Why do children have to be so small?

Late night snack

What have I gotten myself into?
"You know, you don't have to get a tattoo if you don't want one."
"No, I promised him. I'm getting a tattoo. You are too. We're all getting tattoos."
"Yeah, sure, but all of us already have tattoos. Or, well, handmade tattoos."
I called Kaminari's parents, asking for their permission to let Kaminari get a tattoo. They said it was okay, as long as it's nothing ugly or anything like that.
"Do you know what you're getting?"
"Yeah, I just need to find an open spot."
"As long as you don't get any tattoos on your face. You've promised me that."
"Yeah, I know. No face tattoos."
"You still have room on your legs, right? And your chest is open."
"The chest sucks to get tattoos on. Don't get a chest tattoo."
"I wasn't planning to get a chest tattoo. My chest is too hairy anyways."
"Your whole body is hairy. Where are you getting yours?"
"My forearm. Easy to hide, not too painful… right?"
"As long as you don't get it on your elbow it should be fine."
"Okay, good."
Hizashi pulls out a chair and sits down next to me, looking at my computer.
"Well, what are you getting?"
"Something cat related."
I'm scrolling through cat tattoo ideas on google. 
"Oh maybe a tattoo of our cats!"
"No, I was thinking more of in the direction of your cat tattoo. The one that represents me and 'Toshi that you got ten years ago. So three cats to represent you, 'Toshi and Eri."
"Awww that's so cute, Sho! I didn't know you were so sappy!"
"Hey, stop that! If I'm getting a tattoo, it should have meaning. And my family is what matters the most to me."
"You're too precious, love."
"I said stop!"
I try to shoo him away but he manages to place a kiss on my cheek. I can feel my face getting hot.
"Are you gonna help me or not?"
"Only if I get to sit in your lap."
"Jesus Christ 'Zashi why are you so clingy today?"
"All this "I want a tattoo of you" talk is making me emotional! I want to be near my husband!"
I sigh and move the computer from my lap, letting him sit across my thighs. To be honest, he's not that heavy. He's not got a lot of muscles, so he's just skin and bones. I don't mind, it just makes it easier for me to carry him every time he passes out on the couch.
"Okay, how about this: three cats. One ginger cat with big green eyes, that'd be me. One grey-ish cat who is asleep for 'Toshi and a white kitten with a scarred ear for Eri. Like in one picture, rather than spread out into three separate tattoos."
"...so color?"
"Yes, color! Black and grey tattoos are boring!"
"You have a bunch of them!"
"That is not true, I have like three that are just black and grey."
"I thought you knew I wasn't a colorful guy. The most color I've worn in the past ten years were your clothes."
"You have a bright yellow sleeping bag, don't lie to me."
"Because yellow is a nice color."
"Then get a yellow tattoo!"
"God you're stubborn…"
"That's why you love me!"
He wraps his arms around my neck and kisses every spot he can reach. Someone walks down the stairs, and Hizashi lets go of me before they reach the landing. It’s Hitoshi. He's rubbing his eyes, it seems like he just woke up.
"Oh, hey, what are you doing up so late? Did we wake you up?"
"No, I'm hungry… I was gonna get a snack."
"Oh, okay then."
He walks over to the kitchen and I turn back to the computer. I can't scroll far before he comes back.
"I can't reach the cereal and I can't move the chair."
"Pops can help you."
"Wait, why me?"
"You're taller than me, and you're kind of sitting in my lap. I can't really move."
"Hey, I'm like two centimeters taller!"
"Those two centimeters matter a lot. Go help your son."
He rolls his eyes and stands up to go help Hitoshi with the cereal. I grab a pen and paper and try to sketch out what it is I want. It's not the prettiest, but at least it's something. I draw three cats. They're rather cartoonish, but that's fine. 
"No, you can't have chocolate cereal this late. You'll get too much energy and won't be able to sleep."
"But poooops I want chocolate cereal!"
"Be quiet, boys, Eri is asleep. No chocolate cereal."
I draw three cats like Hizashi explained. Then I add some numbers underneath.

7/7
1/7
21/12

"What are you drawing?"
They both sit down next to me on each side and look at my paper.
"I'm trying to draw my tattoo."
"Wait, you're actually doing it? I thought you didn't want tattoos."
"I made a promise. I'm gonna keep it."
"I didn't think you'd actually do it."
"The day I break a promise is the day I die."
I turn to Hitoshi.
"Well, what are you getting, then? Have you thought about that?"
"I want to get something meaningful, y'know? I don't just wanna get something because it's cool or pretty…"
"As long as you cover that… poke thing, I don't care what the motive is. And you can't have anything sexual or offensive either."
"Stick 'n' poke."
"Right. Poke thing."
He leans his head against my shoulder and takes the paper from me.
"I want something… I don't know."
"Well, how about flowers? They're pretty and can have meaning. Look-"
I grab Hizashi's arm and pull his sleeve up.
"H-hey wait-!"
I point to a floral tattoo he has on his forearm. It's at least six or seven years old, but the color is still bright. He had more flowers added to it after we got Eri.
"The black velvet Petunia are supposed to represent me. The lavender Candytuft is for you and the white Daisies are for Eri. There's so many flowers to pick from, and so many colors, so many meanings. They can be whatever you want."
"Can I have my arm back?"
"Fine."
I kiss the tattoo before letting go of his arm. He pulls his sleeve back down and I turn back to Hitoshi.
"All I'm saying is… flowers is a good place to start. They're pretty and hard to mess up if you go to a good tattoo artist. You're still free to get whatever you want."
I press a light kiss against his forehead. Somehow, his hair always stands up, no matter what. He puts the now empty bowl on the table and leans against my chest, closing his eyes.
"Do you think you can go back to school soon?"
"Maybe next week, or the week after that…"
He yawns and wraps an arm around me. He'll probably fall asleep at any moment.
"That's good. I'm so proud of you, 'Toshi."
His breathing becomes slower and more regular. He's asleep.
"I'll take him back to his room…"
I carefully pick him up, still having his head leaned against my chest. I walk up the stairs with him, open his bedroom door and put him down on his bed. Someone knocks on the door.
"Is 'Toshi okay?"
"You're up too, Eri? I thought you were asleep."
"I heard 'Toshi and got worried… can I sleep with him?"
"Of course, princess. Come here."
She has dragged her pink teddy bear with her from her room. I lift her up and place her next to Hitoshi.
"Just be careful, he's asleep. You don't want him to wake up."
"Of course!"
She places the lightest kiss on his nose before curling up against his stomach. I pull the cover over them and tuck them in.
"Goodnight, princess. Take good care of your brother, okay?"
"Goodnight, daddy!"
She reaches up and gives me a kiss as well.
"Aren't you the sweetest? I'll leave the light on in the hall and the door open. Me and papa are in our bedroom if you need anything."
I kiss her horn before leaving the room. I see Eri putting her small arms around Hitoshi, probably thinking I can't see her. She's so loving and caring. I'm so lucky to have her, she's a little ball of pure sunshine. And Hitoshi… he's so brave and strong. He can protect me when I can no longer protect myself. I walk down the stairs and head to our bedroom. Hizashi is already there, changing into his pyjamas.
"Eri wanted to sleep with Hitoshi."
I pull my pyjama shirt over my head and lay down. 
"We hit the jackpot with the kids, 'Zashi. We really did."
He crawls into bed and pulls the cover over us.
"I know, Sho. I'm so happy I get to raise them with you."