Behind The Red Mask [Shaunzer / Shaun x Bitzer]

5.More than friendly gestures

I am forced to take weeks of writing bc as always my life is a mess, I try my best to be done with the draft of the new chapter of 'A Game of Dog and Sheep' so I can come back to this, and for what? TO CASUALLY FIND OUT ALL THIS TIME I WAS CAPABLE OF EDITING THIS CHAPTER IN ONE SITTING AAA

I'm so sorry guyss ;; also sorry for the ones expecting more of Bitzer's pov here whdj there's a good chunk of that in the next chapters I promise

oOo

On his fifth day as a superhero, the pigs had stayed quiet, so Super Sheep was able to take a break.

A lucky chance for Shaun too, considering how the whole morning Bitzer had been keeping an eye on him as if he was a spider in the bathroom who at any moment could disappear.

The reason was obvious. As dumb of him as it was Shaun had been anything but careful since the whole secret identity thing started. He hadn't even invented a proper excuse to explain why Shaun would be gone when the hero was there! Of course sooner or later Bitzer would notice his absence and wonder what he was doing.

But that sheep wasn't ready to hang his cape yet. To avoid his friend from connecting the dots, all Shaun could do was spend a whole day in civil form and pretend he didn't know much about the hero if asked.

Also it was a good chance to spend time with his Bitzer as the real him. A normal conversation with no lies or having to invent excuses, the ones lately Shaun missed so much.

It was around brunch(Bitzer's first break of the day) that Shaun decided to get close for a chat. Ironically enough, today it was the sheepdog who was acting suspicious enough to raise murmured questions from the flock.

Bitzer was walking around the field in various directions. Slowly, trying to show a casual attitude that just wasn't there. His gaze kept switching between staring at the sky and his watch, as if he was waiting for something.

...'or someone perhaps', Shaun had heard one of the flock say.

With his hoofs behind his back, the leader sheep stood next to Bitzer to look at the sky for a moment. At noticing he still hadn't been spotted, the sheep grinned mischievously and didn't lose the chance to bleat a loud greeting to his friend. This sent Bitzer on a mess of yelps and clumsy attempts to avoid his checklist from bouncing off his paws.

Having failed at that, Bitzer returned the noisy greeting with a scowl and paws on his hips. Once Shaun calmed his laugh, he went to lean his back on their dear only-and-only tree of the field. With a bleat, he gestured at the dog then at the blue firmament— What was up there that had Bitzer so distracted?

The question seemed to take the dog off guards as he tensed, blushed a bit in what Shaun guesses was embarrassment at being so obvious. Bitzer's brain seemed to trip on its way to come up with an answer until suddenly, he frowned, narrowed his eyes at the sheep. The question then turned to Shaun when Bitzer crossed his arms and pointed at him with a whuff— What had him so distracted lately?

Shaun's eyes widened the slightest bit. In an attempt to hide it he chuckled, waved a dismissive hoof as if to say 'oh, you know, stuff'.

His friend was having none of it as he squinted his eyes further. Hiding things from Bitzer was always counterproductive. The less you told him, the more paranoid and angry he'd get and that never ended on a good note for anyone. If Shaun wanted Super Sheep to keep being around, he'd have to come up with something now.

Shaun softly gestured to the dog to not lose his cool. He looked away for a moment, forcing his brain to work faster than ever before until a smile formed on his face. The sheep left the tree to give a bleat and tapped his wrist as if a watch was there, then waved a hoof— He'll know soon, Bitzer just had to be patient.

And unnecessarily so, he winked in a gesture left from Super Sheep. Making his friend think it wasn't something bad enough to hide was good, would calm Bitzer's nerves temporarily. All Shaun had to do now was come up with said surprise to cover his trail.

...Oof. Having a secret identity sure was draining.

Bitzer simply arched a brow, but seemed to be more at peace knowing it was something he'd know about soon. Shaun took the chance to change the topic.

He clapped his hooves together, looking for anything to talk about. His gaze landed on the checklist on the grass, with a doodle of a sheep in a red cape drawn over a corner and he grinned. His bleat had teasing in its tone— A birdie told him Bitzer became friends with the new hero of the farm.

Ah, yes, of course the smartest thing to do after getting his friend's eyes off his back was to talk about the main issue in question.

Yet again, seeing Bitzer say so many nice things about him yesterday was...something Shaun wouldn't mind repeating. Just one more time didn't hurt?

Now it was Bitzer's turn to widen his eyes. His gaze followed the young sheep's and he blushed, chuckling embarrassed before his lower paw pushed the checklist away from anyone's view. He shrugged, dopey smile appearing on his face before as he opened his mouth to answer-

Until suddenly, as if Shaun's words had called the entire gossiping animals there, the flock dived head-first into the conversacion. One of the twins bleated and nodded eagerly, while the other, between a fit of giggles, gestured between Bitzer and Nuts, who had started acting like a swooning girl— Friends? Bitzer was totally flirting with the guy!

Both Shaun and Bitzer stood still, unable to react to all the laughs. It was Hazel joining in to make kissy noises that finally got Bitzer to blush hard and start trying to shush them to no avail.

Shaun remained quiet.

Despite all the laughs, despite his first intention being to get that reaction from the dog as well, now he suddenly felt like he was underwater; sinking farther and farther away from everyone around.

Memories from the past few days flooded the young sheep's mind. The way Shaun had let himself get so psychically close to the dog at moments, how Bitzer reacted in such odd ways to his compliments...and that expression. That dopey, soft and full of warmth face, now Shaun realized, was the one the dog always made whenever he was with him-with Super Sheep.

Only when it seemed Bitzer was to turn around did Shaun react. He quickly hid behind the tree, his back falling heavily against the teunk, hoofs covering his mouth as shocked eyes stayed over the grass. He couldn't bear looking a his friend, at that blushed face, and knowing why it was.

He screwed up. He screwed up BIG time now.

But it had just been the usual teasing! They were best friends, they were used to being that close and make that kind of jokes! Only difference was that Shaun had mimicked some things from the comics, so why now? Why was Bitzer suddenly-?!

His friend wondering of his whereabouts at the other side of the tree managed to bring the sheep out of his thoughts. Now more than ever Shaun had to stay, do his best to act like none of the things said by the flock involved him.

And still, Shaun's cheeks burned at the idea of facing the sheepdog now, and he frowned at being unable to control it.

The rest of the day Bitzer could only wonder why his best friend seemed to be doing his best to stay out of his watch.

oOo

It was at that moment he knew...

he fucked up.