Disclaimer - If you recoginize anything, then I don't own it.
Thank you to Tezi, firehorse200, Butterfly Ishida, lalalalala2, TYSON FAN GIRL, FlamesOfFury & kai's kitty for reviewing.
Chapter 15 - The French Connection
Hiro first woke to a sniffling, that turned into whining and finally to crying. "Now what?" he groaned as he recoginized the cries, "I knew this would happen." It was still the early morning; no one was up except for him as he rose and walked to the next room. "What is wrong?" he ask, flipping the switch and flooding the room with light. Both Brooklyn and Tyson were on the bed shivering and sniffling that was soon followed by sneezes.
"Hero," Brookyln whined as he wiped his runny nose on the sleeve of his pajamas, "me don't feel good." He sniffled again as he sneezed. Tyson was whimpering as well as Hiro noticed that the both of them looked flushed. "This is not good," Hiro mumbled, sitting on the edge of the bed and feeling Brooklyn's forehead. Both he and Tyson were warm to the touch as Hiro sighed sadly. They were both definitely sick and this did not bode well for him.
"DAD!" he shouted as Brooklyn whimpered even more and climbed into his lap. He was shivering against him, seeking warmth as Hiro tenderly rubbed his back and wrapped his arms around him. "What is it?" Bruce ask from the doorway, yawning. "I think they are both sick," Hiro informed, "it must be from being out in the rain yesterday." "Kuso," Bruce cursed as he walked forward and looked at the two chibis as well, "let me get the thermometer. I have a feeling that today is going to be a load of fun."
He grumbled as he left the room. Tyson wrapped himself up in his blankets as he shivered but Brooklyn had his arms wrapped tightly around Hiro as he tried to find his own source of warmth. "Are the little dudes sick?" Grandpa ask as he appeared in the doorway, yawning as well. It appeared that Bruce had woke him on his way to the bathroom. "I think so, Grandpa," Hiro informed, "they are both warm, sneezing and shivering."
Grandpa put a hand on Brooklyn's flushed cheeks and nodded in agreement. "Looks like they both have a cold," he mused as Bruce returned with a thermometer. It was one that went in your ear so they didn't have to worry about having trouble with either of them over a small stick. Tyson was checked first and his temperature was a 100.7 while Brooklyn was running a fever of 101.5. "They probably got sick from the inclement weather yesterday," Bruce remarked, sitting down on the bed and taking Tyson into his arms, "they were out most of the afternoon and evening in damp clothing. I'll go to the pharmacy and pick up some type of medicine for them. I don't think it's serious enough for a visit to the doctor."
He handed Tyson to grandpa while he went to put on some clothing to visit a drug store that was open twenty-four hours. "If you didn't have bad luck," Hiro mused, comforting the sick chibi in his lap, "then you wouldn't have any at all." "Me sorwy," Brooklyn replied with another sniffle and sneeze, "don't mean ta be burden." "You will never be a burden, tenshi," Hiro comforted as he wrapped his arms around him and laid his head on top of Brooklyn's, "don't ever think that." "Oway," he replied, enjoying their closeness and Hiro didn't care if he got sick as long as he could provide comfort and security for him.
Bruce returned fifteen minutes later with two different bottles of cold medicine. "The chemist recommended this one for Brooklyn," he stated, handing one of them to Hiro, "since he is younger than Tyson and has allergies. It is suppose to taste like bubblegum." Hiro scanned over the contents of the suspension liquid and saw there was nothing in it that he was allergic too. "He said that if you can't get him to take it," Bruce continued, "that you could put the medicine in a liquid and mix it together for him. It might be easier than forcing it down his throat."
"Don't want yucky stuff," Tyson complained as he saw the bottle, "that icky." Hiro didn't hear anymore of his complaints as he left the room with Brooklyn in his arms and sniffling in his neck. He went to the kitchen to do as his dad had suggested. He wasn't cruel enough to try and force it down his throat like they would probably do to Tyson. He poured some rice milk into a glass and mixed the medicine into it.
"I need you to drink this, Brookie," Hiro offered, holding the glass in front of him, "for me." "No," Brooklyn protested, crossing his arms and shaking his head, "me not drink. It got yucky stuff in it. Saw you put it there." "It will make you feel better," Hiro tried to reassure, "I'm sure it doesn't taste that bad. Just drink it for me."
Brooklyn cracked open an eye and looked at the glass. He decided that he was going to drink it since Hiro had ask nicely but when he took the glass into his hands, he sneezed at that exact moment and dropped it. The glass shattered into thousands of tiny shards on the wooden floor as Hiro sighed. Before he could give Brooklyn the medicine, he had to clean that up first. After sweeping up the glass, he tried again but Brooklyn was sniffling and still sneezing and nearly dropped the second glass as well.
"You just have to make this more difficult than necessary, don't you?" Hiro groaned as grandpa walked in. "You still haven't gotten him to take the medicine yet," Grandpa noted from the look on his grandson's face, "Tyson took his since it tasted like oranges." "Everytime he takes the glass," Hiro remarked with exasperation, "he starts to sneeze and almost drops it. I've all ready had to clean up one broken glass." "Dude, there is an easy solution to this jam," Grandpa remarked with an eerie smile, opening a cabinet and rooting around for something inside of it, "Judy gave you this when the little homme stayed over. I rescued it from the garbage and thought it might be useful."
He pulled something out of the cabinet that made Hiro grimace as grandpa took the glass and poured its contents into the cup. He popped on the lid and shook it thoroughly before offering the cup to Brooklyn. "Here try this, little dude," Grandpa offered. Brooklyn was rubbing his eyes with his little hands and looked wearily at the cup and its contents. He decided that something that nice shade of pink couldn't be totally bad and took the cup eagerly. He drunk all of its contents before giving the sippy cup back to Hiro.
"Use that cup from now on," Grandpa remarked, wincing as he stepped on a piece of glass that Hiro had missed, "I don't want anymore of my dishes broken, you dig." "How was it?" Hiro ask, putting the cup in the sink and planning to return to bed as he lifted the chibi into his arms. "Not bad," Brooklyn replied with the best smile he could muster under the circumstances, "but me still don't wike it." "I don't think there is any medicine that tastes good," Hiro remarked with a smile as Brooklyn giggled slightly before leaning his head against Hiro's shoulder and sticking his thumb in his mouth. Hiro took Brooklyn back to his room; knowing for a fact that the chibi would not be satisfied unless he was with him.
He passed by Tyson's room that was now empty and figured that his dad had done the same with his little brother. He did have to admit that his father was trying to make up for all of the time he had lost with him before. After the events of yesterday, he had decided not to take the job that he had been offered since Tyson needed him more. Hiro climbed back under the covers as he turned on his side with Brooklyn curled up contently against his chest. Hiro hoped that whatever he had wasn't contagious since he didn't need to be sick as he calmed his thoughts before falling back asleep.
Peace and quiet was going to be denied him, however, when the phone rang after nine. He cursed at whoever was calling at such an early hour as he tried to reach the phone without rolling over and squashing Brooklyn in the process. After the fourth attempt, he managed to grab the device and practically yelled, "Moshi Moshi!" into the receiver. "Good morning, Hiro," Stanley's voice greeted and he was way too perky for that time of morning, "how are you?" "Trying to sleep," Hiro grumbled, "not to be rude, Stanley but what do you want? I don't have time for this. I have a sick chibi on my hands and I'm not in the mood for this so early in the morning."
"I'm sorry to hear that," the chairman replied, "did they get sick from being out in the rain yesterday?" "We believe so," Hiro informed as he checked on his charge, who was resting peacefully, "dad went to get some medicine for them so hopefully we nipped it before it could get too serious." "I was calling to tell you that Oliver turned back to normal this morning," Mr. D stated, "and that he is not Miguel's boyfriend." Hiro had to stifle a groan from the lame attempt at a joke. Ever since Miguel had turned back and confessed his sexuality, everyone had been trying to figure out who he was crushing over.
So far, he hadn't said but some of them thought it was one of the Europeans. He had to give credit to whoever it was though. They had hid it pretty well since he didn't remember Miguel playing with anyone in particular as a chibi. He had hung around Garland a lot but he was infatuated with Julia so he knew it wasn't the captain of the Bega team unless he was bi. He had his own susicipions of who it was and would only be proven right when he turned back to normal.
"If they are feeling better," Mr. D suggested, "why don't you bring them over to the house? Oliver wishes to cook a seven course meal to show his gratitude to everyone for treating him so well." "I don't know," Hiro added, looking at the sleeping Brooklyn, "they might spread this to the others and we would have eleven sick chibis instead of two." Mr. Dickenson was about to reply when Hiro heard a voice in the background that made him wince. "MAKE HIM COME!" was shouted at the elderly chairman, who was chuckling, "TELL HERO COME OR YA FIRE HIM!"
Hiro growled from that demand as Brooklyn shifted slightly. He wasn't warm like he had been before but still it was unwise to meet the others. It sounded like World War 3 on the other end of the phone. Stanley seemed to be fighting with a certain dual-hair over the phone as the younger won and literally screamed into the mouth piece. "HERO!" the voice shouted as it startled a sleeping Brooklyn, who looked around in confusion because he was drowsy before promptly bursting into tears, "BRING BROOKIE OVAH TODAY TA PLAY OR YA WILL REGRET IT!"
"KAI!" Mr. D admonished as he wrestled over the phone again, "that is not at all nice!" Hiro simply hung up the phone as the two fought, not wishing to get involved further and he had to comfort Brooklyn, who was still crying. "Tenshi," he whispered, hugging the younger, "It's okay. It was just Kai." Brooklyn sniffled but he did stop crying. He whined a bit before he grabbed ahold of Hiro tightly and refused to let go of the bluenette.
With a bit of rocking and some comforting words, Brooklyn calmed down and fell back asleep. Hiro sighed with relief since he didn't realize that a simple yell could upset him so much. "Who was that on the phone?" Bruce ask as he appeared in the doorway. "It was Stanley," Hiro replied with a yawn, "he called to say that Oliver has turned back and that we were invited to either lunch or dinner. I told him that Tyson and Brooklyn are sick and that it might be unwise to go."
"Tyson is almost back to his normal perky self," Bruce informed, "but I'm going to continue giving him the medicine as a precaution. How is Brook?" "He is not as warm," Hiro stated, "but he's still irritable and cranky. Kai startled him when he yelled into the phone and made him burst into tears." "I'll call Stanley and see what he has in mind," Bruce offered with another yawn, "we'll just have to wait and see about Brook."
His father disappeared, leaving Hiro sitting on the bed with Brooklyn comfortably in his lap. He brushed back the soft hair from his eyes as Brooklyn snuggled into his chest even more. It seemed that the chibi was even more needy for attention when ill and Hiro was eager to give it to him. "I think we need to sleep for a little while longer, tenshi," he soothed as he laid back down and did so without disturbing the chibi in his arms. Maybe he could get a few more hours of sleep if he was fortunate.
Hiro didn't wake up until he was called for lunch which reminded him that it was time for Brooklyn's next dose of medication. This time they managed to hide it in some juice that Brooklyn eagerly accepted. He tasted it though because of the expression he made after the first sip but he did finish it without a complaint. Tyson was pretty much back to normal; only sniffling occasionally. They were invited over to the house for dinner and since Brooklyn appeared to be in a better mood, they decided to go.
He wasn't running a fever now; although he still looked a bit flushed. Hiro figured that even if they went, Brooklyn would probably stay with him since he didn't seem in the mood to play. When Tyson wanted to watch cartoons, the younger had refused the offer and had opted for Bruce's lap since Hiro was still eating. Bruce was very attentive to Brooklyn's needs as he spoke softly to him and gave him the love and comfort that he hungered for. The medicine must have made him drowsy since he had fell asleep again.
"I'll take care of him while you dress," Bruce offered since Hiro was still in his pajamas. Bruce disappeared, cradling Brooklyn close to his chest as Tyson's laughter echoed throughout the house from whatever he was watching. Hiro returned to his room and pulled on a tight red t-shirt, a pair of blue jeans and topped it off with a jacket. He quickly brushed his unruly hair and pulled it back in a ponytail as he considered getting it cut because he was tired of dealing with it. Would it look better shorter?
As he was pondering over his hair, a sneeze startled him. No one was in the room with him except for a certain black blade with a bit beast inside of it. He had placed the blade on a high shelf that neither of the chibis could reach as he grabbed it in hand. "Zeus," he questioned as the beyblade began to vibrate and then another sneeze could be heard. "What!" the beast roared from the blade as the bit chip lit up and his voice sounded hoarse, "I am sorry for snapping at you, Hiroshi but I am not feeling well at the moment."
"Are you sick too?" Hiro ask as he heard another sneeze, "Brooklyn woke up with a fever and sneezing as well." "I believe it was a combination of the weather and the exercise," the Greek god stated with disgust, "You shall not be seeing either me or Dragoon for a while. We have both come down with colds from our escapades yesterday. He is complaining worse than I am however." "I'm glad that dad hid his blade," Hiro mused with a laugh, "I will leave you to your solitude then."
"How is Brooklyn?" Zeus ask before he went quiet, "I hope he is doing better than I am." "We gave some medicine," Hiro explained, "his fever has went down but he still is a bit off. He should recover with time." "That is good," Zeus added, "I will speak to you again soon." The bit chip stopped glowing as Hiro wrapped the blade in a scarf. He didn't know if that had any effect but he couldn't help but feel sorry for the bit beast. "You are more human than you care to admit," he mused with another laugh as he hid the blade again before leaving his room.
By the time he walked into the lounge, Brooklyn was dressed, curled up and dozing on the couch. His dad had dressed him in blue overalls with a white shirt. He had on a sweater over it that was one of Tyson's. He had his Care Bear clutched tightly in one arm while the other was sucking on the fingers in his mouth. Hiro couldn't help but stare at the scene as Bruce appeared and must have noticed the small bit of drool run down from the corner of his mouth. Hiro got a smack upside the head for his hentai thoughts that snapped him out of what he was thinking.
"Dad," he whined as Bruce glared at his oldest son. "Don't you dare do that again," he snapped but then smiled, "until he is back to his normal age." "Are ya dudes ready to go?" Grandpa ask as he appeared with Tyson trailing behind with Cosmo's leash in hand. Hiro groaned since the dog was going with them. Bruce grabbed Brooklyn before Hiro could but did shove a bag in his hand that Hiro groaned even more from.
It contained items that was essential for any parent to carry with them everywhere when you had toddlers. There was a change of clothing for each, their medication and a few other small items they might need. A few minutes later found Hiro nestled in the backseat of his dad's car inbetween Tyson and Brooklyn, who were sitting in a booster seat and car seat respectively that Bruce had dug out of the attic. Cosmo was in the floorboard at Tyson's feet with his head on Hiro and getting drool all over on his leg. Bruce was driving and the dog refused to leave him alone as he felt a paw clawing at his leg.
Tyson was happily looking out the window and waving at other people who they past. He only sniffled or sneezed every once in a while. Brooklyn however was asleep with his head against the side of the car seat. The ride was miserable for Hiro at least since he had been cramped in the space he had been sitting and he was glad when they pulled up into the drive. He managed to squeeze past Tyson as he jumped from the car to stretch his legs.
Tyson managed to unbuckle his seatbelt on his own and followed his lead as Cosmo copied his master. Hiro was going to get Brooklyn but his dad beat him to the toddler, who whined when he was disturbed from his slumber. "Hero," he whimpered with his arms reaching for him. He calmed down after being lifted into his arms and settled his head on his shoulder. "The chemist said the medicine might make him drowsy," Bruce remarked as they walked to the front door but before they could ring the bell or knock, the door was thrown open to reveal a yellow blurr.
"Ty-Ty," Max greeted, glomping his best friend as the two laughed and Judy appeared in the hall, "I'm glad you could come. Happy to see Cosmo too." Judy looked exhausted from running after her hyperactive son, who was talking so fast to Tyson that none of the adults could understand him. Apparently Tyson understood what his playmate was saying as he nodded and they ran off together with Cosmo following them. "You look a sight, dawg," Grandpa remarked with a grin, "is the little dude giving ya trouble?"
"He got into Oliver's chocolate frosting," she replied, taking a deep breath, "and it made him hyperactive. I'm getting too old for this. How is Brooklyn? Stanley told me he was sick before he left for the office." "Just a little cold," Hiro replied, "He's doing better but the medicine he is taking has made him drowsy. He will probably sleep most of the day."
She mumbled something inaudible but they understood the word 'Kai' as the chibi appeared in the hallway with Tala and Rei. Mystel was not with them which Hiro found unusual and wondered where the Egyptian was. "BROOKIE!" they screamed, running to Hiro, who was about to make a run for his life but Brooklyn just opened his eyes slowly from the shout. "Hey," he said, softly before shutting his eyes again, making the three chibis before him confused. "Brookie, you wanna pway?" Tala ask, eagerly as the little red-head looked at the other.
"No," was the reply as the three little faces dropped. Kai started to get angry from Brooklyn ignoring them but Judy intervened just in time. "Kai, Brookie isn't feeling well," she explained, kneeling down to their level, "He has a bit of a cold and the medicine that he is taking is making him sleepy. He probably won't be in the mood to play today." "Brookie sick," Rei remarked as she nodded, "me hate it when I gets sick. Master Tao make ya take yucky medicine." He stuck out his tongue to emphasize his point as the adults laughed.
Kai wasn't laughing and you could see the tears leaking from the corners of his eyes as he wiped them away with the sleeve of his shirt and ran off. "Kai," Tala called as the dual-hair disappeared as he followed him. Rei just smiled at the adults and then went off to find Mystel. The four adults discussed Kai's odd behavior as Brooklyn got tired of their voices. All he wanted to do was sleep and they were not allowing it any more than his friends by all of the noise.
"Down," he protested, going from cute to irritable in one mere second. Hiro looked startled that his mood had changed so suddenly but when he started to wiggle, he had to oblige and put him down. The four adults watched as he walked away mumbling in Japanese about loud, noisy people. The four adults had a time keeping their mouths shut from his comments. Grandpa just burst into laughter but the other three didn't think the toddler's remarks were cute but were reminded by the elder that Brooklyn was ill and so would be his mood.
Brooklyn wandered into the lounge where several of the teens were gathered. Most of the others were either in the heated pool outside or were watching the other chibis. Robert and Johnny were playing a game of chess in which the German was winning while Rick was beating Michael badly at a video game. It wasn't that noisy except for Micheal and Johnny's cursing. The four barely noticed as Brooklyn entered, looked around, smiled briefly before climbing onto the couch, curling up and falling asleep.
A few minutes later, Judy appeared and looked relieved to see Brooklyn. She didn't attempt to disturb the chibi but did grab a throw to cover him. "Michael, can you and Rick keep an eye on him?" she ask as the two replied something hurriedly, not even looking at their coach, absorbed with the television screen as an angry tick appeared over her eye. "We'll keep an eye on him, Judy," Robert reassured, "don't worry about him." "Make certain that no one disturbs him," Judy added, "he's in an ill mood from being sick and I actually heard him cursing when he walked away from us."
A few hours later, Brooklyn woke up feeling better than he had all morning. He stretched as he sat up and looked around the room to see that the only thing that had changed was that both Michael and Rick were gone. Robert and Johnny were still playing chess that the German was winning again. "Have a nice nap, squirt?" Johnny ask as Brooklyn approached the table they were sitting at. He couldn't see the board since the table was too high; even when he stood on his tiptoes.
"Someone must be feeling better," Robert remarked as he put Johnny's king into check. "Me feel a lot bettah," Brooklyn replied with a smile as he tried to see the board, "me wanna swee." Johnny grabbed Brooklyn and settled him in his lap so he had a good view of the board. This wasn't unusual for the Scot since he had done the same with both Enrique and Oliver when they had been chibis. Brooklyn clapped his hands together and giggled as his eyes scanned the chess board.
"Johnny, you are in check," Robert reminded as Johnny growled as he looked at the board, "are you ready to lose for the fifteenth time in the past hour?" Robert looked certain that he was going to win since Johnny had never won against him before. Johnny picked up his queen and was going to move it in defense of his king when Brooklyn's small hand grabbed his own to prevent the move. "No," Brooklyn protested, his chibi eyes wide as he shook his head violently, "don't make move. Ya lose."
"What do you know about chess, runt?" Johnny ask the chibi currently in his lap. "Me know ya lose if ya make that move," Brooklyn stated, his eyes glittering strangely, "me know ya can win." He whispered something in Johnny's ear as Robert's eyebrow raised in interest as he looked at the pair. What could a three-year-old know about chess? He didn't like the smirk on Johnny's face or the giggles coming from Brooklyn afterwards. It was like the two knew something he did not.
On his first move, Johnny managed to get out of check but on his second, he managed to finish the game by putting Robert's king into checkmate. "Ya win!" Brooklyn shrieked as Robert's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Finally," Johnny remarked, hugging the toddler, "and I owe it all to you, runt." "Ya welcome," Brooklyn replied, happily as Hiro entered the room at that moment to see a very unusual scene. Robert was gaping at a chess board while Johnny was celebrating an obvious win with Brooklyn bouncing happily in his lap.
"I don't even want to know what happened here," Hiro laughed. "Hero, wook!" Brooklyn shouted, "Johnny won and me helped." Hiro smiled at the chibi since he had not been just a prodigy at beyblading but had many other talents as well and one had included chess. Robert was a champion but Hiro bet that teen-age Brooklyn could give even him a run for his money. He could tell that Robert's pride had been wounded so he decided it might be best if Brooklyn disappeared from his sight for a while.
"It's time for your next dose of medicine, tenshi," Hiro informed as the chibi groaned. "Don't want yucky stuff," Brooklyn whined as Hiro took him from Johnny, "rather stay with Johnny and Robert." "Sorry, Brookie," Hiro informed, "if you want to get better, you have to take your medicine. The longer you stay sick, the longer you have to take it." Brooklyn whined and started to cry but his fake tears had no effect on Hiro, who carried him to the kitchen after finding the bag they had brought and retrieved the right bottle of medicine.
The kitchen was busy with activity since Oliver was preparing a seven-course-dinner for all of them. Kevin was in the kitchen and been helping him mix ingrediants together but there was more food on the small Neko-jin than in the bowl itself. Oliver's apron was covered in flour along with his beret, making the two look like ghosts. "Bonjour," Oliver greeted with a smile, "it is nice to see you again, Hiroshi and Brooklyn." "I assume that you are happy to be back to normal," Hiro noted as the French teen nodded. "Oui," he replied with a smile, "I missed cooking, appreciating art and watching Robert beat Johnny at chess."
"Johnny just won a game against Robert," Hiro informed as he rooted through the refrigerator, looking for something that Brooklyn could drink. "Quoi!" Oliver stated, dropping the knife that he had been chopping carrots with. Fortunately it landed on the floor away from everyone. "Brooklyn helped him win," Hiro remarked, settling the chibi on the counter as he picked up a container of fruit juice after scanning the contents, "he is not just a prodigy at beyblading. He wins at any game that he plays except for one. He could be a grand master if he so desired in chess but he hates to compete. It took me weeks to convince him to compete in the Justice 5 match so it is useless to try and talk him into competing in anything else."
Oliver was gaping as he looked at the toddler, who was swinging his legs and oblivious to the conversation since he seemed to be singing softly. Hiro mixed the two liquids together and handed the sippy cup to Brooklyn, who frowned. He didn't want to take it since he knew it would make him sleepy and he wanted to play or be around others. He didn't want to sleep but mingle. "Me wanna pway," he protested, "me dwink that and me go ta sleep."
"I took care of that, tenshi," Hiro smirked, "I only gave you half of the normal dose so maybe it won't make you as drowsy." Since Hiro would not relent and was watching like a hawk, Brooklyn drunk the contents of the cup, making a face since the medicine tasted worse mixed together with fruit juice than it did with the orange juice earlier. "I think the others are outside playing," Oliver stated, getting over the shock of Johnny's win as he looked out the window into the backyard. "You can play if you want," Hiro stated, picking Brooklyn up and sitting him on the floor, "but you are not to go outside. You are to stay in the house."
"But Hero," Brooklyn protested, "fwiends outside." "You can't go outside, Brookie," Hiro stated, more firmly, "it will only make your cold worse. You want to play, you have to stay inside." Brooklyn huffed as his arms crossed, thinking about how unfair the situation was. "Hiro!" Grandpa yelled as Hiro darted out of the kitchen, leaving Brooklyn with Oliver and Kevin. "Ollie," he stated, tugging on the French teen's pants.
"Oui," he replied, looking down at the toddler. "Can me help?" he ask. Oliver looked at Kevin as the small Neko-jin nodded. "You can help Kevin decorate the cookies," Oliver suggested, finding another stool so Brooklyn could reach the counter like Kevin, "let's wash your hands first." He made certain that his hands were clean before tying on a small apron and settling him next to Kevin, who was suppose to be frosting the cookies but was eating the sweet and creamy treat instead.
"You decorate the stars," Kevin suggested as he handed the smaller chibi a bottle that was filled with a red edible glitter. The Neko-jin was trying to frost the star-shaped cookies while Brooklyn was suppose to add the decorations. It didn't work that way as Brooklyn sprinkled glitter all over the cookie and the counter. It got up in his nose causing him to sneeze but fortunately he had the sense to turn away from the food. "This harder than it looks," Brooklyn admitted, turning to Kevin. "That why me gots more on me than them," Kevin replied with a smile and his pointy teeth showing, "It not easy."
"Not bad," Brooklyn stated after he dipped his finger into the bowl and tasted the vanilla flavored frosting. "Well, everything is done except for dessert," Oliver remarked, thinking about a chocolate souffle for the adults while the chibis could have cookies, "how are the two of you doing?" Oliver's eyes went wide when he saw the mess the two were making. They had completely forgotten about their assigned jobs and were eating instead. He said a few curse words in French as the two chibis fought over the bowl of his famous frosting.
It slipped from their hands, went up into the air and landed on Brooklyn's head. The chibi didn't cry as he lifted the side to reveal his eyes; that were full of mischief. Kevin took the moment to grab the bowl showing that the frosting had gotten into Brooklyn's hair and it was now a sticky white and orange mess. "Hiro is going to kill me," Oliver murmured as he approached the two chibis, who were fighting over the bowl. "Mine!" Kevin shouted as he protected the piece of plastic like his life depended on it, "my Ollie made it so it mine!"
Oliver blushed from Kevin's comment but Brooklyn was not in a mood to be a pacifist today. He may have been feeling better but he still was irritable and it was showing. "Ollie said me could help," Brooklyn demanded, trying to grab the bowl from the Neko-jin, who hopped off his stool. Brooklyn followed as the two chased each other around the counter and Oliver's legs, giving the French teen a headache from their screams. It didn't stop there as the two chibis grabbed everything in reach and started to throw them at the other.
Eggs, flour, sugar, anything imaginable went flying toward the other as Oliver tried to stop the chaos but could not. He gave up and took cover by cowering under the sink. "What going on?" Mystel ask as he appeared in the doorway and got hit in the face with a handful of cake batter. The small Egyptian wiped it away from his eyes and had soon joined in their food fight. The three screaming chibis finally attracted the attention of one adult in particular as Hiro came to the doorway and his mouth dropped open at the scene before him.
Mystel had went missing and he had been ordered by Judy to find him. Well, he found the missing chibi and something more. There was various food splattered all over the once clean kitchen with Kevin, Brooklyn and Mystel coated in the sticky substance. Hiro didn't know what to say as they continued their food fight but fortunately his dad did. "STOP THIS NONSENSE RIGHT NOW!" came the shout from behind him, nearly making Hiro jump out of his skin since his father had crept up on him by surprise.
The three chibis stopped in their tracks, each guilty since they were holding something to throw. Oliver took the bellow as a sign that help had come and came out from the cupboard he had been hiding in. Bruce stalked forward, looking more intimidating than Hiro ever could. "What is going on here?" he demanded, more calmly as the three chibis looked among themselves. "They started it," Mystel defended, pointing at Kevin and Brooklyn, "me a victim."
Hiro shook his head since Mystel had been around Rei too long and had picked up on some of his tattling. "Hello, daddy," Brooklyn greeted with a smile, thinking he could get out of trouble, "how you? Me feel bettah." "That is not going to work, Brook," Bruce snapped, making the chibi's face falter, "you knew exactly what you were doing and shall be punished accordingly." "Ollie," Kevin begged, "don't let the big meanie hurt me."
He grabbed Oliver's legs and started bawling. Brooklyn didn't have anyone to try that on since both his daddy and Hiro were mad. "What happened in here?" Judy ask as she appeared and looked around the kitchen with Gustaf in pursuit. "Hiro, take them upstairs and give them a bath," Bruce instructed, "while we start cleaning this mess up. I will think up an appropriate punishment for you later."
Brooklyn shook his head sadly as Hiro grabbed his and Mystel's hand. Kevin wouldn't leave Oliver so he offered to take care of the small Neko-jin. Hiro nearly pulled Brooklyn's arm out of the socket as he drug them toward one of the many bathrooms. The other chibis had come inside by this time and watched as the trio past, feeling sorry for the two from the way that Hiro looked. "I can't leave you alone for even a minute," Hiro fumed as he glared at Brooklyn, "what did I do to deserve this?"
"Me sowry," Brooklyn apologized as he hung his head low and Hiro couldn't stay mad at either of them since Mystel was sniffling as well, "but Kevin wouldn't share." "Fighting is not the answer, Brookie," Hiro reminded, "you can't force someone to share if they are unwilling. Then you brought Mystel into this with you antics. If you owe anyone an apology, it should be him." "Sorwy, Mystie," he repeated, looking at the blond. "It okay, Brookie," Mystel replied with a smile, "it was kind of fun; even though we gots into trouble."
"Me know," Brooklyn smiled as Hiro pushed them into an empty bathroom. When he turned his back to start the water in the tub, Hiro missed the evil grin, the two chibis shared. If Hiro thought they had made a mess in the kitchen with the food, that wasn't even going to compare what they were going to do to the bathroom. Both of the chibis nodded and looked innocent when Hiro turned back around. This just wasn't Hiro's day at all.
R & R
AS