Title: 021 - Aloof

Author: schyra

Rating: ?

Pairings/Characters: Haru, Gale

Warnings: -

Summary: Haru was growing up, and there was nothing Gale could do about it.

Author's Note: Personal introspective.

-~~~-oOo-~~~-

021 - Aloof

Haru was growing up, and there was nothing Gale could do about it.

Gale and Haru sat at the table in the early morning, both preoccupied with their own daily routines. Gale flipped the pages of the newspaper, eyes skimming disinterestedly over the lines of print. Haru chewed slowly on his toast, contemplating. It was quiet. Things had been awkward lately, between them. Haru didn't want to be around Gale so much. More and more, he wanted to go out and do things, wanted to be left alone in his room, didn't want to listen.

More and more, his father seemed... over-bearing. Seemed to want to jump in on every little thing he did, seemed to want to force his way into things Haru was not quite comfortable with him meddling in.

Gradually, both began to withdraw away into themselves.

Haru was growing up, and there was nothing Gale could do about it.

The house was quiet. Nobody else had woken up yet, and dew was still cool upon the grass. It was still dawn. Both sat silently, contemplating. Lost in their thoughts and gazing out into the nearby distance.

And then, Haru got up. Abandoning his breakfast of toast and hot chocolate, he grabbed his father's wrist and began to tug him out of his seat. "C'mon," he said.

"W-wha?" Gale blinked, taken by surprise. "Go where?"

"C'mon," Haru repeated again, tossing his head in the general direction of somewhere.

"Can't this wait?"

"C'mon."

And finally Gale left his seat. Full of curiosity, he followed his son out the door into the garden. "Stand there," Haru instructed, and left him in the middle of their lawn. Gale quirked an eyebrow at his puzzling son. Everyday, the boy got more and more confusing it seemed. More difficult.

Haru left, and Gale let his gaze wander.

He took in the crisp morning air, the cool breeze... the newly reborn light. It was the dawn of a new day. The elder Glory breathed deep, and smiled to himself. Speaking of which, where was..?

"HIYAAAAAAAAA-!"

"WHAT TH- OOF!"

Gale bent over double, wheezing, the air knocked out of him. On his back, Haru laughed like a maniac, arms held tight around his father's neck. "Piggyback ride~!"

"PIGGYBA-... aren't you a little old for this?"

"That should be my question shouldn't it?"

"What? You rude little brat, get off!"

They struggled, Gale trying to get his son off his back, and Haru latching on tight. Seriously, what was with this kid? It was waaaay too early in the morning to be dealing with his unreasonable crap! Teens! Gale growled under his breath, trying in vain to dislodge his son and storm back into the warmth of his living room.

Haru pressed his face to his father's neck. "Touchan," he said. "The view from your shoulders is still the best."

Gale's eyes widened, mouth opening in surprise. He turned to look at his youngest over his shoulder.

"Haru..."

"Faster, faster!"

"Aaah..! Gwah!" Gale stumbled backwards, losing his balance as Haru kicked his legs.

"O-oi! You've gotten heavy, dammit!"

"Isn't it just that you've gotten weaker?"

"Why, you-!"

END.