written in scars || father lrh (au)

chåpter síxtëëñ

"Daddy?" I heard the small voice from beside me on the sofa. I was sat crosslegged, messing about with job applications on my laptop whilst Eila watched the television.

"Mm?" I hummed in response, smiling slightly as I looked over at her.

It was a Saturday, and we'd been out at the park enjoying the revitalising new atmosphere of the upcoming ((a/n: 5 Seconds of)) Summer for the capacity of the late morning and afternoon. We got home a little while ago, still giggling about the antics of some other people, and even - funnily enough, considering I would never joke around before Leilani, and very rarely even whilst with Dahlia - at ourselves.

  Oddly, the simplicity of the day made me feel... at home. I was happy. I had true purpose. And I loved it.

"What is 'Ao no Exorcist'?" Her pitch alternated and ranged as if she was questioning the pronunciation throughout her words.

"Oh, um," I looked up towards the TV screen displaying the show on Netflix, "Well, it's Japanese for Blue Exorcist. It's a type of animated show called 'animes', and they're normally based off of these comic-like black-and-white Japanese books called 'mangas'. From what I saw of about half of the first episode, it looked really good." By this point, I'd shut down and slid my laptop to its rightful space upon my desk, and had stood to retrieve the fluffy, cerulean-teal blanket on the sofa at a right-angle from the one we were sat on.
        
Smiling softly as Leilani turned the show on, I flopped down beside my daughter and snuggled up to her beneath the warmth magnet.
It wasn't long until, drifted by comfort and anime, Eila fell asleep. Smiling warmly, I took a moment to just bask in recognition; what an amazing little girl I'd someone brought into this world. Somebody I cared for with all of my heart.

Finding her had been like falling in love with a puppy. Adoring Eila, I settled her into bed after carrying her upstairs (having turned off the television and the living room lights, but obviously, keeping the hall light on, as neither of us were great sleepers).

Kissing her head after tucking her in, I suddenly realised that I hadn't the slightest notion of where all this sudden instict came from. Somehow, she made me want to be better. I wanted to be good enough for the wondrous person she'd grow to be. And for once, I was entirely content, and I felt accomplished. It felt spectacular.

"Goodnight, sweetheart." I muttered quietly, easing her door to a near state of shutting before resuming to my room.

As it was reaching most likely around 3am, I lay half asleep. There was a quiet, and briefly consistent patter of feet before a small figure crept into the bed with me. I chuckled softly, startling her, as she thought I was indeed entirely asleep.

I pulled her to me, engulfing her in the love she'd taught me to know, closing my eyes, smiling.

"Get some rest, Eila."
"Goodnight, Dad."

TWO UPDATES
I WAS TALKING TO @nia13xxx AND I GOT INSPIRED AND FOR ONCE THIS ISNT TOTAL RUBBISH
ALSO THIS CHAPTER WAS LONGER AND I'M FAIRLY PROUD OF MYSELF
YAY
ALSO 3.68k THANKYOU EVERYONE