Chapter Text
The car rumbled to a stop, tires crunching on the gravel driveway. The drive overall hadn't taken too long, an hour at most given the rather remote location of the Genesis Laboratory. John killed the engine, pulling the key from the port and looking over to Matt who had his head leaned against the head rest, facing the window. "You ready?" He asked, raising his eye brows when Matt jerked and blinked blearily at him. I guess he fell asleep then, John thought in amusement.
John just shook his head fondly, patting Matt on the shoulder before he opened the door and slipped out and walked to the back of the truck. He rapped his knuckles on the metal panel that worked as a half wall at the back of the truck, a canvas tarp covering up the rest of the view inside the back. He heard shuffling right before a hand stuck out of the tarp and pulled it aside, revealing Jaren, a smile plastered on his face. "We here, or are we stopping again?" He asked humorously.
John rolled his eyes, pushing a key into the keyhole in the center of the panel, the other keys on the ring hitting together and jingling loudly. "I stopped like, once." He huffed, holding his hand beneath it to keep it from slamming and rattling the truck like they'd usually let it. He didn't want to scare the kids. Jaren chuckled, retreating back into the truck bed and reappearing with a few bags he haphazardly threw at John, only one of which actually ended up in his hands. The others fell to the ground, throwing up a cloud of white dust from the gravel drive. "Tyler's getting the kids up, I'm gonna go get the last of the stuff and then we can get Matt out here to help him carry them." Jaren said, unperturbed by John's caching skills, or lack thereof.
John nodded, though he wasn't actually sure Jaren saw it as he had already disappeared back into the truck to fetch the rest of their gear. He sighed, turning around himself and grabbing at the handle of two other bags and slinging them over his shoulders. Jaren can grab the other two. As he walked past the front of the truck and towards the little house he glanced into the window and noticed Matt still sat in the passenger seat, staring vacantly at what looked to be a little bug crawling on the outside of the windowsill. He had half the mind to drop the bags and go over to check on him, but when his eyes flicked up and spotted John staring at him he just smiled dully and opened the door himself, dragging his feet to the back of the truck. John watched him go, finally deciding on just going into the house like intended. He could speak the Matt later, they had some more important things to deal with for now.
After he had deposited the bags in front of the stairs, awaiting to be unpacked probably never, he went back outside to watch Jaren, Matt, and for some reason Fluffels—Tyler, still morphed as a cougar— having a heated conversation along the side of the vehicle. Well, more like Matt and Jaren. Tyler was just kinda watching them with squinted eyes, tail lashing around his legs in what John assumed was irritation. He waited a few moments to see if they’d figure out their little tiff themselves before he sighed and walked over, almost pausing his steps when he caught the tail end of whatever they were arguing about. Actually, it was more like Jaren arguing, his tone slightly raised and expression obviously a little ticked off. Matt looked… well, Matt looked just on edge. A little upset, sure. But his expression was softer, less irritated like Jarens and Tylers.
“—wont help us get them?” Jaren was saying, waving a hand in the air just a bit too close to Matts face to be nice. Matt rolled his eyes, but it looked half hearted. He didn’t even bother responding, turning immediately to John when he saw he had come over.
“John. Please, tell Jaren that between him and Tyler they don’t need my help carrying the kids into the house.” Matt said, looking accusingly at Jaren as he finished.
John stared at him bemusedly, placing a hand on his hip as he looked between the two. “Uh-“ He said smartly, not actually sure how he was supposed to address this. He knew he was the teams ‘unofficial, official leader’ but he’s not sure why, he’s never been all that good with dealing with conflict civilly, usually him being the one to start shit. Matt and Jaren both stared at him, clearly expecting something a little more.
He cleared his throat, looking over at Tyler who just looked done at this point having sat back on his haunches and having the big cat equivalent of a ‘fuck this’ face. He’d be no help then, John realized quickly and dragged his eyes back to the still upset Jaren and Matt. “Well.. uhm,” he searched for the right words, only stumbling when he realized he’d been quiet too long, “Matt why- uh, why don’t you want to help them take the kids in? There’s four of them, sure we can plop two on Tyler, but Jaren probably doesn’t want to make two trips.” Apparently that was the wrong thing to say, because Matt threw his hands up in defeat. “God, not this again.” He muttered, partially to himself. John looked at Jaren then, a questioning gaze plastered on his face. Jaren just rolled his eyes too, shrugging his shoulders a bit exaggeratedly. Load of help he was.
John tuned back in, realizing he’d missed when Matt had begun talking again. “—ink. Say, why don’t you help since you’re out here? If carrying two emaciated kids who’d cling to you like koalas anyways is such a hard job.” He snapped. John held his hands up in a ‘calm down’ gesture, looking pointedly at Matt. “Don’t go starting shit Matt. I get you’re tired and all, but we don’t need to stoop to talking about the kids like that. They’re scared, and it’s not their fault what’s happened to them. Just go inside and start unpacking the gear, I’ll help with the kids.” He said sternly. Matt deflated a bit, having the decency to look a little ashamed for his slight jab at the children before he nodded his head, tucking tail and walking back to the house. John felt a little bad, he hadn’t meant to snap at him, but he can’t talk like that when all that was being asked of him was something so simple.
John let out a breath, dropping his hands and looking at Jaren and Tyler. Jaren seemed to have calmed down now, watching after Matt with a similar expression of sheepish remorse. Tyler, still morphed, just stood and padded silently to the back of the truck, rocking it as he leaped into the back.
“C’mon, we need to get the kids inside.” John said, waving his hand for Jaren to follow him when he passed. Jaren followed obediently, casting a quick last glance to the house where Matt had disappeared inside before jogging after John.
Tyler and Jaren sat at the table, staring awkwardly at the four kids doing their best to huddle in one chair on the other side. It, obviously, wasn’t going too well, so they had shoved all four of their chairs together and were tucked against one another, staring at them. Pezzy still had the scraggly cat cuddled in his arms, chewing softly at its ear as if to comfort himself. They probably should stop that, god knows what that cat has on it but they didn’t want to scare them, so they let it happen for just a bit longer.
Finally their saving grace, John, walked in through the small doorway leading to the kitchen with a shallow pot, steam seeping from the cracks in the glass lid. He set it down on a placemat at the end of the small table, going back to quickly fetch a ladle and a stack of bowls with spoons sitting on the top one. He set everything down beside the pot, looking up to cast his eyes over the awkward occupants before sighing like a mother disappointed in her children and took to lid off, setting it off to the side. He used the ladle to scoop a brown broth from the pot, ladling it into each one of the bowls, setting every filled one down and pushing it forward for Tyler to grab and put in front of the receiving person.
When he was done he gently knocked the ladle against the side of the pot, ridding it of most of the broth pooled in the bottom before he set it off to the side, spoon half laying on a crumpled napkin and placing the lid back overtop. He looked up, snickering when Jaren and Tyler quickly redirected their gazes from staring at him and instead to the children. Speaking of the children, none of them had begun eating, or even moved from where they were scrunched up together.
He gave Tyler and Jaren a quizzical look, an unamused expression being exchanged for it when they both shrugged unhelpfully, picking up their own spoons and slurping at the broth. John had actually put some cheap meat clips, carrots, potato scraps and whatever else they’d had left in the cabinets in the soup but he’d refrained from giving them any yet, not sure if they’d accidentally give the wrong bowls to the kids. Seeing as how skinny the children, it’d likely been a good while since they’d had a decent meal to eat so it’d be favorable to give them simple broths for now, until they could graduate to solid foods. He hadn’t seasoned anything, letting the scraps flavor the soup, so hopefully it wasn’t too strong. He knows from experience how much spices can unsettle your stomach after not eating for a while and he didn’t want to do that to them the first meal they were having here.
He shook his head, briefly looking towards the stairs where Matt had escaped to earlier with the excuse of putting some stuff away and that he’ll come down and eat later. John highly doubted that, so he had planned on jarring some of the soup and bringing it and an extra bowl and spoon up for him later. Maybe even some stale bread, but he’d have to hide that from Jaren and Tyler who no doubt would complain his ear off for not getting any.
When he looked back he decidedly moved out from behind the pot, circling the table behind Jaren and Tyler before moving around till he was beside Puffer, who was at the end of the little pile of kids in the chairs. He’d wanted them to be able to see his every move, not wanting to risk one of them lashing out like Grizzy had because they felt threatened with the sudden loss of sight on him.
He crouched down, being just a bit too short now that they were sitting on chairs and having to look up at Puffer, whose head was faced down at him, eyes searching his expression nervously. He smiled calmly, lacing his fingers together with his elbows resting on his knees. “Are you not hungry?” He asked, tilting his head to the side slightly. Puffer pursed his lips, eyes flicking over to the soup before looking back. He shook his head, motioning back at Pezzy and Droid, who had cautiously began sipping at their soups with mild encouragement from Grizzy, who had his hand held over Pezzy’s trembling one, helping to keep the spoon steady and keep the soup from spilling over the edge. The cat, now loose in Pezzys lap, was sniffing at the bowl, licking along the outside edge. Maybe he’d find something to give it later, the kids seemed awfully attached now, he shouldn’t let it starve.
John nodded like he understood, but he honestly didn’t get what Puffer was trying to tell him. “They seem hungry, hm? Why don’t you at least try some, I’m sure it’ll make you feel a bit better. Then, when you’re done, we can work on getting all your ouches patched up, yeah?” His tone was soft, similarly to how one would baby talk to a small child. It was weird how he was able to default like that so easily when talking to them. Reasonably, he knew these kids were at least 10, probably older, but they were so skittish and small, fragile looking. He just couldn’t help it, anything that helped them calm down and not view him as a threat to them he’d do, no matter how stupid it made him look.
Puffer still refused, shaking his head vehemently, eyebrows scrunching as he got a bit frustrated. John’s expression shifted to something more worried, unclasping his hands and slowly laying one on the edge of the chair Puffer wasn’t sitting on. He had originally wanted to reach out and place it on his knee in a comforting manner like his brother had always done for him, but he detoured quickly, remembering how frozen Pezzy had gotten when he touched him suddenly before.
Puffer looked down at the hand, fingers clenching visibly against his pant leg, knuckles going nearly as white as the fabric. John didn’t remove his hand, though looking back he probably should have. “Is that a no?” He asked. When Puffer shook his head violently, scrunching his eyes closed and pushing his clenched fist against his forehead, not hitting, just pressing it there. John noticed how Tyler and Jaren pushed back in their seats in his peripheral, only stopping when they noticed his hand shoot up to stop them. He carefully removed his other hand from where it had been resting on the chair, a little residue from his sweaty palms shining in the suddenly too bright overhead light. He wasn’t sure what triggered this little melt down, but he assumed sudden movements would only make it worse, stressing the boy further. The other children had stopped too, Droid and Pezzy’s spoons abandoned as they looked worriedly at Puffer over Grizzy’s shoulder. Grizzy had his hand hesitantly hovered above Puffers neck, fingers ghosting over the scaly, unblemished skin above the collar.
John let out a breath, shuffling backwards until Puffer had some proper breathing room. It seemed like the right move because the boy started calming down, hand still pressed firmly against his forehead, eyes shut tightly. He glanced at Jaren and Tyler, shaking his head when they mouthed a question at him, asking what’d happened. ‘Not sure, think he just got overwhelmed’ he mouthed back.
By now Puffer was now turned around, head tucked against Grizzy’s side as he laid his hand flat over top Puffers head. He wasn’t moving, staying actually surprisingly still. His eyes were looking down at Puffers hair, lips pressed in a firm line. Droid was leaned against Pezzy now, hand gently clutching at the cat in the other boys lap s’fur. Pezzy was slightly shorter than him, but he braced Droid the same way the bigger kids did, shoulder just tucked under Droids shoulder blades and head rested on Droids arm.
He nodded solemnly, falling back to sit on his ass, crossing his legs in front of him. Jaren and Tyler snuck around, settling on either side of him with their own legs crossed. “Well, that went well.” Tyler muttered, watching the kids with concern. Jaren just scoffed dryly, nodding in agreement. “Could say that again.” He said. Kryoz elbowed the both in the sides, smirking when they both doubled over in surprise, looking at them with mischievous smiles. Before they could launch their own attack on him, he began talking. “I think we should revisit this later, they’re obviously hungry but this tactic isn’t working. We should try and introduce them to a bath and get them to bed, afterwards we can debrief with Matt and—hopefully— call the client.”
Jaren and Tyler nodded in unison, turning themselves so they could both face John to create a little huddle and whisper together about their next move.
Turns out they didn’t need to strategize because when they stood up, the children also stood, lining up side by side in front of them. John raised his eye brow but didn’t question it. “How would you guys like to go get cleaned up?” He asked. The kids didn’t say anything, just looking at their feet. The cat was now hanging awkwardly in Pezzy’s arms, front legs sticking out while its skinny body draped down his front. It looked happy though, its purr loud like a motor engine even from where the three men stood.
He let out a breath, achingly close to a sigh. “Okay… let’s go up to the bathroom for a bath yeah? C’mon, I’ll lead the way.” He waved at them to follow him, to which they did nearly instantly. They had agreed earlier that Jaren and Tyler would stay behind for now as to hopefully keep from overwhelming the kids with so many people shoved into the small bathroom.
He turned the handle to the left, his other hand under the gentle stream of water as he tested the temperature. As soon as it was warm enough he removed his hand and stood up and grabbed a stopper and placed down the drain. It took another few minutes for the bath to fill up but when it did he twisted the little nub on the stopper and revealed several small holes to allow the water to filter through them, the faucet still being on low would prevent the bath from completely draining, but this way he wouldn’t have to keep changing over the water when it got murky like he assumed it would.
When he was done he straightened his back and turned, smiling down at the kids who were grouped together as close to the door as they could be. It was a little disheartening, in all honesty. They had been so ready to show affections back at the facility, clinging to one of the men whenever they felt comfortable, but now they were back to trying to be as far away as possible, huddling together like penguins. John hoped they were just apprehensive with the new environment and not something that they had done.
“Right, so here’s the soap,” he held up a small squeeze bottle that was labeled ‘body soap’, “and over here is the shampoo and conditioner.” He pointed to two slightly bigger bottles that had inverted colours, labels showing which was which. “Do you need any help, or are you okay to do it yourself?” He asked.
It took a moment, but finally Grizzy shook his head, mumbling that they could figure it out beneath his breath, John almost to didn’t catch it. “Alright, there’s towels right there on the counter for you. When you’re done just come find one of us, okay?” When Grizzy nodded again he took his leave, shutting the door behind him with a soft click.
He walked back to the sitting room, throwing himself down on the couch and leaning his back against Jarens side obnoxiously, knocking the cards from his hands onto the floor. Jaren squawked, leaning back against the couch and letting John fall back, head and upper body falling haphazardly into his lap. John scowled at him good naturedly, heaving himself back up and turning himself around to face the other two men. “I got them in the bath, so hopefully when they’re done we can start on the medical stuff.” He said. Tyler nodded, falling back against the chair he was sat in himself, shutting his eyes and letting out a bone weary sigh. “Let’s hope, it’s been a long fucking day.”
“Amen to that.” Jaren agreed loudly.