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Mercury pouted when she was gently lifted from the warm bath. Bubbles clung to her skin and water dripped everywhere- Neptune grimaced at the water now seeping into his socks.
The water now a dull brown, leaves and sticks littering the surface. Mercury now squeaky clean and smelling like her favorite fruit, hair once again shiny and full of life. Neptune couldnt help but smile at how much happier she looked despite the pout painting her face.
"See, all better" He hummed, wrapping her in a much too large towel. The fabric nearly engulfing her, she laughed as he pulled her head out of the large folds and patted her dry. Neptune chuckled as she easily moved under his hands, wobbling with the force of the pats.
She glared up at him when he finally let up, her hair now frizzy and sticking out in all directions from the friction. Her chubby cheeks puffed up in anger at him. It was adorable.
Mercury was so small. Even the clothes they'd brought were too big for her, Pluto's old tunic was a floor length gown on her small frame. Not only was she just short, she was malnourished and fragile. Neptune feared he'd break a bone or two if he held her too tight.
"Are you hungry little one?" He asked after brushing the frazzled hair back down. Mercury looked like she'd fall over with a strong breeze, her stomach growling the entire time he'd bathed her. Her eyes wide when she turned to face him, sparkling with hope.
"Yes! Yes!" She bounced in place, reaching her chubby little hands to grab his mask excitedly. "Please!"
Neptune's eyes crinkled with his smile, even after so long she still knew her manners. She poked and prodded at the vents of his mask, curiously messing with the metal before being gently shoo'd off. Neptune lifted her up carefully, holding her like the little baby she truly was.
"Let's go see what Juni's whipped up for dinner"
-
It was awkward to say the least.
The other three didn't want to talk. Venus had promptly got her serving and left for her room again, not even thanking their little sister as she passed. Pluto stabbed the food aggressively, sending Neptune glares - though the older didn't even know why he was getting the attitude, he hadn't done anything to deserve it.
"Here you go," Juni said quietly as she placed two plate down in front of him. Avoiding Mercury's big eyed expression and soft chatter, sat gently in Neptune's lap since she was just slightly too short to sit on her own.
"Thank you- it looks delicious" Neptune nodded at her, his gaze lingering as she took her own seat. Juni hadn't taken the news well, it was concerning how she shut down and lost her normal spikey attitude. Neptune wasn't sure what he could do to comfort her anymore, she avoided him and their youngest completely.
"Thaank you!" Mercury also said with a big grin, though it fell away when Juni turned away from them. Looking up to Neptune for guidance with pinched brows.
Neptune sighed and got to work scooping small bites up for her. He'd let her eat while it was still hot. Mercury was easily distracted by the food, nearly eating half his too before finally rejecting the spoonful. Whining and turning her head away.
"Full?" He asked softly. Using the cloth napkin to wipe her mouth and chin, Mercury squirmed in his lap and let out the tiniest growl he'd even heard. He chuffed at the small noise, letting the toddler slide off his lap and escape under the table. His siblings shooting his looks as she passed their legs beneath.
"Hush, you two were the same way at that age" Neptune rolled his eyes, picking up the remaining plate and leaving for his room. The controlled environment better for eating, instead of having to hold his breath between chewing. Mercury eagerly chasing after him.
-
Neptune stared in horror at the mess before him.
Mercury had just been playing with his hand while he worked when she suddenly vomited all over him.
His hand, his leg and lap, the desk in front of him. All covered in chunky, vile liquid. His veins filled his icy panic and his damaged lungs constricted preemptively. He choked on his own spit as the toddler sobbed.
"Im- I sorry!" She stuttered out between hiccups. Flinching away from him when he finally moved again. "I didn' mean to- please-"
Neptune carefully tugged his gloves off, the vomit had slowly seeping into the fabric and the warmth making his own stomach churn. His first instinct was to scream and yell at her, how could she do this to him. He cant get sick! His already fragile condition nearly killing him daily, if he got an infection he'd be a dead man.
But there she was, shaking violently, tears wetting her small face which was turning red from embarrassment, apologizing profusely despite the sobs that shook her whole body.
It wasn't like she knew any better. She was barely three years old, a malnourished, sick toddler.
Neptune turned away from her, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. She was just a baby, she probably just ate too much. His anger simmered, he backed away from the mess slowly. Gently pulling her away too.
"Its ok, we're ok-" He told her, but deep down he was reassuring himself too. "Let's get cleaned up- again." He sighed.
Quickly disposing of his armor and tunic and washing his hands thoroughly. Wiping down Mercury's face and offering her water, her tunic now stained with body fluid, also thrown into the wash. The only thing left for her to wear was Juni's spare sweater, which was nearly ten times too big.
She looked adorable swaddled up in the thick fabric. Neptune promptly laid her down for a nap, her stomach queasy after the incident. She begged him for a bedtime story, falling into deep sleep before he even finished.
Neptune couldn't pull himself away from her sleeping body, tiny fingers clinging to the fabric of his spare outfit. Her dark blue hair falling over her eyes.
She looked so much like their sister. The one he'd failed before. The soft rumbling of her tiny purrs warming his heart.
He couldn't fail this one too.