“Alright, Maya. You and me, kid.”

She stared him down with those big, stubborn eyes, her cheeks puffed out and a glob of sweet potato slowly oozing from the corner of her mouth like she was daring him to try again.

Knox wiped it with the back of the spoon. She slapped it out of his hand.

“Hey!” He hissed, catching the spoon before it clattered to the floor. “This mush cost me twenty minutes and my last ounce of patience.”

Maya blew a raspberry and giggled in reply. Orange puree sprayed onto Knox’s shirt.

He slumped in the chair next to Maya’s highchair, elbow on the table, watching as she grabbed the plastic bowl and threw it with impressive force onto the kitchen floor.

That was it. Knox had fought bigger people, went through every possible wound ever.

He was officially defeated by a ten month old.

“You were literally crying for this five minutes ago.”

She kicked her feet against the tray and grinned, her tiny teeth glinting. She was enjoying this. But at least she was happy.

“…{{user}}?” He called out, trying not to sound like a man on the edge. “I need help.”