#daddyau

Sukuna x Reader

༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺

Two Faces, One bad boy prt 16.

The car slowed to a halt on a quiet, cobblestoned street tucked away from the bustle of the city. Seoul’s skyline peeked through the layered trees, casting long shadows over the row of traditional homes reborn with modern touches. It smelled like wood, earth, and faint jasmine in the air.

Jae Hwa rolled down the window and pointed ahead.

“That one’s yours. Number 012. My old place before I moved into the main house.”

You glanced out and saw a minka—its warm lights glowing through paper-paneled windows, roof cleanly retiled, wooden steps polished and smooth. It was far more elegant than you expected. Clean lines. Silent serenity.

Kyoshi and Kaishi had already dozed off again, their energy burned out at the park. Nanami, without needing to be asked, shifted forward in his seat and carefully lifted them into his arms—one cradled over each shoulder like they were nothing. His free hand still managed to grab the duffel bags slung over the backseat.

“Wait—Nanami, I can—”

You began, but he already stepped out smoothly, quiet as a shadow.

Meanwhile, Ryoichi had refused to budge from your arms the entire ride. His cheek pressed against your collarbone, thumb tucked into his mouth as he mumbled sleepy nothings. You sighed with a faint smile and kissed the top of his head.

Stubborn little thing.

The gravel crunched under your shoes as you trailed behind Nanami, adjusting Ryoichi in your hold. You followed the path Jae Hwa pointed to, turning toward the left minka… and slid the door open.

“Ah, finally—”

You began. And froze.

Inside, the room was low-lit with thick incense in the corner. A long rectangular table stretched out, perfectly set for ten. And seated at the head of the table was an elderly man in a navy-blue robe, his silver hair tied back, a golden ring glinting from one hand. His brows furrowed as he looked up from his laptop.

You both locked eyes in pure horror.

Before you could even utter a word, Jae Hwa zipped past and gently shut the sliding door in your face.

“Sorry, sir!”

She called out to the elder.

“Wrong room!”

She turned to you with a wince.

“That’s the meeting room. Where we hold trades. And contracts. And sign serious things.”

Your eyes widened.

“And I just barged in holding a cranky toddler like it was daycare.”

Jae Hwa burst into a laugh as she tugged your arm gently away from the door.

“Come on, this way, before you offend someone who still uses swords to communicate.”

The actual minka—your minka—was just a few steps farther down the corridor. Warm, elegant, and scented with fresh wood and lavender. There was a sleek kitchen tucked into the corner, a full bath behind shoji dividers, and a soft rug laid under the futon-style bed in the bedroom.

You stood at the entrance in awe.

“Jae…this is gorgeous.”

“It’s not much.”

She shrugged.

“but it’s safe, and it’s yours while you’re here.”

She led you inside gently, and you moved to set Ryoichi down on the bed.

But the moment your arms began to shift, his little grip around your neck tightened.

“Nooo…”

“Ryo...”

You sighed.

“Baby, Mommy's arms are tired.”

“Nooo!”

He whispered again, voice quivering.

“You’ll go away if I let go.”

Your heart clenched at the words, and before you could even find the strength to say anything comforting, you glanced up and there was Nanami, standing in the doorway.

His sleeves rolled up to the elbows. One bag on each shoulder. Kyoshi half-asleep in one arm, Kaishi fully knocked out in the other.

He looked like some cinematic protector of the year calm, composed, completely in his element.

You couldn’t help but laugh and at the same time wonder if a Sukuna would be able to do that if he was here.

“You look like you’ve done this before.”

Nanami carefully lowered the bags first, then set your other two sons down gently onto the mattress.

“I’ve never done it.”

He said plainly.

“But it’s not hard.”

“They trust you.”

You said softly.

He paused, then gave a short nod.

“Kids know safety when they feel it.”

Jae Hwa leaned by the doorframe, arms crossed, smiling.

“Told you. City life’s not so bad, right?”

You turned toward her, heart still full.

“Thank you for letting us stay inside the complex.”

She shook her head.

“It’s not charity. It’s family.”

You looked down at Ryoichi, still wrapped around you like a baby monkey. Despite your sore arms, you just held him tighter.

“And thank you, Nanami. For helping me carry… well, everything.”

Nanami gave a short smile.

“You’re welcome.”

☁️🌥️☁️

The morning was nothing short of chaotic.

You had barely rubbed the sleep from your eyes when the sound of little feet pounding against the tatami filled the minka. The boys were up and running like tiny tornados fueled by excitement and energy.

You sat cross-legged on the floor, carefully slipping Ryoichi’s tiny arms into his shirt. His grumpy expression remained unchanged as his sharp eyes followed his brothers tearing around the room half-dressed, squealing and laughing.

“Kaishi, Kyoshi! Stop running!”

You called out half-heartedly, already knowing it was useless.

Ryoichi frowned, watching them with a mix of disdain and authority.

“Idiots.”

He muttered under his breath as you fixed the hem of his shirt. You tried to hide your chuckle and placed your index finger on his lips and tapped it three times.

“That's not nice, Ryo. Don't call your brothers that.”

Then it happened.

Kyoshi, with his usual reckless excitement, misjudged a turn and crashed straight into the small wooden table by the bed. The loud thud was followed by a split-second of stunned silence.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

Kyoshi wailed, clutching his forehead. His scream echoed through the minka, loud enough to startle birds outside.

Kaishi immediately ran to his twin, patting his back, his soft voice trying to soothe him.

“You’re okay, you’re okay, Kyoshi…”

Ryoichi scowled, crossing his arms.

“Mommy told you to stop running.”

You sighed and hurried to Kyoshi, gently inspecting the forming red bump. You kissed it softly as you scolded him under your breath, pulling his little shirt over his head while he continued to sob dramatically.

A knock came at the door.

You barely had time to respond before Ryoichi stomped over and yanked it open. There stood Nanami, dressed neatly as ever, concern flickering behind his glasses.

“Is everything alright?”

Ryoichi glared up at him, arms crossed like a mini mafia boss, eyes narrowing in silent judgment.

Nanami crouched to Ryoichi’s eye level, completely unbothered by the intense glare.

“You’re a brave little guy, huh?”

He murmured with a small grin, ruffling the boy’s soft hair.

Ryoichi huffed and turned away, letting Nanami’s hand fall uselessly.

You appeared at the door a moment later, Kyoshi on your hip sniffling but calmer, Kaishi trailing behind. As soon as the door opened wider, Kyoshi and Kaishi wriggled free from you like released prisoners and darted down the hallway giggling.

You looked up and met Nanami’s amused expression.

“Morning.”

You greeted, breathlessly brushing your messy hair behind your ear.

Nanami opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Ryoichi—still standing guard—slammed the door in his face with a scowl.

You gasped.

“Ryoichi Sukuna!”

You snapped, using his full name.

The boy froze, his eyes wide...you had also realized what you have said and froze but before neither of you can react, Ryoichi immediately ran to his brother's in the living room.

You reopened the door, cheeks warm with embarrassment, only to see Nanami quietly chuckling to himself. His soft laughter, so rare, made you laugh too.

"I am so sorry Nanami."

“Don’t worry.”

Nanami said, straightening.

“I’ve dealt with worse bosses.”

You shook your head, still smiling.

“There’s breakfast ready at the cafeteria,”

He added politely.

“Come when you’re ready.”

You nodded with a grateful sigh, watching your boys zoom past in the hallway once again, already onto their next adventure.

The cafeteria was quiet at first, the smell of rice and seaweed soup drifting in the air as the early morning sunlight filtered through the bamboo blinds. Most of the children were already running around, chasing each other or fussing about the food, but your boys were surprisingly still at the low table, eating with focus.

Well—Kaishi was halfway done, Kyoshi was poking his fish with intense curiosity, and Ryoichi was carefully guarding his bowl like a prison warden.

A few of the other mothers had taken notice.

"How are they this well-behaved?"

One whispered, nudging the woman beside her.

Another leaned in, laughing gently.

“Boys, why are you sitting so nicely while everyone else is running around?”

Kaishi blinked, crumbs on his cheeks.

“Because Mom’s scary.”

Kyoshi nodded in perfect agreement, mouth full of rice.

“Very scary.”

Ryoichi didn't even look up.

“They’ll see.”

The mothers burst out laughing, one even wiping a tear.

“Oh, you poor things!”

You chuckled with them, shaking your head.

“Don’t believe them too much. They just know I’m the one holding the snacks later.”

Just then, Nanami who’d been helping serve bowls knelt beside Kaishi and gently wiped the sticky rice from his cheek with his fingers. Kaishi leaned into the touch naturally, mumbling a soft thanks through his food. It was a sight for sore eyes.

“That’s better.”

Nanami said, his voice low, calm.

“You can’t fight monsters with rice on your face.”

The joke made Kyoshi snort, nearly choking on his drink.

You glanced at the scene Nanami patiently tidying up your son, his expression unreadable but gentle and something fluttered quietly in your chest. Not longing, not a crush, just a strange softness. You couldn't help but wonder if a Sukuna would also do this if he was here.

“You’re good at that.”

You said lightly.

“You ever think about having a family?”

Nanami didn’t miss a beat.

“No time. And women nowadays prefer men who work twelve hours and still clean the house after.”

You huffed a soft laugh.

“So basically, a domestic superhero.”

“Exactly.”

He gave Kaishi a pat on the head and moved to help clean up the other bowls, his focus already back on the tasks at hand.

You watched him for a bit longer. He was standing near the kitchen counter now, listening as one of the elders asked him something about the morning deliveries. Calm, steady, efficient. He really did blend into any setting, even one full of chaos and toddlers.

You couldn't help but wonder again if a Sukuna would able to settle himself like this.

You didn’t realize you were still watching him until Ryoichi, seated beside you with perfect posture and a stern little scowl, spoke up.

“You like him?”

You blinked, nearly choking.

“What?”

"I saw you smiling,”

He muttered, squinting at you like a detective about to crack a case.

“You don’t smile at people like that.”

You tried not to laugh, covering your mouth with your hand.

“Ryoichi, I smile all the time.”

“Not like that.”

Before you could respond, Kaishi poked his twin.

“Mommy always smiles at Jae Hwa too. You don’t get mad then.”

“Because Jae Hwa’s a girl.”

Ryoichi replied instantly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Kyoshi gasped in delight.

“Ryo’s jealous.”

“I am not!”

You held your temple with two fingers, sighing as the trio slowly devolved into dramatic gasps and mock arguments—Kaishi playing peacemaker, Kyoshi adding fuel to the fire, and Ryoichi looking like he wanted to sue someone.

Nanami returned just in time to see the mini meltdown.

“Everything alright?”

He asked, eyeing the boys curiously.

You gave him a tired but amused smile.

“Just your average family drama.”

Ryoichi crossed his arms, facing away from the both of you with a huff. His message was clear.

Nanami crouched next to him with a small smirk.

“What’s wrong, little man?”

“Nothing.”

Ryoichi muttered.

“It’s just… you're tall.”

“…Right.”

Nanami said, not buying it.

You stifled a laugh behind your hand again. The way Ryoichi clung to you especially around other men was nothing new. But seeing him glare at Nanami like a miniature bodyguard felt both ridiculous and endearing.

Then Jae Hwa enters the cafeteria and everyone carefully stood up to greeted her as she smiles greeting back asking them to stay seated and enjoy their meals before heading to your table.

“There you are! You think you’re free for a bit? I was hoping to show you the system—how we rotate supplies, communication flow, check-ins with Seoul. Might help if you’re planning to stick around longer.”

You hesitated, eyes drifting instinctively toward your children.

Kaishi was lazily drawing patterns in spilled rice. Kyoshi was dangling dangerously off the bench. And Ryoichi…was already watching you like a hawk.

“I’m not sure.”

You murmured.

“Maybe after they nap—”

“I can watch them.”

Nanami offered casually, setting his cup down with a small thud.

Three heads turned instantly.

“What?”

Kyoshi blinked.

“No way.”

Kaishi said, crawling closer to your side.

Ryoichi didn’t even blink. He just stared—full of suspicion.

Nanami, unfazed, leaned slightly toward the twins and changed his tone: warmer, lighter. Persuasive.

“You boys haven’t seen the playroom, have you? There’s a slide. Picture books. A rope bridge. Even a secret tunnel.”

Kyoshi’s eyes widened.

“A tunnel?”

Kaishi practically bounced.

“For real?”

Nanami nodded.

“Want to find it?”

Just like that, the twins were sold.

But Ryoichi stayed frozen, lips pressed into a hard line. Not moving. Not convinced.

You crouched next to him gently, touching his small shoulder.

“Sweetheart, I need to handle some grown-up things with Jae Hwa. It’s work stuff. Just for a little bit, okay?”

He stared into your eyes, the seriousness in his expression far too grown-up for his age.

“You’ll come after?”

“I promise.”

He looked over at Nanami, narrowing his red eyes.

“…Fine.”

Ryoichi muttered.

“But only ‘cause you promised.”

You smiled and kissed his forehead.

As Ryoichi joined the others at the door, dragging his feet the whole way, Nanami opened it with a polite smile, ushering them out. You watched them go with a soft pang in your chest.

“I guess I’m free now.”

You said, turning to Jae Hwa.

She grinned and looped her arm with yours.

“Come on, I’ll show you how we keep this circus running. But girl… that little one of yours? He’s got watchdog energy.”

You laughed under your breath.

“He gets it from his father.”

You suddenly pause when that comment slips out hoping Jae Hwa didn't hear it. But it looks like she didn't and you bit your lower lip.

The playroom was a riot of color soft foam floors, shelves filled with plush animals, building blocks, and miniature kitchen sets. Bright sun poured through the wide windows, casting playful shadows as Kyoshi and Kaishi bounced from one corner to the next.

“Look! I'm a chef!”

Kaishi declared proudly, tossing plastic vegetables into a tiny pot and handing Nanami a floppy rubber carrot.

“Try my sushi!”

Kyoshi called from the other side, stacking blocks into what vaguely resembled a roll.

“It's poisonous!”

Nanami raised a brow but played along with a dry smirk, taking careful pretend bites while the twins roared in laughter. But not everyone joined in.

At the corner of the room half hidden behind a shelf of books sat Ryoichi. Silent. Watchful.

He had a coloring book open, the pages perfectly unwrinkled, and his little fingers moved methodically with a red crayon. Not messy. Not wild. Just… focused. Controlled.

And every time the door opened—whether it was a staff member checking in or a mother peeking in—Ryoichi’s head would lift. His eyes would scan. Then lower again once he confirmed it wasn’t you.

Nanami noticed.

He let the twins keep playing and slowly crossed the room, crouching down beside the quiet boy.

“You’re not playing with your brothers.”

He said gently.

Ryoichi didn’t look up.

“I don’t like noise.”

Nanami sat beside him on the floor, careful not to disturb the coloring.

“I understand. Sometimes quiet is better.”

Ryoichi’s hand paused mid-stroke. Then he glared. Not a pout. Not a sulky face. A full-on, death-glare.

Nanami blinked.

“That’s quite a look.”

He said calmly.

“If I were someone weaker, I’d probably be scared.”

“I am scary.”

Ryoichi muttered.

“I believe you.”

Nanami said with a soft laugh.

“But I still want to sit here.”

The boy huffed and resumed coloring. Crayon moving with neat, deliberate pressure.

Nanami glanced at the drawing three figures, one with long hair, and three small ones holding hands.

He waited, letting the silence settle before speaking again.

“What do you like, Ryoichi?”

The boy didn’t look at him.

“Mommy.”

“That’s a good answer.”

No response.

Nanami looked at him thoughtfully.

“You don’t look much like her.”

This time, Ryoichi’s head tilted a little.

“Your brothers do.”

Nanami continued, casually.

“You look different. Maybe you take after your father.”

Silence but Nanami saw it, a small flicker. Interest. A shift in the air. The boy’s crayon slowed again.

He didn’t hear that word often. Father. Dad. It was a puzzle piece with no picture to match.

“I’ve never met him.”

Ryoichi said eventually.

Nanami nodded, tone calm.

“Dads are… funny creatures. Some are loud. Some are quiet. Some are not present...”

“What does a daddy do?”

The boy asked, still not facing him.

Back in the compound they always mention mom a lot but he does often see a family of three or four maybe five with always that one male that leads the family. He always thought that was him.

Nanami glanced at the twins tumbling over each other on the floor.

He looked back at Ryoichi and answered quietly.

“A Daddy helps Mommy when things are hard. Makes her smile. Keeps the kids safe. And when he’s a good man…Mommy’s heart gets lighter.”

Ryoichi’s crayon stopped.

“And if you look so much like your dad...”

Nanami said softly.

“…your mommy loved him very, very much. Enough to mold a piece of her heart to make you look just like him.”

Ryoichi finally looked at him.

Those red eyes, so piercing, so eerily still for someone so young—wavered. Just a little. Something unreadable flickered through them. Hope. Curiosity. A longing he couldn’t name.

“…Where is he?”

He asked, barely above a whisper.

Nanami’s expression didn’t change, but something inside him ached. Because he could tell that wasn’t a question the boy ever asked out loud. Or maybe, never dared to.

“I don’t know.”

Nanami said gently.

“But if your mommy loves you that much…maybe you’ll understand someday.”

The boy didn’t answer. But he stared at Nanami for a long, long time—like he was trying to see if any of that could really be true.

And for the first time since they entered the playroom, Ryoichi didn’t look toward the door.

You didn’t realize how late it was until your eyes flicked to the small clock on the library wall. 7:04 PM.

Your back straightened.

“Oh no.”

Jae Hwa looked up from her seat, blinking behind her glasses.

“Already? Seriously?”

“We’ve been in here for hours.”

You muttered, hurriedly closing your notebook.

“Well, we did cover every annoying detail about the housing system,”

She said, stretching her arms above her head.

“And maybe got a little carried away talking about who I dated in the west wing.”

You chuckled, grabbing your bag.

“I said I’d be back before dinner…”

“You know Nanami’s with them. They’re probably fine. His like the most father figure here.”

She said.

“Still, I get it. Go.”

You gave her a grateful look and headed out.

The playroom lights were off when you arrived.

No kids. No noise.

A pinch of worry set in your gut, but you forced yourself to stay calm. You checked the hallway, even peeked inside the main hall. Then, as your steps quickened down the quiet walkway, the scent of something familiar reached you.

Garlic. Oil. Nuggets?

You paused at your door. There was light inside. Something sizzled faintly in the kitchen.

You eased the door open and stepped inside, cautiously.

Voices. Laughter.

You rounded the corner and peeked into the kitchen.

Nanami was standing at the stove, sleeves rolled neatly, flipping a pan of dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets with a practiced ease. The boys were at the dining table, crayons scattered in front of them as they colored on paper, humming and chatting.

Kyoshi was drawing a volcano. Kaishi had what looked like a robot with twelve arms.

And Ryoichi quiet, focused was coloring inside the lines of a neatly drawn dinosaur.

The whole scene made you pause.

You leaned against the doorway for a moment, just watching.

“Mommy!”

Ryoichi was the first to spot you.

He slid off his chair and rushed toward you. The twins scrambled after him, all three crashing into your legs like an avalanche of energy.

You smiled, bending down and kissing the top of each of their heads.

“There you are. Did you guys behave?”

Kyoshi nodded quickly.

“We played so much!”

Kaishi added.

“And Nanami made dinosaur food!”

You chuckled.

“That sounds exciting.”

But it was Ryoichi’s voice that surprised you.

“Nanami was nice.”

You blinked. He said it so simply so offhand but the fact that he said it at all made you pause.

He usually didn’t speak that way about anyone unless you were involved. Not even kind strangers got that kind of comment from him.

Nanami looked over his shoulder briefly. He didn’t react much, just gave a small nod.

You stepped into the kitchen fully, carrying Ryoichi in your arms while the twins ran to their seats and started piling nuggets onto their plates.

“How was your day?”

Nanami asked as he set down the last plate on the table.

“Long. Productive. Surprisingly social.”

You set Ryoichi down, who quietly sat next to his plate and began eating with the same calm expression.

You pulled out a chair and sat across from him, grabbing one of the nuggets.

“I should start paying you for this.”

Nanami shrugged as he took a seat.

“Not necessary.”

You gave him a glance.

“You sure? This might count as overtime.”

He shook his head slightly, reaching for his own plate.

“Consider it something different. Besides, it wasn’t difficult.”

You both sat in a companionable silence for a moment, the background filled with your sons' cheerful voices and clinking utensils.

The nuggets disappeared faster than you could blink. Kyoshi proudly announced he ate five, Ryoichi said he ate six, and Kaishi quietly muttered, Seven, like it was a victory he earned in secret.

You were still laughing when the twins yawned nearly in sync.

“Time for a shower.”

You announced gently. Predictably, there were groans.

But to your surprise, Nanami stood and rolled up his sleeves again.

“I’ll handle Kyoshi and Kaishi if you’ve got Ryoichi.”

He offered casually.

You stared at him.

“You really don’t have to—”

“I know.”

He shot you a faint smile.

“But I kind of want to.”

You tilted your head, narrowing your eyes playfully.

“You enjoying this?”

“I’d call it…an unusual but meaningful evening,”

He said with a low chuckle as he reached for a towel hanging near the rack.

The next half hour passed like a scene out of a dream. You and Nanami moved through the routine with surprising ease—helping the boys into warm pajamas, drying hair, wiping sleepy faces, brushing tiny teeth with animal-themed toothbrushes.

Nanami was gentle with them. Patient. Ryoichi let him fix his collar without protest. Kaishi ran into his legs just to be carried again. Kyoshi kept asking if he could sleep with socks on, and Nanami answered like he’d known them forever.

It wasn’t long before all three were tucked under their blankets, eyelids drooping, chests rising and falling in rhythm.

You leaned down, kissed each forehead, whispering a good night.

When you stood back up, Nanami was adjusting the edge of Ryoichi’s blanket.

“I think that’s the quietest they’ve ever fallen asleep.”

You whispered.

He nodded, standing.

“They had a full day. Playroom, library, dinosaur nuggets. That’s a complete arc.”

You let out a soft laugh, keeping your voice low.

“Seriously, you deserve an award. Perfect score on bedtime boss mode.”

Nanami lifted a brow, amused.

“You’ll ruin my reputation if you keep saying that.”

“Well,”

You teased, nudging his arm as you both walked back to the living room

“if you’re not careful, you might just end up being someone’s ideal husband.”

“I might just find a wife tomorrow,”

He said dryly, chuckling as he grabbed his jacket near the door.

“That’s the curse of a good bedtime routine.”

You smiled, watching him button the top.

“If she knows what’s good for her, she’ll marry you immediately.”

Nanami yawned as he opened the door.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

“Thanks again, Really”

You said softly.

He gave you a small wave without looking back.

“See you tomorrow.”

The door closed with a quiet click.

You leaned against it for a moment, letting the silence settle.

Then you went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. For the first time in days maybe weeks you didn’t have to rush. No cries, no knocks on the door. Just the sound of warm water against tile.

When you slipped into bed, the sheets felt cooler than usual, and the hum of the evening air made everything feel distant.

You turned to your side, letting your thoughts drift.

You hadn’t expected much from today. Just another quiet attempt to survive. But Nanami… he surprised you.

The way he cared. The way the boys responded to him. The way he didn’t hesitate—not once.

Some people are just born with it, you thought.

A quiet kind of grace. A natural instinct to give more than they take.

You stared at the ceiling in the dark for a while.

Then slowly, you closed your eyes. And for once, you fell asleep without a worry pressing into your chest.

In another minka, Jae-Hwa emerged from her doorstep, towel-dried hair pulled into a tight low bun, makeup fresh but minimal. Her black blazer was crisp over a satin midnight blouse, and her slacks moved silently with each confident step.

She pushed open the sliding doors to the estate’s private meeting hall.

The space was minimal but not without presence—just a long wooden table stretching across the center, flanked by ten seats. The overhead pendant lights cast a cool white glow, spotlighting the laptop at the head of the table.

Mr. Zu was already there, seated at the far end. His dark eyes flicked up from the screen as she entered.

“Right on time.”

He said, gesturing to the empty seat across from him.

Jae-Hwa nodded politely, walking over without hesitation. As she took her seat, the soft mechanical hum of the laptop filled the room. On the screen was a woman—composed, elegant, with sharp almond-shaped eyes and a subtle red lip. Her black hair was pinned high in a traditional twist, though her suit was modern and tailored, exuding authority.

“Ms. Jae-Hwa.”

Mr. Zu said, nodding toward the camera.

“Allow me to introduce Kaoru Sukuna—Executive Liaison of Eastern Syndicate, representing the Osaka branch’s Serve & Justice Division.”

Jae-Hwa offered a warm, respectful smile.

“It’s an honor, Ms. Kaoru. I’ve been looking forward to this meeting. Your reputation precedes you, and I’m truly excited for what this collaboration can bring.”

The woman on the screen returned the smile, her voice silk and steel.

“The pleasure is mine. I’ve reviewed your proposal—and I must say, it was... enlightening. Clear. Empowering. I particularly appreciated how it focused on intersecting the goals of justice reform with realistic protections for women in organized structures.”

Jae-Hwa tilted her head, hands resting folded on the table.

“We believe power should come with accountability, and that includes uplifting those often silenced by it. If we’re going to evolve these systems from the inside… we start here.”

Kaoru’s eyes lit with something deeper than approval respect.

“Precisely. Too many men think control is synonymous with violence. But order built on intention...on dignity that lasts longer. And that’s where women like us come in.”

They exchanged a knowing smile—nothing theatrical, but weighted, as though both had been waiting for this kind of alliance longer than they'd admit.

“I’d love to speak more in person.”

Kaoru continued, her tone never losing its smooth professionalism.

“Which brings me to an invitation.”

Jae-Hwa leaned slightly forward.

“There will be a private syndicate gathering at Sotdae Hall, downtown Seoul. A sealed event. It’s not open to the public—only to trusted connections from across regions. There’ll be contract signings, presentations, and an opportunity for deeper networks to form under one roof. We want to welcome you there.”

Jae-Hwa’s eyes glinted, impressed.

“That sounds like a brilliant opportunity. And it would be an honor.”

“I’ll have my secretary send the location details, date, and required security protocols.”

Kaoru added.

“This event is about growth—but also protection. Only those fully vetted will be allowed entrance.”

“Understood.”

Jae-Hwa said with a nod.

“We’ll be ready.”

Kaoru smiled again—cool, diplomatic.

“Then we’ll be in touch.”

“Looking forward to it.”

The screen dimmed to black after a soft click, the call ending without fanfare.

The silence hung for a moment, thick with implication.

Mr. Zu stood slowly, eyes unreadable.

“That woman.”

He murmured.

“has survived more than any man in this business will ever understand. If she’s offering us a seat at her table—it’s because she sees something useful.”

Jae-Hwa exhaled, standing as well.

“Let’s make sure we don’t waste it.”

They left the room in tandem, lights switching off behind them as the door slid closed—leaving the long table, now empty, glowing faintly beneath the Seoul moonlight.

༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺

End.

A Daiya Papas/ Daddies au I came up with (I’m now aware there is another on here, though I have not read it yet) After I doodled Kuramochi, I suddenly decided to add a baby Eijun. After sharing it with ppl on a misawa server, someone else mentioned other Daiya father & son pairs which I drew.

A/N: This is a happy birthday drabble for @book-dragon-13 Here's to another year imaging Daddy!Bucky

Your life had been a series of happy accidents since meeting Bucky.  Getting married after a year had been eloping to Vegas, with Sam, Steve, and Nat as your witnesses. Then finding out not too long after about Bianca. And while you had planned for your second pregnancy,  twin boys had NOT been on your to-do list.

You stood at the bathroom sink,  head hung and slightly shaking in disbelief. You heard Bucky come in, dropping his tactile gear everywhere.  You groaned knowing all three kids would wake up at the sounds.

“Babe, where are you?” He called out.

“Daddy!” Bianca,  Shawn, and Spencer all squealed as they wrapped their arms around his legs.  Bucky shushed them and hugged them back.

“Where's Mommy?” Bucky grinned. ‘Mommy’ was his newest favorite nickname for you: one sultry ‘daddy’ whisper from you had converted him and had led to the best sex he remembered having in awhile. He noticed the light coming from your bathroom.  He peeled the kids off his legs and gently pushed in the door. “Babe?”

“You’re getting a vasectomy. That’s final.” came your voice.  Bucky startled at the firmness of your voice, then smirked as he felt himself turned on. He pushed the door all the way in to find you sitting on the toilet, lid down, and glaring at him.  Then he noticed the….

“Seriously Buck, you better hope there's just one in there this time. It will be the last!”

He cautiously approached you,  dropping a kiss on your head before kneeling down to look you steadily in the eye. You saw his adorable pouty lips and the twinkle in his eyes. “As you wish,” he whispered before kissing you softly.

Tagging @the-ss-horniest-book-club but since I'm on mobile will get everyone else later!

vOrange is up on patreon~