The King of Crows

The Pond of a Family

I held Phil's hand as we ventured down the, thankfully not as steep, hill. The crow that once slept in his hand now wide awake and squawking happily on his head as we practically ran down the hill, the pathway long and covered in stones. Threatening to throw us off our balance and smack us into the dirt. I could feel his hand gripping tightly onto mine, not wanting to accidently let go and make either one of us lose balance from that instead.

Skidding my walking shoes into the ground, halting my run, I stopped in front of one of the entrances to the enclosed pond. The trees entwining with one another to create a roof of sorts. A turned on my heel to look behind me, looking up at the trees to see them slowly no longer entwine with one another the further out they were from the pond.

Thud

"Oof-" I blinked, taking a step back so I wouldn't lose my balance and fall on my ass, my eyes glancing down to see Phil's face smudged into my chest, the crow a little dizzy from the sudden hit. Must've lost balance. "Shit, you good Philza?!"

"Yeah..." His voice was muffled as he answered, pushing himself back a little as he blinked rapidly. Presumably regaining his composure. Suddenly his face flushed furiously, fully standing up straight and taking a step back from me allowing me to straighten myself up as well. "OH MY GOODNESS!!! I am so dearly sorry Y/N! I did not mean to fall face first into your chest- I should really control my balance for next time..."

The crow atop his head was laughing at his embarrassed rambles, kicking their little talons into the air. They began to squawk in irritation when Phil flung his hood over his head to hide his embarrassment, in turn covering the crow up. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight, gently grabbing the little fella and cradling them in my hands. Chuckling as the crow glared at a blushing Phil in annoyance.

"Phil it's okay, it was an accident," I reassured him, freeing one hand to pat his shoulder. But he only kept his hold on the hood of his cloak and rapidly shook his head.

"It is not! I could have my head on a pole for such a scandalous action!" He spoke back, his blonde hair flowing down past his face as he hung his head further. "I must apologise for my actions, my love! You... You didn't ask for something like that I-"

"Look, Phil, I love how you're genuinely worried for me," I grabbed him by his biceps, the little crow now sitting on my head, watching as his eyes locked with mine when he looked up. "But for the love of God, stop apologising!"

I began to rapidly shake the man, his body freezing up under my touch. Not knowing what to do.

"I said I'm good!!"

"Okay okay!" He said quickly, watching me slow down and come to a stop, grabbing my hands and taking them off his arms. I watched him look behind me, his hands still gently holding my wrists, eyes lighting up as he realised that we were at the duckie pond. "The pond of ducks!!"

I spun a little on my heel, watching him quickly run under the trees like a happy child. The crows flying above us soaring down to fly under the trees and see the pond themselves. A warm smile spread on my lips at the sight of it, walking under the trees myself to see the ducks.

A duckling came waddling over to me with a happy chirp as I entered. Slowly crouching down to the little fella, I waved my hand at the duckling, smiling as they tilted their head at me in return. I guess the ducks are not as smart as Philza's crows... but they're still adorable!

"Look at all the ducks, my love!" I lifted my head up from the baby duck to see Phil holding a whole fucking family of ducks?!

"How the fuck?!" I whispered my yell, not wanting to scare the duckling beside me. Who had now began to waddle off back to their family. I stood up and slowly walked over to the king, staring at all the ducks he was cradling in his arms. He wasn't wearing his cloak either, wait- "Are you-?"

"Yes," He nodded, a proud fatherly smile on his face. Shifting his arms a little and allowing me to see his cloak. "I assumed my cloak would make a far more comfier basket than my own arms. And it appears to be my assumption was all correct, this little family is far more content in my cloak!"

"Well your arms are a bit muscular," I agreed with his explanation, gently poking his bicep in the process. Suddenly realising he wasn't using that much formality now, I could understand his sentences a bit better now. I scowered around the small section encased by trees, noticing how the crows were bathing in the pond with ducks. Neither of the birds scared of each other. It made me smile with relief. "We can't keep them though."

"Oh I know," He reassured me, slowly crouching down and tilting the cloak ever so slightly so the family of ducks could happily leave the makeshift basket and waddle off back to the pond. Phil stood back up, dusting off his cloak before putting it back on, crossing his arms as he looked at me. "And anyway, I have my crows. Those little ones are a handful anyway!"

"Says you!"

I whipped my head to the side, seeing a crow fly over to us while glaring at him. Phil just looked unamused at his feathered friend, keeping his arms crossed as he raised a brow. Whatever the crow was saying now completely obscured by the squawks I was so used to hearing. Dammit...

"I am not that annoying," More squawks. "If anything, my dear has not stated me as 'annoying' or 'a handful'. So I believe I am exempt from your little statement!" More squawks. Phil's brows furrow. "No... I would have been told that to my face if so," More squawks. Phil sharply inhales with a blushing face.

I gave up on listening at that point, zoning out. I want to understand them better, the crows I mean. I want to finally understand them all the time, but it's clear that's going to take a while to accomplish. A hand resting on my shoulder snapped me back to reality, making me flinch and look behind me. Ready to, pathetically, punch whoever did it in the face.

"Oink oink motherfucker," The man smiled, the other one laughing his ass off beside him. "Dude wanted to see the ducks, guess we were in luck! Because we've now met sooner than expected."

"Techno! Tommy!" I smiled brightly, alerting Philza of their presence. His eyes widening as he saw his old friend in the flesh after so long, who gave him a little wave. The reincarnated knight grunted as he got tackled into a tight hug by the king, taking a moment to register it before finally wrapping his arms around Phil.

"Hello again old friend..."