"Whoa!" Greg cried, startled by the squawks and flapping that 'greeted' him upon entering Nick's home. "When did you get a bird??"

"Oh," Nick said, smiling as he looked to the lutino cockatiel* in its cage across the room. "I adopted her about a week 'n' a half ago. Ya know, birds are really the most neglected pets. If you gotta get one, plenty-uh rescued ones're available."

Wide-eyed and cautious, Greg assured, "I hate birds," as he slipped himself behind Nick.

"How can you hate birds?" Nick asked, amused and baffled at the same time.

"How can you hate cats?" Greg retorted, still eyeing the now-whistling animal.

"I'm don't hate cats, G."

"That's not what Sara says."

Nick sighed with tender frustration. "Why do you 'n' Sara always gotta gossip about me?"

Greg didn't reply, and only continued to stare over Nick's shoulder, lips parted and breath heavy.

"There's nothin' to be afraid of, Greg," Nick said, leaving Greg behind as he approached the cage. "Buttercup's just a little girl, aren't you, sweetie?" Nick made a few kissing noises as he opened the cage door, and she promptly—and quite happily—stepped up to perch herself on his finger. "See," Nick began, turning around with her. "Greg?" And then he said it again, a little louder, "Greg." With a sigh and the shake of his head, Nick returned Buttercup to her cage.

He didn't know how Greg had managed to disappear so swiftly, but he had a pretty good idea where Greg had probably ended up. "Greg?" he asked again, knuckles tapping backwards on the bathroom door. "You have an emergency or somethin'?"

"I'm not coming out until you put that thing away."

Nick's eyebrows furrowed with cynical amusement. "You're really afraid of Buttercup?"

Greg didn't reply, and silence sat for a few moments.

"She's already back in her cage, G. I promise."

The door opened—just a crack—to reveal one peeking eye, looking up through dark eyelashes.

Nick fought a smirk in return, but lost.

Greg's face crumpled sadly, and he closed the door in a state of childishly grumpy defense.

"Aw, come on out, Greg," Nick lightheartedly pleaded, unable to avoid the soft laugh that weaved its way into his words.

"No."

"She's not gonna hurt ya."

Instead of a reply, Nick simply got to stare at the door for another minute or two.

"Cockatiels are very social birds, Greg. I can't hide her. She'll get upset bein' moved."

Still, no words.

"She's very sweet, Greg. She'll do tricks for you. She even tries to groom my eyebrows."

And then, a few seconds later, Greg peeked through the door's crack again. "Really?"

"Yeah."

Greg looked down in haughty contemplation. "That might be worth seeing...from a distance."

Nick huffed his amusement through another smirk. "You're unfamiliar, G. She won't go near you. She might just sit on my shoulder for a little while and then wander off to her little playground over there. But I can put 'er right back in the cage if you get uncomfortable."

Greg's eyes softened and he stared downward for another moment in thought before finally opening the door further, and allowing his gaze to rise with accepting confirmation.

"Thanks for givin' her a chance," Nick said, eyes shimmering. A hand came to Greg's cheek so he could place a loving, appreciative kiss upon Greg's forehead.