Work Text:
Kenji Kishimoto
The shrieking cries of the alarm pierces through my ears. Damn it. I groan internally as my eyes refuse to open. Too damn heavy again.
I lift my hand up and jam down the button on top—knocking over the damn thing. Shit.
Stretching my arms and legs, I let out a quiet groan.
It’s been a little over a year since the big ass drawing of the Rapunzal poster had been the first thing I see every morning. Birthday gift.
Jello had found an artist to draw it, and well she had the obvious problem of getting me out of the house. And that’s where Mr. Golden boy comes in, he took me away to the forest area for some ‘connecting with the nature’ crap, and well gotta say the man played his part well—I didn’t suspect no shit until I came back three days later.
Man I love those two.
Love.
Nazeera had come to visit last month, see J—‘cause she’s her best friend or some shit. No actually, I’m her best friend. She’s just the person who knew her before the Anderson memory wiping shit.
Still didn’t stop her from showing up with that perfect face and that stupidly beautiful smile. God dammit, she’s so so freaking pretty. So damn smart.
And she dumped me like puppy.
Now I’m back to same shitty feeling. I know I can love the heck out of someone, but I’ve got no one to give them to. Even seeing J and Warner is sad. Don’t get me wrong—I’m thrilled for them, but they got something so rare. So good.
Damnit Kenji. No Nazeera or thinking about love unless it’s 10pm and you’re three drinks down!
It’s fine. I’ve still got a steady supply of food and a whole ass house just for myself. That’s more than I could’ve ever dreamt for. I’m grateful. I’m grateful for this and my friends. I’m grateful for Jello.
Jello. Shit. I’m getting late for our morning walk. Shit. Shit. Well atleast Warner’s not going to be there to tell me how I should’ve got up at three to avoid this shit.
Half an hour and one shower later, I was picking my jacket from the ground—dusting it and throwing it on.
I leave my house, locking the green and purple lock and crossing the road to Jello’s. I rap on the door for her to come out.
“She’ll be out in a minute,” Warner calls out, his voice muffled. Well, making our breakfast, undoubtedly.
Ten years. Ten years it’s been since we’re neighbours and Romeo still isn’t happy about it.
Ten years since the morning walks became a tradition of ours. The first few years we had to take a ten-membered guard team with us, but as the time went on, Waffle was officially established with heavy security around it and as long as we strolled in it, security wasn’t needed.
I was about to rap James Bond theme on the door when the door opened—revealing a heavily messed up J.
Her eyes are bloodshot red and puffy, but there seems to be a light in it or some shit. Her hair is all over the place and down. Damn J almost never liked her hair down, something’s bad. Bad, bad.
“Damnit J! What the hell happened? What’s wrong? Did Ass-wipe make you cry?”
“No Kishimoto. I don’t make my wife cry.” Warner calls back from the kitchen. But even his voice is off, and he isn’t hiding or can’t hide it.
“Well, she’s crying and you’re an asshole. It’s basic math.”
“I’m fine Kenji,” J says. I raise an eyebrow.
“Really J? Well I don’t think so ‘cause your eyes are fucking puffy and red. And isn’t there a pink ribbon or some shit that’s supposed to be in your hair?”
“Pink ribbon?” She repeats, laughing. Somehow it seems genuine. “Come on Kenji! I’m fine, we’re late for the walk,”
Her laugh seems normal, and she knows better than to hide it from me if it was anything bad. I decide to trust her after all.
“Alright then, Jello. Let’s go,” I say, walking out onto the sidewalks. We walk along the buildings, the cold air hitting us. Damn it’s cold and it’s just the starting of October.
“Yesterday J, we got a new patient in the facility. Leon. The guy lost his absolute nuts. He was just like..drunk?”
“Hmm,”
I look back at her, and I can see in her eyes that she’s not here. She’s inside that self made prison of a mind of hers.
“Hello? Earth to princess!” I say, snapping my fingers infront of her eyes.
“Yeah?” She asks, blinking.
“You locked yourself in your mind and here I was, poor me yapping away, only not to be heard!” I say, in mock anger—but letting on just enough worry in my voice that I’m sure J will understand, if not anyone else.
“I’m fine Kenji. Well beyond fine,” J says, still giving me the wide laugh.
Damnit. This is so fucking confusing, she’s neither fully gone nor fully here.
“Anyways so Ian was like ‘Yeah he’s not drunk and shit—’”
“I’m pregnant Kenji!”
“WAIT, WHAT?!” My voice sounds like a drunk ghost trying opera singing. I probably made some pigeon shit it’s brain out somewhere.
“Yeah. Pregnant. Not joking. Real,”
“Okay. Okay, slow down so this is like medically sure or like..might be—”
“Medically sure. Calm down Kenji,” J’s laughing out loud now.
She’s calm. I’m not calm. Damnit!
J. A mom.
Honestly? I’m beyond excited for these two, after all the failed pregnancies and IVFs… J. A mom. I can hardly believe it.
“I’m so happy for you J! Seriously, if anyone deserves this, you two. Congratulations J!” I sound like I’m already down three drinks, my eyes—may or may not be a little watery.
“Thank you Ken—” She starts to say.
I cut her off with a grin “I can’t wait to teach the kid some cuss words!”
“No! No, absolutely not—” J starts to protest.
“Jesus Jello! It’s a joke!” I say, putting my hands up. “Already such a good mother. But seriously, you can’t make me wait till the kid’s thirteen to teach cuss words.”
“Aaron’s not going to let you teach him at all! My thirteen is the better one,” She says, still laughing.
“Ah ‘cause King-Stick-Up-His-Ass believes only dumb people cuss or some shit,”
“Let’s keep the cussing deal between us, promise?” She asks.
“Pinky promise.”
Even as we continue our walk, me throwing out the most ridiculous possibilities, I can’t stop smiling. J’s pregnant. J’s going to be a mom. And somehow in the absolute messy shit of a life everyone’s having now, my heart feels lighter than it did in ages.