re_alignment_logs | i said i've got all night

Entry tags:

i said i've got all night

WHO: Kay Faraday and Kagerou
WHERE: The ~~Nest~~ Roof of the Police Headquarters
WHEN: Right after this thread.
WHAT: Kay asked to see her guardian. He obliges.
WARNINGS: SAP. FLUFF. TEETH-ROTTING SAP. and action-spam

[He isn't sure why Kay wants to see him so badly. Everything had turned out all right, hadn't it? They were both safe. Nothing had happened to either of them. A fact he was incredibly thankful for.]

[But he couldn't refuse her a request. Not after... Not after what she said made his AI spark, made him feel oddly warm. A different sort of feeling than when he thought of someone -- of his reason for existing. But if what everyone said was true, then, that was normal.]

[So he lands atop the roof, glancing around for her. She said she'd be in their "house", but it never hurt to check. Just in case she'd gotten into something.]

Kay?

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[When those hands cup around her, she can't help but smile, leaning back into them instinctively. It was second nature by now, to trust him with this.]

I'm really glad...

I missed you.

[Whether or not she missed Kagerou or missed having a Dad was yet to be determined, but...either way.]

[Without a word, he lifts her, holding her against his chest. Just like always. She's acting... a little oddly. Even given their conversation.]

I wasn't away that long... was I?

[Look he's trying to understand.]

[That face presses to the metal emblem on his chest, continuing to smile. Really, nothing could dampen this right now.]

No...it's not that...

It's just been so long since I've had a Dad...

[Just saying it still sounded...new.]

[Oh. Well. That put a different spin on things. He stares down at her, a little speechless by the admission.]

I remember. Your father... he -- [He hesitates.] -- You lost him.

And... now we're family. Right?

[He wants to make sure he has it all clear. Just in case.]

Y-Yeah. That's right. We're family...

Officially. Starting now.

[She throws her arms against that chestplate again.]

[This is... this is one of those moments he wishes he were small like her. One of those moments he would love to actually be able to return that gesture.]

[Somehow.]

[So he just holds her there, his head bowed.]

I'm... I like that. I've never had family until now.

[Maybe someday. But for now, she'll just adore you as you are. She's not picky. Her green eyes cast up to him, that smile widening as he speaks.]

I get to be the first?

[He nods, and shifts her slightly, so she's resting in one palm, while he curls the other around her back. It feels more comfortable like this.]

Yes. You do. Is that good?

[He's not sure if he can call what he had with Shadowmaru "family". It was... different.]

[Her back leans against those hands, running along the smooth metal with her hand.]

It's very good! I...I wanna show you something. That's why I called you here.

But can we get comfortable? You don't have to stand.

All right?

[But, despite sounding confused, he doesn't protest. He simply takes a few strides over to the ~~nest~~ little structure they live in, and settles down on his heels inside.]

Should I put you down?

[When Kagerou sits, Kay makes herself comfortable in his hands, reaching around to her pouch and digging through it.]

Huh? Oh no, just like this. It'll be perfect this way.

[Her hand seems to find what it was looking for, pulling out the notebook her dad gave her.]

I want to show you something.

[He nods, and settles down a little more, wings folding against his back.]

[And then he tries peering closer to what it is she's holding.]

What is it?

[She holds the journal up, smiling at him.]

This is my Promise Notebook. You remember it, right?

[She flips through the blank leaflets idly, smiling at just the smell of the paper.]

A little, yes...

[He knows it's important to her. She was writing things down all the time. And she'd gotten a new one, hadn't she? Something like it.]

You wrote things down for me, didn't you?

That's right!

[She flips to about the middle of the notebook, pointing to the ones scrawled there.][She flips all the way to the front of the notebook, where some...slightly worn out words are written.]

I want to show you these.

[His expression flickers for a second. The smallest ghost of a smile. She tends to bring it out a lot.]

[And then he peers closer.]

What are those?

These are the first promises I ever made.

To my dad.

Promises... to your father...?

[From the way he asks, she might as well be showing him the holy grail or something.]

That's right.

[She runs a hand over the page, almost fondly.]

My dad's gone...

So...I want you to have these promises. I think he'd like that.

[He's taken aback by that -- his optic widening, and silence falling. What... does he even say to her?]

You... want to... give these to me? To make the same promises... to me?

[He almost asks her why, but after their conversation about family, there's no reason to, is there? He should know why.]

[She looks at him, almost afraid she...broke him, but exhales a sigh of relief when he speaks.]

Mmhmm.

You're my Dad. And...

Here, listen to this.

Promise I: Never take things from a stranger
Promise II: Never go anywhere with a stranger
Promise III: Always greet people with a smile, even people you don't know.
Promise IV: Never cry in front of strangers
Promise V: Always try your hardest to learn about things you don't understand.
Promise VI: If you ever have a boyfriend, you must bring him to meet Daddy right away.
Promise VII: Even when you have a boyfriend, never forget that I love you the most.

[She laughs a little, looking up at him.]

I need someone to keep these promises to.

[As usual, he listens to her in silence, listening closely. Kay might as well be speaking gospel for how closely he's listening to her.]

[And... as she recites the promises, suddenly all his doubts as to whether or not he has a heart seem incredibly foolish.]

[If he didn't -- could he feel this sudden surge of affection for her? This... weird warm feeling? He can't speak. He stares at her again.]

[... never forget that I love you the most ...]

You would really... you would want keep these for me?

[She stares at the promises a moment, taking in Kagerou's question. There was no need to even think about it. This robot had done everything for her since they'd gotten to know each other. He'd protected her, given her a home, slept by her side, fetched whatever she needed, taught her how to fight, and gave her advice when she was lost.

If Byrne could see her now...and she hoped he could, he'd be proud. She knew it. His little girl had a father--no. Two fathers. One watching over her from the cosmos, and one to be there for her when the first one couldn't.

What more could she ask for.]

You bet I do, Kagerou.

<small.[Her eyes look up at him, practically glittering.]

[It's not possible. But, all the same, he wants to put his arms around her. To hold her -- hug is the word, isn't it? All he can do is curl his fingers around her, and keep her near his chest.]

[It'll have to do.]

[He can't even begin to understand this -- understand why she chose him of all possible options. She was kind to him, and all he'd done was return it. Why... why did that earn such a place in her life?]

[Slowly, he nods.]

Then... I'll do my best. Is that all right?

[No matter how he decides to show it, Kay reacts the same way as she would from a hug. Her back leans against that chestplate, nuzzling it no different than if it had been fur.

It was contact.

Maybe it was his devotion to her that did it. The way he gave her attention. She craved it after a life without a father figure.]

That's perfect. I'll do my best too, okay?

I mean, these promises are to you now, after all.

[Contact. Maybe that was the key. Just contact. He was happy enough to provide it, if that was all she needed from him. At least, for her sake, the plating on his chest was warmer than that of his limbs.]

I know.

But... isn't that a part of family? I'll keep my part of the promises... and so will you?

That's right!

So...what can I call you? Do you like Kagerou or...Dad?

[He has no idea how to answer that one, and ends up blinking down at her -- mystified.]

My... name is Kagerou.

OH! I know, but...I didn't call my dad Byrne.

I didn't know if...you wanted me to call you Dad too.

[He shakes his head slightly.]

I don't want to take that from your father... "Kagerou" is fine.

[She nestles into her scarf, her face practically stuck in a smile.]

O-Okay. Kagerou, then.

[The way she says it, however...it's with the utmost respect and adoration. Just like she used to say 'Dad'.]

[He can see that, Kay. And... he smiles a little himself. More and more, lately, she's the only one who brings it out so easily in him.]

It sounds better than other names I've had.

[Especially when said... like that. No one has ever said his name like that.]

Really? But...it's just your name. It's...not really different, is it?

[She can't help but giggle, though. He's so adorable, sometimes.]

You said it differently than anyone else ever has.

[Even Shadowmaru. He'd said it... in his own way.]

[And a full on laugh erupts from her--a happy laugh.]

Maybe I'm just special!

You are.

[He says that without hesitation, and with complete seriousness.]

[She stops...dead cold.

But not in a bad way. She's just...it was so sweet to hear from him.]

You really think I'm special..?

[He nods, slowly, his expression serious. Sincere.]

I do. You... make it seem as if I do have a heart, after all.

...

Because you do, Kagerou.

You have a heart. I know it.

... I'll try to remember that.

[Because it means something more, coming from her.]

You better, or I'll come after you.

Will you? Should I be worried about what you'll do if that happens?

You betcha! I'm a toughie!

You'll definitely be sorry if you mess with me.

Then I won't 'mess with' you. All right?

[She turns around, those arms pressed to his chest.]

All right.

Promise.

[And, in return, he presses his fingers to her, in the best sort of hug he can manage.]

Promise.

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i said i've got all night

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