hacked title number 14

Shuni ducked his head, fidgeting. "The one who hurt your brother and dad. He took care of us, but he wasn't very nice."

"That kid," True said, dread in his tone. "Paul must have gone back to the kitten and the kid got him."

Paul smiled. "It's okay. I'll tell dad you're really nice, and then he and True and Sam and me can all help take care of you and the kitties." He said as he pet Bitty Kitty. That one seemed to be his favorite, although he loved them all.

Bitty Kitty shifted onto her back, paws kneading the air as she purred. "I'd like that," Shuni whispered, smiling.

Paul giggled. "I should probably go and ask dad soon. It's almost dinnertime." He said, although he made no effort to get up and leave all his new kitty friends behind.

Shuni gave his shoulder a gentle pat. "You should go eat dinner. We'll see you tomorrow."

Paul gave him a smile and stood, gently handing him Bitty Kitty before Paul went home. He entered through the back door, and was tackled by his dad, who chewed him out for several minutes about how worried he and everyone was.

True waited for Gaster to be done before asking, "Why did yo leave and where did you go?"

Paul looked at True with determination. "I made a new friend. His name is Shuni, and he's really nice. He's the one who owns Bitty Kitty and her mother. He helps kitties, and he needs a chance to show he can really be a good person." Gaster looked at his son in shock.

True took a second to process that. "You mean you went back to the park by yourself to talk to someone who might be a bad guy?"

Paul looked at True stubbornly. "You told me it wasn't bad to want to help a bad guy try and be nice, and Shuni is nice. He's just been around bad people." "That was still incredibly dangerous, Paul!" Gaster said sternly.

True sighed and reached out to pull Paul to him in a tight hug. "Your dad is right, that was dangerous, but..." He looked up at Gaster, "he was just trying to do the right thing and help him."

Gaster nodded a little. "So, what do you think of all this, True?" Gaster asked. Paul looked at True, giving him puppy eyes. "True, Shuni told me he didn't know what pancakes were. He needs us to be his friends and have pancakes with him."

True hesitated then let out a deep breath. "I... I don't know. When i saw him that night, he seemed more like.. More like me when I was with Proditer. Just doing whatever it took not to make him mad. I guess Paul has a point. I guess he's not a bad guy exactly."

Paul nodded vigorously. "No. A lot of kitties think he's nice, cause he takes care of them and loves them. He said he had to do what a bad man said because if he didn't, the bad man would take his kitties away." Gaster sighed and rubbed his face. "Paul, please go upstairs for now. True and I will talk about it."

True gave Paul and extra tight hug then let him go. "We'll see what happens."

Gaster rubbed his face again after Paul left. "Dam... why did I raise such a sweet and caring boy..."

"Because he's just like you?" True pointed out. "Either way, he's not going to leave this alone. And if he could find the guy, that means he's still in the church. Taking care of cats. Living there?"

Gaster sighed. "Do you think we should give this Shuni a chance?" He asked softly.

True shrugged. "At least enough of a chance to look into him, I suppose."

Gaster nodded. "I suppose." He looked at the time. "I should start making dinner, shouldn't I?"

"I can do it if you want to go now, unless you want to wait until tomorrow?" True suggested, wheeling toward the kitchen.

"Tomorrow." Gaster said. "I would prefer some time to collect my thoughts before seeing him."

"Cool. Got any dinner requests?" True asked, checking the fridge.

"I was just going to make baked macoroni and cheese with real bacon bits in it." Gaster said, getting pasta and cheese sauce down before he grabbed a pot and started to put water in it.

"Want me to fry up the bacon?" True asked, restless and needing something to do.