Not All Heroes

Chapter 4

Wilbur's incident ended on a higher note than Phil could've ever hoped for.

Knowing that he was a special made the boy suddenly very interested in making full use of his abilities. When once he would talk energetically about the things he had learned and experienced that day, he would now and again tell the man and his brother about the snippets of conversations that he overheard from the wildlife that surrounded them.

Admittedly, getting transcripts of birds and rodents discussing the locations of food became tiresome after a while, and by the pained expressions on Techno's face at the dinner table, he could tell the brother was beginning to realize the same. But neither had the heart nor the soul to tell the younger as such, as it was something that made him happy, something that made him feel extraordinary and different from the rest of the world, and kept him energized throughout the day. And for a child, those were important, those made kids feel happy. They were what fueled their wide smiles and eyes bright full of hope, feelings that children could cling onto quite easily when they slipped through the hands of adults like fish.

Oddly enough, Phil never found Techno jealous of his brother, always sitting in corners and couches, laughing at jokes and making jokes of his own. The elder of the two never seemed quite bothered that he was the outlier, the only normal one in their trio that was already so strange. But still, he couldn't help but feel guilty, knowing the feeling of being an outsider, even if the world didn't know it. Still, the man wished there was something he could do to help ease the boy, to make him comfortable in a place that was his own home.

But it was winter once again, and the boys were 10, Christmas approaching them so fast that none of them even had time to blink.

The holidays with them were unconventional, Phil found. The first year, he tried to get them presents, but it seemed that they were more grateful for the home and the care that he provided than any objects he could ever buy for them. So since then, their winter months were spent wandering Christmas markets instead, the man watching the boys marvel at the glittering gems and rocks that the vendors had for sale, huddling together on snow covered benches as they drank their small cups of hot cocoa. And then afterwards, they would approach the massive tree in the center square, looking at the white branches.

He still remembered the first time, when Techno's eyes widened at the sight of the sheer size of the tree and the ornaments that adorned it, tugging at Phil's coat and asking with worry what would happen if it all toppled over. And in response, Phil knelt on the wet and freezing ground and assured the boy that everything would be alright. That if it ever happened they both had him to protect them from harm.

He still remembered the first time, when Wilbur's eyes widened at the height and the colours all situated in one place, the noise and the sound of the people and the music clashing loudly around them, yet quiet enough that it was yet to be a bother. And he tugged at Phil's coat and asked him quietly if he had ever perched up there and surveyed the land from above, the powdered streets like a snow globe recently shaken. And in response, Phil laughed and ruffled the boy's hair and told him no, but the mere thought made his wings tremble, the potential and wishes crying out in his mind to be manifested and made real.

Last year was the first year where the man tried getting them gifts, and watching Wilbur's face light up as he ripped apart the wrapping and opened the box within gave him a sense of joy and warmth that kindled a flame within him. Hearing the happiest "Thank you!" that Phil ever heard from the child as he pulled out a ragdoll fox made him smile as the boy held it tight to his chest.

Of course, he named it Fundy, after the fox he had met that summer. Of course he kept it and loved it and protected it, even years after he'd outgrown it.