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Chapter Text

Shichiro looked down at the small fluffy child in his hands. Dark blue feathers, big blue eyes, and chubby cheeks. There was no mistaking it, this child is

“IRUMA!”, the principal cried while scooping up the ball of fluff, “My poor, adorable, tiny, grandson.”

They were in the nurse's office.  Where Shichiro ran after the smoke cleared to reveal the gargoyle chick.

“Shichiro kun, could you perhaps explained what happened?”, Opera asked as calm as ever. Though Shichiro felt a few degrees colder than it should be this time of year.

“U-uhm well.”, Shichiro thought back to earlier in the day.

~~~

“Good afternoon, Iruma-kun.”, Shichiro greeted the blue-haired fledgling at his door. “Do you need something?”

“Good afternoon, Balam-sensei.”, Iruma said as the taller man led him inside the room., “I was wondering if you had anymore of those children books that I can borrow, I’m starting to fall behind in class again.”, he said with a sheepish grin on his face

“Of course. I have some tea already made, help yourself while I get them.”

“Awsome, thank you!”

Shchiro nodded, “It’s no problem.”, he said as he walked over to a nearby bookshelf, “Knowing when you need help is a very good thing for young fleglings like you to know.” He brought a few books to the table for that should cover some of the material that the other teachers should be teaching.

“Opera-san said the same thing. They were the ones to tell me to come to you, seeing as your books helped me out so well last time.”, the boy said as he leafed through some of the books

‘All of my of snacks are gone…oh well’, the man thought to himself while he seated himself across from the fledgling and poured himself a cup of tea

“Hey, Balam-sensei? What book is this?”, Iruma asked while holding up a book that Shichiro was pretty he’s never seen before. The cover had two figures, one taller than the other hand in hand.

Shichiro reached out for the book. While doing so, he knocked the ceramic tea cups off the table. (He did not notice the small cut on his arm. Nor that a drop of it got onto the book)

“Oh no! Sensei are you alright?”, Iruma asked in a panic

“I'm fine. I'm sorry let me get this cleaned up”, he said as he went to grab a small broom and dustpan that he kept for this exact reason

“I can help!” , Iruma proclaimed before he bent down the the older demon to help clean up the remains of the cups.

“Iruma-kun, there's no need for your help. I can clean up a small mess like this.”, Shichiro protested slightly at the boy, who was trying to pick up some of the bigger pieces by hand

“Iruma, you shouldn't grab sharp things by hand. That's how you-”, Shichiro was cut off by the sharp, sweet, smell of Iruma's blood and the small help the boy let out. Shicro sighed, “- cut yourself”

“Hehe, sorry sensei”, Iruma apologized while holding his cut finger to his chest

“Here, why don't you sit back down at the table while I clean the rest of this up.”, Shichiro told the boy while handing him a handkerchief.

Iruma went back to the table like he was told. (Iruma didn't notice the drop of blood that fell onto the ominous book, right next to Shichiro’s)

~~~

“And when I was cleaning up the mess there was a large cloud. And when it cleared there was…well…”, Shichiro pointed to where Sullivan was still fawning and crying over his grandson.

Opera frowned, “I see. Well it seems that what happened was an accident but it's impossible to know how long this will last. Can you give me the book that may have caused this?”

Shichiro nodded, “It should still be on the table in my work room.”

Opera nodded once, a clear dismissal and Shichiro stood up. He walked to the door and no sooner that he had left the room did Iruma let out an ear piercing screech.

Both the gargoyle and the hell cat whipped their heads around to see Iruma with big, round tears streaming down his face. His eyes locked on Shichiro.

“Oh, my poor boy, what's wrong?”, Sullivan asked the child

Iruma didn't answer, instead staring at the older gargoyle, tears still streaming down his face. Oh no…he didn't 

“Shichiro-kun, do you know what's going on?”, Opera asked, their eyes darting between the two gargoyles.

Shichiro swallowed the spit that had been pooling in his mouth. “Um…I think…I think Iruma imprinted…on…on me.”

There was a sharp intake from Sullivan. A small crack formed onto his monocle. “I'm sorry, I must've misheard you. Surely you didn't imply that my grandson favors you over his grandfather.”

“I-um…well-”, Shichiro stuttered ‘Was it just him or was it getting awfully cold in here?’, he thought with a shiver

“Sullivan-sama, I’m sure it’s nothing as serious as that. Perhaps, the young master is just tired from the day.”, Opera tried to calm the principal, before turning to the gargoyle. “Please go get the book, Shichiro-kun. Sullivan-sama and I have Iruma covered.”

“R-right, of course.”, Shichiro tore his eyes away from the trembling chick and walked out the room. Just like last time, Iruma let out a crying shriek as soon as the older man was out of his line of sight. It broke his heart to leave Iruma but the dual glare he got from his senpai and boss stopped him from trying to get back to the chick. “Just need to get the book and then I can come right back…”, he murmured to himself.

Chapter Text

Even back at his workroom, Shichiro could still hear the pained shrieks of his the chick while picking up the book. It physically hurt to hear such pitiful noises, his parental instincts began to rear their head. Thankfully, it didn’t take him long to pick up the book. 

He rushed back to the nurse's office as fast as he could. Praying that there was a reversal spell in the book.

“There, there, Iruma-kun. Don’t cry.”, Sullivan sounded flustered as he bounced the chick up and down.

It didn’t help with anything as large, fat, tears continued to run down Iruma’s face. As soon as Shichiro entered his line of sight, the tiny chick stopped cryng almost immediately.

“I have the book.”, the older gargoyle said, handing the book over to Opera

Opera, who’s cat-like horns had pressed against their head, took the book gratefully.

“Thank you, Shichiro-kun.”, The hell cat murmured before looking through the book

“Cheep!”

Shichiro’s head snapped towards the chick that was now struggling in Sullivan’s hands.

“Aw, Iruma-kun. Where are you trying to go?”, Sullivan asked as Iruma flapped his feather covered arms.

Somehow, after enough struggling, Iruma escaped his grandfather's hold. He managed to dodge the principal's attempts to grab the child while he made a beeline for the older gargoyle.

“Cheep!”, big, blue eyes that still glistened with tears looked up at Shichiro

Shichiro scooped up the child, “Easy, easy”, he murmured softy to the child

In turn, Iruma snuggled into his hand, letting out a tiny coo that could melt even the coldest of demons’ hearts.

“Balam-san”, The crack in Sullivan’s monocle steadily grew as he spoke, “It seems you were right about my grandson imprinting on you.”

Shichiro paled at the tone in his boss’s voice, “I-I, um well…g-gargoyle chicks imprint on the first thing they see.”, he explained hastily, “A-and since I was the first thing he saw after his t-transformation…well…”, Each word that came out of his mouth seemed to make the situation worse

“The effects aren’t permanent.”, Opera cut into the conversation, holding open the book in their hands.

“O-oh?”, Shichiro questioned, grateful for the change in topic

“This book is for an adoption ritual, and mixing any two kinds of DNA will automatically put it into effect.”, Opear explained

“An adoption ritual?”, Sullivan’s monocle shattered, glass flying to the ground

“Your dramatics will not change the matter at hand, Master Sullivan,” Opera sighed, before pointing to a page in the book, “Anyways, there’s a way to undo the ritual but it will have to wait until both moons are full.”

“The next double full moon isn't for another two weeks.”, Shichiro said while nudging at the baby bird with his thumb

“I see, well…in that time we’ll have to figure out what to do with Iruma-kun.”, Sullivan said, throwing a glare Shichro’s way before continuing, “As it is now, Iruma’s favorite person is you, so it'll be in his best interest to be taken cared of by you.”

“Chirp, cheep!”, Iruma cooed as though agreeing with his grandfather before nuzzling into the older gargoyle’s chest feathers.

“I-I see,” Shichiro said, trying not to cower under the weight of his boss’s stare

“Master Sullivan and I will be out for the next few days to gather the things we’ll need for the ritual. I trust that you’ll be okay in our absence?”

‘Was winter coming early? It certainly feels like it dropped a few degrees in here’, Shichiro thought with a shiver

“O-of course. There’ll be no problems.”, the gargoyle squeaked

Opera nodded, “Good”

With that both demons left the room, with Sullivan throwing one last glare before he and his chick was alone.

Shichiro looked down at Iruma, “Now what?”

“Cheep?”, The chick tilted his head

“Yes. You’re probably hungry.”, he murmured , “So you need food. Growing chicks need lots of food.”, Shichiro pulled out his phone

“Cirp?”

“I’m calling for help. It’s like I told you this morning, it’s important to know when to ask for help.”, he told the chick while tapping around his contacts before finding the one that he wanted.

It only rang once when, “Shichiro?”, the gravely voice of his closest ally answered. He must’ve been asleep.

“Hello Kalego-kun. Are you busy?”, Shichiro asked, while playing with Iruma’s cowlick

“Not at the moment. Why? Is everything okay?”, There was the rustle of fabric

“Um…”, Shiciro looked at the chick clinging to his feathers, “The situation is probably better explained in person.”

“I see. Then I’ll be there in a moment.”, the line went dead

“Let’s go to my work room, and wait for Kalego-kun there.”, he said as he walked out the nurse’s office

“Cheep!”

Chapter Text

By the time Shichiro had made it back to his workroom, Iruma was fast asleep. Like the chick, the older gargoyle was beginning to feel similarly tired.

“The events of the day must finally be getting to me.”, he murmured, his, sleep-heavy eyes on his nest.

As much as he wanted to sleep, besides his parents, he’s never been in a nest with another person before, let alone a child that was smaller than the palm of his hand.

“Maybe I could”, his voice trailed off as he began moving and building something in his nest, letting his instincts guide him.

After a while, Shichiro constructed a tiny raised nook in the middle of the nest, full to the brim with soft moss and feathers that’s long fallen off of the older gargoyle. Carefully, he placed the sleeping chick into the little circle and cooed when the chick instinctively burrowed under a few feathers.

‘How adorable can one chick be?’, he thought as he climbed into the curl around Iruma before letting his wings out to cover both him and his chick.

~~~

Shichiro’s eyes shot open when he heard foot steps come into his territory. He let out a warning growl as he looked over the lip of the nest, careful to keep his chick covered by the with his wing.

“Ṡ̴̡̢̘̼͕̙̀̓̔̓ḧ̵̫͖̗̬̦̫̽̍̀i̴͍̣̦̼͑͐ͅć̸̳̻̤̅̂̿h̸̛̪̭̗͍͋͐i̸̥͙̝̼̳͙̘͊̀͌̈́̈́͋̋̊̓̊̃͠ṛ̸̰̺͌̔̌̐́̓o̴̡̦̝̬̰͑̄̃͊,̵̭̬̣̯͚̒͆̈́͒̇ ̴̤̼̥́͛͛̅̔̓̈́w̵̨̞̣̹̠͉̩̫͊͒̈̎͗͌͜h̷͚͖͍̹̹̬̣͌̆͗̀̒̚͠ä̷̡̢̨͖̼̥͈͖̠̺̅̿̋̇̐̂̃͒̆̚͜t̸̡̳̫̞̠͖͚͙̭̖̻̑̆̓̌͐'̵̪̈́̍̽̎͂̕ș̶̡̟̹̀̉̚ ̸̧̨̧̛̮͕͈̜̖̮͙̙̉̾̈w̷͈͑̄́̋̈́̒ͅŗ̷͎̪̟͖͍͎̲̟̩͛͆̑̊̉̏̌̎̕͠o̶̬͇̭̘̖̫̺̜̗̟͎͒̄̎͊́n̷̛͇͖̼̝̰̹͎͌̃̐̋͑̂̊̋͗̕͘g̶̡̳͕̥͔̲̘͛̽͋́̈̆̓̚̚?̵̨͔̘̯͔̥̭̥̈́̏͋”, a figure that the gargoyle vaguely recognized stalked closer.

The gargoyle growled again, this time much louder. The figure did not come any closer.

“Ọ̵̈́̂͘k̴͉̕a̴̯̽͘͝ý̷̢͕̆̈́,̶̧̤̪̅͛ ̸̡͉̤̆ǫ̵͉̠̉̑k̴̺̤̬̑͋a̵̮̺̐̓̚y̴̡̆͜.̶̰͑͋ ̷̢̭͎̇͗̅Î̸̼̖ ̷͓͘͝ẃ̶̖̦̅̀ö̴̫ǹ̶̥̼́͐'̵̭̾t̵̫̾ ̴͉̜̈́̍c̶̺̒̅o̸͔̱͛͘͜͝m̴̧̰͍̑̽e̸͙̪͊̋ ̴̹̲̈͒͋ǎ̶͙̜͘̕n̵̟͇̗̎ÿ̶̬͓̯͊ ̵̟̓̕c̸̟͉͠l̵̨̲̣̓o̴̺̓́̕s̷̼̈̆͆e̶̬̽̉r̷͈͋”

Shichiro continued to eye the figure, ready the dispatch it as soon as it made a single wrong move.

“S̵̞͚̠̐̏̂h̴̡͔͚́i̵͕̿c̷̱͐̚h̵̢͈̊̍ï̶̥͆͋r̷̺̣̔̃͘o̷̫̐,̷̝̏ ̷̡͈́ĩ̴̠̥̾͜ẗ̷́͜'̶̛̰̦s̷̺̠̀͌̅͜ ̴̣̩̬̑̆m̶̗̊̐͊e̶͖̳̾̚.̸̦̻̀ ̷̡̔̎̚K̸̹̟̩̒ä̸̱́͜l̶͚͝͠e̴̛͋ͅḡ̸̮́̚o̵͙̤̫͋̃̏ ̷͕͆̌y̴͕̟̬̆̃o̴̙̍ũ̸̡͇̩͆͘ȓ̴̢ ̴͇̮̍ally.”, the intruder said softly as he attempted to make himself smaller by sitting on the floor and looking anywhere but at the gargoyle’s eyes.

“Ally?”, Shichiro’s voice came out gravely, like he’s just spent the last two hours yelling

“Yes, ally. I am your ally, Kalego.”

Shichiro stared at the intruder before blinked once, and then twice.Then his face heated up.

‘Oh my devi, I just growled at Kalego-kun!”, he thought mournfully

“Kalego-kun! I’m so sorry! Y-you came in when I was asleep! A-and and you scared me!”, Shichiro was breathing heavily as he rushed to get the explanation out

Kalego simply waved him off,”It’s fine. It happens to the best of us.”

“R-right!”, he sat up fully

“Now”, Kalego was still stitting on the ground, but seemed much more comfortable looking the taller man in the eye, “what happened? What was so serious that it reverted you back to your baser instincts?”

Shichiro cringed at the wording, “Well…”, he lifted his wing and beckoned the hellhound over.

Kalego looked into the nest in disbelief, “When did you get another demon pregnant?”

At this point, the gargoyle wished that the hole would open up and swallow him whole, “I would never do something like that!”

Kalego raised an eyebrow, “So you didn’t get some random she-demon pregnant?”

He shook his head, almost violently, “N-no! There was an accident this morning!”

Kalego tilted his, reminding Shichiro of a confused dog, “An accident?”

“Yes, this chick is actually Iruma.”

The hellhound looks at the avian demon as though he's grown another head. “Excuse me?”

Shichiro nodded, “Iruma's and I’s blood had accidentally activated an adoption ritual.”

Kalego sighed, “I see, and I take it the brat imprinted on you? And you on him, if you display from earlier, say anything about it.”

Scarlet blush streaks across Shichiro’s face in embarrassment, “Y-you would be correct, Kalego-kun.”

“Alright then, what is it that you need from me?”

Shichiro cleared his throat, “W-well, Iruma still hasn’t eaten. So food would be on the top of the list. Gargoyles have both avian and mammalian characteristics,  so he needs milk, but seeing as I can’t make any. At least, not right now. He’ll need formula. And a dropper as any bottle would be too big at the moment.”

Kalwego nodded, “Is there anything else?”

“Lets see, there’s blankets, talon files, feather oil, baby wipes, a bristle brush, and maybe a few teething toys,”, he named off each thing on his finger as he spoke

If Kalego thought the amount of things was weird he didn’t show it. He just nodded his head again, “Okay, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Shichiro smiled, “Thank you Kalego-kun.”

His ally’s face had turned oddly red as he waved him off, “What are allies for”, he grumbled before he was off.

Shichiro looked down at the still sleeping chick, “At least you’re a sound sleeper”, he whispered to the child, before covering the child with his wing once more.

Chapter Text

“Chirp! Chirp!”

As it turns out, Iruma wasn’t a sound sleeper. Not five minutes after Kalego had left, Iruma had woken up. And he was very very hungry. As it is right now, the fledgling was trying hard to get to Shichiro’s chest. Problem is, the older gargoyle is not lactating.

“I’m sorry, baby, but I don’t have any milk to give you.”, He said to the tearful chick in his hands

“Cheep! Chirp!”, Iruma looked up mournfully. His eyes were red and puffy from crying so much.

“Just wait a little longer, okay? Kalego-kun already texted tthat he was on his way back with food for you.”, the little bird only cheeps pitifully in response.

“Shh, its okay. I promise.”, he patted the chick’s back soothingly

This went on for another ten minutes before Kalegoo finally finally walked into the workroom.

“Oh thank goodness.”, a very flustered Shichiro said as he rotted through tha bags to find the formula.

Kalego stood by awkwardly, “Is there anything you need me to do?”

“Can you warm up some water? The milk needs to be warm.”, He asked, handing the hellhound a small bowl.

Soon, Iruma was chugging down the milk. He’s long finished one bowl of formula and was nearly halfway through his second.

“What a greedy child,” Shichiro purred

“Should you be giving him so much? What if he overeats?” Shichiro looked up from his chick to see Kalego glancing between him and a book in his hand

“Kalego-kun, is that a child-rearing book?”, he held back a laugh at the blush that came over his ally’s face.

“I thought it would be good to have! It’s not like either one of us has any experience!”, he growled

This just made Shichiro laugh even harder. Which led to his ally chucking the book at him, and the flick of his magic had a stray vine catching the book and throwing it back at the hound. Who, of course, caught it with ease.

“Careful, you’ll hurt the baby.”, he said with a giggle, taking the dropper from chick. 

‘Iruma has become quite round.’, the gargoyle thought

 “What is it the students say in the animal battler say? That he’s full of soup?”, he patted the boy on the back

“What are you going on about?”, Kalego growled while flipping through his book

“Just that Iruma has become rather round.”, he answered while tickling the chick’s tummy. He was rewarded for the action by little giggles.

Kalego looked at the child, “He looks like ball. A small, feathered, ball.”

“That he does.”, the gargoyle looked between the chick and his ally. “Kalego-kun.”

“Yes?”

He doesn't know why, but Shichiro suddenly felt nervous about what he was getting ready to say, “Do you…do you want to try holding him?”

His ally looked at him as though he’d suddenly grown a second head, "Excuse me?”

Shichiro's face began to heat up as he stuttered out, “I-I was wondering if you wanted to try holding him.”

“I don't hold kids. I don't even like kids.”

“Kalego-kun, you're a teacher.”

“Yes, it puts me in the perfect position to torture little brats that don't know how to listen. Kids don't like me, I don't like them.”

“I dunno, the misfit class seems to like you.”

“Those fools wouldn't be able to figure out the difference between an apple and an orange, let alone if a person likes them or not.”

“Kalego-kun, come here.”, There was a shift in the gargoyle’s tone

“Shichiro, I do-”, he was cut off by vines shooting at him, curling around the man tightly and dragging him to the nest. He could’ve been mistaken for a statue with how frozen he was.

“Your hand please.”

“...you’re not going to let me go until I do?”

The  gargoyle nodded, “Correct.”

His ally sighed and grumbled before finally nodding. Shichiro smiled and allowed the vines around the hellhound to loosen and fall away. The two stared at each other for a while before Kalego sighed again and held out his hand.

Shichiro couldn’t hold back the small chirp of happiness that left his lips as he gently placed his chick into his ma ally’s hand. Iruma’s big blue eyes stared into Kalego’s black ones. After a few moments it was Iruma who broke their impromptu staring contest with a small coo. Carefully, Kalego brushed the top of Kalego’s head.

“He’s…soft.”, he muttered

“Isn’t he? Devi, he’s so cute!”

“That’s one word for it.”, he said flatly, his ears going red when Iruma nuzzled into  his hand.

“Cheep?”, Iruma chirped and used his little talon to scratch at his sleeve before grabbing onto his wrist tightly

“S-Shirchiro! What is he doing?”, Kalego was stock still as little talons dug into his skin as the little chick began climbed up his arm.

“I’m not sure. Make sure he doesn’t fall.”

“Shouldn’t you grab him?”

“I would, but I’m curious about what he’s doing too.”, Shichiro’s eyes were locked onto his chick

With determination etched onto his face, Iruma made his way up the arm before stopping on the hellhound’s shoulder.

“Chirp!”, the chick fluffled his little down feathers in triumph before huddling down close to Kalego’s neck.

“Oh, he really likes you.”, Shichiro was quick to pull out his phone and snap more than a few pictures of the duo.

“Delete those! Delete those right now!”

“I will not. In fact, I think I’m going to use them as my new background.”, Shichiro teased

“Shichiro, come grab your son.”, although his tone was harsh, Kalego was gentle as he pried the little talons out of the fabric of his shirt. He valiantly ignored the sad little cheeps Iruma cried while he was handed off back to Shichiro.

“But Kalego-kun, look how sad he is.”

“He’ll have to learn how to deal with it.”, Kalego scowled, arms crossed

“It’s okay, Iruma-chan, the big, mean guard dog is just scared that I won’t think he’s cool.”, he cooed at the chick as he sat him down in the nook. Just as he did earlier, Iruma curled into the nook, falling asleep instantly.

Chapter Text

Now that Iruma was asleep, the two adults were left in a compainable silence. Shichiro remained in the nest, using one wing to cover his chick, and Kalego sat at nearby taking notes from the child rearing book.

“Kalego-kun, you called Iruma my son earlier.”, Shichiro hummed as he preened his feathers.

Kalego paused in his note taking, “Did I?”

Shichiro nodded, “You did.”

Kalego looked up from his notebook, “Do you want me to apologize? I’m sorry if I offended you.”

The gargoyle shook his head, “No, you didn’t offend me or anything. I was just thinking about it. For all intense and purpose, Iruma is my son. Both according to the adoption ritual and my own instincts. And I can’t help but wonder how this will affect our relationship when the ritual is reversed. Devi, he probably won’t remember any of this.”, Shichiro knew he was getting himself worked up the longer he thought about it. How unfair it was that both he and Iruma had to deal with these consequences.

The hellhound didn’t answer right away, instead choosing to continue where he stopped his note taking. It was only after that he filled the page that he opened his mouth. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, seeing Iruma as your son that is. He’s a good kid, albeit trouble making. Plus, devi knows that you instincts won’t allow for anything otherwise. But I also think that this is something you need to talk to him about. Maybe you’ll find that he’ll wan’t the same thing.”

“And if he doesn’t?”, Shichiro shuddered at the thought of his chick rejecting him

“Then I’ll beat him until he does.”

The answer was so profound that Shichiro couldn’t help the bark of laughter that left his mouth, “Kalego-kun! You can’t say things like that. He’s still the principal’s grandson you know.”

Kalego rolled his eyes, “Who cares? I’m pretty sure the only reason the brat is as good as he is is because the cat level’s out that fool’s incompetence.”

“I’m pretty sure Opera-senpai is just as responsible when it comes to spoiling Iruma.”, 

“Hmph. Doesn’t change the fact that I’ll run that boy into the ground if he does’t accept you. Any fledgling would be beyond lucky to have you as a parent.”

At this point, Shichiro was smiling so large that his face began to hurt. That was when he remembered something, “Oh devi!”, he cried out

Kalego looked at him in alarm, “What’s wrong?”

“My mask! I’ve had my mask on the entire time! What if I scare him when I have to eat?”

“Will it matter? I’m sure he won’t care, or remember. It’s only been a few hours since this entire mess began.”

“Kalego-kun, you and I both know that I don’t have a particularly pretty face. My fangs might give the poor baby a heart attack.”

Kalego rolled his eyes, “I highly doubt it’s that serious.”

“Well you’re not the one who has to deal with your child possibly being scared of you?”

“Devi, give me patience.”, the hell hound pinched the bridge of his nose while heaving a huge sigh, “You’re being a coward. Take off the mask when he wakes up. It won’t change that the brat has imprinted on you. I’m pretty sure you could look like a slime monster and he’s still treat you any different.”

“You think so?”

Kalego made a little huff that was just shy of being a laugh, “I know so.”

They lapsed back into silence. Though it didn’t last long, as Shichiro’s stomach suddenly let out a long growl.

“O-oh dear.”, the gargoyle’s face has gone pink from embarrassment.

Kalego sighed, “When was the last time you ate?”

“T-this morning, before I met with Iruma.”

“I see.”, was all the man said before pulling out his phone

“What are you doing?”, Shichiro asked, looking at the man curiously

“Ordering take out. Are you still partial to salty foods?”

“I am.”, Shichiro nodded, the blush still present on his face.

“The food will be here in a little while.”

“T-thank you Kalego-kun.”

Mirroring his actions from earlier, Kalego waved him off, “It’s no issue.”

Chapter Text

When the food had arrived, Shichiro found it hard to convince himself to leave his nest (and leave his chick exposed). So Kalego ended up bringing his food, ramen with a salty broth, over to the nest.

The first bite of the noodles made him realize he was way hungrier than he realized. The bowl of ramen was gone in a few bites.

Amusement played across Kalego’s face, “Were you hungry?”

Shichiro laughed quietly, rubbing the back of his neck, “Yeah, I suppose I was.”

Kalego huffed out a laugh before turning back to his own meal. Shichiro flushed a little as he settled around Iruma. Now that his stomach is full and his chick won’t need to eat for a few hours, Shichiro began to relax. His eyes were growing heavy and a yawn escaped his mouth.

“If you’re going to  sleep, take off your mask.”

“Hmm?”, he blinked sleepily at the hellhound.

“Your mask, take it off. Otherwise, you’ll be complaining about your jaw hurting in the morning.”

“Oh, right.” Shichiro grabbed around his face for the latch on his mask. Cool air hit the scar before he settled back down into the nest. He looked at the hellhound through slitted eyes, who had just finished his food.

“Shichiro, do you still keep the futon in the same place?”, Kalego asked while throwing away the food containers.

“You don’t have to stay.”

“I know.” Kalego looked wholly unbothered as he pulled the futon from behind a bookshelf. He spread it out close enough that he could help the gargoyle with Iruma if need be, but not so close that he might think the hellhound encroaching on his nest.

“You really don’t have to. I have things handled now.”

“Sure you do.” Kalego had used some magic to change into a set of pajamas and flopped down, bringing the blanket up over his ears.

“I-um…”, Shichiro didn’t know what to say, his mouth opening and closing.

“Shichiro.”, Kalego grumbled

“Yes?”, he squeaked.

“Go to sleep, we have a long day ahead of us.”

‘We?’, Shichiro thought, his eyes sliding shut on their own volition, ‘What does he mean by we?’

~~~

Shichoro woke up to a screech loud enough to scare away a banshee and tiny claws scratching at his wing. Lifting it up, he blinked blearily at a tearful Iruma. He had just sat up, chick in hand, when a bowl of warm milk was thrust in front of him.

‘Where’d that come from?’, he thought tiredly.

“I made it when that brat started crying.”, a voice told him.

“Hm?”, Shichiro looked up to see a bedraggled Kalego, “Oh, hello.”

“The milk, Shichiro.”

The gargoyle just blinked tiredly, his brain still in dreamland. Kalego sighed as he pressed the bowl into the taller man’s hand.

“You need to feed the child, or he’ll wake the entire school. It’s nearly 4 in the morning.”, the hellhound hissed.

“Oh, that’s right. Of course.” Shichiro shuffled things around so that the milk was on his thigh. He held a still crying Iruma in one hand while he filled the dropper with milk. “Slowly,” he told the child, “Or you’ll get sick. You don’t want to get sick, do you?”

As Iruma ate (more like chugged), Shichiro looked over at Kalego. The hellhound was sitting on the futon, one leg drawn up, with his arms crossed. His eyes were closed, but he didn’t appear to be sleeping.

“You’re staring.”, Kalego cracked one eye open.

The gargoyle’s ears went red. “I just wanted to say thank you.”, he rushed out.

“Why do you insist on such platitudes? There’s no need for thanks between us.”, the other man grumbled, before letting out a large yawn.

Shichiro pouted, “Well, how else am I supposed to thank you?”

“You could stop thanking me for every little thing. I am helping you because I want to, not because anyone is making me.”

For a moment, Shichiro thought the exhaustion was making him hallucinate. Because Kalego’s words made his heart do a little flip. Iruma finished the last bit of milk, glaring at his guardian when he realized that no more milk was coming. Shichiro smiled at the chick.

“…Kalego-kun,” Shichiro murmured, unsure why his voice had gone so quiet. “That means a lot to me.”

Kalego clicked his tongue. “You’re doing it again.”

“Right, right, no thanking. Of course. I apologize-”

“That’s the same thing!”

Shichiro couldn’t help the laugh that escaped his mouth. The kind of laugh that came from deep in the chest, the kind that made Iruma perk up and chirp as though in agreement.

“Shut it, you brat!” he snarled at the chick.

Shichiro let out another laugh as he transitioned to patting Iruma’s back. It was only a few firm pats before Iruma let out a mighty BUURP that echoed through the workroom like a trumpet announcing doom.

Kalego blinked.

Iruma looked stunned.

Shichiro looked proud. “Good job!”

The chick let out a pleased coo before setting out to climb his arm. Unfortunately, Shichiro doesn't wear sleeves and thus had to stomach the tiny, needle-like talons digging into his arm until the chick reached his shoulder. Now on his shoulder, the chick was looking at him curiously. Or more so, looking at the scar that adorned the right side of his face. 

“Chirp?”, Iruma’s tiny head tilted, his soft feathers brushing gently against the long scar that cut across Shichiro’s mouth and cheek. The fledgling reached out with a careful talon and tapped one of the exposed fangs once, twice, before letting out a soft, almost mournful croon.

Shichiro’s breath caught. 

“It’s alright,” he murmured quietly, though his voice trembled. “It doesn’t hurt, little one.”

‘This is the moment of truth.’, he thought, already resigning himself to wearing his mask for two weeks straight.

Iruma surprised him by chipping quite loudly and pressing his entire body against his face.  (And sybsquintly getting some of his down feathers into his mouth) As though trying to…protect it?

A strange warmth bloomed in Shichiro’s chest. His hand came up and cradled his son closer and gave a deep, reassuring chirp.

Across the room, Kalego snorted in amusement before glaring at the pair “Great now we know he won’t reject you, I’m going back bed. If either one of you make a sound, I’ll tear your tounges out and feed them to cerberus.”

Shichiro only smiled good-naturedly, “Whatever you say, Kalego-kun.”

With a humph, Kalego flopped back onto his futon, falling asleep in seconds.