Cagaster of an Insect Cage one shots

brother

3rd pov

Kidow had no younger siblings and is in fact an only child. If he had any siblings, they were either killed early on or he'd forgotten them, since he was raised in a poor town were even the orphanage - were Kidow spent most of his childhood - had difficulties keeping up with the amount of mouths to feed, despite there only ever being 3 or 4 kids at a time. He has no experience being an older or younger sibling, though he did his best to support any kids younger than him before his town was destroyed.

After that, he only helped younger kids with what he could, offering the meager earnings he got, or food or drink he probably couldn't afford to lose but he had more of a chance of getting it then most of the kids he saw on the streets. He also offered them a bit of training so if they were ever in trouble they could defend themselves even a bit. He knows most of the probably died or got killed not long after he left them alone, since kids on the street rarely live long, especially in the Far East, but he at least knows they got a bit of kindness before their deaths.

So, to come and live with Ms.Mario, where there was just a known and ignored group of kids living in wreckage that had no parents or guardians for the most part, bothers him in a way he can't explain. So, he starts taking jobs early, almost the day after he got there despite being injured still. The council weren't going to let him, until he pulled out his license from the Far East council branch and showed it to them. They couldn't deny an Exterminator a mission, not if they have a license and he is from the Far East, so he should be fine. They let him go, a bit uneasy about his age.

He gets more than enough money for his rent - and gives it to Ms.Mario early - and then starts leaving chunks of it in the places he most commonly sees the kids, knowing they need it and will hopefully use it. He keeps doing this for years, occasionally giving it to the older boy's grandpa while he's not there, letting them believe that it's being lost or whatever they will, as long as they have money to live with he doesn't care where they think it comes from.

(Kidow has no way of knowing that several of them have watched him leave the money somewhere and walk away, obviously leaving it behind for some reason. He never comes back for it and never asks about it, sometimes he leaves food or water with the money as well, obviously trying his best to what? Support them? Help them? Bribe them? They don't know, but they hoard the money, only using it in tiny chunks if it's necessary in case he demands something from them.)

He continues even after Illie arrives, Naji and the rest deciding to see how Kidow will come off. Naji is almost surprised he slapped her, but not entirely because he was trying to make sure she survived and you have to do it whatever way you can. Especially when you're still out in Cagaster territory and risk getting eaten if you stay. There is no real reason for him to have been gentle, not when time was running out. When he talks to Lizzy and them about it, they all couldn't help but agree with what he did, even if he may have hit her a bit harder than necessary.

They continue to accept the money, food and water, amused when Illie starts bringing stuff with her to help them out, probably unaware of the huge chunks of money they've got stored away for emergencies. Honestly, they've started using more of it than before, deciding he's leaving it for them to use anyways. Naji buys stuff to repair his house, as well as some furniture, while Lizzy buys some stuff for them to live off of, since their hideout already has some stuff in it.

Kidow is just glad to see the kids thriving in a way they weren't able to before. Even if it means he's running himself a bit ragged to get enough money for the kids and his rent. (Honestly,when Ms.Mario raised the rent it was because she saw him leaving money for the kids living in the wreckage and decided to start building up some for him to use since he seems to be pushing himself.) Jin himself has been leaving money with Ms.Mario to put in their kids stash, aware he'll need it soon to relax or they'll make him.