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it's super late so I'm posting this quick.

I was going to wild train Next as a kuku, but then got inspired to draw them with their... idk what to call their relationship to Ever tbh. Anyway, the whole 'trust' thing is a two way street. Next trusted Ever almost as soon as they met him (despite that decision being questionable at best). It took Ever a lot longer to first trust that Next wasn't going to kill him in his sleep, turn him into whichever authorities controlled whichever area they're in, sell him back into the black market, etc... Once he got over that fear, the main trust issue revolved around the fact that Ever kinda hates himself and doesn't immediately trust that Next doesn't hate him just as much. Here, I guess, is the first time he started to believe it. Might write a short thing to add here later.

edit: wrote a thing

---
Ever crossed his arms tightly over his chest and glared into the night. The desert got cold once the sun went down, and it’s been dark for hours.

Next still hadn’t returned. How long had it been since they ordered him, snarled at him, to run while they led his pursuers away? How long had it been since Ever, the damn coward, ran without looking back?

     The small fire by his feet sent warm orange light flickering across the dunes, and Ever pressed closer to it until the heat threatened to singe his skin.

     Next wasn’t going to come back. Why would they? What did they gain from hanging around a being like Ever? If they were smart, they’d leave. They’d run or fly or drag themself out of his life and then as far away from him as possible.

     And yet.

     Despite how he tried to think of something, anything else, Ever’s mind continued to circle around a truth that he’d thus far been too afraid of to actually approach. For the last while, it had been just sitting there, on the edge of his mind, staring at him like some kind of beast in the shadows. If he was being honest with himself, Ever would admit that he’d been afraid, far to afraid to think too hard on it because perhaps he’d prove himself wrong. Perhaps reality would shatter whatever illusion his stupid brain had come up with, and he would be left with… what? What did he even have anymore?

Ever’s hand went to his chest and his gaze went to the dark string-tied bag still sitting in his lap. He had his heart back. That was something.

Movement in the night drew Ever from his thoughts. Above, a kukuri was circling, feathers touched to silver in the starlight. They flew almost lazily, circling like a buzzard eyeing carrion.

Next had returned.



    There is was again. That thing, that thought that Ever had thus far been too afraid to face, was back, and this time there was no ignoring it. He had Next. He had them, and they weren’t going to leave.

    The dark part of Ever’s mind (he usually called it logic) tried to tear down the illusion, remind him that it wasn’t right, wasn’t possible. What did Next have to gain by traveling with him? By protecting him?

    Ever already knew the answer, had known it the moment he met them. Next had nothing to gain from this. There was nothing of worth that Ever could offer, but still, they stuck around.

    Amid the playful insults and snark and sarcasm, they’d said before that they weren’t going to leave him, that they’d stay with him until he didn’t want them to anymore. It was a hard thing to believe, but hadn’t they proven it again and again? There had been a billion chances to run, to leave him, to return to whatever life they’d led before meeting him, but they were still there.

    In a flurry of feathers and sand, Next touched down a few feet away. Dust flew in their wake and they were slow to fold their wings, feathers still fanned out and reflecting the firelight.

    They stood still for a moment, gaze studying the horizon and the faint glow that outlined distant cliffs. Then they slowly folded their wings and looked to Ever.

    He wanted to say something smart, something clever and callous so they wouldn’t know just how close he was to breaking down.

    Next approached slowly, claws sinking into the sand as they walked. As an aerial, Next wasn’t very big. Still, their shadow blocked the light of the flames when they finally stood by Ever’s side.

    Large golden eyes stared down at him, almost as if waiting.

     The need to say something, to break the tension that had multiplied tenfold within the few moments since they’d arrived, clawed at Ever’s chest, and he almost made to stand. And do what? He hadn’t thought much further than that, but in the end it didn’t matter.

    Before he could bolt, Next leaned forward, resting their head on Ever’s shoulder. The long feathers behind their ears tickled his neck, and their chin weighed warm and heavy against his back. They couldn’t speak as a kukuri, but also made no attempt at telepathy. Could they even use telepathy as a kukuri? Ever didn’t know.

    He raised one hand, intending to just awkwardly pat their back until they decided to be done with whatever sort of affection fest they’d started, but it was like the motion broke something inside him. The careful numbness he’d (figuratively) placed around his heart was gone, and everything suddenly felt like a livewire.

    Ever wrapped his arms around Next’s warm, furry shoulders and pressed close, gasping like he was winded, chest aching like he’d been punched. He buried his face against their shoulder to block the tears he already knew wouldn’t come.

    So much for self-control.

    To their credit, Next didn’t flinch away or snap. They stepped closer and settled themself more comfortably despite Ever’s fingers sinking into their fur until his claws scraped skin. They tilted their head, cheek resting against Ever’s shoulder blade as he shook. One wing unfolded, primaries brushing the sand as they reached out and gripped the fabric of Ever’s shirt with their thumb.

    Tomorrow, he’d be mortified and cover this moment of weakness with his usual aggressive arrogance, but for the moment, Ever just hung on and tried to ride out whatever emotion had a chokehold on his heart.

    Eventually, his heartrate settled, and the shaking stopped. Ever wasn’t quite ready to let go yet, but as breathing came easier, he found he could at least stop threatening to break Next’s ribs.

    “Guess I finally believe you,” he said. His voice came out rougher than he’d expected.

    Next sneezed and nuzzled his spine, probably wiping their nose on his shirt in the process. Bastard.

    When they finally decided to reply, it was laced with the usual mix of sarcasm layered over what Ever now tentatively labeled as affection:

    About time.
---

for the written bit: FP count starts when Next comes in and the section is 700 words

BTT I: Can I Trust You
(Next is approved, just not yet uploaded)

Art and characters belong to Areetala

Description
it's super late so I'm posting this quick.

I was going to wild train Next as a kuku, but then got inspired to draw them with their... idk what to call their relationship to Ever tbh. Anyway, the whole 'trust' thing is a two way street. Next trusted Ever almost as soon as they met him (despite that decision being questionable at best). It took Ever a lot longer to first trust that Next wasn't going to kill him in his sleep, turn him into whichever authorities controlled whichever area they're in, sell him back into the black market, etc... Once he got over that fear, the main trust issue revolved around the fact that Ever kinda hates himself and doesn't immediately trust that Next doesn't hate him just as much. Here, I guess, is the first time he started to believe it. Might write a short thing to add here later.

edit: wrote a thing

---
Ever crossed his arms tightly over his chest and glared into the night. The desert got cold once the sun went down, and it’s been dark for hours.

Next still hadn’t returned. How long had it been since they ordered him, snarled at him, to run while they led his pursuers away? How long had it been since Ever, the damn coward, ran without looking back?

     The small fire by his feet sent warm orange light flickering across the dunes, and Ever pressed closer to it until the heat threatened to singe his skin.

     Next wasn’t going to come back. Why would they? What did they gain from hanging around a being like Ever? If they were smart, they’d leave. They’d run or fly or drag themself out of his life and then as far away from him as possible.

     And yet.

     Despite how he tried to think of something, anything else, Ever’s mind continued to circle around a truth that he’d thus far been too afraid of to actually approach. For the last while, it had been just sitting there, on the edge of his mind, staring at him like some kind of beast in the shadows. If he was being honest with himself, Ever would admit that he’d been afraid, far to afraid to think too hard on it because perhaps he’d prove himself wrong. Perhaps reality would shatter whatever illusion his stupid brain had come up with, and he would be left with… what? What did he even have anymore?

Ever’s hand went to his chest and his gaze went to the dark string-tied bag still sitting in his lap. He had his heart back. That was something.

Movement in the night drew Ever from his thoughts. Above, a kukuri was circling, feathers touched to silver in the starlight. They flew almost lazily, circling like a buzzard eyeing carrion.

Next had returned.



    There is was again. That thing, that thought that Ever had thus far been too afraid to face, was back, and this time there was no ignoring it. He had Next. He had them, and they weren’t going to leave.

    The dark part of Ever’s mind (he usually called it logic) tried to tear down the illusion, remind him that it wasn’t right, wasn’t possible. What did Next have to gain by traveling with him? By protecting him?

    Ever already knew the answer, had known it the moment he met them. Next had nothing to gain from this. There was nothing of worth that Ever could offer, but still, they stuck around.

    Amid the playful insults and snark and sarcasm, they’d said before that they weren’t going to leave him, that they’d stay with him until he didn’t want them to anymore. It was a hard thing to believe, but hadn’t they proven it again and again? There had been a billion chances to run, to leave him, to return to whatever life they’d led before meeting him, but they were still there.

    In a flurry of feathers and sand, Next touched down a few feet away. Dust flew in their wake and they were slow to fold their wings, feathers still fanned out and reflecting the firelight.

    They stood still for a moment, gaze studying the horizon and the faint glow that outlined distant cliffs. Then they slowly folded their wings and looked to Ever.

    He wanted to say something smart, something clever and callous so they wouldn’t know just how close he was to breaking down.

    Next approached slowly, claws sinking into the sand as they walked. As an aerial, Next wasn’t very big. Still, their shadow blocked the light of the flames when they finally stood by Ever’s side.

    Large golden eyes stared down at him, almost as if waiting.

     The need to say something, to break the tension that had multiplied tenfold within the few moments since they’d arrived, clawed at Ever’s chest, and he almost made to stand. And do what? He hadn’t thought much further than that, but in the end it didn’t matter.

    Before he could bolt, Next leaned forward, resting their head on Ever’s shoulder. The long feathers behind their ears tickled his neck, and their chin weighed warm and heavy against his back. They couldn’t speak as a kukuri, but also made no attempt at telepathy. Could they even use telepathy as a kukuri? Ever didn’t know.

    He raised one hand, intending to just awkwardly pat their back until they decided to be done with whatever sort of affection fest they’d started, but it was like the motion broke something inside him. The careful numbness he’d (figuratively) placed around his heart was gone, and everything suddenly felt like a livewire.

    Ever wrapped his arms around Next’s warm, furry shoulders and pressed close, gasping like he was winded, chest aching like he’d been punched. He buried his face against their shoulder to block the tears he already knew wouldn’t come.

    So much for self-control.

    To their credit, Next didn’t flinch away or snap. They stepped closer and settled themself more comfortably despite Ever’s fingers sinking into their fur until his claws scraped skin. They tilted their head, cheek resting against Ever’s shoulder blade as he shook. One wing unfolded, primaries brushing the sand as they reached out and gripped the fabric of Ever’s shirt with their thumb.

    Tomorrow, he’d be mortified and cover this moment of weakness with his usual aggressive arrogance, but for the moment, Ever just hung on and tried to ride out whatever emotion had a chokehold on his heart.

    Eventually, his heartrate settled, and the shaking stopped. Ever wasn’t quite ready to let go yet, but as breathing came easier, he found he could at least stop threatening to break Next’s ribs.

    “Guess I finally believe you,” he said. His voice came out rougher than he’d expected.

    Next sneezed and nuzzled his spine, probably wiping their nose on his shirt in the process. Bastard.

    When they finally decided to reply, it was laced with the usual mix of sarcasm layered over what Ever now tentatively labeled as affection:

    About time.
---

for the written bit: FP count starts when Next comes in and the section is 700 words

BTT I: Can I Trust You
(Next is approved, just not yet uploaded)

Art and characters belong to Areetala