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bedesSummary: Crow acts awfully different in the winter, and Luke notices... Though he chooses not to ask himself why he cares so deeply about Crow’s happiness.
First Chapter | Masterpost (for more information) | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Luke tended to notice a few small changes in how Crow acted during the wintertime. He would sleep over at people’s houses more, he’d constantly have his scarf over his reddening nose, and he began to actively dread going outside. But, one year, Luke figured out it wasn’t the winter that caused this shift in behavior; it was the cold itself. For the harsh colds began quite a few weeks earlier that year, and Crow shifted with it accordingly. (Luke payed a lot of attention to Crow, but he chose not to ask himself why.)
Luke brought this up to his mother, over a warm lunch as it snowed outside. “I mean,” he said, after swallowing a mouthful of soup, “It’s not like he’s so poor that he’s homeless!”
Brenda looked almost confused for a moment, before smiling a little bit at her son’s innocence. “Luke... Just because Crow has a house does not mean that he’s able to keep warm.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Really? Why? Can’t he just ask his mother to turn up the thermostat?”
“Dear, not everyone has a thermostat.”
“Really?!” Luke asked, his voice picking up in volume, and setting his spoon down. “I thought it came with the house!”
“No, sweetie. Heating systems, good blankets, and warm clothes all cost extra, I’m afraid... And this goes for things like hot food and drinks, as well.”
“Well, I think that’s just awful!! Everyone deserves to be warm!” Luke chose not to ask himself why he was so upset by this.
Brenda just smiled sadly in response, as a silent agreement.
After lunch that day, Luke went to his room to look through his stuff. He had some old clothes that were too small for him, now; and, though Crow was taller, he was also skinnier. He collected various things he no longer needed, going through all his drawers. He also went to the living room to search for any old blankets they may not need.
By the end of it, Luke was able to look through all he collected as he lied them out neatly on his bed. It included a sweater that Luke had loved to wear before he grew out of it, a few jackets, a pair of mildly tattered mittens, and a fluffy blanket. (He tried to tell himself that nobody in his family used that blanket anymore, but he knew he’d be hearing about it from his mother later...)
He put all of those things in a box, from which he had received a gift inside. He regretted tearing off the paper, remembering how he had thrown it away without a second thought, but Luke liked to keep the bows saved from presents. He taped the box shut, and taped the bow on, and he smiled proudly at his minimalistic, but effective, present. It still had that dull, brown color, but the bow was a bright blue, making it clear that this was, indeed, a present.
After Luke explained he wanted to deliver a present to a friend to his mother, he took off towards Crow’s house, his breaths coming out as chilled, foggy breath. He hadn’t bothered to put on proper snow clothing himself before leaving, so the cold nipped at him, and the snow got into his shoes as it crunched underneath his feet, but, for whatever reason, Luke found himself not caring. He was determined to help Crow... Though he chose not to ask himself why he cared so deeply, telling himself it was a gentlemanly thing to do. (That was the only reason, for sure!)
Luke arrived at Crow’s front doorstep, and, enthusiastic to give his gift, reached to knock, but paused. Suddenly, even though it was cold, his face felt hot. What would he say to Crow? What if he didn’t like it or refused to accept it? (Or, worse... What if he loved it so much he smiled that rare, genuine smile that made Luke want to be close to him, just for Luke? What if he did something stupid because of it? He chose not to ask himself what kind of stupid thing he’d do.)
Luke whimpered to himself, and retracted his hand, simply placing the box on the doorstep, then heading home.
The next day, at school, Luke overheard Badger asking Crow how he had been able to afford that new sweater. Crow laughed, and Luke felt his face go hot again. But he chose not to ask himself why.
I chose to interpret this as ‘token of affection’! And it’s almost Easter. Yesterday I wrote something Halloween-themed, and today I wrote something winter holiday-themed. Oh well, I guess?
First Chapter | Masterpost (for more information) | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Luke tended to notice a few small changes in how Crow acted during the wintertime. He would sleep over at people’s houses more, he’d constantly have his scarf over his reddening nose, and he began to actively dread going outside. But, one year, Luke figured out it wasn’t the winter that caused this shift in behavior; it was the cold itself. For the harsh colds began quite a few weeks earlier that year, and Crow shifted with it accordingly. (Luke payed a lot of attention to Crow, but he chose not to ask himself why.)
Luke brought this up to his mother, over a warm lunch as it snowed outside. “I mean,” he said, after swallowing a mouthful of soup, “It’s not like he’s so poor that he’s homeless!”
Brenda looked almost confused for a moment, before smiling a little bit at her son’s innocence. “Luke... Just because Crow has a house does not mean that he’s able to keep warm.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Really? Why? Can’t he just ask his mother to turn up the thermostat?”
“Dear, not everyone has a thermostat.”
“Really?!” Luke asked, his voice picking up in volume, and setting his spoon down. “I thought it came with the house!”
“No, sweetie. Heating systems, good blankets, and warm clothes all cost extra, I’m afraid... And this goes for things like hot food and drinks, as well.”
“Well, I think that’s just awful!! Everyone deserves to be warm!” Luke chose not to ask himself why he was so upset by this.
Brenda just smiled sadly in response, as a silent agreement.
After lunch that day, Luke went to his room to look through his stuff. He had some old clothes that were too small for him, now; and, though Crow was taller, he was also skinnier. He collected various things he no longer needed, going through all his drawers. He also went to the living room to search for any old blankets they may not need.
By the end of it, Luke was able to look through all he collected as he lied them out neatly on his bed. It included a sweater that Luke had loved to wear before he grew out of it, a few jackets, a pair of mildly tattered mittens, and a fluffy blanket. (He tried to tell himself that nobody in his family used that blanket anymore, but he knew he’d be hearing about it from his mother later...)
He put all of those things in a box, from which he had received a gift inside. He regretted tearing off the paper, remembering how he had thrown it away without a second thought, but Luke liked to keep the bows saved from presents. He taped the box shut, and taped the bow on, and he smiled proudly at his minimalistic, but effective, present. It still had that dull, brown color, but the bow was a bright blue, making it clear that this was, indeed, a present.
After Luke explained he wanted to deliver a present to a friend to his mother, he took off towards Crow’s house, his breaths coming out as chilled, foggy breath. He hadn’t bothered to put on proper snow clothing himself before leaving, so the cold nipped at him, and the snow got into his shoes as it crunched underneath his feet, but, for whatever reason, Luke found himself not caring. He was determined to help Crow... Though he chose not to ask himself why he cared so deeply, telling himself it was a gentlemanly thing to do. (That was the only reason, for sure!)
Luke arrived at Crow’s front doorstep, and, enthusiastic to give his gift, reached to knock, but paused. Suddenly, even though it was cold, his face felt hot. What would he say to Crow? What if he didn’t like it or refused to accept it? (Or, worse... What if he loved it so much he smiled that rare, genuine smile that made Luke want to be close to him, just for Luke? What if he did something stupid because of it? He chose not to ask himself what kind of stupid thing he’d do.)
Luke whimpered to himself, and retracted his hand, simply placing the box on the doorstep, then heading home.
The next day, at school, Luke overheard Badger asking Crow how he had been able to afford that new sweater. Crow laughed, and Luke felt his face go hot again. But he chose not to ask himself why.
I chose to interpret this as ‘token of affection’! And it’s almost Easter. Yesterday I wrote something Halloween-themed, and today I wrote something winter holiday-themed. Oh well, I guess?
