Chapter Text
Vector had learned a ton in his two decades or so of living on this Earth. He’d learned how to track a suspect with the faintest hint of a clue, how to pick locks and crack codes, and of course he learned how to negotiate with clients who insisted that detective work should be free and a ‘public service.’
What he had NOT learned, however, was how to handle a three-year-old bee with curiosity as big as his own body at five in the morning. Of course the kid had a question this early.
“Vector?” The tiny voice pierced the air like the ring of a very insistent alarm clock. “Vector, you ‘wake?”
Vector groaned as he dragged his pillow over his head. Maybe if he stayed still, the kid would think he was still asleep and go back to bed. The strategy never actually worked, but hope stands eternally in the hearts of exhausted crocodiles.
“Vector?” Charmy’s little hands patted his guardian on the shoulder. “Vector, I gotta really ‘portant question.”
“Kid…It’s five in the mornin’”
“So?”
Vector cracked one sleepy eye open to see Charmy sitting on top of his chest. The little guy was wearing his favorite pajamas and clutching his favorite stuffie close to his body.
“Five is too early,” Vector made an attempt to get some shut-eye. “Go back to bed, buddy.”
“But I gots a question!”
“Questions can wait ‘til the sun comes up.”
“But Vector-!”
“Charmy…” Vector groaned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He saw his headphones on the nightstand and briefly considered putting them on to drown out the noise of a curious toddler. “What is it…?”
Charmy’s face lit up. “Why are bees?”
Vector just stared blankly. “Why are… huh?”
“Y’know. Why are bees?” Charmy repeated himself as if this were the most logical question the world has ever seen. “Like, why am I a bee ‘n not somethin’ else? Could I be a butterfly? Are bees just butterflies that are different? What makes a bee a bee?”
Vector’s brain chugged as it struggled to process the question. “That’s a…big question, kiddo.”
“Is it big ‘cause i’m askin’ ‘bout big things or ‘cause the answer is really big?”
“Uh… both. Definitely both.”
Vector defeatedly swung his legs out of bed, accepting his fate. Once Charmy was awake and asking huge questions, there was no hope in going back to sleep. “Howsabout we get some water ‘n you can tell me what got you thinkin’ ‘bout all this?”
“‘Kay!” Charmy zipped towards the door, almost immediately stopping to turn back. “Vector?”
“Yeah?”
“Do dreams count as real thinking?”
“I… what?”
“When you dream, is your brain really thinking or is it pretend thinking?”
Vector stood up and stretched, his back cracking in three different areas. Geez, he was too young to feel this old. “Maybe we can save that question for after breakfast, deal?”
“Hmm… Okay, deal.”
The two of them made their way down the stairs from the attic-turned-bedroom and headed towards the kitchen. The agency was a headquarters, but also a home. Vector had attempted to keep the living quarters separate from the work area, but with a toddler in the building, the line between ‘home’ and ‘office’ blurred into a nonexistent line. There were toys on the filing cabinet and bills on the kitchen counter.
Vector got Charmy water in his favorite cup and watched as the little thing gulped it down. Charmy’s eyes drooped, he was sleepy, but he wouldn’t admit it.
“Alright, kiddo. Let’s get back to bed, capisce?”
“I ain’t sleepy.”
“The sleepy look in your eyes tell a different story.”
Charmy blinked his eyes, then attempted to keep them wide. “They’re just… resting.”
“Uh-huh. C’mon, kid.” Vector scooped up Charmy, the little bee immediately nestling against Vector’s chest. “Let’s get ya tucked back in.”
“Will ya tell me a story?”
Vector glanced at the analog clock that dangled on the wall. 5:17 AM. He maybe had a chance of getting in another hour of shut-eye, if he played things smart. “A short story.”
“A long short story?”
“A short short story.”
Charmy’s side of the boys’ bedroom was small, yet cozy. Crayon scribbles decorated the wall, and toys littered the floor. Espio was already awake and meditating outside, he enjoyed that sort of thing. Vector navigated across the obstacle course of wooden blocks and stuffed animals, setting Charmy back into his bed.
“Okay. Let’s see….” Vector pulled the blanket up to reach Charmy’s chin. “Howsabout this one? Once upon a time, there was a little bee who needed to sleep-“
“I don’t like that story.”
“Aw, c’mon. It’s a good story, very educational.”
“Tell me one of your detective stories!”
Vector sighed, those stories are definitely not short. “What if I tell ya about the time Espio nearly scared me outta my hide?”
Charmy agreed, giggly as ever.
“So there I was, makin’ breakfast ‘n mindin’ my own business. I turned around to get the milk, and when I turned back, my toast was gone! It had just vanished! I looked everywhere-“
“It was Espio!”
“I’m gettin’ to that part.” Vector cleared his throat. “So I’m lookin’ around, gettin’ real confused, that’s when I hear this laugh outta nowhere. That’s when I realize Espio’s been invisible this whole time, eatin’ my toast right in front of me!”
“That’s funny!”
“It was in fact NOT funny. That was my last piece of bread!”
“Didja get mad?”
“Eh. I got a little mad. But then Espio felt a little bad ‘n headed to the store to get another loaf. Things work out in the end.”
“Espio’s nice.”
“He sure is.” Vector lowered his voice to a volume only he could hear. “When he wants to be.”
Vector shook his head and adjusted the blanket to make sure Charmy was comfortable. “You gonna sleep now?”
Charmy thought to himself. “Vector?”
“Yeah, kiddo?”
“I’m glad I’m a bee.”
Something warm and tender twisted inside of Vector’s chest. It was that feeling he got whenever Charmy said something so unexpectedly sweet and adorable. “I’m glad you’re a bee too, kiddo. Now get to sleep.”
“Can you stay ‘till I fall asleep?”
Vector looked at the clock sitting on the nightstand on Espio’s side of the room. It read 5:34 AM. He could sit here for a few minutes, what’s the rush? He could make sure Charmy actually went back to sleep, then maybe, just maybe, he could get a little more sleep himself.
“Alrighty.” Vector settled himself into the rocking chair by Charmy’s bed. “I’ll stay with ya.”
Charmy allowed his eyes to drift down as his antennae relaxed comfortably. His grip on his stuffie loosened. Vector watched him for a moment. He never actually expected to raise a child, told himself he didn’t want to, but here we are anyways. Vector felt a familiar twinge of love and terror that occasionally stirs in his chest. Vector barely knew how to take care of himself, but he’d be damned if he didn’t learn to take care of his kid.
Just as Vector was about to stand up and sneak out, Charmy’s eyes flew open.
“Vector”
“What is it now, kid?”
“If dreams aren’t real, then why do they feel real when you’re havin’ them?”
Vector dropped his head into his hands. “Charmy. Please go back to sleep.”
“But-“
“We’ll talk about it at breakfast. Y’know, when the sun’s up.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Okay.” Charmy closed his eyes and nestled into a comfortable position. “Love you, Vector.”
That phrase hit Vector like a very welcome brick. That phrase that made the early mornings and impossible sleep schedules all worth it.
“Love ya too, kiddo.” Vector felt warm. “Now sleep.”
Charmy actually did drift off this time. Though, Vector waited a good five minutes to make sure there were no other questions. He then carefully stood up and crept towards the door. He made it three steps before his foot landed on a squeaky toy car.
SHOOT, he thought to himself. The sound ricocheted off the walls like a bullet.
Charmy stirred, but ultimately didn’t wake. Vector froze for what felt like an eternity, only leaving when he felt like the time was right.
Vector made it out of the room and closed the door with the carefulness of diffusing a bomb. He felt a little proud of himself, that’s when he caught a glimpse of the time.
6:02 AM.
Welp, there goes any chance of more sleep. Might as well start the coffee maker and begin the day.
As he shuffled towards the kitchen, he heard another door open. Espio emerged from the back door, looking way too alert for someone who was awake at six in the morning.
Espio was plain and simple, “Charmy?”
Vector confirmed, “Charmy.”
“Existential questions about the nature of being?”
“How’d ya know?”
“Last night he asked if colors are the same for everyone, or if my red might be his blue.” Espio moved past Vector towards the kitchen. “Don’t worry, I’ll start the coffee.”
“You’re a good kid, Espio.”
“I’m aware.”
Vector couldn’t help but form a smile. If Charmy was the embodiment of pure chaos, Espio was the personification of pure order. The thirteen-year-old was smarter beyond his years and he knew it. He’d proven himself to not just be a skilled ninja and detective, but also the closest thing to a voice of reason the agency had.
The morning began with practiced efficiency. Espio started the coffee maker as Vector set out spoons and bowls for breakfast. The early morning light that flittered inside signaled to the detectives that the day was coming to life.
“What’s on the schedule today?” Espio asked as he retrieved the cereal boxes.
“Eh, paperwork, mostly. I gotta file the report on the Emerald Coast case. Maybe I’ll catch up on the bills.” Vector poured himself a cup of coffee. “Quiet day, hopefully.”
“Don’t jinx us.”
“I ain’t jinxin’ nobody.”
“You’re aware that you absolutely just did, no? It’s a recipe for disaster.”
Before Vector could think of a witty retort, they heard the unmistakable buzz of wings in the hallway. Charmy appeared in the room with askew pajamas and messy hair.
“I couldn’t sleep anymore,” he announced. “My brain is too awake.”
The reptiles exchanged a look with one another.
“Good morning, Charmy.” Espio was diplomatic with his greeting.
“Morning, Espio! Guess what? I figured out the answer to my question!”
Vector smirked and raised a brow, “Which question? You had about a bajillion.”
“The bee question! I’m a bee ‘cause that’s what I am, ‘n I can’t be anything else ‘cause then I wouldn’t be me!”
“That’s…quite insightful, actually.” Espio had to admit.
“What’s ’insightful’ mean?”
“It means you’re smart.”
Charmy beamed brightly. “I’m smart!”
Vector took a long sip of coffee. It was going to be another one of those days. Y’know, the usual.