My Baby Boy

It was close to 9 p.m, and currently what Tsuyu liked to call 'Wind Down Time'. Whenever Sero was still in his smaller headspace, at late hours, he had to choose activities that required minimal movement: like blocks or reading. The caregiver and little sat on the dorm's rugged floor, with their activity getting a little out of hand.

Tsuyu rolled a few more crayons to the raven-haired boy. "Kero. Remember, last picture before we get you tucked in."

"Mhm! Almost finished!"

"And," she added. "We'll clean up our messes, right?"

Hanta nodded and continued with his free-style picture. Within minutes, his eyes shimmered, and a toothy smile plastered on his face. "Momma! I done now! Look!" Sero waved his doodle around. "Momma! You didn't look!"

"I'm looking, kero, Momma's looking," Tsuyu reasoned. She took the paper with careful hands and examined the crayon-filled masterpiece. "Awe. Hanta, this is—"

"Guess what I drew! Guess! Guess!" The boy let out a giggle, scooting closer to her. "It's me and you, mommy! It's me givin' kissy 'cuz I love you very much. See! Lookit!" He tapped at the stick figurines cuddled close with hearts surrounding them. Along with a detailed flower field landscape with a sun and clouds.

The caregiver hummed. "I see that, my lil' tadpole. I see all the colors, and I see my little boy, and you colored so neatly! What a big boy!"

"Silly mommy! I baby boy!"

"Oh? Are you my baby boy? I could've sworn you were my big boy." Tsuyu booped his nose. "You were interrupting mommy, and babies don't interrupt."

Hanta gasped. "It was acc'dent!" Sero bear-hugged the caregiver. "I gots excited! Can't help it, mommy!"

"I know, baby. I'm just teasing." She patted his back, and his grip loosened.

"I still...I still mommy's good wittle boy?"

"Of course, Hanta. You're only—" the greenette brushed through Hanta's hair—"a baby. You didn't know."

"Yay! Can we put the drawing on da wall, now? Please?"

"What amazing manners—kero. Of course, we can."

"I'll get the tape!"

Tsuyu giggled, "Just don't get stuck in it, Hanta. No more messes."

"Yup! No more messy."