"Ah," was all Gian could bring himself to say before he'd yawned widely and put his hands on the floor, just a little behind him. He licked his dry lips wet and silently watched Alfie play. "We'll just have to try and befriend a Japanese man and a game programmer then."

Hebs was taken aback at those fingers of Shadow's brushing his hair aside so... gently. That felt unnatural but nice. He just wasn't sure why he'd felt something odd in the pit of his stomach. "Yeah, uh, about that..." The snake teen's face was still colored and he made a face with it. "Smack my head again, will you?"

Gian blinked again. "He does?" he asked before he'd chuckled. "If that's true, then, we-I'll just have to find for a programmer." If he remembered right, he had a friend at school who seemed to be a gamer and knows how to code. Maybe he could help if he isn't so busy from school. Taking the controller, he started on the next level. He finished quicker than the last. Apparently, he was a quick learner.

Hebs was thankful for the smack on his head and he frowned at Shadow's words as he quickly moved his gaze to the oven. "It's who you are. It can't be helped," he said as he bent down a bit to curiously peer in the oven, "Even I would be tired wearing sunglasses or a mask all the time." That, and Shadow has been taking care of them. If anything, I'm thankful to him even though he's as perv- Hebs cleared his throat. He almost forgot Shadow read minds.

Gian took the controller from Alfie to continue the game and he raised his eyebrows a little in surprise as his fingers started to move on their own accord. He didn't need much thinking. Strangely, too, he was rather good. "I didn't say-ah!" Frowning when he was close to death, there, he grumbled, "I didn't say we'll mass produce it." Quickly finishing the game, he handed the controller back to Alfie. "It'll just be for us."

Hebs took the mittens so he could take the brownies out from the oven. Making sure to put it on a steeled table, he smiled. "You're unconventional then," he said as he started to cut off the sides and into pieces, rummaged through the cabinets to pull out a plate and put the pieces on the said plate. "And you should tell me more often about your stories of the past. They sound interesting." The male took the plate where he'd arranged the brownies and he held it out to Shadow. A smile took his lips. "Now then, for you to taste it first and tell me how it is, professor Shadow." The snake teen teased the other by adding that title of 'professor'. He wasn't exactly sure what to call someone who teaches cooking.

Gian found himself chuckling lightly at the way the other spoke the word 'adorable' and he let out a, "Ah, it's the cutscene," when the screen had turned black. He shifted to sit and lean forward a bit with his elbows on his knees and he raised his eyebrows in surprise at the albino monkey. He hadn't expected that at all. "He is cute," he said, out of the blue, as he grinned, "Why do I remember seeing a plushie of that one in the store once?"

Hebs grunted at Shadow's reply. "Well, aren't you quick to ruin one snake man's fun," he mumbled before he'd taken one of the brownies, too, and set it back on the counter with one hand. He bit into it and he felt his eyes widen in surprise. It tasted good. Heavenly chocolate. The filling made it all the better. Moaning, Hebs felt his features turn to one of bliss. "I definitely didn't make this." He chuckled and bit into it again, chewing slowly, savoring each bite he took from the dessert.

Gian laughed. Yes. He might just try and go back to that shop and see if it was still there. He'd get one for Alfie. "Yeah, sure. Go ahead." The male took the controller and looked back at the screen. When the boss had come up on the screen, he felt his eyes widen when he'd almost - almost - died. He had barely escaped there. "Whoa! Shit!" A series of curses followed thereafter while he evaded the hits and tried to attack.

Hebs blinked at that. "At times like that, I wish you were beside me. Then, I'd know when our food supply would lessen." Making a face, he picked up the plate of brownies and put that in the fridge to make them cold. He also took out some meat for Alfie. A big chunk of meat. "You think you can do your magic, Shadow, before Alfie comes to the kitchen?"

"Maybe make this my crash course."

Gian had already started it. He was intent on finishing. "I'll try-what the?!" His own body had unconsciously moved to the left as he escaped the attack from the leader. He could feel his own heartbeat ramming hard against his chest and that feeling of nervousness settled into his stomach. "Wait... I'm almost..." He was far from done but he was dying. Gian continued to escape and attack in different ways.

Hebs took the things Shadow had gotten from the cabinets and nodded at the instructions. Making sure he'd done that right, he waited until the said broth bubbled before he'd pulled it out with his mittens. By the time he was finished, Gian had defeated the leader with barely a life left. He raised his arms up in victory and laughed happily as he laid down on the floor.

"Take that cute albino monkey!"

Seems like it was like that. He was lucky, though. Grinning up at Alfie, he moved to sit back up and put the controller down. "Okay," was the reply he'd given the mutated naga as he took this chance to look around Alfie's room It was pretty... simply. Alfie wasn't as complex as Hebs and it made him smile.

Hebs managed to finish it just as Alfie had decided to finally look for snacks. Grinning brightly, he turned to look at Shadow again. "Thanks, Shadow," he said, his heartfelt gratitude apparent in his soft voice. Indeed, Shadow wasn't half-bad. He actually is starting to like the guy.

Hebs turned to look at Alfie and he smiled at the sight of Shadow patting Alfie on the head. They almost seemed... parental. The very idea, though, that Shadow looked maternal sounded odd in his head. "That you do," Hebs said as he transferred the food on a big plate for Alfie and put out some brownies, too, for the both of them and for Shadow.

"Here you two are. Leave some brownies for Gian, too, by the way." The snake man smiled at his kin. "How's the game going for the both of you?"

Gian laid back down on the floor and he stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes before he'd let his eyes slide shut. He seemed asleep but he really wasn't. He was only listening to the music from the odd game Alfie had showed him and he smiled just a tad. He could definitely get used to this life. Everyone was just kind, Léan and Kratos didn't seem to bad now that he got along with the other three members of the freak family.

This is really nice.

Hebs watched with amusement as Alfie ate the food. He seemed to like it and he turned to look at Shadow with a bright grin. "Thanks again, Shadow," he said, reaching out to lightly pat the man's arm and went about to cleaning the things he'd used in the kitchen. If anything, he liked his workplace clean and he'd do just about anything to make it happen even if it meant having to have the people in the room leave for about an hour or two.

Kratos had stirred awake after a few hours and he shifted to lay on his back. His eyes were still shut and he let out a deep breath. If he wanted to bring Léan out, he better do it now before it becomes too cold later on. Not that he'd mind the cold. He was pretty much half dead with his powers if it isn't used much. Slowly opening his eyes, the man brought his hands up and stared at them for a few seconds before he'd moved to sit up and have his hand run through his hair. "Do you want to go out, Léan?" he asked as he looked up from where he was to the tank, "Just tour around the place."

Gian had fallen asleep, taking a nap while Alfie was gone. Apparently, he was quick to fall asleep but also quick to wake, which would probably explain why he sometimes let out a yawn once in a while. It's a habit he'd picked up since he had become a teen. Home, school, friends... it's become rather tiring.

Hebs could feel the eyes of Shadow watching him as he cleaned and he turned to look at him. He wasn't sure if he saw a look that resembled a poker face or one that was distant. "You okay, Shadow?" he asked as he raised an eyebrow, "What I said about you keeping your hands to yourself isn't bothering you now, is it?" Of course, he just had to add that to lighten things up a bit. It looked too serious with Shadow.

Kratos saw that tail of his curl around his body tightly. He knew very well what kind of defense stance that was. "It's fine if you don't want to." He got out of bed and walked to his closet to change out of his clothes and wear something more casual. Fixing the sleeves to his shirt, he turned to look at Léan and then glanced out at the window.

The nudge woke him up and he frowned a little before he'd propped himself up on his elbow. Reaching out to take a brownie, he bit into it and blinked when he'd felt the taste all around his mouth. This was delicious. "It can't be... Hebs made this?" he asked, surprised as he shifted again to sit up and eat it eagerly. It was really good.

Hebs thought about it for a second or two. "I can put some sunscreen on your back," he offered as he finished up cleaning the kitchen and dusted his hands. Putting his hands on his hips, he looked around and smiled at the sight of the clean kitchen. That was better. It put him at ease.

Kratos shook his head. He didn't know either. "I just want to look around," was all he'd said before he'd moved back to the bed to pull out his boots from underneath. He slipped both on and worked with the laces.

Gian let out a short, "Ah," as he nodded, "That explains why it's good." He could see that Alfie liked the brownies a lot and he divided the plate into two, giving Alfie more of his share. He grinned at him and took the three left on the pile before he motioned to the game consol. "Do you have any other odd games?"

Hebs had turned crimson at that teasing question and he grunted. He was just about to open his mouth, to tell Shadow to forget it when the other had spoken again. Blinking at the wistful look he saw crossing the older man's face, he raised his eyebrows a tad in curiosity. "You lived near the sea?"

Kratos, indeed, didn't like crowded places. If he were to see a place he wanted to go to crowded, he'd definitely leave without another word. He had just finished tying his laces when Léan had said those words and he looked up at the merman just a moment in surprise. "Then... wait here." He went out to get that paperbag where the hat is and the wheelchair. As for the blanket, well, they could always use his instead. He'd never used it after all.