Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Having a shulker hybrid kid was hard, don't get him wrong. He loves Hermes, he is a sweet little boy that barely cries. He is a really calm baby which is great for him. But taking the shulker shells out of his knees? That was a nightmare, even Sausage tried to avoid it. He couldn't blame him, it was stressful even if it just happened twice a month. It meant risking to burn the bathroom, their clothes and their hands or other body parts. They would often try to get another person to do it. Someone that could handle heat and fire a little bit better than them. Which normally would be only three people. Grian, Jimmy and Scott, it was the order to ask for the favor. If Grian couldn't do it they would ask Jimmy, if Jimmy couldn't either they would ask Scott. Why Scott last? Simple, Sausage didn't know him well enough. Like sure, he knew who Scott was, but he never imagined that the heir of the second most powerful family in the city would be friends with the same people he is. 

It was a really funny experience seeing Sausage meet Scott for the first time. How he started mumbling to himself in spanish something along the lines of "¿por qué rayos está un Smajor acá?" and "ay virgencita santa que no me vaya a aplicar una latam" or something like that. Then after Scott explained that he was going to help with Hermes' shulker shells his face changed completely, turning into the friendly Sausage he knew. 

But now they didn't even need to ask for the favor, Scott offered. Which was weird, even if Scott liked Hermes a lot, it implied taking time to come to Joel's house and taking a couple hours at least to deal with Hermes' shulker shells. It wasn't bad or any of that, it was just a sign that Scott wanted something. At least, that was what Joel understood when he was on the phone with him. 

When Joel opened the door of his apartment and saw a tall brunette man, who he was pretty sure was Jimmy's boss, standing next to Scott he confirmed it. 

"Joel hi, do you remember my friend that I told you would be interested in meeting Hermes?" Scott started with a smile.

He just nodded. 

"Let me introduce you to each other. Pix meet Joel, the father of Hermes, a little Shulker hybrid boy. Joel meet Pix, your local archeologist who is also a nerd of End hybrids and yes, before you ask, he is Jimmy's boss." Scott said.

"Well, get in, don't get in the way. Come inside" Joel said.

"Wait, you know Jimmy?" Pix asked, apparently surprised as he walked inside. 

"Yeah, Grian, his older brother, is the one that usually help us with Hermes"

"Us?" Scott asked. 

"Oh yeah, you haven't met Sausage, have you?"

Scott shook his head. 

"He is a friend of Pearl. He offered to help me with Hermes" 

"Are you talking about me?' Sausage said as he walked to the living room with Hermes in his arms. 

"Oh yeah, I remember you now. You were mumbling in Spanish when you opened his door. 

"Yeah, that was me" Sausage responded as a little giggle escaped him "and this little fella is Hermes" he moved Hermes hand making a little wave. 

He left Hermes carefully on Pix's lap.

"Hi little boy" Pix said as he played with Hermes' hair. 

Hermes giggled softly. 

Joel's clap grabbed everyone's attention. 

"Welp, this is cute and whatever but Hermes really needs that shells off or he's really gonna be pouty about it." 

"Wait" Pix started "doesn't it hurt him?"

"Right now not really, if we wait like three or four days it would start to hurt him. If we wait like a week supposedly he would be in a lot of pain. But we're not gonna risk it" 

Sausage nodded in agreement.

Most End hybrids require air from the End for surviving. They could survive with Overworld air, however every six months they need to go back to the End for at least a week to keep themselves healthy. Recent studies show that kids from End hybrids that grew up on the Overworld could survive without End air and they can also breathe End air without problem. This confirms the theory of hybrid evolution proposed by Mery M. Soldier in her book "Hybrids and evolution". The theory also mentioned that every hybrid could adapt their body to a different dimension more easily than humans, since the hybrid genes had the quality of being adaptive.

Pix was being extremely precise with whatever he was doing. It was ridiculously fast, no more than 30 minutes and all the shells were removed. 

"What did you do? It normally takes about two hours!" Sausage asked. 

"Oh, I read once that their bodies acted like human bodies with water, so I simply gave him a bath. I'm immune to fire so it wasn't a problem" 

"And he is great with kids," Scott added.

"Yeah, that too," He agreed. “Hermes is a really calm kid anyways so it wasn’t a real problem. He was mostly trying to make me float. I don’t think he realizes that his projectiles aren’t that strong enough”.

Joel took a second to look at his son, he seemed happy about the whole deal. Hermes was still hugging Pix, the man being fireproof seemed to be a quality that his son liked. So, naturally, if his son approves the man, he also will. 

"So, Scott said you wanna meet Hermes because you are a big End nerd and that but, exactly, why did you want to meet Hermes?" Joel asked.

"Oh simple" Pix started "First, not everyday I'm offered to meet someone like him, and second I wanted to know about Shulker hybrids. During the period of the shulker boxes crisis a lot of information about Shulker hybrids was burned or returned to the nether. Supposedly to protect young Shulker hybrids, however it had the opposite effect. Since the information about them was almost extinct, neither schools, nor hospitals or any other public necessity they could have would receive them. Afraid of attacks from illegal hunting groups or black market kidnappers. Getting information about them is basically banned from the Overworld." 

"Great, now they could be bullied at school, what a great future awaits for him" Joel responded sarcastically.

"Relax" Sausage said as he put a hand on his shoulder "he would go to the kindergarten I work at and then Grian would keep an eye on him"

Joel sighed.

"I just…" he started "I don't wanna look like an overprotective father that doesn't let his kid do anything on his own. He deserves to have a normal life, is that too much to ask?"

Sausage gave him a weak smile and was about to respond but was interrupted by Scott.

"Aww Joel's going soft?" A laugh accompanied the phrase "relax boy, Hermes is going to be fine. Just trust yourself, you're not giving yourself enough credit for what you do for this boy" 

"Anyways" Sausage interrupted "let's go back to the living room, shall we?" 

Shulker hybrids were not a natural evolution, hence why some of their hybrid traits hurt them even if they're part of their bodies. It is believed that the first Shulker hybrid was an experiment created by injecting Shulker DNA to a fetus in a clandestine hybrid experimentation laboratory. 

As we know, most of these centers would take children with a not developed hybrid gene so they could modify their DNA by injecting DNA from another species, forcing their bodies to activate the hybrid gene and adapt their bodies to the DNA that was being injected to their bodies. If the modification was successful, they would often sell these kids to the black market forcing a new hybrid species to be born and perpetuating the creation of non-natural evolution hybrids. Which could cause a lot of health problems to the future generations of these species. 

The first record of a Shulker hybrid dates back to the Evolution civilization with written records from soldiers that had large amounts of Shulker shells around their chest, knees, and arms. Since none of the records found to date specify if this was a part of their bodies or some type of armor provided by members of the army, theories had been created trying to explain this information. The most popular theory suggests that the Shulker shells grew from their bodies larger, covering areas that could be considered unprotected, as a natural response from the constant feeling of danger that they're subjected to everyday. This fear was passed to new generations and they developed it as a defense mechanism against it. Some fossils found in the area reinforce this theory, since apparently they had the same type of bone structure around these areas that modern Shulker hybrids have around their knees, the only place they grow shulker shells. Other theories suggest that the giant Shulker shells were the result of the Void infection as a weird type of symptom, these giant shells suffocated them allowing the infection to rapidly increase the area affected by it. 

However, since most of the information about Evolution is lost, most of these theories could not be endorsed.

Chapter Text

"So, what do you wanna know?" 

"Everything you know honestly. Everything is useful" Joel responded. 

“You know what chorus fruit is?” Pix asked. 

“Yeah, it's a fruit that only grows at The End” Joel said. 

“It is also necessary on Hermes’  diet. His body may have evolved to let him have a human diet, however the main food source for Shulkers had always been chorus fruit.” Pix said. 

“I can get some” Sausage offered “Heroes have some privileges about End resources so it shouldn’t be so hard”

“You also should try to get him to the Hero Hospital. He really needs some blood tests and stuff like that. He may have been born with the Void Infection”

“The Void Infection?” Joel asked.

“Is a weird illness that was almost extinct when Evolution fell. It only affected humans or Overworld hybrids. It was extremely rare on hybrids, however it was very dangerous. It was an epidemic, they said that the only reason Evolution actually fell was because its troops started to get infected”. 

“I have never heard of it,” Sausage added.

“They don’t like to talk about it” Scott said “I have heard of it. My parents even made me get the vaccine when I was a kid. Nowadays it is really weird to get it, but if you aren’t an End hybrid it is almost certain death. No Overworld doctor knows about it”.

“The only reason I know is because they made me sign a liability waiver since I am digging in areas that once had the disease and they are afraid I will want to take legal action if someone on my team or I get sick.” Pix said. 

“Wait, you’re exposing Jimmy to it?” 

“Oh calm down you overprotective friend. Trust me, those siblings have enough contact to help themselves in that case”. Scott said with a smile

“Scott” Sausage started “do you know something about them that we don’t?”

“It is not my place to talk”

“Anyways” Joel tried to break the awkward silence “Sausage, do you think doctors at the Hero Hospital would know about The Void Infection?”

“I don’t have any idea, but if it is rare enough that Scott had to go to the End for the vaccine then I don’t have a lot of trust in them”

“Actually, I think I know someone that could know” Scott started.

“Okay cool, where could I contact them?” Joel said.

“That’s the problem, you can’t go” Big problem for the pair of parents

“You want me to leave Hermes with you?”

“Yes, if my first option doesn’t work I could cash a favor for a trip to End” Scot said.

“We don’t have another option?”

“Unfortunately no” Pix added “I don’t know how The Void Infections works in this case. It probably won’t affect him if he has it, but it could affect you”. 

The Void Infection (also known as The Void Sickness) is a highly contagious disease affecting the central and peripheral nervous system. Initial symptoms are similar to those of a common flu, including fever, muscle and joint pain, extreme fatigue and dry cough. Symptoms usually appear within an incubation period ranging from 2 to 14 days. During this time, the infected person may show no symptoms and is asymptomatic, making it difficult to detect the disease in its early stages.

It is important to note that the incubation period may vary in different individuals, and some may develop symptoms earlier than others. However, on average, it is estimated that symptoms usually manifest approximately 5 to 7 days after infection.

Over time, the disease progresses and more severe and distinctive symptoms manifest. Patients develop severe headaches, mental confusion, speech disturbances and impaired motor coordination. They may also experience tremors and seizures. In more advanced cases, The Void Infection can progress to Void Vitiligo which in human patients causes void-like patches to appear on their skin. Which progresses until the patient's body is filled with them, this can lead to paralysis of affected limbs, coma and, in extreme situations, death. In most cases, these skin patches are usually accompanied by a burning sensation on the affected area.   Contrary to popular belief neither The Void Infection nor The Void Vitiligo are dangerous to End hybrids of any species, however End hybrids that have lived all their lives on the Overworld may present some minimal joint pain if the sickness progresses to Void Vitiligo. 

The Void Infection has different effects on End hybrids. It is believed that these effects are a consequence of the evolution that End hybrids had as a requirement to survive to The End’s conditions. The Void Infection is undetectable on End hybrids, since most of the End hybrids are asymptomatic. It is believed that the consequences of The void Vitiligo in humans are mitigated in End hybrids because their bodies are in direct contact with the air coming from the void. Another theory is that it is also an effect of the evolution they had to survive in the End. 

“Moving on for more happy themes” Pix started “Tell me whatever you wanna know and I will spit at you knowledge”

“Ohh” Sausage giggled “how long would it take for Hermes to carry himself with his projectiles?”

“About four to five years. I can’t be completely sure, but he should carry himself when he is five at the most. Making you fly could be when he is a teenager”. 

“Should we get him a permit for End traveling?”

“I mean you could, but the paperwork that you would have to do is a lot. There they don’t care of Sausage’s hero status, they only see that he is a Shulker hybrid and neither of you are so it could get you in some trouble” Pix concluded.

“Oh yeah, we should fix that legally one of these days” Joel said.

“Wait” Sausage intervened “you haven’t fixed that?”

“I started. I registered him as a found child, but I said that I wanted to take care of him. I’m just waiting for a call from child services to start everything legally for him, but I’m tempted to use your status to see if we could make everything quicker”.

“If that doesn’t work I could always ask for some ‘priority’ for you” Scott offered. 

“Yeah, I know but since he is a rare End hybrid I don’t want him to be related to your family. Sorry if it sounds bad but you get it”.

“Don’t worry, I know that you would be putting a target on him doing that. I don’t take it personal” Scott said with a smile.

Chapter Text

Grian didn't expect to see Scott with Hermes on his doorstep that Saturday morning. Because, really, when Scott asked if he could come in the morning he didn't expect it would be with Hermes.

"Scott" he began while leaning on the door frame "why do you have Hermes with you?"

"Oh yeah, about that. That's the reason why I called you actually. So, I took Pix to meet him and he started talking about the Void Infection or something like that?" 

"You want me to make sure he doesn't have it," Grian guessed. 

"Yeah"

Grian smiled.

"Sure, I can take a look. However, I don't think he has anything. It's been months since they started taking care of him, if he had something, they would already be at the hospital, unless…"

"Unless what?" 

"Nothing, come in"

"So, there are a couple of things I need to tell you about this. First, you cannot be close to me. I'm going to be in full Watcher mode, not the one I use as a villain, this one is different. Hermes may cry, but the Watcher form is not pretty. I would be surprised if he doesn't cry."

"Why do you need to be in your Watcher form?" Scott asked.

"My memories from that time are almost gone. My Watcher form still has every memory intact". 

"Oh, okay" 

Grian took Hermes in his arms and ruffled his hair carefully.

"Hello little fella," Grian said "Did you miss me? I haven't seen you in a while".

Hermes babbled. 

Grian smiled.

"So," Grian said looking at Scott "Pearl and Timmy are still sleeping just for you to know. Also, you can take anything from the kitchen without problem. I'm gonna take care of this fella". 

He took the blonde kid to his bedroom and he let him sit on the bed. 

"Sorry if this scares you, Hermes" 

Grian's wings twitched and then they began cracking as the feathers separated from each other and another pair arose. His hair started slowly shifting to a silver-white as the eyes started appearing in his wings. 

Hermes didn't cry, he just stayed there without moving. As if he was analyzing what was happening in front of him. Grian has seen adults crying as his Watcher form is shown and this little Shulker kid didn't even start sobbing. The reason may be his origins, End species weren't something that Overworld people see constantly. End hybrids were more used to strange and purple creatures; maybe that was the reason for his reaction. 

Grian looked at Hermes carefully. He didn't even flinch or anything. He wasn't going to cry, everything was fine. Grian sighed. He slowly put his finger on Hermes' forehead and he let the eyes do their thing. Everything came flooding his brain. 

Hermes was born in a hybrid experiment center with the objective of creating a full Shulker kid. It would make them rich, unlimited Shulker shells on a world when End traveling is almost impossible. They would be sold for a pretty penny on the black market

 Son of a human mother and a shulker-avian father. Human genes were always weaker, they were in the lowest hierarchy level. If any of the parents had two hybrid traits and the other parent was a human, the human genes would be lost. The perfect way of playing with the genes. 

Playing God.

Chimera children were created to meet the needs of greedy people that wanted to make money with poor kids that were born to die. To be used again and again. 

The Void Infection was long forgotten. Hermes was a laboratory baby, they seriously needed to protect him. He knew what life those kids were forced to have, the abuse that they learned to expect. It was hard shooting down those centers exactly for that, seeing the faces of injured kids trying to protect the younger ones even if they took their lives. Protecting the younger ones didn’t even lead to anything, it was just hiding them temporarily from the abuse. They couldn’t really save them. It was difficult to show those kids kindness, their trust in adults was destroyed, and they only knew abuse. It took years for those kids to start healing. They were lucky Hermes was still a baby, even if he was abused, he was mostly protected by the older kids. 

 But, however, there was another question. 

Who left Hermes in that alley?

Hermes was the only semi-successful experiment. Being injected with an extra amount of Shulker genes to try to secure the appearance of them. It was a cruel experiment that killed the mother. Her body not being able to support the number of hybrid genes. It was pure luck that Hermes managed to survive. Most kids born in that experiment center didn't manage to develop totally the abilities that their hybrid genes provide.

The hybrid experimentation center that Hermes' used to live in was discovered when he was five months old. He was secluded in a special End atmosphere area, making it hard to access it. Hermes was taken by one of the workers of the center and he escaped with him. Mutation of hybrid genes was one crime, but involving End genes would be the (funnily enough) end for them. End-related crimes were judged on the End, they weren't kind to workers of these centers. All the abuse that these species encountered for years was still resented and nobody could tell 

them that they were being unfair. Who would try?

25 kids under the age of five were rescued, 5 under the age of ten and a search order for an End kid was released. The worker that had taken Hermes found out about it so he let Hermes to die on the nearest alley. He let a baby to die in an alleyway just to get out of the radar. To protect himself he let a baby to die. 

Guess Watcher would need to pay him a visit.

"I need to talk to Joel" 

No, focus. They came here searching for another thing. He needed to confirm, even if he knew that, if Hermes had it, the avian genes that he had would eliminate any danger. He just needed to touch his forehead again.

Hermes has Void Vitiligo, undeveloped right now. But it is present. Around his fifth birthday, he may start presenting different color skin patches around his back and legs. The avian genes eliminate the danger that it could be to any Overworld species. 

He also has wings. 

The bone structure for wings is there, it just needs to grow enough to let the wings free. 

Grian definitely wasn’t expecting to have another avian that, at some moment, could consider him as a part of his flock, but he was happy. He hasn't met a lot of avians these last years, and most of the avian species seemingly start to become extinct.

It would be nice.

Doctor appointments were a pain. 

Especially when it was for kids. Kids were mostly little chaos gremlins. Even Hermes could fall under that category, loving to come near everything with cool colors or just running (crawling really) around to follow everything that moves. Luckily, the staff of the Hero Tower were really understanding, they could understand something that a lot of people seemed not to. Kids have a lot of energy, they move like crazy and like to ramble about stuff. As long as they don’t kick, shout, or hit another person they are okay. 

Sausage was fine with taking Hermes to the doctor on his own. Because even if Joel wanted to take him he couldn’t. The Hero Tower was extremely strict about who could enter it. It was fine, after all, it was just a general check-up. Getting everything in order so Hermes could get his shot and everything without any problem. Sausage even requested to have the nicest doctor that they considered to have, which led him to meet a doctor that he had never seen before.  

Doctor Nia. 

 A nice woman with pink hair and bright green eyes. She seemed to interact with Hermes just fine so he let her be. Everything went smoothly, she managed to get him entertained enough so he wouldn’t cause any trouble. She was a miracle worker. 

“So, I just registered everything. He is a healthy little Shulker boy, however, I try to look him up and I don’t see any info about him in the system. Remind me, whose child is he?”

He gets it. She is worried for him, honestly, he would also be worried if he didn’t know Hermes’ situation. He is at the Hero Tower after all, their job is to make sure that people are okay, especially children. 

“I know this seems bad, but trust me he is safe” Sausage stopped a second to think “Wait could you look up for Shulker kids missing or stuff like that? I have been trying to get info about him but I couldn’t find anything ”.

He probably didn’t realize how suspicious that request sound until she looked at him.

“I’m gonna trust you with him, but please bring him in another day so he could get his shots. Deal?”

“Deal”.