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Where did this kid even come from? Ah, wait, he knew the answer. The poor kid was from a rescue case by Martha... Human trafficking. He recalled Naib identifying the child with Witch blood- and he was correct. There was a small sparkle in his small blue eyes that would otherwise never be seen. The essence of magic.
But whatever, he was supposed to entertain this kid for a few weeks, right? Since it'd be better for someone with experience with the supernatural to watch him.
At first, the little boy was terrified of him, with his pale appearance and unnaturally white hair. Hell, when he first saw Wanderer, he'd burst into tears on the spot, right in Naib's arms.
But he got used to him... And, dare he say, he started to like him.
Wanderer's been the one to watch him for the time being, since Naib has been going out with Miss Lily lately. She wanted to get a scoop on something, but unfortunately, said scoop involved local gangs. So, as the one who worked from home, Naib offered to serve as her "bodyguard" until she got her scoop. Which meant he'd be gone from 10am to 7pm. And that also meant Wanderer was stuck entertaining the kid for nine freaking hours.
"Ba..." He felt a light tug on his pant leg and looked down over the counter of the sink to see big blue eyes blinking at him. Right, he wasn't exactly verbal. It was most likely a result from his trauma. The poor thing must have suffered a lot, and he was glad Martha managed to get the perpetrators in prison. They could rot for all he cared.
"Hey kid, what's up?"
"Mmm.... Ba." The kid does a funny gesture with his hands. Wanderer has no idea what that means.
"Hungry? You just had dinner though.."
He shakes his head.
"Mm... Sleepy?"
He shakes his head again.
"Uh... Wanna go outside?"
Nope, not that either.
This time, the clever little brat looked towards the living room and pointed over there. Ah. He wanted to watch TV.
"Ohh, right okay. Go and turn on the TV, I'll be with you in just a moment." The little kid smiled excitedly and ran over to the living room, crawling onto the couch and turning on the TV. Cute.
After cleaning off the last dish, Wanderer dried his hands and headed off to sit with the kid on the couch, who's eyes were already glued to the screen. Hmm. Mr. Mystery? Did kids like mystery shows like that these days? Oh, well, at least he seemed interested.
While the kid watched the show (very excitedly in fact), Wanderer just scrolled on his phone, shooting a couple texts to his husband but also making sure the kid didn't lean too far and fall off the couch. He distinctly hears a character on screen say "daddy" though.
"Da?"
Huh?
"What'd you say?" He turns to look at the little boy quizzically, his sparkly blue eyes staring at him.
"Da..."
Oh, fuck.
"Please don't call me daddy..."
The little shit grins.
"Dada!"
The vampire groans as the little boy got excited and tugged at his shirt.
"Daddy!!"
"Ohh come on, I'm not your daddy-"
He's not listening.
So, he kept trying to explain to him he wasn't his daddy, but the kid was just adamant on calling him that. Please. He wasn't ready for children yet! Wanderer didn't hear the footsteps approach the couch and a bag being placed on the floor.
"If he's daddy, what does that make me?"
Wanderer almost leaped out of his skin, jesus christ, what the fuck.
"N-Naib!! Help me! He's calling me daddy and I don't-"
"Mama!"
Hound chokes on laughter, the poor child looking confused and Wanderer looking like he's about to cry. This was not funny!!!
"A-aww, that is so cute. Thanks, Springy." Hound snickers, wiping away a tear. Spring seems proud to have made him laugh.
"Naaaaib..." Wanderer whines, and his husband finally relinquishes on making fun of him, reaching over the couch to pick up the child, who happily held onto his shirt as he was lifted into the air.
"I think it's bed time for the little guy, hm? What do you think?" Hound pokes the child on the cheek gently with a smile, and almost as if on cue, Spring started yawning and cuddling against his chest.
"I'll be right back." Hound says, quietly, and disappears up the stairs to put him to bed. While gone, Wanderer flopped over on the couch, burying his face in one of the cushions and groaning. He couldn't deny it, the kid was too cute! But being called daddy?!
...
Well... It didn't sound too bad, actually... But... The boy would probably have to leave at some point right? Getting attached was dangerous, but maybe... If...
The vampire lays there with his thoughts, just waiting for Hound to come back so he could discuss this with him. He wasn't sure, he really didn't know if this was a good idea, really. But he'd gotten used to Spring being in the house, running around and giggling when they played tag, watching the little one help Hound with the flowers... If he left, the house would feel...
"He's asleep." He hears Hound say as he came down the stairs. Wanderer sits up, and Hound takes a seat next to him.
"How was today?" He asked, and the ex-assassin hummed quietly.
"Uneventful. Miss Lily almost got into it with one of the gang members, but other than that it was fine."
Wanderer chuckles and shakes his head. "She's a fiery one, that woman."
Hound laughs along. "Indeed, she is. Now then, how was your day with Spring?"
Hmm...
"It was fine. We went for a walk earlier for the daily exercise Ada recommended, then we came home for dinner. Oh, and then he watched TV for the rest of the hour before you came back."
"Before he started calling you... Daddy?" Hound had a horrible, despicable grin on his face. Wanderer whines.
"Naaaaib...."
"Okay, okay. You didn't seem to absolutely hate it though."
"Mmm.... No..."
"What's holding you back?"
What was...
"I dunno. He's gonna have to go you know? What if we both get too attached before then?"
"Hm? Well, true, I guess... But you know, I've been thinking for a few days..." Hound shuffles over to rest his head against his shoulder. "What if... What if we adopted him officially? Raised him as our own?"
"We can do that?"
"Of course we can."
He looks up at him.
"Only if you're willing to."
"Of- of course I am! I, um..." Wanderer is about to cry again. "Oh... I'm gonna be a dad..."
"I think you already are, Norton."
Ugh, oh yeah....
"Well, uh..."
Hound snickered before reaching over to mess with his hair a little.
"Don't worry. You can let him call you daddy all you want now."
Wanderer smiled and nods. Right. Spring has a daddy now.
He was a dad.