estirose

Rook-universe, Taiga focus.

Summary: Taiga is actually listening, miracle of miracles.

“So,” Taiga said, settling down with his trio of Checkmates, “Why didn’t anybody ever tell me I was overwhelming you?”

His Queen, Rook, and Bishop exchanged glances. Taiga had to commend them on their devotion to him… but still, something had to be said. They’d made some sacrifices for him, and he appreciated them greatly… but as Nao had pointed out, they all liked their alone time, and it was a shame to acknowledge their needs as well. Especially if he and the others were going to raise another kid at some point.

“As I said, Beloved,” Nao told him, “You’re a little… overwhelming, and we’re all so quiet.”

Taiga sighed. “But the three of you….”

He looked at Wataru, and Mio. They had known him for decades, and their dedication to him… it was breathtaking. How could he have ignored their needs too?

“Yes?” Mio asked expectantly.

“I love you all,” Taiga said. “You are my greatest treasures, you and our son.” He smiled at all of them. “But I really need to know when you need your space.”

“B-but we get our space,” Wataru said. “Um, I wouldn’t mind sleeping in my bed a little bit more, but I am Rook, so….”

“What Wataru’s too shy to say,” Mio said, leaning forward, “Is that um… there have been times where we really wanted to be alone, but….”

“Mio….” His wonderful, beautiful Queen. How could he have been so thoughtless? And Wataru, his loyal, beloved Rook. He hadn’t exactly been outgoing when Taiga had discovered him.

Maybe he should have let Wataru sleep in his own bed more. Maybe he should have left Mio alone more. But he’d been too busy needing them.

Wataru would look at him and remind him that he was Taiga’s bodyguard if he said anything. Mio would just give him her shy smile if he said anything to her.

It took his Bishop, his beloved Bishop, to say anything. Silently, he started plotting; Mio would have her own apartment. She needed the space. He’d give Wataru and Nao the room they needed – Nao to read and Wataru to be alone.

He wondered again how he’d been blessed with his fellow Checkmates.

“Okay,” he said finally. “Wataru, Nao, Mio. I have to admit I’m not always the first one to recognize this, so if you need some alone time, just tell me. I know you like your books, Nao, and you like your violins, Wataru, and you like your kitchen, Mio.”

He couldn’t deny them these things, not things that meant so much to each of them. He had to give his people the freedom to be who they wanted to be, just as they’d been there for him.

They had been there for him; he would be there for them. That was all that could be said.

After all, they were a family, family was there for each other, and that was that.