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sanyfrika · 1 month ago

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Clinging to the Nest (STP) (PT.2)

(Here's part two! I hope you all enjoy how insane I went over this idea! Thanks again to @flowersandmiel for their amazing idea about Oppy and letting me write about it!)

Part One

"Oppy, my dear! We've brought you lunch!"

"Come in, Smitten!" Opportunist happily called out, despite this being the worst part of his day.

Smitten waltzed into his room with Broken trailing behind him, and Opportunist would've asked why the other was here, but his attention was grabbed by the delicious smell of food.

Opportunist found it hard to keep his dignity together when he was starving and being useless, but he tried his best.

Smitten held a tray with a steaming bowl of what smelled like vegetable soup, and a fluffy chunk of bread. He placed the tray on the bedside table, taking a moment to sit in front of Opportunist, giving him a soft smile.

"How are you, my friend? Are you still in agony?"

Opportunist gave him a bright smile, patting Smitten's hand as he assured him, "Don't you worry about me, Smitten. I'm tougher than I look, and I handle pain very easily."

Smitten sighed, and then his smile turned slightly-sad? Opportunist wasn't prepared at all for when Smitten suddenly leaned forward and cupped his cheek, with such a heaviness in his eyes that Opportunist wasn't sure how to react to.

"It pains me to see you in this position," Smitten softly said, and Opportunist was having trouble deciding whether to focus on how soft Smitten was speaking, or the way his hand was caressing Opportunist's cheek.

"Seeing you punished simply because you acted out of kindness, for me, is something I cannot bear to see."

Why was Smitten acting like this? Why was he being more mushy than usual?

It was a question that Opportunist had kept asking himself as the days went on. Everyone kept treating him so delicately when all he was doing was taking up their time. What can they possibly gain from being nice to him for no reason? Opportunist couldn't possibly be worth the trouble.

There had to be a catch, there had to be. Opportunist wasn't being useful like this, yet everyone was treating him so gently, so they must be planning something for him.

Opportunist wanted to believe that it would be fine, but that's not how the world works. Nobody deserves this level of care if they weren't contributing to the wellbeing of others. Otherwise, why bother with him if he was just being a useless lump on a bed? Why allow someone like that into your life?

These weren't answers he could get right now, and especially not with Smitten, so Opportunist just lowered his head and ignored the heat in his cheeks.

But then Smitten rubbed a thumb over his cheek, making him gulp nervously. Smitten smiled softly, and Opportunist tried to return it, but he wasn't sure if it was even worth it anymore.

"Don't worry, my dear. You shall be treated like royalty while you recover," Smitten declared, and then he gave Opportunist a quick peck on the forehead before going to retrieve the tray of food for him.

Opportunist attempted to keep a straight face after that kiss, an act that should've come easy to him, but he was finding it hard to not let his reactions show the more the days went on.

To distract himself, he looked down at Broken, who had silently and sheepishly made his way to Opportunist's broken foot, taking out a small case that Opportunist knew was a salve to help his foot heal faster, courtesy of Hunted.

He kept his tone polite as he asked, "Isn't Hunted the one who usually applies the salve?" Broken ducked his head, keeping his gaze on his foot as he quietly explained, "Yes, but I felt bad not doing anything for you, so I asked to do this today."

"Isn't that sweet of him?" Smitten loudly declared, making the pair of them jump. Smitten beamed down at Broken and said, "He's just as heartbroken as I am at your predicament, and we both want to do everything in our power to help you heal."

"That's very kind of you both." Even Broken felt bad for him?

He pushed the growing discomfort away into the darkest corner of his mind, never to be seen again, and came to when Smitten brought the tray over.

Although Opportunist hated this part, he couldn't help but salivate at the smell and say, "That smells divine, Smitten."

"Oh, thank you!" Smitten said, feathers fluffing up at the praise, and Opportunist tried to ignore the feeling of Broken tending to his foot. "Only the best for our patient!"

As Smitten set the tray down on his lap, Opportunist made his voice innocent and casual as he said, "I bet it must be hard to cook a meal just for little old me."

Smitten waved his words away. "Not at all, my friend! I'm more than happy to do this for you."

'But why?' Opportunist wanted to scream, but instead, he just took the bread chunk and began eating it almost aggressively, practically weeping at how good it was.

He chuckled through the warmth in his chest, at the fact that Smitten put this much effort in for him, and asked, "Has the house turned upside down in my absence? Or has my injury made everything more chaotic than it already was?"

Smitten looked at him as if shocked, before shaking his head aggressively. "Oh, no, no- that isn't the case at all, dear Oppy."

Smitten put a hand on his elbow while he ate, and if Opportunist could've, he would've tried to push himself away from the soft touch.

"Your accident has done no harm to the order of the house, rest assured. We're all managing quite well while also looking after you."

Smitten patted his hand as if that was meant to comfort Opportunist- but all he heard was that his presence wasn't needed to keep the flock and their home in order.

They would have been perfectly fine without Opportunist.

All he could do was nibble on his bread, waiting for Smitten to spoon feed him the soup because he couldn't even do that by himself. He watched Broken apply the salve, a rare content smile on the gloomy bird's face, and he asked himself, 'How long does he have left in the flock?'

Opportunist stared up at the ceiling, the darkness of the night both a comfort and a curse.

His mind was a jumbled mess at this point, and he didn't know what to believe anymore. Was he useful? Had he ever been of any help to the flock?

Why hasn't he seen Stubborn yet?

So many things that Opportunist thought were clear were now a blur, and now there was only one thing left that he knew was for certain.

He desperately needed to pee.

He's tried his best up until this point to not go in the middle of the night, but right now, it was too much.

Usually if he needed to go, he would wait for one of the others to come in and then begrudgingly ask them to help him to the bathroom. But it was currently the middle of the night and like hell was he going to do that. He's embarrassed himself enough.

Trying to not make too much noise, Opportunist slowly sat up and twisted to plant his feet on the floor, probably the most movement he's done all week.

He gritted his teeth as he stood up, shifting the majority of his weight onto his good foot, already exerting himself as he made the tiny trip to the door, dragging his injured foot along the floor.

He could do this. He surely had to be able to do this one simple thing, to prove to the flock that he wasn't a complete waste of space.

He was panting heavily by the time he got to the door, wrapping his hand around the doorknob-before the door was thrown open from the other side, and Opportunist was standing in front of a bleary eyed Cheated.

"What's wrong?" Cheated asked, rubbing his eye with one hand and lending another out for Opportunist, to which he leaned away from.

"I'm just going to the bathroom," Opportunist whispered, hoping he didn't sound too out of breath. "You can go back to sleep, I can do this-"

But Cheated rolled his eyes and swiftly grabbed Opportunist's good arm, throwing it over his shoulder and already beginning to walk Opportunist to the bathroom, wrapping his other arm around his waist.

Opportunist stammered, but was in no position to fight Cheated as he was guided to the bathroom, Cheated's grip a strong and comforting wall against Opportunist's weak and shaky body.

"I'm not a baby bird!" Opportunist hissed. "I can do this by myself!" Cheated hummed, probably not even listening to him.

"Go back to bed, Cheated! I'd hate to keep you up-"

"Oh be quiet, Oppy. This is literally what I'm here for tonight."

Opportunist paused, feeling his body sink more and more into Cheated's warmth. "What?"

Cheated nodded towards the couch, where a blanket and pillow laid. "We've all been taking turns sleeping outside your room in case you need help at night, and low and behold, tonight is the night you decide to get active."

Opportunist was struggling to wrap his head around this information, drowning in fear and anxiety, at the fact that he was making them all make this sacrifice for him. He was giving them all more issues to deal with, and they didn't even need Opportunist around.

Why were they doing this? Why were they dealing with the burden that was him, when he wasn't being useful in the slightest? If Opportunist couldn't help them, what good was he? What was the point of him being in the flock?

Cheated was unaware of the storm brewing in Opportunist's mind, patting his back as he casually said, "You don't have to play a game right now, Oppy. It'd be pointless in your state."

Opportunist was starting to see that.

Opportunist stared at door, feeling the way the flock was moving on without him, and he had never contributed anything in return. He was just a burden to them at this point, and there was only one way to deal with a burden.

He didn't belong here anymore.

The door opened, and a brief rush of relief was felt at the sight of Skeptic.

Skeptic was rational and calm, right? Surely if Opportunist could convince anyone to let him stay in the flock, it'd be him.

Skeptic smiled and said, "Morning, Oppy," while taking out the salve for his injuries.

Opportunist smiled tightly, but he couldn't bring himself to put up a facade anymore, and his voice came out trembling and wobbly as he softly said, "Listen."

Skeptic paused, raising a brow at him.

"You don't have to do this," Opportunist quietly begged, as if afraid the whole house will hear his pleas.

Skeptic's face fell more into confusion and concern, but before he could open his mouth, Opportunist went on, desperate to plead his case before his fate was sealed.

"You don't have to do this, Skeptic. I know I'm worthless to you all right now, but I can still prove myself, if you give me a chance."

"Oppy, what are you talking about?" Skeptic asked, and Opportunist sat up straighter, ignoring the aches in his body.

"Skeptic, please. I'm sorry for getting hurt. I won't do it again. I won't do anything to annoy the flock again, but please don't do this to me."

"Calm down, Oppy," Skeptic softly said, coming over to put his hands over Opportunist. "Do what to you?" Skeptic asked, and it was all starting to get a bit too much for Opportunist.

His breathing started to pick up, and tears were blurring his eyes now, no matter how softly Skeptic held his hands.

"Please don't make me say it," Opportunist whispered, looking into Skeptic's eyes and letting him see everything for once, because Opportunist couldn't hide this fear and grief any longer. "Please don't make me say what you're all thinking about me, what you're all waiting for."

"Waiting for? Oppy, what are you-" but then Skeptic paused, going into his own complicated mind for a second, before he focused back on Opportunist and asked, "Wait, have you seen Stubborn since your accident? At all?"

Opportunist shook his head.

Skeptic swore fiercely under his breath, but when he looked at Opportunist, his voice was calm and firm. "Okay, I'll be right back. Everything is going to be fine, Oppy. I promise." Then he marched out of the room.

Opportunist released a shaky breath, feeling more dread fill up within him. Was Skeptic getting someone to explain the situation to him? Was he going to get Stubborn to literally throw him out of the house?

He knew his time would be up eventually.

But then he heard voices, getting louder and more angry the closer they got to him.

"You said you would talk to him-"

"I will! I'm just trying to find the right time!"

"Any time would have been the right time!"

"I didn't know how to say it!"

"Excuse me?!"

"You know I'm not good at this shit!"

"What? Big, tough Stubby can't say the word sorry?!"

Opportunist tensed up at the argument, right up until Skeptic burst back in, dragging Stubborn behind him.

Stubborn shook Skeptic's hand off with an annoyed grunt, before looking up- and his eyes landed on Opportunist.

They stared at each other, and Opportunist saw all the life leave Stubborn's eyes, a harrowed expression on his face, one that made Opportunist uneasy because he has never seen Stubborn make that face before.

He saw the way Stubborn's gaze trailed along his body, taking in all his injuries, and Opportunist looked away. He couldn't bear to see the horror or disgust in the other's eyes.

"I-I-"

"It's okay," Opportunist interrupted Stubborn's nervous stuttering, his whole body trembling but he tried to ignore it, because this may be the last conversation he has with the flock.

"You don't have to say anything, Stubborn. I know what you're all thinking, and I don't blame you for it, really. Honestly, if I was in your shoes, I'd make the same decision."

Stubborn shot Skeptic a nervous and almost bewildered look, to which Skeptic crossed his arms and glared at the bigger bird and said, "This is why you should've apologised as soon as you could, because now he thinks that we hate him."

"Don't you?" Opportunist said, his voice rising enough to surprise them. He tried clenching his fists in frustration, but winced once his arm reminded him of his own weakness.

Skeptic's expression softened at his pain, and he tried to come closer to soothe him, but Opportunist leaned away in a panic, because he couldn't handle all this shit that was out of his control anymore!

"You don't have to lie to me anymore!" he exclaimed. "You've been doing it all week and I know you all can't stand it anymore!"

"What are we 'lying' about, Oppy?" Skeptic asked, with a tenderness that couldn't of possibly been for Opportunist.

"You're lying about caring about me!" Opportunist yelled, finally snapping, his body feeling waves of pain across his body the more anger and sorrow that coursed through him in that moment, tears finally falling down his face. "You're lying about keeping me in the flock!"

"Why would we lie about that, Oppy, and how did you come to that conclusion now, of all times?" Skeptic asked, keeping his tone calm and collected, and that honesty made everything worse.

He wanted Skeptic to snap and sneer at him, to prove Opportunist right for once. He didn't want this softness, because he didn't know how to behave and perform around something that he's never felt before. It scared him.

"Why wouldn't you kick me out, genius?" Opportunist snapped, and Skeptic flinched, having never likely hearing Opportunist get angry like this before. "All I've been doing is sitting here and being a burden to everyone! Smitten has to help me eat my food! Hunted has to put salve on my injuries everyday! Cheated had to help me to the fucking bathroom last night because I'm just that useless!"

"You're hurt!" Skeptic argued. "We just want to help you get better!"

"Yes, but now you know the truth," Opportunist said fearfully, his voice switching to a hushed tone. "Nothing's changed since my accident. Nothing's missing without me around. The flock would function just the same if I had never existed. You don't need me in the flock."

Opportunist paused, gulping in air and tasting his tears on his tongue. He wished he could've kept it together until the end, but it seemed like he ran out of luck a long time ago.

He tried wiping his face against his good shoulder, but he couldn't stop the tears from falling no matter how much he wanted them to. It was like all the misery and grief that Opportunist had ignored and pushed away for months, was now just pouring out of him with no end in sight.

He didn't want to be left behind. He didn't want to be alone. Opportunist just wanted to prove that he wasn't just some backstabber, he wasn't some evil creature that the others couldn't trust. They could trust him, they could rely on Opportunist to do good things, and Opportunist was desperate to do any job to prove that.

But it seemed his efforts had all been in vain-so now he just decided to give up.

"Let's just face it," he whispered, staring down at his lap. "I've always been useless to this flock, so let's just get to the part where you kick me out, so I can finally stop wasting your time."

He broke into quiet sobs, bowing his head and waiting for either of them to make the first move.

The silence stretched on forever, and the tension was starting to drive him insane, so he risked a glance up, only to find both Skeptic and Stubborn staring at him in horror.

They've probably never seen him break down like this before, and now they're thinking about how right they were to toss Opportunist out.

Skeptic reached a hand out. "Oppy-"

"Shut up," but then Stubborn cut him off through gritted teeth, staring down at Opportunist with a dark look in his eyes, and then Opportunist was shocked to see that Stubborn was crying.

He's not sure if he's ever seen Stubborn cry before.

Stubborn took a shuddering breath in, and then walked over to his bed, and Opportunist wasn't sure what was about to happen, but seeing Stubborn kneel down on the floor in front of him was not it.

Opportunist stared down at him, as Stubborn rested his arms on the bed, making sure not to get too close to Opportunist. Skeptic just watched them.

Stubborn took a deep breath, and then a spark of determination seemed to take over him, and he locked eyes with Opportunist, making him flinch.

"Stubborn, y-you don't have to say anything or even feel guilty. If anything, you've done the flock a huge favour-"

"Shut up," Stubborn repeated, growing more irritated by the minute. "Just shut the fuck up for once, and listen to me."

Opportunist obliged, his habit of obeying the people at the top not failing him now, even when his fate was already sealed.

Stubborn sighed sharply, and then he put a hand over Opportunist's good one, but his gaze was on his sling. "I should've talked to you sooner, but I'm not great at- talking about emotional shit. I thought it would've been easier for you if you didn't see me, because I thought you were scared of me now."

Why would Stubborn care so much about what Opportunist thought? Stubborn was their strongest flockmate, and the one that everyone could rely on. None of that changed, even with Opportunist's accident, so why care about what he thought of Stubborn?

Stubborn sniffed, and tears dripped off his chin, but he made no attempt to wipe them away as he kept staring at Opportunist's injuries.

"I thought I killed you," Stubborn whispered, and Opportunist couldn't hide the flinch that he made, at the fact that there was a genuine possibility of him not be here right now.

"I thought you were dead and it was my fucking fault," Stubborn said, voice beginning to wobble. "It felt like you were dead when I was carrying you."

"You carried me?" Opportunist asked, and Stubborn nodded. "Oppy, I've never ran fucking faster in my life, and you were so still in my arms. You weren't moving and all I could feel was how wrong your bones felt in my arms-"

Stubborn cut himself off, looking away with a heavy sigh. Opportunist felt him grip his hand tightly, as if still afraid that Opportunist was going to slip away any minute.

Opportunist let Stubborn collect himself, not used to seeing the rowdy bird be this vulnerable. Judging by the angry scrunch of Stubborn's face and the way he was clenching his jaw, it wasn't easy for him either.

"I thought that I had killed you, and that I was a horrible piece of shit for hurting you like that-that's why I avoided you for days."

Oh. Opportunist didn't know how to feel about that.

"So even after all that," Stubborn turned to look at him again, a grieving glare aimed right for Opportunist, "why the fuck would I want you gone from the flock?"

Opportunist choked on a breath, feeling fresh tears pool in his eyes, and he couldn't bring himself to look away from Stubborn, not when he was being this open and vulnerable with Opportunist.

So he couldn't stop himself as broke down crying and exclaimed, "Because I'm worthless!"

Loud, ugly sobs were ripped out of him, the kind that Opportunist absolutely hated to have, because there was nothing more pathetic than crying your heart out. But here he was, because he was just too tired to care anymore about appearances. He thinks he's been tired ever since Hero explained everything.

"I-I-I did nothing but waste all your time! I can't do anything by myself! What kind of a flockmate is that?" Opportunist yelled, gasping and blubbering all at once.

Then there was Stubborn, with such a pained look in his eyes that it hurt Opportunist. Stubborn leaned forward, cupping Opportunist's face and bringing it close enough that their foreheads were touching and feathers were brushing together.

"I'm sorry," Stubborn finally said, his words a desperate plea almost. "I'm sorry for not seeing you sooner. I'm sorry for making you feel like you deserved this, and I am so fucking sorry for throwing that boulder at you, Oppy."

Opportunist just shook his head while he cried, feeling too many things at once to think properly- fear, grief, warmth-it was all overwhelming him now.

Stubborn gave him a sympathetic look, standing up and crawling onto the bed, holding Opportunist close to his chest as he cried.

"You keep saying you feel worthless," Skeptic finally spoke up again, once Opportunist's crying had calmed down a bit. He walked closer to them, and Opportunist found it hard to focus with the dampness and ache of his face, and the feeling of Stubborn rubbing his back in comfort.

"Is that the only reason you think you belong in the flock? If you're useful to us?"

Opportunist nodded, avoiding Skeptic's gaze as he quietly said, "If people can rely on me, then they'll have a reason to keep me."

He heard Skeptic sigh, but he wasn't sure what the analytical bird was feeling right now.

Then he felt the bed dip, and he looked up as Skeptic moved to kneel in front of them, and it was only because of Stubborn's hold that he didn't flinch or move away, especially when Skeptic gave him a soft smile.

"If that were the case," Skeptic said, "then I should've been kicked out of the flock a long time ago."

"What?!" Opportunist blurted out in shock, attempting to sit up straight, but Stubborn's hold kept him from straining himself too much. "What do you mean by that? You're the smartest bird here! We'd be hopeless without you!"

"But I'm not particularly strong," Skeptic countered with a casual shrug. "I'm not as good as fighting as Hunted or Stubborn or even Hero. Plus, there's many people who are just as smart as I am, just in different ways, like Paranoid, Cheated-even you."

Opportunist froze, the praise making his feathers puff up. He didn't know Skeptic thought he was smart. He would describe himself as more conniving.

Skeptic continued, "Sometimes I even get too in my own head, and I shut down. So even my brains aren't as useful as you may think, so why should I be here?"

"Because that's not true!" Opportunist protested. "Everyone loves you here! They always go to you for advice! We'd be lost without you around!"

"What about Smitten?" Skeptic asked calmly. "Or Hero or Broken? What skills do they have that others couldn't provide? Why should we keep them around if they're not valuable for their skills?"

"Because-because-" Opportunist stammered, his brain racking for any reason to prove Skeptic wrong, but he was too frazzled to come up with anything.

He couldn't come up with a single answer.

Skeptic smiled, sensing the realisation in Opportunist, and then he scooted closer, close enough that Opportunist could see the tears that Skeptic was holding back. Skeptic reached his hands out, cupping Opportunist's face where the warmth of Stubborn's hands still laid.

Skeptic smiled softly at him, his chin wobbling, but he managed to keep it together long enough to whisper, "We do not love you because you are useful. We do not love you because of your skills. We appreciate all that you do for the flock, but it is not the reason why we keep you around."

Opportunist felt something small and frail within him cower and shake at the softness that Skeptic was treating him with. Why was he acting like this? Why was he treating Opportunist, of all people, like this?

"Why am I here then," Opportunist whispered, "if I'm not useful to you?"

Skeptic smiled at him sadly, and leaned even closer to him and whispered, "Oppy, you're here because you're ours."

Opportunist breath hitched, and Skeptic used his thumbs to wipe away any stray tears on his cheeks as he continued, "You're a part of this flock because we love you. That's it. I couldn't care less if you didn't know how to cook or fight-that's not why we love you."

What? They didn't care? How could they not care? Is he not too much trouble otherwise?

"You are a part of this flock because you are somebody that everybody here loves, and would be devastated if we lost. Just look at today-we were all scared that you weren't gonna make it. Stubborn was afraid that you weren't gonna make it because of him."

He felt Stubborn squeeze him tight for a few seconds, before loosening his hold, forever gentle with Opportunist.

Skeptic went on, "None of us, for one fucking moment, considered throwing you out because of you being a burden, because you're not a burden. You're a part of this flock because we love you and you belong to us, and we belong to you."

Skeptic kept saying that the flock loves him, and it kept making Opportunist's heart crack open little by little, bringing down any walls and fears that he had, until he was weeping into Skeptic's hands, who just smiled and wiped his tears away.

"We took care of you because we want you to get better, to see you walking and smiling again. That's why we keep you around-to hear your laugh and see you smile and listen to you talk about all the things you like."

"Are you sure?" Opportunist whispered, because this was terrifying to him, to be wanted because of just him.

"Of course we're fucking sure," Stubborn spoke up then. "We wouldn't go through all of this effort to help you if we weren't. We don't do things we don't believe in."

That was true. Opportunist believed that when Stubborn and Skeptic, along with the rest of the flock, decided to do something, they did it because they fully believed in the cause. Which included Opportunist.

Opportunist lowered his gaze, finding all of this so overwhelming and emotionally tiring. It was all just so much to process and so much of his fears were saying that this was a trap, but he didn't listen to them for once.

"I'm just-" Opportunist said, focusing on how nice it felt to be held between the two of them. "-I'm just not used to all this-care you're giving me."

Skeptic tilted his head to the side. "You mean us taking care of you and holding you like this?" Opportunist nodded silently, too embarrassed to speak.

But Skeptic just smiled at him fondly and playfully said, "Well, there's only one way to get used to that, isn't there?"

To his surprise, Opportunist found himself smiling, and he nodded bashfully.

Just as they were beginning to wind down from this very eventful day, Opportunist felt all the stress and fear that he had been holding onto start to take a toll on his body- and well, there was no time like the present to try something new.

"Can you-" he sheepishly said, feeling mortified at what he was doing, but he pushed past it. "Can you put the salve on me, please? My body's starting to hurt again."

Skeptic grinned at him in pride, going, "Of course I can, Oppy." Then he pressed a kiss to Opportunist's forehead before moving away, leaving Opportunist blushing and squirming at the affection, something that Stubborn chuckled at, and then he pressed a kiss to the top of Opportunist's head.

It was a lot of love-a lot of love that Opportunist wasn't sure he deserved. But if the flock still wanted him, then he'll trust them.

Their love was all that mattered to Opportunist.

#thanks I cried #sheeesh the writing is way too good #it's so so easy to resonate with the characters' feelings when you're writing them #welp my eyes are gonna hurt now #worth it tho

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