Work Text:
Rody knew it was time to leave when dad came home without mom, something shining in the older man’s eyes, a light that didn’t mean anything good, a light that was dangerous, like a match before it lit an explosion. He knew it was time to go when that match was lit and dad started talking about some man named Flect Turn.
In the dark of night, hidden by the shadows, he packed their backpacks full of essentials. Roro sat awake in bed for him, he’d told them the plan some time ago, but Lala had fallen asleep, which put a hindrance on their plans. Still though, he carried through, he pushed through, lifting his baby sister into his arms to carry her as he and his baby brother snuck out of the house. They had no other family in the area to turn to, all of them would return them to dad, and he didn’t want to know what would happen if they were returned to him after trying to run away.
There was mom’s family, but they lived on the other side of the world, Japan was at least a few hours by plane. And that was where their nearest relative was that wouldn’t turn them back over to their dad, Uncle Kei was not a fan of dad, he’d heard him talk to mom about leaving him many many times.
Mom always laughed and brushed him off and see where that got her now.
With his secret savings stash in his pocket, he makes his way down the street towards the bus station, they had just enough for a bus ticket for all three of them, they’d have to be sneaky getting onto the plane.
Lala sleeps the entire way to the airport before she wakes up, yawns widely, and turns to look out the window. She knows of course that they’re running away to Uncle Kei in Japan.
Rody manages to get them through the security fence, spying around carefully for anyone who could stop them, and they slowly make their way through the airfield searching through the planes for the one heading to Jap–”Rody?” Jumping at the sound of his name, he turns, slowly, meeting the confused eyes of his Uncle Kei. “What’re you doing here at this time of night?”
The oldest Soul shuffles his feet and looks down at his brother and sister. “I know this looks bad but it isn’t what it looks like.”
“No, really now.” Keigo crosses his arm. “So you’re not sneaking around an airfield trying to sneak into a pla–”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“Oh,” his uncle purrs, smiling when his younger siblings giggle as the man turns to face them completely, away from the green haired boy, a growling blonde, and an even faced dual haired boy. “But I’m not the one sneaking onto the airfield, I’m allowed to be here.”
Lala skips forward, despite Rody’s best attempts at stopping her, and hugs the hero’s leg. “We’re gonna come live with you Uncle Kei! Are you excited!”
Keigo blinks for a moment, in the shere surprise at that statement, scooping the girl up as he glances over at his oldest nephew. “Is that so?” She nods happily and he nuzzles the five year old affectionately as he turns his attention away from his oldest nephew for a moment to coo at the cutie bird in his arms. “Of course I’m excited.” Then his attention returns to his oldest nephew. “Just a huge surprise is all, Cutie Bird, Uncle Kei didn’t know this.”
Roro hops forward before Rody can stop him and latches onto their Uncle’s leg, fingers curling in the fabric of the pant leg of the hero’s costume. “Rody said you did!”
“He did, did he?” The blonde man stares his oldest Nephew down. “He should have told Uncle Kei so he could’ve gotten you three tickets to Tokyo and from there to Fukuoka. Not to mention a larger hotel room for our stay in Tokyo.”
Lala pouts and leans into his shoulder. “Does that mean we can’t come Uncle Kei?”
“Now, did Uncle Kei say that?” He nuzzles the little Cutie Bird affectionately. “No ma’am, that means Uncle Kei has to rebook a hotel with a pool in it so his Cutie Bird can play and have fun and get three extra plane tickets.”
“Sooo….” The older boy rubs the back of his head. “Does that mean I’m not in trouble?”
“Oh no sir.” Rody grimaces at the look he receives. “Not at all. You good sir are in deep trouble.”
He can’t help himself. “Damn.”
…..
Keigo is quickly reminded of his Niece's fear of heights when the plane disembarks the airport and she starts screaming, wincing at the shriek in his ear, he trades places with his oldest Nephew to sit between him and their younger brother. He distracts Lala with his phone, the five year old takes to it like a tadpole takes to water, she ends up hugging his one hand as he holds his phone up for her to watch Spongebob with his other hand. Roro falls asleep against his bicep and Rody curls up in his seat with Pino sleeping on his head.
He stays awake for as long as he can, standing vigil over them, protecting them as they sleep as any good Uncle would, but he succumbs to the inevitable after such a battle they fought and falls asleep surrounded by his cousins sleeping children. He stays awake until the inevitable exhaustion from what had just transpired in the span of several days overcomes him and he falls asleep surrounded by his soon to be adopted (he’s sure) kids.
…..
“Uncle Kei! Uncle Kei!” He looks over from watching Lala play in the shallow end of the pool at the other youngsters call, Roro latches onto his arm and tugs excitedly. “Throw me again! Please!”
“Of course my little rascal.” He hooks his fingers under his arms and tosses him down further into the deep end of the pool. “I’d be happy to.” He turns back to check on Lala for a moment before turning to check on Rody in the hot tub, the teen was fine on his own, but he entered the pool to keep an eye on the five year old and nine year old in the pool.
They hang out in the pool for a few hours, after the pool had technically closed, the pros of being Hawks in Tokyo before he pulls the adult card and says its time for them to go back to their room.
He and Rody take care of their business while the little ones are in the bathtub getting all cleaned up, and the teen’s puffy eyed when they return in new clean pajamas and the teen trades places with them in the bathroom to clean up. Keigo is the last one to get cleaned up, after making sure Roro and Lala are tucked into their bed all nice and snug.
Him and his oldest Nephew are sharing a bed.
Keigo knows his niece and nephews like he knows the back of his hand, so when Rody hesitantly reaches out for his hand, he snatches that small one and tugs him in closer, into his chest, and curls his arm and wing around him. “Get in here, Robin.”
….
“Get his tummy, Uncle Kei!” Roro yells mid laughter as he watches his older brother suffer so horribly under their Uncle’s hands. “Get his tummy!”
“Get his tummy?” Keigo turns his attention from his squealing nephew to his giggling nephew. “Trade me a kiss for the tummy?” The younger boy giggles wildly and smacks a kiss to his lips, so, as a man of their word would, he turns back and claws his fingers into his oldest nephew’s belly which makes him squeal with laughter and arch his back into his fingers. “The tummy, as requested from my favorite little Rosefinch.” Lala rests her head against his as she giggles at their older brother's, completely losing himself like a child (that he still was). “Any requests from the adorable little Lovebird?”
“My turn Uncle Kei!”
Chuckling softly, the man nods, sweeping her up with his right arm, dropping her down onto her giggling older brother, and he claws his fingers into her belly. “Your wish is my command, Cutie Bird.”