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Byakuya Togami had shocked himself with the tears that fell from his eyes when he first saw his butler again.
After Junko Enoshima had declared this the entire Togami conglomerate besides him was dead, he had deeply fret that she also meant his butler was dead too. Looking back, it was silly to think so, but at that point in time he had realized on his own who his true family was.
Aloysius Pennyworth. The only person in his childhood who had ever made him truly happy.
He was an old man, but very efficient. His age seemed to come more from his experiences than the years he has been alive. So, of course, he was very wise. Some people could find him unnerving, especially children, but Byakuya never did. He had known him since he became heir as a teenager, and not once did he find him off-putting. Byakuya has only known Pennyworth as supportive old man, and unlike every other adult he knew at the time, Pennyworth truly cared about him.
But nonetheless, he had been upset at the news that his riches, his status, everything he’d worked for, was gone, but it was more than that. It was his whole lifestyle, his being, his own identity and talent along with his family. So, naturally, with the news that all of it was gone, he had worried that this meant Pennyworth was gone too.
But here he was, in Pennyworth’s arms once again after all this time, sobbing and sobbing and sobbing like he never would have in front of anyone else he ever knew in his family’s old mansion. He was shaking like a fragile child as Pennyworth gently rubbed his back, practically cradling him.
“There, there,” Pennyworth said, in a soft tone of his usually dark voice like all the other times Byakuya cried to him in secret from his family. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Byakuya displayed what his old self would have called “a pathetic show of emotion,” but was really a heartfelt greeting to Pennyworth. He continued to tremble and cry as his former butler continued to soothe him. Byakuya was taller than the old man, but that didn’t stop the older from reaching to gently stroke the younger’s hair, something he knew would calm him in moments like these.
“It’s alright, I am here. We’re here now, Young Master.”
Byakuya immediately froze.
What?
What did he say?
A name he used to honor, wearing the name of “Master” like a medal. A name he had completely forgotten his butler would call him.
A name that now reminded Byakuya too much of her.
Pennyworth was concerned at the sudden lack of movement. “Young Master?” he asked. “Young Master, what’s wrong?”
“Don’t-” Byakuya tensely spoke in between shaky breaths, “don’t call me that. Don’t call me that anymore, please.”
Pennyworth raised his eyebrows, taken aback, but not angry, just confused. “Why?” An incorrect yet reasonable explanation then occurred to him. “…May it be that it reminds you of…the conglomerate?” He hesitated on what words to say, careful not to upset Byakuya more. He knew of the tongue-numbing grief Byakuya must have felt.
The former heir in question, just wanting to give a reason without saying the truth, nodded. He didn’t want to tell his mentor, not now at least, for he wasn’t ready. Wasn’t ready to tell of the horrors that girl put him through, guilty embarrassment also embedded in his mind about it.
And they had left it at that.
It wasn’t until Pennyworth had met the members of Future Foundation that Byakuya had survived with that he had realized the cause of Byakuya’s distress with that nickname.
After meeting with that optimistic brunette Makoto Naegi and the stoic detective Kyoko Kirigiri, Pennyworth had met with the anxious writer Toko Fukawa. They were having a nice conversation about her work (both her writing and her Future Foundation job), despite Toko’s nervous manner and the feeling that she wanted to talk about something else. Excitedly, she then asked with a certain persistence in her eyes, “So, you u-used to be Master Byakuya’s butler, right? You wouldn’t happen to have…stories on him, would you?”
Pennyworth was taken a bit aback. Master? She called Byakuya “Master?” Did she for him? He couldn’t recall Byakuya ever saying so. He was so uncomfortable with that name though, who was she to call him that?
He decided to ignore that detail for the moment, not deeming it as too important. He responded to her question, “Stories? What kind of stories?”
She grinned, bashful yet also upfront in a way, and she fiddled with her small hands. “Y-you know, like what he was like living in that mansion. What he liked…what he did….” She sighed shakily.
Pennyworth furrowed his eyebrows for a second in confusion. “Well, I didn’t know him much before he became heir, other than he was very determined. He’s always liked reading, learning about how the world works. Very hardworking, he is. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Toko continued smiling and started playing with her hair. “S-so, Master’s always been a genius….Ah! I knew it!”
“Why, yes, he’s always been very smart.”
“D-do you have anything else to say about him?” Toko asked, now shifting her legs together. “There’s got t-to be more to say….”
“I’m not sure what you are pressuring me to say,” Pennyworth frowned.
“J-just tell me his preferences!”
“Preferences? Preferences for what? Why are you asking me all these things?”
“W-well, it’s j-just that I want to know more about him. I need to know more about Master. W-we’re just so in love….” She let out an excited sigh of fantasies.
“…Love?” Pennyworth was even more baffled now. That couldn’t be possible. He remembered being in Byakuya’s large closet in his room, with Byakuya’s trembling whispers of a secret only Pennyworth had known. It was years ago, during his time in Hope’s Peak, Byakuya coming out to his butler as gay. And with the two loving boyfriends he had now, he couldn’t possibly be in love with this girl.
“Y-yeah, h-he won’t say it, but Master Byakuya and I are so-“
“That’s enough! I don’t recall Byakuya ever mentioning he was dating you.”
“B-but Master-“
“Enough. Are you two actually in a relationship, or no? For I know Byakuya is already in love with two very kind men and I know he would never leave them for anyone. Especially a woman, I know that for sure.”
“Th-that doesn’t m-mean anything!” Toko spoke, with an infuriating insistence as a flash of frustration flamed within her. “Master doesn’t actually love them. He’s too perfect for them. I may be a freak but at least I’m not an idiot! Master just won’t admit that he actually loves me! I’m the only one!” She let out a slimy giggle. “I’m the only one he loves! I’m his dog!” Her hands were now clapped together and her mouth was open with glee, but her snarl reentered her face once she remembered Pennyworth’s words.
The former butler in question was now not only confused, but angry. Delusion, she was. How could she talk like that?! Calling Byakuya “Master” and insisting they’re in love….
A realization then struck him. The fear in Byakuya’s eyes when Pennyworth called him that name again. She wasn’t- surely she didn’t…
“Th-that name…What do you call him that for? You’re…you’re not working for him, are you?”
“I-I am Master’s forever servant….I am his little piggy….”
“You’re making ridiculous statements! That name, that name of “Master.” Tell me why you speak that name of him!”
“I-I don’t know why you’re pushing things! Everyone else accepts our love! I-I belong to him!”
“Enough! Stop talking! Take that name out of your mouth. Your words tell that you only wish to make him your property. Have you no shame? No self-control?”
“Sh-shame?! Self-control?! You’re one to talk, yelling at a woman like this!”
“I only yell at you because you’re a disgusting young woman pushing fantasies onto Byakuya, onto everyone. I had wished to respect but I don’t think you deserve that anymore. Byakuya is uncomfortable with your statements and delusional insists that he loves you.” Pennyworth’s voice boomed with anger, disgust, and daggers of disappointments.
“Y-you’re the delusional one! He loves me! Prove that he doesn’t!”
“I don’t know what you want to me to say young lady, but he does not wish to be with you! He already has Makoto Naegi and Yasuhiro Hagakure. He does not need you.”
“Yes he does! Those two idiots are NOTHING!”
“You’re crossing lines, young lady, you should not insult his partners, either. He loves them very much. He has a right to be with who he pleases.”
“N-no! I’ve watched him, I know he wants me!”
A striking shock hit Pennyworth, and his anger only rose higher. “You’ve…you’ve watched him? What do you mean?”
“I’ve watched him many times, everyone where he goes, especially during that killing game. I’ve even gotten to touch him a few times! He felt so wonderful, I bet he looks better under his clothes! I’ve told him so, and though he yelled at me, he loved it! He loves me, no matter what he says, he loves me, truly!”
Contempt only continued to burn through Pennyworth. This girl…did not only insisted they were in love, did not only make borderline sexual remarks about Byakuya, even to his face…but stalked him, touched him without his consent. Disgusting, utterly disgusting. Pennyworth had no words. Her repulsiveness left him speechless. Her behavior being a damage to both Byakuya and her. She was a danger, a danger she was, and Pennyworth was to always protect Byakuya from danger.
“Leave.”
Toko’s eyes widened. “W-what?!”
“Toko Fukawa, leave this conversation. I forbid you to ever talk or even get near Byakuya Togami again!”
“B-but- Master-“
“LEAVE! NEVER GET NEAR MY SON EVER AGAIN! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!”
A static shock of silence then filled the air. Both people were left in surprise at the words that had left Pennyworth’s mouth. Son? He called Byakuya…his son. Pennyworth…thought of Byakuya as his son? He had never thought so, did he? Maybe it was the lingering desire for a child he had when he was Byakuya’s butler, a dream that could not be fulfilled because he the task taking of the mansion, and…Byakuya.
Taking care of Byakuya…like he was his child. But not being able to give as much love as he wanted, because love was not a thing taught in the Togami family, but trying his best, to show support, to love Byakuya…
…as if he were his son.
It seemed like the power in Pennyworth’s voice finally struck the limit for Toko, and her eyes trembled, and in this moment she was like a scared little mouse. She was shocked, at both his yelling and the fact he had called Byakuya his son. But she didn’t ask anymore questions, and scampered off into the shadows.
Later that day, now in the evening, Pennyworth had went to Byakuya, who was in some room of confinement.
“…I spoke to your former classmates,” he said simply, trying to ease any tension.
“That’s good, I suppose. …Did you like them?”
“I suppose so. Your partners are very entertaining, I see why you like them. And that Kirigiri girl is very nice, too.”
“Hmph. I don’t like her?”
Pennyworth was a bit surprised, but chuckled. “Why not? She’s similar to you, I thought you would like her.”
“Don’t say that!” Byakuya barked. He then sighed. “…I guess it’s what a…commoner would call a ‘petty’ reason for me to not like, but he was just so annoying during the killing game.”
Pennyworth smiled at that. “Well, there is someone I didn’t like.”
Byakuya only looked at him.
He continued, “…That, that Fukawa girl, she….Is she the reason you no longer like that name I used to call you?”
Byakuya froze.
“You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. I can tell she must be very uncomfortable for you.”
The young man let out a shaky sigh and averted Pennyworth’s face. “…It’s- it’s pathetic, honestly, Pennyworth, I shouldn’t be so scared of just some girl.”
Pennyworth’s eyes softened in concerned. “Byakuya, it’s okay to be scared. You’re not pathetic for it.”
“I-…I know, Pennyworth, but she just…she just terrifies me so much, even after the killing game. Even thought I don’t see her as much anymore.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that, Byakuya.”
“…There’s so much about her. So much she’s put me through. I don’t think I have the…strength to say it all right now, but it would be nice to get it off my chest one day. To tell you.”
“That is alright. I should tell you that I told her not to ever get near you again. She won’t hurt, I promise.”
Byakuya’s eyes widened slightly. “You…you told her that?”
“Of course,” Pennyworth affirmed. “Even though I’m not your butler anymore, I will still do anything to protect you.”
Byakuya went silent at that, but nodded.
The former butler noticed the slight unease that had crept on Byakuya. “…But with that, I have been thinking, since you don’t me to call you that old name anymore…is there something else you would like me to call you?”
Byakuya stayed silent for a moment, thinking. He seemed embarrassed and shifted a bit, like he was deciding whether or not he should get closer to Pennyworth, before he spoke. “‘…Son.’”
“‘Son?’” Pennyworth seemed surprised, but not angry at all.
“If you don’t mind…I would like you to call me your son. And I will call you my dad. Not my father, my dad.”
Pennyworth’s heart almost melted. He slowly wrapped his arm around Byakuya, and the younger man leaned closer to him. “Of course, Byakuya. I will call you my son.”
Byakuya started tearing up. “Do you…do you see me that way? As your son?”
“I do, Byakuya. Truthfully, I’ve always wanted a son. Pursuing the career as a butler, I never had the time for one. But…I would be lying if you didn’t always fill that role to me.”
Both Byakuya and Pennyworth were crying now, soft tears falling down their faces. Byakuya hugged Pennyworth, and confessed, “You’ve been a father figure to me. I never realized it until recently, but I felt it. Thank you, for always being there for me. Thank you so much…Dad.”
It was like Pennyworth’s heart had been struck with that heartfelt message. More tears fell out of him out of pure happiness. “I…You’re welcome, son.”
Byakuya sniffled through his quiet cries. “I love you, Dad.”
Pennyworth brought Byakuya’s face into his view.
“I love you, too, my son.”