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.