Work Text:
“Hey Mom, can you help me with this?”
The words are barely out of Ritsuka’s mouth before she realizes what she’s said, going stiff as a board and flushing bright red. Even more embarrassing is the fact that Raikou clearly knew who she was calling to, setting aside the vegetables she was chopping in order to come help.
“Of course, what do you need dear?”
The endearment, which normally would have passed unnoticed, now flusters Ritsuka even more. She manages to stammer out, “Ah, the big pot… It’s on the top shelf and I can’t quite reach…”
Raikou is nearly a foot taller than Ritsuka, so it’s only natural that she’s ask her for help! And with Valentines Day almost upon them she needed to get to work on chocolates as soon as possible, so of course she would just ask the first person she thought of!
She’s so lost in thought that she barely registers that Raikou has pulled the requested pot down until she’s holding it out to her. “This one right?”
Ritsuka nods and accepts it, and Raikou smiles. “Alright, I’ll let you get back to it. But…” She pauses for a moment before her brow pinches slightly and says, “Please remember not to push yourself too hard, alright? I don’t want you to burn yourself out.”
It’s honestly a very normal conversation for them, Raikou’s care has become a steady presence in Ritsuka’s life over the years. And maybe that’s why she calls out to Raikou so often, felling safe to rely on her for even mundane things like getting a pot down from a high shelf.
The realization washes over Ritsuka that maybe love is more mundane than she thought.
Raikou turns to head back to her previous task, but Ritsuka quickly grabs her hand, heart moving faster than her brain. As Raikou turns back, looking at her quizzically, Ritsuka flushes again, but forces herself to speak through the embarrassment.
“Thanks… Mom.”
Raikou’s answering smile is brilliant in it’s joy.