Disclaimer - If you recoginize anything, then I do not own it.
Thank you to kai's kitty, FlamesOfFury, Moon Phases, Butterfly Ishida, Brooklyn's Gurl, lalalalala2, Demenior, MasterFranny, Kairi-Chan23, animepie, firehorse200, The LoneWolf-Tempest & AnimeQueen48 for reviewing.
Chapter 17 - What's New at the Zoo?
"Ty-Ty," Brooklyn called as they were dressing themselves or at least trying too, "me can't do this." He gave up on the buttons of the shirt and pulled it off in frustration. "Find sometwing easier," Tyson suggested as he pulled a purple t-shirt over his head. It was backwards as he pulled another from the drawer and threw it at Brooklyn. Brooklyn caught it but after looking at it, he threw it on the floor and then started to jump up and down on it while shrieking all manner of curses.
"Brookie, what the matter?" Tyson ask as he pushed Brooklyn off the offending article of clothing and picked it up. Tyson understood immediately when he saw the picture on the front of it. "Oops, sorwy," Tyson apologized sheepishly as Brooklyn put his hands on his hips and tried to look intimidating while just wearing his pokemon underwear. "Me hates Barney!" Brooklyn reminded, trying to do a chibi Kai death glare but failed miserably, "and Teletubbies and Elmo and clowns and that Pooh bear, who is bad 'cause he takes poor bees honey and -" "Oway, oway," Tyson snapped after Brooklyn threatened to go on and on about everything he hated, "me gets it."
"What are the two of you doing?" came Hiro's voice from the hall as he opened the door and was glaring at the two, "why are you undressed?" "Trying ta dress ourselves," Brooklyn explained with a smile, "can't wait ta go ta zoo." He giggled as he jumped up and down as Tyson joined in the merriment. That was why the two were really excited since the adults had decided to take them to the zoo today. "It is only six-thirty in the morning," Hiro snapped as he glared at the pair, "It is too early for this. The bus won't arrive until at least ten."
Of course, the two chibis did not understand the concept of time or could they read the clock. Well, Brooklyn could read the numbers but did not understand how they worked exactly. They just looked at Hiro like he had grown a second head. "They are just excited, son," Bruce remarked as he appeared behind Hiro and was yawning, "you can't blame them. You use to act the same way when you were their age."
"Yeah, right," Hiro mumbled, going back to his room, "I was never their age. I'm going back to bed." "Don't make me bring out the home videos," Bruce threatened with a laugh as he went into Tyson's room to help the two dress since he knew that the pair wouldn't go back to bed. He had to change Tyson's shirt since it wouldn't match his overalls. Tyson was soon attired in a white shirt with red overalls. Brooklyn was dressed in a red shirt with blue overalls. "Now, let's go get some breakfast," Bruce suggested as Tyson shouted happily and ran from the room quickly while he carried Brooklyn to the kitchen.
Hiro didn't get up until nine-thirty as he rushed about to get ready which resulted in he having an accident. "Hiro, what happened?" Bruce ask as he appeared in the hall and looked at his oldest son, who was sprawled out on the floor. He had heard a loud crash and then Brooklyn and Tyson had burst into laughter. He had to investigate what occurred and what they had found so funny. "Hero fall," Tyson chuckled from the doorway as he pointed at his older brother, who was slowly getting off the floor. "He twip ovah Cosmo," Brooklyn explained with a giggle, "when he wunning."
"It's not funny," Hiro snapped as he rose to his feet and groaned from back pain, "I could have been seriously injuried by that damn dog! Why isn't it tied up outside!" Tyson's eyes watered from the sound of his voice as he ran off to find Cosmo and make sure that he was okay. Brooklyn cowered behind Bruce as the older man crossed his arms and glared at his oldest son. "Don't use that tone of voice with me," he stated, quite firmly that Hiro felt himself shrink in fear. His father's tone was serious and made him feel like he was five years old again.
"It was your fault," Bruce continued with a smirk as Hiro shivered, "You should have gotten up earlier so you didn't have to rush about the house recklessly to get ready. You are beginning to remind me of Tyson from your behavior." Hiro's mouth dropped open from that comparison since he didn't consider himself anything like his younger brother but before he could defend himself, his father turned back around. "A word of warning as well," Bruce warned with another smirk, "you are not too old to be punished by me either. So watch what you say and do in my presence."
Hiro heard a giggle as Brooklyn peered out from behind Bruce's legs from the threat. Bruce smiled once again as he patted Brooklyn on the head before he went back to the kitchen to finish his tea. Brooklyn giggled a little more but a glare from Hiro stopped his laughter and he ran back to the lounge to watch TV. He knew better than to bother Hiro when he was in a foul mood. Besides if he got too bad, he would go and tell daddy that Hiro was being mean again. Tattling always worked well and to his advantage.
A few minutes later, a BBA bus pulled up to the curb and blowed its horn. Grandpa Ryu was waiting on the porch to see them off. He wasn't going to the zoo since he had a class to teach. When Hiro came out the door after his father and the two chibis, Cosmo whined and darted under the porch. It was a good thing since Hiro glared evilly at the puppy.
"Have fun," Grandpa remarked as they walked to the gate as his attention turned to the puppy, who came out after Hiro had past, "I'm glad that I am not going with those dudes. I have a feeling that something whacked is going to happen." Cosmo seemed to agree with the elder as he barked in reply and appeared to nod his head. Grandpa laughed as he patted the puppy before he disappeared into the house. Cosmo then laid down on the porch and decided to go back to sleep since his master was going to be gone most of the day.
Tyson boarded the bus first and was greeted by a chorus of 'Good Mornings.' He jumped into the empty seat next to Max as Brooklyn followed. He looked around cutely as Tala waved to him from where he was sitting with Kai. Kai smiled but then blushed as he turned away to look out the window. It appeared that he was still a little embarrassed and uneasy by what had happened the day before.
"Have you found a seat yet?" Bruce ask as Brooklyn looked up at him and then smiled as he grabbed his hand. They settled in an empty seat near the front since Brooklyn wanted to sit with someone. His daddy would have to do since Hiro was in a foul mood and his other friends were busy with each other. Hiro was the last to board as he slowly climbed the steps as he yawned. He looked around and was glad to see that Brooklyn was sitting with his dad. He was hoping to catch a few winks during the bus ride but he was surprised by the couple sitting near the back laughing.
He sat down in the seat in front of them as the driver pulled away. "I see that you changed back this morning," he mused with a smile as he turned to face the couple. "Had to happen eventually," Kevin shrugged, "and I'm glad that I finally did. Now, I can spend quality time with my Ollie." Oliver laughed and blushed from Kevin's remarks as Hiro forgot about his nap and ask questions about what he remembered.
Like the others, his memories were a bit fuzzy of his time as a chibi but would meld together with the old ones like they had done with Enrique, Miguel and Oliver. He did remember the fight in the kitchen from the day before and ask if Brooklyn had gotten into trouble for it. "I think we all forgot about that," Hiro mused with a laugh, "and then he gets rewarded with a trip to the zoo today. That does not seem fair to me." "Or me," Miguel added from his seat across from them, "why should they be rewarded for misbehaving?"
"Where is everyone?" Hiro ask, finally noticing that only six of the teens were on the bus. "The others bailed on us," Mariah replied with a frown, "Hillary and Enrique went to the movies. Kenny and Emily were doing research back at the house on building an even more powerful beyblade with Dizzi's help." "Robert, Johnny, Michael and Lei went to the museum," Mathilda added with a smile, "they wanted a day to themselves and said taking these chibis to the museum would be a disaster. There is a new Egyptian exhibit opening that they wanted to check out."
"Rick disappeared," Mariah continued with a sneer, "with Bryan and Spencer. I think they were going blading, leaving the rest of us to come on this ill-fated trip." Hiro cracked a smile from Mariah's remark since he had a bad feeling about this excursion as well. With that thought on his mind, his eyes turned to Kai and Tala, then to Brooklyn, who was talking animately to his father and last but not least to Rei and Mystel. If something bad was going to happen, it would definitely involve one or all of them over the others.
The ride past rather quickly as they arrived at the zoo. Everyone got off the bus as the chibis got even more excited and hyper. Fortunately Bruce had sense and had a firm grip on Tyson and Brooklyn. Judy was holding both Max and Kai, who looked appalled that she was holding his wrist. That prevented Tala from taking off as they gathered together in a group. Fortunately the day was overcast and chilly making Hiro hope that the zoo wasn't too crowded. They didn't need to attract a lot of attention while they were out.
"Okay, there are ten children," Judy began, "and not including Daichi, nine of us to watch them. Everyone is going to be responsible for at least one of them so stop groaning. I won't listen to any complaints." "We'll take Rei and Mystel," Oliver offered as Kevin nodded with a smile since they knew the two wanted to stay together. "YAY!" both Rei and Mystel said together as they hugged each other tightly since they were not going to be separated.
"I'll take Julia," Mariah mumbled as Julia ran to her smiling. "I'll watch Garland," Mathilda offered since she would be with Mariah and the two chibis enjoyed each other's company. Raul grabbed Miguel's hand making his choice before the teen could even say a word. Miguel blushed from the contact that only Hiro saw. One of his eyebrows arched as he watched the interaction between the two. He grinned slightly since he believed that he had just won the bet.
"I'll look after Kai and Tala," Bruce stated as the two Russians shivered. They did not like Bruce that much since he was stern and able to control them. "Then Max and Tyson can go with Romero and myself," Judy finished, "is that satisfactory to everyone?" Hiro noticed that she didn't even mention Brooklyn, who had latched himself onto his leg. "I all ready knew who Brooklyn would go with," Judy smirked as she picked up on his thought, "there is no doubt that he would go with you."
After everything was settled, they walked to the entrance. Most of the chibis would have run off if the adults and teens hadn't been holding onto them. "We should have brought leashes," Hiro murmured as Brooklyn shifted from where he was sitting on his shoulders, "because we are never going to be able to keep up with all of them. Someone is going to get separated before this day is over." "I may have to agree with you," Bruce replied as Hiro's mouth dropped open since he was struggling with Kai and Tala, who were trying to get out of his grip, "either that or strollers."
"They can get out of strollers," Hiro mused as they purchased their tickets and went inside. It seemed that since Stanley had some business at the BBA and couldn't join them, he had offered to pay for their day out. "Me want that," they heard Tyson yell as he pointed to a vendor that was selling hats that had various animal ears on them. "No," Hiro heard his father say as Tyson whined, "You do not need a souvenir." "Me don't need," Brooklyn whispered in his ear, making the hair on Hiro's neck stand up from the closeness and pointed to his cream colored sweater that had fox ears on the hood, "me all weady gots ears."
"And you are just as shifty and devious as a little fox," Hiro murmured as Brooklyn squealled and almost made him deaf as he hugged his neck tightly. Fortunately the zoo wasn't that crowded as they walked around and looked at the various animals. The group stayed together for a while as they looked at the panda and polar bears but then began to go their own ways by the time they reached the large cats. "Luv kitties," Kai shouted, running to the railing that separated them from the cages, "me wike tigers over any other." He climbed onto the railing as Bruce pulled him off in protest since he could fall. "I prefer wolves," Tala grumbled as he leaned on the railing and looked at the animals, "can we see wolves now?"
He pulled on Bruce's jacket as he looked down at his two charges after trying to fold the map of the zoo. It would not comply with his wishes and refused to fold back the way he had received it. Hiro laughed as he struggled with the map as Brooklyn wanted down. Brooklyn simply walked to Bruce and took the offending piece of paper into his small hands. He laid it down on the concrete as he sat down and proceeded to fold it.
He had his tongue stuck out in concentration as Hiro laughed softly at the sight. A few moments later, he stood up, dusted off his clothes and handed the properly folded map to his father, who looked shocked. "Here ya go, daddy," he stated as Bruce took it from him, "need help, just ask." Bruce turned to Hiro, who was turning red from laughing so hard at his expression. Brooklyn joined Tala by the railing as they watched a tiger get up and stretch from where it had been laying.
"This is so boring," Hiro muttered as they stood there for a few minutes and watched the tiger walk around, "I could have been doing something more important." "Pwetty kitty," Brooklyn commented as they moved to the next exhibit which was lions, "kitty w/h stripes remind me of Rei Rei." "Me too," Tala exclaimed, walking beside of Brooklyn as Kai stayed away from them with his hands in his pockets, "those remind me of Lei." The two chibis chattered away as Kai stood beside of Bruce and watched the lions walk around for a bit. Brooklyn must have noticed his behavior as he giggled at Tala, then grabbed Kai by the hand and pulled him to them.
"Not acceptable," Brooklyn remarked, "walk with me and Tala." Kai sighed and agreed to the request. Who could say no to the younger? Definitely not Kai, who saw that Brooklyn did not hold grudges against anyone for anything apparently. After watching the lions for a while, Kai climbed back onto the railing. Bruce did not make another attempt to pull him off as he just stood behind him in case he slipped.
Hiro just stood off to the side. He found this outing boring but watching the chibis enjoy it was entertainment enough. Brooklyn would laugh and giggle as he looked at the animals. This place was heaven to him; even though the animals were in cages. Sometimes when he couldn't see, Hiro would lift him onto his shoulders but he was determined to walk with Kai and Tala, who were actually behaving themselves.
They had completely lost the others by this time as they wandered about visiting the elephants after the big cats. None of them cared for elephants as Bruce decided that a break was in order and bought ice cream for them for their good behavior. It had started to warm up a little as they settled on a bench to eat. "Wanna try?" Tala ask Brooklyn, who was about to take a lick of his ice cream. "No," Hiro snapped, pulling Brooklyn away quickly and almost made him drop his popsicle, "You are not to eat anything offered by another without clearing it through an adult first. Do you remember what happened the last time?"
Brooklyn shivered when he remembered the visit to the hospital and the shot. "Sorwy, Hero," he replied, "me forgot." "I sorwy too," Tala apologized as Hiro nodded since no harm was done. "Just remember," he stated, letting Brooklyn reclaim his seat as he looked at Tala and Kai, "we have to watch what he eats. Otherwise, the consequences could be very severe."
They finished their ice cream and began to walk around once again. When the clock struck two, they met the others for a late lunch. The adults were sitting at one table talking among themselves with the teens at another, leaving the chibis alone which wasn't a very good or bright idea on their part. "This boring," Kai groaned as he picked over his grilled cheese and tossed a pickle on the floor, hoping that someone would slip on it for entertainment, "Hero and Bruce won't let us look at anytwing fun. Wanna wook at reptiles wike snakes."
"Me wanna wook at monkeys," Brooklyn remarked, finishing his own grilled cheese, "Hero don't wike monkeys. Maybe we can wook at birdies 'stead." "We haven't gotten ta swee the kitties," Rei added with an exasperated sigh as Mystel nodded, "all Kevin and Ollie do is kiss and wook all starry eye at each other. Most of time, they forget we there." "Me wanna ride a pony," Julia complained as Garland agreed with her as they all vented their complaints to one another about the unfair adults and teens.
"Me wanna swee petting zoo," Tyson added as Max nodded eagerly sipping Brooklyn's orange soda. Brooklyn hadn't liked the fizzy drink and had gladly given it to the blond when he ask for it. "Miguel take me ta swee everytwing," Raul said with pride, "he said me best chibi out of all you." "We haven't gotten ta swee wolves yet," Tala remarked, ignoring Raul's comment and smile, "let's go look on our own. That way we can swee what we want."
"Adults nevah let us," Mystel reminded as Max started to bounce up and down as the extra soda made him more hyper than he normally was. "Who said anytwing about asking?" Kai remarked with a devious grin, "they not paying attention. We sneak away." "But we gets in twouble," Tyson protested, "me don't wants a spanking." "That only if we gets caught," Kai reasoned as Tyson thought it over for a brief moment and then agreed.
The ten little chibis got up from their table and walked to the door. They had just opened it and were about to sneak out when the sugar kicked Max into overdrive. He wasn't able to think or reason rationally when hyper as he yelled, "MOMMY, SEE YOU LATER!" That shout made every adult and teen turn toward the chibis as Bruce and Judy looked directly at Kai and Tala. There were frowns on their faces as the chibis panicked but since Kai was their designated leader he yelled only one word, "RUN!"
The chibis screamed and ran out the open door. Luck was on their side since they had just been given sugar that was beginning to kick in, making them faster than they were all ready. Kai grabbed Brooklyn's hand as he and Tala led him through the zoo as they evaded the adults. Their small forms gave them a clear advantage since they could easily dart through the crowd and people's legs unlike the adults. Brooklyn was heaving when the three darted behind a bush to catch their breath.
"We lost them," Tala exclaimed, peeking out of their hiding spot, "but we lost others too." "No matter," Kai shrugged as he sat down, "we find them later. You oway, Brookie." "Me oway," he replied then smiled, "what we do fiwst?" Unintentional and unplanned of course, their escape route had led them right to the reptile house.
Kai giggled, yes giggled, as he saw where they were and led the other two inside of the dark building. Tala did not like the spiders and snakes inside but Kai was intrigued by them as he ranted on about wishing he could put them in someone's bed. Brooklyn didn't mind the snakes but some of the spiders were scary looking. They weren't small like the one that Kai had put on Hillary's dress at the Halloween party. They were bigger than his hands as he hid behind Kai when one would press up against the glass from their movement.
With both Tala and Brooklyn pleading or rather begging, Kai finally finished looking and they went to the wolf exhibit by following the pictures on the signs since none of them could read Japanese. Tala loved the wolves as they watched them for a few minutes. Tala even howled like one of them but both he and Brooklyn gasp when Kai grabbed and pulled them toward a path with a chain across it. They simply ran under it as they took cover as Kai put his fingers over his lips to be quiet. The trio saw Hiro run by, looking around franticly in every direction.
"Can't go that way," Tala murmured after he had past so they stayed on the path that was for the employees. "Me wanna swee monkeys," Brooklyn fumed as they wandered about a bit but were completely lost after a few minutes. They did not come across anyone since the zoo personnel had been alerted to the disappearance of ten chibis and were helping their guardians look for them. Another mistake on the part of the adults since these by far were not normal chibis they were looking for. "Where are we?" Tala ask as they came to the back of an exhibit and followed the railing around.
"Don't know," Kai shrugged as he tried to figure out where they were. "Monkeys," Brooklyn giggled as he darted to the railing to see several gorillas in their habitant below them. There was a long steep ravine below the railing with a grotto of sorts. The gorillas were simply sitting in the grass eating a late lunch as Brooklyn squealled and climbed onto the metal bars. Tala and Kai made certain that they didn't see any of the adults before they joined Brooklyn.
As fate would have it and as Grandpa Ryu had decreed, something was bound to happen to Brooklyn. He jumped up while on the railing, lost his footing and slid through the bars before his two companions could react. Both Kai and Tala watched in horror as he slid down the steep embankment screaming and landed in the small grotto. "BROOKIE!" they both shouted as he laid still for a few moments but then started to stir. Unfortunately one of the gorillas had saw his descent and was moving toward him. "Find adult!" Tala and Kai screamed at one another as they ran around in circles and created quite a scene among the zoo patrons that finally had noticed that a small child had landed in an exhibit with wild animals.
"What happen?" Brooklyn ask as he sat up and cringed. He had tore his clothes and had skinned his knee from the hole in his overalls. He heard a grunt of sorts as he saw one of the gorillas looking at him. "Wow," he whispered as he forgot about the pain. He looked happy for a brief moment but then the gorilla pounded his fists on his chest thinking that Brooklyn was a threat. "HELP!" Brooklyn shrieked as he tried to climb up the embankment but failed.
When Hiro heard several screams and shouts from other zoo visitors that a child had fell into an exhibit, only one word dared to escape his lips. "BROOKLYN!" he screamed, running in the direction that the other people were heading. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him since the exhibit was on the other side of the zoo and all he could do was worry about his chibified boyfriend. The zoo employees had been alerted to the situation as a crowd headed to the gorilla exhibit to watch or film the scene with their cameras. Which was not a good thing since their guardians were trying to keep their current states a secret from other certain parties.
While everyone on the outside was going crazy, Brooklyn just sat where he was crying as the gorilla approached. The male gorilla was going to attack if a female had intervened at the last moment and saved Brooklyn. The male backed off from the threat of the female as she turned around and looked at the small creature behind her. She looked confused for a moment as Brooklyn whimpered and wiped his runny nose on his sweater. "Hi," he whispered with a slight smile, "me Brooklyn."
The female gorilla made a series of grunts and babbling as she approached him. The crowd of people up above were screaming while the zoo keepers were getting their tranquilizers when the most amazing thing happened. The female looked at Brooklyn one last time, sniffed him, made a type of cooing noise and then picked him up in her arms. "Ya stinks," Brooklyn remarked as she cradled him to her chest and went back to the others, "me gonna smell wike monkey." She sat down, keeping him in her arms as Brooklyn tried to get away but she refused to let go. It was fortunate that Brooklyn had attracted the attention of a female who thought he was one of her own.
She began to pick at his hair as he giggled from her touches making the witnesses and handlers look on in fascination. They had called the EMTs expecting the child to be mauled and severely injuried but there he was in the arms of one of the gorillas, who was treating him like her offspring. "This is incredible," a zoologist remarked as the other five gorillas were watching the pair interact, "I have never seen anything like this before." She watched the scene with fascination as the pounding of feet against the pavement alerted her to the arrival of two adults with a younger one behind them. "He's ours," the couple said together as they tried to catch their breath.
"Why the hell aren't you doing something!" Judy demanded, cutting both Bruce and Hiro off as her eyes turned to the scene before them. Her mouth dropped open from watching the interaction between a gorilla and a human. "He does have a way with animals, remember?" Hiro reminded with a smile as both Bruce and Judy glared at him. "This is not a time for jokes," Bruce growled, "but I do have to admit that this would be fascinating if it wasn't my son who is out there. Will you do something?"
The handlers had the bright idea of stunning the animals but when they opened the cage, it enraged them instead. The female gorilla protectively held Brooklyn in her arms as they saw him struggle to get away from her. "Me wike attention," Brooklyn stated, squirming as her grip tightened and she pressed him tightly to her chest, "but not this much. Pwease let go." The male silverback who had been ready to attack Brooklyn only moments before was now going to defend him.
He reared up on his back two legs as he beat his fists against his chest. His sharp teeth were visible as the handlers moved back. They were afraid that if they made the wrong move that the gorillas would in turn hurt Brooklyn. No one knew what to do as the crowd above the exhibit held their collective breath. It seemed like time was standing still for those watching.
"You can't call me monkey boy anymore," Daichi laughed as two teens watched the scene from above, "I think the squirt has earned that moniker now." "Daichi," Mariah snapped, sounding like Hillary as she tried to pull Kai away from the railing. Miguel had managed to take Tala away but Kai was refusing to leave. There were too many cameras around them and the Neko-jin knew that it was not safe for Kai to be near any of them. He needed to be shielded from the amateur photographers that were gathering.
"Me don't wanna go," he protested as Mariah cursed. She wished she had offered to grab Tala since Kai was proving to be quite stubborn. "We have too," Mariah insisted, "the adults will take care of the situation and get him back. I promise." "You pwomise?" Kai ask, looking up at her with his big chibi eyes that were wide and teary. "Yes, I promise," she insisted as he finally let go of the railing as she picked him up into her arms and darted through the crowd. She pushed his face into her neck but it didn't matter since one of the witnesses had gotten a picture of him.
Brooklyn was still struggling against the female that had him firmly in her grasp. He didn't want to see any of them hurt because of him. "Pwease stop," he called to the zookeepers, "me don't want ya ta hurt them." His pleas did not fall on deaf ears this time as both humans and primates seemed to listen to his words. "Me very flattered," he said, looking up to the gorilla, "but me gots a family, see." He pointed to Bruce, Judy and Hiro, who all looked worried.
"They wuv me," he continued as the gorilla seemed to understand him, "and me wuv them. Me wanna go back home pwease." His big chibi eyes were wide and watery as he sniffled. The gorilla looked between the humans and the chibi in her arms. She held Brooklyn tightly to her chest as she walked toward the gate that separated them. She stopped within a few feet as the zookeepers had their tranquilizer guns ready if the need arose.
She hugged Brooklyn tightly one last time before setting him down. Brooklyn smiled as he looked up at the gorilla, hugged her as she ruffled his hair playfully before he ran to his guardians. "Me oway," he exclaimed as Judy and Bruce grabbed him before Hiro could, "that fun." "I am so glad that you are safe!" Judy exclaimed as she hugged him so tight that he started to turn blue from lack of oxygen, "but you smell." "Me comes back ta visit," Brooklyn waved to the gorilla as Bruce took him from Judy.
Brooklyn wanted to go to Hiro but Bruce would not let him as he ask for a way to get out of the zoo without drawing anymore attention. They did not want to make a scene as management agreed and they were escorted out a back gate. The bus was waiting as they boarded and Brooklyn was glomped by Kai and Tala since they had seen the incident unlike the others. "We so worried," Tala stated as Kai refused to let go of him, "we thought monkey gonna eat ya." "Me fine," Brooklyn managed to say as he pried himself out of Kai's embrace, "she weally nice."
Brooklyn then turned around as he looked at Hiro, who was feeling hurt since he was being ignored. "Hero," Brooklyn called running to him as the bus lurched forward and he nearly fell flat on his face if Hiro hadn't caught him. "You okay, tenshi?" Hiro ask as he lifted his smaller boyfriend onto his lap. "Me fine," he replied as he hugged him tightly, "sorwy for wunning away. It stoopid and dangerous. Me weally sorwy."
"It's okay," Hiro reassured, returning the embrace, "I'm just glad that you were not hurt. You should know that I can't stay mad at you long." "Me sorwy for laughing earlier too," Brooklyn continued as he leaned his head on Hiro's chest as he ran his fingers through his soft hair, "Me sorwy for everytwing bad me did ovah last few days. Me been a very bad boy." "We all have bouts of insanity, tenshi," Hiro murmured as Brooklyn sighed and drifted off to sleep, "at least this time you didn't grow black wings."
Hiro smiled as he looked down at Brooklyn, who was clutching his jacket tightly in his sleep. He slept until they arrived at the house and ask if he could spend the night with his playmates. With reassurances that he would be closely watched, both Hiro and Bruce agreed to let he and Tyson spend the night. Tyson wanted to spend time with Max and they were looking forward to having an evening to themselves. "Now you promise to behave and do whatever Judy says?" Hiro ask as he knelt down in front of Brooklyn, "I am not going to let you stay otherwise."
"Me pwomise," Brooklyn agreed, hugging him one last time before Judy took him away for a bath to get rid of the gorilla smell, "Me behave. See you later." Hiro made certain that he did not have his fingers crossed as he hugged him one last time as his father lectured both Tyson and Brooklyn before they left. Most of the other teens were home so Hiro felt a little secure at leaving Brooklyn by himself this time. The bus then took them home.
"What a day!" Bruce and Hiro complained as they both collasped in the lounge. They were both exhausted and were looking forward to having a chibi-free evening. They were arguing about what to order for dinner when grandpa entered the room. "What happened to you?" Grandpa ask as he turned on the TV, "you look like you were stampeded by a bunch of wild animals. Where are the little dudes?"
"Staying over at the house for the night," they said together, "It was their idea and how could we refuse such a request." The three sighed since it was going to be nice to have the rest of the evening to themselves. Hiro was glad that he had left Brooklyn with Judy since he wasn't in the mood to deal with him this evening. Grandpa flipped the channels until it landed on the evening news which happened to be reporting an incident that had happened at the zoo earlier. Grandpa turned around and looked at his son and grandson with an odd smile.
"Let me guess," he began with a smile, "that is the reason why the two of you look totally beat. Was it Brooklyn?" Both men nodded as grandpa burst into laughter and was glad that the footage that the station had acquired did not show Brooklyn directly. The man had gotten a good picture of Kai, Mariah and Daichi though. "It could have been worse," Bruce remarked but little did the three men know was that somewhere nearby, two people, who they were trying to keep the secret from had watched the news as well. They had saw the story about the incident at the zoo but the older in particular was interested in Kai, who he recoginized instantly.
"Find them," he ordered his companion, who nodded as he left the room. "So the bit beasts have more power than I realized," he smirked as he kept the footage on a loop that kept showing the image of Kai clearly, "It seems that my grandson has fallen prey to their power. He will regret betraying me. I will show that grandson of mine true fear. If he feared me before, it will be nothing compared to what I will do to him now." Voltaire Hiwatari laughed evilly as Boris Balkov plotted their revenge.
R & R
AS