Work Text:
Linus Baker awoke from his sleep with a start. He rubbed his eyes, taking in his surroundings. Soft blankets, warm sun lighting pouring in, the song of birds, and the ocean breeze whispering through the trees. Every morning that dawned on the island of Marsyas was more beautiful than the one before it. What was missing, however, was the sound of children. Given how many of them there were, he should have distantly heard at least one by now. Linus looked at the small round clock on his nightstand that read 7:26AM. Chauncey, the green amorphous bellhop-to-be, would normally have invited Linus to breakfast about 15 minutes ago.
The previous day had been the children's first outing to the town of Marsyas, and it was quite a day indeed. Between the attempted exorcism, the discrimination, meeting the mayor, and the general excitement of it all, Linus expected everyone to be something close to exhausted after returning to the island. It wouldn't be too outlandish to think the children may just be sleeping in, but Linus was beginning to find the silence almost…too quiet, which is something he never would've thought before being sent here.
Linus got dressed in what was becoming his usual outfit on the island, khakis and button up shirt. He looked to the big yellow envelope on his desk, the return address labeled DICOMY. He hadn’t read it last night, hoping to delay whatever was to come next. Normally, Linus would not hesitate to be informed about a matter pertaining to his job, but recently, he couldn’t compel himself. Word from his work never failed to put a pit in his stomach, and he found his job much harder to do while feeling queasy. This is the excuse he told himself as he headed toward the main house, continuing to ignore the envelope and whatever could be inside.
This part of his day was becoming one he truly enjoyed. The smell of the ocean, the vibrant flowers that lined his path, the view itself. Even the distant smell of rain here on the island felt comforting; the rain of the city never carried the comforting and grounding quality Linus felt on the island. Linus wasn't used to feeling anything but, well, dread on his way to work. But the way life went on this island, it was hard to believe this was technically work. In a way, this was his commute. Linus was beginning to prefer the birdsong to the honking of horns and dismal atmosphere of the city he came from.
As he got closer to the house, Linus couldn't help but peer over some of the shrubs Talia had been working on this week, expecting to see her diligent in her craft before breakfast. But there was no clatter of tools, dirt flying through the air, and no little gnome girl in sight. This shouldn't have alarmed Linus as much as it did, seeing as he was a dedicated and professional caseworker, but he found himself slightly picking up his pace towards the door.
Linus was past the point of always knocking on the door to enter the home, per Arthur’s permission after a few days of rapping his knuckles on the door and waiting somewhat awkwardly to be let inside. This was still new to him, seeing as the only other home he entered without invitation was his own. Not that he was invited to many other homes outside of work, come to think of it. That would require the prerequisite of friendship, which DICOMY generally discouraged. Chattering across desks won't file paperwork!
Linus opened the door, expecting to immediately find the usual voices, movement, and low level chaos that came with a house full of children with magical disposition, but instead was met with a quiet he did not expect. The living room was empty, besides Calliope sitting in a window sill without a care. Closing the front door behind him cautiously, he moved from the walkway, past the living room, and into the kitchen. There stood Zoe Chappellwhite, the island sprite, steeping a cup of tea with one hand, stirring a large pot of what Linus assumed was soup with the other. She was absorbed in the task, not paying mind to Linus, but he knew she was aware of his presence.
"Uh, good morning, Ms. Chappellwhite," Linus said, feigning confidence.
"Good morning, Mr. Baker." she replied, still attentive to the little cup in front of her.
Linus glanced around the room, trying subtly to peek out the windows and around any corners. Linus felt uneasy in the quiet, like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"Its rather quiet here this morning, shouldn't the children be at the table by now?"
Gentle but hurried footsteps approached from the hallway Linus just came from. The tall and slender man entered the room, hair a slight mess, still wearing his pajamas and a powder blue cardigan on top. In his arms he carried what appeared to be a set of red footy pajamas, the same pair Lucy put on the night before.
"The children have become under the weather this morning," Arthur said, mind clearly busy as he put the soft red outfit into a laundry basket. He turned to Zoe.
“Lucy sweated through his bed clothes. He’s had medicine, but now his fever needs to break. I’ve told him to rest for a while.”
“I’ll handle the laundry, I have a few dirty towels in Chauncey’s room that need immediate attention.” Zoe said, touching Arthur's shoulder before leaving the kitchen. The man turned to face Linus, granting him a full view of his hair, somewhat out of place. Arthur's gaze softened slightly, stress leaving his eyes.
"Oh my," Linus breathed. "Is it anything serious? Stomach bug? Chickenpox? Measles? Should we consider visiting the village doctor?” He was already searching the room with his eyes for a phone when Arthur spoke.
"No, no, nothing so serious as that," Arthur assured him. "It appears to be a common cold of some sort, but each of the children are taking to it a little differently."
Arthur turned around slightly to reveal the wyvern clinging to his shoulder, hiding under the soft cardigan. Theodore seemed tired and shifted as though he couldn't get comfortable, emitting weak clicks of his beak and closing his eyes tight.
“I’m about to get Theodore back to his hoard to rest for a while, would you be so kind as to grab his breakfast, please?”
Normally Linus would object to children having breakfast in bed as such “luxurious” and "frivolous" activities were not standard to children’s wellbeing under DICOMY. But Theodore wasn’t his usual active and chattering self. It was hard to look at him being so out of sorts and feel compelled to do anything but help.
“Of course. If it would help him get well” Linus said, making sure to look at Theodore with care. Theodore relaxed slightly upon the gentle man's shoulder, seemingly thankful for permission to be unwell. Linus picked up the little bowl the tall man had gestured at, surprised to see sardines instead of the broth he was expecting. He kept his surprise to himself, and followed Arthur out.
The two men walked quietly through the kitchen and into the living room, still just as quiet as when Linus came in. Arthur knelt in front of the couch that hid Theodore's many little treasures. Linus crouched down and set the bowl into Theodore's space, careful not to let it touch anything he had gathered. Linus kept the skirt of the couch lifted, and Theodore began to walk down Arthur's arm slowly, wings drooping on either side. Arthur picked him up carefully with the opposite hand and helped him down onto what looked to be a t-shirt, likely taken from another person in the house.
“There you are,” Arthur soothed quietly. “Once you’re feeling up to it, we can continue searching for more safety pins. But, for now, it would be best to lie down..”
The wyvern looked to Linus with suspicious eyes, hissing slightly. Linus wasn’t sure what had caused Theodore to feel territorial.
“You may of course begin to feel better quicker if you had a little of your breakfast. Don’t you think that would help, Mr. Baker?” Arthur turned to Linus expectantly.
“Uh, certainly!” Linus stammered, surprised he was being asked. “I find a good breakfast can make you feel stronger, though I’m a little more partial to eggs and bacon, myself.”
“Mr. Baker is right.” Arthur said. “But if you don’t feel like eating right now, you need not feel rushed. It’ll still be here for you when you wake up. And if you find you need more, I, or Zoe, or Mr. Baker will always accommodate. It’s important to us that you feel well and get all the nutrients you need to be the smart, strong, and loving wyvern you are.” Arthur assured.
Theodore let out a long sigh and a few clicks of his beak as he settled into the soft t-shirt. Linus began to wonder if he had seen that shirt on the man next to him some days ago.
“Yes, of course. We’ll do that right now. You rest, and we’ll be back to check on you very soon.” Arthur said, letting the skirt of the couch fall to cover the wyverns' space. Arthur braced himself with one hand on the couch cushion as he stood up, Linus following his motion.
“What did he say?” Linus asked.
“He asked that we check on Sal. He was supposed to join us in our search, but he didn’t come downstairs this morning. I worry he may also be feeling ill.” The two made their way to the stairs walking slowly at first so as not to disturb Theodore, but slightly picking up their pace.
“It seems that may be the case, let’s make sure- oh!”
Linus barely avoided walking right into Talia, who was clumsily stumbling through the hallway and towards the front door, hat askew, overall straps twisted, and trowel in hand. “Heyyy” she grumbled, peering up with tired eyes. “You could’ve dented my trowel!”
“I know im no twig, but I hardly think-“
Talia's eyebrows rose in shock before narrowing into an accusational glare at the man she herself stumbled into. “What do you have to say about twigs, you-“
“Oh, Talia! Just the gnome I needed to see” Arthur interjected with a grateful tone, hands clasped in front of him.
“Im the *only* gnome you coulda see’d.” She paused and got a thoughtful expression, as though trying to remember something. “Seeds… the garden!”
“Precisely! The garden is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I've just received word that the garden is in a state of rest as ordered by Zoe. She says the soil has requested extra quiet during this time in preparation of new flowers.”
Talia, to her credit, was trying her very best to pay attention. She was clearly running a fever, and though a threat or two was not unusual, she wasn’t normally this disagreeable. “New flowers? Right now?”
“Yes, what better time than now?” Zoe confirmed, coming down the stairs with a wet rag in one hand and a bag full of what Linus assumed were Chauncey’s towels in the other. She set the bag on the floor and bent down closer to Talia. “But not until the soil has had peace and solitude for the day.”
“Why haven’t I heard of this before?” Talia asked, leaning on the stairs with one hand, not without nearly missing and falling over.
“There is always more to learn,” Zoe said, adjusting Talia's hat and subtly feeling her forehead. “But that is all you’ll learn for today. This is a day for rest.”
Zoe handed the cold wet rag to Arthur and gestured at Talia with her head, a silent confirmation between the adults that she had a fever.
“Hmm” Talia grumbled, not completely convinced.
“Zoe knows the island best” Arthur began, “we’ll take the day off and maybe tomorrow you'll see a new flower?” Arthur asked, eyes asking Zoe. The sprite nodded as if to say “I’ll see to it” as she picked up the bag and headed toward the kitchen.
“Mmmm alright” Talia conceded, blinking one eye at a time. “But I gotta put up my trowel” she started for the front door again, wobbling about.
“Oh, let me handle that!” Linus offered, concerned that if she went outside with it they might not be able to get her back in for a while. She pulled the tool close to her chest.
“You dunno how to garden, you might break it, or lose it!” For all the fight she was putting up, she was getting more exhausted by the second.
“Hmm, Mr. Baker may not be ready to handle your garden tools,” Arthur agreed in a low tone, crouching down on one knee. “But I’ve held them before, yes? So how about I take your trowel, and Mr. Baker can see you to your room.” Linus desperately wanted to be helpful, so he leaned down to Talia's level with Arthur.
“I definitely don't think I could goof that up,” Linus agreed in a light tone, trying to persuade the little girl.
“Hmm, we’ll see.” Talia grumbled in a doubtful tone, but she leaned her head on Linus's shoulder anyway. Linus was concerned and suddenly anxious he would goof this up somehow. He looked to Arthur for help, but he was already standing above him, eyes full of calm affection. Arthur placed the cold rag on the little gnome's forehead before walking outside to put the trowel away. Linus felt reassured by this borrowed confidence, at least enough to carry Talia up to her room as carefully as he could.
Linus set Talia in her bed as gently as he knew how, careful not to lose the cold rag on her head. For how many magical children he had seen in his years as a caseworker, active involvement in their care was not part of his duties. His job was to observe and report, nothing more. Linus wanted to believe he was being helpful to the children her served, he was beginning to wonder if his role had been a lot less meaningful than he thought. He unclipped the twisted overall strap and set it right, in hopes it would make her more comfortable as she dozed off. The little bearded girl was just beginning to snore as Linus was pulling the sheet over here.
He turned his head to see Arthur entering the room quietly with a look of fondness in his eyes. Linus felt a warmth in his cheeks, which was becoming increasingly familiar to him these days.
“I came to help, but it seems you don’t need my assistance.” Arthur observed in a pleased tone.
“Its a good thing you brought up the soil resting, I don’t think we would have been able to get her back to bed if you didn’t speak so quickly” Linus whispered as they inched towards the door.
“I fear I can hardly take the credit, I was sure she would see right through me before Zoe intervened,” Arthur chuckled, turning his gaze to the snoring child. “She becomes a little prickly when she’s sick, but she means no harm behind the fever. She should be back to her usual threats tomorrow”
Linus let out a little wheeze.“I didn’t expect I would be glad to hear that. She seems to need the rest more than I initially thought.”
“Indeed,” Arthur agreed. They both looked at the little girl in a moment of quiet. Linus felt unsure of what to say and dared not look at the kind and handsome man beside him for fear of making himself look silly. Before he had a chance to embarrass himself, Arthur shifted slowly out to the hallway.
“Before we check on Sal,” he began, hesitation coloring his voice. “I should let you know something that may have been missed in his report. To no fault of yours, of course, they just tend to…” he trailed off, searching for the right words. “Well, they don't always illustrate what children have been through. And how could they? No one’s life experiences and complex feelings could ever be put down on pieces of paper, no matter how many pages you’re given.” Linus nodded, listening closely. Arthur took a deep breath and continued.
“In his previous orphanages, Sal was seen more for his shift than his humanity. They did not make an effort to understand him in either form, instead jumping to wild conclusions and treating him without care. Not very long after Sal was brought here, he came down with a mild illness. He had already been on edge and distrustful, but being sick on top of it– I think it was simply too much. He never hurt me, or anyone else for that matter, but he acted out of survival. He ran from me, if I came close he would shrink into himself, shaking and crying out, and…” Arthur trailed off, clearly distressed at the memory of one of his charges being so fearful. “After reassuring him for quite some time that all wanted to do was help, he finally relaxed enough to tell me he… he didn’t want to be taken to a veterinarian.”
As gasp escaped Linus. “A veterinarian?? Surely they didn’t!”
“They did,” Arthur said gravely. “And seeing how these were the same people who were cruel enough to keep him in a muzzle, I’m sure they didn’t even choose a professional who would act in kindness and good faith.” Arthur sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Sal and I have built a lot of trust since he was last sick. I’m so very proud of him. He’s come a long way. But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious he might momentarily regress. Especially with the recent events.” He lifted his head suddenly and looked to Linus.
“Not that you haven't been kind to him, and all the children, it’s just-“
“No no, I completely understand,” Linus interrupted. “Even with kindness, a caseworker observing everything you do doesn’t tend to put anyone at ease.” Linus placed his hand on Arthur's shoulder. “I’ll be there in whatever way you think would be best for him, given his past. I’ll follow your lead.”
Those last few words of encouragement came out more personal than he thought they would, but Linus dared not ask himself why. Internal turmoil of the heart aside, Arthur seemed truly grateful for the support, placing his hand over Linus’ own. The fleeting seconds of contact stretched for minutes in Linus’ mind before Arthur briefly squeezed his hand, then let go.
“Alright,” Arthur took a quick, deep breath before continuing. “I'll go in alone, but I'll leave the door open. You may want to stand to the side of the doorway instead of the middle, if you can. It would make him feel less trapped.” Arthur explained.
“Got it, I’ll do exactly that. But what do we do if he runs out?”
“We let him.” The man said simply.
“Let him?” Linus repeated. Are you sure?”
Arthur nodded slowly. “He knows where he is, he knows where to go to feel safe. All doors to the outside are secured, so there’s no real harm in him running anywhere in the house. He may even go right to Theodore, given they’re close. But yes, if he runs, just let him. We’ll go from there.”
“We’ll go from there,” Linus repeated.
They came to Sal's room, the door was closed and they didn’t hear the usual muffled typewriter clicks and dings. Arthur knocked gently on the door. “Sal? Theodore and I missed you for our trinket hunt. He asked that we come check on you. May I come in?”
It was quiet for a long moment, but the silence broke with a small and stressed “yip” behind the door. Arthur opened the door slowly to reveal the white pomeranian on the bed, shaking and panting next to the bedclothes he wore in his human form.
“I’ve come to make sure you’re feeling alright,” Arthur sat on the end of Sal’s bed, giving Sal his full attention. Linus noticed that despite how fast he wanted to act in order to make sure the children were well, he always acted to the children as though he had all the time in the world to put them at ease. “And see, Mr. Baker wanted to make sure you were alright too.” Sal's little brown eyes, already stressed, became full of panic at the sight of Linus. His white and fluffy body trembled harder as he backed up and growled. Not wanting to cause any further stress, Linus considered leaving the room before remembering what Arthur told him to do.
Linus slumped down beside the door and spoke in a calm voice, keeping in mind how present Arthur always was with the children.
“I hoped to see you at breakfast this morning, I’d hate to see you go without it.” He said in a light tone. Sitting on the floor, at the very least, did not escalate the situation.
“Sal?” Arthur asked quietly, very slightly leaning his head down, Sal didn’t relax but he did look up.
“It’s not usual for you to miss a hunt with Theodore. I know I'm rather tired from our trip to the village, we all had quite the adventure. Are you tired as well?” Sal seemed to consider this, his head tilted slightly while his body continued to shake. “And I do believe Mr. Baker is right, you did miss breakfast. Are you hungry at all?” the little white dog stopped growling and twitched his nose in thought. He gave Arthur a tiny whine.
“No? That’s alright, you don’t have to eat if you don’t want to. But feeling tired and not eating might mean it’s best to lie down for a while. What do you think?” Sal shook less, letting out another admittedly pitiful whine. “You can rest right here if you like,” Arthur offered, answering a question Linus didn’t know was asked. Sal starred off as Arthur spoke, his eyes finally landing on Linus.
In a moment of awful realization, it dawned upon Linus that Sal likely thought he would send him to a veterinarian like others before him. He would never dream of such a thing, but it was not in his protocol to offer assurances to magical children. Watching Sal shake before him, eyes wide in fear, he cast his protocol to the side. Betraying the internal dialog of DICOMY, Linus spoke.
“You can rest in your bed, on the couch with Theodore, I’m sure Calliope would be happy to join you as well, if you want me to go find her.” Sal’s ears perked up at the moody feline's name. “She loves a quiet Sunday spent at home,” Linus added. Much to Linus's relief, confirming that they would be staying on the island seemed to put Sal at ease. Sal considered the idea, then confirmed he would like Calliope’s companionship.
“I’ll go find the old girl now,” Linus said as he stood up. “She can’t be far, especially since it looks like rain.” Linus returned to the living room where he saw his pet last. She had left the windowsill to curl up on one of the couches, now irritated that Linus was interrupting her very important nap.
“You’re being requested, I’m afraid.” Calliope did not look impressed.
“Come on now, Sal would feel a lot better if you would just sit with him for a while. Would you do that for him, old girl?” Calliope let out a silent yawn before rising into a stretch. “That’s the spirit,” Linus praised her before picking her up and carrying her up the stairs. She did not appreciate the help, but chose to be patient with the stressed man.
Linus was a few paces before the doorway, slowing down his steps so as to not alarm Sal by entering the room in a rush. Arthur was talking with Sal in a hushed tone Linus couldn't help but overhear.
“He has no interest in sending you to a veterinarian, I assure you. Mr. Baker isn’t like anyone you’ve stayed with before, and if he were, Zoe and I would have him banished from this island immediately. But Mr. Baker isn’t someone we need to worry about. He cares about not only your safety, but also how you feel.”
Sal made a few quiet and short barks, Arthur listening closely.
“Yes, I think he’s quite good too.” Arthur agreed with sincerity.
Linus felt a little stunned, to say the least. He wasn’t used to attention being directed at him, much less in a positive way. His heart fluttered at Arthur's words, and ached a little knowing that sentiment first came from Sal. He was honored to have earned that trust with him, especially now knowing more about what he had been through.
Feeling as though he had been listening for too long, he cleared his throat and entered the room. Calliope jumped out of his arms and ran directly to Sal, inspecting him with care before cuddling up beside him.
“It seems she knows just what to do,” Arthur smiled down at them. “Can you think of anything else that would make you feel more comfortable right now?”
Sal shook his head, content to rest for the time being. “That’s alright. Perhaps we’ll have a good lunch later, how does that sound?” Arthur folded up Sal’s clothes and set them on the end of the bed where he had been sitting as Sal settled into his blankets beside Calliope, looking rather tired. “We’ll be back to check on you soon, Sal.”
Linus began to leave the room, Arthur followed him closely and closed the door behind them.
“That went better than I expected,” Linus said.
“Yes, I was worried he might work himself up and make himself feel worse, but his fear was more brief this time around. Hopefully one day, he won't carry this fear at all anymore.”
“It’s awful that he’s had to for so long already,” Linus lamented. “But he feels safe here, I bet one day you’ll open your eyes to see every small change come together. His bad days will feel more and more like distant memories as time goes on.”
“Do you really think so?” Arthur asked in a rare moment of visible anxiety.
“I know it.” Linus whispered confidently, holding Arthur's gaze. In this brief moment of comfortable silence, Linus could almost believe he was more than just the caseworker who was sent here.
Having taken care of three children, the pair already had their hands full. But three more children still needed tending to, so the men continued through the house in search of who needed help next.
Arthur led the way, Linus only a pace behind him. “I think we can pay a visit to Lucy next,” he thought aloud. “I have seen him once already, but it should only take a moment. He had a fever and took his medicine, so if all is going well his temperature should be close to normal soon.”
The men approached the doorway to Arthur's room, the sound of a little voice whimpering and sniffling somewhere nearby. “Do you hear that?” Linus asked, swiveling his head back and forth to figure out where the sound was coming from.
“Phee,” Arthur breathed with alarm. He dashed back to Phee’s door, but she wasn’t inside. Linus watched him hurry towards his own room, swearing to himself that he could see Arthur's eyes alight with concern. He followed Arthur to his room, picking up his speed to keep up with him.
Phee wasn’t a stoic girl by any means, but she wasn’t often one to cry, especially in front of others. With this knowledge about her, Arthur felt especially distressed to find her sobbing alone in his bed. Her shoulders shook as she cried. SHe held her hands on her head and her wings lay limp on the sheets behind her. Arthur rushed to her side, looking over her with deep concern.
“Phee, my sweet girl, whatever is the matter??” Arthur coaxed, full of concern.
The red haired sprite looked up at him through her raindrop tears. She choked out a heartbreaking little sob as she covered her eyes. “There, there. I’m here, it’s alright.” Arthur put his hand on her back in an attempt to comfort her.
Linus stood in the middle of the room, admittedly feeling a little useless. Without the first clue on how to help, he was beginning to get more anxious by the second.
“Easy, Phee. Take a breath with me,” the Arthur put his hands on hers and took a breath. Phee copied as best she could, her breathing shaky and broken.
“That’s alright, one more” he coaxed. Phee’s shoulders relaxed a little as she let out her second breath, still partially a sob but an improvement from the first.
“There” Arthur said, voice still soothing. “My sweet girl, what is the matter? Tell me what I can do.” he asked earnestly. Phee’s tears were free flowing as she tried to speak through her sobs.
“My- my ear hurts” she sobbed and continued “I heard you with Lucy earlier, but when I came in here, you had already gone and I- I-“ Admitting this out loud almost seemed to start her cries and upset all over again. “Linus,” Arthur spoke with quiet urgency, “I have ear drops in the medicine cabinet. Middle shelf. Please-“
“I’m on it. I'll be right back”
Linus ran down the hallway into the bathroom, bumping into the door and startling himself as he entered. He opened the medicine cabinet and scanned the shelf as quickly as he could, still hearing distant sobs and coughs down the hallway. He found what he was searching for and in his panic, also grabbed a washcloth and soaked it in hot water. As he ran down the hall, he realized it was a little closer to room temperature, but he couldn’t stop his momentum to get the medicine to the poor sprite in tears.
Linus passed the little bottle to Arthur in a hurry, still holding the rag and cursing himself inwardly for being so silly as to bring it at all.
“Phee, Mr. Baker has brought your medicine.”
The little girl looked up at the medicine bottle, desperate for relief but unsure.
Arthur held the little girl's hand with one hand, and the medicine with the other.
“Here’s what is going to happen. I need to put four drops into the ear that is hurting you. It may feel strange at first, but it will ease your pain, I promise. All you have to do is lay still for a moment while the drops go in, and let them sit for a few minutes. I promise nothing will hurt, and you’ll be much more comfortable after. Is that alright?”
Phee nodded her head, scared but willing. She laid her head down on Arthur's lap, showing him the ear that hurt. Arthur brushed her red hair away from her ear and moved the bottle above her head, but before even turning it upside down, she grabbed his hand and flinched from the bottle.
“I know, I know you’re scared. It’s alright Phee.” Arthur soothed. “It will only take a moment, you’ll see. Would it help if Mr. Baker held your hand?”
This took Linus by surprise. He tried to hide the wash cloth in his hands, almost cold by now, as Arthur looked up at him. His eyes were full of a parental concern Linus had never seen before, and he was caught off guard by the man believing he was up to the task. Arthur looked back at the sprite, gentle questioning in his eyes. Phee sniffled and nodded her head, another surprise entirely. Linus hadn’t done anything special when coming to the island, in fact he was rather thrown off, out of his depth. Every day was a new discovery, and today seemed to be the day he learned he could matter to these children. He didn’t know what else to do at this point, other than be there for them. Linus knelt on the floor next to the bed and took Phee's small hand in his. Phee closed her eyes as she tried to control her breathing.
“Good, Phee. Are you ready to try again? I promise you this will help.” The little sprite nodded, and Arthur put the drops into her aching ear. She flinched at the first drop, squeezing Linus's hand and closing her eyes tight. All four drops settled into her ear, and the tension in her body subsided slowly as the medicine worked.
“There, the hardest part is over with. You did very well, Phee. We have to let this medicine sit for a few minutes, then you’ll have to turn over and hold a…” the man looked around, just considering the need for a wash cloth.
“Uh, here” Linus blurted awkwardly, embarrassed to offer a cold rag. “It’s uh, it's a little cold now but I can go-“
“No no,” Arthur said looking to Phee, who looked close to falling asleep. Arthur’s eyes filled with relief at the cloth in the man's hand. He looked Linus in the eyes and whispered,
“Perfect.”
Linus was positive this time his face turned a shade or two redder than it was before. He would have to blame this on a fever as soon as the moment arose and take his leave in the guest house to keep up the facade.
Artur petted her head as she calmed down, the minutes passing quietly. The only sound was of her breathing and Arthur softly singing a familiar tune, willing Phee to dream, dream, dream.
When I want you in my arms
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream
Dream, dream, dream.
Linus was lost in pleasant thought when Arthur stopped humming to whisper to him,
“Could I have the washcloth, please?”
Arthur held the cold rag in his hand for a moment, humming another few lines as he moved a pillow to the other side of the tired sprite, ready for her to turn over onto. After setting the bed just right he looked to Linus for a brief second, indicating he was going to have her move.
“Phee,” he whispered, “it’s time to turn over now”. She barely opened her eyes as she rolled off of Arthur's lap and on to the pillow where the washcloth lay ready to catch the medicine. She scooted into the bed and got comfortable again. Arthur put the blanket over her and pet her head a few more times, finishing out the tune
I need you so, that I could die
I love you so and that is why
Whenever I want you
All I have to do is dream
The sprite was soundly asleep, exhausted from the pain and tears. Arthur watched over her for a moment before standing up. “Ive never seen Phee cry,” Linus whispered, rising to his feet.
“I know, it makes it all the more heart breaking when she does. I never feel more helpless than when I see any of the children hurting like that.” His eyes were wet with tears of his own. He took a deep breath to push them away.
“You did very well with her, Mr. Baker” he said, warmth and sincerity coloring his voice.
“Oh, I hardly did anything. Only what you asked.”
“And the washcloth,” he recalled, fondness in his eyes.
“Yes, the cold rag. I fear that’s hardly helpful at all with an ear ache.”
“Linus, you did better than you think. Truly, you were perfect.” Their eyes met for the first time since standing. Linus was beginning to feel warm again.
“Well, shall we see about Lucy?”
“Yes, right,” Linus said, breaking the trance. “Hopefully his fever has broken and he will be feeling like himself again.”
“I’ll grab the thermometer?” Arthur asked, turning towards the door. Linus nodded, and the man was out of sight.
Linus looked back at Phee, a strand of her hair covering her face. He stepped quietly towards her, gently adjusting the covers, and then brushing her hair aside. In moving her hair, he briefly touched the washcloth. To his surprise, it was warm. Not just from body heat, but properly heated. He could’ve sworn the rag was cold by the time he got it to Arthur's hands, he remembered how it felt against his skin; the contrast between the cold fabric and the warms of Arthur's fingertips brushing against his as he passed it to him. Before he had time to consider his sanity being on the line, the man in question re-entered the room.
“Ready?”
Linus stood and followed Arthur to Lucy's room.
For how eventful Lucy’s nightmare had been just the week before, Linus expected a lot more chaos. Upon walking into Lucy's room, there was no music playing, no records in the air. Just a small black haired boy laying in the bed. Lucy laid on his stomach, blankets all a mess. He was breathing deeply and seemed almost peaceful enough to convince Linus he had not caused his bed to levitate and the house to roar mere days ago. Arthur sat beside him, the shift of the mattress causing Lucy to stir. He kicked around uncomfortably in his blankets, tangled around his legs and underneath his torso. Linus removed the blankets and began straightening them out in neat layers while Arthur wiped the thermometer with a tissue.
“How are you feeling, Lucy?”
Lucy's eyes were tired, and he seemed vulnerable in a way Linus wasn’t used to. It reminded him how small Lucy was.
“M’okay,” the little boy mumbled, his voice hoarse. He struggled with his blankets tangled around him as he tried to sit up. The little boy looked up at Linus, just realizing he was there.
“Mr. Baker! You’re here too?” He croaked out, his expression changed to one of worry.
“Did I wake you up again? I didn’t mean to, I’m really really sorry, I-“
“Oh, no such thing! I slept perfectly well, Lucy, don’t worry. I just wanted to come check on-“
Lucifer seemed not to hear him, apologizing with a rapidly growing franticness.
“I don’t mean to wake everybody, I wasn’t trying to be bad, I promise. I didn’t mean to be bad-“
“Now, Lucy-” Arthur placed a hand on his little shoulder. Lucy’s chest was rising and falling, his breaths short and rapid. He hung his head and hugged his own chest, squeezing his eyes shut.
“I know I’m more bad than everyone else. I break things and I scare people, and I don’t mean to. I don’t mean to let my nightmares out of my head, there’s just so many spiders. I know I ruin things, I don’t mean-”
“Lucifer, Lucifer…” He interrupted the boy's anxieties and gently scooped the boy into his arms. “Nobody who’s ever met you would dare to think that. You, Lucifer, are a kind and caring child. You have nothing to apologize for, and I won’t let you speak as though you have. You have nothing to apologize for, Lucy. We care for you and see you for who you are. You, Lucy, are good. You’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.”
“...Nobody’s mad at me?” Lucy asked, not looking directly at Linus, who stopped fiddling with the blankets once Lucy became upset.
Linus had the misfortune of seeing orphanages for magical children run by many types of people, not all of them good. Many people were content to treat magical children as animals, sometimes worse. People who look at magical children like they’re monsters or weapons waiting to detonate. This view became especially hard to understand while looking at Lucy, sweet, funny, well meaning Lucifer. The case file had been intimidating, but it could never be overstated enough that it had also been misleading.
“No, not in the least.” Arthur promised.
Lucy looked up at Linus who shook his head.
“I heard you’ve had a fever, I always feel terrible when I have one. I wanted to make sure you’re alright.”
Lucy relaxed into Arthur's arms and mumbled into the man's shirt.
“Yeah, it’s not that bad…” The little boy tried to be tough.
“Is something the matter, Lucy?” Arthur asked softly.
“No, it’s just… I don’t like being up here all by myself…the spiders come out sometimes when I'm alone, but…” He trailed off. Arthur didn't say anything, waiting for Lucy to speak in his own time.
“I’m scared that if I go downstairs while I’m sick, I’ll get everyone else really sick, and then they won’t be here anymore.”
Linus’s heart dropped, and he was certain that Arthur might have felt the same. Arthur nodded his head, listening closely to Lucy's words, while searching for his own.
“You’re concerned about keeping the people you love safe, which is a kind thing to do. I know you love them and would never want anything to happen to them.” Arthur worked through Lucy’s feelings alongside him. “You’ve told me before that the spiders scare you, they show you things that are frightening. Are you worried that some of the things you’ve seen will happen here?” The man asked gently. Lucy nodded, fear behind his eyes, staring at a far corner of the room. Linus noticed that the boy was holding on to Arthur's sleeve, knuckles white.
“I see. I’m sorry for all the things you’ve seen when you go to sleep at night. You should never have to see them, and if I could take this pain from you, I would. Without hesitation, Lucy, I would do it a hundred times.” Arthur embraced him, resting his chin on Lucifer’s head. “The things you've seen are not happening here, you are in a safe place. You couldn’t hurt anyone in our home with the illness you have. You and the other children all have a simple cold. It’s no one's fault, and no one is in any danger. Everything is alright, my sweet Lucifer.”
“I just don’t know how to make them stop.” Lucy pleaded.
“Let’s start with where we are right now. Today is Sunday, we are home on Marsyas, and it seems it could rain today. The other children are resting, much like you, and we all had a wonderful day out yesterday, didn’t we? You woke up in your soft, red blankets, and even though you're not feeling your best today, you are still just as bright as ever.” Arthur touched the tip of Lucy's nose with his finger, sneaking a smile out of him.
“Maybe I’ll feel better if I can sit on the couch and look out the window, just so I don’t forget I’m at home.” Lucy wondered quietly.
“Of course,” Arthur conceded, sparing Lucy from having to explain. "Let's check our temperature before we go, is that alright?”
Arthur held the thermometer up to Lucy's mouth, the boy took it under his tongue and waited, head resting on Arthur's chest. The minutes passed quickly, Lucy barely keeping his eyes open. Arthur removed the glass stick from Lucy's mouth and inspected it.
“My, that’s much better, Lucy. You’ve done very well at resting this fever away. Much better than before.” Lucy seemed comforted by the assurance.
“Now,” Linus started, “would you like to go rest in the living room?”
Lucy nodded his head, and Arthur carried him to the doorway as Linus gathered Lucy's blanket in a bundle and followed them out. They snuck past Phee, soundly asleep in Arthur's bed, and made their noiseless way to the stairs and down to the living room.
Arthur slowly laid Lucy on the couch so as not to startle the Wyvern underneath. comfortable. Lucy dropped his hand to the couch skirt and offered a small wave. “Hi Theodore” he whispered.
“Click click” Theodore responded, tired but happy to have company. Linus stepped forward to place the blanket on Lucy, mindful to cover his feet. Arthur sat with Lucy for just a moment as he tucked the blankets around him.
“There, I’m sure you’ll both feel better with some company. Now, Mr. Baker and I will check on Chauncey and-“
“Nooo, please don’t go!” Lucy whined. “It’s easier to feel better if you’re right here.”
Theodore also gave a pitiful whine, only partially dramatized. Between the begging eyes and the truly sickly state of them, Arthur couldn’t find it in him to walk away.
“Now, boys, I’ll return very shortly,“ Arthur assured them. Theodore climbed up to the cushion and laid his head on Arthur's leg. “I’ll only be a moment,” he tried to convince.
In this moment, Linus could see how tired Arthur was. He was in good spirits, but it was clear that he had been up for quite some time tending to the children and their needs. Given that his own routine was slightly off as well, Linus didn’t know how long Arthur had been awake with Lucy before he came over from the guest house. He would benefit from having a moment to sit down, even for just a few minutes. The children's sweet and pouty looks were also, admittedly, a factor in this.
“I’ll go check on Chauncey, you sit with them,” Linus ordered.
“Oh it’s alright, Mr. Baker, truly-”
“I’m sure Chauncey and I will manage, and if not, I’ll come get you. Nothing to worry about.” Linus insisted, actually feeling somewhat confident. Chauncey was not generally the child he found himself concerned about. He was rather straightforward and, well, non-threatening.
“Well, if you’re certain it wouldn’t be a bother.” Arthur said slowly, looking down at the boys who were now both holding on to his arms. For once, clearly not in a hostage situation kind of way, but rather in the way a child might hold a stuffed animal. “And, Zoe is around as well, if you think you’ll-”
“See? It’s completely handled.” Linus announced, already heading towards the stairs. “I’ll be back in a jiffy!” He called, almost immediately hitting his palm to his head and wincing over saying something so silly. Linus shuffled up the stairs to Chauncey’s door.
“Back in a jiffy,” he muttered to himself. “Chauncey? It's Mr. Baker,” He called in a friendly tone. Linus opened the door slowly. He was only just realizing how much pressure there was in being in this position when it was too late to back out. How would he know what to say? How to comfort Chauncey? Hell, how would he know what Chauncey even needs? He didn’t know what species this child was, he couldn’t even take his temperature without being lost. How would he-
“Achoo!!” A truly nasty neon yellow slime flew towards Linus at an alarming speed. On reflex, Linus swung the door back shut to hear a wet thud against the wood.
“Sorry about that, Mr. Baker!” Chauncey called. “I meant to say hello!”
Linus cautiously opened the door to see Chauncey, sitting in his bed with his bellhop cap upside down upon his head, and mucus coming out of his… eyes? There were large globs of the neon yellow goo on several surfaces in the room, even one or two on the ceiling. Linus might be impressed, if he wasn’t first and foremost repulsed.
“Are you here for room service?”
“Uh, wouldn’t that be happening in my room?” Linus asked. The little green gelatinous being realized his confusion, slapping both tentacles to each side of his head in surprise.
“Oh, you’re right! That is supposed to be in your room!! How could I forget, now I’ll never get hired as a bellhop!! I've gotta practice all over again.” He began to stumble out of his bed and toward Linus, still standing in front of the doorway, gathering his bearings.
“Hello, Mr. Baker, my name is bellhop, I’ll be your Chauncey today-“
“Oh, uh, no you actually got it right the first time!!” Linus blurted out. “I am here for room service, but uh, I’m the bellhop!”
Chauncey blinked one eye at a time, staring at Linus.
“Mr. Baker” he said, mouth agape. “You want to learn the art of being a bellhop?”
Linus wasn’t sure if he had the stamina to keep up this charade, but it was too late to back out now. Well, you’ve done it now, old boy, he thought to himself, sweating a little.
“Yes! I thought it seemed so… rewarding, as a career, seeing how you take it so seriously and uh you know, if this whole case worker thing doesn’t work out, I might consider-“
“This is amazing!!” Chance marveled. “Mr. Baker, you are about to embark on a life path far beyond your widest dreams! A life filled with hospitality, style, class, and benefits including dental!” His green tentacles were up in the air as though he was picturing a fantasy world.
“R-right!” Linus agreed. “And uh, I’ll start by-“
“Ah ah, not so fast, my eager apprentice.” Chauncey waggled a tentacle at him. He picked up a book from a little shelf, holding it up for Linus to see.
“You’ll start with the basics. First, you’ll read chapters one through thirty-seven of The History and Basics of Bellhopping: 1,365 Lessons to Get You Through Your First Day. Then you’ll– you can– achoo!!” Chauncey proceeded to sneeze a nasty glob of yellow gunk onto the side of the book, dripping down to the floor.
“Oh, would you look at that!” Linus suppressed a gag. “I can’t be slimy on my first day on the job, looks like I’ll have to start with something else!” Linus looked around the room. He couldn’t let Chauncey stay in his room with the state it was in, but he didn’t have the first clue how to treat the boy’s eye infection, assuming that’s what it was.
“How about we’ll start with a sort of… placement test. You'll be the guest, I’ll be the bellhop, and you tell me what you think I need to learn at the end of your stay today.”
“Hmm, Chauncey considered. “It would be good to look at the situation with fresh eyes.” He turned his gaze from the book up to Linus, yellow goop dripping from his right eye.
“Fresh eyes, absolutely.” Linus repeated, nodding gravely with deep concern for all things hygienic.
“Let me show you to your room, good sir”
“My room? But we’re already-“
“You're getting an upgrade!” Linus interrupted, trying to corral Chauncey into the hall.
“An upgrade? Will this be on my bill?” He said suspiciously, following the man's lead.
“Uh, no, it’s on the house, sir!”
“How interesting!” Chauncey said before muttering, “The boss certainly won’t like that.”
As the two breached the doorway and entered the hall, Linus looked to his left to see Zoe leaning against the wall, arms crossed, obviously listening in on everything.
Embarrassed that she heard him fumbling around for the right choices and equally invested in the choice he found himself in, he nodded his head at her, most seriously.
“Good day, madam. Enjoying your stay?” Zoe quirked an eyebrow at him.
“How polite, Mr Baker! Very hospitable!” Chauncey praised, heading towards the stairs.
“You’re good at this, you know,” Zoe said. Linus tried not to appear so surprised, was Zoe… complimenting him? Chauncey kept walking.
“Oh, no, I'm quite out of my depth.” He flashed her a nervous smile, mainly watching Chauncey head down the stairs.
“Hmm, maybe.” She said, “But you could get used to it.”
Linus froze, not facing her. How he wished he understood the bittersweet pang that gave him. He wasn’t sure what exactly he wanted, but he knew he definitely wasn’t allowed to.
“I don’t know what you-“ he turned around, but she was no longer there. He was left with his confusion for only a few seconds before Chauncey called out, “Where could my bellhop have gone? How will I ever find my way to the luxury suite, hot tub and pillow mints included?” Linus shook his head slightly, not remembering saying anything about a ‘luxury suite’. He headed down to the living room, trying and failing to leave his feelings on the steps.
Linus trudged down the steps to find Chauncey halfway to the couch. Arthur saw the boy's eyes and softened his tone. “Oh Chauncey, that looks terribly uncomfortable.” He empathized.
“Oh, it’s not so bad. It's just a- a-“ He let out another sneeze, followed immediately by a glob of mucus from his eye stalks heading straight for Theodore. Quick as a spark, Arthur caught the unfortunate mess in a handkerchief and folded it up. If there was any disgust, he didn’t show it.
“Ewwww!” Lacy sat up, intrigued. “Chauncey, do it again! Do you think it's flammable?” his eyes widened, clearly up to mischief.
“I don’t know, but maybe we can find out!” Chauncey replied.
“Linus,” Athur called softly as he gently pulled Lucy back into the covers, ignoring the schemes being born beside him. “Be a dear and grab the pot of clean water from the kitchen? Zoe, in all her wisdom, prepared for this.”
Linus choked on his words, what was meant to come out as “of course” or “I can do that” or even the embarrassing “in a jiffy!” Came out as a small collection of syllables as Linus stiffly power walked out of the scene (one of the few times he could qualify something he had done as a “power” anything). Linus returned with the pot and sat it next to a little table to the side of the chair Chauncey had chosen. Chauncey dropped his eyes into the water, one sploosh per stalk.
“Thank you, Mr. Baker. These are such fine amenities." Chauncey said earnestly, relaxing his body on the armchair. Linus opened his mouth to speak, but instead heard the tiny voice of Calliope, clearly upset about something. Linus turned around to see Zoe walking with an arm around a tired Phee, Talia trailing behind them clearly still halfway in her nap, and Sal back in his human form. Calliope fussed and yowled as Sal wandered to a couch, wasting no time jumping on his lap the moment he was seated. Linus would normally intervene with Calliope being so needy, but they seemed so content with each other's company that he let it be.
“I think it’s time for some soup, don’t you, children?” Zoe asked. Phee slumped on to the couch, pulling a blanket over her chest. Talia dropped to her knees and began a faceplant to the floor, but Zoe put a pillow down before Talia's cap collided with the rug.
“A delectable cuisine?” Said Chauncey, lifting one eye out of his bowl.
“I like soup, it’s like pretending it’s food swimming around in stomach acid already being digested,” Lucy said, clearly feeling more himself than before.
“I think that would hurt to eat,” Sal corrected.
“Yes, it would hurt and then your entire mouth would fall off.” Phee added.
“And don’t ask me to bury it for you, the earth is resting today” Talia grumbled from her pillow.
Arthur started to get up slowly, but Zoe forbade it.
“No, you have a rest. We are perfectly capable of handling the soup.”
Arthur looked ready to insist on helping, but Zoe left the room in powerful strides and left Linus to realize a second too late who exactly was the “we” she mentioned. Linus followed her into the kitchen and helped her set a tray of coffee mugs, of all things, which she put the soup in. Given that the children would not be sitting at the dining table as usual, this was likely the best choice. They worked together in silence. Each mug was carefully filled with a golden, savory broth and soft, pale noodles. The smell of herbs and vegetables made Linus realize he hadn’t gotten breakfast for himself this morning, and was quite hungry. He was tempted to sneak a cracker as Zoe set them on the tray, but he refrained, not wanting to appear rude.
They returned to the living room, the sound of early afternoon rain beginning to tap on the windows made a subtle ambiance to the children’s tired and silly chatter. Linus and Zoe distributed the mugs to grateful hands, claws, and tentacles. Zoe handed out the last two mugs, one first to Arthur and the other to Linus before taking a seat by Phee. Theodore had moved to be closer to Talia on the rug, leaving an open spot, of which there were few, by Arthur. Linus truly considered standing with his mug to avoid imposing. But, of course, Arthur was too polite to allow it.
“Please,” he motioned to the empty space beside him. Linus obliged and attempted to focus on his soup.
The rain had picked up and the children had quieted slightly, also giving their focus mostly to the soup and crackers. Candles lit the room in a cozy glow so relaxing, Linus might have previously suspected witchcraft. But these days, he was less inclined to fear his surroundings, even though they were more foreign than ever before. He began to wonder if it wasn't the magic that made him feel out of his depth, but rather the feeling of a home he had never known. He knew of course, deep down, that he wasn’t supposed to want this. If DICOMY knew the thought had even crossed his mind, he would receive demerits, or more likely be fired. But in this moment, surrounded by warmth and innocence and love, he let himself dream. Linus thought allowing himself to want this for a moment would ease the pain, but it only earned him a dull ache in his chest. The desire would eat him whole if he let it.
Arthur let out a long and contented sigh after finishing his last spoonful. “Well then,” he began, looking at the children as he set his now empty mug aside. “How about a story on this dreary day?”
The children were more than amenable, so Arthur picked up a small, dark blue book that was on the little table between the couch and the seat Chauncey had chosen. The cover was decorated with an illustration of a little boy with yellow hair, standing on what seemed to be a small, grey planet. “I think you’ll rather enjoy this one” he said, meeting Linus’s eyes as he opened the book. The children settled into their blankets and pillows as Arthur read aloud.
Away from the city, his lonely apartment, and the scrutinizing eyes of those he worked for, he almost felt like that was another lifetime. His world was so different from the one he sat in now, and it would never be the same again now that Linus had discovered what could be waiting for him if only he had the courage to go. Tomorrow, Linus would have to return his focus to the reason he found this world at all. His responsibilities stopped for no one, and DICOMY expected a full report from a keen eye in order to decide what was to be done with this new, colorful world. He would return back to the life he knew, and struggle every day to choke down what he felt once he left it. But for now, this brief moment, Linus was miles away from that day. He was nowhere near the life he knew, and no one could take this feeling from him. Surrounded by light, warmth, magic, and love, he let himself dare to dream– even if this dream was borrowed.
All I have to do is dream,
dream, dream, dream.