Tom Hiddleston one shot/drabble collection

Boys day out

A/N: A very late Father's Day special, but still wanted to write a quick one nonetheless, even though usually I don't bother if it's too far past the day. It should have been ready for the actual day, but I didn't find the time to then, afterwards I forgot all about it until now to finish writing it.

Hope you enjoy ☺️ x

Summary: Tom and his son have a boys day out at London Zoo.

Warnings: None

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Tom and his little boy arrived ten minutes early before the doors to London Zoo opened. Holding hands as they waited in the queue at the entrance ticket stand. The little boy bounced back and forth on his heels which caused his curls to spring up and down each time.

"How much longer, Daddy?" The sweet boy asked after a few minutes, squinting up at Tom due to the sun's rays and Tom's height.

"About..." Tom trails off as he checks his watch. "Five and a half minutes."

"Then we can go in?" The boy asked, now holding his free hand to his forehead to help shield his eyes from the sun.

"Yes after we get our tickets." Tom says, giving his son a smile.

The pair talked about all the animals they wanted to see. The tigers especially being the boys favourite, while the giraffes being Tom's. When the doors finally opened and the queue started moving the boy started skipping along while still holding his Dad's hand. After they were at the front and Tom paid for their tickets nothing else could stop them now.

"Come on, Daddy, this way!" Tom chuckles as he's eagerly led by the hand by his son.

Gorilla kingdom was first. Walking to the opposite side of the entrance and right up to the Gorilla enclosure. The boy excitedly pointed out two young Gorillas playing together, chasing each other and being very rambunctious, until the older male Gorilla got involved. The young'uns had accidentally bumped into him and he responded by standing up tall and roaring at them.

"Oh no, they're in big trouble." The boy says, as the younger Gorillas retreated quickly.

"It would appear so." Tom chuckled, as he watched on.

Penguin beach was second. The boy noticed three of the Penguins seemed to form their own little group. They decided that this little trio of Penguins were like the Penguins from Madagascar, as two seemed to be following the one in front like their leader. Maybe even planning their escape the boy had suggested jokingly. The Penguins were followed up by Parrots, and then Butterflies in Butterfly paradise, before stopping at the zoo Pavilion restaurant for lunch.

Once inside the restaurant they chose a table in front of one of the floor to ceiling windows, the best place to look out at the beautiful view. And observing everyone who walked by as they ate and made plans of where to go next. Decidedly the boy asked to play on the swings first and was granted a short time on the swings as there was so much more to see.

After their lunch the boy raced ahead towards the playground, Tom's long legs kept him only a stone's throw away behind to keep an eye on his son. Once inside the playground area the boy made a beeline for the swings as one was available. He hopped up and kicked his legs about. After Tom caught up he began to push and a smile spread across the boy's face.

"Higher, Daddy, higher!" The boy giggled, the giggling increased as the swing swung back and forth higher and higher. Although not too high after all he was still small and just ate his lunch.

It was just that quick stop at the playground and only time really for the swings and one quick slide down the slide before moving onto the Flamingos and Pelicans, then Hippos, Spider monkeys and Lions. It didn't seem like enough time in the world to see everything so the Spider monkeys and Lions were cut a bit short in order to fit the Tigers and Giraffes in. The best were saved for last, obviously. The boy pressed his hands against the glass of the Tiger enclosure.

"Daddy, look he's sleeping!" The boy says, pointing out the lone Tiger up on the raised platform. His chest slowly rises and falls as he sleeps in the low afternoon sun. While there were a couple more Tigers walking around.

"He looks flat out." Tom chuckles in agreement.

The paired up Tigers seemed to stay close together as they wandered about their enclosure, even when they decided to lay down after a while. Cuddling up close to one another, one tucked their head beneath the other one's chin. Tom and his son concluded them as partners.

"I'm sure they'll be having cubs soon". Tom says, before they began to move onto the Giraffes.

"Can we come back soon and see if they do?" There was so much excitement on the little boy's face from the thought of seeing baby Tigers.

"Of course we can!" Those four words from Tom only increased the boy's excitement tenfold.

By the time they reached the Giraffes enclosure there weren't any outside. A little disappointing, but they'd presumed the Giraffes had all gone inside for a late afternoon nap. Instead the boy got his face painted to look like a Tiger. That in itself was the best way to fix the disappointment after not getting to see the Giraffes. The last stop was the gift shop. So many plushies and other fun toys around it was almost too hard to decide on just one. Right up until the boy's big blue eyes landed on the biggest Tiger plushie. It was bigger than himself. The boy inherited Tom's big puppy dog eyes, which worked wonders in times like this, Tom sighed although without any real complaint. Ruffling the boys curls playfully before buying the oversized plushie.

Later while waiting for the tube ride home Tom picked up the little boy who was yawning and rubbing his eyes. It wasn't easy with the Tiger plushie, but he managed. Even after the tube arrived and finding a seat Tom cradled his sleeping son against him for the entire journey. The face paint smudged against his shoulder, not that he cared, because the day couldn't have ended in a better way.