Chapter Text
"From Humble Beginnings Come Great Things." - Leon Brown
Philip happened to be someone who dreamed but didn't have, though he was an avian hybrid - as he was told by his parents multiple times - he didn't grow any wings. As any avian would, he dreamed of being in the sky flying amongst his fellow brethren. He did get a taste of what it was like to fly, his father got a scolding from his mother after - it was true that he could die if he dropped from that height, but he trusted the older avian - didn't stop the fool from doing it again when Aimee, his sister arrived. The dejected man slept on the couch for a week when she found out that her husband took their youngest child of eighteen months on a flight - it was only supposed to be a day but finding out he did the same to Philip worsened the punishment.
His father begged her every day for that week to let him back in again, his mother ever stubborn woman she was, never budged even when he used his puppy look on her which usually worked, only then he knew he really screwed up. His mother immediately revoked the punishment when he got sick from sleeping in the chilly living room, it was autumn. His father had this dopey-eyed gaze as he watched her flitting about the house trying to help soothe his cold. His mother blushing whenever they make eye contact only made his father's face light up with glee. It was during those times especially that Philip knew just how deeply in love the couple were.
This moment was so sweet and wholesome that he might get diabetes. While his worrywart mother was busing herself with dopey father, Philip Watson figured it was up to him now to wrangle up his little sister into bed.
Aimee, the little angel she can be is a demon the rest of the time. His parents were unfortunately both at fault for that as they had been a chaotic couple before and when they were young. The stories they told of the time were legendary. Apparently, he was the complete opposite as a baby, so quiet that it worried his parents as first-timers, expecting a wailing baby. His parents often joked that it was a relief when he became a troublesome toddler that liked to climb everywhere, knocking objects down like a cat. Philip was pretty sure his parents were half-serious about it.
The little one year old was as slippery as an eel, ducking under tables, turning sharp corners around the couch and hallway, even squeezing herself into small spaces; giggling like a maniac the whole time. This game of chase went on for forty-five minutes before Aimee finally started to tire out, victory came to him in a form of a tired and sleepy toddler leaning on the couch. Phillip admittedly was tiring out too, so it was perfect timing, approaching the toddler slowly he sped up his steps with a smirk when she made grabby hands for him.
Tiny grabby hands from a toddler are so cute!
"Finally sleepy, are we?" Philip said as she reached for his younger sister. Aimee only half-heartedly nodded as he leaned on his shoulder and slowly began to doze.
Only to be rudely awoken by a light noggie to her head. She faced up to him betrayal clearly showing in her sleepy eyes. Serves her right for making him chase her for almost an hour.
"Oh no you don't you little gremlin. You need to go bathe." Aimee immediately freezes up, as an avian she develops faster than a human and recognises the word 'bathe', only thing is she is not used to water. Avian children either love or fear bathing, this comes from their instincts as birds. When a bird's feathers get wet, they have a risk of getting hypothermia, which is life-threatening for a small toddler like her as her instincts know.
Currently the little chick doesn't have wings to care about getting wet plus as human hybrids they have human's internal heating system in the form of stronger muscles and organs, so the instinct to keep from getting yourself wet is redundant. Nevertheless, his mother always told her to take a younger child's fear seriously as they don't know how the world works so these fears are real to a child. So, what do avian hybrids so in this situation? They desensitise the toddler, similarly to how a human does it.
Through extremely careful experimentation, what works best is to bathe with her; to show that the 'falling water' is safe, this of course includes toys of which a toy pig (aptly named 'Dave') was a favourite, Phillip would know, Dave was a gift after all.
Wanting to be the best brother he could be, immediately set about planning bath time for both him and his sister. It would be the first time he has done it without his mother's guiding hands, but Phillip was sure he could do it, he would do it for his sister's healthy development. While sorting out what he needed for his task he recited what his mother told him.
1. Make sure you get everything you need first.
2. Check the non-slip mat on the shower floor so Aimee won't slip when she tries to stand up.
3. Fill the bath only up to when the water reaches her belly button.
4. The water should be warm but not hot, check the thermometer if you want an exact reading, between 37 to 38 degrees.
5. Make sure the hot water tap is turned tightly off unless you want Aimee to start fidgeting with it and get burned.
6. Never leave her side when it is bath time. No matter how sleepy or tired you think she is that stubborn gremlin will find the energy to wander off.
7. Keep the bathroom door closed unless its bath time, we all know she will toddle over there to cause mischief. This final rule only reinforces rule one.
Above all remember never let 'Impish Aimee' leave your sight.
Phillip snorts a bit, he grumbled "Impish Aimee is at it again." when she was wandered off constantly while inside a shopping mall. Both his parents with their avian senses of course caught onto this but instead of reprimanding him only sagely agreed, he was joking at the time, but that phrase is now used when Aimee was being an imp, which was every day.
Speaking of where is she?
Oh god! Phillip forgot the concrete rule of 'Aimee Sitting' already! Rushing to the bathroom door he pushed it making sure not to bang into the wall - his parent was still having their couple moment - and is greeted with a bleary-eyed Aimee still on the couch (thankfully) rubbing her eyes seeming to have just awoken from her nap. Seems he placed her on the couch.
"Is mama coming with?" Aimee's words were slurred from sleep as she stifled a yawn.
I wish mom took a photo of that!
"Nope. Brother Phil is going to be your guardian today!" Phillip will forever think it's cute that Aimee thinks of her mother as a guardian that protects her when they are bathing.
Think of all the blackmail I will have when she is old enough to think this is all embarrassing! Ah the benefits of being the older sibling.
There are still the younger sibling benefits he has heard about from his classmates at their local primary school, however that is not his concern for another four years. Aimee looks at him with astonishment which makes him preen a bit. That is until she frowned and spoke.
"You too young. Just 'chick' mama says." Phillip sighs, his mother always says she will stop it once he grows his wings. All the children at his school are starting to come to school with their wings out and about, he is admittedly starting to get worried how his flock will react to a wingless avian hybrid.
Maybe I will be called 'Peter Pan' because growing wings is growing up in avian hybrid society.
Phillip immediately shakes off the thought, if that becomes true it might make his flock a laughingstock. No Phillip, stop thinking about it!
Phillip hears someone chirping and snaps out of his thoughts landing his sight on a worried toddler. His heart almost breaks at the cute furrow of her eyebrows and the adorable head tilt.
"Brother Phil alright?" Aimee asks followed by a worried chirp. Phillip slowly enveloper in a warm hug while chirping that he's fine.
Click! The shutter of a camera goes off, he continues to hug Aimee, ignoring his mother who has just undoubtedly snapped a picture of them, mostly likely an instant polaroid this time - she absolutely adores moments like this. Not like he can complain when he likes it too.
Ah there is the avian warble, she must be deep in her instincts. We might be confined to the nest tonight.
"Mom, Aimee still needs her bath." Phillip says, to which the little gremlin immediately tried to wriggle free from his arms but immediately stops when his mother gives her the look.
So, the life of Phillip Watson carries on...