Who: Abby and Ben What: Amongst the Flames When: February 1st, very early morning Where: Management Wagon Rating: Mid Status: Complete
When Abby had come up to him, pale and breathless, asking for his help he did so without hesitation, a squeeze to Fitz’s hand with the promise he’d come back as soon as he could and he followed the redhead in to the middle of what had minutes earlier had been the scene of chaos.
Ben knew fire, he knew how hot it could get and the energy that was needed to turn flesh and blood into ash but he had never seen something like this before. Kristoph had burst into flames and as soon as those flames died down there was nothing but ash, that kind of flame had to be magical in some sense, it was not natural and he knew it.
Abby pretty much dragged him to the pile of ash that had previously been Kristoph he looked at it and then at Abby, not believing for a moment what he was seeing but with a nod from Abby he picked up the bundle that was there, tucked it into the front of his coat against his chest. It was hot, too hot for a regular human and even to Ben it felt warmer than what he was used to but manageable. He then followed her through the crowd - his cargo hidden from view - to one of the wagons that belonged to the management team of Zion, up the stairs and into the wooden structure and only then did he feel safe opening his coat.
Abby lead Ben through the back curtains of the wagon, past the desk and the area most knew when they came to speak with Kristoph. Behind the curtains was the man’s living quarters. There was a shelf of books and various trinkets from all over the world. Some items looked very old, others appeared to be trinkets from places they’d visited over the past few years. A nice comfortable looking chair was positioned near one window and pipe supplies sat on a table. A well kept, but antique looking, sword was set upon a wall mount just above a pair of flintlock pistols. Abby placed Kristoph’s cane, which she’d grabbed from where it had fallen, against his chair. Along the back wall a bunk was set, it looked reasonably comfortable. The redhead gestured to it. “Once he’s cooled, lay him down. It shouldn’t be long.” Her green eyes flashed yellow for a brief moment. “I’ll be right back.”
Abby stepped through the curtains just as a knock came to the door. “Ms. Delia said to bring these for you.” The voice of one of the girls chimed.
“Yes, please, set them here.” She said. The sounds of a few people could be heard entering and setting things down before the door was shut again. Abby peeked through the curtain briefly and gestured to a towel on a hook near the bed- most likely the one Kristoph used when showering. “Put that down before you put him down.” She said before ducking back into the front area.
A few moments later, Abby came back with a small bucket of water and a wash cloth. “How’s he…” She started to ask before realizing that Ben might not even know.
Ben had seen the front part of the wagon of course, it was where they had talked with Kristoph when he and Fitz had come to investigate the card that they had been given all those years ago. Behind the curtain he had never seen but honestly he wasn’t paying a lot of attention to what was around him, what he held in his hands was much more important than the decor of one’s home.
“Oui.” Ben replied, letting Abby do whatever it was she needed to do, answering the door, herald supplies and keeping curious people away. He didn’t know what to think at that moment, he had seen Kristoph burn before his very eyes in a fire that he was sure not even he could withstand. To find a baby hidden amongst the ashes was a shock, was this what happened to whatever kind of being Kristoph was? They die and return as an infant? Or was this some kind of trick?
Shifting the infant to one arm he took the towel down from the hook and placed it on the bed, trying his best to fold it in half with his free hand before placing the much cooler infant down onto it. “I think he’s cooled down enough, at least to my touch.” He then looked at Abby. “Do you wish for me to bathe him?” A gesture was made at the bucket and wash cloth, although he had never had children of his own he did at least know how to bathe an infant, many of his friends had married and bore children and they had insisted that he at least learn how to wash and change nappies.
“Actually.” She said, moving to sit on the bed next to the babe. “If you can go to the front, there are some bottles that Delia did up with some milk from the goats. Can you grab one and warm it up?” Abby asked. Her speech seemed a little quick and scattered almost. As if she were anxious and nervous. Her hands dipped the cloth into the bucket of cool water and slowly started to wipe down the naked child, ash easily wiping off. His body steamed slightly as he was cool enough to touch, but still warm.
Ben had moved back when Abby came close, giving her as much room as she needed. When she asked if he could warm up a bottle of milk he knew that was something that he could do easily. “Oui, oui.” He said, pushing the curtain to the side as he walked through it. The bottles were easy to find and taking one he held it between his palms, eyes closing for a moment as he summons his element - just a bit - enough to warm the bottle up, it was still slightly cool to his own touch but he knew he ran hot and didn’t want to burn the babe’s mouth.
Walking back into the back area he still had the bottle in his hand. “Here, it’s ready.”
Abby finished cleaning off the baby whose eyes remained closed as he twitched and squirmed. “Can you start? I’m going to grab a diaper.” She said, placing the bucket down. “Please?” She smiled, her green eyes seemed a little scared, clearly the young woman was a bit overwhelmed.
After fetching a diaper she carefully wrapped the baby, it was clear she wasn’t used to doing it and was most likely going off instructions someone had given her… or the way she thought one should be done. “Delia can fix it…” She muttered under her breath as she pinned the cloth into place. At least it didn’t fall off him. Her hand brushed over the small baby’s head as it suckled at the bottle. “What are we gonna do?” It seemed like, for the first time since the teleport, Abby was finally taking everything that had happened in. Clearly, it was a lot.
Ben sat down on the bed as Abby vacated it, he didn’t pick up the baby but did lift it’s head and back to against his leg as he offered the bottle, of course it latched onto the teat without hesitation and started drinking. There were soft murmurings of encouragement in French and Ben did his best to maneuver the baby as Abby put the diaper on and there was a moment of unhappiness as he pulled the bottle back so she could put the wrap around the baby before returning to the task of feeding.
Once finished he’d fix the diaper and wrap, he wasn’t the fatherly type and laughed when his friends insisted on teaching him the basics. “I will fix it when he’s finished this.” He said softly before turning his attention back to Abby. “All we can do is look after him, maybe he’ll give us a sign as to what we have to do next.”
Abby sat on the bed, opposite Ben and wrung her hands in her lap. “Delia’s done this once before… She said it’ll be okay… I just…” She reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek and shook her head.
Her green eyes looked up to him as she took in a small breath. “I’m sure you’ve got some questions.” She said softly, tucking some hair behind her ear.
At least someone had an idea of what was going on, hopefully Delia would be able to help soon but until then they could only do so much. Keep the baby happy and hopefully with a full belly he’d sleep.
“This is Kristoph, yes? My grandmere used to tell me stories of people like us, that those fairy tales were sometimes true and beings existed in the world unlike those that existed only in my craziest dreams. I never thought that someone could die and be reborn, but this is proof.”
Abby nodded. “Yea… I’m pretty sure. I saw it.” She shrugged slightly with a frown, she was clearly weighed down by whatever it was she’d foreseen. “All of it… too late.” Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “But then I saw the fire an egg, which ended up being a baby…” Her hand reached out and brushed the small thing’s foot. “Things aren’t always perfect.” Sometimes her visions were more… interpretations. Other times they gave her exact information, like when she knew exactly where Kristoph had to be to find Ben and Fitz.
“When are they ever?” Ben knew about Abby’s gift, that she got glimpses of the future, but they were just that - a glimpse - and sometimes they didn’t have all the required information. Like she had mentioned, she had seen an egg but this definitely wasn’t an egg. “We are all human… well most of us.” A small smile down at the baby who had now finished the bottle. “Nothing is ever perfect.” He could tell by looking at the baby’s eyes that it was Kristoph, they had exactly the same colour. “I will not tell anyone, I promise.”
“When we found you.” She chuckled. “And the Wells’ and Edward, Eva and Lily… and… a few times.” Abby shrugged. “But that’s different… that’s easy.” She took the empty bottle from Ben so he’d have both hands free.
“And thank you. Delia would really be mad at me if I asked you for help and then you… not even… Fitz.” Abby said with a furrowed brow, clearly aware of what she was asking.
Having never met a clairvoyant before Abby he wasn't exactly sure how it all worked, but he did imagine seeing just images of people was different than seeing what was going to happen in the future, after all a split second decision might alter the future in ways unforeseen.
Ben's brows furrowed, he wasn't really sure what Abby was talking about, while he didn't like keeping secrets from Fitz, he'd keep this one. "I will tell him I recovered something from the ashes but do not know what it was, that you would not let me see." A small white lie.
She nodded. “Thank you.” As she touched the baby’s foot her eyes went yellow for a second. “Something bad might happen if we don’t keep it secret.” She frowned.
Shaking her head, eyes returning to normal, she looked at Ben. With a smile forced on her lips. “So… you know how to do a diaper?”
The last thing Ben wanted was for anything bad to happen to baby Kristoph, or Zion for that matter, he'd keep his mouth shut. Looking down at the baby he smiled as it took his finger in it's hand and gripped it pretty tight, stronger than it should be able to.
He then chuckled softly when Abby asked if he knew how to do diapers. "Oui, I do."