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Inside the apartment, the TV blared. On the screen was a news reporter, the man who usually did the Bloxburgs Daily channel. The breaking headline today was one that most robloxians were familiar with in this town. Builder Brothers Pizza; burnt down for the 5th time within the month.
Seven walked in through the door, a mean grin on his face as he locked the door behind him, and hung up his jacket. The man’s apartment was far from tidy, with a few boxes from when he moved in still lying on the ground. Seven moved around a lot, mostly to avoid any run ins with the admins. Besides from the boxes, there was usually a few Sprite cans on any counter or desk. He really needed to tidy up, but he didn’t care. Usually Eight was the one to yell at him to tidy up, though it was a bold statement considering the state of her house.
Seven sat down on the couch, leaning back and chuckling to himself after noticing the TV. It was no surprise that he was the one who caused the fire, why wouldn’t he be? Besides, the face on that poor cashier every time was priceless. What was his name again? Elliot? Either way, seeing him try to salvage what he could everytime was entertaining.
It almost felt like this could go on forever. Despite taxes and bills being a pain in the ass, Seven felt like he had the life. An endless stream of entertainment and not the mundane boring life style that the admins tried to force on every robloxian. Life was great.
Knock knock.
Seven lifted his head off the top of his couch and glanced toward the direction of the door. His heart sank a little. No one never really knocked on his door. Eight hadn’t texted him that she was coming over, and he certainly hadn’t ordered anything off of Ro-Dash.
He got up off the couch, taking out his c00l gui and tapped a few buttons. A gun appeared in his hand, ready. Even if it was nothing, if it was an admin he wasn’t gonna go down without a fight. He steadily approached the door, before looking through the peephole. Huh. He didn’t see anything, but it could always be a trap.
With a swift thunk, he kicked open the door and pointed the gun.
“Whoever you are I want you to put your hands- ..” he calmed down when he realized that there really was nothing.
Some sort of prank maybe?
Suddenly, a sharp wail rang out in his ears. Seven flinched, looking around again. The wailing was high pitched and crunchy, like ..
A baby?
Seven finally looked down, and sitting on his doormat was a beige basket. Whatever was inside was covered in a soft, white cloth, and there was a note sitting on top. Slowly a red, clawed hand made its way through the cloth and shoved it off its face. No denying it, at least a 3 month baby face to face with him, crying. Its skin was bright red, and small horns had already formed on the top of its head. Small tufts of fur were visible here and there, and small fangs were visible in its mouth.
..someone had just left a baby on his doorstep.
Seven despawned the gun with the gui, and stared down in shock at the baby. After another loud wail, he grabbed the basket with both hands and brought it inside, closing the door with his tail. He placed the basket on the living room table, moving some junk.
Seven sat down on the couch and tapped his fingers worriedly on the table. A baby!? What in the fuck was he supposed to do with a baby!? It was still crying, does it need anything?? This had to be a prank right? Just a really really bad prank. He’s a hacker, an exploiter! He can’t take care of a baby, he’s putting it in danger just from it being here!
The baby took a few minutes, but it eventually stopped crying. Maybe he had caused it to cry from how loud he had opened the door, that was probably it. Seven looked at the basket, before remembering the note plastered onto the cloth. Seven grabbed the note, unraveling the contents and reading hurriedly for answers.
“Dear stranger,
This may have come as a huge shock to you, and for that I’m sorry. But I simply cannot take this thing under my wing. Do whatever you want with him, I could care less, but please just take him away from me. Some information about him; he has a skin condition. Keep him away from sunlight for prolonged periods of time without sunscreen, make sure he doesn’t scratch his skin, and CAREFUL of his teeth. There’s a bottle in the basket if he is hungry when he arrives. He does not have a name.”
…
Seven placed down the note on the counter, and placed his head in his hands. He can’t even text Eight about this! She’s gonna think he’s joking, no matter how much he tries. He can’t be a dad.
The baby made soft noises, and Seven looked up to find the little thing reaching for him with a paw. Seven sighed, and begrudgingly let the thing hold his finger.
CHOMP.
Seven hissed, pulling his finger away. That little shit just bit him!
The baby giggled, waving its hands like it had just won a game. Seven scowled, already not liking the thing. He..
He can’t take care of this thing. Seven doesn’t want to be a bad father, hell he doesn’t even know how to be a normal one. Seven doesn’t even have a place for the thing to sleep in, besides the basket. Though he doubts that the thing is comfortable.
…
Rain pelted the driveway as Seven pulled in. The baby seemed distressed in the back, though he was just thankful there hadn’t been any mishaps on the way here. Seven pulled his hood back up and got out of the car. He didn’t bother to lock it, assuming the exchange would only be a few minutes.
He opened the back door and grabbed the basket. The baby cooed happily at being picked up, though Seven tried to pretend it hadn’t. This wasn’t his kid, and he wasn’t gonna raise it.
He walked up to the front doors of the orphanage, the place looking straight out of a horror film. It looked gloomy, sad, and even just being in the presence of it made Seven feel like all the hope had been sucked out of him. His fist raised to knock, but stopped.
He stood there, a small backpack filled with only the things he could carry on his back. Rain pelted on the boy as he watched the car drive away, the car that held his parents and his older sister. His parents simply couldn’t afford another child. The woman behind him crouched down, and began talking to him in this fake sad tone. But he knew. He knew deep down that his parents weren’t coming back for him in the morning like the woman said.
Seven doesn’t know how long he stood there, frozen like that. His hand raised to knock, but never committing. The baby made soft cries from the cold air, hands reaching out to grab. Its fur wasn’t doing much of a job keeping it warm.
..He couldn’t do it. He looked down to the red demon in the basket. Seven couldn’t just.. have him grow up here. He knew what it was like growing up in a place like this. The stares from other kids, the sadness of the food, the staff. The tears that were shed whenever another couple would just walk by his room. Most families never gave the boy a chance, and the rest were driven away from him by other, better children. He couldn’t have this kid grow up how he did.
He was an exploiter for a reason.
Seven quickly paced back to his car, bringing the baby inside the back seat, and strapping him in. He didn’t have a booster seat, but he’d buy that later until he can truthfully decide what to do with him. The baby calmed down from the warmth of the car. Seven got back in the front seat, and began to drive off.
It had been a month since then. Seven had already set up a crappy sort of space for the baby, which he had uncreatively named ‘c00lkidd’. The crib wasn’t anything special, and the few toys the boy did have were bought for cheap at the dollar store. Not like the boy cared for quality, as long as he could thrash them around and bite into them.
Along with the new addition came both having to legally recognize the kid and also having to baby proof the house. Trying to rid of trash when there was so much of it drained Seven. Though, he had finally done it. As well as tape the top counters of corners c00lkidds head could reach.. which he found just by standing the baby up to them. He also recognized the fact he didn’t even know the babies birthday. Doctors told him that he was born sometime in April, and looking back at the dates Seven had been informed of the kids biological parents.
He didn’t think he’d plan to tell c00lkidd when he was older. He figured that if the kid grew up to be anything like him, he wouldn’t want to know.
Seven had also had a very sleepless past month. Who knew babies could be so loud when they’re so small!? He’s had to get up at least 3 times in the middle of the night to try to find out what the thing wants. Sometimes he didn’t want anything and just cried for a few minutes. It made Seven wonder if babies could have nightmares, and he was just crying because the nightmare had woken him up.
Seven needed a job too. That became apparent quickly when he was buying some stuff. In fact it was hard to even buy stuff when he’s such a big exploiter. In order to get the stuff he needs he needs to disguise himself with the gui, which.. he hadn’t been able to use for its intended purpose very much anymore. Eight was bummed that he wasn’t exploiting as much. He hadn’t even told anyone that he had a baby now. Maybe it was best they didn’t know.
Tonight, c00lkidd just wouldn’t stop crying. Seven sat up on his bed, holding the thing in his arms. He growled, his tail swishing.
“What do you even want..” he huffed, holding the baby up.
He snarled when it cried louder, probably because he looked and sounded a little scary. Seven rolled his eyes.
“Oh c’mon, I don’t even look intimidating.”
The baby kept crying, flailing its little arms around like it wanted something. Seven had already tried feeding it, rocking it, even tried to put on some show for it to calm it down. Well, the TV worked for about 20 seconds before it began to cry. It didn’t need anything.
Seven grumbled, tired and wanting to go back to sleep. He was tempted to just put it back in its crib and ignore its crying. Though he had a feeling the poor thing would just keep wailing, or even wail louder. Besides.. he was sure that would also be neglect.
Well, there was one thing Seven hadn’t tried. He put the baby over his shoulder and gently patted his back. Suddenly, a small hiccup, and the crying stopped.
“..Are you serious? That’s what you wanted??..” he pinched his nose.
Almost sensing it, c00lkidd laughed. The little suckers tail wagged, cooing again. Seven put him back in his crib, smiling as the critter settled down.
…
He walked into his bathroom, turning on the light. Seven looked at himself in the mirror. His long, brown and curly hair reached down to his mid back, with his horns sticking out from just below his hairline. Seven rummaged through his bathroom drawer, before finding it.
His razor.
A few minutes later, locks of hair now sat upon the bathroom floor. His hair was now nice and short, and Seven ran a finger through it. He then smiled to himself, his tail swaying a bit.
Maybe he could do this. But the doubt still edged at the back of his mind.
Was this the right choice?
The smell of bacon filled the air as the sun burst through the window in the kitchen. Seven stood, in a simple white t-shirt and jeans, cooking brunch for when c00lkidd came home from school. He had promised the kid it’d be done when he was home, but checking the clock Seven had realized he was supposed to be home twenty minutes ago. Seven froze looking at the time, and as he finished dinner he went to go check the front window, try to see if he could spot the school bus.
However with the slam of a door, Seven sighed of relief. Thank goodness..
Suddenly, the kid ran by the kitchen. Seven flinched, going to where the kid had ran off. He went to the door of his room, and gently knocked.
“Kiddo?” He called out, but c00lkidd didn’t reply.
He gently opened the door, concerned. There, the boy lay on his bed, face stuffed into his pillow. Sevens shoulders slumped, before gently sitting at the edge of his bed.
“Go away dad..”
“What’s wrong buddy?”
c00lkidd lifted his face from the pillow, tears covering his face as his tail lashed behind him.
“Nothing!” He yelled, before stuffing his face back into the pillow.
Seven placed a soft hand on c00lkidds shoulder, his eyebrows furrowing.
“Hey,” he began, his tone gentle, “I just want to know what happened today that’s got you all worked up like this. You don’t have to tell me, but I’m worried, c00lkidd.”
There was a long silence, before c00lkidd sat up. He rubbed his face with his arm, before reaching into bag and pulling out a small booklet.
“I made it for Father’s Day.” The boy mumbled, before curling up and burying his face into his knees, “I just.. I don’t think you’ll like it.”
Seven took the booklet, before opening it up. It was nothing special to anyone else, just a story about how Seven was some odd superhero who saves c00lkidd. But to Seven?
Seven sniffled, before hugging c00lkidd. The boy tensed for a second, before leaning into the hug.
“It’s the best thing I could’ve asked for.”
c00lkidd sniffled again, doubt still present in his voice, “but you told me yourself, you’re not even my real dad..”
“But I still treat you like one, don’t I?”
“..I guess.”
“So you’re about as much as my son as anything.” Seven pulled from the hug, though still holding c00lkidds shoulder, “now let’s go eat, yeah?”
c00lkidd smiled, though still a little worked up, “okay!”
As Seven went back downstairs, his brain wondered again to the decision he had made when the critter first showed up.
It really had been the right choice.