Closed

[traust]

Characters: Kaede, Kotetsu, Karina and maybe Barnaby later

Location: Kotetsu and Kaede's apartment

Rating: G

Time: June 20th, late evening

Description: It's Fathers Day and god dammit we're gonna celebrate it.





On this Sunday, Kaede wanted to do something special for her father today, even if it was something special. True, their relationship had been through some rough spots, but when it came down to it, Kaede really appreciated having him around. So tonight she wanted to cook his favorite meal. Which meant calling Karina over to help since she hadn't learned how to do any stove cooking beyond boiling water and putting something in the oven to defrost it.

Now they were just moments away from Kotetsu coming home from work. Kaede had her present out on the table, a spare tie and a t-shirt with some cheesy writing on it. She had to improvise since there was no Mr. Legend merchandise to be found. The rice was sitting over on the stove, kept heated in the pot which Karina watched over.

Comments

[traust]

She nodded. "I thought I might ask you, since he doesn't always tell the truth with me." More like sugarcoat it, but those types of words weren't in her vocabulary yet.

Really though, she was grateful for once they could celebrate the holidays completely uninterrupted and the recent events haven't affected them. So the fact that today could happen was a blessing in itself.

Nevertheless, she looks out the window to look for her father on the streets.

[wildest]

There had been more than enough going through Kotetsu's mind in the past few days that would distract him from just what exactly was important about this particular Sunday, even though back home he always looked forward to calls from Kaede to wish him a good father's day (ignoring the fact that sometimes the calls never came from her and he was the one contacting her about father's day). Now that Barnaby had started regaining his memories, he'd been sleeping a lot easier, but the stress from worrying about his partner and what else was in store for him, not to mention the fact that they weren't on solid speaking terms yet, left him absent-minded and exhausted more often than not.

As he approached Fatality Condominiums, Kotetsu muffled a yawn behind his hand, reaching into his pocket to consider letting Kaede know he was just about home already. However, after glancing up at the building, he figured he didn't need to bother her with such a silly heads-up and simply put his mirror away, making his way into the building and toward their floor.

[gonext]

Meanwhile, back in the apartment, Karina had started to get a little antsy. She wasn't particularly good with waiting patiently. But she had more a little more patience for a man she actually liked than a young man she thought was too proud and was horrible at working with others.

"So, how much longer until your dad arrives?"

[traust]

"It won't be long- I think I see him coming toward the building right now!"

She said with glee. That instantly jolted away all the impatience she had built on waiting for him to arrive. Kaede leans next to the wall in the hallway where the entrance was located, tapping her foot against the floor.

[wildest]

After a few minutes, Kotetsu finally made it to the front door, taking out the key to the front door from his pocket and making his way inside. "Kaede, Papa's home!" His voice came out loud and clear and lively as ever as he shut the door behind him, hanging up his hat and immediately working on removing his tie.

Catching sight of Kaede right there in the hallway but not quite yet noticing Karina, he grinned widely at his daughter. "Did you wait for me? You hardly ever do that anymore!"

[gonext]

Karina in the meantime, prepared the fried rice, heaping it all into a big plate for serving before walking out with it and placing it on the dining table. She dared not interrupt the moment between Kotetsu and his daughter. Watching them actually made her heart feel warm.

[traust]

Kaede reached over to hug him tightly, happy that he was able to come home on time and not late. She's a got a big grin on her face now and Kotetsu should smell the dinner cooking in the other room.

"Well today's special, isn't it?"

[wildest]

Rubbing her head a little and letting his arms drape around her, Kotetsu laughed and just about melted away at the embrace before staring down at Kaede curiously. "Today? What's special about... eh?" Kotetsu paused as he sniffed the air. Was that rice?

"Kaede, did you cook? All on your... own..." As he turned his head to look over at the source of the food, Kotetsu finally caught sight of Karina standing in the kitchen, and his shock only lasted for a few seconds before he smiled sheepishly.

"This is kinda a surprise! I didn't know we were gonna have company. Hi, Karina!"

[gonext]

"Hi. Kaede invited me to celebrate Father's Day with you two. So I came early to help with dinner."

She smiles at Kotetsu, but in that usual distant way that was very much Karina. There was some warmth in her approach, maybe even some affection, but it was very much evident that she was still a bit of an ice queen through and through.

[traust]

"You don't mind it, do you dad?"

She was latched onto his arm, giving a smile back at Karina. Not only did she need someone to cook, but she didn't want Karina to be left out since her our parents weren't here.

[wildest]

Of course Kotetsu had no problem with Karina suddenly showing up, but the fact that she'd come over to celebrate Father's day-- and that's when it hit him, what Kaede had meant about today being a special day. Kotetsu quickly looked down at Kaede clinging to his arm, almost speechless as he stared at his daughter with wide eyes before looking over at Karina until he burst out into loud laughter. It was the only way he could keep them from noticing the watery look in his eyes.

"Jeez, I can't believe I completely forgot about it! You two really didn't have to do this." Reaching down his free arm to give Kaede a quick squeeze, Kotetsu kept a warm gaze on her before looking back up at Karina, that same loving smile still on his face.

"But of course I don't mind. Thanks, you two."

[gonext]

Karina would have quipped up something about Kotetsu not being used to all these fatherly things, but she kept it to herself, being a bit aware that it could ruin the moment with Kaede.

"It's the least I could do while I'm here. Besides that, it gets a little lonely sometimes. It's good to be with people you know."

[traust]

Kaede squeezed back, and then skipped along until she stood in front of the dinner table with her hands behind her back.

"You wanna eat first or open presents?"

[wildest]

It was probably a good thing that he had his hands full with Kaede and Karina was too far away, otherwise Kotetsu would have pulled her into a hug as well. Smiling sheepishly, Kotetsu allowed Kaede to run off toward the kitchen before his eyes widened in realization. "--oh, right! Food and presents! ...presents?" He blinked, staring at Kaede and Karina for a moment in surprise.

"You got me presents too?"

[gonext]

A light blush came over Karina's cheeks at that. She hoped Kotetsu wouldn't notice given how far she was from him at that moment.

"Yeah. I mean, why not?"

[traust]

Kaede interrupts them, unintentionally reliving some of that pressure off Karina from her decision to buy a gift.

"She doesn't have her dad here, you know?"

[wildest]

Thankfully Kotetsu did in fact miss the blush that spread across Karina's cheeks, instead distracted by Kaede's words, and he felt something like a pang of remorse and guilt shoot through his heart. To think that Karina couldn't buy her own father a gift on Father's Day, stuck in some other world all on her own, but she had a kindness in her heart to get Kotetsu something...

That was when he couldn't take his eyes off Karina, and just like that, Kotetsu immediately began walking toward her in order to wrap his arms around her in a hug.

[gonext]

"Ah--"

Karina started for a moment, almost about to back away until suddenly she was pulled into a strong hug, all wrapped up in those lean, muscled arms. It was as she had imagined it from time to time, really-- his arms were firm and warm, and his body against hers was all too comforting. And that scent... the smell of cologne that was definitely typical of an older man. She stayed silent, absolutely savoring the moment, but being careful not to return it. This was because it was Father's Day... right...?

Kaede might notice the way the older girl didn't seem to want to pull away at all.