A Royal disaster

Back into the past: One

POV: Signless.

I walk back to the house I call home for now. The Dolorosa has been so kind as to give me a small house to stay in now I have a small child to take care of. I really owe her my life, if I think about it. She has done a lot for me, and now for my son.

I found Kankri bruised and bleeding on the street, around a year ago. He had that same candy red blood that ran through my veins. I just couldn't leave him behind.

I took off my cloak, and wrapped the grub in it. He stopped crying, and tried brabbling to me. He couldn't do so yet, he was way too young to do so. I walked to the Dolorosa and she was surprised to see me holding a child.

"Signless, Where Did You Find This Child? Is He Yours? How Long Has He Been Injured Like That?"
"M9ther, it's fine. I f9und him 9n my way here. He seems t9 like the warmth my cl9ak gives him."
"Are You Going To Keep Him? I Mean, I Already Have Porrim, And I'm Also Thinking Of Another Child..."
"9f c9urse I'll keep him. He has the same bl99d as me. He w9uld die if I d9n't take him in.

"You Are Always So Generous. I Hope You Know You Can Always Come To Me If You Need Help."
"I kn9w and I appreciate it. I shall be g9ing n9w, he needs s9mething to eat and..."
"Shall I Patch Him Up So He Can Meet Porrim?"
"That's a great idea m9ther. He will need friends eventually and this will make a g99d start."

I watch as she grabs a first aid kit, and takes the grub out of the cloak.

"What Is His Name?"
"I think I'll name him Kankri."
"Sounds Like A Fitting Name. See, He Smiles Already!"

She continues and after a few minutes I hear a grub cry. Seeing that it isn't Kankri, I begin to think who it could be.
"Honey, could you comfort Porrim for a bit, she must be upset that I didn't go back to her."
"Sure thing, m9ther."

I go upstairs, and I'm greeted by even more wailing. Porrim doesn't really like me that much. I can tolerate it though, I'm a man in his twenties, and she is an infant. I lift her up and start rocking her and shooing at her. She calms down and even smiles at me. She hasn't done that before.
"M9m she smiled at me!"

I tried to whisper-yell it because I didn't want to upset Porrim.

"That's Nice. She Is Opening Up To You."
"Yeah! Finally. I think she'll l9ve being ar9und Kankri."
"Probably. You can come here with her now, I'm done patching him up."
"Alright."

I go back downstairs, with the small Porrim-grub. The Dolorosa smiles at me while she holds Kankri up, showing me the expert craftsmanship of the bandages and stitches.

"I Did My Best, And He Surprisingly Didn't Give A Single Kick During The Process."
"He is g9ing t9 be such a str9ng man when he gr9ws up."
"Yeah."

We set Porrim and Kankri in the little playroom the Dolorosa designed especially for occasions like this. Porrim sniffed at Kankri a bit, and then bit him in the head. The Dolorosa immediately punished her by whacking her softly on the head. She started crying and Kankri started to lick her face. It was cute, but also weird.

But what do I know, I'm not an experienced father.

I look back up. I stand in front of my house now. I open the door, and I hear Kankri waking up from his little nap.
"Pa-Pa?"
"Yes l9ve I'm h9me with s9me f99d! M9ther had saved up a bit f9r us."
I heard him make more noises. I smiled. He has been sweet ever since I got him, and I'm actually surprised how easy it is to raise him. Sure, kids and stuff are very precious and I'll have to be gentle, but he seems to enjoy playing a bit rough. I do watch out, because I don't think I can take him to a hospital when something bad happens.

I'm dragged out of my thoughts when the doorbell rings. I didn't expect any visitors, so I cautiously open the door. Before me stood the Disciple.

"H3y, so I h3ard you got a grub, lik3 a y3ar ago. I'm pr3tty sure this is going to b3 w3ird but 3v3ryone with a grub is invit3d to th3 castl3 of th3 Grand HighBlood."

"I'm what?"
"Invit3d to th3 baby show3r of th3 Grand HighBlood. It t3chnically is a toddl3r show3r but no one is going to argu3 with him b3caus3 3v3ryone valu3s th3ir lif3 a bit too much."

"Y9u... kn9w... right?"
"Oh y3ah, I m3w I was forg3tting som3thing. W3ll, you could just not m3ntion it. I m3an, 3v3ryon3 was invit3d so I gu3ss you ar3 too!"

"I will c9me, 9nly if y9u guarantee I get in. Kankri is still building his immune system, and n9 matter h9w much I w9uld like to vaccinate him, I'm n9t all9wed t9 because y9u kn9w, my BL99D C9L9R!"
"Y3ah... I und3rstand you ar3 ups3t and shit but I will com3 and bring M3ulin! Sh3 is th3 sw33t3st!"

"Lucky y9u. I'm c9ming t9 that damned baby sh9wer, even if the chances 9f me getting 9ut alive are slim."
"Thanks furr3nd. I lik3 that about you! You ar3 up for a chall3ng3. Also, Orphan3r Dualscar Ampora is going to com3. I'm hyped, b3caus3 I n3v3r thought h3 would g3t offspring!"

"Excuse me, wh9 is c9ming t9 that damn event?"
"You don't know Dualscar? You have to m333t him! H33 is fantastic. It's a sham3 h3 can't t3ll a good joke though."
"Alright. I h9pe he is nice, pe9ple c9uld aff9rd being nicer."

"Y3ah, but you'll b3 out of luck if Mindfang d3cid3s to com3 and d3stroyth3 party!"

"Wh9 the fuck is that supp9sed t9 be?"
"Marquis3 Spinn3r3t Mindfang is th3 3x-girlfri3nd of Dualscar. So th3y hat3 3ach oth3r now and if it wasn't for H3r Imp3rial Cond3sc3nsion th3y would both b3 d3ad by now."
"Alright. I d9n't want t9 care anym9re than I already did, and that was really little s9 c9uld y9u just tell me when it is?"
"Of cours3! It's tomorrow."
"9h..."
"By3!"
"Bye?"