Work Text:
Nuke stared at Viking flying around in the Void, free and without a care in the world.
He missed that, but dying to the Void a hundred some odd times will kill anyone's love for flight, Nuke started his walk to the shopping district and started restocking the Sprountain shop with wood and ice, hopping to push these musings form his mind
The sound of the air being split by elytra wings preceded Viking's entrance to the ice shop where Nuke was filling barrels.
"Hi, Viking." Nuke greeted.
"Nukeri! How are you?" Viking asked.
"Fine, what are you up to?"
"Just some recreational flight, you wanna fly with me?"
Nuke's wings twitched with interest at the invitation and Viking noticed, "no, thank you, Viking, I'm a grounder remember?"
"I remember Nuke I just thought I would ask."
Nuke nodded and walked past him, starting to make his way down to the base of the mountain and then back home.
***
Nuke adjusted the heavy cape around his shoulders, ignoring that he needed to preen his wings, and headed out to do some logging.
About half way though the day he was interrupted by none other that one VikingPilot, flying in like usual, "hi Nukeri!" Viking yelled from the air before he landed, "how are you?"
Nuke schooled his face back into a neutral expression before he answered.
"I'm alright, thanks, how are you?"
"Good! Hey I was just flying over the Ground it's looking' good! Wanna fly over to the mini game area with me?"
"Viking…"
"I know I know, you don't fly you're a grounder, I just… You used to love flying, what happened?"
Nuke deflates a bit, debating for a moment, and then beckons for Viking to follow him back to the crane.
In the crane Nuke opens one of the many chests, when he finds what it was that he was searching for he hands it over to Viking, a hard back book, and Viking reads it.
And. Viking. sees. red.
"Nukeri, did you complete this?"
Nuke nods. He had to.
Viking inhales, exhales, tries to cool his head, and says, "does MilkMan have a lick of sense in him? Cause if not I'm gonna push him into the Void with every last piece of Netherite he has for this."
Nuke doesn't have the words to respond and Viking notices that to, "Nuke, buddy, can I do anything for you right now?"
Nuke shakes his head but opens his arms for a hug that Viking is quick to give him, he does his best to avoid Nuke's wings but its hard when they're pinned to his back like they are.
Viking pulls away slightly to pier at Nuke, "have you even preened since this fax pass?"
"No, and before you say it I know; If I don't use my wings I won't be able to one day, but having to deny my wings for the sake of building has dampened my desire for flight."
Viking nods and says nothing more in that moment, he simply hugs Nuke, and Nuke thinks it may be the most important thing Viking has ever done for him.
Several hours later Viking has left needing to talk to his island partner about a build (and possibly scare some sense into MilkMan) and Nuke has lost himself in thought.
He could try flying again but he first needs to preen.
But he has a hard time preening on his own.
He could ask Viking or Leon but they are both busy.
He sighs and does his best to preen every thing he can reach by himself and goes out for a test flight, he makes it to the shopping district when he loses momentum and is unable to keep himself in the air, before long he knows he's going to crash and die again.
And all he feels is helpless.
Nuke closes his eyes and waits for the damage to hit.
It doesn't.
No, instead he is jostled mid air and then held tightly against someone's chest in a strong grip, not longer falling but ascending the air.
Nuke opens his eyes to see Viking watching the sky carefully for obstacles as he brings them to a safe landing on the Birch mountain.
"May I asked why you were trying to Void wipe?" Viking asked helping Nuke to stand on the uneven ground.
"I wasn't, I preened to the best of my ability and then tried to fly, I did not preen well enough." Nuke said finding his footing.
"I see, well, just incase you were wondering, I have removed the Clump economy and MilkMan is on a thirty day ban from all comers and additionally he will be issuing you a written apology hand delivered via Sky."
"Viking," Nuke laughed. "you don't have to do stuff like this every time someone happens you know."
"Nuke, would you let slide something like this if it happened to me or Leon?"
"No," Nuke responded eyes narrowing.
"No," Viking echoes, "I know you, you care about your friends and your friends care about you, let them. Let me."
Nuke nods. "No promises, but I'll do my best."
"That's all I ask for Nuke, thank you."