[Author's note: This one is based on Days Without Nights, another fic of mine in which Yosuke has an eight-year-old son named Kichirou.]

Day 5 - Cuddles

Yosuke wasn't exactly depressed that Souji was away on work business, but he definitely wasn't feeling himself. Dinner had been cheap takeout because he hadn't felt like cooking—a bad habit, he knew, and Souji would probably be disappointed if he knew, but… It was Souji's first day gone so he deserved some slack!

Anyway, Yosuke planned to waste the lonely night on trashy television. He flipped through the channels, trying to find something that would fit the bill. Japanese television always left a lot to be desired. He ended up settling on the evening news.

Soon Kichirou joined him on the couch. They watched part of a news segment together before Kichirou spoke up. "Hey, Dad…?"

Yosuke easily shifted his attention from the weekend weather report to his son. Kichirou was at the edge of his seat, apparently about to burst with excitement. This should be good, Yosuke thought. "Yeah, Ki-kun?"

Kichirou beamed at him and tripped over his next words. "It's not a school night, so... Do you think… Can we watch the new Featherman movie? You haven't seen it yet!"

Yosuke smiled at him, bemused by a thought. "Are you suggesting this because your Uncle Seta isn't here?"

"Y-yeah," Kichirou admitted. "I don't know why he doesn't like Featherman."

"He was always a Loveline fan," Yosuke said. "But sure, let's watch it."

Kichirou volunteered to put in the DVD and just a few minutes later they were watching the feature film. Yosuke didn't have any idea what was going to happen in this movie. He'd kinda tuned his son out when he'd gone on and on about it back when the movie had first come out.

During the opening credits, Kichirou cuddled up against Yosuke's side. Yosuke glanced down to see him grinning shyly up at him. Yosuke put his arm around his son and drew him close.

It seemed like he didn't have to waste the night after all.

For a kid's movie, it wasn't bad. The Featherman series was adept at sneaking in jokes and themes more geared towards adults so that parents watching it with their kids wouldn't get bored. Yosuke didn't really need that though. He'd been a fan way back when he was a kid. It was fun just to see what they were doing with the series now. They'd added another female hero for diversity, but thankfully hadn't let the story focus on romance.

As they watched, Kichirou got really comfortable, resting more of his weight against his dad. Yosuke patted his shoulder affectionately and he giggled. Yosuke couldn't help but smile. A few years from now and he might be too old to want to hang out with his old man like this.

"I really like this part," Kichirou said. He yawned widely after and buried his head against Yosuke's side.

At Kichirou's urging, Yosuke paid close attention to the next scene. It was full of action and lots of cheesy posing but the lines were memorable. There was a mind control thing and Red Condor dramatically broke free of it right at last second.

"That was pretty good," Yosuke said when it was over.

Kichirou didn't answer. When he looked down, Yosuke found his son had fallen asleep.

When the credits rolled, Yosuke carefully repositioned Kichirou into his lap. Then he carried the boy to bed. He tucked him into his Featherman-themed sheets, told him a soft 'goodnight' and left him with a small kiss on his forehead.

Things were okay, even without Souji.