Disclaimer - If you recoginize anything, then I do not own it.
Thank you to IrishPotatoes, Rae TB, Curiosity, Ceriadara, FlamesOfFury, lalalalala2 & Tezi for reviewing. Oh yeah, Mystel is a boy, Curiosity, so I hope that clears matters up. I hope that you all like this chapter. I wasn't exactly happy w/h it but it is your opinion that counts & not mine.
This chapter is dedicated to FlamesOfFury for suggesting this idea. Thank you for being a great writer, listener, inspiration & new friend.
Chapter Nine - Ramblings of a Mad Blader
"You need me to do what!" Hiro questioned as his voice raised. He was sitting on the opposite side of the low table and glaring at Mr. Dickerson, who looked remorseful at what he had just ask. "It would only take a day, Hiro," Stanley informed as they heard laughter from where Tyson and Brooklyn were playing with the gifts that he had brought, "a few hours at the most and he won't see anyone else. I have a meeting with another client so I can't go." Hiro heard the clash of the lightsabers and winced knowing that those things were going to give him a headache before they grew tired of them. He really hated toys with batteries.
"I can watch Tyson," Grandpa remarked, "but I don't know if I can handle Brooklyn. He will probably cry or pitch a fit when he sees you leave, homme." "I am certain that Judy would be willing to watch him for the day," Stanley advised as Hiro glared. "You know what happened the last time we were at that house," he growled, "I don't want to return to find that he had drown." "I am certain that none of the children will go near the pool again without adult supervision," Stanley informed, "since they learned their lesson from the last time. I assure you that he will be taken care of and you can pick him up in the morning."
"Very well," Hiro agreed, "but I'm warning you-" "I understand completely," Stanley reassured, "I promise that nothing will happen to him. I can take him with me now if you like." "Brooklyn!" Hiro shouted as they heard soft footsteps and the two chibis appeared carrying their play swords. Brooklyn had a red lightsaber while Tyson's was green. Hiro wondered if the chairman knew the significance of their colors but pushed the thought aside for the moment.
"Hero," Brooklyn greeted as he glomped his elder, "what you want?" "I need to go away for the day," Hiro explained, "so you will be spending the rest of the day and night with Dr. Judy. Is that all right? I promise that I will pick you up in the morning." "What about Ty-Ty?" Brooklyn ask, pointing to his playmate.
"Grandpa will be watching him," Hiro informed as the chibi jumped into his lap, "you will be with Kai and the others." "That not fair," Tyson protested, hotly, "Me want ta visit friends too." "You are staying with me, little dude," Grandpa stated, firmly, "and there is no protesting it because it won't change my mind. Besides, I have a surprise for you this evening." Hiro expected Tyson to throw a tantrum but he just crossed his arms against his chest and pouted. "So is that all right, tenshi?" he ask, turning back to Brooklyn.
"It okay," he replied, glumly, "but me miss you." "And I will miss you with all of my heart," he reassured as Brooklyn's arms wrapped around his neck, "let's pack you a change of clothes." Hiro picked him up and went to the bedroom to gather his things. He made certain to put three changes of clothes in the backpack as a precaution. Brooklyn grabbed his bear that was stuffed inside of it as well.
They walked back to the lounge where Mr. Dickerson rose and was ready to go. Brooklyn hugged both Tyson and Grandpa good-bye as Hiro walked the two to the car. He was telling the chairman what Brooklyn would or could not eat and hoped that he was listening to his instructions. It seemed that Stanley had been prepared for the occasion since there was a car seat in the back as the driver opened the door. "I borrowed it for Kai," Stanley explained with a smile, "since he likes to ride with me." "Bye Brookie," Hiro stated as the small chibi grabbed him around the legs, "I'll see you in the morning so have fun."
"Me miss you," he cried as the tears began but Hiro had to be strong for the both of him. He lifted Brooklyn and hugged him one last time before securing him in the car seat. The door was closed as he saw Brooklyn wave good-bye. A lump formed in his throat as he watched the car drive away with Brooklyn's hand pressed against the glass. He had to hold back his own tears as he walked back to the house to prepare for the meeting with the new sponser that Stanley had arranged for later that afternoon.
Brooklyn continued to tear as the chairman looked at the small chibi and tried to take his mind off the separation. "I know Kai and Tala will be glad to see you," Stanley added with a smile as Brooklyn turned to him, "are you looking forward to playing with them?" "Me guess," he whispered, "but wish Hero could be with us." "There, there," Stanley comforted, "It will be morning before you know it and then you won't want to leave." Brooklyn wasn't as comfortable with him as he hit his toy lightsaber against the seat and ended up irritating the driver.
He stopped before either man said a word as the rest of the ride past in silence. They had pulled up to the house before he knew it as Judy came out the door to greet them. "I figured you would have trouble convincing Hiro to go," she remarked with a smile as she removed Brooklyn from the car and settled him on a hip. Gustaf soon appeared to take the backpack as they walked into the house. It was silent for a brief moment before you heard a stampede of footsteps and the arrival of most of the other chibis.
"Brookie," both Kai and Tala greeted at the front of the pack as Judy set him down. He was glomped by both of the boys before Rei pushed them aside to greet him as well. Mystel was still sporting stickies (band-aids) on his injuries but they didn't seem to bother him as he smiled brightly. Julia shyed away from him as she hung onto Raul but the others smiled especially Kevin, who was showing Brooklyn his new skinned knee that he had gotten when he had saved Oliver from a fall. "Where Ty-Ty?" Max demanded, looking for the small bluenette. "You will see him tomorrow, Maxie," Judy reassured, "Brooklyn is here to play today and he shall be spending the night."
"He sleeps with me!" four of the chibis demanded as they glared at the others. The adults laughed thinking that it was cute as Hillary appeared with Enrique following close behind her. "Hello, Brooklyn," she greeted as he stepped away from her. He may have been young but he understood that she was suppose to be watching him the other day when he had gotten a spanking. If she had been watching and had told them no, then he wouldn't have gotten into trouble with Hiro.
When she stopped to bend down to him, Enrique bumped into her from behind. "Enrique," she growled, turning her attention to the blond, who smiled. "These are for you," he stated, holding a few wildflowers in his hand in a clumsy attempt at a bouquet. The Italian chibi smiled brightly from the offer as Hillary shook her head and took the flowers. When he was invited to play with Garland and Miguel, he left with them but not before he gave her a shy smile and wave.
"Now remember that none of you are to go near the pool," Judy ordered as the chibis nodded before heading to play outside. "Enrique has been following me around since yesterday," Hillary complained, "I don't know what has gotten into him." "I think someone has a crush," Michael teased with a smile, "It probably has something to do with when you treated his boo boo." "Why would Enrique have a crush on her?" Johnny remarked, wearing a hat to cover his bald head, "he has two girls waiting for him at home that are of better breeding and station." "WHAT!" Hillary raged as an angry vein appeared over her eye, "what.did.you.just.say? You had better be glad that Kai and Tala all ready removed your hair or I would rip it from your head!"
As the two teens argued, Kai and Tala pulled Brooklyn with them as Rei and Mystel followed. "Adults weird," Tala remarked as they headed outside, "don't think I will ever understand them." "Me know," Rei added with a confused expression, "me don't want ta be one." The four laughed as Kai held Brooklyn's hand tightly as they walked to the backyard. "What you wanna do?" Kai ask as his attention focused on Brooklyn, "your choice?"
"Don't know," he replied with a shrug, "whatevah you wanna do is fine." "Can me play with your sword?" Mystel ask as Brooklyn handed the toy over to him. Mystel laughed as he started to swing it and it made a humming noise but he jumped with surprise when it sounded like it struck another. "Let's play a game," Tala suggested as Kai looked at his friend and nodded, "there are five of us. We can do sometwing weally good."
"Me wike," Brooklyn laughed as he clapped his hands, "what we do?" Kai's eyes narrowed as he looked toward the house and the teens that we starting to swim in the pool. "Hmm," he thought as his crimson eyes narrowed, "let me think. Sometwing fun but me don't want ta cause too much trouble though. My bottom still hurts from other day."
"Me know, me know," Rei remarked as he jumped up and down, "me gots an idea." "What is it then, kitty?" Kai teased as Rei's golden eyes turned into angry slits. He hated to be called kitty by anyone except Mystel. "Don't call me that," he snapped, "Only Mystie allowed to call me that." "That right," Mystel defended as he joined Rei's side. "Don't get your pants in a bunch," Kai added with a scowl, "Me won't call you that anymore so what your idea?"
"Soap," Rei informed as the other four looked confused, "ya know that stuff that Gustaf washes dishes with." "What about it?" Tala ask with curiosity. "If ya pour it in a potty," Rei continued with a grin, "it make pwetty bubbles." "That sound good," Kai exclaimed as he clapped his hands, "let's try it out." Brooklyn, however, had paled by that suggestion.
"But what about the monsters?" he whispered, shaking slightly, "they won't wike bubbles." "There ain't no monsters in the potty," Tala added with a smile, "it just water." The smallest chibi still shuddered from the thought but agreed to the game. Kai had the bright idea to use Brooklyn as bait since he looked innocent. Judy had accused he and Tala of manipulating him into painting on the walls two days before. She had heard about his parents as well from Stanley and she couldn't blame the youngest of them for any of his actions.
Brooklyn was perfect in his role since Judy and several of the others were in the kitchen fixing to cook lunch. Tala instructed him to run then fall on purpose and cry like he had been hurt. Brooklyn's howls were enough to distract the adults as Kai swiped the dishwashing liquid. Judy was confused since he stopped crying as suddenly as he had started. She swore he was up to something but she couldn't believe that her little angel was capable of mischief. She still put all the blame on Kai and Tala.
What she didn't know was that Brooklyn was capable of thinking for himself and actually enjoyed causing trouble. It was just here, he would be able to get by with it easier. He had the adults wrapped around his little pinkie and they didn't know it. "That easy," he remarked with a smile, catching up to Kai, who handed the bottle to Rei as they followed. They decided to try the experiment in a bathroom on the second floor since it would give them privacy.
Brooklyn shivered as he entered the bathroom last as Tala pushed the door shut behind him. Rei lifted the lid of the toliet seat and grabbed a stool to give him some height. The Neko-jin chibi poured almost half of the bottle into the toliet as they all gathered around to watch. Brooklyn however hid behind Tala since he was not reassured by their claims. He knew there were monsters in the potty no matter what anyone said.
It made too many noises for something not to live inside of it. "Everyone ready?" Rei ask as they nodded and Kai pulled the handle as the toliet began to flush. Bubbles did rise to the surface from the soap in the water but it did not prepare them for what happened next. "Wow," they exclaimed as they watched. Brooklyn peeking out from behind Tala since he was the oldest and tallest of his friends.
The bubbles rose higher as the water started to flow over the edge and then onto the floor. The chibis jumped away from the toliet as Tala fumbled with the door to get it open. The toliet made the awfulest gurgling noises that anyone had ever heard as Brooklyn paled further and even the others started to panic. There was so much soap in the water that the toliet looked to be foaming at the mouth. Brooklyn started to shake violently as they began to back into the hallway. The water then started to seep onto the carpet. (A/N - This will happen if you put enough soap in the toliet. I should know, I've done it before! lol)
"You made it angry!" Brooklyn shrieked, pointing to the toliet, "the monster in the potty is mad at us!" He started to cry as more water ran over the toliet and onto the floor. The carpet would definitely have to be replaced. "It eats paper," Mystel remarked, thoughtfully, "maybe it hungry." Kai and Rei being the bravest darted back into the bathroom and rolled off the toliet paper, throwing it into the toliet and only adding to the problem.
Their shoes were getting wet from the water as Kai tried to flush the toliet again but this time the soap and paper were working together to create quite a disaster. The toliet spewed as they jumped back into the hall. The noises coming from the toliet only made Brooklyn panic worse. He hated the potty and this wasn't helping his phobia. "Potty monster angry!" he shrieked, running down the hall, crying and screaming at the top of his lungs.
Judy and Gustaf heard the commotion from upstairs as they came out of the kitchen into the hall. Brooklyn ran down the stairs and nearly took a tumble if Judy hadn't caught him on her way to investigate. "Brooklyn, what is wrong?" she ask, lifting him into her arms and trying to soothe the distressed chibi. "Potty monster angry!" he shouted, nearly bursting her eardrums, "it don't wike pwetty bubbles." Judy walked down the hall to see the other four standing in the hallway. She saw the water on the carpet and then swore loudly but then reprimanded herself for doing so in Brooklyn's presence.
"Kai," she growled as she advanced on the dual-hair. "It not my idea," Kai defended, "it Rei." Before she could grab any of them, they took off, leaving her holding a sobbing chibi, who was afraid of the potty monster, ruined carpet and an overflowing toliet. The bathroom was an utter disaster. "Why do I even try?" she murmured, going back to the staircase and calling Gustaf or one of the others to help. She just hoped that this didn't deter Brooklyn from using the bathroom since he had been scared enough of it before.
Hillary and Mariah offered to help as she handed Brooklyn over to Mathilda, who agreed to watch him while they cleaned up the mess. Mathilda tried everything she knew to calm him but nothing worked so she decided that maybe the television might work. She sat down on the couch with him curled in her lap and flipped on the TV. She bypassed channel after channel until she found a cartoon called Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat. Rei appeared shortly after and sat down in the floor with Mystel to watch his favorite cartoon. When it went off, Dragon Tales came on and Brooklyn was calm by then and watching the show.
"That Ty-Ty's favorite," he remarked with a smile to Mathilda as Judy, Mariah and Hillary went by with mops and buckets. They had managed to unclog the toliet and the woman glared at the two sitting on the floor. That was when Rei did the oddest thing and tattled on himself. "Me did it," he admitted, standing before the woman, "it my idea; not Kai's. Me take all blame."
Judy let him off pretty easy since he had confessed but Kai and Tala didn't come out of hiding until lunch. Brooklyn sat inbetween Kai and Rei during the meal but didn't eat much. He wasn't thathungry or was the food appealing. Grandpa's meals were better than theirs especially his ramen noodles. He mainly drunk his rice milk and ate the bread that he knew was animal-free. He was glad that he wasn't the only one who was picky. Mystel didn't seem to like the food either and he normally loved tofu.
Afterwards, all of them were forced to take a nap that some of the older chibis protested but Brooklyn welcomed. He got to sleep on Tala's bed while he shared a bed with Kai. When Brooklyn opened his eyes, Kai, Tala, Rei and Mystel were playing in the middle of the room with Legos spread all about the floor. "Join us, Brookie," Tala called as he jumped off the bed and ran toward the others but he accidentally tripped over the lightsaber that Mr. Dickerson had given him as a gift. He landed right on what they had been building.
Legos were scattered everywhere but Rei helped him up to his feet. "Sorwy," he apologized as he threatened to burst into tears because he thought his friends would hate him for being clumsy. "Not a problem," Kai shrugged, "can happen to any of us." They all laughed and started to work on a joint project. They played with the blocks for a while before they grew bored and then started to play with some action figures that looked like turtles.
When Rei remarked that he was a little hungry, Kai pulled out a bar of candy from a drawer that Mr. Dickerson had given him. Kai split it into five pieces so they could share. Brooklyn took his piece eagerly and enjoyed it since it didn't taste like anything that Hiro had given him. He wished he could have more but was satisfied with what he had been given. He smiled at the others as they went back to playing with Kai's action figures.
Brooklyn didn't feel right shortly after eating the candy that Kai had shared with them. Mystel, Tala, and Rei seemed fine but he felt odd. His mouth was itchy and it felt like his throat was tight. When he started to wheeze, the other four noticed and looked at him oddly. "Brookie, you all right?" Kai ask with concern as his eyes watered. Brooklyn tried to shrug it off but the feeling wouldn't go away.
"Sometwing not right," he replied, between breaths, "feel icky." Both Kai and Tala jumped to his side as he shuddered and mild hives were seen on his arms. "What those?" Mystel ask as Tala ran to find an adult. "Don't know," he whined, "feel yucky." "What is wrong now?" Judy ask as she appeared with Emily, "Tala said that you don't feel well, Brooklyn."
"Feel funny," he replied as his eyes watered and he rubbed at the odd bumps. Judy knelt down and looked at his arms and then felt around his throat. "Have you ate anything?" she inquired as he nodded. "We had some of this," Tala offered, showing her the candy wrapper. "Are you allergic to anything?" she inquired as she saw that peanuts were an ingredient in the candy. "What allergic mean?" Brooklyn ask, innocently with his chibi eyes wide.
"Allergic means a food that you can not eat," she stated as the young chibi shrugged. "Could be the peanuts," Emily remarked, "a lot of kids are allergic to them." "That is what I am afraid of," Judy replied with a groan, "we need to get him to a hospital." "How are we going to explain this?" Emily ask, "especially when you fill out the form and put his name down as Brooklyn Kingston. Won't his name raise a few eyebrows?" "We don't have a choice," Judy remarked as Brooklyn started to cry from the yucky feelings, "fortunately I know a doctor that will keep this matter quiet."
She whipped out her cell phone and called a number. She talked to another person for a few moments before she hung up, pocketed the cell phone and grabbed Brooklyn. "Let's go," she stated, "tell Robert to keep watch over the others. I'll call Stanley and meet him at the hospital." "I'll go with you," Rick offered from the doorway, "you need someone to drive while you watch over the kid." "Very well," Judy remarked as she ran out of the room, leaving four confused and crying chibis behind her.
Since it was an emergency, she didn't care that the car did not possess a car seat as she settled in the back with Brooklyn in her arms, leaving Rick to drive. When he started to speed, Judy chastised him for the action as she called Stanley on the phone. The chairman panicked from the news as Brooklyn started to whine about his stomach hurting. Fortunately, the hospital came into view as she saw Stanley waiting for them outside. "Is he all right?" Stanley ask as she dashed through the doors and ignored him. She walked up to the desk as the secretary looked at her oddly.
"I need to see Dr. Mizoguchi immediately," she informed but was cut off as her old friend appeared with a clipboard. "Judy," he greeted, "how are you?" "I've been better, Kenji," she replied, "but we are in need of your services." When the secretary tried to protest that they would have to wait like everyone else, the doctor waved her off, saying that it was an emergency and that he would take care of it. They took Brooklyn into one of the triage rooms for privacy as Stanley was given a clipboard.
He didn't want to lie on the forms as Judy agreed to fill them out since she had a story prepared for such a situation. Brooklyn fought the doctor on the bed as he tried to take a look at him. Judy had a time getting his shirt off as he kept calling for Hiro. "I concur that it is an allergic reaction," he agreed after an examination as Brooklyn continued to cry, "with the wheezing and the hives. What did he eat?" "Some candy with peanuts," she explained, "I had no idea that he was allergic to anything."
Brooklyn then started to heave and threw up over the side of the bed as Kenji called for a nurse and orderly, then rubbed his back tenderly to help with the gagging. "Who is Hiro?" Kenji ask with a smile as he tried to examine the struggling child further, who was now being held by Judy since he wouldn't cooperate at all, "is he a friend of yours?" "More like his guardian," Judy informed, "he has been taking care of him for several months. He had to go to a business meeting today and left him in my care." "What is your name, little one?" Kenji ask as he tried to distract him as a nurse entered the room with a tray
Brooklyn looked up at him from Judy's lap but did not answer. Instead he hid his face in her clothes, leaving Judy to answer for him. "His name is Brooklyn," she stated, "but everyone calls him Brookie." "Well, you are a real cutie, aren't you?" the nurse soothed, stroking his cheek, "and with an earring too. Where did you get that?" Brooklyn looked at her with wide eyes as they tried to examine him and he saw the needles on the tray.
"It's okay, sweetie," the nurse comforted, trying to calm him, "we are going to give you a shot that will stop all of that icky feeling. Then I will give you a stickie and a lolly. Is that okay?" "NO!" he protested as he knocked the needle out of her hand and it landed in the floor. The doctor looked amused as Brooklyn clung to Judy as though his life depended on her.
The nurse picked up the needle but could not do anything since he was clinging to the coach of the All-Starz. Dr. Mizoguchi looked amused by the situation as Judy understood the look in his eye that they needed to distract him to inject the medicine. He pulled out his stethoscope and showed it to Brooklyn, offering to let him listen to his heartbeat, who looked at it with curiosity. "What dat?" he ask as his attention was diverted and the nurse approached him from behind. Judy helped her out as she held down an arm as he examined the object but he felt the needle pierce his skin and started to cry loudly.
"TRAITOR!" he cried to Judy, hitting her with his fists, "me want Hero now!" He got so violent that the doctor lifted him into his arms to try and calm him. His small fists were clenched and rubbing his all ready red eyes. "It's okay, little one," he tried to soothe, "you will have to stay for a few hours to make certain that the medicine is working. Aren't you suppose to be a big boy?"
"No," he protested as his bottom lip stuck out in a pout, "don't wanna be a big boy. Want Hero!" He started to cry at the top of his lungs and his howls could be heard throughout the entire ER. Several of the other doctors and nurses poked their head in the room to see what was the matter. Judy was glad that she had chosen Kenji since he was a pediatrician and dealt with this type of behavior on a daily basis.
"Is there anyway to get in touch with his guardian?" her friend ask, "I doubt that anyone will be able to get him quiet." "Hiro is unable to return tonight," Stanley informed as Brooklyn finally exhausted himself from the tears and fell asleep. Kenji handed him back to Judy who laid back on the bed and cradled him. The nurse gave her a blanket that she wrapped around him as he clenched his arms to his chest and settled in her arms. Rick popped his head in shortly after and was told that he could return to the house since they could ride back with Stanley.
"I wonder how Hiro would react to this," Stanley remarked, quietly from his seat next to the bed. "He would probably freak," Judy added with a small chuckle, "he seems to freak out a lot over this kid and I can't blame him after everything he has been through. He's a teen transformed into a toddler. It's not the same as being his three-year-old self. If he had been, he wouldn't have the earring or would Kai have the tattooes. I know they have access to some of their memories because of the way they behave around each other."
A few hours later, Brooklyn was discharged since the shot had gotten rid of the allergic reaction and they returned to the house. Judy wondered how she was going to break the news to a certain overprotective boyfriend. It was very late as they walked into the house but she was greeted by Kai, Tala, Rei and Mystel, who were suddenly standing before her in their pajamas as though by magick. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" Mr. Dickerson ask as he looked at the four. "Is Brookie all right?" Kai ask and you could tell that he had been crying from the tear stains on his face like the others.
"Yes, he is fine," Judy reassured, "the medicine that he took made him a bit sleeply but he will be okay. Just don't give him anything else to eat without my permission or it could happen again." "We won't," they said in unison as she walked up the stairs to their rooms. The other four chibis followed her as Stanley chuckled from their protective behavior. It was hard to believe that only days ago they had hated one another.
"He can sleep with Kai," Judy stated as she walked into his and Tala's shared room as Mystel and Rei protested, "since I trust him to keep watch over Brooklyn." "Me the man!" Kai shouted, happily as he jumped up and down and looking quite unlike himself. Judy chuckled as she changed Brooklyn into his pajamas and put him in the bed. Kai climbed in after him and wrapped his arms around the younger as Brooklyn shifted and cuddled into Kai's chest. Judy pondered what the older versions of the two would think about this scene as she pushed Tala to his own bed and the other two out the door.
She had barely left when Tala got out of his own and climbed onto Kai's. "Tala," Kai whined as the red-head laid down on the other side of Brooklyn and spooned up against him innocently. "He not just yours, Kai," Tala remarked, "he my friend too." A few more minutes past as the door to the room opened to reveal Rei and Mystel. Kai groaned as the two jumped onto the bed and disturbed Brooklyn who opened his eyes slightly. He smiled before he fell back asleep burying himself in Kai's shirt.
Rei tried to squeeze in the spot between Kai and Brooklyn's legs and threw his arms over the ginger-haired chibi but used Kai as a pillow. Mystel laid down behind Tala and wrapped his arms around the Russian. After everyone had gotten situated, soft snores followed as the five fell asleep entangled with each other. Judy had made one last round to check on everyone and had to smile after she saw the bed. She couldn't disturb them since they looked so cute together. Instead she chuckled to herself as she went to find her camera. She had to have a picture of this as a keepsake.
The Next Morning . . .
Hiro arrived at the house shortly after eight the next morning. The taxi dropped him off at the door as he stood there with his bag and pounded on the door. He grumbled as he waited to be let in but pulled out the contract from his coat that the sponser had signed. He was just wanting to go to bed. He hadn't been able to sleep the evening before since he had been so worried about Brooklyn. He had been tempted to call but decided that he would sound like a new mother who had just left her new baby with a sitter for the first time.
"Good Morning, Hiroshi," Gustaf greeted as he was allowed in, "the chairman is up and in the dining room having breakfast." Hiro grumbled a hello as he stalked to the dining room and didn't care if he was rude. He was irritated and grumpy and was liable to take it out on anyone who crossed his path. Judy, Stanley, Robert, Johnny and Romero were sitting at the table. Romero was relating a story about how worried he had been the night before about Brooklyn but when he saw Hiro, he went mute. The room was oddly quiet as they looked between themselves and the coach of the most powerful team in the BBA.
"Okay," he remarked as an eyebrow raised, "what is going on? All of you are acting even more strange than usual?" "It's nothing," Stanley replied, wiping his brow as Johnny muttered, "yeah right." "Here is the contract," Hiro snapped, throwing the paper to the chairman but making certain that it didn't land in his coffee or plate because there was no way that he was going back to get another signature, "Akito signed it and will be putting together a team to compete in the tournaments. I hope you are happy, Stanley."
Hiro sat down hard in a chair and poured himself a cup of coffee. The other five were all staring at him as though he had grown another head. "What is it!" he demanded, slamming the cup down on the table, "I am not in the mood for this so early in the morning." "We had a little trouble with Brooklyn last night," Judy murmured as Hiro's eyes went wide and he jumped up from the table. "BY KAMI, YOU KILLED HIM, DIDN'T YOU!" he screamed, waking everyone in the house which was a feat since it was so large, "I LEAVE FOR NOT EVEN A DAY AND HE DIES IN YOUR CARE! YOU PROMISED ME, STANLEY!"
"Hiro, he is all right," Judy tried to reassure, "we just had to make a trip to the emergency room last night." "WHAT HAPPENED?" he demanded, slamming his hands onto the table, "Is is okay? Was he hurt badly? Why in the hell did I let you talk me into this in the first place?" "He ate something that he had an allergic reaction too," Stanley explained, "they gave him a shot and everything is fine. The BBA even paid the bill."
"What.did.he.eat?" Hiro growled out as he stared at the chairman, who was getting nervous from his protege's glare. "Kai gave him a piece of candy that had peanuts in it," Robert explained, calmly as he sipped his coffee. "I told you yesterday that he was allergic to peanuts, Stanley," Hiro growled as his left eye twitched dangerously, "when you ask if there was anything he couldn't eat before you left. One single peanut is enough for him to have an allergic reaction." "Well, I-" the chairman began as he looked at his watch, "oh my, look at the time. I really must get to the office. I will see all of you later and thanks again Hiro."
He left as fast as his two legs would carry him since Hiro looked on the verge of murder. Judy blushed from the profanities that came out of his mouth as he had his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. "You have the mouth of a sailor," Johnny remarked with a smile. "Or the mouth of a Scot," Robert added as Johnny glared at him. "Like you never swear," Johnny added with a smirk, "even you are uncouth at times, Robert."
Brooklyn entered the room at that moment and looked at those gathered with interest. Judy was looking at Hiro and ignoring Romero, who was obviously flirting with her. Robert and Johnny were in a heated argument but he was interested in the bluenette that he had missed desperately. "Hero!" he cried, happily as the young man lifted his head and Brooklyn jumped into his lap, "me missed you. Judy made me get a boo boo."
He lifted his sleeve to show his stickie as he related the entire story to the bluenette, who listened patiently or he could have fallen asleep with his eyes open. Who knows? "I am so glad that you are all right," Hiro finally said after Brooklyn went quiet from his explanation and hugged him tightly, "I thought I told you to ask an adult before you ate anything." "Me forgot," Brooklyn replied, "kiss the boo boo and make it bettah." Hiro obliged the young chibi as he kissed the purple sticky and hugged him again.
He doubted that the shot still hurt but he would do anything to make him feel better. It seemed to work as he relaxed in his touch. "Me luv you, Hero," Brooklyn exclaimed, wrapping his arms around him and sighing with contentment as he leaned against his chest to listen to his heartbeat, "but don't leave me again!" "Don't worry, tenshi," he replied, kissing the chibi on the top of the head, "I won't." "You bettah not," the chibi threatened with a slight glare, "otherwise me give you a spanking." Hiro paled from the threat as the others laughed. Of course they could laugh, Brooklyn wasn't their boyfriend in chibi form and his thoughts had changed an innocent remark into something very perverted.
AS
R & R