Author's note: Lady Douji has posted the third chapter of Wild Child here on fanficiton dot net. So if you'd like to see Barnet emerge from his first meeting with Nod worse for wear, go take a look.
Ronin had nothing for Nod, no pajamas, no clothes, no sippy cups, no toys. He had packed everything to send with him, and he doubted Barnet had cared enough to unload them from his caravan before he left.
It was a struggle to bathe Nod, more so than the first time Ronin had done it. At every chance the boy tried to escape. It needed to be done though. Nod was filthy, and Ronin needed to check him over for injuries. He had a few scrapes and bruises, but he didn't look as if he had any serious injuries that would require a trip to the healers'.
More concerning was Nod's completely lack of comprehension. He didn't seem to understand anything Ronin said to him, and he fought and struggled as if he didn't recognize Ronin at all.
Ronin finally had to sit on the bathroom floor and pin Nod in his lap to try and keep him still long enough to dry him. He was so focused on trying to hold onto the boy, that he was caught completely off guard when Nod sunk his teeth into his forearm, drawing blood.
"Ouch!" Ronin jumped and jerked his arm away.
Nod jumped as well, jerking back to look up at Ronin in surprise, as if he hadn't expected that to happen. The child's expression quickly crumbled to one of horror and fear, and he stopped struggling, instead dissolving into heavy tears. He sat on Ronin's lap, shoulders heaving with his sobs.
"I'm sorry I yelled chickadee," Ronin tried to sooth him, bundling him up in the towel he had been trying to dry him with, "I'm not angry, I promise. Everything is alright."
The boy continued to cry, and Ronin leaned back against the bathroom wall, bringing his knees up so he could curl around the child protectively. Nod didn't struggle or try to escape again, instead curling into himself and grabbing onto his lotus lock with one hand.
"I'm so sorry chickadee," Ronin whispered, curling more tightly around the child, "I'm here now. I have you."
Ronin wasn't sure how long he sat on the floor with Nod, but eventually the boy's sobs ran down to silent tears, and his thumb found its way into his mouth. Ronin finally picked them both up off the floor and got Nod into one of his shirts. The boy had filled out considerably since Ronin had found him, but Ronin's shirt was still huge on him, and he looked lost in it.
All the fight seemed to have gone out of Nod. He sat on Ronin's lap in the rocking chair, curled around his stuffed chickadee as he cried quietly. Ronin didn't know what else to do but hold him. He didn't want food, he didn't want juice, he cried harder when Ronin put him down, but was despondent when Ronin held him.
The boy was obviously exhausted, but he was fighting sleep as hard as he could. He shifted restlessly, as if he couldn't get comfortable, sometimes crying harder and sometimes settling for a bit. When a knock came at the door, he whimpered and curled more tightly around Cheep-Cheep.
Ronin sighed tiredly. He didn't want to get up and risk disturbing Nod, he didn't want to deal with any emergencies, he didn't want to be general, just for tonight. He just wanted to stay with Nod until he was alright again.
"Come in," he called.
"I have his things," Finn let himself in, directing the couriers who were with him to set the bags down.
Ronin relaxed and wrapped his arms a little more snuggly around Nod, who was trying to shrink down into an increasingly smaller ball in his lap. After the couriers left, Finn came to crouch next to the arm of the chair, looking up at the boy.
"How are you doing little man?" he reached out to stroke one of Nod's bare feet, and the boy sniffled, watching him warily.
"He's not talking, he won't eat, he won't sleep," Ronin stroked the boy's hair, "all he's done is cry."
"Got yourself so worn out you can't sleep, huh kiddo," Finn continued to stroke his foot, his voice pitched low and soothing, "have you checked him for injuries?"
"Nothing that needs attention," Ronin shook his head, "but something's not right. He's like he was when I first found him. It's like he doesn't recognize me or understand anything I say."
"He might just need some time to settle down and a good night's sleep," Finn offered quietly, "but I can get Glory here tonight if you think he needs her."
"No," Ronin shook his head, "I'll take him tomorrow. I don't want to get him riled up again if I can help it."
"Then how about we get your jammies and get you all nice and comfy," Finn patted Nod's foot and stood.
Ronin sometimes forgot that Finn had lived most of his life with small children underfoot. He didn't coo or fuss over them, but he always seems to know how to put them at ease.
"The blue ones are his favorite if you can find them," Ronin started rocking again, and Nod let his head fall to rest against Ronin's chest.
"He has a favorite blanket too, doesn't he?" Finn started digging through bags.
"It's blue knit," Ronin nodded, "with fringe and a bird embroidered in the corner."
It took a few minutes of searching, but Finn eventually found both the pajamas and the blanket.
"You're not coming in tomorrow," Finn didn't make it a question as he handed over the pajamas and set the blanket on the couch.
"No," Ronin hugged Nod a little closer, "I might try to come in the day after though. It will probably be good for Nod to get back into his routine, and I need to talk with the queen and Glory to figure out what we do next."
"I already notified them of what happened," Finn brushed a finger over Nod's toe, and the boy wiggled it, "I can't imagine Glory will let him be moved any time soon, but Queen Tara has probably already notified the Child Advocacy Commission about it."
It was a relief that the likely hood of Nod being moved was small. Ronin would have fought tooth and nail to keep him at this point, not because he thought this was the best place for Nod long term, but because he knew it would be awful for the boy to be placed with strangers right now.
"Thanks for everything Finn," Ronin said sincerely.
"Yep," Finn patted his shoulder, "you just take care of your chickadee; I'll take care of the rest."
Ronin waited until Finn was gone before setting Nod on his feet and getting him into his pajamas. Once in his pajamas, the boy stood looking around, as if he wasn't really sure where he was, then picked up the blanket Finn had left on the couch, unfolding it tentatively.
"You want to try going to bed buddy?" Ronin asked, placing a hand on the child's back.
Nod ignored him, setting Cheep-Cheep on the couch to wrap the blanket around his shoulders, then picking his stuffed chickadee back up. He walked to the end of the couch and peered behind it. Ronin hadn't bothered to move the couch back into place, and it was still angled away from the wall. The boy stood looking at the empty space behind it and chirped sadly.
"We'll rebuild your nest, okay buddy," Ronin knelt down next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
Nod continued to coo sadly, and Ronin got up to find the bag with his blankets and futon. When he came back, he found Nod sitting on the floor with his knees pulled up to his chest and his blanket wrapped around him. Ronin set everything down and leaned over to kiss Nod's head, then slid the futon mattress behind the couch.
Nod took no interest in what Ronin was doing, instead staying curled on the floor and sniffling. After a few minutes, he turned and crawled under the couch, dragging his blanket with him. Ronin frowned and left off piling up blankets and pillows for Nod to arrange when he was ready and ducked his head to see him. The child was laying down under his blanket, Cheep-Cheep under his arm and thumb in his mouth.
Ronin sighed softly and slid a pillow under for him, then moved the coffee table out of the way so he could lay down on the floor next to the couch. He folded his arm under his head and watched the sleepy child. Nod ignored the pillow, continuing to suck his thumb and stare at Ronin.
Eventually, the boy's eyes began to drift shut. Just as he was drifting off, he reached out a hand and laid it on the ground near Ronin. Ronin covered it with his own hand, continuing to hold it gently long after the boy had fallen asleep.
It was hours before Ronin finally fell asleep himself, Nod's hand still resting under his.
Shuffling woke Ronin in the dark hours of the morning. Nod had wiggled his way out from under the couch and was cautiously pressing up against Ronin's chest. Ronin wrapped his arm around him, tucking him in close and making sure he was covered with his blanket. The boy shifted until he was comfortable, then went back to sleep.
"I love you chickadee," Ronin whispered softly, pressing a kiss to the boy's hair, then going back to sleep himself.