Chapter Text
Dj Grooves was a very touchy-feely person and everyone on his crew knew that.
Growing up on a very social place (a.k.a his family's house on the Moon) he learned from a very young age that "a nice appearance and good manners is the key to make a perfect first impression to make the best conections".
This was not totally true for him as he went older, he knew that you can just lie about your true self image (and intentions) with fake smiles, using the right words and, therefore, making many shallow conections that will eventually drift away.
There's another reason why he didn't liked to think on that way: he loves giving and receiving genuine attention to the ones around him like a gentle tap on someone's shoulder or shaking hands, but hugs are a special case.
For him, hugs are the best medicine for someone else's bad day.
And if there is someone he knew who was having a bad day right now, this person (well, bird) was definitely Conductor.
To be very honest, it was really (and by that he means really, but REALLY) hard to find his business parther in an acceptable humor: he always looked frenetic and restless, having to worry about writing and seperating all of his owl's movie scripts, directing his (not so talented) actors with his short pacience for errors (and for consequence starting screaming at them), doing his own stunts and eventually hurting himself, editing the movie in a old school way...
The things can go on and on for the rest of the day. But hey, they're acting more friendly to each other lately, their adventures with the little hat darling changed them if not a little bit for the better, so maybe he could...risk it and give it a chance? The little old guy really looked like he needed a hug.
Grooves quietly crossed the room and slides with his shoes next to Conductor who as surprisingly unaware of his precense. It was indeed a surprise, he learned way long ago that owls have a very good hearing, there's only a few times where he was surprised that the yellow bird didn't heard him and got shouted at his face seconds later.
Is it even possible that he turned a way more of a old geezer than he already is?
Grooves snikered to himself before getting his precense noticable:
-"Good morning, Darlin-"
-"PECK NEC-"
Conductor exclaimed unecessary loud as he stumbled on his feet almost falling on the floor, startling Grooves on the way as he extended one of his flippers in an weak attempt to cacth him.
-"Ah! I'm sorry-"
-"For everything that's holy, warm me next time ya airhead peck neck!"
Conductor angrily shouted, interrupting the penguin's apologies.
-"Again, i'm very sorry darling."
Grooves said before he received a confused look fron the other bird.
-"So,uh... why are ya here?"Conductor said as he rolled the r's, adjusting his clothes.
-"I just, uh, I just wanted to see how you're doing."
...
...
Slience.
...
...
-"... Really? Is that it? This isnae a humorless prank?"
Conductor arched what Grooves imagined be on of his eyebrows.
-"It's not a prank, I promise."
More silence, the cliche sound of grasshoppers singing could fit really well right now.
-"Oh, did Ah told ya?" Conductor didn't waited Grooves to awnser back " 'Course Ah dinnae, by the near end of this year Ah'll be getting myself a first hand assistent."
That's... not what he was experiencing to hear? Still...
-"That's some great news, darling! May I ask why you decided to do this?"
Grooves asked, his curiosity perking up.
-"Well, the awnser is very simple: Ah'm gettin very tired of feeling stressed almost everyday recently."
Grooves faltered, frowning a bit after hearing this. Was Conductor suffering with stress so much? Why didn't he realized before? He could have done something to help...
The owl saw the concerned look the moon penguin was giving to him as he explained later on:
-"Oh... don't worry about me, peck neck. Ma age is finally reaching on me and Ah can't keep getting too much work on this exhausted bird brain."
Conductor shuffled uncomfortably on his place when he was getting no response from the other bird.
-"What Ah'm trying say is... Ah'm trying to not overwork myself."
Ok, Grooves couldn't hide how pecking proud he was of Conductor right now.
-"That's more than great news to hear, darling! It really is, but I was observing you today and since from young age I learned that giving someone a positive physical touch can help their bad day, even for a little moment."
He stopped a bit, his brain almost making him regret and think twice but he let his optimistic and confidence speak louder:
-"Right now, you really do look like you need some positive physical touch, even if it's a little one. I will not leave you alone until you accept my hug."
Grooves made a dramatic sigh as he put his flippers on his forehead and the other on his waist. He took his gesture as a win when the yellow bird didn't said anything back. He was going on the right way.
-"And we are friends now, right?"
Grooves asked softly but his mind was screaming.
Please agree with me, Please agree with me, Please agree with-
-"Aye, so we are."
Conductor said with convicction.
He does agree with me! Woo!!!
Dj Grooves mind was celebrating.
-"Sooooo... can I hug my favourite bird now?"
Grooves said as he extended his flippers foward but didn't took any step further.
...
...
...Wait, favorite bird? Did he really mean that?? Will Conductor mock him for chossing he as his favourite bird???
It felt like an eternity for the silent atmosphere to be broken as he noticed the owl sagging his shoulders and sighing loudly.
-"Alright Alright, ya no good peck neck... go ahead."
Conductor finally let Grooves embrace him
as he open his own arms up (wings? No one really know).
As you can expect, the hug was quite uncomfortable for both of them, it took a few agonizing seconds before Grooves relaxed and embraced the owl a bit more closer, his flippers covering almost Conductor's smaller body from above.
Dj Grooves was really happy that the Conductor let him hug like that without a huge fight against it, he sighed and inclined his head to be above on Conductor's, smiling a little. They stayed like this in a rather comfortable silence for a good moment.
-"So... Ah am like, yer favourite bird?"
That question was so simple, it's wasn't supposed to give him so much trouble to think of a good awnser. Was he really his favorite bird? Couldn't Grooves think of a better critter to begin with?
...
...
I... don't like to think to put another critter on his place. He's been on my side for so long, you know?
Of course I know, i am your head, darling.
Ha, how funny you are.
His brain got a short circuit when he realized the other bird was patting his back.
-"... Looks like Ah'm not the only one who needs an embrace, eh?"
Grooves chuckled weakly, squeezing back. He tried really hard to not notice that the owl's feathered tail was wagging slightly.
-"Ah ha ha! I... I guess you're right, darling."
...
-"Sooo-"
-"What now, eh?" Conductor said with a slight annoyance on his voice but didn't pushed away.
-"We're not going to stop making our who-wins-the-awards bets, right?"
-"... Do ya wanna bet?"
They both laughed at their own silliness.
-"This is nice and all... but we- Ah mean, AH need to go back to work."
It was Conductor's turn to be dramatic as Grooves rolled his eyes playfully.
They parted away a little after that.
-"Well... thanks Grooves, see ya later."
Conductor give him a small wave as he walked away.
-"Not bad. Not bad at all. It was better than I was expecting."
Grooves leaned against the wall as he observed Conductor exiting the room.
-"I guess we can be made for having a friendship."
...
I can't wait to hug him again.