拗くれるー炎

I knew from the first time, I’d stay for a long time ‘cause, I like me better when – I like me better when I’m with you.

“A what- …?”

There is a small chuckle that escapes her at that exact moment, initially at how hesitant Rin is to utter that particular string of  words, and then how certain he sounds only a few seconds later.  They had gone from the idea of an actual intruder, to … a baby?  Surely, he was joking with her at this point.  But then, Rin is tugging her closer, nearly giddy with excitement. He was really serious about this…?  Now, the amusement tapers off, and the tamer’s eyebrows are knitting together in confusion.

“Rin, I don’t think-”  But then, she stops herself in the next moment, as if truly considering. When was the last time…?  “U-uh. Give me one second–”  She blurts out, getting up and now making a beeline for their bedroom. It wasn’t as though she outright doubted him, but - she was rather diligent about logging such details. However, with work and life, she hadn’t really given much thought to the particulars of this month.  But, as Shiemi begins to flip through the little notebook she kept, it would seem that there was definitely something off - something much like, well, a pregnancy.  Rin had seemed relatively pleased, especially in the way he had revealed everything. Yet, as the thought continues to sink in,  Shiemi can’t help getting caught up on one singular thought, particularly something he’d said just a few moments before -isn't this part usually the other way around?

I didn’t know.

Shiemi returns after a few moments, looking slightly apologetic. “I think you may be right.” She says, feeling as though she had probably killed the entire moment for him. And, perhaps, this is much like he had felt when she had first given him the news about Junou, the sudden shock,  that is. Though, there is a bit more personal responsibility on her part, with this sort of thing. Her fingers are starting to clutch into the fabric of her pajama pants as she thinks, not quite sure of what more to say. Though, she doesn’t want to give him the wrong idea, either. “I’m not upset or anything, just… ” She manages, trying not to think too hard about how she’d been taking on a few more hours lately, and not quite eating as regularly as she should’ve. The logical part of her knows that it shouldn’t matter that much at this stage if so,  but -  

“I’m a little worried. ”

In all honesty, Rin expects Shiemi to laugh with him, for his excitement and happiness to be contagious. Instead, she looks… unsettled. As she gets up to go to the other room, there is a sinking feeling in Rin’s stomach replacing the joy from moments earlier. Is she not happy…? It doesn’t occur to him that it might just be the suddenness of it all. For some reason, he doesn’t feel the kind of surprise he felt when he learnt Junou was on the way. But perhaps the fact that he could feel the presence of their unborn child makes all the difference.

When she returns, Rin doesn’t hesitate to put his arms back around his wife, pulling her gently to his side. “Worried?” he echoes, his voice soft – and confused. Somewhere, he gets it, that there are so many things to worry about. He just feels that that should have come later, after they’ve spent some time just being happy about it. Why Shiemi skipped that part entirely is beyond him – and, honestly, the fact that she did is rather upsetting. “You aren’t happy?” he asks, and there is a sudden tremulous note in his voice that he can’t suppress fast enough.

Maybe it was a little strange that being greeted by a small child put him at ease, but Ben couldn’t help but smile at the familiarity. Back home, every household was practically teeming with children; the Japan branch was practically childless in comparison, which had taken him a bit of time to adjust to. 

Kids were usually good judges of character, too, and Junou didn’t seem the slightest bit afraid of his father. Maybe the mission really had been some sort of strange fluke… or maybe children with demonic blood didn’t feel threatened by that kind of behavior. Junou seemed to be a relatively brave little kid; usually kids were at least a little intimidated by the tall foreigner with a beard, but he’d answered the door as chipper as can be. 

“Your father’s right, leave opening the door to people who can reach it without being on their tiptoes,” Ben said, stepping inside and carefully closing the door behind him. He dropped into a crouch and offered a hand to the kid. “Nice to meet you, Junou-kun. I’m Ben,” he said warmly. 

This time, Junou did glance at Rin, and waited for his nod of approval before taking the visitor’s big hand (he had to grasp it with both of his, and still didn’t cover the entire thing) and giving it an enthusiastic (and quite vigorous) shake that made his father snicker quietly. “Okay, son, give the man his hand back…” Junou hadn’t yet had many opportunities to test just how much of his father’s strength he inherited, but he’d already managed to hug his uncle a little sore, so it was better to be careful.

Meanwhile, the half-demon eyed the bottle of wine in Ben’s hand, a little surprised, and suddenly much less sure of himself than he’d previously been. This type – not that Rin knew that much about wine in general, though – had not been on the list Rin found. Then again, it was probably better to have found an incomplete list than a wrong one.

“my my.” a twist of their wrist, fingers flexing as greens settled on the man before them. “what. a. surprise ——

“Someone’s gotta eat the ants.”

Rin’s reaction to her affections is enough to make her flush a little. Cute. Though, the tamer does not verbalize her thoughts, but rather leans in further as if to continue. In the next moment, however, it would seem that this entire interaction would be short-lived, with how the half-demon goes rigid under her touch, his attention suddenly drawn elsewhere.  “E-eh?” Shiemi pauses abruptly, almost nearly in sync with her husband.  And, as Rin’s  gaze fixes fully upon her, green meeting that of blue, it is hard for her not to startle a bit at his sudden change in behavior.

“Junou is still out with Mother.” She states, her head tilting off to the side as if trying to further rule out possibilities. Though, Rin should’ve been aware of that - she’d told him herself, earlier. Still, inwardly she knows that he would never confuse either of them for the presence of another, Rin was very perceptive to things like that.  But, now she’s even more perplexed, especially when he mentions the potential of his twin brother having stopped in.  As wonderful as that would’ve been -  “Yuki..? No, It’s just been me here.”

Rin has no reason to doubt the truthfulness of Shiemi’s words – which leaves the only option that whatever he is sensing, she has no knowledge of. His brows furrow as he thinks of what this could possibly mean – all the while, his gaze flits from this point to that in the room, trying to find the source.

But after a few moments, he suddenly realizes – he’s felt this before. At the time, he didn’t know what it was, as it only became pronounced much later – but perhaps the reason why he is that much more sensitive to it is because it’s familiar now. “Shiemi,” he murmurs, tugging her a little closer to himself, wariness suddenly replaced by awe and reverence, and perhaps a hint of giddiness in his eyes. “Is it possible that – that you’re having a baby…??”

@satansired

As a rule, Ben didn’t go to dinner at his coworkers’ houses. He wasn’t as strict with kashrut as many other observant Jews— it was nearly impossible to be, living in Japan —but even with his admittedly relaxed requirements, the chance of eating something he shouldn’t was simply too high. The only exceptions were people he knew particularly well and trusted to understand his dietary limitations.

He never would have imagined he’d break his self-imposed rule for the son of Satan, and yet here he was, standing on the Okumuras’ doorstep with a bottle of wine he wasn’t permitted to drink. Wine was a good dinner gift, right? 

Ben hadn’t been able to bring himself to decline. The kid had been so enthusiastic about inviting him over, and so willing to accommodate him… and Benjamin had a hunch that aside from Okumura’s brother and former classmates, their coworkers didn’t try to interact with the Knight outside of work. Accepting an olive branch was more important than being particularly strict with rules— at least to him. Ben’s rabbi probably wouldn’t agree, but that was why he didn’t ask him for advice on this. Or tell him he was going. No use in giving the old rebbe an aneurysm.

Of course, there was also the fact that Benjamin’s first impression of Rin was a particularly tough mission, where Rin had been forced to rely more on his demon side than he usually did, which in turn (of course) scared the other Exorcists shitless. Given that the rest of their party gave him a wide berth on the way home, Rin was so shocked Ben attempted any kind of conversation with him at all, that he came up with the idea on the spot and invited him over. Thinking about it later, it was likely out of pity that the other man accepted – but, no matter, Rin would take what he could get. Now that Ben was coming over, perhaps there would be a chance to changing opinions.

First impressions were a funny thing, sometimes – of Rin’s home and family, Ben’s would be the opening of the door to reveal a curious face at about knee high, with a chirp of “Hi!” and then almost instantly, a clatter from the kitchen, and the half-demon hurrying out into the hall, looking a bit harried, until he saw the visitor. “Oh, hey, come on in,” he greeted, followed by an instant, “Junou, did I not tell you to wait for me?! What did I say about opening the main door?”

It was usually the other way ‘round, with the tamer happening upon her husband having dozed off in the evenings. Tonight, however, it would seem the tables have turned. Shiemi rouses a little as Rin settles down beside her, smelling faintly of smoke and the outdoors. “Welcome hom- !!”  She starts, her voice tinged with sleep, only to startle in the next moment, yelping at the sudden coldness pressed against her neck.

Well, now she’s awake. Sort of.  The smile that forms upon her face is full of adoration - she’d been waiting for him, after all. “I think you missed a spot, hm?” She murmurs, chuckling.  No worries, she’ll take care of that on her own. Shiemi is reaching, cupping the half-demon’s cheeks between the palms of her hands.  And now, for the grand finale - she proceeds to plant a soft kiss, right on the end of his nose.

Though he warmed his skin, it takes a few more moments for feeling to return into it fully – thus, he isn’t quite aware that any part of him he touched Shiemi with was cold, until she points it out to him. He smiles when she goes to cup his cheek and then kisses his nose, a happy noise starting to make its way from his throat to the outside.

It halts, however, a moment later as he spends a moment to soak his wife’s presence in, and – suddenly feels like something is amiss. “Is someone else here?” His eyes widen slightly as he looks at her, trying to pinpoint the source of the sudden feeling; he cannot be sure where it comes from, but he is suddenly sure that it is not just the two of them.

So… that last episode, ammiright? :’3c

as if that scene wasn’t dramatic enough on paper, the anime made it a shit ton more heart-breaking and all i could think of was this scene, so…. here we are lol