#krow angst

*racks brains for a way to get a better ending*

Krow has black market contacts. They wouldn’t help him with this but he can probably access medical equipment and possibly kidnap a doctor or contact a, um, freelancer.

It would come with massive risks but Dove might get medical care.

There are some lines he won't cross, to be clear, some some... if he hadn't already, he would for Dove. Even if it makes him feel ill and revolting.

Krow… they can’t mean that. There’s another way. You don’t have to do this.

Petition for Luke to win the lottery and retire to Florida, leaving the business (with a slightly more comfortable salary/opportunity to expand) to Krow.

Or for Krow to last undetected long enough to claim squatters rights and sell the property.

The freelancer is probably his best option.

To perhaps give a bit of a softer take, there's likely doctors out there doing under the table care for people. Some a bit more sketch than others, perhaps asking a bit more than they should with some of these doctors. But perhaps Krow CAN find one of these kinder doctors to get care for Dove.

I'll reiterate, again, some things he won't do for Dove (he's not gonna traffic people) but killing certain people for money? Even if the targets seem like good people? Innocent even? In his mind, he's already killed before, for way lesser reasons.

He can do this.

He HAS to.

It's for you.

kjkdhvsdfg

I like some good endings. Maybe in some timeline, that's what happens.

It's Christmas, everyone at work got each other lottery tickets or scratch offs, just for the funsies. It was all mixed together so no one knew who bought which ticket or who it came for.

Luke happens to win, and win BIG.

Luke, being the generous man he is, would share his winnings with everyone in the company. They may not be able to retire like he can, but boy they'd have a comfy nest.

Krow could be the one to inherit the company. Have the finances to keep it stable, for it to grow.

Angst/Fluff, SFW - still MDNI🔞

Krow belongs to @thekrows-nest while the Dove OC (Paloma) is mine.

Notes: Please excuse the very short fic, I’m pretty blocked right now.

I made this a late Valentine’s Day for the angst. Also just in case I didn’t finish this/it wasn’t seen in time.

I also had to Google the weather in the place I have as a mental stand-in for Columbidae City, so while there is a rainy season that could push these two together under shelter, I’ve probably taken some creative licence and slightly exaggerated how fresh the mildly cool weather is. Just as an excuse to get shy touch averse Dove to hug up with someone who is only casually familiar.

There’s some slight foreshadowing if you squint. So enjoy.

…

It’s Valentine’s Day! 

Heart in their mouth, Krow goes to their favourite cafe, hoping for a good spot to sketch Dove from. And the courage to slip them the expensive box of chocolates they bought.

Unfortunately the cafe is a lot more popular than they counted on. It’s so busy Krow doesn’t even get to speak to Dove. They’re a distant flustered figure bobbing between the back and the counter, ringing up faster than they’re accustomed to, and hanging back while Gabby tears strips off the entitled couples.

Krow scans the sea of oblivious lovebirds for a place to sit but finds nowhere. Everyone else is gazing into a matched pair of eyes and nobody seems to even see them. Gabby is now raising her voice back and Dove is gone. So as much as Gabby hates Krow, there’s an even smaller chance of being served quickly than usual.

Despite the noise cancelling headphones the environment is overstimulating and Krow feels a growing meltdown. There are surges of being invisible, excluded, trying to suppress panic and rage without publicly biting at their hands. They decide to just leave.

Dejected, Krow goes home and climbs straight into a cold empty bed, curling up for some kind of comfort.

In the morning they see the chocolate box sitting on the counter by itself and it upsets them all over again. Sighing, they decide to go to the food bank (they had to go anyway) to drop those off. Those chocolates were budgeted for and look delicious but Krow just can’t bear to eat an unwanted gift alone.

Walking through the park they tell themselves it was just another day. Back to reality. In their ears Lionel Ritchie sings ‘Stuck On You’. A cool wind seems to blow through their well washed hoodie and into an empty space in their chest. 

Finally glancing up Krow hesitates and yanks their headphones down. Approaching in the distance that almost looks like… Dove? 

They recognise Krow. “Krow?! I think I saw you yesterday but we were so slammed. Where did you go?” They spot the chocolates. “Ah ha. Did you wait to get those half price? That’s good thinking.”

It suddenly begins to spit, the oppressive clouds threatening heavier rain. Still chatting they walk to the nearest bench with some shelter. 

Dove has to squeeze over to avoid a damp spot and lower down awkwardly off balance, bracing their hand on the seat behind Krow’s shoulders. In a daze, Krow tentatively steadies their waist. Dove is forced to sit so close they allow their arm to slip around Krow. “Is this ok? You look a bit cold without a jacket.”

Their respective heights are a little awkward this way but Krow slumps down gratefully and tucks themselves in under Dove’s protective arm like a wing. Dove thinks it’s the cold and envelops Krow tighter, bundling their stocky body and soft textured hoodie in closer. Both of the pair’s cheeks are flushed.

Dove is less shy one on one and with someone slightly familiar. They’ve served Krow many times and the short artist is always sitting quietly in the background, a reassuring presence as they work. Normally they can’t stand being touched but right now it feels natural to huddle and warm the cute slightly smaller person up.

Dove murmurs about their favourite pigeons while idly crumbling a bag of stale bread with their fingers, hoping for some to appear, and Krow studies their free hand. There are slight calluses on their fingertips and smudges of coloured chalk in their nails. They can feel Dove breathing and suddenly the grey drizzling weather can’t touch them.

Dove sighs quietly in relief. “This is so much nicer than the cafe. At least there’s somewhere to sit down. We’re the smart ones alright.” 

After a while Krow takes initiative and hopefully proffers the box. They murmur slyly. “E-even leftover i-it would be a pity to eat these alone, Dove...” 

Oh man… I hear about the medical debt situation in America, or how SSI keeps disabled people poor and they get their benefits cut if they marry.

A Dove that is disabled, needs a lot of hospital visits, or in general is just a huge financial burden on Krow? 😭 How is the birb gonna handle it

It is absolutely, monstrously fucked. There's so many horror stories of people dying because of medical debt or being forced to wait for care. It's ghoulish. I guarantee every person in America has a personal story regarding how fucked the medical system is.

Anyhoo.

It would honestly not be without great strife and hardship. Luckily, Krow is fairly able bodied and lacking some morals.

I've already said he does... things to get extra cash on the side that is far from what normal, good people do. He does it even with a Dove that is more able bodied, a Dove where they HAVE to rely on him to get/afford treatment?

Krow will do anything he can to make it happen.

Become a hitman? Make people disappear for their organs? Smuggles firearms, drugs or such? Yes.

There are some lines he won't cross, to be clear, some some... if he hadn't already, he would for Dove.

Abandon Dove and the child… or endanger them?

*soap opera music*

Krowspiracy asking the tough questions lmao.

Man, he would be so fucking torn.

Having a family that truly loves him and that he can care for is really his biggest want and need in life. To have it, and that it is in danger because of him would uhh... ruin him.

What he does kind of depends a bit on Dove, but ultimately it would still be some variation of "I have to leave for yours and our child(s) safety, please don't come after me" but the key difference would be an added on "if I can fix this, I will come back, I'll do what I can to support from a distance until I do".

He doesn't want to abandon Dove ESPECIALLY if they have some kiddos (bio or not). But he also cannot imagine being in a space where he very likely could hurt (or worse kill) Dove or the kids because of this... issue.

Angst - it’s the paid-for coffees from the suspended coffee program and doesn’t mean flirting

Fluff - Dove is paying for them/sneaking Krow freebies and they have heart designs in the foam

Oh man.

For the angst - Krow would... Likely realize what's going on. It'd sting a bit that Dove is not only giving him free coffees from the program (does he really look that destitute? Is it that obvious?) but that it's out of pity. He might eventually refuse and just save up to actually buy coffees... and try to make a move. Not come on too strong, he'd get a reading on them, but try to gauge how much of a chance he has... and depending, the yan tendencies will rise or fall. Of course there's also Gabby to consider.

I'm not familiar with the syndrome but I'll do my best to answer. (Do you mean Stockholm syndrome?)

So usually Krow wouldn't kidnap Dove unless he feels no other choice to keep them in his life, and it would take a lot for him to be pushed to do such. Keeping that in mind, if this does happen and Dove decides that they need him in his life... Upon finding out the info he would that he would bring inevitable harm to Dove... He'd try to get them back with other friends and family that could look after them (how? He just does, trust. /silly)

It pains him, especially here since Dove WANTS to stay with him so desperately.

But he cannot risk it. It's too dangerous.

if (in a perfect world where Dove doesn't trigger Krow's jealousy too much) Krow and Dove actually have a life together, marriage, kids, the whole nine yards..

would Krow still leave? o:

Oooh. That is a good, good question. And a tough one.

If he had all of that. The perfect family with Dove, a lovely home, all of that.

And when (it's not if but when) the thing that does... spook him into wanting to leave Dove like I had originally mentioned happens...

I hate to say it. But unfortunately yes.

Now he would give more warning, a bit more explanation (and it does depend on your Dove on just how much he explains, and precisely what all he says).

But yes.

He would leave.

He can't risk your life Dove. Or your kids.

Be absolute tragedy is what.

He wouldn't just ghost Dove (as in you all were talking well and he suddenly disappears.)

He would send a message along the lines of.