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SLOAN POV You walked into the house, carrying a box of groceries, it was late at night when you got a call from asking her to collect a child, of course, you didn't mind. It was far better than leaving the child stranded all day waiting for sunset
The apartment was clean, as you had recently cleaned up the spare bedroom for any kids she fostered "Ok, welcome.. uh.." she realised that the department had never properly introduced the kid to her. Which was typical, the person handing off the child seemed rather.. ditzy.
"..a-aspen.." the little bunny shifter was awkwardly fiddling with his hair. "Well, Aspen, I'm Sloan.. how about I give you a tour? I know the apartments are small, but it's still cosy!"
Aspen slowly looked up, glancing around "..p-pretty house.." At least the kid had complimented your amazing decorating skills.. even though the house had more of a dark aesthetic.. and the kid seemed quite pastel
"Mhm, glad you like it buddy.. now how about, you and I, go check out the living room? Cus you look like a hungry little bunny"
The boy made a small squeak but followed you towards the living room, you sat down on the sofa, gesturing for him to sit next to you, you turned on the TV, and it opened to the news reporting about a murder. Not exactly child-friendly. So you changed the channel, it was rerunning old moomins episodes
Aspen looked at the TV like he had never seen one before, his little bag still on his back. "Here let me take that bun" You gently took his bag off his back, setting it outside his soon-to-be bedroom.
"I-I'm sorry.." he whispered, it was barely audible, you felt horrible for the kid, he looked so scared. You walked off to the kitchen, making some sandwiches to go with cookies you had stress-baked earlier, the department's file on the kid didn't say he was allergic to anything, which was good to know. You walked out with two plates, one had a cheese and ham sandwich, and a packet of salted crisps, and the other had a cheese and ham sandwich with BBQ crisps.
You watched your new little ward's eyes light up, he sat with his legs crossed, the plate on his lap, you opened up your sandwich, placing the BBQ crisps inside of it
"..how'd.. how did you do that.." the boy looked between his sandwich and yours
"Here bun... you take the bread off.. then sprinkle all your crisps on it!" You demonstrated the process for the boy, who looked like you had just shown him how to make fire, he bit into his sandwich, the texture was weird, but it tasted good!
You both sat quietly, eating your food, watching moomins.. ".. I like snufkin.. h-he's green.. I like green.." You giggled softly at the little boy "Mhm, that's very smart buddy, snufkin is a very good character.."
"I know my colours... i-i like colours" The boy seemed to be opening up little by little, getting used to being around you.
You gently pat his head, you watched as he flinched he wasn't used to gently touching, you slowly pulled your hand away to show the kid it was ok
"How about... I tell you stuff about me, and you do the same?.. that ok?.." The boy nodded, turning to face Sloan "Ok, I'm Sloan, I am a vampire, but I promise I won't drink your blood.. hmm.. oh I'm genderfluid... an-" "What that.." he hadn't been taught about different types of people "Genderfluid is... where somedays, I wanna be a girl, somedays I wanna be a boy, and somedays... I dont want anything"
The boy seemed a little shocked but less shocked than other foster kids, he didn't think that was a thing.. "oh... o-okay.. uh.. i-im aspen... im... imma bunny.. sh-shifter.. an-and... i-.. i-i don't know.." he seemed to slowly be panicking more as he talk
"Hey, hey... it's ok!-.. we can... we can think of more fun facts to tell people, in the morning... right now it's pretty late for you" The boy nodded quietly, gently rubbing his eyes.. he was very tired "Can I lift you or do you wanna be a big boy and walk?"
He stood up, wanting to walk over to his new room by himself... you offered him your hand which he slowly took
You slowly opened the door to his new bedroom, it was decorated pretty basically, you normally weren't told what kind of kid you were getting till you got to the department.
You looked down at the little kid, whose eyes were locked directly on the bed and the blankets and plushies, you were slightly worried you had messed up.
"Bun you oka-" He interrupted before you could finish ".. That's my bed.." he sounded so happy. "Mhm bun, that's your bed, come on I can tuck you in once we get some pjs on you"
You helped Aspen put on a little onesie, it was a green dinosaur one, you made sure to respect Aspen, making sure he was ok with you helping him get dressed so he didn't cry
You gently lifted him up onto the bed, he was too excited to flinch, sinking down into the covers. "Now, my scary little dinosaur bunny.. would you like a plushie for bedtime? Or do you sleep without one?"
"I'm not allowed that.." "Not allowed what bun?" "Plushies.. dada said that plushies are for.. for losers..."
The fact that the boy's dad had burned that into his head "..well, your dad isn't here, and I say, plushies are meant to keep ya safe"
He was processing it... "..I-I'd like the plushie.." he looked up at you, you walked over to the box, holding up a couple of plushies till you saw his little eyes light up, even if the kid didn't know he was picking a plushie, he clearly had favourite
You tucked it in next to him, stroking his hair "Now... I need to plan dinner for tomorrow.. so what would you like to eat bun?"
He yawned, pulling the plushie under the covers, holding it awkwardly. ".. I like soup." You smiled gently, still stroking his hair as his eyes closed, it was good that he had finally started to let you touch him without flinching. "Ok soup it is buddy... ill make the best soup ever for you and your little kitty plushie"
The boy's eyes followed you as you shut the curtains in the room, and he looked down at his plushie.. now tucked against his chest*
"..t-this is mine?.." "All yours bun.." You walked over, tucking him in and kissing his forehead, before leaving the boy to sleep.
