A Devil's Visit [Closed]

Devin stood uncertainly outside of the entrance to the Daycare, staring at the doorknob. It had been a while since he had seen Leo - the older boy always seemed to be busy and Devin didn't want to intrude. After all, it had to be hard to be a single parent...Devin blinked - it had been months since he had learned that Leo was going to be a father and part of him still stuggled to come to terms with it as Leo just didn't seem like that type of guy...Even if it was an stupid accident. 

But Devin missed hanging out with Leo and so had decided to drop in on him - hopefully to see the baby as well. But he found himself terrified to enter the Daycare, half afraid of scaring some of the kits with his wings and whatnot. He may not have ever entered if a voice didn't speak up behind him.

"Devin?" 

The Autumn jolted as he spun around to see the ex-Autumn Perfect Hosa Corvina standing behind him. Her eyes were widen with suprise - clearly taken aback by the fact Devin was here. He found himself surprised that Hosa remembered his name from back when they first met but he did stand out with his wings and tail. "Oh, hello Ms. Corvina," Devin said with a nervous but small smile, as he glanced over his shoulder at the door to the Daycare. "I've, ah, come to visit Leo. He is one of my friend and..." he drifted off as Hosa quickly spoke up.

Hosa gave him a smile as he pushed past him. "Say no more. Follow me," she said as she opened up the door and stepped into the Daycare with Devin lagging behind. "Leo?" she called out. "You have a vistor!"

The blond in question appeared around the corner, his hair pulled back in possibly the smallest ponytail known to man, and his bangs pinned back so they were out of his face. It seemed he had let the older girls do his hair earlier that day. Even a longer strand of bangs that framed the side of his face was in a sloppy braid. The teen paused at the sight of his friend. They hadn't spoken a whole lot since Leo had broken the news. There was a confused look on his face for a long moment.

Well, Leo was never one to object to seeing a friend. Even if he wasn't expecting it. A grin split Leo's face, and he beckoned Devin with his hand. "Come in here, I can't leave babies unattended while they are on their stomach."

The nursery was already decorated for the holidays with soft snowflake stickers pasted to the wall. In the middle of the room was a colorful play mat, a single infant lay on his stomach. In the boy's had was clutched a toy book. It crackled with every movement, and attracted the boy's attention. He had light blond hair, which stuck up similarly to the child's father. His feet inside footie pajamas kicked out in excitement. One arm was tucked just below his chest and another shook the toy in question around. A toothless smile on his face, one eerily similar to his mother's, a shine to his eyes like the stars at night and mouth as stretched wider than the sky.

On the far side of the room was a plethora of toys where some older children played, mostly children who where nearing a year old or just over.

As soon as Devin entered, Leo bent down slightly to his level and pointed towards the overly excited baby. "That's him."

Any worry that Devin had disappeared when he saw Leo appear, relief flooding though him. Leo hadn't changed a bit - well, other then that silly looking hair style. Al thought he frowned slight when he saw how confused Leo was but...He did suppose was coming in unannounced. He shifted his weight around until Leo spoke up, bidding him to follow him. Devin's smile returned as he hurried off, leaving Hosa alone at the door as she smiled after the two boys.

He followed Leo, his glancing around at the snowflakes that decorated the wall but froze when Leo spoke up again. As Leo pointed him out, his gaze landing on the tiny baby sitting on the colorful play mat. His eyes widen with surprise and wonder - truth be told, he had never really seen a baby before and was almost taken aback by how small it was. 

"He looks a lot like you," Devin found giggled softly as his tail swished back and forth, amused at the fact that the messy yellow hair gave away the child's father as it looked exactly like how Leo's hair did normally when not in its currently silly ponytail. His gaze flickered over to Leo and the smile he held faded slight, guilt rising in his chest. 

They had barely talk at all since Leo had announced he was going to be a father and, well, part of that was Devin's fault. Raised in a Christian home like he was, he had strong beliefs and Leo had crossed one of those lines - even by accident. He may have told himself and Leo that he was alright with it but Devin knew that wasn't truly the case. "I'm happy to see that the two of you are doing so well," he said quietly with a small smile.

There was a slight tilt to his head, and Leo paused. "Aside from his hair, I see a lot of Keirsta in him too." The father felt his smile fade at her name. It was not intentional when he referenced her. It seemed to spill out when he wasn't watching. Biting his lip, Leo walked gently forward. The father lifted the young boy from the ground and into his arms--cradling him. The baby was old enough to raise his head for a period of time, so Leo was not as worried if someone were to pick him up. Which was great, but it also meant that he was going to crawl around soon. Which meant more monitoring for Leo and the other workers.

"Want to hold him?" Leo asked with a hesitant smile, the little boy in his arms arching his back to get a better look at the newcomer. Blue eyes landed on Devin, lingering for a long time as if absorbing his appearance. This person was certainly not a caregiver-- what did his father think of the other? The baby glanced back at his dad who seemed rather approving of the newcomer. Shepard seemed pretty content-- his toy now on the back of his mind.

However, Leo on the other hand was most nervous to have Devin hold Shepard. With common sense, he knew that Devin wouldn't do anything to hurt the baby. However, it was as if a corner of his still didn't trust him. The angel in him certain that a demon would hurt the child for whatever reason. In an attempt to sooth his anxiety, Leo offered Devin a chance to hold Shepard.

Devin winced when Leo mentioned Keirsta and saw the smile fade from his face. He had never truly met Keirsta but knew how much her sudden disappear had hurt Leo from what Aleta had told him. If there was one person Devin truly hated - it was Keirsta for abandoning Leo and then her child like that. Parenthood was no doubt a hard thing mostly when you were a teen but to force it upon somebody else because you were scared of it? Devin half feared how he would act if he ever ran into her. 

He snapped out of his thoughts when Leo spoke up, now holding the baby. Devin frowned as he slowly moved over to the two of them, feeling unsure.  Was he qualified to hold a baby? He had no idea and was terrified to do so. But as met Leo's eyes, he felt his worry disappear as he sighed softly. Well...What was the worse that could happen? "Uh...Sure," he said as he slowly reached out to take the child's weight but the moment his finger touched Shepard, pain lashed though him. 

The pain was dull but was enough of a shock for Devin to draw away as he let out a startled hiss of sorts, his eyes glowing just a bit brighter for a second before returning to normal. The pain disappeared the moment Devin drew his hand away but still held his hand close to his chest as his eyes were wide with shock. His breath came quickly as he attempted to calm himself from the fear he had felt from that single jolt - wondering if that jolt was because of him or the baby but quickly decided on a mix of both.

As soon as Devin registered the pain, an infant's scream filled the usually calm nursery air. While there was a dull pain for Devin-- it was even stronger on Shepard. At both Devin and Shepard's reaction, Leo immediately drew back Shepard. His blue eyes were wide with a mixture of fear. For a long moment he stared ahead with a mouth agape. Then a furrow of his brows proved his confusion. As if someone hit a lightswitch, Leo went full on father mode. He began to whisper soothing words and hushes all the while swinging the boy back and forth. While his actions may have seemed calm and in control-- Leo's mind was whirling.

It didn't make any sense. Shepard did not have Angel Physiology. He knew that due to the lack of wings on the infant's back. They came and went for Leo, so if Shepard did in fact have it...Leo would have already seen them. But how did this happen? Had Leo accidently touched Devin? It was possible. But what was it that cause Shepard to scream?

Unconsciously, Leo had put a distance between he and Devin. Shepard's cries lowered in volume, yet still held strength. The baby would not be quieting down anytime soon. "What was that?" Leo wondered, keeping Shepard close to his chest.

Devin held his hand close to his chest, his mouth was open as he attempted to form a response but he lost the will to speak when he saw the fear in Leo's eyes as Shepard's cry filled his eyes. His heart sank, his wings falling limply to his sides as he his breath quicken. He didn't mean to - He didn't know why - He...He...So many things he wanted to say whirled around his head but he couldn't force them out, instead fear and terror gripped him as he took notice of Leo taking small steps back to widen the gap between the two. No...No, no. He swallowed, reminding himself that this wasn't one of his nightmares. He could fix this, this wouldn't end up with...He didn't want to finish that thought as he forced down all of the negivage emotions that threaten to overwhelm him as he found the will to speak. "I...I'm not sure," he finally admitted, his voice trembling despite his attempt to not show how terrified he was by Leo's simple reaction of fear toward him.

There was no response from Leo. His head was ducked down into the bundle in is arms. Leo spent this time going over what happened. Over and over again in his head like a broken record. Yet it seemed no matter how much he tried to figure out what caused both of them pain...There was no results. What he could figure out from it was that it wasn't Devin or Shepard's fault. Leo remembered just barely handing the child to Devin.

Blond locks swayed as the father raised his head up from being buried in his son's soft mop. "This usually happens when we touch, right?" Leo asked, his voice just a bit louder than Shepard's wails. "Although--I never feel the pain. It is usually only you." There was a long pause. The other children in the room seemed already accustomed to another child's crying. They played on, cheery automated toys played their recordings. Let's sing together! One began, flashing bright colors.

"Do you think...Shepard could have some kind of power similar to mine?" The father spared a glance down at his son. "Although I doubt he has Angel Physiology." He added, remembering his reasoning from before. How did this happen?