A Little Scary
"Love, you okay?"
"Mhm,"
Baby looked out the window, kicking her feet, covering their ears and scrunching their nose at the sounds of the busy and loud bus. Steven beside them stares at their stimming with a worried face, and sighs. He should have made sure that she had brought everything before they had left the flat, but he didn't since their were running late.
'I told you to double check, and you ignored me. Now we're all uncomfortable because you decided to take the stupid bus.'
'Oi, leave him alone. You know he's uncomfortable driving.'
'So? Now Baby's uncomfortable because of him.'
"I know I messed up, Marc. No need to get upset over something that already happened."
Steven mumbled rolling his eyes. He then winced as the noise got louder, starting to get to him. Not as bad as Baby though. Baby whines quietly, squirming in their seat. They look at Steven with watery eyes.
"O-Off. Off. Please, Daddy, want off."
Their voice cracks, the hands over their ears shaking as they shook their head at the noise. Steven wraps on arms around them and squeezed with pressure, enough to calm them down.
"I know, love. It's a lot for your little ears, hm? We're almost there, little love. Daddy's gonna get you off, okay?"
"Now, please. Now,"
Before he could say anything the bus stopped. It was their stop. Steven quickly grabbed their bags and took her hand, tugging at it when Baby wasn't moving. They quickly get off, and Steven quickly squeezes them again, this time with both arms. He rocks them, shushing them when they whine, and kisses their head.
When Baby is finally calm, they pat Steven's back and tugs on his shirt. He pulls away, and examines their face.
"You okay, love?"
"Okay, Daddy." They nod.
He smiles, kisses their cheek and takes their hand.
"Do you remember where we're going, love?"
"Friends,"
"Do you remember her name?"
Baby nodded, not wanting to talk any longer. See this, Steven squeezed their hand and continued.
"Daddy needs to go over to handle some big people stuff. You okay to keep yourself occupied while Daddy does that?"
Baby nods.
"My little love, we are finally here."
They stop in front of a hotel and Baby hums in confusion. They go in and Steven starts talking to the receptionist. Seeing her eyes on them, Baby slightly scoots behind Steven and grabs the bottom of his shirt, getting his alters attention.
'Steven,'
'I know, Marc,'
'They're getting anxious.'
'More shy than anxious.'
'Or both!'
Steven grabs Baby's hand, his thumb caressing their knuckles. As the two argued in his head, a voice called out to him.
"Marc?"
Steven turns around with a slight sigh. It was Layla. When seeing his face, she gave him a apologetic look.
"Sorry, Steven. I'm still getting used to it."
"Not for much longer though, right?"
He replied, following her to the elevator.
'That wasn't blunt, right?'
'I don't think so,'
'She's used to it.'
'So it was?'
Baby shuffled behind Steven, staring at Layla. She was pretty, but why did she look like that? They couldn't describe it, but it felt... wrong? Weird? What was the word?
Layla met her gaze, smiling slightly and waving. Baby just blinked a few times before hiding their face in his back, hands going to fiddle with the belt loops of his pants.
Scary.
Steven grabbed their hands and made her play with his fingers instead. The doors open and Layla walks out first, Steven following behind. Baby does want to, but follows anyway. Layla opens the hotel room door and walks in. Steven stops, and turns back to Baby.
"You okay, love?"
They avoid eye contact with hotel room and shake their head.
"What's got you so nervous, hm?"
They point inside of the room at Layla.
"Why, love? Are you being shy because of how little you are today? Are you a little shy?"
Baby shrugs, hiding their face from his view.
"We're not gonna let anyone hurt you, okay? It'll be alright."
Baby nods, and they finally walk in.
"Do you have them?"
Steven nods, pulling a folder out of his bag.
"Love, can you sit over their with your toys please?"
Baby said nothing, but answers in their own kind of way by going over to the bed and sitting on it. They set down their bag, and tries to take off their shoes. When they don't budge, they growl, blowing out air through their nose aggressively. When Steven was about to help them, hearing their frustration, when Layla had already walked over.
"Do you need help, little one?"
Layla offers her a smile as she pointed to her still tied shoes. Baby stares at her for a second, before offering her foot. Quickly untying her shoes, she allowed Baby to slips them off. Baby squeals at her freed feet which causes both adults to laughing.
"Inside stims, little love." Steven reminded, chuckling.
"I think it's cute!" Layla giggles.
Maybe she wasn't as scary as they thought.