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Rowan's frown deepened at that. They'd never had to deal with bullies before. Sure people probably said a few nasty things about their attitude, but it was all whispers and snubbing and things Rowan didn't care about. No one ever tried to actually beat them up. It left them feeling more than a bit indignant that someone would go to the lengths of waiting outside the nurse's office. They knew they weren't exactly the paragon of fighters. Actually they knew pretty much nothing about fighting whatsoever. Rowan was very sturdy, almost chubby-looking since Nixie tended to have a bit more fat on them as insulation, and did have some decent muscles from swimming, but they couldn't really do a thing if someone decided to pick a fight.

The more they thought about it the more it bothered them. They didn't even pretend to continue reading, face crinkled up in thought. An idea finally presented itself to Rowan.

"Give me just a moment," they said, standing up and vanishing among the shelves.

Rowan returned after a few minutes, bearing a drably plumaged cockatriel on his shoulder. Really it had only taken exiting the library and walking a few steps out. Pest was an uncommonly devoted...well, pest, and followed Rowan everywhere she could. Naturally that was a bit of a problem. They'd slowly been training her to the idea that when they left her outside she was to stay outside until they came back. It was a long, slow, very noisy process. Pest appreciated being closed out about as much as Annoying did, but she was even more attached to Rowan than Annoying was. Not that Rowan didn't except Annoying to join them at some point, he just didn't follow Rowan as closely as Pest did. If Pest caused a fuss though, Annoying likely wouldn't take long to catch up!

"It should be okay if Pest comes with us," Rowan said, reaching up to stroke the cockatriel's breast feathers and getting their finger lightly nipped in the process. They grimaced. "She's super protective. If I'm with you and someone tries to start something, she'll attack. She's pretty fast, can be pretty mean, and is very loud. Someone would definitely hear and come out to check." Their lips quirked upward in a smile that seemed a bit dry. "If it's near an open window I have another cockatriel that would join the fight. They might be small, but they're better bullies than any person I've ever seen."

It was clear they were quite determined to get Giotto to see a nurse. Rowan wasn't normally this pushy, and they couldn't even have said why they were acting this way. Maybe it was just...well, they chose to be isolated, so whatever bullying they got they didn't really care about. Picking on someone to the point that Giotto seemed to be at just woke feelings of great indignation in Rowan.

Rowan watched Giotto stare for a moment, put his face down, and then turn an interesting range of colors. They were a bit worried for a moment. Had they offended Giotto? Then Giotto straightened up, spoke, and stared gathering up his things.

"I've never met a nezubat so I can't compare the temperaments. I can assure you that most rumors about cockatriels are true," they stated dryly. "I could tell several stories." Rowan wasn't even sure how they'd acquired the cockatriels in the first place. What was it about his open window that had drawn in Annoying, compared to all the other windows there had been to choose from. Pest, they assumed, had simply followed Annoying. Rowan had tried to be rid of them before, but they just wouldn't go. Something about the Nixie just attracted the cockatriels.

Maybe they were just a fun target to bully.

"Ready," Rowan asked once Giotto finished packing his bag. They would have to come back for the book another day, but at least they had their notebook with the notes all written down, scooped up while Giotto had been packing.

Rowan followed Giotto, about a half step behind them. They felt a little awkward during the walk, not sure if they should be making small talk or not. It wasn't something they were good at, but there was a subtle pressure to the silence that made it seem awkward. Or maybe it was just Rowan. It wasn't often they really involved themselves with anyone outside of classes.

On their shoulder Pest muttered to herself and preened, sometimes her own feathers and sometimes reaching out to nibble Rowan's ear. They tried not to wince; those sharp teeth hurt, and Pest was actually being delicate. Perhaps she was just picking up on their tension.

As they got closer to the infirmary Rowan felt their shoulders grow correspondingly tighter. Giotto had seemed pretty convinced that the bullies would lie in wait for an ambush, but so far the coast was clear and the rest of the way seemed to be as well...

As they reached the hall where the infirmary was located a sudden, familiar ear-piercing shriek rang through the air, seeming louder as it bounced off the walls. Rowan had to clap a hand over their ears as Pest let out an equally shrill return call. An agitated spot of red came flying towards them, calling out loudly the entire way. Rowan even picked out a few words that sounded like the cockatriel was scolding them. A couple doors on either side of them opened and curious eyes peered out. Rowan even spotted some people who were in the hall beating a hasty retreat to escape the noise.

The blushed a crimson to match the cockatriel, but glared fiercely at the familiar as it swooped around them. "Shut up, Annoying," they commanded, holding out an arm. The cockatriel came in to land, still chattering but at a lower volume. Pest hopped down from Rowan's shoulder to join the other cockatriel, though it was hard to tell if she was greeting him or scolding him.

Rowan cast an apologetic look at Giotto. "Sorry. I've never had much control over Annoying."

Rowan blushed, looking even more embarrassed if that was possible. They didn't get thanked for anything often, not that that was anyone's fault but their own. It felt nice, but a little awkward. "You'e welcome," Rowan responded, fighting to keep their voice from dropping into a mumble. Both made their way down the hall to the nurse's office, then paused. Should Rowan go in? The injury had concerned Rowan, but it wasn't something major that needed morale support while it was being treated. Was it? But even if it was, was Rowan really in any kind of position to offer that support? He's met Giotto not even an hour ago, and while initial impressions might be favorable that was hardly any kind of ground to merit an instant friendship. Right?

"Do you...do you need any more help, or do you think it'll be okay? I don't mind waiting, if you think those bullies might come back," Rowan offered, feeling their own internal awkwardness rachet up a few more notches. Heck, for all they knew they were doing really good at this "socializing" thing, and it only felt awkward because it was pretty well new to them.

The scene would probably look curious or amusing to any bystanders who might have come by. Two freshlings, both giving the floor a thorough examination while fiddling with their clothing with expressions of varied discomfort. By contrast the cockatriels perched on Rowan's shoulder were grooming themselves without seemingly a care in the world, though Rowan had to wince when Pest reached out to "affectionately" nibble at one of their gills. At least she was being gentle, since the sharp little teeth stung but didn't break through the skin.

"I don't mind, though I don't know if I'd be very good company." Rowan lifted their head a bit, a wry smile on their lips. "Most people say I'm not fun to talk to, cause I don't know about cool or interesting stuff." True enough for their age range, since most of Rowan's free time was spent rummaging through little-traveled sections of the library and going through books that rarely included fiction. An unpopular activity, when most kids preferred to be out and about, listening to music or playing games; Rowan preferred to learn new things.

"A-Ah, but if you don't mind that I'm kind of boring then I don't mind," they said, repeating their earlier statement and blushing a little at their own conversational clumsiness, but hoping their meaning got through regardless.

Rowan ducked their head to hide a bashful smile. "I probably wouldn't know about anything to talk about anyway. I only listen to classic instrumental pieces as background noise when I study." Still, even as they felt a bit shy admitting it, there was a sense of relief as well. Giotto's assurance that silence was fine. Even being able to admit that they didn't know anything about the current trends of music and knowing it was okay, that they wouldn't be gawked at as if they were some kind of alien species, was such a difference from previous attempts at interaction that the relief was almost a palpable thing for Rowan.

They followed Giotto into the nurse's office, sending a silent pray to the Nine that the cockatriels riding with him would behave. That was certainly one conversation starter they could always do without! And even that little lurking dread wasn't enough to quash the new, pleasantly warm feeling spreading through them. Was this what having a friend felt like? It was nice!