sekai🐦‍⬛✨

Sylus' voice is so low it sends shivers running through you when you feel him come up behind you. He bypasses you completely, going straight for your son and leaning close till he was eyelevel "You're not disrespecting just your mother here, you've disrespected my wife. Don't you know what I do to those who scorn her?"

Your son can't bear to hold eye contact, looking nervous and lowering his gaze as Sylus whispers something to him. You're watching how his entire body goes rigid in fear as his father steps back "All this for your bike?"

He's too scared to respond, you can tell. You step up to his side to explain but your husband is not having it "Sylus-"

"No" He gently interrupts, before turning back to his son and tossing his keys at him, not as playfully as he usually would "The kid wants a ride? He's going to get one. Meet me in the garage in five minutes"

Your son slides an apprehensive look towards you and is about to leave when Sylus' low voice stops him dead in his tracks "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Gulping, he turns back to you. The keys jingle in his palms as he fists them. He's pale from fear at getting caught talking to you that way, but he's terrified for the talk that's coming after "I'm sorry, Mom"

He's out the door before you can respond and you turn to Sylus, dubious at how he'd behaved. Said man acts like he didn't just threaten his own son as he lifts his daughter out of the crib and coos at her "You can't talk to him that way!"

"And he can?" Sylus shoots back, his tone conversational as he kisses his daughter's cheeks.

"I was going to address it-"

"No" Sylus carefully holds his daughter in one arm as he turns to you "This is not behavior that we address. This is when they need to be put in line and made to understand the sacrifices you made for them to have the kind of life they do now" Putting an arm around you, he pulls you close and kisses your forehead "They can't get away with talking to their mother this way. More importantly, my wife"

"He shouldn't be riding his bike" Your brows furrow as Sylus puts his daughter back in her crib, before tucking your head under his chin and pulling you close.

"I've got this, baby" He pulls back to look at you, and those crimson orbs that all your children shared had come from this wonderful man, with his glowing eyes and wicked mouth. The love of your life "I'll make sure he's being careful"

With a final kiss to your forehead, he's pulling away to join his son when you call out behind him "Stay safe!"

Your parting words are still keeping him warm by the time he reaches the basement garage where his son is waiting by his bike, parked next to Sylus' own. He's already wearing his helmet, in clear hopes that this will help brace for impact of the storm that is his father.

Wordlessly, Sylus puts on his helmet and gets on his bike. Every moment stretched thin without a single word from his dad has your son nervous as he watches him rev the bike once, the engine roaring.

Sylus turns to look at his son once before he pulls his visor down and takes off. Your son's right behind him, the unspoken command to follow clear.

Both of them tear through the city, driving at a much lower speed than what they would usually, cruising past neighbourhoods and districts as the sun follows them into the sunset.

Your son is intently watching the back of his Dad's head, trying to figure out what exactly is going through his mind. Contrary to what most people deduced, he wasn't a mama's boy. He always felt closer to his dad. Like he didn't need a lot of words to express what he felt and Sylus just knew.

Even now, as they climbed around a hilltop, he could tell that just because he'd taken him out for a drive, everything wasn't back to normal. No, his clearly veiled threat that he didn't want you to hear earlier still rang clear in his head. This wasn't a way to help you calm down. Sylus needed the drive probably as much your son did.

After all, your son had inherited the love for riding from your husband.

They parked their bikes by a viewing spot that was blessedly empty, watching as the sun faded into hues of orange and blue over the city. Sylus takes his helmet off, hanging it over the rearview mirrors before turning to look at his son who was doing the same.

Unlike the older Qin, his son wasn't as good at acting aloof and unbothered. His foot tapped nervously on the tar before he caught himself, found himself knocking anxiously into the side of his bike and stopped abruptly, ran his fingers through his hair and looked around apprehensively before his gaze settled on the way the lights around the city lit up one by one. When he finally turned to look at his father, he found him already studying him quietly.

"You don't know the horrors your mother has faced to be able to give you this life. If you can't be grateful for it, unlearn that bullshit and do right by her yourself before I feel the need to step in"

Your son sighs. He screwed up big time. He lied.

He was a mama's boy.

Sylus tredges into your bedroom a couple hours later when you're sitting at your vanity and doing your skincare after a shower to calm yourself down. The twins caught wind about their eldest brother being in trouble and answering their questions on top of worrying for your son drained all your remaining energy out of you.

"Well?" You ask, going over to where Sylus is pouring himself a stiff drink and downing it in one go "What's the verdict?"

Sylus falls back into the couch and takes you with him, hugging you close to his body and sighing like he felt the entire world's weight on his shoulder "He lives"

"Sylus!" You pull back and smack his shoulder which breaks a chuckle out of him.

"He's fine. He handed over his keys himself and is serving his sentence by baking your favorite cookies before he comes up here to apologize again" That makes you smile as you wrap your arms around his neck, sinking into his warmth again.

"You did good" You praise, playing with the short hair at his nape "What did you say to him?"

Sylus' attention strays from where he'd been drawing mindless patterns into your skin, taking on a faraway look "Nothing too serious. He's a smart kid"

At your unconvinced look, Sylus complies "If it helps, I didn't scold him. He heard an earful for the way he talked to you but.. he's been cooped up at home all these weeks and that translated into today's episode" As an afterthought, he adds "Plus, the twins are not easy"

You groan "I sympathize with him, I really do"

Sylus laughs before he's quiet again, tightening his arms around you, lips resting against your temple "Told him that if he needed to go on a ride, he knows where to find me. And he'll only get his solo riding privileges back once I clear him safe"

"When will that be?" You muse, because you knew your husband.

"Never" You laugh quietly into his shoulder, knowing he's half kidding but also half serious "I should take away all his privileges simply for having talked to you that way"

Your fingers have stopped playing now, sinking deeper into the tufts of his hair and scratching his scalp as your hot breath whispers into his ear "Because no one disrespects your wife?"

You can feel the smirk spreading on Sylus' face as he pulls back to look at you "And lives to talk about it" At your evident frown, he amends "Unless they're blood related, in which case we concede with minimal punishment"

"What do you do to these...perpetrators?" You're not being slick at all, especially as your hand unbuttons his shirt with ease.

"Bad things" His lips ghost over your pulse before he's peppering kisses along your neck and jaw.

"What kind of bad things?" Your hands pull away at his shirt to feel his burning skin beneath your palms, running your fingers over the ridges as his stubble rubs against your skin.

"What was that saying about curiousity and a kitten?"

"It was a cat" You correct, moaning when his lips cover yours to reprimand you mouthing off to him with you hastily pulling away because you're far from done "That's not the full saying"

Sylus is simply humoring you now as he helps you out of your night slip, baring you completely for him "Is that so?"

"Don't you know satisfaction brought it back?" The innuendo is not lost on him, especially as your hands go to his belt buckle "Are you up for the challenge, Mr. Qin?"

Wordlessly, Sylus lifts you in his arms and drops you on the bed, very much up for the challenge as he simply rolls up the sleeves of his unbuttoned shirt. And because you're a glutton for punishment, you can't help but push his buttons "Yes? No? Maybe so?"

Sylus foregoes playing into your bait by grabbing you by the calves and dragging you to the edge of the bed as you squeal, throwing your legs over his shoulders, getting ready to show you how good he can satisfy this kitty.

"Fuck around and find out, Mrs. Qin"

🜼

Sylus' voice is so low it sends shivers running through you when you feel him come up behind you. He bypasses you completely, going straight for your son and leaning close till he was eyelevel "You're not disrespecting just your mother here, you've disrespected my wife. Don't you know what I do to those who scorn her?"

Your son can't bear to hold eye contact, looking nervous and lowering his gaze as Sylus whispers something to him. You're watching how his entire body goes rigid in fear as his father steps back "All this for your bike?"

He's too scared to respond, you can tell. You step up to his side to explain but your husband is not having it "Sylus-"

"No" He gently interrupts, before turning back to his son and tossing his keys at him, not as playfully as he usually would "The kid wants a ride? He's going to get one. Meet me in the garage in five minutes"

Your son slides an apprehensive look towards you and is about to leave when Sylus' low voice stops him dead in his tracks "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Gulping, he turns back to you. The keys jingle in his palms as he fists them. He's pale from fear at getting caught talking to you that way, but he's terrified for the talk that's coming after "I'm sorry, Mom"

He's out the door before you can respond and you turn to Sylus, dubious at how he'd behaved. Said man acts like he didn't just threaten his own son as he lifts his daughter out of the crib and coos at her "You can't talk to him that way!"

"And he can?" Sylus shoots back, his tone conversational as he kisses his daughter's cheeks.

"I was going to address it-"

"No" Sylus carefully holds his daughter in one arm as he turns to you "This is not behavior that we address. This is when they need to be put in line and made to understand the sacrifices you made for them to have the kind of life they do now" Putting an arm around you, he pulls you close and kisses your forehead "They can't get away with talking to their mother this way. More importantly, my wife"

"He shouldn't be riding his bike" Your brows furrow as Sylus puts his daughter back in her crib, before tucking your head under his chin and pulling you close.

"I've got this, baby" He pulls back to look at you, and those crimson orbs that all your children shared had come from this wonderful man, with his glowing eyes and wicked mouth. The love of your life "I'll make sure he's being careful"

With a final kiss to your forehead, he's pulling away to join his son when you call out behind him "Stay safe!"

Your parting words are still keeping him warm by the time he reaches the basement garage where his son is waiting by his bike, parked next to Sylus' own. He's already wearing his helmet, in clear hopes that this will help brace for impact of the storm that is his father.

Wordlessly, Sylus puts on his helmet and gets on his bike. Every moment stretched thin without a single word from his dad has your son nervous as he watches him rev the bike once, the engine roaring.

Sylus turns to look at his son once before he pulls his visor down and takes off. Your son's right behind him, the unspoken command to follow clear.

Both of them tear through the city, driving at a much lower speed than what they would usually, cruising past neighbourhoods and districts as the sun follows them into the sunset.

Your son is intently watching the back of his Dad's head, trying to figure out what exactly is going through his mind. Contrary to what most people deduced, he wasn't a mama's boy. He always felt closer to his dad. Like he didn't need a lot of words to express what he felt and Sylus just knew.

Even now, as they climbed around a hilltop, he could tell that just because he'd taken him out for a drive, everything wasn't back to normal. No, his clearly veiled threat that he didn't want you to hear earlier still rang clear in his head. This wasn't a way to help you calm down. Sylus needed the drive probably as much your son did.

After all, your son had inherited the love for riding from your husband.

They parked their bikes by a viewing spot that was blessedly empty, watching as the sun faded into hues of orange and blue over the city. Sylus takes his helmet off, hanging it over the rearview mirrors before turning to look at his son who was doing the same.

Unlike the older Qin, his son wasn't as good at acting aloof and unbothered. His foot tapped nervously on the tar before he caught himself, found himself knocking anxiously into the side of his bike and stopped abruptly, ran his fingers through his hair and looked around apprehensively before his gaze settled on the way the lights around the city lit up one by one. When he finally turned to look at his father, he found him already studying him quietly.

"You don't know the horrors your mother has faced to be able to give you this life. If you can't be grateful for it, unlearn that bullshit and do right by her yourself before I feel the need to step in"

Your son sighs. He screwed up big time. He lied.

He was a mama's boy.

Sylus tredges into your bedroom a couple hours later when you're sitting at your vanity and doing your skincare after a shower to calm yourself down. The twins caught wind about their eldest brother being in trouble and answering their questions on top of worrying for your son drained all your remaining energy out of you.

"Well?" You ask, going over to where Sylus is pouring himself a stiff drink and downing it in one go "What's the verdict?"

Sylus falls back into the couch and takes you with him, hugging you close to his body and sighing like he felt the entire world's weight on his shoulder "He lives"

"Sylus!" You pull back and smack his shoulder which breaks a chuckle out of him.

"He's fine. He handed over his keys himself and is serving his sentence by baking your favorite cookies before he comes up here to apologize again" That makes you smile as you wrap your arms around his neck, sinking into his warmth again.

"You did good" You praise, playing with the short hair at his nape "What did you say to him?"

Sylus' attention strays from where he'd been drawing mindless patterns into your skin, taking on a faraway look "Nothing too serious. He's a smart kid"

At your unconvinced look, Sylus complies "If it helps, I didn't scold him. He heard an earful for the way he talked to you but.. he's been cooped up at home all these weeks and that translated into today's episode" As an afterthought, he adds "Plus, the twins are not easy"

You groan "I sympathize with him, I really do"

Sylus laughs before he's quiet again, tightening his arms around you, lips resting against your temple "Told him that if he needed to go on a ride, he knows where to find me. And he'll only get his solo riding privileges back once I clear him safe"

"When will that be?" You muse, because you knew your husband.

"Never" You laugh quietly into his shoulder, knowing he's half kidding but also half serious "I should take away all his privileges simply for having talked to you that way"

Your fingers have stopped playing now, sinking deeper into the tufts of his hair and scratching his scalp as your hot breath whispers into his ear "Because no one disrespects your wife?"

You can feel the smirk spreading on Sylus' face as he pulls back to look at you "And lives to talk about it" At your evident frown, he amends "Unless they're blood related, in which case we concede with minimal punishment"

"What do you do to these...perpetrators?" You're not being slick at all, especially as your hand unbuttons his shirt with ease.

"Bad things" His lips ghost over your pulse before he's peppering kisses along your neck and jaw.

"What kind of bad things?" Your hands pull away at his shirt to feel his burning skin beneath your palms, running your fingers over the ridges as his stubble rubs against your skin.

"What was that saying about curiousity and a kitten?"

"It was a cat" You correct, moaning when his lips cover yours to reprimand you mouthing off to him with you hastily pulling away because you're far from done "That's not the full saying"

Sylus is simply humoring you now as he helps you out of your night slip, baring you completely for him "Is that so?"

"Don't you know satisfaction brought it back?" The innuendo is not lost on him, especially as your hands go to his belt buckle "Are you up for the challenge, Mr. Qin?"

Wordlessly, Sylus lifts you in his arms and drops you on the bed, very much up for the challenge as he simply rolls up the sleeves of his unbuttoned shirt. And because you're a glutton for punishment, you can't help but push his buttons "Yes? No? Maybe so?"

Sylus foregoes playing into your bait by grabbing you by the calves and dragging you to the edge of the bed as you squeal, throwing your legs over his shoulders, getting ready to show you how good he can satisfy this kitty.

"Fuck around and find out, Mrs. Qin"

🜼

—————

Xavier freezes, spoon halfway to his mouth. It took him a full two seconds to register what you said, but looking at the chipper card with a smiling father and child on the cover was enough to kick him back into gear.

Slowly, he set the spoon down. Turned. Stared at you.

“… what do you mean?” He carefully asked.

You just smiled and waited.

He searched your face for an awkward length of time, trying to parse if this was a prank. When he decided it wasn’t, those already-wide blue eyes seemed to widen and bit more.

“Starlight, you—” Xavier stood from the chair, but he stopped himself from reaching for you. He blinked rapidly, still deep in disbelief. “Are— are you…?”

“I found out yesterday.” You gestured to the card.

With shaking hands, he reached for it and pulled it open. There, beneath the ‘Happy Father’s Day!’ was a handwritten note and an ultrasound. Love, Baby was what was written, alongside a date.

“You’re… really pregnant…” he whispered.

Your smile fell a little when his shoulders began to tremble. “Hey— are you okay?”

When he looked at you, his eyes were softer, wet with shed tears. He let you pull him into a hug, and he buried his face in your shoulder.

After several long moments of heavy breathing, Xavier seemed to calm himself and he pulled away. “Does Captain Jenna know?” He asked.

“Not yet,” you admitted. “I literally found out yesterday. I wasn’t planning to tell her until I told you.”

He nodded to himself, staring at the far wall behind you.

“Are you okay?” You repeated, cupping his face in your hands. Your thumbs swiped along his waterline. “I probably shouldn’t have dropped the news on you like this, I guess.”

“I’m— I’m okay. I promise.” He finally smiled, shaking his head and leaning into your touch. He carefully pressed his hand against your stomach. “Our child… I wasn’t expecting it to happen so fast, but I don’t mind. Do you want to keep it?”

“I mean, if I have you by my side… yeah,” you admitted with a shaky giggle. “We’re gonna be parents, Xavier.”

“Parents,” he echoed softly as you hugged him again. His Evol cast a soft glow around the room, a soothing warmth resonating with yours. “We have a lot of work to do… but I already can’t wait to meet our baby.”

—————

Zayne paused mid-sip on his tea. When you didn’t elaborate, he finished his sip and set it down carefully. “Are you teasing me again?” He asked mildly, a hint of a smile on his lips.

“You’ll have to check for yourself!” You answered in a sing-song tone.

Shaking his head a little, he reached for the card and opened it. Immediately the amusement faded from his face.

He held up a picture of three positive pregnancy tests. “This is… real, right?”

“Of course,” you huffed. “I should know, I was there when I took them.”

He looked at the photo again, then looked at the card.

Zayne got up from the chair, setting the picture down. “You’re pregnant,” he confirmed.

You shrugged. “I’m pretty sure. Once is coincidence. Three times is a pattern.”

He raked a hand through his dark hair, tousling it further. “That… would explain things,” he slowly began. “Your fatigue, insomnia, joint pain, irregular cardiograms…”

Zayne took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead. Then he looked at you, and the expression on his face made you soften. “We’ll have to get a second opinion,” he said. Something in his voice sounded close to breaking. “This could be a high-risk pregnancy.”

“Are you happy?” You countered, taking his face in your hands.

“I am,” he said, pulling you in for a tight hug. Frost licked at his shaking fingertips. “I’m— I’m worried. But I’m happy. This is our child.”

You smiled, threading your fingers through his soft hair.

Then he seemed to realize something. “My parents. They’ll want to know. And— when are you allowed maternity leave?”

“I haven’t told Jenna yet. I wanted you to be the first to know.”

His expression melted. He pressed a kiss to your temple.

“Let’s get tested. Then we can discuss paid leave, Doctor.” You chuckled.

“Right. One thing at a time.” He seemed mollified with that. “First thing’s first, a proper breakfast. With no caffeine.”

Your smile fell clean off your face. “Oh, right,” you sighed, “I forgot about that part.”

Zayne chuckled. “I have some good decaf. You won’t even tell the difference.”

—————

Rafayel went dead still.

“… are you serious?” He asked, staring up at you like a deer in the headlights.

You gestured to the card. “You tell me.”

He wasn’t clumsy, but he did snatch up the card from the table and cracked it open. His eyes went wide as he spotted the ultrasounds and dropped the thing like it burned him.

“You— you’re,” he stumbled over his own words, getting up from the chair. “… you’re serious?”

“As serious as I can be,” you answered.

He let out a shaking breath. Then he laughed. Rafayel reached out to tenderly trace his hand along your stomach.

“You’re pregnant,” he said to himself. “We’re having a baby.”

You smiled up at him, cupping your hand over his. “Our little guppy.”

“This is— oh, I’ll have to— I have ideas!” His shoulders began to heave with excitement.

He grabbed the sketchbook that was lying on the table next to his plate and paused. “Wait. This is huge news. We’ll have to celebrate. Let’s go out to dinner tonight!”

You blinked owlishly. “So you’re… happy…?”

“Am I happy? Of course I’m happy!” He stated as if it were obvious.

Rafayel grabbed your hand and pulled you in, twirling you until you were flush against his chest. He hugged you, rocking you both back and forth.

“The love of my life is carrying my child,” he repeated wistfully. “I wonder who they’ll be. Will they be stubborn and headstrong like their mom?”

“They’ll probably be carefree and easily distracted like their dad,” you teased, looking up and poking the tip of his nose.

He scoffed, pretending to be offended. “You love that about me.”

You pecked a kiss on the underside of his jaw, relishing in his red face. “I do love that about you.”

Then he began to think about it again. “Have you told anyone else? Oh— the nursery. I’ll have to start painting the nursery. Thomas is just gonna have to deal with that. And the furniture! We have to go look for good materials for the crib, I am not letting my child sleep on any old bed. And Aunt Talia is going to freak when she hears—”

“Rafayel!” You interrupted his monologue with a laugh. “One thing at a time! I’m not even in the second trimester yet. I don’t officially go on maternity leave until then.”

“Sorry.” He kissed you again, setting the sketchbook down. “It’s just… I was never expecting… not this soon. For so long I thought my dreams would stay dreams.” He took your hands in his, smiling softly down at your stomach. “But here you are. And there they are. I just— I want to do this right.”

“You will.” You encouraged him by squeezing his hands. “We’ll figure out this parenting thing together, one step at a time.”

And then you paused. “Our baby’s not gonna be born from an egg, right?”

Rafayel burst into laughter.

“It’s a good question!” You insisted.

—————

Sylus raised a brow, looking down at the card before his eyes traveled back up to you and his lips curled into a slow smirk despite his face flushing pink up to his ears.

“Oh? This is new,” he commented, picking up the card. “Upgrading your pet names, sweetie? If I’m ‘Daddy’, then does that mean you’ll start spending what I give—”

His voice quieted as he actually saw the contents of the card. Ultrasound pictures gently fell to the tabletop.

He stared at them, uncomprehending, for several seconds. Then he looked up at you with an unreadable face.

“You’re pregnant.” It was more a statement than a question.

You nodded. “I am.”

Sylus blinked.

You finally tilted your chin up. “Are you upset?”

“I… don’t know what I am.” He answered. “I’m not upset.”

You frowned, sidling up to him. He took your hand in his, squeezing it absently.

“I’m… not a good man,” he admitted in a heavy voice. “I relish in the greed and destruction of humanity. I make children cry. I’m not… I’m not attuned to softness and goodness.”

“But you have me,” you softly answered. “And the twins, and Mephie.”

He didn’t continue. You chose that moment to keep talking. “You smile when you watch nature shows. You’re gentle with kids even though they might be scared of you. You’re not cruel to those who don’t deserve it. You’re merciful to the weak. You care. I think that makes you good enough. It was good enough for me.”

You pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Sylus, if you don’t want to be a father, that’s perfectly fine. I can take care of a baby by myself. I just thought you might want the choice.”

He huffed a laugh. His Evol swirled around you before it deposited you in his lap. He looked up at you, resting his chin on your chest. “As if I would let you raise a child by yourself. You wound me, sweetie. That’s my child too.”

“So… do you want this?” You ran your fingers along the sweep of his hair, frowning at him.

“If it’s you, I want nothing more.” He gently tugged you down into a kiss. “I’ve had many names. I… don’t think I ever thought ‘father’ would be one of them.”

“We’ll figure it out together.” You squeezed his hand with a smile, more confident than before. “Our baby will be the most protected and most beloved child on earth.”

—————

Caleb choked on a sip of orange juice.

“What happened to good morning?” He wheezed, smiling up at you through watering eyes.

“Oh. Sorry.” You cleared your throat before repeating in a chipper voice, “Good morning! Happy Father’s Day.”

He chuckled, shaking his head as he picked up the card. “Ha-ha. Funny joke, Pips.”

His amusement died the moment he saw what was in the card: an ultrasound and a handwritten addendum on the card announcing a due date months from now.

You couldn’t help but snort at the bewilderment on his face. “You look ridiculous! C’mon, say something.”

“You— you’re pregnant?” He asked, staring at you with an unfamiliar seriousness. “Don’t joke around. This isn’t a prank is it?”

“Why in the world would I ever joke like that?” You countered with a withering look.

He let out a shaky breath. “You’re pregnant. This is… wow, this is…”

“… A surprise?” You offered.

“Wonderful,” Caleb breathed, rising from the table and pulling you into a tight hug.

You patted his back rapidly, coughing a little. “Caleb—!”

“Sorry!” He released you immediately, pulling back to beam at you. “We’re gonna be parents? When did you find out?”

With a weak little laugh, you gripped his shoulders. “A few weeks ago. It was a surprise for me too. Didn’t you think it was weird that I’ll be on paid leave for such a long time?”

Caleb hugged you again, gentler this time, burying his face in your hair.

He let out a light little sigh. “I love you so much, have I ever told you that?”

You hummed, pretending to think. “I dunno. Doesn’t ring a bell.”