Chapter Text
“You will lead them, as the future head of the Oak family.”
From the first day Mr. Gopher Wood took in Sunday and Robin, he’d held high expectations for them. He took in their hollowed cheeks, glossy doll-like eyes and poorly maintained feathers. They were only fledglings and they had trouble keeping up their preening without their mother’s gentle fingers and soothing voice. Still, he could tell they made an attempt. Their rags - because they were more rags than they were clothes - hung loosely from their wiry thin frames.
He watched as the little boy not-so-subtly stood in front of his younger sister, his body shielding hers, small wings spread and had it not been for the dullness of his halo, the sight might’ve made for quite an amusing one.
As it stood, it was quite sad. Pitiful, really.
“Sir?” Murmured the boy, voice wavering but full of caution. His sister watched quietly from behind him, an iron grip of her brother’s sleeve.
Mr. Gopher Wood bent his knees, falling to their height - earning their trust by portraying a sense of equality. They were only children.
They would be perfect. His creations.
He allowed the corners of his mouth to raise into a gentle smile as he slowly slipped off his jacket. He was a grown man and he could handle the bitter weather far better than the malnourished children that swayed in front of him. He forced his wings to remain still, limp as a sign of tranquility.
“I’m going to adopt you, children. You’ll have a warm home, warm food and a warm bed to sleep in at night.”
He carefully held out his jacket to the boy before subtly jerking it towards the girl. He allowed the boy to feel in control, though he knew right from the start that as soon as he’d show concern and stability for the little girl - the boy would cave in. Afterall, he could acknowledge the determined and protective streak within the boy. All he had to do was show that he could provide a safe space for the girl, and the boy would soon comply.
The child’s dull eyes glanced back and forth between the object and the grown man with a hesitant glint in his eye before he silently reached out and grabbed it. They both allowed their holds on the object to settle for a moment before Mr. Gopher Wood gently let go, allowing the jacket to fall into the boy’s hands.
He watched the boy carefully. Suspicion thrummed in his tiny body, but he seemed more desperate to cover his sister with the warmth of the jacket over anything else. As soon as the girl was drowning in the jacket - she was so small, the boy turned back to the man.
“Thank you for your kindness.” He stated, practiced and precise. He stiffly bowed, wings bouncing.
“Thank you!” The little girl squeaked from behind him. She smiled brightly and her halo glittered.
Oh, they will be perfect.
The boy kept a tight hold on his sister, his cold body shivering beside her warm one. An understanding quickly fell between the boy and the man; as long as the girl was safe, they would remain with him.
“So what do you say?” He found himself grinning at them, “Shall we go home?”