3: Loving Arthur

The mall was packed this time of season and everyone was busy with their shopping list. A young lad ran happily across the store with his arms stretched outwards. When he passed by a colorful toy store, he paused as something caught his eyes.

The young boy stopped infront of a big grey stuffed wolf and can't stop staring at it. The shop's attendant looked at the boy and squats down and smiles at him.

"Hello, young man." The attendant greeted the boy and the kid looked at her and beamed a smile before looking back at the toy.

"Hello." The boy greeted the girl as he rocked himself back and forth on his little shoes.

The girl smiled at the young kind and looked around to find a couple that might be the boy's parents.

"Hi, I'm Tina. What's your name?" Tina asked as the boy didn't left his gaze on toy.

"My name's Arthur!" The boy beamed as he smiled at Tina.

"Well, Hello Arthur. Are you lost? Where's your mommy and daddy?" Tina asked as Arthur immediately points towards the crowd. Tina looked at the direction and can't seem to find what the boy is pointing at.

"Uhmmm.... Daddy is with Papa over there." Arthur replied as he looked at Tina with a confused look.

"You mean your daddy is with your mama." She corrected when she looked back at the young boy but Arthur shook his head no.

"No, Daddy is with Papa." The kid smiled as he answered as Tina let it slide thinking the boy just have difficulty in pronouncing the letter 'm'.

"OK. So are they nearby?" She asked.

"Uhm..." Arthur surveyed the crowd and points to something again. "There."

Tina looked at the crowd and didn't any couples that might be looking for a child. Arthur looked back at the stuffed toy and smiled at himself as he rocked himself back and forth.

Tina stood up still looking at the direction Arthur pointed when a tall man with nicely trimmed reddish black hair approached them.

"Found anything you like, pup?" The man asked as he looked at the boy with his crimson eyes.

"Yes!" The boy beamed as he looked at the man behind him and switched his gaze to the man's sides. "Where's Papa?"

"Well, Papa just went to buy something. He will join us soon." The man replied at the boy who was saddened by his reply.

Tina approached the man and tapped his shoulder. The man looked at her with a confused look.

"Er... Sorry for asking but are you the boy's father?" She asked as she continued to check out the man in front of her.

"Yes, I am. Am I, Art?" He replied as he looked down at his son who joined him by hugging his leg.

"Uhuh... He's my daddy!" Arthur beamed proudly.

Tina smiled at the boy and left the two to attend the store's customers. The man squats down and ruffled his son's hair that made the boy giggle.

"Since, we're here. What do you want, pup?" Arthur thought for a second as he played with his fingers.

"Papa won't like it." He pouted.

"Well, Papa's not here yet. So, let Daddy deal with it later, alright?" The man assured Arthur who was sporting a huge smile as he nods accordingly at his father.

"That one!" Arthur points at the huge stuffed wolf on display as the man looked at it.

He grabbed Arthur by the waist and placed him on his shoulders in one swift action.

"That's all?" The man asked as he carried Arthur inside the store. "I could buy the whole store if you want." His father boasts as Arthur held his father's head.

"It's ok Daddy. I just want the wof." The boy replied. His father smiled as they went to the same store attendant to ask for the toy. She looked at him and smiled as well.

"What can I help you with, sir?" She asked as Arthur motioned his father to put him down.

"We like to buy that grey stuffed wolf on display." The man said as Arthur waved at the store attendant. She nod at the man as she gave a small wave at Arthur.

"Is that all, sir?" She asked as the man nodded a yes. "You can proceed to the cash register on aisle 3. I'll bring the toy for you."

"Thanks." The man thanked the woman as she proceed to pick up the toy. Arthur reached out to his father's hand as they continued to walk towards the register.

After buying the toy, father and son waited for someone to arrive. Arthur was cuddling the big toy that almost covered his entire body. When someone came into view, Arthur's dad flashed a seductive grin at the man approaching them.

"Took you long enough." The man greeted the newcomer with a playful smirk. The guy just groaned in reply.

"Well, if someone didn't started a fight with Greyson's pack, I wouldn't be doing all the negotiations instead of spending time with my son at the mall." The guy crosses his arms as the other man pouted.

"Aaaawww... Don't be like that, babe." The man cooed as Arthur tugged the other man's pants.

The man looked down and smiled at the boy. He squats down and kissed the boy's forehead that made the boy giggle. He noticed the giant toy around the boy's arms and raised an eyebrow.

"Who gave you this big wolf, pup?" He asked as Arthur looked between the man in front of him and at his side.

The boy hugged his toy tightly and shook his head. "Papa will be mad."

The man eyes soften and patted the boy's head slowly. "Papa won't be mad at you pup." The man said.

The boy looked at the man and frowned. "But you will be mad at Daddy. I don't want Papa and Daddy mad."

The man looked up at the boy's father and sighed. He looked at Arthur and smile. "Don't worry, pup. Papa will not be mad at Daddy. Promise."

"Promise?" The boy repeated.

"Promise."

The boy smiled and beamed at the nervous father beside him.

"Daddy bought me the wof!" The boy cheerfully replied.

"Is that so?" He smiled as he stood up and looked at the other man who gave him a coy smile.

"Am I in trouble, babe?" He whispered as he rubbed the back of his head.

"It depends." He replied as he picked up Arthur's toy as the other man pulled Arthur up into his arms. The man bit his lips as they continued to walk towards a restaurant by the elevator.

As the trio settled down, Arthur reached out again to his toy and hugged it tightly. The two men looked at the boy lovingly as Arthur beamed at them with a smile.

"Babe." The man with the reddish black hair called but the other guy continued to look at their son who was happy talking about his new toy.

"Babe." He called again but still no response.

He looked down and bit his lower lip. Until he heard the other man called out to him.

"Yeah." The other guy called out as the raven haired man looked up to him with a shy smile.

"Sorry." The man apologized as the other guy narrowed his eyes at him. He swallowed a lumped in his throat before the other guy smiled.

"Apology accepted." The other guy beamed his sexy smile at the other guy who seem to be flustered at the guy's reaction. "Stop doing that, Bee." The guy averted his eyes from the man in front of him.

"Stop what, Aye?" He reached out to the man's chin and guided his face towards him. "I'm not doing anything... Yet." He smirked.

"Jerk!" The guy drew a blank face before cracking a smile.

Arthur shivered that made the two man avert their attention to him.

"What's wrong, pup?" The guy on his left asked with worry etched in his face as with the other guy.

"Sorry." The young boy apologized as he buried his face on the toy's back.

"Sorry for what, Art?" The man asked as he cupped the boy's cheek. "Papa and Daddy's here."

The boy looked at both guys from his buried face and relaxed. He pulled away from his toy and pouted that made both men more worried.

"I.... " The boy paused and looked up to his fathers who seem to be very worried at him. "... did something bad again, Papa."

Arthur begin to sob as his Papa approached him and wrapped him in his arms. His Dad moved closer to him and kissed his head while soothing him with his caress.

"There. There. Babe. Don't worry Papa and Daddy's here." His father cooed as the boy wrapped his little arms around his toy.

"Yeah, pup." Arthur's Dad cupped his soft chin and looked at him lovingly as the kid was sobbing between hiccups.

Both men kissed Arthur's head as the boy finally calmed down. The man looked at the man on his left and pleaded with his eyes. The other man shook his head though he seemed worried as him.

"I ... felt Papa and Daddy's feelings." Arthur managed to speak out of sobs though it was so low like a whisper but his fathers managed to hear it.

"What do you mean, pup?" His Dad asked.

Arthur looked down and thought for a second before looked back at the man who asked him.

"Uhm..." The boy seems at lost for words on how to explain as his other father wiped the stray tear of his cheek.

"Is it like looking into Papa and Daddy's head but with this?" His father asked as he motioned his heart.

The boy analyzed his father's question before nodding slowly. His Papa smiled and kissed his little forehead. He looked at the man in front of him and smiled.

"There's nothing to worry. Arthur's Empathy just jolt out." He explained as the other man gave a sigh of relief. He looked at Arthur and kissed his forehead as well.

"It's ok, pup. Its just one of your new gifts and Daddy's wouldn't be prouder!" The man beamed as Arthur shot up smiling at his father's words. The other man just shook his head smiling as the other guy caught from the corner of his eye. "What?!"

"Nothing really." He started as he looked back at Arthur who was now busy with his new toy, who totally forgot all about the recent incident. "Its just..." He looked back at the man and stared into his dark, red almost crimson eyes. "You have become..."

"Wiser." The other guy continued as the the man in front of him shrugged.

"Well, at times." The guy smirked.

"I can be a jerk if you want me to." He teased as a couple of girls started staring at him but he ignored them and continued to look at the man in front of him.

"Sorry, but my husband's already a jerk." He shot back with an equal mischievous smile. Girls also started to steal looks at him as the mall started to crowd up. Arthur with his toy seemed oblivious with the teasing of the two men in front of him nor the fleeting looks that gain their way.

"I bet I'm better in bed than him." The guy flashed a seductive smirk as he leaned forward.

"In fact he is." The other guy leaned forward as well and smirked.

The sound of throat clearing stopped the two men's flirting and looked at the person who's voice came from.

"If you two won't stop flirting with each other, I might not stop the stampede of girls or ants rain towards both your direction. Either way, I have to get to the dentist for a sugar overload coming from you two." The busty female frowned.

"Aunt Klamira!" Arthur beamed at the woman which turned the woman's frown upside down.

"Is that how you greet your customers, Kaye?" The crimson red head asked as the girl raised an demeaning eyebrow.

"Is that how you greet a respectable lady, such as mwah?" The woman shot back.

"Good afternoon, Klamira." The other guy shot up as the the woman looked at him and smiled.

"Good afternoon to you too, Alpha Storm. I see that not all wolves have forgotten their manners." She spoke as Storm sent an apologetic smile at her.

"Hey!" The other guy shot back as he scowled. "You have an issue with me, Kaye?!"

"Bee." Storm immediately called at the other man as Klamira looked at him as well with her hands on her slender hips.

"In fact I do." She started as she snapped her fingers at him before sitting on the edge of the table. "You're rude. You're annoying. Sorry, Alpha." She looked at Storm before turning back at the other man. "And your previous track record with females is just awful. Sometimes I wonder how do you even deserve this two fine gentlemen right here." She motioned at Arthur and Storm.

The guy stood up and slammed his hands on the table that made the three and a couple of people jump in surprise. His eyes flashed deep red as he gritted his teeth. Storm grabbed his arm and he instinctively calmed down.

"I don't care about what you think." The guy shot as he looked straight into Klamira's brown eyes.

"B-" Storm started as the guy raised his hand to stop him.

"In fact I don't care what the whole world thinks of me. But there's one thing I know and that I'll do anything to keep them away from harm." He scowled. "Even at the cost of my life. So, go to hell and your -"

"I heard enough." Klamira spoke as she looked back at the guy who was still fuming mad. She looked at Storm and Arthur before turning back her gaze at the other guy. "You are many things but I see that you are also a great man to these guys right here. For now, I've seen enough." She smiled before smacking her lips at the guy in front of her.

"Klamira!" Storm shot up as Klamira pulled away from the other guy who was so surprised at her actions.

"What?!" She asked as Storm scowled. "He's still freaking Blake Fang! And damn he's sinfully sexy when he's really mad. Rawr!"

Storm shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder if you're really an oracle."

"It's the twentieth century, dear." She patted his cheek before turning her heels towards the counter. "The usual right."

Storm can't help but smile at that woman's mind sometimes. He looked at the man infront of him and slowly watched as his face changed from shock to fear. Blake looked at Storm and grabbed his hands in his.

"I-I didn't do that, babe." He started to stutter as his hand shook. "You-you saw it right? She kissed me. I-I didn't -"

Storm placed his lips unto Blake's and kissed him softly and the man practically calmed down as they sat and pulled apart.

"I know." He smiled.

"Sorry for acting out earlier, Aye." He apologized as Storm shook his head once more and looked lovingly at the man in front of him.

"You wouldn't be Blake if you don't do the things you do." He explained. "And you wouldn't be the man I fell in love with if you aren't that temperament."

"Fuck you!" Blake spat before biting his lips.

"Daddy that's a bad word! Granmama told me that!" Arthur spoke as he looked at his father.

"Sorry, pup. Daddy's bad." Blake apologize as Arthur returned back on playing with his toy.

"Bee." Storm called as the man averted his gaze from his son to look at the man in front of him.

"Yeah."

"Jerk." Storm smirked as Arthur's head snapped towards his father.

"Papa said a bad word!"