Baby Monster

A lab rat. It was Harry's (the name Clerval so affectionately insisted) latest title, with no showing of the first creatute, Victoria, in frantic ideas of Harry not being strong enough to take down the first creatute, took up another alleyway. She would make something that would destroy him, them. Figuring if it killed Harry then it'd kill the other as well successfully rid her of both creatures allowing her to put the whole mess behind her.
Nothing proved successful yet, and it was frustrating. Not only for the general feeling of failure, but the longer this took the closer Harry and Henry became, making her all the more closer to them both. She'd just finished mixing up some items, the undead blood system, while lined up to the image of a living one, clearly did not work the same. She'd learned that the hard way, making her really dive into her books and try things at random.
She sighed grabbing the syringe and filling it, then looked out the window where she had perfect view outside. Sure enough, Henry and Harry were together, the former showing the latter how to weave flowers together and make a crown of sorts. Victoria quickly looked away, shaking her head, Henry was making this harder than it had to be. She gathered the rest of the items before heading out to the two.
Harry was enjoying his time with the closest semblance he'd ever had to a father, watching as Clerval skillfully weaved the stems of dandelions and the such together into a relatively neat circle, the flower buds sticking all on the outside, whilst trying to copy the actions and make his own.
"Good, good, easy with that one. You don't want to accidentally snap it or else you won't be able to use it," Henry coaxed, nodding the second creation along. Harry, while wearing a concentrated look with furrowed brows, did listen intently, enjoying the praise and gentle instructions. He only stopped at the noise of footsteps coming up behind him and Clerval. He looked over his shoulder to find his creator, Harry immediately offered a bright smile. Holding up the less tightly woven flower crown, only a third of the way completed. Victoria casted her gaze away, nodding.
"Victoria," Clerval greeted, "come to enjoy the fun?"Victoria looked back at her childhood friend then sighed, holding up the syringe.
"No. I just came to give the second creatute his medicine," she explained. Calling it medicine had been the only way she was able to carry out these tests. She was sure that, by now, Henry suspected it wasn't actually medicine but he'd yet to comment on it, something she assumed was him giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Just as every time she'd done this, the second creature held his arm out. She injected it right around the same area she always did, setting it aside. She eagerly watched for results, only interrupted by someone clearing their throat. She turned her now narrowed gaze to Clerval.
"Forgetting something, my dear Frankenstein?" Victoria paused before remembering, rolling her eyes.
"There isn't need for this you know," she grumbled digging through her bag regardless for a bandaid, something else Henry insisted after each 'medicine' application. Victoria couldn't, for the life of her, understand why, the second creature didn't even bleed afterwards. Never had. She finally pulled one out, handing it to Henry who hummed and gently applied it to the area the needle had entered on Harry's arm making the undead male smile in appreciation.
It made Victoria roll her eyes yet again before watching closely for changes now that was done. There was nothing as the minutes stretched on, eventually Victoria slumped in defeat, sighing as she brushed the two away.
"Alright. I'm done here. Enjoy your... flowers," she called heading back to her laboratory. Upon reaching the small area she couldn't help but sigh, yet another failure.
It was hours later that she was disturbed, not realizing she'd passed out until she was startled awake by frantic knocking. She groaned softly. It could only be one person. She begrudgingly got up, unsure of what Clerval could find so important at this hour. She hoped it was something trivial so she could just head back to sleep but luck did not seem to be on her side as when she opened the door she saw her dear panic striken friend holding a child that, after a moments observation, eerily resembled Harry.
"What happened?" she demanded ushering him inside.
"I don't know!" Henry gasped, holding the unconscious child closer as he entered the lab, "He was fine minutes ago then he said he felt ill slumped over and shrunk into this!!"
Victoria paused, "Wait. Wait. So you're telling me that is the second creature!?" she demanded, moving closer to inspect the child, sure enough upon an even closer inspection she found the stitches where she'd assembled his body. Her mind raced trying to figure out what could've possibly caused this, her mind can only go to one thing, the 'medicine'.
It was a risky chance for trying to reverse the cell division cycle, and while it seemed like it began to do its job it must've stopped. That's the best theory Victoria's mind can conjure up at least and she has no time to consider anything else as the second creature begins to stir tiredly, in a daze.
Harry blinked and looked around confused, firstly realizing that he was not on the ground himself, which given his size should've been impossible, "Huh?"
He secondly realizes his voice after the confused noise left him, it was much higher. He has enough sense to look down at himself sure enough finding his usually abnormally long limbs much more suiting for a little child. His breath hitched in terror unable to look away at his transformed body. Clerval hugged the little boy close in attempt to comfort him, regardless, frightened tears swelled up. This was overwhelming, this was scary. He was supposed to be big, not small, how in the world could he fend off the first creatute in this state? A state where he'd reach his knees at best, if that really. His purpose crumbled in an instant and that thought was too much for Harry to bare, breaking into a sob.
Victoria turned away grumbling angrily, heading back to her desk, a brief thought of if a second dose would achieve her originally intended desire. However Henry's voice interrupted her.
"What are you doing? I need your help over here, Victoria!"
The not-necessarily-doctor huffed a little, "What could you use my help with, you're better with children! I'm seeing if there was any antidote. It isn't any use like that!"
"Frankenstein!" Henry scolded as Harry let another sob break loose hearing his creator voice his fears. Clerval moved closer, Victoria could only tell by the nearing footsteps, not having turned around to face her dearest friend.
"He is your child. You created him. And right now he is in utter distress!" insisted Henry, he then held Harry closer to his chest effectively covering the now child's ear whispering harshly to ensure Harry wouldnt hear him but his point was still made, "Victoria, I know you weren't going to fix this. I'm not an idiot. You have not been giving him 'medicine', as you put it. I have been letting it slide because nothing has happened to Harry but now something has and I refuse to let you continue to repeat your mistakes. You are not abandoning or hurting him, especially when he's little like this," he warned, "now hold out your arms."
"My dear Clerval, if I get rid of him, I can get rid of the first abomination! It's that's simple, look, it's-"
"Hold your arms out Victoria," Henry repeated more sternly. Victoria sighed softly but reluctantly did so, Clerval nodded satisfied, gently releasing Harry and sitting him in Victoria's arms. It felt odd to her, never did she think she'd be holding a little child, certainly not a child version of one of her creations.
Harry was equally as confused, it was extremely rare and far between Victoria's acts of affection, on occasion he received a pat on the head or back from her, but really that was all. Never did he think he'd be held by her. Was she not mad? Disappointed? The mere thought overwhelmed Harry to tears yet again, clinging to her. Victoria frowned deeply looking to Henry in uncertainty. The male only rolled his eyes lightly and fondly.
"Come we're getting out of this dingy laboratory. Settling you both and certainly getting new, clean clothes," he chuckled. Victoria narrowed her eyes, especially as she felt Harry nuzzle into her shoulder. Regardless, the two made it upstairs with Harry still in his creator's arms. Victoria felt conflicted. She was uneasy having the little one in the house, even in the state equivalent of a toddler what damage could he cause? At the same time, though, she knew she couldn't just leave Harry outside by himself like this, where he stood no chance against.... well, anything really.
Henry gathered clothes for Victoria, taking Harry from her so she could change.
"There. You get proper. I'm going to see what we can find for little man here," he hummed, rubbing Harry's cheek, which was drying up thankfully no longer quite on the verge of a childish breakdown, "Do not go back downstairs after, my dear Frankenstein," he hummed as he exited the room. Victoria shook her head in irritation, but started changing as Clerval had instructed of her. Once in, what was typically the male sleepwear but was what Victoria felt more comfortable sleeping in, she went to find her friend and second creation.
She eventually found them with Henry trying a bit of string around a shirt making it appear more as a nightgown on the tiny creature rather than what it truly was. She almost entered but stopped hearing a conversation being carried out.
"M-mofer idn't mad?"
"No, darling Harry, your mother isn't mad. There's nothing to be mad about!"
"Not do what made fow," Harry corrected.
Henry hummed softly, dismissing it, "Put those silly thoughts away, now. Bed time approaches, little one," he hummed lifting the child sized creature into his arms, "We will all rest together and worry about things in the morning. Well, mother and I will. You just focus on whatever little ones like yourself do."
Harry paused a moment, Victoria easily assumed tears were in Harry's eyes based on his tone in the next reply, "C-can't 'member what 'ittle ones fink of," he whimpered out.
Clerval cooed softly, "There, there, remember what I said don't fret. All you need to think about right now is counting sheep."
"M-mofer s'ill pwoud?"
"Yes, your mother's still proud," as detestable as Victoria normally found it for people, Clerval of everyone who knew she hated it, speaking for her, she couldn't seem to resist an ache a the little boy's words. She quickly tried pushing it aside however, telling herself it was merely the childlike tone that was affecting her emotions so oddly. She couldn't afford to grow anymore attached to the second creature. It was as bothersome and dangerous as the first, she tried to insist to herself, it's only purpose would be to successfully kill off the first creatute then she'd end him. At least, that's what she desperately tried to remind herself.
Victoria's thought process was broke upon Henry's voice being much closer and clearer.
"Ah! My dear Frankenstein, you're just in time! Just as I was telling little Harry here, it's time for bed!"
Victoria watched Henry disappear into the room they'd been sharing. There was a guest bedroom but Henry and her had shared her room since his arrival in Ingolstadt as to make sure Victoria's sudden illness caused from the shock of her first monster didn't get worse. Even with her well enough better, they still shared out of the pure enjoyment of the other's company.
Her face fell however with a realization, "Hold on, Clerval!" she rushed after them, "You're letting it sleep with us!?"
"Of course I am!" Henry scoffed, "He's little, it's his first night like this. He's scared and overwhelmed, not to mention the weather. It's much easier if we just keep him with us."
Victoria pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation, "You are a moron," she muttered, "that thing could still be dangerous!"
Henry shook his head, "Victoria, you're just being paranoid. Look at him! He's no bigger than a three year old!" Victoria scowled making Henry roll his eyes, "I will keep him right by my side the whole night. You'll be safe, my dear Frankenstein."
Victoria kept her expression but did finally dismiss him, "Fine, but you better," Henry nodded. The three soon settled in bed, Henry and Victoria were beside each other with Harry on Henry's chest, clinging onto his top the wind starting to blow heavily. Henry managed to distract Harry, and Victoria though she'd never admit to it, with a story his mother often told him to help him sleep. Victoria had rolled over, still invested in the story she knew she had heard before, whether it was from Clerval himself or her own mother she couldn't quite recall, regardless it was soothing even if she decided to try and ignore the fact that Henry had so willingly invited something she was trying hard to still view as a threat.
They all drifted to a relatively easy sleep regardless, at least in the beginning. The weather Clerval had mentioned seemed to have a vengeance, a loud snap of thunder being enough to stir Victoria who looked around in alarm. Realizing it was merely the storm, the storms had been bad enough to prevent her and Henry (and by extention Harry she supposed) from returning home to Geneva. She huffed ready to roll back over before another noise, one almost entirely drowned out from the pitter of the rain on the window's glass and occasional still booming bursts of sound from the sky, in the brief moment of quiet, however, Victoria caught it, a whimpering and soft attempts to swallow back cries.
She looked down to see Harry wide eyed and clearly awake, tears pouring out from his heterochromia eye pair. It took a moment for the recently shrunken second creature to catch her gaze in return, a pitiful hiccup managing to slip past his mouth when he did.
Victoria's mouth curled a little, and as much as she'd love to tell herself it was out of disgust for her abomination 2.0 or even the fact that crying children led to nasty snotted noses, she couldn't quite bring herself to believe that. Which irritated her thoroughly.
In a show of her frustration about the situation, she huffed yet did lay down still keeping eye contact with Harry.
"What's the matter?" she finally demanded, quietly seeing as it seemed Clerval could manage to sleep just fine now that she was feeling healthier.
Harry tucked his chin closer to his chest in an almost ashamed manner, bottom lip still trembling ever so slightly, "S-S'o-" his explanation was cut off by a bright flash of lightening making the child wince and then curl closer into himself at the following burst of thunder.
Victoria furrowed her brows, "You're scared of a storm?" at a meek nod from the little boy, "Pathetic," she grumbled now wondering if Clerval had a point, was she going to allow herself to be afraid of something still quivering over a storm?
"Why?" she hummed hoping for something amusing in reply, something as utterly childish as the body Harry was currently left in. Luck, it seemed, failed to be on her side again.
"It.." Harry gulped trying to steady his voice to answer, "it the firs' t'ing Hawry 'member.."
She paused a moment, "What?"
Harry blinked a flash of surprise in his mismatched eyes for a brief moment.
"F-firs' t'ing Hawry 'member wh-when wake in you wab..."
Victoria paused a moment, not as humorous as she'd been hoping for. The contrary, actually, she supposed the first thing you ever hear and see is a storm it would be profoundly terrifying. She huffed a little bit, the child trying to quietly yelp at yet another one of the thunder's roars from outside, the surprised sound falling into a distressed whimper from the toddler creature.
She watched his pathetically shivering form atop Henry's chest, eyes now tightly squeezed shut as if hoping he'd fall asleep if he stayed like that long enough. Even to Victoria, it was a rather heartbreaking sight.
The child clung as tightly as his tiny hands could allow to Henry's top, the adult male sleeping peacefully, arms to his side and not even wrapped around the little boy to provide comfort as they had been when they'd all went to sleep.
She sighed, "Do you need to pee?" Harry's eyes blinked open.
"Huh?" a confused sound left him for the second time today.
"Pee. Do you need to pee?" Harry's face sheepishly lit up in an oddly colored blush, but the hint of red was obvious even in his slightly mismatched skin tones, he shook his head.
"Come here then," Harry blinked again confused before obeying, flabbergasted at being quickly shifted to a cradling position, "if you do pee on me we are never doing this again, understand me?" Harry nodded quickly, attempting to cling to Victoria's shirt. He winced at a lightening flash but it wasn't as harshly as he had on Clerval's chest. Regardless, Victoria started softly humming a German lullaby to him. Harry eased, between that and actually being in someone's embrace, he felt safe. Safe enough to eventually drift back off even with the storm still raging in the background.
Victoria hummed, she'd tell herself it was the fact the lights were off so she couldn't see his monstrous attributes, but maybe Harry wasn't so bad in this little child's form. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a shame if he was like this a little bit longer, perhaps she could indulge in a lifelong ideal of eventually being a mother for a short time. As Victoria drifted off, her hums becoming silent, Henry peeked his eye open to see what became of the toddler and his dearest friend and at finding them in exactly the position he wanted, he drifted back off as well, a triumphant smirk on his mouth.