Chapter 6
I collapsed into the chair, letting the comfortable backrest relax my back. I was in my office, sitting at my desk. Everything was as I had left it, even the Ficus was fine. I had somehow to thank the Casterwill family for keeping my house clean and my plants alive. There was not a speck of dust, the books were in their place, even better arranged than I had them, the pencils and pens in their corresponding pens, the notepad and my agenda strategically placed as I like, and the laptop and the Holotome in the centre of the table.
There were only two small differences, the blanket he had placed in the middle of the room, and the baby who was playing with his stuffed animal in it. After Lok found the doors, which lead to the backyard closed, he left to investigate the house, and ended up in the training room, where I found him and took him back to the kitchen, I convinced him to " help" to clean up, but he got bored and left, now towards the living room, and Zhalia returned to warn me instead of preventing him. I realized that I would never be able to finish cleaning if I had to run after Lok all the time and ended up sitting him in the highchair. Lok didn't like me, he started to pout and moan, and when he saw that I was ignoring him, he started crying uncontrollably and screaming hysterically as he tried to get out of the highchair, but he couldn't as he had fastened the straps.
Zhalia left home leaving her breakfast unfinished and leaving me with a crying baby. I managed to finish cleaning the kitchen, but Lok stopped crying in no time. He calmed down a bit when I pulled him out of the highchair. Lok asked me to put him down again, and I agreed, I didn't want to hear him cry again all day. I let Lok walk around the ground floor of my house as he wanted, I was just following him to keep him safe and make sure he didn't destroy anything, although it didn't take much, it seemed that Mezt had already taken care of everything, things more fragile were in high places, and dangerous things had baby insurance.
In the end I ended up in my office, slumped in my chair, watching Lok play and gathering strength to get to work. Since he had returned to Venice and had a baby to support, I could no longer allow myself to live on my savings, but it seemed that those forces did not arrive. Incredible, I have faced the Organization thousands of times, I have fought against Titans, I have faced the Blood Spiral, for the love of God, I have even died and revived, and mini-Lok, has managed to defeat me and end my strength in three hours, what am I doing wrong?
Without realizing it while I was resting a little, I fell asleep, I woke up an hour later and because someone was calling me on my office phone. I picked it up sleepily and without paying much attention.
-Hello?
-Hi Dante, did I get you wrong?
-Sophie ?; What a surprise.- I tried to suppress a yawn- No, no, don't worry, I wasn't doing anything important.
-Sure?; normally if you don't pick up your mobile it's because you're working.
-Yes, do not worry. How are you?
-Well, I felt bad for how I reacted yesterday ...
-I honestly think it was the most normal reaction considering the situation and everything that has happened.
-Yes, but I feel a little bad. Do you mind if I hang out at your house for a bit?
-I would love to.
-Great, see you in a bit. And don't worry, Den and Cherit aren't coming.
-Perfect.
After hanging up I was relieved, it seemed that with Sophie things were going to be better than with Zhalia, and besides, I had gotten a free babysitter. Speaking of babysitting, I had fallen asleep and left Lok unguarded, for a while. I got up with a worried jump, to drop again, Lok was still where he had left him playing, although now he was looking at me curiously while he sucked his thumb.
I took calls for possible jobs quite late (very late). Most of the people were no longer interested in my services, but there were others who were, so I organized my schedule so that I could meet with each client and further specify the details of the work. Now that I had a baby to take care of it was more difficult, I tried to make appointments fit with Lok's schedule, so that they did not interrupt naps or meals. Also, he intended to enlist Sophie's help to keep an eye on Lok during meetings, whether they were at home or not, because to be honest, she was the only one he could count on, and trusted for that task.
I began to read reports from the Huntik Foundation to try to catch up with the latest missions of the rest of the members, to know which Titans had recovered and how our favorite enemies, The Organization, were. I was very focused on Scarlet and Harrison's last mission in Scotland, when something (someone) tugged at my jersey hard. Lok was looking at me with watery eyes and pouting, he was about to cry again. He was scared, he didn't want more crying. Lok raised his arms for me to pick him up and I was puzzled, did he just want that? I agreed immediately and sat him on my lap next to his dragon.
-Couldn't you be this adorable when Zhalia was around?
-NO!
I was paralyzed, did you just answer me... didn't you? I mean, did you do it on purpose? I looked at Lok in amazement, but I didn't think about it anymore, it was something I would find out later, because right now I just wanted to finish reading the report. Apparently, Scarlet had enlisted the help of Montehue and Tesly, and the report had been written by Harrison with the help of Tesly, so she had a lot of details about people's private lives that were completely unnecessary, but they made the report. tremendously entertaining, it seemed like a rose novel, not that I am a fan of that type of novels, but I was interested to know how their relationship was going, since the last I knew was that they were about to break up, although that was right after death of Lok. And speaking of Lok, he kept putting his hands full of drool on the laptop screen, by the way, now that I fall, where was the sucker? I looked from my position to see if I could see it, but it was not in sight, I probably throw it and end up under some furniture. This reminded me that he had not bought the hook of the pacifier, one of these days I would have to take a trip to the store and buy one for him.
Shopping list
-Hitch for the pacifier
I cleaned Lok's hands with one of the tissues he had in one of the drawers, and I began to read the reports aloud so that Lok would be entertained, they were not a children's story, but it seemed that he did not dislike them. After reading ten reports I could see that Montehue and Scarlet were still together, that that titan in Scotland was a red herring, that the Organization is still the same as always and that there was no trace of the sect since their headquarters was destroyed.
-What do you think Lok? - Lok moved uncomfortably in my lap, and I felt a slight heat in my legs- Are you serious? Do you hate me?
This time Lok did not reply, preferring it that way. I took him to his room and put a clean diaper on him. As she finished dressing Lok, the doorbell rang, at least Sophie will be lucky enough to play with a clean baby and she would be no trouble for the rest of the morning. I finished putting on his pants and went downstairs to open the door. Sophie seemed nervous, so I tried to reassure her with a smile, and by pretending that I wasn't nervous. I let her pass and the three of us got comfortable on the sofas in the living room, I sat Lok next to me and let him play with his stuffed animal to have a normal conversation with Sophie, without being distracted by Lok, although I watched him askance, Lok could try get off the couch and fall off.
-How are you?
-Even assimilating everything. I thought seeing him again would make it easier, but it hasn't.
-Quiet, take the time you need. I'm not going to ask you for miracles. -Sophie smiled a little.-Sophie, speaking of time ... I wanted to apologize for leaving. I shouldn't have left you when things were like this ... bad.
-Quiet, the truth is that I so little fit it well. I was the first to leave, if I remember correctly, and then Den and Cherit, and in the end even Zhalia left. We abandoned you, and we all knew you were wrong.
-I never thought that you would have abandoned me, and I was not the only one who suffered.
- I can't help but think that if we had been together things could have been different.
-How about your family?
-Brilliant! I locked myself in my room, I didn't get out of bed for days and I lost 8 kilos, all wonderful.
-Quiet, I also signed up to the same diet.-We both laughed.- But, I did not mean that ...
-I know. After Lucas and Lane took me out of my room things got better, now we are much better. And calm, Lane, Delliz and Vivian returned to London for some family matters, they are not going to return yet and they do not know given the situation ... so strange we are in.- We both looked at Lok, he was babbling things to his dragon, and he paid no attention to us.
-Dante, I'm sorry to ask you this, but ... how are you sure that it's Lok, our Lok?
-A DNA test confirmed it.
-Yes but…, I don't know how to say this without being tremendously edge. You ... you weren't in the best ... condition when you found it, so I, I don't know, I thought, maybe ... well, you know ...
-Sophie, Mezt also thought the same and did another test a little more legal, and with the means of the Foundation. The result did not change.
-Okay, that's a consolation, I mean, to know that it's really him.
-Also, Lok had photos of him and his father in his apartment, and if I remember correctly he is identical to the boy in those photos.
Lok got tired of us ignoring him and decided to get noticed by throwing the teddy in my face, I looked at him with a frown, but he acted as if nothing, and on top of that they have the face of reaching out and saying "give me", so that I could give him back the teddy. Sophie laughed as she handed it back to him.
-You pamper him too much.
-You're wrong. Mini-Lok rule number 1: Never separate him from his stuffed animal.
-Is seriously?
-And so much, she starts crying desperately until she gets it back. I don't even want to think about what would happen if he gets lost.-I sat Lok on my lap.
-Take note
Sophie was still laughing. I leaned back a bit for Lok to stand on my lap and play with my face, apparently he found it amusing.
-Do you think he remembers anything about us?
-Because of how he has reacted with Zhalia, I would say no.
-What has he done?
-Hiding from her and ignoring her.
-Yeah…, I don't think that's probative, Lok always ignores Zhalia to do whatever he wants and then hides from her so as not to face the consequences.
-Well, let's check it out.- I picked up Lok and sat him on top of Sophie.
-But what are you doing!
Lok looked at Sophie with wide, tearful eyes as she pouted. Sophie looked at him in terror. I gave Lok his stuffed toy and hugged him tightly.
-Rule number 2 of mini-Lok: do not yell in the presence of him. He starts crying and is afraid of the person who yelled.
-How many rules are there?
-I don't know yet, but you will already know them.
As Sophie did not raise her voice again Lok calmed down and did not protest when Sophie stayed with him, we talked a while more and I showed her photos of Lok that I had taken when we were in Germany, needless to say, she went crazy when she saw them. I also took the opportunity to, indirectly, comment on Lok's schedule and where to find things, I needed to overcome some of that to be able to use her as a babysitter, I had not proposed it yet, because I needed her to lose her fear of the situation and start to enjoy and have fun with Lok.
I invited her to stay for lunch, as I didn't want to be alone with Zhalia, and Lok seemed like, not only was he not going to help, but he was going to do everything he could to mess things up further and hinder my progress with Zhalia, that did manage to do some.
I left Lok and Sophie playing in the living room with some wooden blocks, they were similar to the ones she had bought for him in Germany. Mezt had bought a wide variety of toys and had stored them all in a stack in the living room, it goes without saying that the basket had a red ribbon, and each toy was the same. Between the three of us we took them all off. I went to throw away all the ties, which, by the way, were beginning to accumulate in the garbage, and I went back to my office to look for the pacifier that Lok threw. I managed to find the sucker under one of the bookstores. It took me a bit to reach it, my arm was too thick to fit through the hole, I had to take off my sweater and roll up my shirt to reach it. When I took it out I did not know whether to put it back where it was and buy another or wash it, it was full of fluff. The Casterwills may have kept my house clean, but they can't work miracles. I needed a vacuum cleaner that could fit in the space between the furniture and the floor, and even more so now that he had an expert baby in throwing suckers, another thing to add to the shopping list.
Shopping list
-Hitch for the sucker
-Vacuum cleaner
I went to the bathroom to clean the sucker with water. When I thought it was clean, I washed it again as a precaution, if I was going to have it in Lok's mouth I didn't want to risk it, so I washed it two more times as a precaution. I went back to the living room, Sophie was doing a great job with Lok, and it seemed like he was having a great time, it was nice not to hear him cry. When Lok saw me, he raised his arms to get my attention and hold him, and I am unable to resist something so cute.
-I see you have a good time
-Yes, Lok is a very easy baby to take care of.
-That's what you say now, but he has managed to make Zhalia run away and without finishing breakfast- Sophie laughed, and Lok too, I just hoped he laughed because Sophie gave him the laugh, and not because he enjoyed kicking Zhalia- I'm going to start making food, I could use someone to watch over it while I cook.
-Of course. Give me that sweetie.
Hitting Lok again, he was taken aback at first, but Sophie managed to direct his attention to a shape sorter. Seeing that Sophie had everything under control I went to the kitchen to start cooking. I didn't know if Zhalia was coming to eat, but I needed to do something nice to start reconciling us, or at least so that she wouldn't run away.
Sophie
Playing with Lok was a lot of fun, I don't know why he was scared. Although it is not a pleasant situation, it does not have to be a disaster, I can try to have a little fun, also Lok has returned, I still don't know how and despite the Foundation's investigation, Dante wants to investigate on his own, the best I can to do is to help him take care of Lok, so Dante can investigate and first we will recover Lok, well, the one of the corresponding age. Also, you could tell that Dante was quite exhausted and eager to get rid of Lok, what could have done something so nice to him?
Lok was very entertained with the shape sorter, and very comfortable with me, despite what Dante said, I think Lok does remember something, I highly doubt that he remembers people, but I think he remembers, somehow. Although it was not the time to think about that, now we had to focus on Lok and fixing the union of our team, and since I cannot help much with Lok ... I took out my mobile to send a message to Lucas and tell him that I was not going to eat at home, and I texted Zhalia again to see if she was coming.
Sophie: Dante wants to know if you are coming to eat
Zhalia: Are you at Dante's house?
Sophie: Yes, I am taking care of Lok.
Zhalia: If he want to know why doesn't he ask me?
Sophie: Maybe because he's making the food.
Zhalia: -_-
Sophie: And he wants to give you your space.
Sophie: By the way, from the way he smells, I'd say he's making your favourite.
Zhalia: He's a cheater.
Zhalia: I'll be there in 30 minutes.
I returned to pay attention to Lok, he had forgotten the classifier and had returned to the coloured cubes, or rather to put them in his mouth.
This whole situation had been very complicated since Lok's disappearance, Zhalia and Dante's relationship had been greatly affected, and after learning that Lok was alive, it became worse. Lok's disappearance had also affected all of the group's relationships, but that can be fixed.
I adore Dante and have grown fond of Zhalia, and I know that they need help to heal her wounds and for them to be well again. And that mission fell to me, because, to be honest, I don't think Den and Cherit are capable, and Lok is in no condition, although they may help me from time to time.
-You help me put Dante and Zhalia back together?- I asked Lok foolishly.
-No
-I already knew ... Wait ... What?
Lok ignored me and he gave me a red bucket
Dante
Sophie told me that Zhalia was coming to eat. I was quite excited, even though it was stupid, I felt like when I had my first date at 15, there was no point in anything that was happening to me.
Zhalia arrived exactly at 30 minutes, while I finished setting the table and preparing Lok's set. When I saw her come in and leave her keys in the bowl at the entrance, my heart warmed, I was glad to know that she still had the key to my house, and the habit of leaving them in her place.
When Lok ended up living with me for his protection from the Organization, Sophie spent most of her time at my house, not to say that she practically lived there, and then Zhalia also spent most of her time at my house, even when I was leaving to see Mezt. So, I ended up making copies of them all, each one put their own key ring, including me, and it became customary to leave them in that bowl, which a client gave me, which is very ugly, and which I had for decoration. When Lok disappeared, I put her keys in a drawer, and when the boys left they did the same. Now I was sorry to see that empty bowl, and that Zhalia had put her keys back there, she had given me great happiness, it meant that she had planned to stay.
Since Zhalia didn't want anything to do with mini-Lok, I put her highchair between me and Sophie, and prayed I didn't have a horrible lunch. We started well, Lok did not protest, nor did he complain, about having to use her special chair, nor about her tying him up. I put her food in front of her, which consisted of a pumpkin puree and a dessert cookie, although that was going to be a surprise, I gave her a spoon and her bottle shaped glass. The rest of us would eat fajitas.
I was curious to know what Zhalia had done after running away this morning, I didn't want to ask her so directly lest she think that she was invading her privacy, so I asked "How was her morning? She said okay, she didn't elaborate. Luckily Sophie, God bless her; she relax the atmosphere, she ask her more openly about her morning and Zhalia told everything, including Lok's bathroom where I got soaked and the mess in the kitchen.
It turned out that Zhalia had gotten tired of Lok's crying, which she already knew, and went to have breakfast in a cafeteria so she wouldn't have to put up with him, although it didn't help her, since, apparently, a mother with her son, he also baby, they sat at the next table, and the baby spent the whole time crying (cof cof Karma cof cof). After finishing her breakfast as best she could, she went for a walk, she went to the park, looked at shops and had a piece of cake at her favourite pastry shop.
In short, a fabulous morning while I took care of Lok, or, rather, tried not to kill him while he destroyed me.
Sophie was very encouraging of Zhalia, and even offered to stay to babysit Lok, so that Zhalia and I could, in Sophie's words, "catch up". But Sophie's efforts to cheer up Zhalia and her offer of a free babysitter fizzled out as Lok ruined their lunch. Why did no one listen to my prayers?
In the end, nobody finished eating, the kitchen was again dirty with pumpkin puree and fajita meat, Sophie stained her clothes when she tried to make Lok eat and ended up throwing a spoonful of pumpkin puree on her, in the process Sophie threw it his glass on the ground. Zhalia started laughing until Lok threw puree in her face, and her fajita fell to the ground, making Zhalia angry again. In conclusion, the kitchen was a mess again, Zhalia ended up angrier than before, I was left without a babysitter and Lok needed a bathroom again.
While I bathed Lok and brushed my hair from Lok's mush attacks, the girls cleaned the kitchen and Sophie went to find something to wear. I went back downstairs after changing back into Lok, putting on him a white short-sleeved shirt with a red sailboat, stretch jeans, and anchor socks. He was red-faced and hiccupped a little, and he seemed ready to cry at any moment. The kitchen was clean and to my surprise, Sophie was wearing a Lok t-shirt.
When Sophie left after the loss of Lok, she took all her things, including the clothes she kept here, the surprise was that all of Lok's things were stored in boxes in the attic, and I had not told anyone, it was ... complicated. And seeing her in a Lok t-shirt was shocking. I remembered that T-shirt from a concert that Lok and Den had gone to, I remember they came back around three in the morning in a taxi and Lok was almost carrying a sleeping Den. Lok had bought the shirt because, I don't remember very well what it was like, I remember that he had torn it and was left half naked. And he bought the t-shirt of that music group, although he did not like it, he only went to the concert because otherwise he would not let Den go. I remember staying awake waiting for them to arrive.
Seeing Sophie in that shirt was painful, I know it shouldn't, Lok is here, and it's okay, something so stupid shouldn't hurt.
-And that shirt? - I couldn't help asking, although in my head I kept repeating "leave it", my mouth refused to listen.
-This? - Sophie pulled a bit of the bottom to show it better- Lok gave it to me. One day she didn't have pyjamas and he lent them to me to sleep with. Then he gave it to me. I have it to sleep and for emergencies.
Lok had given it to her? Why am I so stupid? It shouldn't bother me, it wasn't even Lok's, or my business.
-And did you sleep alone that night?- Zhalia asked with a mischievous tone.
-Sure, who was she going to sleep with?
I rolled my eyes at something so stupid, was he really serious or was he on purpose? By Sophie's face, she really meant it. Zhalia stared seriously at Sophie, she seemed like she expected her to catch him at some point. It did not happen.
-Sophie, sometimes I worry about you.
-I do not understand.
-Lok would have understood.- Zhalia smiled again, and I couldn't help but giggle. -Speaking of the baby in Rome,- Zhalia turned back to being, crossed her arms and frowned. -What are you going to do with him?
-Shall I? Are you leaving me alone again?
- Make no mistake about it.
I looked at Sophie begging her not to patch herself up, but she was staring at the overhead lights.
-I think I'm going too, remembering that I had a training session.
I tried to stop her from leaving, but she was looking at the ceiling and without looking at me for a single second, neither at me, nor at Lok who seemed more ready to cry, she was pouting and her lip was trembling.
-Zhalia, please ...
-It's your secret, your problem
And she with that she left slamming the door. Immediately Lok started crying at the top of his lungs, I tried to calm him by bouncing him a bit, but it didn't work. I tried to get him to drink a bottle of milk for a nap, but he threw it on the floor spilling the contents. In the end I gave up, Lok had won, now he had to do something he didn't want to do for the world. I took out my phone and dialled quickly.
-Mezt…, I need help.
Shopping list
-Hitch for the sucker
-Vacuum cleaner
Mini-Lok Rules:
1.- Never separate him from his dragon stuffed animal.
2.-: Don't yell in his presence, he doesn't like people who yell.