Chapter Text
He had thought this would never happen again.
It had been a year since Bannock had brought him the boy, and once more he adapted to the change in his life. The Kid- Minute also seems to be adapting well, he cant help but think as he watches the kid eat breakfast. It was an unexpected change in his life, suddenly having a young boy to take care of, but he would like to believe he is doing rather well. Certainly not perfect, but good enough.
He would say Minute looks like a proper little prince, and seems rather happy, rambling on to egg about what he wants to do today, while he reads over the letters he has received, splitting his attention between the boys excited rambles and reading the letter in his hand.
"Huh.." He murmurs as he reads over the letter Bannock sent him. Kiiro, one of Evercrests allied kingdoms has fallen, something most unfortunate. But what is more interesting is that apparently the Royal child survived and had been brought to Evercrest by a Kiiro guard. Bannock writes that his successor decided to take in the child. He remembers the young man, very kind and warm, hopefully the young man can be a good caregiver for the poor kid.
"What's got you so interested in that letter, Wemm?" He looks up as Egg's voice rings out over the table.
"Just some news from Bannock. You remember Kiiro? Apparently some sort of coup occurred and the kingdom has fallen, the little heir of Kiiro was brought to Evercrest apparently, and Bannocks successor ist taking care of the kid," He answers absently, skimming over the other information in the letter, just general updates on the kingdom and a request for another vial of his toxin.
He glances up for a second, and sees that Minute isn't paying attention, which is good he's far to young to be bothered by political things like this. Egg also seems rather unbothered, but that is normal for him.
Another year passes, the seasons turning. He gets to see Minute grow and learn, the boy having gotten a good grasp on the language of the Overworld, or the most common one at least.
Currently Minute and him are in the palace gardens, the boy having shown a interest in the flowers, and who is he to deny the boy his interests. So here he is carefully tending his beloved garden and telling the boy about each flower, listening to the boy's laughter as the bees buzz around him curiously. This may have never been something he planned, but he finds himself enjoying each year he spends with the boy, the castle alive in a way it hadn't been before. New routines built, listening to the excited voice and footsteps of a teen, who has just returned from training. Long nights spent with a boy who has taken up residence in this place. This family having grown just a bit bigger than it was a mere two years ago.
"What's this flower 'Bu?" He hears that soft little voice ask, and he looks over to see which flower it is.
"Ah, those are Hydrangeas. They are symbols of gratitude," He answers voice gentle.
Yet another year has passed without event, when he receives a urgent letter from Bannocks successor, apparently the child has a predisposition to extreme paranoia and the poor man doesn't know what to do. The man begging him to come and see the child and offer advice, he doesn't get why they think he will know what to do, but it won't hurt to at least go see the kid.
So after making sure Egg and Minute know he is leaving he heads out, spreading his wings and making the flight down to Evercrests capital and to the palace.
When he arrives he is greeted by familiar faces and warm welcomes, being directed to the family wing of this palace.
He has no idea why he decided to take in the kid, he doesn't know how to take care of kids much less one as traumatized as Zam. But here he is trying to soothe her through another fit, he can only hope that his letter has reached Wemmbu by now. It is then that one of the maids pokes her head into the room and tells him that Wemmbu has arrived that he feels like he could sob with relief, surly the wither will have some sort of advice.
A young lady leads him to a room and tells him that the two he seeks are inside. Knocking on the door and waiting, until the rather bedraggled form of Rejoice is before him.
"Oh dear.. you look.. tired." He murmurs, looking the young man over.
"Like you wouldn't believe," Rejoice runs his hands through his hair.
"I'm so glad you're here, I just don't know how to help him, I just want what's best for her and I swear it's like I fail every time I try something. I just don't know what to do Wemmbu, its why I sent you a letter, I had hopped you would have some sort of advice," Rejoice tells him, and its clear that this is getting to the poor man.
"It's alright, take a deep breath. Why don't we start by actually introducing me to the kid, hm?" He says softly, offering a comforting hand onto Rejoices shoulder.
And that is how he finds himself kneeling down before a child, both hands held in front of him as he lets the kid scrutinize him. The kid is clearly healthy, if not a bit sleep deprived, but from Rejoice had said the kid keps refusing to sleep until he collapses from exhaustion, so that's not really surprising. He refocuses as the kid huffs, and turns her head to the side while still looking at him from th corner of his eye.
"Well, did I pass the inspection kiddo?" He says with a chuckle, keeping his voice soft, and allowing his amusement to slip through. He keeps his body language relaxed and open.
Zam just huffs at him and he can't help the way his lips twitch at that.
He spent the week down at Evercrest's palace talking with Rejoice about strategies that can help Zam, and getting to know Zam herself. The kid likes his wings and keeps asking to touch them after the first few days. From what he observed Zam has some sort of aquatic ancestry, so he told Rejoice to keep an eye on any late developing traits. But after a week he went back home, making sure the two blonds knew they could send for him if they need anything at all.
Mr.Rejoice said he was getting someone who might be able to help with his episodes, as they started to call them. She isn't sure how to feel about that, new people always make her more worried, but he agreed to meet whoever it is.
Her eyes widen when the man walks in with Me.Rejoice. Long, pretty purple hair, pretty and shiny horns, big bony wings and a long tail that clacks against the floor, the man looks like nothing she's ever seen before. The man comes to kneel doe before him, and still towers over her.
"Hello, Rejoice here tells me your name is Zam, My names Wemmbu kid," The man- now identified says to her, and there is something scary.. but comforting about him. Wemmbu holds out a hand palm up to her and his other hand is resting on his knee, with Mr.Rejoice standing just behind him.
He narrows his eyes at Wemmbu, scrutinizing him harshly, even if Mr.Rejoice vouched for the man.
Wemmbu just chuckles, not patronizing but soft..
"Well, did I pass the inspection kiddo?" Wemmbu asks her, as he stays still under her scrutiny, and she just huff and looks away, glancing at the man from the corner of his eyes.
.
.
Wemmbu stays a whole week! And he finds himself getting comfortable around the man, she even works up the courage to ask to touch his wings. Mr.Rejoice spends a lot of time taking to Mr.Wemmbu, but.. they don't hide what they are talking about when she asks which really helps her feel less worried. He is sad when Mr.Wemmbu leaves.. but he tells her that she can write him letters whenever.
It is a year after he went down to meet Zam for the first time that he receives yet another urgent letter for help from the palace, except this time its from Zam herself. He reads over it as he gets on a coat, Rejoice had been poisoned- nothing deadly, and Zam is clearly spiraling he can tell just from the kids letter. He tells Egg to get Minute ready, since they are probably gonna be down there for awhile and he isn't leaving Minute and Egg alone in the castle for who knows how long.
Once the three of them are ready, they make the trek down from their home, the trip is a little slow as they take horses since Minute can't fly, like he an Egg can. The boy kept apologizing for slowing him down.
They make it to the palace before nightfall. And he almost gets bowled over as a body flings itself into his arms. luckily he is able to keep himself and the person who just flung themself at him upright. Looking down to find Zam with her face buried into his shirt, the kids body shaking slightly. He wraps his arms around Zam, swaying while murmuring soft reassurances, glancing over at Egg and gesturing with his head for Egg and Minute to go inside.
"Hey, kid. Its alright I've got you." He murmurs softly, swaying gently. And he hears Zam take in a shaky and gasping breath, clearly trying not to cry.
It takes a whole month for Rejoice to get better, and Zam spends the entire time either at Rejoices bedside or latched onto Wemmbu, desperate for reassurance. Once Rejoice is better he talks to Wemmbu and Zam, asking Zam if he would like to go with Wemmbu and asking Wemmbu if he would be alright taking Zam in. Wemmbu tells Rejoice that he doesn't mind, but Zam says she needs to think about it.
He is walking through the palace halls, thinking over what Rejoice suggested. Living with Mr.Wemmbu would be nice..but she doesn't want to abandon Rejoice either, he lived with the man for the last three years after all.
"Ack!" She exclaims as she bumps into someone, balancing himself before he falls, she whips her head around to apologize to whoever she bumped into. And finds herself looking at Minute, Mr.Wemmbu's ward(?)-brother? He isn't sure.
"I'm so so sorry! I didn't see you," He says quickly, feeling embarrassed that she as that distracted she didn't see the older boy.
"Its all good. Are you alright? You seemed pretty deep in thought there," The older asks, almost to casually.
And that is how she finds herself siting in one of the many sitting rooms spilling all her tangled thoughts to the boy he barely knows, but it feels so good to get it all out to someone who listens.
"Well it sounds like you just need to communicate that, silly. Just tell Wemmbu and Mr.Rejoice that you are worried about never seeing Mr.Rejoice again. And I'm sure they will both tell you that, that won't happen. And I'm sure they will come up with a solution to help you no longer feel worried about that," Minute says to him like its so easy, with such confidence that she can't help but believe him.
So she nods, and with a quick goodbye, he rushed off to go find the two adults.
He finds them in the sunroom, the two drinking tea and talking.
"Me.Wemmbu! Rejoice, I thought about what we talked about.. and I have a worry." She says as she stops, standing right before the two men.
"What's your worry, Zam?" Rejoice asks her, tilting his head to the side.
"I'm afraid that if I go with Mr.Wemmbu, I won't see you anymore." He admits, anxious but believing in what Minute said,
"No, No, I'd never separate you two. Rejoice has been your caretaker for the past three years. It would be cruel of me to keep you apart," Wemmbu, says his voice reassuring as he dispels the mere notion.
"That's right, Zam. Actually Wemmbu and I were just talking about, us exchanging weekly letters, and having me visit every two months," Rejoice tells her, and relief hits her like a gust of cold wind.
It is a week later as Mr.Egg loads the last of his stuff up, and Mr.Wemmbu comes over with a horse, that she says her goodbye to Rejoice.