Chapter Text
Virgil Holloway was a man only ever described with positivity.
Russell had heard only great things about the deputy mayor of Venompeaks. An intelligent man, loved by humans and hybrids alike. His plans for an architectural expansion of existing structures in the town would guarantee a financial boom for job sectors.
He was just the man he needed to pursue his dreams of medicine. The older man had offered to pay for his studies as a form of scholarship - a blessing for the son of working-class parents. Russell always looked back on the memory of meeting the elusive deputy for the first time with fond laughter.
How he had hid behind his mother's legs, face pressed into her skirt. Virgil Holloway had simply laughed at the action, getting down to his level to ask about his favourite subject in school.
"Med'cine," The young hybrid had mumbled with a bashful smile.
Despite their first meeting (and the couple others that followed through the years), no first-meeting story could ever truly compare to being saved from your overturned carriage by the deputy mayor.
"Hey! Hey, kid, you alright?" Mr Holloway asked, crouching by his head.
It was a reasonable question to ask. Especially to someone lying on the ground, arms clasped over their head and shaking like a leaf. The carriage driver said to play dead - let the coyotes kill the horses instead of them.
His gift aided in forming a good distraction, conjuring a couple of hopping rabbits to lure them away.
Russell cautiously glanced up, noting that the deputy mayor didn't look injured. If the rabbits hadn't worked, the gunfire must've scared the beasts away. He gave a shaky nod, swallowing back the need to vomit.
"Here, let me help you up, Son." Mr Holloway smiled lightly. He took Russell's hands in a gentle but confident grip, helping him to stand. "You're not injured anywhere, are you? Just shaken up?"
"Y-Yeah," Russell nodded, shifting his wings to check for damage. A few baby feathers fell to the ground, floating gently in the evening breeze.
Mr Holloway's eyes focused on his wings with a warm gaze. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and held it towards his left wing. Russell realised the feathers twitched with flecks of dark sand. The older man began to rub the sand off with care, making sure not to ruin the flow of each feather against the others.
"I-Ironically, I was- Um," Russell stuttered, bringing the man's gaze back to his own, "I was looking for you, Mr Holloway. Yesterday, you said- Uhh- You told my parents you would let me study under Dr Chevalier- That you would look out for me in their place."
Russell watched as the man laughed. It was a contagious laugh; he couldn't help but smile alongside it.
"Mr McDermott," Mr Holloway nodded, holding out his hand. "Or is it now Russell Lector to us folks 'across the pond'?"
Russell laughed, taking his hand. The deputy mayor shook it with vivid enthusiasm. "You've grown so much, too. Your mother has been speaking so highly of you. Please, though, Virgil is fine! It is a pleasure to finally work alongside a prodigy such as yourself!"
Russell shook his head. "No, no, no. The pleasure is all mine, Sir. Really."
Mr Holloway sighed, a large grin still on his face. He slung an arm around Russell's back; a gentle hand between his wings guided him to his horse. Russell could see the outskirts of Venompeaks on the horizon. It was a much bigger town than he imagined.
So many new opportunities at his fingertips.
"You ever gonna call me Virgil?"
"Not if it keeps you this happy and amenable... Sir."
When Mr Holloway let out a booming laugh, Russell couldn't help but laugh alongside it.