“Are you feeling okay, Esper?” I asked, frowning.

Esper weakly lifted his head. I watched a bead of sweat travel down his brow. He looked clammy, tired. I instinctively moved closer to him. I knew the look of an ill child.

“I'm fine, Mr. Umbra,” Esper said, shaking his head.

Fine? Did my son take me for an idiot?

“You look feverish,” I urged, touching my lips to his forehead. His skin was dry and warm. Not a good sign.

I felt Esper’s hands on my chest, as if he was trying to push me away.

“You're sick. Let me take you up to your room. I'll make you some soup after I get you in bed.”

“I don't need that,” Esper said meekly, “I feel fine.”

He escaped from my grasp, only to hover in the air. I saw his shoulders go slack. I didn't have to see his eyes roll to the back of his skull to know he was going to faint.

“Baby!” I shouted, snatching him by the waist. Esper fell limp in my arms, his head slumping against my chest. I quickly fanned him with my hand, hoping he'd rouse.

I saw his lips tremble. “Father?” My heart skipped a beat. He must really be disoriented if he's not calling me “Mr.”

I lifted Esper up, cradling his fragile body. “Yes, it's me. I'm not willing to believe this suddenly came over you. How long have you been feeling this way?”

His chest rose and fell with difficulty. “About a week.”

“A week?” I gasped, “Why didn't you tell me?”

“You seemed busy. I didn't want to bother you.”

At first I felt shock, but then sadness. Was this really how he felt? I had to remind myself of Esper’s upbringing. Rage burned in my stomach when I realized he had been raised without any pity, forced to rely on himself and himself only. Knowing this only made me clutch Esper tighter. I couldn't give him the childhood he needed, but I could work to repair the teenager he had turned into.

My touch turning tender, I brushed a lock of hair off his face, staring at the bandages covering his eyes. “Your health isn't an inconvenience to me. If you ever feel sick again, please come and tell me, okay? I'll drop anything just to help you.”

Hesitant, Esper nodded. He was shocked a parental figure could show this much mercy. Once again, I wanted to throttle the beast he called his mother.

I planted a kiss on his feverish cheek, rocking him slowly. Was I babying him? Admittedly, yes. But I believe that's exactly what he needed.

//and an experiment in first person