Chapter Text
"C'mon kiddo, we can't stay here forever-"
c00lkidd giggled, ducking under the slide again. "Noo, I don't wanna go home-"
007n7 huffed, rolling his eyes with a fond sort of expression. The kid was sweet - trouble, but manageable. "I'm getting tired, buddy. Surely you are too, hm?"
"I'm never tired!" the kid laughed, appearing around one of the poles of the play structure, proving his statement rather clearly.
Eventually, the little thing managed to slither around into his father's arms, albeit reluctantly.
"Lemme gooo, I wanna go back to playing, Papa-"
07 could tell the kid was just fine going home, given how the struggle to get out of his arms was a lot gentler than normal.
"... we have fun, buddy?"
c00lkidd had gone back to walking by then, arms swinging by his sides as he skipped the rest of the way back home. "Mhm! And I made a new friend! I can't remember his name, uhhh... but he was pretty cool! We're gonna meet up tomorrow, and he's gonna show me his card collection! And then when he left, this other kid came over, and-"
007n7 chuckled to himself, letting the kid babble about his day for as long as was deemed necessary. It was adorable, really, and nothing that should be stopped any time soon. By then, the sun had started its descent behind the houses and industrial buildings, not quite dark enough for the street lamps to turn on. Which was more than alright in 07's eyes - literally and metaphorically. The darker things stayed, the more tired the kid would be by the time they got back, and hopefully, the rest of the night would pass smoothly from there.
The familiar streets wound around one-another, the walk taking much longer on-foot than it would as the crow flies. But despite any of that, it was comfortable for the way that even those long, winding streets were familiar, and that there would be a warm house awaiting the both of them impatiently.
With the setting of the sun came a gentle chill in the air, and 007n7 pulled his jacket closer around himself. He wasn't the most keen on leaving skin bare, and at any rate, it was comfortable. c00lkidd, on the other hand, was more than fine romping about in shorts and a t-shirt most of the time. Which, hey, was more than admirable, just not necessarily something the older could reciprocate.
But it appeared that sunny daytime was rather different from gentle night, and the kiddo snuck closer and closer to him as they walked, red hand holding his Papa's tightly.
c00lkidd tugged on the jacket's hem, looking up at the older with bleary eyes. "... Papa.... I'm cold."
007n7 chuckled, already shrugging off the usual blue-ish fabric. "I figured. Hm, and looks like I'm right again, you should have brought along your coat-"
The kid huffed out some complaint, nearly drowning in the offered jacket. It was much too large, but it was warm, which seemed to be good enough for the little one.
Despite the chill that now bit at him, a warmth filled 007n7's heart, seeing his son content, cheeks rosy from a long day of play.
And the best part of it all, by far, was the fact that c00lkidd seemed genuinely happy. It had been... a rough couple of years, to say the least.
Going from a stoned hacker to a father? If teen-him had been told he'd be settling down with a family, he'd probably curse them out and laugh in their face. Him? Any kind of father, much less an alright one? Even moderately tolerable? Absolutely not.
But c00lkidd seemed fine with him, and if the kiddo was alright, so was he. There was something so calm about it - walking home in the dark, little one safe beside him.
In fact, there probably wouldn't have been any greater peace for the ex-hacker. c00l... he was still too young to fully understand what his father had been occupied with; what he was currently still dabbling in, to make ends meet when the odd-jobs weren't quite enough. Just then, in that moment, there was an innocence that Papa was still a good person. He would take that for as long as he could - take every moment his son could still look at him - would bathe in the glory of having the little one look up to him.
The kid was worth more than anything 007n7 had ever been in possession of. The most precious thing to exist; all bright smiles and cheeky jokes. n7 wouldn't think of trading him out for anything in the world.
And so when, in the dying light, he felt a familiar horned head lean against him, he couldn't help but smile. c00lkidd was walking slower now, the events of the day catching up with him, it appeared.
"We tired, buddy?"
c00lkidd hummed something noncommittal, following up with a weak shrug.
The kid was sweet, really, when he wasn't causing chaos to anything and everything around him; 07 probably doted on him enough to spoil him rotten, but c00l had good enough humility - where he had learned it from, 007n7 had no idea. There sure wasn't anyone immediately in his life who would be anything of an alright role model, but then again, this was c00lkidd.
The little gremlin, adored by all who saw him... aside from one or two faces, of course, but the incidents really weren't c00lkidd's fault, and his father's failings shouldn't stain his reputation. Nothing would hurt the little thing, if 07 had anything to do with the matter - which, he figured, wouldn't always be the case.
As long as c00lkidd trusted him enough to lean against him, 007n7 would protect him, and even when that would inevitably fall through, he would still be there.
No matter if the kid cursed out his name - which, admittedly, would hurt rather, but it would be deserved - or moved somewhere far away and cut contacts, it was something of his oath to himself that he would stay by c00l. He had made so many changes for the better for the little bugger that he'd do almost anything to repay just how much that meant to him, really.
"... Papa...."
The familiar voice brought him out of his thoughts, looking to the now noticeably more tired kiddo. "... yeah?"
"Can you... pick me up?" There was a hint of pause there. As though something to be scorned, or ridiculed for. "I know I'm probably heavy, um..."
007n7 hummed, stopping - c00lkidd stumbled for a moment at the pause, but righted himself soon enough; kid must be exhausted - and opening his arms. "Nonsense. Heavy or no, I'd still pick you up, c00l."
The boy visibly brightened, crawling into his Papa's arms.
It was a familiar weight, really. Something grounding; something steady. 07 needed something to hold onto, or else he'd lose himself in the fog.
And so the walk continued, street lamps just beginning to flick on. Attempt to, at the very least; they had been overrided just a bit ago with the anticipation of such a thing happening. And 007n7 absolutely refused to have the kid woken up by city-mandated lights, or worse, recorded and documented. There was a price on his head, sure, but as long as c00lkidd stayed out of the council's view for long enough, he shouldn't be stuck with the mess he called his 'Papa'. Stupidly affectionate, really, for someone who couldn't even buy groceries without having at least three cashiers try to threaten him with whatever they had on-hand. It was honestly surprising how many people thought they could defend themselves with a barcode scanner, but whatever helped them sleep at night, he supposed.
c00lkidd nuzzled into his arms, grip slackening, clearly drifting off. The walking was - hopefully - a steady rocking, something akin to a cradle. He had never been able to afford one of the nicer ones, fancying something makeshift out of piping and cardboard until c00l grew out of crib-size - which was really rather fast, assuming he had been researching on the right sites.
Then again, this was a cheerful red child; there was seemingly no end to the chaos forced upon 007n7 by the little grubby hands.
007n7 realized distantly that their breathing was in tandem, and was reminded of one of the first nights.
One of those painful, odd nights, where anyone - especially an unexpecting, untrained parent - would think they were doing quite the wrong thing indeed.
c00lkidd, nicknamed 'Red' in case getting attached wouldn't be a good idea (Great job there, 7, he had thought for months after), wouldn't stay asleep for very long. Whether it was a baby's nightmare, or if something was uncomfortable, or if 07 was just doing a bad job, he would never know for certain.
The moment he began to drift off to the sound of c00l's soft breathing, he'd come to to the sound of a baby's cry - loud and unmistakable. Eventually, he resorted for keeping the kiddo in his arms; if the crib wasn't going to keep him asleep, well... 007n7 would do anything for a solid night's sleep at that point. He wasn't used to running on such fumes.
"Shh, it's alright Red. Papa's not going anywhere," he had muttered, almost fervent, until the words almost sounded true to his own ears.
And the baby had settled, soft skin puffy from crying. Slowly, slowly, c00lkidd had fallen asleep. And it wasn't anything sudden, and 07 had remembered wishing it was much faster indeed.
But the moment the kiddo was well and truly out, the first thing that he had noticed was the little one's breathing pattern.
He had never had anything follow him before; not so... willingly.
Noli had occasionally, sure, but that was only for certain jobs and cases. And for a little life, a little soul, a perfect little baby - his perfect baby - to follow what he was doing?
It was completely foreign, and one of the strongest feelings of inadequacy, aside from the first time he had seen the kid. That how could he be followed so closely, he was a villain, a monster in the narratives of most of the people he was around.
And yet the little gremlin chose to love him.
That he was worthy of the title of 'Papa' - and he'd be the first to admit he teared up when the kid said it the first time.
And c00lkidd had grown, and grown, and was rather a wonderful little creature. The kid had flourished - 007n7 felt like he was a dandelion in the suburbs.
No matter how much pavement and foot-traffic passed by, the glowing happiness would always come back to the face he had come to know so well.
Now he held quite the grown little boy indeed, and while he had said and believed that he'd always carry c00l, he was rather heavy.
Ten years old.
007n7 had kept another soul and himself alive for ten years.
For just a moment, he allowed himself the satisfaction and joy at having made it.
The front doorstep was littered with freshly-fallen leaves; winter was fast approaching, but 07 was holding onto the sun while he still could, having never been one for the darkness of winter himself. Stepping over them and unlocking the door - really quite a hassle with the kid in his arms, but 007n7 would rather rip the door off its hinges entirely than let c00lkidd down - he was greeted with the all-too-familiar sight of his house.
It was a small property, and most definitely nothing to be proud of, but it was his. His and c00lkidd's, the latter of which was just starting to stir again, noting the sudden lack of cold air against his face, it appeared.
"... Papa?" c00lkidd hummed, blinking, and 007n7 didn't think he'd ever been quite as happy with the word. "... 're we home?"
"Mhm," n7 nodded, walking over to the kid's bedroom.
Similarly, it was nothing too special, but it was enough to keep c00lkidd happy, at the very least. He would take those little victories, that was for certain.
After c00lkidd, albeit unwillingly, changed and got ready for bed, 007n7 came back into the room to tuck his son in.
The kiddo was practically already asleep when he came in, a little smile crossing his face at the sight of something so peaceful. Under his roof, it would have been entirely foreign if not for the kid. He was out like a light, and 007n7 left once more, closing the door behind him.
And as he laid in bed that night, c00lkidd's words echoed in his mind.
"'re we home?"
"Yes," he realized as he dozed off.
This is home.