Soulbound (Final Space. Jackspeed fic)

Ch 5: A Blue Avocato

Headcannon: Avocato's father is "Zavocato." They're race keeps the same last part of their names, and changes the first according to their alphabet when they come of age. "Cavocato" will be little Cato's name, as there is no "B" in their alphabet.

***

It was the annual Intergalactic Guard picnic, and little six-year-old Gary was eager to make some new friends. He trailed after his father and Jack as they led him around the Futureland Amusement Park, which had been booked for the occasion.

"Zavocato! Good to see you. Gary, there's someone we want you to meet," his father announced, urging him forward.

Gary gazed up at the tall, orange-furred cat man his father had gestured to. Next to him was a boy cat who appeared to be a year or two older than Gary. His golden eyes and blue fur drew the blonde's attention immediately.

"Hi, Gary. I'm Captain Zavocato, and this is my son, Avocato," the older feline said.

"You don't look like an avocado," Gary blurted out. "Avocados are green and wrinkly."

"Gary," Jack admonished, his hands on his hips.

"What?" the boy asked, uncertain as to why his other guardian was upset with him.

"We don't make fun of other peoples' names," the Greytrexian informed him.

"I wasn't," Gary whined, but a look from Jack silenced him. Taking a deep breath, he turned to the other boy and bowed his head. "I'm sorry. You're very cute for an avocado."

A light blush flooded across the older boy's cheek, but he didn't say a word.

"Out of the mouth of babes," Zavocato chuckled. The adults continued to talk, but Gary's attention returned to the other boy's exotic features.

"I like how BLUE you are. Can I touch your fur?" the little boy suddenly asked.

"Gary!" both John and Jack snapped, narrowing their eyes at him. Zavocato only looked on in amusement.

"Okay, but only if I can touch your skin," the cat boy finally answered, his golden eyes focused on Gary.

"Okay!" Gary quickly agreed. Raising his hands, he gently grabbed the other boy's blue cheeks. "Fuzzy," he said, enjoying the softness beneath his fingertips.

The other boy reached out and mirrored him, running his paw pads over the human boy's cheeks. "You're very smooth."

Gary giggled, squishing the other boy's cheeks lightly, amused when Avocato did the same to him. Focused on each other, neither noticed the smiling adults watching them.

"I like you. Wanna be friends?" the blonde asked, pulling his hands away from the other boy's face.

"Okay," the golden eyed boy agreed, his tail twitching happily behind him.

Gary quickly grabbed his hand. "Friend-mode engaged!" he yelled, echoing Captain Shelley Star from his favorite cartoon, Galaxia Triforce.

"Can we go on rides now? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease," Gary begged, grabbing his new friend by the hand. His big blue eyes were focused on his two guardians.

"Well, okay. We can go on rides..." John was cut off when Gary shook his head.

"No, we want Jack to take us. He's our size, so it will be more fun."

"Alright. Why don't you two finish talking while I take the boys on the childrens' roller-coaster. You can join us after that, and we can go on the tea cups. They're for all ages," Jack said, taking Gary's other hand.

As they walked away, John turned to his friend with a sigh. "Gary always picks Jack over me. You should have seen him as a baby. He'd start crying the minute Jack left the room. It seemed to take him forever to warm up to me."

"So, you and Jack are living together, I hear," Zavocato said, smiling in amusement.

"We're just friends," John told him.

"Uh huh. He moved in years ago, and you're raising a child together," the feline commented.

"It's not forever. He's only staying until Gary is old enough to be at home alone... or until I meet my soulmate. Or the woman I plan to marry, even if she isn't my soulmate," the human captain said.

"Mmm hm. If you say so, John. I don't know many people that would do what Jack did for a friend," Zavocato purred, giving him a wink.

"Jack and I are not dating!"