[CHUCK MCCOY]

✧ RIP ✧

Summer Solstice!!

Before I met my girl, it ain’t have meaning. Just a couple days that blurred into the aimless perpetuity that was my sad, sorrowful existence at the time. From crashing cars just to feel something as a kid to being under a gang’s thumb, sweating my organs out with the carnage. But now everyday’s a celebration. Every holiday has some new tradition we’re building together; I pay attention now to the late night infomercials that talk ‘bout what parents should be doing to honor this or that thing for their kids. Me and my moongirl always went our own way anyway. But if there ain’t so much pride in it, so much swelling of my heart just belonging to something much bigger than just me and us now. Just wait till I could take ‘em all to the Fourth of July in the States!!

“A’ight, one more push!” I chirp all excitedly to my daughter, holding her tiny mitts in mine as I drove the stake into the ground. “WOW attagirl!!” She gurgles up at me, tiny hands floating through the air without any semblance of coordination. It’s hella cute. They get so hyped for every damn thing it makes me wild happy! Energizes you hella, even when they cry all night and it’s like my soulmate wifey and I are surviving off of happy memories and bottomless cups of coffee and hot chocolate. “See? The tent’s up! It’s the Summer Solstice, so we’re gonna turn off all the lights in the house and camp out here! How ‘bout it?!” I rock her back and forth so she giggles more, all her little spit wiped away with my thumb. I like explaining things to them, like if I start now n’ just don’t stop talkin’ to ‘em they’ll feel comfortable enough to talk to me about the hard things in life. That’s a big hope!!

“Your momma likes sushi and hot chocolate,” I say, pressing my index finger lightly to her nose as she bursts out laughing, “don’t forget it, kid!” I wrap her up tight in two arms, free ones messing with the outdoor grill. The koi swim in their pond, weaving little ripples in time to the undulating flame. “So that’s why we have a lot of eel here,” I keep going, “aaand other seafood from those mutated monstrosities that haunted the Bay. That was hella crazy, ain’t it?!” Sizzles all the same when it hits the grill, smells just as good on this crisp summer night!! Aside from the grill, I’d lugged out chairs, an icebox with a whole host of drinks, and secret things in our tent!

tag: Kazashi McCoy

[Kazashi McCoy]

Summer Solstice!!

Her life had changed so much since she met Chuck. Since that day when he showed her what the light of hope and love could look like. Her existence used to be a dark, sad, miserable thing... Looking down at herself now, at him, at their adorable kids, she almost seemed like a completely different person from the Kazashi that used to resent her humanity. That longed for more simple shapes, to stay as clothes forever and never have to deal with emotions or people. She couldn't even stand the feeling of touch back then and now she found her hand constantly seeking out his, or wanted to hug the lil ones until they got hella sick of mama!

''She's helpin' out already? Learnin' hella fast.'' She grinned over at Chuck for a moment, then looked back down at Zenji. She had wrapped their son in her two scarf hands, making a little makeshift swing for him as she swayed him back and forth gently, causing him to burst out in laughter, that kind of baby laughter that heals the soul. It almost made her forget the lack of sleep she was getting recently because of these little stinkers! Her and Chuck both, taking turns tending to them and making sure they were doing okay. It had actually been a bigger challenge for her to separate from them. Let them lay there and rest for an hour or two and not constantly hold them in her arms and worry if they were doing okay. How could people start so small and grow big over time? It was hella puzzling!! ''Ya think they'll enjoy campin'?'' She stood up and walked over to Chuck so the whole family could be together, and so she could give him a quick smooch. ''Ah bet they'll grow up lovin' nature an' the forest around our house.'' She looked down at Zenji who was dangling his arms around, grinning like a little bandit. ''Ya think he's gonna be a climber? There's a lot of trees.'' She turned her hands back to normal and held him up to her face to smile back at him.

She blushed a little bit as Chuck mentioned her love for hot chocolate and sushi. ''Ya hear that, Zenji?'' She lowered her voice to a whisper as she peeked over at Chuck, smiling with their son like they were being all secretive even though they were sitting right next to him! ''Pa's talkin' about me, don't ya think he's silly?'' She nestled Zenji close as she leaned up against Chuck. ''Hella crazy, Ah don't think any of us were expectin' ta go fishin' that day.'' The smell of the grill was lovely, so was his cooking. Always was, always had been. ''We made it really cozy for ya, so don't worry about sleepin' out here.'' She told both Zenji and Yuzuki. ''If yer lucky it's gonna be a big shiny moon tonight.'' She gently rubbed the top of Yuzuki's head right between her little, growing horn stubs.

CHUCK MCCOY

[CHUCK MCCOY]

✧ RIP ✧

It was hella hard to take my eyes off her, bathed in moonlight, radiance all the brighter. Sometimes I still think my supermodel soulmate is some kinda illusion I cocked up, a trick of Charon luring death to Pluto. How could it be possible otherwise? How could someone like me be with someone like that, voluminous spirit swinging our son around in her scarf arms and bringing to life heaven on earth with her every laugh? It hurts to look at her too long. But I can’t stop, anyway. Moth to flame and all that and so much more. “Mhm,” I idly agree, drowning in the sweetness of her grin before looking back to the grill. Yuzuki seems to read my mind, happy, tiny fingers sweeping over my jaw like she was teasing me. My upper arms rub lil circles into her big baby cheeks, obsessed with her gurgle!! “What? Your mom’s super pretty!! You look at her like that too y’know!” She laughs more, spraying spit onto my face and I close my eyes, erupting in deep laughs.

“Campin’?! Hell yeah!” I beam in her smooch, practically havin’ a mini stroke and forgetting how to talk for the next few seconds!! Good thing my arms are still working, flipping the food on the grill so it ain’t get burnt! “I think their favorite place will be… wherever you are.” An extra arm reaches over to curl around her waist, pulling her in tight for a surprise kiss! “Then home n’ the forest!!” It made my heart damn happy. To know they’d grow up not only with loving parents but with the world at their fingertips, sprawling forestlands to transverse and explore all on their own. None of the hurried, exhausting life that was living in the city. Crazy how you ain’t even realize it till you’re not in it!! I grin up at her, laughing even more with Zenji’s wild expression!! “Oh, for sure. Get ready, baby, it’s gonna start with him scouring to the top of the kitchen cabinets for all the snacks after bedtime!!”

I start plating mountains of food onto the serving dishes, great trays of eel and fish and ribs and helluva lot more!! But above the sizzle and steam of the grill, I was hella attuned to her every word. And Yuzuki’s tiny baby breaths at my chest. A shy smile finds my face, all the shyer when she leans up against me!! Seven years later and I still have an out of control crush on my wife!! “Right baby?! We gotta lotta good catches that day! I ain’t know what the government’s gonna do with the Bay, but let’s go back there for more if we can!!” A mischievous grin found my face!! Instead of killing people, now I’m the seasoned grill MASTER, assassin of deep sea creatures!! I bring all the trays over to our tent, propping them on our lil table. The kids ooh and aweee and fwhaha!! at their momma’s words, reaching up to her as she says shiny moon!! “That’s right, she is the moon!!” I tell ‘em, handing a plate to my girl as I snuggled up besides her and our kids!! Yuzuki coos, closing her eyes with the head rubs! “Ah HA, so she takes after you with the horn rubs, ain’t she?” I tease, taking mental notes before gently threading my rough fingertips exactly on the same spot for Kazashi!!

tag: Kazashi McCoy

[Kazashi McCoy]

''What are ya thinkin' about?'' She winked at Chuck, catching him looking because she was hella looking right back at him!! Would their kids be embarrassed at seeing their parents be so openly loving to each other, kissing each other goodbye in the morning before work and taking them to school? They'd better be! She would pride herself on being that embarrassing, but sweet and loving mom and would do her all to have the best relationship possible with these little stinkers. Sensing that Zenji might have had enough excitement with her scarf swing she reeled him in so she could nestle him and he could catch a break. He hella didn't look like it though, the little guy had oodles of energy, hella got it from his pa!

''Wherever Ah am? Ya don't think they're gonna follow ya ta yer secret place? Once they're older yer gonna have ta be sneaky about it.'' He had taken extra precautions to setup his dangerous workspace away from the house, but she just knew these little troublemakers were going to sneak after him one day! She closed her eyes in the surprise kiss, then pulled him in for one too! ''Sounds like a dream doesn't it? Ah didn't even realize, but it's like we got a house from outta some fairytale. Perfect location an' all. Perfect husband too.'' She looked down at Zenji who was looking intently at the both of them, almost as if he was following the entire conversation. ''No way! Ya wouldn't do that would ya? The tops of the kitchen cabinets is the only baby safe place ta put things!'' She giggled, holding up Zenji who looked down and took her index finger, holding it in his tiny hand.

''This smells amazin' an' looks heavenly! We should hella go back an' see if we can grab some more!'' She grinned right back at him. Food for weeks, months? They weren't exactly struggling, but she happened to love seafood and if they could save money and help with the clean up of the Bay then that was just a win-win situation. She chuckled when the kids reached up for her, accepting her plate with one hand while she turned her other arm into a scarf so she could wrap it around the little ones and scoop them up and pull them in for family cuddles. ''Does she?'' She blushed lightly, her heart melting as she watched Yuzuki relax from the rubs. ''Ah guess it feels good ta her too.'' She shoveled a piece of eel into her mouth before reaching over to rub Zenji the same way too. ''Do ya like it too, Zenji? Ya have so much energy just like yer dad, it'd be a miracle if we could find a way ta make ya calm down quick.'' Chewing on the eel she looked over at Chuck and kissed his forehead. ''It's delicious, Chuchu.'' She whispered, licking her lips.

CHUCK MCCOY

[CHUCK MCCOY]

✧ RIP ✧

I snap back to reality with her wink, hella embarrassed!! What was I thinking about? How entrancingly beautiful she was. Was she really real? How badly I wanted to get her pregnant again. Where to whisk her away on the next vacation? How old do the twins gotta be to remember Disneyland? Should I read the bedtime stories in Spanish so they learn it? How to make it all work - and should I craft her a hot chocolate bar or an outdoor bench for the pond next? How many donuts could she balance on her chest at once?! I ain’t know how to say all my stupid shit out loud!! “N-nothing,” I say instead, “you’re just really pretty.” ‘Bout sums it up anyway!

I peer down at Yuzuki’s big white and auric eye, gasp playfully at her with what my girl says!! “OIYA… they’re gonna be quite the handful, ain’t they? Hella smarter than me too!! How am I gonna fool them?!” Two hands hug our daughter close as another two gently cup her ears. She gurgles, baby dimples lighting up with joy. “See, my secret place is hella TOP secret! Sorry, you ain’t allowed in just yet, lil babe!” My girl was hella right. Ain’t long before our ZuZu’s crack the code, they were just gonna be that smart and cunning, I could tell already!! I beam up at her for everything she says, my heart pulsing faster and faster in ecstasy. “It’s the happy ending! We fought for that shit, baby girl!! N I’ll fight with my life to protect you and that ending too! Perfect soulmate wifey.” I lift up a fist triumphantly, emphatically, before going back to grilling. Then snort at Zenji’s expression, a happy tear forming for how his tiny hand held onto Kazashi’s finger!! “He’s gonna be so guilty alright. That cuteness of his is gonna bail him outta so much trouble, ain’t it?” How were we gonna discipline these snotlings?!

“Hell yeah, Zāzā!!” Any excuse for free food was worthwhile, not like we needed it but hey, free is a whole new level of nice when you got kids! I remember pulling together my meager gang wages, the scraps the Covenini threw my way after their cuts. Literal or metaphorical. Used every yen to pay for dates, fought to put on this big bluff, stupidly thinkin’ she’d love me more if I was a traditionally macho man who’d pay for her like that. Hella cute times. We’re unfathomably rich now, in a way hella so few understand. I sit down next to my wife, an arm snug around her waist as she scooped all the lil ones closer. Their big baby eyes look up between the both of us, saliva dripping down their round chins as their fingers go up to their mouths. I stab a piece of eel with the knife, piling it into my mouth without blowing!! “A climber with endless energy, too!! He’s gonna be a trouble maker, ain’t he?!” I turn to Yuzuki, leaning in to give her a fierce kiss on the forehead!! “Or will it be you, lil doll?” Then I’m all flushing, forehead ignited where she kisses!! “I-I’m glad!! There’s hella more where that all came from!” I say all too fast, eyes lingering on her lips long after she licked them!

tag: Kazashi McCoy

[Kazashi McCoy]

''Little old me?'' She giggled, fluttering her eyelashes. ''That's funny, Ah was just thinkin' the same thing lookin' at ya.'' Happiness was being able to spend her days with Chuck and her kids. She felt as though she had truly found her place in the world, where she belonged and what she was meant to do. She saw it all reflected in his beautiful white eyes, the Kazashi that she wanted to become, who she needed to become for their kids, for him.

''Ya hear that? Only once dad says yer old enough.'' She smiled at Zenji who was preoccupied looking at a butterfly. They were probably going to have this conversation with them many times over as they got older too. ''But ya can come with me inta my bakery whenever. ~'' The thought of being able to work not only close to home, but being able to look after the twins while doing so too, it filled her with reassurance and comfort. It surely was an easier task than trying to bring them to her hero work, babies on patrols would be hella impossible to manage! ''That's right, we went through a lot didn't we?'' From secretly dating, to openly dating, to fighting crime, bad family and all the other stuff they had struggled through together. They had come a long way, but every step of it had been worth it for where they had ended up. For once, it felt like fate was on their side. She gasped when Zenji took her finger and grinned. ''Ya got me Zenji!'' She leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the forehead before looking at Chuck. ''Ya mean like how yer cuteness bails ya out of trouble? If he learns from ya then he's gonna be hella charmin'!''

''Could be both of them, we might just be unlucky enough.'' She chuckled, scarfing down some more food. She knew she couldn't take her time eating around the kids since they needed to be fed too, but she enjoyed Chuck's cooking all the same. ''Hella! Ah'm feelin' extra hungry for some reason.'' She said mid-chew, all while shooting Chuck looks and winks while the whole family huddled close.

CHUCK MCCOY

[CHUCK MCCOY]

✧ RIP ✧

I gasp. “Y-you were?!” A flush travels up my neck and cheeks, so in awe of her giggle, that little flutter!! Like her every move was something mesmerizing, the premier act to hold onto in my heart for all my days. If this grill ain’t separate us, I’d have my hands all over her, hugging every curve I’d call home. Hell, all over, at every angle she was hella breathtaking!! “Ah, Zāzā!!” My mouth failed then, this helluva tiny brain not knowing words enough to say how beautiful she was or how much she meant to me. How she’d carved me from rock, chiseled my heart to fit perfectly to hers. She’s diamond and moonstone, I’m the metal band protecting her in this life and infinite loops again and again after. Unyielding matrimony.

“Listen to your ma!! She’s hella strong and always right!” My words are in one ear and out the other as Zenji’s peerin’ up at that butterfly, happy gurgles bouncing out his lips. I smirk. Prolly ain’t gonna be any different when he’s sixteen following me to the hideout, either. I oogle up at my wife. The bakery? I blink. “The bakery!!” We’d been so busy running around with our kids, gettin’ through these sleepless and perfect first few months that’d time moved funny. Impossibly slow when the kids were bawling at four am, but somehow insanely fast when I went to wrap all four arms around my wife every night. How?! But I ain’t ever forget her dream! “You wanna drive ‘round the village over next weekend?” I grin. “Maybe ‘Gumi can watch the kids and we can scout out places and more.” My eyes soften at what she says next, tongue slipping out to lick my upper lip. “Yeah, we did. I love you.” I blow a kiss at her from here, internally promising to multiply that by a billion real ones once I was sitting next to her again!! Flipping eels, crispy and moist while bouncing Yuzuki between my arms, laughing at Zenji and her bein’ cute. “Learns from me?!” I blush, a free hand going up to my neck. I hold up Yuzuki, snuggling her face real close. “Listen kid, you gotta keep your brother in check!! You’re the only one his cuteness won’t work on, okay?! You have his whole world at your fingertips!!” I had to make oaths with our girl right now!!

“Tch!” I start playfully, leaning in to kiss our daughter on her forehead. “They say a kid’s their parents’ greatest karma. So, what’s it gonna be, Grand Judges? Whaddya gonna be like for me and your mom?” Two arms sneak a little bite of de-boned eel to each one, although the food could prolly be a lil cooler for them. Plus, I wanted my love to relax and enjoy her food, too!! To no surprise, they scarf it down hella quick, like they’d never eaten a day in their lives!! “So I’m baitin’ the panel, so what!! You’ll rule in our favor and be good, woncha?” I wink at them, thick eyebrows scrunching up at what my beautiful wife says. “Extra hungry?” Then they straighten out!! “Hella good, baby, ‘cause there’s a lot more where that came from!! The eel’s just the starting half of the first half of the half of the real entree!!” I was grinning, lured right into her siren’s lullaby!

tag: Kazashi McCoy

[Kazashi McCoy]

''Always an' forever, that's why Ah whisper ta ya all the time.'' She smiled smugly, flashing him a wink as she showed off her wedding ring tattoo. ''Yeah?'' She chuckled, loving Chuck's outburst and how flustered he got, soaking in every moment of family time they could get together. ''How's keepin' an eye on the grill? Hopefully Yuzuki isn't makin' it too hard on ya.'' She shook Zenji gently, his smile reaching his eyes as he tried to grab her ring tattoo repeatedly, big curious eyes wondering why it wasn't coming off. ''Ya like tattoos?'' She smiled at Zenji, ''gotta ask pa for permission before ya can get one.''

''It's easy ta forget, isn't it? We've had so much happen lately, the house, the kids, Ah almost forgot too if it wasn't for all my notes Ah store with my sewing kit in my office.'' They were on a roll. Dream after dream checked off her list, happy marriage? A house, kids and a growing happy family? It almost felt too good, her every wish coming through in such a short span of time, could she really be so greedy as to wish for a bakery too? ''That sounds like a good idea!'' Her eyes lit up at the thought, she had been doing a little quick scouting too online so she knew just where to start their hunt. ''If Megumi-chan can't Ah'll call my mom, Ah know she'd be happy ta take the time ta be with these little trolls.'' As if on cue, Zenji got ahold of a lock of her hair and held onto it as his head rolled back to smile up at Chuck. ''Ah love ya too.'' She pretended to catch the kiss and blow it back at him, giggling like a fool in the process.

They were living the good life, camping in their backyard with grilled food and the little ones healthy and happy. She gave them both a little tickle with her scarf arm to hear them coo before she turned to finish what was on her plate. ''Ah'm sure they will.'' It was Yuzuki's turn to get distracted by the butterfly, leaning up against Chuck munching on the food she was given while big eyes observed it curiously. The world was still hella new to them. ''Yeah.'' She admitted a bit embarrassed, she had been used to eating less food before her pregnancy, but one change she loved about her increased appetite was the fact that she could enjoy more of his cooking without feeling full immediately. ''Really? ~'' She hummed, tilting her head to one side. ''What else ya got cookin' Chuchu?''

CHUCK MCCOY

[CHUCK MCCOY]

✧ RIP ✧

“K-Kaz chan!!” I drop the damn spatula into the grill looking at her!! Yuzuki laughs at me, lil palms flailing this way and that as I plunge my hand into the burning coals to fish it out. “AH te-tet-te!!” I hiss, the sear hella nothing in comparison to what was happening over my face and chest!! “Your dad’s a fool for your mom!! hella gyat! Not my fault she’s so beautiful!!” I sing to our daughter, bouncing off and on one foot as I shake my hand out. She was that effortlessly seductive. I’d walk in coals for her, drown in them all the same and still feel like I was on Cloud 9 cause I had her. “Our daughter’s an angel, but I think this grill’s out to get me. I’ll kill it!! After it kills the calamari and kabutoyaki!!” I’m salivating all over again, a spare hand ruffling our lil cherub’s hair before turning back to my wife. Tattoos? My eyes widen!! “We may consider it once you hit your 40th birthday, Zenji!! No alcohol, most drugs or dating before that!!”

Despite my antics, my eyes went soft then. “Mhm.” It was hella hard sometimes, leaning into that happiness. ‘Cause I thought I’d curse myself. Like as soon as I did it, hugged my world with all four arms and basked in her light, I’d know right there, that’s it. that’s when hell will break open on us. Like we ain’t gettin’ anything good for too long, not with a record like mine. Maybe the universal executor’s lying in wait, ready to reset the balance. Then I lift my head up, replaying her words. “Your notetaking is super cool.” It was always a helluva joy, unraveling the different ways we were organized or the myriad manifestations of the strengths each of us brought to the relationship. I was a hella, hella lucky man, greatest understatement of my life. Then I smirk, plating more of the food from the grill after throwing my upper hand into my ist. “It’s a date then, baby!!” By that time, I’d make sure to craft something useful for her mom in thanks!! Then I catch what Zenji’s doing, his big head and bigger smile, his head a half of a heart next to my love’s and my whole soul’s melting between my ribs. Her giggle and the blown kiss… I suck back a sob, Yuzuki’s squirming and smiling distracting me. I peer down at her, play with her tiny, tiny hands. Was it possible? Could we really be happy as a family just like this all our lives?

An insidious panic struck in my soul as soon as she told me she was pregnant. It ain't a fear of fatherhood, there was nothing I wanted more with her. (‘Sides getting old and dying together). But it was the overwhelming paranoia of how. How do we protect this? This idyllic moment that belonged to someone else’s life, not deserving of someone like mine - how do we keep this? Even sitting there with the woman I love more than anything, more than what was or what is to come, the tangible and unfathomable, some sector of my head is still thinking through it. Never stops. How to defend us by any means necessary. I peer down at Yuzuki watching the butterfly with her big white, auric eyes, heart and head churning. “I hope so too.” A spare hand reaches over one of my wife’s, squeezing her palm extra much. Then I’m back in her eyes, lost in the heart of her hum. “There’s octopus, fish and crab and corn and,” I whisper, leaning in, “I was gonna have you for dessert?”

tag: Kazashi McCoy

[Kazashi McCoy]

''Careful, hun.'' She added as he had to fish the spatula out of the grill, knowing full well that his regeneration could cover burns and then some. Still, that didn't stop her from showing concern when he was hurting. ''H-Hella gyat?!'' She cackled, making Zenji look up at her in confusion. ''Sorry Zenji, yer growin' up with strict parents. No tattoos.'' She nodded at Chuck, before sticking her tongue out at Zenji, who babbled and mimicked her by sticking his tongue out too.

''Ya think? Ah need ta do it otherwise Ah forget.'' She admitted, with a grin. Was age catching up to her at twenty-three? Couldn't be! What made it worse was it was always obvious when she was taking her notes, since she busted out her reading glasses so she could see the tiny letters she was writing. ''Ya never take notes, Chuchu?'' She looked down at Zenji, letting him play with her index finger while Chuck finished grilling their food. ''Hella. Can't remember the last time we went on a date, just the two of us.'' She smiled, her attention shifting to the food, eyeing it hungrily, hella impatient. Yuzuki's antics made her crack up all over again as Chuck had to juggle between cooking and entertaining their daughter.

Zenji squirmed then, clearly wanting to explore. ''Ya can go.'' She looked into his big auric cross eyes. ''But don't go too far, ya got it?'' He didn't give a response, but she gently put him down on the ground and watched him crawl around all on his own. Of course she didn't actually take her eyes off him. Whenever he crawled too far away, she transformed her arm into a scarf and very gently tugged him back towards them, making sure they could always see him and have him close by. She looked up at Chuck, smiling, squeezing his hand back. Her eyes widened as he mentioned the various foods on the grill. Was she salivating? Couldn't be!! ''S-Sure.'' She blushed, ''if yer that hungry.''

CHUCK MCCOY

[CHUCK MCCOY]

✧ RIP ✧

On God, hearing her deep rural lull healed the burn all by itself. I grip the spatula’s handle, knuckles going white. “Thank you, baby!!” I was sweating, had nothing to do with the coals!! Only by her presence alone. I whisper into our lil angel’s hair, toying with her wriggling fingers as they clasped onto my index. “See, your pa’s an idiot but ain’t nothin’ gonna keep him down!! No burn, no hell, God himself can incinerate me and I’ll still be there for you!!” I look back to my supermodel wife and best friend, smirking something stupid!! “Apparently means ‘get your act together’. They’ll be like,” I start, lifting up Yuzuki’s hands and gently flailing them, “‘Dad, GYAT!! You can’t stare at Mom like that on main! This is a Wendy’s!’” My fingers shield our daughter’s eyes and she bursts out into tiny baby gurgles, pushing them away so she can smile up at me. “N’ I’ll say, sorry I’m such a SIMP!! Your mom’s that hott, get off my case y’spoiled freeloaders!!” She laughs again, bigass eyes bigger than the moon. My heart was taken forever. A third time by Zenji stickin’ his tongue out. First and for all eternity by my wife!! “He’ll thank us when he’s older, yessir he will!” I croak out in an old man’s intonation. I just couldn’t wait for the rest of my life with her!!

I grin. “Mhm, we’ve had a lotta sleepless nights Zāzā. I ain’t remember how we even got here from the house!” What were we doing before this? This afternoon, the crepuscular lurk of evening? It was like we just manifested out by the tent. Before my tiny brain could even fathom giving that more thought, an image came to mind. Her notes, her tiny letters. My tone drops. “It’s hella hot when you wear your glasses.” Maybe we could play a game where she’d be wearing only them by the end. I look up at the sky when she asks her question. “Hm, I try not to leave a paper trail.” So many broken phones. Burned messages. “But I left a couple notes in a secret drawer in your office.” I wink at her. Bunker coordinates, burial ones. One that just says I love you!! Then I smile fondly, turning the food one last time before it’d be finished. The grill sizzles, steam gushing upwards with umami tang. “Yeah.” It was hella different, having kids. Demonic snotlings who needed us 25/8, no more spontaneous handholding or hitting the road with just us. We were gonna make this bakery scouting date hella good!!

“Speed Racer over here!!” I clap my hands, watching our lil man go! Whenever my girl pulled him back, I’d put my hands on my hips. “What, ya ain’t like seafood or something?...” Then I comb my hand through his hair, immeasurable pride soaring in my chest. My son. My daughter!! I blink, the soft sheen of the tent billowing in the light wind. I was just so happy. Still hungry. A spare hand comes over her hand clasped in mine, my whisper at the nape of her neck. “Good. Eat up. You’ll need your strength.”

tag: Kazashi McCoy

[Kazashi McCoy]

She couldn’t help but smile, happiness flooding her heart and soul watching Chuck smirk and play around with Yuzuki. Their kids were getting to grow up with loving parents, no scary villains, no evil organizations, just a normal childhood with parents who would fist fight the whole universe for them. Sticking his arms up in the air, Zenji made little whiny baby noises as he tried to tell her something. “Up? Ya want up?” She smiled, booping his little nose before lifting him up, putting him belly-first between her horns so he could lay on her head. As an extra safety measure she turned part of her hair into a silk scarf and tied it around him so he wouldn’t fall off. “Check him out, hun, king of the world up here!” She pointed up at Zenji who was enjoying his perch, looking around with big curious auric cross eyes.

She was howling with laughter at what Chuck, or Yuzuki said next with his help. “Ya think they would notice? Can’t help the simpin’ when Ah love ya so much.” She gently wobbled her head and made silly noises to make Zenji laugh. “Hella. If his quirk is super healin’ like yers can he even get a tattoo an’ keep it?”

“Yeah.. Doesn’t matter when every night with ya is already a dream.” She winked, knowing exactly how sappy she was sounding. “Y-Ya think?” She couldn’t help but get a little flustered. “Ah could wear them more around the house.” She reached up to pat Zenji, making sure he was okay, but he seemed to be having the time of his life. “So long as Ah’m not carryin’ the lil ones, the stinkers have started reachin’ for them.” She chuckled, no glasses were safe when their babies were so lively and curious! She let Zenji slide back down into her arms, rocking him tenderly. “Ah guess different rules apply in yer world, that makes sense.” She smiled somberly before nudging Chuck playfully with her shoulder. “Thank ya for lettin’ me inta it.”

“I-In mine?! What are they? What do they say?” She was dying to know and almost couldn’t wait to go back and read them, looking for them like she was on an Easter egg hunt. “Maybe Ah should visit yer workshop then.” She teased, enjoying the aroma of their food one last time before they dug in.

“He’s hella fast!” She exclaimed, beaming at their son. “Here Zenji, look.” She broke off a small boneless piece of fish and blew on it a few times before holding it up to his face. He quickly grabbed it with his little hands and showed it in his mouth, chewing away as he looked at dad. When Chuck combed his hand through his hair the corners of his mouth turned up in a little grin. “Ya too Yuzuki here, ya gotta eat.” She handed Yuzuki a piece too. When she felt Chuck whisper at her nape she leaned further into him, beet red and so happy she just might burst. “Thanks Chuchu, yer cookin’ is always perfect.” She finished what was on her plate and turned to kiss him on the forehead.

CHUCK MCCOY