Et erunt signa in sole et luna et stellis

“I can feel the thunder that’s breaking in your heart,” Terzo continued to croon, not missing a beat, like the well-trained professional he pretended to be. “I can see through the scars inside you…” It was time to try something new; as he sang, his fingers glided sensually down the microphone stand, the errant bra still clutched in the other hand. When he reached his destination, he expertly curled his fingers, using muscle memory to mime the way he’d pleasured the numerous lovers he’d had before he met his partner. As he caressed an imaginary G-spot, he could feel a certain quintessence ghoul glaring daggers at him. Good. Let him get angry. 

It was time for the guitar solo, and the ticking clock was making Terzo ansty. He hadn’t metaphorically shown his ass enough yet, at least not enough to achieve his goal. Throwing any concerns about cleanliness to the wind and truthfully feeling a bit silly, he made a show of sniffing the bra, then draped it over his head. He rubbed it on his face with little care for his makeup, then made a split-second decision to rub the garment on his crotch. He hoped he had everyone’s attention now. He’d better. 

Then Terzo got a wicked idea. Thinking on his feet, he shuffled backwards until he was behind the two ghouls playing guitar and began theatrically clapping for them. And when he was absolutely certain that the masked fire ghoul on lead guitar was too wrapped up in his performance to notice him, Terzo sprang into action. Without any regard for his own safety, Terzo got just close enough to touch Alpha, and then he hastily draped the bra over Alpha’s arm. Alpha was so preoccupied that it took him half a second longer than it normally would to realize what had happened. But before Alpha could react, Terzo had darted just out of reach. 

Alpha was much more of a professional than Terzo was, so he barely faltered and continued the solo. Still, in the brief moment their eyes met, Terzo saw a promise in them. 

 A promise of murder. 

As their setlist neared its end, Terzo still had one trick left up his sleeve. By the time they reached Mummy Dust, Terzo had a cool determination about him. He was going to get what he wanted tonight, no matter what. With that singular focus driving him, Terzo leaned back, pretended to grab someone by the hair, and began to thrust his hips forward in exaggerated motions. Truth be told, it’d been so long since he’d topped that he felt quite rusty. It’d do the job, though. 

For just a moment, there was a stutter in the strings, one of the band members tripping over themselves. Under ordinary circumstances, one would write it off as a perfectly routine fumble. Terzo knew better, though. He knew he was being closely observed, and that his watcher was not happy. 

Excellent. Terzo was hungry, starving, for every second of what he had coming to him in return for his bad behavior. 

When the crowd had filed out and the dust had settled, Terzo found himself in the venue’s large, singular dressing room with the rest of the band, relieved to get a much-needed water break. The growling vocals of Mummy Dust had hurt his throat a bit more than usual that night. Feeling someone staring at him, Terzo looked around and quickly found there were actually two someones. Two very large, very angry-looking unmasked ghouls. Alpha looked ready to kill, and Omega didn’t look much happier. 

Turning his back to Terzo to face Omega, Alpha made his displeasure known. “Tell your little boy toy that if he ever does anything like that again, I’ll flay him alive and wear his face like a mask.” His voice was stony, and Terzo was sure his expression was stonier. Alpha then replaced his mask and stalked out of the room, making sure to shoulder-check the larger quintessence ghoul on his way out. Omega was uncharacteristically silent, not defending Terzo the way he usually did. 

When Omega’s attention fell back on Terzo, his glare could’ve melted steel. Terzo swallowed hard, feeling a twitch in his pants. So, his efforts had worked after all. Omega pointedly ignored him the whole time they were packing up to leave. 

The ride to that night’s hotel was tense and uncomfortable. There was an unusual amount of space between Terzo and Omega; the pair usually sat shoulder to shoulder, so close that the borders between them blurred. Omega and Alpha’s bad moods were so overpowering that, save for the hum of the bus and Water’s singular weak attempt at a joke, the ride was silent. Their tour bus was never this quiet. Terzo was almost beginning to regret his actions, but thinking with his dick had already driven him this far. His carnal desires weren’t about to let him off the hook so easily, not when the flames had already been stoked so hot. 

Feeling a surge of defiance, Terzo raised his trusty water cup to his mouth and cleared his throat, making sure the “Titties and beer, that’s why I’m here” printed across it was facing Omega. The quintessence ghoul glanced over at him, and when they made eye contact, Terzo took another risk. He winked. In the moments that followed, Terzo swore he saw Omega’s violet irises flame brighter against their bottomless black backdrop. Omega scowled and looked away, but the deep purple coloring his dusky-grey cheeks told a different story. Terzo’s efforts hadn’t been in vain, oh no. He was going to get what he wanted. He was sure of it. 

On any other night, Terzo and his bandmates would all go to their separate rooms when they arrived at their accommodations, the ghouls sharing rooms and Terzo getting his own private suite. Typically, it wasn’t until at least half an hour later that Omega would sneak out, still in his mask and uniform, and make his way to where Terzo was staying. That way, they wouldn’t be seen entering a hotel room together. Perhaps they took more precautions than necessary, but the couple didn’t want to give the ministry any more concrete proof of their forbidden relationship than they already had. 

Terzo didn’t need to turn around to know that tonight would be different. He could hear heavy footsteps trailing close behind him, could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up at the friction in the air. When he reached his room, he didn’t bother locking the door behind him. There was no need; a large, temporarily-human hand caught it before it could swing shut. Closing the door with a surprising softness, Omega locked every lock available to them. Then, he stood there. Just stood there, stock-still with his back to Terzo. 

“Do you want to tell me—” came a quiet, steely voice, the intonation instantly sending a chill down Terzo’s spine. “—just what the hell you thought you were doing out there?”

Terzo shifted his weight and began to fidget with his hands, losing a bit of steam and questioning his actions. His fingers trembled with nerves, but the adrenaline coursing through his veins pushed him forward. As did the tightness in his pants, which was becoming more uncomfortable by the minute and clouding his perception of what should have been a serious situation. 

Slowly, Omega removed his mask, and Terzo watched intently as his body returned to its ghoulish form, no longer confined to his human disguise. Seeing Omega go back to his natural state was always such a relief, like Terzo had been holding his breath and could finally exhale. 

Terzo loved Omega no matter what. Always. But seeing him masquerade as a human was… uncomfortable. It was wrong. Summoned ghouls shouldn’t have to change themselves to be seen outside of the confines of ministry property; it was a violation of their rights as sapient beings. And, not for nothing, Omega was significantly taller and broader as a ghoul than he was as a human. He still towered over Terzo when he was in disguise, but not the way he normally did. The size difference between them had always been a comfort—and a huge turn-on. Tonight was no different. Oh, how he loved his big boy…

Omega’s mask fell to the carpet with a dull thunk, and for a brief moment of uncomfortable stillness, Terzo wondered whether or not Omega was going to look at him at all. When Omega finally turned to face him, his eyes were wild. Wild with anger and possessiveness and hunger. This time when their eyes met, Terzo was instantly electrified, excitement coursing through his veins with every beat of his racing heart. 

Yes. Yes! This was what he’d been waiting for all night!

Omega was breathing heavily as he began removing his uniform, an outfit that was specially made to shift in size with his body. “Strip,” the ghoul commanded gruffly. Terzo shivered and eagerly complied, wrestling his way out of his stupid costume as quickly as he could. He was grateful that Omega hadn’t ripped the suit off of him in his haste, as he had a few times prior; tensions between the band and the Imperator were high even on a good day, so every request for replacement stage garb brought them closer to the point of open hostility. He shuddered to think what would happen were he to damage his intricate—and probably very expensive—ceremonial robes instead of the ill-fitting suit one of these days. 

Terzo was about to remove his sock garters when Omega gave a sharp whistle to get Terzo’s attention. The human froze, his heart leaping into his throat. When he hazarded a peek at Omega’s face, the ghoul was frowning in disapproval. 

“Leave ‘em,” Omega commanded, his voice dangerously low. “The socks stay on.” Terzo nodded; he was so flustered that he’d forgotten Omega’s fondness for his garters. In his haste to straighten up and with all of his blood currently in other places, he gave himself a headrush, the world going fuzzy for a moment. Without thinking, he braced himself on the foot of the bed. As his vision cleared, he saw that Omega’s face had softened with concern. “Are you—” 

“I am fine,” Terzo quickly brushed him off, not wanting to break the mood and waste all of tonight’s hard work. Steering them back on track, he flashed Omega a smug, sultry grin, silently daring the ghoul to make a move. He didn’t attempt to cover himself, to hide the fact that he was already half hard. Omega’s expression darkened, and a growl rumbled from deep within his chest. Terzo’s smile widened defiantly in response. “But… I could be better,” he teased. Omega wasn’t amused. 

Throughout their many years together, they’d had all kinds of sex, in all kinds of moods and with all kinds of intentions. Sometimes they wanted it soft and slow and sweet, sometimes rushed and desperate. Other times, it was passionate, deliciously intense and steamy. They’d often get experimental, although they’d regularly take it back to basics. But they’d been in a minor dry spell as of late, Omega seemingly more interested in cuddling and kissing than doing anything more intimate. And Terzo had acquired an itch, a feral hunger that had been building for several days. He needed more. He needed to be manhandled, to be claimed. To be reminded in no uncertain terms that he was, and always would be, Omega’s. He wanted to be marked as Omega’s territory, in more ways than the ring on his finger. 

Omega stalked towards him, and Terzo felt his heart beat faster and faster with each step. When the ghoul stood looming over him, their naked bodies separated by mere inches, Terzo could feel himself getting harder by the second. His mind was racing with the possibilities of what tonight could hold. Undaunted by Omega’s obvious displeasure, Terzo smiled sweetly up at him, batting his long, thick lashes. Omega grimaced and looked away, and Terzo could tell that his lover was hanging onto the last of his restraint by a thread. That wouldn’t do. He needed Omega to let go of his self-control tonight. 

Taking half a step forward until they were pressed skin to skin, Terzo made sure that Omega could feel his erection against his thigh. Omega’s eyes slammed shut as he exhaled hard through his nose. Terzo gently grabbed him by the chin and turned Omega to face him, but Omega refused to look at him, instead clenching his jaw. His free hand rubbed up and down Omega’s luscious pecs, fingers tangling in his white chest hair. 

“You are so cruel to me, amore mio. You won’t even look at me,” Terzo whined, putting on a voice that was equal parts syrupy and pathetic. “Perhaps I will go to Air’s room. Or maybe Water? I’m sure they would be happy to get a turn, since you are always hogging me. They would not take my company for granted.” Omega’s eyes snapped open, wide at first with disbelief, then narrowing with anger. “Maybe if they are sharing the same room tonight, I will—” 

The goal of his bluff had been to get a reaction, but Terzo was still surprised when he found himself pressed against the cold hotel wall, large hands pinning his shoulders tightly. The shock knocked the wind out of Terzo. When he regained awareness, he heard heavy breathing. He raised his head to look at Omega; the ghoul’s chest was heaving, his brow set in an angry scowl, but his cheeks were deeply flushed. 

“Are you so desperate for cock that you couldn’t just wait until you were off stage?” Omega sneered, his voice threatening. Terzo whimpered, but let his hand find its way to Omega’s stomach and slide down, teasing his frustrated partner; the skin beneath the trail of soft hair was burning up. Omega’s breath stuttered as he neared his destination, then stopped altogether when Terzo boldly took him in hand, undaunted by Omega’s irritation. To Terzo’s delight, Omega hadn’t been unaffected by the tension between them. He began trailing kisses up Omega’s chest, letting himself get lost in the ghoul’s sweet, heady scent. 

“So what if I am?” Terzo purred against Omega’s neck. “What are you going to do about it?” Once again, Terzo heard and felt a rumbling growl. Rather than respond verbally, Omega grabbed Terzo by the chin and got the human to face him. Omega glowered at him, the intensity of his gaze setting Terzo’s heart fluttering. It made his lungs burn, his limbs tingle with anticipation. 

And then Terzo found himself being hoisted in the air. Omega’s hands were under his ass as the smaller man was caught between the wall and the press of their bodies. Terzo’s legs automatically wrapped around Omega’s waist. His yelp of surprise was interrupted by a bruising kiss, Omega skipping past the pleasantries right to the clashing of teeth and tongue. It only took a moment for Terzo to recover and begin kissing back with equal enthusiasm, quickly beginning to throb at both the attention and at Omega’s effortless display of strength. Terzo was sure that his paint was doomed and that they were about to get makeup all over the sheets, but when had that ever deterred them before? When Omega’s fangs bit down hard on Terzo’s lower lip, Terzo whimpered and wound his arms around Omega’s neck. Terzo couldn’t help himself; without thinking, he was grinding against Omega, desperate for any friction he could get. Omega bit down harder on Terzo’s lip, but stopped just short of drawing blood. Terzo so badly wished he would break the skin…

Before things could progress any further, Omega abruptly pulled away from his mouth. He zeroed in on the human’s neck before Terzo could get a look at his face, scraping the delicate flesh with his fangs. His breath rang loud in Terzo’s ear, overwhelming his senses before nipping Terzo’s earlobe. “You wanna pretend to fuck someone else in front of all those people?” Omega’s voice was soft and sober in his ear when he pulled away, which somehow made it more daunting. Terzo shivered. “I’m gonna show you what it means to fuck someone, Terzo.” The use of his actual name in lieu of a term of endearment caught Terzo off guard—frankly, it almost stung a little. Oh, he was really in it now. 

Omega’s grip on him tightened, and then they were moving. Terzo was tossed roughly onto the bed, landing flat on his back. As he stared up at Omega, he took a moment to take in the view. Omega was breathing hard, his muscular chest heaving. He looked half-crazed, his violet eyes burning with lust and jealousy and anger. Anger that Terzo so seldom saw directed at him. Omega’s fists were clenched at his sides, claws digging into his palms. Some of his hair had started to come loose from the bun he wore it in, silvery strands now framing his face. 

But then, to Terzo’s shock and indignation, Omega walked away. Terzo whined loudly, putting on the theatrics as he reached out for his partner with one hand. “Omegaaa…!” He was met with only silence. Then he heard a bag being unzipped, and he let his head fall back against the bed with relief; Omega must have been getting lube from one of their bags. Taking a moment to calm his nerves and try to self-regulate, Terzo took a deep breath, in through his nose and out through his mouth. 

“Don’t get too comfortable,” Omega said flatly from across the room. “We haven’t even started yet. You’ve been very, very bad boy, Terzo.” His heart leapt into his throat at both the promise in Omega’s voice, at being called a bad boy. Usually, he was a good boy. Omega’s good boy. And Omega was so good to his good boy. So, how was Omega going to treat him tonight? 

Every nerve in Terzo’s body was screaming to find out. 

Terzo propped himself up on one arm to watch Omega search through their bags, taking the opportunity to openly stare at his partner’s plump ass. He wanted to grab and squeeze and grope Omega’s body as the ghoul fucked him into oblivion already. Growing impatient, Terzo flopped onto his back once more and began to hum tunelessly, only stopping when Omega reappeared in front of him, looking annoyed. But when he saw what Omega had in his hands, Terzo’s mouth went dry. 

He had the lube, as was expected, but in the other hand was a black leather belt, too large to be Terzo’s. Omega smirked when he saw Terzo’s eyes widen. “You’ve been bad, mia luce.” Terzo felt a modicum of relief upon hearing the pet name. At least Omega wasn’t irrevocably mad at him; he’d never seriously thought Omega would stay angry or that his behavior would hurt their relationship, but a deeply insecure part of him worried that it could. 

“You’ve been so bad, in fact—” Omega said coolly as he got onto the bed and knelt with his knees on either side of Terzo’s thighs. “—that I think you deserve to be punished.” Terzo was intrigued, but more than a little distracted by Omega’s body heat. And the way Omega was looking at him like a starved man would look at a juicy steak. And by his proximity to Omega’s impressive cock, which was now fully hard. He was so close to where Terzo wanted him to be. 

So close, but not close enough as Omega leaned over him. Terzo was so distracted by the scent of Omega’s skin and the heat radiating off of him that he was caught off guard by the feeling of something cinching firmly around his wrists. Terzo bit his lip against his instinct to protest. This was what he’d wanted, after all. 

To Terzo’s great disappointment, Omega climbed off of him once the human’s wrists were securely bound together. The ghoul stood at the edge of the bed, hands on hips and staring down at Terzo as though he were inspecting his work. “Now what am I gonna do with a bad little slut like you, hm?” Omega asked. The typical light-heartedness, the one that let Terzo know that it was all just a game, was absent from Omega’s voice. Terzo swallowed hard. 

But then, he bristled in defiance. “I have no idea what you mean, mia ombra,” Terzo answered sweetly, playing dumb. “I don’t know what you are so upset about. I was only having a little fun…” Terzo put on his finest, most dramatic pout. Omega’s expression soured, but then he set his features into a neutral mask. 

“Then maybe I should just go to bed,” Omega threatened, acting nonchalant as he examined his claws. Claws that Terzo so badly wanted to feel sink into his flesh. “We’ve gotta be back on the bus early in the morning anyway.” 

Terzo’s heart stopped dead in his chest. “No!” he shouted, the word having left his mouth before he could think about what he was saying. This wasn’t exactly holding his ground as he’d set out to do; no, this was folding under the first bit of pressure. Regardless, his dick continued to do the talking for him, willing to do anything to be satisfied. “Mia ombra, no, please do not go!” he pleaded, fighting against the bindings holding his wrists together above his head. Omega raised an eyebrow skeptically at him. 

“I don’t just go around giving my affection away to people who don’t appreciate it,” Omega chastized. “Clearly you’re content getting your thrills from just about anyone. You don’t need me.” Terzo’s heart began to race like a rabbit’s, his blood going cold. Was Omega being serious?! “I’ll come back and untie you in the morning. Hopefully that will give you enough time to think about what you’ve done.” 

“Please, cuore mio!” Terzo begged, too worried to care about losing the game he’d been trying to play. Their relationship was more important than getting his rocks off. “Please, please do not go! I am sorry, I was only playing around! Omega, I didn’t mean to upset you, I love you, I—” Suddenly Omega’s face was inches from his own, Omega straddling him once more, one of his hands on either side of Terzo’s head. Terzo was startled into silence. 

“Then show me,” Omega whispered in his ear. When Terzo made a confused noise, Omega sat up. Before Terzo could react, Omega had taken his own erection in hand and begun lazily stroking himself, in no rush. “Show me how much you love me.” Their eyes locked for longer than Terzo could bear, but he couldn’t look away. “Prove it. Right now.” 

Terzo squirmed, fighting against his bindings and whimpering when he was unable to free himself. “How?” he whined, confused and frustrated. Omega smiled sweetly down at him as he reached for something at the head of the bed. Then he was lifting Terzo’s upper torso, just enough to prop him up on three hotel pillows. Even as Omega glared at him, Terzo felt warmth spread through his body; although Omega was mad at him, Terzo knew his ghoul still cared deeply about his safety and well-being. The reminder comforted him; he closed his eyes to the feeling. 

Terzo didn’t have time to think about that for long, as soon he felt something press insistently at his lips. His eyes snapped open; the head of Omega’s cock was resting against his lips, impatiently waiting for entry into his mouth. Terzo felt his face heat up—now this is what he had been waiting for. They were finally on the right track. Terzo looked up and made eye contact with Omega, who was staring down at him. The ghoul’s piercing gaze seemed to say, “Well? What are you waiting for?” 

Instead of giving in right away, Terzo’s tongue snaked out to give Omega a long, slow lick, savoring the salt of Omega’s skin after having worked so hard on stage. He heard Omega inhale sharply above him, one of the ghoul’s large hands flying to grip the back of Terzo’s head. Omega let Terzo enthusiastically lick and kiss along his length for all of about forty-five seconds, before Terzo found himself with a mouthful of Omega’s considerable girth. Terzo made a muffled sound of surprise as he fought against the urge to cough at the sudden, rough intrusion. Without giving Terzo much time to adjust, Omega began to urge Terzo’s head forward. 

Omega’s shuddering sigh almost sounded relieved, like he’d been aching for this just as much as Terzo had. Despite how uncomfortable his position was, despite the frustration of having his wrists bound above his head, Terzo’s nerves were on fire, his blood singing in his veins. He did the best he could to please Omega with his limited range of motion, giving Omega pleasure like a silent apology for upsetting his partner. Omega was making the most delicious noises above him, and Terzo could feel his own cock beginning to weep precum onto his stomach in response. Soon, Omega was moving his hips in time with Terzo’s head. Terzo let himself drown in an ocean of arousal as his lover used him like a toy. 

Omega was halfway down Terzo’s throat one second, and the next, he found himself coughing and sputtering, reeling as he tried to adjust to the sudden withdrawal of Omega’s sizeable cock. He watched through watery eyes as Omega climbed off the bed. Just as Terzo was beginning to get his breathing under control, he was being pulled forward by his ankles. His calves dangling off the side of the bed and his hands still bound, Terzo was helpless to do anything but watch as Omega snatched the bottle of lube and slicked himself. 

“Look at you,” Omega cooed in a deceptively soft, unassuming voice. Poison masked under a cloyingly sweet coating. “Paint half cried off and smeared to hell and back. You’re such a mess.” He wiped the excess lubricant on his hand off on the hotel comforter that they hadn’t bothered to pull back. “Such a dirty, messy little slut. What on Earth am I gonna do with you?” A clawed hand began to rub up and down Terzo’s inner thigh. With each pass, he grew closer and closer to where Terzo wanted him, and every time, the well of rebelliousness bubbled closer to eruption. 

Terzo may have been deliriously horny by that point, but it took a lot more than desire to stamp out his defiant nature. He’d set his mind towards being a nuisance, to get a rise out of Omega, and dammit, he wasn’t going to give up now. Simple sex wasn’t going to cut it this time, no; he needed to be fucked so hard he experienced ego death. That he forgot who he was entirely, his own identity and the burdens that came with it becoming a distant memory. 

It was with that foolish determination that Terzo decided to continue poking the bear. The huge, irritated bear, who was equipped with razor-sharp claws and fangs and could rip the human to shreds without even trying—and who currently had his massive dick out, primed and ready to go. Terzo was undaunted. “Well,” Terzo rasped, his voice hoarse from the earlier intrusion. “If you don’t fuck me, who will, amore mio? I would hate to have to leave the room looking such a mess to find someone else to please me.” His voice was light, but his words were heavy. If this didn’t spur Omega into giving him what he wanted, nothing would. 

Omega growled menacingly, flashing his fangs as his eyes burned all the way through Terzo, into his very soul. Terzo felt a flash of fear that quickly transformed into a thrill of anticipation. He yelped as he found himself being yanked forward until his ass was nearly hanging off the bed; his feet never had the chance to hit the floor, as his legs were soon slung over Omega’s shoulders. The way that Omega glared down at him ignited a spark of worry within him that perhaps he’d gone too far, but the care Omega took as he entered the human was reassuring. Omega had always been considerate of their size difference, even though Terzo had decades of experience by that point for his body to adjust. Seeing just that little bit of softness eased Terzo’s concern.

Their noises of pleasure and relief mingled in the space between them, Omega’s low groan intertwining with Terzo’s soft moaning. There was a moment of stillness and silence between them, and then Omega’s hips were moving in a brutal rhythm with no buildup, no progression. There was nothing but the sound of flesh meeting flesh, and a profound feeling of fullness as Omega pounded mercilessly into him, stimulating Terzo’s prostate just so with every stroke. Terzo felt his whole body heat up, his vision going fuzzy even as he tried to watch his partner’s every move. 

“Nn,” Omega growled, his claws digging into where his large hands gripped Terzo’s hips tightly. “You’re a greedy, cock-hungry little slut, you know that?” The only thing Terzo was capable of vocalizing in response was a long groan that slowly increased in pitch. His wrists strained futily against their binding; he desperately wanted to touch Omega, to feel his lover as the ghoul fucked him. Then Terzo was being mandandled once more, maneuvered so that Omega could lean down and capture his lips with his own. This kiss was feverish, Omega wordlessly putting Terzo in his place as Terzo begged for more, mewling into Omega’s mouth. 

“You’re such a whore…” Omega huffed when he pulled away with a wet smack. “Who are you a whore for? Who do you belong to?” All Terzo could do was stare blankly at him through watery eyes, mouth agape. He couldn’t form coherent thoughts, let alone speak them.

Omega’s eyes narrowed, and again he growled; Terzo yelped when Omega thrust even harder into him, the human not understanding what he did wrong. “Who do you belong to?!” Omega snarled, his violet eyes flaming hotter than hellfire. All Terzo could do was squeeze his eyes shut tightly and try to drown out the sensations overwhelming him, just long enough to form words. That was a task much easier said than done when he was being railed to the point of abject stupidity by a demon twice his size. Terzo’s nails dug into his palms so hard that he was sure they were bleeding, his molars biting down firmly on his cheek, all in a desperate effort to clear away some of the fog clouding his mind.

“Y—” Terzo started, cut off by another sharp thrust before the syllable was halfway out of his mouth, a gasp taking its place instead. He steeled himself, drawing upon all of the strength he’d earned fighting through life for all these years. “You!” was the only strangled word he could force out. He breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Omega huff a self-satisfied laugh, and the ghoul’s thrusting finally resumed a normal, steady rhythm. 

“That’s what I thought…” Omega purred haughtily. “You’re mine, Terzo. Only mine.” Both of them knew it was true. 

With Omega’s now supporting himself on either side of Terzo and Terzo’s legs wrapped around him, Omega closed in on him and ravaged a nipple with his mouth. There was no preamble to the sucking or nipping or the swirling of his forked tongue, no kind of warning. No taking his time trailing kisses up Terzo’s body; Omega got straight to the point. Terzo’s sharp, shocked gasp echoed through the sparsely decorated hotel room, his cock twitching almost painfully. Omega’s hips never broke their rhythm. 

“Omeg… Omega,” Terzo whimpered, and Omega responded in turn by gently biting down before switching to Terzo’s other nipple. The belt was feeling tighter than ever around his wrists; he wanted so badly to let Omega’s hair down and run his fingers through it. To grab the back of Omega’s head and hold his lover close as he worked him. 

Before he was ready, Omega’s mouth began to travel upwards, on route to Terzo’s neck. Undoubtedly, he was leaving a trail of little bruises in his wake. When his lips arrived at the junction of Terzo’s neck and shoulder, Omega lingered for a long moment, as if thinking. There was a long, hot lick, and then Terzo felt his partner’s lovely fangs scrape across the skin of Terzo’s favorite place to be bitten. “Please…” Terzo whispered, back arching in anticipation. As Omega applied the slightest bit of pressure, Terzo felt like he was going to vibrate out of his body. 

But then Omega pulled away. Not only pulled away, but pulled out. The whine that ripped its way from Terzo at the loss was shameless, loud and pitiable, and more than a little pathetic. He stared up at Omega, bewildered and betrayed. Omega looked completely unbothered. “No,” the ghoul stated simply. “Only good boys get bitten. And you’ve been very, very bad.” Although his voice was stern, Terzo was relieved to hear the slightest hint of mirth in it. Good. Terzo was glad at least one of them was having a good time; personally, he was still reeling from the pleasure that had just been violently ripped away from him. Things were going a bit sideways. 

Terzo was hopeful when Omega knelt with one knee on the bed, but Omega bypassed him entirely, instead reaching for Terzo’s bound hands. To Terzo’s immense surprise, Omega freed him. He’d expected to at least be restrained until Omega came… If Omega forgave him right away, that was. 

It was then that Omega straightened up and wordlessly started slapping the belt against the palm of his hand. Terzo’s mouth fell open—he couldn’t be serious! 

This wouldn’t be the first time they’d messed around with things like impact play, but Terzo hadn’t been prepared to indulge in it tonight. Given the circumstances, he felt a little torn on the prospect. “I think my bad boy deserves a spanking for what he’s done,” Omega cooed. “Don’t you?” The thrill that ran up Terzo’s spine at his words was enough of an answer. Lying there with his legs spread, his body a trembling heap, Terzo was helpless to do anything but stare up, wide-eyed, at his lover. They locked eyes for a long moment, promise in Omega’s gaze and supplication in Terzo’s, and a burning desire shared between them. Terzo closed his eyes, and then nodded. He could hear the smile in Omega’s answering chuckle, the intonation more speaking to genuine pleasure rather than to mocking. 

“On your feet,” Omega commanded softly. Terzo sat up and immediately regretted it, feeling lightheaded as the world went fuzzy. He was far too aroused to be sitting up so quickly at this point, not without a guaranteed head rush. To his surprise, Omega grabbed his hands from where Terzo was supporting himself on the bed. With an unexpected level of tenderness, Omega helped Terzo stand up, steadying the smaller man once he was upright. The care the ghoul was taking with him made his stomach do a backflip, which was peculiar because Omega always treated him with care. Perhaps, on some level, Terzo felt like he didn’t deserve it tonight. He was torn between the deep desire to be a brat and push Omega’s buttons, and his inherent need for love and tenderness. 

Before he could think about it too hard, Omega was turning him around and bending him over the bed. Terzo heard a soft slapping sound and peeked over his shoulder to see Omega hitting the belt against his hand once more, all the while staring intently at Terzo’s ass, his eyes hungry. But then he stilled and looked at Terzo’s face. Omega’s eyes were questioning; Terzo knew what he wanted. Without hesitation, Terzo nodded, giving Omega permission. They were in an unspoken agreement with one another. 

Terzo still wasn’t prepared for the first smack of the leather against his ass, a sharp gasp tearing its way from his lungs. Then he felt a large, warm hand gently touch where the belt had made contact. “I’m fine,” Terzo said in a rush, not wanting to scare Omega into stopping. “It is ok, I’m fine,” he repeated in a lower tone. Omega rubbed the spot where his hand rested before retreating, and then there was another blow, this time to the other side.

“Nn,” Omega growled as another hit landed; the ghoul was very conscious of his own strength, only spanking with exactly the amount of force that Terzo could handle and enjoy. When Terzo first suggested they try out impact play, Omega had been intrigued about recieving, but hesitant to give. He was terrified of hurting his human partner, feeling guilty for causing Terzo any amount of pain; Terzo had to remind him how often Omega bit him, and how much the human loved it. Still, knowing Omega would never forgive himself if he seriously hurt his mate, Terzo was endlessly patient with him. It’d been a long road to get here, with lots of trial and error, open communication, and aftercare—with Omega needing the latter more than Terzo did. 

“This is what bad boys get,” Omega said through gritted teeth. Smack! “Bad boys who flirt with people who aren’t their mate!” A firm hit, one that sent shockwaves through him in the best way. Terzo moaned loudly, arching his back hard and burying his face in the bedding. “Bad boys who talk about giving it away like a cheap whore.” Another blow. Terzo fought to find his voice. “Bad boys who—” 

“Omega—!” Terzo interrupted, panting and writhing, unable to go on being so deprived for much longer, not when he was this aroused. “I need you…!” Immediately, there was a soft thud on the floor, and Omega appeared beside him. His eyes were full of concern, and a little bit of fear.

Running his claws through Terzo’s sweat-damp hair, Omega leaned in closer, inspecting Terzo’s face. “What is it, mia luce, what’s wrong?” The softness in his voice stood in stark contrast to the way he’d just been speaking. Terzo squeezed his eyes shut, trying to summon the presence of mind to form words. 

“I n-need you inside me,” Terzo stuttered, trying to regulate his shuddering breath. “Now.” He watched Omega visibly shiver, and then the ghoul was on his feet, positioned behind Terzo with his erection pressed against Terzo’s ass. 

The world seemed to still when Omega finally entered him again, silent save for Terzo’s quivering cry and Omega’s pained grunt. It was clear by the way that Omega tenderly kissed along his lover’s back, his heavy breath hot on Terzo’s skin, that the ghoul needed a moment to collect himself. Terzo didn’t need such a break; what he needed was to be fucked. Hard. He pushed his hips back into Omega and began making pleading little noises, hoping to spur Omega into action. To his relief, Omega did begin to move. But his movements were lazy and languid and sensual, not the kind of wild, feral, dominating conquest that Terzo was desperate for. 

Terzo decided to push his luck and poke the bear once more. “Hm,” Terzo hummed amidst the gentle motion of their bodies, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. Omega made a soft, questioning noise in answer. “I take it that you are not mad at me anymore?” he asked, horny enough to take another risk even after being forgiven. 

Omega huffed through his nose. “You still gonna talk about fucking other people?” Yes, Terzo thought. He’d taken the bait. 

“What happens if I do?” Terzo prodded, a sly grin audible in his voice under his heavy breathing. Omega froze mid-thrust, an electric tension charging the air around them. Terzo’s stomach did a backflip, nervous even as his body sang with anticipation. 

“What?” Omega asked, his voice low and deadly and full of disbelief. The sound made Terzo’s breath catch in his throat. 

Pushing past the warnings his rational brain was firing off at him, “I said—” Terzo purred. “—what if I do?” His heart was racing, his head swimming, and still, Terzo refused to back down. He’d lost the ability to think rationally the first time their lips met that night. Omega growled, low and angry, then straightened up. Terzo was just grateful that he didn’t pull out again. Please, anything but that. 

Suddenly, Terzo felt something wrap firmly around his throat, momentarily squeezing before pulling his head back. Terzo gasped for air, shocked and confused and trying to adjust to the abrupt change in position. He propped himself up on extended arms just to get a little slack from whatever was now wound around his throat. Before he could reach up and inspect his binding, Omega thrust hard into him, all previous tenderness gone. Terzo cried out; this was exactly what he’d wanted, but he hadn’t had time to brace for impact. 

Without any warmup, Terzo was being pounded into fast and hard. Omega was merciless, taking out his jealousy and frustration on Terzo’s body. Closing his eyes against the overwhelming sensations, Terzo reached with a trembling hand to inspect the thing that was currently yanking him back like an impromptu collar. It was soft and slightly velvety, and warm. Very warm. Terzo would recognize that warmth anywhere; it was Omega’s warmth. He was using his spaded tail to restrain his human partner. Between Omega’s vicious, possessive thrusting and the knowledge that Omega was using his own body to restrain him, Terzo felt as though he might pass out. This wasn’t the first time Omega had used his tail this way, but under these circumstances, it truly felt like being claimed. Like being marked as Omega’s territory. It was exactly the feeling that Terzo had been chasing. 

“If you think this is bad—” Omega rumbled, his voice jagged and strained. “—just wait until we get home.” He punctuated his threat with a particularly violent thrust as his claws sank into the soft flesh of Terzo’s hips, pulling Terzo back into him. Terzo wailed at the impact on his overstimulated prostate, trying so hard to fight off climax, something that felt more like a losing battle by the second. “If you so much as think about fucking someone else, I’ll make you regret it. You wanna be a bad boy, you’re gonna get treated like a bad boy.” Omega’s voice was menacing and full of promise, and Terzo very nearly came at the sound. 

But Omega had said something that caught his attention, that was pulling his mind elsewhere. “Just wait until we get home.” 

Home. Terzo couldn’t help but scoff at the notion. Despite being where he’d spent his entire life, the ministry had never felt like home. It had been more of a prison than somewhere he wanted to lay his head. Now that they were out on the road and Terzo was finally getting a taste of the outside world, Terzo felt more free and alive than ever. He had freedom, and more importantly, outside of the watchful eye of the imperator, he had the freedom to be with his ghoul. And if he had a home, it wasn’t a place, but a person. It was, without question, Omega. 

With that thought, Terzo began to feel guilty for pushing Omega the way he had. The one person in the universe who loved him unconditionally, and Terzo had been deliberately pushing his buttons for a cheap thrill. He didn’t know how he would be able to live with himself if he’d truly hurt his partner. 

But before Terzo could begin spiraling, Omega impossibly picked up his pace, claws burying themselves into the flesh of his hips until Terzo was certain that he was drawing blood. “Tell me you’re mine,” Omega hissed through clenched teeth, sounding on the verge of delirium himself. “Tell me that I’m the only one who’s ever gonna fuck you again!” 

“Omeg—” Terzo tried and failed to comply with Omega’s demand, but he was nearly sobbing with pleasure and barely able to control his breathing, let alone speak in full sentences. Omega’s tail tightened around his throat, and a single tear rolled down Terzo’s cheek. If this went on for any more than a few seconds longer, Terzo was sure that the pleasure firing through his nervous system would cause a spark, and that he would catch flame. 

“Say it!” Omega nearly shouted. “Tell me you’re mine!” Satan below, Terzo was so close. Before he could open his mouth, Terzo’s head was being pulled back again, and he heard Omega snarl. Terzo could tell that his partner was perilously close, too. He had no choice—he had to find his voice. 

“Nn,” Terzo groaned, writhing as he fought off imminent bliss as though his life depended on it. Omega thrust harder, nearly ruining Terzo’s efforts. Still, he pushed onwards. “I am yours, Omega!” he cried. “Only yours!” 

With that, Omega shuddered as his cock pulsed inside Terzo, and Terzo finally allowed himself to let go. His vision went white, and his throat felt as though he was screaming, but he couldn’t hear anything over the ringing in his ears. This release was everything he’d been chasing and more.

But when he regained any semblance of awareness, he found himself confused. He was face down on the bed, as to be expected, but something was wrong. Where usually there would be a warm, crushing, deeply comforting weight on top of him, there was an absence that left him feeling cold and hollow. It took him longer than it should have to put the pieces together, but when he figured it out, his heart stopped in his chest: where was Omega? Concern outweighed his fatigue, so he rolled onto his side, cringing at the feeling of the blanket sticking to him with his own cum. 

It only took a moment for him to find Omega. When he did, his stomach dropped; the ghoul was already under the covers, curled up on his side with his back to his partner. “Omega…?” he called out softly, but Omega didn’t stir. A hurt, insecure part of him said to do the same, to give up and go to sleep in the same position Omega did. To literally turn his back on his lover, the way that Omega had done to him. Terzo could never do that to Omega, though. Especially not when all of this was his own fault. He got up long enough to find a towel and clean up. 

Instead of taking the cowardly way out, Terzo got back into bed and crawled over to where Omega lay. Tentatively, he put a hand on the ghoul’s shoulder. When Omega cringed, curling in on himself, Terzo let his hand fall away. “Mia ombra?” Terzo called again, a growing sense of dread and guilt forming in the pit of his stomach. “Mia ombra, talk to me. Please…” His voice was nearly a whisper. He felt Omega bristle. Taking a risk, he replaced his hand on Omega’s shoulder and began slowly rubbing. At least this risk was more well-intentioned than the other ones he’d been taking all night. 

Huffing, Omega looked over his shoulder at Terzo, and Terzo hated what he saw; Omega’s eyes looked not just sad, but wounded. Almost betrayed. Terzo swallowed against a lump forming in his throat. After an uncomfortably long moment, Omega reluctantly rolled over to face Terzo. The ghoul seemed so… weary. Dejected. 

Terzo replaced his hand, this time on Omega’s chest. To his great concern, Omega grimaced at the contact. “Amore mio, please tell me what is wrong.” Terzo wasn’t above begging at this point, even if he already knew the answer. Omega scowled at him. 

“Don’t play dumb,” Omega said quietly. Terzo knew Omega was right, but he didn’t have the balls to fess up. “If you wanted me to treat you rougher tonight, you could’ve just said something. You don’t have to rub it in my face that you can have anyone you want.” Terzo blinked rapidly. Omega’s proclamation left him stunned and bewildered. Mistaking his confusion for denial, Omega rolled his eyes and made to roll over again. Desperate to stop Omega from turning his back on him once more, Terzo moved closer until their bodies were touching, then took both of Omega’s hands in his before the ghoul could stop him. 

“Cuore mio,” Terzo tried to soothe, squeezing both of Omega’s hands. Omega refused to look at him. “Why would you say this? You know that I do not want anyone but you…” He pulled Omega’s left hand to his mouth, kissing the gold wedding band on his ring finger. The band formed a matching set with Terzo’s, a set that they could only ever wear in private. “I know that you remember what I said to you that night, all those years ago. I would never throw that away, ever… Please, talk to me.” 

Omega squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing heavily. “I don’t like it when you do stuff like this, tesoro. You know that.” Terzo’s eyebrows furrowed. This was the first time he’d tried anything like the stunts he’d pull on stage tonight. 

“Huh?” Terzo questioned, confused. “I have not flirted with anyone outside of our relationship since…” He took a long minute to think about it, struggling to think up examples. “Ever, actually! And we have been together for a very long time,” he reminded his husband. 

“That’s not true,” Omega protested. Terzo’s eyebrows shot up in confusion and disbelief. 

“Pardon?” 

“Sister Lillian,” Omega deadpanned. “Or when you used to flirt with the other ghouls to make me jealous!” There was an accusatorial note in Omega’s voice. Terzo’s jaw dropped in disbelief. 

“Omega,” Terzo said, reproachful. “That was over thirty years ago! And we were not even in a relationship then!” 

Omega examined his claws, trying his best to look nonchalant. “Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” he insisted. Terzo was just about to object when Omega said something that stopped him in his tracks. “Doesn’t mean it doesn’t still sting. And it doesn’t mean that stuff like what you pulled tonight doesn’t dredge those feelings back up.” Terzo’s heart broke for the ghoul. 

“Mia ombra…” Terzo said softly. Then he moved closer to Omega, not content until they were eye to eye. Finally able to, Terzo took Omega’s hair down from the bun it was in and began running his fingers through his silky white hair. Omega closed his eyes to the feeling. “Why have you not told me before that you are still hurting from those things?” 

To his surprise, Omega’s cheeks flushed, and the ghoul rubbed the back of his neck. All telltale signs that Omega was embarrassed. “I mean… Isn’t it silly to still be insecure about our relationship, after all this time?” Omega opened his eyes and moved closer to Terzo until their noses touched. “After everything we’ve been through?” Terzo had no response. “But when you do things that remind me of the things you used to do to people before we met, I still feel it,” Omega muttered. 

“Amore,” Terzo scoffed. “It has been so long since I have topped anyone that it is a miracle I remember it well enough to pretend.” Unable to hide his amusement, Omega pressed his lips together against a smile. “You have converted me,” Terzo joked with a grin. 

Omega rolled his eyes. “Whatever. Bet you’d still be out there sweating on top of anyone and everyone with a pulse if you didn’t love me.” Omega’s words themselves carried the potential to be heavy, but Terzo knew that Omega meant nothing by it. He probably wasn’t that far off from the truth anyway. Terzo never thought he’d fall in love, let alone settle down with one person. 

Terzo chuckled lightly and rubbed their noses together sweetly. “Sì, perhaps. But I do love you. Only you,” Terzo cooed. “That crowd wishes they could get a piece of me.” Omega snorted. 

They were quiet for a while, and then Omega piped up, sounding surprisingly amused. “Is this really what happens when I don’t fuck you for a few days?” Terzo had to think long and hard about the question. 

“I do not know, amore,” was all Terzo could say in answer. “It has never really happened before.” Omega barked a laugh. 

“I’ll tell you what,” Omega said, his voice teasing. “Maybe I’ll let you get away with this a couple more times. But—” he stipulated,“—you surrender all rights to complain about what happens after.” 

Excitement shot through Terzo like a bolt of lightning. “Deal,” Terzo immediately agreed without a second thought. 

They’d nearly fallen asleep together when Omega roused him. “Hey,” the ghoul called softly. “You need to take your makeup off, vita mia. You know you’ll be mad in the morning if you skipped your skincare. Plus, we’ll never hear the end of it if the Imperator gets one more hotel bill with a cleaning fee to get your face prints out of the pillow cases.” Terzo whined sleepily.

“Please let me sleep,” Terzo pouted, giving Omega his best puppy-dog eyes. Terzo was highly offended when Omega laughed heartily at him, so he shot Omega a glare.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Omega quickly apologized, but he was still snickering. “You know I can’t take you seriously when you look like that.” Terzo’s eyebrows knit together in confusion. 

“Look like what?” 

“Like you got caught in an explosion at the clown factory,” Omega explained with a wide, devilish grin. 

Highly offended at his partner’s insult, Terzo gasped and lightly smacked the ghoul’s shoulder. “Watch how you speak to me. I am your husband, you know.” 

Not wanting to make Terzo get ready for bed alone, Omega joined him, washing his own face and brushing his teeth while Terzo went through the process of removing his ruined face paint. Worse still, Terzo had an extensive skincare routine to follow after the makeup was finally gone. He knew Omega found the whole process tedious, but he knew how important it was to Terzo. Truth be told, Terzo would do nearly anything if it meant delaying the signs of aging. It wasn’t just about vanity, although that certainly was a part of it. No, it was because every time he looked in the mirror and thought about where he started, it served as a painful reminder of how little time he had left on Earth with Omega. He was beyond grateful for the decades they’d spent together, but they’d already gone by so fast. He hoped for many more, but knew nothing in this world was guaranteed. 

“Hey,” Omega got his attention from where he was sitting on the side of the bathtub. Terzo turned to look at him questioningly. “I know you don’t wanna hear this, but you need to apologize to Alpha tomorrow.” Terzo opened his mouth in protest, but Omega continued speaking, cutting him off. “No. You know how sensitive he is. Especially when it comes to you.” No matter how much he wanted to, there was nothing Terzo could say to argue with that; Omega was right. Alpha had despised Terzo when he and Omega first got involved with one another. And although they were technically friends now, that friendship was fragile. Terzo constantly had to walk a tightrope with Alpha to maintain the peace. Normally, Terzo didn’t mind doing so, because he knew how important Alpha was to Omega. But when something serious like this happened, Terzo always had a hard time conceding. He knew he had to, though. 

Terzo sighed heavily. “Sì. Okay, okay. I know you’re right,” Terzo admitted. He could feel the tension leave Omega’s body. “I will tell him I’m sorry.”

On the day he was assassinated, the day that even Omega had been taken from him, her face joined the ranks of his tormentors. Every moment in the pit felt like a hundred years, and few crawled by at as agonizingly slow a speed as those where she wailed for him. Wailed for love, for safety. For the life and the comfort that Terzo could never bring her now. Sometimes he’d be lured into a false sense of safety, allowed to feel the indescribable joy of having her in his arms, only to have her cruelly ripped away from him. 

“We have been waiting for you for so long,” Terzo tearfully told his daughter after they’d been wheeled to the recovery room, his voice somewhere between a chuckle and a whisper. His lips were pressed against her soft, white hair, nuzzling between her horns. “Our Starlight.” Before he knew what he was doing, he began humming to her, much the way he had before she was born. It felt as natural to him as breathing.

And to his amazement, her cries gradually quieted. He couldn’t help but let out a joyous little laugh. Her newborn smell, her weight in his arms, for real this time… It was all he would ever need again. He was sure of it. Those sensations kept him grounded, anchored to the moment and to the new nature of his reality. He’d carried her in his body long enough to trust that she was real, that this was actually happening—most days, anyway. That he was someone’s Papa, that it was no longer just a symbolic title forced upon him by people who meant him harm. 

When a large, familiar hand on his shoulder interrupted Terzo’s humming, he looked up to see his husband smiling at them through watery eyes. Omega gestured to Starlight, redirecting Terzo’s attention to the infant currently snuggled up with him. To his amazement, she was smiling. A tiny smile, her eyes still closed, but a smile nonetheless. 

“I think she likes the sound of your voice, tesoro,” Omega observed before kissing the crown of Terzo’s head. Happiness swelled in Terzo’s chest, bubbling over with nowhere left to go. 

“Eh, I am sure it is just a reflex,” Terzo protested weakly, although he wasn’t sure why. He was her Papa, after all. Shouldn’t he be special to her, just as she was special to him? She was a part of him for nine months, after all; surely it would make sense for her to react to him in particular. Sometimes, though, Terzo couldn’t help but feel as though he didn’t deserve her. Sometimes it took a lot of convincing to make him feel like he deserved anything good in this life at all.

After all, the journey to get to this moment had been long and arduous. Most of the time, Terzo felt as though he was fighting a losing battle, pursuing a fool’s errand. If he thought regaining his sanity after his resurrection was grueling, fighting to maintain that sanity while they were trying for a baby had almost been worse. He’d sworn up and down to himself that he’d let go of the idea of having children with Omega, but as soon as even a sliver of hope presented itself, he’d jumped at the chance. They both had. Terzo knew it hadn’t been any easier for Omega than it had been for himself, and he thanked his lucky stars every day that Omega had been willing to go through the profound grief of hope with him. 

Even when they conceived, Terzo never could’ve guessed, could’ve imagined, that the little girl staring back at him on her delivery day would be the very same child he’d been dreaming of for all these years. In many ways, he was in shock. How does one rationalize such a miraculous event, such a strange twist of fate? Surely something greater must’ve been at work, but thinking about it too hard threatened to give him a headache. Perhaps it was unwise to question such a gift. 

“Can you believe it?” Terzo sighed, letting his head fall back on the hospital bed, which was adjusted to an angle where Terzo could sit up and bottle-feed Starlight. Puzzlingly, he was met only with silence. When he cracked an eye open and glanced over at Omega, he saw the ghoul sitting in a chair at the bedside, head propped on his arms. Omega was staring at them lovingly with wide, adoring puppy-dog eyes. If Terzo could see Omega’s spaded tail, he was sure it’d be swishing contentedly. 

“No,” Omega answered dreamily, his voice warm and full of the happiness Terzo’s heart was currently brimming with, too.

Once she’d made it clear she was done with her bottle and had again dozed off, Terzo gently traced over Starlight’s delicate features. He ran the back of his finger across the planes of her cheekbones, her jaw, her chin. When he reached her nose, he couldn’t help but gaze on in wonder and amazement. That was his nose, too. No matter how much their little girl took after her Daddy, she would always carry a part of her Papa with her. Terzo had never liked his nose; it reminded him too much of his mother. Before seeing it on his Starlight’s face, he never would’ve wanted to curse a child to carry that particular feature with them their entire lives. But seeing her with it now, Terzo had never felt prouder, more comfortable in himself. Everything about her was perfect—especially her nose. 

Taking pains not to wake her, Terzo brushed a stray lock of silvery hair out of Starlight’s face, then turned his attention to her hands. Her darling, tiny hands, fists now loose and relaxed from slumber. He gently kissed the clawed tips of each delicate finger. As he lightly grazed the palm of her hand, he was amazed to feel her grip his index finger and hold on tightly. His baby girl, here, in his arms, holding onto him. Perhaps she had been waiting for him just as long as he had been waiting for her. 

Terzo was sure that his sniffles were going to alarm his husband, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He let the tears flow freely down his face, but they could only linger there for a moment before Omega wiped them away. “She is perfect, amore,” Terzo croaked.

Omega’s eyes were watery now, too. “She is,” the ghoul whispered before taking Terzo’s face in both hands and kissing him softly. 

It didn’t take long for Omega to overcome his fear of breaking the hospital bed by joining the rest of his family, now that the temptation was even greater than it had been before the C-section. Before he could actually see and hear and touch their daughter, before he ever got the first hit of that newborn smell. Soon, they were all snuggled up together, Omega watching over them as they got some much-needed rest. As Terzo drifted off, he couldn’t shake the nagging fear at the back of his mind that perhaps this, too, was a dream. He didn’t know who to thank when he woke up and his Starlight was still there, but he’d do just about anything in repayment for that blessing. 

Day two in the infirmary saw Terzo getting antsy, desperately wanting to take his family home. The fluorescent lights, the scratchy pink gown, the uncomfortable hospital bed, the cold and sterile plastic bassinet unfit for his principessa… It was all beginning to wear on him. He knew how important it was to the health of both the birth parent and the child to stay under observation for the first 72 hours, but dammit, he wanted to go home. He’d asked Omega to at least go home and get some rest so that his poor ghoul wouldn’t have to sleep in a chair or crammed in a too-small bed, but true to his nature, Omega had refused. Still, Terzo got the sense that he wasn’t the only one feeling cooped up. 

There was a knock that snapped Terzo out of his thoughts. Startled, his head snapped up so quickly that he felt something in his neck pop. As soon as he saw who was standing in the doorway, his mood immediately lifted; it was little River!

Well. Terzo still saw him as “little” River, the way he was when they’d first cared for him on the weekends. But the truth was, the water ghoul now had nearly a foot in height on him, much closer to Omega’s size than the human’s. He was wearing a full suit, a deep navy that complemented his skin tone nicely. In his left hand, he carried a beautiful bouquet of pink roses, peppered with dainty sprigs of baby’s breath. In the right hand, there was a bottle of champagne. A brilliant smile spread across Terzo’s face. 

River crossed his arms and sauntered across the room towards Terzo’s bed, a mischievous grin on his face. “So, I hear you’ve replaced me,” River teased as his eyes fell on the newborn quintessence ghoul kit fast asleep in the bassinet. Terzo felt guilty for not holding Starlight at all times, but he’d been under Omega’s strict orders to try to sleep when she did. Terzo felt all of the color drain from his face at River’s remark, his heart skipping a beat as his mouth fell open. River saw his expression and barked his characteristically bubbly laugh, then sat down on the edge of the bed and patted Terzo on the shin. “Relax, Uncle Terzo, I’m just pulling your leg!”

Terzo was too relieved to be irritated by the joke. River had been their honorary nephew for damn near thirty years by that point, babysat weekly by the two of them until he was five years old. Taking care of River had been the thing that made Terzo realize for the very first time that he wanted a family with Omega. So, River being jealous of their new baby? It had already crossed Terzo’s mind, no matter how irrational a fear it was. River would always be family to them, no matter what. 

Omega snorted from his chair at the bedside. “You know he takes these things seriously, Riv,” he admonished, although a little too playfully for Terzo’s liking. “He used to be scared of getting caught playing with the other kits in the wing. He was so sure his only nephew would be jealous.” Terzo shot Omega a glare for so casually airing out his insecurities. 

River leaned in to press a quick kiss to Terzo’s cheek in greeting, then quickly rose to his feet, his face giving the impression that he’d just realized he left the stove on. “Dammit, I didn’t bring a vase for these! Where the hell—” he cut himself off and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, much to Terzo’s surprise. “Heck. I mean heck.” Terzo pressed his lips together, holding back a smile. 

Terzo was impressed by the self-correction around Starlight, and very appreciative. Although she was too young now to pick up on foul language, he knew that one day, she would be. River knew that Terzo never liked it when he swore, because in many ways that were tough to admit, Terzo still viewed him as the same sweet little boy they’d cared for all those years ago. The first time he’d heard River swear, he’d half-heartedly threatened to wash his mouth out with soap, a threat he’d often heard Secondo’s mother use against her son when they were growing up. He’d never dream of actually doing it, but as River wasn’t familiar with the saying, he took it literally, and cleaned up his language… for a little while. Now that he was older, he did as he pleased, but he knew Terzo didn’t approve. 

“Where the heck am I supposed to put these flowers now?” River continued, much quieter this time as his face flushed a darker shade of blue.

Omega grumbled. “I’ll go get one from our quarters, I suppose,” he said with a put-upon sigh, the chair creaking as he stood. Once he was on his feet, Omega stretched and cracked his back. Terzo felt guilty for how uncomfortable his husband must be in the room’s too-small armchair, a chair that was quite cramped for someone with a frame as large as Omega’s. Why did they even have furniture that looked as though it was designed exclusively for the petite when they knew ghouls lived and worked here? 

As soon as Omega was gone, River shuffled his feet awkwardly, looking for something to do. He’d always been quite the hyperactive little boy, always needing some form of stimulation. Terzo could relate; he’d been much the same way for most of his life, and even now as he’d calmed with age, he still frequently fidgeted, or worse, bit his nails. That had only gotten worse during his pregnancy, anxiety and restlessness running high in those last few months. 

“Did you get Primo’s permission before you raided his rose garden?” Terzo broke the silence, a smile audible in his voice. 

River’s attention snapped back to Terzo, and it took the water ghoul a couple of seconds to process what had just been said. When he got it, River grinned from ear to ear, showing his fangs. “Do I ever ask permission for anything?” 

Terzo rolled his eyes playfully. “No, my little typhoon. No more than the ocean asks permission to come in for high tide.” River’s smile widened. A thought occured to Terzo; something was out of place. “What’s with the suit, piccino?” Terzo teased. He had to admit, though, River was looking quite sharp. 

“I wanted to make a good first impression on the little lady,” River answered, his voice full of mirth, but also a sincerity that made Terzo’s eyes sting. 

They waited for Omega to return, and this time, the quiet was comfortable and interspersed with light conversation. It didn’t take long for the quintessence ghoul to make it back; Terzo got the sense that he wanted to spend as little time away from his family as possible right now. It was only as Omega was putting the bouquet in the fine crystal vase that Terzo remembered the champagne sitting on the end table as well, the cold bottle now sweating in the ambient room temperature. 

Terzo gave River a reproachful look. “You know I’m not going to drink that.”

“Why not?” River protested, offended. 

“River, I have just had a baby! Drinking alcohol would be very irresponsible of me!” Terzo told him off, feeling like he shouldn’t have to explain something so obvious. River rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. 

“Dude, I know she’s bottle-fed. You’ve had nine months without a drop, you deserve at least one glass! To celebrate!” River stressed. Terzo’s brow furrowed in indignation. 

“Dude?” Terzo repeated the offending word in disbelief. River flushed again at his mistake, averting his eyes from Terzo’s reproachful gaze. 

In the end, Omega had to run home once more to grab champagne glasses, something that River had also overlooked. It was quite endearing, really, the way River’s train of thought flitted about. He did his best on his own, but sometimes he needed just a little bit of support. Terzo never minded. 

“To Starlight,” River announced once Omega returned and they’d gotten everything set up, holding his glass out toward the other two adults. 

“To Starlight,” the new parents echoed as they clinked glasses, and Terzo took a drink. There was a warmth that filled him that didn’t come from the alcohol; it felt as though a piece of him had finally fallen into place, a long-empty chasm in his heart finally filled. He closed his eyes, uttering those sacred words again like a mantra, a prayer, an affirmation: