Chapter Text
"Shhh, you'll be okay.... It's just one little-"
"Doc-"
"Chūya, look away from the needle."
"But-"
"Just look away from the needle."
“Now I can’t look away from the needle!”
“Look at me, not the needle.”
“I can’t..” Somehow, he was crying. He would never live this down, would he? “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I wouldn’t do it if you weren’t ready, you know.”
Albatross raised an eyebrow, before whispering to Piano Man.
“Why is he so scared? I mean, not trying to be a dick or anything but he never really struck me as the afraid of needles type.”
Piano Man facepalmed. Was Albatross stupid?
“If you knew half of what that kid went through…. With The Sheep and even with our boss—“
“No, I know that. But he was used to it! He joined them when he was so little. You learn how to navigate and now he doesn’t have to. Besides, Doc ain’t gonna hurt him.”
“He’s been with us for maybe a month now. Just because he knows us doesn’t mean he knows us. You see what I’m getting at? And we don’t know what he remembers or doesn’t remember.”
Sigh. “I guess…”
“Think about it like this. Would pet a random dog without letting it sniff you first?”
“If it’s cute enough—“
“No. Not if you’re smart enough.”
Piano Man paused, before continuing. Albatross just looked at him like he was crazy.
“Right now, Chūya is a dog. A really scared one. And unless we want him to bite, we have to let him come to us instead of the other way around. You get what I’m saying?”
Albatross narrowed his eyes for a moment and nodded.
“Yeahhh.” He said. “That makes sense.”
Piano Man chuckled, giving his friend a pat on the back. “Good. So we’re on the same wavelength, then.”
…
It was late at night. Chūya was fast asleep on the couch with a blanket, The Flags sitting on the floor and the chairs next to him.
“It’s so cold right now.” Iceman said, peering at the fireplace.
Lippmann adjusted his position, putting his hands close to the fire. His voice was soft and almost tired-sounding.
“Tell me about it. And it’s not even snowing outside, ripoff.”
“So, you finally got him to take the flu shot?” Piano Man said, turning his head to Doc.
“Heh, yeah.” Doc replied, his voice weak and slow.
“And he didn’t try to fight you?”
“Oh, he fought hard. He calmed down once I told him what I went through before I came here.”
“What you…”
“Conversation for another time.” He said, his smile faltering for a second.
“Right…” Piano Man said. “Sorry we had to step out, by the way.”
“No, no. It helped a lot. I think he was getting freaked out with all the eyes on him, heheh…”
“Can’t say I blame him. I don’t think I’d want everyone to be looking at me, either.”
They were interrupted by the sound of the youngling’s stirring.
“Awww!” Albatross exclaimed. “What a cutie. I just wanna hold him in my arms and sing a lullaby and-“
“He’s not a baby.” Iceman interrupted.
“You’re right, he’s more like a puppy. That’s what Piano Man was thinking.”
“A pit bull.”
“That’s a harmful stereotype. I had one growing up and she never did anything.” Lippmann replied.
Albatross grinned and covered Chūya with a blanket. “Awww, he’s got a little snot bubble!”
Piano Man gagged. “How is that cute?!” He said, a grimace present on his face.
“He’s so tiny! I just wanna put him in my pocket and take him everywhere!”
“You better hope he can’t hear you.”
“He’s like the baby brother I never had!”
Iceman facepalmed. “Oh, good grief…” He murmured, half to himself and half to the crowd. “You’re gonna wake him up, you know.”
“C’mon, man! Don’t be like that!”
“Normally I’m not, but this kid is softer than he seems-“
“Guys, don’t fight!”
“That’s not fighting! Fighting is a moment from now when my foot’s up his a-“
“Language!” Piano Man screamed.
“You’re a pussy!” Replied Albatross.
“Excuse you?!”
Doc just stared at them, completely dumbfounded. It was kinda entertaining, much to his surprise. They never really fought. But when they did, it was a million times better than anything you could find on TV nowadays.
He grinned with a sadistic delight as his friends began to verbally tackle each other.