Work Text:
Shibazaki has gone from working as a detective, to working in archives, back to a detective but tracking down terrorists, to taking care of said terrorists and their “hostage”. Arresting them had been the original plan but somehow emotions got in the way and he ended up basically illegally adopting these kids. It’s been about five months since he took the three teens under his wing and he had honestly forgotten how difficult teens can be.
Lisa was the easiest to deal with of the three to deal with she’s quiet, respectful, and hardworking. Nine and Twelve on the other hand were constantly pushing his buttons and challenging not only him but also his morals and patience. Shibazaki had them pegged after the first week though. They were just scared. They were scared and unsure of the stability of their situation and acted out because of it. For them good things didn’t last and this was too good of a thing to have for long. After the first month or two the boys had settled down and tried to adjust to the new living situation.
Speaking of living situations that was honestly the most difficult part of it all. Shibazaki lived alone in a one room apartment since he never expected to randomly adopt three teens out of nowhere. The kids were fine with sleeping anywhere and often instead of sleeping in Shibazaki’s old bed they would lay on the floor close together wrapped in blankets. There was no way Shibazaki could sit around on a nice bed or cough while three kids slept on the floor. It took him about four months to find and rent a better place for them all to stay in.
Gradually they all bonded and formed a makeshift family put together with glue and hopeful thinking. They argued about who would wash dishes or take out the trash. Shibazaki would come home to find them pretending to be asleep as if they were not just up watching movies. Lisa had online schooling while Nine and Twelve took college courses for fun. Sometimes they’d go out to restaurants to eat and once even took a trip to the beach that was short lived when it turned out that both Lisa and Nine can’t swim.
For once things actually felt normal for them.
Without warning time passed in the blink of an eye, suddenly it was winter and Christmas time was around the corner. When Shibazaki asked what the kids did for Christmas the answers were as dismal and sad as he expected. Constantly moving and finding a different home to live in since it was becoming obvious no parents were around. Assuring your mother that you were still there then locking yourself in your room to spend Christmas Eve and night alone. Do these kids have anything positive from their past? As they picked at their food that night Shibazaki wishes that he didn’t have such a big heart.
—
“Hey what do you get teens for Christmas?” Shibazaki casually asks catching Hamura’s attention from his food. The two had got together for lunch and were currently sitting in the break room eating some cheap store bought bentos.
“I thought your kid was in college.” Hamura pointed out with a confused face.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t have relatives.” Shibazaki half lies to him. One day Shibazaki might open up to him about his current situation. Hamura sets his chop sticks down and leans back in his chair. He scratches his head in thought trying to think of an answer.
“Electronics are something teens generally like or maybe something that represents them? Like something with their name on it?” Hamura suggests while shrugging. This wasn’t his field of work and kids were the last things he wanted to deal with. Shibazaki grunts out a thanks and goes back to staring out the window trying to think of a good gift for them.
—
“Get up and dressed we’re going out.” Shibazaki orders the teens that are currently huddled together on the living room floor watching something on Nine’s laptop. They give him a questioning look but obey anyway going to grab their winter gear. It’s currently Christmas Eve and there’s a large Christmas tree and light show about to take place in Tokyo. Shibazaki decided that would be a good way to start out their first (and hopefully not last) Christmas together.
When the kids are back in the living room Nine is wrapping a scarf around Lisa’s neck and ordering Twelve to put on his gloves. Twelve whines about not needing them but quickly slip them one when Nine reaches to take off his glasses. Sometimes Shibazaki wonders if he’s the parent or if Nine really is since the other two actually listen to him. Shibazaki ushers them out of the apartment locking the door behind them and guides them to their destination.
“It’s really cold are we almost there?” Twelve complains as he slumps against Nine and Lisa who are walking ahead of him. Shibazaki rolls his eyes and assures Twelve once more that they haven’t even been walking for that long.
Lisa is the one who spots it first, with a quiet gasp she grabs onto Nine and Twelve then points to the giant tree and crowd standing around it. The surrounding lights are all off and there’s a fair amount of chatter going on as people wait for the event to start. Shibazaki guides them to a better viewing area in the grass and sits them down on a blanket he brought along.
“Here don’t open it till the light show starts though.” Shibazaki grunts as he pulls out a small box from his coat pocket. He hands it to Nine since he’s the most trustworthy of the three and least likely to be swayed by Twelve. They all stare at Shibazaki with wide eyes and he’s not sure what those looks mean. They all look shocked and a little scared at the fact he just gave them a gift.
When the clock strikes midnight it chimes in time with the lights that start brightening the area around them. For a moment they forget about the box and watch in awe as the different colored lights shine and sparkle around them. Once the star at the top of the tree is lit that’s when Nine opens the box. Inside are three circular charms of a different color yellow, blue, and red with white outlines. On the charms there’s a picture in the middle of all of them in a group photo that Twelve insisted they take together.
“You don’t have to accept it if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.” Shibazaki assures them awkwardly as they each take a charm. The three stare at the charms as if they just found some mystical creature. Lisa unsurprisingly starts crying first and surprisingly they all go to hug Shibazaki at the same time.
They quietly thank him again and again through their tears. Shibazaki doesn’t have to hear it to know that the thanks are not only for the Christmas gift.