[0002]

[prideinbattle]

[1. Action: 748 Partridge Drive | Closed]

[Hiling is in the kitchen, watching her drone mother cook. She helps when she's told, if only to get food on the table quicker. Waiting for her to turn her back, Hiling samples the mashed potatoes set out to cool.]

[2. Phone]I'm so tired. I think I ate too much. Not that I'm complaining. It's much

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[bunnyblitz]

[He's spent some time in the kitchen with his "family" as his wife cooked before deciding that he couldn't really handle it at the time. So he went to take a shower, go through some of the information he had collected on this place. And by the time he got to going down stairs to get a bite to eat he found his daughter on the phone, falling asleep.

Carefully, he took the receiver from her and set it back in it's cradle, lifting her gently and bringing her to her bed. He tucked her in and sat, looking at her for a moment or two. What was he supposed to do with her? He wasn't her real father. But she deserved someone who would take care of her, who would look out for her, who would protect her even if she didn't think she needed protecting.

He sighed and dropped his head into his hands for a moment or two. This was almost too much. He reached over and smoothed her hair, muttering.]

You look so much more peaceful when you're sleeping.

[prideinbattle]

[Hiling is still semi-conscious when she is being carried to her room. Though she considers resisting, she can't seem to bring herself to move. She's determined that he doesn't present a threat anyway, so she might as well save the trouble of going upstairs herself. It's not so bad, really, if she overlooks the strangeness. Perhaps she could really get used to this.

Her eyes open a crack to look at him as she lies there all tucked into her bed and she speaks in a softer tone than usual.]

What's this?

[bunnyblitz]

Hmm?

[He looks away from the spot on the wall that he had found so very interesting and shifted a little so he was facing Hiling.]

You looked like you were asleep so I brought you to bed. My parents did the same for me when I was a child.

[prideinbattle]

Oh. I didn't have parents.

[She kind of likes the attention. It's at least nice to know that there's someone she can consider an ally.]

[bunnyblitz]

You didn't have parents?

[He is silent for a moment or two, overcome by a sudden wave of sadness. Seems like he had at least one thing in common with this girl. He reaches back over to run his fingers through her hair for a little while, partially to comfort her but mostly to comfort himself.]

If you need anything while you are here I will do my best to help you. Even if we aren't related by blood, this place thinks I'm your father and I will stand by that.

[prideinbattle]

[It never bothered her not having parents, but she does miss her comrades. They were the closest thing she had to family. Maybe this will give her a chance to see what she's been missing.]

If you insist.

[bunnyblitz]

[He laughs a little and actually, genuinely smiles. Maybe being a parent wouldn't be so bad.]

Do you have school in the morning?

[prideinbattle]

No. I think I'm going to sleep in.

[They actually do have school, but Hiling doesn't feel like going. She figures she can afford to miss one day. If there's work she needs to make up, she knows where to go to get it done for her.]

[bunnyblitz]

Alright then. Sleep well Hiling.

[He brushes her hair back one more time and hesitates. His parents always kissed him on the forehead before he went to bed. He just gives her a little smile, not quite ready for anything quite that intimate.

And he planned on going to get a calendar for school days tomorrow. Not that drone!wife wouldn't know.]

[prideinbattle]

[Hiling yawns and pulls the covers up close to her face. It's much more comfortable than what she's used to sleeping on. And she could sleep through the night without being called into duty.]

[bunnyblitz]

[He still can't help but smile as he looks back at her one more time before closing the door carefully. Maybe being a father wouldn't be so bad.]