Conner Has Two Daddies (and a Robot Nanny)

Chapter 10

Ted hummed in contentment as he leaned back in his seat on the couch. Booster was currently in the guestroom ('Conner's room' his mind was already calling it) making sure Conner got in bed early. This gave the evening a strangely domestic atmosphere.

Soon enough Ted heard a door open and close and the next moment Booster was climbing over the back of the couch, flopping down on top of the cushions and wrapping himself around Ted. Booster was the cuddly type but now the blond was practically clinging to Ted, not unlike that time Ted had woken from his six-months-long coma ("Six months and three days", Booster would insist). It was slightly worrisome.

"Boost?" Ted asked the other softly. "What's wrong?"

"I told him I was proud of him. He started crying. I don't think he even noticed it until I pointed it out," Booster mumbled into Ted's shoulder before squeezing the brunet tighter. The blond was actually quite heavy, being larger than Ted was, but the latter had grown quite used to it and didn't find the weight pressed against him unpleasant at all. "He needs us, Ted."

Ted hummed, thoughtful for a moment. Making up his mind, he spoke out: "We could ask him tomorrow."

"Yeah." Booster took a shivering breath. "You don't think it's too soon?"

"Booster." Ted sighed and leaned his head to the side until he could feel Booster's soft hair against his cheek. "I already think of him as ours. Might as well ask the kid what he thinks."

"Ours," Booster repeated and his voice held that same childish awe as when Ted had first suggested they do this. "Nia malgranda kokcinelo."

"He does look like one, a bit," Ted conceded. "At least in costume."

"You looked it up?" Booster's tone was awfully amused and Ted blushed as he muttered: "It took some effort, since I had no idea how to spell 'kokcinelo' but yeah, I did." Ted's thumb caressed circles into Booster's wrist. "I want to share things like that with you. A language, an apartment, a kid, they're all meant to be shared with someone special."

"Wow, Ted," Booster whispered into Ted's ear with a soft murmur that sent shivers down the brunet's spine, "I didn't know you could be so romantic..." Booster's lips pressed a kiss on the shell of Ted's ear and the shorter man all but melted.

"Very good work, sir, but now if you'd plant one on his mouth, I'd get the perfect shot," Skeets' voice suddenly rang and Ted flailed and sent both of the men tumbling off the couch.

"The hell, Skeets?" Booster snarled, only to get reprimanded by the robot: "Language, sir, you are supposed to be a role model now."

Booster shot the machine a heated glare as he and Ted got seated on the couch again. "Were you filming us?"

"Just a couple of pictures to preserve the moment for future generations, sir," Skeets replied easily. "You let complete strangers photograph you all the time; there's no need to be shy with me."

The grumbling that came from Booster after that was most certainly not suitable to repeat around children, and the low tirade got cut off when Skeets continued: "Actually, sir, I came to inform you that the League is calling your watch shift on Metropolis tonight. Apparently there is some trouble with a giant octopus of sorts."

"Figures." Booster sighed. "The tentacle monsters show up as soon as Big Blue is in outer space." The blond got up off the couch and turned to give Ted an indecisive look. Ted knew him well enough to know what he was thinking about.

"I'll sit this one out. Someone has to look after Conner," Ted answered the unspoken question. "Will you be back on time for breakfast so that we can have that talk with Conner together?"

"Yeah." Booster nodded slowly, then again more confidently. "Yeah, I'll be back on time." He then left to get suited up while Ted was left to lament on another broken moment. But, he supposed Booster had it worse; he was the one who had to stay up all night because of some overgrown sea creature.

This would rule out seafood from the menu for the next week.

To be continued…

I have no explanation for Skeets. Either he really supports Boostle or then he actually tries to cockblock his boss. And considering that Skeets being a sarcastic troll who gets jealous over Booster's attention is pretty much canon...