Minao Week Day 3 - Married Life
Ever since Aoba heard about marriage, he was fascinated by it. He thought the flowers were pretty, the dresses were so big and puffy! And everyone always looks so.. happy at them!
After seeing it at the end of a movie, Aoba had so many questions for Granny. Ones that she answered with a twinge of annoyance.
"Together forever," Aoba marveled at the idea, "Like Mama and Papa? I wanna be like them..!"
"That's nice, Aoba," Granny gently pushes him back, away from the couch where she lounged, "Why don't you go talk to Koujaku about it?"
"Oh! You're right!" Aoba nods his head, already rushing to go put his shoes on, "I will, Granny! I love you!"
Mink never sought marriage out. Sacred as it was, he had a void in his chest since the passing of his tribe. Meaningless things couldn't fill such deep pits.
Unfortunately for Aoba, he's directionally challenged. He takes a few wrong turns and gets lost.
Usually it wouldn't be a problem, but today he's gone much further than usual. Without any means to contact Granny, he's all alone and in an unfamiliar part of the Residential District..
Recently escaped from prison, Mink was mostly alone. He had his men, but was there any point to keeping them around all the time? No. He was a loner.
He's not looking down. Maybe it's his fault, fiddling more with his pipe to light it as he nearly trips over something much smaller than him-
And there he is. A little kid with blue hair, looking up at him with big, wet eyes.
"Shit," he mutters under his breath, putting his pipe out and slipping into his pocket. He crouches down to eye level, "Kid, don't cry.. What are you doing here? Alone?"
Aoba rubs his eyes with his sleeves, nodding his head. He's nervous as he reaches out, grabbing on to Mink's sleeve. The motion makes his heart jerk, it's an.. unfamiliar feeling.
"I-I was going.. to my friend's house.. a-and.. I don't- don't know where I am!!" He starts crying more, his whole body shaking as he's gathered into Mink's arms.
He's not a bad person. He reassures himself as he fixes the kid's hair. He's not.
He's protecting a kid. Where he could get hurt on the streets.. who could get scooped up by worse people- who could get traumatized for life;
By bringing him back to Scratch headquarters.
"Boss, why'd you bring a kid in 'ere?" One of his men asks from his spot at the table. He's playing cards with another who doesn't bother to look up.
"Doesn't matter," Mink gives a stern look. Aoba's asleep, held to his chest and holding on to that jacket for dear life.
"Not one of your bastards?" Another jokes, eyebrows raised as he takes a better look at Aoba.
"Oi, you should know better than to talk to your boss like that," the card player snaps his fingers, drawing the attention over to him as Mink travels through the room.
Slipping into his own room, Mink settles Aoba on the bed. He has to take his jacket off, wrapping the little thing in it-
Almost like a wedding dress.
Entertaining the thought, braiding his thick fingers through the pretty blue hair.. Yes, Aoba would make a gorgeous bride despite his age.
Mink grimaces at the thought. It's not right of him to think that way- but what has he done right?
Forgive him for being selfish, for chasing after something that makes him ache- makes him feel alive.
Aoba doesn't know how long he's really been in the room. The man who brought him here, Mink, hasn't told him. Hasn't let him out of the bedroom.
And of course, Aoba doesn't fight it too much. Mink told him there were monsters outside, monsters that wouldn't hesitate to gobble them up!
He's sitting on the bed, Mink's big jacket over his shoulders like a blanket, while he tries to read one of the adult books that was on the bed table. The words are much too big, much too confusing..
Ah. It didn't matter much, once Mink was around Aoba wouldn't be allowed to read again. There was no need.
"Aoba," his deep baritone cuts through the room, startling Aoba and making him scramble to put the book back.
"Mink!" Aoba sits up on his knees, immediately extending his arms, "I missed you- you were gone too long!"
Mink cracks a smile, a short lived chuckle escaping him as he walks to the bed. He picks Aoba up, pressing their foreheads together.
"I'm sorry, my dear.." There's a beat, "You sound like a little wife."
Aoba blushes. He feels shy all of a sudden, gripping Mink's shoulder a little bit as he averts his gaze.
Then Mink presses their lips together.
Gentle, not a lot of pressure - and Aoba does his best to kiss back.
"Good," Mink mumbles against his lips, sitting on the bed and settling Aoba in his lap, "You'd want that, wouldn't you?"
When Aoba doesn't answer, Mink tenderly cups his cheek, "You want to be my wife, Aoba?"
"We.. would get married?" Aoba softly asks.
"Of course, baby.. A small wedding. Just you and me.." He brushes hair out of Aoba's face.
"Yes! Mink.. I wanna be your wife!"
He sealed his fate there.
It's been months. Aoba's been declared a cold case on the outside world- and on the inside, he's never been happier. He doesn't know any better, doesn't know it's wrong and can't comprehend it.
Aoba happily stays with Mink. He doesn't try to leave.. Why would he? Mink is very, very nice to him. There's a pretty ring on his finger- one that Mink promises he'll replace when he gets older- and he gets jewelry from his husband too!
In return, he's expected to learn how to cook- how to clean.. He's not very good yet, but Mink says he'll get better. That's all that matters..
When they lay in bed at night, Mink's hand slips down his back. He pulls gently at one of his legs and Aoba finds himself smiling.
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