catchacold | Babysitter's Club

Obviously he knew he shouldn't follow some strange man into a building, but.

Inside was warmer than outside and right now that seemed to be worth all the stories of rape, murder and worse he had been told. Besides, there was a baby. He had heard about kids being lured inside with candy, but babies were different. So Hartley followed inside, holding on to the pacifier, while his other hand inside the kangaroo pocket clasped shut around his flute. He pressed his lips together to keep his teeth from chattering as he followed the man up the stairs, trying not to think about the many ways in which this was a bad idea.

"I have friends." He didn't, but at least "friends" was more believable than "family". "They'd look for me."

"Sure." Mick said in a tone that showed how little he believed him as he started up the stairs. They were a mess but they were better than his old place. No syringes or condoms here, just beer bottles and trash. Mick made swift work of getting to the third floor, two steps at a time, as Teddy seemed to stop fussing so much and instead watched Hartley from over Mick's shoulders, only whimpering sometimes. "Where were those friends of yours when you got jumped?"

He must have gotten attacked recently, anyone could tell that but it was cute that the kid was trying. He juggled his little boy and moved around to open the front door, pushing it open and leaving it open for Hartley to come in. A blast of heat rolled out and there was not one, not two but three portable heaters plugged into every outlet, churning out enough heat to keep Teddy happy.

The apartment wasn't the best, it was very basic and cheap to look at. The paint was chipped, it was small and there was a mattress on the floor in the middle and almost every corner? Kids toys. Everywhere. There was a bedroom to the side but the door was closed and painted a bright, happy blue colour. That was Teddy's nursery. Mick took the floor. He held Teddy and gently rocked him. "What do you need to clean the pacifier?"

"I can fight my own battles." He didn't need his non-existent friends to fight for him. Especially since, admittedly, it had been his fault for getting into a fight in the first place, but Hartley couldn't stand to see injustice, even when he was sure that he couldn't help it. He closed the door behind himself with visible hesitation, because he was still waiting for the other shoe to drop here. So he stayed close to the door and looked at the pacifier.

"You really just need a pot and then bring water to a boil. There's no trick to it, but the high temperature kills off any germs that could be dangerous and it ends up clean." Simple as that. His skin prickled as if a thousand needles were poking into it, just from the difference between the cold inside and the warmth in here.

"Then do it. Teddy is wet, I gotta change him. Don't steal my shit, I'll find you and I'll break your fucking legs." Mick ordered as he levelled Hartley a dangerous look and then gestured at his kitchen area. There wasn't much but there was a kettle and a pot hanging around. Mick grabbed a diaper and set his boy down on the changing mat, facing away from Hartley as he started undoing his stuff. He doubted the kid was a perv but he needed to be careful.

"If you can fix this little problem, you can fix another one for me. You do that, I pay you." Mick offered as he finally got Teddy free from his layers and started to change him. "Nothing illegal, I don't do that shit anymore. I just need some help and my rent boy is busy."

If only Mick heard that sentence back. In context, it made sense.

"...I don't do things like that, sir." Hartley closed his eyes and then just headed for the kitchen, because he might as well. He could spend some more time here, where it was warm and he could make a run for it later. Not the first pervert he'd have had to fight off. He filled a pot with water and turned on the stove, staring down at the pot while he waited in silence. He was not stronger than this man, hell no, but he could make it to the door, he hadn't locked it and then he doubted he was worth running after. He really wasn't worth much of anything to anyone.

Hartley looked at the pacifier and turned it in his hand, thinking of the pacifier Jerrie liked best. He hoped her current nanny knew which one it was. But no, these things weren't good to think about, so he pressed his lips together and pushed back on that. He couldn't think about how much he wanted to be home when he had no home. Luckily the water was beginning to boil and he could drop the pacifier inside. He checked his wrist reflexively, then remembered that his watch was gone and started to count in his head instead.

"What? ... Oh. Fuck. Nah, not that shit, I don't mean it like that. I mean my other sitter is a rent boy. Not my first choice but I can't afford to be that choosey." And Leonard kept promising him he was a good kid and he'd sort it out but here they were, still with a rent boy, not just a normal fucking person because their life wasn't that simple. Once Teddy was all changed, he did up his baby grow and left the teddy bear hoodie aside. He'd get too hot otherwise.

He lifted the baby up and walked over to the kitchen, watching Hartley heat the water. "I need you to hold my boy while I do a little business next door. Nothing dodgy. I'm gonna fix a burst pipe in my neighbours apartment, she needs it sorted because the room is basically flooding with freezing water and I can't do that holding a baby. All you gotta do is hold my boy, keep him comfortable and happy and not fuck up. You drop him, you leave with him, you hurt him? You're dead." Mick explained as he turned to Teddy and smiled, at least seemed more settled down he'd been changed. "Isn't that right, Teddy? Daddy would kill everyone for you, yes he would."

Teddy made a happy noise and flailed his arms at his dad, trying to touch his face. "I'll be half an hour, tops, you can sit in a nice, warm apartment and you'll have food money at the end. You do a good job and not fuck up, maybe you can stay for dinner. I'm making toast and pudding cups."

"Okay." It sounded like a trap, it definitely sounded like a trap, but that didn't keep him from grasping at straws. It might also just be true. Why would anybody go to the effort of lying about something like this to him? He took the pacifier out of the water and turned the stove off, setting the pacifier on the counter so it could cool down. "I can handle children. I have a little sister."

Who he'd probably never see again, but he still had her, at least in his heart. He smiled at the little boy, who seemed to be so cute and happy that it was no wonder he reminded him of Jerrie, who almost never cried. She'd cried when Hartley had left, but he was sure she was back to being happy all the time now, as she should be. "I won't fuck up."

"Good. Don't. It's not in your best interest." Mick came over and turned off the stove before he reached out and offered Teddy to Hartley. He helped the kid hold the baby, making sure he was going it correctly and adjusting how he was holding him until he was all settle. "He should be fine for food, he just had a bottle so keep him company. Talk to him, he loves talking." Mick tickled Teddy's cheek and the boy squealed in delight, slapping his hands together and looked up at Hartley with wide, curious eyes.

Then he tried to grab the glasses. Of course he did, they were shiny. "Okay, like I said, half an hour." Mick moved across the room and unlocked a nearby storage unit, raiding for his tools. That's how he made his extra money, he was the buildings tempt handy man. He picked up his box and moved to the door. "Don't fuck up." And those were his parting words before he closed the door.

"Hey." Hartley smiled at Teddy as he balanced him on his hip, carrying him out of the kitchen. It smelled like food and he couldn't off the top of his hand remember when he'd last eaten, so it was best not to be close to temptation. He didn't believe in any promises of food or money, since he wasn't an idiot, but at least he was closer to warm than he'd been in a very long time. He slowly sat down on the ground and let Teddy sit on his lap, looking around. "You have a lot of toys, huh? That's so great."

He picked up the one closest and held it up to Teddy, his other hand still in his pocket, although he finally released his flute. Maybe he would get some money here, maybe that could save him from having to sell the flute for another day. Without really thinking about it, he switched to Spanish, running a hand through Teddy's hair. "You have a nice dad. You like him, yes?"

Obviously Teddy didn't understand a word, but he clearly approved of the funny nonsense sounds Hartley made and kept encouraging him to speak more Spanish until he was just singing to him softly and it was enough to keep him giggling.

When Mick came back he was soaked, his hair was wet and he was shivering a little. It really was cold water in that damn apartment and it sprayed him twice but it was a job well done. He nodded approvingly that Hartley was still here and just appeared to be playing with the boy, much better than Axel, who had held the boy and watched TV the whole time, unsure what to do. Honestly, young people these days. No idea how to nurture a baby. He tossed a ten from his handful of bills and it fluttered towards Hartley. Payment as promised.

Mick pulled his wet shirt off, his torso slightly burnt in places, much like his arms, but otherwise he was pretty solid. Someone who it wasn't wise to pick a fight with. "I'll take my boy back when I'm dry. Thanks, kid." He disappeared into the bathroom, snagging a change of clothes as he walked by. Teddy giggled excitedly and started pointing at the bathroom, babbling something about 'da' to Hartley.

When Mick came back, he was dry, fresh and looking a lot less grumpy. "Ah, there's my boy. You getting along with -- wait, what was your name?" He forgot to ask.

That was ten dollars. That was a lot of money. Hartley took it as quickly as he could, rolling it up and, after some hesitation, hiding it in his shoe. He had no idea, but it seemed like a better idea than a pocket at any rate and it wasn't as if he had anywhere else to hide it. Wallet and everything else was long gone. He mostly minded losing his wallet and phone because of the pictures in them, but such was life. He supposed he could just look at his parents whenever they were in a magazine.

He averted his eyes when Mick pulled off his shirt, because this wasn't the type of thing he needed to look at. Instead he helped Teddy bounce and nodded. "Yes, that's your dad. He'll be back in a bit."

Then he could just make himself scarce before the man asked for his money back. He looked up at Mick and replied. "Hartley." Lucky for him, no one on the street used last names. "He is very sweet. Thank you for the money."

"Hartley. Fancy." Mick snorted in amusement and came closer, taking Teddy from him and enjoying the way Teddy almost screamed in delight and started patting his face, repeating 'da' constantly as Mick tried to talk to Hartley. It really undercut a lot of Mick's scariness. "I said I'd pay you if you helped me. I keep my word, I don't bullshit anyone. You gotta have honour, a lot of scum bags don't but I do. I want to show Teddy what a real man is like."

And a real man kept his word, defended people instead of attacked them and did the right thing. And knew how to lift a wallet without getting caught and how to properly light a fire. It was a unique mix but Mick balanced it well.

"Okay then." Mick started, it was almost like parting words and then he looked away and added. "Whack some toast in the toaster, would you? How many do you what? I got a whole loaf. There's some jelly in the fridge you can spread on it. I ain't had chance to shop yet but knock yourself out. Make me some too. Oh and grab one of the little jars from the fridge, Teddy will be hungry too."

"I'm..." He was starving, which he was aware of, given he had read up on the signs for starvation. Not the most useful reading material, as it turned out, since knowing that it was happening had yet to make him less hungry. The others stole or, well, they provided the kinds of services he didn't, they sold drugs of anything along those lines, but Hartley couldn't bring himself to do any of that, so instead he had practically no way to make any money, at least none he'd discovered yet. Genius. Right.

"I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome. I mean, I don't want to eat too much." So there. He headed to the kitchen and put toast in the toaster as instructed, then opened up the fridge to look for the jelly and Teddy's jars. They looked similar to some of the ones Jerry had, this man really did spend a lot of money on his son.

"I'll tell you when you've over stayed. You haven't." Mick informed the kid as he took a seat on the beat up old couch in the corner and bounced Teddy lazily on his knee. Teddy watched Hartley, hand in mouth, babbling happily around it as he watched his new favourite person in awe. "Teddy likes you. If he didn't like you, I'd have kicked you out."

He looked at his boy and smiled. Teddy was an accident, he never meant to have him, he never even knew about him until he turned up outside of his apartment one day. He had no idea how to be a dad, he didn't want to be a dad but after a week of trying to get someone to take him, he ended up falling in love with the stupid kid. Now he'd so anything for him. And since then, he found himself oddly caring a little more. Seeing a kid like Hartley, homeless, cold and alone? He kinda felt bad. "Eat with us then decide how you feel. You wanna go? You can go. You wanna crash on my couch? Whatever. I don't mind. Free babysitting is all I see."

"He seems like he likes most things." Not that he didn't approve of Teddy liking him, but it seemed like a rather low bar to set. Hartley looked for a spoon that looked right for Teddy and walked back to the table with the jar, spoon and jelly, only to walk back and retrieve the toast. He didn't trust this, he had been taught not to trust anything, but he still ate one piece of toast so quickly he didn't even have time to worry about the jelly, which was stupid. He needed sugar and now he just felt even hungrier, like his stomach had woken up. "...may I have more toast?"

"I got a whole loaf, knock yourself out. Like I said. I just hit pay day tonight and I'm gonna go do the shopping soon. That bread expires tomorrow. You could eat the whole thing, I wouldn't care. Just save me like five slices." Mick laughed at the kid, his manners were adorable. Street kid? Yeah, right. He put Teddy's bib around him and sat down on the floor with him, popping the lid off and starting the ongoing game of 'Will he eat before aeroplane noises or only for aeroplane noises?'. Mick offered a spoonful out and, thank God, Teddy just ate it. Hartley put him in a very good mood, apparently.

"So how long have you been homeless? Can't be long. Days, rights?" That much was obvious. "Have you eaten at all since you left wherever you were?"

"Almost two months." Hey, he wasn't completely new to this or he wouldn't have had the time to lose everything he had other than the clothes he was currently wearing and his flute. "It's just getting cold now." Which he really had no way of preparing for, much as he tried. He didn't have a lot of options for earning money. "I get food." Sometimes. He went to the soup kitchens and, yes, sometimes he shared with others, but still. He had tried busking and that worked moderately well, but now it was getting too cold for that, he couldn't move his fingers for long. "I was in a shelter for a while, but they had to close."

So he wasn't entirely homeless the whole time. Seemed like a long time ago now.

"That sucks. I was homeless on and off a lot in my life, it's never great. Got kicked out by my dad once or twice and then later in life when I was trying to get a freaking apartment, the wait lists around here are insane. Just as I got a place, I got a kid." Mick laughed to himself and fed his boy a few more mouthfuls of mushed peas and carrots. He seemed very into it today, it was a good feeling. "There's a lot of homeless kids around this area, I know a few of them. Some are safer than others. I can give you names, if you want."

He could show him who to avoid and who to trust. Teddy gurgled excitedly and made a noise like the aeroplane. After that, he was stubborn over the next mouthful. Mick took a bite of his toast as Teddy waited. Whatever. "Why are you on the streets anyway? What fucked up in your life?"

Hartley quickly ate one more slice of toast, because he had a suspicion that he might get kicked out shortly. He hesitated, but then put the other slice that was ready into his kangaroo pocket, glancing at the door. He could bolt in case Mick got angry, good. At least his stomach was filled a little bit, with warm food no less. That felt like a pretty great luxury right now, more than he expected out of the day.

So he finally said, very much full of confidence. "I'm gay." And he'd suffered for it, but that didn't change facts. "I can leave, if you'd like."

"Yeah. Me too." Mick said without even flinching or looking up, focusing instead on wiping his boys face. "Well, what's the one? Snart told me before. Where you fuck chicks but -- wait, Bisexual. That's the one." Mick confirmed with a nod as he looked at Teddy and signed, he was pulling a face and he didn't want to take another spoonful apparently. "You're just going to be a dick, aren't you? Fine."

Mick made aeroplane noises, moving the spoon around and like that, Teddy ate it. God damn him. He looked up at Hartley finally and grunted a little. "My old man hated fags too. Fortunately it's a dying generation. Fuck 'em." He did yet another aeroplane spoonful to Teddy. "You just gotta go out there and be as happy and gay as you can be to spite them."

What? Hartley blinked and made two more slices of toast, wondering how many he could eat before he'd get stomach cramps. He couldn't believe that Mick actually claimed to be gay. Bisexual? This stuff didn't happen. But at least the man seemed to be less than scandalised by his confession and so he relaxed for the moment, nodding his head. "I'll try to be happy and gay." One out of two, hey. Happiness had to come any day now, right?

Right?

"Look, I don't care if you're gay, you seem all right and you can handle a baby. You're welcome here." And maybe he could talk him into crashing here. It was only a matter of time before someone cruel got a good shot at this kid and then he'd just end up feeling guilty over it. And he didn't need that kind of shit. "I'm gay, my boyfriend is pretty gay and our rent boy babysitter is also gay."

He just thought he'd clarify so he knew he wasn't entirely alone. "There's pudding cups in the fridge. Snag one for me and Teddy. And for you, obviously."

How was this happening? Hartley tried to figure out the trap, he didn't want to get caught in one again. He got pudding cups without really thinking about them, setting them down in front of Mick and then starting to eat his own. His stomach was definitely hurting now, he shouldn't eat more. He wasn't used to so much food at once, but who knew when he'd have the chance again? "Thank you," he finally said, "I don't mean to be impolite, but mostly people just want to fuck me or fuck me over."

"Yeah, well, Teddy made me give a shit these days. I didn't use to but if my kid was alone and he needed help, I'd like to think someone would help him. So I gotta set that example, right?" Mick took a mouthful of his own pudding then fed Teddy some too. They slowly shared one pot, the other set aside. This way, they both got pudding with no whining. "Besides, I'm like twenty one here and I'm raising a kid, I didn't expect or prepare for this. I got no skills and I gotta support him. I'm trying to train in a job here but I don't have the time and I need the time. I figure having a few friends around to watch my kid is a blessing cause I can't afford child care."

Leonard was busy a lot so he couldn't do it and Axel kept strange hours because of his job, he could use more back up. "Look, help me out with the kid and I'll give you some money, not a lot, and you can crash on my couch for now until you find somewhere else. That's my offer, it's on the table. No obligations. You help me, I help you."

"I graduated high-school?" Was that a skill that was worth anything? It was supposed to, but given he was too young, it didn't tend to be. "I speak six languages." Maybe that meant he could stay and be worth something. He was lucky to be done with high-school already, but he couldn't afford his college classes, he had no chance of any of that until maybe he could get a scholarship. "...it's okay if you change your mind, but it'd be nice to sleep somewhere warm for a bit."

He wasn't expecting much.

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