I needed to cheer myself up, and what better way than with some drabble!
“How long will you be gone?”
Corra smiled in that gentle way of hers, but shrugged helplessly. “I hope not more than a few hours,” she replied. “A day, at most. I would take him with me, but...it really is no place for a child.” She looked down lovingly at her son, who was nestled in a cushiony sort of chair that supported him everywhere his wobbly little body needed supporting. “You'll do fine, Linthael, don't worry. He likes you.”
“But...what do I do with him?”
“Do?” The Draenei chuckled and patted Lin's head; she was really getting this mother-of-a-small-child thing down pat. “Just look after him! Make sure he's fed, and changed, and don't let him nap for too long or he'll be up all night!” She reached out, and Xirile wrapped his tiny hand around her finger. “I'll be back as soon as I can, little one. And Linthael, I know you'll take great care of him.”
“But--!” It was too late; Corra had disappeared through the portal, unable to linger a moment longer lest she give in to weakness and stay with her son after all. Lin wrinkled her nose and looked back to the infant.
No one could deny he was an adorable little thing, with his kaldorei father's green hair and his mother's expressive face. Everything down to his tiny hooves were perfect. But that didn't mean Lin had even the slightest idea of how to care for him. She was still at the stage where she feared breaking him every time she held him.
Just then, Xirile poked a chubby finger at her belly. There was a tiny spark of Light, and then he giggled and stuffed his fist in his mouth, staring up at her. “Oh no you don't,” she said, unable to hold back a laugh. “I refuse to believe you know what's going on in there when you can't even hold your head up on your own. Nice try, kid.” Xirile burbled again, lips pulling back slightly from toothless gums. “Stop being so cute. Here.”
After a surreptitious look to make sure no one else was in the area, Lin pulled out a tiny sword from its hiding place in the waistband of her trousers. It was made of foam, completely harmless, but it was never to early to learn, right? She handed the foam blade, hilt first, in Xirile's direction. The infant grabbed at it with both uncoordinated hands—one now covered in drool-- and banged it happily against a pudgy thigh. Eyes scrunched shut, and lips peeled back once more to reveal a toothless grin.
“Does Corra know you're giving her child weapons?”
Lin jumped, but relaxed immediately when she recognized the voice. “Oh, it's only foam,” she said dismissively. “And besides, doesn't he look like a handsome little warrior? Go ahead, show Uncle Allidar your mean warrior face!”
Xirile laughed uproariously.
“Hm.” Allidar watched for longer than was probably necessary to feign interest, then walked out of the room.
Lin shared a conspiratorial look with her tiny charge. “He has no sense of humor, does he.” Once again, Xirile giggled.