A/N: Just in case you missed the note in the first few chapters: this whole fic is the response to my first challenge, by WishingDreamer5.
04: Baby
His coat was drenched. He couldn't tell if it was from his own sweat or from the tears of the frail child flailing in his arms. Either way he knew he didn't have time to think. He was running full pelt through the building.
He reached a door and pushed it open with a foot, using the other to take a big step in. A man with long hair was sitting with his face in his hands. A scar ran down the side of his cheek. Even slowed down and walked up to him.
"What happened?" he asked. The child in his arms felt the cease of movement and stopped crying. It kept trying to peer out of the cloth he was being held in but to no avail.
The man looked up to face him, a white eyepatch covering the side of his face the scar ran through. He managed to give him a short weak smirk. "It doesn't concern you, Even. What's with the kid?"
"I found him outside the labs. I didn't know who the parents are, and I still don't, so I thought I'd rather come here and ask Master what we can do about this."
Braig stayed silent for a few seconds. Finally he sighed. "He feared something like this would happen. I'd tell you what to do, but I'd prefer it if he told you himself. In this state, I can't do it, and Dilan probably couldn't do it either with his problems gong on."
Even stared at him. "What are you trying to say?" he asked, his eyes wide. "You don't mean...You can't possibly mean to kill it. Is that it?"
Braig looked at him. "Oh, dear lord, no", he laughed. "He wants you to take responsibily for the child."
"But I am incapable of this", he said looking sadly at the child, then looked at Braig. "I have too much work to do in the labs. I won't have enough time to care for it." He looked down at the baby again, seeing that it was trying to reach his face. He moved the child closer to his face only to get his hair pulled, which made it chuckle. He couldn't help but smile. Braig smiled solemnly at the scene.
"Well, I couldn't have thought of a better candidate", said Braig as he patted Even on the shoulder before he rose and left the room, leaving Even looking at the child.
"If I am to bring you up", said Even, "then what shall I name you? Are you a boy or a girl?"
The baby responded by kicking a bit of the cloth away from its loin and sending a clear fountain of urine onto Even's coat. Even's eyebrows began to twitch, but looking at the baby made im feel so peaceful inside he forgot his anger. Even if he now had three reasons as to why his coat was drenched, he still managed a smile.
"So you're a boy. What should I name you?"
A/N: Yet another chapter done. If you liked it, feel free to leave a review.
