#PLEASE IF SHE WAS INVESTIGATING MURDERS AND YOU WAVED A CARROT IN FRONT OF HER SHE'D FORGET ABOUT THE MURDER IMMEDIATELY

[skotchtip]

Damn Emelia 😏😏 your attention span 😏😏😏😏

[randomwoohoo]

Nick: Previously on Zoomorphia!

Judy: We found out that Clawhauser was investigating Savages.

Nick: It kinda explains why he was in the middle of Savanna Central back in chapter 5. Haha

Judy: In addition, it seems that Bolt and his team are keeping watch on us. Thinking somebody is stalking us gives me the creeps.

Nick: Just like when you stalked Finnick and me throughout the city after I hustled you for the first time?

Judy: M-Moving on, we came across another strange Savage. This time, we also chanced upon suspicious mammals, really suspicious. The marmot released the Savage from a cage and the donkey could command it.

Nick: What’s more, we fought Bolt the silver wolf again. It’s unbelievable that even after we activated tail spikes which pierced through Bolt’s body, he was still able to move! Can it be we are dealing with a zombie!?

Judy: I suppose not.

Nick: Or we’re actually fighting against a vampire!?

Judy: That’s less likely.

Nick: Ghost!?!?

Judy: Calm down! Anyway, now the chapter 13!

Fanfiction.net

.-.. . - .----. ... / -.-. --- -. - .. -. ..- .

    Inside a motorhome, Bolt the alaskan tundra wolf, wearing a white T-shirt tucked into black jeans with a black belt, was lounging on the couch. “I thought after they got beat back then, they wouldn’t dare to fight me again. What a spirit~” He admired Nick and Judy, rolling his right shoulder.

    Suddenly, the white eyebrowed-and-muzzled black wildcat slapped Bolt with a giant paper fan.

“Dapuq, Mittens?” He wondered why she was mad at him.

“Were you out of your mind!? Seriously, what were you thinking when you used that level of accel despite those damages?” Mittens the wildcat scowled at the wolf.

“But you ordered me to retreat-” He tried to excuse himself but the fan hit him again.

“Don’t argue with me!” She then sighed, “Forget it, at least this gave me an opportunity to make some modifications.” placing her paper fan upon her shoulder.

“Now what?” The tan lemming scrambled up the couch to sit with Bolt.

“No worries. I have a plan~” He winked at his friends.

... --- -- . - .... .. -. --. / -- --- .-. .

    Clawhauser was having a bowl of cereal at ZPD’s reception desk, reflecting on an event that occured a couple of days earlier, his friends as Hybrid losing to the mysterious silver chrome wolf once more.

    Back then, while I was carrying Nick’s unconscious body and waiting outside the warehouse in Rainforest District, I got startled by Nick waking up without warning. He was agitated because his consciousness returned to his body, not resulted by decision to detransform but being forced to detransform by Bolt. We hurried to rescue Judy lying on the pile of broken planks in the warehouse.

    The big spotted cat pulled himself from sinking into memory before taking another bite of cereal. “How are you doing now, Judy?” He inquired after the doe rabbit who was behind the desk with him. The tod fox, accompanying her, was none other than her partner, Nick Wilde.

“Good, thanks” Judy actively hopped over a backrest and sat on an oversized chair that was clearly for a larger mammal, whereas Nick idly climbed to sit next to her.

“So, about that silver wolf hero… He did help y-... helped Hybrid fight Savage s, right?” Clawhauser avoided using the pronoun ‘you’ while talking about Hybrid stuff.

“But he also murdered several mammals-” Judy frowned.

“Carrots, as far as we know, his targets are only criminals.” Nick added collectedly.

“If I didn’t misheard you, Clawhauser, you did called that guy ‘hero’.” The fox made the cheetah realize that he subconsciously perceived Bolt as a hero. “He seriously looks like one.”

    Once they mused on Bolt’s silver chrome appearance and fights with the monsters, he can easily be considered as a superhero.

“Criminals or not, mammals are mammals. It’s not right to end anybody’s life as one pleases.” She made an argument, believing that punishing criminals should be done by process of judgment, not some vigilantes.

“And to call that kind of mammals a hero… is...” She clenched her fists.

    Clawhauser looked at Judy with worried eyes. As for Nick, he decided to change the subject. “More concerningly, that guy undoubtedly knows how to detransform Hybrid. It’s like he recognized MidniDriver.” His words reminded Judy when Bolt bent down and pulled the 45 degree tilted syringe on the left side of MidniDriver.

“He’s even well informed about Hybrid’s identity. This can’t be good.” Judy grew apprehensive.

“Take it easy. Want some?” Clawhauser scooped cereal from a bowl with a spoon, then offered her a bite.

    Reluctant to eat a bite of milk-soaked sugary toasted oat pieces, she eventually gave in to cheetah’s cheery smile, about to go for a bite. However, Nick snatched it, eating it up before she could.

“So sweet~” The tod chewed it while he was gazing at a pouting doe.

“Don’t be mad. Here” The cheetah offered the bunny another spoon of cereal. She opened her mouth, leaning towards the spoon, but he drew the spoon back and ate the cereal.

“Benjamin! Not you too!” She did not expect that Clawhauser would tease her as well.

“Sorry, I can’t help.” He giggled.

“Aww~ Don’t pout~” Nick wagged his tail slowly, brushing Judy’s cheek.

    She caught his tail irritatedly, then placed it down gently on her lap, simpering after a few moments. Next, it got her thinking. Unexpected, huh? She petted the fluffy fox tail.

“Let’s get back to work.” Grabbing Nick’s tie, she jumped down the chair and then led him to the exit.

“Bye, Clawhauser.” He waved his paw at the cheetah behind the desk as he left the station with his partner.

    Clawhauser, putting down his bowl, felt his sugar-coated grain pale in comparison to how sweet those two were.

.-. . -.. ..- -.-. . / .... . ... .. - .- - .. --- -.

“Thank you for inviting me here.” The polo-shirted female yellow-bellied marmot turned to look out the window.Seeing that a plainly-and-simply decorated room she was in was on a branch of one of tall and large trees like skyscrapers in Rainforest District, she got a little bit scared of current height above the ground level.

“You like the view from up here?” An alaskan tundra wolf in a groovy vintage black leather jacket, paws in pockets, was standing leaning against the door.

    The marmot gave a nervous laugh in response, “Honestly, you are as handsome as your voice.” complimenting him whom she met directly for the first time.

“Thanks~” The wolf chuckled. “By the way..., where is it?” When he raised a subject, she, clearing her throat, regained composure before answering.

“Your order is being kept in the warehouse not far from here. Please rest assured.” She made the palm rub gesture. “If you wanna test its quality, we can head out-”

“You guys heard her~” He blurted out all of a sudden, confusing the marmot. She was curious about what the wolf meant by ‘you guys’.

The wolf still acted friendly and casual but the marmot sensed something fishy.

“Seriously, it’s been a few days, yet you are wearing the same clothes.” He drew his paws out the jeans�� pockets and came nearer to her.

    The marmot got addled. Formerly, the wolf and she had only contacted through phone until this time that they finally met each other personally; therefore, she wondered how he knew about her dressed in the same clothes she had worn for a few days.

    The wolf rolled his jacket right sleeve up and then brushed fur on under forearm, which revealed a zipper. After unzipping, it could be seen that underneath his skin was some sort of mechanism.

“Switch on” He uttered calmly, pulling a lever inside his arm to ‘on’.

    Electrical sparks ran around him. Following one quick flash of his white fur, the alaskan tundra wolf transformed his silver chrome form right in front of the marmot, a black bar over his eyes, solar panels on chest and shoulders, two thunder‘bolt’ stripes on abdomen to top it all.

    The alarmed marmot took steps away from Bolt the sliver chrome wolf. Her instinct screamed at her to run away as the imposing shiny canine was advancing towards her. She was accordingly looking for the escape routes, craning her neck to look at the door behind him.

    It may be impossible to outrun the wolf. The marmot thought, throwing the choice of exiting through the front door out the window. Window? She glanced at one of the room windows.

“Escape through window if you want. Oh wait, we are at 140 feet above the ground.” Bolt sounded amused.

    When she was cornered, feeling desperate, there was a noise of something hitting the room’s wall from outside, followed by a long sound of metal scraping.

“Bolt! Look out!” Mittens warned him through wireless communication. But before he could react in time, Hybrid Archer form burst into the room through the room through a window.

    It appeared that the duo used Archer form’s monitor to track down the tracking device on the marmot’s shirt. Hybrid travelled from another tree to the room by shooting an arrow connected with a wire and sliding down the wire.

    Hybrid made a dramatic entrance before “Bolt! You’re under arrest.” Judy in the armored doe rabbit with fox features stated.

“What I’m charged with? Being a vigilante?” Bolt turned his attention to the green-tuniced armored mammal.

“Murder” She answered straightforwardly, “The cold blooded murderer like you who killed mammals is not a hero.” clenching the fists.

    Bolt subsequently laughed. “How ironic~”

    Knowing the wolf infuriated the doe, “Surrender and let us arrest you. We gotta have a long talk.” the tod took control of the body.

“What makes you think I will?” Bolt placed his paws on his waist. “Cuz last time I checked, I beat you twice.” He raised left paw, making a v-sign.

    Meanwhile, the marmot was so petrified that she rendered motionless.

“I didn’t smell it.”

    Bolt tilted his head, slightly confused by Judy’s words.

“When the tail spikes pierced through you, I smelled no blood…”

    At that time, with the enhanced senses, the united duo detected only the scent of metal and oil from the silver wolf.

“You are just a machine, aren’t you?” Judy inquired.

“... If so, what you gonna do?” Bolt came back with a question.

    Even though Hybrid’s real eyes behind amethyst headlights were not visible, he sensed the determined stare from the armored mammal.

“I won’t hesitate anymore.” She twisted forth the maroon motorcycle handle sticking out on the right side of Midnidriver. “FORM SHIFT-POLICE”

    The purple fog, released from the belt-like morpher and armor’s gaps, spread all over. Bolt was unable to find the doe rabbit figure under the thick fog.

    Following that MidniDriver’s core shone through the purple mist, the red flamingo armored mammal in Judy’s police field uniform, Hybrid Police form, leapt off the ground to the silver wolf quickly. “ACTIVATE” After summoning long-chained handcuffs, Hybrid wrapped the chain around Bolt’s upper arms up to his neck while turning a somersault in the air over the taller mammal, then stepped on his back, binding and strangling him.

“Run for your life!” Judy ordered the marmot. She therefore skedaddled out the room through the front door, leaving the door open, running down a giant tree branch as Bolt was trying to shake Hybrid off, turning around swiftly.

    The duo expected that they could capture the marmot later since the tracking device is still attached to her.

“Despite knowing I’m a machine, why do you bother putting me to sleep by choking as if I’m a normal mammal?” He, talking normally like he was not suffering from suffocation or pain at all, faced the open door, “Electro blast” uttering calmly.

Electric sparks came out of the solar panels on his chest and gathering into a concentrated light sphere.

    The energy ball was discharged as straight as an arrow, penetrating through the chain across Bolt’s chest, flying out the room through the door and hitting the fleeing yellow bellied marmot.

    Hybrid, loosening the grip, the handcuffs gradually fading away, watched the electrocuted marmot dying instantaneously before she fell off the tree.

“There goes my today quota.” Bolt reached back and grabbed Hybrid’s arm before throwing Hybrid out the left open door. The united duo was dashed against the branch, clinging to the tree bark.

    He then rushed out the room, “So long, fellas~” nearing to kick Hybrid off the branch.

    When Hybrid tumbled down, “ACTIVATE” the duo summoned new handcuffs and tied a chain to one of Bolt’s legs, dragging him down with them.

    During the time that the red flamingo armored mammal together with the silver chrome wolf was plummeting through leaves, he “Volt strike!”, a knifepaw glowing, made an effort to cut the chain but it was not effective.

    Bolt was about to try his Electro Blast attack. However, he recollected that he had already used his maximum one per day attack. Consequently, he could not break the chain.

    Hybrid “ACTIVATE” called upon a black AutoMag decorated with a purple cylinder-like extra part and an auburn grip. After spinning the cylinder, the fire sparks flying out, a bright tiny bomb was fired from a muzzle of a gun.

    Bolt dodged the bomb shot at him in mid air but it exploded behind him, sending electromagnetic pulses to his body. An explosion force accordingly blew them to drop faster.

    Following that, Hybrid yanked the chain, tossing the silver wolf to a roofless wide skybridge between trees. A weight of the larger mammal pulled the armored mammal along. Bolt fell face down on the bridge, whereas Hybrid landed heroically.

    The duo got the idea of using electromagnetic pulse weapon against the silver chrome wolf owing to him being a machine that obviously operated with electricity. They hoped that his power grid would be shut down.

    The handcuffs vanishing as they wished, the duo as Hybrid went toward the lying prone wolf, bending over to check on him.

    Out of the blue, Bolt’s backfist struck Hybrid on a side of the face. A blow sent the armored doe rabbit with a fox tail spinning around in the air and falling back on the bridge away from the getting up wolf.

“Bolt! Do you copy?” Mittens contacted Bolt by wireless communication system.

“Feeling somewhat dizzy.” He held onto the rail for support.

“You’d better thank me for installing electromagnetic shielding cages inside you.” She claimed.

    Actually, the reason the silver chrome wolf was still able to function was that when Mittens repaired Bolt after he got pierced by Hybrid’s tail spikes, she added the electromagnetic shielding cages, which can reduce the coupling of radio waves, electromagnetic fields and electrostatic fields, into him in order to protect the mechanical canine from EMP attack.

    Subsequently, Nick in Judy’s body sat up and shot many bullets in a mere few seconds at Bolt with the thought of protecting her.

“Double accel” Bolt uttered calmly. His processing system ran faster, which made him visually perceive the bullets coming toward him slower. He bounded, swayed and ducked a couple of times, avoiding every bullet.

    From Bolt’s perspective, he was just moving a little bit hastily. Whereas, the united duo saw him dodge like greased lightning. Next thing they knew was that he had already come close to them unawares.

“I can’t let you arrest me.” Drawing his right fist back, “Sorry not sorry~” Bolt threw a punch at Hybrid.

    Twisting the handle forth once “FORM SHIFT-HUSTLER”, Hybrid rolled backwards, evading from the punch, while the mist was being released from the belt-like device as well as armor’s gaps.

    After changing into Hybrid Hustler form, “Why did you target those mammals? What are you up to?” Judy asked Bolt.

“Sorry again~ Can’t tell that classified information.”

“What’s up with those weird Savages? You know something, don’t you?” Nick asked him too, remembering the monsters with unusual behavior they had fought lately. He believed the wolf knew something they did not.

“Yes, I do but I’m not gonna tell you.” His tone grew serious to some extent.

“If that’s so, we’ll make you spit it out by force.” Judy hit the syringe “ACTIVATE” before Hybrid disappeared into thin air right in front of Bolt.

“I don’t have to accelerate to see...” The wolf said idly.

    When Hybrid popped up a step behind him, “...where you would appear.” he turned back swiftly to face the armored mammal, leaning down and launching a right punch.

    Nick pressed the syringe “ACTIVATE”, activating Hybrid’s instantaneous movement to avoid his punch at the last second.

    However, “Accel” Bolt with accelerated processing system noticed that Hybrid teleported to the right side next to him, so he leaned more to the point he was about to fall, paws on the surface of the bridge, then twisted his body and launched the left leg while spinning.

    He reverse roundhouse kicked the armored mammal rapidly. His kicking heel struck Hybrid’s shoulder.

    The red flamingo armored doe rabbit body moved through air before falling hard.

    Right after activating the instant transmission ability, Hybrid’s physical power drops briefly, causing Hybrid Hustler form to be significantly more vulnerable than usual. As a result, the united duo respond slower and receive more damage.

“Looks like he can keep up with us.” Nick supposed.

    Hybrid tried to get up. At the same time, Bolt, getting into a fighting stance, stayed on guard, looking for a chance to leave without being chased.

“In that case, we gotta push the limits.” Judy pressed the syringe “ACTIVATE”.

    Hybrid teleported to front of Bolt up-close at eye level. Bolt then speedily elbow struck but Hybrid, pushing the syringe “ACTIVATE”, disappeared first.

“It’s useless!” Bolt, still accelerated, turned behind, where Hybrid appeared. He rapidly back kicked Hybrid pressing the syringe again “ACTIVATE”. However, he missed since Hybrid disappeared again.

    Immediately afterwards, Bolt sensed the back of his head got hit, for Hybrid teleported to dropkick him by surprise.

    As Hybrid “ACTIVATE” teleported again, Bolt was butterfy-kicked in the side of his face, “ACTIVATE”, scratched on his right thigh by Hybrid’s left claw, “ACTIVATE”, and uppercut on his chin.

“ACTIVATE” “ACTIVATE” “ACTIVATE”, Hybrid teleported over and over again to attack Bolt in every direction possible, not give him a second to respond. Speaking of a response, neither did the duo. They did not react to the surroundings at all, just keeping on activating instantaneous movement ability and attacking.

    Shortly, after “ACTIVATE” another teleportation, Hybrid struck Bolt’s middle with a straight punch but it turned out that the punch was too weak. The effect of persistently using the ability began to take a toll. Judy’s body was becoming drained.

    Bolt, using this opportunity, threw a counter-punch.

    Fortunately, there came a blessing in disguise. The worn out armored mammal collapsed, knees on the bridge’s surface, thereby avoiding the blow from the silver wolf.

    When Bolt was about to attack once more, Nick, seeing the situation dangerous, “ACTIVATE” teleported away as an escape.

    Since Hybrid had already left, Bolt “Switch off” uttered thankfully. Following one quick flash of his silver body, he turned back to his alaskan tundra wolf disguise in the black leather jacket.

“How’s everything?” Mittens contacted him.

    Bolt rolled his shoulders leisurely, switching right and left repeatedly, to examine his physical condition. “I’m okay. In fact, it’s nice to blow off some steam~” He replied. “Have you picked up it in the warehouse yet?”

“If you’re talking about the Savage for sale, yes, Rhino already has. By the way, what about the dealer?” She referred to the female yellow-bellied marmot.

“I killed her...” He looked back to the moment when he fired the electrical energy ball at her.

“You did what!? We haven’t interrogated her yet!” The wildcat shouted.

“It was the best solution back then. I mean, our work would be troublesome if she got caught by the police. Am I right?”

“Mhm” She agreed with him because he brought up a good point.

“It’ll be fine~ There are more than one dealer anyway~” Bolt the wolf strolled down the bridge.

.. ... / .... . / .--- ..- ... - / -- .- -.-. .... .. -. .

    On the ground of Rainforest District, Hybrid staggered to an alleyway, where Nick’s body was hiding. The unconscious red fox cop was sitting on the floor with his head low, legs stretched out and back against the wall of the building.

    Hybrid subsequently flopped next to Nick, sprawling in almost the same manner as him.

    Judy pulled the syringe to detransform. Next, blood was drawn and then teleported to Nick’s syringe. Hybrid’s suit of armor emitted purple steam before it vanished. Accordingly, Her body along with police uniform clothes were back to normal. If truth be told, Judy was still suffering from extreme tiredness.

As Nick’s consciousness returned to him, he woke up fatigued like always after detransformation.

“Are you alright?” Speaking with a shaky voice, Nick reached his quivering paw to his partner next to him.

    She leaned towards him. Her head tapped his chest.

    While he was feeling confused of her action, all at once his weariness was gone. When he looked down, he saw that she pressed his syringe to inject blood into him.

Judy tilted her head back and gave Nick a smile, a tired one.

“We need to head back before anyone suspects where we have been. No way I’ll let you whine that you’re tired or whatever.” She struggled to stand up, “Hurry up, you slacker” making a joke of him.

    Nick followed Judy as she tottered slowly to their police cruiser parking nearby. She was then going to fall back but luckily, he caught her in times.

“It seems I’m tired more than I thought.” She laughed tiredly.

“Judy...” Nick gave her a support, leading her to a passenger’s seat of the car.

Shortly after he lifted her into the car, she fell asleep on the seat.

While Nick was walking around to the driver seat, he clutched his rumbling stomach with his right paw, left paw covering his watery mouth. Without knowing the reason why, hunger was driving him insane. He had never been this hungry in his life as images of his precious doe rabbit friend were projected in his mind...

- --- / -... . / -.-. --- -. - .. -. ..- . -..

[thekuroiookami]

I don't think it is weird at all! I enjoyed every chapter of it! Did I mention how I like your writing style? Because I do very much! Btw I have been wondering lately................... what's Midorima's laugh like? So I would like to request a scenario of Midorima's s/o trying all sorts of stuff to make him laugh!! Probably with the help of Takao (*≧艸≦)

Ah, thank you! So this ask ended with me writing the following weird story and doing a ton of research on what Midorima’s VA’s laugh is like…As a side note you can try watching this video to hear the laugh I’m referencing, it’s at around 7:25 :

And now, onto the scenario.

It all started with a bet. Miyaji threatened to assaultMidorima with a pineapple from halfway across court. Someone then said that theshooting guard in question would find the idea of anyone other than himshooting anything laughable. Naturally, someone else then said theaforementioned stoic had never laughed once in his life. Otsubo then sensiblyshut down the discussion before it got out of hand, but Takao had alreadylatched onto the idea like a drowning man to a buoy. And of course, anythingTakao knew eventually got back to you.

“500 yen says he caves in after the first feather duster.”Takao folded his arms and arched an eyebrow smugly.

“I couldn’t. It’s like taking candy from a baby.” Youtwirled a lock of hair around your finger in thought. “Shintarou has neverlaughed once in the time we’ve been together, and I’ve been with him for awhile.”

“And I’ve been with him even longer,” he shot back.“Shin-chan never-“ Takao stopped as he realized he was going confirm what youjust said. “No matter how grim he is, even Shin-chan must have a limit.”

“I’m just trying to point out that limit is somewhere reallyfar away. Like Tibet. Or Europe. I don’t think he’ll cave by Phase Three of theplan.”

“We’ll just have to see, won’t we?” After a few minutes ofintense negotiation, you shook hands with Takao, sealing a deal that bestowedthe winner with a month’s supply of strawberry milk. “Let’s go nab our targetthen.”

Lunchtime found Midorima sitting in his usual corner of theclassroom, lunchbox and chopsticks neatly lined up in preparation for his meal.You slid a quick glance at the tiny portable radio on the desk before taking aseat next to him. “Hello, Shintarou.”

Midorima’s features softened from their severe concentrationon his cellphone. “Good afternoon-“

“Shin-chan! Wait for me!” Takao straddled a chair and lookedat Midorima’s bento with wide eyes. “Whoa, that’s a really nice lunch.”

Your boyfriend sighed and gave you something close to anapologetic look. “You’re not going to get any, nanodayo.”

Takao waved the dismissal away and tore open a packet ofmelon bread. “So I was saying to ___-chan here earlier, that I certifiably makegood jokes. I make people laugh. Ask anyone. Right, Shin-chan?”

“I wouldn’t know,” said Midorima primly. “That implies you havemoments of seriousness, nanodayo.”

You smirked. “See, I told you so. If anyone has ever laughedat your jokes, it’s probably out of pity.”

Takao narrowed his eyes dangerously. “Fine. Tell you what.If I make Shin-chan here laugh by the end of the day, you have to take thatback.”

You tutted pityingly. “Fine, if you want to commit socialsuicide, I won’t stop you.”

Midorima sighed and tucked into his lunch. “Leave me out ofit, please.”

You both ignored him and shook on it. Takao rolled up hissleeves and cleared his throat. “Okay, let’s see. Shin-chan. What do you call…analligator in a vest?”

Midorima gave Takao a look that said he couldn’t care lessand went back to chewing on a carrot stick. The point guard ploughed on withhis usual enthusiasm. “An investigator!”

You scrunched your nose. “That was terrible, Takao.”

“Then I’ll try another one. Why are pirates called pirates?”

You tilted your head in thought. Midorima exhaled slowly andcontinued ignoring Takao. “I don’t know,” you said.

Takao grinned cheerfully. “Because they arrrrr.”

You had to purse your lips to keep from laughing because itwas utterly ridiculous, but your boyfriend merely frowned and carried on asusual. You decided to chip in. “Wait, I have one. This one is good. Did youhear about the hairdresser?”

They both blinked at you, confused. “She dyed,” you saidsolemnly. Takao dissolved into helpless laughter, while Midorima rolled hiseyes.

“Okay, if you’re going to play it that way, then I’m uppingthe ante.” Takao leaned forward with anticipation. “Don’t blame me when thequips get a little…risqué. So. Why did the traffic light turn red?”

You saw Midorima look at Takao curiously from the corner ofyour eye. Maybe this was actually going somewhere. You shrugged in question tomake the other boy reply.

“Because it’s embarrassing to change in public!” You andMidorima both grimaced in tandem.

Takao was prevented from saying anything when the bell rangshrilly. “Whoops, out of time. We’ll do this after school, Shin-chan.” Youcould swear you heard Midorima mutter a brief prayer as you left. He didn’tlook any happier after practice, head bowed with weight of bearing Takao as heapproached the gates. You took his hand and waited for Takao to launch thesecond phase of the scheme.

He didn’t disappoint. “So Shin-chan, are you immune toknock-knock jokes? Or should I try terrible pick-up lines instead?”

Midorima barely restrained himself, gripping the radio sohard you thought it would crack. “Silence, Takao. I would like you to try thatinstead.”

You leaned back to look at your cousin. “Takao, you knowpick-up lines? Tell me some.”

Shutoku’s ace gave you a look of horrified betrayal, but itwas too late. “Hmm. Okay. There’s a major sale in my bedroom right now. Clothesare 100% off!”

You thumped his back sympathetically as Midorima choked andspluttered. “Takao! What- How-“

“I have more! This one’s a classic. Kiss me if I’m wrong,but aren’t dinosaurs not extinct?” Takao looked very proud of himself. Midorimalooked positively green, which made for an interesting effect with his hair.

You nodded in approval. “Not bad. I heard one the other day,what was it? Ah! What’s in a guy’s pants that a girl doesn’t have?”

They both froze outside Midorima’s palatial house and staredat you. Takao’s eyes were wide and seemed like they were asking you whether youreally wanted to go there. Midorima looked like you had just announced youliked kicking small children for fun.

You decided to put them out of their misery. “It’s pockets.Calm down. What were you two thinking of?”

Takao hacked out an ugly cough. Midorima thawed enough fromhis chilled state to unlock the door. “Well,” snickered the point guard, “thatwas unexpected. Shall we decamp at Shin-chan’s house and get some homeworkdone?”

“You cannot invite yourself over, nanodayo,” Midorimasnapped. “You are capable of doing your work without my help.”

You hid a smile and slowly inched closer. “Shintarou,” yousaid quietly, “just this once, give in to Takao? I could use some help too.”You tilted your head and looked at him with limpid eyes.

He didn’t last long. “Very well,” he grumbled. “You can stayfor a short while. But no more of those inappropriate statements, nanodayo.”

You silently fist-bumped Takao and followed Midorima to hisroom, waving at his sister on the way. This part of the plan was going to takesome more subtlety than before, so you had to wait a while before making anymoves. You sidled closer when Midorima was occupied with a question,positioning yourself just right. Takao was nodding intently, also slowlyinching nearer.

“…and then you substitute the value of x here to get thesolution,” Midorima finished, pushing up his glasses.

“Mhmm. So, Shin-chan, I have one more question.” You tensed,sensing an opening.

Midorima glanced at him with an expression of forbearance. “Whatis it?”

“How ticklish are you?”

“What does that have to do with-“ Midorima huffed as you andTakao tackled him to the bed. Before he could protest, the two of you put in aconsiderable amount of energy finding sensitive spots. He flinched when yourfingers brushed over his stomach.

“Aha, Shintarou, are you ticklish here?” You wiggled yourfingers over his abs, delighted when his face turned pink. “That’s kind ofcute.”

“Stop- this is not acceptable, I- WHERE ARE YOU TOUCHING,TAKAO?”

Takao raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Whoops,my bad. But sheesh, anyone else would have caved by now. Is it not in your DNAto laugh, Shin-chan?”

Midorima sat up, hair in disarray and glasses askew. “Thatwould imply there was something humorous about the situation,” he gritted out, “whichis not the case.” He shot you a look of pure murder. “Why are you encouraging him,nanodayo?”

You petted his hair back into place. “Sorry, I couldn’tresist the idea of tickling you. I’d never done it before.” You kissed hischeek in apology, and he turned red again.

Takao looked up as the door opened and Midorima’s little sisterwalked in. She marched forward with a determined expression and a textbook infront of her face. “Nii-san, I don’t get this. Help me.” She scowled when Takaoruffled her hair affectionately.

Midorima adjusted his glasses and peered at the book. “Ah,this is…” You exchanged a glance with Takao while he was occupied. Your cousinshrugged in defeat and sighed. You pursed your lips and gave him an “I told youso” look.

Takao went back to looking the younger girl’s textbook. “Ah,have you heard what the one about the neutron in the bar?”

She gave him a puzzled look. He grinned unrepentantly. “A neutronwalks into a bar and asks how much it is for a drink. The bartender says, “Foryou, no charge.””

The little girl stared at him until realization dawned. “Ohhh,I get it now.”

Your head whipped around at a choked sound. Midorima’s facewas half-hidden by his hand, and he seemed to be hunched over. Your eyesnarrowed with suspicion. “Hey Takao, you know why I don’t trust atoms?”

Takao was watching Midorima with hawk-like concentration. Hesmirked. “No idea, ___-chan.”

“Because they make up everything.” You almost pumped a fistin victory as Midorima bent over even further, shoulders shaking.

Takao looked like a predator about to corner its prey. “I’dhave told you more chemistry puns, but I didn’t think they’d get a reaction.”

The both of you sat back in amazement at the sound ofMidorima’s helpless laugh. It was restrained, like everything else about him,but so out of character that it was equivalent of someone else dancing barefootin the streets. His laugh was warm and rich, dappled with melodic timbre like hueson polished wood. He tried to muffle a surprisingly boyish chuckle, amusementquirking up the corner of his mouth. You wanted to trap the sound in a musicbox and play it over and over to keep the feeling of shimmering joy.

“Shin-chan,” Takao breathed in wonder, “you’re such a nerd.I should have known.”

You sort of agreed, but at the same time you wanted to flingTakao out of a window when Midorima stopped laughing and straightened with ablush. “Nonsense, Takao. Go back to your work or go home, nanodayo.”

You nodded in agreement. “Let’s stop, Takao. It’s like thetime two blood cells fell in love. It’s all in vein.”

Midorima’s eyes widened a split second before he made astrangled noise and started laughing again, gasping for air. You shot an archlook at Takao.  “I win.”

Which is how you ended up with free drinks for a month.