Time Traveling Crashout Au Part 5
<Part 4
“Hey Wifies, slow down. Dean’s too far behind.” Parrot calls over his shoulder.
In front of them, snow stretches on in every direction amongst the mountains, bright enough to hurt if you stare too long. Meanwhile square clouds drift overhead in a dull, washed-out grey.
Parrot doesn’t bother checking behind him.
Wifies’ footsteps are practiced as he leaps over the large gaps, and expertly outmaneuvers powdered snow pit-traps in the otherwise safe biome.
Dean's steps, of course, are much harder to track. Oftentimes too quick or lagging, like he keeps having to correct himself. Unable to keep up with the pace that Wifies sets or else risk falling into places best avoided.
Parrot has counted six times now that Wifies has tried to give Dean the slip on this journey. Which, honestly, is impressive in a deeply annoying way.
And he’s pretty sure he’s lowballing it.
They’ve been at this little game of Mafia hide and seek for hours. And Parrots’ pretty sure they’d have been well on their way to the Farlands by now if this were the original timeline.
Suddenly, Dean shifts awkwardly in the back, and clearly misses a jump along a cliff edge.
Parrot hears a soft thud as Dean plummets down, thankfully landing in a bit of powdered snow to break their fall.
“How long do you think we have before they come back?” Wifies asks Parrot quietly, still pointing their stare directly at a disgruntled Dean trying to make their way back up the mountain.
But Parrot knows that Wifies isn't asking an actual question here.
What he’s actually doing is telling Parrot that he’s already figured out Dean has been leaking their coordinates.
“The mafia, or Dean?” Parrot snipes back. Uncaring for the game Wifies is trying to play.
But Wifies just sighs beside him.
“The mafia,” Wifies says, voice equipped with forced casualness, “that you somehow keep magically predicting the timing of.”
And Parrot freezes to his spot.
Heart thudding in his chest.
Caught in a trap.
“Not sure,” Parrot says, after a second, hoping his voice won’t falter. It wasn’t like he could ever explain to Wifies how he knew his information. “Doesn’t really matter anyway.”
Wifies barely shifts at that. Simply humming in thought. “Doesn’t it?”
And while the tone is calm, there’s something about the way Wifies keeps quietly staring Dean down which sets Parrot on edge.
Like a decision’s already been made and Wifies is just waiting for the right moment to act on it.
“We could go, you know.” Wifies says suddenly, under his breath. It’s quiet enough that Parrot barely catches it.
“No.” Parrot says bluntly.
“It’d be safer.” Wifies presses, turning just a fraction.
But Parrot doesn't take the bait. Instead he stares ahead at all of the places someone could use to ditch someone without anyone noticing, and makes a mental note to steer clear.
“Probably.” Parrot says into the wind, pointedly still waiting for Dean to catch back up. “But we’re not doing that.”
Thankfully, Dean makes the jump on the third try.
Their boots hit the snow just a little too hard, breaking the tension held in the air.
Dean lingers there for a moment, looking at them like he’s deciding whether it’s safe to move.
Wifies, of course, doesn’t bother to step in.
“Nice jump.” Parrot comments, and lays down a few bits of cobblestone to guide Dean the rest of the way to safety.
However the gaze Wifies’ has trained on him is far harsher than any bit of terrain could possibly match.
“It’s funny,” Wifies says, tone casual in that very deliberate way. And Parrot winces. “That the Mafia has managed to keep finding us. Makes you wonder how, doesn’t it, Dean?”
A beat passes, and Parrot watches as Wifies holds Dean's gaze. With Dean shifting uncertainly beneath it.
“…no idea,” Dean says after a second, not looking either of them in the eye.
Parrot takes a step forward in between the two of them.
“It doesn’t matter how.” Parrot says, offering Dean a reassuring glance. However, Dean's eyes are still trained silently on the frosty ground.
Parrot can’t help the small twist in his gut.
He turns to Wifies then, with a slightly more imploring tone. “Wifies, why don’t you take the lead for a bit. I’ll stay back here with Dean.”
“...Right.” Wifies says softly, like Parrot has just confirmed something for him.
But when Parrot glances over, the look Wifies shoots him is cutting, edged with quiet disapproval.
And Parrot knows instantly that Wifies has figured out that Parrot already knew Dean has been leaking their coordinates...but wasn’t doing anything about it.
Parrot lets Wifies walk ahead of him after that. Making absolutely sure to keep Dean within his sight range.
The terrain turns rough as they climb higher. The snow blocks thin, exposing stone patches that stand in contrast against the white.
Every once in a while, they even see the occasional goat walking along the mountain range.
Wifies moves with ease, expertly navigating over a narrow ridge, before suddenly pausing.
A second later, a loud thwack rings out, and Parrot and Dean share a look.
Just as Parrot is about to call out, however, Wifies reappears over the ridge.
With a small item now held in their off hand.
“Well…didn’t expect that.” Wifies says, showing off the curved dark object.
“Is that a goat horn?” Dean askes, inching his way forward.
Wifies nods, turning to show Parrot. “A pretty rare one too. Yearn.”
“Oh, that’s cool.” Dean remarks as Wifies turns it over in thier hotbar.
And Parrot stops.
Not fully. But enough that his next step doesn't feel like it comes when it's supposed to.
As if the world has just dropped out from under him.
He’d forgotten about the goat horn.
His surroundings blur.
And for some reason it feels like everything goes out of focus.
Like if he tries to reach out, his hand won't quite meet anything.
Parrot can hear Wifies start to say something.
But Parrot can't catch it.
He just stares at the goat horn in Wifies hand.
Listening to the sound of his own heart beating louder in his ears while the world fades at the edges.
Until Parrot isn’t sure what he’s looking at anymore.
Himself running? Flying machines all around him.
Sprinting to close a distance that refuses to shrink fast enough.
Chaos.
Shooting an arrow.
Himself, knocking an Invis member right off the side of a redstone flying machine.
“…Parrot?”
A totem popping.
Dean right there.
Close enough to reach.
“Parrot??”
But not enough to save.
“Parrot?!”
A horn going off-
“Parrot!!” Wifies suddenly yells, the sound blasting out his ear drums.
Parrot jumps back, and all around him the winter mountains snap back into place.
Wifies is standing in front of him now.
A lot closer than he’d been just a second ago.
Their eyes lock in on him.
“…You just, stopped.”
And Parrot blinks, before quickly snatching his gaze away from the horn.
“Sorry.” He says, looking down at the snow.
Not a battlefield.
“You okay?” Dean asks. “Lag?”
And Parrot rubs a hand down his face. Trying to get back his bearings. “Just… zoned out for a sec. I’m fine.”
Wifies gaze lingers on him for a lot longer than it should have.
But thankfully, he doesn't push it.
Instead, Wifies just tosses the horn down lightly on the ground in front of him.
“Should I get rid of it?” Wifies asks him quietly.
And Parrot backs up. His gaze lingering on the horn for a moment too long.
“No. I’d rather not.” Parrot stammers. “You can…just hold onto it.”
Wifies looks at him, silently, before nodding and carefully picking the horn back up. One tick later and the horn disappears. Safely tucked away into Wifies inventory, and out of Parrot's sight.
Parrot decides he doesn't want to talk much after that.
Instead he sticks close to Dean's side as they continue to travel. Helping them to navigate any slight adjustments, or random changes in direction.
Honestly, it should feel like progress.
But it doesn't.
Because every once in a while Wifies tries to take an odd route. Deliberately going through places that only work if you were fast enough and knew how to block parkour or clutch accurately.
All things Parrot knew Dean definitely didn’t know how to do.
Parrot stops, and watches as Dean hesitates on the edge of the cliff. Again.
Right.
That was enough.
“Go around, Dean,” Parrot says, already motioning to a much safer snow cleared route. “I’ll meet you on the other side.”
Dean nods, seemingly relieved, and begins taking a long stone covered pathway down the cliff side.
Parrot cuts across the cravass immediately, clutching and ignoring the uneven terrain.
Wifies stands on the other side, waiting for him. Like nothing had happened.
Something boiles under Parrots skin.
“Wifies, can you quit trying to leave Dean behind?”
And Wifies turns to look at him.
Just slightly.
“Why?”
Parrot feels his hand tighten over the mouse.
“What do you mean why?”
Wifies exhales through his nose, before turning and stepping towards him.
Parrot tries to look to the side. Not that it helps.
“Parrot,” Wifies says, more directly, “you know that if he wasn’t here, we wouldn’t have to keep side tracking all the time, right?”
Parrot can hear his heart thudding in his chest.
“…I don’t care.” He insists. “We’re not leaving him. He won’t make it on his own.”
Wifies looks at him properly then. Crosshairs locking into him.
“Parrot, he’s a liability.” Wifies says flatly. “We are the ones who aren't safe when he’s around.”
Parrot grits his teeth. “We made a promise to him, Wifies.”
“Which doesn’t matter.” Wifies insists. “He’s going to get us killed.”
Parrot snaps.
“I’m not going to let that happen!” He shouts back, breath ragged.
And for a moment, Wifies doesn’t move. He just observes Parrot, as his words fall into silence through the cracks of the mountain range.
Then Wifies laughs under his breath, sharp and empty.
“Parrot,” Wifies tries again, voice quieter now, “Even if we leave, Dean would be fine. He is not the one in danger here. We are.”
Parrot’s stomach twists.
“Look,” Wifies continues, tone softening, “if you’re worried, we can come back for him later and-”
“No!” Parrot snaps, not even bothering to let him finish. Seeing Wifies’ plan for what it actually was. “I already have a plan. We aren't leaving him!”
Wifies goes still, exhaling slowly, tension leaking out of him.
“Parrot… you won’t even tell me what your plan actually is.”
And Parrot tries to respond, but it’s like his voice won’t work.
He opens his mouth.
But nothing comes out.
There is nothing he can say here.
“Please. Let’s just go.” Wifies says, softly. “I will get us somewhere safe. I promise.”
And Parrot wants to scream.
Scream at Wifies.
At this server.
At everything.
…but his he can’t.
Because the worst part is-
Wifies isn’t wrong.
Dean was going to keep leaking their coordinates. And they were in danger.
Plus even if they somehow kept managing to dodge the mafia and got to Theo…
nothing would change.
…
So what could he do?
Because if he did nothing….
Parrot shakes his head, trying to banish the image of totems popping and pressure plates from his mind.
But the thoughts still sit there, heavy and irritating and impossible to ignore.
“...Please, Parrot.” Wifies pushes, something else leaking into thier tone now. The kind of thing that turns into action if left alone for too long. “Just… consider it?”
And Parrot backs away, with Wifies eyes still trailing after him.
His breathing is coming way too fast.
Sharp, and uneven. Each inhale catching like it doesn’t quite land.
Why was it that every time he tried to do the right thing it always ended the same?
Parrot grips the mouse like a lifeline.
And exhales slowly.
Forcing himself to think.
…He has the knowledge.
He just… stupidly…hasn't been using it.
Something Theo probably would’ve chewed him out for…
He was supposed to be the plan guy after all.
…Maybe it was time he started acting like it.
Parrot’s jaw tightens.
Fine then.
No more excuses.
No more holding back.
Screw the future.
Parrot lifts his head, meeting Wifies’ gaze properly this time.
And refuses to look away.
Avoiding it had changed nothing.
If anything, it was only making it worse.
“You want a plan?” Parrot finally says, voice quieter now, but steady in a way it hadn’t been before. “Fine.”
Parrot lines up all the possibilities in his head. All the routes he could take to achieve his goals.
But it wasn’t something he could explain. Not without sounding insane. So he didn’t try.
Instead, he meets Wifies’ gaze fully this time, even as his breath catches.
“I’m going to get us out of this, Wifies.” Parrot promises. “We’re not dying here. Not you. Not Dean. None of us.”
Wifies gaze shifts, doubt and hesitation falling off him in waves.
“…Parrot-”
“I know what I’m doing.” Parrot reaffirms.
I’m going to save you too.
“But we’re not leaving Dean,” Parrot adds out loud.
And Wifies holds his gaze back against him.
Silent.
But Parrot doesn’t look away.
He can’t.
The snow particles drift between them, slow and weightless, catching in a space neither of them dares close.
“…Alright.” Wifies says at last. Voice softening. “What do you have in mind?”
And Parrot exhales slowly, letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
But he can’t stay idle for long.
Because he did need a solid plan here after all.
Or Theo was going to have to stop calling him the smartest player…
So Parrot gets to work.
He goes through everything he knows.
Searching for anything that could be useful.
If he was right about the timeline, then they had been on the run for a significant amount of time.
In fact, he was positive that they were right around when he'd found an Allay in the original timeline…
And of course, just like the original, they were still being tracked...
Suddenly, Parrot stops. And everything else falls away as an idea takes hold in his mind.
Because if their coordinates were going to be leaked anyway…
Then maybe they shouldn't bother running in the first place.…
Maybe…they just needed to prioritize who found them first.
Parrot’s mind sharpens. Snapping around the idea and clicking the pieces further into place.
It could work. No. It would work.
His pulse steadies.
“…Wifies.”
“Yeah?”
“We are going to give the horn to Dean.”
Wifies looks at him. “…You’re serious?”
And Parrot smiles, gazing out at the snowy tundra. A place perfect for pittraps, and plenty of hideaways.
“I have an idea.” Parrot says, trying to emphasize his confidence. “Just, tell Dean that it’s for if he gets separated or something.”
“Parrot, you know that’s going to bring the Mafia right to us.” Wifies states. Clearly unhappy with the idea.
And Parrot nods. “...I know.”
Wifies eyes him over, as though weighing something. “And you…want that?”
This time, Parrot doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Wifies holds his gaze for a second longer. As though searching for something.
So Parrot returns it back, hoping that the friend he once had is still there.
“Will you help me, Wifies?” Parrot asks.
But Wifies doesn’t answer right away. He just looks at him, standing there in the snow covered mountains.
For a moment, it feels like he might push back.
But Parrot doesn’t look away.
Then finally, Wifies exhales-
…and nods.
“Alright, so what are you planning to do?”
And Parrot can't help but laugh at the irony of it all.
“Oh, you know.” He says, “Just catch an invisible player.”
