toontown | Baby Goblin AU

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.

"We'll keep her so safe. We'll learn how."

"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.

"Are her ears alright?" Boober asks, struggling to keep his voice quiet in his surprise-- and concern. It feels almost silly to worry about that specific thing, when surely if there is a problem Riz knows already, at least. But... How are those ears ever going to be like the ones Riz has?

But oh, that jumper... One of the things they'll need to get her is properly fitting clothes. No doubt in his mind there, and oh, the idea of clothes small enough to properly fit her is sweet. Maybe not the kind of sweet to make most people feel all emotional over it, Boober assumes... But he can't help it.

It takes a moment for the part about not knowing where to get baby things to sink in, with that on his mind. But when it does, it doesn't strike Boober as too big of a problem.

"Sklonda will know, though, right?" He imagines that they'll have a lot to ask her about all this, really.

"Huh?" A stab of worry goes through Riz at the question, before he realises what Boober must be referring to and he relaxes with a smile. He can remember asking the exact same thing as a kid. "Cause they are still small? Nah, that's normal. That's what newborn goblin ears look like. Has my mom never showed you my baby pictures?"

Speaking of his mom. "Yeah, probably. Gods, we're gonna have to tell her about this."

Seeing as it is only meant to be a temporary thing, clearly they don't have to tell everybody. But Riz would never not tell his mom. Or the Bad Kids but that can come slightly later when he's got everything sorted.

Boober ducks his head sheepishly, because Sklonda has shown him baby pictures of Riz. He'd just jumped to worry right away-- which hasn't really been as common an occurrence for him, in recent years.

"She's a baby," he says in way of explanation, because that's the thing: It's really easy to worry about someone who is helpless, isn't it? Someone who doesn't know the things to look out for and worry about themselves.

"We will, yeah." It does feel like a strange thing to just tell her. They have a baby, but not a baby that's theirs. It feels like it should be obvious to the people who know them, but again, it's one of those things where silly creatures tend to think a certain way. Even one as smart as Sklonda! "We probably should do that in the morning, if not sooner. There's a lot I need to ask her."

"Yeah, just wait. a couple of weeks and they'll really start sticking out."

Not that they might have a chance to see that. After all, Riz will be looking for her extended family. And he is, if he may say so himself, a pretty good detective. By that time, she might already be safely with them again, and now something they need to be worried about anymore.

"Tomorrow. We can call her tomorrow. There is too much to tell her to handle all of it today."

Or maybe it is less a matter of time, and more a matter of even Riz wanting some rest before taking on that daunting task. Not that Riz really expects there to be trouble. Once he explains the circumstances to his mom, he's certain she'll agree with what he did.

"I've got stuff to take care of her. It's in my bag. Just the basics, but it's enough for now."

Boober simply nods. As much as there's part of him itching to learn as much as he can, just so he has some idea of what they're doing - and what they're in for - waiting also comes as a relief. Today has already been a long day, and for him it only started at noon.

This gives them to adjust, and besides, he knows the other shoe has to drop eventually. The panic he's been able to keep at bay for now won't stay distant forever...

But for now, he leans over to give Riz a soft little kiss on the forehead. He can only imagine what he's been feeling since he found the baby- Though knowing Riz, Boober doubts he's recognized all that much of it. But it doesn't matter.

"Do you need any of it right now, or is she just- she good until she wakes up? I don't..."

"You might as well get it. It's about the time she starts getting hungry and--"

Oh no. Riz just realised something absolutely terrible. Boober has always shown his love and care for people through cooking. And Boober will also absolutely not be able to show his care through cooking because she is a baby, and they don't eat normal food, something which he is probably completely unaware of. Riz isn't actually entirely sure where new fraggles come from --to be fair, he had never bothered to ask because he had never exactly been interested in babies-- but from everything he had seen at the rock, they didn't exactly do the helpless baby thing.

Gods, why must he be the bearer of such bad news.

"Damnit, you are gonna hate hearing this but... you can't cook for her."

"What do you mean, I can't cook for her?" Boober asks, hissing to keep the words quiet in his dismay, and almost dropping the bag he'd already gotten up to bring over.

It's a very upsetting thing to hear! Especially since he does not understand why he wouldn't be able to cook for her-- On the contrary, he was already looking forward to doing just that. A second mouth to feed, even temporarily, was going to be so nice... Besides, it'd be a good way for him to help! Help Riz out and help the baby!

"I'd be able to do it." It sounds childish, he can't help but think. The disappointment has his voice somewhere between whining and pleading, more than convincing.

Some part of his does recognize that, logically-speaking, it can't be an issue of Riz's faith in his cooking. Boober cooks for Riz all the time-- And that means he's known for years that Riz's standards with food boil down to "not vile." But there's too much going on right now to be logical.

"I know, I know," Riz tries to sound as soothing as he can while pitching his voice low so the baby won't wake up. "You're a great cook. If I had to pick, you know I'd always pick your food."

Which, yes, admittedly, isn't a huge mark of quality when Riz has and will eat food from a literal dumpster, but perhaps Boober will appreciate it for the appeal to sentimentality it is.

"It's not you, it's the baby. Babies don't, uh-- they can't eat regular food. They drink milk. That's what animals actually make milk for, to feed to their babies. And as great as cook as you are, you can't just make milk."

That would require Boober to grow body parts Fraggles don't even have! Frankly, Riz isn't even sure if Boober has nipples, though it is not a question he would've ever posed to himself until now.

He frowns, pouts even, as he carefully sets down Riz's bag. But he's listening, to the explanation so the compliment was successful in at least calming him down enough.

"So, she won't be ready to eat food until after she has her family?" With a hefty sigh, Boober perches sat on the arm of the couch by Riz's feet. It just feels unfair...

"Probably yeah." Riz isn't actually entirely sure how long infant Goblins can only drink milk. He'll need to look that up. But he suspects it's a while, and hopefully, if everything goes according to plan, he'll have found her family by then.

"But-- there is still laundry! And I can show you how to make the bottles. It's kinda like cooking."

That's overselling it, really. If anything, it's kinda like making instant coffee. So, it's probably a good thing Riz has had plenty of experience there.

"There will be more laundry," Boober agrees in a tone that's unenthusiastic, even for him. But... As disappointed as he is, maybe it's for the best. It would be hard to part with the baby if he gets to feed her, and she should be with real parents.

"Sorry, that's..." He takes his hat off for a moment to rub at his eyes. "I guess it's a little silly to be upset about that, out of all of this..."

Only a little, mind!

"A little," Riz agrees because he has never learned to not be bluntly honest. "But it also makes sense with how much you love to cook for people. That's like, your whole thing. It's--"

Riz gets cut off by a grumpy sound rising up from the baby in his arms, not quite a full-chested cry yet but certainly a sound of complaint. He isn't sure if he forgot to keep his voice low and woke her, or if it really just is time for her to eat.

Either way though, he's already learned that if he doesn't jump on this fast, the noise is going to get a lot louder.

"Think you are ready to hold her for a moment? Cause it is way easier to make a bottle for her if I don't also have to hold her."

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