Chapter Text
Genos woke up at nine in the morning. The memory of last night resurfaced as he rubbed his sleepy eyes, and he turned hopefully to look at the floor beside the bed. He frowned as he saw that the spot next to him was empty. Even the futon was rolled up. Even though he was disappointed that he was alone in his room, he was thankful that Saitama had bothered keeping him company while he fell asleep. He really hated being alone.
Feeling hungry, Genos strapped on his prosthetic legs and got out of bed. He did some yoga stretches before he got out of bed, wishing he had someone to help him with a few positions, but he could manage solo for now. He guessed Aunt Fubuki was still asleep if the heavy snoring when he passed her door was anything to go by. Yawning, he walked into the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge. He helped himself to a container of leftover yaki soba his aunt had brought home and sat down.
As he ate, he took out his phone and checked the latest news on Metallica. He rolled his eyes as he read an article saying James Hetfield promised a new album was coming soon the fifty-third time this year, and switched apps to check his favorite wrestling blog.
As he scrolled through, he came across a wrestler in a ridiculous bear costume, and suddenly remembered his favorite neighbor's ridiculous story. He'd never been able to discuss that with him last night and figure out how much of an exaggerated story it was. With Saitama on the brain, he also remembered his old stage name. Was that an exaggeration as well? Genos tapped the search bar and typed in "One-Punch Man, wrestling"
A Youtube video was the first result. The link, entitled "One-Punch Man Annihilates Tank-Top Tiger", had a thumbnail of a beefy man with tacky tiger-patterned hair getting suplexed by a man in a gaudy, yellow hero suit. The man's eyes were covered by his black hair. The video was apparently eight minutes and twenty seconds long, and Genos hoped Saitama would at least show up halfway before the end.
The video started with the apparent "Tank Top Tiger" screaming about how he's going to kick ass as the announcer introduced him. His opponent was a significantly less beefy man called "Mumen Rider", sporting light, orange armor and a green helmet that made him look like a melon. The fight was very one-sided, but lasted for quite a while since Mumen Rider could really take a beating. At some point, someone offstage handed Mumen Rider a bicycle, and he smashed Tank Top Tiger's face in with it. But than only made him angrier. Mumen Rider was flung across the stage after receiving a fist to the face. Tank Top Tiger closed in. It looked like the match was close to an end, when a red-gloved hand appeared and tapped Mumen Rider's hand.
"Uh-oh, look out, Tank Top Tiger, One-Punch Man has been tagged in!" The announcer yelled as the man from the thumbnail stood up to a mix of cheers and boo's. He brushed the hair out of his eyes and glared at his opponent with bored, yet spiteful eyes. Genos balked. That was Saitama's stage persona? He almost rejected it as fact, but that was clearly Saitama's face on that man. Just... He just looked so weird with hair..
Tank Top Tiger began to boast about how strong he was again, but was cut short as the younger Saitama in the video grabbed his hand and flipped him backwards over his shoulder. Genos had to remind himself they were both entertainers, that Tank Top Tiger probably helped make that move look effortless. But it still looked pretty impressive. Genos would have to conduct more "research".
In the related videos, Genos clicked and watched a few other videos of One-Punch Man. Ever video got more and more ridiculous and Genos loved every minute of it. Saitama really knew how to hold a show without really doing much. Sometimes he'd be pushed over the edge. In one match, a wrestler had reached over the stage and picked Saitama's fries right from under his nose. Saitama became enraged and tagged himself in.
"Do you have any idea how rude that is?!" Saitama yelled, "FUCK YOU, MAN!"
Saitama then picked his opponent up by the knee and elbow, swung him around, and threw him out of the ring. Genos could not stop giggling as he watched this insanity unfold. About half an hour later, Genos noticed a video in the related tab entitled "Caped Baldy Vs. Lord Boros". What caught Genos' eye was the fact that it was Saitama in this thumbnail, but this time he didn't have hair. Did they change his name just because of that? He clicked the link.
Saitama's opponent this time was an eight-foot tall man with pink, spikey hair, blue lipstick and an eye patch. As he yelled threats in a Russian accent, Saitama nodded as he rested his arms on the ring ropes. His expression looked almost like a kid about to open a Christmas present, but trying not to get his hopes up. The bell rung, and the battle began. Lord Boros took a running start and drop-kicked Saitama into the ropes. Saitama picked himself up, completely unfazed, and didn't seem to notice Boros spinning around to his back. His head was slammed down to the floor.
Genos gasped, and for a second hoped Saitama would get out alive before remembering the real Saitama was okay. But instead of a pained expression, Saitama turned up with a disappointed look on his face. In seconds, Saitama got out of Lord Boros' hold and pinned him down one-handed. As the fight went on, Saitama kept a bored, lifeless expression on his face. It didn't look like he was having much fun. Genos finished the video anyway.
After watching the match, he went down to the comment section;
KaWaI_LoVe_83: UMMMM, WTF happened to CB's hair? He was soooo hot w/ hair, why would he shave it off?
herofan22988: @KaWaI_LoVe_83, he can't. he's bald. duh.
WWWWWWW666: Be nice guys, he has cancer. That's why he's Caped Baldy now.
chungo_3: Fuck off, @WWWWWWW666, gd troll
Yeah, Genos didn't know why he bothered visiting the comment section.
"Heyyy, Golden boy." Fubuki yawned. Genos turned his head to see his aunt in a baggy crop-top and snowflake print boxers. She rubbed one foot at her stubbly legs as she scratched her tummy.
"Aunt Fubuki, please clothe yourself." Genos said, covering his eyes.
"Oh, boo. I'm gonna wear jammies when I want." Fubuki said.
Genos hadn't been offended. He was just a little surprised. His aunt always tried to come off as proper and exquisite, but he'd never seen her when she woke up, hair in dissaray, old make-up smudged, and legs unshaved.
"Whatcha watchin'?" She asked, pointing to his phone.
"Nothin'." He answered quickly, shutting off his phone and turning it upside down.
"It's fine if you were looking up porn. Just remember to wear headphones. And obviously, don't do anything else while I'm aro-"
"It wasn't porn!" Genos defended.
"Oh? I heard men grunting. LIke I said, it's fine, just keep it down and away from me." Fubuki said, searching her fridge for another box of left-overs.
"It wasn't porn, it was..." Genos tried to search for an alternative in his mind, but he was no liar, "It was wrestling."
"Oh, right, I almost forgot you're still into that goofy sport," Fubuki said, using her fingers to fish out some choice pieces of cold sashimi, "But you don't have to be embarrassed, everyone in your family knows you're a huge fanboy- WAIT."
Genos wished there was some way to control his face, because he was sure he looked like the perfect example of a nervous wreck as his aunt smiled slyly at him from across the table.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain, bald neighbor of ours, does it?" She asked.
"So he's really bald?" Genos said, knowing he was already given away.
"Oh, this is adorable!" Fubuki said, "My little golden boy has a crush!"
"That is... Wildly inappropriate, Aunt Fubuki!!" Genos shouted, flailing his arms.
"Why would it be inappropriate? It's just a crush," Fubuki said.
Genos held up a finger and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. Yeah, it was just a crush. He'd never had a crush before realizing his sexual identity, and after that, his crushes were considered taboo. Girls have crushes on boys, and it's fine. Boys have crushes on girls, and it's fine. Girls having crushes on girls and boys having crushes on boys, though... Most people had a problem with that.
"I'm... Not used to this." Genos admitted.
"Admitting you have a crush, or knowing people are okay with it?" Fubuki said, as if she read his mind. But Genos wouldn't bring attention to it. She'd probably try to write a prophecy or something.
"Both." Genos answered.
"Oh, well I can understand if you don't want to talk about it." Fubuki said.
She continued to eat and bounce her leg. She tapped a finger against the table as Genos went back to eating what little was left of his breakfast.
"So what do you like about him?" She asked.
"Aunt Fubuki..."
"Right, right.... "
"...."
"Say, are you still hungry?" Fubuki asked.
Genos looked down at his take-out box. There was nothing left to pick in it. Half-eaten yaki soba wasn't an ideal breakfast, less so brunch. Genos had a big appetite, and he was embarrassed to admit it, but this was barely a snack for him. He looked up to his aunt and nodded his head.
"Great. I have the day off, so I thought I could take you out to a steak house." Fubuki smiled.
"Oh. Thank you, Aunt Fubuki." Genos said as specks of saliva accidentally flew out of his mouth. He was really hungry.
---
The steak house they went to was Genos' kind of place, which is why Fubuki chose it. The food tasted like a home cooked meal (The closest to one he'd have here), the music wasn't very loud, the service was good, and most importantly, they served big portions.
"You certainly inherited your father's appetite." Fubuki commented as Genos needily chugged the last of his udon before attacking their shared beef bowl.
"I apologize. I havn't had a filling meal for a few days." Genos answered.
"Ravenous teen.." Fubuki muttered, shaking her head. "Oh, by the way..."
"Mm?" Genos looked up to acknowledge he was listening, but didn't open his very full mouth.
"You know you might be here for a while. Maybe through the whole summer. Have you ever worried you might get bored?"
Genos looked up after swallowing a big bite of his food.
"Yeah. But I'm prepared for that, if that's what it takes for my parents to want me back later." He said far too casually for Fubuki's taste.
"You shouldn't think like that," She replied, "You should feel like you deserve to enjoy yourself. You're a teenager, don't you feel... Entitled to have some fun in your young life?"
"No one deserves fun, it's a privilege, not a right." Genos said. He paused in contemplation for a second, "But if it's not too much trouble, can you get my guitar from my house?"
"Of course," Fubuki smiled, "But I hardly think that will keep you occupied every day. Kids like you need something to do to make them feel wanted."
"I am wanted, my parents don't know it yet." Genos answered quickly and stiffly. He sounded a little defensive, and it took some effort to keep Fubuki from frowning.
"That's not what I meant," She said, "You need a summer job."
"Summer job? It seems a little late to apply for one." Genos said.
"Well, Saitama was telling me he needed a housekeeper." Fubuki suggested.
"What?" Genos' eyes widened, then narrowed, "No he's not."
"I'm serious! He was telling me the other day he was searching the news papers for maid service!"
Genos tapped a finger to his chin, looking like he was mulling it over.
"Does that sound something you'd want to do?" She asked.
"Yeah, but.." Genos cut himself off and blushed.
"Hey, you're a good kid, alright?" Fubuki stated, "And I know you have enough self-control to do a good job regardless of some silly crush."
"You think so, Aunt Fubuki?" Genos said, looking up hopefully.
Fubuki looked at her watch. It read "02:31 PM".
"Of course I do," She said, "I wouldn't' have set up a job interview with you and him here if I didn't."
"WHAT?!"
Fubuki heard a bell chime and a cheery greeting. Almost on time.
"How could you do this, I haven't even rehearsed what I would say!" Genos whispered angrily.
"I was in an improv group for ten years, I forgot how to rehearse." Fubuki said.
"Bullshit!" Genos hissed.
She was about to scold him for his language, but digressed. In hindsight, maybe it wasn't fair of Fubuki to spring a random job interview on a socially inept teenager like Genos, but she knew he needed this job right away, and that Saitama brought the best of Genos' conversational skills out.
"Hey, Fubuki. Genos." A familiar, nasally voice greeted behind them.
"Oh, hello, Saitama!" Fubuki greeted back, standing up, "You can sit down and help yourself to our beef bowl, I need to go powder my nose."
"No one has powdered their nose in eighty years." Genos commented. Saitama snorted beside him.
"Okay, then I'll just take a huge dump, do people still do that?" Fubuki retorted. Saitama cracked up laughing as Genos turned red and hid his face in his hands.
"Teach him to disrespect his elders like that.." Fubuki muttered as she walked to the bathroom. In the background, he could hear Genos apologizing heavily to Saitama.
---
The interview had gone better than expected. Genos had only stumbled over a few words, but had otherwise spoken clearly. They talked a little about wrestling, which Fubuki had to bring them back on track from, but they had figured out a schedule, and Saitama set the job in stone by giving Genos a spare key. Genos looked at it like it were some ancient treasure, which was a little funny because it was just a key with a goofy looking giraffe key-chain attached to it.
Genos had still been mad at Fubuki for surprising him like that, so she dropped him off at the house to sulk while she picked up his guitar. It was almost dark by the time she arrived at Genos' parents' house in their small, suburban neighborhood. She got out, walked up to the door, and after taking a deep breath, knocked.
"Oh, hello, Fubuki!" Miyuki greeted, "Why are you here? Has Genos changed his mind?"
Fubuki almost rolled her eyes at her sister's hopeful look, "No, that's not it. Genos is determined to stay as long as it takes for you to want him back the way he is." She followed her sister to the living room and sat down.
"That's Genos," Miyuki said a little sadly, "Once he gets set on a goal, he'll never back down."
"That's the sign of future success." Fubuki noted.
Miyuki nodded. "So why are you here?"
"Genos forgot his guitar, so I came to pick it up." Fubuki answered.
"Oh, right." Miyuki got up and led her sister to Genos' temporarily abandoned room. If this was any other sixteen-year-old's room, his mother and aunt would have trouble finding it, but thanks to his clean-freak tendencies, it was easily found next to his bed, already in its guitar case beside the amplifier.
Underneath the case, the guitar was a black/gold Fender Stratocastor. Fubuki had bought it herself. The rest of the family had groaned when Genos opened it on his birthday. His parents, because they could never come close to giving Genos the same level of luxury even if they'd saved five years in a row, and her older sister because she believed Genos should have bought something that nice with the money he earned at work.
"His belongings should match his paycheck!" She had said. His parents had let Genos keep the guitar just to spite his oldest aunt.
Aunt Fubuki reached down to grab the amp. "Wow, that's heavy!"
"Need some help?" Miyuki offered.
They both made there way out the door slowly but steadily. Gene was still at work, otherwise they would have asked him to bring the guitar out with them.
"So how's my son doing?" Miyuki asked once they placed the amp in the trunk.
"He's fine. I think he scared half my neighbors away, but he's already made a friend- Oof." Fubuki walked into her sister, who had stopped walking.
"He has a friend?" She asked, looking between surprised and hopeful.
Fubuki nodded, "Well, I'd call them aquantences for now, but it seems like Genos enjoys talking to him. He used to be a pro-wrestler."
"How old is he." Miyuki demanded. She must have imagined some sixty-year-old Hulk Hogan type figure.
"Twenty-two. He retired early because he was bored."
"Is my son... Does he have a crush on this man?" Miyuki asked carefully.
"Miyuki, baby," Fubuki replied casually, "Do you think Genos would be able to talk more than two words to someone he has a crush on?"
"I guess you're right.."
It wasn't lying, but it wasn't telling the truth either. But she knew if Miyuki knew that her son had a crush on someone six years older than him, she would have demanded her son back whether he liked it or not. And Fubuki knew her bald neighbor was someone to be trusted. Saitama was violently against pedophilia. Back when he was a big-shot he had donated to charities that fought against violence and serialization towards children. And although Genos was technically legal in this providence, Saitama's personal moral code would keep him from doing anything.
"How are you doing?" Fubuki asked, as they went back inside to get Genos' guitar.
"I miss him," Miyuki said, "So, so much."
"Could you imagine him one day bringing home a boyfriend? Giving him a kiss on the cheek in front of everyone?"
Miyuki made a face.
"Not ready." Fubuki judged.
"I'm trying to get used to the idea. I really am," Miyuki said, "Gene thinks it's a phase Genos will grow out of once he realizes he's not shocking anyone anymore.."
Fubuki blew a wet rasberry in response.
"Fubuki.. Do you think we'll ever be good for our son? Do you think we can ever accept this part of him?" The younger sister asked frantically.
"Of course you will. Probably sooner than you think," Fubuki said, slinging the guitar case over her shoulder, "Because you both love him. So much."
------
Before leaving, Fubuki had recommended a few articles and books about homosexuality in family members, and learning to accept not only the homosexual, but homosexuality as a concept itself. Miyuki had thanked Fubuki for helping her start to be more open-minded, and promised to show her husband the next time he cried about Genos' absence again. Feeling like she'd pushed the family towards progress, Fubuki headed back to her house.
When she headed upstairs and opened the door, she half-expected to find Genos still pouting about earlier (a righteous rage, in Fubuki's opinion, she fucked up), or excited to have his guitar again. What she did not expect was to find him crying on the couch, sans prosthetic limbs.
"Genos?" She nearly shouted, setting the guitar carefully down to tend to her nephew, "Genos, what's wrong?"
Genos wiped his red-rimmed eyes before answering, "Why am I so bad at talking?"
Guilt shot Fubuki straight through the gut. It was about earlier, but instead of taking it out on Fubuki, he was taking it out on himself. Going over everything that he believed went wrong.
"Genos, honey, I'm so sorry for pushing you into that without warning. It was wrong of me, I'll never do anything like that again," Fubuki promised, rubbing at Genos' back.
"No, not th-that," Genos sobbed, "I mean talking in general. Why is it so easy for people to make friends? Why can other people just.. Just talk and not say the first, shitty thing that they think of and insult everyone?"
"Genos, you're very introverted, it's part of who you are," Fubuki said.
"I'd rather be anyone else." Genos said grimly.
"Where is this coming from?"
"It's just," Genos started, "No one wanted to be my friend in school because of my legs. My parents don't accept me because I'm gay. How lonely will I be on my own, as a disabled homosexual?"
Fubuki took in a deep breath.
"You're a high school student." She began, "As a high school student, your human interaction has been limited to young, angry bigots and kids as socially awkward as you. But once you reach adulthood, you'll find that there are more people who don't give a shit about sexuality or disability. They'll care about you for you! You might think the world is full of people like your old classmates who grew up and get worse, but there are going to be some good people out there, because society is more complex than you think. So don't lose hope, okay?"
Genos sniffed. "Thank you, Aunt Fubuki."
"Any time, kid." Fubuki said, ruffling his hair. Genos playfully shoved away, but looked focused on something else.
"What's on your mind, hon?" Fubuki asked.
"I know it couldn't go anywhere romantically, but. I'd very much like to be Saitama's friend." Genos answered bluntly.
"Oh, that's a good idea," Fubuki said, "He doesn't have many friends."
"He doesn't?!" Genos balked.
"He's not as popular as he used to be," She explained, "He has a few close acquaintances, but that's about it."
"Is he lonely?" He asked.
"Yes, but he's used to it. Being a pre-mature bald, washed-up celebrity tends to be lonely, I'm sure." Fubuki shrugged. She left out the part that Saitama had chronic depression and feared that one day, he'd turn suicidal like his mother, leaving anyone who cared about him empty and sad, but she decided she'd gossiped enough about people's personal information for the past few days.
"I... I'll try hard to build a friendship with him!" Genos said, clenching his fists. There was a twinkle in his eye that Fubuki first recognized when Genos was old enough to be sentient: He was determined and he would not give up.