What it Means to Have You

Unwelcome

Nagol

We'd been playing for about ten minutes when we heard something thunk to the floor upstairs. It had both of us glancing up at the ceiling, our karts sliding off the road with the distraction. We stayed staring at the ceiling for another moment before looking at each other.

"I don't hear any screams for help," I said with a raised brow.

Some sort of skirmishing sound was heard, then Miguel grinned. "I think they're fine."

Nodding, I looked back at the screen to see that we had both lost and taken the last two places.

"Oops," I mumbled, working to set the next round up. We played for another thirty minutes, and he beat me five out of the six races.

"Darn, kid, you're pretty good."

He snickered and I grinned, nudging him with my elbow when the next race began. It made him miss the start and he grumbled about it the entire three laps... then beat me anyway.

"Darn it. Even cheating, I can't beat you more than once," I huffed. He laughed and we raced again. I was about to get first for once when a banana materialized in front of my kart right next to the finish line, making it spin out and dropping me to fourth. My lips pursed to keep from letting a curse accidentally slip. I was always so good at playing this against the computer, but throw a kid in the mix and I was suddenly hitting third and fourth regularly.

"Uh, hey, Nagol?"

Turning my attention away from the TV, I looked at Miguel and replied, "Yeah?"

"Um, did you know Kine was a shapeshifter when you adopted him?"

Ah, figured he'd ask that.

"Yes, I already knew what he was."

"Okay. Did you know him before that?"

I nodded, thinking to myself about how much I was going to tell him if he asked. "Yes, a little bit."

He nodded, then looked back at the game before talking again.

"Did you guys separate us to be able to ask if you could adopt one of us?"

His words made my heartbeat speed up suddenly, especially because he didn't mention us just trying to adopt him. He knew that Cody was just as good an adoptable kid as he was. Leaning back against the sofa, I licked my lips nervously and shrugged one shoulder right as Kine's voice sounded in my head.

This Cody is mine. No can has, I'm keepin' him.

His joking tone made me grin. I had no problem adopting Cody if Kine was able to understand and interact with him well.

"Kind of. We both wanted a chance to get to know you guys a little more, and Kine really wanted to check on Cody's wolf. We kind of just reacted to each other at the table, and that's how we ended up splitting you guys up."

He glanced down at his hands, still holding the controller, then back up at me.

"I'm sure you're curious about the outcome of this, and I'm pretty sure I already know at least half of the result. Kine just told me that Cody belonged to him, and I, in his own words; No can has. I had a feeling he'd want to adopt him, as a human orphanage isn't the best place for a growing shapeshifter. Especially a pack-oriented one like a wolf."

Miguel cracked up, his smile wide as he laughed, then sniffled and began to cry.

Ah, crap. Tears.