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Gorou wasn't one for depending on others. He was the general of an army, and the writer of an advice column, and the one all his friends depended on when they needed someone.
To him, depending on someone wasn't a sign of weakness – just something he wouldn't really do. He had people to protect and an example he wanted to set.
Recently, though.. Well, his workload had gotten a little bigger. Or perhaps he was getting smaller? All of sudden, the combined work of taking care of everyone and doing his part as Ms. Hina paired with all the things he had to manage started to grow overwhelming, and every task seemed like an impossible, monumental thing we would never be able to accomplish.
Things had escalated though, working on paperwork late into the night when something inside of him just.. snapped.
-
He sighed. He'd been sitting on the same hard chair for hours, and his bottom hurt, and his back was protesting every move he made, and his tail was all stiff from pressing against the backrest.. His clothes were itchy. He was cold. He was too hot. He had a killer headache.
Kokomi's presence was starting to feel a little overwhelming. He knew that Her Excellency would never judge one for their exhaustion, but the last thing he wanted was to look weak in front of her. Kokomi, too, depended on him. If he made himself seem unreliable and she had to shoulder even more work on her own– what good was he to anyone?
Right now, Gorou was close to throwing the paperwork in the air and running off into the woods, never to be seen again because by the archons, would it ever end?
He was just.. growing more and more frustrated. Every little thing felt like a personal attack. The wind coming through the window which blew a few pages on the floor. The sound of a brush wetting paper. The tinkling of the charm he hung from his belt clinking against his chair. Even Her Excellency's breathing felt grating at this moment.
He was going to rip his hair out.
He didn't want to do this anymore. He was tired. Everything hurt. He doesn't want to! He's sleepy!
The feelings inside him bubbled and grew until finally they boiled over, and Gorou whined as he pushed all the paperwork away from him.
His hands came to grasp his hair, and his eyes watered. Not fair! This isn't fair! He just wanted to go home. He just wanted to rest! He wanted everything to go away!
"Gorou?" A gentle voice broke through the fog in his head, and he immediately straightened up, face burning red. How could he?! Displaying such disgraceful behavior in front of Her Excellency..
He was so occupied fussing over his own stupidity, he didn't even register the girl across from him rising from her desk until she was sitting in front of him, leaning down to look him in the eye.
"Are you alright?"
He snaps his eyes up to hers, but for some reason his lips won't move. All he has to do is assure her and apologize for the way he acted – so why does it feel like his whole body is locked up?
The tears that had been merrily building in his eyes decided that was the moment to overflow, trailing down his cheeks and making Kokomi's eyes widen.
"G-Gorou?"
And then – horrifyingly enough – it's as if a fog has started to take control of his mind. He starts sniffling which soon turns into full blown sobbing, which escalates into whimpering and wailing while rubbing his face with closed fists, ears pressed flat against his head in discontent.
-
Kokomi fumbled for a few seconds, unsure of what to do – she'd certainly never seen Gorou like this, and it didn't seem like words would get through to him right now – so she did the only thing she could think to do. She walked around his desk, and settling right beside his chair – pulled him into her chest, wrapping her arms around him.
She ran a hand down his hair in a soothing motion, and when his sobs began dying down she even risked gently rocking their bodies together – until all that was left were hiccups and a wet spot on her clothes.
She pulled away slowly, so as to not frighten him. Gorou was probably dying of shame right now, so the last thing she wanted to do was make him think he'd displeased her in any way.
One look at his face was enough to have her heart wrenching – his face was red and wet, eyes puffy and irritated – his whole body was trembling. It was a pitiful sight.
But then something happened. Something that would change this moment – and their relationship – for good.
Gorou opened his shaking lips, and with a raspy voice, whimpered. "Mama.."
She blinked. Gorou blinked, as if he'd just come back into consciousness, and clearly horrified. The silence stretched between them.
"I.." His voice trembled around the word, like he couldn't even begin to form his apologies.
"I…" He started again, and she realized his eyes were watering once more, tears threatening to spill over.
"I'm.. sorry!" The 'y' dragged out as his voice cracked into a sob, water pouring over his red cheeks once more.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't– I don't know what's wrong with me, I didn't mean to!" He blubbered, heaving through his sobs. Kokomi couldn't help but wince.
She moved forward again, kneeling down so she could look him in the eyes, and gently turned him to look at her, hand on his cheek.
"Calm down. You're going to make yourself sick.." She ran her hands under his eyes, tenderly wiping the tears there.
"It's okay." She quieted when he opened his mouth to apologize again. "You're okay. Shh.."
She swallowed. This could be a mistake. She could be wildly misinterpreting this.. But she had to try. So she moved one hand to his and gently squeezed, looking him in the eyes with the kindest gaze she could.
"It's alright.. Mama's here."
And Gorou gasped, softly, but then his eyes were filled with hope, and her heart took leaps inside her chest. How could anyone not love him?
Before she could even speak again, Gorou was throwing himself off his chair, right into her, knocking them both onto the floor. It took the air out of her lungs, but he looked so bashfully happy cuddled against her, his arms wrapped around her back and his tail just beginning to wag that she couldn't be mad.
"Oh, sweetheart." She pressed a kiss on his head, and his ears twitched. So cute!
She didn't know what the exact protocol for doggy generals acting like babies was, but something told her she was doing things right, so she helped him stand up along with her to make him an offer.
"What do you say we ditch this paperwork so you can go rest?" He blinked at her, curious, and then looked back at the paperwork with worried eyes. She pushed away a strand of hair that was stuck to his wet cheek, and smiled, as kind and gentle as possible.
"Mama will take care of it. Just come with me, baby."
His eyes looked a little glassy when he hesitantly took her hand in his. Kokomi resisted the urge to squeeze him.
-
She led him to her quarters, more than eager to get him laid down in bed, but the moment they stepped in she realized something. Eyes scanning him up and down, she hummed in disapproval. He looked at her, fidgeting and clearly nervous, and she felt the need to reassure him.
"Those clothes aren't very comfy, are they?"
He hesitated for a moment, but then he nodded his head, admitting what she already noticed herself.
"Hmm.. We're pretty close in size. One of my nightgowns should fit you just fine." His cheeks flushed.
"N–No.. Yours.." He ran his fingers through his tail, which had been tucked close to his body since they'd left.
"Ahh, but I can share, can't I? Especially if it's with my baby!" She smiled brightly, and basked in the way his cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink.
He took the clothes with great hesitation – but he put them on, while she stared at a wall and resisted the urge to ask if he wanted help. She didn't want to cross any boundaries, especially when the situation was already this delicate.
"Uhm.." there was some shuffling, and then, "I'm done, I think…"
She turned around to look at him, and this time she couldn't stop the coo that left her. His cheeks flushed further, but she could see his tail wagging weakly behind him. "You look so cute, baby."
He smiled a little, bashful, hiding his face with a curled fist, but she was happy to see it all the same.
"I'm gonna get changed too, why don't you wait here for me?" He blinked at her curiously, as if asking why she couldn't do it there, but she winked at him as she pinched his cheek.
"I need to grab something. I'll be quick, promise!"
He nodded hesitantly as she left, but his tail had already curled itself around him nervously.
When Kokomi strolled back in, clothes matching his and a mysterious item in her arms, he perked up instantly, eyes bright and curious from where he stood in the middle of the room.
"Aw, were you standing the whole time?" She deposited the item beside her bed, and then made her way over to the general.
"Oh.. yes.." he fiddled with his hair, curling brown strands around his fingers in a soothing habit. A warm hand settled on his back.
"Come here, honey. Let's lie down, yeah?" She guided him gently to the bed, and he let her tuck him in with warm cheeks and a wagging tail hidden under white sheets.
"Here, I brought you something." He tilted his head in a question, and his eyes widened as she pulled out the first item, an orange fox plushie, just like the one he'd seen so many months ago. Immediately he reached out his hands, longing to touch and hold, but quickly he pulled back. Before he could hide his hands, though, Kokomi was gently taking one of them and laying it on the fluffy coat of the toy.
"Take it," she encouraged "it's yours."
Hesitantly he pulled it into his arms, and as he noticed nobody would be taking it from him he hugged it close to himself, burying his nose in soft faux fur and rubbing his face over the delicate stitching, eyes falling shut.
"Well, I'm glad you like it," she giggled, and he blearily opened one eye to look at her before coming to a realization and sitting up straight.
"Mama." He said, the most certain he'd been since he regressed, and reached out one hand towards her, the other holding the fox to his chest.
"Hm?" Kokomi moved closer, and he pulled into a one armed hug, humming happily.
"'Fank you," he murmured, and her heart grew three sizes inside her chest.
She pressed a kiss onto his head, and then another on a fluffy ear, and then another another and another–
"Mama!" He squealed, bright and giggly, and she smiled so wide it hurt her cheeks.
"My baby," she cooed, rubbing her nose on his, pulling away to watch with a smile as he fell into a giggle fit, flailing wildly as his tail thumped against the mattress.
"I love you, baby," she whispered, and he smiled up at her brightly:
"I love you too, mama."