The House on Top
Chapter. 4
"Whaaaat? But Dad!" Atticus whined when Arthur told him where he was going. He toddled back to his bed, and used his blanket to wrap himself into a cocoon.
"Now Atticus." Arthur weakly chuckled and picked up the Leo who was now squirming in his grasp. "It's just a quick checkup, you know you have to go every month."
"B-but I was gonna help momma at the shop today."
"You can visit the shop after your appointment, alright?"
"But...." He continued to fidget and fight to escape, but eventually he got too tired and gave up as a result. Atticus gave a small huff when Arthur started laughing, and hung in his father's grasp in defeat as they made themselves to Mends.
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"Everything seems to be fine with young Atticus." Mends spoke as he continued to scribble several important notes on his clipboard. "Temperature is stable, blood pressure normal, and I don't see any major swelling or inflammation."
"Well, that's great to hear, right, Atticus?" Arthur smiled as he picked up his son, and followed Mends out.
"Indeed it is. I know I never have to worry for his well being unlike some." Mends spoke in a lighter, humorous tone. He opened the door to lead the pair out, and gave them a small wave before leaving. "Just sign out with the nurse, and you're free to go. See you next month."
After signing a few papers, and picking up Atticus to leave, a question suddenly surfaced regarding the conversation he had with Petta yesterday, and Arthur stopped before fully reaching the exit and set Atticus down. He quietly asked him to wait for a few minutes while he personally spoke with the doctor.
"But what about Momma?" Atticus eagerly spoke since he wanted to finally help his mother.
"It'll only be for a few minutes, son, promise." He spoke and quickly ran past the reception desk, and called out to the Bronto Burt. When Mends heard the warrior hastily calling, the elder set aside the paperwork he was holding for his next patient, and faced the Puff.
"Yes, Arthur, what is it? Did you have a question regarding his next appointment?"
"No, actually...." Arthur tried to keep his voice low since he knew it was a touchy subject among the family. Of course, Mends wasn't aware, so the sudden whisper caused him to give the warrior a look of bewilderment.
"Speak up, boy. If not, we can head to my office if you're too, hmmm....embarrassed to talk about about your personal issues out in the open."
"E-Embarrassed? W-what, no! It's not even about me, it's about Atticus." A small blush formed on his cheeks from his statement. "I...I just wanted to ask if you think he's ready to start training."
"Training?" He repeated as he scratched his head. "As in....what Bate and the others did when you were younger?"
"Yes!" He exclaimed, but cowered when Mends bonked him with his claws.
"You idiot, do you honestly think Atticus is well enough to do such a thing right now? I'm still monitoring his temperature levels, and you want to start training him to fight?!!"
"N-not now, but hopefully later, I mean." He tried to explain himself. "I was thinking his body would get stronger, and more resistant to his fire once he starts training. Maybe he'll be able to outgrow it over the months, but I just need a professional opinion if Petta says something."
"Uh-huh." He spoke, not amused. "And seeing how you were whispering before, what does Petta say about all this. I'm assuming she doesn't agree with you?"
"It's...not like that. Petta wants him to wait until he's older, but...." He paused to pick his words carefully so he didn't offend either parties. "He may not even want to train if all he does is stay with her at the shop. He won't be able to get stronger and overcome this, so...I'm just....asking for your opinion."
"I see...." Mends gave a small hum and crossed his arms to think for a moment. "I get what you're trying to say, but if you really want my advice, I would say to wait for now."
"Wait? But-"
"I've done several endurance tests in the past with him, Arthur. His body overheats for relatively simple tasks, and having him fight, or run, or whatever you have in store for him will get him gravely ill. He had to take a half hour break to recover from not even a 5 minute jog, and you expect him to fight?"
"But his medicine-"
"Will only do so much. If his temperature gets past a certain degree, the medication won't provide anything for him. His organs will but put at risk if not treated in time, and as his doctor, I can't stress enough how dangerous training would be for him. I have treated him in the past, Arthur, and you know how severe it can get. He will not simply "outgrow" this by continuously running laps for several months, so I suggest you put this foolish idea of training to the side until he gets older. If not, I'm not going to be the one to tell your wife what you had planned when he ends up in the hospital in critical condition."
Arthur didn't speak from his harsh words, but simply nodded at his response. Mends gave a small sigh and grabbed his paperwork again. "I'm sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear, Arthur. Atticus' body simply wasn't meant for fighting at this time, and I hope you learn to accept this or face the consequences."
With that, Mends continued down the hallway, and left Arthur with the cruel reality that he may never have the type of bond he was hoping to share with his son.
"Now Atticus." Arthur weakly chuckled and picked up the Leo who was now squirming in his grasp. "It's just a quick checkup, you know you have to go every month."
"B-but I was gonna help momma at the shop today."
"You can visit the shop after your appointment, alright?"
"But...." He continued to fidget and fight to escape, but eventually he got too tired and gave up as a result. Atticus gave a small huff when Arthur started laughing, and hung in his father's grasp in defeat as they made themselves to Mends.
------
"Everything seems to be fine with young Atticus." Mends spoke as he continued to scribble several important notes on his clipboard. "Temperature is stable, blood pressure normal, and I don't see any major swelling or inflammation."
"Well, that's great to hear, right, Atticus?" Arthur smiled as he picked up his son, and followed Mends out.
"Indeed it is. I know I never have to worry for his well being unlike some." Mends spoke in a lighter, humorous tone. He opened the door to lead the pair out, and gave them a small wave before leaving. "Just sign out with the nurse, and you're free to go. See you next month."
After signing a few papers, and picking up Atticus to leave, a question suddenly surfaced regarding the conversation he had with Petta yesterday, and Arthur stopped before fully reaching the exit and set Atticus down. He quietly asked him to wait for a few minutes while he personally spoke with the doctor.
"But what about Momma?" Atticus eagerly spoke since he wanted to finally help his mother.
"It'll only be for a few minutes, son, promise." He spoke and quickly ran past the reception desk, and called out to the Bronto Burt. When Mends heard the warrior hastily calling, the elder set aside the paperwork he was holding for his next patient, and faced the Puff.
"Yes, Arthur, what is it? Did you have a question regarding his next appointment?"
"No, actually...." Arthur tried to keep his voice low since he knew it was a touchy subject among the family. Of course, Mends wasn't aware, so the sudden whisper caused him to give the warrior a look of bewilderment.
"Speak up, boy. If not, we can head to my office if you're too, hmmm....embarrassed to talk about about your personal issues out in the open."
"E-Embarrassed? W-what, no! It's not even about me, it's about Atticus." A small blush formed on his cheeks from his statement. "I...I just wanted to ask if you think he's ready to start training."
"Training?" He repeated as he scratched his head. "As in....what Bate and the others did when you were younger?"
"Yes!" He exclaimed, but cowered when Mends bonked him with his claws.
"You idiot, do you honestly think Atticus is well enough to do such a thing right now? I'm still monitoring his temperature levels, and you want to start training him to fight?!!"
"N-not now, but hopefully later, I mean." He tried to explain himself. "I was thinking his body would get stronger, and more resistant to his fire once he starts training. Maybe he'll be able to outgrow it over the months, but I just need a professional opinion if Petta says something."
"Uh-huh." He spoke, not amused. "And seeing how you were whispering before, what does Petta say about all this. I'm assuming she doesn't agree with you?"
"It's...not like that. Petta wants him to wait until he's older, but...." He paused to pick his words carefully so he didn't offend either parties. "He may not even want to train if all he does is stay with her at the shop. He won't be able to get stronger and overcome this, so...I'm just....asking for your opinion."
"I see...." Mends gave a small hum and crossed his arms to think for a moment. "I get what you're trying to say, but if you really want my advice, I would say to wait for now."
"Wait? But-"
"I've done several endurance tests in the past with him, Arthur. His body overheats for relatively simple tasks, and having him fight, or run, or whatever you have in store for him will get him gravely ill. He had to take a half hour break to recover from not even a 5 minute jog, and you expect him to fight?"
"But his medicine-"
"Will only do so much. If his temperature gets past a certain degree, the medication won't provide anything for him. His organs will but put at risk if not treated in time, and as his doctor, I can't stress enough how dangerous training would be for him. I have treated him in the past, Arthur, and you know how severe it can get. He will not simply "outgrow" this by continuously running laps for several months, so I suggest you put this foolish idea of training to the side until he gets older. If not, I'm not going to be the one to tell your wife what you had planned when he ends up in the hospital in critical condition."
Arthur didn't speak from his harsh words, but simply nodded at his response. Mends gave a small sigh and grabbed his paperwork again. "I'm sorry if this isn't what you wanted to hear, Arthur. Atticus' body simply wasn't meant for fighting at this time, and I hope you learn to accept this or face the consequences."
With that, Mends continued down the hallway, and left Arthur with the cruel reality that he may never have the type of bond he was hoping to share with his son.
Artist Comment:
Date: August 16, 2017
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Date: August 16, 2017
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Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
