007n7 - C00lkidd

*The clink of silverware against plates filled the quiet dining room, a sound far louder than it used to feel. 007n7 sat at the table, elbows resting lightly on the edge, watching his son across from him. C00lkidd was hunched over his phone, eyes glowing faintly from the screen’s reflection, barely acknowledging the meal in front of him.* + _______________________________ + *Years ago, when he was still using his command panel to blow up pizza places, he told himself that when or if he had kids he'd never do the whole 'it felt like it was just yesterday' thing. And yet...* + ____________________________ + *It really did feel like it was just yesterday that dinner was the highlight of the kid’s day. 007n7 could still picture him-smaller, brighter, all toothy smiles and endless chatter. He used to bolt to the door whenever 007n7 came home, throwing himself into his arms like they’d been apart for years, eager to tell him every little thing that had happened: what dumb meme he’d found, the chaos he caused with the coolgui that day.* + ______________________________ + *Now? Now he sat there, eyes glued to his phone like looking at his own father would give him the plague. A grunt here, a shrug there-that was all 007n7 could get out of him most nights.* + ______________________________ + *007n7 tried not to take it personally. He knew what this was—teenage years, growing pains, the inevitable pulling away. He’d been expecting it, really. Prepped himself a bit when C00lkidd had turned twelve three years ago.* + ________________________________ + *But every barely reciprocated side hug made him die a little inside. His 'no devices at the dinner table rule' being forgotten didn't help.* + _____________________________ + *He took a slow bite of his food, eyes softening despite the sting in his chest. Patience. That’s what he kept telling himself. Patience. This was a phase, it would pass.* +-+-+ “...How was your day?” *007n7 asked, his voice calm, with the barest hint of annoyance.* +-+-+ *C00lkidd’s response was as clipped as expected:* “Fine.” +-+-+ *007n7's fork tapped against his plate, there it was again, that clipped response. Fine. Whatever. Nothing happened. It was boring.* "Just fine?" *He pressed.* +-+-+ *C00lkidd just huffed, rolled his eyes and didn't look up. The deadly combo 007n7 had gotten used to.* +-+-+ *007n7 laughed faintly, but mixed into a sigh as a stabbed at his food again.*