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“You frown any harder, you’re gonna set your face in stone, old man.”
He snorted. “I feel that nickname more than I’m willing to admit.”
Ren took a seat next to the man, smiling slightly. “My bad; I didn’t know you were really turning into a gramps.”
“Shut up.”
The night was still young, but Zenkichi’s foot bounced as he held his glass of whiskey in hand. Ren raised a brow at the beverage, adjusting himself on the bench. “You just want to get away from the party or something?”
The ex-cop closed his eyes. “I’ve never been one for big social gatherings; you kids surprised the crap out of me with this. Thought I was going to get away with another quiet year and maybe spend some time with Akane for once- get takeout. Try and do some of that weird family bonding or whatever the heck you guys call it these days.” He took a slow sip of the drink and sighed. “I dunno, I just…
Ren could tell it was a rough topic for him, and he looked down. Both hands gripped the bench, his own legs bouncing as well. The silence between the two of them was awkward, the founding member and the newest Thief sitting together; the rumble of thunder in the distance broke the tension between them. Zenkichi sighed heavily. “…sorry. I suck at celebrating birthdays.”
“Good. Makes two of us,” Ren murmured.
Zenkichi glanced over at him. “Hm? What makes you say that?”
The teenager folded his arms and leaned forward on the bench with forearms resting on his knees. “I try to make it a point to keep my birthday low-profile. Honestly, I’m not one for big celebrations, much it might seem like I am at times with everyone. I like smaller parties with people I care about, and as much fun as a party can be…” He let the sentence hang in the air before closing his eyes. “…yeah.”
“It isn’t what you always want to be involved with,” Zenkichi finished gently.
“Anyway, we’re not out here to talk about me; I’m out here to give you your birthday gift and see how you’re holding up with a bunch of kids kicking your door down and giving you a surprise party.” Ren smirked wryly.
The former cop shook his head. “You guys are something else, I swear to god.” Yet the faintest smile tugged at his lips. “But I’m actually doing okay tonight. Sure, I need to get some air, but it’s not bad having company around once in a blue moon. How can I complain about you damn kids coming together to give me a birthday scare?”
Now the boy’s smirk became a genuine smile. “Oh, you can complain. We’ll just yell at you over your complaining anyway.”
“Nothing like disrespecting your elders, huh?”
Ren waved a hand. “Anyway, your gift took a little while to get fixed up and whatever. I needed to ask for a little help, get some advice from other friends, all that jazz.”
Zenkichi frowned. “You didn’t have to go through all the trouble for whatever it is you’re gonna give me, Ren. Hell, just you guys being—”
“Remember when you asked me about the deal with my parents?” he interrupted. “About how my homelife was with them around and- and how I might feel about moving out and stuff?”
The man froze.
How could he forget?
The conversation had been uncomfortable, to put it lightly; the slight squirming from Ren, the intensity of the conversation and the fact that Zenkichi was digging into a part of Ren’s life that was not the happiest… it made Zenkichi feel more than out of place on the bench. He found the ground much more interesting right then than Ren’s gaze, hands gripping the bench in silence.
‘The nervousness you are exuding tells me that you remember, and you hate it.’
Zenkichi took a deep breath, jaw clenched. ‘Would you quit that?’
‘Never.’
Of course he would not; Valjean was ever the smarmy ass months later. Zenkichi finally rubbed his arms together gently. “…yeah, I remember. How could I forget- I don’t think I ever felt worse asking someone about their parents until I saw the look on your face, kid.”
Ren sighed. “So we’re both on the same page in regards to thinking that whole conversation sucked.”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“Good enough for me.” The teenager- god, was he really eighteen now?- grinned before he pulled out a folded piece of paper from his jacket pocket. “Since we both agree that it was really bad timing and whatnot, I think you pass and deserve to know what I got you.” Ren held out the piece of paper to Zenkichi, who frowned and took the folded sheet. “Pretty sure you’ll recognize it once you open it up, old man.”
The man gave his teammate a wary glance to the side, and the boy could only smile slightly at this. Zenkichi opened the piece of paper, looking over it for the longest moment before lowering it and closing his eyes.
Ren blinked. “…you alright?”
“You know I’m really bad with those jokes you guys love to play on me,” Zenkichi muttered hoarsely, his hands fumbling with the paper as he folded it back up quickly.
For once, there was no jab back at the papa wolf of the Thieves. Ren placed a hand on the man’s knee and gave it a gentle squeeze; Zenkichi glanced up at Ren, swiftly rubbing at his eyes as the boy gave a slow nod. “Trust me- I know you are. I know better than anyone… which is why I’m telling you that what I gave you isn’t a joke.” Ren moved the hand to his shoulder. “I know everyone else likes to poke fun at you and make you squirm because you’re an adult Phantom Thief, but- I know this means a hell of a lot to you.”
Zenkichi inhaled slowly. “And you’re sure about this?”
“I mean, kind of. I’m nervous about it.” Ren took the hand off his shoulder, offering him a dry smile. “I’ve never exactly had this proposed to me and all, and it just- hah.” He allowed himself a little laugh. “Never thought it’d be you. Constantly thought it’d be Sojiro.”
“So does that—”
Ren shook his head hastily. “No! No, it doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you and Akane. I’m just saying that I’m surprised is all. Surprised and- well…”
Zenkichi swallowed once more. The air around them was once again thick, but it was far from something that was tense and angry; actually, it was much more emotional. The father folded the piece of paper in half and wiped his eyes once more. “I’m- god, if I go back there now, they’re all going to ask why the hell I’m crying on my birthday.”
“Just tell ‘em I was a jerk.”
“Let’s not and say I did.”
Ren smiled once more before looking down at the ground. “How long do you think the process will take?”
“If I can get some strings pulled, hopefully not too long,” Zenkichi murmured. “I think my old boss can help out with that if necessary, but she’ll probably give me a long lecture about bending the law in my favor.”
“Have you told her yet about your new occupation?”
Zenkichi could not help but roll his eyes. “Which one: the one that gave me a voice in my head that I know as my own or the whole ‘detective roaming around at night’ schtick?”
“Yes.”
The man stood up slowly and sighed. “You’re going to kill me before I even get the chance to get the papers signed, y’know.” He stretched out and turned his head to look over at him. “…does this mean I get to ask for one finally?”
Ren’s response was merely him wrapping his arms around the elder Phantom Thief and closing his eyes. Zenkichi’s eyes widened before he wrapped his own arms around Ren and letting the paper flutter to the concrete. He could feel Ren trembling in his grip, the teenager tightening his own arms around his frame and gripping his clothing.
There was a murmur that Zenkichi could not make out through the muffled clothing, but he did not feel a need to press on the matter right then. Ren’s face buried into his shoulder said everything, and he looked down at the paper with his throat tightening and eyes watering.
A koseki.
Specifically, Ren Amamiya’s koseki… with the adoption portion filled out with a new father: Zenkichi Hasegawa.