gantai
in
liquivores
(no subject)
OKAY ALEX HERE IT IS
Title: Separation Anxiety
Fandom: TB/X
Summary: What if the final chapter of TB had taken a slightly different route?
"Thank you for you help, Sumeragi-san," the doctor said. "I assure you everything will be fine now. The baby, even the mother, we hope, with some counseling."
"I'm very glad," the young man replied, although his face didn't look it. Somber were his eyes, solemn was his expression. He turned to leave.
He paused when the doctor spoke again, "If you don't mind... the police have been called. Since you're the one that..." he searched for an appropriate word, "rescued the infant, perhaps you would stay to speak with them?" Slowly the Sumeragi turned around.
"Do you really think that's necessary?" The fair brow was slightly knit. "I really need to get back to the apartment complex to... to tie up some lose ends. Perhaps you can redirect whoever needs to speak with me there? After all, that's where it happened." Again he turned to leave, and this time doctor did not stop him.
----------
"Maybe all people who do bad things... are just really lonely."
----------
"It's very kind of you to do this, Sumeragi-san. Adoption-wise, babies are in high-demand, but... circumstances tend to change people's minds, you know?" Subaru remained silent, thus the social worker continued, "At any rate, it's much appreciated you accepted our request to care for the child. You're so young, and it's such a large responsibility..."
"That woman is in no condition to raise a child," Subaru said, "and I'm familiar with responsibility."
"Ah, yes. It was your family that enticed us to ask... we're certain the child will be in good hands. The woman we spoke to on the phone told us you'd be the most suitable candidate to take care of him." Subaru made no comment. He merely nodded, a polite acknowledgement. Silently he cursed his grandmother for getting him into this mess - but not too harshly.
Did he really come off as that much in-need of companionship? This was going to slow his progress in searching for That Man...
---------
Though the infant had been beaten so severely, it wasn't necessary for him to have been held in intensive care. After three days, he was deemed fit for release.
A nurse brought a small blue bundle to Subaru. Gingerly the child was placed in his arms. The baby still had bruises and swollen cheeks, but when his eyes locked with Subaru's he gave a squeal of delight, little mouth twisting in a toothless grin, tiny hands reaching up to attempt to grasp at his savior's coat.
---------
Both man and baby had managed to adjust to their new lives. Subaru had managed to find a daycare only a few blocks away from his apartment for when he had day jobs. When he needed to work at night, he was able to call one of the caretakers from the daycare to come in and watch Hideaki.
For his part, Subaru was surprised with himself. He'd never imagined himself caring for a child, no-less an infant. Whenever marriage and children were mentioned to him by a member of his family, he'd go red in the face and stay quiet on the subject. He thought, as he laid on his couch, Hideaki dozing on his chest and cradled in his arms, that he was doing an alright job so far.
---------
Subaru felt like he was watching the drawings in a flipbook cycle past as weeks quickly turned into months. Hideaki bundled in a blue hospital blanket. Blink. Hideaki's hair growing out. Hideaki learning to hold a spoon. Blink. Hideaki cooing out, "Pa-pa!"
He and the infant had been together for three months, but it felt like hours to Subaru. At first he'd been aggravated, albeit guiltily, at his grandmother offering him up as a caretaker for the baby. Now he thanked her and made a point to call her to gush every time Hideaki did something new.
--------
One evening as Subaru was feeding the infant his bottle, Hideaki began to cough. After the baby was put to bed, Subaru self-consciously sniffed the loose sweatshirt he was wearing. Smoke. He hadn't realized the odor was so strong on him before...
He thought, maybe, he should try to quit smoking. It didn't matter if it made his spiritual skills stronger. He had his son to think about.
-------
"Thank you for watching him, Watanabe-san."
The baby-sitter smiled, gently placing the sleeping infant into his father's waiting arms. She said, "Any time, Sumeragi-san. And please, Midori is fine."
"Ah, excuse me, Midori-san. I know it must be troubling for me to keep you up so late, as much as I do..."
"It's fine, Sumeragi-san! I understand. You need to work, even if it's at odd hours." She giggled a little. "At least you're working. That's more than a lot of dads can say. I admire the effort you put into raising Hideaki-chan."
Subaru bashfully let his gaze drop to his son. "Thank you," he said softly. He raised his eyes again and asked, "You didn't have any trouble with him tonight, did you?"
"Well... he was very unhappy when you left..." When she saw Subaru's brow knit, she added quickly, "But that's very common! Besides..." her voice dropped, "I was told by the social worker handling your case that you brought him out of a bad situation. It's extremely common for babies to get upset when they're separated from their parents, but I think Hideaki takes it extra-hard because he looks to you as a hero."
Again Subaru flushed. She continued, "Ah, but the separation-anxiety means he loves you, Sumeragi-san! Don't worry about it. He'll grow out of it. Besides, once he had a bottle he settled down and was an angel for me the rest of the night." She smiled again. Suddenly her smile broke as she gasped,"Ah! I just remembered... um..."
She went to the kitchen, picked up a plastic shopping bag from the counter, and opened it to show him shards of glass and clay inside.
"Shortly after you left, there was a loud crash from the kitchen! I looked all around to see what it was and couldn't find anything. It seems a few of your mugs managed to explode in your cupboard!" Her eyes were wide as she was telling him this. "What in the world do you think could have caused that? You don't think your apartment is... is haunted... do you?"
Subaru blinked slowly, not at all perturbed, "I assure you, Midori-san, this would be the last apartment in this entire district that would be haunted... I can't say I know what could have caused this, though."
"Ah, well... hm. I guess it was just one of those unexplainable phenomena..." She tapped her finger to her chin, then her expression brightened again. "Oh well!" She went to the foyer and began to put on her shoes. "Don't ever feel bad about calling me, okay? It's always a pleasure!"
He paid her more than he would have paid anyone else. He couldn't help himself, though. He was very fond of Midori. She reminded him of Someone, as she kissed the baby on the forehead and left with a skip in her step, humming to herself. All the while Hideaki stayed sleeping peacefully.
As Subaru was putting the child in his crib for the night, he asked, already knowing the answer, "It was you, wasn't it?"
Subaru decided that maybe he should take a trip to the library and do some research on this "separation anxiety" Midori was talking about before he didn't have any more tableware.
---------
Work had been relatively easy that night. A few simple exorcisms, a minor investigation into a haunting at a hotel. He'd managed to get caught up by eight-thirty. On his way home, he decided he'd quickly stop in at the library. Midori was used to him returning at one or two in the morning, so even if he didn't get home until nine or ten, it would still be an early release.
With a bit of help from an enthusiastic librarian, an affair which caused him much embarrassment, he'd found a few themed books on separation anxiety.
--------
When he unlocked his apartment door, he was met with darkness and the cloying smell of rot. A sweet type of rot. A familiar type of rot. He ran his hand along the wall, fingers feeling out a light switch. He immediately checked the wards protecting the door. Undisturbed. This revelation did not ease his rapidly growing anxiety.
He searched the whole apartment. Midori and Hideaki were both gone. Every ward at every window was still in place. He sat on his couch, placing his face in his burning hands as he silently lamented.
-------
In Ueno Park, a cigarette held in bloody fingers was lit. Smoke accented the words, "Candy from a baby."
Title: Separation Anxiety
Fandom: TB/X
Summary: What if the final chapter of TB had taken a slightly different route?
"Thank you for you help, Sumeragi-san," the doctor said. "I assure you everything will be fine now. The baby, even the mother, we hope, with some counseling."
"I'm very glad," the young man replied, although his face didn't look it. Somber were his eyes, solemn was his expression. He turned to leave.
He paused when the doctor spoke again, "If you don't mind... the police have been called. Since you're the one that..." he searched for an appropriate word, "rescued the infant, perhaps you would stay to speak with them?" Slowly the Sumeragi turned around.
"Do you really think that's necessary?" The fair brow was slightly knit. "I really need to get back to the apartment complex to... to tie up some lose ends. Perhaps you can redirect whoever needs to speak with me there? After all, that's where it happened." Again he turned to leave, and this time doctor did not stop him.
----------
"Maybe all people who do bad things... are just really lonely."
----------
"It's very kind of you to do this, Sumeragi-san. Adoption-wise, babies are in high-demand, but... circumstances tend to change people's minds, you know?" Subaru remained silent, thus the social worker continued, "At any rate, it's much appreciated you accepted our request to care for the child. You're so young, and it's such a large responsibility..."
"That woman is in no condition to raise a child," Subaru said, "and I'm familiar with responsibility."
"Ah, yes. It was your family that enticed us to ask... we're certain the child will be in good hands. The woman we spoke to on the phone told us you'd be the most suitable candidate to take care of him." Subaru made no comment. He merely nodded, a polite acknowledgement. Silently he cursed his grandmother for getting him into this mess - but not too harshly.
Did he really come off as that much in-need of companionship? This was going to slow his progress in searching for That Man...
---------
Though the infant had been beaten so severely, it wasn't necessary for him to have been held in intensive care. After three days, he was deemed fit for release.
A nurse brought a small blue bundle to Subaru. Gingerly the child was placed in his arms. The baby still had bruises and swollen cheeks, but when his eyes locked with Subaru's he gave a squeal of delight, little mouth twisting in a toothless grin, tiny hands reaching up to attempt to grasp at his savior's coat.
---------
Both man and baby had managed to adjust to their new lives. Subaru had managed to find a daycare only a few blocks away from his apartment for when he had day jobs. When he needed to work at night, he was able to call one of the caretakers from the daycare to come in and watch Hideaki.
For his part, Subaru was surprised with himself. He'd never imagined himself caring for a child, no-less an infant. Whenever marriage and children were mentioned to him by a member of his family, he'd go red in the face and stay quiet on the subject. He thought, as he laid on his couch, Hideaki dozing on his chest and cradled in his arms, that he was doing an alright job so far.
---------
Subaru felt like he was watching the drawings in a flipbook cycle past as weeks quickly turned into months. Hideaki bundled in a blue hospital blanket. Blink. Hideaki's hair growing out. Hideaki learning to hold a spoon. Blink. Hideaki cooing out, "Pa-pa!"
He and the infant had been together for three months, but it felt like hours to Subaru. At first he'd been aggravated, albeit guiltily, at his grandmother offering him up as a caretaker for the baby. Now he thanked her and made a point to call her to gush every time Hideaki did something new.
--------
One evening as Subaru was feeding the infant his bottle, Hideaki began to cough. After the baby was put to bed, Subaru self-consciously sniffed the loose sweatshirt he was wearing. Smoke. He hadn't realized the odor was so strong on him before...
He thought, maybe, he should try to quit smoking. It didn't matter if it made his spiritual skills stronger. He had his son to think about.
-------
"Thank you for watching him, Watanabe-san."
The baby-sitter smiled, gently placing the sleeping infant into his father's waiting arms. She said, "Any time, Sumeragi-san. And please, Midori is fine."
"Ah, excuse me, Midori-san. I know it must be troubling for me to keep you up so late, as much as I do..."
"It's fine, Sumeragi-san! I understand. You need to work, even if it's at odd hours." She giggled a little. "At least you're working. That's more than a lot of dads can say. I admire the effort you put into raising Hideaki-chan."
Subaru bashfully let his gaze drop to his son. "Thank you," he said softly. He raised his eyes again and asked, "You didn't have any trouble with him tonight, did you?"
"Well... he was very unhappy when you left..." When she saw Subaru's brow knit, she added quickly, "But that's very common! Besides..." her voice dropped, "I was told by the social worker handling your case that you brought him out of a bad situation. It's extremely common for babies to get upset when they're separated from their parents, but I think Hideaki takes it extra-hard because he looks to you as a hero."
Again Subaru flushed. She continued, "Ah, but the separation-anxiety means he loves you, Sumeragi-san! Don't worry about it. He'll grow out of it. Besides, once he had a bottle he settled down and was an angel for me the rest of the night." She smiled again. Suddenly her smile broke as she gasped,"Ah! I just remembered... um..."
She went to the kitchen, picked up a plastic shopping bag from the counter, and opened it to show him shards of glass and clay inside.
"Shortly after you left, there was a loud crash from the kitchen! I looked all around to see what it was and couldn't find anything. It seems a few of your mugs managed to explode in your cupboard!" Her eyes were wide as she was telling him this. "What in the world do you think could have caused that? You don't think your apartment is... is haunted... do you?"
Subaru blinked slowly, not at all perturbed, "I assure you, Midori-san, this would be the last apartment in this entire district that would be haunted... I can't say I know what could have caused this, though."
"Ah, well... hm. I guess it was just one of those unexplainable phenomena..." She tapped her finger to her chin, then her expression brightened again. "Oh well!" She went to the foyer and began to put on her shoes. "Don't ever feel bad about calling me, okay? It's always a pleasure!"
He paid her more than he would have paid anyone else. He couldn't help himself, though. He was very fond of Midori. She reminded him of Someone, as she kissed the baby on the forehead and left with a skip in her step, humming to herself. All the while Hideaki stayed sleeping peacefully.
As Subaru was putting the child in his crib for the night, he asked, already knowing the answer, "It was you, wasn't it?"
Subaru decided that maybe he should take a trip to the library and do some research on this "separation anxiety" Midori was talking about before he didn't have any more tableware.
---------
Work had been relatively easy that night. A few simple exorcisms, a minor investigation into a haunting at a hotel. He'd managed to get caught up by eight-thirty. On his way home, he decided he'd quickly stop in at the library. Midori was used to him returning at one or two in the morning, so even if he didn't get home until nine or ten, it would still be an early release.
With a bit of help from an enthusiastic librarian, an affair which caused him much embarrassment, he'd found a few themed books on separation anxiety.
--------
When he unlocked his apartment door, he was met with darkness and the cloying smell of rot. A sweet type of rot. A familiar type of rot. He ran his hand along the wall, fingers feeling out a light switch. He immediately checked the wards protecting the door. Undisturbed. This revelation did not ease his rapidly growing anxiety.
He searched the whole apartment. Midori and Hideaki were both gone. Every ward at every window was still in place. He sat on his couch, placing his face in his burning hands as he silently lamented.
-------
In Ueno Park, a cigarette held in bloody fingers was lit. Smoke accented the words, "Candy from a baby."