Maybe he should have called ahead. Even if Boober didn't always have a crystal on him --Fraggle Rock had many things, but cell reception was not (yet) one of them-- maybe he should have tried. But explaining this situation over a phone had seemed so daunting and so much had been happening at once. It had been easier to put it off, push it to some nebulous future point until it had simply become too late. At this point, he couldn't call anymore. Having five minutes of warning was as good as having no warning at all.
The bundle held against his chest stirs faintly and Riz stops, fussing at the wraps to make sure it's properly covered.
It's just--
The baby had been so small. It- she hadn't even supposed to be there at all.
Sure, Riz had known there were children in the compound, taken to be used in some sort of ritual that made his blood boil to think of it. He had been prepared to see small and scared faces after breaking into the compound. Fuck, knowing they were there had been what had pushed the situation from one that was being monitored by the Council to one that they had immediately given one of their top agents (him) permission to neutralise, the lawfulness of his presence in the Baronies be damned.
He had been prepared for the children. He hadn't been prepared for the baby, scant days old, and next to a mother who was--
Well, his work afterwards hadn't been the most professional. Effective, yes. Very, very effective, but professional, no.
The children had been saved though. So that had been good. And his supervisors had given him their assurances that they would be reunited with their mothers and fathers and other guardians --there had been a scattered few missing persons reports, which is what had put them on the case in the first place-- but the baby had no mother to reunite it with. They would look for other family members, they had said. They'd place her in an orphanage until then.
Damnit, she was too small to go into some orphanage in the Baronies! Her eyes hadn't even opened. He had never even seen his cousins when they were this small. Just the thought of her in a place so impersonal and dark --admittedly, his idea of orphanages in the Baronies had mostly been formed by television and books-- made his hackles raise and his tail lash.
He'd take her, is what he had said. Hissed. What did they know about taking care of a baby goblin here anyway? He'd take her and he'd take care of her until they could find her family and she'd go right back with them. He had refused to budge.
That had set off two flurried days of activity during which he had been extracted back to Solace and documents had been produced proclaiming her to be his (just for now, just for now) so he could legally carry her across the border. Not that it was exactly legal for those documents to exist, but Riz had long since learned that the Council was willing to overlook its own rules and laws if it was really inconvenient otherwise.
And that is what had led him all here, taking the short walk back to his apartment --he never let the agency drop him off in front of his door-- one arm full of the bundle clasped to his chest, and the other carrying his normal duffel bag, heavy and full of equipment for this latest mission.
And he still hadn't called.
He wonders, as he fishes the keys to his apartment out of his pocket, if Boober will be angry. He takes the stairs up to his little studio and wonders if he will even be here. He isn't always. He spends most of his time at The Rock while Riz is away. As he puts his keys into the lock of his front door, he isn't sure what he'd be prefer; for Boober to be here and to get this conversation over with or for the apartment to be empty so he can regroup and... try and find some explanation for this the next time Boober comes by.
Usually, Boober made a point of not hanging around at Riz's place when he was gone-- gone for work, at least. He could only spend so much time in the kitchen or down in the building's laundry room before worries crept in, and the studio quickly went from "peacefully quiet" to "painfully silent."
Besides, it just makes sense to spend that time at Fraggle Rock. Sure, he's up here a lot these days (and not even strictly to be with Riz, not always, though Riz being around is his preference) but the Rock is still home. And it was where Boober had gone almost the moment Riz left for the job!
...But that night, a few folks had started up an impromptu jug band jam session - as you do - and, fraggles being fraggles, it had been a full-fledged music festival by the time Boober awoke the next morning. There wasn't a single place in the Rock to go without hearing at least four different songs being played all at the same time, and after a few days of that? Boober decided he'd rather risk a painfully silent studio apartment. He was so exhausted from all the sound keeping him awake that he wound up falling asleep the moment he'd locked the door behind and all but collapsed on the couch.
That was yesterday afternoon, and he'd still barely risen before noon today. But here he was, still in the sweater he'd put on to come over here (silly creatures are so strange about other's state of dress, though he can't complain too much - he's glad they cover up) and puttering about the kitchen. Carrying a mug of freshly-made tea in hand, he was trying to settle on what to make for lunch. Should he make enough for him and Riz, or was that too hopeful? He didn't want to set himself up to be disappointed...
But all the decisions were put on hold when Boober heard the click of the lock, and he poked his head out from the kitchen with a tentative smile. Riz being back was always a relief, but it did carry a moment of its own kind of fear-- As good at his work as he is, it's still very dangerous work. Boober is more than willing to take care of anything in the aftermath, but it can be scary to see all the same...
And yet, this time, what sticks out to Boober isn't any injury or symptom of illness, it's the air of fear Riz has-- That, and the bundle he's holding so close. Boober's not sure what to make of that at all.
Riz's ears flatten slightly when he hears Boober, the arm holding the baby tightening slightly. It's certainly not his normal reaction to finding Boober in his apartment after he comes back from a job; that one is usually elation, or perhaps, rarely, a bit of guilt if he had managed to get hurt. It's not this anxious tightening of his shoulders or the creeping sensation of over-protectiveness in the pit of his stomach towards the baby.
Which, he realises, is all silly. It's Boober. He wouldn't-- And it is his apartment anyway. And it's only temporary. And--
Riz breathes out slowly, trying to steady himself. He doesn't move away from the door though, not coming up to greet Boober as he normally would.
"Hey." Great start, Gukgak. Super helpful. "There is something I have to tell you. Show you, I guess." And then added in response to the way he can feel his back growing tight again and the growing sensation in his stomach-- "Don't come to close yet."
The concern that had planted itself in Boober's mind when Riz came in was now just a big knot of worries. For a moment, he stammered in a soft and stunned voice, before shaking it off-- and going into the same mindset he did when someone had an emergency. The fear was still there, but all in its own stream of thoughts, and as long as he could keep it there he could focus more on helping.
Assuming he even could help, that is... Boober stepped out of the kitchen, hands worrying at the ends of his scarf. From there, he only took a few cautious steps closer to Riz.
"What's going on, Riz? Did--" But he cut his own words off quickly, mouth shut in a tight, drawn line. Whatever was happening - whatever was wrong - it clearly had Riz shaken. He was being so cagey, and Boober didn't want to overload him. Even if he had so many more question he wanted to ask.
Riz watches as Boober steps out of the kitchen, but he stops well clear of him, and that is good. For some reason that is good, and Riz cannot really explain it.
He cannot explain why he feels so cagey around Boober, someone who has never hurt him nor ever would (or realistically, could). Logically he knows that even if Boober will be upset once Riz tells him what is going on, the worst he will and can do is move back to the Rock. He knows that Boober would never hurt something as small and vulnerable as her, even if he was the angriest Riz had ever seen. Nevertheless, he feels that strange, instinctual need to curl up around her and make sure nobody can touch her.
But he still needs to tell Boober because they can hardly just stay right here in some strange stand-off.
"Just-- Don't freak out," he says, as if he isn't currently being the biggest factor in freaking out Boober. And then he sets down his duffel bag so he can use his now free hand to slowly pull away some of the wrapping around her and give Boober just enough of a peek at the baby in his arms.
As always, being told to not freak out pushes Boober's mind closer towards worry instead. That is something he has not been able to shake, not one bit. And now, too, he tenses up hearing that request-- Even as another part of him has to fight the urge to go closer to Riz. He seems scared, and Boober wants to be there for him--
Fortunately, Boober only has to deal with that for a moment before he is looking at the tiniest little thing. Only barely, but enough for him to recognize traits he's seen in the Gukgaks' photo albums.
A baby goblin is not what he was expecting; saying Boober is confused would be an understatement. But one thing that does seem very clear to him is that for Riz to have encountered a baby on the job, it means something truly terrible happened. With a gulp, Boober looks back up from the baby to Riz.
"They don't have anyone."
His voice is somber, because it's more of a guess - or a fear - than a question.
"She got me." His voice is sharp with fierce protectiveness, though he quickly amends and adds: "until I can find the rest of her family."
Riz's eyes drop down and for a moment he just gently brushes the side of her face with his knuckles. She is still sleeping, which is good. That is really one of the few things Riz does know about babies -- they sleep a lot. It leaves him pretty wildly unprepared for the task he took on, but it is not like he had the luxury of coming back to it later. It had been a pretty now or never decision. "It's just temporary."
Boober is familiar with that tone, has heard Riz sound that ferocious before... But never towards him. It makes him flinch, but the situation at hand means the more emotional side of the reaction feels distant from Boober's mind right now.
"I'll help," Boober says, nodding. There's no uncertainty, nor any big to-do. Of course he's going to help Riz take care of her, why wouldn't he?
Aside from the fact he knows nothing about babies. Fraggles band together to care for the little ones, but Boober himself has never been part of it. He's still a bit young to be expected to do that in their society.
The only remotely close experience he has is with raising pokemon from eggs, which isn't the same thing to begin with, but also doesn't last very long. Pokemon grew quickly, and didn't need the same kind of care a baby goblin would.
It doesn't matter, though. Just because it's temporary doesn't mean Riz should be alone in this-- Boober loves him, but there's no denying he's going to need so much help.
Riz breathes out a shuddering breath when Boober so plainly states he'll help He cannot really explain why he expected any different, but just hearing the calm promise to help makes the tension bleed out of his shoulders, and he reaches up, pushing his glasses up as he pushes the ball of his hand against his eye. He'd do both eyes, but one of his arms is very engaged.
"Thanks. Sorry for-- Sorry for springing this on you like this. It's big, I know."
"I'm pretty sure I'd be panicking if she wasn't asleep," Boober admits, looking at the baby. It's strange how much that seems to be keeping him calm--
Or, rather, it's not that he's calm, really. But the presence of a sleeping baby, one who was alone at that... How can his distress not take a backseat?
"We'll have to figure things out. It's not impossible," he points out, to himself as much as Riz, if not more. "People take care of babies all the time."
Boober stops fussing with his scarf, letting it fall limp against his sweater. "Can I, um... Is it okay if I come closer now?"
"It's terrible when she cries." It's not just loud, but it's a sound that wrenches at the beast inside Riz's chest that he didn't know lived there until he found her. Thankfully so far her needs have been pretty straightforward; milk when she is hungry, a new diaper when she has soiled it, and a need to be held when Riz has put her down for too long. Three little things that, with the help of one of his supervisors who had children herself, he had been able to clumsily figure out.
But right now, she isn't crying. She's asleep which, admittedly has been terrifying at times for different reasons. Sometimes she gets so still and quiet that he's deeply afraid she has died there and then. It's easier when he is holding her, when he can hear the very soft snuffling of her breathing or feel her stir just so within her wrappings.
"Yeah. Yeah, you can come closer." Now that Boober has agreed to help, Riz feels better about him getting close. Not entirely certainly yet if he wants him to hold her --then again, does Boober even want to hold her-- but at least he doesn't feel the utterly bizarre fear that Boober might hurt her.
Getting a closer look at the baby really drives home how small she is. Boober almost can't believe something up here can be so small, and... It hurts, thinking of something this little being alone and scared. He supposes maybe she was too new to the world to even understand she was alone, but the way she occasionally moves in her sleep, burrowing closer to Riz... He doubts it.
He feels like he should ask Riz for more information, eventually. He wants more information, because maybe it will help him - somehow - be more useful. But at the same time, he's not sure his heart can take it.
Wanting to take care of others is hardly new to Boober, but this is the first time it's felt like this. It's just that it's going to be more important than ever, while they're looking after her. As much as he talks about his loved ones being unable to care for themselves without him, it's not really the case. They'd get by in their own ways, but she's going to truly rely on them.
Even now, he can feel how that realization has panic creeping in. He's glad that he's still able to keep it at bay enough for her to keep sleeping. His body feels tight, tensing in response to the pressure they're now facing, but that too feels distant. What he says instead of voicing his fears isn't something he has to force out at all. It just comes out.
"She makes a lot of mess. You'll like that part." Riz's grin is a little thin and tired perhaps, the realisation of how this is their reality now slowly seeping in.
Few people get excited about the laundry aspect of parenting a newborn, but if there ever was a person who would, it's Boober.
"I gotta sit down. If I keep holding her like this my arm is gonna fall off." She isn't exactly heavy --far too light for even a goblin baby-- but Riz's physical strength has never been something to write home about and anyway, even a light weight becomes tiring if you just have to keep holding it.
Riz makes his way over to the couch without even taking off his shoes and flops down on it in simultaneously the most careful and tired manner ever, leaning his head back against the cushions and closing his eyes. Well, until the baby makes a little sound in her sleep, undoubtedly at the change in position and he sits up again, rearranging her in his arms and murmuring soft, soothing sounds under his breath. He is becoming good at those sounds.
He smiles at that, he has to, though his is not very bright, either. This is so scary, and hearing Riz say something so normal is comforting in the face of the fear. He puts a hand on Riz's back in silent thanks, then pushes gently.
Yes, he looks exhausted-- in a different way than usual. He should sit down. Of course, it's not like he'll be able to relax while holding a baby. This is almost immediately proven true, Boober comes over to the couch and kneels down beside it.
"Hon, if you think you can get some rest, maybe you should."
Normally, Boober isn't nearly this gentle in suggesting Riz sleep-- even if over the years, it's become equal parts genuine and teasing; it's not like Riz's habits have improved. But this is an instance where he'd understand completely if Riz refused. It would be hard to sleep with all this on the mind.
"I can hold her, if you show me how to do it best. We'll be okay for a bit."
"No, no, I'm all right." He isn't even that physically tired. Well, he is a bit physically tired, but Riz is always somewhat physically tired, so that is not saying anything. It's more that now that he is here at the apartment, it's really starting to hit just what he got himself into. Technically, he has been in this boat for two days now, but there was so much to arrange and learn then that it hadn't really sank in.
Now that they are sitting down, he might as well give Boober a better look at her. Very carefully he starts to unwrap the blanket around her, giving Boober his first proper and full glimpse of her.
She is... well, she sure is small. That had already been established. And a little lumpy in the manner all babies are. And she is so young, that her ears haven't even really grown in yet, still small and flat against her skull. She is dressed in something that is apparently called a romper --completely new information for Riz, honestly-- though the one she is in is clearly too big for her, hanging loosely on her tiny little body. If she has a tail, it's completely lose in the folds of the blanket and the too big outfit.
"I got a few things for her, but we'll need to get more." A pause. "Not that I know where they even sell that stuff."
He has vague memories of seeing racks of baby outfits while shopping for his own shirts, but it truly is something he never had to even think about before.
It's been over a week of looking after the baby goblin. They haven't found any of her family, but they're not ready to call it a lost cause. Or well, Riz isn't; he's still on the case. Boober, on the other hand, is starting to wonder if there's nobody to find. Riz is very good at his job, after all, but still not making progress.
Today, though, Boober was able to persuade Riz to step away, because the last of the baby supplies from their first, quick - one might even say "rushed" - shopping trip have run out. It's time for round two, and Boober has no plans of rushing now. It made sense then, sure, but this time was different.
Shopping for baby clothes was part of the difference. Boober has been looking at a single rack of onesies for well over fifteen minutes, and it's only the first thing he's come across in the clothing section. But what is he supposed to do, not make sure he picks something that's well-made? And some of these onesies have buttons, for crying out loud! Boober scoffs as he comes across yet another one, shaking his head.
"Look at this, Riz!" he says, tone hushed but still as judgmental as ever, while wiggling the buttons down the front of a sky-blue onesie. "They're just for decoration, but you know what they'll really be there for? Getting ripped off and becoming a choking hazard!"
Sure, maybe the baby they're taking care of couldn't tear a button off clothing, but there were all kinds of babies in Riz's world-- Besides, was it ever worth taking the risk? Why not just be safe?
If he were to be entirely honest, Riz hadn't really wanted to leave home. His investigation had progressed little, and while he had been prepared for that -- Solace might have the technology necessary to have a database of missing persons, but so many other places in Spyre didn't; and if they did, it was rarely focused on Goblins -- it was still a bit of a disappointment. Of course, he couldn't quite throw himself into this investigation with his normal abandon, not when there was a baby to take care of. And for such a little thing, she sure needed a lot of care.
Between his mom and Boober though, he had been (lovingly) bullied in leaving behind his board for a few hours and getting resupplied. Sklonda had even volunteered to take on care of the infant for a little bit, and Riz had not been able to find any argument against that. After all, if she had been able to keep him alive, then surely she could keep this baby alive.
Plus, his mom could look over his notes and maybe find something he missed.
Of course, this does mean that Riz is now here, hovering just behind Boober as he meticulously checks over a rack of onesies. Which, okay, seriously, Riz is really glad Boober took to this as well as he did, considering how badly he sprung it on him, but--
Seriously? Fifteen minutes?
"Does she even need these things? Can't we just put her in a shirt and pants?"
The feeling of fond exasperation is one Boober has been familiar with for as long as he can remember, but there's no one who brings it out in him like Riz. The sigh Boober lets out as he looks briefly at Riz is one his boyfriend has heard before.
And, as always, Boober has no hesitation about explaining why the subject of his concern is more important than someone might think.
"Well, yeah, hon, of course she needs onesies. Her skin still needs to stay warm and protected properly." He scrunches up his face as he adds, "not to mention they make diaper changing quicker and a bit easier."
He's grown fond of the baby - very fond, and he's started to realize he needs to be careful about the fine line between fondness and attachment - but there are certain things that are still absolutely dreadful to him. And while to burp her so she'll spit up on his shoulder (Yes, on a cloth on his shoulder, but still! Not to mention the poor cloth!) is a pretty close second, diapers are the top at very top of the list.
He tuts and returns his attention to the rack of onesies, flipping through the garments for what must be the dozenth time. "...What do you think about her tail being out, though? Is that safe for a goblin her age? Because I was wondering, maybe, if it'll help her to be used to it once she starts crawling. Not to mention walking."
He smiles, warm and proud - and not really thinking too much about how she won't be with them when she starts walking. He still wants her to be prepared and have good balance when the time comes! He's been reading a lot about babies in general, of course, but he's focused on goblin babies when he could. Most of that information came more from talking to Sklonda than from books, but frankly? He values her information more, anyway.
Consider him properly chastised and, okay, not entirely sure still why the onesies are so important, but hey if Boober wants to have the extra laundry--
Oh, who is he kidding, of course Boober wants the extra laundry. You think he wouldn't need it, considering how much of a mess even a baby this tiny can produce, but then there is never an amount of laundry that is disastrous to Boober.
"Crawl? Boober, she barely opened her eyes!" An incredible feat she had managed in the last few days. Though, according to all the books, her eyesight would still be pretty poor for months to come, but at least it was a sign of progress. They couldn't be doing that badly if she was progressing, right? "Besides, I hope it doesn't take me that long to find her family."
With a sigh, Boober again turns away from the onesies to look at Riz. He's pulled another one off the rack, too - this one very simple, made of an almost fluffy material in a goldeny-yellow color.
"Well of course, Riz, but it can't hurt to be ready for anything that could happen. I'm hoping she can be with her family soon, too. I still want to be prepared no matter what, though. And..." He holds the onesie out at arm's length, and a moment passes where he's silent aside from some quiet thoughtful hums. Then he nods, tucking the onesie under one arm. "...I want to do what I can to make sure she's ready for her life, too. What we're doing now matters for all that."
Riz cannot deny that being prepared and ready for anything is a good way to live life. Of course, you cannot always have a plan, not when you are an adventurer, but he tries to anticipate as much as he can. He needs to. Gods know he loves the Bad Kids more than life itself, but there is no denying that most of them will leap before they look every time.
Sometimes literally.
Far too often literally.
Riz sighs for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose. "All right, just--don't start picking up stuff for pre-school already, okay? I don't think we need to be that prepared."
Boober nods, beckoning for Riz to follow as he goes around to the other side of the rack. Maybe he'll find more on the other side? Two would probably be enough new ones, but if he can find a third or even fourth, well... That makes for a very good addition to the laundry he'll be doing.
"Of course. I want to be prepared, not impractical." He pauses, looking up from scrutinizing baby clothing. "Although... Isn't right now pre-school for her? She wouldn't be going to anywhere like Aguefort until she was older."
Frankly, even three or four might be too few. When they had told Sklonda about their temporary charge, she had ended up telling Riz a few horror stories about the many ways babies could be very gross. Thankfully, it's not something they've encountered yet, and Riz really hopes he'll have found her birth family before it ever becomes an issue, but it has made him a little wary and very grateful Boober loves doing laundry so much.
Though he probably won't like doing that laundry very much.
At his comment, Riz bites down on a chuckle, shaking his head a little. Boober has learned a lot about the non-Fraggle way of living, but ever so often, they still run into things he's just completely unaware of. "You're not wrong, but pre-school is actually a specific place. It's, uh... well, it's kinda like school for really young kids." He rubs his chin, trying to find the best way to explain it both with Boober's limited understanding and frankly, his limited knowledge. "It doesn't really focus on teaching them anything though. It's more a place for them to play and be safe while their parents work."
"Oh, I see! Well, the name is a little silly if it doesn't really have much to do with school itself... But the thing itself makes a lot of sense. There's plenty of jobs that would be awful to bring children to."
Not to mention the distraction they'd likely bring to any job. That's not good, either.
"You know, in that case..." Boober continues, still fully focused on the conversation - something that he hasn't really been prior to this; who could expect anything else with all this (frankly adorable) clothing around? "We're sort of acting as a pre-school for her right now, wouldn't you say?"
"Yeah. Could you imagine me bringing her along on one of my missions?"
Of course, Riz isn't currently taking missions. It had been a bit of a hassle, but when he had found her and decided to take care of her until her family could be found, he had immediately activated all his PTO. Which, considering his normal tendency of not taking any time off if it could be helped, was quite the considerable amount.
They hadn't been entirely happy about it, but when you had the mission record Riz had, you had a pretty strong bargaining position.
(Plus, as Sklonda had reminded him, a legal right to time off after taking in a child)
"You might be able to do it. While you're doing laundry, at least. And you'd be able to clean the stuff she spits up on immediately. You'd never run out of laundry to do."
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First meetings
Maybe he should have called ahead. Even if Boober didn't always have a crystal on him --Fraggle Rock had many things, but cell reception was not (yet) one of them-- maybe he should have tried. But explaining this situation over a phone had seemed so daunting and so much had been happening at once. It had been easier to put it off, push it to some nebulous future point until it had simply become too late. At this point, he couldn't call anymore. Having five minutes of warning was as good as having no warning at all.
The bundle held against his chest stirs faintly and Riz stops, fussing at the wraps to make sure it's properly covered.
It's just--
The baby had been so small. It- she hadn't even supposed to be there at all.
Sure, Riz had known there were children in the compound, taken to be used in some sort of ritual that made his blood boil to think of it. He had been prepared to see small and scared faces after breaking into the compound. Fuck, knowing they were there had been what had pushed the situation from one that was being monitored by the Council to one that they had immediately given one of their top agents (him) permission to neutralise, the lawfulness of his presence in the Baronies be damned.
He had been prepared for the children. He hadn't been prepared for the baby, scant days old, and next to a mother who was--
Well, his work afterwards hadn't been the most professional. Effective, yes. Very, very effective, but professional, no.
The children had been saved though. So that had been good. And his supervisors had given him their assurances that they would be reunited with their mothers and fathers and other guardians --there had been a scattered few missing persons reports, which is what had put them on the case in the first place-- but the baby had no mother to reunite it with. They would look for other family members, they had said. They'd place her in an orphanage until then.
Damnit, she was too small to go into some orphanage in the Baronies! Her eyes hadn't even opened. He had never even seen his cousins when they were this small. Just the thought of her in a place so impersonal and dark --admittedly, his idea of orphanages in the Baronies had mostly been formed by television and books-- made his hackles raise and his tail lash.
He'd take her, is what he had said. Hissed. What did they know about taking care of a baby goblin here anyway? He'd take her and he'd take care of her until they could find her family and she'd go right back with them. He had refused to budge.
That had set off two flurried days of activity during which he had been extracted back to Solace and documents had been produced proclaiming her to be his (just for now, just for now) so he could legally carry her across the border. Not that it was exactly legal for those documents to exist, but Riz had long since learned that the Council was willing to overlook its own rules and laws if it was really inconvenient otherwise.
And that is what had led him all here, taking the short walk back to his apartment --he never let the agency drop him off in front of his door-- one arm full of the bundle clasped to his chest, and the other carrying his normal duffel bag, heavy and full of equipment for this latest mission.
And he still hadn't called.
He wonders, as he fishes the keys to his apartment out of his pocket, if Boober will be angry. He takes the stairs up to his little studio and wonders if he will even be here. He isn't always. He spends most of his time at The Rock while Riz is away. As he puts his keys into the lock of his front door, he isn't sure what he'd be prefer; for Boober to be here and to get this conversation over with or for the apartment to be empty so he can regroup and... try and find some explanation for this the next time Boober comes by.
no subject
Besides, it just makes sense to spend that time at Fraggle Rock. Sure, he's up here a lot these days (and not even strictly to be with Riz, not always, though Riz being around is his preference) but the Rock is still home. And it was where Boober had gone almost the moment Riz left for the job!
...But that night, a few folks had started up an impromptu jug band jam session - as you do - and, fraggles being fraggles, it had been a full-fledged music festival by the time Boober awoke the next morning. There wasn't a single place in the Rock to go without hearing at least four different songs being played all at the same time, and after a few days of that? Boober decided he'd rather risk a painfully silent studio apartment. He was so exhausted from all the sound keeping him awake that he wound up falling asleep the moment he'd locked the door behind and all but collapsed on the couch.
That was yesterday afternoon, and he'd still barely risen before noon today. But here he was, still in the sweater he'd put on to come over here (silly creatures are so strange about other's state of dress, though he can't complain too much - he's glad they cover up) and puttering about the kitchen. Carrying a mug of freshly-made tea in hand, he was trying to settle on what to make for lunch. Should he make enough for him and Riz, or was that too hopeful? He didn't want to set himself up to be disappointed...
But all the decisions were put on hold when Boober heard the click of the lock, and he poked his head out from the kitchen with a tentative smile. Riz being back was always a relief, but it did carry a moment of its own kind of fear-- As good at his work as he is, it's still very dangerous work. Boober is more than willing to take care of anything in the aftermath, but it can be scary to see all the same...
And yet, this time, what sticks out to Boober isn't any injury or symptom of illness, it's the air of fear Riz has-- That, and the bundle he's holding so close. Boober's not sure what to make of that at all.
"Riz?"
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Which, he realises, is all silly. It's Boober. He wouldn't-- And it is his apartment anyway. And it's only temporary. And--
Riz breathes out slowly, trying to steady himself. He doesn't move away from the door though, not coming up to greet Boober as he normally would.
"Hey." Great start, Gukgak. Super helpful. "There is something I have to tell you. Show you, I guess." And then added in response to the way he can feel his back growing tight again and the growing sensation in his stomach-- "Don't come to close yet."
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Assuming he even could help, that is... Boober stepped out of the kitchen, hands worrying at the ends of his scarf. From there, he only took a few cautious steps closer to Riz.
"What's going on, Riz? Did--" But he cut his own words off quickly, mouth shut in a tight, drawn line. Whatever was happening - whatever was wrong - it clearly had Riz shaken. He was being so cagey, and Boober didn't want to overload him. Even if he had so many more question he wanted to ask.
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He cannot explain why he feels so cagey around Boober, someone who has never hurt him nor ever would (or realistically, could). Logically he knows that even if Boober will be upset once Riz tells him what is going on, the worst he will and can do is move back to the Rock. He knows that Boober would never hurt something as small and vulnerable as her, even if he was the angriest Riz had ever seen. Nevertheless, he feels that strange, instinctual need to curl up around her and make sure nobody can touch her.
But he still needs to tell Boober because they can hardly just stay right here in some strange stand-off.
"Just-- Don't freak out," he says, as if he isn't currently being the biggest factor in freaking out Boober. And then he sets down his duffel bag so he can use his now free hand to slowly pull away some of the wrapping around her and give Boober just enough of a peek at the baby in his arms.
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Fortunately, Boober only has to deal with that for a moment before he is looking at the tiniest little thing. Only barely, but enough for him to recognize traits he's seen in the Gukgaks' photo albums.
A baby goblin is not what he was expecting; saying Boober is confused would be an understatement. But one thing that does seem very clear to him is that for Riz to have encountered a baby on the job, it means something truly terrible happened. With a gulp, Boober looks back up from the baby to Riz.
"They don't have anyone."
His voice is somber, because it's more of a guess - or a fear - than a question.
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Riz's eyes drop down and for a moment he just gently brushes the side of her face with his knuckles. She is still sleeping, which is good. That is really one of the few things Riz does know about babies -- they sleep a lot. It leaves him pretty wildly unprepared for the task he took on, but it is not like he had the luxury of coming back to it later. It had been a pretty now or never decision. "It's just temporary."
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"I'll help," Boober says, nodding. There's no uncertainty, nor any big to-do. Of course he's going to help Riz take care of her, why wouldn't he?
Aside from the fact he knows nothing about babies. Fraggles band together to care for the little ones, but Boober himself has never been part of it. He's still a bit young to be expected to do that in their society.
The only remotely close experience he has is with raising pokemon from eggs, which isn't the same thing to begin with, but also doesn't last very long. Pokemon grew quickly, and didn't need the same kind of care a baby goblin would.
It doesn't matter, though. Just because it's temporary doesn't mean Riz should be alone in this-- Boober loves him, but there's no denying he's going to need so much help.
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"Thanks. Sorry for-- Sorry for springing this on you like this. It's big, I know."
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Or, rather, it's not that he's calm, really. But the presence of a sleeping baby, one who was alone at that... How can his distress not take a backseat?
"We'll have to figure things out. It's not impossible," he points out, to himself as much as Riz, if not more. "People take care of babies all the time."
Boober stops fussing with his scarf, letting it fall limp against his sweater. "Can I, um... Is it okay if I come closer now?"
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But right now, she isn't crying. She's asleep which, admittedly has been terrifying at times for different reasons. Sometimes she gets so still and quiet that he's deeply afraid she has died there and then. It's easier when he is holding her, when he can hear the very soft snuffling of her breathing or feel her stir just so within her wrappings.
"Yeah. Yeah, you can come closer." Now that Boober has agreed to help, Riz feels better about him getting close. Not entirely certainly yet if he wants him to hold her --then again, does Boober even want to hold her-- but at least he doesn't feel the utterly bizarre fear that Boober might hurt her.
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He feels like he should ask Riz for more information, eventually. He wants more information, because maybe it will help him - somehow - be more useful. But at the same time, he's not sure his heart can take it.
Wanting to take care of others is hardly new to Boober, but this is the first time it's felt like this. It's just that it's going to be more important than ever, while they're looking after her. As much as he talks about his loved ones being unable to care for themselves without him, it's not really the case. They'd get by in their own ways, but she's going to truly rely on them.
Even now, he can feel how that realization has panic creeping in. He's glad that he's still able to keep it at bay enough for her to keep sleeping. His body feels tight, tensing in response to the pressure they're now facing, but that too feels distant. What he says instead of voicing his fears isn't something he has to force out at all. It just comes out.
"We'll keep her so safe. We'll learn how."
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Few people get excited about the laundry aspect of parenting a newborn, but if there ever was a person who would, it's Boober.
"I gotta sit down. If I keep holding her like this my arm is gonna fall off." She isn't exactly heavy --far too light for even a goblin baby-- but Riz's physical strength has never been something to write home about and anyway, even a light weight becomes tiring if you just have to keep holding it.
Riz makes his way over to the couch without even taking off his shoes and flops down on it in simultaneously the most careful and tired manner ever, leaning his head back against the cushions and closing his eyes. Well, until the baby makes a little sound in her sleep, undoubtedly at the change in position and he sits up again, rearranging her in his arms and murmuring soft, soothing sounds under his breath. He is becoming good at those sounds.
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Yes, he looks exhausted-- in a different way than usual. He should sit down. Of course, it's not like he'll be able to relax while holding a baby. This is almost immediately proven true, Boober comes over to the couch and kneels down beside it.
"Hon, if you think you can get some rest, maybe you should."
Normally, Boober isn't nearly this gentle in suggesting Riz sleep-- even if over the years, it's become equal parts genuine and teasing; it's not like Riz's habits have improved. But this is an instance where he'd understand completely if Riz refused. It would be hard to sleep with all this on the mind.
"I can hold her, if you show me how to do it best. We'll be okay for a bit."
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Now that they are sitting down, he might as well give Boober a better look at her. Very carefully he starts to unwrap the blanket around her, giving Boober his first proper and full glimpse of her.
She is... well, she sure is small. That had already been established. And a little lumpy in the manner all babies are. And she is so young, that her ears haven't even really grown in yet, still small and flat against her skull. She is dressed in something that is apparently called a romper --completely new information for Riz, honestly-- though the one she is in is clearly too big for her, hanging loosely on her tiny little body. If she has a tail, it's completely lose in the folds of the blanket and the too big outfit.
"I got a few things for her, but we'll need to get more." A pause. "Not that I know where they even sell that stuff."
He has vague memories of seeing racks of baby outfits while shopping for his own shirts, but it truly is something he never had to even think about before.
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Baby socks
Today, though, Boober was able to persuade Riz to step away, because the last of the baby supplies from their first, quick - one might even say "rushed" - shopping trip have run out. It's time for round two, and Boober has no plans of rushing now. It made sense then, sure, but this time was different.
Shopping for baby clothes was part of the difference. Boober has been looking at a single rack of onesies for well over fifteen minutes, and it's only the first thing he's come across in the clothing section. But what is he supposed to do, not make sure he picks something that's well-made? And some of these onesies have buttons, for crying out loud! Boober scoffs as he comes across yet another one, shaking his head.
"Look at this, Riz!" he says, tone hushed but still as judgmental as ever, while wiggling the buttons down the front of a sky-blue onesie. "They're just for decoration, but you know what they'll really be there for? Getting ripped off and becoming a choking hazard!"
Sure, maybe the baby they're taking care of couldn't tear a button off clothing, but there were all kinds of babies in Riz's world-- Besides, was it ever worth taking the risk? Why not just be safe?
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Between his mom and Boober though, he had been (lovingly) bullied in leaving behind his board for a few hours and getting resupplied. Sklonda had even volunteered to take on care of the infant for a little bit, and Riz had not been able to find any argument against that. After all, if she had been able to keep him alive, then surely she could keep this baby alive.
Plus, his mom could look over his notes and maybe find something he missed.
Of course, this does mean that Riz is now here, hovering just behind Boober as he meticulously checks over a rack of onesies. Which, okay, seriously, Riz is really glad Boober took to this as well as he did, considering how badly he sprung it on him, but--
Seriously? Fifteen minutes?
"Does she even need these things? Can't we just put her in a shirt and pants?"
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And, as always, Boober has no hesitation about explaining why the subject of his concern is more important than someone might think.
"Well, yeah, hon, of course she needs onesies. Her skin still needs to stay warm and protected properly." He scrunches up his face as he adds, "not to mention they make diaper changing quicker and a bit easier."
He's grown fond of the baby - very fond, and he's started to realize he needs to be careful about the fine line between fondness and attachment - but there are certain things that are still absolutely dreadful to him. And while to burp her so she'll spit up on his shoulder (Yes, on a cloth on his shoulder, but still! Not to mention the poor cloth!) is a pretty close second, diapers are the top at very top of the list.
He tuts and returns his attention to the rack of onesies, flipping through the garments for what must be the dozenth time. "...What do you think about her tail being out, though? Is that safe for a goblin her age? Because I was wondering, maybe, if it'll help her to be used to it once she starts crawling. Not to mention walking."
He smiles, warm and proud - and not really thinking too much about how she won't be with them when she starts walking. He still wants her to be prepared and have good balance when the time comes! He's been reading a lot about babies in general, of course, but he's focused on goblin babies when he could. Most of that information came more from talking to Sklonda than from books, but frankly? He values her information more, anyway.
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Oh, who is he kidding, of course Boober wants the extra laundry. You think he wouldn't need it, considering how much of a mess even a baby this tiny can produce, but then there is never an amount of laundry that is disastrous to Boober.
"Crawl? Boober, she barely opened her eyes!" An incredible feat she had managed in the last few days. Though, according to all the books, her eyesight would still be pretty poor for months to come, but at least it was a sign of progress. They couldn't be doing that badly if she was progressing, right? "Besides, I hope it doesn't take me that long to find her family."
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"Well of course, Riz, but it can't hurt to be ready for anything that could happen. I'm hoping she can be with her family soon, too. I still want to be prepared no matter what, though. And..." He holds the onesie out at arm's length, and a moment passes where he's silent aside from some quiet thoughtful hums. Then he nods, tucking the onesie under one arm. "...I want to do what I can to make sure she's ready for her life, too. What we're doing now matters for all that."
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Sometimes literally.
Far too often literally.
Riz sighs for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose. "All right, just--don't start picking up stuff for pre-school already, okay? I don't think we need to be that prepared."
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"Of course. I want to be prepared, not impractical." He pauses, looking up from scrutinizing baby clothing. "Although... Isn't right now pre-school for her? She wouldn't be going to anywhere like Aguefort until she was older."
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Though he probably won't like doing that laundry very much.
At his comment, Riz bites down on a chuckle, shaking his head a little. Boober has learned a lot about the non-Fraggle way of living, but ever so often, they still run into things he's just completely unaware of. "You're not wrong, but pre-school is actually a specific place. It's, uh... well, it's kinda like school for really young kids." He rubs his chin, trying to find the best way to explain it both with Boober's limited understanding and frankly, his limited knowledge. "It doesn't really focus on teaching them anything though. It's more a place for them to play and be safe while their parents work."
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Not to mention the distraction they'd likely bring to any job. That's not good, either.
"You know, in that case..." Boober continues, still fully focused on the conversation - something that he hasn't really been prior to this; who could expect anything else with all this (frankly adorable) clothing around? "We're sort of acting as a pre-school for her right now, wouldn't you say?"
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Of course, Riz isn't currently taking missions. It had been a bit of a hassle, but when he had found her and decided to take care of her until her family could be found, he had immediately activated all his PTO. Which, considering his normal tendency of not taking any time off if it could be helped, was quite the considerable amount.
They hadn't been entirely happy about it, but when you had the mission record Riz had, you had a pretty strong bargaining position.
(Plus, as Sklonda had reminded him, a legal right to time off after taking in a child)
"You might be able to do it. While you're doing laundry, at least. And you'd be able to clean the stuff she spits up on immediately. You'd never run out of laundry to do."