Gibbs leaned in and spoke quietly in Tony's ear, "I think we're being watched". He cut his eyes in the direction of where the person was standing.
Tony smiled at him and casually turned his head as if he were just taking in the sights. He had managed Gibbs to get out of the house that afternoon and with promises of things to come later, convinced him to spend it at the D.C. Zoo. "You mean the boy?"
"Yep."
Tony looked down at their joined hands and gave a slight squeeze. "Think this is what he's staring at?"
"Maybe."
He looked at Gibbs and smiled. "I could kiss you and give him something else to look at."
Gibbs grinned and let out a small laugh. "Not going to be necessary. He's heading this way."
The boy, roughly six or seven years old, walked over to the bench where Gibbs and Tony sat. "Hi!" he said with curiosity written all over his face.
"Hi!" Tony replied.
Pointing to their hands, the boy asked, "Are you gay?"
Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what that word means?"
The boy stood up straight and looked Gibbs in the eyes. "Yeah. It's when two men love each other. Do you love each other?"
Tony quickly looked at Gibbs who just grinned and replied, "Yes, yes we do."
"My mom said gay means happy too."
"It does."
"You look happy. I'm glad you're gay."
Gibbs noticed a woman in her early thirties start looking around with a slight expression of panic, "John!" she called out as she turned to see her son standing by the bench talking to the two men. She quickly walked over to them. "I told you to stay beside me", she admonished speaking to the boy. Looking at Tony and Gibbs "I'm so sorry he was bothering you".
"Mom! They're gay!" John's mother looked horrified and started to apologize once again while leading her son away.
Gibbs just waved her off. "No apologies necessary. But thank you for teaching him not to hate."
She just smiled and turned around. As they walked away, Tony and Gibbs heard John tell his mom, "They said they loved each other and were very happy so they must be super gay!"
The two men got up and starting walking in the other direction. Tony mused, "You think we should get capes?" sidestepping the impending headslap.