dreams and things

You both stared at her. Then stared at each other - a silent dialogue followed. Like you had the gesture conversations with the others, Enjin and you communicated differently.

‘did she really just said that?’ his eyes said.

‘yes. Oh my god.’

‘huh. Odd. But kinda funny.’

‘Enjin!’

‘okay, okay. Not funny.’

All while Riyo grinned watching the two of you. Enjin then turned away to let out a traitorous chuckle and you groaned.

Should’ve been the end of it, right? A funny one time joke. Unfortunately team akuta and their supporters was full of the worst people alive.

Because two days later you walked into the headquarters, carrying supplies as you hear Follo yell from across the hallway.

“Mom said we’re meeting at six, dumbass.”

You stopped dead in the tracks. “Excuse me?”

Zanka immediately pointed at Follo accusingly. “I told him not to call you that.”

“You kind of encouraged him,” Semiu said flatly as she walked by.

Riyo was wheezing in the corner while your eye twitched dangerously. “None of you are funny.”

“Mom’s scary today,” Rudo whispered.

Enjin walked in at the perfect moment (later you’re convinced he waited around the corner, because no one walked in at a more perfect time). “Dad’s here. Everyone behave.”

The entire room burst into laughter. You wanted to die. You wanted to beat up Enjin who looked way too amused for someone who apparently didn’t find it funny.

“You’re enjoying this,” you accused.

“No idea what you mean,” he said, failing miserably to hide his grin.

Is anyone surprised that things only got worse, because Enjin started participating? No? Yeah. Exactly.

One afternoon Semiu sat behind her desk and lazily looked through a magazine while Enjin shuffled by. Then again. He huffed and puffed, all cow-eyed and pouting.

“Are you looking for your wife?” Semiu asked without looking up.

“My wife,” Enjin said loudly. “Took the day off.”

His voice sounded a tiny bit betrayed. How dare you to take the day off when it wasn’t his day off?

“Good for her,” Semiu replied.

“Yeah. My wife deserves that,” Enjin nodded.

Later Semiu told you about this conversation and you almost chuckled. Almost.

However. Bro Santa surprisingly suffered the most from it - mostly because he kept accidentally feeding into the joke.

But for starters. You were helping team child with some equipment. Also because you wanted to hang out with Dear Santa since you became similar to a motherly figure in his life.

It was a fun afternoon… until Enjin walked in. Took in the scene. Decided to open his loud mouth.

“Wow,” he sighed dramatically. “Couldn’t you at least wait until the divorce?”

Bro choked. “Divorce?!”

Team child looked between the two of you in horror.

“What’s wrong with you?” you asked in disbelief.

“You left me for the kids,” he said solemnly and then gestured towards bro. “And… Bro.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“And yet you stay.”

Bro looked genuinely stressed now. “Enjin, I never touched your wife, I swear. She’s just a good friend.”

“Hello?!”

“I know,” Enjin said all serious at the same time.

You kicked him in the shin and swore you still heard him cackle when you were back in your room. And, now all alone, you let out the tiniest amused snort. But it wasn’t funny, okay?

And if we already spill the truth a little here then we need to be completely honest. The dynamic actually fit.

You handled planning, schedules, injuries, and stopping everyone from killing themselves. Enjin handled morale, chaos control, and intimidation.

And together somehow you functioned exactly like exhausted parents managing a group of violent disaster children. And the team knew it.

“Mom, Rudo stole my chocolate bar.”

“Dad, Riyo threatened to shave off my eyebrows… again.”

“Can Mom stop glaring at me like that?”

“Dad said no, so I’m asking Mo.”

“… I never ask Mom anything again.”

Until then it wasn’t that bad. Or at least you thought it couldn’t get worse until you went on a mission together. Because if Enjin could do one thing then it was getting real loud when he was impressed.

A trash beasts twice your size charged towards your team. The force was enough to crack concrete and have the ground shaking. Before anyone else could React you slid underneath. Your jinki activated you drove it straight upward and took it down in one hit. The entire battlefield went silent for half a second.

“That’s my wife!”

Your horrified scream echoed immediately after. “Stop calling me that!”

Riyo nearly fell off her scissor laughing. Enjin shuffled closer, grinning proudly as he helped you up.

Meanwhile Gris looked emotional. “They’re so in love.”

“We are not—”

Enjin showed you off proudly. “Did you see that move?”

“Oh my god.”

He looked genuinely delighted which honestly made it worse. While the whole nickname saga was a joke - at least you thought so - Enjin’s pride about your growth and strength was honest.

And then it happened. You weren’t ready. It was the cherry on top. Corvus, the big boss, decided to join in.

That was the moment you realized there was no escape.

You sat in headquarters one evening with your head resting against the table, exhausted after a fourteen hour mission. Corvus approached you as calmly as ever.

“Have you seen Enjin?” he asked.

Hope blossomed in your chest as you looked up. When was the last time you’ve heard Enjin’s name? And not dad or husband?

Then he casually added, “Your better half, I mean.”

Slowly you closed your eyes. A migraine threatened to grow and take you out right here, right now.

“Please,” you whispered. “Not you too.”

Corvus actually smiled. And because Enjin had the perfect timing injected in his veins he had just walked by, listened and now laughed loudly.

Your head snapped around and yeah, Enjin was smug as hell. But beyond it he genuinely looked happy and proud.

Sighing you hid a smile behind your hand. “Come over. After the mission we deserve a drink… husband.”

Enjin stopped dead in the tracks. Also Corvus looked surprised before he gave you two some space.

“You did just—fuck,” he chuckled and sat down beside you.

Ha! Finally it was you taking the upper hand. At least until he reached into his pocket and pulled something shiny out that left you speechless.