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“Viktor,” Horatio said, motioning him urgently to the backroom, “Someone is on the phone for you. It’s important!”
Viktor and Wick made eye contact before Viktor pointed at the counter.
“Look after front desk, vill be right back, is urgent,” Viktor said and Wick nodded.
“Of course, please take your time.”
Viktor ambled to the door, taking the phone from Horatio, who remained on standby just in case.
“Hello, Viktor speaking,” he said, receiving a nervous breath in response.
“Hi Viktor, it’s Silver. Is this a good time?”
“Anytime is good time for time for you. Vhat is going on? Is everything okay?” Viktor said and Silver hummed.
“Yeah, everything is fine. There’s just been a new development Mordecai, Serafine, and I thought you should know about.”
Viktor and Horatio exchanged glances, Viktor’s stone face breaking with worry.
“Voice sounds shaky. Is it good development or bad development?”
“It’s good just, promise you won’t get mad?” Silver said and Viktor smiled.
“I promise. Tell me vhat this is about.”
“It’s just, we may have kittens now. Surprise,” Silver said with a nervous laugh and Viktor’s ears perked up.
For a moment, Viktor just stared at the wall, the jerking back of Horatio’s head telling Viktor he’d overheard. Afterwards, a huge smile broke out onto Viktor’s face, which only alarmed Horatio more.
“Ve vere expecting?” Viktor asked Silver, then, he whispered to Horatio, “Get Mitzi and Freckle naow .”
Horatio nodded and, with a determined look on his face, rushed off. Viktor watched him go before focusing back on the call.
“Hov does that vork? Are you okay, is Serafine okay?”
“Y-yeah, we’re both fine. We didn’t really have them exactly. It’s more of, one of my targets ended up having a baby, which I only realized after I killed them, Mordecai ended up finding one abandoned on his job at the same time, and here we are,” Silver said, Viktor’s smile only widening.
When he fell silent, leaning against the wall, Silver spoke up again.
“Viktor, a-are you okay?”
“Am fine. Am happier than I’ve ever been. Am just processing,” Viktor said, taking a moment to breath, “Vhat do they look like? Are they healthy?”
“They’re okay. The one is perfectly healthy and Mordecai warmed up the other one, so. Um, one is black with stripes and the other is grey with white markings.”
“They match you both perfectly,” Viktor said, grinning as Mitzi and Freckle slipped into the back.
“What’s this about, honey? Horatio said it was urgent,” Mitzi said, and Viktor motioned for her to wait.
“Mitzi is here, Am giving her phone naow,” Viktor said, handing it over to Mitzi.
Mitzi took it, huddling with Freckle so they could both hear it.
“Silver, Hortatio said you have something to tell us. I’m here with Freckle too, go ahead,” Mitzi said, nodding along before both her and Freckle’s eyes widened, “Really? Really ?”
Mitzi’s eyes had lit up while Freckle fidgeted.
“Does mom know?” he asked, and Viktor could hear Silver laugh on the other line.
The response made relief wash over Freckle, joining Mitzi in grinning from ear to ear.
“Well, honey, why don’t you stay here a while? Tawny won’t mind it and besides, you have a lot on your plate,” Mitzi said, Viktor leaning over to add something.
“Or let us come to you.”
“N-no, really, we’re fine!” Silver said, but Mitzi waved a dismissive paw.
“You sound stressed honey, Let us help this once.”
“Please,” Freckle said, folding his paws together.
Silver gave in with a sigh.
“Fine, we’ll come to you,” he said and Mitzi beamed.
In only an hour's time or so, the two kittens, and Freckle, were curled up and fast asleep on Viktor’s chest, the family all huddled into Mordecai's old room upstairs. Viktor had made himself comfortable on the side chair near the desk and the bookshelves, while Mordecai, Silver, and Serafine had collapsed on the bed. They were all huddled together to fit, Mordecai in the middle as they rested their heads on his shoulders. They’d offered to move in a bigger mattress on to the floor but they all insisted it was fine, so.
Mitzi and Wick stood by the door, holding onto each other as they took in the big unit.
“So, have you named either of them yet, or?” Wick asked, and both Silver and Mordecai’s ears went down.
“We haven’t gotten that far yet, to be honest, and we didn’t want to make any decisions without the other’s opinions first,” Mordecai said, looking around at everyone.
“Well, Silver found dat one,” Serafine pointed to the black kitten, “An’ Mordecai found dat one,” she pointed to the gray kitten, “So, it’s only fair dey get to name de ones dey found, no?”
Silver and Mordecai’s eyebrows raised, exchanging glances.
“Are you sure?” Silver said and, when Serafine and Viktor both nodded, he looked at the dark kitten.
Mordecai looked at the grey kitten in turn, the two bobbing up and down on Viktor’s chest.
"You have plenty of time. Rest well, and we'll just be down the hall if you need anything," Mitzi said, taking Wick's arm and they walked out together.
They turned the lights off with them, Viktor moving the babies to the crib next to him before getting comfortable. He became still, breathing evening out almost immediately, and Mordecai watched him with a smile before turning to the other two.
"We really should figure out names for the babies soon. It doesn't feel official until we've passed that crucial step," Mordecai said and Serafine laughed softly.
"What, you afraid you're gonna chicken out?" Serafine teased and Mordecai's ears went down.
"A little, yes. It still hasn't fully processed yet."
Mordecai peered over at the crib, worry sparking in his eyes.
"I think we should name them gender neutral names. I wouldn't want to push anything on them," Silver said and Serafine hummed.
"Agreed."
The two began to quietly brainstorm, Serafine resting her eyes, though the wagging of her tail indicated she was still awake to the two of them. After some time, Mordecai turned to Serafine, nudging her with his snout.
“What do you think, Serafine?” Mordecai asked and Serafine rubbed her chin.
“I’ve always liked de name Chanson.”
Mordecai mulled the name over, murmuring it to himself. Serafine shifted closer to nuzzle Mordecai's cheek, opening her eyes.
"So, what will it be, Cher? I can see those wheels spinnin’."
Mordecai took a second more before he smiled in satisfaction.
"Izzy as a first name, Chanson as a middle name," Mordecai said and Serafine perked up.
"Oh, I like dat, cher. And Silver, how about you?"
Silver bit his lip, fiddling with the sheet that covered them all.
"I really like the name Alto, like the singing position, and maybe Olvan for a middle name? It means peaceful, I think they both suit them," Silver said and Mordecai chuckled.
Mordecai reached over, lifting up Silver’s chin when his head fell down self consciously.
"You and your Latin names. Alto is a beautiful name, dear."
Silver grinned in satisfaction, Serafine nodding along in agreement before yawning.
"Alto and Izzy," Viktor's voice spoke up, causing them to jump, "I like it."
Serafine stared at Vikotr, looking as if she wanted to poke him just to make sure he was actually awake and not just sleep talking, while Mordecai and Silver had clung to each other in shock, Mordecai’s features scrunching up.
"Were you awake this whole time?" Mordecai said, glaring over at him.
Viktor grinned at him, eye shining in the dark.
"Yeah. Did not vant to interrupt. Besides this is good moment. Should bask in it for vhile."
The group fell silent, letting those names settle in and falling asleep knowing their new kittens would be there when they woke.
That morning, the unthinkable happened. Silver woke up before the other two, peering over to see both Serafine and even Mordecai still fast asleep. Silver supposed the whole thing had stressed Mordecai more than he let on, pressing a kiss to Mordecai’s temple before standing up.
Silver was not so much as able to stretch before being met by babbles. Silver walked over to the crib, being met by two sleepy pairs of eyes as the kittens lay on their assigned sides of the crib. Silver patted Izzy’s head and then picked up the Mordecai assigned jelly bean as they woke up, grinning at the squinty eyed baby.
"Hey little Alto. Hi," Silver said, watching them yawn and then smile at Silver.
The floorboards creaked as someone approached Silver, the flash of ginger fur telling Silver who before they even spoke.
"Here," Viktor said, coming up from behind and wrapping his arms around Silver.
Viktor’s arms were strong, but he kept his touch soft, Alto watching him with big eyes. He adjusted Silver's position slightly, though didn't pull away after, nuzzling Silver's cheek and kissing his head.
"Hov are you feeling? Never thought I vould see you like this."
An immediate thought trembled on Silver’s lip that he did not speak, instead stroking Alto’s cheek.
"Terrified. It's like when I realized I was forming that connection with Freckle all over again. Except it's for a little blob that can't defend itself or understand me," Silver said, Viktor nodding in understanding.
Alto whined, clinging to Silver's shirt, kneading it. Silver and the baby made eye contact, the baby's eyes blinking slowly.
"Aw, but they're just so cute," Silver said, holding them closer and Alto purred.
Viktor stood next to Silver to reach into the crib, picking up the other, very awake baby.
"Let's not forget about Izzy. Hello there, Izzy," Viktor said and the baby stared up at him.
It continued to do so, looking him straight in the eyes, until Viktor brought them close, Izzy becoming transfixed on the stripes of his nightshirt and pawing at them.
There was a knock on the door and Silver went to open it with his tail. Though he was expecting either Mitzi or Wick, he was met with a pair of electric blue eyes looking him up and down. Silver smiled to himself. Of course, Silver should have expected he’d visit sooner or later after hearing the news.
"I'm fine, Rocky," Silver said and Rocky grinned.
“I can see that!”
Rocky paused at the baby, bending down to come closer.
"And hello there, little one! Aw, aren't you just the cutest?"
Alto's expression scrunched up and they whimpered at Rocky. However, after Rocky gave them a kiss on the head, they hugged Rocky's face with a giggle.
Rocky cuddled with Alto for a moment before walking over to Viktor and greeting Izzy.
"And what about you?" He asked, and Izzy took in the stripes on his face with a tiny gasp.
"This little one seems to like patterns quite lot," Viktor said, laughing as Izzy watched Rocky in awe, who posed for them.
Silver turned as Mordecai and Serafine began to wake up at the sound, already able to hear Wick and Mitzi in the other room, and his heart soothed. Everything will be just fine he thought as he rocked Alto, who giggled in delight.