DT Serum, Primary Testing In Progress

Ashton smiled. "Let's face it. You'd struggle to look after yourself without me."

Lex let out a weak chuckle.  "Damn right I would.  Alright.  Let's get a little more shut-eye before the young whippersnappers get up.  There's three others besides Icky."

Ashton nodded. He carefully stretched out on the couch, and tried not to disturb the stubborn cat on his lap too much. Ashton gently stroked the cat until the peace and quiet only disturbed by Lex's breathing lulled him to sleep.

Mama cat adjusted herself when Ashton moved and resumed her purring, slowly stretching out onto his chest as well.  Soon she fell asleep and all was quiet.

And honestly, Ashton got a better sleep that night than he had in a long, long while, since well before he met Lex.

Shuni was up and feeding his cats, cooing to them softly as he did so. Once he had Mama Cat's food ready, he went to get her but paused when he saw she was still sleeping on Ashton's chest. He didn't want to was Ashton.

Ashton almost looked like he wasn't breathing as he slept. To the untrained eye, one may assume he was fully dead. However, he did look peaceful and relaxed either way.

Shuni tip toed closer and delicately poed Ashton's arm. Was he dead?

Ashton furrowed his brow as he stirred and woke. "What?"

"I'm sorry to undead you," Shuni apologized, "but need to feed Mama."

Lex was snoring softly, blissfully unaware

"What?" Ashton asked again in confusion. Did Shuni just try and make fun of him?

Shuni dropped his gaze and pointed to the old cat. "Sorry to undead you, but need to feed Mama Cat."

"What do you mean 'undead?' I'm very much alive, you know." Ashton frowned. he was a bit upset now.

Shuni shrank back, mumbling fearfully. He hadn't meant to offend! He stood there, hunkered in on himself so much he looked short as Sam, trying to apologize and explain, but it wasn't coming out right.

Mama Cat gave an unhappy noise and reached up to bat at Ashton's chin as though scolding a kitten. She didn't like his tone, thank you very much! No fighting or arguing iin the nest.

Ashton looked at the cat in confusion. He didn't understand what she was trying to say. "Just take the cat and go." He mumbled to Shuni.

"What's going on?" True asked as he rolled iinto the livingroom to see Shuni cowering iin front of Ashton. He tried very hard not to jump to conclusions and waited for an answer.

"I was experimented on, technically died, but that doesn't mean I'm undead or a zombie!" Ashton explained to True. He picked up the cat that was on top of him and tried to hand her to Shuni. "If Lex asks, I went out and will be back later."

"You look like you aren't breathing when you sleep," True explained calmly as Shuni took the cat and ran. "Now you are clearly alive. Shuni wasn't teasing you or trying to make you feel bad. He literally meant un-dead. To make you alive. Or how you and I would say it, 'Sorry for waking you.' He doesn't understand why you are upset."

"Then why don't you explain it to him then." Ashton suggested as he got up. "I need fresh air anyway." He felt caged. Claustrophobic. He needed out, and he needed out now.

"Cause I'm not the one it bothers," True replied, heading for the kitchen. He looked around. What to make for breakfast? He settled for good old bacon and eggs.

Ashton slipped out. He started with just walking around the block several times. Even though they were well out of Black Jack's territory here, Ashton still kept his hood up and his head down. Caution had always been his friend.

Shuni edged out and stood waiting for his return, shifting his wait from side to side as he pulled his cat ear cap down tighter. The stoop was cold, but he would wait.

Ashton had to walk the block several times before he relaxed enough to walk back to Gaster's He stopped when he saw Shuni on the porch. "What?"

Shuni tensed but swallowed hard and pressed on bravely. "I am sorry I makes - made you upset," he said with great care. "I am learning to speak right. I didn't mean make you - to make you mad. Mama likes you, so you must be good person. A. A good person." He held his breath and waited.

Ashton just shook his head and walked towards the door. "Just watch what you say next time, okay? Is Lex up yet, or do you know?"