Chapter Text
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There is a very universal feeling that many people have experienced in their life; when a cat chooses your lap as its napping spot.
It is an honor akin to being blessed by whatever thing you pray to – especially from the most skittish cat.
This is why Bro Santa knew it the moment Rudo settled down next to Dear; his ass is not moving any time soon.
It was a genuine surprise, having the boy come to his room this early – he’s pretty sure Semiu told the teen he could take it easy after everything.
Last night was a tricky one; Dear having a restless sleep meant he was gonna be in a terrible mood the next morning.
Luckily for everyone involved – Bro had an ace up his sleeve in making sure his son rested enough.
Nights were almost impossible to save for his little one – the darkness and heaviness would just make him fussy all over again, an endless cycle of tossing and turning even with the nightlight on.
No – the trick was waiting for the soft light of dawn, where everyone was groggy and slow, and help Dear catch some morning sleep with a story or a song.
Since last night was especially bad – It’s been a while since Dear joined him in Bro’s room for comfort – Bro went straight up for one of his childhood lullaby.
It ended up for the best, because not only did he now have a very pleased Dear in his arms – his own were also now full of their new feral charge.
Nah – feral wasn’t the word.
Most people would stop at that, and not even see all that’s hidden behind those glares.
Most people should also never be parents.
It didn’t take a genius to see that the sleeping teen now in his arms was just a kid who got spat out by the world again – just like many of the kids that were apart of the cleaners.
It took everything in Bro to never show the fury that raged inside him in front of Rudo – not when the kid would look at him and think that anger was pointed at him.
It’s gonna take a lot of time – years or some – for a kid like Rudo to even realize that they’re not here to hurt him.
A lot can be said just from body language alone – just look at his baby boy, a prime example of speaking loudly without needed any words – and Rudo is a lot more of an open book than he thinks.
Two quick knocks brought Bro out of his musing – and theses knocks are the only warnings before familiar steps rush to the bed in a big jump.
Bro barely has time to make sure both charges in his arms don’t get jolted from the shift before a body slump on the arm that was holding Dear.
Letting out a sigh with a grin, Bro shift around to allow the groggy head of Guita to lay down on him properly.
“...No fair.” Guita grumbled, her eyes still closed as she drooled on his sleeve.
“Don’t worry,” Bro chuckled as quiet as he could, “Wasn’t really planed, so you are right on time.”
Guita doesn’t bother to respond to him, letting out a very dramatic grumble that would make even a professional look like an amateur – and Bro just shook his head with a smile.
Still, something inside him always settled when his two little ones were by his side – not that he’d ever admit it.
As if in sync, Dear shifted slightly to bring his head closer to Guita in his sleep – all the while his grip on Rudo never faltered.
Somehow – even with all the moving around – Bro found himself with a lap full of sleeping children.
And well,
There was no place in the world he’d rather be.
The sight was truly something precious – Bro genuinely didn’t understand how some people could take one good look at them and think they were nothing short of a treasure.
How could people take a look at the sleeping ones before him and not have their heart melt?
There is so much pride and joy to see them as they progress – and Bro could see how much Rudo has been trying.
No matter the hurt holding him back, he wouldn’t be there in his arms if the teen hadn’t been making progress without even noticing.
All the adults knew trauma – they’ve all lived and breathed through the pain – and they also knew that the children that ends up in their care have lived through their own hell.
Bro made the promise to allow his children to grow strong – to live and breath and feel the joy that they all deserved to have.
He knew from the moment they fought for Rudo in the Trash beast that he’d bleed the same for the teen as he would his little ones.
And now; looking down at Rudo again – seeing him so peaceful for once, allowing himself to be held with barely the usual struggle.
Genuinly looking at the progress the teen made.
Well.
It made Bro proud to be a father.
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