Number Childhood

Chapter 8: Conversation

A few days later, Black Mist was training with his overlay units and special attacks. He was getting better and better. Hope even said so himself. The little Number was proud of that, but he didn't feel like he should stay in the orphanage. It just didn't feel right. Even the voice in his head said the same thing.

"Do you want to train more, Number 96?"

Black Mist nodded when he was sitting alone on the couch, eating some of the leftover pudding, which didn't spoil, much like honey in the human world. While he ate the pudding, Hope was training Mint to eat. Since she was a Namekian with a genetic mutation, she had a digestive system, and she needed to eat. However, since she saw what the other Namekians only drank to stay alive, she began doing that.

Black Mist looked outside, licking pudding off of the spoon. Sanaji and Sam were playing outside. Sanaji was chasing Sam around the orphanage while Sam tried to get away.

The young Number sighed. When he looked outside, he imagined himself out there, surviving in the real world. It would help him get better at defending himself, which was what he wanted most. As much as he loved Sanaji, Mint, Sam, and Hope, he really wanted to take care of himself. Maybe he could visit them sometimes. It would be scary, though.

He sighed. He knew that for now, he had to stay with Hope until he was old enough.

"Or do you?" the voice whispered. "I know you most of all, and you can survive going out there."

Black Mist froze with the spoon in his mouth. "I can?" he wondered out loud, taking the spoon out. "How?"

"Just get permission from your current guardian. He knows that a 96 needs his space."

Black Mist nodded again. "As soon as I finish this snack..."

He felt the being in his head confirm this. Black Mist continued looking out the window, hearing Mint's complaints of not wanting to eat.

"Daddy, I don't need to eat," she whined.

"Mint, you know you're different from the other Namekianas, and that means you have different needs. You have a digestive system as well," Hope explained to the little girl.

The argument seemed pointless, but Mint seemed pretty reluctant to eat.

As soon as Black Mist finished the pudding, he took it into the kitchen and placed he bowl and spoon into the sink. He saw Mint still refusing to eat, turning her head away from the pudding Hope was trying to feed her. Black Mist sat next to her and just watched.

"I don't wanna, Daddy!" Mint said with finality. "I don't need to eat!"

Hope sighed. "Mint, we have been over this. You are different from the other Namekians you have seen. You need to eat."

Mint crossed her arms and huffed. She stuck out her lower lip.

Black Mist looked at Mint. "But it's good, Mint. Try it."

Mint shook her head. "I don't need to."

Hope sighed, and he placed the spoon into the bowl. "Mint, listen to me. The other Namekians don't need to eat, but you do. Please, try it."

Mint, who saw that he wouldn't stop until she agreed, sighed and relented. "Fine," she mumbled.

Hope nodded and scooped out a small spoonful of pudding. He held it to her mouth. Mint reluctantly opened her mouth and allowed Hope to place the spoon in. Mint closed her mouth and swallowed it.

She instantly brightened up. "This is good!"

Hope smiled. "Now you see."

Mint nodded.

~.~.~

That night, as Hope tucked Black Mist into bed, Black Mist brought up what he had been thinking about.

"Papa..." he started.

Hope knew something was bothering his little mind, so he sat at the edge of the bed. "What is it?"

Black Mist hesitated. "What if I were to move out?"

Hope was taken aback by the words. "What?"

"What if I were to move out?" Black Mist repeated.

Hope sighed. "I personally would say that you are too young, but you are not a normal child. You can protect yourself. Just wait until your training is complete. I promise that after that, you may go where you wish."

Black Mist nodded. "Okay, Papa."

Hope planted a kiss on the little Number's forehead. "Good night."

"Good night..." Black Mist mumbled. In two seconds, he fell asleep.

~.~.~

The voice in his head woke him up early the next morning.

"Black Mist," it whispered gently. "Wake up."

Black Mist opened his eyes and rubbed them. He sat up and stretched. He looked outside, and it was still dark. Still, Hope came through the door. He seemed surprised that he was awake.

"Black Mist, when did you wake up?" he asked.

"Just now..." Black Mist mumbled. He got out of bed and went to Hope.

"Come on, I suppose," he said. "We should train."

That woke the tired Number up. He smiled and zipped to the training room. Hope chuckled and shook his head. The boy certainly has enthusiasm.

Hope followed him and entered, where Black Mist was bouncing excitedly.

"Black Mist, since your combat training is done, how about we work on using your overlay units more?" Hope suggested.

Black Mist nodded eagerly and summoned his overlay units, which he already learned to do the day before. Hope summoned his units as well.

"Now, to use these, you need to focus. Remember that. You seem to have a hard time with focusing."

~.~.~

It was early afternoon when they were done for the day. There was no combat at that time, but the training was still enjoyable.

Black Mist went into the living room to rest since using the units took a lot out of him, and he saw Mint with a bowl of pudding. She was eating it eagerly.

"You like it?" Black Mist asked her.

Mint nodded, smiling happily. "Yup!"

Black Mist smiled and looked out the window. "Where are Sanaji and Sam?"

"They're outside. Sanaji wanted to play tag, and she knew you would be tired. I already had my exercise for the day, so I didn't want to. Sam was the only one who volunteered."

Black Mist nodded and laid down. He closed his eyes to rest for a while so that he could play for a while before evening fell.