Chapter Text
Lip wakes up in Daddy’s big cozy bed alone early one Saturday morning not long after the family moved in. The sun isn’t out yet but the moon is pretty bright. Daddy’s house is still new and when he wakes up it can seem foreign and scary to the boy when he first wakes up. Lucky for Lip, he sleeps with his favoritest friend, a stuffed wolf cub named Maffew by his side. Just as Daddy promised, hugging Maffew makes the scary things not feel so bad.
He calls out for Daddy to no avail, but he hears some sort of noise coming from down the hall. He wonders what is going on and allows his curiosity to overcome his fear and climb out of the big four-poster bed.
Daddy didn’t leave a fresh change of clothes out for him. It’s just as well, Lip has to wait for one of the grownups to help him with his soggy diaper anyway. So he pads out the bedroom door in just his diaper and a tee shirt with Robin and Beast Boy on the front, Maffew tucked under his arm.
The door to the spare room on the third floor is ajar. It has been locked ever since he came to live with Daddy. Technically, he thinks, Daddy never said he can’t go in.
“Okay, just like the other side. Tab E into Slot F.” Comes a voice from within.
There’s Daddy, thinks Lip relieved as he knocks on the door. “Daddy?” He goes to push the door open, but it aggressively shuts completely and he hears the door lock from the inside.
“You’re supposed to be in bed, squirt.” It’s Uncle Mickey’s voice. But Uncle Ian and Uncle Mickey never come up here. It just makes Lip even more curious.
“What are you up to in there?” Asks the little.
“Disposing of the evidence,” replies Uncle Mickey quickly.
“Mick…” it sounds like Ian’s voice, annoyed. “We’re doing boring adult stuff in here, baby bro.”
“Taxes.” Adds Mickey.
“Daddy?”
The door unlocks and Daddy opens it just enough for him to step out and close it behind him. “What are you doing up so early, sweetheart?”
“Woke up and you weren’t there. Got worried.”
“Oh, my sweet little guy…”
Daddy’s expression falls and as anxious he was before he found Daddy, knowing he made Daddy sad makes him feel lousy. It makes his lower lip tremble and tears well up. The older man pulls the little into a hug.
“One of these days you have to understand you’re mine for keeps, baby boy. I’m not going anywhere.”
Lip doesn’t understand. His real daddy only ever shows up when he wants something. And his mommy has come and gone more times than he can even remember. Daddy keeps telling Lip he’s here for keeps, but Lip doesn’t know what that means, what it feels like.
What he does understand is Daddy lifting him up and holding him tight as he carry’s the boy back to their bedroom. He is being laid down on their bed and changed and cleaned up before Daddy tucks him back in bed.
“Try to get some more sleep, sweetpea. It’s still so early.”
“But what if I wake up again and you’re gone?”
Daddy reaches into his night stand and pulls out a red plastic and rubber item threaded on a blue ribbon, which Daddy places around his neck. “See this?”
The little looks closely and it registers. He has given them to his younger siblings all the time when they were really small. It’s a pacifier.
“If you wake up again and I’m not there in bed beside you, and you’re feeling so little that you get scared, I want you to pop this in your mouth and suckle on it for a little bit. It’s gonna help soothe you. Can you do that for me, angel?”
The boy nods. “I can do that, Daddy.”
“And you got Matthew there to keep you safe, right?”
Maffew is only a few inches from his side on the bed. Lip reaches for the plush wolf pup and gives him a good squeeze.
“That’s very good, little guy. Safe as can be.” He tickles the boy’s tummy just for a moment, making Lip giggle and squirm. “Now be a good boy for Daddy and go back to sleep.”
“Kay,” murmurs Lip dreamily. Daddy turns off the overhead light and Lip’s nightlight turns on automatically. “Daddy?” Asks Lip before Daddy closes the door behind him.
“Yeah, Phillip?”
“What are you and Ian and Uncle Mickey doing in the other room?” Lip tries to sound curious and not like he is jealous of Daddy spending time with his brother and future brother-in-law without him.
“Oh, baby… didn’t I teach you all about surprises?”
The last time Daddy had a surprise for him, Lip had a hissy fit of a meltdown when it turned out that Daddy had done something very generous for him. Not this time. He wants to show Daddy he can be a good boy.
“It’s a good surprise, right?”
“It’s a great surprise, darling.”
Lip nods thoughtfully. “Okay, Daddy. I won’t ask again.”
“That’s my good obedient little boy. Now get some more sleep, Phillip. I’ll wake you in time for breakfast.”
The boy ducks his head obediently and tucks his head into his pillow as Daddy closes the door. Soon enough, he is gently snoring and dreaming of what could be behind the mystery door.