Chapter Text
“I don’t know why you waited for my school day to end before heading to the store. It’s so crowded!” Kaede is saying, narrowly missing a cart whipping around the corner. Kotetsu’s definitely scrunched up in the shoulders, looking back and forth between his floppy list and the shelves in front of him.
“What’s the difference between the red box and the blue box? I can’t for the life of me figure it out.” Kotetsu doesn’t meet her eyes; he’s too focused on the list.
“You want the red box. What even are you making?” Kaede presses. “Wait. Is this for Barnaby? Haven’t you cooked for him before? He’ll eat anything you’ve made, I’m sure.”
“I thought you didn’t like it when I made fried rice for every meal. I figured tonight’s as good as any to experiment.” After their last official season with Hero TV, Barnaby had spent a few weeks alone with his plants before returning Kotetsu’s calls- he’d explained it was all a part of the transition of working together to no longer, he wanted to prove to himself that Kotetsu wasn’t just his well-used crutch. For some reason, this had only amped up Kotetsu’s desire to ‘prove himself’ to Barnaby, through food and activities. And if his skills grew, all the better.
“At this point, I think I’d rather miss our weekly hero lecture than deal with the store like this again.” Kaede said, dropping the shopping basket at her feet. “Anything left on the list?”
“What? Ah, just one more thing. Thanks for coming with me.” Kotetsu kissed her hairline (just like people loved to do for house cats… Kaede certainly had the annoyance to pass as one right now).
Settling in at Kotetsu’s feels like puzzle pieces. Kaede insists on carrying the groceries to the kitchen table, Kotetsu ties his apron around his waist (cheesy slogan and all), Kaede’s bag tucks under her bed, and she rests a notebook on her lap to go over notes as veggies flop into a pan. As much as Kotetsu tends to cook to music, he’s quickly adjusted to the hums and house noises of just the two of them when Kaede comes to visit (it’s comforting how much she cares about her studies, and it’s definitely helped in part by choosing Hero Academy. As much as he hopes Anju’s nerves aren’t genetic, Kotetsu’s taking this as a sign that Kaede will be careful, aware, and diligent as a hero… traits heightened from Tomoe’s genetics, to be sure.)
The doorbell rings. Kotetsu lowers the temperature on the stove, dashing across the room to open the door. He’s tucked the chopsticks he was stirring with into their designated pocket on the apron. Barnaby comes in quietly, a wave as Kaede looks up, and Kotetsu’s already back to attending the food.
“How’s it going in the kitchen? Anything I can help with?” Kotetsu’s recipe is a handful of printouts he keeps shuffling between, their edges stained with a variety of ingredients. He doesn’t look up as he hears Barnaby’s cushioned footsteps, and the flippant waving of his hand (right beside his ear) doesn’t feel like a response, as absorbed as Kotetsu is. In two strides, he’s back at the simmering pan, eyes swinging once to the steaming surface before bounding back to the recipe.
“I’ve got it. Didn’t you admit it’s worth trusting my instincts, sometimes?”
“Alright, ‘Old Man’; just let me know if you need me, ‘kay?” Kotetsu hums, and Barnaby makes his way to the couch. His red socks stand out a lot against the tile floor, but almost perfectly match the carpeting under Kotetsu’s couch and coffee table. Barnaby’s spent long enough being nervous around Kotetsu, at or away from his house. Something in his brain hits the comfort of a camouflaged lizard relaxing into a new surrounding… the red and the coziness of Kotetsu’s house have always made him calmer.
“So Dad’s kicking everyone out of the kitchen?” Kaede asks, raising her voice to be heard over the sizzling.
“I guess so… I’ve been meaning to ask, how’s your figure skating been?”
“Wait, you know I skate? Did Dad tell you about it?” She sets her book down. Barnaby’s back hurts at the thought of carrying textbooks that thick again.
“I mean, he has, but I first met you when the statue had caused the rink to collapse.”
“Oh… I didn’t know you remembered that. You guys save a lot of people.” Her face heats up, and Barnaby does his best to focus on the ledge of pictures instead of her, so she doesn’t get too overwhelmed. “At the time, I didn’t know why Grandma was so wary about heroes, but you blew my expectations out of the water. I’m glad you live up to your persona. But the trick I’ve been wanting to perfect, a layback spin, is great for off-ice practice.”
“What does that one look like, again?” Barnaby’s certain she will see through his lack of knowledge soon, if not already, but he doesn’t want to say outright he doesn’t know the name of anything.
“It’s like bending backwards with your leg going behind you? My coach thinks the kind where I grab my skate would be good for the song I’m working on, but it’s easier said than done.”
“Food’s ready!” Kaede runs like she hasn’t eaten in months, and Barnaby winces for the future of her knees. The table is set with napkins wrapped in napkin holders, and Kotetsu can’t stop fidgeting with his apron. But the smell, especially up close… Barnaby’s salivating.
“It looks delicious.” For the longest time, Samantha’s pound cake was his favorite food. He started off his teens realizing that might be down to sugar, but the next birthday, he couldn’t possibly compare the soft, dense food to a candy bar. When he’d started cooking, Maverick offered him a bundt pan. It didn’t taste the same. And though Kotetsu’s food was savory, rich and just a little oily, his mind harkened back to the days with Samantha. It was so warm, but in the way that lingered throughout his chest.
As conversation freed itself, dotting into the gaps between bites, Kotetsu’s grin became uncontrollable. Here was two of his favorite people, enjoying time with each other.
“Not to be dour, but I don’t think I’d be here without you, Bunny. And certainly not without you too, Kaede.” The silver chopsticks in his hands, simple but elegant, glint the overhead light into his eyes. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what a hero means to me… and it turns out, you are my heroes.”