Musebox: 6 1/2 Verse: Setting Up House

[wise_lil_wolf]

WHO: Rafe and Whoever wants to drop by
When:  Four Weeks Post Lift
Where: Rafe's Room at Providence
Warnings:Possible mention of Mpreg

It had been two weeks since Dr. Holiday had taken him shopping at the mall, but a majority of Rafe's new belongings were still in their bags.  He had had all his new clothes unpacked, washed, and put away.  His dinosaur plush was religiously kept on his bed, and he'd tacked up his wolf man poster, albeit crookedly.

Still, he had a few things that he really did not know what to do with.  Some tools, frames, paints, and other items were shoved into his closet.  He really just didn't know what to do next and was honestly a little afraid of doing something wrong or that he wasn't supposed to do.  Everything seemed so regimented and rule bound at Providence, which, barring lessons, was the complete opposite of the way he was used to in Abysus.  He didn't want to cause trouble.  With his mother in the hospital wing  and himself left to his own devices, the last thing he wanted was to cause problems.

Rafe sat on the edge of his bed and looked at the bags in his closet.  He sighed and hugged his dinosaur plush.


 

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[sixthdeadliest]

Six walked to his son's room, the trip leaving him a bit tired but he was determined to be up and about. Staring at the same four walls of the hospital wing was going to make him lose his sanity. He'd been continually observed, poked, and prodded. In some ways, Providence was very much like Abysus in how he was closely monitored.

However, right now he wanted to check on the only child he had left that was still an actual child.

He knocked on Rafe's door, locking down his emotions except for his love of his son.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe knew who it was before he knocked. That warm glow was the first thing he could remember. He didn't know his Mum was up and about. That was good, though, it meant he was getting better.

Rafe felt relief and happiness swell up inside him.

"MUM!"

He practically launched himself off the bed and to the door. He pulled it open unceremoniously with his slightly stubby, eager fingers. Even though he could feel it and he KNEW Six was there, he needed to see it.

Sure enough, there was Six on the other side of the door.

Rafe smiled, words seemingly disappeared on his tongue.

The boy could only scamper forward and wrap his arms around his mother (gently) and bury his head in Six's side. He rubbed his forehead back and forth a little and made a happy rumbling sound akin to a purr in the back of his throat. It was something he'd picked up from his dad.

[sixthdeadliest]

It was an action that would probably look odd to most people, but to Six? That was a welcome feel of home. Though his family had been at Providence while he was in Abysus, it was as alien to him now as it was to Rafe. Things had changed as time had continued marching on, and he'd been left behind. Spending time with Abiron and Minerva (Abe and Min...they were Abe and Min now...) was awkward for all involved. They'd missed their mother and he'd missed them, but they'd grown up without him. Having him suddenly back in their lives left all three at a loss of what to do.

However, he kept a lock on the sudden burst of depression. It was easy right now because he had the son he'd actually been able to help raise there.

"How's my little wolf doing?" he asked, returning the embrace.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe rumbled a little more, rubbing his forehead on Six's side before looking up.

Rafe started a little, feeling...something scratching at his mother's emotions. It settled quickly, buried under a warm wave of love, which Rafe was still relieved was there at all.

"I'm okay. How about you? You're up already! I'm...I'm glad to see you, Mum."

[sixthdeadliest]

"Technically, I'm not supposed to be up, but I couldn't take just lie there anymore. I wanted to see how you were doing."

He gives Rafe a small smile to try and reassure his boy.

"You mind if I come in?"

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe smiled.

"Please. Come on in. You can have a seat on the bed if you want."

The boy gestured into his room and offered his hand to Six.

"Need a hand?"

[sixthdeadliest]

"I can do it just fine though I won't turn down a seat on the bed."

He walked over there, sitting down on the edge somewhat heavily. Was it just him, or had Providence gotten larger in his absence?

He looked around the room to take in the decorations or lack there-of.

[wise_lil_wolf]

It probably had. Expansions, renovations...Providence had changed a lot, not that Rafe would know.

Rafe hopped up on the bed beside his mother.

"I just kind of hung up the poster."

As he said it, a corner came loose and drooped over the wolf man. Rafe flinched.

"Not too well."

He reaches for his mother's hand and holds it in his lap almost like a pet.

"I didn't...don't know how to do it...or what I should do...what's allowed. You know? Dr. Holiday bought me the supplies and stuff...but...I know she's busy and...I don't know what...he allows."

Rafe nodded towards small screen set up by the door. It was always dark, of course, but Rafe had seen others use them. It was how White Knight was able to reach everyone anywhere in Providence.

[sixthdeadliest]

"Well, let's take a look at what Holiday got you so we can fix it."

He glanced at the screen as well. Knight hadn't talked to him since he'd come back. The other man was probably disgusted with him--

He cut off that train of thought, getting off the bed in an invitation for Rafe to show him where the supplies were.

"But, for future reference, never use anything that punches holes in the walls."

[wise_lil_wolf]

"Okay."

Rafe scooted off the bed and went to his closet. He opened it up and pulled out several bags that contained various paints, curtains, frames, towels, soap and other things.

Rafe cocked his head to the side.

"What do you think?"

[sixthdeadliest]

"Nice," Six said with approval. He looked at the paints. "Planning to make your own posters, too?"

[wise_lil_wolf]

"Maybe. I don't know yet. Right now, they are for frames an shelves...maybe an accent wall. There was a video about it online. Or something. I'd like to try, though."


Rafe paused.

"What do you think?"

[sixthdeadliest]

"Do whatever you want with it. It's your room. Just keep in mind not to paint up something that you wouldn't want your mother to see in case you have visitors," he told the boy.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe smiled at Six.

"Pfffft. But you'd see me paint it, Mum. Besides, I don't want anything bad on my wall. What do you think I should put?"

Rafe had never been given creative control over a room before and was a little overwhelmed.

[sixthdeadliest]

"Well, how about wolves?" Six suggested. "Or maybe a landscape or something?"

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe smiled.

"I like both those ideas."

He turned around and gestured to te wall behind them.

"That can be my painting wall. I'll put my posters on the ones by my closet and by the bathroom. Does that sound okay?"

[sixthdeadliest]

"That sounds fine to me. But don't forget you're the one living with whatever you choose to do. It's ultimately your decision," Six told him.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe nodded.

"Good point. I will save that for last. Let's do the other things first. I want to think about the mural before I start it."

He looked at his dropping poster. Rafe frowned and went over to it and gingerly took it down.

"Will you help me with this? I didn't do so well by myself."

[sixthdeadliest]

Six nodded, pulling out some double-sided sticky tabs. "These work really well for hanging things up without peeling off paint when they come off."

He showed his son how to pull off the paper on on side to stick it to the poster. Then he did the same with the paper on the other side without sticking anything to it. One to each of the four corners.

"Now just put it up against the wall where you want it and press down on the corners where the tabs are."

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe stood quietly and listened.

His blue eyes were wide and unblinking. It was simple enough, but he wanted to only have it explained once.

After Six had placed the sticky tabs on the corners, Rafe ook the poster by the top e edges and stood up. He looked from his paper to the wall and quickly realized he was a little short to put it where he really wanted.

"Mum? Can you reach a little higher for me? I can get the bottom. You don't have to if it will hurt, though. I understand."

He really did. Mental flashes from pain were never fun or pretty

[sixthdeadliest]

There was a flash of depression at the question. Did he really look that fragile to everyone? No wonder Knight was avoiding him: It must've made him more disgusting...

He took a deep breath to bring it back under control. Living with an empathic child required a lot of discipline to keep his emotional state as even as possible so he didn't disturb Rafe.

"I can handle it," he assured the boy, taking the poster and raising it up. "Here?"

[wise_lil_wolf]

Too late.

Rafe was struck by the sudden upsurge in darkness in his mother's aura and he froze up for a moment.

He nodded.

"Yeah. Yeah, that is awesome, thanks."

He meant it.

He just sounded distant.

He paused, going over what he'd said. Other people's emotions were often triggered by words, he understood, but choosing words was getting harder and harder as he grew older. He was starting to see that often, his words had very uninteneee consequences.

"Did I say something wrong just now, Mum? I didn't mean to. I am sorry if I did."

[sixthdeadliest]

Six sighed. "I know. I'm just over-thinking things is all. It's not your fault, Rafe."

He held the poster against the wall, smoothing it down. Then he reached out to put his hands on Rafe's shoulders.

"I just have a lot of things on my mind. Unfortunately, they're not all good." He forced a small smile on his face. "But I'm trying to fix that."

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe's eyes moved from side to side, looking on the hands on his shoulders and feeling their weight. He'd really missed them.

"I know. You are sick. You got hurt really bad. I just don't want to have you get hurt worse."

Especially not for helping Rafe.


Especially not for helping Rafe do something silly and mundane like hanging posters and painting walls.

Rafe shut his eyes an chewed on his lower lip.

"Dad didn't let Abe stab him so that could happen, Mum."


He paused.

"I'm sorry."

For what, he wasn't sure, but he felt he'd done something to warrant it.

[sixthdeadliest]

"Rafe, look at me."

Six leaned down to try and look his son in the eye. He felt a twinge of pain for such an awkward posture, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He'd been through significantly worse during all those times he'd given birth.

"None of it is your fault, all right? There's no need to apologize."

[wise_lil_wolf]

But he can't help but feel like it is even though that is irrational. He knows the events leading up until now were in motion years before he was born, but he still feels like an accomplice to something horrible.

Rafe looked up with wide blue eyes. He was still chewing on his lower lip. He met Six's gaze, blinking only when he had to.

"Okay. I know. I just...feel like I Had something to do with it. Like I should have done something, like I should have known."

But there was ultimately nothing he could have done.

The others were right. He was a helpless little weakling and for all his ability to be an empath, he'd never be able to make anyone feel better about what had happened to Six. His mind still couldn't accurately grasp it.

[sixthdeadliest]

"And that's my fault," Six told him. "You didn't know because I didn't want you to know. Because I didn't want you to blame yourself for any of what happened to me. You didn't get to pick how you came into my life, but I'm so glad you did."

He leaned forward and hugged his child, putting his chin on top of his boy's head.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe hugged his mother back and pressed his head against the man's chest, listening to his heart. When he felt it, he resumed a happy rumble and rubbed his face into Six's shirt.

"I am glad, too. I like that you're my Mum. I've always been happy you were."

He had been.

He had always loved both his parents.

He had been happy and felt safe whenever either or both of them were around.

[sixthdeadliest]

Six hugged him a little tighter, not caring at how sore it made him.

"Thank you. That means a lot to me."

And it did. If Rafe had been belittled for his powers, Six had been more so. At least Rafe's powers were useful. Six's had reduced him to a breeding machine and nothing more.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe felt a tiny twinge of energy that signaled physical pain, but noted how his mother hugged him tighter. The small spark was drowned out by a familiar surge of gold, orange, and pink that weaved and blended.

Rafe didn't let go.

Blue eyes stared out of his face, slightly out of focus.

"Those were my first and forever colors, you know?"

[sixthdeadliest]

Six looked down at his son curiously. "What colors?"

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe turned his head up to look at his mother.

"They're yours. Yours and Dad's...but yours were the first ones I saw. Orange, Gold, Pinks...all swirling together. Warm, happy, love colors. That was the first one I learned to recognize. Love, I mean."

Rafe's cheeks flushed a little pink.

[sixthdeadliest]

Six didn't even bother hiding the tiny smile on his face.

"That doesn't surprise me at all."

And he was glad for it. He'd loved and still loved every one of his children even if they didn't feel the same way.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe's heart swelled a little at that smile.

He wanted his mother to be happy.

"Dad said they made me for you. The nanites, I mean. I don't know if that's true or not, but whatever it is, I am glad you're glad. Love you."

Rafe gave his friendly rumble and nuzzled Six softly.

[sixthdeadliest]

The nanites made Rafe for him? Did that mean they influenced his behavior?

Still, Six guilty thanked them for their gift. He would've completely lost his mind had it not been for the little bright spot that was Rafe. He probably would've even fought being rescued.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe blinked and continued to hold Six. He was glad he hadn't been left on his own after their rescue. He'd prefer to be in the company of someone.

"What did you decorate your room with when you were a kid with One? What do you want in your room now?"

[sixthdeadliest]

"Didn't decorate my room ever. Never really had much to decorate it with," Six noted.

He'd had a few things back when Providence had first started up. Then a few more little knick-knacks, mostly pictures, when he'd been preparing the apartment for the twins.

Since then, he hadn't bothered with decorations. What was the point, after all? He had nothing to decorate his room with except the nest that Biowulf kept rebuilding for him when the time came near to produce his next child.

"I really wouldn't know what to do with it, to be honest."

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe considered this.

His father wasn't particularly keen on decorating, either, though Rafe had attributed that more to the fact that he couldn't and didn't like to ask for trivial help more than anything.

"It is okay. We can think about it. I'm just glad you're feeling good enough to be up helping me."

[sixthdeadliest]

"Always, my little wolf," Six told him, giving him a kiss on top of his head.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe's hands squeezed the fabric of Six's shirt and he made a happy yip at the kiss on his head.

"You know what, Mum? I think we're going to be okay."

I think this thread's done?

[sixthdeadliest]

He mutely nodded his head. He wasn't sure about himself, but at least Rafe's future was looking significantly brighter than it had in Abysus.

And to Six? That was what mattered most.

I think so, too.

[wise_lil_wolf]

Rafe hugged Six gently one more time before turning back to the pile of supplies.

"You know, I think I know what to do with these now. You can have a seat. I would really like it if you stayed."

It was true.

He missed his mother's company and just liked having him around. Having Six there with him was exactly what he needed. He always felt safe with him around.

[sixthdeadliest]

Six released Rafe and sat back down on the bed. "However long you want me here."

And he would just watch and make comments as needed or requested.