#b!steve

Yeah I use different art style for this

Steve's anxious question hung in the air a moment as the elder Walter leaned on the wall of his tank, letting out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry Steve, nothings changed."

His shoulders drooped at the news

"I'm still changing."*Kshk*

V nodded "Not only that, it seems to be speeding up, and it's getting to the point the changes are going to start becoming things you can't hide. Steve we really should tell everyone else too."

"No, no not yet. I just -" *kshk* "Please just a little longer." *kshk*

Another sigh

It had taken some doing but they'd finally talked pruny toed Ian into going back inside for dinner and convinced him he had to wait till tomorrow to come back out for more 'swimmy time'. 

He had to admit it was sort of fun how easily he could move through the water. He'd even found he still had something akin to his ability to breath fire under here, heating the water to scalding temperatures instead of exhaling flame. But being stuck in a small circular area was very very dull.

A spasm in his chest wrenched him from his thoughts and he gasped. For half a second he wondered if the magic was finally ending but no, It was a familiar feeling not tied to any magic.

Like his ribs were reshaping in his chest and trying to change size where they had no room. He wrapped his arms around himself willing it to stop, to go away, for his body not to change any further. And eventually the pain ebbed away and he was left gasping water as he tried to calm himself.

Something had changed, his chest felt odd, the ribs shaped differently under his skin and it unnerved him. 

He took another deep gulp of water and pushed himself above the surface.

A towel and a cellphone had been left on a little table jutting from the side of the pool just in case he needed anything and he dried his finned hands off just enough he wouldn't ruin the phone.

Spoilers for later arc under the read more

With the news of what was happening still ringing through his head he jumped banisters and bounced off walls while typing out a warning with one hand.

Spine had confetti and was turning back to himself.

Micheal was mutating into a monster.

The news hurt in a strange way. Fear for his friend tempered by one fact.

This would happen to him.

V had found it out almost as soon as they'd been rescued.

He was still changing.

Right now it was all internal, easy to hide, so Steve had sworn Peter Walter the Fifth to secrecy. No point worrying the others when there was nothing to be done.

But what if this was a glimpse of what was to come for him?

He kicked off a wall to save time on a corner, sliding over the railing to drop two floors. 

What if, what he was assuming was probably some kind of sick magical trick, was really a glimpse at his future?

What if those nightmares were real?

What if when it finally happened to him he hurt his friends?

His son?

Steve held his son in place as Ian pouted and growled, the sound an adorable 'rar grar!' because he was human and couldn't growl the way he normally did. 

"Come on Ian, It'll only be a little pinch."

"nnnuuuuuuuu!!!" he whined pitifully, trying to scooch away from V and the needle he held.

"Uncle V just needs to make sure you're okay. And he needs to take some blood to do that. He's done it to me plenty of times."

Ian scrunched up his nose at his daddy and pouted.

Steve sighed and pulled him forward so Ian's face was pressed against his chest.

"It'll only take a second I swear."

Ian only squeaked when V did it. making an unhappy noise at the pinch.

"See that was nothing! Check ups are important, all of us have to get them. And you did such a good job, now we get to go get  treat!"

"Speaking of check-ups Steve, you and me really need to discus-"

"Later Mr. Walter. We'll talk about it later." he lowered his voice as V gave Ian a sticker for his good behavior.

"And not in front of my son."

He nodded understandingly.

Not that I’ve noticed +Steve+

((he actually does it just hasn’t happened yet and happens a little at a time))

Sort of, I have the same tactile sensors the other bots have, it’s not the same as my actual sense of touch but it’s not too bad an imitation. +Sam+

I…guess thats a pretty good way of explaining it. I don’t get hungry, like ever, and it never really occurs to me that I should probably go eat something, or get a drink, or go to sleep. +Michael+