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Sakyo has made a mistake.
Well, it's more like a cumulation of mistakes that have finally come around to bite him in the ass, but his point still stands. There was definitely at least one mistake made at some point in his life.
“Sakyo~o,” Misha whines, for the seven-hundred and thirtieth time today, crisscrossed on the floor and screwing a bolt into place with his fingers. “Come here and help me, do you think this is secure enough?”
Sakyo sighs, abandoning his laptop on the counter to help out for the seven-hundred and thirty first time today, and he kneels onto the floor beside Misha. His hand goes to tighten the last remaining bolt at the bottom.
“Do I really look like somebody who can emulate a baby’s strength?”
Misha doesn’t respond, instead pawing at the top left corner of the gate and shifting it a little further back. He lets out a huff and leans into Sakyo’s side, gesturing for him to do something or fix something or pull a magical baby gate that won’t fold under a pound of pressure out of nowhere .
“I don’t know, okay? I’m all out of ideas. I need this to work.”
“Doesn’t your brother have a kid? Would it not be easier to invite him over and see how it fares against an actualー”
Misha hits the gate again, just to hear the plastic creak.
“Chikage won’t let me watch Dai-chan.”
Sakyo looks down at him.
“What did you do?”
“It was an accident , okay?” Misha mumbles, and his nails keep tapping against the gate. “I let him stay up past his bedtime.”
“...and you want me to believe you can single handedly run a daycare?”
“I hope so. I don’t think that anybody is going to be as harsh on me with them as Chikage.”
“I will.” Sakyo realizes it’s an offering a second too late, when Misha’s eyes widen and he can practically see a tail wagging behind him. “In general, not with the kids. This was your decision.”
He just smiles at that, knowing, and Sakyo’s knees crack as he pushes himself off the floor. Sakyo rolls his eyes. He can’t just fold without playing the act a little.
“You’re expecting too much.”
“Mhm, mhm, I know, I know. C’mon old man, let’s get you back to bed.”
Sakyo adjusts his glasses. The honey glow of the kitchen light blankets Misha as he gets up, and Sakyo, after years and years of learning to be allowed to stare, looks away so he won’t get burned.
“You’re older than me.”
“Maybe, but I’ve still got my youthful charm!”
“I’d just call it childishness.”
Misha links their arms together as he’s dragged down the hallway, and it almost feels like they’re two teenagers in those disgusting coming of age films Misha used to make him watch. ( “What? Sakyo-kun? Don’t tell me you’ve never seen Cardboard Cities before?” )
“Okay, old man, whatever you say.”
“‘Old man’ isn’t an insult at this point, Misha. I’m going to be a grandfather soon.”
His arm falls to his side rather abruptly.
“What? You’re gonna be aー”
Sakyo watches as the lightbulb flickers on over his head.
“Wait, A-chan and Mu-chan?! And you didn’t tell me…?!”
“First customers.” Sakyo says, like that explains anything.
“First customers,” Misha parrots back. “How can I let my grandson in here when I don’t even know if the gates are strong enough?”
“Calm down,” Sakyo picks his arm back up, lacing their elbows, and continues back towards their room. “Bon loves you, and Muku-kun wouldn’t try to upset a fly. You won’t get your nanny rights removed.”
“Hey, now ‘nanny’ makes me sound old.”
Sakyo sighs.
“Get used to it.”