“Gotta hand it to the kid, he sure knows how to make an old bear worry” Bruno said as he entered the main road and sighed “Maybe I should’ve called in sick today”
“I’m sure he’s perfectly fine with his computer games” Ravage said as he lent back in his seat.
“Says the guy who had to be dragged out of the house”
“Okay maybe I was a tad worried, but that’s only because he’s new to this area of town and it’s too late to turn around we can’t afford to skip this shift”
“Yeah, yeah, I hear ya, just hope he’ll be okay for a few hours” Bruno said softly as he continued to drive along the highway until reaching the town exit.
After 2 hours of driving in silence Bruno kept his eyes on the road until he saw the turn off and steered the truck down onto a dusty road before pulling up alongside an old house, turning to the panther “Sure this is where the boss told us to go today?” He asked
Ravage looked to the house before replying “Yup says here in his text old run down home owned by an old girl wants us to repair a few of her windows then we can go home”
“Let’s hope this is a quick job” Bruno said before getting out of the truck, adjusting his belt on his jeans
“Same here bud” Ravage said while grabbing the tool kit and walks with Bruno up to the front porch before knocking “Hello?”
The door opened to reveal and elderly woman who adjusted her glasses before smiling “Oh wonderful, you two here to fixed my windows?” She asked
“Yes we are ma’am, just tell us which ones need fixin” Bruno replied
The woman nodded and pointed to the flat box under one of the windows “It’s just these two, that one with the box is to be replaced and the one over there needs to be fixed, keeps jamming the darn thing” She explained
“I’m sure it just needs some oiling, anyway we’ll get the new glass installed before seeing if we can loosen that window for” Ravage said while setting the tools up that were needed while the woman smiled before going back into her home.
“Shouldn’t take us long to clear the broken glass place the new glass in, let’s get to it” Bruno said with a light chuckle as he proceeded with removing any old glass.
After several awkward attempts and one almost disastrous slip up, the two managed to install and secure the new window in the frame and were now enjoying a quick lunch, Ravage looking around at the property before finishing his sandwich “So, I gotta ask, why did the kids dad dump him with us?” he then asked
“He knew I was the only parental figure Ryuki liked and thought he’d be happier with me” Bruno replied before taking a sip from his travel mug “Why do you ask?”
“Just feel bad for him that his family just shoved him into another home”
“Trust me bud, he’s going to be fine with us, heck I even bet you 10 bucks that we’ll be greeted by either A: “Hey, how was work” followed by a hug. Or B: Just a welcome home hug” Bruno chuckled while smiling hoping his words were right.
Ravage on the other hand could only sigh which Bruno returned with a quick elbow jab to his side “Whats up with you?” He then asked.
“Sorry just thinking about some stuff, it’s nothing” Ravage replied softly
“Pardon me sir, sorry for cutting into your break like this but could you come inside my house for wee moment?” The old woman asked, startling both Ravage and Bruno.
“Me? Or him?” Bruno asked, still shocked from seeing the woman coming out of nowhere
“You” the women replied while pointing a shaky finger at the panther.
Ravage looked back at Bruno who only shrugged and went back to eating while the panther followed the old women to the house.
upon entering Ravage was shock to see how new the interior of the house looked compared to the outside appearance, the walls where line with photo’s shelves decorated with designed plates and porcelain figures, the panther couldn’t help but let a small whistle as he was impressed at how clean and organised everything was.
“Why thank you, nice to know men these days still admire old feng shui” the woman said as she sat down on a patchwork arm chair
“Uh, but I didn’t say anything ma’am” Ravage said with a confused look.
“I know, but you were thinking it” The woman said keeping her gazed fixed on the panther whom rolled his eyes “Yes by all mean call me crazy, but I know exactly the reason for you being absent minded”
“If this is about me almost dropping the new glass, I am sorry” Ravage said, rubbing th back of his head
“I know why you almost dropped it, something’s on your mind, or rather someone” The women said looking directly at Ravage to see if she struck home and let out a small laugh as she saw a look of gobsmack on the panthers face being asking “I’m right aren’t I?”
Ravage just stood there in shock, finding no words to how this lady knew he was thinking about how Ryuki is doing back at the house “This person must be really important to you to lose focus on a job” He heard the lady say followed by another chuckle.
“Yeah he is, to my pal Bruno, I’ve only known him for a short while, ya see, his parents dumped him with me and a friend of mine” Ravage said softly, rubbing his neck still to coax the words out of his tangled throat.
“Ahh, and yet this person has taken a place among your thoughts, no?”
“Okay lady now you’re being-“
“Creepy?”
“Yes, cut it out! I can’t deal with that sort of crap”
“Oh come now, I’m old, I deserve a little fun with this gift o’ mine” The lady said as she got up from the chair “And if you want to consider being the boys stand in father, might want to take that up with your friend”
The Panther stuttered for a moment shaking his head clear of any other thoughts or questions “Right, I wasn’t even considering that thought till the kid gets settled in but yes I will have a talk with my friend” He said before turn to the door and begins walking only to stop mid step.
“Oh don’t worry about the window you boys go on home, your payment is on the cabinet by the door” The woman said with a light giggle as she heard a soft grunt from the panther, followed by the door closing.
As Ravage arrived at the truck, he quickly gave Bruno the envelope containing the money for today’s work before sighing “Next time the boss calls up and says some old lady needs a window fixed, lets not take the job” He said before leaning against the hood
“Why’s that?” The bear asked as he slipped the envelope through the window.
“Ever seen matrix? That lady who seems to know everything?”
“Yes why---Oh, guess you had the same experience Neil did huh?”
“Yeah I did, now how about we head on home, she says we don’t need to worry about the jammed window” Ravage replied before getting into the truck, Bruno following in suit, turning the ignition on and pulled back onto the dirt road, driving back in the direction of the main road.
A small sigh was emitted from Bruno as he kept his focus on the road ahead, not exactly sure what brought on the silence, usually his feline friend would be chatting away after a job so the sudden quite was concerning the bear “Okay what happened in there?” He then asked
Ravage only sighed before turning his gaze to the front window “The lady in there kinda dug into a small thought of mine that I’ve been having since the kid arrived” He replied
“Oh? Here I thought you were starting to like him” Bruno said with an idle shrug
“I do, the thought isn’t anything bad about him, in fact it’s a great thought”
“Well what is it?”
“That’s where I’m worried, I mean his parents just dumped him with us and-“
“You’re saying you’re considering us to be his Fathers?” Bruno asked, cutting of the panther, his eyes widened slightly but his voice was still even.
The panther nodded slowly and kept silent, shifting his gaze to the window while waiting for the words to sink in “I’m suggesting it because you’ve known the kid nearly his whole life and I’m great with kids” He said softly
“To be honest with ya, I have been thinking about taking Ryuki in as my own kid all the time whenever he wasn’t around, hell I even bought all those game consoles and DVD’s he likes just for the sake of giving the kid a decent home, but you can never choose your family” Bruno said as he made a left turn towards residential area.
“I know but even you said he’d be happier living with us and now he is so you can actually make him your boy” Said Ravage as he turned to face Bruno.
“I’m not saying that I’m against the idea of giving Ryuki this new chance to be with two people who care about him, just saying it’s up to him whether he wants two Dads or not”
“I hear ya bud, but one quick question”
“Let’s hear it, what do you want?”
“Well if the kid says yes to us being his Dads, can I go back to walking around the place Naked?” Ravage Asked in an almost pleading voice which in turn was received with a small sigh from the bear as he turned the car up the road leading to the house.
“How about you ask him that, Pops”
