Gary's a good man-- the other henchmen love having Paulie imposed on them, even the ones who have no idea the significance of the little guy aside from someone two-ton 21 brought along who happens to be a baby.
At this point if the kid just grunts and looks at her she'll respond to it, he's such a cutie. Sheila opens her arms wide to wait patiently for the little guy.
He would always feel odd knowing people thought he was a good man. He worked for super villains and loved it, but he also was working hard to keep the other henchmen from sharing the date of his dead friend. Also, he was keeping an eye on the murder twins, as he SO doesn't trust them around the tiny Paul.
The other Henchmen knew to keep Paulie away from Tim Tom and Kevin too.
The littlest of the horde was pulling himself, with tiny determination, to get to his titi.
"Oh my god, I didn't even think about that. I'm going to have to babyproof my room and put my figures up higher. Total choking hazards." Oh, he'd be panic cleaning his room later, not that it's ever really messy. "I'm so totally not ready for him to walk, he's growing up to fast."
He knew he should want Paul to grow up fast, so they could be friends again. Gary also kind of knew he'd have to deal with watching him grow up into someone else, who might not even be his best friend anymore, but his son.
He really is a rather determined baby. Even the adult 24 hadn't been that motivated, and certainly never by his boss-- well, not her, anyway. Death threats via Monarch? Of course.
Stooping down to her knees, she keeps waving her arms encouragingly.
"Come on, baby, come on!" Her tone shifts to something amused as Gary freaks a little. "It'll be fine, you've still got some time. He isn't even pulling himself up a lot."
24 definitely didn't have that kind of motivation, at least as an adult. The little 24 seemed ready to explore the cocoon. Or at least as far as he could get. Though, death threats were very motivational.
Paulie kept creeping towards her, his little legs shifting to help push him along. Some of the other henches cheering again. It was that kind of boring day.
Gary looked from the baby back to her. "Oh man, I am not ready for that either. Gonna be proud when he does, though." He admitted, hell, as freaked as he was, he was still very proud of the little guy. "Look at him go, he's ready wants to get to you." He added, shifting, so he was sitting with his legs crossed, propping his arm, so he could rest his head on his palm and watch.
Paulie finally reaching her and spitting out the pacifier onto the carpet.
Sheila squeals at the baby once he reaches her, and happily scoops him into her arms to celebrate his triumph. Again, no nurturing here-- but 24, again!! was a cutie. Unibrow and all.
"He's a strong little guy, like his papa 21. He'll make you proud no matter what-- and all of us too."
37 waited until Sheila had Paulie before he picked up the pacifier and tossed it smoothly over to 24 who caught it with his free hand. He couldn't help but smile watching her with the baby, this was as soft as half the new scrubs would get to see either of them. And honestly, things that made them more human made dying for these people easier.
"Makes me wonder what 24 was hiding from us." He mused without that haunted look he used to get whenever he would talk about 24. He was sitting there, proud as can be. "You know he will, but he'd going to have a better go at life it all this time around." Pushing himself off the floor finally. The pacifier vanished into one of the pouches on his belt. "Ok, back to work everyone!" A few boos and awws were given as most started to shuffle off, and 21 moved over to stand a respectable distance from her.
"He thinks the world of you guys, you know? Any time he hears you, he wiggles to get away. Even when the Monarch laughs." He has a feeling in a year or two he's gonna appear at the Monarch's side when that laugh happens. It was probably good they lived in the cocoon and not the house with them and the twins.
Soft gooey sides and all, they've still got a job to do, a certain air of professionalism that's necessary here. Even with a baby. And this one is heavy, but a comfortable weight in her arms that she's glad she can just give back to his dad, too. The love of being a titi.
Poor 24. The older one. "He's going to go to a good school, maybe get into sports--" though-- "Maybe something with his height." He'll be super tall, nearly as tall as Monarch. "Whatever 24 had hidden, well. We'll meet him in hell one day and ask."
She has no qualms about where they'll go, if there's anything later. Her expression brightens again. "I've seen him try to copy the laugh." She bounces him a little. "He's still got some work to do."
That air of professionalism is important with the Monarch, her and 21 watching over them all. 21 sometimes felt bad for being hard on the new henches, but he didn't want anyone to suffer 24's fate. Gary was always happy to let her take any time with Paulie she wanted, and would always be there to take him back when she's done. He knew what he signed up for when he gave away his family heirloom to Venture to get his best friend back.
It's not the same as having 24. But, Paulie does fill a void left behind by the taller man, just in his own tiny ways. "I know I have to start putting money aside for this stuff, but we don't even know if he will want to do any of that. Paul never seemed interested in any of it before." Though, with Gary trying to stay in shape and even being on the Horde's soft ball team, it's possible that Paulie might just become a little athlete. "Oh yeah, you know, our boy's holding a spot for us when we get there." That got a grin out of him. The idea of his tall Ray Romano'd voiced friend waving when they died. "Though, hopefully it'll be a long time, or at least until he graduates. I don't wanna drop-dead on him beforehand. It messed me up pretty bad when my dad died." He didn't really talk about these things, sure 24 had known, but he didn't mind sharing it with Sheila while she had Paulie.
"Oh man! I haven't seen that!" He lit right back up. "I gotta see this one day."
"Oh absolutely not!" She immediately cuts in-- not too loud, she doesn't want to startle the baby, but her gaze is fierce. "This profession is a lot, but we are not letting him be an orphan, and you aren't-- we aren't going to let that happen with you, either."
24 and 21 deserve the world..the world is just this career, it happens to be. She relaxes a little, waving one of the baby's hands in the air at his dad.
"Whatever he chooses to be, he's got an entire cocoon of capable, masturbating fiends to back him up." He's so fortunate. Her smile gentles again. "I think I might have recorded some of it, I'll have to find it."
Gary's eyes went right to her when she cut in. Blinking a little under his goggles. It was moments like these he felt like he mattered. Not that he'd admit he doesn't think he does as much since 24 died. "Death's always around us, boss. It's always a possibility, not just from work but freak accidents too. I don't want to die, I want to watch him grow up. The same as I want you and Monarch there when he graduates. But I always have a back-up plan these days." Of course, his backup plan was his mom. Who so did not know that she was the backup.
If Gary died, he expected little Paulie to be dropped on his mom and his youngest sibling.
The moment she mentions masturbating fiends, his face takes a pink hue, at least the bits not covered by the mask. "Yeah, yeah he does. And a super badass scientist to help him with math and stuff." He added, looking at her. "And the boss if he choices to take the drama route. Also, if you recorded, I so wanna see it."
She's stubborn. Incredibly so. She knows this is their life, and they're surrounded by death-- they breathe it, they eat it. Crap it too. But for this little boy, for 21-- she'll die trying.
"I know. I want to be there too. I want you and him prepared for anything you need to be."
Her mouth quirks again into something more fond. "Of course I'll help with math. And science projects. Monarch'll probably help him with a volcano."
For this little boy, they will burn the world. Gary would do his best to keep himself, and everyone on the cocoon, safe. It was the best they could do in this field of work.
"Thanks, Dr. Mrs. The Monarch, it means a lot." He reached up, scratching at the back of his hair in a touch of embarrassment. "I've been trying to make sure we're prepared for anything that comes our way. It's part of why I've been so hard on the other henchmen."
He can't help but smile, watching Paulie trying to snuggle into Sheila. It's clearly nearing nap time after all that attempted crawling. "He's gonna be do so fantastic in school with all of us helping. And that epic volcano that he'll make one day with the boss." He knows it would look cool as hell. Taking the phone, he watched the video.
She knows, and appreciates it. Sure, Monarch is tired of all the complaints and whining, but any time he catches the henchmen training, her husband has open awe upon his face, and pride too. She might have to snap a picture of that, one day.
Sheila happily snuggles the baby, too, squishing their cheeks together. He's sleepy, surely, and a little clingy, but she doesn't mind.
"He'll be a genius for sure-- and cool to boot." Well, time will tell. "Isn't it just precious?"
The henchmen might whine and cry, but he had built enough of a reputation since his return that none of them had the nerve to whine to him. It all went to the Monarch and Sheila. But even other villains were starting to hear about how deadly the Monarchs men could be. And if she ever sent Gary that picture, he'd be so proud.
The smile refuses to leave as he watches her and Paulie interacting. She was one of the babies favorite people, and that made her a prime spot to try to nap.
"It's gonna be fantastic for sure, but he's totally about to knock out on you. I can see it in his eyes. Want me to take him? Or are you good?" He asked as he held the phone back. "It's totally precious, and I'd like a copy if that's cool."
A force to be reckoned with. Hopefully, no more butterflies would die for no good reason. Doing this for the horde was as close as Gary could get to making sure 24's death meant something.
"Thanks, I'm keeping all I can to embarrass him when he's older." She was clearly one of the tiny child's favorite people as well. Clinging to her as he wiggled some. tell-tale signs of a hissy fit coming.
"Oh yeah, he's ready to sleep." Gary stepping forwards to hold his arms out, so Sheila can hand him back. "I was just going to drink another monster. I need to run a few more drills with the newbs." No, he needed to nap too, living on energy drinks was not the way, but he wasn't complaining.
The baby, though dozing against Sheila's chest, automatically reaches back for his dad, whining just a little. She hands him back, grinning.
"Oh, he's going to be more embarrassed than Rusty Venture." And they're all going to eat it all up. Her gaze flickers back up to Gary, a little sternly. "You should take the time to nap while he goes down."
Gary took the baby back as soon as those little arms reached out and Sheila helped hand him over. Holding him against his chest as he so often did. One hand under him, one against his back to keep in him secure.
"It'll be a blast." He agreed but that stern look got a 'oh shit' look from Gary who nodded. "Yes, Dr. Mrs. The Monarch. We'll both go nap, but if you guys need me come get me, okay?" It's not like Monarch won't walk right into his room and dig out his wings and make him get up and ready. "And thanks again, I appreciate all your help, dude."
The baby, naturally, settles immediately. All comfy and sleepy, ready to just knock out. And Sheila's glad to hear Gary's going to listen to her, for once.
"Good boy," she says, grinning. "We'll get you when we have to." That means he'll be undisturbed for at least 3 hours if he doesn't awaken first.
"And no problem. Glad to help." She waves to the baby playfully.
He'd argue if he wasn't dead on his feet. Besides, the horde knew better than to completely slack. At least any more than him and 24 used too. Sheila and Monarch we're home as well as the terrible twins. It would be fine.
He smiles, a bit embarrassed at being called a good boy. "Thanks, I owe you one." Already turning and grabbing the baby bag off the table to go carry Paulie off, so they can nap a few hours. Of course, that three would be two. Gary set an alarm so that Paulie wouldn't be up all night. No, thank you, he hates when that happens.
And he really does not-- they took a lot from him. His life, his innocence. It's the least they can do. Sheila smiles, and waves goodbye to the baby draped gently across Gary's back until they're gone.
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At this point if the kid just grunts and looks at her she'll respond to it, he's such a cutie. Sheila opens her arms wide to wait patiently for the little guy.
"Crawling and then running around like crazy."
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The other Henchmen knew to keep Paulie away from Tim Tom and Kevin too.
The littlest of the horde was pulling himself, with tiny determination, to get to his titi.
"Oh my god, I didn't even think about that. I'm going to have to babyproof my room and put my figures up higher. Total choking hazards." Oh, he'd be panic cleaning his room later, not that it's ever really messy. "I'm so totally not ready for him to walk, he's growing up to fast."
He knew he should want Paul to grow up fast, so they could be friends again. Gary also kind of knew he'd have to deal with watching him grow up into someone else, who might not even be his best friend anymore, but his son.
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Stooping down to her knees, she keeps waving her arms encouragingly.
"Come on, baby, come on!" Her tone shifts to something amused as Gary freaks a little. "It'll be fine, you've still got some time. He isn't even pulling himself up a lot."
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Paulie kept creeping towards her, his little legs shifting to help push him along. Some of the other henches cheering again. It was that kind of boring day.
Gary looked from the baby back to her. "Oh man, I am not ready for that either. Gonna be proud when he does, though." He admitted, hell, as freaked as he was, he was still very proud of the little guy. "Look at him go, he's ready wants to get to you." He added, shifting, so he was sitting with his legs crossed, propping his arm, so he could rest his head on his palm and watch.
Paulie finally reaching her and spitting out the pacifier onto the carpet.
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"He's a strong little guy, like his papa 21. He'll make you proud no matter what-- and all of us too."
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"Makes me wonder what 24 was hiding from us." He mused without that haunted look he used to get whenever he would talk about 24. He was sitting there, proud as can be. "You know he will, but he'd going to have a better go at life it all this time around." Pushing himself off the floor finally. The pacifier vanished into one of the pouches on his belt. "Ok, back to work everyone!" A few boos and awws were given as most started to shuffle off, and 21 moved over to stand a respectable distance from her.
"He thinks the world of you guys, you know? Any time he hears you, he wiggles to get away. Even when the Monarch laughs." He has a feeling in a year or two he's gonna appear at the Monarch's side when that laugh happens. It was probably good they lived in the cocoon and not the house with them and the twins.
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Poor 24. The older one. "He's going to go to a good school, maybe get into sports--" though-- "Maybe something with his height." He'll be super tall, nearly as tall as Monarch. "Whatever 24 had hidden, well. We'll meet him in hell one day and ask."
She has no qualms about where they'll go, if there's anything later. Her expression brightens again. "I've seen him try to copy the laugh." She bounces him a little. "He's still got some work to do."
lol omg I wrote 24 instead of 21.
It's not the same as having 24. But, Paulie does fill a void left behind by the taller man, just in his own tiny ways. "I know I have to start putting money aside for this stuff, but we don't even know if he will want to do any of that. Paul never seemed interested in any of it before." Though, with Gary trying to stay in shape and even being on the Horde's soft ball team, it's possible that Paulie might just become a little athlete. "Oh yeah, you know, our boy's holding a spot for us when we get there." That got a grin out of him. The idea of his tall Ray Romano'd voiced friend waving when they died. "Though, hopefully it'll be a long time, or at least until he graduates. I don't wanna drop-dead on him beforehand. It messed me up pretty bad when my dad died." He didn't really talk about these things, sure 24 had known, but he didn't mind sharing it with Sheila while she had Paulie.
"Oh man! I haven't seen that!" He lit right back up. "I gotta see this one day."
sometimes still interchangeable
24 and 21 deserve the world..the world is just this career, it happens to be. She relaxes a little, waving one of the baby's hands in the air at his dad.
"Whatever he chooses to be, he's got an entire cocoon of capable, masturbating fiends to back him up." He's so fortunate. Her smile gentles again. "I think I might have recorded some of it, I'll have to find it."
This is true.
If Gary died, he expected little Paulie to be dropped on his mom and his youngest sibling.
The moment she mentions masturbating fiends, his face takes a pink hue, at least the bits not covered by the mask. "Yeah, yeah he does. And a super badass scientist to help him with math and stuff." He added, looking at her. "And the boss if he choices to take the drama route. Also, if you recorded, I so wanna see it."
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"I know. I want to be there too. I want you and him prepared for anything you need to be."
Her mouth quirks again into something more fond. "Of course I'll help with math. And science projects. Monarch'll probably help him with a volcano."
Sheila's grabbing her phone, handing it over.
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"Thanks, Dr. Mrs. The Monarch, it means a lot." He reached up, scratching at the back of his hair in a touch of embarrassment. "I've been trying to make sure we're prepared for anything that comes our way. It's part of why I've been so hard on the other henchmen."
He can't help but smile, watching Paulie trying to snuggle into Sheila. It's clearly nearing nap time after all that attempted crawling. "He's gonna be do so fantastic in school with all of us helping. And that epic volcano that he'll make one day with the boss." He knows it would look cool as hell. Taking the phone, he watched the video.
"Oh my god! That's so cute!"
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Sheila happily snuggles the baby, too, squishing their cheeks together. He's sleepy, surely, and a little clingy, but she doesn't mind.
"He'll be a genius for sure-- and cool to boot." Well, time will tell. "Isn't it just precious?"
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The smile refuses to leave as he watches her and Paulie interacting. She was one of the babies favorite people, and that made her a prime spot to try to nap.
"It's gonna be fantastic for sure, but he's totally about to knock out on you. I can see it in his eyes. Want me to take him? Or are you good?" He asked as he held the phone back. "It's totally precious, and I'd like a copy if that's cool."
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If it makes anyone feel anything, Paulie is one of Sheila's very favorite people in the entire universe.
"Of course I'll send you a copy-- and you, mister, could also use a nap," she adds, raising a brow at Gary.
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"Thanks, I'm keeping all I can to embarrass him when he's older." She was clearly one of the tiny child's favorite people as well. Clinging to her as he wiggled some. tell-tale signs of a hissy fit coming.
"Oh yeah, he's ready to sleep." Gary stepping forwards to hold his arms out, so Sheila can hand him back. "I was just going to drink another monster. I need to run a few more drills with the newbs." No, he needed to nap too, living on energy drinks was not the way, but he wasn't complaining.
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"Oh, he's going to be more embarrassed than Rusty Venture." And they're all going to eat it all up. Her gaze flickers back up to Gary, a little sternly. "You should take the time to nap while he goes down."
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"It'll be a blast." He agreed but that stern look got a 'oh shit' look from Gary who nodded. "Yes, Dr. Mrs. The Monarch. We'll both go nap, but if you guys need me come get me, okay?" It's not like Monarch won't walk right into his room and dig out his wings and make him get up and ready. "And thanks again, I appreciate all your help, dude."
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"Good boy," she says, grinning. "We'll get you when we have to." That means he'll be undisturbed for at least 3 hours if he doesn't awaken first.
"And no problem. Glad to help." She waves to the baby playfully.
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He smiles, a bit embarrassed at being called a good boy. "Thanks, I owe you one." Already turning and grabbing the baby bag off the table to go carry Paulie off, so they can nap a few hours. Of course, that three would be two. Gary set an alarm so that Paulie wouldn't be up all night. No, thank you, he hates when that happens.
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And he really does not-- they took a lot from him. His life, his innocence. It's the least they can do. Sheila smiles, and waves goodbye to the baby draped gently across Gary's back until they're gone.