TJ sighed, nervously.
Sydney Grabbed his paw reassuringly, and the two walked into the room. There, an olinguito sats quietly on a chair. No older than nine according to the social worker, dressed in a white and red shirt and khaki shorts.
"Hey" TJ initiated, taking one of the two seats in front of the child, "Rodrigo Jaimes, isn't it?"
"Y-you can call me RJ."
The kid was shy, but he seemed pretty adamant about that name. Sydney liked that.
"Well RJ, I'm Syd and this is TJ."
He raised a paw as if sharing a secret.
"He's not actually named TJ, but he likes his named shortened like that too."
TJ rolled his eyes, and RJ chuckled.
"So" TJ took control of the conversation, "How would you like to be our son?"
"Do I have a choice"? RJ mumbled.
"Of course, that's all up to you."
RJ stood silently for a bit, musing.
"I'd like to, but I didn't know two guys could, well, could adopt people."
"Well, in a lot of places they can't" Sydney said, "And lots of people look down on families like that. But I can protect you. And we'd love the the same as if we were a woman and man."
"Okay. I guess I prayed for a forever home, so I can't complain."
"Oh, you pray too?" TJ said.
RJ nodded.
"M-my mom, she used to..."
RJ's features saddened, so TJ offered him a hug. He took it, and relaxed.
"I wanna go with you" RJ muttered, "You smell nice."
"Thanks."
RJ disengaged, and held TJ's and Sydney's paws. And nothing more was said.
***
The social worker, a stork, opened the door for them.
"Please be patient, Jane's-"
"We know, we read the file" Sydney said, "Awful people."
Sitting in the chair was a female cormorant, around eight years old, dressed in a purple shirt and overalls. She looked to the side, a scar at the base of her neck exposed that way.
"So, you're my new parents now?"
"Only if you want us to be" TJ said.
She repeated what he said mockingly. Sydney decided to take the reigns.
"Don't be such a little shit."
Both TJ and Jane looked at him, the former in horror and the latter impressed.
"Sydney!" TJ said reprimandedly.
"What, she needs to know we're up to no bullshit. That we're direct and honest."
"You know" Jane said, just noticing the jolly rogers in Sydney's shirt, "You're kinda cool. All the other people were spineless."
Jane raised herself from her seat.
"You know what? I choose you."
"Alright!" Sydney said, "How about we go outside and tell it like it is?"
The two of them laughed, and TJ sat mortified.
***
Third time was the charm.
The two sat down in front of a chevrotain, so young that he didn't still have his tusks.
"This is a younger kid, so please let me do my thing and don't swear up a storm?" TJ said.
"If you say so, master" Sydney said seductively.
TJ rolled his eyes and lowered himself to the kid's level.
"Hello Jin, how are you-"
Suddenly Jin rose up and hugged TJ.
"And nothing more needs to be said" said the social worker, a cockatoo, "I should warn you, though, he's not potty trained."
"We'll take that challenge" Sydney said.
And so the family was complete.
