A Mockingbird In The Crows Nest

I Think You're So Good (And I'm Nothing Like You)

"I-It's ok." Tommy croaks out, tightening his hold on him. "It's not your fault."

Wilbur laughs wetly and holds him a bit tighter. "It literally is my fault. I'm the one who sent you there. I'm the reason you-" He cut himself off. Tommy frowned- about to ask him what was wrong. But he shifted a bit and lowered his voice to be barely a whisper. "Shit- I forgot I was in the middle of an interview..There's a reporter in the room."

Instantly, Tommy's eyes fly open and he sits up sharply.

Sure enough, there's an avian woman in a nice looking suit sitting in an armchair a couple feet away from the bed. There's someone else behind her holding a camera, and Tommy shrinks back against Wilbur when he realizes the camera just caught all of that. The woman looks delighted that she's got all this on camera; and she tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, but she doesn't say anything.

"Um- Sorry, ma'am." Tommy says, shuffling his wings uncomfortably. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything."

"Oh, no no you're perfectly fine!" She chirped happily, her cream colored wings fluffing up slightly behind her. Then she holds a hand out towards him. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Mockingbird! I'm Ava with FeatherLight Daily News. Would it be alright if I asked you a couple ques-"

"Nope! Sorry miss, you'll need to step out." Someone says, and Tommy jumps when he sees the doctor from before step into the room. Tommy frowns at them for a second, trying to figure out why they look familiar. The doctor gives the woman an apologetic look, and her wings droop in disappointment; but she nods.

"Of course." She turns back to Wilbur and smiles a little more genuine as she stands. "Well, it was lovely speaking with you, Erebus. Thank you for giving us a bit of your time."

Wilbur nodded, readjusting slightly so Tommy can sit up- but he still doesn't let go of him. "Of course. You two stay safe out there."

Tommy watches silently as the woman and the guy pack up their stuff quickly. The doctor stays by the door the whole time, and Tommy's still trying to figure out why they look so familiar. It's not like he's been to the hospital a ton. So why..

He jolts when he registers the familiar red prosthetic hand on the doctor- and fully registers that that's Lotus. But they're out of the mask. Sure, they;re still wearing a blue medical mask- but they're not wearing a hero's mask. Tommy glances between them and the reporters; waiting for someone else to notice or point it out or..Something.

But nothing happens.

The two of them just pack up their stuff with no complaint, and Lotus shuts the door behind them when they leave. Then they turn, and Tommy shrinks under the intense look in their eyes.

" You shouldn't be out of bed." They say, edging on sounding irritated. "Gods- You shouldn't even be able to stand. You were unconscious for like- 4 days!"

Tommy frowns. "Why? I feel fine."

"That would be thanks to the medicine in your system." They deadpan, then pinch the bridge of their nose. "But since I assume you ripped the IV out; you're gonna start feeling the pain soon." They then waved towards the door. "Now c'mon. You need to get back to your own bed so I can-."