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Getting to know Each Other

(The Entry I used in the RP Contest)

“I really don't get why you've done this Ellie.” Came a man's voice from behind an entertainment system that looked a bit tipsy.

A girl of about medium height with straight black hair that ended about half way down her thighs, glanced quickly over her shoulder towards where the voice had come from before turning back to the oven and the pot she was stirring. “I told you Rich, it was that bratty Kei. He's been breaking things left and right, though so far not to the point that it can't be repaired.” She paused for a minute. She knew her brother wasn't talking about the entertainment system, but she didn't want to hear what he had to say. “I'm making chicken and rice soup for dinner. Wanna stay for some?”

Rich sighed. “You know perfectly well that's not what I mean Eleanora, but I'm not going to get anything out of ya, am I? You can barely take care of yourself let alone another...um...person.” He said awkwardly as he stepped out from behind the entertainment system. Rich was easily six and a half feet tall, looked as if he he could lift a car with absolutely no assistance, and had close cut, dark brown hair.

Ellie spun around so fast that her hair flared out around her like a cape. “I take perfectly good care of myself thank you very much. And as to why I've taken in Nero, that is his name as I've told you at least three times already, I find that to be my business not yours.” She shot at him and started to turn back to the pot when she caught a glimpse of Kei at the end of the hall. “KEI! DON'T YOU DARE EVEN THINK ABOUT GOING INTO MY ROOM!” She yelled down the hall with a slight tremor in her voice. The taking a deep breath to calm herself down she turned back to her soup and added a few more ingredients. Behind her Kei had entered the living room where Rich was standing and as he came into the room he glanced over at the huge man who looked over as well and they both sat motionless glaring at each other.

Off in his dark, cool room, Nero was curled up on his bed. He was glad to be out of D-Corp but he wasn't exactly thrilled to be in a new home with a strange woman. In the three days he had been there he hadn't left his room while she was awake. He could hear voices coming from the living room, She must have invited someone over. He thought to himself. Nero gave a small start as he heard the woman yell down the hall at Kei. It was quiet for a while, then there was a light tap on his door, he didn't bother to turn around as he heard the door open slowly.

“Nero? I have some dinner for you. It's chicken and rice soup, I've got some crackers too if you like. Also when you're done there's some apple pie in the kitchen you're more than welcome to have some.” Ellie waited a few minutes for a response and when none came she put the tray she'd brought down. She turned to leave and found Kei's face about three inches from her own. She gasped and backed into the desk she had placed the tray on. “Ow. Evening Kei. My you're awfully quiet for such a big fellow.”

“'Ey! You better not be bothering Ellie, Beasty.” Rich said as he walked up the hall and looked in the room at what was going on. The first thing he noticed was how dark it was, the next thing he noticed was the “kid” lying on the bed. His first instincts were to grab Ellie and stand between her and the thing on the bed, but after a second he remembered what Ellie had said about the boy and knew there was no real need.

Ellie smiled as her brother entered. “Rich,” she started as she walked forward and grabbed his hand to pull him into the room more. “This is Nero. Nero, this is my older brother Richard.” After a few moments of awkward silence Ellie sighed. “Well Rich you never answered my question. Will you stay for dinner?”

Rich glanced over at his sister before turning to leave. “Sorry promised Lizzie a few favors, so I need to get going. I'll come back tomorrow to fix whatever Beasty breaks while I'm gone.” He said as he walked down the hall and left the house.

Ellie sighed and looked down at the ground for a minute or two. Kei loosing interest left the room. Ellie looked up and turned to Nero. “I'm sorry about him Nero. He's a bit over protective. But listen Nero if you're not happy here we can al-” But whatever the rest of the sentence was was drowned out by a loud crash from somewhere in the front of the house. Ellie rushed to the door and looked down the hall. “Oh...my...god.” She managed to choke out before running down the hall yelling, “KEI YOU...YOU...AGH! JUST GET AWAY!”

Nero truly interested in what was going on, uncurled himself, and got out of bed to see what had caused the noise. Peering around the door he saw immediately what the problem was. Apparently Kei had managed to break the sink in the kitchen and water was spraying at least five feet into the air. The woman was ducking under the sink and scrambling around, looking for how to turn off the water Nero thought. Meanwhile Kei was making his way to the living room away from the water. Once there he shook himself to get the water off him and managed to make a bookshelf full of books and other various gadgets topple over, looking over at what he'd done he grunted with what could only be called laughter. By this time the woman had managed to stop the water but the kitchen and the woman herself was soaked. Sighing she got up and started rummaging through a closet. Loosing interest Nero retreated back into his room and curled up on his bed again.

--------------------------------------------A couple hours later----------------------------------------------------
It had been quiet for about half an hour now. Nero supposed that the woman was done cleaning and had probably gone to bed. Nero was feeling hungry so he got up, took the tray that had been left for him and went to the kitchen to heat up the stone cold soup. He saw that all the water had been cleaned up but there were still some rags on the floor. He walked straight to the microwave and popped his bowl in. Nero knew the kitchen fairly well since he had been sneaking out there late at night to eat dinner after the woman went to bed. Nero pushed numbers on the microwave, sighed and pushed the clear button due to hitting some of the wrong buttons.

“How long are you putting it in for?” A voice asked from behind. Nero jumped and spun around his tail curling and raising his claws slightly before realizing it was the woman. She had just come in from a side door in the kitchen. Nero just stared at her, after a minute the woman looked down at the ground and murmured, “Sorry, I'll leave you alone to eat then.”

As she started to leave Nero suddenly burst out. “F-for a m-minute and a-a h-h-half.” The woman stopped and turned looking a bit puzzled at first but then smiled and walked back over to to the microwave.

“Well,” Ellie began smiling despite herself, this was the first time Nero had said anything in front of her. “This microwave is kinda old so you'll have to put it in for three minute to actually get it so that its like a minute and a half.” Pushing the buttons she started the microwave up. “Mind if I sit with you, Nero?” After he shook his head signaling that he didn't mind Ellie sat at the table and waited for Nero to get his food and join her. As she waited Kei wandered into the kitchen and sat by the oven. Ellie stared at him until Nero joined her at the table.

“I've ordered a new microwave, so you don't really need to remember the whole thing about doubling the microwave time. Also I think the buttons are bigger on the one coming in so it should be easier for you to...” She trailed off and looked past Nero to where Kei was. “Kei what are you...KEI! Don't eat that no! Bad Kei!” Nero flinched at the sudden volume change. As the woman dashed over to the dragon he dropped a pot that had been sitting on the oven, let out a grunting laugh and meandered over to the fridge and laid down in front of it. Picking up the pot Ellie turned to Nero. “Well I hope you don't like the soup too much, Kei's eaten the rest of it.” And with a sigh she put the pot in the broken sink.

Nero put down his bowl. “D-do you h-hate K-kei?” He asked as the woman sat back down.

Ellie stared at nothing for a moment as she thought of what to say. “No I don't hate Kei. He scares me and he can be annoying and mean, but I don't hate him. And my names Eleanora. I wasn't sure if you knew that. If you want you can call me Ella or Ellie. Those are the names my siblings use for me.” She told him as he finished off his soup. “I think I have some ice cream. Would you like a warm piece of apple pie with some ice cream on top? I'll get you some if you do.” She added with a smile.

“Y-yes pl-please, El-Ella.” Nero replied looking down at his claws sitting on the table and folding his extra legs over his stomach.

Ellie smiled. “This is nice. Talking with you I mean, this is the first time we've actually had any kind of conversation since you got here.” She said as she got a plate, cut a piece of pie and put it in the microwave to heat up. “Now for the ice cream.” As she turned to the fridge she saw Kei laying across it still. “Okay Kei, please move.” Kei looked up at her with one eye, made a low growling noise in his throat and closed his eye again. Ellie pursed her lips and put her hands on her hips. “Fine, stay there.” She then reached over Kei, switched the fridge filter from water to ice and pushed the dispense handle and let the ice fall to the floor on top of the dragon.

It took a minute for Kei to feel the ice but once he did he was not at all please. He got up promptly, growled and headed off down the hall. Laughing lightly to herself Ellie pick up the ice and finished making Nero's dessert. They talked a little more while Nero ate and once he was done they both got up and headed down the hall to their rooms. At Nero's door Ellie stopped and turned to him. “I hope you'll join me for breakfast. I was thinking of making french toast.”

Nero looked at her with all four eyes for a minute before finally saying, “O-okay.” Ellie smiled and continued down the hall towards her room. As Nero entered his he thought to himself, Maybe this isn't so bad after all. As he was getting ready for bed he heard a scream from down the hall and was about to run out of his room when he heard Ellie shout, “KEI YOU PERVERTED, BRATTY, BEAST! GET OUT OF MY ROOM!!!”

Nero stood still for a moment before bursting into laugher. He curled up on his bed shaking his head, Well Kei seems to be happy here. He thought as he drifted off to sleep.