Chapter 10
Ozzy rushed to the hospital as soon as he got the news, running in and pausing at the desk. The nurse looked up and she stood up. "He's resting now," she said. "Thankfully, Fizz didn't have any broken bones, but he did get a good conk to the head."
"What happened?" The rooster being asked.
"I'm not sure, but his friend who brought him in is in the waiting room," the nurse said.
Ozzy immediately moved to the waiting room, seeing Blitz there with Stolas, who looked particularly worried. Seeing the rooster come towards them, Blitz stood up. "Hey, Oz," he said.
"What happened to Fizz?" The larger being asked.
"I'm afraid it might be my fault," Stolas said, looking guilty.
"Stolas, it's not your fault," Blitz said comfortingly. "I should have had better eyes on the crowd."
Ozzy took a deep breath and Blitz turned to him. "We were out enjoying coffee when Fizz came running up to us, some idiots lobbing trash at him," he said. "Just as Stolas was about to scare them off, one idiot got a lucky shot in and threw a bottle that hit Fizz and knocked him out. We scared the crowd away and got Fizz over here as fast as we could."
The rooster wasn't happy to hear that. "And where was the security I had posted to keep an eye out on Fizz?" He asked, starting to become angry.
"They were trying to quell the crowd, Ozzy," Stolas said. "You see, some of the crowd were people that don't think highly of me and I saw the trajectory of that bottle. It was aimed for me, but it hit Fizz instead. There's been a lot of upset towards me because of the divorce and Stella has been gathering people to feel sorry for her. Octavia's been nearly caught a few times by her mother's supporters and now she stays home most of the time."
Ozzy calmed down a bit before calling his security and putting out more guards. "Okay, we'll handle Stella later," he said. "For now, I just want to know if I can bring Fizz home to rest."
One doctor came out. "Well, he's stable, so you can bring him home," he said. "Fizz is sleeping right now as we sedated him to help him rest since we were worried about a concussion, but thankfully, there was none. He might have a bad headache when he wakes up, but he's alright otherwise."
"The bottle that hit him didn't cut him?" Blitz asked.
"Surprisingly, there was just a couple of shallow cuts," the doctor said. "Nothing a few bandages couldn't fix."
Stolas sighed in relief and stood up. "I'll take care of the bill, Ozzy," he said. "You get Fizz home and resting comfortably."
Ozzy nodded to them and was led to Fizz's room, gently picking up the smaller being and cradling him like a baby. "Will he need a follow up?" He asked the doctor.
"Only if the headache lasts longer than a day or two," the doctor replied. "He's very lucky his friends were there. Some others got badly hurt in that crowd and they're all in surgery."
The rooster grimaced at hearing that. "Thank you," he said, taking the jester home and setting him down carefully on the bed, tucking him in so that he was comfortable. He stayed nearby to keep watch over him.
A few hours later, Fizz groaned and woke up. "Whoa, what hit me?" He asked groggily.
Ozzy came up to him. "Oh, Froggie, I'm glad you're awake," he said.
Fizz looked up at him and his eyes widened before a scream left his throat. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" He cried out, scrambling to get off the bed and away from the larger being.
"Fizzy?" He asked in concern.
The smaller being fell down in his haste and Ozzy was quick to come over to the other side of the bed. Fizz, seeing him, let out a terrified whimper and scurried under the bed, moving fast. "Fizz, wait!" Ozzy said, lifting up the bed carefully.
The smaller being shrieked and ran for the door, but Ozzy quickly snapped his fingers, teleporting to the door and locking it, making Fizz scramble to stop himself from running into the larger being. The larger being went to catch him, but the jester quickly leaned back, just avoiding the gloved hands as he scrambled backwards, backing himself under a nearby vanity and curling up in a tight ball, shivering before he noticed his arms and gasped. "What did you do to me?!" He asked in horror, tears falling down his face before he noticed his legs were also mechanical.
Ozzy realized immediately what had happened and took a deep, calming breath, knowing that he had to approach the small being carefully. He moved closer, seeing the smaller being trembling as he looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "Hey," he spoke soothingly as he kneeled down in front of the vanity, trying to look less scary. "It's okay, Fizz."
"How do you know my name?!" Fizz asked, his voice terrified. "Have you been following me?"
The larger being shook his head and held up his hands. "Shh," he soothed. "Let's calm down now. Can you take my hands, Fizz?" He asked, holding his hands out for the jester to take.
Fizz looked at him warily and Ozzy smiled. "I won't grab you," he promised.
Fizz looked at the gloved hands before slowly reaching one hand forward, shaking a little before he set his hand down in Ozzy's right hands, shutting his eyes tightly. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and Ozzy gently squeezed the hand in his own. "There we go," he said soothingly. "Can I see your other hand?"
The jester placed his other hand is Ozzy's left one and the rooster smiled. "Now, take a deep breath for me," he said, watching as the smaller being did so, letting the breath out slowly. "Good. Take another deep breath."
Fizz looked at him, tears still running down his face, but his look was of confusion. Ozzy smiled gently. "Why don't you come out from under there?" He said, giving the hands a gentle tug forward. The jester seemed surprised, but slowly moved forward until he was standing up and Ozzy then stood up, making the smaller being gulp in fear and tremble.
"Please don't hurt me," he pleaded the taller being, fresh tears falling from his eyes.
The larger being kneeled down and gently cupped the side of the jester's face. "Oh, Fizzy," he said, worry on his face. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'd never do that."
He felt Fizz shaking badly and he reached over, grabbing a blanket with his magic and he draped it around the jester's shoulders. Immediately, the smaller being grabbed the blanket, looking relieved. He then jumped as Ozzy picked him up and cradled him like a baby. "Oh, Froggie," he said sadly. "Guess you got amnesia from that bump on your head."
Fizz looked confused and reached up to his head, rubbing it a bit. "What hit me?" He asked.
"Apparently, someone threw a bottle at you and it struck your head," Ozzy said. "You conked out and your friends got you to the hospital before they called me."
"Why did they call you?" Fizz asked.
"Because we live together," Ozzy said. "And I care about you, Froggie."
"Why do you keep calling me that?" The jester asked, his voice curious.
The larger being chuckled. "Because you hop and spring around like a frog," he said. "Especially when you use your limbs to stretch out."
Fizz titled his head curiously and Ozzy smiled gently. "I gave you new limbs, yes, because you were in a horrible accident that damaged your real limbs," he said, his tone growing sorrowful. "I'll never forget that day. How you were so terrified when you first met me."
"What do you mean?" Fizz asked, looking confused. "We've met before?"
"Yes, back when you worked with Mammon."
The smaller being flinched at hearing that. "He's...He's not here, is he?" He asked fearfully.
"No, he's not and he's not welcome here," Ozzy said reassuringly. "You quit working for him almost half a year ago now."
Fizz began to calm down and looked uncertain, but he had stopped shaking, which Ozzy was relieved about. He gently set Fizz down and laid down beside him, making the smaller being look up at him in curiosity. The larger being gently rubbed Fizz's back and he began humming softly.
Fizz perked up at the humming. "That song," he said, looking at the larger being. "I...I think I've heard it before. At least...it sounds familiar."
Ozzy smiled. "It's one of your favorite songs," he said. "I usually hum it to you before we fall asleep."
The smaller being looked up at him. "You're being truthful, aren't you?" He asked. "Because I know who you are, yet...you haven't hurt me."
"I'd never hurt you, Fizzy," Ozzy said, gently squeezing the smaller being's shoulder. "I'd never hurt you or our son."
"Son?" Fizz asked, blinking in surprise.
The larger being nodded. "We adopted a little one not long after you quit working for Mammon," he said. "His name is Oliver, though we usually call him Noodle."
The jester's head snapped up. "Noodle?" He repeated before blinking. "He's a young kid, right? And...he calls me papa."
Ozzy smiled. "Yes, he does," he said, relieved that Fizz apparently remembered Oliver.
Fizz looked up at him. "Are we...really living together?" He asked. "You...You let me live with you?"
"Of course," the rooster being said. "Because you make me happy, Fizz."
He nuzzled his forehead against the smaller being's forehead and Fizz blinked before gasping, his mind flooded with memories of when the larger being had done that. "Froggie, are you okay?" Ozzy asked in concern.
"Yeah, I'm okay, Ozzy," he said before blinking as more memories flooded his mind. "Whoa, talk about a rush," he joked.
He yelped in surprise as Ozzy hugged him tightly. "Oh, Froggie, I was so worried when you didn't recognize me or remember me," he said.
Fizz blinked. "I forgot about you?" He asked in shock. "Man, that bonk to the head must have really done some damage."
"Yes, it did," the rooster being said. "Do you have a headache?"
"No, but I'm really thirsty," the jester said. "Can you let me up so I can get some water, big guy?"
"I'll do you one better," Ozzy said, using his magic to bring in a glass of water for the jester, who accepted it and drank it down.
"Oh, that's a lot better," he said with a sigh before he remembered something. "Wait. Stolas and Blitz. Are they okay?"
"Yes, they're alright," the larger being said before hearing the elevator ding. "Ah, sounds like Oliver's home from school."
They went out to the living room and Oliver lit up at seeing his dad and papa, rushing towards them and leaping into Ozzy's arms. Ozzy scooped up the boy and brought him closer to Fizz, who hugged the boy while the rooster hugged them both, nuzzling his head gently against Fizz's head and ruffling Oliver's hair gently.
"Hey, Noodle, how was your day?" Fizz asked.
"Go-ood," the boy said, smiling.
Ozzy gasped in surprise, as did Fizz. "Wow, talking already, kiddo?" The jester asked, smiling.
"Yes," the boy said while also signing the word 'yes'.
Ozzy spun both of them around in his arms. "I'm so proud of you, Noodle!" The larger being crowed happily.
"That goes double for me, Noodle," Fizz said, hugging the boy proudly.
Oliver giggled happily, hugging both his parents tightly with a smile.
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