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Whinning was the first thing that reached Endou's ears. Soft whimpers, barely there, but oh, so noticeable if you had started to sleep as lightly as him. The tiniest sound could wake the usually heavy sleeper up at this point. Not that he was getting much sleep anyway. His days were too busy with training and coaching, and his nights were interrupted every few hours. But he supposed that such was the life of a new parent. A baby demanded his time, and he was always prepared to give it.
Speaking off, the whining continued to take him away from his (nap) sleep time. His little boy was calling for him. Or maybe for Natsumi. Endou wasn't sure. But one look over at his wife showed that she wouldn't be able to get away from slumber so easily tonight. Haru had been a handful during the day.
Then the whimpers turned into small cries, and Endou was sitting up in bed, rubbing at his baggy eyes. It took him a minute to compose himself. He left the bed just as Haru was close to wailing completely. Endou tried to be as quiet as possible as he went over to the crib, not wanting to disturb his wife or set the baby off. He started making soft shushing noises when he saw his son's scrunched-up face. Slowly, he picked little Haru up in his arms.
“Shhhh. I've got you. I'm here,” he said.
The baby calmed down to small whimpers now that he was in his father's arms.
“What's wrong, Haru?” Endou spoke softly and quietly. “Hungry? Diaper change?”
Haru lightly grabbed at his dad's shirt, pulling slightly at it, small whines still leaving him.
Endou chuckled. “Food it is.” He grabbed the boy's blanket and penguin plushie that his uncle Kidou gave him. He seemed to never want to part with it. With that and the baby in his arms, he left for the kitchen, quietly closing the door behind him.
He made sure to quickly and carefully heat up the bottle with breast milk they had in the fridge. Thank fuck for his mother giving them the advice to breast pump. It made night-feeding so much easier.
Little Haru was still whining a bit, but not as much now that he was being swayed back and forth, and his father made sure to entertain him as much as possible.
“Where's the penpen?” Endou spoke teasingly as he hid the small penguin plush behind his head. “Here he is!” He made sure to exclaim softly as he showed the plush to his son. The baby giggled a bit through his whimpers, the giggles increasing when his father tickled him with the plush.
When it was time, Endou took the bottle of milk and went with his son to the soccer-themed nursery they had. He entered the room, yawning a bit as he did. Slowly, he sat down on the rocking chair they bought at the last minute. Best purchase they ever made. He positioned Haru comfortably in his arms, the blanket around him, and his plush in his little chubby hands. Endou did one more test to see if the milk was at the right temperature. Satisfied with it, he put the bottle to Haru's lips.
“Whoa, there. Slow down.” Endou laughed as his son aggressively sucked on the bottle. “Really hungry, are you? Have my appetite.”
The baby wasn't listening to him, but the small sounds that left him were enough for Endou to continue the one-sided conversation.
“Yeah, you're lucky you're on baby food still. I have to suffer through your mom's food.” Endou winced a bit. “Don't tell her I said that, though. She'll make it worse out of spite."
The baby sighed, taking a breath before continuing to eat.
“Who knows. Maybe you'll really like her food.” Endou yawned again. “Pretty sure your uncles will have a heart attack then. Especially Fudou and Tobitaka.” Endou had a small grin. “When you're older, we're pranking them. When they'll host a get-together and prepare the food, you'll say it's yucky and say your mom cooks better food.”
He giggled a bit at the faces he imagined the two soccer players would have. The giggle shoke his body, and with that, Haru, too. The baby let out a small whine.
“Right, sorry. Didn't mean to disturb you."
He continued to feed the baby, this time simply silently watching him. Haru was an adorable baby, apparently taking after him. At least that's what his mom said. He wondered if Haru would also take after him in his passions and dreams. If he did, he'd support him fully. If not, he'd still be there for his son. He'd be happy regardless. If his son ever claimed soccer was stupid, he'd cry, but he'd still support his son. His little boy's happiness and well-being came first. He'd never force him into anything.
No, this precious bundle in his arms would have the life he deserved and wanted. He'd do everything to ensure his little star was happy. If that ended up making him spoiled, then so be it. He was already the most spoiled baby in the world anyway. With the amount of aunts and uncles he had, the gifts he got from them, and the coddling that happened, Endou Haru would always be loved.
While he was deep in thought, Haru slowly drifted off into sleep. He let out a small sigh again. That small noise caught his father's attention. Endou looked at his sleeping boy and smiled softly.
“All done, huh?” He slowly removed the bottle and wiped the excess milk from the baby's mouth and chin. They'd have to throw the leftover milk away in the morning. “You're probably all set then.” Endou turned to the nightstand next to the chair and took the pacifier they left in the room last night. He placed it in Haru's mouth and watched as his son cuddled more into him as he sucked on it.
Endou secured his boy in his arms, all wrapped up in the blanket and plushie close to him. He made his way back to the bedroom, quietly entering. Natsumi was still sound asleep and in the same position when they left the room. Endou smiled at the sight.
“You really tuckered your mom out, huh?” he asked his son as he came to the crib. He kissed his son on the head, nuzzling him with his nose a bit. Then he started lowering his son into the crib. A small whine left the baby. “Shhh. I've got you.” He laid Haru down, and he immediately calmed down.
He was finally back in deep sleep.
Endou sighed a bit, leaning against the crib. Sleep was calling to him, but he just gently smiled at his son for a while. No matter how many times he saw him, he could never get enough of just taking him in. He was the most precious thing in his life.
But tiredness won over. He yawned one more time and made his way back to bed. He laid down, and immediately Natsumi turned to cuddle into him.
“Haru?” she mumbled.
“Took care of it. Sleeping,” he said, pulling her closer. She hummed, making him chuckle. “You sleep, too. I've got you.” With that, they both settled back down.
The family slept soundly until morning.