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Language:
English
Series:
Part 1 of Adhesion
Stats:
Published:
2023-09-10
Completed:
2024-02-10
Words:
62,716
Chapters:
50/50
Comments:
195
Kudos:
190
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25
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3,936

Adhesion

Summary:

A collection of connected short alternate universe fics featuring the Cryptonloids as a family. Mostly fluff and hurt/comfort.

A full list of chapter summaries can be found in the end notes of Chapter 1.

Chapter 1

Summary:

Meiko muses about her family in the middle of the night.

Chapter warnings: Mentions of offscreen character death and child neglect

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Tiredly, Meiko peeled her eyes open. Some historical drama was playing on the television in front of her, casting the room in a soft glow. To the right, the digital display of the clock told her the time. It was well past three in the morning.

Faintly, she registered something weighing against her. No, things, plural.

On her right, Kaito was sound asleep, leaning over to rest his head on her shoulder. He would surely have an awful crick in his neck when he woke up, but he wasn't the type of person to complain about it. Still, she didn't have the heart to wake him. Sprawled across the couch was Miku, who was lying across her lap, her little hands curled up next to her head. Her breathing was soft as it was rhythmic, lulling Meiko into a sense of calm.

She brushed some of Miku's hair from her face with her left hand, careful not to inadvertently jostle Kaito. In the light of the TV, Miku's hair seemed even bluer than usual. She had started growing it out lately, and it now reached down to her lower back. Meiko wondered how much longer she would grow it for. It could be a pain, she privately admitted, to sweep up the long strands and disentangle them from chair legs.

And yet, she mused, she wouldn't trade it for the world. The time since she had started living with the two siblings had been the happiest in her life, and she only saw even greater happiness ahead. In a way, the three of them were all lonely people. Meiko, who had never had the time to form meaningful relationships. Kaito, who had lost nearly everyone important to him. And Miku, who had been born unwanted. Somehow, though, they'd all found solace in each other. She didn't know what she would do without them.

It made her heart ache to see how they responded to her affection, sometimes. The way Miku held onto every bit of attention from her as though it was more precious than gold, or how Kaito all but melted into her arms when she held him. They deserved so, so much. They deserved the entire world. And though she couldn't give that to them, she could certainly start by giving them all the love and affection in her heart and then some.

Miku shifted on her lap, bringing her back to reality. Gently, she placed her hand back on the couch and let out a breath. She leaned her head on Kaito's and closed her eyes.

They were a small family, but to her, they were home.

Notes:

Thank you so much for reading! This is pretty much my first fanfiction, so I'm honestly really nervous about posting it. But I had a lot of feelings about the Cryptonloids as a family, and I figured that if I went through the trouble of writing this then I may as well share it. Maybe it could brighten up the day of someone out there? Please let me know if there was anything that came across as particularly awkward or unusual so that I know what to avoid in the future.

I have a few more chapters mostly done but in need of revision as well as some loose drafts and ideas, so I'll be updating this fic as I go along. I'd love to hear any ideas you may have as well, though I can't guarantee that I will be able to write them into this fic. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Chapter directory:
1. Meiko muses about her family in the middle of the night.
2. The twins are always up to something.
3. A young Miku comes home hurt and angry. Kaito wants to know what has her so upset.
4. Some days Kaito isn't his usual self. Miku wants to cheer him up.
5. Meiko has a terrible day at work, but at least there's always someone waiting for her at home.
6. A lazy morning between Kaito and Meiko.
7. Meiko helps Miku prepare for an important role in her choir concert.
8. Meiko learns that Kaito keeps a photo album.
9. Kaito's clothes keep going missing. The culprits are not sorry in the slightest.
10. A shared moment between siblings under a starry night.
11. Len feels insecure about painting his nails. Kaito reassures him.
12. Meiko falls ill, but she has trouble allowing Kaito to help her.
13. Kaito accidentally cuts himself while cooking with Meiko.
14. Rin and Len wonder who the older twin is.
15. A terrible blizzard cuts off their power supply, but thankfully the family has other ways to keep warm.
16. Kaito always sees the same girl sitting alone whenever he picks Miku up late from school.
17. In which Kaito and Meiko look after their daughter and contemplate growing older together.
18. Miku takes the twins trick-or-treating.
19. In which the family argues over who should take the middle seat.
20. A lovely day for Meiko.
21. Miku has finals coming up, and she doesn't understand why her brother is standing outside her building at two in the morning.
22. Kaito and Meiko over the years, through the eyes of the people who know them best.
23. After watching over Kaito's sister, Meiko reflects on where she stands with them.
24. In which the family rakes the yard, and everyone has their own way of pitching in.
25. Because family is always growing.
26. Meiko and her boys.
27. Kaito and his girls.
28. Luka is nervous for her upcoming interview, but her family won't let her face it alone.
29. Kaito and the twins walk home in a storm.
30. With new additions to the family imminent, Miku is left feeling insecure about where exactly she fits in.
31. Meiko helps teach Miku how to drive.
32. The twins ask Meiko about her wedding ring.
33. Miku watches over the young twins and reflects on just how beloved they are.
34. To Luka, the twins are nothing but trouble.
35. Something has been...different about Len lately. If only Meiko could put her finger on what it was.
36. Rin has been avoiding her parents all morning. Meiko wonders what could be wrong.
37. It's cleaning day, but the twins seem to be determined to cause trouble for everyone else.
38. Meiko reflects on moving in with Kaito and Miku.
39. Kaito brings Miku to an amusement park, and she reflects on the kind of person her brother is.
40. Four times Miku completely, utterly despises Gakupo. ...Really!
41. Miku moves out of her childhood bedroom.
42. In which Meiko finds something distinctly...unwelcome on Kaito's face.
43. Luka shows up in the middle of the night, and something is very wrong.
44. In which Kaito falls asleep after work, and his family takes care of him.
45. Miku has a nightmare. Meiko does her best to comfort her.
46. In which the family knits Kaito a new scarf.
47. Luka has never liked her birthday, not really.
48. A young Kaito snaps at Miku and has to deal with the consequences.
49. The twins seek out their parents on a sleepless night.
50. And so it ends, to continue in some untold story.