28
Oscar immediately picked up a black and white spotted kitten immediately smiling at it. The other kittens stepped over each other meowing more and Otto smirked moving over to put his hand in the box and immediately the kittens were attempting to climb up his sleeve as if he were a human sized cat post. I opened my mouth to answer.
"No." Axel firmly before I could get an answer of uncertainty out. We all looked at him, Oscar frowning slightly.
"It's a good thing I wasn't asking you." he said defiantly causing Otto's eyes to widened and look between his brothers stunned. Axel frowned some.
"That will be more mouths to feed and we are not going to have these cats running around Anja's house." he said. Shouldn't that be my decision? Although he was right because there would be so much cat hair everywhere. Otto held one of the kittens in silence watching as he pet the baby cat's fur, it's body flexing in his large hold. Oscar just stood up and frowned before looking at me his face softening some.
"Please flower… things haven't been the same since Maddie." he replied. I could vividly see the dead cat in my mind. I remember how hurt Oscar was to see his cat had been murdered. I too was sad for her. I crossed my arms some in thought, Axel looking down at me his grizzly look now on me and I looked at all of them feeling put on the spot. I looked down at the box of kittens that were meowing for help, before looking at Otto stumbling my words.
"All five though?" I asked and he nodded.
"They're a litter, a family, you cannot separate them." he said looking down at them with a gentle gaze. He then looked at me, but Axel shook his head stepping before me.
"Put them down and let's go." he said. I was stunned by Axel's sudden assertion of dominance. I don't think I ever saw him glare at his brother in such a situation. Was he still feeling guilty for the old house being shot up? Oscar glared at him in defiance and Otto looked down almost saddened by his brother's command as he was moving to put his cat down. I didn't like this aggression over some cats. I stepped closer to Axel and placed my hand over his shoulder and he glanced back at me.
"Let's bring them home." I replied, and Axel looked at me bemused.
"Anja-" but I shook my head letting my hand gently slid up to his cheek.
"They are a family who needs a family. We are a family, and I know you miss having something soft and furry sleep in your lap when no one is watching." I replied. His eyes softened at my words and he leaned his cheek into my palm before his firm stare aimed its way to his brothers. He didn't say anything more just motioned with his head for us to go. Otto and Oscar smiled wide as Oscar leaned down and picked up the box. I pecked Axel's cheek in thanks and he just took my hand and we left back out the alleyway as if nothing even happened. So now we had more places to go.
We took the kittens to the vet to get them checked out, the same we took Maddie to. No one asked about her which I was happy about. We had three boys and two girls. They had a clean bill of health and were also bathed. Axel then drove and I sat in the passenger side looking back with a smile as Otto and Oscar played with the kittens all the way to the pet store. Oscar moved about quickly with a cart grabbing toys, litter boxes, food, treats. Otto followed with the box in his hands. That still did not stop the boys from getting into trouble. Otto squeezed a squeak toy before chucking it at the back of Oscar's head when we went down an empty never acting out in front of others. Axel just shook his head now as we stood at the end of an aisle watching.
"You didn't have to agree to this." he said lowly. I smiled at Oscar's smiling faces.
"I know." I replied.
"So why did you?" he asked and I looked up at him with a gentle gaze.
"You're my boys and I want to see you happy. All three of you." I replied. His eyes warmed on me and he smiled down placing his forehead against my own in response. I knew he wouldn't kiss me necessarily which was fine. This little act of affection was enough for me. Once we brought the kittens home, Otto let them jump from the box and explore the house, while Oscar hurried to set up a litter box in the back corner of the house atop fo a large pet mat. They kitten's immediately clung to Otto. I sat down bowls of food and water for them and immediately they were absorbed into the family.
It was lunch time now and the boys wanted turkey and provolone sandwiches on whole wheat bread. I was making them on the island while Otto moved my coffee table to the side and pulled some blankets from the closet and began to spread the out on the rug beneath. He liked making blanket forts and I enjoyed sitting with him and watching movies. The kittens trailed behind him now moving onto the blankets. Their large cat post sat down and Oscar joined holding one of them to his chest. Axel came down stairs in his usual t-shirt and brief attire. His hair was damp and pale from his shower. He looked at me and saw the plates of sandwiches and chips. He came over and grabbed two plates as I grabbed the others and we joined them on the fort. The kittens hissed at Axel, the hair on their little backs standing. Axel arched a brow and the rest of us laughed.
"I think they are afraid of you." I said taking a bite of my sandwich and Axel nodded.
"They're right to be afraid." he said and I laughed gently as Otto cut on the TV. They had started watching Stranger Things so I started watching it too. I found myself a little tired than usual so I left them to binge their show.
Normal POV
The day went on as usual with no word from the Commission on an assignment. This was alright with the Swedes for that meant relaxation time with their Escort. Axel was happy to have the night her. They agreed on just rotating every night in order to sleep with her.
Anja had finished her shower and once her body was lotioned, Axel held the blankets open and she moved inside. Anja used to sleep naked before they came and missed sleeping naked now. Axel curled his arm blanket around her and the two nuzzled into each other enjoying the silence. Axel loved smelling her hair as her back was to him. Her curls were soft and sometimes he'd play in her hair.
He enjoyed feeling smooth flesh against his. The feeling of their skin was so different when he had first had her, and feeling it now, he was used to it, craved it almost.
"Can I ask you something?" he finally asked cutting the silence with his dry voice. Anja hummed gently and nodded.
"Of course." she replied gently rolling to face him, their eyes gazing into each other. Axel looked down some and then up at her.
"How come…" he paused awkwardly and looked down unsure now if he should go on, but this question has been in his and his brother's minds. Anja looked at him curiously.
"What is it?" she asked softly. Axel looked at her with a light stare.
"The four of us… have been together so much… intimately a lot. Do you not worry about getting pregnant?" he asked. Anja stared at him for a moment as if thinking and Axel tried to read her face, but was unable to. She then shook her head smiling some.
"No… Escorts get IUDs put in them." she replied. Axel looked down some slightly confused.
"That is something to stop you from getting pregnant?" he asked. He sounded so lost and Anja wasn't surprised he didn't know. She was sure their mom didn't explain birth control to them. She nodded.
"Yes." she replied. Axel was quiet for a moment before looking up at her.
"Can it be removed if you wanted babies?" he asked. Anja nodded.
"Yes. Commission IUDs can dissolve once we retire if we want to start families." she answered looking his face over some now trying to read his soft features. "If our futures are meant to stay woven together all of us, is that something you'd want one day?" Axel thought about it for a moment. Being assassins, he never thought of the future. He was one to always stay in the present, but now that he had Anja, he was mildly stressing about having to think about the future for all four of them. He hadn't admitted it yet to anyone, but he was in love with Anja. He knew he loved her since the day they met in that small quiet room. He just didn't know how to tell her and a part of him didn't want to unless she didn't feel the same. He was never good at expression romantic feelings and just became accustom to mirroring her because he felt comfortable doing so. He knew his brothers felt the same. To him, his future would be perfect with all three of them just staying together until they all died one day.
He was sure his brothers felt the same way, but not once had they ever discussed children. They never had to. Killing and getting paid was their passion, but now their passion was in the form of a woman. Anja could tell his mind was full of thoughts and she shook her head placing her hand on his cheek making all thoughts vanish.
"Hey, we don't have to think that far. We can just live in the present." she assured him. He felt relieved by this and nodded leaning in to give her a gentle kiss good night.
As hours went by, Axel found himself feeling uncomfortable. This discomfort was itching his brain and his senses wouldn't allow him to ignore it and his eyes snapped open as he looked around and was facing the wall away from Anja. His back was to her back and that's what was making him uncomfortable. Her skin. Slowly he turned around and looked at her. Her noticed something off about her. She was shaking a bit as if she were cold. Axel blinked a few times to blink the sleep away. The blankets were on her. Now he gently raised his hand to her back, his fingers grazing her flesh. He could feel how hot and sweaty she was.
He leaned up a bit, now completely awake, and he looked over her noticing her forehead was sweating. Something was wrong.
"Anja?" he asked and she moaned in response. Axel put his hand on her forehead and noticed she was very hot. Stunned by this, Axel got up from the bed and moved quickly to her side of the bed. He crouched before her placing his hand under her cheek. Really hot. He got up and shouted for his brothers as he moved to his dresser and pulled out one of his pants. He could hear noises fumbling down stairs, running up the hall, and opening the door quickly, their shot guns and automatic rifle in their hands pointing about. Axel looked at Anja.
"She's burning up!" he replied throwing on his shirt. Immediately Otto and Oscar put their guns down and moved over to her feeling her forehead. Axel quickly grabbed one of her blouses and with his brother's help, they raised her up and she groaned, her eyes gently opening.
"I don't feel so good." she replied weakly. The boys moved as one. Oscar held her up in the sitting position, Otto raised her arms carefully, and Axel slid her gown on. Once she was dressed, Axel led them from the room, Otto lifted her up bridal style and quickly carried her. Oscar grabbed the guns and followed behind them. There was a urgent care down the road that would be open and they knew they had to get her seen there fast!