Chapter Text
-Zest-
"Hey, Tomoe- I came to visit." Kotetsu pulled his hat off, sitting beside the grave. "I wanted to introduce someone."
Tentatively, Barnaby kneeled down, clenched his fist, sighed, and looked back up to Kotetsu with pleading eyes. I don't know what to do.
Just say hello, Kotetsu urged silently, smile encouraging.
He took a deep breath. "Hi… Tomoe. I'm Barnaby." Paused. "I'm… Kotetsu…"
Kotetsu watched Barnaby struggle to find the words with tender eyes, before grabbing his hand, holding up matching rings to the light- Kotetsu's old band stacked with his new one.
His commitments, equally loved.
"You don't have to worry, sweetheart," Kotetsu murmured. "I'll be just fine. Barnaby'll watch over me, so I can keep being that hero you loved- and I'll watch over him, too."
Barnaby blushed. They sat there long after the sun set, speaking silently to the woman both of them cherished- Kotetsu, for his daughter, and for years of love; and Barnaby, for loving Kotetsu when he couldn't.