A/N: Sometimes I just need to do a lil scribble to get my brain going, have a lil autistic Syntax headcanon & drabble with a smol spider demon.
The Spider Queen's technology had begun advancing towards a fraction of what it had once been, and that meant there were resources enough for Syntax to generate another spider demon. This time Syntax decided to use a measure of his own DNA to see if his intelligence could be replicated. The result was a little spiderling who the queen absolutely adored. Huntsman and Goliath's developments had been accelerated for the sake of necessity, and Syntax wanted see how a 1/3rd human spider demon's development differed from a full-bred spider demon's. While typing up an update regarding the child's growth and development, Syntax frowned as he re-read the report in full. After checking that it was around noon, he stood and went to make his way to the kitchen. There would be the toddler and Huntsman, who was very frustrated and trying to hand the kid a ham-and-cheese on a little plate. The exasperated demon turned to Syntax and said, "Can you deal with your brat? I made his food exactly how I always do and now he's refusing to eat it."
The toddler looked close to tears, but Syntax had a feeling it was more than general toddler upsets. "Small one, why don't you want your food?" Syntax asked calmly, kneeling down to his level.
"No!" The toddler shook his head, trying to give the plate to Syntax.
"It looks fine to me, is it..." The scientist pointed to the bread itself and asked, "The bread type?"The toddler shakes his head said.
"Is it the ham, is there something wrong with it?"Another head shake.
"Do you not like the crust?"A smile lit up the child's face and they nodded.
"Ahhh, I see." Syntax turns to Huntsman. "Normally I just get them off since he doesn't like them, it's never really a big fuss."Huntsman crossed his you arms, calmer now that the issue was identified, and looked down at the kid. "If that was all, you could've just said so, little buddy." His tone is still frustrated, but it's obvious he's trying to keep a more gentle tone.When the toddler looked down, his pointed ears lowering sadly. Syntax just patted the child's head and said, "It's almost time for you and Goliath to watch that show you like, why don't you go wait for him while I fix your food?"
The small kid smiled, hugged Syntax, and ran off for the living room. When he did Syntax set the plate on the counter and began digging around for the proper knife. As he did so, he said to Huntsman, "I noticed some interesting patterns in behavior when I was typing updates about his personal development: being upset if routines are broken more than the usual toddler degree, noises that are at low volume to us greatly distressing him, preferring certain materials over others. He also speaks in mainly one-word sentences while most toddlers his age speak up to three-word sentences. All of these are behaviors I had with my age and can be indicative that the young one has autism like I do. When I was a human, my family did have several autistic members who were non-verbal or semi-verbal. It's likely my genetic history led to this developing."
Huntsman frowned and peeking his head out of the kitchen to look at the toddler who was now sitting beside Goliath on the couch, his favorite cartoon playing on the TV. "Should...what does that mean? Is he gonna be okay?"
"If I didn't know any better, Huntsman, I would say you were worried." Huntsman let out one of his growls which Syntax ignored. "It just means we must have more patience when speaking with him. At three his emotions are already primitive, to not be able to properly communicate what's distressing must be very frustrating. In other words..." He lifts the plate. "We care for him as part of the family, and above all else we don't treat him like a freak in a zoo. I could be completely wrong, it is just something we will have to keep in mind."
