started helping with his wings, Parrot had made that clear. Parrot could reach those areas himself, so he didn’t need help with it.
Never touch there. Period.
And Wifies had respected that. He hadn’t blown past Parrots boundaries. He had listened and helped only where help was wanted.
But now Wifies was purposely ignoring what Parrot had said, and for what? Control? Manipulation? Just because he wanted to?
Parrot tried to tuck his wings folded along his back. It was almost subconscious, an instinctual way to protect himself, his body entering fight or flight.
But he couldn't fight. And he couldn't fly. Wifies had made sure of that.
All he could do was sit there, frozen, trying to make himself as small as possible, even as Wifies chuckled and stretched his wings back out with gentle, destroying hands.
“Please Parrot, just let me do this. I'm just trying to help you.” Wifies brushed a feather light touch against Parrot’s coverts making Parrot shudder again. “You haven’t been taking care of yourself recently, have you?”
He asked as if he didn't know. He asked as if it wasn’t his fault.
Wifies didn't wait for an answer, he began to go through the motions of preening, rezipping feathers, realigning coverts, and unsheathing pin feathers.
The motions were familiar. Wifies’ hands were familiar. What wasn’t familiar was the obsession in Wifies’ touch. His breath on Parrot's neck was too heavy, too focused. His hands, while delicate, were possessive, controlling in a way they had never been before.
This wasn’t The Director who had trapped him here with calculated, precise actions and traps.
This was just… a player. An imperfect player whose love was slowly driving him insane.
Parrot shuddered at the reminder of Wifies’ betrayal.
No, he had done worse than betrayed him. Parrot didn't know a word for what Wifies had done.
Dean had betrayed him. And Parrot had forgiven him.
What Wifies had done was unforgivable. What The Director had done was unforgivable. He had trapped Parrot here. He had clipped his wings. He had killed Nufuli.
He had killed Wifies.
Parrot grimaced as Wifies tugged a little too hard on one of his primaries. He had never been hurt like this before. Not even after the end of the Mafia when he had thought his best friend was dead. The grief he had felt then paled in comparison to the cocktail of hatred, guilt, grief, and devastating fear he lived with now.
Parrot shoved his goggles back onto his head. Who cared if Wifies saw the tears in his eyes? It wasn’t like it would make a difference. “Y’know bro,” Parrot finally looked over his shoulder and made eye contact with Wifies for the first time since he walked up. “I wish you had died back in the void.”
The words settled around them like snow, burning in their coldness. Wifies’ hands didn’t even pause.
Parrot waited for Wifies to say something. Anything. He waited for a reaction. He waited for Wifies to rip out his feathers, or shove him from the cliff, or laugh, or cry, or grimace, or blink for heaven's sake.
But there was nothing. No inclination that Wifies was hurt by Parrot's feeble attempt at vengeance. He made no attempt to climb out of the grave Parrot was digging for their friendship.
Parrot kept digging deeper. “Ever since the end of the mafia, the only one hurting me has been you. You and your hunters.”
Wifies’ hands were cold. Parrot’s voice was colder as he tore apart the broken remains of their love.
“If you had just died when you were supposed to, I would be perfectly safe.”
There was a moment of tense silence, then Wifies tugged sharply on one of his coverts, pulling it out.
Parrot inhaled, standing up and backing away dangerously close to the cliff edge. It hurt. It wasn’t agony by any means, closer to pulling out a chunk of hair, but it was unexpected. It was another unforgivable crime at the end of a growing list. He stared at Wifies for a long moment. Even after everything, Parrot still couldn’t predict Wifies’ cruelty.
Wifies’ face was blank. Cold and calculated. ”Parrot, You don't seem to understand. I control everything.”
The breeze picked up for a moment.
“Do you really think that people would have just left you alone if I hadn’t been there?” Aside from his mouth, Wifies’ entire face, his entire body, was completely still. Parrot shifted uncomfortably, “I am the most powerful player on the server, Parrot. People know that. I staked my claim on you. No one would dare mess with you because then they would be messing with me.” Wifies didn't even blink. “They know the consequences of that.”
Parrot wanted to say something smart. He wanted to refute what Wifies was saying. He wanted to call him stupid and laugh at his twisted logic. He wanted to know Wifies was lying. But the truth was he didn't know. Parrot had no way of knowing if Wifies had been keeping other players from hurting him by taking up that role himself. Parrot had no way to know. So he said nothing.
He hated that his silence felt like letting Wifies win. He hated that Wifies seemed to win every interaction they had these days.
“Parrot, everything I have done has been to protect you.” Wifies’ voice dropped dangerously lower. “If I have to hurt you to keep you alive, then that is a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”
Parrot couldn’t stop the sob that tore out of him, forcing all the air from his lungs. He couldn't breathe. The promises they made to each other tore into Parrot’s chest like broken glass, leaving him tasting, breathing, choking on blood and heartbreak.
This wasn’t Wifies.
This wasn’t the person who had joined him on a pointless scavenger hunt that only led to suffering. This wasn’t the person who had stayed by Parrot’s side as he led them through hopeless goal after hopeless goal. This wasn't the person who had saved him from himself time and time again.
This wasn't his best friend.
This wasn't Wifies.
The Director stood still as a statue, mouth pressed into a thin line. Even without the trimmed armor, he was still haunting and untouchable as a god. “Now sit down, Parrot.”
Parrot wanted to leave. He wanted to run as far as he could from the living ghost of his best friend, but Parrot was backed up against a hundred block fall. Even if he could escape the situation, where would he go? He was trapped by obsidian walls and cold hands. He would be running from a snowstorm into a blizzard and calling it safety.
There was nothing he could do.
Parrot forced his body to move. He forced himself to ignore every instinct that insisted he run, fly away from the threat and never return. He sat down.
As soon as Parrot sat down, Wifies’ hands returned to his wings. Parrot jolted violently at the feeling.
Wifies smiled, a sickly sweet thing. “Thank you Parrot.” He ignored Parrot’s discomfort and resumed preening, hands precise and careful as if nothing had happened.
Parrot knew he was being manipulated, but a fat lot of good that did him when he was powerless to do anything about it.
The wind blew deafeningly in Parrot’s ears, indifferent to his terror, carrying away the last remnants of his old strength and courage.
Wifies spoke, his voice somehow avoiding being carried away by the wind. “Parrot, there are other ways for me to protect you.”
Parrot scoffed, “Then why don’t you try some of those.”
Wifies hummed, “Paragon is the best option for you. I don't have to give you this much space. I could put you in an obsidian box with mining fatigue. I could break your legs to ensure you can't run away. I could render you completely immobile and hand feed you bread for the rest of both of our lives.”
Parrot clenched his fists in his lap, fingernails digging into his skin. He felt a void in his stomach. He could barely breathe. He felt sick.
“Don’t test my kindness. I want you to be comfortable. I want you to be happy, but if you insist on trying to get yourself killed, I will be forced to do whatever is necessary” Throughout all this, Wifies’ hands remained frustratingly precise. He didn't falter.
Parrot couldn't allow himself to falter either.
As much as it hurt. As much as he knew this wasn’t something he could move on from. Parrot forced himself to swallow down the shout that rose in his chest. He shoved the hurt, the fear, the betrayal, down somewhere they wouldn't bother him for now.
This complicated his plans.
He had been focusing on escaping. He figured that if he just made it out, he would have more resources, more time to figure out what to do next. He could find B.A.T. and they would protect him long enough for them to come up with a plan.
But Wifies would never allow that to happen.
Wifies wouldn't let him run away from this. He wouldn't let him have time.
Nevermind the risk if Parrot did manage to escape and was caught again afterward.
He had been focused on escaping. If Wifies got hurt or died in the process… well it would have made it easier.
But now? As long as Wifies was alive Parrot could never be free
Parrot could not live until Wifies was dead.
If he really wanted to get out of Paragon, climbing the walls wouldn't be enough.
He needed to kill Wifies.
If he wanted to fly again, Parrot would need to kill his best friend.