The New Toppat (Curtisson)

15: Vacker Fågel

"Melody!"

Sven switched to a high whistle.

He held out his hand.

"Five... Four... Three... Two... One..."

A small, bright blue bird with black stripes fluttered onto his hand and chirped.

"Vacker fågel!" Sven cooed, stroking the bird over its head.

"Pretty bird?" somebody familiar mused. Sven turned to see Burt.

"Well, she is," Sven pointed out, allowing the parakeet access to his head. She gladly climbed onto it and started to play with his hair.

"Yeah, she is..." Burt smiled.

"Thanks for getting her for me, by the way..." Sven giggled softly, as not to disturb the bird. "Never would've known I'm a bird person without her."

"No problem," Burt replied. "You needed a stress animal, but for some reason, birds stuck out to me more than, say, a puppy would."

"My family never had a pet, and besides, they aren't allowed on the airship," Sven explained. "Carol's allergic to fur."

"Do they know you have the bird, by the way?" Burt asked.

"I haven't told them yet, no," Sven admitted. "So they don't know, unless they were snooping around in my office."

"Sounds like a Carol thing to do."

"You think they did?"

"Maybe. One can tell that you've had interactions with a bird though." Burt stepped forward. "You have feathers in your hair."

"I'm trying to see what I'd look like with blue hair," Sven joked.

"I'm sure you'd look great," Burt replied. "But you don't have to dye your hair any wacky color. It's beautiful, blonde."

Sven blushed.

"Th-Thanks, Burt..." he stammered.

"I'm so sorry, I can't focus knowing you have a bird on your head."

"She likes my hair."

"I see that."

Melody looked at Burt and squeaked, "Cutie!"

Sven burst into laughter before composing himself.

"I guess Melody thinks you're cute," he giggled.

Just like me.

"I'm flattered," Burt sniffed. "That a bird thinks I'm cute."

"Burt!" Melody called.

"She knows your name!" Sven exclaimed.

"Don't you have to say a word a lot for a bird to recognize it?" Burt raised a brow.

Sven started to panic. He turned red and shook his head.

"Uhm... I-I guess she already knew the word... I didn't teach her it, I swear," he said frantically.

"Burt! Cutie!" Melody sang.

"Shh!" Sven hissed, putting his finger over her head and pushing it down gently.

"Kiss!" Melody said, almost sounding like she was protesting it. She started bobbing her head, as if mocking Sven.

"Melody!" Sven cried, turning even redder.

He pushed Burt out of his office and slammed his door shut, taking Melody off his head.

"You almost gave it away, you stubborn bird!" he growled, walking over to his desk and set her down on the shark plush. Melody snuggled into the plushie.

Sven sighed and sat down, looking at her.

"If only it was that easy to tell him..."