A rather odd request

Shae was sitting cross legged, hands in front of his knees on his bed- waiting for his roommate to return.
he'd been waiting for roughly ten minutes already, and he didn't actually have any idea of how long it would take- but he really didn't mine.. he had time to wait- and a reason too as well...

Nothing that important he supposed, just that a rather odd idea had come into his mind.
Well.. nothing that wasn't related to things he'd thought before.. but this time was different.. and therefore odd.. because this time the idea came with a request.
A request he really didn't think he could ask just anyone-
so that's why he was wating for Ndale.

To be honest with himself.. he was half certain that Ndale would simply scoff when he asked him but.. it was worth a try- right? Even if The other boy was rather unimpressed with him after he asked.

Strolling down the hall, Ndale's bag bounced against his back as it was slung over his shoulder. He was wearing a open button down shirt and some loose, faded jeans. He was just coming back from coffee with Od and wanted to drop off his stuff before he went out for a run.

Coming to his door, he opened it and stopped short, hesitating seeing Shae just sitting on the bed. He raised an eyebrow and closed the door behind him.

"Hi. Whatcha doing in here?" Ndale dropped his bag off on his mattress on the floor, placing a hand on his hip and running the other through his hair lazily. Curiosity was in him, but it was quiet. After all, it was their room, it wasn't that strange he was in here.

As the door opened he looked up expectantly- and he couldn't help but smile slightly at the sight of the very person he'd been hoping for.. then again- who else would it be?
"Oh.. um.. just waiting for you to get back.. actually.." he replied to the question keeping his voice as casual as he could- not wanting to seem suspicious.. if he could just ask this in a normal.. conversational way.. maybe he'd have a better chance of having his requested.

"Um.. actually.. I wanted to ask you.. see um.." dammit.. he'd known exactly what he was going to ask.. so why was he having trouble now? He just couldn't seem to get out what he was going to say without getting awkward.. well.. it WAS a weird thing to ask but- he had been ready for it.. why was he being put off now right as he was trying to give the question.

"Well i was wondering.. you know how I er... well I.. I've always been.. alone.. opretty much as long as I can remember um.. I wanted.. to ask.." he kept stuttering around- god darnit he needed to hurry up and spit it out already!! just ask!! It cant be TOO bad can it?

Ndale blinked at Shae seeming happy to see him. He tilted his head slightly in curiosity, the boy had been waiting? For him to return? A strange happiness bubbled in his chest, and he smiled.

He nodded quickly and waited for the boy to ask him whatever it was. As Shae stuttered, his smile grew. God, the boy was just too adorable, really. The feline crossed and stood before the boy sitting on the bed.

"Shae, you can ask me anything, you know." He tried to put on a reassuring expression, offering his undivided attention. In his mind, he was slightly worried, what did this have to do with being alone?

He chewed his lip.. yes but this wasn't just a question it was him asking Ndale to do something... something that no matter what way he said it- sounded odd..

Shifting slightly he looked back at the other boy determined- he had told himself he'd ask.. and now he would.. though in actual fact maybe he was a little hesitant asking this anyway, not because of how weird it was but just because..
"Well I've always just been by myself.." he began, trying to finish an unbroken sentence. "And so i was wondering.. or I do wonder... what it's like to...." he stopped talking looking down for a second.. well.. time to ask.
Just ask.

"Ndale... will you........." he looked up again with a sincere gaze, his voice sounding very uncertain.. "will you...... pretend to be my mother... just.. for a little while?"
Swallowing he waited for the older boy to scoff and laugh at him or tease him.. or give him a weird look and just outright refuse..

Ndale froze and his smiled dropped. Mother? Well...this was awkward. He looked at Shae with a mix of confusion and uncertainty. He was hesitant to say the least. Was Shae joking?

"Shae...I don't-.." He paused, unsure of what to say. He didn't know how to be a mother...this was insane. He sighed, running his hand through his hair and looking away. But...the feline looked to the boy again. He didn't look like he was joking. Dropping his hand, he gave. "Well, Alright. I guess." Ndale looked slightly uncomfortable, he didn't know where to start. He had fathered, but he wasn't actually a father, he didn't stay with the kids. He wasn't a parent. He tried to think of what, had he had to raise the kids, would he have had to do. What did the female do?

Well...they got them food, them protected them from predators at all costs, they trained them how to hunt, they made sure they got to bed...well, they did everything. Alright, well, he would just do what felt...motherly at the time? Did he have a motherly feeling at all? Well, guess he was going to find out.

"I can try..." He smiled warmly and moved a hand forward to brush it back through Shae's hair to reveal his face in a caring gesture. Geez, the things he would do for this boy...

Shae's face split into a grin- he was going to do it.. or try.. but still he wasn't rejecting the idea totally.. that was something.
He tilted his head slightly though as Ndale moved his hair, making it fall back around. It was almost automatic to him- whenever he himself moved his fringe out of his eyes he always had the urge to flick it back in the way.. he wasn't sure why but he couldn't really help it- he did it without thinking.

"So.. can i call you mom...?" he asked, still slightly hesitant.. aware that this was a rather awkward thing to ask someone..

The expression Ndale wore turned a little exasperated at the fringe going back in the boy's face. This was in all ways weird, but the grin that was displayed on Shae's face was really the reason he had agreed. His smile wavered at the question, but he couldn't bring himself to dash the boy's happiness. He figured he knew why Shae was asking, he had said that he had been alone for as long as he could remember after all, but still. A part of him wondered if he was giving up his role as a 'partner' as he accepted this strange request.

"If you really want, I supposed." He spoke hesitantly, trying to keep the unease out of his smile. Whatever, just roll with it. Just like everything else, just accept it and keep going. "So, where do you want to start? Did you...have something particular in mind when you asked or...?" Ndale wondered. There may have been a specific reason Shae had asked, but if not...well, he wasn't quite sure where to start. He could clean...but something with both of them might be better. He could cook...but Od knows how seriously awful he is at cooking. He'd have to make sure he cleaned and put him to bed...well, there was a start, anyway. Hopefully, he wouldn't make a complete fool of himself.

He paused and stopped to think.
Something specific in mind to do..? Hmm... well he had a few ideas he supposed...
"Um.... can you..." he looked around trying to think of an idea and his eyes fell on the books he had brought in from the library, left on his bedside table. "Can you read to me??!"
It was a pretty good idea right... moms often read to their kids didn't say.. thats what he had read anyway..

He in his thought process however, failed to remember excactly WHAT books he had borrowed from the library- he didn't stop to think that maybe what he'd been reading was inappropriate for a mother and child to read together.. well in his defence- he didn't know anything past that mothers read to their kids.. he didn't really know what kind of books they would or would not read..

"I have some books over there.." he gestured to the stack of books with a small smile, still just glad Ndale had agreed.

((ok the books on his bedside are as follows if you choose to pick one up: An encyclopedia of dangerous ghosts, step into your mind: deciphering insanity, A guide to wicked ghosts and ghouls, aaand an assortment of *cough* comics that most certainly do NOT come from the school library underneath...))

Ndale smiled. Okay, reading was easy. He could read. The feline nodded. "Sure, kid." Standing, he crossed over to the pile of books, maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Picking up the first one, he raised an eyebrow at the title. Okay, Dangerous Ghosts, maybe not. He moved on to the next...insanity, nope, more ghosts, no..and. wait, what was this?

Ndale picked up the first "book" that wasn't about ghosts or the mind, staring at it blankly. He had...not been aware of this. He quickly shuffled through the last four, yep, they were all of the same genre. He flipped open the book...oh my, that was colorful. He paused, reading the next page as well and was about to turn to the next when he realized and quickly shut the book and sighed. He took a moment to close his eyes and clear his head before turning around to face the boy on the bed, holding up one of the books in question.

"So, young man, where'd you get this...interesting....piece of reading material?" Ndale's posture was confident and accusing, him trying to be motherly, though there was still an undertone of amusement from the flirty side underneath.

"Hmm.." he looked up for a second at the comic Ndale was holding up before blushing ever so slightly pink.
He hadn't been aware he'd left those there... but.. well... it wasn't that weird was it?
He didn't understand that as a "mother" the other boy might not be too impressed- so other than the slight blush, his face remained the same, fairly oblivious to any apparent accusation in Ndale's tone.

"Oh uhm.. got them off Raye.. er... why?" he tilted his head to one side again, confused, noticing the accusation now- but still ignorant to why. Why should Ndale care anyway?
It didn't even cross his mind that a mom would be angry or anything of the sort- books he had read on moms and children usually didn't talk about anything like that after all..

((Uhm, warning, you might not want to read if you're young and innocent. ^^; Just: caution.))

Shaking his head, Ndale let the hand holding the book drop to his side and sighed. Raye...of course...

"Now, you obviously know what's in these books...Shae...I think it's time someone gave you The Talk. It's something all parents give their kids when they are old enough." Okay, now, admittedly, he was having fun, and a hard time trying to keep the smirk off his face. He went to sit on the bed next to the boy. "You see, this-" He held out the book. "- is what happens when two people love each other very much. Now, you see..." Ndale flipped open the book to a rather color picture, which he decided, would make a good diagram for this explanation. He pointed to one of the figures. "This enters here and the person on the bottom feels...funny. This is because the person on the top," he pointed to the other figure. "after doing this for a bit, releases what is necessary to have a kid. After the bottom person feels funny, they become pregnant, and nine months later, a baby comes out." He grinned. "However! As you probably know, male and females are not the same...down there. So in this situation here in the book with two guys, it's okay, because there wont be a child at the end. This is used as a way to show that you love each other. It's very serious and should not be taken lightly, alright?"

"And So! As a parental act...I'm taking these." He raised an eyebrow as if daring a disagreement. "I will not have my temporary son reading these and encourage you to participate in the act."

Shae's face instantly flushed brilliant red as the other boy gave him whatever this "talk" was.
He opened his mouth in attempted protest, shut it and repeated the process a few times but nothing came out.
The indignation was clear in his eyes though, as was the embarrassment and rather slight anger.
What was this?! He hadn't asked for this- and what on earth was THE GOD DAMNED TALK?!
He knew all this already, what was Ndale played at?!
... Playing mom.. yes.. but.. What on earth did that have to do with those comics?!

He reached to try and grab the comic back, glaring with a pout just as indignant as his look. "Wh.. w.. WHAT?!! What do you mean.. I'm.... I'm not NINE!!! I know... oh my GODDD" he couldn't stop blushing furiously, brighter by the second.

And what did he mean.. by.. 'not encourage shae to participate in the act'?!
Oh he was doing tht on purpose- he had to be!! This wasn't hat he had meant..
If this was what having a mom meant god he was glad he didn't... but right now he did... well kinda.

And that mum had just found a bunch of yaoi on HIS bedside table.. if this was a normal mom and child situation.. what.. what would he do?
Well.. he'd have to explain wouldn't he- starting with... a small rather evil idea entered his mind....
starting with why he was looking at men.

"Well.. I.. I was hoping you wouldn't find this cos.. cos you know I... I didn't ant to eplain WHY.. there are..... only men in the comics i chose to read.."
He swallowed and looked up with a slightly guilty, slightly uncertain, slightly reluctant expression, like he was admitting to something he really hadn't planned on saying any time soon.

So, he thought, what did moms do in THAT situation?

Ndale's grin practically reached from ear to ear as he yanked back the book, playing keep-away. "Yes, but I need to make sure you understand the importance. As I said, all parents have this talk, and yes, it is supposed to be awkward. I am taking care of you, making sure you are well-informed and not making bad decisions." He was trying really hard not to laugh. This was really too much fun, and he found he always enjoyed the way Shae blushed. And this was quite a blush, bright red. He couldn't help a small snicker. What else did mom's do in this situation?

Though he honestly did wonder why Shae would be reading these graphic novels. It was certainly interesting, and he would not be forgetting this. Oh no... He put on a sympathetic look.

"You know, it's alright, you can trust me. This is a confusing age, you're bound to want to....experiment, I understand, truly. You're curious and trying to figure out your feelings. It's alright, a lot of people go through a phase where they try to sort out what they are attracted to, I'll love you no matter what and try to understand whatever you decide." He spoke sweetly and confidently, reaching out to put a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder.

He let himself look down shyly, keeping his uncertain hesitance and shrugging his shoulders up.
Ok.. so they were both just playing along now- but he still wanted to get Ndale back for the whole 'talk' thing.
That was for certain.

He kept his head facing down but looked up through his fringe, making himself look as nervous as possible.
"But.. I'm.. not experimenting.. I mean.. I'm way past that, mom.." he mae a note to say mom, it made sound more real. "I'm.. I have.... I'm dating one of the older boys at my school...." he paused and swallowed as though waiting for a reaction before looking uo slightly.. "And.. well.. I think we're.. a bit... past experimenting.."
He let tiny smile- accompanied by a pointed look flash on his face, so fast it was barely there at all, before returning it to that of a nervous teenager- who'd just told their mom about their relationship with an older boy, that was 'past expermimenting.'

Raising an eyebrow, his eye twitched at being called mom. That was weird. The corner of his lips were next to quirk, and he tried to school his face into one of hesitant understanding rather than smug amusement. He formed a reluctant O with his mouth, pretending to be slowly processing this information.

"Oh. Okay..." He glanced to the side and back. "Well, then." Ndale looked forward as if serious and slightly concerned. "If you think you're ready, I trust your judgement. I just...well, I hope you used protection." A wicked smirk flashed across his face before he got control again. "Just tell me if you need anything. If you're going to do it, do it safely." He nodded confidently. "And if this boy hurts you, you tell me. I'll take care of him and beat him up like a proper mother should."

There was a pause and he stared intently at Shae though there was slight amusement in the light in his eyes.

"Do you love him?"

Love.
One word, and instantly he felt on edge.
'Do you love him?' ... That one question. Do you love him- Do you love me. That was what was really being asked, and no matter how he'd been feeling up until that point, as soon as he was asked that- he felt wary.
Unsettled.
And undertain.
Tuly uncertain.

Something about that just didn't sit well in his stomach. Something at the back of his mind stirred, and it didn't stir well.
He needed a distraction- anything. anything at all to avoid that question.
And he didn't even really know why...
Not because the answer was yes.
Not because the answer was no.
He just didn't want to think about that question.

Looking around slighty for something to use as said distraction and finding nothing, he opened his mouth and tried to say something, closed it again because he didn't know what he could say, and then unable to think of anything else, leant forward on his hands to gently but slowly kiss the sid of Ndales mouth.
Hoping that whatever reaction he got, the conversation would be averted to a different topic.

Ndale was instantly mentally kicking himself when he saw the uncertainty cross Shae's air and something in him turned sour at the way Shae opened and closed his mouth. He should never ask that question. It had just sort of slipped out in jest, and now he regretted it. He found that he didn't want Shae to answer it.

At the small kiss, Ndale closed his eyes. Outwardly, he didn't respond. Though inside, he didn't quite know how to take it. He thought that maybe it was fine. In fact, maybe it was better if Shae didn't actually love him. Probably. Sighing and moving back, Ndale opened his eyes as he slid off the bed. He found a small smile, one of his usual, on his face simply because he didn't know what else to put on. He didn't want to face that question either, really. Turning, Ndale collected the books borrowed from Raye and placed them near his stuff instead. Maybe he would return them to Shae later, or maybe just directly to Raye. He didn't quite know yet.

With his back to the boy on the bed, Ndale slipped off his button down white shirt, revealing healing red lines. They were only exposed for a short while as he slipped on a simple, snug, black long sleeve shirt instead. He smoothed back his hair out of habit and turned back to Shae with his usual air, like nothing had happened or influenced him at all, and in a way, he supposed it hadn't.

"So, you're books aren't exactly the right type for reading together. How about I just tell you a story instead?"

Looking at those scratches, he couldn't help but feel rather mixed emotions.
Part of him felt guilty to some extent.. although he failed to regret making them.
And another part of him was oddly smug at the sight of them-
they were still there.

He tried to smile at the suggestion, glad that Ndale hadn't pushed it, but feeling slightly guilty at the same time.
"Uhm.. yeah.. that... that would be nice" He tried to keep his tone steady and nice.
Everything nice.

He lay back on the bed, back resting against the wall, waiting for the older boy.. or his "mother," to come back over.

Nodding, Ndale crossed back to the bed and hopped up, leaning back to sit next to the other boy.

"Alright, well, I don't know many, but here is one my boy once told me." His boy, when he was still young and had not yet thought Ndale was a demon, used to enjoy sitting with him. He would sit outside his cage and talk to him, sometimes pet his fur. This had been one of the stories the boy had enjoyed repeating to him in particular. "It's called, 'How the Cheetah Got It's Tears'." He gave a side glance and a smirk to Shae before he started, clearing his throat as if this were a very important event he was retelling.

"A very long time ago, when the earth was first created, all the animals came down onto the savanna. The animals, birds, insects were all different shapes and different colors. Each animal had to get used to its own body, so the cheetah started running and found out it could run very very fast. The cheetah ran and ran across the vast plains of the world. After a time of wandering the plains alone, the cheetah became lonely, and decided to look for friends of its own kind."
The story went on to tell of the cheetah finding a pack of lions, approaching and explaining her search for friends. Ndale lowered his voice and adopted a growl to imitate the lion: "The lion roared, "Well, you are not a lion! Look at your legs and body, you are much thinner than we are. And look at your feet, you have claws like a dog's. Your claws do not retract all the way back into your feet like ours do. You are not a cat, you are a dog. So, you better run away fast and try to find someone in your own family." "
Ndale went on to tell of how the cheetah left, discouraged and found a pack of wild dogs. This time, he made his voice higher and more chirpish, using a vocal cord more for barking: "The whole pack of wild dogs howled in laughter, and barked at her, "You are not a dog at all. Look at your round head and ears, and your rough tongue. They are like a cat's. Your tail is long just like the other cats. You are not a dog at all!" The pack chased the cheetah off, biting at her heels. "
Next Ndale told of her running away to sit lonely in the shade of a tree, where she started to cry. She cried for days sitting out even in the rain, until a bird came by.
"The bird asked why she was crying and the cheetah told of her troubles with the lions and the pack of wild dogs, of how she was neither a cat nor a dog, she didn't know what she was. She had been crying for so long and so hard that the tears had burnt marks on her face and the rain, spots on her body. The bird only replied: "I have traveled throughout this land and you, cheetah, are the most splendid and unique of all the cats I have seen."" Ndale grinned somewhat smugly. "The cheetah has had spots ever since that lonely day. And it chirps like a bird to show how proud it is of being the most unique of all cats." He concluded, giving a characteristic chirp to reiterate this point.

At some point during the story, Ndale had reached over to grasp Shae's hand to play with the boy's fingers and trace patterns over the pale skin idly. He had to admit, he was fond of that story.

Shae listened to the story intently.
He had to admit, it was nicer than anything he'd read lately himself- but that was no surprise.
A bit sappy too.. corny.. but.. nice.

As he listened he leaned into Ndales chest, closing his eyes. There was nothing to look at after all so.. he could just..
Gosh that was comfortable.
Really comfortable.
He had no idea why, it was just someone else he was resting against- nothing too special.. really... maybe.. sorta?
Whatever.. it was comfortable.
Was that.. part of Ndale being his "mum"- or had it always been that way?
...
It was always like that.. but still.. it was nice.

"That's a.. cute story.." he murmured smiling.. cute.. heh.. "But you're being a bit... self satisfied.. aren't you?" he looked upwards opening one eye with a raised eyebrow, teasing.

He enjoyed the feeling of this this too much, of Shae against his chest. This was where he found he liked the boy most sometimes, simply cuddling like this amiably. There was something just sweet about it that was hard to find with most people. Ndale looked down at Shae's face and smirked.

"What? I have no idea what you're talking about." He chuckled airily. "You wouldn't honestly think that it would go to my head that a simple story says I am of the most unique breed of cat? It was something I had already known, of course." He tilted his head in a smug fashion, idly intertwining his fingers with the ones on the captured hand as his other arm moved to slip past the boy to rest in a casually fond embrace around his waist. Ndale leaned his head back against the wall behind him, sighing. "Still, it was nice to hear when I was younger."

"So, how am I doing? Feeling mothered yet?" The feline grinned. "You know, most of the point of a mother is to feel cared for, protected and understood. Anything you want to talk about? I promise I wont be judgmental or use it against you later to fluster you, even...if you want to get anything off your chest. Just an idea." He hummed lightly. He had heard that a mother was someone that you're always supposed to be able to talk to, so it'd be bad if he didn't at least offer and make that known, no?

"Hmmm.. I'm not sure.."
He thought about it smiling slightly as he contemplated the question.
Was there anything he wanted to get off his chest.
well.. yes.
He hated himself, he hated caring about anything, and he hated what he cared about... but there was no need to spoil this moment by bringing up his many hates.
there were too many things anyway..

It did remind him however- that he had meant to show Ndale something-
in particular he had meant to show him the costume he had oh so boldly put together.
Pulling back and getting off the bed suddenly he went to his trunk.
"There is.. something..." he began talking as he rummaged around a bit to find all the pieces. "That I wanted to show you though- I finished my costume for halloween.."

Offhandedly he wondered if he should put it on to show Ndale.. but that would require more effort that he could be bothered giving at that point.
Besides, the older boy would see him in it in no time at all- and he still needed to grab a couple of bits, like the bell he knew he had- but had yet to find in his messy pile of clothing and stolen possessions.

"... Here" he stated with slight satisfaction as he thew the bundle of material onto the bed next to Ndale.
He had sure proven the older boys previous thoughts wrong.

Frowning slightly at the loss as Shae slipped from his grasp, Ndale raised an eyebrow, lifting his head to watch the boy gather up his costume. As the bundle landed next to him, the cheetah smirked and reached for it to untangle and hold it up.

"Ah, the risque kitten costume, hmmm?" Ndale separated the pieces, trying to arrange it in front of him in the order he figured the outfit went. The farther he got, the most his smile dropped and the more confused his expression became. There...wasn't as much material here as he...oh. There it was. He looked down at the assemble...this was a full outfit here, no pieces missing...just...a lot cut out from the middle... The feline glanced up at Shae and back down. Looking up again, Ndale put the outfit on the boy in his mind, wondering how...

Eye twitching, Ndale didn't quite know how to take this. It was surely...risque: very revealing. Quite more than he wanted others other than himself to see. He found himself torn...on one hand he surely did love the outfit...on the other, he wasn't happy about how others might love it too. Brow creasing, Ndale opened his mouth, but then shut it. He had promised that Shae could wear whatever he wanted to the ball...he just hadn't thought the boy would choose something so...well, sexy. The cheetah's tail flicked and he tried again. He had not prepared for this.

"It's...well, it...will look very...attractive on you." Ndale spoke almost tightly, trying to control his tone and wording. Glancing down at the outfit, a small sort of defeated whimper crept from his throat. "Just, make sure you bring something to put over this, in case you get cold." Brows creasing again, the older boy almost looked a little reluctant before he groaned and flopped over on the bed to smack his face into the mattress. He curled up on his side and turned towards the wall, still smothering himself in the blankets.

Dang it...he had to not think about this...don't think about it...don't think about it...
But really, if he was being honest, it really was going to be a highly attractive...NO
Don't think about it...don't think about it...don't think about it...

He rolled his eyes, unaware of just how great an effect it was having- although enjoying knowing it obviously exceeded Ndales expectations- grinning slightly.
"Haha.. what do you mean in case i get cold- You know I dont... um...... Ndale?" he stopped, slightly surprised as the older boy rolled away into the bed. "Er... are you..... ok?"

Ok so it was a stupid question, but he didn't really have anything else to say at the time.
Sure he'd been going to create this kind of.. but this was more than he had expected.
Did it really make Ndale feel THAT uncomfortable..

"Hey Pedo-cat.." he stated loudly trying to get the older boys attention, kneeling an the bed and poking his shoulder.
"What- too much material?" he asked with a slight smirk again, hoping to somewhat scare Ndale into responding "I can make it more revealing if you think it's still too tame..."