Okay. So, I've had this idea since I started working out (bleh), and all these Black Raven fics inspired me to write it. (Plus, Crow's just... too amazing.) Hope you like it! ;)

Setting: Misthallery, shortly after Last Specter.

"H-how much further?" Crow panted heavily as he jogged across the long stretch of forest floor, Badger running easily in front of him.

"Not far," the taller boy answered, continuing at his quick, steady pace.

The Ravens' leader sighed. His lungs were burning, his forehead drenched with sweat, and every other part of him aching dreadfully. "I... It's not like I'm... tired or anything, Badge," he assured his athletic friend, "but... Y'know. I've just got... other things... to do."

What the heck was I thinkin'?

After his crew had protected the town from the evil specter, Crow had realized how amazing they really were. This, of course, led him to thinking about how things would be without them. With this thought in mind, he decided that he wanted to do something for them-to intentionally spend quality time with them. He wouldn't let on about his intentions, sentimental as they were, but he'd join them in whatever it was they did, no matter what.

For Badger, of course, this meant rising before the sun, heading for the woods, and jogging for miles on end. Naturally, Crow was beginning to rethink his plan. Even so, he trudged wearily along at his friend's tail, desperately trying to keep up with him.

At last, Badger began to slow his pace, stopping as the trees cleared. Looking up hopefully, Crow was caught by a fantastic sight. As they stopped, the woods made way for a ledge that hung over the river. On the horizon, the golden sun was just starting its ascent to its place in the sky, painting the clouded canvas with vibrant splashes of oranges and pinks as it went.

"Wow..." Crow breathed, taking in the scene. "It's..." There were no words that were both fitting and Crow-worthy, so he left the sentence to finish itself.

"Yeah," Badger replied simply, then turned back to the woods. "Let's head back." With that, he began to jog again.

"B-b-b... Ugh..."

"Why the heck are you just standing here?!"

"I just wanna talk to you. Is that wrong?"

"I'm not buyin' it." Marilyn really wasn't buying it. In all of her years with Crow, she had never known him to come by just to talk. "You want somethin'."

"I don't!" he insisted, throwing up his hands. "I just wanna talk to you!"

"'Bout what?" She crossed her arms skeptically.

He shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Whatever you want."

An evil smirk spread across her face. "Okay, then. Let's talk about... boys."

His eyes grew wide in disgusted shock, but he quickly collected himself. "Alright, then," he agreed. "Go on."

Raising her eyebrows in satisfied confusion, she went on. "Kay. Hm..." She scanned her mind for a proper subject. "What about... Badger?"

"What about him?"

"I dunno. He's kinda cute."

Turning to her in surprise, Crow found that she wasn't blushing in the slightest. Rather, she stood calmly, looking out across the market. He was absolutely lost for words.

His face, however, spoke volumes.

"Gosh, Crow," she laughed. "You'd think you'd never met a girl before."

For just a second, he almost wished he hadn't.

"Is this really what you do all day?"

"Yup," Louis smiled, shifting to a more comfortable position.

"Gosh," Crow breathed in disbelief. "You just stand here and wait for new customers to come 'round?"

Shrugging, the tall boy nodded. "It's my job."

"Gosh," he repeated, looking out over the scene. As leader of the Black Ravens, he was always busy. If he wasn't doing one thing, he was busy doing another. While he enjoyed the occasional break, standing around doing nothing was not on his agenda. "It's gotta stink, eh?"

"Nah," Louis smiled. "Besides, there's always Marilyn." He tipped his head toward the produce stand where Marilyn was busy helping a customer. "She's pretty nice."

"Yeah," Crow agreed. "Guess you're right."

This was originally supposed to be a one-shot, but I decided to make it a four-part. Hope you liked part one! It gets better! ;D

Thanks for reading!

God bless!

-LittleBrotherSocket