Content Warning: Use of pet names (Good girl, love, sweetheart)
Word count: 3.5K
Summary: Your son Ren is every bit like his father, down to the very bone and crinkle of the smile. Even to the depths of their love (Or, how Ran and his son fight for your affection and attention)
Note: I meant to release this on Ran’s birthday; but couldn’t get it done in time. But I knew I had to post something, even if it’s late!
Tonight, Ran will be home.
Well, he’ll always come home. But lately, due to his work, he’s been coming back during the unholy hours of the night. Giving you kisses on the forehead when it’s half past 3 am, the sun long gone and the only thing that was out to play was the moon and it’s star buddies. It’s difficult for both him and you, who is currently 7 months pregnant with a baby girl on the way.
Tonight, he promised you that he will come home early. And in response to that, a little plan to surprise him formed in your head, making you walk home from the grocery store with three bags of ingredients in your hands.
“Here, mother. Let me carry that.” Your son, Ren, always as sweet as ever, grabbed the bags of groceries from your hand with ease, making the burden his own.
“Thank you sweetheart.” By now, you know it was useless trying to argue with him.
Ren, your 12 year old son, was the splitting image of his father.
Cat-like eyes that possessed the most beautiful shade of lilac, long lashes, clear pale skin, a defined nose and an even sharper jawline—Ren looks like a mini Ran. The only thing you and him had in common was the little beauty mark that decorated both your cheeks, just right below your eyes and near the inner corner.
“Of course,” Giving you a gentle smile, Ren looks exactly like Ran, making you in turn, smile back. “Someone as amazing as you should never have to lift a finger.”
Sweet, honey words, delivered with unflinching swiftness and gentleness, Ren was nothing like the kids his age.
And perhaps that could be blamed on you, or Ran, for the way that you raised him. Surrounded by personal tutors that taught him the best of the best, from academics, different languages, and other skills that you don’t think he would ever need in his life, to simple mundane things like dinner etiquette and piano, Ren had been taught them all. And he passes each lesson with flying colors, never having a hard time mastering anything or understanding at all.
Your son was a prodigy. You didn’t quite know how to feel at first, with him drowning in these lessons and this way of living, but Ren loves it. He loves the trophies he collects like toys, the awards he wins that get displayed around your house in the show cabinet just right in the living room.
And just as fast as kids get bored of toys, Ren just as quickly gets bored of whatever he masters, throwing them away in favor of learning something else.
Which, caused your son to turn out like this—mature in every single way, and a gentleman right down to the bone.
The realization brings a certain melancholy to you. You haven’t seen Ren cry in forever, and that’s what kids should’ve been doing around his age, right? Cry? Throw tantrums, get in trouble? But you also couldn’t remember the last time that Ren did something even remotely wrong, you haven’t the need to scold since early childhood.
You wonder if your baby girl—Rui, would turn out the same. Just as ambitious as her daddy and brother, quick to flatter, equally as charming, and smiles that capture hearts just as easily as they turn heads.
Thinking this to yourself, you almost get too lost in thought to properly hear Ren’s words. “Mother? Is everything all right? Is Rui throwing tantrums again?”
Snapping your head to look at your son, he’s staring back at you already with concern painted on his face, eyes flickering to your stomach for a passing second. For only 11 years old, Ren was almost as tall as you, and you don’t doubt that he’ll reach Ran’s height by the time that he finishes growing. “Y-Yes honey. I’m sorry, just distracted.”
There’s not a part of him that seems convinced with your words, but he nods anyway. Clearly not wanting to push when you don’t want to be. “Alright. If you say so. You took your vitamins and pills this morning, right?”
Unable to stop yourself from chuckling, you pet Ren’s head. “Sweetheart, keep talking like that, and you’ll start to sound like your father.” He already does, you think. But you don’t say it out loud.
Eye widening, Ren looks away. “At this rate, I’ll be better then him.” He says, so quietly that you barely heard him. “He works too much. A man shouldn’t be leaving his pregnant wife at home so often.”
Sometimes, you wonder where Ren learned all his sweetness from. Did it just get inherited from Ran? Did Ran’s genes just turn everyone into classy, well mannered people? “Daddy has to work for us to provide money honey, you know that.”
“…When I get a little older, I’ll make more money then he ever did.” Ren says, and he’s looking up at you with a heart clenching smile. Oh god. “Then he’ll be home all the time, and you won’t ever have to be lonely again.”
Playing with a strand of his hair, you tenderly pet his head. Hoping that the action alone would convey your feelings.“You’re so silly. How could I ever be lonely when I have you?”
And just like his father, Ren is quick to look away when a blush seers his cheeks. He could do that all he wants, but it’s practically useless when said blush reaches all the way to his ears, the exact same way Ran’s would.
Your baby boy was still a baby after all.
Ran comes home at 8 pm, perhaps not on the dot, but 8 pm is much better then 3 am in your book.
“Ran!” Like an excited kid, you run (not really, you couldn’t, more like fast walk) to the door and wrap him in a warm, tight hug. “Welcome home!”
Circling both arms around you and kissing the top of your head, Ran smiles from ear to ear. “Thank you, Love.” And then, just as quickly, he drops to his knees and kisses your stomach. “And hello to you, sweetheart. I hope you didn’t cause your mama too much trouble today.”
Giggling, you watch as he stands back to his full, impressive height again. Fixing you with his tender stare that makes a certain feeling travel down your spine, and you really hope he doesn’t notice. You don’t want to get teased so soon. “She’s been an angel today. Only kicked me once or twice.”
“Oh, good girls. Both of you.” The feeling intensifies when he calls you that, and you wonder if Ran was doing it on purpose.
However, before you could ask, another voice rings out. “Welcome home father. You’re quite late even though you told mother you’d be home at 8.”
Turning around, you see a smiling Ren, although for some reason, the smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
Ran though, only beams at his son. “Yes, I’m so sorry for that,” He says, kissing you on the top of your head one more time, you beam in response. “But maybe this would make up for it.”
You didn’t realize that a large bag was set right on the shoe rack, and as Ran gives it to you, you peek inside to see…
“Oh my…Ran, you didn’t…”
The pearl necklace that recently got released by Dior, the very one you’ve been wanting to get. You once saw it on a celebrity who wore it to an event and instantly fell in love. You didn’t even told Ran that you liked it, how did he know?
Smiling and tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, Ran gazes at you with what could only be described as adoration. “Always the best for the most beautiful, wonderful woman in the world.”
As he pulls you closer, you fail to notice the smirk of victory that he sends to Ren.
As you sit at the dinner table, happily eating your meal, you watch as Ran and Ren digs into theirs. “Honey, can you pass me the soji please?” Reaching your hand out, you wait for it to be passed to you.
Except, Ran and Ren reaches for it at the same time, grabbing the bottle at the exact same moment with an even amount of gripping power.
The dinner table falls silent.
“Oh, I meant—“ Trying to say who you were originally talking to, you get cut off when Ren speaks.
“Keep holding onto it like that and you’ll break it, father.” You think Ren is holding onto it just as tight, but you don’t say anything.
“I wouldn’t have to….if you just let go.” Everything from Ran’s tone and the way he said it made his words sound like a suggestion, but the glint in his eyes says it’s everything but.
As you sit and watch the exchange, you had to cover your smile with your hands, knowing that if either of them caught you, the moment would be over.
“Well, I would. But then again, mother asked me to. And what kind of son would I be if I couldn’t even pass my mom her soji?” Ren fires back, starting to pull it towards him.
Ran does not hesitate to pull it back. “I can understand that, if she were actually talking to you.” Ran sounds oddly…childish right now. Like how one may sound when they’re fighting for their favorite toy, the silly mental image makes you giggle. “I’m her honey, she was asking me.”
The struggle for the soji continues, with pushes and pulls made by the two most important boys in your life. You have quickly given up on the soji, just continuing with your meal, absolutely loving the chatter.
It’s not often that Ran comes over for dinner, and it’s a once in a blue moon thing to see Ren act his age for once. You enjoy the little comedy show happening in front of you with ice cold water and warm soup.
They must’ve eventually decided that enough was enough, because they turn to you at the same time, with the exact same expression in their face, asking simultaneously—
“Who were you talking to, Love?”
“Who were you talking to, Mother?”
Wiping your mouth with a napkin, you flash them your own, sweet, yet innocent smile. “I was talking to you both. Just whoever managed to grab it for me first.” Which was a lie, because you were actually trying to tell him to grab it for you. But you don’t want to make the other one upset, so you gloss over your original intentions with not so truthful words.
Upon hearing your answer, Ran loosens his hold on the soji with a soft, and fond smile, tenderly gazing at you. His guard relaxed.
Ren, took this as his chance to strike.
Without Ran’s hold, Ren manages to take the soji for himself, smirking at his father in victory before he hands it to you. “Here you go.” Ren says, offering you a look just as kind as Ran’s.
“Thank you dear!” You squeeze Ren’s hand as a way to show appreciation, the boy blinks blankly before he shyly nods.
“You-You’re welcome.” You wonder when Ren would be used to physical affection soon, especially when you and Ran give it to him all the time. Your son is more shy then you think, and that little fact fills you with glee.
Too absorbed in your own thoughts, you completely miss how Ran mouths, “Mama’s boy.” to Ren.
And once again, you don’t notice how your son mouths back, “You too.”
As the pot boils and the soup simmers, you cut the vegetables into tiny little pieces, as small as you could make them. The aroma of the tofu soup dances in the air, filling your home with a fragrance that could only be described as divine.
To your right, the love of your life, your husband, attempts to do the same thing—but with carrots.
The only difference between you and him right now was the fact that he couldn’t.
Ran’s carrots should’ve been in proportionate, small circled pieces. But what came to be instead was chunky, uneven, oddly shaped carrots that you couldn’t really fathom how he messed up so badly.
“I…I’m sorry love, I really don’t know what happened.” Ran looks at you with a dejected face that pulls at your heart strings, how could he still look so handsome when he was so sad? His large, bruised up hands pulled the cutting board away from your sight, almost like he was ashamed, embarrassed. Desperately not wanting you to see it.
Chuckling, you wave it off. “Ran, you act like this is the first time you’ve ever messed up the vegetables. It’s not a big deal at all, it’s the taste that matters in the end.” Although you try to comfort your husband, Ran looks down at the cutting board and the poorly chopped vegetables like they stabbed him in the back and spitted on his shoes.
“Mother, father.” At the same time, both you and Ran look towards the direction of the voice. Ren, who stood at the entrance of the kitchen, wore a casual smile on his face as his gaze drops to Ran’s cutting board. “Are you having trouble?” He asks, there’s something in his tone that points to amusement.
“Oh, nothing you have to worry about dear. Your daddy’s just having…uh, a little trouble with the vegetables—is all.” Although you try to deter your son from helping, because Ren helps all the time, your words don’t do it’s intended effect.
“Are you now?” Ren sounded so much like Ran there, you almost gaped in shock. “Here, allow me to help you, father.”
Unbeknownst to you, Ren sends Ran a smirk that spoke of victory, at the perfect angle where you would just miss it for a brief second.
“Ren is great at chopping vegetables!” You tell Ran, who smiles back at you. For some reason, it looks strained. “Well, he’s great at cooking in general. Show your father, sweetheart.”
Urging Ren to show off his terrific skills, your son in turn flashes both you, and Ran the most brilliant smile. “Gladly.”
Taking the knife from his father’s hands, Ren cuts up the remaining carrot with accurate precision and even shapes, all rounded circles chopped into even finer bits. It looks divine, and as much as you don’t want to admit it, even better then your own.
Unable to contain your excitement, you coo.“Oh, how are you so perfect, huh?” Absolutely delighted, you planted a kiss right on top of Ren’s head.
Or, at least, you tried to. Except you end up kissing Ran’s hand instead.
Baffled, you reel back and gaze up at your husband. Something in Ran’s handsome face shifted. It was the merest shift. You half-thought you were catching a ripple in the water instead of a change in expression with how fleeting it was. But for a single instant, you had thought that Ran was frowning.
“Give me a try again.” Ran says, hypnotizing you with his eyes and that wonderful voice. You find yourself limply nodding.
“S-Sure.”
Bringing out another carrot and knife, you watch as Ran’s face hardens as he once again—attempts to slice the carrots.
To your surprise…it’s better then last time! “What on earth? How could you just improve like that, Ran?!” Absolutely mystified, you marvel at his growth rate. The carrots no longer look bad anymore, how amazing! “You’re so great!“
You gush like a tweeting bird to your husband, puzzled at how fast he can learn. Ren on the other hand, has his mouth wide open as he glared at the carrots, the same way that Ran was doing earlier. Truly father and son.
Your praises must make Ran very happy, because his ears flush pink and he nods. “Thank you, love.”
Then, he leans down. His forehead at your face level as he closes his eyes. For a second, you didn’t know what he wanted, but then it dawned on you like a slap in the face.
A kiss, Ran wanted a reward kiss on his forehead.
The unexpected cuteness catches you off guard, and you couldn’t help smiling from ear to ear as you lean in closer.
Only for someone to tug at the bottom of your shirt, halting your movement. Looking to your right, you see Ren, wearing a smile that did not reach his eyes whatsoever. “The soup is boiling over.” Your son says, pointing to the stove.
“What?!” Panicked, you immediately rush over. Completely forgetting the kiss that you meant to give to both your husband and son.
Once again, completely unaware of the battle they were both fighting.
“You couldn’t have gone to turn it off yourself?” Dusting his jacket, Ran looks down at his adorable son, who was starting to not be so adorable when he was feening for your attention like a neglected cat.
Ren shakes his head. “Mother doesn’t like it when I go near the stove.” He counters back, an innocent smile on his face. When he makes that expression, Ran is, oddly enough, reminded of Rindou. That’s the face his little brother would always make when he’s up to no good, and got caught being up to no good.
“You were pretty good today, I’ll give you kudos for that. Distracting your mother with the pot was a very good move.” Ruffling his sons hair, he watches as Ren’s hair, which was styled slicked back just like his, mess up into a bird’s nest. That part, he got from you. The way that your hair catches the light, but in a moment, with too much movement, would get tangled the next. He finds it adorable, whether on you, or your son.
Ren looks down, murmuring, “I know it is.” Though he tries to come off calm and collected—firm, even, he more so sounds like a grumbling kitten.
“She’s forgetful. It’s cute, but I worry that something will happen.” It couldn’t have been more of the truth. In the past, Ran had always been anxious to leave you alone for too long. Call it him being overprotective, overbearing even, but your adorableness sometimes comes in a wave that results in trouble. “Keep taking care of your mother, okay?”
As he says this, he hears you shout, “Ah! Finally! I got it! Okay, dinners ready everyone!” Followed by several clangs of metal and other utensils. God, you were just too lovely—too endearing.
But right now, with the way that Ren was looking at him, perhaps you have some competition in that department. Ren may look like him, but the soft, kitten wide eyed look he has came straight from you. “I will.” Ren says, nodding his head before he walks to the table. Ran chooses not to point out the red tips of his ears.
He truly does love his son very much. Even if they couldn’t have the normal, typical father and son relationship. The bond that most family strive for. It was practically impossible when he comes home smelling of blood and gunpowder. Even more impossible when Ren grows at a rate too fast for Ran to capture milestones of. However, he plays with Ren the way he knew how.
Seizing your attention and love is something that Ran’s been doing for years, and he supposed he doesn’t mind competing with his son for it.
Just as he walks to the table, he sees you bend down to kiss Ren on the forehead. His son flushed at the tips of his ears once again, receiving a kiss that truly should’ve been his.
There’s urgency in his step as he walks up to you, and he doesn’t allow you to get a word in before he plants a kiss straight to your lips, causing you to yelp in surprise. “R-Ran!” You say, blushing at the display. He tucks a strand of hair behind your ear.
“Only I will ever get to kiss you there.” He whispers, feeling the way goosebumps travel all across your body.
Yes, Ran was willing to share with his son. You were Ren’s just as much as you were Ran’s.
However, he had never been particularly fond of sharing the things he loves. He remembered hiding them from Rindou, at a spot in the room where he knew that Rindou could never reach. It was selfish of him, he knew, but it never stopped him from doing it. Hiding things Inside a treasure chest too big for him to ever fully fill it out completely.
But Ran…well, Ran thinks you will fit there just fine.
.+ tags: baji keisuke, mitsuya takashi, kakucho, ran haitani, rindou haitani x fem!reader, angst (?) in ran’s part,
♡ BAJI KEISUKE is the type of boyfriend who always waits for you after school. He’s never missed a day, even when you have to stay late at school to finish a group project. He insists that you are way safer when you’re with him and also because he wants to see you one last time before going home, he’ll never tell you that though. “What are you doing here?! I told you to go home because i’ll finish late” he takes your bag from you and scoffs, “And let you go home alone this late? Never.”
♡ MITSUYA TAKASHI doesn’t need to ask you what your favorites are, he can find them out himself. He loves listening to you talk and gives you 100% of his attention. You sometimes think that he isn’t listening or that you’re annoying him but whenever you stop in the middle of your sentence he looks up from the work he’s doing, “Why did you stop talking?” you feel your cheeks heating from embarrassment “Oh, i thought i was boring you or something…” you hesitated. “No, in fact i was loving the way you were talking about the cute cat video you saw online.”
