Work Text:
An approving smile starts to spread a mile long on Caleb Wittebane’s face as he reads the letter that was addressed to him to himself.
Caleb Wittebane,
We write to you this letter as a gift of gratitude for your contributions to our town. We thank you for your hard work and dedication in making Gravesfield a safe and prosperous place for its citizens.
That last part really made his grin grow tremendously.
It seems like a certain someone (him) was doing a fantastic job fitting in so much that he had been sent a thank you letter from the community.
If there’s one thing a guy like him appreciates, it’s being appreciated.
Nevertheless, the next sentence caught the oldest off guard, as the happy expression that he held slowly faded.
However, we take great issues with your brother.
They took issue with Philip?
A brow raises in confusion at the complaint.
His little brother was such a sweet boy.
Odd?
Sure, (he’d be lying if he said that him bringing dead animals to the house for tea didn’t spook him out at times) but he was still a good kid.
Philip was just…different, and that wasn’t a bad thing.
Skimming forward, he saw the whinges grow longer and longer.
'Troublemaker, menace, and devil child’ were some of the notable words used to describe Philip.
Finishing up the complimentary close with a sigh, Caleb heard familiar footsteps rushing into the kitchen.
A jovial Philip entered the room with what appeared to be a large fluffy rat in his hands?
Caleb wasn’t sure.
It was a medium-sized animal that was no longer alive, with thick fur, a long nose, and a prehensile tail.
“Caleb, Caleb!" Philip beamed. "Look who I found lying around in the leaves!” He happily held up his new friend for his brother to see.
“I’m gonna call him Kitty!” Philip proclaimed, shining a big smile, showing off his teeth.
“Pip, I’m not sure what animal that is, but it’s definitely not a cat,” Caleb lightly informed with a small chuckle.
His brother was so silly sometimes.
“Oh, I know! His name is Kitty!” Philip explains, his eyes shifting to the paper in Caleb’s hand.
“Hey, what’s that?” he asks, blinking at his brother, awaiting an answer.
“Oh, this?”
'Shoot, he saw', Caleb thought.
Not only that, but now the spotlight’s been put on the oldest.
What should he say?
His baby brother was far too innocent to know the truth, and Caleb didn’t want to see him sad over this.
Does he lie?
Perhaps stretch the truth out a little for Philip's sake?
“It’s nothing!” Caleb quickly and nervously reassures with false laughter, folding the parchment paper in fourths before placing it in his pocket.
“Don’t worry about it!”
Philip tilts his head some, side eyeing his brother. “Are you sure?” He squints.
He felt that Caleb was concealing a secret from him.
The blonde could clearly see and sense Philip’s suspicions of him.
Caleb was aware of his obviousness and the wrongness of lying, but despite these things, he remained silent about the letter, answering Philip with a mere nod.
“I'm certain! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a moment!”
As Caleb swiftly took off to the other room (likely to take some deep breaths and calm himself down), he failed to notice the letter slip out of his pocket.
Philip, on the other hand, does.
Looking to Kitty, he asks the dead opossum, “Do you think I should investigate?”
“…”
“…I think so, too!”
His new friend was undoubtedly smart.
Putting Kitty down on the table, Philip picked the paper up and began unfolding it.
Silently skimming past all the uninteresting stuff, he finally discovered his name.
As he read on, he saw the word that made his heart sink.
'Devil child.'
A sullen expression appeared on his face.
He wasn’t a devil child… was he?
...
At night, Caleb was tucking in Philip after telling him a bedtime tale.
Philip still seemed to be fretting over the letter he read.
'devil child, Devil child, DEVIL CHILD.'
The word just wouldn’t leave his head.
It loudly echoed and haunted his mind like an unwanted ghost.
As Caleb started to leave after saying goodnight to his little brother, Philip let out a sigh.
“They think I’m bad… Don’t they?” he quietly uttered out.
Hearing that, Caleb looked back at Philip, his visage showing great concern.
“Who?” Caleb asked with a gentle voice, heading back.
He took a seat on Philip's bed.
“Them," Philip revealed with a small whimper before continuing. "Everyone. They all think I’m bad.” He sniffled between words, attempting to contain the tears that were about to fall.
“Maybe they’re right…”
As Philip's tears spill from his eyes, Caleb's hand immediately goes to wipe them away.
“No, they’re not, Pip. That’s just not true.” Caleb proceeds to wrap an arm around Philip, bringing his brother close to his side.
“Sure, you can be a bit strange at times, but that doesn’t make you bad. You’re a sweet boy, not to mention very special. It's their fault if they can't see that.”
Both Caleb's arms soon wrap around Philip in a brotherly embrace.
“You’re good, Philip Wittebane. Always have been, always will. Remember that, okay?”
Philip nodded and returned the hug, happy tears now welling in his eyes.
“Okay.”
...
Epilogue:
Philip: But Caleb?
Caleb: Yes, Philip?
Philip: I know you said that I’m not, but…if I were bad…would you…still like me?
Caleb: Yes!
Philip: You would?
Caleb: Of course! You could be the baddest bad guy to ever live and I would still love you very much. You’re my baby brother, Pip!
Philip: Oh! Well, okay then. Ooo, can Kitty join us for tea tomorrow?
Caleb: Kitty? (Realization soon hits him as he becomes internally petrified. In his mind.) THAT DEAD THING IS STILL ON THE TABLE! (Outwardly to Philip in a kind and gentle tone, a hint of nervousness trailing in his voice.) Definitely! I don’t see why not. The more, the merrier, I always say!
Philip: Yay!