'All around the world, Somebody somewhere's always waking the neighbors
All around the world, A thousand miles away we're singing the same words'
Word could not describe how much he missed the feeling of being on stage. No matter where he was, at home or halfway round the world, the lights, the dancing, the cheers from the crowds. Nothing could compare, and it was something Nico could simply not get enough of.
'Oh, how many times have you turned up your headphones
Oh, jumping up and down like you're there in the front row.'
He grinned, spinning his hat in his wings and placing it back on his head as Miyoko stepped forward, the spotlight moving to rest on her.
Oh, you got a private party going on when you're alone
But when you're alone, just know...'
The colourful bird looked just as ecstatic as he was, and the shiny beads she had put onto her feather headpiece glittered and shined in the bright light as she moved her head. The pair turned and walked towards each other, singing alternate lines as the spotlights merged.
'We don't need to be together to get it started
Throw your hands in the air no matter where you are, babe.'
They took each other's wings, starting a simple dance routine as they launched into the chorus, singing in harmony.
'Just feel the music so you can join in the party
Wherever you are, wherever you are
Oh, wherever you are
Oh, where-wherever you are
Oh, wherever you, wherever you are, wherever you are.'
They were both grinning, not doing the choreographed dance the dancers were performing in the background, but their own freestyle, dancing around each other, spinning and swaying to the fast beat.
The singing pair then took a few steps back, allowing the dancers to pass them as the instrumental started up. They flew up to the top platform of the stage, Nico spinning as he landed. There they danced together, twirling each other and bobbing their heads to the beat.
'Wherever you go, you don't have to be alone
Wherever you are, just know, just know, just know
Wherever you go, you don't have to be alone
Wherever you are, wherever you are.'
The dancers stayed where they were, doing some incredibly complex moves while Nico and Miyoko sang on the top platform, the spotlight back on them.
They leaned against each other as the song came to a close, furthest wing from the audience in the air.
The crowd were going wild, screaming and cheering, jumping up and down with their wings in the air. Nico and Miyoko grinned wide at each other, both breathing hard. Nico held out his wing, the colourful bird taking it as they turned to the crowd, lifted their wings and bowed.
They flew off the stage, laughing and high on adrenaline, falling to the ground with exhaustion the moment they were completely out of sight, alternating between laughing and trying to breathe.
"Damn that was good!" Nico exclaimed, trying to sit up, but failing miserably, dropping back to the ground with a giddy grin.
"Good doesn't even begin to describe it," Miyoko said, rolling onto her front.
A head popped round the corner, a medium size brown bird, and said something in very fast Japanese to Miyoko, who replied with equal speed, pushing herself up.
"Come on," she said, holding out a wing to help him up, "You have some birds who want to see you."
"Dude! That. Was. Awesome!"
Nico grinned, trying very hard not to look smug, "yeah, not too bad, if I say so myself."
"Have I told you I hate you today?" Miyoko asked, landing next to him with a half smirk.
"Several times," Nico said, chuckling.
Several blank faces looked back at them from the other side of the screen.
"He did that in an hour!" Miyoko complained to the birds, "an HOUR! I couldn't do that if you gave me a month!" Her smirk had morphed into clear annoyance, both at Nico and herself.
"An hour, huh?" Pedro said with a thoughtful expression, a tiny smirk playing at the corner of his beak, "I've seen you do better."
"I know, I'm not on my game today," Nico said, "I've been under practiced recently."
With a shake of his head, Pedro tutted, "not an excuse man, not an excuse."
Miyoko looked on the verge of exploding, "god you two suck," she pouted, "really, I hate you both."
"Really?" Nico said with a mock shocked expression, "I thought we were awesome."
"Yeah, I mean, have you seen us? We're incredible."
"Alright boys, don't push your luck," Eva warned, "unless you don't want to come home Nico." Miyoko gave the canary an innocent grin that screamed 'I-can-put-you-on-the-wrong-boat-and-don't-think-I-won't'.
"Alright, alright," Nico laughed, before breaking into a long yawn. "Listen, as much as I would love to stay and chat all night long, I have a ship that leaves at some ungodly hour tomorrow morning that I need to be in time for, so I should probably go to bed."
Several faces fell.
"But...but...but, we're not gonna see you for aaages," Carla complained, all big eyes as she pouted at the camera.
"I know," Nico said, giving a comforting smile, "just think though, give it a month and I'll be there for real, not just on a computer screen."
The children's faces lit up at that reminder, all looking slightly more cheerful at the whole plan.
"Alright," Rafael said stepping forward a little, "run the plan by me again?" Nico sighed in exasperation. "Just to be sure," the toucan hastily added.
"Fine, I'm getting a ship to Hawaii," Nico started, ticking off each stage in his head.
"Providing he behaves himself," Miyoko muttered none too quietly, causing quite a few snickers and a glare from the canary.
"Anyway," he ground out, a hint of a smile playing on his beak, "another ship from there to South America and then flying to Rio from there."
"All by yourself?" Pedro asked, trying, and failing, not to look worried.
"Hey, I made it this far," Nico glowered, sounding rather indignant.
"Shall we list the things that have gone wr-" Miyoko started.
"Shall we not," Nico cut her off rather quickly, glaring at the club owner, "I really don't think you're helping." She just grinned, and he turned back to the screen with a half smile. "Look, I'll be fine, really."
Going by the looks on their faces, apparently he didn't sound that convincing.
"I can do this!" He insisted.
"I know you can," Rafael said quietly, "but you know it's my job to worry about you right?"
"Yeah," he gave a fond smile, "I know, I'll be careful."
"You better dude," Pedro said, "get here in one piece."
"That's... kinda the plan," he chuckled, "alright look, I gotta leave in like, five hours, and it's an hour and a half trip, I need to sleep or I'm going to collapse mid flight."
"See you in a month then," Blu said, attempting to gather his kids up, failing as they scrambled over each other to say goodbye.
"Stay safe and don't do anything Blu wouldn't do," Jewel added with a smile, earning an offended huff from the bird in question, "come on kids, say your goodbyes."
"Bye uncle Nico!"
"Yeah, see you soon!"
"Have fun! See you!"
Nico waved as Jewel herded the three blue bundles of energy out the room, Blu disappearing not long after. That left just Rafael, Eva and Pedro.
Eva was beginning to tear up a little, and Rafael put a comforting wing around her, while Pedro tried not to look too much like a third wheel. Miyoko, thankfully, took this as her cue to leave.
"I don't want to repeat what I'm sure we've said a hundred times already," Rafael started, "but please do-"
"Be careful, alright baby?" Eva finished for him.
"I will be," Nico promised, "as careful as I can possibly be."
"We'll see you soon, okay?" Rafael said, looking close to tears himself, "if you can find a way, try to keep us updated."
"Will do."
"Night dear," Eva said, "see you soon."
"Bye!"
With the toucans gone, the only bird left was Pedro. Nico was suddenly very glad he had the room to himself. Tears were inevitable here.
"You've gone very quiet," the canary commented with a half-smirk.
"Yeah," Pedro mumbled, shuffling his feet, "I guess I just realised I'm not going to see you again for a while. I'm still not used to this whole..." he waved his wings around for a moment, searching for the word, "thing," he finished lamely.
"Me neither," Nico sighed, "but hey, you've lasted this long, and at least you know what's going on now."
"Don't mean I don't miss you like crazy."
"Yeah I know, miss you too," Nico smiled sadly, "you big sap." He yawned again.
Pedro shook his head, "go to bed you idiot, don't want you to blame me when you get whiny in the morning."
With a laugh, Nico rubbed the back of his neck, "alright, alright, I'm off, don't get into too much trouble without me yeah?"
"I'll wait until you're back," Pedro grinned, "Rio don't know what's coming."
"See you soon."
"Be-"
"Careful," Nico interrupted, "I know, I'm not that incapable."
"Still..." Pedro trailed off, looking away, "I just... I..." he sighed, "look, I need you. I hate to admit it, but I kinda do. Raffy's right, we're better together. So hurry your ass up already."
Nico was doing very well to not start sobbing there and then, and keeping his voice steady took up all his focus. "Yeah, the double act doesn't really work on your own."
There was a moment of silence as the two birds composed themselves
"Okay, if anyone asks, that didn't happen," Pedro chuckled, "see you in a month."
"Agreed," Nico grinned, "don't be disappointed if it's a bit longer, I'm not that fast at flying. But I'll go as quick as I can, so... see you later I guess."
Once the laptop was switched off, the small bird had to take a few moments to steady his breathing and wipe away the few stray tears before he could go outside the small room and face Miyoko.
Eventually, he deemed himself decent (not that it really mattered, she'd already seen him at his worst) and flew out the room.
"All sorted?" Miyoko asked, rather more cheery than he was expecting as he landed just outside the entrance to the room he was sleeping in.
"Yeah," he smiled, "all that's left is to get home."
Miyoko grinned, following him into the room. "You know, you two make a cute couple," she commented offhandedly, smirking a little.
Nico snorted, dropping his head into a wing, hiding his laugh, "uh Miyo, we- we're not..." he waved his other wing, hoping she understood. When he looked up, he found it even harder to keep from laughing.
To say she looked embarrassed was a massive understatement.
"Well, this is... slightly mortifying," she said, avoiding his eyes. "I need to stop assuming things."
Still sniggering, Nico shook his head, putting a wing on her shoulder, "trust me, we get that a lot."
"Really?"
"Oooh yeah," Nico grinned, "there's a huge bet as to what our relationship actually is, so we do mess with them sometimes, but we are actually just friends."
Miyoko looked at him with eyebrows raised, "you sure?"
"As far as I know, yes," Nico said, looking quite confused.
The Japanese bird broke out in a grin, "that's fine, quite good actually."
"Riight."
"Okay then, good night."
And with that, she flew out the room, leaving a rather puzzled canary behind her.
"Alright girls! Don't smother him!"
Giggling madly, Miyoko's seven sisters clambered off the canary, who gasped for breath. Miyoko shook her head, shooing the girls off while helping him up.
"Well then," Miyoko said with a slightly nervous smile, "I guess it's time for you to go."
"Yeah," Nico glanced worriedly up at the large ship that would be taking him across the pacific.
"Good luck, I guess," Miyoko murmured, pulling him in for a hug, which she quickly loosened when he winced slightly. "You better get going."
"Probably, but first, thank you," Nico said, keeping his wing on her shoulder, "for finding me and helping me. Just, for everything. Thanks." He smiled, turning away from her and to the vast cruise ship he was about to get on. But before he could even think about taking a step forward, he felt a wing on his face force his head back towards Miyoko and then suddenly, her beak was on his.
The shock almost made him lose his balance completely, but his flailing wings managed to gain it once more. Then, just as he was about to kiss back, she pulled away, smiling wide. He could distantly hear her sisters 'ooo'-ing in the background.
"Sorry," she murmured, leaning her forehead against his, both her wings around his neck, "I've wanted to do since I met you."
Nico couldn't find the words. He literally couldn't speak, his throat had completely dried up and his brain fried. The most he could do was grin goofily in return. Miyoko laughed as she pulled away completely with one last peck on the cheek.
"You better get going before they leave without you," she said, cocking her head to the ship just as they sounded the horn, chuckling at the slightly vacant look on his face, "sorry sweetheart, it'll never work," she grinned, sticking her tongue out a little. Nico just nodded, shrugging slightly in agreement. They both have their own lives far too far away from each other. He was still a little speechless as he turned towards the ship, flying up to the edge.
"Call me when you get back though!" he heard Miyoko call just as he was about to disappear from their view.
"Will do!" he yelled back, giving a mock salute and a wave at the eight birds gathered to see him off. He noticed Miyoko winking and blowing him a kiss out of the corner of his eye just as he was turning into the ship and couldn't hold in the laughter bubbling up inside.
Best Send-off ever.
Within a few hours, Nico had already decided that a ship was a much nicer way to travel than plane. It helped the weather stayed lovely throughout the trip; a little rain, but nothing that rocked the boat. Even the sway the waves made was more comforting than sickening.
It was a week-long trip journey and if he was being really honest, it was the best part of the whole trip so far. There were no injuries, no psychotic ex-girlfriends, and no twins. It was a little lonely, but he used the time to finally catch up on the vast amounts of sleep he had been missing out on over the past few weeks, while enjoying the lovely food left by passengers and hanging out at the various parties going on throughout the week. In hiding of course, but it was fun all the same.
And now, he was finally in Hawaii.
Without a clue where to go from there.
He asked around for a while, hoping to find some sort of clue as to when the next ship was leaving, and from where, but most birds were just as clueless as him.
The sun was beginning to set by the time he gave up, resolve slightly broken. The only thing he could do was hang around the docks and hope for the best. But he still needed dinner and a place to sleep. With a sigh he took to the air and headed towards the more populated area of town in the hopes he could find something to eat.
He was so deep in thought he didn't see the other bird who was apparently just as out of it as he was.
Not until it was too late.
"Look out!"
Slightly shorter than most, but i felt that was a good place to end it :) Song was 'wherever you are' by Sam Tsui, thought it was fairly fitting. Anyway, love you guys who have reviewed so far, keep them coming :) I don't care if you hated it, just let me know why.