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Crow didn’t get sick. He couldn’t afford to get sick. He was just going through a rough patch, that was all. A really rough patch.
Crow groaned as someone pounded on his front door. It was somewhat late in the day, but he hadn’t gotten out of bed yet. For the last week, he had been feeling bad, but today was another story entirely. His body refused to cooperate with him, limbs and head heavy as he trudged down the stairs. “No rest for the wicked, I guess,” Crow mumbled sleepily, reaching for the doorknob.
He had barely opened the door before he was entangled in a conversation he was definitely not awake enough for. “Your rent is a week late,” Zora started, launching into a tirade. “While I may be doing Martha a favor letting you three— four, now— stay here at a reduced rate, don’t think that I don’t expect the same accountability I would hold any tenant to. In fact—“
She stopped, narrowing her eyes as she examined Crow’s glazed expression. “Pardon my language, but,” Zora adjusted her glasses in suspicion, “You look like shit.”
“Thanks.” Crow replied, wondering how much longer it would be until he could go lay on the floor. “And, uh, sorry about rent. I just need… a few more days. Business has been kinda slow.”
Zora seemed unsatisfied with the answer, tapping her foot on the cobblestone. “May I talk to one of your brothers? Yuusei, preferably?” She asked impatiently.
“Peru.” Crow answered definitively, not realizing that he hadn’t actually answered the question that had been asked until he caught Zora’s confused gaze. “Oh. They’re in Peru. I might be able to get them on the phone, but the connection there has been pretty weak.”
Zora sighed, waving her hand dismissively. “What about the tall one?” She asked, sounding tired.
“I… don’t actually know where Bruno is.” Crow admitted, shrugging. “He, uh…” Crow trailed off, his train of thought escaping him. “He does his own thing, I guess.”
“His “own thing” doesn’t help pay the rent, I’m sure.” Zora said, clearly exasperated.
Crow let out a raspy laugh. “Nope. But he’s going through some stuff, I get it. Jack, however, has no excuse.” He gripped the doorframe a bit tighter as a wave of dizziness swept over him.
“Look, I’ll…” Crow tried to choose his words carefully, not wanting to incur any more of Zora’s wrath. “After work today, I’ll have almost all of it. We had to dip a little deep into our savings for this surprise Peru trip.”
Zora raised her eyebrows in surprise. “You sure you should be working today? You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“Not like I have much of a choice,” Crow sighed, leaning against the doorframe. “The world won’t wait for me, y’know?”
Zora pinched the bridge of her nose. “If I let you drive like this, I’m pretty sure I’d be an accomplice to murder. Or suicide. Maybe both. Go back to bed, Crow. You’ll only make it worse if you push yourself.”
Crow blinked in surprise. “Uh, really? What about the—“
“We can work out the rent later. I’ll give you an extension, just this once.” Zora said definitively, cutting him off. “Besides, Martha would kill me if she found out I didn’t try to stop you.” She turned and started walking away, calling over her shoulder, “I better not see you get on that D-Wheel of yours!”
Crow laughed again, waving to his landlady as she headed back into her shop. He shouted out a thanks before shutting the door and promptly flopping onto the couch. He hadn’t realized how much the interaction had worn him out; he could barely keep his eyes open. Unable to work up the motivation to drag himself back to bed, Crow let himself drift off right there.
A few hours passed before there was more knocking at Crow’s door, though it was much softer this time. Crow rolled over, forgetting where he had fallen asleep, and fell to the floor. If the knocking hadn’t woken him up, the cold floor certainly had. Not in the mood to get up, Crow just yelled out a “come in!”, not caring who was at the door.
The door opened a bit, and Leo stuck his head in. He looked around, presumably searching for Crow, until they locked eyes. Crow was sprawled on the floor on his back, blanket still twisted around half his body. He gave a weak wave and invited Leo all the way inside.
“Uh…” Leo started, closing the door behind him, “Are you… okay? Need any help?”
Crow shook his head. “Nah, I’m good. Just, uh. Hangin’ out.” He watched curiously as Leo set something down on the kitchen counter. “What’s that?”
“Soup!” Leo replied, beaming. He was busying himself with something in the kitchen, though Crow couldn’t see what from his spot on the floor. “Mom made it.”
That surprised Crow. “Really? Zora did?” He flipped over and propped himself up on his elbows. “But Zora, like, hates me.”
“Nah, she doesn’t hate you.” Leo laughed. “Want me to make you a bowl?”
“Oh, uh. Sure, thanks.” Crow finally pulled himself up off the floor and back onto the couch, folding his arms on the back and facing Leo. “And if she doesn’t hate me, why’d she send you over? No offense or anything, but it just seems like she can’t stand being around me.”
Once he had a pot on the stove, Leo leaned against the kitchen counter and faced Crow. “Listen, Crow. Coming from the time I spent over at Aunt Martha’s place as a kid, your mom and my mom are way different.” He paused, tilting his head up. “Aunt Martha is a lot more open when it comes to affection. Not that Mom is cold or anything, she just… Words of comfort aren’t really her thing. I think she relies on her actions to speak for her.” Leo chuckled, lowering his voice as though Zora would somehow hear. “I bet if she tried to bring it to you herself, she would have ended up calling you a dumbass or something.”
That was something for Crow to think about. Crow was, admittedly, not always the best at reading people. He didn’t always pick up on the subtleties of interaction he was expected to; if someone was generally mean to him, then he logically assumed they didn’t like him much. “Oh,” was all he managed, not sure what else to say.
They didn’t talk much after that, Crow laying flat on the couch and resting his eyes while Leo heated up the soup. Crow found his mind wandering to his other relationships. He realized that it was difficult for him to truly believe that other people cared for him. In his heart, he knew that his brothers loved him, but some days he found himself doubting them— usually Jack. Hell, he hadn’t even truly trusted Martha’s intentions fully until two years after his move into the family. He had trusted Bolger with his whole heart, and look where it had got him.
Maybe it was high time he relaxed. This wasn’t Satellite, he didn’t have to live every day as though it would be his last if he wasn’t careful. He didn’t have to protect a bunch of kids by himself anymore. Things were different now.
But here he was, alone, finding himself fighting back thoughts that Yuusei and Jack might choose not to return. Maybe things weren’t so different.
Crow startled out of his thoughts as Leo placed a bowl of soup in front of him on the coffee table. “Eat it while it’s hot,” he said with a grin, passing Crow a spoon. “Mom used to make this for me whenever I got sick, too.”
Raising the spoon slowly to his lips, Crow smiled as he tasted the soup. Honestly, it was nothing all that special; for all he knew, it could have come out of a can. But, for whatever reason, it still made him cry.
“Thanks,” he said, not looking away from the bowl on the table. “It’s good.”