005 - Video

[used_friendship]

[It's late in the evening and thankfully Naruto is not yelling through the Pokegear for once. In fact he isn't anywhere near as energetic as he usually is.]

Y'know when you can't contact someone on the Pokegear thingies and some of their Pokemon have been sat in your room starin' at you most the evening, that usually means the person's gone right?

Comments

[believeit]

[He looks up, surprised that Dad would want to go to bed so early. He can understand it, though.]

Yeah, it's fine. I think Sakura-chan's still out, I might go check up on her.

[aflashoffaith]

[He stepped over behind Naruto's chair, hand reaching out- and hesitated, still unsure of the right things to say.

He'd tried to stay in a role he thought Naruto wanted, needed, from him. A source of strength, a milestone to surpass. Quietly encouraging from the background... Kushina was the one that brought out loving warmth for their son, the one who wasn't afraid to bare her heart and draw them both into her arms. Not that he kept a cold distance, but balancing the role model with dad had been tricky, and it was something he'd just have to learn as he went along.

But he never wanted his son to doubt whether he was loved by both parents, to not be comfortable enough to seek him out for comfort.

So he crouched a bit, slipped his arm around Naruto's neck and shoulders, and rested his forehead lightly against the back of his son's head.]

I love you.

[Offered simply, quietly. While he could be almost overly affectionate with Kushina at times, Minato wasn't always a demonstrative man when it came to these things. He had to be that strong pillar of support, the one to guide and encourage, because it was what others expected of him.

But he was still a man, a father, who valued his family above all else. And he couldn't let an opportunity to ensure his son knew that slip past him.]

If you need anything... you know where I'll be.

[believeit]

[The move startles him at first. It's soon followed by a wave of embarrassment- not because of it happening but more that because Naruto looks up to his Father so much, just being acknowledged in this way is- he doesn't know how to describe it. It fills him with happiness and he feels like a dumb kid for doing it but he finds himself twisting around in the seat, clinging to his Dad's arm.]

Yeah, I. I love you too. [More than anything. Mom too, obviously.]

[aflashoffaith]

[He wished he had the words to explain just how much Naruto had brightened both their lives, how they had excitedly counted down each day until they could finally meet the little boy that had kicked against their hands each time they spoke to him. How being a father had been the most important thing Minato had ever accomplished in his life, no matter how brief their time together had been.

When Naruto turned so did he, Minato shifting his hold more into a proper hug as he moved beside the chair, leaning in instead of crouching. Naruto's grip, fingers curling in and bunching the fabric of his sleeve, made his smile a little wistful, regret for a son that had never really had the luxury of something as simple as a hug from his parents.

Even if he didn't have the words he could still offer this, a quiet moment shared with his son, his unwavering support.]

sob boys

[believeit]

[For the moment, he's content with getting a well-needed hug from his Dad. It's bad enough that Mom's gone, but it's struck him that the possibility is there that he could go too. And Minato would be alone, or worse- he would go and Naruto would be parent-less again.

He doesn't want to think about it, instead he's just going to hug tightly for a few more moments before letting go (even though he doesn't want to.)]

i know qq

[aflashoffaith]

[He stayed still for as long as Naruto would let him, the hug just as much for him as it was his son- and when Naruto pulled away he didn't try to stop it, though was a bit slow to straighten back up himself.]

We'll start those cooking lessons in the morning, hm?

[Life would continue on no matter how they felt about it, returning to some sort of normalcy, a routine, would be good for all of them even if it was difficult.

It was also his quiet promise that he would still be there in the morning, even if he knew he had no right to make it- there was no telling what the morning would bring, but Minato had no intentions of leaving without a fight.]

:<

[believeit]

Ah.. yeah. I was gonna try making pancakes too, 'cause of some friend that said I should try 'em.

[Cake pancakes and ramen pancakes bu details. It's not important right now.]

Night, Dad. See you in the morning, yeah? [They will both still be here in the morning.]

[aflashoffaith]

Pancakes are simple enough...

[He mirrored the suggestion back quietly, a bit amused.

Had to start somewhere, he guessed.]

Mmn. Good night, Naruto.

[And with that he walked out of the kitchen, rounding up the still snooping Luxray on his way back to his room.]