Of Kitty Cats and Gundam Pilots
Zechs was woken from a nightmare, in which he owned two chibi neko pilots, to the horror that it was true and that Duo was, butt naked, jumping on the bed singing “Na no na no na no na,” at the top of his lungs. A similarly naked pilot 01 had curled up on his pillow and purring in his ear. Both were clutching the plushies that he had given them the day before. “Okay,” he said sitting up, “I get it, you want me to get up.”
“Na no na no na.” Duo chorussed happily.
Heero was more succinct as he climbed out of the bed, “hn,” was all he said.
Lifting milk glasses from the cupboards caused Duo to clench his tiny fists and stamp his feet, “Okay,” Zechs said, “coffee it is.” He looked over his shoulder at Heero who was sucking on the floppy ear of his plushie, “or would you prefer tea?”
“Nyao.” Heero said climbing up to the table and settling his plushie as a pillow he put his head on heavily.
Duo was still singing, “na no na no na” as he climbed up to his chair.
“Is he always like this in the morning?” Zechs asked as he put the coffee on to brew.
“Nyao.” Heero mumbled into the matted fur of his pink rabbit.
He rustled up the three of them a quick breakfast that Duo moved around his plate unhappily before devouring everything and snagging a piece of toast from Zechs' plate too. His hair had come unbraided in the night, probably from playing with Heero, and now, from his shoulders down, almost to the floor, despite the chair, it was a tangled mess of brown strands. Zechs decided that even if the kitties had gotten him up earlier than he would normally, he was going to be late for work.
Lifting the paddle brush from the vanity he approached on Duo, who in reaction raised his hackles, arched his back and hissed at him. Zechs took a step back in shock and then offered Duo the brush, “here, do it yourself,” Duo snatched the brush and jumped down from the chair and ran from the room with his hair streaming behind him as he went.
Heero had no such compunction, he lifted the comb from the vanity and walked up to Zechs, “nyao,” he said offering the comb.
“You want me to brush your hair?” Zechs asked taking the comb. Heero obediently sat cross legged in front of him. It was only a quick matter to brush out the tangles and then Heero turned around and reaching up gave Zechs a quick lick on the lips. “Now go and get some clothes and I'll help you get dressed.” Giving him another of the quick little licks he went into the bedroom.
Duo came out crestfallen, dragging the brush behind him. He walked up to Zechs and offered him the brush without raising his eyes from the floor. “nyao.” He said.
“I know, little one,” Zechs said, “your hair is very important to you, but it's just too long for you to manage on your own, now do you want me to brush it for you?”
“Nyao.” Duo told him, and then looking up at Zechs he giggled. It was the first time that either of them had made anything resembling a human noise and Zechs found it so adorable he just swept Duo up into his arms for the biggest hug he could give him. Heero came into the room then, carrying a tee-shirt and a pair of pyjama bottoms and when he saw them he looked rather upset.
“Come here,” Zechs said offering him one arm and then crowded them both unto his knee. He was sure Une would understand it if he called in sick today.
It took him nearly two hours to get the two of them dressed because of all the false starts, including Duo finding his cell phone and using the speed dial to phone Treize and sing at him. Then he phoned Une for what appeared to be a rather one sided conversation. By the time he had got Duo off the phone Heero had vanished again, and was this time bundled up in the top shelf of his wardrobe on Zechs' cashmere sweaters.
No one had ever told him being a parent was such hard work.
He put hats on both of the nekos to cover their furry ears and hand in hand took them to the store to get them some more toys. More than one of the plushies that Zechs had bought had been deemed too girly and then shredded by Heero, and there were other things he was sure that they needed.
Women came up to him to exclaim about his handsome children, and especially his daughter. This caused Duo to, invariably, sit down on the floor of the mall and scream, thumping his fists, he didn't like being called a girl. Eventually he just picked him up and carried them to Baskin Robbins.
He had to take them into the mother and baby stall in the bathrooms and lift them unto the seat, there being no step-stool, and found himself wondering if they were too big for nappies, but standing at the sink as they washed their hands with his help Zechs knew he wouldn't trade this for the world.
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