Chapter Text
“Okay, it’s okay, we can fix this,” Amelia said, holding her baby brother’s hands in hers, “Okay Prompto we can get this right by six. Now, say: dah.”
Prompto blinked. He opened his mouth, mumbled, laughed, and pointed at Amelia’s hair. “Chokebo!”
“I don’t know why I’m even bothering this is so stupid. Prompto. Say- ‘dah’!”
“Buh, buh ba boh.”
“Holy shit you’re so cute. Dah. Dah. Dah.” Amelia pointed at her mouth. “Like that. Dah.”
“Shhhhiiiiiii-”
“No! No no no no-”
“Ssshhhhhhiiiiid. Dah.”
“Yes!”
“No no no no no.” Prompto awkwardly stood up, wobbled on his feet, and began wandering down the hallway where Miss Asha could be heard humming to herself. “No no shid.”
Amelia looked at the clock on the wall. She had two hours to convince her brother ‘dah’ was the best sound ever to make. Maybe then he could say it when Cor got home and they could all pretend Prompto’s first word was ‘dada’ and he’d be super happy and bond further with Prompto. It was very important that Prompto get to feel like he was in a stable, loving environment with a real dad.
It was important for Prompto. That’s all. That’s the only reason she cared.
Miss Asha walked back into the living room, holding the boy, and set him down on the couch. “Why don’t you watch some cartoons until I finish with the dishes?”
Amelia frowned in disapproval. “He’s a baby, he’s not supposed to have screen time yet.”
Miss Asha simply gave her a pat on the head. “Maybe you can turn it into an educational experience. You’ll come get me if there’s an emergency, right?”
Nope.
“Yeah.”
Miss Asha smiled and walked back to the kitchen. The television filled with multi-colored cactuars hopping around and making baby noises. Amelia was ready to turn it off until the smallest cactuar said, “Dada!”
She froze, making sure her brother was paying attention. Prompto was practically hypnotized by the simplistic animation style and eye meltingly bright colors.
“Dada!” the little cactuar cried again.
“Da de de de da.” Prompto said.
“Yes! Yes yes yes, do it again!”
Prompto chewed on his hand and mumbled nonsense as the cactuar went through a series of single or double syllable words. Until, a yellow bird joined the green creature.
“CHOKEBO!” the two year old yelled. “Shiiiiii.”
“Oh, it’s hopeless,” Amelia wailed, leaning back against the couch. “Well I tried, it’s Cor’s problem now.”
“Kweh kweh!” The cartoon bird cried.
“Dada?” The cactuar asked. The chocobo nodded. Then the two walked together off screen and found a larger chocobo.
“Kweh!” The small chocobo cried and ran to the bigger one.
“Dada,” the cactuar said offscreen as the camera zoomed in on the large bird. “Baby.” The camera panned to the small one currently hugging the Dad chocobo. Then the two birds walked to another large chocobo wearing a pink ribbon. “Mama.”
“What kind of backwards bullsh-”
“Mimi,” Prompto said and pointed at her. “Mimi!”
“Mi-...like, Ay-mi?”
“Mimi!”
Amelia felt the stupid sensation of an incoming emotional meltdown.
“Da,” Prompto squeaked and pointed at the front door. “Da da da da.”
“How...are you so perfect?”
Everything was set. Prompto was in his highchair. Dinner was on the table. Cor was by the door having his daily debrief with Miss Asha. As soon as they were done and their guardian joined them Amelia would spring the trap.
“Okay, just like we practiced all day. Prompto? Prompto, focus,” she waved a hand in front of his face to pull his attention from the cookies sitting in the kitchen. “Stay with me. Okay,” she pointed at Prompto, “baby.”
“Baaaaybee.”
She pointed at herself. “Mimi.”
“Mimi!”
“Aaaand.” She pointed at Cor who was walking towards the table while putting his wallet back in his pocket.
“And what?” he sighed, “what did I do?”
“Dah dah!”
Amelia watched in reserved delight as the intended effect unfurled: dawning realization, disbelief, then joy followed by Prompto being scooped from his highchair into a big happy hug.
“He’s been practicing all day,” Amelia said smugly, “one and two syllable sounds, slightly ahead of his age cohort. All of those reading sessions have paid off.”
“Da da da da da,” Prompto rambled while slapping his hands against Cor’s laughing face.
“Good job, Ami, “ Cor said while putting him back, “he’s lucky to have a big sister like you.”
Amelia’s face felt hot. “Yeah but...it was because of the cartoon,” she mumbled.
“The what?”
Prompto pointed towards the television. “Chokebo!”
Amelia faked a look of surprise. “Wow Prompto, that’s...so many words! In just one day!”
Cor looked at her knowingly. “Eat your dinner, Mimi,” he said with a smirk.