Chapter Text
“Virgil! Be careful bringing those knives out!” Janus told his thirteen year old, cat-hybrid son as he set the table.
“I'll be fine Dad!” Virgil huffed, flicking his black tail and placing the four knives by the plates, “I'm not a kid anymore.”
The calico Neko sighed, stepping inside from the patio to stand by his son, “I know that, but last time we were here you almost stabbed Patton.”
“It was an accident!” Virgil hissed, the fur on his neck and tail standing up.
“Janus, don't be so hard on him.” Patton laughed lightly, walking over from the kitchen and playfully hitting the calico with a towel, “I was the one who wasn't watching where they were going. Hey Virge! I have some ice cream in the freezer!”
“Really!” Virgil ears perked up.
“Yep! You can get some now if you want.” Patton told him.
The silverware dropped from his paws and Virgil hugged the human around his middle, “Thanks Patton! You're the best!”
“And what am I?” Janus placed a hand on his hip, “Chopped liver?”
Virgil stuck his tongue out at his father, ducking behind Patton and rushing the kitchen. Janus rolled his brown and yellow eyes and started placing the napkins on the table. Patton joined him, pressing his shoulder to the others.
“You're too soft on him.” Janus muttered.
Patton shrugged, “well in this world, he deserves to have some softness. Even after all our work, there's still a lot of discrimination towards Nekos…”
Janus hummed, nodding. It had only been fifteen years since the law was passed that allowed Nekos to have their own autonomy. Eighteen years since owning and selling Nekos became illegal. The class system wasn't officially recognized anymore, but was still used to express Neko beauty standards. Class A being the most human with just ears and tails, and Class C being basically an anthropomorphic cat. Even still, a lot of Nekos had trouble finding jobs and housing due to stereotypes of them being lazy and stupid. Janus had to work much harder to prove that he could hold a job and housing in order to foster, and eventually adopt, Virgil.
“Who let the kit have ice cream before dinner?”
Janus and Patton looked up to see Logan in the doorway, holding a purring Virgil by the scruff of his neck. The blue-grey Neko looked directly at his husband, who started fumbling over his words.
“Lo, it's just- it was only a bit-” Patton stammered, “I had ice cream too okay!?”
Logan sighed, a small smile on his face. He set Virgil down on the ground, giving the younger Neko a quick scratch behind his ears. Virgil purred louder, leaning into the touch before Logan moved away.
“You know that'll spoil your dinner.” Logan told Patton, giving him a kiss.
Patton pouted, “it was only a little…”
“You may have had only a little, but Virgil had his whole muzzle in the container.” Logan told him.
“Virgil!” Janus gasped.
“Shit!” Virgil stopped purring, jumping up and leaping into one of the hammocks on the patio.
“Language young man!” Janus shouted, marching over to the hammock. Virgil hissed from inside as Janus tried to drag him out. The calico Neko sighed and turned to the other two, “never have kids.”
“Oh, I don't think they're that bad!” Patton said, walking into the kitchen to grab the salmon that was in the oven, “Watch. Virgil! Dinners ready!”
The black Neko popped his head out, his pupils blown wide in his green eyes. He scrambled out of the hammock and found his seat at the table.
Janus rolled his eyes, “thirteen years I've had you and you still listen to Patton better than me.”
“Cause I'm the cool uncle!” Patton grinned, ruffling Virgil's fur as he plated the salmon.
Logan smiled softly, his tail flicking in contentment, “well, now that we're all here, I suggest we eat.”
“I think Virgil’s already way ahead of us.” Janus sat down next to his son, putting a filet of salmon on his own plate.
Virgil whined slightly, but couldn't say anything with the amount of fish in his muzzle. But he did flatten his ears and glare at the other Neko.
“Oh, stop picking on Virgil!” Patton told him, “today is a day to celebrate! Twenty years ago today we first met!”
“Wow.” Virgil said after he swallowed his food, “you guys are old.”
Janus sighed heavily, burying his furry face in his hands, “why must you do this Virgil…”
“It's alright. Soon Virgil will be our age and then he'll understand.” Logan said with a barely hidden smirk.
Virgil nearly choked on his food, “you mean I'm gonna be old!?”
“Virgil, I know you are smarter than this, please…” Janus said, combing his fingers through the fluff on his cheeks.
“Oh? How smart are you Virgil?” Logan asked.
Virgil ears perked up again. He sat up straighter as his tail started waving, “well I'm going to be taking some advanced classes next year. I'm gonna be one of the few freshmen to get into the chemistry class! Usually you have to be at least a sophomore.”
“That's very cool Virgil!” Patton smiled, “are you excited to get into high school?”
“Mhm!” Virgil nodded, flexing his claws, “I'm really excited for Logan to be my teacher!”
“And how do you know you'll be in my class?” Logan said, waving his tail.
“Picani told me.” Virgil smirked.
“Oh, that man!” Patton huffed at the mention of his brother, “always spoiling the fun surprises!”
Patton's phone started ringing. He picked it up, rolling his eyes at the caller.
“Speaking of Emile Picani… I'll be one minute.” Patton told them, taking a step out onto the patio, “Yellow?”
“Hey Patt! It's Emile!” The person on the other line said.
“Hey! What's up?” Patton asked, “I heard you told Virgil about his classes.”
Emile laughed, but there was a slight edge to it, “yeah, he kept pestering me about it. But um, I kinda have a favor to ask you…”
Patton frowned, “a favor? Did something happen? Are you alright?”
“I'm fine!” Emile assured his brother, “but well… how do I put this… y'know those kids I was telling you about last week?”
“The Neko twins? Yeah I remember. What about them?” Patton asked.
“Their foster family sent them back today.” Emile sighed, “they said they were too… feral.”
Patton sucked in a breath. Calling a Neko feral used to be a death sentence for them. It was still heavily stigmatized, similar to calling someone schizophrenic or psychotic. But unlike schizophrenia or psychosis, which were medical diagnoses, ‘feral’ just meant a Neko was traumatized and lashing out.
“What… what's gonna happen to them?” Patton asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Emile let out a long breath, “if social services don't find another foster home for them, they'll be sent to a Neko exclusive group home.”
“Oh… that's not ideal…” Patton sighed.
“It's worse than that Patt.” Emile said, “these boys were rescued from a trafficking ring last month. If they go back to a place where only Nekos are kept, I fear it might regress whatever progress they made.”
“So you want Lo and I to take them in.” Patton guessed.
“Or Janus, or someone you can trust with them.” Emile said, almost begging, “I would take them myself, but because I'm their counselor, and some other things, I can't.”
Patton paused for a moment, “how much time do we have until they go to the group home?”
“One of the social workers is housing them for the night, but once the group home opens tomorrow…” Emile trailed off.
Patton closed his eyes. Two Neko boys in need of a home? Now that sounded familiar. He remembered just how scared Janus and Logan were when he and Emile's family rescued them twenty years ago. And if these new boys were having trouble in different homes, then maybe they just needed someone they could relate to.
“Send me the contact info for the social worker.” Patton told him, “I'll talk to Lo about it tonight.”
Emile gave a sigh of relief, “thank you… I owe you one.”
“It's no problem Emile.” Patton smiled softly, “talk to you soon. Bye.”
Patton hung up, staring up at the stars. There's no way he wasn't taking those kids in, Emile must have known that. The only reason they didn't adopt Virgil first was because they were already fostering some kids.
He heard someone walk out onto the patio. Arms wrapped around him and a low pur started by his ear.
“What was that about?” Logan asked, resting his chin on Patton's shoulder.
“Emile called to tell me there's some kids who need fostering.” Patton said quietly, “Nekos.”
Logan smiled softly, “and you told him that we'd take them.”
Patton rolled his eyes, resting his head on his husband's, “I had him send over the contact info. But… Lo these kids were trafficked, probably their whole lives up until a month ago. Their previous fosters said they were feral.”
Patton felt Logan tense at his words. His purring stopped and he moved to face Patton.
“Feral?” Logan whispered, taking Patton's hands
Patton nodded, “I couldn't say no… their story reminded me of you and Jan…”
Logan sighed, pressing a kiss to his forehead, “well, when are we picking them up?”
“Are you serious?” Patton asked, jerking his head up so fast he nearly hit Logan.
“Yes.” Logan's tail flicked, “I can't in good conscience abandon two kits in need.”
“Oh Logan!” Patton threw himself into his arms, “tomorrow morning! I'll call their social worker and tell them we're picking them up! Our foster license is still valid, right?”
“Last I checked, yes.” Logan laughed lightly.
“Oh! I'm so excited! I can't wait to meet them!” Patton squealed.
“I am too!” Logan told him, “but we have guests over.”
“Oh! Right!” Patton giggled, “come on! Let's go tell them the news!”