Dabis Kid (Edits Complete)

(13) Soft Mornings, Borrowed Time -Edited

When I woke up, the room was quiet in that careful way—like it knew I’d cried myself to sleep and didn’t want to startle me.

My eyes burned. My face felt tight.

I turned my head and saw Rumi sitting in the chair by my desk, phone in hand, one leg crossed over the other. She wasn’t scrolling aggressively or typing. Just… reading. Waiting.

I wiped at my cheeks with the heel of my hand, scrubbing away the dried tear tracks as best I could, then shifted on the bed so the movement would make noise.

“Rumi,” I murmured. “You’re still in here?”
She looked up immediately. Her expression softened in that way that always made my chest ache a little—like she saw me, all of me, and wasn’t going anywhere.

“When your father left for work,” she said gently, “a purple… ghost thing made breakfast.”

I sat straight up.

“…Excuse me?”

She raised a brow. “I’m assuming that’s normal for you?”

“Mamagiri,” I said immediately, voice still rough with sleep. “You can come out now.”

The air folded in on itself, and Kurogiri stepped out of the mist like he’d been standing there the whole time.

Rumi didn’t jump. She didn’t scream.

She just blinked.

“Mamagiri,” I said, gesturing between them, “this is Rumi. My step-mom. Mom—this is Kurogiri. He’s… a Nomu. Also a gift from Papa.”

They bowed to each other at the same time.
“It is a pleasure to finally meet you,” Kurogiri said calmly.

Rumi stared for half a second, then nodded back. “Likewise.”

I grinned. “Okay,” I said, clapping my hands softly, “now it’s time for you to taste the best breakfast on earth.”

That got her attention.

We ate together—quiet, unhurried. The food was warm and perfect in that way only Kurogiri managed, like every bite was made with intention. Rumi kept glancing between me and him like she was still trying to recalibrate her reality.

When we finished, I turned toward Kurogiri, ready to dismiss him—but paused.

An idea sparked.

“Father’s gone all day, right?” I asked carefully. “Would it be possible to take Rumi to the base? Just for a bit. To meet Milo?”

Kurogiri inclined his head. “That is acceptable.”

Rumi’s eyes widened. “Ash—are you sure?”
I nodded immediately. “Yeah. I want you to meet her.”

We dressed quickly, quietly, like we were sneaking time from the universe. The portal opened, and the familiar air of the base wrapped around us.

“Dad? Papa? Himi?” I called. “I’m back—but just for a little while.”

They appeared almost instantly.

Milo was bundled in Papa’s arms. Dad looked exhausted but soft. Himi nearly tackled me.

We collided into a group hug—warm, tight, grounding.

Then they noticed Rumi.

“Hello, Miss Rumi,” Himi said politely.
Dad looked at me, questioning but calm.
“I wanted to see Milo again,” I said. “And she wanted to meet her.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

That was it. No fight. No tension.

Himi tugged my sleeve. “Azul,” she said softly. “Come on. Let’s watch a movie.”

She guided me to the couch and pulled me into her lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. I curled there easily, wings tucked in.

While the movie played, the adults talked quietly. Rumi sat close. Eventually, Papa gently handed Milo to her.

Rumi froze.

“Oh,” she whispered, cradling the tiny weight in her arms. “She’s… so small.”
Milo shifted, made a soft sound, then settled.

Rumi smiled—real and unguarded.

After a few hours, we had to leave.

The portal dropped us back home.

Father was waiting.

My stomach tightened instantly.

“I thought I said no leaving the house,” he said coldly.

Before I could speak, Rumi stepped in smoothly.

“Honey,” she said calmly, “I just took her out to eat.”

Father hesitated.

“…Okay,” he said finally. “But not again.”
He still looked at me, but the edge was gone.

I escaped to my room, closed the door, and sat at my desk.

I pulled out my sketchbook.

And I started to draw.

My little sister.