Enjoy!
A Drop of Simple Happines
Have you ever wonder how Hiroki interact with Hitomi when he is by himself? Which mean, Nowaki left both alone. Off to save some lives, said Hiroki one day, half teasing but proud of his younger partner. It happens quite everyday, because our boys switching their work schedule and not letting nearly one year old baby alone in their apartment. Its definitely a no. Nowaki once suggest maybe they need a nanny or caretaker to help them taking care of their daughter. A second after that, Nowaki earn an absolute no from Hiroki. He somewhat taken conclusion that Hiroki wanted to take care Hitomi first hand. The professor surprise the doctor again by the way he insisted to take care Hitomi. As the result, from morning to evening, Hiroki leave their apartment to teach, while Nowaki on the apartment, looking after Hitomi. Later on, around noon, when Hiroki came back, Nowaki depart to Hospital, taking his shift at hospital. Before midnight, that is if there's no emergency, Nowaki came back before midnight. At weekends, they enjoy their domestic time together. So basically, Hitomi raised by both men.
But today is different though. Its the first time between the fourth month after they adopted Hitomi, when suddenly Nowaki receive an emergency-call on his phone. The nervous nurse told him there's a series of accident and they need more doctor. Nowaki stated he will be there soon. As soon as he put the phone off, he cursed himself and realize Hiroki won't be here any minutes. His eyes darted at the analogue clock on their apartment wall. It show four pm sharp. Hiroki usually reach their apartment for one hour later, which is mean Hiroki's still on office. The doctor consider whether he call Hiroki or not, remembering the brunette didn't like to be disturbed during his work unless its emergency. He prefer text. But this is emergency, isn't it? Leaving Hitomi alone. He tapped his finger to search Hiroki's number. Its not take too long, since Hiroki's number is 1 on his dial speed.
"Yes, Nowaki?" answered the brunette, acknowledge Nowaki's number
"Ah, Hiro-san, I'm sorry to interrupted you but there's an emergency on hospital and the nurse said they're short of doctor..." explain the pediatrician
"Allright. I'm clean up some stuff first and go home." growl Hiroki in reply
Nowaki stunned in a second on how his Hiro-san's fast response.
"Aren't you suppose in the middle of work, Hiro-san? Actually I'm just planning to inform you about the emergency and maybe we could try to find someone to take care Hitomi for an hour. I know a nurse from..." said Nowaki, not sure how he elaborate the situation. Maybe calling his brunette is wrong option afterall and he could call back to emergency receptionist and said he couldn't make it because he will left his ten month old daughter alone on their apartment. "...uh, on second thought, I should call the hospital that I couldn't make it then. No need for you to rush back home, Hiro-san. I'll see you at dinner then. " said Nowaki, hang up the phone
A minute later, Nowaki press down the number and call. Nowaki utter an apologies, said he couldn't make it because that will leave Hitomi in their apartment alone. That, indeed, will make Hiroki gone mad and he himself won't let Hitomi's alone on their apartment for another...what-ten years later? Although all nurse on the hospital will coo her over and could take care of her for a while, but Hiroki said he won't let anyone near of their daughter. A soft whine shatter his uneasy thoughts of hospital. He put himself a fond of smile when he reach the white crib. The crib itself has a soft baby pink netting, covering on top. Nowaki shook it open and cooing Hitomi, while he take her daughter on his arm.
"There, there. No need to be grumpy like your father did." said Nowaki patted her back
"Ma?" said Hitomi between her decrease whine and snuggled for warmth on Nowaki's woolen jumper
Nowaki chuckle in his deep voice.
"No. I"m not your Ma. Please do remind that your 'ma' doesn't like it when you call that." said Nowaki with a cringe on his lips
The female rub her own eyes with her knuckles and blink sleepily, like she try to awake now. Indeed, after four month with Hitomi, he began to learn Hitomi's sleeping cycle. She usually up within these noon hours. Always before her dinner or maybe, if he lucky, before he take his shift to hospital, which is started a couple hours later on. Nowaki was just started talking to Hitomi on his arm, when he heard the rustling cloth on outside. within second, Nowaki could imagine the keys jingle from Hiroki's pocket and the door click to open.
"Nowaki!" said the brunette, with his calling tone, unlike his-everyday-tone 'I'm home.'
"Nursery, Hiro-san. Hitomi has just woke up, hasn't you?" said Nowaki half talking to Hitomi and answering Hiroki
Nowaki found his brunette has just open the door and stare at him strangely.
"Yes?" said Nowaki, putting down their daughter who are now squirming his legs. Being antsy is one sign that Nowaki understand that Hitomi wanted to crawl.
"You didn't go to the emergency?" said Hiroki
"No. Hitomi would be alone." said Nowaki, eyeing their daughter began crawling upon a small rug
"Go now, Nowaki."
"Hiro-san?"
"Oh, Nowaki! You know what I mean. I even left an hour earlier for you, you idiot." said Hiroki, growled to his husband
Oh. Oh. A revelation downed upon Nowaki.
"Thank you Hiro-san! I'm off earlier then." said Nowaki, grinning widely and put a peck of kiss on Hiroki's cheek
"Hm." mumble Hiroki. He always wonder after all these years, Nowaki still made him weak on his knees.
He saw Nowaki hopping into their bedroom, which is next to the nursery. Hiroki went outside for a moment, to hear a rustling cloth. Hiroki take a glance at the mountain piles of books their bedroom. Maybe they need to talk about moving. After put more proper clothes, Nowaki gives his usual goodbye kiss to Hiroki and (of course) Hitomi, uttering some apologies for skipping their dinner and went out with his white lab coats on his arm.
"Ma?" said a small voice, calling out Hiroki from his thought of a certain doctor
His original reaction wanted to snapped and scold whoever call him by that ridiculous nick name. As his feet bringing him to the soft-coloured nursery, his sight fall into their daughter innocent's violet eye. His anger crumble half of it and approach their daughter, which asking him to carry him, by the gesture of her arm rising up.
"Hello to you too, Hitomi." said Hiroki with his calm tone, bend down to pick up their daughter
He, secretly, decided that he never bored to nuzzle and smell Hitomi. Not in perverted way, mind you, but she smell nice. Warmth, a bit baby powder, faint fragrance from dry cloth and something unique from her own body which smell vulnerable. It made Hiroki wanted to protect this girl. He could feel Hitomi replying his hug by sinking on his chest. Hiroki always wonder why this baby girl seems to trust him unconditionally. The literature professor pick up Hitomi and sat her down on his arm. Minutes later when he carrying the girl to their living room, Hitomi began all antsy again, so Hiroki put her down again. He was just put the warmed plate and bowl from the microwave, when he saw a blink of light from the dim light on living room. His eyes darted around, to find Nowaki's laptop blink slowly. Hiroki glared at the screen as if hurts him and he read the information. It appears Nowaki received a video call, from someone. 'Someone' is Seijirou. The name written under the blank picture on the screen. Hiroki curse under his breath and leave the laptop blinking alone.
"Dinner time, Hitomi." said Hiroki, giving his rare smile on his daughter
Hitomi seems to understand the words. Or maybe, she just smell the food aroma on the air, so that Hitomi enthusiastically raising her arms.
"Up! Up!" she giggles and grin (is that another tooth coming up in front? No wonder Nowaki by her some chewing toys.)
Hiroki raised her up and place her on his hip. He planning to walk to the dinner table when the laptop seems to insist his attention from the blinking again. Hiroki rise his eyebrow and catch Hitomi's uncle name. He ignored it and place Hitomi on her baby chair. He put the small bowl, which consist of some sort of porridge, with some cheery orange bits (must be carrots), beef and small green leaf all over the porridge. Hitomi bounce on her chair happily and let out gurgle of laugh. Hitomi blew out some hot air before giving the first bite to Hitomi.
After much and much patience of a certain literature professor feeding his daughter, he finally get himself a dinner too. He let Hitomi's out from the high chair and put her down, crawling herself from the dining room to the living room. He jogged to the living room to find Hitomi after rinse off the dishes, when the laptop still blink annoyingly to him.
"Allright. Let's see what you want." growl Hiroki, tapped a symbol of green phone on the laptop
The LCD screen blinked in a minute and reappearing with a moving picture of sand-haired brunette teenage boy. There's a messy bedroom on the background.
"Kusama-san! What take yo- oh..." said Seijirou, stopped under his excitement breath
"What do you want?" said Hiroki, folded his arm across his chest
"Sorry! Sorry! Didn't want to disturb you! Since Kusama-san said I could contacting him by video call so uh..." said Seijirou uncertain
"You want to see how's Hitomi doing, don't you?" said Hiroki, with a sigh
"Yea. Can I?" said Seijirou, raising his neck up, trying to see what's behind Hiroki, searching for his niece. He held the laptop up, bringing Nowaki's laptop to Hitomi
"This will be quick if I leave her in front Nowaki's laptop then. Hitomi? Where are you?" said Hiroki, stand up, spin around to find Hitomi. It appears that Hitomi attach herself to the coffee table leg, perfectly behind his sitting before. He crouched himself near Hitomi. His words stopped in the middle of his throat, when he saw Hitomi frowned her eyebrow, making an expression of really hard concentration, as much as ten month old baby girl can. Her small palm gripped around the coffee table chair, clenching and unclenching.
"Hitomi?" said both Seijirou and Hiroki, curious about what did the ten months old doing with a leg of coffee table
Hiroki saw it on a slow motion. Hitomi put both her feet strategically, so that she can step perfectly. She wiggled her toes and make a motion to hoist herself up. Once. Twice. Thrice. The ten months old now standing, but not perfectly still. Her balance look alike a drunk people standing, but still. She is standing with her own feet.
"Ma! Look! Me, up!" said Hitomi, nodding enthusiastically and let out a triumphant grin. Proud of herself. She hesitantly pull her feet from the floor, an inch away away and fumbling a few centimeters closer to her so-called 'Ma'.
Hiroki forgotten about the laptop, as the laptop sliding and thump softly on the wooden floor.
-o0o-
Later that night, Seijirou fall asleep with peaceful smile. He was grinning madly after his video-call with the professor. While after his first meeting with Kusama-san, he was sure he left his only biological family on his hand. Doubt fall upon the brunette man name Kamijou Hiroki, said that he was the partner of Kusama Nowaki. Kamijou Hiroki in Seijirou personal view is always seems snappy, not very much talkative, speak when its necessary, private person and the expression on his face always divided into two point, whether its annoyance or anger. But Kusama-san seems to love and trust Kamijou-san endlessly, plus, madly in love, so Seijirou place a bet for his trusting issues. After the horrible kidnapping and Kamijou's dramatic rescuing, Seijirou decided to place some plus point about Kamijou. It appear the professor seems to care Hitomi more than he thinks.
How about their daily life? Seijirou still not sure if the new addition on Kusama-Kamijou household can handle his Hitomi. Today, he watch a surprising moment between the men household. He was just cooing over Hitomi, on her first step, when Kamijou-san precede him. His eye frown with a sight kaleidoscopic view about clean apartment, dim lightning from the living room to the hall, right in front of a door. With the laptop dropped on the wooden floor, Seijirou's view is limited. But he could hear exactly what Kamijou speak. He never thought that grumpy man could speak in such adoration on his words. Short but encourage tone, with a sincere proud parent tone.
"Smart girl, Hitomi!" said the professor, as Seijirou saw the two little feet suddenly lift up from the floor. He heard heavy rustling and a faint peck of kisses. The teen see nothing but wood floor and a man feet.
"Wish Nowaki was here on your first time stand on your own two feet. He have been trying ages to coax and persuade you to walk. Think you could show that to your daddy?" said Hiroki again full with adoration and proud tone
A few minutes later, the professor realize there were another person in the room. Well, virtually. Needless to say, Hiroki make sure Seijirou swear under his breath that he hear and see nothing, despite from Hitomi's first step. The teen practically nodded and speak that he swore into his own grave. Before he went to bed, he pondering about what happen that noon. There's always an exception on every time he met the professor that made him full of surprises.
Kamijou Hiroki is indeed just a mere man, capable to show another expression (Seijirou doubt on this one, because the permanent frown line that attach on Hiroki's forehead), including sincere adoring expression and a drop of simple happiness.
Inspired by one of Sherlock BBC episode, Scandal in Belgravia
and
fluffy fanfic (forgot the title! Shame.) which show little Hamish trying to show Sherlock his own first step, by clinging one of table leg.