Precautions (Ryouga/Yukito. Abaranger)
Title: Precautions
Pairing: Ryouga/Yukito technically, but it's not really the point
Fandom: Abaranger
Rating: PG
Episodes referenced: #30 and 31
AN: Originally written for toku100 but it went over the word limit. :(
Finally safe in the room he shared with Mai-chan, Ryouga held his daughter close as she slept and kissed the top of her head, trying not to think about how close he'd come to leaving her alone again. How much longer could he keep doing this? Logically he knew that by fighting he kept Mai safe, but every time he went out to fight he ran the risk of not coming back and if that happened... if that happened, this time there'd be no-one to look after Mai-chan.
He was missing so much of Mai growing up, simply because he couldn't always be there and he wanted desperately to be a good role model for her, to be someone she could look up to, but how could he do that when he couldn't be there? It had been bad enough before, when Nakadai-sensei had almost killed him, but that was hardly the first time and it wouldn't be the last. How many more times would he come so close to dying and leaving Mai to face the world alone? Ten? Twenty? More? And Mai was only five, there was only so much she could understand about what was happening. She'd already lost her parents, he couldn't die and leave her behind as well.
There was a soft knock at the door and he looked up to find Sanjou-san leaning against the doorframe. "Thought you'd still be up," the other man said quietly, gaze flickering between Ryouga himself and Mai. "She okay?"
Ryouga nodded and stroked her hair gently. "Yes. No nightmares tonight, so far." Mai was resilient, but her fears often came out in her sleep, even while she tried to keep them hidden during the day.
Sanjou-san nodded, shrugging his shoulders to work out some of the knots. "We have AbareMax now," he pointed out. "Nakadai's strong, but so are we."
Ryouga nodded again and gave his friend a sheepish smile. "Sorry you and Ranru-chan have to give up your powers for it, though."
Sanjou-san gave him one of the Looks that said louder than words that Sanjou-san thought he was being an idiot. More so than usual. "For the power of AbareMax it's worth it," he said firmly. "Don't worry about us, Ryouga, we're fine."
Ryouga smiled, but privately thought that he'd worry anyway. Just a little. Sanjou-san and Ranru-chan could take care of themselves, as Sanjou-san so frequently reminded him. He did notice, though, that Sanjou-san was looking... a bit uncomfortable and stealing quick glances between himself and Mai. "Something wrong, Sanjou-san?"
"No," the man replied. "Just... if you're worried about Mai, what would happen if," he shrugged again, his expression as unreadable as ever when it came to such messy things as feelings, "you know. If you're worried about that... I know some people to talk to about making sure she'd be alright. If you want to."
Ryouga froze, his arms tightening around Mai reflexively. It was something he didn't want to think about, yet it was the very thing keeping him awake at night. Sanjou-san was offering him... what? Peace of mind? Maybe. Without knowing the details, he couldn't say if it was something he was interested in, but he did want something in place for Mai, should the worst happen. And besides, he trusted Sanjou-san, knew how much the other man cared about Mai, knew that he wouldn't knowingly do anything that would put her in harm's way. What did he have to lose?
"Thank you," he managed, somehow getting the words out past the hard lump in his throat. "I might do that."
Sanjou-san nodded and wished him goodnight before stepping out the room again, heading for his own bed no doubt. Ryouga smiled and let go of Mai so she could sleep more comfortably. He was lucky to have friends like these.
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Pairing: Ryouga/Yukito technically, but it's not really the point
Fandom: Abaranger
Rating: PG
Episodes referenced: #30 and 31
AN: Originally written for toku100 but it went over the word limit. :(
Finally safe in the room he shared with Mai-chan, Ryouga held his daughter close as she slept and kissed the top of her head, trying not to think about how close he'd come to leaving her alone again. How much longer could he keep doing this? Logically he knew that by fighting he kept Mai safe, but every time he went out to fight he ran the risk of not coming back and if that happened... if that happened, this time there'd be no-one to look after Mai-chan.
He was missing so much of Mai growing up, simply because he couldn't always be there and he wanted desperately to be a good role model for her, to be someone she could look up to, but how could he do that when he couldn't be there? It had been bad enough before, when Nakadai-sensei had almost killed him, but that was hardly the first time and it wouldn't be the last. How many more times would he come so close to dying and leaving Mai to face the world alone? Ten? Twenty? More? And Mai was only five, there was only so much she could understand about what was happening. She'd already lost her parents, he couldn't die and leave her behind as well.
There was a soft knock at the door and he looked up to find Sanjou-san leaning against the doorframe. "Thought you'd still be up," the other man said quietly, gaze flickering between Ryouga himself and Mai. "She okay?"
Ryouga nodded and stroked her hair gently. "Yes. No nightmares tonight, so far." Mai was resilient, but her fears often came out in her sleep, even while she tried to keep them hidden during the day.
Sanjou-san nodded, shrugging his shoulders to work out some of the knots. "We have AbareMax now," he pointed out. "Nakadai's strong, but so are we."
Ryouga nodded again and gave his friend a sheepish smile. "Sorry you and Ranru-chan have to give up your powers for it, though."
Sanjou-san gave him one of the Looks that said louder than words that Sanjou-san thought he was being an idiot. More so than usual. "For the power of AbareMax it's worth it," he said firmly. "Don't worry about us, Ryouga, we're fine."
Ryouga smiled, but privately thought that he'd worry anyway. Just a little. Sanjou-san and Ranru-chan could take care of themselves, as Sanjou-san so frequently reminded him. He did notice, though, that Sanjou-san was looking... a bit uncomfortable and stealing quick glances between himself and Mai. "Something wrong, Sanjou-san?"
"No," the man replied. "Just... if you're worried about Mai, what would happen if," he shrugged again, his expression as unreadable as ever when it came to such messy things as feelings, "you know. If you're worried about that... I know some people to talk to about making sure she'd be alright. If you want to."
Ryouga froze, his arms tightening around Mai reflexively. It was something he didn't want to think about, yet it was the very thing keeping him awake at night. Sanjou-san was offering him... what? Peace of mind? Maybe. Without knowing the details, he couldn't say if it was something he was interested in, but he did want something in place for Mai, should the worst happen. And besides, he trusted Sanjou-san, knew how much the other man cared about Mai, knew that he wouldn't knowingly do anything that would put her in harm's way. What did he have to lose?
"Thank you," he managed, somehow getting the words out past the hard lump in his throat. "I might do that."
Sanjou-san nodded and wished him goodnight before stepping out the room again, heading for his own bed no doubt. Ryouga smiled and let go of Mai so she could sleep more comfortably. He was lucky to have friends like these.
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