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Tetsu smiled at the head pat. It was just like Daren or daddy did. "welcome." he hurried back to the movie, disappearing down the hallway, but half way there he remembered and ran back, poking his head around the corner, "Yuki has something for you. I already said it was ok." he nodded and left, sitting back down next to his brother on the floor.

Daren shook his head a little and filled the glass for rinsing your mouth with water for the flowers, "here. pizza will be here soon. I think that head pat won you some points, Tetsu normally wouldn't let someone touch him, let alone his head. he likes you."

Daren rubbed the back of his neck, "about that. could we-not tell anyone? i mean, if you want to tell people to help you, you know, like if it causes problems, that's ok, but i just-" he sighed, not sure how to say it without sounding arrogant, "look, the kids already have this kind of hero image of me. i'm no hero, i'm just a cop and i do my job, but if they hear about the lion it will only get worse. can we keep it between us? for now at least?"

There was a cheer from the kids at the news, but Daren stopped dead when he reached the living room and saw what was on the television.

"...today at the local zoo. The lion attacked one man and was laying on top of him when another came to his rescue, luring the lion away using his own body as bait. After interviewing witnesses of this heroic act, it came to light that the man was none other than Police Detective, Daren Aomine. Aomine is known for his recent work ending a child sex ring that had plagued several nations for several years." a candid photo of Daren when he was ordering officers around, his shirt soaked in blood from a knife wound on his side. "Daren was offered a key to the city and national recognition for his work, all of which he turned down stating, 'I was just doing my job.'-" the power cut off from the tv, daren had found the remote.

"Alright, who turned on the news?" Daren was bright red, trying to play it off as anger when he was obviously embarrassed. all five kids raised their hands at once and Daren sighed, sitting down on the coffee table, "So much for not saying anything-"

The doorbell wrang and Daren gratefull accepted the escape, hurrying to get the pizzas. he got out his wallet and opened the door, smiling at the teenager holding their dinner on one hand.

"Pizza?"

Daren nodded, "you got the right place. how much?"

"$34.50, please." the boy handed over the boxes as Daren handed him two twenties, but he was staring at Daren's face.

"Go ahead and keep the change." Daren started to close the door.

"Wait! You're that guy, right? the Detective that fought off a lion at the zoo?"

"I-uh, i think you've the wrong person." Daren tried to close the door again.

"No, no, it's totally you. Dude! that was so cool, were you scared? there are some videos on youtube. you facing that lion was totally sick! can i have your auto-"

"Good night!" Daren slammed the door and groaned, knowing he was going to become some damned celebrity for leading a lion away with a cup of soda. he took the pizza into the dinning room and dropped it onto the table. "come and eat you little monsters!"

"Leave me alone." Daren dropped his head to the table and just sat there, too exhausted by the day's events to move anymore.

Yuki looked at the greasy pizza and then to Tim before picking up the cardboard and moving to stand in front of Tim. he signed with his hands and got Ame's attention who nodded, agreeing to translate.

"I wanted to show this before i got my hands dirty. it's for you."

Yuki lifted the top layer and revealed a beautiful painting. It was of the drawing he'd made when Tim and Daren had come to eat. Tetsu was asleep on Tim's lap, Tim and Daren were smiling at each other and Taiga was laughing beside Daren.

"I hope you like it."

Daren looked up enough to see the picture, his chin still on the table, but he smiled at Tim's reaction. "he's good enough to sell, right? i've been telling him for years, but he doesn't believe me for some reason."

Yuki blushed and quickly put the covering cardboard back on before signing.

"I'll put it out of the way. thank you for saying such nice things." he smiled a bit before hurrying away. Hana smiled and gave him a hug as he slid the picture behind the couch where it would be safe.

Taiga and Tetsu were already sitting down and eating, the boys hungry after a hard day of playing.

Daren dropped his head back down, resting on his cheek as he watched Tim eat, "i highly doubt it was entirely your own idea." Ame, Hana and Yuki came to get their own dinners, routing around the boxes until they found their favorite kinds. they all said thank you and daren gave a little wave to show that it was ok before they went to the living room to eat. Wreck it Ralph was back on and Daren finally worked up the willpower to lift his head a grab a slice of supreme. "bet your moms are watching the news. probably will show up any moment to skin me alive..." he grumbled as he took a bite, "they'll take you away from me. probably should, all you do is get hurt under my watch, oh-" his eyes widened a bit and he sunk lower in his seat, still grumbling under his breath, "Iroh's gonna see it for sure. he'll kill me if the mothers don't. s**t. wonder if i can just disappear into the night? naw, they'll track me down. s**t."

Daren's head was low enough now that it was propped up by the back of his chair. "he clawed your chest, that counts as hurting you. you had to get more stitches too. she's probably going to blame me for that. and for the lion, something about zoos being dangerous and i should know that." he groaned and finished his pizza, "i'm dead. plain and simple. you can have the flat, you'll be able to afford it, just promise to take care of Apple in my place."