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Theo would always see Parrot outside staring at his spyglass as if it would disappear from him. He never asked why Parrot would do it every day like a ritual, as he would use the spyglass normally during the day, but during that specific hour he just stared at it.
But one day his curiosity just got the best of him, and he asked Parrot during that hour.
"Parrot"
Then he saw it — Parrot's wings fluffed up, shielding him like Theo was some sort of threat.
"Parrot, It's me. I just wanted to check if you're ok"
Parrot was not moving; the only thing moving were his wings, which started to shake.
As Theo was approaching him — Parrot finally spoke
"I didn't want to kill you..."
"Parrot, what?-"
"I was supposed to stay there…"
Parrot was breathing heavily, and his cries got worse.
"Parrot? What's happening?"
"You were only trying to protect me, right?"
"Parrot, I'll always be here to protect you"
Silence. That long, painful silence.
"But you're dead.... I put you through that... I put everyone I meet through that… I should be the one who should have died"
Theo couldn't believe what he was hearing. Parrot, whom he knew as a person who didn't give up, was now at the edge, saying that it should have been him instead.
"Parrot, no one's dying anymore... I'll protect them... I'll protect you."
"But I killed you. Wifies."
Then it dawned on him; he never knew what happened to Wifies. He never asked Parrot about it because it may have been a horrible falling out, but it turns out to be something completely different.
"Wifies, I'm sorry.... I shouldn't have done that... I should have stayed..."
"But Wifies. I can't stay trapped here forever."
Parrot started to get up, and Theo thought he was standing because the hour was almost done, but no... Parrot had jumped.
"PARROT!"
Theo quickly spread his wings and went after Parrot. The way down was long, and Parrot would have survived, but he wasn't flying... It was like he was accepting his fate that he was saying earlier.
Theo's vision was now starting to get blurry; he didn't know why Parrot was saying those things. He didn't know why Parrot was looking at the spyglasses at that hour. He didn't know what happened to Wifies. And why Parrot was blaming himself so much.
But he knew one thing.
He knew that Parrot was important to him.
He knew that Parrot deserved to live much like him.
So he flew faster and faster.
Then at the very last second, he caught Parrot.
Parrot was a mess as he was crying all over, and he was breathing hard like he was reliving a memory that Theo doesn't know.
"Parrot, I'm here," he said, putting his hands on Parrot's shoulders
But that didn't stop Parrot from spiraling in his thoughts.
So Theo did what came to his mind. He hugged Parrot fully, with his wings covering Parrot, like he was protecting him from whatever was after him
"Parrot, you're here. You're safe."
He hugged more, trying to make Parrot feel once again that he isn't stuck in that memory, but he was here with Theo on land.
"I'm sorry.... I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm-"
Then after that long hour of crying, Parrot looked up and saw Theo
"Theo!"
Parrot stepped back, rubbing his eyes. He couldn't believe it was Theo that was with him.
"I'm sorry- I- you shouldn't have seen me like this"
"No, Parrot its ok-"
"No, it's not! You could have gotten hurt!"
"Parrot, you could have been the one who got hurt if-"
"But I don't want to lose another friend cause of my recklessness!"
There, Parrot's wings felt weak; he wasn't fully expecting Theo to be there.
That hour he would sit at that mountain, that same mountain he went with Wifies, like it was some routine he built.
That same hour was when Wifies blew up, and if Parrot had to be honest, it haunted him. It haunted him about how he killed his best friend, but it was for him to escape and be free... but it still haunted him.
So seeing Theo there when things got worse, when he was hallucinating that Wifies was there to haunt him, he just felt weak.
"Parrot, whatever happened between you and Wifies that's all in the past— he isn't here anymore"
"And that's completely my fault."
Theo started to move forward to Parrot, not too quickly but at a pace where Parrot won't feel threatened
"Parrot, based on what I heard from you, it was because u wanted to escape. To see this world again. To be free."
Theo was now in front of Parrot, but he wasn't moving forward; he was just standing there
"There is nothing wrong with wanting to live, Parrot"
"You did what you think was best, even if that meant losing him"
"But Parrot, no one should be held against their will; we should be able to see the sun rise and set"
Parrot finally looked up, and Theo could see his red eyes and how Parrot looked.
"I'm only a simple bird, but I can promise you that I will protect u from anyone who takes that freedom away from you."
There, Parrot ran straight into his arms, and he was hugging Theo tightly, which Theo reciprocated
"I'm sorry, Theo... I should have told you…"
"Shhh… you don't have to tell me anything, just do it at a time you feel right"
And Parrot just nodded, agreeing to everything that Theo said.
They stayed for a while to watch the sunset, and it was the prettiest thing to ever exist
There, Theo made a promise to himself... He promised that no matter what, he'll protect Parrot.
Protect him from whatever this unstable world had to throw at him because Parrot deserves that sunshine.