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Soon after Moxxie was born Crimson decided to take some time off to spend some time with the boy. He knew just how important bonding was at this age and he knew he just wouldn't have the time for it when he returned to work. He wanted Moxxie to get familiar with him and build a connection, one that would never be broken. He loved him and knowing how things went with his father, he was determined to do better. He wanted to show the boy the love his father never had. This was important to him.
"You know Mox one day you'll be a don just like me.." Crimson pointed out as he watched over the boy. "One day you'll take my place.. you'll be big and strong then.. just as I took my father's place. I know you'll do great.. I know you'll be a great leader."
After the first few days, Crimson had found talking to the baby imp to be rather comforting and every so often he'd even get a reaction out of him. However, today didn't seem like one of those days as Moxxie had distracted himself by gnawing on and drooling all over his tail. It didn't hurt as the baby imp hadn't begun teething yet but it was rather messy.
"Maybe I shouldn't be letting you do this.. gonna be a pain in the ass when you do start teething." Crimson pointed out, moving his tail away. "I'm sure we have some toys around here somewhere.."
When Crimson removed his tail from the baby imp's grasp almost immediately Moxxie burst into tears, absolutely wailing at the loss. No amount of toys were able to console the little one and since Crimson didn't want to deal with all the crying he was quick to give his tail right back.
"You really like that huh.." Crimson muttered, tossing the toys to the side. "Wasted all that money on toys just for you to chew on me instead."
Although Crimson complained, he wasn't all that upset about it, especially when Moxxie began to purr. He found it rather endearing that he was favored over the high price toys he had purchased and it seemed like a stepping stone in their relationship.
Ever so gently, Crimson began to move Moxxie off the blanket he was laying on, onto his chest, using his tail as a guide. It felt rather comforting to be about to bond like this and if Crimson was being honest with himself, he felt as though he had earned it after everything he went through to get him.
"You better be glad you're cute.." Crimson whispered, stroking Moxxie's hair as he continued to purr. "Otherwise I don't know what I'd do with you.. purring isn't a strong thing.. we'll need to work on your growls and hisses some more."
Being too preoccupied with the baby imp, Crimson didn't even notice Alessio peeking in which the shark was thankful for. Alessio liked to see this side of Crimson, it was softer than the harsh treatment he was used to seeing from the man. It made him smile.
"Such a drooly baby.." Crimson muttered, wiping the drool from his tail away. "But you're my drooly baby.. Oh yes you are! Yes you are drooly.."
Seeing where this was headed, Alessio knew he had to say something, so he cleared his throat to get the imps attention. Alessio could see Crimson's expression drop as he acted as if he hadn't been doing what he was doing.
"What the hell do you want Ale?" Crimson asked, the annoyance showing through in his tone. "Can't you see it's daddy and baby time? Wait till nap time.."
"My apologies sir, but you're needed in a meeting.." Alessio explained apologetically. "There's been some complications regarding the upcoming heist."
"What the hell do you expect me to do about that? I can't just leave him here.." Crimson pointed out, annoyed. "..and the bitch won't be back from Wrath for at least another month."
Alessio knew the bitch Crimson was preferring to was his wife. As he understood it, she had chosen to stay behind in Wrath after Moxxie was born due to a disagreement regarding Moxxie's upbringing. Crimson had a strong distaste for the place and refused the idea of allowing his son to be raised there which has caused a big fight between the two. Alessio knew better than to bring the disagreement up knowing what would happen if he spoke of it.
"I could watch him if you'd like.." Alessio offered, looking down at the baby imp. "It'd really be no trouble."
While typically having Alessio watch Moxxie wouldn't be such a big deal, it wasn't something Crimson particularly wanted to do today. It was daddy baby bonding time as he had no intention of cutting that short because of a silly meeting.
"No, no, that won't be necessary.." Crimson sighed, getting up. "I'll just have to bring him with me.. It'll be a good experience for the boy. Start teaching him early."
Alessio was quick to collect a few of Moxxie's things to take to the meeting room as Crimson continued to pay his attention to Moxxie. Crimson felt it was necessary for Moxxie to have a proper understanding of things so he decided to educate the baby imp on why exactly was happening.
"Alright Mox, we have an important meeting to attend to.." Crimson explained, heading that way with the baby imp in hand. "You're gonna need to be on your very best behavior. Understand? Take this as a learning opportunity. You'll be attending these meetings by yourself one day, so pay attention."
Instead of minding Crimsons rambling Moxxie chose to focus on his tail instead, continuing to chew and drool all over it to Crimson's disappointment. This was something Alessio caught onto pretty quickly.
"Now you know how it feels to be used as a chew toy.." Alessio remarked, taking a jab at the imp for all the times he chose to use him as his personal chew toy. "He got this from you.."
Crimson in turn simply glared at the shark but said nothing as they entered the meeting. Crimson sat the baby imp comfortablely on his lap as Alessio took his place beside him. Everything was as it should be, that was until he noticed how distracted his crew seemed to be.
"The hell is the matter with all of you?" Crimson questioned, following their gaze to the baby imp in his lap. "This meeting is important."
Knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere, especially when Moxxie began purring again, gaining a collective awe from his crew, he decided to take a moment to let them get it out of his system.
"Alright.. Alright.." Crimson muttered, disapprovingly. "We can take a moment to admire my son then we need to get back to work."
It was the first time his crew had really got the chance to see the baby imp, outside of Alessio of course, and none of them really knew what to do.
"He is rather cute, boss.." One of them remarked. "Looks just like you."
"But even smaller!" Another added, causing Alessio to throw them a disapproving look of his own. "What? I'm right."
More remarks started flooding in from the group of all types, mostly about how Moxxie looked so cute. It was something Crimson was rather proud of.
"Common Mox.." Crimson whispered, leaning down to the baby imp. "Show them how tough and scary you can be.. just like we practiced."
Despite Crimson's efforts to make Moxxie seem scary, it was clear the baby imp had other plans as he hugged Crimson's face and began purring even louder.
"That's not what I meant.." Crimson muttered, pulling the baby imp away as he ignored the remarks from his crew. "Shut up all of ya.. We got work to do."
With that the meeting continued on, while Moxxie chewed on his tail. It kept the baby imp entertained so Crimson really didn't have any complaints. They were able to get a decent portion into the meeting before the first disturbance occurred.
"Now don't you start.." Crimson hissed, hearing the baby imp cry. "Come on Mox.."
The crying had the whole crew's attention as Crimson rushed to figure out what the problem was. He was still fairly new to this parenting thing so it always took him a while to figure out what the baby imp wanted.
"Just.. Just give me a minute." Crimson demanded awkwardly, trying to console Moxxie. "What's wrong.."
Glancing at the time, Crimson knew it was time for Moxxie to be fed. Feeding Moxxie was a challenge within itself as most formulas in Greed made him sick and the fact he needed to be fed so often. Crimson learned that the hardway from the late night screaming.
"Ale go warm a bottle.." Crimson ordered, trying to calm the baby imp down. "He's hungry."
Following the order Alessio got to work heating the bottle, returning with it quickly. Like with Crimson, Moxxie too was particular about his food. He knew it was an inherited trait, but for Crimson's sake he didn't say that aloud.
"Here, now stop your crying.." Crimson stated, feeding the baby imp. "Always so damn hungry.. wonder where you put it all."
Moxxie didn't answer, instead continued to eat as if he was starving, wrapping his own tail around Crimson's wrist to keep him in place.
After the bottle was empty, Crimson moved to burp the baby imp just as Alessio had shown him. It wasn't something that took much effort but it took a bit of practice.
"As I was saying.." Crimson continued, directing his attention back to the meeting. "You'll need to-"
Crimson was cut short by the district sound and feeling of the baby imp throwing up all down his back. It was a horrible sight and the moment he felt it, Moxxie was immediately passed off to Alessio.
"Excuse me.." Crimson muttered, heading out to get changed. "This is the thanks I get-"
Alessio wasn't quite sure what Crimson said next, focusing his attention on the baby imp in his arms. Taking care of Moxxie was something he rather enjoyed, almost as much as he enjoyed taking care of Crimson. The two were so similar in so many different ways. It just felt right.
"Gimme.." Crimson said, snatching the baby from Alessio's arms. "Now where was I.."
With that, the meeting continued once more with Moxxie resting in Crimson's arms. Taking notice of that, Crimson wrapped Moxxie up in a blanket letting him sleep. Everything seemed fine from there.
It wasn't until towards the end of the meeting that the Crying started up again and this time Crimson knew immediately what was wrong from the smell alone. It wasn't that changing the baby imp was hard, but it was messy and by the feeling alone he knew it'd be real messy this time.
"Ale, take him.." Crimson stated, handing Moxxie off to him. "I can't leave the meeting and he needs a change."
"Yes sir.." Alessio noted, knowing full well that this was Crimson's way of getting out of diaper duty. "Come on Moxxie."
Alessio was quick to take the baby imp back to the nursery, laying him down on the changing table to be changed. He could tell immediately how messy this was going to be and he too was not looking forward to it.
"I know your father will be happy when he gets you potty trained.." Alessio mentioned as he cleaned the baby imp up. "Blood he can handle.. this, not so much."
The shark could see the baby imp looking at him with fascination, the same fascination Crimson carried with him when it came to sharks, but especially him. It was something Alessio admired, adored even.
"So much like your father.." Alessio sighed, picking the baby imp up. "I'm sure he won't mind us staying here for a while.."
Moxxie certainly didn't complain, making himself comfortable in Alessio's arms as the shark rambled on.
"You know sometimes I wonder what it'd be like to have a family of my own with him.. it's doubtful it'll ever happen with him being too shameful to even admit to himself how he feels, but it's nice to imagine.." Alessio spoke softly, keeping his attention to the baby imp. "If we ever had a kid I'd hope they'd be like you little one.. you look so much like him.."
The baby imp's smile meant everything to Alessio. He couldn't help but imagine what it'd be like to hold his own child. He hoped that they'd also take on Crimson's looks, but he knew Crimson wouldn't mind a baby shark. In fact he'd probably obsess over the idea, but Alessio knew it was a stupid thought to have. Crimson wouldn't ever look at him that way, at least not enough to act on it more than he already had.
"As much as I love him.. I know my time is yet to come.." Alessio continued, seeming sad. "..but maybe one day."
Alessio wanted to say how he hoped that maybe one day he and Crimson could be together but decided against it, knowing it'd be too much for him to say. For now he'd just enjoy the small moments he was given, and help with the family Crimson had, even if he wasn't exactly a part of it.
It didn't take Alessio much time to lose track of it as Crimson soon came walking through the door, snatching Moxxie from his grasp. Alessio could see how upset the imp looked.
"It's supposed to be my bonding time with him.." Crimson complained, holding his baby close. "This isn't fair, Ale.."
"My apologies sir.. I just couldn't resist taking a moment with him." Alessio explained apologetically. "He just looks so much like you and-"
"I understand.." Crimson sighed, sitting on the shark's lap. "I guess a little more time couldn't hurt.. I mean, I expect you to be looking after him as well, so bonding is required."
Alessio simply nodded, pulling the imps just a bit closer to him, enjoying the moment between them. For a moment it really felt as if this was his family and Alessio was okay with that.
"You know Ale.." Crimson began, watching as Moxxie fell asleep. "You should have a kid or something.. wouldn't mind a little baby shark running around here."
"I don't think so sir.." Alessio countered, smiling sadly at the idea. "My place is with you."
They both knew the statement carried more meaning than either of them was willing to let on, but that didn't stop Crimson from speaking once more.
"Maybe one day.." Crimson muttered. "Maybe one day.. when things are different."
"Maybe.." Alessio agreed.