authors note: super long chapter go get a cup of tea and prepare for cuteness also iv been sick for 2 bloody days be lucky iv actually finished this chapter
Chapter 8: day out with the brothers.
"Oooooh that was a good meal i might get used to this" alex says laying back in his seat after only getting through half of his breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, mushrooms and sausages "you ok though you only got half way through it" phil asks hoping that ria did not hear that, "did i just hear that some little boy isn't eating?" ria asks quickly walking into the dining room, "now you dropped him in it stealthy boy" alfred says sarcastically finishing off his 4th plate. Ria looks at alex's plate and tuts "now now master alex you need to eat your mother showed me your medical file and you need to eat" ria insisted putting some of alex's food on a fork and holding it near alex's mouth, "but i feel so full i seriously feel full" alex whines making ria ponder remembering he didn't finish his food last night but ria remembered she was too busy with the dishes to enquire, "hey master alex you mind if i feel your belly?" ria asks "umm sure" alex says cautiously and ria feels alex's belly "ah i see the problem your stomach needs time to adjust to the amount of food" ria says in realisation, "you boys all fed?" ria asks phil and alfred and both boys nod yes "good go get ready for your day il pack alex some snacks he will need to snack between meals and no liquids do not count as snacks give him at least 5 minutes between each snack" ria says as phil picks up alex, "yes ria" phil and alfred say phil taking alex to his room whilst alfred goes back to his room.
"What job did she have before?" alex asks as phil carries him towards his room "oh well she was a field nurse during the revolution" phil says as he enters alex's room and sits him on the changing table, "well that explains that" alex says as phil dresses him in a black shirt and jeans and putting a trench coat on him that hid his skinny frame quite well and made him look half decent "nice" alex says to himself, "remember we are not going to humiliate you well maybe not me and alfred, mum and dad might but not us" phil says chuckling "really?" alex says not falling for it "scout's honour" phil says doing a army salute, "first off wrong salute second off alfred is the scout" alex says hopping down from the changing table and walking towards the door, "hold it alex" phil says making alex freeze in place "oh god here it comes baby stuff" alex thinks "dad left you a gift on your desk" phil says making alex even more nervous as he walks towards a package that was left on his desk a simple brown cardboard box no bigger than a shoebox with a note on it.
"Dear alex i know i gave you a tablet but just incase i need to contact you i hope you enjoy your new phone it's already sorted and has unlimited calls and texts from loden" the note read, reading this note made alex smile and take out the black phone which laid inside a black leather case, slipping it into his pocket alex thought to thank loden later and maybe even hug him because the last time he saw his own phone he was smashing it under a rock after he found out the HAA was tracking him with it.
"Come on baby bro go meet alfred in the main hall ok can i trust you to get there by yourself?" phil says making alex look at him "of course phil what am i a baby?" alex says sarcastically then hurriedly adding "don't answer that" making both of them laugh and phil ruffles alex's hair then go off into his own room, "well may as well go to alfred" alex thought waddling through the halls before getting to the front door seeing ria talking to alfred and handing alfred a big blue plastic box on a sling "obviously where ria is storing my snacks" alex thought as alfred notices him, "ah alex did you walk down here by yourself? Where is that lazy fluff ball we call a scout trooper" alfred says rolling his eyes "i thought you were the scout?" alex asked curious "i am a scoutmaster but my class is juggernaut i have to save phils fluffy butt when it hits the fan" alfred says smiling, "bro i am over here" phil says jogging into view with a duffle bag on his back with the word 'spare' written on the sides of the bag making alex want to groan knowing the content, "well i guess we will take my SUV" phil says grabbing a set of keys off some hooks and dashing towards what alex assumed was the garage "come on then" alfred sighs picking up alex which alex was getting used to and began to like and remembering to kick his own ass for liking it.
To alex's embarrassment he was put in another oversized child's seat and as phil drove towards the town centre alex just looked out the window to see more humans in his situation enjoying their new families, "don't feel down baby bro our first stop is up ahead" phil says looking in a mirror as he decides to park near the centre of lavender town, "come on we got a bar to drink at bro catch" phil says throwing alex what appeared to be a metal version of his gas mask "phil do not throw stuff at him especially when it's made of metal" alfred scorns "don't be overly protective" phil says getting a disapproving look from alfred as all 3 get out of the car. Alex stood by the car and looked at the mask curious, "don't you like it?" phil asks as alex runs a finger along the mask "i like it" alex says putting it into his coat's pocket, "well before we enter he is not drinking anything alcoholic" alfred says sternly "well that is not fun" phil say with a chuckle as the three enter a bar called 'the onix's wrath' alfred making alex hold his hand.
"Ah alfred and phil a pleasure to see you no bounties this week sorry" a female kangaskhan says from behind the bar and alex couldn't help but notice the girl sleeping in her pouch if looking no older but no younger than himself by alex's guess, "i didn't know you adopted, sylvia" alfred says approaching the bar with his brothers and alex looks down trying to hide his face "well well well isn't that the hunter?" sylvia asks and the girl in her pouch stirs a bit in her sleep, "sylvia please be nice to him he has had it rough the past 3 years he is just a scared little boy you would know about scared children" phil says nodding to the girl in her pouch, "worried about him?" sylvia asks brushing the hair out of her girls eyes "of course a lot of people don't like him because he has killed hundreds of team magma and rocket members all alone" alfred says ruffling alex's hair, "i wish i didn't need to do that" alex says with a sigh and getting a sympathetic look from sylvia "guess your first drink is on the house but i can't serve you anything alcoholic sorry hunter but it's the law" sylvia says giving a small grin, "we were not going to give him alcohol anyway he is still recovering" alfred says "so what should i get you three?" sylvia asks, "pint of lavender cola for alex and a couple of pints of lavender cider for us" alfred says putting some money on the counter.
After sitting down at the bar with their drinks sylvia looks curious "you know i thought you guys would be babying him by now" sylvia says making alex spit up a mouth full of his drink all over sylvia and waking up the girl in sylvia's pouch, "alexander ember" alfred says sternly getting up and looking down at alex who had his head in his hands "i-i-i am sorry" alex stutters "it's ok it's ok iv had lisa here spit juice up on me before" sylvia says wiping herself down with a rag, "wait lisa you mean the second hunter?" phil asks "yea she appeared just after alex started a killing spree" sylvia says and phil turns to notice alex was about to cry "i-i-i-i am s-s-sorry" alex stutters again, "my mother didn't mean to embarrass you i guess you must be new to all this i had a similar reaction when someone pointed it out" lisa says wiping some of the cola off her mother's plated chest, "new to this i was captured about a week ago" alex says trying to pull himself together, "i am sorry about the bar by the way" alex adds apologising to sylvia "it's ok i am a mommy and a bar keeper cleaning messes is my job" sylvia says shrugging.
"Speaking of messes have you made any?" alfred says pulling the back of alex's trousers back so he can see inside "get off" alex says wiggling uncomfortably "hmm not messy but a little wet" alfred says picking up alex and taking him to a family bathroom to change him taking the duffle bag from phil, "come on alfred please don't do this to me" alex says attempting to avoid alfred by squirming on the changing table "you spat up on a bartender il let you off just this once and only once and il have to tell dad about this ok" alfred says making sure he came across as serious, "ok alf" alex says letting alfred change him then they return to the bar.
Alex blushes when he gets back to his seat seeing the rest of his drink was transferred to a sippie cup the size of a pint glass "a bit OTT" alex says getting looks from both phil and alfred "ok ok il drink just don't give me that look i want to enjoy today ok i am still not used to the babying" alex says picking up the sippie cup as his brothers go back to their own drinks, "so what are you up to anyway?" sylvia asks "well this little hatchling is getting to see all the new stuff in town" phil chuckles happily and putting an arm around alex, alex hated himself when he started to relax into phil's side and blushed when alfred, phil and sylvia gave him a smile "you know if you want a playdate with lisa you can" sylvia says making alex blush and lisa hide her face in the pouch, "really? It would be great for alex to make some friends" alfred says "bit soon isn't it?" alex says then shutting up as alfred gives him a "just try it" look.
"Well you two should get going you want us to come over this saturday?" sylvia says handing lisa a bottle of milk "sure" phil says as alex gets to his feet wobbling a little bit and alfred silently noting it, alfred and phil down the rest of their drinks in a matter of seconds and phil starts to lead alex out by the hand with alfred following, "well that just happened" alex says as phil and alfred leads him to a tech store "so what do you think?" alfred asks looking at alex and seeing the wide smile on his face "aw it's like a kid in a sweet shop" phil says as they enter.
As soon as alex gets a good look in the store alfred hands alex a chocolate bar "eat it otherwise ria will give us a lecture" alfred says "other hands a little full bro" alex says nodding to the sippie cup in his free hand, "well il hold it then" phil says putting a cap on the sippie and putting it into the duffle bag and alex takes the bar of chocolate and starts eating and phil and alfred lead him around the isles looking at all sorts of technology, from generators all the way to video games alex stops to look at a videogame made by scorch inc, "find something you like?" phil says looking at the game alex was looking at as alfred takes out a cloth and wipes some chocolate off alex's face, "ALF NOOO" alex whines trying to turn away "don't get fussy act like a baby get treated like one" alfred says putting the cloth away and holding back a chuckle when alex gives him a furious look, "well lets see what game" phil says picking up the game alex was looking at "hmm adventures in steamworld" phil said reading the title "you want it?" alfred asks and alex looks up at his brothers "yes yes i do" alex says not caring that he sounds childish, "well we will need to buy the console and a tv to play it on to put it in your room"phil says and this statement alone made alex smile even wider and bounce slightly.
After buying a few other games on phils recommendation with alfred commenting that some of the games are not appropriate but alex and phil shrug alfred's lecture off as him being the overprotective brother, "ok so we should get going to the til" alfred says pushing a cart filled with their purchases with alex and phil following, making alex nom on some crisps to alex's annoyance alfred pays for the items with a credit card and they left the store.
"Well i am going to put the items in the car you two go ahead" alfred says lifting all the items by himself, "i guess that's why he is the juggernaut" alex says as alfred walks away "damn right he is" phil says having both bags on his back, "where too next?" alex asks "well to the park i think you need some time to play" phil says leading alex by the hand towards a playground to alex's pure shock and embarrassment, "WHAT NO THIS PLACE IS FOR CHILDREN!" alex whines trying to pull away.
Meanwhile in the bushes:
"Yea that's him" one camo clad figure say to the other "i am going to call the boss and tell her project archangels subject has been located" a second figure says as they slowly go into an alley and into a manhole.
Back to our original program:
"Nonsense alex lavender town is where all the adult humans the HAA gets go to be adopted, i mean it would be kind of creepy to have a old man dressed as a child around a bunch of children" phil says "i suppose that makes sense" alex responds as phil basically drags him closer to the park, as alex scanned the playground he spots a man in his late 30s being pushed on a swing by a blastoise as he covers his face and a woman in her mid 20s being made to drink from a bottle by a mr mime, seeing the mr mime made alex shiver he never liked mr mimes they look creepy but phil picks up alex getting a surprised squeak from alex "how about a ride on the swing baby bro?" phil says putting alex onto a swing next to the man, "but phil i am slightly uncomfortable with this" alex says to phil gripping onto the swings ropes blushing like crazy "just try to relax ok" phil says pushing alex on the swing gently, "oh you must be philip ember the burning scouter" the male blastoise said looking away from his charge still pushing him "in the fur" phil says pushing alex "wow i have heard about how your parents captured the original hunter i do feel sorry for the boy, 3 years on his own having to hurt people to survive i wouldn't know what if i would do if i knew my little dave was in his position" the blastoise says looking back at his human charge, "want to meet the hunter?" phil asks making alex look down into his coat and remembering his mask and puts it on.
"Yes i would" the blastoise says his human charge looking up from his hands both looking at alex as phil gestures to him as alex turns to face him the mask covering his face "so this is the hunter? He is really cute he likes to play dress up" the blastoise says chuckling making alex glad he was wearing the mask, phil smiles at the blastoise response "yea he wants to be a bounty hunter like his big brother and his daddy" phil says as if he was talking about a toddler "aw that really is cute" the blastoise says, "phil please don't embarrass me" alex says hating the slight crack in his voice "aw it's ok alex if you're good we will get you a treat" phil says smiling, "as much as i like the sounds of a treat of any sort but i would wish for this infantilising to stop" alex says noticing shutters on the eyes of the mask moving to match his facial expression "aw he thinks he is a big boy now that really is sweet" the blastoise says letting out a hearty laugh and continued to chat with phil both letting the swings stay idle.
"sorry about my dad he can get a little carried away, the name is dave by the way" dave says "i am alex and don't worry i have heard worse happens" alex says shaking dave's hand, "i am actually surprised you are not dressed like a baby" dave says nodding towards the woman in her mid 20s who was getting a public diaper change and they both look away in respect, "well i was put in overalls and pushed out of the hospital in a stroller, then was forced to use a diaper because the doctors forgot to check if i could go to the bathroom" alex says getting a shocked look from dave "wow that really must suck" dave says "yea but i am on the fence if i would rather get shot at or do this, i met the embers so long ago and they saved my life so many times i think i might stay" alex says looking down, "yea i know how you feel i was a mercenary during the revolution i was hired to protect a school and i saw my blastoise my life long companion talking to the enemy, then he turned on me and captured me then adopted me as you see here i can say as embarrassing as it is it beats being shot at" dave says and puts a hand on alex's shoulder, "yea i suppose you're right i get a warm bed, regular meals and someone makes sure i am healthy it's everything i ever wanted" alex says with a sigh and takes off his mask and looks at it a frozen look of defeat and realisation on its orange lenses, "i do feel like something is bothering you though alex" dave says "just some leftover feelings from my time running i guess" alex says with a sigh putting his mask back on and noticed when he looked at his hands that the lenses emitted a orange light.
"My name is strokkur, strokkur aqualung" strokkur says shaking phil's hand as alfred walks into view "hello brother i see alex has made a new friend" alfred says ruffling alex's hair "alf stop" alex says chuckling a little, "well you two go play on the climbing stuff over there alfred make sure they don't hurt themselves" phil orders "you ok bro?" alfred asks as alex and dave go towards the play set on the playground, "hey i see somewhere where we can talk privately near enough" alex says climbing into a part of the oversized climbing frame wobbling "you going to be ok alex?" dave asks as alfred picks alex up, "alf stop please" alex whines "but you might of fell" alfred replies as dave eye rolls "maybe we should just play on the slide" dave suggests, "good idea" alfred says sighing in relief as dave walks over to the slide and quickly charges up the ladder and goes down the slide and laughing, "ok so some of this babying stuff may be a guilty pleasure" dave admits as alfred puts alex at the top of the slide and pushing him, alex starts laughing in delight and alex sits at the end of the slide blushing behind his mask "i am enjoying being treated like a child… i. Like. being treated. Like a child" alex thought smiling behind his mask and the mask mimics his expression alex no longer cared if he was treated like a child he knew he deserved it but alex knew he had a reputation to uphold.
"Well look like our baby brother is happy again" alfred says picking alex up and alex just chuckled "p-put me down" alex says between laughs, "well looks like he is starting to get used to this" phil says taking alex from alfred and hugs alex making alex blush behind the mask and yawns from how comfy phils fur was, "well i guess we should start heading back he should have a nap" phil says making alex groan "aw don't despair little hunter you and my little dave can play again if you want" strokkur says giving alex a smile, "well he is having another friend around saturday if you are free" alfred says as phil rubs alex's back further relaxing alex and dave stands there and can't help but smile, "that would be great i am not free myself but my wife can drop dave off to play" strokkur says making dave blush and hide his face in his hands "so it's settled then saturday it is" alfred says shaking strokkurs hand.
"Bro come on let's go alex is about to fall asleep and i don't want him to get cold" phil says walking away alex half asleep resting against his chest as alfred follows finally making their way home. As alex laid back in the car seat letting out one finally yawn before falling asleep.
Inside alex's dream:
"IT'S HIM!" the voice of a team rocket grunt shouts as his squadron groups up all of them looking around guns drawn ready to fire as a figure jumped around the tree branches little to their knowledge, "i can't see him" another grunt says looking down the sights of her pistol "just keep looking outwards he can't kill us if we are looking in all directions" an elderly grunt says as a shadow moves above them a small green object dropping into the gap between the grunts making a pinging noise, "GRENADE!" all the grunts shout as a loud bang is heard.
Back to the main story:
Alex woke up sitting up in his crib crying remembering all the terrible stuff he did he never regretted doing what he did at the time he knew it was kill or be killed but when taken out of the warzone alex realised what he did, "hey hey it's ok sweety" zenith says lowering the side bars of alex's crib and picking up alex quickly holding him close to her chest "shhh it's ok mummy is here" zenith says soothingly, "m-m-m-mummy i am a monster" alex stuttered between sobs "no you are not you did what you had to do, monsters do it for sport" zenith says quickly handing alex his mareep toy and putting his pacifier in his mouth, this to alex's embarrassment calmed him down really quickly "now you really need a change then daddy has to talk to you ok?" zenith says laying alex on the changing table and quickly changing his diaper hating the smell but she wanted a baby, after the change zenith sat alex at the edge of his crib and went to stand outside as loden walks in and sits by alex.
"You ok my little hatchling?" loden asks lifting alex and sitting him on his lap "n-n-no d-d-daddy" alex stutters his words slightly muffled by his pacifier, "well it's ok daddy is here" loden says holding alex gently against his chest "mind if i join in or is this a father son moment?" zenith says poking her head in, before loden could even open his mouth alex answers her question by reaching towards zenith "m-m-mummy" alex whines making both zenith and loden laugh as zenith sits by loden and alex shuffles to be on zeniths lap, "it's ok sweety mummy is here" zenith says holding alex close, "i heard someone spat up on sylvia" loden says chuckling making alex blush "don't worry she is a very close family friend it would take a lot to make her not like us" loden says ruffling alex's hair, "i think someone should stay home and take it easy for a couple of days" zenith says rubbing alex's back making alex yawn again, "sounds like a plan i have to go into the company tomorrow and oversee some testing of a new product but as soon as i am done il be home to play games with my baby boy" loden says booping alex on the nose "sounds like a good plan" zenith says, "when don't i have a good plan?" loden says chuckling as alex falls asleep against zenith loving how soft she was.