🎶

They had a long talk with their kids when they returned from the movies, making sure they both knew they didn’t have to do anything for their wedding renewal, but that they could if they still wanted too.

“Nervous?” “Oddly yes.”

Hayle looked at him from his side of the tub, he was strangely nervous perhaps even more so than what he had been the first time. Maybe it was because this had been his idea this time around.

“Then you know how I felt last time.” “You were nervous?” “Yep, just quite good at hiding it.”

Some hours later they stood together in front of their closest family, and he had to admit Hayle had really outdone himself with the venue and everything around it. Their two little boys stood next to them with the rings looking quite proud of themselves.

His eyes locked with Hayle’s as he got to the only part of the day he had actually been nervous about, vows were hard the first time around, and it wasn’t really any easier to do it a second time.

There are three words that are stronger than I love you. Years ago, I stood in front of you to say ‘I choose you.’ Today, I stand in front of you to remind you that each and every day I choose you over all others. I choose you to share happiness with. I choose you to care for. I choose you to have a family with. I choose you to grow with. I choose you to love forever.

He could feel how Hayle’s grip on his hand tightened, and he knew he was probably stopping himself from throwing himself around his neck like he would normally do when he felt emotional enough to not be quite sure what to do. He gently squeezed his hands back, giving him a little wink so he knew he could take the time he needed.

From the moment our paths crossed, you’ve surprised me, distracted me, captivated me, and challenged me in ways that no one else ever has. I’ve fallen in love with your again and again over the years, countless times, without reservation, and I still can’t believe that each and every day I get to call you my husband.

“Rings now daddy?” “Yeah.”

They both took a bit of a breath, feeling like they had been holding it for a while. Kneeling, they got one ring each from their boys, letting them go sit with the others.

“I stay?”

Chris noticed Rylan still standing there, putting a hand on his head. He had gone from not wanting to go, to not wanting to leave them in just a couple of days. It made exchanging the rings a little trickier, but they still managed with Rylan helping them.

“Can I kiss your daddy now?” “YES!”

Beginning - Previous - Next

HAYLE SCHNEE

for @izayoichan ‘s Reaper Bachelor.

His real name its Kuraokami, a legendary dragon and Shinto deity of rain and snow. 

Driven by his curiosity, Kuraokami decided to descend to the earth to live among humans and learn about them and the rest of the creatures of the world. Being a deity, living in here have been hard for him since everything it’s completely new for him. One thing it’s watching the creatures from above, another more complicated it’s trying to act like one of them.

Besides being a little ignorant of human manners and behavior, Hayle (the name he uses in his human form) can be categorized as a good person. He likes to be outside, surrounded by nature and close to any space with water. On winter, don’t even try to get him inside, he loves the snow and the rain, this doesn’t bother him, on the contrary, he enjoys being outside with this kind of weather. As is normal for a god, he have powers and those are: he can control ice and water, but he usually avoids using his powers unless necessary ( like stopping Kagutsuchi, the god of fire from BBQing the world). After all, he is trying to fit in the human world.

One thing he really likes from the earth, it’s the music. The feelings that simple lyrics or instruments can embed in one person was amazing for him. Above, he uses to get songs from people as a way to keep him calm and avoid an ice storm or, on the contrary, as a way to ask him for rain. One could say that music controls him very well.

More info about Hayle:

Even when he has a “rebel” or “tough” looks he can be very clumsy.

His real form it’s a big white dragon. 

He has a partial dragon form, that only show his horns, eyes, and fangs ( I made it, but I forgot to take pictures :C ).

He got in this “ challenge” because Kagutsuchi told him “it’s normal for humans”. 

Hayle can’t take the hot weather and high temperatures are a pain for him.

He is a shapeshifter, but prefer to have this specific look.

Human food makes him sick and since he doesn’t really need to eat, he doesn’t do it. He only needs energy that he gathers, sadly, from humans.

Hayle doesn’t know too much about the human world, but he does know a lot about other supernatural creatures. 

He has more years that one can count, still, his human body looks young.

In his dragon form, he didn’t care about emotions, but his human body has made him learn about this (like happiness) though he can’t understand yet what is love.

I could write more but this would be TOOO long so I’ll stop. 

“So, a weekend for just the two off us?” “Yep, they didn’t want me to stay, they said they would be fine alone.” “All grown up huh?” “Something like that, feels quiet doesn’t it?”

Chris had been quite surprised when he noticed his husband was home. At first, he thought that something might have gone wrong, but he had to admit he was pleasantly surprised when he was told the reason. It had been a very long time since they had a weekend alone together, and he could think of many ways he would love to spend it.

“What’s on your mind?” “Is it bad if I say our kids?” “Not really, what about them?”

Hayle just smiled and looked at his husband.

“Mostly how to help Hayden… but also, how to not make Rylan feel left out. I’m just worried he will feel like he has to be there for his brother, and that we don’t have time for him.”

They had both noticed how much Rylan had started to take care of his brother, even taking homework with him home from school the few days where Hayden stayed home so that their parents wouldn’t notice that he had stayed home from school.

“Should we just talk to them both?” “Let’s just give them a little more time, keep an eye on them of course, but still.”

Hayle sighed, he wanted to just sit them both down and talk to them, but he also wanted them to come and talk to them on their own when they felt it was right.

“We could always leave them little hints, that we know, and that we want them to come and talk to us about it.” “And if that doesn’t help?” “Then we can sit them down and talk.”

They looked at each other for a bit, they really had become fulltime parents when this was what they did on their weekend off. Chris pulling his husband up, easily putting him on his lap.

“Just for now though, how about we just enjoy this alone time.”

🎶

“Look!”

Hayden pointed at a fin in the water. They had seen dolphins many times, but this time he noticed it was different.

“A shark, a fairly big one too.” “Oooooh!”

They watched the large animal slowly glide passed them and then disappear into the water. Hayden running along the pier to see as much as he could. He liked the dolphins and the turtles, but the few times he saw sharks his fathers had to stop him from jumping in the water, just in case they didn’t like the company.

“Dad?” “Yeah?”

He noticed how he was breathing quickly, something he had noticed him doing whenever he had been running and playing, even for short times. It was quiet for a while, before he suddenly noticed the tears on his son’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

When he didn’t get an answer, he pulled his son into his arms just hugging him tight. He could easily guess what was on his mind, but he wanted him to be able to talk to him and Hayle about it.

“I’m scared.”

He found himself without an answer to that, so he did the one thing that came to mind and kept his arms tightly around him.

“I know it’s scary, it’s a little bit scary for me and your dad too.” “It is?” “Of course, we only want the best for you and your brother, and not knowing how to make that happen is scary.” “So it is okay for me to be scared?” “Of course it is, and you can always talk with us about it okay?” “Okay”

As much as it hurt him to hear his son tell him he was scared, he was happy he did. He had seemed to take his own condition just a little too well, and it felt good to know that he felt he could tell him that he wasn’t. He could already hear Hayle quote some parenting book he had been reading of how this was something good and so on.

“I love you dad.” “I love you too.”

He dried away the last tears on his cheeks, then smiled, and ran off to find his brother. Chris knowing, he would have to have a long talk with Hayle later.  One thing they also learned was how quickly time flew by, between school, movies, long splashing contests and board games, they realized their two little ones would soon be teenagers.

“So, birthday party?” “YES!” “Not like last then.” “No, big one at the beach!” “Oooooh”

This time Hayle and Chris had been prepared for their birthday, asking family and friends to come if they wanted too, including their uncle Kagu who said he wanted to come. All the planning had been done, invites had been sent, and the two main attractions for the day had gotten to choose all their favorites. Having finally gotten the two to sleep, double checking that everything was ready for the big day, he had decided to take a bath.

“You do know I know you’re, there right?”

“Hopefully this helps keep you warm.”

Hayden smiled watching the cat try and catch the little green fish the laser pointer made. They had both just come home from school and done their homework, Chris both taking them there and coming to pick them up for the time being. 

“Dad, isn’t that cold?” “No, I like it like this.” “Will we be like you too, like going almost naked into the snow?” “Honestly I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised, you have ice magic after all.”

They finished making the snowpal together, heading innside to find Felix sitting on the table.

“You are lucky you are so cute, or you would never be allowed to keep jumping up there.” “You are right about that, but I guess we’ll allow it.”

Hayden turned around to see Hayle standing there, the cat looking at the two for a bit, then jumping off the table as if it understood that was what they were talking about. 

“Will we stay here long?” “A while longer, do you miss home?” “A little, but I like it here too, its nice and cold.”

With both kids back at school, they decided to head out for one of now many walks, getting to know the area around the cabin more. 

“So nice and cold?” “Yeah, that’s what he said.” “He sounds like you then.”

They stopped, watching the river disappear innside some rocks, where they couldn’t follow it as easily as they had up until then. 

“Guess he have to find out where that goes another day.” “Mhm.”

They stayed for a while, allowing it to be some time just for them until the alarm on Chris’s phone went off.

“Time to get the kids.” “One more thing before you go.”

“What have we done...”

Just minutes earlier: 

“What do you mean it feels warm?” “I don’t know, it just feels warm.”

Hayle shook his head, it wasn’t that warm compared to how warm it had been the last few days, maybe they were just tired? His attention was slightly distracted when he noticed Felix run towards the door. 

“How about we...”

He didn’t get any further before he saw both boys with what he quickly realized was some kind of fire-spell happening. 

“Daddy?” “Calm down, breathe, just like with the others.”

His mind raced, he had no knowledge of fire spells, specially how they were cast, and it would seem that the frost way was not really helping either off them. 

“It hurts!”

Hayden’s slight cry made him step forwards, but before he had the chance to act, he could feel fire against his skin as their uncontrolled spell lashed out. He had been hit by fire before, but never in this form, and the second hit from their spells sent him too the ground, the last he saw before passing out being both his kids crying before running. 

Now: 

“What?”

He noticed Felix come running when he came home, at first thinking the cat was just happy to see him. 

“Okay, show me.”

It was the way he had learned Felix would act if it was something he wanted him to see, but he wasn’t prepared for what he saw. 

“HAYLE!”

It was a fear he could honestly say he had never felt before seeing his husband lie on the deck like that. The large wound on his chest was still bleeding, and the instant he touched him he could feel he was way to warm. 

“Rylan? Hayden?”

He could feel them easily enough, which made him decide to tend to his husband first. He did the only thing he could think off, which was cooling Hayle down. 

“Stay here it’s going to be very cold where we are going.”

Felix just tilted his head, as he watched Chris pick Hayle up and vanish before his eyes. The two reappearing just outside the cabin, Chris hearing a bit of a sigh from his husband as the cold hit his skin. 

🎶

“So they wanted some extra?” “Yeah, with less winter and more summer, for a…” “Portfolio, yeah, I read the mail with you remember?”

Hayden finished taking pictures, as Hayle was with his brother, and Chris was out on a small job. He quite liked taking pictures, but he was also fairly sure that his dad was the better photographer.

“I guess they’ll do, not as fancy as the snow ones, but still decent?” “I think their good, you just wait here, I’ll change, and we can head to school.” “Sure, try and not use half an hour choosing clothing?” “Oh very funny!”

Hayden chuckled as his brother headed inside. Sulani in winter was much easier for him than the rest of the year, so he was actually looking forwards to be a more permanent fixture at school. If it hadn’t been for his brother, nice teachers and an understanding school, he probably would have had to dump classes or giving up.

“What do you think Felix? Should I just give up? I mean… what is the point of school when I probably can’t do anything?” “Meow.” “So keep at it?” “Mrow.” “Okay then.”

He gave Felix a scratch behind the ear, noticing his brother wave at him ready to go.

“You take care of the house until were back?” “Moew!”

A little later Hayle found Chris sitting in the sofa, with Felix sleeping soundly next to him.

“Both at school then?” “Yep.” “Good.”

Chris looked at his husband, easily guessing what was on his mind.

“We did the right thing, another summer here for him would probably be even worse than the one before.” “I know, but I still feel bad, because I know he feels bad, it’s an odd feeling…” “Guilt always is.”

Hayle sighed, this was one of the feelings he knew he didn’t like at all.

“But it is part of being a parent, doing something no one really wants, because it is the right thing to do.”

He pulled his husband into a kiss, whispering into his ear

“There is still time before they come home, just for you and me.”

«So you sure you don’t want to be a dancer when you grow up?” “Yeah, I want to play guitar and sing songs, I can do that right?” “Of course, you just seemed to like dancing.” “It’s fun, but I’d rather play guitar.”

Chris watched Hayden move until he sat down next to him just listening to him play, joining in on the songs knew.

“Hey dad?” “Mm?” “Do you have magic powers like daddy does?” “No, reapers don’t come with those, why do you ask?” “I was just wondering, maybe we would inherit them if you did have them.”

He looked at Hayden, wondering a little where these questions came from. He hadn’t seen any signs of them having any powers. But before he got to ask more, he got a hug from Hayden before he ran into the house.

“I promise you Rae that we can?” “Really?” “Yes.”

It was a couple of weeks later when their aunt had been with them when both their parents had to be at work at the same time.

“So you can freeze things?” “Yes, want us to show you?” “Have you told your dad’s?”

They looked at each other, then shook their heads.

“Well you should, magic isn’t something to just play around with?” “Why not?” “Because you could hurt someone.” “No we wouldn’t!” “I know you wouldn’t want too, but you could.”

She could swear she could feel the temperature drop around them as they talked, and it worried her as she could see they were both getting upset.

“Boys?”

They both looked at her as they saw it as well, ice was starting to form around their aunt’s body, slowly covering her.

“Stop it!”

They both shouted, realizing that it was probably them doing this but neither of them had any idea how to stop it. As the ice thickened around her body they heard the telltale sound of Felix meowing meaning one of their parents were home.  As the ice fully engulfed their aunt, they looked at what they had done in horror.

“DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”