Chapter Four: Understanding a Little goes a Long Way

Summary: Chiro's first night with the team, Sprx gets to know him a little better.

Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' 'cept the stuff in my room and my car.

Author's Notes are at the end.

An hour later, Chiro had finally gotten out of bed and met up with the rest of the team to have (almost) everything explained. He sat in a chair of his own, his brain feeling a little overloaded.

"Are you okay, Chiro?" Nova asked after he had been silent for five minutes.

"Yeah, just, well, relieved, I guess," he smiled at them. "Does this mean I get to stay here with all of you?"

"Well, yes," Antauri said slowly.

"That would be so cool, much better than the home I have now," Chiro gave them a sheepish grin. "That's not very nice thing to say, but,"

"Where do you live now, kid, in a box or something?" Sprx asked gruffly.

"Well, no, I live with foster parents. They're not very nice," Chiro looked at the ground for a second, and then looked back up with a smile. "So, is it okay if I go home to get my stuff?"

Gibson gave him questioning look. "But, what about these foster parents you speak of?"

"They'll survive without me," Chiro's voice had taken on an odd tone.

"Well, he can't go by himself," Otto said. "It's all dark out and stuff, hey! Sprx! Why don't you go with him?"

"Excellent idea," Antauri said before Sprx could protest. "Sprx will be able to provide excellent protection, if necessary. Chiro is still injured, after all,"

"Okay," Chiro smiled at Sprx. "Let's go,"

"Yeah, yeah, sure, kid," Sprx muttered, knowing better than to argue. Chiro got up and started out, Sprx gave the rest of the team a glare. "I hate you guys,"

After the two left, Gibson looked to Antauri.

"Do you think that was a good idea?" Gibson asked.

"They will have to learn to trust each other, or if nothing else, deal with each other."

It was a quiet walk back into the main part of the city. Sprx looked around, more curious than worried because for the most part, he wasn't sure what Shuggazoom looked like. Chiro walked with his arms folded across his chest. The one was still hurt too badly for him to put them behind his head.

"So, how long were you guys in the robot, sleeping?" Chiro asked.

"I think it was more like suspended animation rather than sleeping," Sprx said flatly. "We don't really know, so neither of us have much to say, except Gibson. Mr. Hal Brainstrain could go on forever,"

Chiro snickered. "Really?"

"Yeah. So what's your story, kid? And what are foster parents?"

Chiro's walk slowed slightly as he started the shuffle his feet a little.

"I'm an orphan. I lost my parents a few years ago. Foster parents are people who will take you in, but not adopt you as their own child. These two I'm with now are okay, I guess, but they fight a lot and don't seem to care much about me," Chiro tossed Sprx a smile. "I'm just grateful that I have a roof above my head and food. It could be worse, you know, but,"

"But sometimes you want something else," Sprx felt like he had finished Chiro's sentence.

Chiro stopped and both of their eyes met.

As Sprx studied the slight look of surprise, he felt like he was really seeing Chiro for who he was. He could feel something telling him that this boy was a long lost family member looking for his clan. Perhaps it was him and the rest of the Hyper Force that Chiro was looking for.

Now Sprx was beginning to understand what the Power Primate did for them. Chiro was linked to them, now, and he supposed there was nothing he could do to stop it, whether he liked it or not.

Sprx came to the conclusion that maybe Chiro wasn't so bad.

Ten minutes later, they were at the small house that was Chiro's foster home. He hesitated slightly before opening the door.

"Who's there?" A female voice demanded from inside.

"It's me," Chiro called back.

"Fft,"

Then silence. Sprx looked at Chiro questioningly. Chiro didn't look back; instead he gave a visible sigh of relief.

The bedroom was small and provided Chiro with everything he needed. There was a bed, though very small, a desk, and a little bookshelf.

"So, uh, what do you think they'll say when you tell them you're leaving to live with five robot monkeys?" Sprx asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Probably nothing, they might be fighting by then. Hopefully I can leave without having to explain," Chiro began throwing his few possessions in a small orange and white duffle bag. He only had some extra clothes, two books, a handful of toy robots, and a picture frame.

"Hey, Sprx? If they do happen to say anything, don't talk back. I'll handle them," Chiro said as they left his room.

"Kid, they wouldn't understand me even if I did," Sprx said.

"They wouldn't?"

"What is that noise?" A woman stepped out of a room to block their path. She looked like she could be nice if only she smiled. Her short, curly red hair framed her round face. The look of distaste twisted her features. "Is this some weird new toy you picked up? How did you get the money for something like that? If you have the money for that, maybe I should charge you rent,"

Sprx noticed that the woman was more concerned about Chiro spending money than the fact his arm was wrapped up. Or that his sweater suddenly had one short sleeve.

"Yo, back off you foster parent!" Sprx said, shaking a fist at the woman.

"Ugh, and you spent how much money on a gibberish-spewing robot toy?" She snarled at Chiro.

"I'll show you who's a toy," Sprx said, getting his magnetic weapons out.

"What are you doing?" Chiro asked.

"I'm asking you the questions!" The woman screamed, her hand moving to grip the front of his shirt.

"Don't touch him!" Sprx activated the magnets and pulled anything metallic within a ten foot radius towards them. The woman screamed, suddenly flustered at being bombarded by household objects.

"Sprx! Cut it out!" Chiro demanded.

"Only 'cause you said so," Sprx dropped the magnetic field, and everything fell to the ground.

"You are going to clean up every piece of this mess right now or I'll-"

Chiro never heard the rest of the threat. Neither did Sprx, for Chiro had grabbed his hand and started running.

"What did you do that for!" Chiro exclaimed.

"Aw, come on, it was a joke, she didn't get hurt," Sprx said.

"Not funny!"

Chiro finally slowed to a stop, gasping for breath. He let go of Sprx and bent over, his hands on his knees. Sprx brushed imaginary dirt off himself.

"Look, she was getting in your face and it was totally unfair. She needed to be taught a lesson," Sprx said defensively.

Chiro didn't answer.

"Didn't you see the look on her face? I wish I recorded it,"

Chiro still didn't answer, though he seemed to have caught his breath.

"Come on, kid, you didn't think it was the least bit funny?" Sprx bent down to try to see Chiro's face. "Chiro?"

Chiro's back shook slightly, and then he looked up and laughed.

"Okay, okay, that was funny," he admitted. "So wrong, but so funny,"

Sprx smiled. "Come on, let's go home."

Chiro sighed happily as he relaxed in his bed. His books were set up in one corner with his desk. He had his small collection of robots and figurines from his favorite cartoons on a shelf nearby, a spare set of his school clothes hung on a wall and his destroyed ones were on the back of a chair. He turned off the light and pulled his covers up.

"Finally, I'm home," he said just before he yawned.

Not five minutes later, he was asleep.

Chiro didn't know that outside his door, Sprx had been listening and it made him smile.

"Sleep tight, kid," he said, turning to go to his own room.

What he didn't know was that Otto had been standing behind him. Sprx went to let out a surprised screech, but Otto covered his mouth first.

"Hey, it's me," Otto said.

"Don't scare me like that!" Sprx growled.

Otto only smiled and they started down the hall together.

"So, how did it go?" Otto asked.

"Just fine,"

"Something had to have happened, you seem different,"

"Let's just say that the kid and I reached an understanding,"

"Really?"

"Yeah," Sprx tossed Otto a smirk before retreating into his room. "He stays out of my way; I don't give him a magnet sandwich."

Otto looked puzzled, even after Sprx had shut his door.

"Whatever you say, Sparky," Otto smiled and went off to his own bedroom.

Author's Notes

So, hopefully this formatting will be a little better, now. Sometimes I dislike formatting disabilities. Oh well. I really hope everyone's enjoying the story so far.