Bath Time
009 ducked over a blast that could've easily taken his head off...had it not been fired from someone he trusted dearly.
004 clicked his knee back in place as the missle launched from it landed neatly in the belly of the beast, it bucked for a moment, and finally exploded, dust, spare parts and dirt flying in every which direction. From where she stood, 003 watched in satisfaction...another beast sent to destroy them terminated...but there was still the sense of loss that she and her fellow cyborgs had to kill yet again. In her arms, 001 lay, awake and watching. Though in an instant, the sky above them would darken, and the french woman would watchin in horror as debris came flying their way. Before she could dart away, a better part of the metal would be blocked by 005 taking a brunt of the blow with his back, sheidling the woman and the baby, though dirt would rain down, coating the three of them throughly.
Out of the clanking and clattering of metal raining from the sky, 002 would finally land. "Everyone alright?". From under the ground, 006 would emerge, melted earth around him, as 008 and 007 came out from hiding.
"I think we're alright..." 009, falling back into Joe would sigh. "Come on...lets get back to Mr. Kouzumis..."
Francoise would stare up at the massive American Indian that would now be dusting himself off. "Geronimo...are you alright?"
The stoic power house would stare down at her, a small smile passing his tattooed face. "I'm fine...though you may want to get inside and get cleaned up."
It was true, she and Ivan were both liberally covered in a heavy amount of dirt and dust. She'd sigh, and run her fingers through Ivans tuft of hair, and the babe would let out a sneeze.
I think 005 is right...do you mind...?
The woman would laugh, and switch arms holding the infant, the three remaing cyborgs heading back to the house. "Alright Ivan..."
Upon arrival, normality set back in. Uniforms were exchanged for civillaian attire, Chang returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner, Jet refuled, Albert would begin reloading his machine gun hand, Pyunma left for his room that he shared with a few off the other cyborgs, as Geronimo sat on the couch, and GB turned his attention to his typewriter.
As Francoise turned to head towards the washroom, Joes hand on her shoulder had touched her arm and she turned. "Yes?"
Her team leader gave a small smile, and tilted his head. "That was a close one...I'll have to try and keep the blast radius a bit farther huh?" It was a full joke, but both of them knew they were all protected.
With the arm that wasn't cradling Ivan, she playfully jabbed him in the shoulder. "Thats right Fearless Leader...now get out so I can get cleaned up."
She turned and headed into Ivan and the Doctors room, scooping up a few essentials and headed into the washroom.
Setting Ivan on the counter in his bassient, she turned on the water, humming quietly to herself as she set the temperature. She'd note that Ivan seemed to be getting fidgety, and squirming a bit.
"Are you alright Ivan?" She'd question.
I'm alright...I've got dirt in places no baby should have though!
With a laugh, Francoise would gently add some baby shampoo to the lukewarm liquid, and finally turn off the water. Turning back to the infant, she'd gently remove his uniform and diaper, setting him carefully in the warm liquid. His tiny body tensed for a moment, and then finally relaxed, sucking contentedly on his pacifier. Francoise smiled, and gently dripped the warm bathwater over his shoulders and hair, grit sliding off her arms and hands, and out of his hair.
Thank you Francoise. came the contented sigh.
The blond woman smiled and nodded, reaching out for a small rubber duck on the bath side, floating it infront of the baby. Ivan seized the toy in his pudgy hands, both hands giving the rubber toy a squeak. With a blink of suprise, the baby nearly dropped his pacifier in the bath water at the level of the noise. Now his 'elder sister' couldn't help but laugh, watching as the normally reserved baby began splashing in the bath water, his hawkish eyes glowing breifly to manipulate the bath bubbles as he liked. He'd gotten quite the laugh as they'd pop with every swat of his hand. He'd grip the duck, or tug at the edges of the second wash cloth that had been floating in the bath water.
"Tell me Ivan...do you remember your mother giving you baths like this?" Francoise murmered, dripping a small amount of baby shampoo in her hand to massage onto the infants scalp.
The baby paused in his playing for a moment, caught up in what he was doing. Theres one memory... he mused. Its very faint...almost like trying to remember a dream...theres a woman in it...I'd believe its my mother...
The baby looked up at his caregiver behind aqua colored bangs, plastered to his forehead with water. But thats all.
Francoise bit her lip, shaking her head. "I'm sorry."
No no...its alright.
The infant looked up at her a bit more seriously. You won't go away, will you?
Francoise looked down at him for a moment, geniunely stunned. "What?"
The tiny cyborg splashed his hand in the soapy water again, looking down at the ripples it created. Doctor Gilmore and Mr Kouzumi are getting older...I see it every day. They won't be able to take care of us forever...I don't want to loose anyone else to this silly war we're fighting...
His caretaker widened her eyes, "Oh Ivan...I'm not going anywhere anytime soon...I promise."
She gently washed the soap from his head, and grabbed a towel, scooping the baby up in her arms, the scent of the lavender detergent mixing with the scent of clean baby and warm water.
As she changed him into a clean uniform, she noted he was beginning to get a bit sleepy. Todays fight had taken alot out of him...he probably needed his bottle and a nap.
Francoise set him in his bassient, and covered him in a blanket, washing her self up quickly and changing into a clean pair of slacks and a blouse.
The two emerged from the bath room, Francoise balancing a now drowsy Ivan in her right arm, the left pushing open the kitchen door. Chang was busy at work, bustling around, the stove was ablaze with fish and vegetables, but he turned, offering a wide smile to the frenchwoman.
"Ah! Francoise my dear, what can I do for you?"
His fellow cyborg gestured to Ivan, and smiled. "Is Ivans bottle heated? I'd like to get him fed before he dozes off for a nap."
The chinese cook gave a small, fond smile to the two, before reaching over the blazing cook ware, to retreive a bottle from a pot on a back burner. He'd pass it over to her, and she'd test it on her wrist, nodding. "You always get it to the right temperature Chang...you're too good."
She'd exit the kitchen, and head out to the living room, Francoise curling up on the edge of the sofa, removing Ivans pacifier and easing the nipple of the bottle in his mouth.
"Come on now Ivan...dinner...then you can nap." She urged.
Fianally, the russian infant obliged, and began drinking up the warm formula. Albert watched from the other side of the sofa, cleaning his gun hand. "You're quite the mother figure to him Francoise."
The blonde looked up from where she was watching Ivan drink, and blinked. "Well...I did take care of alot of the younger children when I was young...I suppose thats where I got it..." Her thumb absently stroked Ivans pudgy arm, the infant making small noises of approval, his tiny hand clinging to the digit.
The German would continue to watch the two, falling back on the sofa cushions, repressing a sigh. Despite how frail the baby cyborg MAY have looked...they all knew the power he posessed...despite his need for care.
At last, clean, warm, and with a belly full of warm formula, Ivan pushed the bottle away, and Francoise gave him a few pats to burp him. She nodded to Albert, and carried Ivan back to his room, setting him on the cool, clean sheets of his bassient, pulling the fluffy blanket up and around him.
Thanks again 003. he sleepily murmered. That was very nice...
From above him, his 'sister' laughed quietly, and kissed his forehead. "No problem Ivan..." she cooed. "Now get some rest." A reassuring finger tip caressed his chin, and tucked the blankets a bit tighter around him.
As the frenchwoman left, she flicked the switch of the mobile on, sending the soothing images of swimming fishes and ocean life rippling across the ceiling.
Contented and sleepy, Ivan at last fell asleep for the night, glad in the back of his mind that he wasn't going to loose his family just yet.