“What, that my child is a baby one minute and bird the next? At first I was worried but honestly, he’s been such a little dream, even with the curse, which of course we have Bobby to thank for,” Alicia sets down her mug and returns to scritching the fluffy down on the neck of the large, tired gosling resting in her lap. “Aren’t you a precious thing? Yes, you are, mommy’s sweet little baby birdie.”
The gosling chirps happily and chases the touch as Alicia contemplates the world she married into and what has become of her once relatively simple life.
“Besides,” Alicia whispers as the bird’s eyes begin to flutter shut, “the boys give Bobby enough grief as it is. They’re absolutely devastated Jack isn’t a penguin chick. Wanted him to be a new mascot and everything.”
Now (Samwell University, Circa 2014):
“C’mon, boys! Pick it up! We’re going to need to be in top form if we’re going to –”
A loud, deep honk startles Bitty so badly he rams into Ollie, knocking them both to the ice. He’s not the only one; every other guy on the team seems to be more confused than the last. Bitty rolls onto his side and finds Jack stock-still near the bench, cheeks flaming red.
“What the hell was that?”
“Bro, is there a goose in here? Did someone leave the doors open again?”
Bitty seems to be the only person who sees Jack shuffling nervously; the boys are too busy circling the ice looking for whatever made the sound, but if Bitty didn’t know any better it looks like Jack may have been responsible. A prank maybe?
“H-hey,” Jack clears his throat roughly when he notices Bitty staring. “F-focus up or we’re doing suicides. You too, Bittle.”
Bitty shoves himself up and sighs, the mystery already forgotten under threat of an extended practice.
Later:
“Bits, there’s something I need to tell you,” Jack says seriously, cupping Eric’s face in his hands. “I need you to believe me. I promise I’m not crazy.”
“Honey, there is nothing in this world you could say that would make me think you were crazy,” Eric soothes, leaning into the touch. “You know I trust you.”
“Yeah,” Jack’s face screws up into an oddly guilty expression. “So, about that –”
Nava 