Chapter Text
In Aventurine’s defense, it was not his fault…this time. All he did was bring Ratio’s students, aka the ducklings, to the Herta Space Station. He supposed it could be a learning experience for them. Going to a member of the Genius Society’s space station where a lot of famous scientists would meet could help them gain more knowledge. That’s all. Unfortunately, Aventurine should have realized the four students would find themselves in trouble. Because of course they would.
When the Stoneheart finished talking with Asta and Herta’s puppet, he decided to go looking for the little gremlins. He searched everywhere but couldn’t find them until Arlan offhandedly mentioned Peppy was going to check on the critters in Ruan Mei’s lab. After struggling to get into the lab and killing multiple giant bugs, he found the area where most of the cake cats stayed. The lifeform oven was off and many of the creatures were happily munching on food or playing with each other.
However, none of the students were to be seen. Aventurine had looked everywhere and nothing. He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. Ratio would kill him if he lost four of his students, especially these four. He was about to leave when he heard a cacophony of meows followed by small claws pricking his leg.
“Hey, come on—” Aventurine paused before he shooed the critters away. Four cake cats stared up at him with wide eyes. The snack pawing at his leg was black with amber eyes and a red shell with golden fire-like designs. Another one was yellow with a red shell that had a green accented flower design along with green eyes.
“Oh no…” Aventurine grimaced. A third one tugged on his other pant leg. This one was white with a blue shell, blue eyes, and silver snowflakes on the shell. Behind the blue one was a dark purple critter with a dark green shell with red accents and red eyes. “How did this happen?” he asked them incredulously. He bent down to pick up the cat he assumed was Avana. She pawed at him, meowing indignantly for being picked up.
“Okay, okay,” Aventurine set her back down. “I need to bring you back to the doctor. I’m sure he will figure out how to help you get back to normal.” He stacked the ducklings on top of each other and carefully picked them up. All of them except for Rivera had meowed their protest while Rivera just purred happily, content to be carried instead of having to walk.
—
“Gambler, what in Aeons name is this?” Ratio raised an eyebrow once Aventurine arrived back at their home with four extra cake cats. “Where are my…” Ratio cut himself off, eyes widening as he put two and two together. “How did this happen?” he pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course the ducklings would end up finding some kind of unique trouble.
“I don’t know?” Aventurine helplessly shrugged. “I was in a meeting and I went to the lab and found them like this.” He set down the three cakes in his arms on the couch while Rivera hopped up on her own. “Can this be fixed?”
Ratio glanced at the cats, reached down to pet them. “I’m sure this can be reversed. I will do some research and contact Ruan Mei. However,” he sighed, “I have conferences to attend that I cannot cancel. The schools in Penacony have asked me to be part of their opening ceremonies.” He looked from the cats to Aventurine. “And I assume you have work as well.”
Aventurine sheepishly nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not like they could cause more trouble, right? They’ll be fine alo—” A sharp glare from Ratio shut him up. “No, you’re right. Trouble would end up finding them.”
The critters meowed indignantly. “You know we are right, don’t argue,” Ratio chastised them gently. “I do not feel comfortable bringing them into the dreamscapes even though Penacony is changed.” He frowned, concern etched in his brows. Jasper pawed at his hand, meowing loudly.
Aventurine understood Ratio’s worries. “You think it would be safer for them to stay here or come into the office with me?” he tilted his head. Normally, he’d be okay with that. The students could take care of themselves, but in this form, they were pretty much helpless. Anything could happen to them. Nothing Ratio or Aventurine wanted to happen.
“Shilou could also watch them,” Aventurine suggested. “We work in the same building, and if I can’t watch them, he probably would.” Before Ratio could protest, Aventurine continued, “I know he’s allergic, but they’re the ducklings. He’d watch them even though they are cake cats.” He picked up the closest one and held Jasper up with pleading eyes. “There is no need to worry, doc. Shilou and I can handle this.”
Ratio reluctantly sighed, looking from Jasper to the others. “Fine, but if anything happens to them,” his eyes narrowed, “I will not hesitate to—”
“Ah ah, I know,” Aventurine grinned innocently and set Jasper down. “Worry isn’t good for you, doc. It can cause stomach problems. So stop worrying.” He dodged a piece of chalk thrown at him. “There are children present! We wouldn’t want to give them bad examples!” Another piece of chalk was thrown at him.
Ratio sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I do not have time for this. I need to finish packing.” He walked into their shared bedroom and started to pack his suitcase on the bed. He had multiple bags, one for clothes, one for his toiletries and bath products, and one for his papers, laptop and work related stuff.
Needless to say, the four cake cats weren’t happy when Ratio had to leave for Penacony. It seemed being transformed into the adorable critters took away some of their rationality because with the way they were crying or attempting to sabotage his packing, one would think they were actual cake cats instead of university students.
“I am leaving and that’s final,” Ratio huffed, pulling Chase out of his suitcase despite Chase’s efforts to stay inside of it. Chase let out a loud indignant yowl. “You all will be fine. No, Avana, get out—” He set Chase down on the bed and pulled Avana out of his toiletries bag. She, too, let out a loud meow.
Aventurine snickered from the doorway. “I think they don’t want you to leave,” he teased. At his feet were Rivera and Jasper, looking at Ratio with large teary eyes. The actual three cake cats weren’t faring much better.
Ratio sighed in exasperation. “I know, but I committed to this, so I have to follow through. I will be back soon enough.” He continued packing, stopping everyone so often to stop the ducklings from getting into his things. “You are worse than children,” he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.
Aventurine spared Ratio any more torture and brought the duckling cakes to work with him. He got many questioning looks as he paraded the critters around before walking into Rose Quartz’s office with a giant smile. “Shilou~” Shilou looked up from his desk with an unamused look. “Don’t get mad, but we’re on babysitting duty while the Doctor is away.” He dramatically gestured to the four cake cats. “Something happened and the ducklings are…well…these.”
“You’re fucking kidding me,” Shilou deadpanned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “What did you do?” he groaned, feeling a migraine coming on.
“Hey! It wasn’t me! All I did was bring them to Herta’s space station and I found them like this in Ruan Mei’s lab with the other cake cats,” Aventurine protested, crossing his arms over his chest. “Veri has conferences to attend in Penacony, so we’re stuck watching them until then or until whatever this is wears off.”
Shilou sighed, reaching into his desk to grab his allergy medication. “They couldn’t have turned into something I’m not allergic to,” he grumbled, taking a couple pills with water. “I have a meeting in a few minutes, so you have to watch them until it’s over. Or get Topaz to do it. You know what an animal lover she is.”
“I would, but she’s busy with Jade finishing all the preparations for the Penacony deals,” Aventurine reminded, keeping a close eye on the duckling cake cats. He had an inkling they’d soon be causing trouble. “I don’t trust Obsidian with them, and Pearl is too busy. All of the others are off-world.”
“Not everyone,” Shilou pointed out, grimacing. “Sugilite is still here.”
“We don’t talk about Sugilite,” Aventurine deadpanned. “Smug bastard is probably forcing some poor worker to do all of his paperwork while he’s doing whatever he wants.” He glanced at the critters. “No! Put that down!” Chase jolted and dropped the pen that was in his mouth, hissing indignantly.
Shilou pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is going to be a long few days.”