Chapter Text
Hugo was planning on staying home that day, due to a particularly stubborn cold that refused to leave his sinuses alone. That was until he heard a faint wailing that seemed to penetrate the very foundation of his home.
must be the neighbours kid.
Hugo sighed, turning over and pulling the pillow tight over his head. He tried to will himself to sink deep within the plush surface of his bed, to ignore all outside distractions. It wasn't until the sound persisted for another half hour that he finally pulled himself from the comforts of his bed. He dragged himself down the steep steps of the house, his pale hand twisting the door knob and pulling upon the heavy, dark oak door. When the cold, biting breeze of the February air bit down on him, Hugo flinched, his eyes squinting in the bright morning light. His large black eyes searched the yard, trying to track the source of the sound. There appeared not to be a child anywhere in the vicinity, which wasn't odd given the temperature. Hugo's brows furrowed, squinting his eyes further in an attempt find something that wasn't there. That's when his gaze was drawn down, onto his doorstep.
Oh.
Oh no.
Sitting there within loosely wrapped blankets and a neatly woven straw basket there lay a child. No, more like a toddler. The kid was currently bawling his eyes out, his shimmery yellow eyes producing an amount of tears that Hugo didn't even know was humanly possible. Beside the baby sat an envelope, which was addressed to him. For once there wasn’t countless thoughts racing through his mind at mach speed. He was simply blank. Empty. The epitome of cluelessness. His thumb slid across the parchment, the pad tracing the rough lines and surface of the paper until finally deciding to open it. He carefully tore open the seal, as to not tear the letter and further startle the bawling child at his feet.
Vivien Hugo,
You don’t know me, as I don’t know you as well. But I tell you with the most confidence that this child is biologically yours. I assume it happened that night, the house party hosted by Reo Mikage if you recall. I remember bumping into you, having a few drinks together, and then waking beside you. I panicked and left, leaving you with no recollection, which I deeply apologise for. As for the kid, his name is Charles. I have taken care of him for about a year now, which has brought me to the realisation that I can care for him no longer. Please take care of him. I don’t know you, but I can only hope that you are a good person. He deserves more than what I can give him, he is a truly bright and energetic kid and I believe he can grow to do great things with the right help. So I hope it’s not too much to ask of you to now be his sole caretaker. You are my only option now. That or an orphanage (which I hope you won’t send him to despite my efforts.) However I cannot dictate your decisions, if you too think you cannot care for him, send him off. But know that your child will forever be without a true father if you do so. If you do decide to care for him, I warn you to keep an eye on him. He’ll eat anything he can get his tiny infant jaws on. Be especially conscious of grass and bugs from outside, he love to try to shove those in his mouth. He loves getting into trouble, breaking things, knocking them over, you name it. I will miss him with all my heart. However I know this decision was for the best. Please raise him right, into the strong, capable person I know he can be. Thank you, I only wish the best for your future.
Hugo stared down at the scribbled words, mouth slightly agape. No signature? No name of the mother? No ‘I’ll be back in the future’? But his attention was quickly drawn away from the inscription and back to the babe in the basket. His black hole like eyes boring into the kid’s skull. However the baby, Charles, didn’t seem frightened. Instead pausing his tears to gaze back into the pools of darkness. Charles clapped his chubby hands together, squealing and babbling something incomprehensible to the human ear. But Hugo’s eyes widened as if the kid had said the most monumental, philosophical thing known to man. He slowly reached down, grasping the edge of the Charles’ blankets. His tiny nose was flushed red from the cold, a little bit of drool trickling from his mouth. But Hugo payed no mind, instead pulling the baby closer.
How could he give him away? It was destiny that Charles was given to him.
He quickly retrieved the whole basket, which he found contained a birth certificate. He sank down onto his couch, clutching the infant in his arms, brushing the soft, downy blonde hair from his face. Charles reached up, smacking his tiny hand on Hugo’s cheek repeatedly and laughing loudly, too loud for such a small being. Hugo wasn’t mad, or even offended at the slap. Instead he reached up to tap Charles’ cheek with his own finger, with much less force and not a hint of malice. Charles squealed, grabbing his finger and chewing on it with a toothless bite.
This kid.
His kid.
He spent the rest of the day entertaining Charles’ antics until they both fell asleep on the plush couch with buzz if the television droning on in the background.
~~~~~~~~~
It only occurred to Hugo the morning after he had received Charles how taxing of a job this was going to be.
First of all he didn’t even know what babies ate. Or how to bathe them properly. Or even where to find such tiny clothing. Charles smacked the feathers out of a pillow, seemingly feeding off of Hugo’s frustration as he scaled the internet for such answers. To confused by the millions of different variables he decided to rely on an internal source.
February 14. 8:26 AM
Vivien Hugo: Sae
Vivien Hugo: Sae
Vivien Hugo: Sae
Sae Itoshi: WHAT. Y’know texting once is enough
Vivien Hugo: well you didn’t reply in a satisfactory time period.
Sae Itoshi: yeah whatever. What do you want??
Vivien Hugo: You had a little brother right?
Sae Itoshi: not “had” I still have one. But yeah
Vivien Hugo: so you would help me learn how to take care of a baby?
Sae Itoshi: why the hell would you need to know that??? We’re in High school
Vivien Hugo: I have a kid now.
Sae Itoshi: what.