Life Happens, Part 2 for Rhapshie!

[arysthaeniru]

Title: Life Happens: Part 2
Author: chouta_angel
Recipient: rhapsie
Rating: PG-13 for language
Warnings: There is cursing. Shishido has a dirty mouth (and mind).
Summary: Sometimes things don't work out. Sometimes life likes to throw curveballs at you. This is the story of how the past refused to stay in the past.
Notes (if required): I kind of really ended up going overboard with the whole silver pair domestic theme. I hope you enjoy.


Voices woke him up the next morning. Putting his ear to his door, Shishido smiled. From the sounds of it, Choutarou and Shun were watching something together. It sounded like that one really annoying anime that Shun absolutely adored but Shishido wasn't entirely sure.

“Sensei stayed the night!” Shun proudly announced the moment Shishido opened his door. “he's been saying how cool Monkey is but I think that Dragon's way cooler.”

Yeah, Shishido had no clue what any of that meant in this context. He'd tried and succeeded at blocking out the shows his son liked. “Go get your school clothes on,” Shishido reminded. “I'll start breakfast. Anything special for lunch or do you want what's left from last night?”

“I wanna apple animal like 'Roshi-kun's mom makes.” Shun grinned. Shishido cursed 'Roshi-kun's mother.

“I'll try,” was the best Shishido could promised. Apparently that was enough because the boy ran to his room. The door closed with a bang that left Shishido wincing.

“Sleep well?” Shishido asked as he purposely avoided looking at Choutarou. Luckily, he had the perfect excuse to keep himself busy. He went into the kitchen, pulling stuff out for their breakfast.

Choutarou followed. He stood in the doorway, looking entirely too chipper and put-together in what had been last minute pajamas. “A little. I had trouble falling asleep.”

“I know the feeling.” Though despite the lack of sleep, Shishido had to admit he felt rather energized. “Keep the key,” he decided to add. Choutarou had the spare to the apartment so that he could get in yesterday but if they were going to date, it only seemed right that he keep it. Besides, if there was one thing that Shishido had learned from last night it was that Choutarou was almost as comfortable in the place as Shishido himself was.

“Shun's my last kid of the day,” Choutarou went on. “Want me to bring him over?”

“Nah, I'll come get you guys. Any plans for tonight?” Shishido focused on cracking the eggs.

“No yet. Why?”

“Dinner? We can go to a street place and just walk around for a bit,” Shishido suggested. “If you've still got your rackets, we could even hit up a street court.”

“You just want Shun to see me play, don't you?” Choutarou laughed.

Shishido looked over, immediately wishing he hadn't, and grinned. “Am I that transparent?”

“I don't think he'll realize,” Choutarou assured. He walked over almost silently and asked if Shishido needed any help.

Swallowing hard, Shishido did his best to focus on the food again and not on Choutarou. A pair of boxers, a simple tank, and messy bedhead were a dangerous combination on Choutarou. How they made someone so good look like pure sin he really didn't know. “Get dressed,” Shishido ordered. It came out far more gruff than he'd intended. “You should get dressed,” he said, trying again.

Choutarou stepped closer, resting his chin on Shishido's shoulder. “Why?” He asked, voice low and husky in Shishido's ear. Any thoughts that this was unintentional, that Choutarou wasn't doing this on purpose, flew out the window.

“Because we're not having sex in my kitchen right now,” Shishido growled under his breath. Things he didn't want his son to hear, item number one.

“But it is a possibility.” Shishido could hear the smug grin in his boyfriend's voice. “Think I have enough time for a quick shower?”

“Make it quick if you want to eat with us,” Shishido answered. “If you want a long one, wait until we go and you can lock up.”

“You trust me here alone?” Choutarou sounded a bit awed.

“I trust you alone with my son,” Shishido pointed out. “I mean, I trust you with him, I trust you with anything.”

A pair of arms wrapped around Shishido. “Thank you,” Choutarou's voice whispered in his ear.

“Uh...”

Crap. Shishido slowly looked over to where his son stood in the doorway. The boy had a confused look on his face as he stared at his father and music teacher. “Shun...”

“What happened?” The boy asked.

Shishido reluctantly unwrapped Choutarou's arms, setting the bowl of eggs on the stove top. Walking over to his son, he crouched down so that the two of them were face to face. He was acutely aware of Choutarou watching them but he did his best to ignore his new boyfriend. “Shun, Sensei and I need to talk to you.”

How in the world was he supposed to explain this though? Shishido could barely handle the idea as it was right now. This was why he'd wanted to not have his son find out, especially not right away. He'd wanted some time to think and figure this out and now he was flying blindly into the situation. “It's nothing bad, I promise.”

Well that was the wrong thing to say. Shun's confused expression only grew. “Am I in trouble?”

Hadn't he just said this wasn't anything bad? Shishido shook his head and reached over to ruffle his son's messy black hair. Or at least, that's what he would have done if the boy hadn't ducked away. “No, you're not in trouble,” Shishido tried to make clear. He looked over at Choutarou. “Can you give us a moment?”

The other man nodded. He slipped past the two of them, giving the two of them a reassuring smile on his way. Moments later, Shishido heard his bedroom door click shut. Now he was alone with his son. And he still didn't know what to say or how to say it. So instead he hugged his son. “I still need to make breakfast,” he admitted, trying to think of how to best phrase this. Except there really was no best way.

He picked Shun up, setting the boy on the little counter next to the stove. If his mother saw this, she'd be screaming but luckily, his mother was nowhere near. He gave the eggs a quick stir before pulling out the skillet. “You know Choutarou and I are friends, right?” He started, still not sure where he was going with this.

“You wented to school together,” Shun confirmed.

Shishido nodded, focusing all his attention on the eggs. He wasn't going to tell his son about the relationship he'd had in high school. It was way too complicated for a six year old. Hell, it still felt way too complicated for Shishido himself. “Remember when Uncle Jirou married?”

“Yeah...” Shun sounded confused. “It's 'cause they were getting a baby.”

Crap. This was not a good way to explain it. Bad example, very bad example. Shishido poked the eggs in the skillet. “I'm really screwing this up,” he finally admitted. “I was kind of hoping to have more time to figure this out so I'd know what to say without messing it up.”

“Stir,” Shun ordered, poking Shishido in the arm. “Is something wrong?”

Shishido did as he was told. Hearing the question again, he looked at his son. “Why do you keep asking that?” He didn't get where that kept coming from.

“'Cause Sensei was hugging you and know you're acting mad,” Shun explained.

“I'm not mad at anyone.” Shishido turned the heat off. “Move your head.” That was a lie. He was angry but just at himself. Maybe a little annoyed at Choutarou for having gotten them caught less than a day after it'd started. But absolutely none of that was directed at Shun.

“Well 'cause people hug when something's wrong,” the boy explained as Shishido took out a few plates from the cabinet behind Shun's head.

“So every time you give Grandma a hug, you're upset?” Shishido asked as he set his son on the floor.

“No.” The boy said the word like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“So why do you give Grandma hugs?” Shishido kept going. Choutarou, now dressed in yesterday's clothes, appeared in the doorway. He was just out of Shun's sight, listening to the two Shishido boys talk.

Shun held up his plate. “She's Grandma.”

“Do you love her?” Shishido wasn't entirely sure where he was going with this yet but this at least seemed to make more sense than some of his other attempts.

Shun nodded. “She's really nice and we play and she makes yummy curry.” He was so enthusiastic that the food on his plate almost slipped off.

Seeing Choutarou in the doorway only made the next part harder. “Careful,” the father warned. “So we hug people we love, don't we?”

Shun waited a moment, thinking about what his father had just said. “So,” the boy started to say, “does this mean you love Sensei?”

It was a simple question. It was entirely logical, especially given the context of what they were talking about. That did not make it any easier.

“I...” Shishido really wished Choutarou wasn't standing in the doorway. “Maybe,” he admitted, feeling like he was about to die of embarrassment. “We both like each other a lot.”

“I like him too,” Shun agreed. “He's really nice and he teaches me music and some really neat songs. It's like I has another uncle.”

Choutarou shot Shishido an asking glance, wanting to know if it was okay to say something. Shishido nodded. “I really like the both of you,” Choutarou said. He took the two steps it too to reach them in the kitchen. Crouching down, he looked Shun in the face and smiled. “So, is it okay if I spend time with you and your dad?”

“Does this mean you get to stay more?” Shun asked. When Choutarou nodded, the boy's face broke out in a huge grin. “You gots to teach me more songs.”

The adults both chuckled. “Now it's time to eat,” Shishido told them. “And you've still got school today.”

Shun wrinkled his nose. “Do I have to?”

Shishido nodded. “Choutarou and I have stuff to do today.” Well Shishido did anyway and it besides, it wasn't like it mattered. His son needed to go to school and nothing was going to change that.

“Like what?”

“Eat.” Shishido handed Choutarou a plate. “Both of you.”

~*~*~

“And he askeded if I could come with,” Shun finished his story.

Shishido raised an eyebrow. “Your uncle asked if you wanted to go on their camping trip and he didn't ask me first?” It didn't exactly sound like his brother.

“Call him and ask for yourself,” Shun urged, sounding offended that he wasn't being believe. “It's this weekend.”

“Really now?”

“Yes!”

His son's persistence was unusually strong. Shishido gave in, calling his brother. It was a surprise when the story ended up being true. “Looks like you're going with them,” Shishido admitted after he got off the phone. A weekend without his son. As much as he loved his son, the thought had him more than a little excited. Besides, it'd be good for Shun to go camping. The boy really wasn't the outdoorsy type, something that Shishido could not figure out.

The door opened. Shishido didn't have to look to know who it was. There was only one person who walked in like that. Even his own mother knocked before walking in. “Do I need anything special?” Shun asked as he also ignored the door.

“Nah, your uncle said they've got everything,” Shishido answered. He couldn't get it. He'd taken his son out fishing before and on hiking trips but the reaction had been completely different. Why was he suddenly so interested in camping?

“What's going on?” Choutarou asked from the doorway as he took off his jacket.

“I get to go camping.” Shun was doing an excited dance that Shishido was sure their downstairs neighbors were just loving.

“Oh? When?”

“This weekend!”

Choutarou's eyes met Shishido's own and he knew exactly what his boyfriend was thinking. The thought had run thought his mind almost immediately after realizing he'd be kid-free for a couple of days. “Are you excited?” Choutarou asked even though the answer was more than obvious.

Shun paused his dancing for a moment to enthusiastically nod. “Can you help me pack my bag?”

“It's Tuesday,” Shishido reminded. “And Choutarou's never gone camping before.”

“Yes I have. It was even with you,” the other shot back. “We ended up getting lost and spending the night out in the woods while everyone else was in the tents.”

Oh yeah. The ending of that trip had been nice but the trip itself? Not something Shishido cared to remember. It had felt like one embarrassment after another. “So Dad's not a real good camper?”

Shishido shot his boyfriend a dirty look. “I hate you,” he mouthed over his son's head.

Choutarou just grinned and mouthed back, “you love me.”

“Shut up.” Because Shishido had to get the last word in on their silent conversation. It was true anyway so he couldn't argue, at least, not without making a fool of himself.

“He's better than me,” Choutarou answered Shun. “But I can help. Just give me a moment with your dad?”

Shun nodded, heading towards his room. The sound of something crashing made Shishido wince but since he didn't hear any screaming or crying, he decided it was okay to ignore it for now. “How'd it go?”

“I got the job.”

The voice was quiet and Shishido had to strain his ears to hear. “I got it,” Choutarou repeated, voice full of disbelief.

Shishido crossed the room, going to the doorway where Choutarou was still standing. “I told you that you would get it,” he said as he pulled the other down for a kiss. “You were worried about nothing.”

“It's just...”

“How's it feel to know you're taking over Kantoku's job?” Shishido was glad the guy was finally retiring. Yes, things had turned out okay for Shishido but that incident his third year of middle school had left a sour taste in Shishido's mouth where Sakaki Tarou was concerned.

“Ask me again in a couple of months,” Choutarou answered, hugging to hard Shishido thought his ribs were going to be crushed. “Or in a year.”

Shishido pulled back, trying to get a little air so he could breathe. “You'll do fine.” Choutarou was an amazing instructor. Shishido knew. He was witness to almost daily music lesson. They almost made Shishido himself want to attempt to learn how to play himself. Almost but not quite. He wasn't an idiot. He knew a semi-decent singing voice was the extent of his musical abilities.

“Sensei!” The call rang through the small apartment as the six year old's patience ran out.

“You might want ot go,” Shishido said even as he pulled Choutarou closer to him. It was heartwarming how well the two got along. A few months ago when they'd first started to date, Shishido had had his doubts. Choutarou had said he could and was willing to be involved with Shun, that he realized dating Shishido meant gaining a kid. And he had. Shishido couldn't believe it at times.

“This weekend,” Choutarou promised, voice dropping to a husky whisper that caused goosebumps to form on Shishido's arms.

The older man nodded. “You're all mine. Make no plans,” he agreed. And then they were sending his brother an awesome gift. Or at least would return the favor someday whenever his brother had a kid. Actually, Shishido decided he should see if his brother wanted to take Shun more often. As it was, he and his wife had wanted the boy for the weekend to see if they could handle being parents. It was cute, people trying to see if they were ready. No one was ever ready for kids.

Now alone, Choutarou having gone to help Shun pack for his upcoming trip, Shishido went to start dinner. It was easier to attempt this alone. The other two meant well whenever they tried to help but, well, he did want to eat at a decent hour. Besides, it gave him a chance to think. Officially he and Choutarou had been dating for just under six months. Unofficially was harder to say. Did the time in high school count? Sometimes it felt like it should, other times that it shouldn't. It had been almost a year since Choutarou had reentered his life. Shishido clearly remembered what he'd said when they'd first started dating back in September, that they should take things slow. Of course, slow meant a different thing in the adult world. He was rather proud they hadn't started having sex until a couple of months ago.

It was something he'd been thinking about ever since Choutarou's birthday. He'd been wondering what it would be life if his boyfriend moved in. Shishido honestly doubted if anyone would even notice. Choutarou practically lived with them anyways.

That night it was almost impossible to get his son to go to bed. When the boy finally seemed to fall asleep, Shishido collapsed on the sofa. “Why is getting a kid to sleep the most exhausting thing in the world?” He whined.

Choutarou chuckled from his spot on the floor. He had papers spread out all around him. Shishido leaned over to try and see what they were. “Stuff for the new job?” He guessed, resisting the urge to reach over and pet Choutarou's hair. It always looked soft and fluffy but he knew it wasn't.

“Some of it. Most of it's from Sakaki-sensei. He wanted me to look over his notes since we'll be working together,” Choutarou answered. “This job...I still can't believe it.”

“You'll do fine,” Shishido reassured. “In fact, you'll be so awesome that Kantoku will just up and retire before summer's over instead of at the end of the next school year.”

“I hope not.” Choutarou sounded stressed. “I'm scared for next year when he'll be gone.” He sighed and leaned back, resting his head on the sofa next to Shishido's leg. “I'll have to figure out what to do with all my students. They'll need new teachers.”

“Shun?” Shishido had to ask.

“All mine,” Choutarou answered. “I'm not giving him up. The others...” He sighed again. “I have a few friends I can call and ask.”

Shishido smiled, glad to hear that. “It's probably for the best anyway,” he said. “If you tried to give him to someone else, it'd either make him unbearable or you'd still get bothered for lessons.”

“You think so?” Choutarou asked, shifting so he could sit up and look at Shishido.

“I know so.” Shishido knew his son and he could see just how much the kid hero-worshiped Choutarou. It made Shishido more than glad he'd allowed Choutarou back into his life. He took a deep breath. “Hey, Choutarou,” he tried to ignore the fluttering feeling in his stomach. “Can I ask you something?”

Choutarou's brow furrowed slightly and he nodded. “What is it?”

Shishido reached over, tracing the line of Choutarou's jaw with his finger. The other man was almost able to suppress a shiver. The action made a warm, pleased feeling go through Shishido. “Want to move in?”

His boyfriend stared, not speaking. Shishido wondered if he'd just made a mistake, if that had been too big a step for them yet. “Are...” Choutarou's voice was full of disbelief as his voice seemed to fail him. He tried again. “Are you sure?”

“I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't,” Shishido answered. He shifted and sat up, continuing to speak. “You basically live here anyway and with the new job, it'd be easier to commute from here. No worrying about disrupting your parents. Plus, we're already on a school schedule.” Not Hyotei's though. It would have been nice to be able to send his son there but the place was just way too much out of Shishido's price range.

“If you decide in the next month, I can try to get you on the lease.”

Choutarou pulled himself onto the sofa without appearing to use his legs. It was weirdly impressive and just a tad freaky. “And you don't think it's too fast?”

Shishido stretched as he shook his head, setting his feet in his boyfriend's lap. “If this were 12 years ago? Yeah, it'd be different and way too fast but now? I mean, we're different people now. Besides, you being here would be less disruptive.” As it was, Choutarou was constantly running from Shishido's apartment to his parent's place and no one was ever quite sure where he was going to spend the night.

“I...thank you.” Choutarou didn't seem quite sure what to say. “I'd love to.”

“Whenever you want,” Shishido added. “But when you do feel like it, you're more than welcome.”

“Next weekend,” Choutarou decided. He pushed Shishido's feet off his lap and leaned over. “I'm not giving up this weekend for the world.”

Shishido pulled the other so that he was practically laying on top of Shishido. He didn't care how awkward their positions might be or how uncomfortable. “Good. I wasn't going to let you.”

A heavy weight was laying across Shishido's chest when he woke the next morning. “Turn it off,” Choutarou's voice grumbled as he hugged Shishido closer.

It just made him laugh. Shishido gave a little kiss as he pulled away. “Sorry but you're going to have to get used to waking up at a normal time.”

“Middle of the night is not normal,” Choutarou answered, pulling the blanket over his head.

“Too bad for you it's not the middle of the night.”

“Don't remind me,” the lump on the bed groaned.

Shishido slid out of the bed. “You know you're going to love your new job. And besides, you've got a busy couple of weeks.”

The lump curled into a ball. “My parents are going to freak.”

Shishido laughed again, moving to get dressed. “You basically live here anyway, Choutarou, and your parents love me.” Or at least, Choutarou's father did and his mother didn't hate Shishido. That was a plus. They had expressed a few concerns about the relationship and most of that had been about the fact that Shishido had a kid. It was no more than anyone else though. “If you don't get up, I'm going to dress you.”

Well that got a reaction. The lump sat up, revealing a naked Choutarou. “You wouldn't.”

“I would.” Shishido couldn't decide if he wanted that blanket to slip down more or not. His boyfriend had that whole perfect mix of being innocently hotter than hell. But if that blanket slipped much more, Shishido doubted his ability to resist jumping the slightly younger man. Not the worst way to start the day but he had obligations.

When Shishido was dressed, he opened his door and blinked. “Up already?” He was surprised to see his son awake. Normally he had to go drag the kid out of bed.

The boy nodded. “I had trouble sleeping.”

Shishido paled slightly. Crap. They'd tried to keep quiet but Choutarou had problems with that. “A...any reason why?” Please say something else. Please say it wasn't noise. Please oh please let it be some other reason than his son hearing them.

“I want it to be this weekend.”

Someone was looking out for Shishido. The man sighed out of relief and ruffled his son's hair. “You've got a few days, kiddo.” And really, as excited as his son was, Shishido knew he himself was even more excited.

“A few days until what?” Choutarou's voice asked from the area of the bed. “It's next weekend.”

Shun's eyes widened and he shook his head. “No! Sensei, it's only a couple of days.”

“This weekend, camping trip,” Shishido reminded. “You've still got over a week, Choutarou.”

Shun looked completely lost. Shishido didn't blame his son. People were having two conversations right now and it was way too early for that kind of thing. But Choutarou couldn't keep his big mouth shut. “Your dad asked if I wanted to move in. I said I would but next weekend,” the voice from the bed replied.

Almost immediately, Shishido noticed a change in his son. He doubted if anyone else would have caught it. The boy's expression didn't change; it didn't say anything negative. There was just, well, this air around the boy that seemed to change. Shishido frowned, watching his son. As the morning went on, he kept an eye on the boy who seemed to have quickly recovered. Both Shun and Choutarou were acting like everything was normal but Shishido wasn't sure. He almost wondered if he'd just been seeing things.

When he was alone with Shun, Shishido knew he hadn't.

“What's wrong?” IT was bugging Shishido that something was up with his kid and had been since the had learned Choutarou was officially moving in.

“Why's Sensei gotta live with us?” Shun asked, his voice quiet and wavering but somehow oddly combative.

The hostility was a surprise to Shishido. His son adored Choutarou, had from almost the moment the two had met. Honestly, that had been one of the reasons why Shishido had felt so confident asking the other man to move in with them. Shishido stopped walking; his son followed suit a few steps later.

“I thought you liked Choutarou.” Shishido wondered. Had someone been talking to his son? But who? Not his own and he doubted Choutarou's. Everyone in their circle of friends and family had voiced approval. Well, at least no one had resisted or said it was a bad fit. But if it wasn't someone saying something, where was this coming from?

“He's nice,” Shun replied. At least that answer was sincere. “But if he moves in, then that means Dad's not gonna get married I won't get a Mama like all my friends got.”

It felt like he'd just been hit by one of Choutarou's old serves. Had his son really thought that? Was the lack of a mother really bothering his son? He'd never acted like it had before and honestly, Shishido had thought he'd lucked out years ago when Shun's mother had left. A girl would ask where her mother was and want a female figure but a boy? Probably not. That had been Shishido's thoughts anyway. Apparently he'd thought wrong.

“You're worried about having a mom?” He asked, wanting to make sure he had this right.

Shun looked down, staring at his feet. He refused to look up. “All the other kids gots moms,” the six year old finally mumbled. “All I got is Dad.”

“And your grandparents and all your uncles and aunts and cousins and Choutarou,” Shishido pointed out, trying to lighten the mood. He crouched down in an attempt to get his son to look at him. The boy looked away.

“But they're not moms.” Shun kicked at the dirt, trying to loosen a rock.

Shishido sighed. How was he supposed to respond to that? What his son was saying, it was all true. None of the people in the boy's life filled the mother but until now, Shishido hadn't thought it was an issue. He hadn't thought Shun needed a mother, not after what had happened with the boy's mother. That relationship had left a bitter taste in Shishido's mouth, one that had had him reluctant to even date until Choutarou.

“No, they aren't moms,” Shishido admitted. “Instead you're stuck with me and we get Choutarou. I know he's not a mom but he helps take care of you, doesn't he?”

Shun nodded, still refusing to look up. “He can't cook.”

“No,” Shishido agreed, laughing. “He definitely can't cook. You're better in the kitchen than Choutarou.”

“That's not good.” Shun giggled. The sound was magic to Shishido's ears, helping make some of the unease he'd been feeling go away. “Sensei is really nice,” he added, almost as if it were an afterthought.

Shishido saw the opening and ran with it. “I know you like him. Now instead of him running back and forth from his home to ours, he'll just always be with us.”

Shun finally looked up, meeting Shishido's eyes for the briefest of moments. “No more getting woken up in the middle of the night?”

“Yeah, no more of that.” Something Shishido was glad for. Choutarou had woken them up on more than a few occasions dues to his running from home to home. “After he moves in, we'll be like a little family but with no mom's. And after he's moved in, we can all go do something together?”

“Can we go to the ride place?” Shun's earlier hesitation had almost vanished by this point.

“The amusement park?” Shishido asked, wanting to make certain that's what his son was talking about. The boy nodded enthusiastically. “After Choutarou's moved in, we can all go together,” Shishido promised.