Work Text:
The past few weeks have been nice. Theodore talks to Kidd before school and at lunch and talks to Buggs during class and gym.
Speaking of Buggs, that’s who he’s with right now. Under a tree teaching him to read surrounded by dandelions. Buggs has come a surprisingly long way in these few weeks.
Buggs looks up from his book, “Hey Theo?”
He looks up from the crown he’s making, “Yes Buggs?”
“What’s this word?” he points at a nonsense word in the book.
Theodore glances over his shoulder, “It’s just a non-sense word, it’s not particularly important.”
“Oh, thanks I guess,” Buggs flips the page.
“No problem,” he returns to his flower crown.
Buggs eventually finishes the book, “Are there any of these without nonsense words?”
He’s finished the crown by now, “I don’t know, I don’t think I used those ones.”
Buggs picks up a random book, “Which ones did you use then?”
“I stole Felix’s books, I don’t even remember what they were,” he shrugs, chuckling a bit at the memory.
“He had them but not you?” Buggs laughs at the stupidity.
“Yeah, guess who the favorite was,” he rolls his eyes.
Buggs nods, “You’ve painted quite the picture.”
“Good, someone needs to know,” he leans against the tree, staring another crown.
Buggs pauses, “How is it now?”
He looks at Buggs, “It’s better, busy but Father appreciates me now so that’s nice.”
“I really hope you don’t spend all your down time with me,” Buggs comments.
He shrugs, “I play chess with Father sometimes, turns out I’m pretty good.”
“Do you like chess?” Buggs asks
He finishes this crown too, “I like the strategy aspect, I’ve always liked strategy though.”
Buggs shrugs, “You can be the brains then, I’d rather stick with punch first ask later.”
“I’m fine with that, I’d rather not get my hands unnecessaryly dirty,” he stares at them.
After an uncomfortably long silence Buggs speaks up, “Theo? Are you good?”
He snaps out of his head, “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine just… thinking.”
“About Felix?” Buggs cautiously asks.
He sighs, “Maybe… I just feel… numb I guess? Nothing feels quite normal anymore and I’m not sure if it's because of Felix or because Father is treating me favorably or something else entirely.”
“That’s fair,” is all Buggs says.
He picks up a dandelion crown, “On another note, have this.”
Buggs hesitates before taking it, “Why are you giving this to me?”
“I have a matching one!” He smiles, warmer than it’s been in weeks.
Buggs still looks confused, “And?”
“Consider it a symbol of our friendship,” his tone returns to a cold one.
“Friends?” Buggs questions.
“Are we not? I think we’ve surpassed business partners at this point,” he shrugs.
“Yeah yeah, whatever you say Theo,” Buggs looks away.
“Come on, put on the crown Street rat,” he teases, putting his own on.
Buggs relents, “Fine, but only because it’s you Theo.”
“Yay! Thank you!” he hugs Buggs, some of the old Ted coming out.
Buggs puts the crown on, “You’re insufferable sometimes, you know that?”
He’s still hanging on Buggs’ neck, “Maybe, but I know you wouldn’t change it.”
Buggs smiles, “You’re right… I wouldn’t.”