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By the time you arrived at Tooru's sister's house, Tetsu snoozed deeply in your arms due to today's mishap and you did your best to soothe him by treating him out to ice cream. His mood improved just slightly but his sad expression didn't change to your demise.

A car was parked outside the residence as the two Oikawa siblings stood at the entrance chatting away before you caught their attention. The familiarity of Tooru's handsome face made you inhale deeply as a widening smile stretched onto his face while gawking at you and his sleeping son.

"Oh, there she is," the older sister commented.

He didn't respond and she caught him eying you with starry eyes as if you came from a different world that is beyond him - an expression she never seen, or once knew throughout her whole existence growing up with him. Then it struck her.

Tiptoeing backwards, she whistled a tune to hide her conniving face and then added happily. "I'll be inside if you need Tetsu's things."

Without an answer, she took off and granted you the privacy that you deserve with the star athlete who is now waltzing to your direction. He gave an uplifting smile when you neared him and whispered, "He just fell asleep."

He took a second to look at Tetsu's peaceful face before averting his gaze back to you. It was a quick look but you were completely swallowed by Tooru's stare and you completely forget how huge his stature is up close, towering you like a giant bean stock. Just a single look of him made you discard every stressing thought you had from today.

"I got him," he said so gently and scooped the boy from your arms. By the obvious budge, Tetsu stirred and fluttered his eyes open to look up at a face that isn't yours. But the face of his dad immediately widened his eyes and stared so attentively.

"Daddy?"

"I'm back, Tetsu!" Finally, Tooru shouted gleefully but soon his smiling face disappeared when he noticed his son's eyes were blinking in tears.

The confusion written in his dad's face grew when Tetsu began to sob quietly against his neck, staining his black sweater with snot and tears. By the simple reaction, Tooru immediately knew this is a new kind of behavior than the one he's used to seeing. He peered at your face questionably.

Your lips mouthed a 'later' to him and he nodded.

Rocking Tetsu in his arms, you watched Tooru cooing at the little boy with sweet and comforting words. "There, there. Daddy is here."

"Where's [Name]?" Tetsu quivered in between sniffs. "W-Where is she?!"

By his sudden call, you neared the boy hurriedly to appear in front of his sight. Even the concern in his dad's eyes grew more anxious at the tone in his voice, turning slightly to allow Tetsu to aim his eyes at you.

"Don't worry. She's right here," he told him gently. "Do you want her to hold you for now?"

Tetsu only nodded eagerly with his tiny hands extended out of desperation and you were in awe at the boy's demeanor. The older Oikawa helped you cradle his son in your arms before pulling out his jiggling keys to alert his humming vehicle.

"Just wait for me in the car while I get his things inside," he advised while unlocking the doors and then opening up the backseat for you. Soon, you went ahead and strapped Tetsu in his baby car seat at the edge, fixing the harness over his shoulders.

You were about to leave his side to sit in the front but his hand grabbed at your sleeve, forcing your eyes to wonder back at the boy to gawk at the torment on his bubbly face.

"Don't leave me!"

Compelled, you didn't budge at his demand. Because if you do, it will crush his tiny soul. So you stayed and readjusted your position to remain by his side until Tooru returns. A little heartache seeped through you while staring at the small child curling against your hand in his seat, like something you never felt before which it worried you.

Momentarily, Tooru finally came back with Tetsu's belongings in his hands. The miniature backpack and duffle bag were thrown in the trunk before sliding himself on the driver side.

Once the car engine turned on, his hands swiftly shifted the heart stick and steering wheel to pull the car out of the drive way with his hand glued behind the empty passenger seat.

>>>

The car ride was short as you found yourself entering in a garage of the building where the Oikawa boys lives. The automatic gates opened by itself when the hood of his jeep neared, sensing the bar code that is stuck to his dashboard for it activate.

Parking at his designated spot, he quickly unbuckled himself to open your door and assisted you to unfasten Tetsu's straps in his chair. As you carried him, the athlete retrieved the bags from the trunk before locking the doors and leading you to an elevator at the corner of the lot.

He tapped his key card at a black screen and the elevator shot up to the floor of his penthouse.

What a comfortable and luxurious life he has.

"Are you guys hungry? I brought over ramen from Miyagi. They're in the fridge," the man offered once coming to the front door.

Suddenly, Tetsu's face brightened at the sound of the food - the first happy expression he made today since you picked him up from school. It was so refreshing to see.

"I want ramen," he peeped shyly and Tooru eased at the change of his voice, smiling at him and turned the handle for you two to enter.

Placing him down on the couch, you helped the boy to change out of his school uniform while dinner is being fixed.

The aroma of pork broth and tonkatsu filled the kitchen after you stepped out of Tetsu's room with him wearing his indoor clothes, following where the smell is to see the tall male transferring the last of the ramen from the pot to a bowl.

"Smells so good!" exclaimed the child once he climbed up to his assigned chair, being flashed with a bowl in front of his face.

Your brow cocked, realizing that there were only two on the counter and then glancing at the man who is patting his hands in a towel. "What about you?"

He hummed, "Oh, I'm fine. You guys can eat."

Looking at the to-go boxes behind him, you realized that there were only two orders of ramen and you concluded that he given up his meal for you. Shaking your head, you patted the seat next to you for him to sit which it took him long to process your gesture before he hesitantly did so.

"Open that mouth of yours, Oikawa." By your order, the surprise in Tooru's visage shown immaculately as you pinched the springy noodles with your chopsticks and raised it to his stunned face.

"Really, I'm-"

"Are we feeding Daddy?" Tetsu's head popped. "I want to feed Daddy, too!"

Overwhelmed by the persistence, he had no choice but to allow the feeding commence. To your satisfaction, you weren't the only one who's always pressured by his son.

Dinner came to an end quickly since the three of you shared each other's meals and it was the perfect amount to last through the night. Tetsu watched cartoons on the flatscreen TV with his toys flourished across the floor while you obliged to wash dishes for the sake of your manners.

The devilish man made his way to you after playing with his son who is now engrossed in the animated show on the screen, snaking a large hand to touch at your lower back as he passes by, sending your mind that were full of dishes to a place that is unholy.

You nearly lost your breath and your thighs trembled at his chiseled chest slightly hovering your form from behind to place an empty cup in the sink. Both of his hands sneaked at your sides to give an affirming squeeze and hold you briefly against his strong pelvis. You felt your face warm at the sudden contact when his lips quickly yet quietly kissed the bone of your cheek and the nape of your neck.

Submitting into his enticement, you yelped when his hands rose under your pits and tickled at a tender spot. Tooru laughed when you whipped the dish towel at his head before he left with his tongue sticking out to you.

What a child.

>>>

"Sorry. I can't stay, Tetsu," you apologized to the boy while he's being tucked by his father.

A whimper came from his lips while giving you the upmost puppy-dog eyes, knowing that they were your weakness but this time Tooru didn't join in on it luckily.

Instead, he patted the comforter over his chest and eyed him in persuasion. "You'll see her soon. I promise."

Given the small smile from his dad, Tetsu let out a whiny groan before he sighed in defeat, pulling the comforter higher to his face. "Okay..."

You were amused but also saddened at his disappointment.

"Sweet dreams, little man," you called before leaving the room with Tooru as he replied the same farewell. The door only cracked an inch open for security reasons and you followed Tooru out to the kitchen.

The jasmine tea that he brewed sat at the counter and he then poured the silver kettle in a tiny porcelain cup. The steam met your nose once Tooru given the warm cup in your hands as you sipped at the scorching hot liquid, feeling the slight burn travel to your chest.

"So, what is it that you want to tell me?" Tooru started as he leaned against the counter to drink his tea, eyes filled with light suspicion.

Now, this is the part where you feel anxious because there were many possibilities where this will go. Cold sweat collected in your feet while you tried to find the correct words to say.

"About that," you uttered quietly which drawn his attention more. His cup lowered from his wet lips and then placed it back onto the counter.

You gulped.

"Well, you see... something happened to him today."

"Oh? What is it?"

You resisted yourself from saying it in a way that is nonchalant. But of course, he will be worried either way, no matter how well you say it.

So you breathed, giving into your thoughts. "Tetsu got picked on by other kids."

A lingering pause filled the silence and Tooru's expression turned from relaxed to bothered almost instantly.

"What?" His voice shook, then slowly the irritation became known on his face and you feared to see this reaction. "For what? By who?"

"It was Uotani and Kazume if you know them. I caught them trying to steal Tetsu's lunch box that I made for him and it happened after school. But don't worry, I took care of it," you endeavored, hoping the panic in his eyes would lessen but they still prevailed.

"What happened?"

"Well, the teacher was the one who solved the issue but I reported it as soon as I found them. The moms were mad but trust me, Tetsu is fine-"

"I don't think he's fine, [Name]." Your mouth shut right after hearing the sternness in his tone, a voice you never thought of hearing from him. "Seeing his reaction today, he's far from being fine. He may not want to go to school now."

Curious at his words, your brow arched and you wondered if he didn't get the picture.

"I don't know if that's the real issue here, Oikawa. Those kids were brought up wrong and I think we should take that into consideration. Their parents talk, you know."

"Well, of course they'll talk. Once they see someone other than me picking him up from school, they will."

"So you think this is my fault that Tetsu gets picked on?" From that point, you began to lose your sight as colors were washed from your eyes other than a brink of red, like your boiled blood heating through your body out of frustration.

The farther the argument went on, none of you were aware of the surrounding and the inner voice getting louder at each retort.

"Well, aren't you being too fast to start picking up him up from school and making him lunches?"

"What do you expect me to do then?" You raised. "I accidentally saw him at school one day. I didn't plan for this to happen! Am I supposed to go on my day and ignore the fact that he's not being fed properly at school?"

"I-... Of course not, but-"

"'But'!"

"I was only gone for a few days, [Name]! And then this happened?! He's going to remember this for the rest of his life and I've done so much to protect him!" Tooru nearly yelled with hands waving frantically in front of him.

You couldn't believe what you were hearing.

"Tetsu will grow up, Oikawa! You can't save him from everything! Kids. Do. Learn."

"How do you know? You don't know that for sure now, do you?"

A foot of a chair creaked from a far at the dining table as both you and Tooru's heads jerked to the culprit. But a bed of brown locks peeked from the side and finally, the two of you switched back to reality by the glimpse of Tetsu's paralyzed stance.

"Tetsu...," your breath hitched at the boy's cowering expression filled with worry. He stepped out from hiding to look at the emotional weight at you two.

"Is Daddy and [Name] fighting?" The innocence in his voice didn't surprise you nor Tooru since neither of you paid no mind in waking anybody by the loud argument.

Still, you have to act dumb.

"We're just talking," you answered dryly but nothing in your conversation with Tooru sounded anything close. There's no doubt that Tetsu believed it.

The tension was still strong but it gotten awkward quickly when Tooru motioned his son to his room. "Just go back to sleep."

The boys disappeared for a moment, leaving you in the chafed space to dawdle, and you couldn't believe that you found yourself arguing with Tooru about Tetsu. The idea of it sent you to a pit of guilt, awfully feeling dirty for the way you rose your voice in front of them and you hated yourself for it.

Fuck!

Momentarily, once Tooru returned from putting his son to bed, the tension ignited itself once again and all you knew you wanted to escape.

"I should leave."

Taking your coat and cross-bag from the coat hanger, Tooru hindered in the living room to watch your form preparing to make your leave. "I'll drop you off."

"I'm fine," your voice shook while facing the man with pure warning, then he stopped insisting. The rage within you didn't forget the previous fight you had a moment ago as it took a toll on Tooru who dwelled on the things he said.

He knew it's best for you two to have some space.

Just when your hand was at the knob, Tooru called your name in the midst of your parting. But you didn't look at him this time, fear to see the failure in his usual, hopeful eyes glisten i. his pools. You can only conjure his brows wrinkling in despair and shoulders dropping when he sighed.

"I'm sorry."

He knew that you knew, and vise versa, that he's apologetic for a different reason other than the fight, but for letting this form of relationship possibly end. And you felt your heart break at the idea.

As for you, you're sorry for involving yourself in this - for burdening them.

Eyes aiming down, you replied back, acknowledging his words with yours before exiting the front door. "Me, too."

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Posted: 05-08-21

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