"There you are!"

He shrieks with laughter as fingers curl around his ankles and tug him out from under the bed, lifting him from the floor, hanging upside down as he's lifted to gaze into the eyes of the one who was playing with him in the bustling infirmary.

"You got away longer that time, Joshua."

"You still found me though."

The angel chuckles, swinging him by his ankles, and then he tosses him up. Joshua shrieks in excitement, winding his arms and kicking wildly, huffing at the sudden catch from midair as he falls back down again.

"Your giggling gave you away." He settles the book in the crook of one arm and wiggles the fingers of his free hand in his belly. "Just like it did every time before that."

The boy giggles madly, reaching for the fingers attacking his belly, squirming as much as one could in the position that he was in. "Orihihihi!"

"What?" He stops his attack for a moment and the boy curls his little fingers around his. "I'm just showing this belly the love that it deserves." And digs his fingers back in. The little human boy shrieks with laughter, kicking his little legs out, trying in vain to pull the hand off his belly. The bruises had long since faded, just little whispers of color now, and with their dwindling they worked on the second most important thing, his smile, his youth, the childlike wonder and innocence.

He was the baby of the Infirmary.

The Virtue chuckles when the boy squeals brightly, having found a particularly sensitive spot on his little chubby belly, and lets him lift his hand away from his attack. "My, my, you've gotten strong, haven't you?" He wiggles his fingers midair, and the boy shrieks, it makes him laugh softly. "I'm not even touching you, you silly little bear." His hand slowly lowers, and the boys giggles grow harder, their quantity growing drastically. "I'm gonna get you."

"Orihihih! Nohoho!"

"I'm gonna get that little belly."

The little fingers curled around his tighten, the boy straining to stop his hand from lowering anymore, giggling as he wiggles his fingers again. "It's coming. It's almost there."

"Orihihhi!"

He presses his palm over his belly, wiggling his fingers in, the boy shrieks, squealing brightly as he arches his back. "I tried to warn you. My hands taken on a mind of its own." He reaches down slightly to squeeze at his thighs lightly, little Joshua squeals again and kicks his feet. "I can't control it." He curls his fingers into a claw and spiders them up his free side. Joshua squeals again, shrieking with laughter, and curls closer to him as he tries to get away from his fingers. "It just wants to give you tickles."

"Orihihihi! Nohohoho!"

"What?" He reaches up and scratches a finger lightly under his chin, the boy giggles these adorable high pitched giggles and scrunches up like a turtle, shrieking when he jumps back down to his little belly. "We played your game. I want to play mine now." He lets the boy lift his hand again, giggling breathlessly, and he chuckles down at the giggly little boy. "I'll cut you a deal, because I'm so nice, you have to say I'm your favorite big brother."

Little Joshua giggles airily, nodding frantically. "Yohohou myhyhy faahahahhavorite!"

Oren pulls his hand free from those little fingers, curling his fingers under his arm, and the other hand under his other arm, he lifts the little boy up over his head. "Your favorite what?"

The little human boy giggles. "My favorite big brother."

"Damn right I am." He lowers his arms slightly, to toss him up above his head, and Joshua shrieks excitedly as children are wont to do when tossed up in the air. The Captain catches the boy by the middle, lifting him up again, he curls his little feet around his shoulders and straightens as much as he can. The dark blonde man chuckles at him, stretching his arms out as he lays his down softly midair, Joshua giggles and curls his legs around his stomach, and he pulls him back in, curling his arms under his bottom as little fingers curl around the back of his neck. "You're my favorite baby brother, baby boy."

The angel leans forward to kiss his small nose. "Do you want to go see if Zed has any juice?"

His human companion nods happily. "Yes, please."

He chuckles, nodding to the boy's request, and carries him across the threshold of the Infirmary, to the apothecary's workstation just across the way. Zed looks up as they approach, eyes wide at their sudden arrival, but he smiles at the boy in greeting quick enough. Pausing in his work, his young apprentice having the day off to do what she wanted, the apothecary curls his fingers around the edge of the work bench and leans forward. "Here for some juice?" He smiles when the boy nods quietly and reaches for the shelf next to him, where a small sippy cup sits, and he picks it up and holds it out to the boy. "Grape and apple, just as you like it."

Little Joshua reaches out for the cup with both hands. "Thank you, Z."

"You are most welcome, little guy." He reaches forward to pat the boys cheek lightly, winking at his brother, Oren smiles. "And, some chamomile mixed in there as well. Naptime's coming up, after all."

The human boy stops his sipping of his beloved drink and looks between them. "Naptime?"

They share a nod, and Oren bounces him gently, nodding up at him. "Nap time. You get cranky if you don't get your nap. We'll finish our juice, take a bathroom break, and find you a cozy bed to take your nap in."

"I like naptime."

Zed chuckles softly, leaning against his workbench carefully, and crosses his arms loosely. "We know you do."

Little Joshua looks down at the big brother holding him and pulls his cup away for a moment. "I can nap with bear, right?"

"Who else would be your naptime companion?"

The little human smiles at the two angels, a sight they'd always be elated to see, and starts sucking at his juice again. Oren smiles at him, then turns to his brother, Zed raises an eyebrow. "When's Raph returning, again?"

"Sometime tonight."

Their little human brother looks between them as they talk, quietly drinking at his juice, listening to every word rather attentively. The council had convened some days ago for a matter that none of the rest of them were privy to and the Healer had left his little boy in the care of his Virtues, they took rather good care of him, a messenger had sent word that their Healer would be returning to them soon, the update had been given just this morning. As much as Joshua liked staying with his big brothers, he missed Rapha, he couldn't wait for him to come back.