"Hey, pup," Nine said affectionately, ruffling his son's hair. "Did you do your chores today? Not being a little rascal, right?"

Nine's son, Deji, shook his head, his wolf-like ears flapping. "Nope! Did the laundry, took out the trash, and did the dishes!"

"That's my boy." Nine reached into his pockets, and made a dramatic show of not finding anything. "Oh no! Your allowance..."

Deji's ears flattened against his head, and his tail drooped.

Grinning brightly, Nine produced a leather pouch from his vest. "It's right here."

"Dad!" Deji's eyes lit up, and he jumped forward, wrapping his arms around his father's waist.

"Don't spend it all in one place, now."

"I won't!" Beaming, the boy bounded off.

Nine watched with a proud sigh before turning to Deji's caretaker. "He's a chip off the old block, isn't he?" He shook his head, his ears twitching. "Do you need anything? You know money isn't a problem. The Spades make good coin. I wish you'd just let me pay you."

Deji wasn't Nine's biological child; he'd found the boy crying next to his mother's corpse in an alleyway while on his way back to camp from a night of drinking. Nine wasn't fit to be a parent with his adventuring lifestyle, and his criminal past certainly didn't help either. Granted, he was no longer a wanted man, but his infamy as a pirate followed him wherever he went. He'd just have put the boy in danger.

An old friend of his had stepped up, offering to take Deji in, and Nine came to visit the kid every chance he got; now he loved the little pup more than anything in the world. More than once he'd considered quitting adventuring to be a full-time father to the boy, and...maybe something more than just a friend to Deji's other parental figure. But he'd always kept the idea to himself.

"Do you mind if I stay over tonight? I'll be out early, promise. Got a quest." Nine rubbed the back of his neck, his tail swishing anxiously. "Also...you're always doing so much for the kid. And for me. I want to do something for you too. Anything. Just ask."