As Anya shoveled food in her mouth, Eric glanced at the television where the News informed the viewers of the Minister of Westalis arriving at Berlint airport for a summit where parties from both East and West can talk of peace treaties between the nations.
When Anya started choking, Eric gently patted her back. "I told you to eat slowly." He said as his sister drank a glass of water to help the food go down.
"You should listen to your brother." Loid stated offhandedly, but unsurprisingly, Anya didn't listen as she finished the drink and leapt off her seat with all the energy her little body carried.
"Thanks for the food!" She hopped from one foot to the other excitedly, "C'mon Mama, Papa, and brother, it's time to go!" She exclaimed before dashing off to her room to get dressed.
Loid sighed, "So much energy."
Yor giggled, "Can you blame her though. Today's a big day."
"We're getting a dog." Eric stated as he calmly finished breakfast before following his sister's lead.
After getting dressed in warm clothes, the Forgers went out to adopt a dog. Eric stationed himself on Yor's left while she held Anya's hand. Eric tuned out his sister's singing and barking as he looked ahead of himself. He stopped when something black moved in his peripheral vision. He turned his green eyes towards an alleyway and heard a strange noise coming from one of the overturned trashcans. He looked around until he found what he was looking for.
Hidden in the shadows between a trashcan and a large piece of cardboard was a black cat with golden eyes as it struggled to remove its neck and front paw from a tangle of ropes and wires.
Seeing the animal trapped and in distress, Eric knelt down and held his hands up to show the hissing creature that he is not a threat. "It's okay, I won't hurt you." He whispered to the cat as he slowly and gently placed the back of his fingers in its fur and started to pet the tense creature. The cat's hissing died down at the kind and gentle touch of the human, something it never experienced until now as it started to purr at the comforting hand.
Eric chuckled lightly as he worked to disentangle the cat from its entrapment. He worked every loop like a puzzle, being careful not to hurt it by accident. 'This is like disarming a bomb.' He thought to himself as he finally freed the animal and carried it away from the pile.
"There we go, you're okay." Eric said softly to the cat as he cradled it in his arms.
Golden eyes stared up at the boy's green eyes with wonder before he gentle set her back on the ground. No human has ever been that kind to her.
"You be careful out here alright." Eric said as he stood up and dusted the filth off his pants.
'Green eyes and blonde hair.' The black cat thought to herself as she looked up at the small boy. 'Could he be..?'
"Eric!" Loid rushed over to his son upon spotting him.
On instinct, the cat hid herself from the older man's view while keeping her golden eyes on the boy.
"I was helping a cat." Eric explained as Loid took his hand with a sigh. "Don't wander off like that."
Eric followed his father to rejoin Yor and Anya.
The black cat inched out of the alley to watch the boy who took the younger girl's hand. 'Green-eyed boy, and girl with horns. It is them! I have to get White!' She scrambled to rush back to her friend and tell him she found their destiny.
They made it to the pet shop, and all the hopes Anya and Eric had for a dog...went kaput. Eric's eye twitched at the overly muscled monstrosities that were these canines. What was even more disturbing was how two of them started flexing their muscles in front of the two kids while Loid talked to the owner about a different more family friendly dog.
'Yeah, hell stinkin' no.' Eric thought to himself as Anya nodded in agreement, a look pure displeasure on her face.
Anya bluntly said, "I don't like these dogs."
"They do look a little rough to keep as a pet." Yor stated in agreement.
"I'm kind of scared to know what they've been eating." Eric admitted, watching one of them drool through their large teeth, "Who they've been eating."
He half-listened to their father talk to the shop owner who was finished talking on the phone. Thankfully there's this shelter putting on a big adoption event.
Suddenly, Loid had an ill expression as he held his stomach. "Uh, something's really not agreeing with my stomach. You three go on ahead to the shelter by the train station. I need to find a bathroom." He explained as his family turned to him in concern.
"It's most likely constipation. It can happen to anyone. Did you pass more than three bowel movements this week? Are you taking dietary fiber? Is it something Mom made that mutated and is nesting inside your digestive tract?" Eric theorized as he came to his father's side and asked medical and stranger questions.
"No, hopefully it's nothing like that." Loid said, though despite how ludacris the last one was, he sometimes wondered if there was some truth to that. He swore something moved in Yor's cooking one time.
"I'm not a surgeon yet, but I'm certain I can cut it out with the right tools." Eric said as he looked around the shop for some makeshift medical equipment.
"Um, that won't be necessary, I just need to ride it out." Loid quickly said when he saw how serious his son looks.
"Oh, Loid are you okay? We can wait for you." Yor said while Anya picked up on his thoughts and decided to help him.
"Papa takes a lot of time on the crapper, so we should probably go."
"I didn't consider that." Yor said as she glanced at Anya.
"You should watch your mouth young lady." Loid reprimanded his daughter for using foul language. 'I appreciate the cover she's given me, but at what cost?'
Eric sighed at his sister then turned to Loid, "I think I'll stay with you. You need a doctor if it's that bad." He stated with a serious face a six-year-old shouldn't have.
Anya took her brother's hand, "But brother, you promised that we'd pick a dog together." Eric's eyes widened when she discreetly traced a familiar pattern into his palm.
With a sigh, he relented and followed his mom and sister out of the shop. "Have fun on the toilet." He called to his father, making Anya and Yor giggle at the red-faced Loid.
'Typical, the moment we do something as a family, he's called to another mission.' Eric thought to himself as Anya looked up at her brother with a proud expression. Anything their father does is just too cool.
'And don't even think about involving yourself in his missions again. Got it?' Eric's stern thoughts carried over to his sister. He didn't want another repeat after what happened at the aquarium.
Anya pouted but decided to obey Eric. At least for now.
The black feline leapt from one building ledge to another with all the agility and grace her small body could muster. Her canine friend wasn't at the usual place those filthy humans kept him locked up. But she knows how to find him with scent alone. After all, cats are natural born hunters, it's in their blood to stalk their prey before they go in for the kill. At least that's what her mother taught her.
Golden eyes watched the street below as she sat perched on the corner of the building. Then she spotted him, the big white fluff taking off towards a little kid and grabbing the back of his shirt with his teeth just as the large sign slammed down on the sidewalk, right in the spot the kid almost went under.
The cat looked relieved and proud as she witnessed this brave selfless act her friend did. Taking a deep breath, she meowed loud enough to get the white dog's attention.
Ears twitched at the sound as the fluffy canine looked up and whined, "Black?"
"White! I found them! The two kids you described, they're here in the city!" The cat meowed loudly down to her friend whose eyes brightened.
The dog barked loudly, bringing more attention to himself. "Do you know where they went?"
"Not yet! But I know they're close by! Let's go!" The cat leapt down and landed on her paws and took off in the direction where she sensed the kids would be.
The white dog made a move to follow, but a harsh tug on the leash choked him and pulled him back to his captors.
"You damn mutt! Just what the hell are you doing?" The man pulled his leash really hard and tight. The poor gentle animal bowed his head submissively as his body went on autopilot and followed the man's orders.
The black cat stopped running when she realized her companion wasn't following. She stayed hidden as she glared at her friend's captors. Oh, how she wants to claw their eyes out. But given her size and how outnumbered she is against them, there was nothing she could do for her friend. Unless...
With a plan in mind, she bolted towards where the kids would be.
Puppies, kittens, bunnies, all the fluffy cuteness anyone could hope for in this large space. And the one place Eric regrets coming to.
It's no secret that Anya is a hyperactive excitable little girl. But apparently being surrounded by little fluffballs is enough to make her run all over the place.
"Like an overexcited puppy." Eric commented as Anya ran from pen to pen to look at all the cuteness the shelter had to offer.
"Tiny little doggies!" The pups yelped in surprise.
"And kitties!" The kittens meowed cutely in greeting.
"And fuzzy bunnies!" Anya hopped in front of the aforementioned animals in delight.
"Please don't run around all willy-nilly! I'm afraid you'll get lost in the crowd!" Yor called to Anya as they struggled to keep up with the energetic girl.
The boy sighed, he can already tell today was going to be exhausting.
"Now listen to me Anya and Eric, promise me you won't leave the area with the doggies, okay?" Yor said to her children. Eric hummed, "Yes ma'am." While Anya nodded, "I promise."
The trio checked out all the tiny dogs. "A chihuahua! Pomperanian!" Anya now resembled a panting dog who was overwhelmed by adorable animals.
Despite the effort he takes to maintain he calm exterior; Eric couldn't help but snicker at his sister as he leaned against the window. This is just too funny.
A woman approached Yor, "Would you like to adopt a dog today?"
"Is there a breed you say is easy to take care of." Yor asked, which she unfortunately took her eyes off the children.
Something big caught Anya's attention, making her look outside to see a very big white dog walking in front of the window Eric was leaning on.
"Hm? What's wrong?" Eric asked when his sister's demeaner changed. Following her gaze, he did a double take and stumbled away from the window in surprise.
"A polar bear?" That can't be right, polar bears are supposed to live in much colder climates.
'That's a big ol' Mr. Doggie.' Anya thought to herself as said dog turned its tired eyes to her.
Suddenly, she was caught up in a vision of herself throwing her hands in the air as she stood in the middle of her family. But what surprised her was the appearance of a black cat with golden eyes clinging to her brother.
'Me and my family?' Anya's eyes shone as she and the dog held eye contact.
"Keep moving you mongrel." The man tugged the leash, leading him across the street into the opposite building.
Eric glared at the man's back for treating the dog harshly. He noticed his sister's prolonged stare on the white canine.
'Did I... read Mr. Doggie's mind?' Anya wondered as the dog disappeared into the building followed by a German Sheperd.
"You okay?"
Anya turned to her brother, "That Mr. Doggie, I saw our family in his mind."
Eric blinked, "Hm? That's impossible, I'm pretty sure we'd have remembered seeing that polar bear."
"I know. But..." She glanced behind them to see their mother still talking to the lady.
Eric sighed, still facing the window, "Look, it doesn't matter. As far as I'm concerned, it was probably his imagination. Let's just forget-" He made a choking sound when he realized his sister wasn't beside him anymore.
"Huh? What the-Where-?" A panicked Eric looked around until he saw something pink with horns walk across the street.
Gritting his teeth in frustration, "Anya." He followed her outside just as she entered the building. He waited for cars to pass before crossing, Eric dashed across the street road to get to his sister and scold her for leaving like that.
He entered the building, looking around at the concrete staircase before quietly making his up. 'Anya, where are you? We need to get back to the adoption event.' He called out to her in his mind until he heard voices accompanied by the sound of barking. Opening the door, he saw dogs leashed to a bar looking pitiful. Immediately spotting his sister standing in front of the white dog.
'Anya.' She turned to her brother who beckoned her to come towards him. 'We're not supposed to be here.'
"You better not have done anything to draw attention to yourselves."
Both children turned to the closed door where the voice came from.
"Don't worry Keith. The place was crawling with people and their dogs at that adoption thing."
Against their better judgement, the siblings pressed their ears against the door.
They listened to who might be the man in charge. "The big day's here at last. Once our plan goes down the facade of peace between the East and West will explode right along with the Foreign Minister." Both of their green eyes widened at the meaning behind those words. "If we want to restore Ostania to its former glory, it's clear what has to be done. Give Brantz the honor of being the catalyst of war. We'll bring those arrogant pigs from the West down to their knees!" He declared with over-confidence.
"Bring 'em down!"
Eric's eyes narrowed before turning to Anya and slowly pulled her away from the door. The first thing they need to do is find their mother and get to the police station. They can stop this terrorist plot before it even starts. These guys won't even know someone listened in.
They froze when they bumped into something behind them. Their eyes widened as they turned around to see a large man narrow his eyes down at the kids.
Or maybe not.
Before they could release a sound, they were grabbed by the back of their jackets and dragged towards the door.
The big man kicked the door open. "Hey, what in the hell are you thinking? These little brats heard everything you just said!"
"What's a couple of kids even doing here anyway?" One guy with glasses questioned upon seeing the siblings.
"So, uh, what do we do?" The guy who sat up from a box asked, looking uncomfortable by this turn of events.
Eric clawed at the hand holding his jacket, the grip pulled the collar tight around his neck as he glared at everyone in the room.
"What do we do, huh?" The same voice they heard through the door earlier belonged to a man with black hair, a trench coat and menacing eyes. He stood up and whipped out a pocketknife.
"Well, we just need to take care of them, don't we?" He said, malicious intent clear in his face as he glared at the kids. Anya whimpered while Eric hissed at them through his teeth.
"Hey, calm down, okay? They're just kids." One of his cohorts stated, not liking the idea of hurting children.
"And if they tattle to their parents, we can kiss our plan goodbye. Kurt, make sure they don't scream." Their leader said as he stalked towards the kids.
Eric's eyes gleamed a different shade of green before one of the windowpanes shattered and flew towards the leader. A shout of surprise and pain filled the room as he dropped his knife to hold onto his bloodied arm where large glass shards embedded into his flesh.
"Keith!" One of his followers exclaimed, rushing to his side.
Just then, a loud bark came from behind Kurt who turned just in time to see a massive white dog leap towards him with anger in his black eyes. He moved out of the way in surprise, dropping Eric and Anya in the confusion.
Eric held his sister protectively while the dog shielded them from the terrorists. He growled dangerously at Keith who glared back while keeping the pressure on his bleeding arm.
"Mr. Doggie." Anya said as she recognized the mass of fur.
It barked loudly, as though he was telling them not to come near the kids.
"This one's got a real problem with listening."
"Maybe instead of training him, we should put him down."
The dog kept barking at them, the sound echoing across the room.
One of the terrorists picked up a stray pipe. "You picked the wrong guy to bark at. I'm gonna shut you up for good!"
His threat accompanied by the weapon was enough to make all the dog's bravado disappear. He whimpered and hung his head in submission before he padded to stand behind the kids. His pitiful whimpers almost sounded like, 'I'm sorry. Please don't hit me. I'll be good.'
Eric glanced at the dog with sympathy as he laid a gentle reassuring hand on his furry head. He turned his green eyes back to the terrorists. "Φάτε σκατά! (Fáte skatá!)" Eric growled out. Anya turned to him in shock over the foul language he used.
"What did you say?" The guy with the pipe yelled. Eric smiled spitefully at them and slowly repeated, "Φάτε σκατά."
Though none of them could understand what he said, they knew he was insulting them. "Why you little-!" The one with the pipe marched over, raising the metal over his head.
Anya whimpered and hid behind Eric who focused on the pipe.
Green eyes glowed for a split second as he used his power to kick the man's feet out from under him. The man stumbled forward and tripped before Eric applied more force onto his head and slammed his face into the concrete. The pipe flew out of his hand and slid over to Eric.
"What's wrong with you, you klutz!" Keith yelled at his cohorts impatiently.
Eric picked of the pipe, though it was heavy in his hands, he managed to get a good grip on it as he took a fighting stance in front of his sister and the dog.
Seeing the pipe no longer in his abuser's hands, the canine started growling at Keith.
Despite the pain in his arm, Keith picked up the knife and approached the kids. "Just step away from the dog you brats. I promise to make this quick and painless."
Eric glared, "Funny, I was gonna say the same thing." He said as he held his weapon tightly.
The dog's ear's perked up as a vision came to him. Stepping closer to Anya, he growled softly. "Get ready to run."
Anya was confused by the dog's behavior until she read his mind.
Everyone in the room turned as the telephone rang loudly.
"The phone?" Anya whispered as the dog nodded.
"C"mon, let's get this over-" Keith was interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing. The sudden noise startled everyone in the room.
Anya gripped her brother's sleeve and pulled, making his turn his head slightly just enough to see her cock her head towards the door. He nodded as they silently stepped out of the room while the terrorists were distracted by the news of someone raiding their safehouses.
It wasn't until they were completely out of the room did Eric make his move. With a violent swipe of his hand, he slammed the door shut and held it tightly with his power as the terrorists started to beat it down. Eric grunted at the effort it took for him to keep it closed before focusing his attention on the knob's mechanisms. Furrowing his brow in concentration, he bent and twisted the gears to make it impossible to turn or unlock the door.
With his job done, he turned to follow the dog who dragged his sister by her hood before flipping her onto his back so she could ride him.
"Is Mr. Doggie really our friend?" Anya asked as she turned her head to see Eric use his powers to fly parallel to the winding stairs.
'This is really bad, I cursed in front of my little sister!' Eric berated himself, 'Oh, and we're also being chased by a bunch of terrorist wannabes who want to restart the war!' He internally screamed as he tucked and rolled and ran in front of the dog.
"Let's just get Mom and-Huh?" He came to a screeching halt when he noticed the dog running in a different direction.
"Anya, what are you doing? Come back!" Eric yelled as he chased after the dog as fast as his six-year-old legs could carry him. "You turn that dog around right now!"
Eric gritted his teeth as he pushed his body to catch up with them. 'This is just great. All I wanted to do was get us a dog. Simple as that. But no! We just had to stumble across a terrorist plot and run for our lives!' He ranted in his head as he dodged pedestrians.
"Doggie! Pease stop! Let me off!" Anya yelled as she struggled to hold on to the dog jostling her on his back. "Someone help me! I'm being chased by a bunch of bad guys!"
Citizens from across the street saw this thought it was adorable and believed it was an intense game of tag with the older boy chasing after them with a long pipe in his right hand.
After three minutes of running nonstop, Eric started wheezing. "Anya...stop...the dog." He released a cough as his exhausted sweaty body couldn't take another step. He leaned against the pipe he carried with him to catch his breath and figure out how to get to his sister.
He hung his head, "This...is just...not...my day."
"Meow."
"'Meow?'" Eric picked his head up to see a familiar sleek black cat with golden eyes staring up at him with what appears to be an annoyed frown.
"Huh? Hey I know you. What are you doing here?" Eric shook his head and stood upright. "Never mind. I need to find Anya before-" He couldn't finish his sentence when the cat launched herself into his chest. The force of her push knocked him backwards. Thankfully his hands caught himself in time, or else his skull would hit concrete.
"What's your problem?" Eric asked in bewilderment at the feline digging her claws into his jacket.
The cat turned her head into the alleyway she pushed him in front of and hissed. Confused at her actions, Eric followed her gaze and saw Keith along with two of his henchmen and a German Sheperd sprinting to the right.
"You want me to follow them?" Cat meowed again, still glaring at the alley.
Eric groaned as he stood up. The cat crawled all over him until she draped herself across his head and shoulders.
"I'm taking orders from a cat now. Typical." Eric sighed to himself as he picked up the pipe again and charged into the alley.
He kept a distance behind them until he peeked around the corner to see all three of them plus a dog surrounding Anya and the white fluff held back painfully by the leash. Rage and blood lust overtook him as he eyes glowed once more, brighter and more menacing as he ran towards them with the intent to kill. He slid behind one of them, the same one who dropped the pipe before, gripping the same pipe firmly in his hands, he swung it upward.
"Fore!"
'CRUNCH!'
The man barely had time to scream as the force of Eric's strike, with the aid of his power, sent him flipping forward and onto the ground clutching his male parts in agony.
But Eric wasn't done, the adrenaline still coursed through his system as he twirled his weapon around and swung at the bewildered Keith. Striking him in the stomach sent the shocked man into the brick wall. He released the white dog's leash in the confusion.
Kurt turned around at the commotion to see the kid with glowing green eyes glare at each of them and a cat that looked smug as it hung onto his shoulder. Before he could say anything, another much more murderous creature with glowing eyes leapt down from the sky and planted her white winter boot into his face while snatching little Anya from his grip. The force sent him ricocheting between the walls until he finally slammed into the concrete part of the building.
A shocked Keith and German Sheperd stepped back from the cloud of dust as he held his cracked ribs.
"You think you'd get away with this, you kidnapping pervert!" A woman's voice came from the clearing dust cloud.
Eric stood in front of the woman, still glaring at Keith as he maintained his fighting stance and held his weapon before him. The woman with black hair and red eyes held a delighted and relieved Anya in one arm while her left hand was positioned protectively in case of another attack.
"No, little Anya is too young to get married?"
"Huh?" Eric glanced behind him, completely thrown off by that statement. 'Where did that come from?'
Anya clutched onto Yor and sobbed, "Mama, I was so scared!"
"It's okay, you're alright now." Yor assured her daughter while Eric returned his attention to Keith and the German Sheperd. He did not want to let his guard down.
Keith clenched his teeth as he held his ribs. "Alright you mutt, I want you to rip out this woman's throat!"
The dog obeyed his master, growling threateningly at the woman as he was about to carry out the man's orders.
But then the woman snarled like a beast. Nope, screw that.
"Hey, come back!" Keith yelled at the terrified dog who ran away.
"Hm? Did Mom do that?" Eric blinked in surprise as he turned to face his mother. Seeing her suddenly sharp teeth and predatory gaze turned his insides into liquid and nearly gave him diarrhea.
Eric gulped, 'I think I remember why mothers are the most terrifying beasts in the world. Especially when their kid is in danger.' He thought to himself, making a mental note never to get on her bad side. Ever.
"Mama... so scary!" Anya sobbed in fear at seeing her mother's snarl.
"It's okay, I won't let them hurt you." Yor assured Anya, not realizing how she spooked her daughter just now.
Their noise started to attract attention outside the alley as pedestrians started to gather.
Like the coward he is, Keith ran away, still holding his ribs.
Yor put Anya down as she began to chase after him. "Hey, wait!"
Eric lowered pipe as one end touched the concrete. "Are you alright Anya?"
Anya sniffled as she nodded, "Oui."
Eric's face softened slightly as he wrapped one arm around his sister and held her close. He was silent as relief flooded him. He was so close to losing Anya.
Anya looked up at the cat attached to her brother's shoulders. Her eyes widened when she recognized the feline. 'That's the same kitty I saw from before. If Mr. Doggie can see the future, then that means Kitty is meant to be with us?'
Golden eyes met bright green ones. 'Smaller than White described you to be. But at least you're easy to find.'
Anya pouted at the cat, "I'm not that small."
"Hm? I didn't even say anything." Eric said, confused by Anya's sudden change.
"No, the Kitty called me small."
Eric turned to his furry companion. "Oh yeah, I forgot you were still on me." He raised his hand to scratch behind the cat's ear. "Not sure how or why, but it led me to you."
'I'm a natural born tracker kid. I'm supposed to find you.' The cat's thoughts reached Anya as it purred contently.
"You were looking for us?" Anya whispered as the dog came beside her and whined to the black cat.
Yor came back as quickly as she ran off as she took the leash off the dog and tied the two henchmen together very tightly.
"Are you okay Mr. Doggie?" Anya asked the canine who looked ashamed of himself.
"So, what's the story with this puppy?" Yor asked her children.
"Well, uh..." Anya turned to her brother for help. But his stern frown told her she must take responsibility.
Five minutes later...
"Huh? Terrorists and bomb dogs?!" Yor exclaimed after Anya explained the situation.
After checking the white dog thoroughly, she sighed in relief when she found not one explosive.
"My friend, Mr. Doggie saved me and Eric. Ms. Kitty helped Eric find me when we got separated for a bit." Anya added as Eric held the feline in his arms tenderly as she snuggled into his warmth.
"Anya, I'm so incredibly relieved to know you and your brother are safe and sound. I was worried sick about you two."
Anya felt guilty for causing their mother to worry like that. "I'm sorry Mama. I promised you..." She sniffled, "...that I wouldn't run off."
Yor knelt down to her level and pulled Anya in for a hug. "Honestly."
Eric watched with a small smile. Good intentions aside, Anya did break her promise, and he can tell she is genuinely guilty for her actions.
"When we get home, I'll have to give you a stern talking to." Yor added.
The white dog released a soft bark behind her.
Yor pulled away and turned her attention to her son. "And you, young man." Eric tensed up, ready for a scolding, "You did a superb job protecting your sister. Technique aside, you must never go up against three grown men all by yourself." Yor said softly and gently, though internally, she was proud at how her son handled a weapon and incapacitated one while cracking the ribs of another. If it had been any other day, she'd train him on how to properly wield a bo staff.
Eric blushed at the praise before hiding the long pipe behind him. "I, uh, kind of lost my temper back there." He admitted as he looked away shamefully.
Yor laughed lightly at his bashfulness before it disappeared. "Oh, I guess we should tell the police about this first. Shouldn't we?" She said as she stood up and guided her children to the nearest phonebooth. "Eric, Anya, do you happen to remember what the bad guys look like or what they were talking about? Anything like that?"
Eric unconsciously held the cat close with one arm as he dragged the pipe lazily behind him. "Well, we know that the leader is named Keith. The guy that ran off just now."
"Black hair, evil eyes, white skin and mean. Very mean." Anya tacked on fiercely.
Eric nodded, "He also said something about Foreign Minister Brantz being the catalyst of war." He groaned quietly as that ill feeling returned. "But I don't think the police will believe a couple of kids. We don't have any evidence and their hideout is probably already cleaned out because of us."
Yor stroked her fingers comfortingly in her son's hair while holding Anya's hand in the other. "You let me worry about that. Besides, I believe we have enough evidence right here." She glanced at the white dog who barked in agreement.
Not too long after, Yor spoke on the phone and reported everything her kids described to her. "...Yes, that's exactly what happened...Right, there's two lying unconscious in the alleyway...No! I'm just a normal housewife who was passing by." She lied hastily to the operator. "Oh, and please note that the ringleader already has a broken rib from a stray pipe that suddenly fell on him."
Eric sat on the bench with Anya as he continued to pet the cat in his lap. His weapon leaned up between himself and the green trashcan. He sighed tiredly, already drained from the mayhem. 'It's best we let the police handle this. We should no longer involve ourselves anymore.' He glanced between the animals that helped them. "What are we going to do with you guys now?"
The cat uncurled herself and sat up on her hind legs and pushed her front paws up against the boy's chest.
Eric blinked in surprise as he locked eyes with the golden orbs. He could've sworn the cat was staring straight into his soul. For some reason, he felt like he was being judged.
"Look, it's not that I'm ungrateful. Neither of us planned this. You see, we came to the adoption event to look for a puppy. Not..." He glanced at the white dog, "...a polar bear." He turned his eyes back to the cat, "Also, I have very little interaction with felines."
The cat meowed in response and nudged her little head against his chin. "Why am I talking to a cat?" He deadpanned at himself.
Anya stifled her giggles at how her brother is having a one-sided conversation with the kitty. It was so cute and funny.
The dog made a sound before his ears perked up. "What is it?" Anya asked as she was hit by the dog's thoughts. They were filled with confusion, worry and fear.
'Wait, are you seeing the future again?' Anya concentrated on the dog's mind to get a clear picture before a series of visions hit her all at once.
The Forger family gathered together happily suddenly darkened with the sudden disappearance of Loid Forger. Anya, Yor, and Eric were downcast and grieving. Lost.
Anya gasped, 'Why isn't Papa there?'
The big hand to the clock tower moved over to number twelve followed by the loud ringing of the bell.
'Where is that?'
Not too far from the clock tower was a loud explosion that decimated the buildings.
Little Anya and Eric stood before the devastation of what was once an apartment building. They were frozen, wide eyed and in shock at the body that was crushed and unmoving. That familiar blonde hair and face covered in blood.
"No..." Eric gritted his teeth in anger and pain as the ground beneath him cracked. "...Dad."
"Papa!"
In the living room of the Forger Residence, the News Anchor appeared on the TV. "In a televised statement, Westalis said they hold the Ostanian Government responsible for its failure to prevent the assassination of the Foreign Minister. This tragic event likely ensures the possibility of armed conflict."
The city was shrouded in dark clouds, as though telling them the shadow of war is upon them.
Anya gasped as the vision ended.
"Anya?" Eric turned to his sister before she leapt off the bench.
"That's the future? It is, right?" She asked the dog fearfully. She grabbed the dog and started shaking him back and forth. 'It was so scary! Papa's gonna die and world peace will be over!'
"Anya don't do that! You need to be sweet to that poor puppy." Yor admonished her daughter for being rough with the big dog.
Eric stood up from the bench with the cat hanging from his arms. "What's going on?" He asked as Anya's arms fell to her sides and her face lowered in thought. 'Papa's gonna be exploded. If I tell Mama, she can save him. But then she'll find out about our powers.'
"Anya." She turned at the sound of her brother's voice. 'Tell me what's wrong.'
Anya frowned then came closer to Eric and whispered, "The Doggie can see the future."
Eric pulled back, 'Anya, that's crazy. There's no way that kind of power exists. Especially for a dog.' He ignored the irony of that sentence given how he and his sister have powers.
Anya nodded insistently, "But it's true. You remember when that phone rang loudly? Mr. Doggie saw it moments before it happened."
Eric didn't know how to respond to that. 'Okay, say I believe you for a moment. What exactly did the dog see?' He was too exhausted to argue after that mishap in the alley.
Anya had a fearful expression before pulling her brother's head down to whisper in his ear again. Eric's eyes gradually widened at horrific images she described to him.
Eric clenched a fist against his mouth as he processed the vision. 'The vision changed so suddenly. Before, we were all together, then all of a sudden, we weren't.' His mind reeled back to Keith running away, 'Could it be...because of our interference that the events that should've happened vanished. Why was Dad in that building to begin with?' Eric gasped softly as pieces began to fall together, 'Oh no.' He glanced at their mother who was still on the phone. 'If this police report gets to WISE, they'll send Dad, and Dad will...Oh God! We stumbled on one of Dad's missions!'
"Do you think we can change the future if we try really hard?" Anya asked her brother after listening to his contemplations.
Eric was silent for a moment, 'We could. But we're going to get double scoldings when we get home.' He took another glance at Yor.
Turning back to the dog then to Anya, he whispered, "Can the dog carry two kids?"
"Only if he can still run." Anya said as she turned to the dog.
A 'borf' was their response.
"Good, since this is your mission, you come up with the excuse." Eric said as the cat crawled onto his shoulders and latched on tightly.
Anya nodded then turned to Yor with her face lowered. "I'm sorry, Mama." Yor turned to her daughter, "I just remembered something...PAPA FORGOT TO TAKE SOME TOILET PAPER TO THE POTTY!"
'That's the best you came up with!' Eric wanted to facepalm, but he was already mount up on the dog's back. "He's probably making a big ol' mess, so I got to get him some toilet paper right now!" Anya added as she herself onto the dog's back in front of him. Eric quickly situated her on the already moving dog's back until she was in the correct position.
"No, Anya and Eric, come back!" Yor yelled as her children rode away from her.
"Sorry Mom, we'll meet you back at that pet shop!" Eric yelled behind them as they turned towards the street.
"ERIC, ANYA! WHERE DID YOU GO THIS TIME!"
"Anya, do not make me regret this." Eric said as he held his sister securely as they rode through the streets and alley ways.
"Don't worry, once we save Papa, we'll save world peace!"
"There's only one clocktower in the city." Eric stated as both of their green eyes caught green top and the clock face.
"I see it! That's the pointy clock you showed me! This way Mr. Doggie!" Anya yelled over the roaring wind passing through her ears.
'Please Dad, do not go there just yet. Don't make us say goodbye.' Eric begged in his mind as they urged the dog to go faster. They passed by citizens who gave them surprised glances. The siblings paid them no mind, their focus solely on the clock tower.
They made it to the square looking up at the clock tower's structure. The dog panted, completely out of breath and ready to collapse from nonstop running.
Eric was the first to dismount. "Anya, which building did the explosion happen?" He asked his sister who looked around frantically. "I can't figure out where Papa's gonna die."
Anya dashed over to the dog resting under the shade of a statue. Without warning, she leapt onto him, "Mr. Doggie, let me see into the future with you again!"
Eric tapped his foot as he tried to figure out what to do next before their father gets here. "Anya, do you remember anything else that happened in that vision? Anything at all?"
This made Anya pause as she mentally recounted what happened just before the explosion. "That's right. Before everything blew up, the clock went 'bong'. One of the big hands was pointing towards the sky." She looked up and panicked, "I cannot read the clock! What do the long end and short end mean anyway?!"
"Big hand is for minutes; smaller hand for hours." Eric stated helpfully as he looked up and counted the how many minutes they have left. "We have thirty minutes remaining."
"Thirty minutes? We gotta hurry!" Anya exclaimed in fear as she looked around the buildings.
"So, how long is thirty minutes?" Anya asked her brother as she trotted alongside the dog.
"Around the same amount as a Spy Wars episode." Eric answered before the cat started hissing to the right. "What is it?"
The white dog caught the scent as well before he picked Anya up by the back of her jacket and carried her out of sight behind the building.
Eric followed the cat's line of sight before spotting a familiar man and quickly followed the white dog as Anya was placed back on the ground. "What's wrong Mr. Doggie?"
"It's him." Eric answered, his back pressed against the brick wall as he peeked around the corner to glare at the black hair.
Anya followed Eric's lead then flinched back when she saw his scary face. "It's the bad guy boss."
Eric's eyes burned a bright green as he glared angrily at the man who will cause his father's death and start a war. His fingers twitched and cracked as he flexed them readily. 'If I kill him now, there won't be a war.' He raised his hand, clenching and unclenching them. 'Just one squeeze and it's done. We can still keep our father.' Just as he was about to step out and finish the deed, Anya grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"Brother no! We have to save Papa first!" Anya begged as she held her brother tightly.
"That's what I'm doing." Eric stated, ready to pull himself free from his little sister's grasp.
"No! He rigged a trap in that building behind him. If Papa goes into that room, he'll be exploded." Anya informed him after reading the evil man's mind.
Eric glanced behind him, "What?"
"We need to stop that bomb from going boom." Anya urged her brother.
Eric looked towards Keith who was getting in his car. Clenching his teeth in frustration, he lowered his arm. 'Mom or Dad will take care of him.'
Keith drove away before Anya and Eric approached the building. "This is bad! We gotta do something about that bomb!" She pointed up at the clock tower. "Let's see, the big hand went from six to seven."
"We have sixteen minutes left." Eric tacked on as the cat leapt down and dashed into the building.
"We gotta hurry up!" Anya grabbed Eric's hand and followed the cat.
All four of them ran up the stairs, panting and sweating as they literally raced against time. They made it to the second floor where the black cat stood before a door as though to challenge it.
The dog sniffed the air, Keith's scent is pretty strong here, and the cat growled low in her throat.
"That must be it." Anya stated as she went to touch the doorknob, only to be lurched back by her brother and a loud bark and hiss.
"Oh right, if I open the door we're all gonna go 'boom-boom'!" Anya exclaimed in fear and realization as she dangled in her brother's arms.
Eric set her back on her feet and massaged his ear canal.
Anya looked for a way inside until she spotted an opening not too far from the door. "I think I can climb through that little window."
Just as Anya was about to crawl through the window, she was yanked backwards again.
Eric landed hard on his butt while holding his sister. "Anya, what do you think you're doing?" He demanded as Anya leapt out of his arms.
"We have to disarm the bomb!" Anya stated, not noticing the black cat effortlessly jumping through the window.
Eric got up and dusted himself off. "Before you try anything, ask yourself this," He grasped Anya's shoulders firmly and stared directly into her eyes, "'Do you even know how to disarm a bomb?'" He slowly asked the girl whose eyes widened and mouth gaped open.
"Not...Really." Anya deflated. "But we have to do something, or we'll lose Papa."
Eric nodded as he tried to remain calm while thinking of a solution. With a snap of his finger, "It's simple, we just leave him a message. That way, we can still keep our secret and keep world peace."
Anya's eyes lit up, "Big brother, you geni-uises!"
Eric sighed as he stood in front of the door and dug through his pocket and froze. "Mm?" He dug deeper before checking his other pockets then his jacket.
A look of anxiety crawled onto his face. "Um, Anya...please say you have a pencil." His voice cracked when he spoke.
Anya patted her jacket, then shook her head.
"Crayon?"
"No."
"Marker?"
"No."
"Chalk?"
"No."
"Poop."
"EW, NO!"
"I was cursing." Eric explained quickly as he started to pace as his heart went into overtime. He was on the verge of panic with their only solution flying out the window.
Anya was shaking from head to toe until the cat appeared through the window, meowing at the little girl. While Eric was trying to figure out another solution without compromising their secret, Anya peeked through the window. It was a smelly mess inside with empty bottles and ashtrays on the table. Her green eyes widened when she found what she was looking for.
"Brother, come here!" Anya called out before Eric hopped onto the crates and looked through the window.
Anya pointed at the red bottle. "Ketchup."
Eric's eyebrow twitched as he gave her a deadpanned look. "You know I hate ketchup." He stated, not understanding why she was pointing at his least favorite condiment.
Anya gave him a smile.
Twilight and his fellow agents arrived at the last known location the ringleader would hide. They stealthily made their way up the stairs, guns in hand in case of an ambush. Peeking around the corner, they found the door they were looking for...with blood apparently.
"What the-A message in blood?" The older agent exclaimed in surprise.
Twilight sniffed the air. "Wait, do you smell that? I think it's ketchup." He said incredulously after identifying the scent.
The two agents got closer to read the message on the door.
"'WARNING: Trap. Do NOT open the door. Bomb will go off.'" Twilight read the message and was thrown off by what looked to be an eggplant sprawled on the wall beside the doorknob.
The Forger siblings plus the animals braced themselves far from the building in case the bomb does go off.
Eric held the cat to his chest while looking at the clock with his sister. Just one more minute.
"I hope Papa got the message in blood."
"It was ketchup." Eric corrected her, not taking his eyes off the clock.
"Anya, is Dad in there?"
"He's too far away to read his mind. I really hope he's okay." Anya whimpered as she gripped the crate they hid behind.
'Please Dad, you have to believe us.' Sweat dripped down the nape of his neck.
GONG! GONG! GONG!
Eric's heart stopped when that sound resonated across the town. He waited for the explosion Anya and the dog saw. His eyes watched the building with bated breath.
Nothing.
Anya wondered, "Did we do it?"
The dog's ears perked up as he and Anya shared another vision.
The grim atmosphere surrounding Yor, Eric and Anya vanished as Loid appeared beside them. Bright smiles adorning their faces as it always should.
Anya gasped then happily turned to her brother, "I saw Papa again." She laughed as the dog licked the bit of ketchup off her cheek. "We saved the future!"
Instant relief fell over Eric as the weight of the stress and anxiety he held inside finally lifted. He released a shuddering breath he did not realize he was holding as he turned around and plopped onto the ground. His back rested against the crate as his wide unblinking eyes stared at nothing in front of him.
"Brother?" Anya asked when she saw how Eric fell silent.
"He's alive..." He whispered before teardrops fell on the kitty's head. His shoulders shook as he tried to suppress his cries, but sniffles still escaped him.
"Our father...he's safe now." Eric wept from the overwhelming fear he suffered and the joyful relief he experienced all at once.
"We saved Papa together. Mission accomplished." Anya hugged her brother as the dog 'borfed' in agreement.
Eric sniffled again as he tried to calm down. He looked down at the cat in his arms and saw reassurance in her golden eyes. For some reason, he felt a connection with the feline, like she understood him.
Taking deep breaths to bring himself back to his composed self, he stood up with the cat still in his arms. Despite the redness that surrounded his eyes, he looked much better after that bout of crying.
He held his sister's hand and walked away from the buildings. "Let's go back to that pet shop."
Anya laughed, "Yeah, lets!" She happily agreed, the satisfaction of completing their mission and saving world peace never left her.
Eric breathed out slowly as he glanced at the building behind him, confident that their father will handle Keith from here on out. After all, Twilight's mission is still in effect.
'Good luck Agent Twilight.' Eric faced forward as they left the square.
"We should probably ask for directions." Eric groaned when he realized just how lost they were.
It was late in the evening when Loid exited the pet store. He spent the whole day chasing down terrorists, stopping an idiot University student's revolution, and saving a Foreign Minister's life. The mission ended when they apprehended Keith who was in a recent car accident. He wasn't sure if it was Lady Luck on their side or some other force at work, but he was glad it was over without stirring up political trouble.
He spotted Yor who jogged towards them, red in the face and out of breath.
Anya gasped as the dog beneath her and Eric padded out of the alleyway at the exact moment to see their parents reunite.
Eric dismounted and scratched behind the dog's ears. "Right on time." He mused while the cat yawned on top of his shoulders.
"I'm surprised to run into the three of you here." Loid stated, glancing between his children and wife. "What happened at the big adoption event?"
Anya answered, "You took so long on the crapper I had to check on you."
"And I was worried about the kids, so I thought I'd follow them." Yor panted out.
Loid turned to the furry arrivals, "And what about the dog and the cat?"
Anya slid off the dog's back and stood next to him.
"This is the same cat I helped earlier. She followed me around all day." Eric explained as he scratched beneath her chin, making her purr in delight.
"Everything else, well..." Eric paused sheepishly before all three of them gave Loid the rundown of the incidents today.
"Since we had to deal with all that crazy stuff, we kinda ran out of time to find a puppy." Yor finished with a sigh.
'I hate to think about them getting dragged into this.' Loid thought to himself when he realized how close those terrorists were to killing his family. "I'm sorry. Didn't think I'd take so long in the bathroom."
Eric was silent for most of the conversation as he watched his father. The man was tired, he had to go through a lot just to keep things peaceful between the nations while hiding in the shadows. 'Is this what he deals with every single day?' Eric clenched his hands into fists as he kept his head slightly bowed. 'We came so close to losing him today. He almost-' Images of their father cold and unmoving under a pile of rubble infiltrated his mind. Without realizing it, his legs carried him over to Loid.
Loid was surprised when something latched onto his front. He looked down and saw his son bury his face into the man's stomach, his hands clenched into his green suit, as though afraid to let go.
"Eric." Yor softly spoke at how sudden the boy held onto his father.
"I'm really mad at you." Eric's voice muffled into Loid's stomach. He pulled back slightly to look up at the much taller man. "You took too long, you made Anya worried sick. Ask for my help next time." Eric said as he glared through misty eyes. He really didn't want to cry again today.
Loid was shocked by how the boy held onto him as though he'd disappear soon. He had to remind himself that Eric is still a child, no matter how mature the boy acts, there will always be moments where he needs reassurances.
He gently ran his hands through his son's hair. "I'm sorry."
Eric frowned, but accepted his apology nonetheless as he took a step back to compose himself.
"Oh Loid, that breakfast I made for you this morning really did a number on your stomach. I'm so sorry." Yor said shamefully, blaming herself and her terrible cooking.
Loid shifted his attention to the youngest of their family. "And you Anya..." He crouched to her level, "...How many times do I have to tell you that running off on your own is dangerous!" He furiously said to his daughter for wandering off away from her mom and brother like that.
"I'm so sowwy Papa!" Anya apologized tearfully.
Loid stood up and sighed, "But you're okay, right?"
Anya nodded, "Only because big brother, Mr. Doggie and Ms. Kitty protected me."
Loid glanced at the dog, concluding that the animal is another test subject from Project Apple. In the corner of his eye, he saw the Handler hiding behind the corner of a building. She nodded at him to let him know she'll take care of it in a moment.
Turning to the white dog, he reached his gloved hand out and petted the top of his head in gratitude and smiled. "Thanks for all your help today. You saved her life."
The dog blushed at that well earned praise.
Loid looked down when he felt something rub against his leg. With a light smile, he knelt down slightly to scratch the arch of the cat's spine. "You too. Thanks for watching over them."
Eric smiled lightly, 'So the guy has a soft spot for animals. Who knew?'
"Excuse me?"
The Forger family turned to see a woman with reddish brown hair pulled back into a bun with two locks of hair framing her face. Dark sunglasses were set over her eyes. A man with the same suit and glasses stood behind her.
The woman held up a badge, "State Security. Investigating the incident that occurred in city center. Do you mind answering a few questions?"
Anya took her brother's hand and drew into his palm.
'PAPA'S BOSS LADY. HANDER.'
'So she's head honcho? Makes sense. What does she want?' Eric thought to his sister as they watched their father interact with his boss.
Thus, under the guise of Loid Forger, Agent Twilight reported the incident that happened on his family's end.
"I see." Handler said, "Then it's safe to assume that this dog was also one of the animals trained by the terrorist group. Which means we'll be taking him with us."
"Please take good care of him." Loid said since the dog protected his children with his life.
"This is a delicate matter." The Handler stated, "Given the tenuous relationship with East and West, we'll need to keep this under wraps. So your silence is crucial. Thanks for your cooperation."
While the Handler spoke about taking the dog away, Anya realized the meaning behind that first vision she saw with the dog. That future was him coming home to their family.
Yor clapped her hands together, "Since all that's over now, why don't we go look for a puppy together?"
Loid smiled at her suggestion. "Sounds good. C'mon kids-"
"No way!" Anya protested then held the white dog fiercely, "I wanna keep Mr. Doggie!"
"Saw that coming." Eric deadpanned as the cat in his arms meowed in agreement. 'I suppose it makes sense. Only Anya can see his visions, so naturally she wants to keep him.' He sighed internally as he prepared for an argument between his sister and their father.
"Listen Anya-"
"I wanna take care of Mr. Doggie!"
"You can't, that dog belonged to the bad guys."
"I don't care who he was with, he saved me!" She fiercely stated, refusing to back down.
"I understand that, but didn't you say you wanted a small dog?" Loid tried again.
"Well now I want this Mr. Doggie! It's okay he's big!"
"You're being difficult!" Loid's patience was running thin.
"Dad, come, let's talk for a moment." Eric sighed and tugged on the man's jacket and beckoned him to follow.
Once they were at a small distance away, Loid bent down to listen to what his son has to say.
"We need to keep this dog." Eric whispered, "Listen, I spent most of my day with this polar bear, even though he only met Anya for a short while, he was willing to go up against his so-called owners to protect her. Dogs have far better instincts when it comes to humans, so isn't it better to have this one on our side. He's already protective of Anya, and his size can be beneficial when subduing opponents if trained right." He paused, "Also, the dog can serve as an award for Anya getting into Eden as a part-timer. This would be a good way to encourage her to be better at her studies and teach her to be responsible when caring for the big fluffball. Let's face it, do you really want to keep arguing with a kid about a dog?"
Loid couldn't argue when his son made excellent points. Glancing at the dog who nudged Anya affectionately, he sighed internally.
Turning back to his son who still had the cat in his arms, his frown deepened. "And you?"
The cat made a meowing sound as she crawled around the boy's shoulder and draped herself over his little head.
"It turns out I'm a cat person. She follows me everywhere, so I can't get rid of her anyway." Eric laughed a little through his feint smile.
Loid held in his laughter at how the cat treated his son like a cat tower. He also noted how happy Eric looked when he interacted with the tiny animal. He observed, or rather spied, on his son at Eden, and there were very few people he socialized with. Fewer he smiled at.
"Do you want to keep her as well?"
Eric rolled his eyes up at the cat on his head. "Yeah, I like her."
Loid sighed, "Well, I've been thinking of getting you a therapy pet anyway." He straightened up to his full height and returned to his family.
"Ma'am, if it's alright with you, we'd be willing to take care of the dog ourselves." Loid requested, fully expecting an argument with his boss.
But what she said surprised him. "Very well, he's yours."
"So, it's okay?" Yor asked.
"I highly doubt one of these dogs going missing will cause an issue." Handler stated, "The terrorists have been taken into custody, and this particular pup didn't cause anyone harm."
She turned to Loid and whispered, "This also means that you'll be able to keep an eye on him. We have plenty of dogs to keep our investigators busy. So take him."
"But what about all those other Mr. Doggies? Will the policosaforce be mean to them?" Anya asked, frightened and concerned for all the other dogs that were unwillingly involved with the terrorists.
Though the question surprised them, Handler smiled fondly at Anya's sincerity. She crouched down to her level and patted her head softly. "Don't worry you sweet thing. The dogs are gonna be well taken care of. They'll be given soft beds and nice yummy meals to eat." She assured Anya in a tone she never thought she'd hear herself use again. "But this pup here, he didn't have an easy life before he met you. So it's very important that you're always extra good to him, and I know he'll be good to you. Can you do that?"
Anya watched her Papa's boss lady with awe and nodded. Though she was scary in his memories, she's actually really nice. In Handler's mind, she saw a little girl around Anya's age smiling adoringly up at the woman. Her hair was a shade darker, and her eyes were the brightest blue.
"Thanks a lot, Boss Lady."
Handler stood up then turned to Eric who watched her interact with his sister. Though she's seen pictures of the boy, seeing him up close was completely different. He held that calm and mature aura like Twilight. If she hasn't known her best agent for over a decade, she was sure that he'd be Twilight's biological son.
Eric held the cat tenderly as he bowed his head to his father's superior and politely said, "Thank you very much, Ma'am."
Handler walked away a bit but paused to whisper to Twilight, "They're such good kids."
"You don't know what they both put me through." He muttered under his breath after learning what happened to them today.
"I've got a pretty good idea." Handler responded as she listened to Anya's excited laughter. "I once had a daughter her age."
Handler closed her eyes as a breeze passed through her, how long has it been since she thought about her baby girl like that? "What matters is peace won the day." 'The same peace she'd have enjoyed right now.'
Loid smiled, knowing what she was thinking. He knew long ago that Handler had a daughter whom she loved dearly. Though tragically, war took her baby away much like it did his parents. Losing their loved ones motivated them to prevent similar tragedies from befalling other countries. Honoring their families by protecting world peace.
"You're right."
The dog was leashed again, this time, with more consideration by the agent accompanying Handler. "We do need to take the dog with us for the night, however. Give him a thorough health screening. The same will go for the cat too." Handler explained while holding the cat who purred in her arms. "Once they've been cleared, we'll bring them over to your family's home."
Loid nodded, "Works for me."
"Sounds fair." Eric shrugged while watching the cat who looked comfortable in Handler's arms.
Loid turned to his family, "Shall we head back?"
Yor sighed in relief, "Definitely. I'm feeling pretty tired after all that excitement today."
"Me too." Eric agreed while cracking his neck and massaging the muscles in his arms and registering the ache in his legs. An entire day spent running and playing golf with a long pipe really did a number on him.
"This field trips not over until we are home. If we make it alive." Anya added ominously with a wide blank stare.
"Is that something you picked up at school? Stop being silly." Loid said to his daughter as Yor took her hand.
"Don't you worry Anya. They got the bad guys, so we'll be okay." Yor assured their daughter as the Forger family walked away from the pet shop.
Handler smiled as she watched them leave. They do look like a real family. Even she was convinced.
As the Forgers walked home, thoughts ran through their heads.
Yor quietly laughed to herself, 'If anybody found I was the one who beat the bad guys and saved the world, they would be so shocked.'
Anya smiled up at her mother's thoughts, 'Ha ha ha, they caught that bomber man thanks to me and Eric. Papa is safe and world peace didn't get disruptered!'
Loid looked worse for wear; he walked like a zombie after the hell he went through today. 'Ugh, we barely kept the peace between East and West. I'm drained. Now my stomach actually does hurt.'
Eric's walk was stiff, almost limping like a broken marionette with a tired look on his face. 'This day did not go as planned. It mostly sucked. Please let that be the last time I have to deal with bombs and terrorists.'
The boy looked up at his father, noting how dead tired he looked, just like at the aquarium and when he passed the entrance exam. 'So much on one man's shoulders.' Eric frowned as he took his father's hand, their gloves made contact with each other.
Loid looked down to see his son watching him with sympathy after catching the way he walked. He then gave the man a slight smile, "I'm glad you're okay."
Loid was surprised but didn't think much of it as he squeezed his fingers around Eric's. "So am I."
Despite the gloves encasing their hands, they still felt warmth between them.
Eric felt happy just by having his father close by. Thinking back all those months ago, back at the orphanage. He initially saw the man as a steppingstone, a proper means of escape from hell and protection from the scientists. Even when he found out the man needed an intelligent child for his most crucial mission, it didn't change his original view of the spy. A win-win situation. Partners with similar goals. But after living with him for an extended period, far longer than any family who kept him and Anya, he felt comfortable enough to call him 'Dad'. Like it was natural. Eric didn't realize how emotionally attached he was to his father until the moment he and Anya saved him. The fear he experienced when he almost lost him, the joy of seeing his father again, alive and breathing.
Eric sighed through his nose as his hand still grasped Loid's. The boy who initially thought he was terrible with his emotions finally understood how much he loves and cares for his father's.
It also caused his insides to churn uncomfortably.
"Now my stomach is starting to hurt."
Hi there! Sorry to have kept you waiting for months. But yeah, the dog-bomb plot is finished and done with. Initially when I started this fic, I never intended to insert a cat. But a lovely reviewer gave me the inspiration I needed to write one out. I hope you all enjoyed it, especially with how Eric used his power and fighting skills against the bad guys. And yes, he does not like ketchup. Eric is finally coming to terms with how much Loid means to him personally and how it goes beyond having a win-win relationship.
Thank you all for reading this, I hope this met your expectations. I think this is the longest chapter I created thus far. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and as always, have a lovely day.
PS: Φάτε σκατά! (Fáte skatá!). Eat shit! Yeah, the kid has a potty mouth. But he only says it in Greek.