Chapter Text
(Crunch, crunch, crunch)
“Are you eating something, Kris? As the volunteer assistant librarian I’ll have to warn you not to spill crumbs on the books!”
Kris raised a bag from under the table, still munching, not even looking up from the encyclopedia that lay flat on the table. The bag was transparent plastic with a green label. On the label were several colorful birds.
Berdly did a double take. “Is that bird seed?”
Kris nodded and swallowed. They stuck out the bag. “Want some?” Their voice was hoarse as always.
He hadn’t eaten since lunchtime. “Well, if you insist.” He grabbed a wingful out of the bag and started pecking at it, expecting Kris to stare, maybe fire off a mocking comment—but they already had their head buried in their book again. They sat hunched on their forearms, staring at a stylized drawing of some sort of factory, full of tubes and gears and wires. “You didn’t buy this for me, did you?”
They shook their head quickly. “Used to eat it off the bird feeders. Mom made me stop.”
Mixed with the oats and maize was the occasional peanut and sunflower seed and even a dried mealworm. Before he knew it he had run out, preening between the feathers for a last morsel but not finding any.
“This is… pretty tasty. Where did you get it?”
“From the store,” they mumbled. “’s got a very deep fruit basket.”
It did have a very deep fruit basket. Last time he went there he had seen someone secure a rope to delve down.
The bag was open on the table. Berdly felt awkward about grabbing another portion but Kris didn’t look up.
(Crunch, crunch, crunch)
“Do you have an idea for our group project yet?”
They shook their head. They were still staring at the factory. Apparently they weren’t even considering it as a subject?
“Well, if you don’t have anything, I have an idea.” He scraped his throat. “I think we should do a presentation about humans.”
“No.” Kris frowned severely, and their fingers dug into the table.
What was the matter with them? “You’re an expert, aren’t you?”
They shook their head again, forcefully.
“Look, Kris.” I need someone to lean on. Like Noelle. I can’t do this on my own. “You can’t let me do all the work. If you want to cooperate you need to bring something to the table. Capisce?”
Kris’s mouth tightened and they shut their eyes. Was he going too far?
But—“Okay,” said Kris. “Fine. We’ll do humans. Whatever.”
Berdly felt lighter. “Great! Good.”
He didn’t enjoy annoying Kris like this. Not any more, not since that strangely vivid dream.
But they looked so resolute right now that it seemed even a truck would bounce right off their lithe frame. Their smooth skin, the hair covering their eyes, the slight veins running through their hands into their sleeves, it added up to a pretty picture, somehow so compelling that Berdly felt he could stare at it for hours. It only lasted for a few seconds before Kris relaxed and shifted position and the picture was broken—yet some fragments remained.
That was normal, right? Humans were beautiful creatures. He had never met any besides Kris, but he was sure others were just as striking.
“Berdly?” asked Kris, pulling him out of his daze.
“Right! Yes. I was thinking we could start with Gerson’s book, that’s sure to have good material. Have you read it?”
“Nah. Have you?”
“Well—” sputtered Berdly. “I’ve been meaning to—”
Kris chuckled and made tut-tut noises.
Berdly turned and walked to the bookcase, trying to hide his blush. He grabbed two copies of The History of Humans and Monsters. It was always well-stocked.
They made a satisfying thump on the table. “Here. Let’s read chapter one for tomorrow.”
“You know, I think my mom has…” started Kris.
“What now?”
“Eh, never mind. I’ll try to read it. Thank you.”
Berdly’s eyes followed Kris out the door. It took him a minute to remember what he was doing and start reading.