Behind The Red Mask [Shaunzer / Shaun x Bitzer]

7.Familiar

Ah, writer block and starting college, the best mix to keep one from updating their fics for months :))

Originally this chapter was about Shaun too, but I noticed we were barely seeing Bitzer's thoughts lately so I had to change most of the pov here. Ended looking a rushed in some parts but I think it was a good decision nonetheless.

Oh and warning for me being super self-indulgent with the scenes of this one (^v^;)ゞ rewatched some old eps and realized Bitzer could be quite a flirt when it came to love interest he just met so I decided to explore a bit of that here.

oOo

Seven days.

Seven days since Bitzer had found himself tangled in a curious more-than-friendship with a superhero. Seven days since his best friend started acting strange.

And now, Bitzer was in a situation where those two animals with whom everything was perfect with, suddenly felt like they were getting farther and farther away from his reach.

Came to show just how many things the dog had let escape between his fingers that week.

That day there were no signs of either of them. The hero didn't show up, and Shaun remained inside the barn with the flock to prepare an event for that evening: a home-made cinema.

Decorative red curtains decorated from walls, hay-squares were aligned perfectly to serve as seats, and the big white screen hung from the ceiling all down to the floor. It was all so neatly prepared that Bitzer had to wonder if this was the surprise Shaun was talking about.

Not something that big for that sheep to disappear the whole week, nor was there a special occasion for him to plan it, but it was the only thing that made sense. As everyone gathered around to choose which movie they were going to pick, Bitzer looked up at the loft. Shaun was there, looking tired and with his hooves over the projector, but not really working on it. He was staring at Bitzer.

And Bitzer, between the many things he had in his mind, could only focus on the black gloves covering the young sheep's hooves. A cut was not new for Shaun. All the tiny scars in his knees and elbows had always been shown proudly, as a reminder of the many adventures he had. It was the weirdest thing for Shaun to hide this one.

The worry in those eyes could only make Bitzer wonder more. Maybe the dog hadn't done a good job at keeping his inner thoughts to himself, maybe his friend had noticed, decided to organize this to make him feel better and didn't want Bitzer to worry about a simple cut. That theory had holes, but also was the sort of nice things Shaun would do for them-for him.

But still, Bitzer just was more confused, because despite the many accidents that sheep had gotten into, he never learned how to bandage cuts properly. It was always the farm's sheepdog or Timmy's mom who did that for him.

And if the dog's memory wasn't so blurry, he'd swear the way the bandage was wrapped wasn't the kind Timmy's mom made.

As if sensing his distress, his friend smiled at him, but it wasn't his usual comforting one. That smile was sad and pitying in a way Shaun would never before.

Cheering shouts came from the flock then, making both look over to see they had all agreed to a movie: one of superheroes, of course.

Shaun facepalmed with a heavy sigh at that, and Bitzer had to arch a brow at being unable to figure his friend out that day.

So all said and done, once the barn was left in the dark and everyone settled around their respective seats, Bitzer was able to confirm something he had been suspecting for a while now: Shaun was avoiding him.