Wayward Son

Chapter 9

Piper stood in the doorway, peering around the frame into the hangar beyond and not moving a muscle. When Radarr caught sight of her, he scampered over and leapt onto her shoulder, causing her to yelp in shock.

"Radarr, don't do that!" she whispered.

He was about to ask what she was looking at (or at least make the appropriate noises) when she held a finger to her lips. When he saw the spectacle that had her so fascinated, he had to clap a paw over his mouth to keep from snickering.

"Go get a camera," Piper muttered to him. "Stay quiet, but go get a camera! We have to get a photo of this!"

Radarr saluted and departed in search of the required device.

He ran past Junko, who looking questioningly up at Piper.

"Piper?" he said. "What's-"

"Ssh!" Piper responded. "Come over here, you have to see this!"

Curiosity rising even more, Junko hurried over to see what the fuss was about, and had to shove his fist in his mouth to keep from laughing.

Aerrow and Edward were sitting against the wall - Edward's head resting on Aerrow's shoulder, Aerrow leaning on Edward's head - and both were in as deep a sleep as could be possible. It didn't help that Aerrow had his arm around Edward's shoulders, or that Edward's hand was moving up his body and slightly lifting his shirt, revealing a little of his bare stomach.

Piper's shoulders were shaking in silent laughter.

"Are you gonna get a picture?" Junko asked as loudly as he dared.

"Yeah, I just sent Radarr to go get a camera," said Piper. "This is one of the best things I've ever seen in my life!"

"What is?" asked Finn as he came upon the scene.

He was promptly shushed by Junko and Piper, and when he caught sight of the sleeping pair he almost choked.

"I know, right?" said Junko.

"Priceless!" Finn gasped. "Just... just priceless!"

At that moment Radarr returned, and he held up the camera looking proud as punch. With a little encouragement from the watching trio, he moved to sit in front of the slumbering duo and snapped a photograph, then held up the little square with triumph.

"Lemme take one!" Finn took the camera and knelt down. "I wanna get a close up! Something like this NEEDS a close up!"

He took a second photo. It was a miracle they hadn't woken up yet.

"Do you think we should wake them up?" asked Junko.

Radarr shook his head, as did Piper.

"Oh, come on!" Finn objected. "Won't it be so much funnier if they wake up at the same time?"

"Yeah, but they'll go nuts!" Junko pointed out.

"If you wanna be the one who wakes them, go right ahead," said Piper, "but make sure we can get to a safe distance first, okay?"

Radarr quickly ran out of the room and Junko followed suit. Finn rapped loudly on the wall as he left, but Piper lingered to watch the fireworks.

The two boys slowly and sleepily opened their eyes, looked around in a daze of fading exhaustion-

-and saw each other.

They were launched into a state of full sobriety and leapt apart with twin screams of shock and fright.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Edward shouted. "You seriously let me fall asleep on you?!"

"Well, sorry!" Aerrow shouted back. "I thought you might have needed a friend so-"