Work Text:
Tears flowed down the eyes of the small girl who was weeping into her arm as she stood all alone under the oak tree in the forest.
While playing toss, her doll had gotten trapped between the branches of the tree when she accidentally tossed her a little too high.
The girl cried and cried for help, hoping for someone to hear her unanswered pleads, but no one came to her aid, making matters worse.
That is, until Philip approached her, wearing his brown mask.
He noticed that she looked to be the same age as him.
While playing alone in the forest, his ears picked up on the sound of crying, and he made the decision to follow it.
The brunette slowly tilts his head at the girl, wondering what was wrong.
Just then, at that moment, the doll in the tree slowly slips out of its entrapment and falls into the hands of Philip, who catches it coincidentally.
After a few sniffles, the girl lowers her arm and sees Philip holding her doll.
Such a sight causes her to let out a surprised gasp, her demeanor immediately lighting up with delight.
'This boy!' she squealed to herself. 'He saved my dolly! He's a hero!'
"Thank you!" the girl exclaimed to Philip with glee as she takes her doll.
Without delay, the girl leans forward and places a gentle kiss on the side of her hero's mask before skipping off in the direction of town with a giggle.
Meanwhile, Philip remained frozen as he watched the girl leave, wondering what the mysterious feeling that had just entered his stomach was.
The feeling was new and certainly strange.
He felt as though he had just consumed an entire jar filled with one billion butterflies.
...
"Philip, what's wrong?" Caleb had asked as he took a seat beside his brother on the porch stoop of their home.
Caleb noticed the absence of eye contact Philip has been giving him throughout the day.
"Is everything alright?" While staring down, Philip replied with a small nod of his head.
Caleb knew that wasn't the case.
"Is it about me?" the blonde gently inquired.
Philip slowly shook his head.
"Another boy?"
Philip answers with another small head shake.
"Hmm...," Brown eyes begin to take notice of Philip's stiffened posture and somewhat sweaty palms.
A playful smile soon took over Caleb's face as he spoke once more. "Is it about... a girl?" he hummed in a teasing tone.
A small squeak escaped Philip as he tried to hide his burning face, despite his mask already doing so.
"N-No! Girls are icky!" he told his brother, coughing out his embarrassment.
Caleb couldn't help but chuckle as he began to pat Philip's back.
Looks like he had a lot to teach his brother about the opposite gender.