Work Text:
You’re staying at a close family friend's place for a few weeks in the summer. You’re taking a gap year before college, and your mom is “sick and tired of seeing you in the house” (her exact words); so she referred you to an aunt who you’ve only seen maybe 3 times your whole life. She’s going on vacation with her husband for 3 weeks, and her vacation budget doesn’t really cover a professional babysitter, but they can afford to give you 150 dollars every week. It’s obviously not much, but it’s free housing in LA for 3 weeks and time away from home, so you take it.
Her kids aren’t terrible– they’re kids. Overactive, loud, and curious! They don’t seem to miss their parents much, and they’re happy to ask questions about you and tell you about random stuff. You do what you can (partially with their help), walk them to the nearest park, watch TV and cook dinner with them, it’s fun! When you guys aren’t at the park, they’re playing out in the yard.
On the 3rd day, you hear an extra voice outside. There’s a kid next door who’s the same age, and he’s about 3 times as energetic as your aunt's kids and plays with them endlessly– he climbs over the fence to get into your yard. Your aunt mentioned that the family next door could help you with anything you needed, and you’d waved to the old man a couple times when he was on the porch yelling at god-knows-who over the phone. He’s a little intimidating..
The first weekend since you’d arrived, you’re chilling on the couch. The kids are outside playing, and you left the back-door open so you could hear if anything happens. Through the second screen-door you can see the two kids plus Yuuji making up some new game, and they’re having the time of their life. You’re a little envious, maybe nostalgic, but you’re more focused on finding a job for when you get back home. A knock at the door tells you that their moment of joy is going to be cut short. You put your phone down, and get up, calling for Yuuji and stretching your arms. Some nights his older brother Choso comes to get him– Mr. Itadori has been yelling at Yuuji for ripping up his clothes whenever he climbs up the fence. When you open the door, instead of the awkward emo 14 year old you’re used to, you’re staring at a pair of feet shoved into slippers that definitely don’t belong to its wearer.
The person opposite of you is equally as surprised, and you hear him mumble a gruff apology. He’s got pink hair, just like Yuuji; styled wild and spiky, but furrowed eyebrows and a natural frown like Mr. Itadori’s. Red eyes drinking in every detail of your messy appearance that you’re suddenly much more embarrassed about. After an awkward bout of silence, he says he’s here for Yuuji. You realize the kid never came when you called– and you’ve been standing here staring stupid at this man who is probably just trying to wrangle his.. Son? “Right! Sorry, geez.” You bundle up the edges of your shirt in your hands and run to the backdoor, Yuuji’s already there and your younger cousins are following him inside. They all look tuckered out, they’ve been playing outside nonstop- even opting to eat the lunch you made them outside.
Yuuji’s tired (and dirty) face lights up when he sees who’s leaning against the doorframe, “Uncle’kuna! You’re back!”
“You’re too old to be calling me that shit.” 'Uncle Kuna' huffs back, and you laugh quietly to yourself before telling the kids to go shower before dinner. They race upstairs with the little energy they have left, and you turn around to the biggest Itadori still standing at your door.
“You babysitting?” He nods, and you respond with a half-grin. “Kinda. They’re my younger cousins.
You’re Yuuji’s.. Uncle?”
“I’m the one that gets Wasuke’s diaper in a twist.” He nods, and you laugh back because you can’t help yourself. It’s such a stupid thing to say, but it helps you put the pieces together. “The one he’s been yelling at over the phone every day since I got here?” You grin, and he lets out a deep laugh.
“Yeah.. that one.” You’re about to say more when Choso calls for Sukuna from their front door, yelling that dinner is ready and Wasuke will give Yuuji his serving if he doesn’t run back.
He waves you off, and you do the same and head off to make sure the kids are doing what they’re supposed to be doing, because you know damn well you didn’t hear a single shower start.