AN: You people are awesome. I wish I could take a snapshot of my stupid happy smile every time I read your reviews. I'm THAT happy. And to clarify some doubts, Pavarotti is indeed a boy, just like Domingo.

Crystallic Rain: If you're rambling, I'm loving it! It means a lot to me to read what you said, it really does. One enjoys writing, but it is a wonderful feeling to read what the people that read this feel, and to see that it's being enjoyed and appreciated. So thank you SO much!

A thanks once again to the great GraniaMhaol, whom, not only is my beta, but my new English teacher, and for free! She's the one you have to thank for not suffering though my disastrous grammar and all those mistakes!

Pavarotti is chirping annoyed, he wants to take over now, so on with the story!

Ruffled Feathers

Complexly Simple Kiddo

You know, when I'm anxious, I start pecking holes into things. Twigs are my favorite, but considering that I'm reduced to the bottom floor of my cage lately, the food container will have to do. So I'm currently working on a particularly impressive hole in the corner, while I watch Kurt do basically the same thing. Only he lacks a beak. And a food container.

I think he's trying to dig a hole into the floor with his feet. He's walking up and down the room, and he's biting his lip. That in itself is a definite Kurt sign of distress, but if that isn't enough to alert me, the look on his face is. It has 'worried' written all over it.

It's very early in the morning, and he's already dressed up as perfectly as usual in his Dalton Uniform, but it's not for class he's getting ready to, but to compete at…

What was it again? Ah, Sectionals.

Honestly, I didn't understand what he was so worried about, until I remembered fragments of conversations. I mean, he really has a wonderful voice, and so does Blaine. I remember him singing a few times, back in the days when I was at the Warbler's giant cage and he would bring Domingo. They both have amazing voices. I know what I'm talking about, I'm a bird. I sing for a living. Or, well… I sing.

So he couldn't possibly be THAT worried about losing.

I'm a smart bird, so I think it has more to do with his old glee club. He said so himself, he doesn't want to compete against them, and I for one think that he's absolutely right in being so concerned. I mean, it's not so easy being on the other side, you know? Like, when I was trying to pry open one of the windows to get outside, and the other warblers would look at me like I was some kind of neurotic bird? It wasn't pretty. But just like then, I'm sure Kurt knows very well that he's right at wanting to open his own window, so to speak.

Or whatever he's trying to achieve by changing glee clubs. I don't care. Whatever he decides, I totally support him. Unless it's some crazy idea like trying to feed me glitter or something like that. I am positive he was just joking, but then again, he has a rather perfect poker face. I still go very carefully through my food container, just in case.

So, in conclusion, what is he worried about? My guess is he doesn't really know if he wants to win or not. If I got this whole competition right, the one that wins at chirping gets to go on chirping, and I believe he's not completely happy with the idea that his old friends might get left behind. But then again, he really, really likes to chirp.

I completely understand him, but still, I strongly hope the Warblers win. It's not just a sense of pride; I just like hearing Kurt sing.

The knocking on the door startles us both, but I learnt to recognize that particular knocking and I know who it is before I hear the voice.

"I bet you anything that Blaine knocks that politely even at his own room" I say, unable to stop myself from making fun of the boy. Don't get me wrong, I like Blaine, but he's just so respectful that it's adorable. I've yet to see him mad at someone or something, but I don't think he was always like that.

Maybe I should ask Domingo for gossip. He does know him much better.

"Kurt, we're leaving in half an hour. Are you ready?"

"Yeah, in a minute," he says, finally stopping his pacing to grab his messenger bag and fix one last time his already perfect hair –that's the tenth time, if you were wondering. I keep count.

"This is it." He comes closer, checking if I have enough food and water, and then smiles at me, and I swear to god the day looks brighter when he does. "Wish me luck, Pav!"

And I do. With all my heart. But when I actually try to say it to him, no sound comes out of my beak. He's already out of the door, though, he didn't notice.

But I do. And I know why.

I just lost my voice.


I don't want to panic, but I tried to fix my two stray feathers. And they fell off. I'm just staring at them in frozen horror, I don't know what to do. And this is just the beginning, I can feel it. My right wing is feeling itchy, and the feathers there are not looking as good as they should. I feel there's a third one that's about to fall as well.

My voice is completely gone. I tried and tried, but nothing comes out of my beak other than sad squeaky attempts. I just stopped trying because it's embarrassing!

I haven't been able to reach my twig for days, but I thought it was just the cold weather bringing me down. This is horrible, this is a complete disaster! I don't know what's happening to me!

I've been a good bird, you know. I'm so young. I still have a lot to do. I wasn't even able to open the latch of the door yet! I can't believe it. I can't be…

My head feels lighter, and I feel dizzy. I can't even focus. I rest my head on the cold bars of my cage, hoping it will make the world stay still, but it helps only a little.

I'm trying not to work myself into a frenzy, but I can't help but think, I only just met Kurt! And it was such a promising friendship, what with his penchant for fancy, shiny clothes and my love for glittering materials for nesting. I imagined us singing together, countless of human songs, no matter that my sound comes out always the same. I bet he could hear the difference.

And Domingo! I won't be able to ask him about Blaine, and I'll never be able to rest in peace with that tidbit of gossip unresolved! And who will take care of those two? Who will figure out what all those stares and all those unspoken words mean?

You know what pisses me off the absolute most?

I haven't managed to steal that stray wool from Kurt's duvet yet!


I wake up sluggishly to the sound of voices outside. It takes me a few seconds to wake up, which is not normal at all, but considering my state, it does not surprise me. I think the Warblers are back. There's a lot of happy chirping and singing outside, and that has to mean they won. Before I can get happy for them, I worry about how Kurt has reacted to winning. Is he sad that his old friends can't chirp anymore? Is he happy that he can? I hear someone mention the unexpected and improbable result and I find out they tied. They both get to chirp some more, and I imagine the smile of absolute happiness in Kurt's face, before my eyes replace it for the real one, when he opens the door.

Boy, does he look happy. For a moment there, I forget about my state and just enjoy his happy face. I think I haven't seen him this happy since… Wow. I actually never saw him this happy! It's absolutely adorable!

Oh no. Oh boy. No no. He's getting closer. He'll see any minute now. He'll notice, and then he won't be happy anymore. I don't want him to not be happy. It's not nice. Oh and I look hideous, too! Well, I suppose it's logical, but even so, there's no excuse to look this awful. All my feathers look discolored and unkempt and I don't even want to imagine how I look like here curled up against the bars, unable to even step on that twig.

I need to pretend everything's ok. I don't want him to go through this! Blaine said he had a hard time in his old school, the last thing he needs is having to deal with-

"Pav?" I feel like cursing. Profusely. Cursing so much that not only Blaine, but a damn pirate would cringe. He lowered his face to the cage, and I get the full force of his beautiful eyes all worried and damn if I don't feel like crying.

I'm so, so sorry, Kurt! I never expected… I didn't want you to go though this! I wish so much my voice would work, I even try to open my beak to try to say sorry to him, but not even a squeaky sound comes out of it. I see Kurt looking from my sorry attempt at chirping, to my general state, to the –oh god, there are four now- feathers on the floor, and I look in horror how his face shows the dawning comprehension of what's going on.

"Oh no…" he all but whispers and he quickly opens the latch of the door.

And I know I shouldn't, but my mind can't help but file away the information on how to actually open the latch.

His hands are soft, and he makes a small nest of them for me to cuddle, and they're so warm and cozy that I feel myself getting drowsy again. Which only makes him panic more.

"Oh god, Pav, what's happening to you! How… I don't understand!" he says, and I feel horrible because his eyes are wide with panic and glassy with tears, and I hate to think that I'm the one to put him in that state.

I don't understand either, Kurt, and I can't even tell you how sorry I am. Literally, I can't even make a sound!

He looks at me so desperately, and around the room, as if the explanation would somehow be there, but I know it's not. He strokes my head with his thumb, so softly, and I return the favor by pecking at it weak and softly. His nail looks delicious, I must say.

He puts me back in the cage, slowly, and I hop back to the floor, trying to look far more stable than I actually feel, and he reaches for his device… Phone! Quickly does something on the screen, possibly writing. I feel like dozing off, and even though I try to stay awake for his sake, I must have nod off because I feel the cage rattling a little, and I notice that we're moving, and soon enough, we're back to that room where we first met. He places me in the same table and I can't help but think about that first day, how nervous I was about the new kid, and my annoyance at Blaine for being so oblivious. All the human Warblers talking about stuff I couldn't care less, and then he came through those doors, and he looked so…

Magnificent.

It's hard to believe it's only been a couple of days since that day, is it? And such a short time we spent together, oh god, here comes the chest pain again, I won't cry, I swear I won't…

"God, I messed up! I thought it would be easy, I'm so stupid! What do I know about taking care of animals! And I've been so worried about everything that I neglected you, I'm so stupid, Pav!"

Oh no. Oh no, don't you dare, Kurt Hummel! This is not your fault! I actually get up and go close to the bars to try and glare at him, which, infuriatingly enough never has quite the effect I expect. Apparently, we yellow warblers are not meant to be menacing. Maybe if I were a falcon or something…

But then I wouldn't be able to sing as prettily, or look as cute.

"It's not your fault!" I manage to squeak, and he looks even more worried, if anything and I decide to shut the hell up, because I'll only make his distress worse.

But it's not fair. How is this fair? Someone please explain to me! I'm so young, and Kurt and I just met! No matter his terrible humor about cats and mines and glitter – I'm still trying to figure out if they were jokes, by the way-, we were looking forward to so, so much…

I feel like such a disappointment! So much for carrying on the Warbler Legacy, Pavarotti! Gods, I swear I would smack myself if I had the energy. And hands.

"I got your text, what's wrong?"

I look up to see Blaine walking towards us, and I feel proud of Kurt. Good call to ask Blaine to come, he's good at taking care of Domingo, but I don't think he'll be able to do much now, considering my sorry state. But at least he'll be able to console Kurt, right? And he'll tell him it's not his fault. That he couldn't have known, or do anything to prevent it. He'll make him feel better about this whole thing.

"It's Pavarotti. I think he's sick. I've been taking good care of him, but he-he won't sing, and-and he's losing his feathers."

He really did, Blaine! He made sure I had water and food and the cage looks pristine to the point of bordering obsessive, and I don't think he could have been a better friend! Please tell him that it's not his fault, that I'll miss him so much, that I'm so sorry that we have to part so soon, that…

"Oh, he's just molting."

…Huh?

"He's growing a new coat of feathers, so his body has to shut down a little."

Huh.

So I'm not…? Like, I won't… Oh. Oh, I feel rather… Stupid.

Of course it's just molting. The fact that it's my first time is no excuse to lose my cool like that. And I worried Kurt so much for nothing! I'm such an idiot!

But a part of me can't help but feel amazingly warm at the relief in Kurt's face. It makes me so happy that I mean so much to him. Even if I am a silly bird who forgot he was suppose to molt at some point in his life.

"But don't worry about it." Blaine keeps talking, trying to calm down Kurt, and he's doing a good job at that. "He's got food, water; he seems to like his cage." Hold it, boy. I never said anything about liking my cage. I mean, it's nice, sure, but, I know how to open the latch now. Beware. "Just give it a little while. He'll be singing again in no time."

Oh, that's good to know, because my voice means quite a lot to m… Why is Blaine staring at him like that? Hey… Hey, hold up, I'm missing something. Was he really talking about me, or is this some kind of super weird human code? If it is, Blaine, you seriously need to work on your communication skills. I know you probably think it's smooth, but it's not. You only accomplish being confusing as hell.

I still like you, though.

"Don't forget. Warbler practice tonight at 5:00. Regionals, here we come."

I feel like laughing at their interactions – now that my mind is not otherwise occupied with thoughts of guilt and sorrow and death contemplations- because, seriously. They are adorable, with Blaine trying to be so cool and Kurt not knowing how to react to anything and smiling awkwardly and, is it me, or he is blushing like mad?

Hey… Hey, could this be…?

Love?

I need to have a serious chat with Domingo, stat!


It takes a huge effort, and consumes so much energy from me, that I'll probably be sleeping three days straight just to recover, but it is so worth it to put that adorable smile on his face.

Don't get overly excited, but look, I just managed to jump to my twig and stay there. Kurt looks so proud.

Maybe this whole molting thing isn't that terrible as I thought, after all.


AN: Like, hate, chirp! Who looks forward to meet Domingo!