Adrien woke up with a little koala stuck to his chest. Lucas was clinging to him, his small tiny arms and legs were wrapped around his arm. He looked down at the little heat pack with cute curly black morning hair and patted it down.
Lucas wrinkled his little nose, Adrien carefully got up, trying not to wake him, and placed some pillows around him so he won't accidentally fall off the bed. He looked at the time, 6:45, then went into the bathroom. When he came out, he noticed Lucas sitting up on the bed looking around for him.
"Lucas, are you awake?"
Lucas looked at him for a moment, something shifting in his eyes," Where did uncle Adrien go?"
Adrien was surprised but delighted," I went to the bathroom," he explained nicely and sat next to Lucas," I didn't wake you up because I didn't want to disturb you."
He patted Lucas's head," Did Lucas sleep well? It's a little early so you can sleep more if you want to," after all, kids needed a lot of sleep.
Lucas shook his head," No more sleeping. I'll go... with Uncle Adrien."
"Alright," Adrien said coaxingly, "Let's get you freshened up okay?"
Adrien picked up Lucas and went out of the room towards Lucas's room.
He helped Lucas freshen up and brush his teeth and then dressed him in his panda clothes.
"Look, Lucas!" He exclaimed bringing Lucas excitedly over to the tall mirror," You're a panda!"
Lucas was stunned to look at his reflection in the mirror," Lucas... looks like a panda."
"Yeah! You're dressed as one!" Adrien said as he put the little panda cap on Lucas's head securely, it was a little chilly today," You look so cute!"
Lucas giggled shyly, twisting his body around to get a better look.
Adrien couldn't help but squeal at the cuteness and hugged Lucas before picking him up.
"We'll go down to see your Uncle Darius okay?"
Lucas frowned.
"Don't worry sweetie, Uncle Adrien will talk to him okay? He loves you so much, trust me."
Lucas nodded and hugged Adrien's neck.
Adrien patted his back as he made his way toward the kitchen.
He saw Nanny Wei cooking already with Darius eating breakfast on the table.
"You're both awake," Darius said before looking at Lucas," Oh my, what is Lucas dressed up as today?"
"Lucas is dressed like a panda," Lucas said quietly, glancing at Darius before sneaking a quick look at the Nanny. Lucas quickly looked away, burrowing in Adrien's chest.
Darius looked surprised but smiled" That's right! Lucas looks really nice."
Adrien sat next to Darius and moved Lucas's high chair so he was sitting in between them.
Suddenly Mrs. Woodchester walked down the stairs angrily.
"That damned woman!"
Darius frowned," Mom, what's wrong?"
Mrs. Woodchester fumed," That Diana's mother called me asking if we should do a second blind date!"
"I told her no, I didn't specify why, but she insisted and said that she and her daughter was already on their way! What do they think they're coming for? A marriage agreement? Not on my deathbed!!!!!"
"Before I could tell her we're not interested and she's not invited she hung up! So we'll be seeing that Diana soon!"
"Nanny Wei, please tidy up the living room!"
Darius frowned as he watched Nanny Wei hurry off.
"Senior brother," Adrien called hesitantly," Can I talk to you for a second?"
Adrien led Darius a little further away.
"I'm sorry, I think this is terrible timing since you already have so much going on," Adrien started nervously," But, I couldn't hold it off for longer, it wouldn't be right, it wouldn't be safe..."
Darius frowned confused," What happened Adrien, you can tell me," did Adrien upset someone? Did he need any help with his business? Or maybe he didn't want Diana here. Honestly, Darius didn't either.
Adrien took a deep breath," I think Lucas is being abused."
" Wh-what do you mean?" Darius scrunched his eyebrows up in disbelief," What do you mean Adrien!?"
Darius looked a little angry and raised his voice.
Adrien shrunk," I-it's just, Adrien has never acted this way before and I watched the kid grow up! He-he told me yesterday night while I was coaxing him to sleep that he was afraid of nanny Wei!"
Darius's face got ugly, but he calmed down and listened to Adrien attentively," Tell me what he said."
"I-I asked him why he was upset with you, be-because I noticed he didn't like being with you or the family, and then I saw Jamie take him and give him to Nanny Wei, and then he started disliking Jamie.... so I thought it must be Nanny Wei... because he ignored you after Nanny Wei took him from you earlier..." Adrien whispered, trying to make Darius believe him," Lucas didn't respond, but he looked really afraid... I-I was going to drop the topic but he finally said that Nanny Wei pricked him with a needle many times! He said Nanny Wei said mean things about him and that the family is going to throw him away because he didn't have a mom or a dad! He cried a lot!" he continued distressed.
"I-I know I haven't been here in a while, and you might not believe me and Lucas might not understand, but... but," Adrien faltered and thought rashly," Can you do something? If you can't then... then... maybe we can set up some kid cams? You know, for monitoring children? So we know if she's doing it or not?" Adrien rambled nervously.
"Adrien... Adrien stop," Darius said smoothing out his temple, his head started hurting," I believe you."
"R-Really!?"
Darius nodded patting Adrien's head, smoothing out his hair, Adrien didn't know if it was to comfort himself or if it was to comfort his senior brother," Why wouldn't I believe you... "
"How didn't I see it!" Darius said angrily, "It was so obvious!"
"It was right in front of me the entire time but... I... I'm a fool who can't even look after a child!!"
Darius sighed and was quiet for a minute.
"Senior brother," Adrien said hesitantly," I think someone is behind Nanny Wei. Why else would she risk losing a good job that pays a lot for something like this?"
Darius sighed again," I think so too," he tapped his fingers on the counter," I'll set up some cams all over the house and in Lucas's room don't worry, we'll catch her in the act, then I'll hand her over to the police.
"Meanwhile I'll look into who's behind her. I'll tell my assistants now."
Adrien watched as his senior brother took out his phone and started arranging everything. Darius' shoulder was hunched and his figure suddenly seemed extremely desolate and lonely.
Adrien mustered up his courage and walked over and gave Darius a hug. Darius froze and stopped talking on his phone as he looked down at Adrien. The omega only reached up to his chest.
Adrien patted his back trying to comfort him. Darius relaxed and continued arranging things through the phone, occasionally rubbing Adrien's hair.
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