Little One hearing all the noise, squealed in delight as another boost of adrenaline pumped through his veins, making him less drowsy. Amon kept looking between Darzirak, Philomel, and Little One as they all made their point. But since they all were talking at the same time, the only thing they had accomplished was giving Amon a headache.
Amon raised his hand, gesturing that he wanted to speak. Philomel and Darzirak instantly quieted down, interested in what Amon had to say. While Little One being unable to understand the gesture, decided to sing the song he learn from the drunks at the bar. Which sounds more like cheerful babbling than anything else. Amon couldn't help but smile at Little One sudden happy behavior, Amon snuggled cheek to cheek with Little One before planting a kiss on the baby's chubby cheeks before turning to Darzirak.
" You aren't my dog that I order around anytime I want. However for 3 years, you have lived rent-free."
Amon reminded with a smirk.
" Except those 15 times I rescued you from certain death."
Darzirak reminded with a flinging point of his toothbrush before returning to brush the left side of his sharp teeth. Toothpaste sprayed from Darzirak's toothbrush onto Amon's pants. Amon's smirk immediately faltered to an annoyed expression.
" Yes, other than those 15 times. Either way, you still owe me."
Amon said in an annoyed tone as he wipes away the toothpaste on his pants with the back of his hand.
" Fine, fine. I get your point. I'm going. I'm going."
Darzirak grumbled and spat again into his mug.
" Among! Wait a minute, here! You can't let Darzirak go...?"
Philomel remind with a stern look but halfway something grabbed her right hand. She looked down and saw Darzirak shoving his mug which had his toothbrush face up, into her hand for her to hold. Philomel stare at the mug in utter confusion, watching the toothbrush twirling within the mug as she held onto it with both hands. It took her a moment for her to realize that was holding the wet, spit-filled mug with two hands.
Philomel frowned as her gaze soon shifted to Darzirak, watching him grab a glass of drinking water from the table and had started gargling. Little One hearing the new sound soon bubbled with excitement as he thought Darzirak was singing along with him and babbled more energetically.
Amon opened his mouth about to ask 'Why not ' when he remembered that he didn't tell Philomel that Darzirak had stolen Little One from Shayna and led her along with her lion friend deep into the heart of Mountmend. Immediately Amon shut his mouth and changed his mind about sending Darzirak.
" Second thoughts, maybe she's right and you shouldn't go..."
Amon awkwardly trailed off as he slowly turned back to Darzirak with an apologetic expression. Darzirak choked and spat out the water onto the floor with a string of strain-suffocating coughs.
" You!? *Coughing* Threaten me *heavy breath in* for nothing?"
Darzirak asked in a painful rasping voice. Little One seeing Darzirak in pain, stopped singing and watched Darzirak with a concerned expression. Darzirak held his breath for a moment but as soon as he breathed, the coughing fit continued.
" Yeah... sorry about that buddy...?"
Amon apologized as he knelt and pat Darzirak on the back. Darzirak coughed a while longer before taking in another deep breath and clearing his throat.
" Then, you sending the baby to a doctor?"
Darzirak questioned with a pointing finger at Little One, Little One immediately took this opportunity to grab Darzirak's finger and gave it a good pull.
" I don't think he's sick. He seems fine to me."
Amon rubs the back of his neck as he watched Little One yawn. Little One soon let go of Darzirak's finger, leaning against Amon's chest. Little One rubs his little head against Amon's chest but then quickly stopped and moved away.
" But then why doesn't he want to sleep? Maybe he doesn't want you to tuck him in tonight? Maybe he wants me?"
Philomel suggested as she walked over to Amon. Amon took the mug from Philomel and passed Little One to her.
" Come on baby, sleepy bye time."
Philomel chimed as she rocked Little One. Little One seemed to like it at first but as soon as he's eyes begin to droop, he immediately started kicking and fussing.
" That's not it."
Amon deducted as he wipes the floor clean and place Darzirak's mug on the table.
" Maybe Darzirak?"
Amon suggested.
" Me? That isn't it! I never put him to sleep before!"
Darzirak quickly blurted out with a shaking head.
" No harm in trying."
Philomel reassured as she passed Little One to Darzirak. Darzirak immediately turned back into liquid form before changing into a crib with his face on the headboard. He awkwardly rocked Little One but that just made Little One scream and kick Darzirak hard. Amon immediately rush and took Little One out of Darzirak's arms. Little One instantly calmed down when he felt he wasn't being rocked.
" See, told you it isn't me."
Darzirak huffed as he turned back to his dog form and puts his bathrobe back on.
" Come on Little One, what's wrong? You have been up for many shadow days and normal hours. It's time to sleepy sleep."
Amon sweetly whispered as he draped Little One over his shoulder and pats his little back soothingly.
" Uhhhhhh!"
Little One cried as he kicked Amon hard in the rib again. Amon winched as he held Little One at arm's length.
" Maybe he doesn't want to fall asleep in our arms? Try the bed?"
Philomel suggested as Amon laid Little One down on Philomel's bed but Little One cling onto Amon's hand, wrapping around it with his little hands and feet as he whined even more.
" Ughhhh Urrrrrhhh."
Little One softly muttered as his eyes filled with tears.
" Oh! I know!"
Darzirak chimed as he snapped his fingers. Darzirak rushed to Amon's satchel, dug around, and pulled out Amon's white shirt.
" Ta-da! It's probably this!"
Darzirak chimed with much confidence as he folded it into a small pillow and gave it to Little One. Little One immediately grab it and threw it at Darzirak's face as tears ran down his chubby cheek but he made no noise.
" Not that either... Isn't that the shirt Amon left behind at Emma's home since Little One wouldn't let go of it?"
Philomel noticed, and Amon immediately panicked as he stared at Darzirak.
" Little One was holding it when I kidnapped him. So I stole it along."
Darzirak answered with a shrug as he puts Amon's shirt back. Amon instantly lets out a sigh of relief.
" Enough of this. Let's just take him a to doctor or a Sharma or something!"
Philomel says with an exasperated sigh. Darzirak stared at Little One before turning back at Amon's satchel where Amon's white shirt stuck out.
" Before that... Why not try using, my little apartment barrier?"
Darzirak suggested as he turned back to Little One.
" That barrier? Hmm... I don't know if I remember how..."
Amon trailed off as he closed his eyes and focused. It took a few moments but instantly a small red circle appeared over Little One like a small hand shield for the back of the hand. Instantly Little One calmed down and allowed his droopy eyes to close. Within moments he fell asleep. Both Philomel and Amon stared at Darzirak in shock.
" Well my job here is done. Good night and don't bother waking me up until the sun is after its peak."
Darzirak ordered as he dusted his paws, grabbed his mug, and leap back into Amon's hand. Completely failing to mention that the magic barrier has a passive ability that made the protected feel safe or that Little One feared he would be abandoned by Amon and Philomel again, as soon as he fell asleep.
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