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It was loud.
Of course it was, it was a party. Any party worth Rick’s time had music blasting loud enough to shake the house and people attempting, and failing, to shout over it. Usually it was a relief, sound loud enough to drown out his thoughts and the offering of drugs and drink, but sometimes it became too much.
Rick was among the crowd in some dim, overstuffed room, taking sips of God knows what offered by some green creature from God knows where. He had lost track of Birdperson a while ago, but he was considering trying to track him down. The buzz of the bass in his bones was growing to an uncomfortable level. The flashing lights were giving him a headache and the constant feeling of people shoving and brushing against him was making him want to rip off his skin.
He waved vaguely at the green thing and slipped between figures towards the stairs. When he reached the top, he was faced with numerous doors, both open and closed. With a groan, he started peaking into rooms— searching for a sign of Birdperson, or even just an empty, somewhat quiet space —dodging anyone who tried to engage with him. He found chatting groups behind the first three doors and some goopy looking creatures presumably having sex behind the fourth. The fifth held a couple making out against the wall. One of them threw an empty can at him when he opened the door. He quickly closed it.
He could feel his eyes starting to burn at all of the sensations still building up. It made him feel childish to cry at something like this.
Behind the furthest door was a dark, empty room. Rick entered, closed the door, and promptly curled up in a ball against the wall. The room was calm compared to the rest of the house, but it still wasn’t peaceful by any means. Music leaked in from below, bass thrumming in the floor, and he could hear shouting and drunk, obnoxious laughter outside through a window. He clamped his hands over his ears and let out a whine, glaring at the floor.
There was a knock at the door.
“Fuck off,” he shouted. The door opened a crack. Rick prepared to find something nearby to throw. Birdperson’s silhouette appeared in the doorway.
His body relaxed marginally and he went back to staring firmly at the floor, starting to rock slightly back and forth. He ignored Birdperson entering the room and shutting the door behind him. A shadow fell over Rick as the man stood above him.
“Rick?” Rick made no attempt to respond. “Are you alright?” He scoffed a little laugh. Did he look alright? Birdperson hummed. “Would you like to return home?” Rick nodded. He thrashed in surprise, making an indignant noise, as he was suddenly picked up off the floor, lifted in BP’s arms in a bridal carry. Birdperson cooed at him soothingly and he relaxed slightly into the hold, a flush spreading across his cheeks.
Birdperson smiled slightly and headed towards the open window, climbing out and taking off. Rick held on tight around his neck, staring out at the horizon, BP’s wings beating behind them.
Luckily, their shitty apartment wasn’t far and they arrived quickly. Birdperson landed and entered, though he didn’t put Rick down just yet.
Rick sat silently as he was carried through doors and into BP’s room. The man sat down on his nest-like bed, gently depositing Rick in his lap. Hr looked up at him and quirked an eyebrow; Birdperson just stared at him blankly. Rick let out a breath through his nose, giving in and leaning into the warm body. His overstimulation had worn him thin and he was exhausted, but still too sensitive to fully relax.
He reached up absentmindedly and started to run his hands through Birdperson’s feathers; his neck, his wing, whatever was within close range. He liked the feeling of the smooth feathers between his fingers and knew BP appreciated the preening. Birdperson made a small humming noise and Rick pressed his ear further against his chest, liking the low rumble of his voice.
“Say something,” he said quietly, barely a whisper.
“Say something?” Birdperson parroted. There it was again, that smooth monotone vibrating in the man’s chest and through Rick.
“Does this help you?” He nodded. Birdperson seemed to catch on, talking softly about traditions from his home world. Rick listened silently, appreciating his voice and the uncommon occurrence to learn more details about his friend’s past.
Rick’s breathing slowed, melting into the other man. Birdperson stopped talking for a moment to coo adoringly at him, brushing his hair away from his eyes with a gentle hand.