Team Chaotix week day 2 prompt Teamwork
Due May 2nd
Ages:
Charmy 1-2
Espio: 11
Vector: 15
Espio frowned as he stared at the toddler. He did not like kids. The small bee looked up and smiled at the chameleon. Espio instinctively took a step away from the bee.
“Vector!” He called upstairs. “It wants something.”
Vector’s sigh filled the house. All the croc asked was for the 11 year old to watch the bee while he took a shower. His body was still soapy as he attempted to remove the dirt and grim from his body from several days of work and single parenthood he was now experiencing.
The bee was barely old enough to sit up. Vector and Espio had found the baby in an abandoned building during a job to find a missing pet Chao for a little old lady.
Vector rinsed himself off quickly before leaving the room. He didn't have the luxury to dry himself off. He got that an 11 year old would dislike kids. Most did.
“What does the tike want?” Vector asked as he came into the room. Espio was on the ceiling glaring down at the child, who in fact, wanted nothing. The baby was just in awe watching the chameleon. “Pfft. Any good things in the ceiling?”
“It's baby free.” Espio grumbled.
Vector nodded as he picked the baby up from the bouncing seat. “It's frankly an honored to be liked by a baby. Normally they see strangers and cry.”
The bee wiggled in joy at the crocodile.
“This one is defective.” Espio shifted on the ceiling.
Vector shot him a glare. He was not putting the bee back where they found him. “Did anyone come by looking for him?” They had been going around asking anyone and everyone if they had lost a kid. Vector didn’t have money to make posters. He sent letters to every orphanage he could think of. Cost him a bunch in postage, but it would be worth it if they found the kid's folks.
Espio shook his head.
The crocodile nodded as he bounced the baby in his arms. “It's ok. Someone will come looking for ya. You're cute after all.”
“I think you need to get your eyes checked.” Espio muttered as he watched Vector go into the kitchen.
The crocodile rummaged through the fridge and cabinets. He needed to feed the baby something. He was sure babies his size needed to eat constantly. Unfortunately, the kitchen had very little to offer.
Espio watched from the ceiling. It clicked to him what Vector was doing. He jumped down from the ceiling in the living room and walked out the door.
“Be careful out there!” Vector called when he heard the squeal of the front door.
“Kay,” Espio called back.
Vector knew asking the preteen where he was going or doing always ended with the classic teen tude of, “Ugh. Leave me alone.” A simple ‘be safe’ was the best. Plus the croc had his hands full with a tiny bee.
He praised Gaia when he found a random a packet of oatmeal in the junk drawer of the kitchen. Located next to the loose batteries and keys he had no clue what they were for anymore.
He poured water from the tap into a pot and put it onto the stove. He flicked on the burner and waited as he bounced the kid and sang the softest lullaby he could think of. Once he was out of those, he switched to jazz and r&b songs.
The click of the lock and squeal of the door told Vector a possible customer was in the lobby. When Espio went for walks, the chameleon took hours.
He leaned out of the kitchen doorway to greet the guest, only to pause as his eyes met the preteen. “You're back early.” He stared.
Espio nodded as he walked into the kitchen past the crocodile. He slide the duffle bag off his shoulder and onto the kitchen table. There was a loud Ziiirrrp! as he unzipped the bag.
“Where'd you get the bag from?” Vector asked. It was a nice bag.
“Ignorance is bliss.” Espio responded as he pulled out items. Powdered milk, a jar of honey, and a bunch of bananas.
Vector knew that sentence. Thievery. His shoulders slumped. How was he going to explain to this sticky finger chameleon that stealing was wrong?
“What's with the stove?” Espio pointed at the boiling water on the stove.
“Oatmeal for the kid.” Vector stated as he rushed to make sure it didn't boil over.
“The kid lacks teeth.” Espio pointed out. He scooped powdered milk into a baby bottle from the duffle bag. Espio yoinked the boiling pot off the stove and poured its content into the bottle and began shaking it.
“Careful Es!” Vector yelled, causing the baby to fuss in his arms.
“I am more skilled.” Espio rolled his eyes. “I'll cook. You feed…” he gestured at the bee.
Vector sighed. Teamwork did make the dream work.
Vector grinned when the baby bee opened his mouth and he was able to spot a tooth barely out of the gums.
