Name: Blossom
Story: Pleasant Surprise
Colors: Summertime Blues 5. Storm clouds on the horizon
Supplies and Styles: brush, glitter ( "Nothing can wear you out like caring about people." – S.E. Hinton), glue
Title: It's the Small Things
Word Count: 414
Rating: PG
Summary: Bernard may be Albert's best friend, but there are some things that irritates him.
Warnings: language
Notes: A lint roller response for auguris who asked Albert (Bernard's best friend): what's your least favorite thing about Bernard?

I’m sure when you know someone for a long time there are things you love about the person and things that you don’t love so much about them. For me that person is Bernard. We’ve been friends since we were kids. There are some things I’m used to like him not thinking before he acts. Hell, he wouldn’t be Bernard if he didn’t do that.

I don’t mind that he’ll tease me about Alec or pry into my private life to make sure I’m alright. He’ll back off if I get too uncomfortable and there are things he’ll never bring up.

There is one thing that I don’t like. It’s the way he won’t tell anyone if something is bothering him. Once we pry it out of him, he will get irritated that we’re worried about him. He has this idea in his head that no one can worry about him. It makes me pull my damn hair sometimes because he will move mountains, cities, and anything for others. He’s done it for me plenty of times, but he doesn’t want anyone to do the same for him.

It takes a lot for me, Alene, or Colette to get Bernard to tell us if there’s something bothering him. Then we have to convince him that we can help. I don’t like the way he will let things fucking fester inside him until it comes out. I know when something is wrong because he’ll go a spree buying items for everyone or he’s taking me out to lunch for a week. Next, he’ll take Alene out to her favorite restaurant, there are more things, but I know he does this so so we won’t have to worry about him.

It bothers me so damn much. He urges everyone to be an open book around him, but when it comes to his feelings and problems, he doesn’t think they’re important.

Believe me when I say he’s better than when we were younger. He really started to open up after he mated with Alene. Something I can’t thank her enough for. Then there are times Bernard will hide behind that mechanical smile or a flurry of gifts to try to distract us.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Bernard. He’s like a brother to me and he’s going to be the Oirou at my mating ceremony, that’s for sure.

I just wish he’d get in through his thick skull that I'm always here for him.