Chapter Text
“Oh no you can’t eat that” Charles giggles to himself as Max holds up the Play-Doh cookie he has just made and tries to pop it in his mouth. In fairness Charles can see how it would be tempting, he’s bought the set with sparkly confetti in it and the “cookie” looks like it would be sweet and bursting with flavour. And maybe it would be, but there’s no way Max is getting to taste it despite the pout on the little's face when Charles stops him.
“But it’s a cookie” Max looks down at his creation and back to Charles pleadingly.
“It’s shaped like a cookie” Charles smiles, “But it’s just a model not real food”
Max pouts again, a little frown deepening on his forehead.
“You just made it so well that it looks exactly like a real cookie” Charles tries again, “Would you like me to get you a little snack and you can make some more models, maybe you can make a kitty friend for kitty?”
Max mulls it over before nodding his head and setting his “cookie” aside and getting to work on his next creation. The little has his kitty plushie sat on the table overseeing events and goes back to animatedly explaining to the stuffed toy what he is making.
‘I am going to make you a little snack Max, are you okay here?”
“Yes” Max nods and holds up the Play-Doh he has just rolled into a ball, “I will make a friend for kitty”
“Thats good” Charles hums contently, now 99% sure Max isn’t going to try and devour the doh the second he turns his back. The Monegasque steps through to the kitchen and watches discreetly for a few moments but all little Maxie’s concentration now seems to be on building his newest little model. Charles grabs some veggies ready to cut up, peering around the door another couple of times to settle his nerves. This really is another tester day for him and Max. Things have been going well with their little play dates so far but it’s not like they have any agreed formal caregiver relationship. It’s not necessary of course, some little don’t ever have a permanent caregiver but Charles thinks stability for Max would be a good thing. The little has actually been surprisingly open once he drops into headspace but regular Max is still a little hesitant between each drop. Charles just hopes these shorter sessions will be enough to show Max the benefits of allowing himself these moments and realising that Charles really can care for him. Not that Charles is the most confident caregiver in the world. He is still learning and mostly going on instinct but so far there have been no major incidents.
Until.
Charles startles as he hears a blood curdling scream coming from the living room. The Monegasque immediately drops what he is doing and flies back through, his heart pounding hard against his chest. Max is hiding in the corner of the room clutching his plushie to his chest. The little’s face is bright red and he is crying genuine tears. Charles takes a step forward but Max shrieks and covers his face and points one hand towards the table.
And it’s then that Charles spots what Max is so terrified of and it takes every ounce of self control he has ever had not to scream just as high pitched and as desperate as the little is. On the centre of the table is the largest spider Charles has ever laid eyes on.
“Oh it’s okay Max” Charles coos softly as he shuffles away from the table and towards where the little is cowering in the corner of the room. Charles doesn’t blame Max at all, he’s half inclined to just cower there with him and wait for the uninvited house guest to leave
“Spider” Max frowns and rubs at his eyes as he huddles closer to Charles’ body for comfort.
“You don’t like spiders?” Charles asks gently, he’s not exactly fond of them himself. As the spider scuttles across the table Max grips his hands into Charles’ t-shirt and screams again.
“It won’t hurt you” Charles soothes, as much to himself as to the little who is desperately clinging at him and still sniffling and sobbing, “Its just come to say hello”
Max peeks out over Charles’ shoulder to look at the spider but then thinks better of it and buries his head back into the caregiver’s body.
“It’s okay to be scared but he is just looking at what you’ve been making” Charles comforts as he strokes his hand through Max’s hair. The little’s sobs have slowed to quiet little sniffles but he’s still got an iron grip on Charles’ shirt.
“I suppose he has probably seen what he wants to see now though” Charles is already getting the sinking feeling he is actually going to have to try and remove the spider and he’s pretty sure he can’t hoover it up or squish it with a shoe or something, that’s not exactly going to be a good look in front of little Max, “Shall I see if he wants to go back outside?”
Max nods frantically and Charles steels himself and gently prises himself away from Max before sprinting through to the kitchen to get a glass and then opening the living room window ready.
“Do you want to say goodbye?” Charles looks over at Max who is still looking over wide eyed with kitty clutched tightly to his chest.
“Bye” Max says, seemingly more out of a desire to see the spider gone than anything else, “Bye” the little repeats again and gives a nervous little wave.
Charles takes a deep breath and reaches out for a piece of paper, the Monegasque almost jumping out of his skin as the spider moves across the table again.
“I think he is ready to go now” Charles mumbles as he presses a glass over the spider and tries not to heave as he scoots it towards the edge of the table so he can get a piece of paper underneath it. The Monegasque’s heart rate increases, he’s not sure he’s ever been voluntarily this close next to a spider before. He can see its legs and if he looks close enough he’s sure he can see its eyes staring him down.
This is all for little Maxie though and the thought makes Charles a little braver than normal. The caregiver makes his way over to the window and tips the spider out to the ledge before closing the window as quickly as humanly possible.
“He’s gone sweetie” Charles breathes out shakily, his hands trembling a little with adrenaline.
“Gone” Max repeats but stays routed to the corner as he wipes at his eyes.
“Oh Max” Charles encourages Max up off of the floor and on to the couch where the little happily clambers into his lap and cuddles in as tight as he can, “He has gone now, he was just trying to be friendly though”
Max makes a little whining sound but settles a little as Charles continues to stroke his back.
“You like animals don’t you? You like kitty?” Charles presses a kiss on top of Max’s head. His hair smells of coconut and it’s all fluffy given that it’s not been stuffed under a red bull cap all day.
“Well bugs are animals too. They are just smaller but they are still friendly” Charles isn’t sure he truly believes everything he is saying and he guesses that ‘big’ Max must have a thing against spiders too seen as little Max was so terrified and children tend to be more open to insects. He definitely doesn’t want to make any fear worse though.
“But they are really wiggly” Max mumbles quietly against Charles’ neck.
“It’s not bad to be wiggly” Charles chuckles quietly, “You are wiggly and I think you are pretty great”
Max gives Charles a little look of confusion like he’s trying to work everything through in his mind.
“You don’t think you are wiggly?”
“Not as wiggly as spiders” Max murmurs but then shrieks and giggles loudly as Charles starts tickling his sides.
“Oh no” Charles can’t help but laugh along with Max as he tickles him and the little squiggles about on his lap, “I think you are very wiggly right now”
Max screeches and squeals and flails around until he gets rosy cheeked and Charles eventually lets up. The little takes a few moments to catch his breath but is smiling widely and still giggling a little to himself.
“You feeling better now Maxie?” Charles coos softly and gets a huge hug in return, “Thats good, you want me to finish making your snack? You can come with me or you can keep playing with kitty?”
Max chews lightly down on his lip, “Play with kitty”
“Thats good” Charles hums softly as he eases Max off of his lap and Max toddles back off to where he’s got all his Play-Doh laid out.
This time Charles peels and chops the veggies at record speed before plating them up with some hummus dip and coming back through.
“What have you made?” Charles looks down at Max’s new masterpiece.
“Made a friend” Max lifts up the flat rounded bit of Play-Doh with little spindly legs on either side, “In case the spider comes back”
“You made a spider?” Charles sets the snacks down and gets a closer look at the little Play-Doh spider Max is thrusting at him.
“Can give it to the spider when he comes back” Max nods, “So he isn’t lonely”
Charles feels his heart swelling as he looks at the sincere little expression on Max’s face, “That is so sweet of you Max. Should I put him on the windowsill and then the spider can come and visit him?”
Max nods his head as he follows Charles over to set the colourful little spider down next to the window. As the little claps his hands in excitement and presses his face up to the glass to see if the real life spider is coming back to visit Charles feels a little bit of pride that he might have done a good thing and that despite his lack of experience he is doing okay.
As Max suddenly launches into his arms he can’t help but scoop up the little and give him the biggest cuddles ever, he really has been such a big brave boy today.