Work Text:
Just before she shoved her keys in her purse and her purse in her bag, 14f3n did a quick mental rundown of everything she needed. She had her keys. Her phone. Her ID, spare cash, the train ticket, the address once she switched realms...her rehab certificate was neatly tucked in her suitcase, and she took a breath. Goodbye, to this dingy old dump. Goodbye to this realm, to this life. She had a job offer, a friend to stay with...it was going to be okay. She was going to be okay.
Taking a deep breath, she braced herself, put her hand on the doorhandle, and left. The house was sold, that wasn't a worry anymore. Her neighbour was at the end of the estate with a cigarette in his mouth, smiling as he watched her walk off.
"Where you off to now?" he asked, nodding a greeting.
14f3n returned the nod. "Somewhere that ain't here, I'll give ya that."
"Ha! If you keep snorin' like a bloody motorbike, maybe they'll ship your #ss back!"
"Whatever!" she rolled her eyes, head shaking. "So long, you old sod."
"We'll miss ya, o8."
"...miss you too." She waved, before turning and walking away. She had a bus to catch. And a train to catch. And a realm to get to.
It was still dark when 14f3n got off the bus. It hadn't hit dawnhour yet, so she still had plenty of time until her train. She hadn't brought any food or drinks with her, planning to eat when she met up with Tirry, but waking up at an ungodly 3AM was gnawing at her. She'd really go for a strong coffee right about now.
The streets were nothing she hadn't walked before. Last time she was here, she was walking Tirry to the train station....would they still recognise her?
She hoped so. She hadn't changed that much since they'd last seen her, right? Just a bit of pudge here and there, cleaner hair...she adjusted the cone on her head so it was closer to the middle of it. The pompom at the tip was still there, phew.
It was still about a 20 minute walk until the station, but it wasn't cold, so she wasn't too bothered. Little nippy, sure, but nothing bad. She looked at the Crossroads-esque playground as she passed it, tempted to hop on the trampoline for a final bounce. It'd eat up her time, she decided, frowning. So long, childhood.
Wanting to save her phone's battery until she was actually travelling, 14f3n didn't plug her headphones on. Didn't turn on her music. She walked in silence, listening to the buzzing in the streetlights, the faint hoot of an owl some ways away, the scuffling of the loose pebbles her footsteps kicked up from the tarmac. She was close to the world's spawn; did she need to be here? No. It was a detour that took her away, but she wanted to pass it one last time. She wasn't looking for anything.
"...e's come for this one." she heard someone say. A voice she didn't hear often. but recognised near-instantly. Builderman. "....we can't linger for too much longer, though."
Someone sighed, in a way distinct from how a typical robloxian would.
"I know." Telamon sounded...dejected, as he spoke. It was the most non-vaguely-positive tone she'd ever heard in the avian's voice.
"...." Builderman sighed with a groan. "How long do you want to wait for somebody to show up? It's almost half 3 in the morning, no one's going to just be roaming around for no reason. Especially no one looking for a child."
A child? 14f3n turned the corner, finally looking at the two. Builderman was uncharacteristically dressed in more formal admin wear, his gauntlets leaving a faint blue-green glow on the black robes. Telamon was dressed like he always was, wings held slightly lower than usual as he looked at the spawn's point, likely at the person that'd just appeared. What a shoddy realm to spawn in, 14f3n thought. It distracted her from how much she wanted to spit on the ground at the sight of Telamon.
"Tel? Hello?" Builderman poked the owl's head. "I asked you a question. ...you with me?"
"...Telamon does not wish to terminate another one." He sighed, head turning away from Builderman. "...he has enough blood on his hands."
"I don't like it either, but....protocol has to be followed."
"....I wish Mother had not birthed another."
"Don't say that. He could be here." Builderman punched Telamon on the shoulder, but not hard. More just to shut him up. Telamon didn't stagger, not really, but still took a moment to fix his posture.
"....ten more minutes. Please, at the very least. ...do not let Telamon remove you from your duties; he is willing to wait alone, if he has to."
The silence was thick.
"...then so am I." Builderman said, taking his hard hat off and running his hand over his head. "...you know no one will come, though."
"...I do."
The two stood. Telamon reached over, likely picking up the child, and it woke in his arms as he did so. Builderman winced, turning away for a moment. 14f3n couldn't duck back behind the wall in time, locking eyes with the admin.
"...."
Builderman said nothing to Telamon. 14f3n said nothing to Builderman. She waved an awkward hello, which he returned, giving the smile he usually did to the general public when out and about. She wasn't sure how to feel about that.
Hesitantly creeping closer, 14f3n decided to look at who the hell they were crowding over; she still had time.
Neatled neatly in Telamon's feathered arms was a bundle of blankets with a blue head exposed. The baby's mouth was slightly agape, eyes open. White eyes...just like hers. Blue skin...she couldn't think of anyone in this realm that was blue. The poor thing would be bullied relentlessly, if someone even came to pick them up.
He probably heard her approaching, because Telamon looked over for a moment before turning his head away. Just enough time for 14f3n to see the glimmer of tears in his eyes. Not like it mattered, because soon the baby was looking at her. At her, the same way they'd been looking at Telamon. The look of 'I need someone, are you someone?'
"....I don't mind." she mumbled, earning a confused(? She could never tell with him) look from Telamon and a hopeful one from Builderman.
"S-sorry?" he asked, putting his hard hat back on his head.
"I can take 'em! ....I'm....uh..." 14f3n quickly realised that she had no idea how to talk to an admin. "...I don't mind. I'm going somewhere better, they'll be able to have a...a good life...!"
Telamon looked up at Builderman. There was probably a visual exchange that she didn't read, because Builderman cleared his throat to speak.
"You know the responsibilities of taking on a baby, right? Everything you need to have, everything you need to arrange?"
14f3n nodded.
"Are you going to be able to handle it?" His voice switched to worry. "At the very least, do you have anyone to support you?"
"I-I do!" 14f3n cleared her throat before her voice could crack. "I'm going to them now, actually...!"
Telamon seemed satisfied. He slowly drew nearer, offering the child to 14f3n. She tried not to recoil from the proximity, but he didn't want to be around her as much as she didn't want to see him, so it was quick. She shuddered as his feathers brushed against her arms, Telamon gently laying the baby into hers.
"....you have done an enormous service." He took a hold of her free hand, meeting eye contact with a gaze that was softer than she was used to seeing from him. "...I thank you."
Before she could process the touch, it was gone. He'd taken a few steps backwards, letting the more preferred of the two handle communication while 14f3n took a moment to really process what the hell had just happened. ...she had a baby in her arms. A baby with nothing. Oh god, she didn't have anything for babies, did she? Tirry didn't either....she'd have to call them. Maybe on the train.
Whatever Builderman was saying was lost to her mind. All she knew was that she had a being in her arms who had nothing to offer but themself. Their eyes had drifted shut, seemingly understanding that they were going to stay with 14f3n.
"....have a good evening." Builderman said, lowering his head in a slight bow. "Safe travels!"
"...bye." she mumbled, not raising her head. She didn't process the admins' absence until she heard them further away, talking about something else.
....what now? How was she going to keep this thing fed? Clean? Entertained? Do babies even care for entertainment? ...she really hoped they were going to stay asleep for the whole journey.
+-+-+
Tirrimasu, still dressed in their nursing uniform, was sitting at their dining room table, tapping at the wood.
They were mid-shift when 118o8 called. When she told them that she had a baby now. They were stunned. Now, in their house, the heating on to accomodate for the colder weather, they stared blankly at the clock.
14f3n said she was going to be here a little past dawnhour, right? It'd just hit, and when they turned to check their windows, they could see the sun starting to show face. She'd sent them a text when she got in the taxi, and now they were just waiting for her. They had been since they got home. They didn't even go to get dressed in case she got here while they were gone. The stuff they bought was still in the bags at the entrance.
Deciding to bite the bullet, Tirrimasu got up and went to the kitchen. If they wanted to deal with a baby, they needed caffeine. Knowing 8o8, she did too. They set the kettle to boil, putting instant coffee in two mugs. A teaspoon for them, two for o8. A teaspoon of cocoa in theirs, none for o8. Just how they used to have their coffees. Would she appreciate the nostalgia? ...probably not. Three sugars for her, two for them. They weren't sure why they mixed the powders together.
With the water, the rich smell of coffee started to fill the kitchen. They took a deep inhale, filling the cup about halfway for 8o8, and filling theirs properly. They didn't get to mix the cups, before someone rang the doorbell.
Tirrimasu heard the crying before they even got to the door. "...hoo, boy..." they muttered, before opening it.
14f3n was standing there, looking exhausted. She had a crying baby in her arms, and the taxi driver had likely just started to drive off. Maybe they'd rang the bell for her.
"Hiya Tirry...." she said, glad to see them but too tired for a proper greeting.
"God, you look dead! Come on, it's warmer inside."
"Thank you...."
The child was still crying, so Tirrimasu decided to put a pause on the coffee for now.
"Sorry- they've been crying for the last half hour, I-I don't have anything to-" 14f3n's voice cracked, and she cleared it. "...sorry. I haven't drank much water..."
"It's fine dood! I bought some stuff, gotchu covered, just get comfy or whatever. I'll get a bottle." they gently pushed her towards the living room.
"I owe you my f#cking life."
"You owe me nothing, you bum."
8o8 almost flopped onto the sofa, trying to comfort the child in any way she could. Nothing did anything, and she looked at her wits end.
Grateful at being the oldest sibling for the first time in their life, Tirrimasu quickly grabbed the bottle and formula they'd bought from the bag, putting it aside. They didn't really have time to sterilise anything...but robloxians were tough, surely just the once would be fine? They mixed lukewarm water with the formula, popping in the microwave and testing the temperature before screwing the cap on, returning to 8o8.
"Just a little longer.....you don't need t-to cry, it...." She was most likely responding to the child's voice starting to grow hoarse from crying.
"Got it!" They almost tripped from how fast they turned the corner. o8 gave a small cry of relief.
"Thank you...! Shh, it's okay, it's....it's here..."
Tirrimasu put the bottle in o8's hand, and she immediately brought it to the child's mouth. It took a moment for them to stop whining, but when they did they quickly latched onto it.
"Do you want me to handle this?" Tirrimasu offered, putting their hand on her shoulder. "So you can get some sleep?"
"Noo, it's fine." Supporting the baby's head better, 14f3n leaned back, resting her cheek on Tirry's hand. "You've been busy, and...and I just barged in here with a baby, o-of all things..."
"Dood, it's fine. You look like you need it."
"Let me handle 'em, then I'll go to bed."
"Straight to bed! Night routine and you're gone!"
"A'right...."
Tirry leaned a little closer, correcting the angle of the bottle. "I better not hear you walking around before at least midday."
"And what are you gonna do if I don't?"
"Force you to bed."
o8 snorted, looking back at the baby in her arms.
"...you gonna be okay?"
"I should be..." She stifled a yawn. "Now you go to bed, nurse."
"Don't need'a tell me twice. See you in the morning, double-8."
"G'night."
Going upstairs, finally taking off their medical scrubs, Tirrimasu almost faceplanted onto their bed. 8o8 was fine, they'd be fine. Just a bit more noise around the house, was all this was. Nothing more. ...they were used to sleeping through noise.