The Gorgon wrinkled his nose. “Absolutely not.”
“I agree, that’s…mm, no,” Killian tsked. “You know, Cyrus, maybe it would be best if you take over recording the list and leave the name suggestions to us?”
“Mine aren’tthatbad,” Cyrus huffed.
Ender snorted. “I’m pretty sure most of the ‘No’ names are yours.”
“They are all his,” Killian corrected way too sweetly.
He sighed. “This is bullying.”
The Gorgon snickered. “Pointing out the truth is not bullying.”
“Some truths are best left unsaid,” Cyrus grumbled.
Killian giggled. “Most of the names on the ‘No’ list would have been better off unsaid.”
Cyrus sighed heavily, and resigned himself to the fact that he likely was going to lose every argument in the future, when they were on the same side.
“Come in,” Ender called out when there was a knock on the door.
It opened and Soren walked in, tablet in hand. “Thought I’d give you a report from the latest meeting, as there are a few things I need you to approve before setting them in motion.”
Ender groaned. “Nope, not today. Try again tomorrow—or better yet, how about Cyrus takes over for a bit!”
“What?!” Soren squawked, at the same time he did.
“Well, I mean, maybe don’t do anything too illegal for a few weeks. What you can handle on your own, do it, of course. But like, I know there is some work that needs to be done on the helpline, so have him work on that!” the Gorgon chimed, beforeadding, “You can just save the rest of the fun illegal shit for me, when I’m ready to deal with it.”
Cyrus snorted. “Fun illegal shit?”
“Yep!” The Gorgon smirked at him.
Killian just snickered, as Soren sighed. “Fine.”
Cyrus held back his laugh at the Harpy’s disgusted expression. The Cryptid was no doubt fully aware that all this would amount to was likely more work for him.
“Glad we got that settled. Though, while we're still on that topic, Cyrus won’t be joining you this week. So, proceed however you can until next week.”
The Harpy sputtered, “W-why? Last time I checked, he wasn’t the one who gave birth!”
“Because I’m cold,” the Gorgon huffed, as if it was obvious.
Cyrus chuckled, and more firmly tucked Ender against him, knowing ‘I’m cold’ was Ender’s way of telling them he wanted to be held.
Soren scoffed in disgust, shaking his head as he turned and left.
Closingthe door of his room behind him, Zenny walked only a few steps down the hall before stopping to stare at the closed door of Killian, Ender, and Cyrus’ bedroom. When lines that ran from the door to him showed up, a smile spread across his face as he counted them.
Five in total. Zenny’s smile only grew wider when he reached the two new lines that had appeared yesterday. Red in color, they looked how all new family lines did, not as deep or solid.But their appearance confirmed what he’d already decided to be true, that he was where he needed to be, because this was where his family was.
Home—Zenny was home. He finally had a place he could actually call home, with people who wanted him there.
Killian sat there, near the edge of the bed, tablet in hand. With it having been a week since the Gorgon gave birth, Ender was standing next to him, instead of sitting, because the Cryptid had felt the need to get up and walk around. Though, Ender wasn’t really doing much walking at the moment, and hadn’t been since Cyrus had left for a meeting.
Currently, both of them were just staring at the eggs in the incubator that was hovering about five inches above the nest, while throwing out more name options for the babies.
About thirty inches in length, and fifteen inches tall, the machine was shaped similarly to a hockey puck, but with an odd pucker-like thing at the center on the bottom, which sucked up the eggs when activated. It was clear, aside from the plush redvelvet colored lining on the bottom, and the circuitry that ran along the top of the incubator.
