Hey there. 8) I decided to write something about the mini Genos clones and Saigenos, so here it is! This is a two-parter that I chose to upload separately from my drabble series, Family. Please enjoy!
It had been about two months since the mini Genos bots had come to live with the couple. All eight of them did well with adjusting to their new home and family, performing chores and even playing. It was cute- Saitama and Genos felt like real parents. Of course, they were AI, but the pair was responsible for assigning them bedtime and getting them fed, dressed, and bathed all the same. It was Cloud Nine for them.
Well... mostly.
Genos couldn't help but notice how every last one of the bots seemed to cling to the older male figure in the household. Of course, Saitama was amazing. He was strong, funny, and an excellent dad. Whenever they went out to the supermarket or park, the minis would argue over who got to hold dad's hand, not mom's. Sometimes they'd allow a few of them to cuddle up in their futon with them at night, and they'd press up against dad's chest. Not mom's. Dad always got the longer kisses on the cheek, his plate was the one being stolen from, his clothes were demanding to be worn despite being many sizes too big...
It stung, more than the cyborg could even fathom. Saitama was their favorite. By a long shot. He deserved it- how could Genos compete with his extraordinary partner? He couldn't.
One day when the minis were at the lab getting some tests done, the blond was folding tiny shirts, and it hit him like a brick house. Did they even love him...?
Yes, of course. Of course they do. They tell you all the time, he reminded himself. Okay. But, did they like him? That was almost more important. He wasn't nearly as cool as Saitama. He was weighed down by survivor's guilt, and his cool persona, and social awkwardness to a huge fault.
Before he knew it, a cascade of oil was spilling from his eyes. It was a horrible thought, his own clones- his own children not liking him. They, along with Saitama, were the light of his life. A beacon of happiness in his bleak outlook.
Why didn't they like him?
Speaking of Saitama... the bald man gently approached his boyfriend, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Genos, Genos! Hey, baby. What's wrong?" he cooed, using his other hand to rub comforting along his spine.
The teen shuddered, at a loss for words for a moment. What to say? He felt pathetic. This wasn't something to be crying over.
"The... the bots. They don't like me!" And yet, as it came out, he sobbed, covering his face with his hands. A frown fell upon Saitama's face as he maneuveredhimself around, facing Genos now, gently embracing him.
"No way, that can't be right. They love you! You're a great... er, mother figure to them."
The cyborg made a miserable sound, leaning into his love's embrace. "Well... they like you more. They always want your food, and your kisses, and your hats, and-"
"Hey..." Saitama hushed the other with a kiss- he didn't care about the oil at this point, he had nine of the little spouts to deal with. "You think the bots are doing some kind of picking favorites thing? Genos... yeah, I do the fun stuff. I play with 'em and throw 'em up in the air and catch 'em when they come down and teach 'em jokes, but you... you do the important stuff. You make sure they have shirts and shorts on at all times, make sure they're full of oil, brush their hair, keep their CPUs calibrated, read to them... all of that stuff that they'd be little hellions without. They're kids, so they may not realize how vital that shit is all the time, but I see it. You're doing so well, Genos. I'm proud of you." He kissed his awed boyfriend again, laughing slightly. "Hell, I'm proud of us both."
Genos smiled then, tears slowing down considerably. Saitama was right- he was a good mom. They were just kids, after all. No need to take it so personally, right?
"Thank you."