Bittybones Chapter 6: Adding to the Bitty Brigade (Buttons 4)
I suggested to Red that he should look around the shop, but as I swept the shop with my own gaze, I noticed that no other bittybones were visible. Red scurried excitedly down the counter to check out the various impulse buy items near the cash register. I had a feeling we’d be making some purchases for him before we left with Buttons.
(i’m an impulsive guy!)
”Where are the other bittys?” I asked Gigi, knowing there should have at least been a Papy bitty manning the register.
Gigi watched as the Kara bitty rubbed the smaller monster’s back, checking on the progress of his healing. She glanced up when I asked my question. “Buttons is very traumatized, and larger bittybones, especially Papyrus-types, frighten him.” Even the sound of the word “Papyrus” appeared to alarm the small skeleton. When Gigi said it, he clutched the bigger monster tightly.
”It alright, Buttons,” I said in a soft, reassuring voice. “I only have two bittybones, and they are Sans types and very friendly.” I reached out a tentative finger and stroked Buttons’ hunched back. He immediately leaned into my touch. As I petted him softly, he unfolded himself from Kara’s body and latched onto my hand instead, rubbing his small skull against my thumb.
I cooed happily at the affectionate little guy. “Well, he’s definitely a Blank bitty,” I proclaimed, in reference to his love of physical contact. Silence crept over the room with the exception of the rustling of Red pawing through merchandise, oblivious to the faux pas I had somehow unknowingly committed.
(well, excuse me for not eavesdropping!)
I guess shoplifting is more interesting than spying.
(i would never shoplift from Gigi)
(i would only shoplift a little bit from Gigi)
Meanwhile, Buttons regarded me with wide, sad eyes. “Miss Gigi and Mr. Kara said that too, but I don’t even know what a Blank bitty is... All I remember is being a Buttonberry... and Them...” I watched his expression transform as his focus turned inward. His eyelights seemed faded and worn as memories washed over him. “I don’t know how to be anyone else,” he concluded in a voice whisper soft with defeat.
My heart broke for this poor bittybones child who had no place in the world except the horrifying nightmare of his origins. I had to fix that for him. “You don’t need to be anyone but yourself,” I reassured him gently. “In our home, we love people and monsters for who they are, not what they are.” His big blue eyes blinked, and the trauma disappeared, replaced by wonder. I admired the little scamp’s ability to pull himself free of his sorrow, but I knew we’d have a lot of work to do before he could truly heal the wounds of his past.
As I went to collect Red, who was waist deep in a jar of monster candy, Gigi made a suggestion. “You might want to consider getting a Kara bitty. I don’t know how severe the damage to Buttons’ eyes was, but he will probably have headaches. A Kara bitty could also help your Brassyberry with pain management.” Hopeful of a bright future for Buttons, Gigi fell back into bitty shop owner mode. “In fact, there’s a bittybones convention in a few weeks, and the Kara bittybones’ creator will be there; you could adopt one from her directly.” Her excitement was contagious, and I promised myself that I would go to the event. I’d do it for Buttons. I’d do it for me.
I lifted Red out of the candy jar and set him on the counter next to Buttons. He clutched at armloads of monster candies which spilled comically out of his grip to roll across the counter and finally fall like hailstones onto the floor. “I guess we’ll be getting these,” I told Gigi as Red made his best puppy dog eyes at me. “What are they?”
Gigi laughed, surprising herself as much as it surprised me. “The small ones are for boosting or recovering magic,” she explained pointing as she bagged the candies that Red held as well as a few of the escapees. Monster candies to help magic recovery? That would be useful for Red except... I glared at him; he gave me a look of utter angelic innocence.
“Perfect. Now he won’t get so tired when he throws his tantrums.” I feigned excitement with a woo-hoo and a twirl of one finger, but I pulled out my wallet to pay. “And that one?” I indicated the much larger candy that Red rolled towards the cash register.
“That allows a bittybones to grow to full size for four hours.”
Oh. I could see where this was going, or rather, not going if I had anything to do with it. “Red, you don’t need to grow. I love you just the way you are!” I didn’t even allow him to protest as I scooped him up and placed him on my shoulder with Buttons beside him. As I picked up my purchases, sans (ha!) the growth candy, Gigi touched my arm.
“Please do everything you can for Buttons. I adopted out three Blank bittys to that man, and he was the only one left.” Tears welled in her eyes as I solemnly nodded. As the bell above the door tinkled its good-bye to the three of us, I saw her Papy bitty creep out from behind the cash register and give her a comforting hug on the arm.
Papy bitty by bittybones-au
Kara bitty by bitty-fluff
Buttonberry bitty by button-tale
