Cagaster of an Insect Cage one shots

kid

3rd pov( not really set during any episode, though after you meet the kids.)

Everyone knows that Kidow is not much for people in general. The attitude he has towards fellow exterminators, the way he acts during an extermination and even just the way he deals with social interactions all speak of a person that nobody wants to actually interact with on a daily basis, let alone for the short interactions where they have to request his help. 

However, they all notice something as they deal with him. Or at least, the people that actually interact with him notice something. None of the others notice much of a difference, in fact they notice the opposite of the what those close to him realize. It starts with Qasim, who likes to play with the kids in the extra time off he has, bringing food and other basic needs stuff. 

He's heading through the market, browsing for stuff for the kids, trying to find something that they might want to have rather than need, but so far he's having no luck. He's looking at the things in a stuffed animal booth when there's a commotion further down the road. He looks up, hand reaching for his pistol out of instinct, only to stop when he spots Kidow, knowing that the kid has a reason for being there. He is confused on why there's a commotion. Until he looks down and spots the kid on the ground, tears slowly rising in their eyes. 

Kidow looks emotionless to everyone else, but Qasim can see the panic in his face, even as he slowly crouches down, obviously trying not to startle the poor kid. He hesitates - because he's scared that he'll frighten the kid and because he doesn't want to taint the kid with his dirty hands, as Qasim knows - before reaching for the kid, though to the others it looks like he's debating what to do with the kid. Qasim watches as he sets a gentle hand on the kids head, ruffling their hair.

"Hey. You need to watch your surroundings better." Qasim recognizes that tone, the one that's soft and gentle, trying to make himself appear nicer - he's already nice, he just refuses to let people close enough to see it - as he comforts the kid. 

The poor kid raises an arm to wipe away the tears but Kidow catches it, gently checking it over for scrapes or blood, anything that might indicate he was hurt in the fall. He checks both kids legs and his other arm as well, before gently picking him up under the armpits, setting him down and waiting until he's stable before releasing him.

"You good?"

The kid nods, looking faintly surprised, though not overly so. He gives Kidow a grin and waves a hand, a gentle thank you escaping before running off. Qasim grins as Kidow meanders, obviously keeping an eye on the kid, before the glares and looks from the other people in the market have him shifting uncomfortably - though to them it looks more like anger - and then he's heading off, passing Qasim with a nod that the man returns, before he turns to continue looking at the stuffed animals. 

Hadi witnesses it at another time. He's working, trying to take stock of everything so they never leave without everything they absolutely need or might need. It doesn't take long for Hadi to finish or get bored, so he's wandering a bit further away, more towards the rubble where the kids and other people live, when he spots his Sensei. The man looks worried, at least to the man who's known him for years and not anyone else who assumes he's pissed off. He looks around, wondering what could have the man looking like that, but there's nothing nearby, at least not that he can see.

He gets closer until he's right beside the man, silently returning the nod that his Sensei gives him, before following the mans gaze and can't help the way he softens, because of course that's what's got him looking worried like that.  Off in the rubble, though it's a clear patch of building, the kids are playing and hanging out. Lizzy is holding a baby - babysitting for someone else probably - and keeping an eye on the other kids, watching as they run and skip and jump. Honestly, it is dangerous, except they've lived in the rubble for years and probably know the area better than most of the adults.