Chapter Text
[Chapter 6: Goodbye Houston]
“What were they even talking about?” Suika whispered to Chelsea.
“I-I don’t know. They’re so weird,”
“Yeah…,” Suika agreed. “You think they liked the drawings?”
“Ohhh definitely,” Chelsea smugly replied.
“You think they’d like our Nasa hoodies?
“Ohh definitely,” Chelsea agreed.
Senkuu was not normally the sentimental type. He normally left that to Gen. Even as a child Senkuu didn’t find much sentimental value in stuff. Even when his adopted father left for America some of his classmates thought it was weird how Senkuu wasn’t worked up over it. Senkuu just brushed it off as he knew Byakuya would come back one day. Senkuu was so sure Byaukuya would be fine. When he got a message from his mentor at the time, Dr. Xeno, to check the news and say that something had gone wrong on theInternational Space Station and Byakuya and the rest crew was still up there Senkuu got home, brought a plane ticket to Houston and waited for Byakuya’s return. The crew had found a way back to earth but Nasa lost track of them. Senkuu didn’t want to believe it. He had sent his old man off so coldly. He had to see Byakuya again so he could give him the thanks he deserved. They had found him and the crew on a small mostly uninhabited island off the pacific ocean.
When Senkuu saw Byukya come off the plane Senkuu didn’t hesitate to hug him.
“Woah that Senkuu, being more affectionate than normal,” The old man commented.
“Shut up,” Senkuu replied. “I’m just glad to see you old man. That’s all,”
“I promise I’m fine Senkuu,”
“Hey old man,” Senkuu squeezed harder and hid his face in Byakuya’s chest. “Thank you,”
“What for?” Byakuya placed a hand on Senkuu’s back to try to soothe him.
“For everything. Ya know, being a good dad and all,”
“I’m glad you gave me a chance to be a father Senkuu,”
Senkuu still wasn’t as sentimental as his husband or father but after that day Senkuu tried to make it a point to show his appreciation for his loved ones from time to time.
Senkuu stood in the doorway or his kids bedroom, leaning against the door frame. Senkuu didn’t even bother to fight the smile. The two had been so energetic all day, so it was no wonder Suika passed out right after dinner. Chelsea still had some energy and questions she wanted to ask Xeno but it was getting late. Chelsea reluctantly went to sleep.
“But Dadddd, I’m not tired,” Chelsea complained.
“Chelsea it’s getting late and we have to get up early tomorrow,” Senkuu reminded her.
“But but- yawnnn,” Chelsea yawned.
“Still not tired?” Senkuu asked.
“Dr. Senkuu,” Senkuu heard a voice say.
Senkuu turned his head to see Dr. Xeno behind him.
“Dr. Xeno,” Senkuu replied.
“Isn’t it getting late?” Senkuu’s former mentor asked.
“Oh please, you’re the last I want to lecture about my sleep schedule,” Senkuu snickered.
“Oh and why is that?” Dr. Xeno grinned. “Is it because you know I’m right?”
“Don’t push doc,” Senkuu grinned back.
“But really, It is quite late,” Dr. Xeno stated.
“Gen has to pack. He brought a lot of his beauty products so he’s having Stan help him with it,” Senkuu explained.
“I see,” Xeno sighed. “I should’ve guessed,”
“He’s your kid,”
“That he is,” Xeno shook his head. “Besides that, care to explain what your doing? Don’t tell me you're getting sentimental Dr. Senkuu,”
“Like you’re any better yourself. You framed both drawings the girls made you. Even Chelsea’s,” Senkuu reminded him.
“Stan would have made me put it up anyway,” Xeno rolled his eyes.
“You never change doc,” Senkuu added.
“We are both men of science and logic,”
“And then some loud idiot made us through that to the wind?” Senkuu raised an eyebrow. It was meant to be a question but came out more like a statement.
“Exactly,”
“Geez, doc I didn’t know you could be so sappy,”
“Same to you my pupil,”
Senkuu clicked his tongue. “Let it go already Doc,”
“Did you really need this much product kid?” Stan called from the bathroom.
“We can all have perfect skin like you Stan,” Gen huffed.
“What really?” Stan teased.
“Oh ha ha very funny,” Gen sarcastically laughed.
Gen checked under the bed to make sure he didn’t accidentally kick some clothes under the bed. Nope, none of his clothes were under the bed, but Gen did find something. Gen reached for the small object. It was plastic with uneven curves. Gen pulled out of his bed and looked at the same figure in his hand. It was a small action figure. Gen remembered. It was the first time he, Xeno, and Stan went to the boardwalk as a family. Xeno couldn’t win anything at the dart game so he won a small action figure that he then gave to Gen. Gen sat up and leaned on the bed to get a better look at the figure.
“Here Gen,” Xeno handed him the small action figure.
It was some off brand figure with no distinguishable logo on the front of the hero’s chest. Gen took the figure from Xeno.
“Xeno I’m 13. I’m not a child,” Gen commented.
“Hey be nice to Xeno,” Stan lightly pushed Gen’s shoulder.
“Hmm maybe we can give it to some smaller kid then?” Xeno suggested.
“On second thought… it’s not so bad,” Gen mumbled.
“What’s that Gen?” Xeno teased. “Did you say something?”
“I’m keeping it,”
Gen did once play with the small action figure. He kept it in his bedroom on his window ceiling. It wasn’t much but it was the first gift Xeno had given him since they had adopted him. He didn’t need to play with it. Gen kind of like just having it there to ground him. He had finally found a new family.
He was so glad.
“Hey, kid you aren’t spacing out are you?” Stan tabbed Gen’s head with his cleanser.
“Heh, I guess I was,” Gen hummed.
“Whatcha got there?” Stan asked.
Gen turned his wrist to show Stan that small figure.
“It’s that the small figure Xeno won you?” Stan questioned.
“Ya, It was under the bed. Must’ve fallen when I was packing for college,”
“You were in quite a hurry,” Stan commented.
Gen ran his thumb over the figure’s old faded paint. “I knew this thing was cheap,”
“What are you talking about? It’s been what 20 yeas or so?” Stan tried to recall. He sat down next to Gen. “If anything I think it held up,”
“Whatever you say,” Gen smirked. “You just like it because it’s old as you,”
“Hey, I ain't the only one mister I had a husband and two kids. I can see the white hairs already,”
“Wait really?” Gen reached for his hair.
“Pfttt bwahhh,” Stan started to cackle.
Gen was confused for a second before he remembered…
“Hey I dyed it that way you jerk!” Gen protested.
“I-If you’re so w- worried about white hairs why d- did you dye it like that?” Stan tried to get out through his laughter.
“It’s creative Stan,” Gen hissed.
“It’s something for sure kid,” Stan replied.
“Oh and that time you lost that bet to your army buddies and bleached your hair?”
“Fair enough,”
.
.
.
Gen, Senkuu, and the kids took the rental car for breakfast that morning. Byakuya, Lillian, Xeno, and Stan were supposed to meet them there. Everything was already packed up and in the rental car. Once breakfast was over they were ready to get to the airport and start the trip home. The kids were more quiet than normal. They had their faces glued to the window, watching everything in as they drove past. All the buildings. How suddenly the city was alive even so early in the morning. And even the traffic. Gen found it kind of cute in a sad way. Senkuu pulled to the parking lot of a Denny's. The kids hopped out the car once they saw their grandma waiting for them.
“Grandma!” They shouted in unison.
“Morning, Chelsea, Suika,” She patted the two girls on the head. “You look energetic,”
“I’m excited to go home and see my friends,” Chelsea stated.
“Awww did you not like Houston Chelsea?” Lillian asked.
“Oh no, it was really fun but I… kind of miss my room,”
“That makes sense. And you Suika?”
“I don’t want to go home just yet,” Suika mumbled.
“Hey come on now Suika. Don’t you miss your home back in Japan?” Lillian asked
“Of course I do! I miss all the friends at school and I miss our house… but I really like it here,”
“Maybe we can convince Dad and Papa to take us here for summer break,” Chelsea pretended to whisper.
“Ya maybe…,” Gen trailed off.
The airplane tickets already cost so much…
“Oh yay!” Suika cheered.
“Now let’s go in before Granda kills Grandpa,” Lillian joked.
“Why would Grandad kill Grandpa?” Suika questioned.
“Ohhhh no reason,” Lillian tried to laugh it off.
The five of them stepped into the dinner and found the table where the others were sitting.
“Byakuya, for the last time, no I did not,” Xeno retorted.
“But I swear I remember you saying something about taking over the world or something like that,” Byakuya recalled.
“I said no such thing!”
“No, I swear I remember you saying something like that,” Stan added.
“Who’s side are you on, Stanley?” Xeno hissed.
“Xeno stop fighting with Byakuya,” Gen scolded as he sat down.
“Gen, do you remember Xeno saying he was going to take over the world?” Byakuya asked, in Japanese So Xeno couldn’t understand.
“Surprising no,”
“Really? He said something like that to me before when I was younger, but I think it was before he adopted you, Gen,”
“So Grandad wanted to take over the world?” Chelsea joined in. “Bad Xeno,” She switched to english.
“... Let’s just order shall we?” Xeno raised his eyebrow.
“What gots him so worked up?” Gen whispered to Stan.
“He’s just sad y’all are leaving,” Stan whispered back.
“I’m not,” Xeno put it.
Gen felt a small tug at his shirt sleeve. Gen turned to Suika who had the small kid’s paper menu in her hands.
“Papa, how do you say this?” She was pointing to a stack of pancakes with confetti sprinkles on top.
“Con- fett- e pan- cakes,” Gen sounded it out for her,”
“Confetti pancakes?” Suika put it all together.
“Pancakes kinda sound like the way we say it, papa,” Suika pointed out.
“Ya… but the way we say is a lot cuter,” Gen jokingly said.
“Pankēki,” Suika beamed.
It was time to go. Seknuu, Gen, Suika, and Chelsea were saying their goodbyes. Some more tearful than others. They were out in the parking lot where Senkuu parked the retail car.
“Text us when you land ok Senkuu?” Lillian asked.
“Wha? I think you’ll be asleep by then Lillian,” Senkuu pointed out.
“Oh right,” Lillian awkwardly laughed.
Ahhh we’re going to miss you guys,” Byakuya wrapped Senkuu into a hug.
“Old man you’re crushing me,” Senkuu said through his teeth.
“I’ll text you when we get home,” Gen told Stan and Xeno.
“Why do I have the feeling you’re going to forget?” Xeno asked smugly.
“Because I raised me so well dad,” Gen cooed.
“I’m going to let that one slide,” Xeno sighed.
“Aww you do care,” Gen pulled his fathers in for a hug.
“We’ll miss you and the kids,” Stan put.
“Senkuu?”
“Ehhh, not as much,” Stan teased.
“Hey be nice to my husband Stan,”
“Like you are to mine?”
“Ya, but you married Xeno,”
“And what did I say?”
“Never marry a scientist,”
“And what did you do?”
“Married a scientist,” Gen sighed.
“Stan you proposed to me,” Xeno reminded his husband.
“You mean at the docks, at 7:22pm on October 23nd 2003? I don’t remember that,” Stan smiled
“You two are gross,” Gen scoffed.
“Ya ya, go say your goodbyes to Byakuya and Lillian,” Xeno waved off Gen.
“Grandpa, Grandma make Grandad and Grandpop come to Japan for Christmas,” Chelsea pouted.
“Your Grandad and grandpop are very busy Byukya tried to explain.
“With?” Suika asked.
“Xeno is a scientist like your dad and Stan is traveling to different parts of the world for important business,” Lillian added.
“I understand,” Suika hugged her stuffed animal tighter.
“What did you tell them?” Xeno asked.
“They want to see you for Christmas,” Lillian explained.
“I see…” Xeno breathed in.
“Xe..,” Stan put his hand on Xeno’s shoulder.
“Sorry Suika, and Chelsea. I and your Grandpop are very busy, but one year we won’t be and then we can see you more,” Xeno explained to his grandkids.
“Promise,” Suika reached out her pinky.
“Promise,” Xeno hooked his pinky with the little girl’s.
“Ok!” Suika beamed.
.
.
.
Chelsea and Suika passed out the moment they got home and into their bedrooms, not even bothering to unpack. Gen normally would have found the childish behavior cute but he too made a beeline to his and Senkuu’s bedroom and flopped onto the bed. Gen did have to admit he did miss his house. It looked the same as when they left it. Like they had only left for a few minutes.
Me: We’re home
Crazy science dad: Good.
Me: Go to bed Xeno. Stans probably waiting for you.
Crazy science dad: What’s a few more minutes?
Gen sighed. He wasn’t surprised Xeno was up. His work always kept him up. Gen lost count of how many times Xeno had woken him when Gen first moved in with him and Stan, but now Thanks to Xeno he was more of a heavy sleeper, much to Senkuu’s dismay. Gen pulled the covers over himself. Oh ya, he definitely missed his bed. Gen constantly sank into his pillow. He was trying to keep his eyes open but it was getting harder to fight. All the layovers and uncomfortable naps in between, this was basically heaven.
“Already calling it a night?” Senkuu asked. He was standing in the doorway with his suitcase. “And leaving your suitcase by the door? What are you a child?” Senkuu shook his head.
“Oh hahaha Senkuu chan,” Gen sarcastically said. It came out a bit harsher than he meant but hey Gen was tried. “Don’t act like you’re not also tired. You accidentally spoke English to the flight attendant,”
“Fair point,” Senkuu hummed. “I’m going to wash my hair then I’ll join you,” Senkuu said.
“Hmm ok,” Gen half lucidly replied.
The warm fuzzy feeling in Gen’s heart wouldn’t leave. Gen didn’t want it to leave either. The warm comforter, and Gen’s seemingly rapid heartbeat.
I didn’t know a sallow man could be so sentimental .
Being back at Stan and Xeno’s house reminded him of a bunch of things from his teen years. To some their family dynamic was weird. A know it all overprotective dad and a laid-back father who was fine as long as Gen did ok in school and wasn’t getting in any trouble, but Gen loved his adoptive parents.
“Woah, this place is huge!?” Gen marveled.
It was the first time Gen got to see Xeno and Stan's home. Gen had only a backpack full of his stuff and the clothes on his back but now he was standing in what seemed like a mansion.
“Yes, and please try not the break anything,” Xeno said.
“Whaaa? I would never,” Gen claimed. “On purpose,” He mumbled.
“What was that?” Stan asked.
“Nothing!~,” Gen sang. “Sooo.. you going to give me any rules or stuff like that? Or are you just going to let me go free?”
“Don’t blow anything up unless it’s in Xeno’s lab,” Stan grinned.
“Hey!” Xeno called
“And don’t get arrested,” Stan added.
“That’s it?” Gen asked, a bit confused.
“No, we’ll have more later but I can’t think while I’m hungry,” Stan shrugged.
“I can’t tell if you’re good or bad at this whole parenting thing,” Gen commented. “I swear I-, Ahh hey,” Stan ruffled Gen’s hair.
“Hey, we’re trying kid,”
God, I was such a brat.
Stan and Xeno did their best to raise him, even when Gen was short with them they never stopped trying. Gen’s grip on the bedsheets tightened.
Gen had snuck out one night to go hang out with some friends. On their way back Gen and his friends got in a small car wreck. No one was hurt but Gen had called Xeno to pick him up.
“Xeno I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to-,”
“Thank god you're ok,” Xeno pulled Gen into a hug. “You have no idea how worried I was when I went to check up on you and we weren’t there,”
Xeno was practically smothering him. “Xeno, you’re crushing me…,”
“My apologies,” Xeno pulled back from the hug.
“Aren’t you mad?”
“Of course, I am. You left without telling me anything and I had you drive all the way here to pick you up and I-!,” Xeno took a deep breath. “I kind of understand. Still upset with you, yes, but me and Stan we're no angels either,” Xeno put his hand on Gen’s shoulder. “2 weeks no phone and you’re doing the dishes tomorrow,”
“You already told Stan too huh?”
“On the way here. Now let’s go home. I think this is enough drama for one night,”
“Yeah…,” Gen still felt a bit of shame.
Gen got into the car and let Xenod drive him home. It was quiet in the car for a bit. Gen could feel a tense atmosphere crushing him. He didn’t mean to worry Xeno, just wanted to do something rebellious.
“Hey, Xeno…,”
“Yes Gen?”
“What did you and Stan do when you were my age?”
Gen now had his own family. A cynical loving husband, and two bright kids.
Senkuu got out of the shower. If he wasn’t already tired he was exhausted now. All he could think about was getting into bed and going to sleep. Senkuu brushed his teeth and dried his hair. It was still slightly damp but Senkuu was too tired to put the blow dryer on it. Senkuu slipped on some oversized clothes and made his way to his bedroom. It felt good to push open his bedroom door again. Already in bed and asleep was Gen. Normally Gen was so full of energy but he looked so peaceful as he slept. Senkuu softly laughed to himself. Senkuu tucked the white part of Gen’s hair behind his ear.
“Hogging all the blankets to yourself already huh?” Senkuu asked, not expecting a response.
“Get your own,” Gen mumbled.
“You were awake?”
“Just thinking about some old memories that’s all,” Gen yawned.
“Getting sentimental on me now mentalist?”
“Me never? I’m a shallow man. Why would I get sentimental?”
“Ya ya shallow man, give me some of the comforter,” Senkuu pulled at the blanket cocoon Gen had wrapped around himself.
“Ude- rayee,” Gen stuck his tongue out like a child.
“How childish can you be?” Senkuu questioned, still grabbing at the sheets.
“Very,” Gen smugly replied.
“I hate you,”
“You love me, dear,”
“Gross,” Senkuu scoffed.
“Haha ok ok,” Gen laughed.
Gen let go of his death grip around the sheets. Senkuu rolled his eyes at Gen’s childish behavior. Senkuu slipped into bed next to Gen.
“What’s with the look?”
“Oh nothing, I was just thinking,”
“About?”
“How happy I’m with you and the kids,” Gen bluntly said. He was too tired to lie, and really he didn’t feel like being his normal coy self.
Senkuu would normally say something about how sappy Gen was being but truthfully- He felt the same way.
“Me too,” Senkuu cupped Gen’s cheek in his hand.
“Aww you’re so sweet Senkuu chan,” Gen kissed the palm of Senkuu’s hand.
“Ya ya, come here mentalist,”
Gen schoot closer to Senkuu. Senkuu had his arm around Gen and rubbed circles into his back. Gen lightly placed a kiss on Senkuu’s lips.
“Good night Senkuu chan. I love you,”
“Love you too. Good night Gen,”
The soft smile on Gen’s lips warmed Senkuu's otherwise tired heart.
How do you do it mentalist? Even now you make my heart do flips.