Chapter Text
Summer was quickly turning to autumn, the leaves beginning to change around the city, the grass becoming a little duller than its vibrant green from the spring. Kazuki looked over at his partner, who was playing Morio Kart with their pseudo-daughter, who was laughing gaily, clearly having the time of her life. Rei, however, looked like he was on the verge of throwing his controller, as Miri was doing a pretty good job of matching him, even though she has no idea what she’s doing.
“Who wants some hamburger steak tonight?” He asked, as he walked back into the living room, the fresh air on the balcony doing him some much needed good. It was a great view, and one he was thankful to have, as Rei could have kicked him out a long time ago. “Or, we can go get something else to eat? Maybe go and eat some sushi?”
“Ew, no, papa!” Miri made a face. “I don’t like fish!”
Rei nodded. “Me either.”
“I made you fish last night!” He reminded them both. He had seared some fresh mackerel, and had served it with some rice and steamed veggies. “You didn’t say anything about it then!”
“Oh, uh….” Miri shook her head. “No raw!”
“Yes, no raw.” Rei also mirrored what their charge was doing.
Kazuki groaned. “Rei, you’re parroting her again!”
“No, I’m not.”
“No, he’s not! Rei Papa isn’t doing that.”
Kazuki narrowed his eyes, waiting for Rei to say something else, but when he didn’t, he exhaled an annoyed sigh. “Fine. No sushi. What about teriyaki? We could get some kebabs?”
“Yummy!” Miri cheered. “Kebabs!”
Rei repeated the food, glaring at the television as he did so, as Miri had thrown the shell that stopped him in his tracks. “Order soon?” Rei looked up at him, the match now over. He had still won, and Miri was happily sliding into last place, giggling all the while as the animation on the screen showed her character looking completely defeated after losing the race.
“What would you do without me?” He asked, reaching for his cell phone to see where there was a good kebab place nearby.
“Starve.” Rei shrugged, then looked at Miri. “Another race, Miri?”
“Yes, Papa!”
He found a place that wasn’t too expensive, and was in the nearby area so he could have it delivered. He ordered a bunch of different kebabs - figuring whatever they didn’t eat tonight, they could have for breakfast tomorrow. It said it would take thirty minutes to arrive, but actually it only took twenty-five minutes.
“Okay, turn the tv off!” He set the kebabs out on a plate, and then set out three plates for them to use. “Dinner’s ready!”
“Yay!” Miri jumped up, and ran to the kitchen. “Up, please, Papa!”
Kazuki happily picked her up, and held her close to the sink where she washed her hands, then set her back down and handed her a towel to dry them off. Rei grabbed two beers from the fridge, and sat down at the table, practically drooling as Kazuki walked back over to the table with Miri.
“Thank you for the food!” Miri cheered as she clapped her hands together, doing what he’d taught her many months ago.
“Good job, Miri-chan!” He saw her smile, as she stared at the food. “Which one would you like first?”
“Chicken, please!”
“You got it.” He picked up a chicken kebab, and pulled it off the stick it was still on, arranging it on her plate. He had put rice into small bowls for them to enjoy. “Now, finish it all, okay?”
“I will, Papa!”
Looking over at Rei, he could see his eyes going back and forth between the different kebabs. “Take whatever you want.” He reached for his own, but apparently it was the same kebab that Rei wanted, as there was a slight tug of war to keep it. He let it go, smiling as Rei looked happy for the small win, which was ridiculous but he saw no harm in it. He picked up another one, and arranged the meat on his plate, the same way he’d done for Miri.
He looked up, and saw Rei was eating the kebab straight from the skewer. “Ahem.” He cleared his throat, and pointed to the plate. Thankfully, Miri was too busy eating to see how Rei was eating, otherwise she would have asked to do it the same way as Rei. His partner sighed, then pulled the rest of the meat onto the plate, and begrudgingly ate the meat in that manner.
It was a nice, quiet dinner. Kazuki couldn’t believe how lucky he was, and how full his heart was. He’d been with Rei a very long time, sometimes so long he felt like they could have been married. With Miri now living with them, it was almost like a proper family. He looked over at Rei, and saw he was splitting a kebab with Miri, as she had asked him to do so as she was a little full but wanted more.
“Rei, you’re on bath duty tonight.”
“You hate me.”
Kazuki chuckled. “You know that’s not true.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Yay! Bathtime with Rei Papa!”
While Rei went on an aquatic adventure with Miri, Kazuki made sure to get everything set for tomorrow’s adventures. He put some of the leftover chicken kebabs into the fridge. They could eat them for breakfast. He knew Rei wasn’t too picky of an eater - if he put it in front of him, he’d eat it.
“Kazuki.” He was just getting Miri’s book back into her backpack when he heard Rei call his name. Miri was resting against his hip, as he held her after getting her dressed for bed. “Miri has asked if she can sleep with us tonight.”
“Please, Papa?” Miri asked, turning to look down at him. “I promise I won’t move around too much!”
He knew that was a lie. But she couldn’t control what her body was doing involuntarily for her. “Sure, Miri-chan. We can have a sleepover tonight.”
“Yay!”
Turning off all the lights, he went upstairs to join Rei and Miri, who were already getting comfortable on his bed. They do this once every week or so, sometimes more. He was beginning to wonder if he should ask Rei if he wanted to sleep with him all the time. Rei slept easier when they were together - not that he would freely admit it. Kazuki knew he slept in the bathtub for his own reasons, and never pried about it before, nor would he now. But he did notice that when Miri suggested these sleepovers, Rei never put up a fight about it.
He grabbed a book to read to Miri from her bedroom, then got into bed with the two of them. “Tonight we’re going to read the story about Goldilocks.”
“She’s such a silly girl!” Miri laughed, as Kazuki got the book ready, making sure she could follow along. “Too many beds to try!”
“Now, now, Miri-chan.” He knew it was one of her favorite stories, and was happy to read it to her again. “No spoiling the ending.”
“Papa!” More peals of laughter left her mouth, as she wiggled back and forth on the bed.
Kazuki smiled, and began to read her the story of Goldilocks on the Three Bears. By the time he got to the end, Miri was already asleep, snoring softly with a smile on her face. He looked over at Rei, and saw that he was staring at him with a very intent stare. His stomach gave a little roll, as he met his gaze, almost afraid to say something, when Rei decided to break the silence first.
“I love you.”
It was said so firmly, that Kazuki had to blink, and had to make sure that he’d heard him correctly. Did Rei just confess his love to him? With Miri snoring, separating the two of them??
“Wait, you love me?” He asked, slightly nervous about what Rei’s response was going to be. Maybe he was really saying it to Miri, as he knew it had taken Rei a bit of time to get used to their new life with Miri heavily involved in it.
“I always have.” Rei shrugged, then turned over, as if his confession wasn’t the most earth shattering confession that Kazuki had ever experienced.
He wanted to ask him why now. Why was he saying this, at such an inopportune time? Was Rei drunk? Was he on drugs? But he wouldn’t take drugs - not with Miri in the house now. So what would have prompted him to say such a thing??
“You’re thinking too loud.” Rei mumbled, his back pointed towards him. One of Miri’s legs was now on his hip, making it so Rei couldn’t move.
“Well, excuse me!” Kazuki half-whispered, half-growled. “You just said you loved me, and turned over! What am I supposed to do?!”
“Say it back.”
He pulled his head back, surprised to hear Rei say that. Did he not reciprocate the love? Oh, shoot. He hadn’t. Damn it. Blushing, he pushed some hair off of his forehead, and took a deep breath. “I love you too.”
“Thank you.” Rei’s back moved a little. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go to sleep.”
“Eh? Eh??” Kazuki shook his head. “Don’t go to sleep! We need to talk about this!”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Now I’m regretting saying anything to you.” Rei sighed. “Let me sleep, Kaz. I’m tired. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
“Okay, fine. But we’re talking about this soon!” He wasn’t about to ignore this conversation completely. “Okay, Rei?”
But Rei didn’t answer. Instead, he heard him snoring in tandem to Miri’s snoring, the sound making the most unique song ever. Kazuki sighed. This was his life now. Sometimes it could be pretty perfect. Other times, it was this. Right now, it was parts perfect and parts unbearable. That’s why earplugs were invented.
So he popped his earplugs in, and settled on his side of the bed. Miri was snoring softly, and as he turned over, he felt Rei’s hand touch his hair. He felt his fingers lightly massage his neck, and then his hand disappeared, leaving him aching for more. But with Miri in bed with them, there wasn’t a whole lot that could be done, nor should they. Kazuki sighed softly, then closed his eyes, hoping that sleep would come fast. They would discuss this sudden confession soon, but would Rei blow it off?
Kazuki was expecting it.