Zoofic - Life at the Dexter Center 2
This would have been longer but anax insists I post WHAT I GOT WUT! So here it is XD
Very unbeta'd because I doubt my beta would touch it. XD
When Marta came back from her errands she found Leslie, Ling and Ed all in the living room. Leslie was half stretched out on the couch, reading from the latest zoological digest and Ling was perched on the floor in front of her eyeing the bag of corn chips she had tucked against her stomach. Leslie however was onto him, whenever he reached up to help himself she would pop his hand and he'd yank it back, shake it and give the nearby lounging Edward an askance look.
Edward was buried in a book in all but the physical sense and so he hadn't yet noticed that Leslie had corn chips or that Ling was trying to liberate said corn chips. Marta grinned, shook her head and took her receipts over to the desk and sat down, intent of putting them in the ledger right away.
“Hey Marta,” Leslie said, pausing to swat Ling's hand again, “there is an article in here you need to see.” Leslie sat up and tucked the corn chips in the nook of her lap when she folded her legs. “There is an Edward at the Zoological Gardens with two Alphonse.”
“You're kidding,” Marta said with a grin. “You know I spoke briefly with Doctor Wardale about that very project but that was months ago.” Marta got up then and came over to the couch, Ling leaned against her leg and she gave him a fond rub on the head, taking the magazine Leslie proffered.
“Ah,” Marta said, smiling at the big glossy picture of an Edward lounging on top of his den, looking sleek and healthy in his red coat. There were two distinct Alphonses' in the mouth of the den, one looking a bit older than the other. She skimmed down the article. “They've had kittens? That Edward looks a little young to be making kittens, but then again, he has two healthy mates.” There was a tug at her elbow then and she smiled at her own Edward, who was now making a bid to take the magazine from her hand.
“Edward, wait,” Marta said clearly, catching his eye. He started a little, then his lower lip jutted forward and the folded his arms. Marta went over to her desk and Edward trailed after her and insistantly pushed his head under her arm.
“He's so spoiled,” Leslie laughed, swatting Ling's hand again.
“I guess he is,” Marta said, letting Ed climb halfway into her lap. He reached out to touch the picture of the Edward on the magazine page. He looked at her then, then off toward the door into the sancturary.
“That's an Edward,” Marta said, “like you, and these are Alphonse.” Marta pointed to the pair in the opening of the den. Ed looked at them, then toward the sanctuary door again.
“You know there is an Alphonse back there don't you?” Marta asked the back of Ed's head as he leaned over the magazine page again, touching it, trying to subtlely worm it out of her hands.
“Don't give in,” Leslie warned from the couch, giving Ling a corn chip. “Do you think Ed understands what you are saying, or has he just learned certain words and associates them with actions?”
Marta kept a firm grip on the magazine and Ed grunted and turned to look at her.
“Ed, no,” she said in an even tone. “You wait until I am done.”
Ed frowned then, wormed from under her arm and stalked across the room. Ling perked up at his approach but Edward growled and raised a hand as if to cuff him and Ling sank back down.
“You're so mean Ed,” Leslie told him and he ignored her, plopping into his chair and fingering the book he had there, but casting envying glances toward Marta and the magazine.
“I think Ed understands, I think he understands just about everything,” Marta said, eyes dropping to the article. “He just likes to be stingy with his intelligence and wants us to think he doesn't so he can get away with more.”
“That's assigning awfully human thought processes to him,” Leslie said, giving Ling more corn chips and moving over when Ling climbed up onto the couch. Leslie looked over at Ed again but he made it a point to ignore her. “You think he's mad at me because I called him mean?”
Marta laughed and shook her head.
“The funny thing is I don't think he really cares what you call him,” she grinned and then read some more of the article. “I have to call Dr. Wardale. This is fascinating, it seems they used the widowed Alphonses' mates coat and a ...mating box.” Marta shook her head. “It seemed a little radical but I'm glad it worked. If we hadn't taken in the kitten I really feared for that poor Alphonses' that was brought in.”
“They are SO cute together,” Leslie said, showing Ling the empty corn chip bag and then letting him have it. “That Alphonse takes such good care of the baby, I wonder if he had kittens before?”
“He seemed old enough for it,” Marta murmured, lying the magazine on the desk. Ed jumped up and trotted over but Marta placed her hand flat on top of the magazine and gave Ed a look. Ed grumbled and paced in front of the desk a moment before moving away.
The outside screen door rattled and the doorknob turned and both Ling and Ed rivited on it and Leslie grabbed Ling by his ponytail. Adam, another volunteer came in and Marta smiled at him. Adam shut the door behind him and Leslie released Ling's ponytail. Ed came over to him, sniffed him a bit and Adam winked at him and pulled a pile of junk mail out of his pocket.
“Hey buddy, here you go,” he said, handing it over. Ed snatched it eagerly and ran off to his chair to sort through it.
“Adam, I'm glad you could come over,” Marta said standing.
“Hey no problem, glad to help out,” Adam returned.
“Oh, are we weighing the kitten today?” Leslie said eagerly, getting up off the couch.
“That's the plan, Adam came over to help control the Alphonse while I catch the little devil, he's really fast,” Marta smiled, opened her desk drawer and slipped the magazine in while Ed was preoccupied by the junkmail. “We can just shut Ling and Ed up in here, they won't hurt anything.”
The three humans made their way back to the sanctuary, pulling the dividing door closed and turning the lock. That would deter Edward enough, Ling might work at it until he got it open, but Marta had realized that unknowingly, Ed was a very good Ling sitter. The Ling always seemed to want to be where Edward was, so once they were together in a room, she could pretty much count on Ling staying put.
The Alphonse eyed the three warily as they peered into the big picture window. The kitten glanced their way but soon ignored them, fascinated in a colorful block toy, a stuffed doll in his lap. Adam set the large board he was going to use to heard the Alphonse back against the wall.
“Ok,” Marta said, “Adam you go in first and see if you can't startle Alphonse into his den and I'll catch the kitten, Leslie you play back up at the door.”
“Right,” Leslie said and Adam nodded as well.
Since the kitten was now being raised by a wild parent, Marta no longer mimiced an Edward when she entered the enclosure. She positioned herself at the door, nodded to Adam and then opened it. Adam went in, held the board in front of him and walked steadily toward the adult Alphonse. The Alphonse bristled, hissed and backed away, then made a plaintive call for the kitten who had jumped up and was standing uncertainly watching Adam crowd his parent. Marta came in and hoped to use to kittens momentary distraction to catch it, but it saw her coming, mewled in startlement and took off as fast as it's little legs would carry it. Marta estimated this kittens age to be about three, but he was the master evader. Adam managed to crowd Alphonse right into the den and hold the board over the entrance, even as Alphonse scratched at it and yowled loudly. The kitten returned his frantic cries, darting about the enclosure until Marta was able to corner him.
Having done this several times before with other kittens she distracted him with one hand and caught him but the nape with the other. The kitten immediately quieted and curled up and she scooped him up and hurried out. Leslie manned the door as Adam edged back, then grabbed the board and ran. They managed to shut the door on the Alphonse before he got there and he backed off, cast frantic looks toward Marta as she walked off down the hall carrying his kitten.
The kitten cried pitifully all the way to the infirmary. Marta held him close and cooed to him and then she and Leslie set him on one of the exam tables.
“His parent made him these pelts out of that fleece blanket,” Marta said smiling as they wiggled the soft top and pants off the kitten. “He really takes care of our little guy.”
Leslie was stroking the small golden head and the kitten turned large, wet golden eyes on her.
“I wish we could keep him,” Leslie said. “He must remind you so much of Ed when he was small.”
“Not really,” Marta said softly, “this little guy had it much better than my little guy did earlier in life. I know he's adorable but we really need to think about what's best for him, and the best thing for him is if we can release him one day and he can have a mate and kittens of his own.”
Marta scooped the kitten up who was more grumbly now that whimpering. Even at an early age it seemed Elrics could sense when you meant them not real harm. Leslie laid a blanket on the scale and fetched the record book. They weighed him, measure him, checked his ears and little teeth. Let him chew on a carrot stick and redressed him, both secretly lingering over him and petting on him. He seemed content now with the carrot and the gentle attention and put up no fuss being carried back to his enclosure. When he was set on his feet just inside the doorway his Alphonse parent darted out of the den and the kitten ran right into his frantic arms and was immediately carried back into the den for a through inspecton.
Marta closed the door and she and Leslie crept quiely away to the sounds of the Alphonse purring loudly.
They were both surprised when Adam stopped them at the doorway of the main part of the house.
“Um Marta, Ed is old enough to be interested in mates?” he asked, glancing at the door.
“Yes, he is,” she said. “Why do you...” but she stopped herself. “He's with Ling?” she said softly.
“They aren't doing anything heavy,” Adam said. “But there is definate interest on both parties going on and I thought I should leave them alone.”
Marta nodded. “Ok you two stay here, let me see what's going on,” she said with a little quirk to her smile. “Ed has never been a conventional Elric, I don't see why I should be surprised.”
She opened the door quietly; tipped toed to the entry way of the living room. Her eyes strayed slowly across it. Ed was crouched down, squatting and Ling was behind him; molded to his back, nose buried under Ed's braid. Ling seem to be rubbing Ed's thighs, slowly up and down and he seemed to be licking or sucking on the back of Ed's neck. Ed's eyes were half mast and he made periodic chirruping sounds.
What to do? To step into the room and distrub them, or to silently retreat? What Marta really wanted for Edward was an Alphonse. An Alphonse to be his mate, but what if Edward was seeing things differently? For all intent purposes, at this moment, he seemed to let Ling court him, and was that wrong? What if she never found an Alphonse mate for him? Was she right to interfere? Ling seemed to scoot closer and Edward braced his hands on the floor. One of Ling's hands left Edward's thigh and ran up under his red pelt; up his back and Edward turned his face back toward Ling and Ling's lips moved to his jaw and cheek. Edward started purring very loudly, he tilted his head back and his eyes opened. He caught sight of Marta then, arched his eyebrow.
PART TWO
Very unbeta'd because I doubt my beta would touch it. XD
When Marta came back from her errands she found Leslie, Ling and Ed all in the living room. Leslie was half stretched out on the couch, reading from the latest zoological digest and Ling was perched on the floor in front of her eyeing the bag of corn chips she had tucked against her stomach. Leslie however was onto him, whenever he reached up to help himself she would pop his hand and he'd yank it back, shake it and give the nearby lounging Edward an askance look.
Edward was buried in a book in all but the physical sense and so he hadn't yet noticed that Leslie had corn chips or that Ling was trying to liberate said corn chips. Marta grinned, shook her head and took her receipts over to the desk and sat down, intent of putting them in the ledger right away.
“Hey Marta,” Leslie said, pausing to swat Ling's hand again, “there is an article in here you need to see.” Leslie sat up and tucked the corn chips in the nook of her lap when she folded her legs. “There is an Edward at the Zoological Gardens with two Alphonse.”
“You're kidding,” Marta said with a grin. “You know I spoke briefly with Doctor Wardale about that very project but that was months ago.” Marta got up then and came over to the couch, Ling leaned against her leg and she gave him a fond rub on the head, taking the magazine Leslie proffered.
“Ah,” Marta said, smiling at the big glossy picture of an Edward lounging on top of his den, looking sleek and healthy in his red coat. There were two distinct Alphonses' in the mouth of the den, one looking a bit older than the other. She skimmed down the article. “They've had kittens? That Edward looks a little young to be making kittens, but then again, he has two healthy mates.” There was a tug at her elbow then and she smiled at her own Edward, who was now making a bid to take the magazine from her hand.
“Edward, wait,” Marta said clearly, catching his eye. He started a little, then his lower lip jutted forward and the folded his arms. Marta went over to her desk and Edward trailed after her and insistantly pushed his head under her arm.
“He's so spoiled,” Leslie laughed, swatting Ling's hand again.
“I guess he is,” Marta said, letting Ed climb halfway into her lap. He reached out to touch the picture of the Edward on the magazine page. He looked at her then, then off toward the door into the sancturary.
“That's an Edward,” Marta said, “like you, and these are Alphonse.” Marta pointed to the pair in the opening of the den. Ed looked at them, then toward the sanctuary door again.
“You know there is an Alphonse back there don't you?” Marta asked the back of Ed's head as he leaned over the magazine page again, touching it, trying to subtlely worm it out of her hands.
“Don't give in,” Leslie warned from the couch, giving Ling a corn chip. “Do you think Ed understands what you are saying, or has he just learned certain words and associates them with actions?”
Marta kept a firm grip on the magazine and Ed grunted and turned to look at her.
“Ed, no,” she said in an even tone. “You wait until I am done.”
Ed frowned then, wormed from under her arm and stalked across the room. Ling perked up at his approach but Edward growled and raised a hand as if to cuff him and Ling sank back down.
“You're so mean Ed,” Leslie told him and he ignored her, plopping into his chair and fingering the book he had there, but casting envying glances toward Marta and the magazine.
“I think Ed understands, I think he understands just about everything,” Marta said, eyes dropping to the article. “He just likes to be stingy with his intelligence and wants us to think he doesn't so he can get away with more.”
“That's assigning awfully human thought processes to him,” Leslie said, giving Ling more corn chips and moving over when Ling climbed up onto the couch. Leslie looked over at Ed again but he made it a point to ignore her. “You think he's mad at me because I called him mean?”
Marta laughed and shook her head.
“The funny thing is I don't think he really cares what you call him,” she grinned and then read some more of the article. “I have to call Dr. Wardale. This is fascinating, it seems they used the widowed Alphonses' mates coat and a ...mating box.” Marta shook her head. “It seemed a little radical but I'm glad it worked. If we hadn't taken in the kitten I really feared for that poor Alphonses' that was brought in.”
“They are SO cute together,” Leslie said, showing Ling the empty corn chip bag and then letting him have it. “That Alphonse takes such good care of the baby, I wonder if he had kittens before?”
“He seemed old enough for it,” Marta murmured, lying the magazine on the desk. Ed jumped up and trotted over but Marta placed her hand flat on top of the magazine and gave Ed a look. Ed grumbled and paced in front of the desk a moment before moving away.
The outside screen door rattled and the doorknob turned and both Ling and Ed rivited on it and Leslie grabbed Ling by his ponytail. Adam, another volunteer came in and Marta smiled at him. Adam shut the door behind him and Leslie released Ling's ponytail. Ed came over to him, sniffed him a bit and Adam winked at him and pulled a pile of junk mail out of his pocket.
“Hey buddy, here you go,” he said, handing it over. Ed snatched it eagerly and ran off to his chair to sort through it.
“Adam, I'm glad you could come over,” Marta said standing.
“Hey no problem, glad to help out,” Adam returned.
“Oh, are we weighing the kitten today?” Leslie said eagerly, getting up off the couch.
“That's the plan, Adam came over to help control the Alphonse while I catch the little devil, he's really fast,” Marta smiled, opened her desk drawer and slipped the magazine in while Ed was preoccupied by the junkmail. “We can just shut Ling and Ed up in here, they won't hurt anything.”
The three humans made their way back to the sanctuary, pulling the dividing door closed and turning the lock. That would deter Edward enough, Ling might work at it until he got it open, but Marta had realized that unknowingly, Ed was a very good Ling sitter. The Ling always seemed to want to be where Edward was, so once they were together in a room, she could pretty much count on Ling staying put.
The Alphonse eyed the three warily as they peered into the big picture window. The kitten glanced their way but soon ignored them, fascinated in a colorful block toy, a stuffed doll in his lap. Adam set the large board he was going to use to heard the Alphonse back against the wall.
“Ok,” Marta said, “Adam you go in first and see if you can't startle Alphonse into his den and I'll catch the kitten, Leslie you play back up at the door.”
“Right,” Leslie said and Adam nodded as well.
Since the kitten was now being raised by a wild parent, Marta no longer mimiced an Edward when she entered the enclosure. She positioned herself at the door, nodded to Adam and then opened it. Adam went in, held the board in front of him and walked steadily toward the adult Alphonse. The Alphonse bristled, hissed and backed away, then made a plaintive call for the kitten who had jumped up and was standing uncertainly watching Adam crowd his parent. Marta came in and hoped to use to kittens momentary distraction to catch it, but it saw her coming, mewled in startlement and took off as fast as it's little legs would carry it. Marta estimated this kittens age to be about three, but he was the master evader. Adam managed to crowd Alphonse right into the den and hold the board over the entrance, even as Alphonse scratched at it and yowled loudly. The kitten returned his frantic cries, darting about the enclosure until Marta was able to corner him.
Having done this several times before with other kittens she distracted him with one hand and caught him but the nape with the other. The kitten immediately quieted and curled up and she scooped him up and hurried out. Leslie manned the door as Adam edged back, then grabbed the board and ran. They managed to shut the door on the Alphonse before he got there and he backed off, cast frantic looks toward Marta as she walked off down the hall carrying his kitten.
The kitten cried pitifully all the way to the infirmary. Marta held him close and cooed to him and then she and Leslie set him on one of the exam tables.
“His parent made him these pelts out of that fleece blanket,” Marta said smiling as they wiggled the soft top and pants off the kitten. “He really takes care of our little guy.”
Leslie was stroking the small golden head and the kitten turned large, wet golden eyes on her.
“I wish we could keep him,” Leslie said. “He must remind you so much of Ed when he was small.”
“Not really,” Marta said softly, “this little guy had it much better than my little guy did earlier in life. I know he's adorable but we really need to think about what's best for him, and the best thing for him is if we can release him one day and he can have a mate and kittens of his own.”
Marta scooped the kitten up who was more grumbly now that whimpering. Even at an early age it seemed Elrics could sense when you meant them not real harm. Leslie laid a blanket on the scale and fetched the record book. They weighed him, measure him, checked his ears and little teeth. Let him chew on a carrot stick and redressed him, both secretly lingering over him and petting on him. He seemed content now with the carrot and the gentle attention and put up no fuss being carried back to his enclosure. When he was set on his feet just inside the doorway his Alphonse parent darted out of the den and the kitten ran right into his frantic arms and was immediately carried back into the den for a through inspecton.
Marta closed the door and she and Leslie crept quiely away to the sounds of the Alphonse purring loudly.
They were both surprised when Adam stopped them at the doorway of the main part of the house.
“Um Marta, Ed is old enough to be interested in mates?” he asked, glancing at the door.
“Yes, he is,” she said. “Why do you...” but she stopped herself. “He's with Ling?” she said softly.
“They aren't doing anything heavy,” Adam said. “But there is definate interest on both parties going on and I thought I should leave them alone.”
Marta nodded. “Ok you two stay here, let me see what's going on,” she said with a little quirk to her smile. “Ed has never been a conventional Elric, I don't see why I should be surprised.”
She opened the door quietly; tipped toed to the entry way of the living room. Her eyes strayed slowly across it. Ed was crouched down, squatting and Ling was behind him; molded to his back, nose buried under Ed's braid. Ling seem to be rubbing Ed's thighs, slowly up and down and he seemed to be licking or sucking on the back of Ed's neck. Ed's eyes were half mast and he made periodic chirruping sounds.
What to do? To step into the room and distrub them, or to silently retreat? What Marta really wanted for Edward was an Alphonse. An Alphonse to be his mate, but what if Edward was seeing things differently? For all intent purposes, at this moment, he seemed to let Ling court him, and was that wrong? What if she never found an Alphonse mate for him? Was she right to interfere? Ling seemed to scoot closer and Edward braced his hands on the floor. One of Ling's hands left Edward's thigh and ran up under his red pelt; up his back and Edward turned his face back toward Ling and Ling's lips moved to his jaw and cheek. Edward started purring very loudly, he tilted his head back and his eyes opened. He caught sight of Marta then, arched his eyebrow.
PART TWO