Published: October 20th 2022, 8:22:39 am
Author's Note: This one is for Shade Koopa. Thanks for being a super supporter and sharing your enthusiasm for this sort of stuff! It gets me excited too!
Pt. 1 Ch. 1-6 Pt. 2 Ch. 7 Ch. 8 Ch. 9 Ch. 10 Ch. 10.1
Finnick was relieved when his change was finally over and naptime was officially started. He could still hear the giggles and exclamations that everyone had made when he was first diapered in front of them.
"Aww he's so tiny!"
"How old is he?"
But while he saw that everyone was laying down on their comfy floor mats, he realized that he was being carried past all that."
"Hey, where are we going?" he wanted to ask, but with the pacifier in his mouth, it came out considerably more muffled.
Either Moolissa didn't understand him, or she didn't care to answer because she just kept carrying him, but pretty soon his questions were answered. The caretaking cow was carrying him to a full-sized crib!
"Stop squirming and fussing, little one. You'll get a nap soon enough," chided Moolissa. Finnicked had broken into and out of plenty of places, and he prayed that the crib wouldn't be too complicated. Unfortunately, the moment he was his caretaker slide up the bars and pinch something on the outside, he knew he was screwed. A tamper proof crib!
"Sleep tight, sweetie!" said Moolissa, giving the little bugger a kiss on the head. She waited expectantly until Finnick got the hint and began to go under the covers, wincing at the crinkles coming from both the mattress and his own diapered bum.
"There's a good boy," she said as he hugged the only thing close to him for comfort - Lamby, his new stuffed toy ironically given to him by one of the actual tots in this daycare. "You make such a good example for the little ones. We'll have to keep you around for a long long time. And it helps that you'll never get any bigger than this, eh?" She winked at him, and his heart stopped. His eyes went wide. She new. That only made things more embarrassing, and potentially more dangerous. Maybe this whole operation was more sophisticated than he thought. They might have intelligence on him and Daddy. He had no idea what kind of organization they had going here. Was it governmental? Regional? Who did they work for and what was their racket? His mind was racing, but the moment Moolissa turned on the mobile he was out like a light.
"A little music always does the trick," she said, smiling and walking off. "At any age."
*****
When Nick finally arrived to pick up his little boy, Finnick was still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Your little one was a perfect angel, said Moolissa, who handed the small Fennec over to his Daddy with a little Wink that made Finnick's tail frizz up.
"Aww, and who's this?" asked Nick, smiling softly as he spotted the new stuffed lamb Finnick was holding.
"A little present from one of the kiddo's new friends," said Moolissa, looking over to a little goat girl who was waving at him, along with Beartrand, who had given Finnick the paci he was still unconsciously sucking.
"Well, aren't you just mister popular," asked Nick, booping Finnick's paci button.
"You have no idea," said Moolissa with a giggle. "You have to bring him back tomorrow. He's already helping our little ones learn to be more mature because they all want to be good helpers when I take care of him."
"Well, then I guess I have to bring him back, then, don't I?" asked Nick, looking down fondly at the fuzzy little bundle of joy in his arms.
Finnick didn't like being talked about like this by the two grownups above him. Actually, he did like it and that was the problem. He didn't like that he liked it so much. It made his diaper region feel funny, and he got all blushy about it.
"Uh oh, looks like we got ourselves a squirmer," said Nick. "I'd better take the littel guy home already. Thanks for everything!"
The moment they were out of the building, Finnick began to speak rapidfire. It wasn't until Nick removed his pacifier that Finnick realized he was totally unintelligible. He blushed as he had to start his explanation all over again.
"What's up, little guy? Something's got you excited. Did you find any good intel?"
"Oh my gosh, Nick, you were right! These guys are no joke! I thought you were full of it until they revealed that they knew all about us."
"Knew all about us? What do you mean?" asked Nick, tilting his head. "And why are you calling me Nick?"
"S-sorry, Daddy," said Finnick, blushing and folding his ears back. "W-what I mean is that... they knew I was a grown-up, and that I wouldn't ever get any bigger. In fact, Moolissa said she liked that about me. That I'd be great to teach the little ones how to be more mature."
"Oh my," said Nick, grinning down at the adorable little fennec as he walked them toward the metro station. "That does sound serious."
"Yes, I don't know how they figured it out but they must have some pretty sophisticated infrastructure to figure that out."
"Oh, yes," said Nick, nodding sagely. "No way they'd be able to figure that out on their own. You'd better go back there tomorrow and do some more digging, little one."
"You bet your ass I will. I'm getting to the bottom of this."
"Aww, go you!" said Nick. "But watch your language, okay?"
"Okay, okay, hey wait a sec. Why are you talking to me like that, Daddy?"
"Like what?"
"You know what. You're talking to me like a little kid or something. Are you even taking me serious?"
"Of course, sweetie. It sounds like you had a big adventure. Daddy just finds it hard not to smile because you're just so adorable and cute!"
"Awwwhh, geez, Daddy. Not in front of the ticket lady!"
"Yes, little one. Daddy will show everywhere and anywhere how much he loves his adorable little baby boy! Uh, babies get in free, right?" he asked, turning to the guard by the turnstyle. She just rolled her eyes and went back to checking her text messages as Nick jumped the turnstyle, baby in arm.
"By the way, Nick, what are you wearing?" asked Finnick, eyeing the uniform that Judy had made Nick wear.
"Don't worry about it, kiddo," said Nick. "We have a train to catch!"