Guardian's Heart

Itchy teeth

A few weeks had passed since Leni's tumble at the park, and life had returned to its normal routine. Damian had been especially attentive since the accident, making sure she was always safe and feeling her best. However, lately, Leni had developed a new habit—a troublesome one.

It started innocently enough. While sitting on Damian's lap during a movie, she absentmindedly bit his arm as she fidgeted, her tiny teeth sinking into his skin. At first, Damian brushed it off, assuming she didn't realize what she was doing.

But soon, the biting became more frequent. Every time she sat close to him, her little teeth would find their way to his hand or arm, and it was becoming harder for Damian to ignore.

One evening, as they were reading a bedtime story, Leni leaned over and bit his forearm—this time harder than usual.

"Ow! Leni!" Damian exclaimed, pulling his arm away and frowning. "That's enough, sweetheart."

Leni looked up at him with wide eyes, sensing the seriousness in his tone. "I'm sorry, Daddy... I didn't mean to," she mumbled, but there was still a hint of defiance in her voice.

Damian sighed and set the book down, turning his attention fully to her. "Leni, we've talked about this. You can't keep biting people, especially not me. It's not okay, and it hurts. Do you understand?"

Her lip quivered as she looked down, her fingers twisting in her shirt. "But I don't mean to, Daddy..."

Damian, though stern, softened a little seeing her sad expression. "I know you don't mean to, but you have to stop. It's not a game, Leni."

She nodded, clearly upset by the scolding. "Okay, Daddy. I'll stop."

Satisfied with her promise, Damian pulled her into a hug. "Good. Let's finish the story, and no more biting, alright?"

A few days later, however, Damian noticed another concerning habit—Leni had started biting her nails. It wasn't subtle either; her tiny fingers were constantly in her mouth, and she'd gnaw at them when she was watching TV, playing, or even during mealtimes.

One afternoon, as Leni sat on the couch watching cartoons, Damian noticed her again nibbling on her nails. He walked over and gently sat down beside her.

"Leni, sweetheart, what are you doing?" he asked softly, though his voice carried concern.

She quickly pulled her fingers out of her mouth, hiding them behind her back. "Nothing, Daddy..."

Damian shook his head. "No, not nothing. You've been biting your nails a lot lately, haven't you?"

Leni looked away, trying to avoid his gaze. "Maybe a little."

He gently cupped her small face in his large hands, turning her head so she had to look at him. His thumbs stroked her soft cheeks, calming her instantly. "Let me take a look at your teeth, sweetheart," Damian said, his voice gentle but firm.

Leni hesitated, clearly reluctant. "But why, Daddy? I don't want to."

Damian kept his hands on her cheeks, his thumbs still gently stroking her skin. "I just want to make sure everything's okay. You've been biting a lot, and I need to check if something's bothering your teeth."

She pouted but eventually nodded, her small hands clutching his wrists for reassurance. "Okay... but it feels weird, Daddy. My teeth feel itchy."

Damian frowned slightly, now more concerned. "Itchy? Let me have a look."

He gently tilted her head up and carefully opened her mouth, his finger running softly along her gums and teeth. He noticed some slight redness around her gums, and her molars seemed to be in the middle of shifting, likely the cause of the discomfort.

"Hmm," he murmured, inspecting her teeth closely. "It looks like your teeth are moving a bit, sweetheart. That's probably why they feel itchy."

Leni squirmed uncomfortably, not liking the sensation of him inspecting her teeth. "I don't like it, Daddy. It feels weird."

Damian smiled softly and gave her cheek a gentle stroke. "I know, honey. But it's just your teeth growing. It might feel uncomfortable for a little while, but I can help you find something to make it feel better."

Leni sniffled, still upset about the odd sensation in her mouth. "It's itchy, and I don't like it."

"Well, biting your nails and me isn't going to help," Damian said with a small chuckle, rubbing her back soothingly. "We can try some cold things to help, like chewing on a cold washcloth or maybe some ice pops. It'll soothe your gums and make it feel less itchy."

Leni's eyes lit up a bit at the idea of ice pops. "Ice pops?"

"Yep," Damian said, smiling. "And it'll be much better than biting your nails. So next time your teeth feel itchy, we'll try that, okay?"

Leni nodded eagerly. "Okay, Daddy."

Damian kissed her forehead softly and pulled her into his lap. "You're growing up, Leni. It's just part of it. But you don't need to worry, alright? I'm here, and we'll figure it out together."

As they sat on the couch, Damian made a mental note to monitor her closely over the next few days. He knew Leni's habits were just a sign of her discomfort, and as long as he stayed attentive and patient, they'd get through it just fine.

"Now, how about that ice pop?" Damian asked, standing up with her still in his arms.

Leni giggled, the earlier worries fading away. "Yes, please!"

With a smile, Damian carried her to the kitchen, knowing that even the little things, like checking her teeth or giving her comfort, were just part of being her daddy.