#ch: zero

“I know what you’re thinking,” Olivier said, his whisper interrupting her thoughts and giving her quite the start. “What you currently lack in aether, you make up for in absurdity, I swear.”

Annette’s back snapped into something pin-straight.

“I’m fine.”

He laughed at her. What a prick.

“I understand how you feel about him. Trust me, I do.” Olivier set a long-fingered hand lightly upon her shoulder before giving the sore muscle a much-needed squeeze. “But he did offer you up on a silver platter for a voidsent. Without your permission.”

How could she tell Olivier that she did not mind without coming off as some brainless, love drunk fool?

Not that she wasn’t one, she supposed.

“Desperate times,” was all Annette said, her broad shoulders bobbing in a noncommittal shrug.

He saved my life, she could not quite open her mouth to say. It didn’t matter if Olivier knew the truth; she wanted to say it again. Over and over, until her lips split. He saved all of Eorzea in that moment. And when I could not return the favor by saving him, rather than dying at the very edge of the universe, he reached out to Zero with one last request — and the offer of a colossal amount of aether as payment.

His actions were not mean-spirited. They were a spark, an impulse on quick feet. Death sought to claim him, and his only desire was to seem himself into her hands once again.

Now, he was no more than an amethyst glow inside of a crystal.

Trapped, but hers.

“If I give her what is left that I can spare in order to resuscitate her,” Annette continued, “then perhaps she will require less of my aether in payment.”

In Olivier’s eyes, she saw a shade of concern. But after years upon years of living alongside each other, he knew better than anyone that Annette was intimately aware  of her limits. There were few that remained, but those that did were explicitly documented for the safety of the world around them.

So, that concern he wore on his narrowed features found no voice.

“Please make sure I have something to eat once I’m finished.” She stood from the chair beside the bed Zero had been laid out on upon their arrival in Radz-at-Han, her pack still clutched in her hands. She had scarcely let it go more than a few times since receiving the crystal from Zero. “I will need your help in getting to the table.”

Olivier lingered at the bedside, but only for a moment.

Annette knew what she was doing. She had to after all they had done. In her eyes, the risk was worth taking.

Settling down onto the bed beside the prone voidsent, she took the woman’s hand only to find that her near-translucent skin was cool to the touch. It stood in stark opposition to her own, which was flushed from the heat.

“I will not give you everything,” Annette said, her voice a careful whisper that she knew Zero could not hear. “But I will give you enough.”

The deal had been struck by another…

… but she would channel her all into its repayment.

For him.

Even before the group of them had ventured into the void, Y’shtola had given Veronyka a strange look, as though about to say something. She hadn’t managed it, though, for at that moment, Varshahn had appeared in his new adult-looking body.

But the strangeness hadn’t ended there. As the group had worked through the court, dispatching foe after foe, Y’shtola had been strangely attentive in healing Veronyka’s wounds and yanking her out of danger. Which had been wonderful for Veronyka’s stomach, which still hadn’t quite settled since the last time she’d been here. Well, not void here but Thavnair here. When asked, Veronyka had said that maybe it was the aether of Thavnair disagreeing with her for some reason. A side effect of the final days, or something. Never mind that nobody else was affected, nobody else had to run from the Mehayne and apologise profusely to Meryde for not being able to stomach her food. Even spicy Ala Mhigan or Ul’dahn food was a gamble. The mere smell of it was enough to have her stomach twisting. But she had been fine after the initial stomach upset. Until the guardian of the void had spun her and her friends, leaving both her and Y’shtola running off in search of an empty treasure chest. She had used the dizziness as her excuse, then.

Deep down, she knew. She’d been tired, too, but put that down to sleeping off the effects of the Final Days, naturally. Never mind that she’d made a full recovery from that aside from some light sensitivity (which, she would loudly tell anyone who asked and those who didn’t, was a massive pain in the arse when fishing for fish that only appeared during the day). There was no way to know for sure, not with Eorzean technology, though she’d heard rumours that the Garleans may have the technology. Not that she would dare ask Cid, it would feel wrong to ask her father’s ex (no matter how friendly they were) about something that her father should find out first.

And so, when Y’shtola pulled her aside, Veronyka knew, somewhere deep down, what the sorceress was about to say.

“Ere we depart,” said Y’shtola, pitching her voice low, “are you aware that you are with child?”

“Oh right, your aether sight,” Veronyka blurted. Y’shtola gave her a look. “Um. I had a feeling.” Her hand strayed to her stomach, though she quickly glanced around to ensure that they weren’t seen or overheard. “Is that why you were taking extra special care of me?”

“Yes,” said Y’shtola. “I can only hope that you didn’t go into the void willingly in this condition.”

“We have the warding scale and the crystal of light so it’ll be fine, right?” said Veronyka. Y’shtola’s tail flicked behind her, her ears flattened.

“If you are certain,” said Y’shtola. “I will monitor them, and you. Thus far, I have detected no abnormalities. Thus far.”

“Well, I can’t just leave, we just got here,” said Veronyka. Y’shtola raised an eyebrow. “Please don’t tell them.”

“If I were going to tell them, I would have told them already,” said Y’shtola. “Nay, though I worry about you, I do respect your privacy. And I will respect your decision to continue onwards, for it is not my place to dictate the choices of another woman.”

“Thank you,” said Veronyka, though she desperately wanted to tell Lyse or someone. They had their mission here, and she did very much want to see the void. She could handle a little void.

And so it was decided that the group would press onward, speaking to the voidsent in an attempt to find Azdaja. It wasn’t long before Veronyka heard the strange whispers again, and they made sense this time.

“You must be powerful to have devoured so many souls,” one hissed at her, reaching out with spindly fingers. Y’shtola drew her staff, readying a shield over Veronyka. But Veronyka was looking at her.

“How many souls?” Veronyka asked her once the voidsent had skittered away.

“Four,” said Y’shtola, a smile curling her lips as Veronyka stumbled back a step.

“Menphina’s grace, Eric, what the hell was in that spell?” Veronyka muttered, her hand splaying over her stomach as though she could feel the life within.

“Ah, so you know the time of conception already,” said Y’shtola.

“It was a weird heat, okay?” said Veronyka. “You know those always make us more fertile anyway.”

“I do,” said Y’shtola. “Knowing what you know now, are you still willing to continue?”

“Yes,” said Veronyka, nodding. “Are they still… okay?”

“All five of you are fine,” said Y’shtola.

Their inquiries led them to a smarter voidsent, one all assumed to be a warped version of Azdaja. But when they came to the room, it was familiar. Frighteningly so.

“Zenos’ avatar,” Y’shtola hissed, drawing her weapon. Estinien looked to be readying a jump, but something happened. The crystal of light around Zelda’s neck suddenly pulsed, and she stepped towards the reaper avatar that had once belonged to the late Zenos viator Galvus. Zelda reached into her shirt, producing the crystal on her hand. As its light washed over the reaper avatar, a change came over it. The strange limbs and look of it disappeared, vanishing into the shape of a woman. A reaper, wearing a very nice little hat. Her eyes were blue, the pupils large. Weapons were stowed away as Zelda blinked at the stranger and asked who she was.

It came to be that the strange woman had no name, or none that she could remember. Y’shtola was the one to suggest ‘Zero’, a name that the woman accepted. Talk was made of aether and exchanges, and then it came around to how Zero had come to be half-voidsent.

“Darkness touched my mother when I was in the womb,” said Zero. Veronyka heard Y’shtola gasp even before she turned to look at the other miqo’te.

“Is that what’s going to happen to mine?” Veronyka asked, forgetting where she was, who she was in front of, her mind only on what Zero had said. Behind her, Astrid froze, though Veronyka didn’t notice, too caught up in her mind whirling through every reason why this was a bad idea.

“Not necessar-” Y’shtola began, but Zelda grabbed Veronyka by the wrists, pulling her closer.

“You’re pregnant?” Zelda gasped. “Congratulations! When were you going to tell us that slight major detail?”

“I just found out, like, five minutes ago,” said Veronyka, walking after Zelda as her leader began walking her swiftly in the direction of the void gate. “Where are we going?”

“Home!” said Zelda. “Or you are, at least. The void is no place for a pregnant lady.”

“Especially one pregnant with four,” said Zero. Zelda whirled around, melted a little at Zero’s face, and then turned back to Veronyka.

“Four?” Zelda echoed, the exclamation echoing against the castle walls as they made their way back down to the void gate.

“That discovery was even sooner,” said Veronyka.

“Gods, no wonder you’ve been so tired and sick and don’t say you haven’t been sick because you let everyone know about it, you go home and rest and prepare for your new bundles of joy.” She paused, though her steps didn’t slow any. “I am so sorry for your body and Lyse’s hand.”

“We’ll be fine,” said Veronyka. “I think.” Zelda laughed as though Veronyka had just said something hilarious.

“Oh Nyka, you are in for a world of surprises. Or so I’m told,” said Zelda. “I only wish that there was a way that we could give you advice. But we can give you time and maybe babysitting and we will be just fine without you. You will be missed, though, of course.”

“I’m going to miss adventuring,” said Veronyka. “I didn’t think of that.”

“Oh, so this was planned?” Zelda asked.

“Kind of?” said Veronyka. “In the way that I plan anything. I make one split second decision and suddenly I’m lost in a dungeon or exploring an abandoned factory with a pair of dwarves or about to become a mother apparently.”

“The time felt right, I suppose,” said Zelda. “With the realm being safe and all.”

“Yeah,” said Veronyka, nodding. They had reached the portal by now, the rest of the group having surprised them by following them.

“Now, go and make your wife very happy and give your father more grey hairs and your sister a heart attack and your spot will always be open when you are ready to return,” said Zelda. She squeezed Veronyka’s hands. “Good luck. And congratulations.”

“Thank you,” said Veronyka, and hugged her before stepping through the portal. Astrid suddenly surged forward, her eyes overbright, her smile too wide.

“Congratulations!” Astrid called as Veronyka turned and waved to her before disappearing back through the portal to the Source.

“Warrior?” one of the radiants asked, and Veronyka yelped, having forgotten they’d been guarding the portal, and disappeared into a teleport spell.

Thanks to the magic of the Eorzean wedding rings, Veronyka was able to teleport directly to Lyse’s side. Which happened to be in the middle of an alliance meeting.

“Oh, hello,” said Veronyka as all eyes turned to her. “I don’t know where I expected to find you.”

“Nyka, what are you doing here?” Lyse asked, grinning as she rose from her seat and hugged her wife.

“Um… how important is this meeting?” Veronyka asked.

“Oh, it’s more of a catch up that probably could’ve been a group linkpearl,” said Lyse, waving it off. “We catch up every moon or so just to have a chat and keep relations cordial.”

“Alphie would be so proud,” said Veronyka, smiling. She looked around at the group. “Mind if I steal my wife?”

“Would that I could steal mine,” said Aymeric. “Er, girlfriend. You know what I mean.”

“She sends her regards,” said Veronyka. And then she took Lyse’s hands and teleported the two of them directly to the royal gardens.

“Okay, so this must be special,” said Lyse, looking at her surroundings. “Last time you took me here was when you proposed. And then I proposed. And then we got married here.”

“You could say that,” said Veronyka. “I’m pregnant.” She’d half been expecting Lyse to laugh or to faint. But instead, her wife grabbed her in her arms with a happy gasp.

“Really?” Lyse asked, her voice cracking. She let go of Veronyka as her wife giggled, Lyse resting her hands on Veronyka’s still mostly flat stomach.

“Yes,” said Veronyka. “I had a feeling but Y’shtola confirmed it and then Zelda made me come home because the void is no place for a pregnant lady.” Lyse, mercifully, remained blissfully unaware of Veronyka accidentally leaking their secret mission.

“Our babies are in there,” Lyse whispered, falling to her knees, pressing her ear to Veronyka’s stomach.

“How did you know there were more than one?” Veronyka asked.

“Because you’re a cat,” said Lyse, her voice slightly muffled by Veronyka’s shirt.

“Fair point,” said Veronyka. “There are four, actually.”

“Four,” Lyse whispered. Now she fainted, though only for a moment before she sprung back up, Veronyka giggling as her wife took her into her arms and kissed her all over her face. “Four babies! I’m gonna be a mama.”

“You are,” said Veronyka, still smiling, unable to stop smiling.

“You’re going to be a mama,” said Lyse. Veronyka nodded, giggling.

“That’s how it works,” said Veronyka. Lyse was crying now, Veronyka joining her, the news finally settling in now that she was home and safe.

“We should maybe go to Old Sharlayan, just to make sure,” said Lyse. “I trust Y’shtola but we have to make sure that they’re okay and you’re okay.”

“Okay, but if they give me Archon Loaf, I’m throwing it in the harbour,” said Veronyka.

“I will not hold it against you, my love,” said Lyse, hand on her heart. “That would almost certainly be bad for the baby.” Veronyka giggled as she took Lyse’s hands and teleported them both to the aetheryte plaza in Old Sharlayan. Immediately, nausea gripped her stomach, though Veronyka managed to not recreate the beginning of the tale of how two cats had discovered the impact of Zodiark’s death on Eorzea’s fish population.

“Veronyka! Are you okay?” Veronyka straightened up just in time for Tataru to run up to her, stopping and waving.

“I’m fine,” said Veronyka. “Just pregnant.” 

“I knew it!’ Tataru crowed. “Congratulations, by the way, but I have a gift that just so happens to line up oh so nicely with that.”

“Can it wait until we visit the chirurgeons?” Lyse butted in. “She found out mid adventure so I’m a bit… worried.” Veronyka nodded.

“Oh, of course, the surprise can wait,” said Tataru. “I will await your return!”

The chirurgeon was a nice woman, not Kytte as Veronyka had half expected and half feared but a kindly miqo’te who took one look at Veronyka and knew what her question was before she even asked.

“Four healthy babies and one healthy and soon to be very exhausted mother,” said the chirurgeon. “My congratulations to both of you.”

“Thank you,” said Lyse. “Anything we should know?”

“Plenty of rest and don’t eat too unhealthy,” said the chirurgeon.

“I am not eating Archon Loaf,” Veronyka huffed. The miqo’te gagged.

“Gods, no, that’s the last thing I’d suggest,” said the miqo’te. “Traditional Seeker food should suffice, as well as hydration. You look after your wife now.” This last she said to Lyse.

“I will wait on her hand and foot,” Lyse said solemnly, and Veronyka giggled and butted her shoulder with her forehead.

With a clean bill of health, the two returned to the plaza, where Tataru awaited as promised.

“There you two are,” said Tataru, perking up. “A clean bill of health, I trust?”

“All five of them are healthy as can be,” Lyse reported.

“Four babies?” Tataru gasped, her eyes huge. “Well, let it never be said that a secretary cannot also be a babysitter.”

“You’d probably have to get in line,” said Veronyka. “So, what the surprise?”

“While you were all off saving the world, I have managed to secure an island for each and every one of you,” said Tataru. “It fits in quite nicely with the news, I think.”

“Almost like you knew before we did,” Veronyka mused. Tataru giggled.

“Oh, it was only a matter of time, really,” said Tataru. “Though I certainly wasn’t expecting you two to start the next generation. But never mind, you will make wonderful parents, I’m certain of it.”

“I hope so,” said Lyse.

“I know so,” said Veronyka. “Let’s go to the island. Oh, but first, is that where dad is?”

“He is indeed on his island,” said Tataru. “I have but recently returned from showing him and his beloved husband to their future home.”

“Do you think we can visit him first?” Veronyka asked, pulling her tail into her hands. “I want to tell him before anyone else can.”

“But of course!” said Tataru. “Let’s hope that he’s not too busy.”

For a mercy, Veronyka’s stomach was calm on the boat ride to the island, though she did certainly feel the nerves setting in. Lyse looked far more nervous, though, white as a sheet.

“Lyse, he’s not gonna freak out,” said Veronyka.

“But what if he does?” Lyse whined. “I got his daughter pregnant, that’s like the old cliche.”

“His daughter who you have already married,” said Veronyka. She kissed her wife’s forehead. “We’ll be fine, Lyse. And then we can go and relax on our island.”

Though Lyse still looked uncertain, she let her wife reassure her and tried to relax as the boat pulled onto the sandy shore. They disembarked, Lyse steadying Veronyka as she stumbled a little getting out of the boat.

“Lyse, I’m not that fragile yet,” said Veronyka, smiling at her. “If you baby me too much, they’re going to suspect.”

“Says the one whose hands haven’t left her stomach for more than a few moments since you found out,” said Lyse.

“I have not,” said Veronyka, worry immediately gnawing at her again. “Have I?”

“You had your hand on your belly when you teleported into the meeting,” said Lyse. “I thought you were hurt or something at first, I only relaxed when I didn’t see any blood.”

“Oh, shit,” said Veronyka. “Now the whole alliance knows. Merlwyb better not tell my sister before I can.”

“Next stop then?” Lyse asked.

“I’m kind of terrified of what she’ll say, to be honest,” said Veronyka. “Can’t it wait?”

“D’you want Merlwyb to tell her?” Lyse asked. Veronyka sighed.

“Alright, fine, she can be my next port of call,” said Veronyka. “Can this boat go to Limsa, Tataru?”

“Oh, but we’re so close to your island,” said Tataru. “Although, the Cieldales, where these are located, is rather close to Vylbrand.”

“Island first,” Veronyka decided. “I want to rest.”

“As the lady wants,” said Tataru. “Now, let’s see your father.”

The small group ascended a small hill before the island spilled out before them, revealing a clearing nestled among several high, rocky walls. And in the middle was Jack, humming to himself as he went about constructing a rudimentary building. Urianger was helping him, levitating things that were too heavy to hold.

“Dad,” Veronyka called, trying very hard to keep her hands to her sides. Jack turned around, confused at first before a big grin spread across his features, lighting them up.

“Nyka,” said Jack, putting his tools down and making his way towards her. “What brings you here? Weren’t you going to the void with the rest?”

“Something came up,” said Veronyka as Urianger joined them.

“Art thou ill, Veronyka?” Urianger asked, and Veronyka immediately noticed that her hand had strayed to her belly again.

“Is your tummy giving you trouble again?” Jack asked, ears lowered.

“Well,” said Veronyka, suddenly unsure of what to say.

“She’s pregnant,” said Lyse, immediately trying to hide behind her wife. “I’m sorry.” Veronyka wasn’t sure who she was apologising to.

“Really?” Jack asked, his entire demeanour brightening. Veronyka nodded, lacing her fingers together over her stomach.

“Y’shtola told me after we got into the void,” said Veronyka. Jack gasped, Urianger copying him.

“And she did not think to warn thee before?” Urianger asked, immediately moving to fuss over her.

“There was no time,” said Veronyka. “But Zelda convinced me to leave and I was worried too.” She thought it best to not tell them exactly why she’d been worried. They could find out the full mission details from Zelda. Jack folded his arms over his chest, a stern look crossing his features.

“Well, I am very disappointed,” Jack said. And then, before they could panic too much, his face split into a grin. “That you didn’t tell me sooner. C’mere.” And he pulled Veronyka into his arms, hugging her tightly but not too tightly, swaying her from side to side.

“Dad,” Veronyka complained. “Movement makes me sick.” Jack gasped, snapping his fingers.

“Is that why you were sick when we were exploring the treasure vault?” Jack asked.

“Uh huh,” said Veronyka, nodding, though she looked a little pale. “I thought something was up then but I wasn’t sure. The smell of spicy food never used to make me sick.”

“Mine congratulations to thee as well,” said Urianger, and yelped as he, too, was pulled into the hug. And then Jack looked at Lyse, who stood where she had been left, looking uncertain.

“You’re not… mad?” Lyse asked.

“Only that you didn’t tell us sooner,” said Jack. “You’ll make an excellent mother, Lyse. You know I trust you with Nyka, if that’s what you’re worried about, you’ve proven it time and again and you’ve married her. Made an honest woman of her, as they say. She’s clearly happy with you, what’s there to be mad about?”

“I… I don’t actually know,” said Lyse, brushing away tears. And then Jack pulled her into the group hug, squeezing her tightly, and Lyse was twining her fingers with her wife’s and they were all crying and celebrating the news and musing about the future.

“I insist on babysitting,” said Jack. “At each and every opportunity, you and your little one will want for nothing.”

“Ones,” Veronyka corrected him. “Y’shtola said that there are four.” Jack gasped, his one visible eye filling with light.

“Four?” Urianger echoed. “Then I must needs insist on immediate and prolonged bed rest. Multiple babes can be quite taxing on the body.”

“I have been sleeping a lot more lately,” said Veronyka.

“As well thou shouldst,” said Urianger.

“Anything you need,” Jack reminded her. “Even if it’s something as annoying as going to the mainland to get whatever it is you’re craving.”

“Hey, I’ll be there to help her with that too,” said Lyse.

“The healthy things, then,” said Jack. “I’ll even rub your feet and your back, unless you’d prefer Lyse did that.”

“I can do that too,” said Lyse. “Buuut someone’s going to have to be her impulse control, we’re both pretty bad at that.” She gestured to Veronyka’s condition with a laugh.

“Ah, so it was half planned,” said Jack. 

“In the way that we half plan anything,” said Veronyka. “I thought it’d just be one but I guess the Spinner has other ideas.”

“Doesn’t she always,” said Jack. “I mean it, though, Nyka, anything you need. Will you be raising them on the island?”

“Yeah,” said Veronyka, nodding. “It seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

“Wait, where is Tataru?” Lyse asked, looking around for the lalafell who had been forgotten in the excitement.

The lalafell in question was eventually located in the boat, chattering away to the ferryman. She brightened with a smile as the group appeared.

“Oh, hello! I trust the news went well?” Tataru asked.

“Very well,” said Veronyka, nodding and squeezing her father’s flesh hand before moving to stand with her wife once more. “Lyse was worried for nothing, like I thought she would be.”

“You can’t tell me that you weren’t scared of his reaction,” said Lyse. “He’s a big hrothgar, Nyka!”

“Aye, but a soft-hearted one at that,” said Urianger.

“A big teddy bear,” Veronyka teased. “He’s going to check up on me so much.”

“Just knock first, yeah?” said Lyse. “Or call.”

“It would indeed be wise to not see things that cannot easily be unseen,” said Urianger. Jack laughed while Veronyka blushed.

“I will remember that,” said Jack. “Go on, get out of here. Enjoy your island and don’t overdo it.”

“Yes, dad,” said Veronyka, slowly lowering herself into the boat. Now, there were three sets of hands to steady her. She laughed. “Guys, I’m barely a moon, not full term.”

“Babe, you’ve been having to loosen your belts for weeks,” said Lyse. Veronyka huffed but didn’t deny it. She had been blaming it on the bedrest that had been required following her recovery from the battle with Zenos, and the rich and delicious food from Thavnair. Also helping with the hippo delivery service.

“Call if you need anything,” Jack reminded her as they left the beach behind. Veronyka and Lyse waved to the pair standing on the beach.

“I will!” said Veronyka.

“Want to see your sister now?” Lyse asked, looking to Tataru before looking back at her wife.

“May as well,” said Veronyka. “Rip the bandage off and get fussed over and lectured. Gods, she would have known weeks ago if I was still living with her.”

“She is very observant,” said Lyse. “I bet she’ll know before we even open our mouths to tell her.”

“I just hope she’s not too mad,” said Veronyka.

“Why would she be upset?” Tataru piped up. “You're a woman grown, Veronyka, hardly the little kit who she smuggled across the border. You’re married, you’ll soon have a place of your own, why not add babies to the mix?”

“She worries,” said Veronyka. And, as they grew closer and closer to the Moraby Drydock, Veronyka worried too.

“Part of me wants to teleport straight to her and just rip the bandage off,” said Veronyka as she and Lyse stood with Tataru in the busy aetheryte plaza. It wasn’t usually so busy, but judging by the gentleman who was currently being swamped by people, this was the one way to reach the islands. A sudden bout of nausea twisted Veronyka’s stomach, though as she heard a ribbiting in her mind, she knew the cause.

“Are you alright?” Lyse asked, her hand on her wife’s shoulder.

“Frog’s here,” said Veronyka. She grimaced, then rushed for the nearest privy, too much of a lady to lose her lunch in the harbour.

“Hey, Tataru, elite marks don’t appear on the island, do they?” Lyse asked while Veronyka cleaned herself up.

“I was assured that they do not,” said Tataru.

“Good,” said Veronyka, rinsing her mouth with water. “Then I’ll happily stay there. As much as I’ll miss hunting, it’s not safe. Especially with my echo.”

“A swift trot to Limsa it is, then!” Tataru declared with a clap of her hands.

“Stupid frog speeding things up,” Veronyka muttered as she climbed into the chocobo carriage that Tataru had rented for them. She knew that it wasn’t due to her pregnancy, of course, she wasn’t that far along, after all, but rather due to the simple fact of elite marks making her woozy.

Veronyka relaxed once they were inside of Limsa, taking deep breaths of the sea air.

“Strange, I thought the stink of Limsa would’ve made you sicker,” said Lyse.

“It’s home,” said Veronyka. “I know that technically home is on the other side of the wall but…”

“It’s the place you grew up, yeah, I know,” said Lyse, nodding and taking her hand. “Now I’m the only one who’s nervous.”

“Scared of my sister?” Veronyka asked with a laugh. “She wouldn’t hurt you, she’d just fret and try to keep me at home with her and insist on running her own tests. Let’s not mention the void.”

“Agreed,” said Lyse, nodding swiftly. That was a surefire way to have Veronyka locked inside of her bedroom and have all manner of tests conducted on her and the babies well into their childhood.

“Louisa?” Veronyka called as she reached the apartment that her and her sister had lived in since the Calamity. It looked empty, though. There wasn’t even a carbuncle to come bounding out to greet them.

“Guess she’s not home,” said Lyse. “That means we can turn around and go back to the island and skip this awkward conversation, yeah?”

“Lyse,” Veronyka chided, smiling. “No, she has to know, she’d kill me if she was the last one to find out.” Even if she kind of was, considering that Veronyka’s friends and adopted father had been the first to know.

“Find out what?” Louisa emerged from her bedroom, looking as though she were about to head out for a nice lunch with her girlfriend.

“Um,” said Veronyka while Lyse tried to hide herself behind her wife. Louisa sniffed the air, then, and Veronyka silently cursed the better senses of miqo’te.

“And when were you going to tell me that you’d gotten my little sister pregnant?” Louisa asked, looking directly at Lyse. 

“Um,” said Lyse, looking very much unlike the woman who had punched Zenos hard enough to break his faceplate.

“Please tell me it didn’t happen here,” said Louisa, wrinkling her nose.

“Gods, no, it was at our home,” said Veronyka. “Ala Mhigo. But if something did happen here then it’s our business and I don’t complain when you bring Merlwyb over.”

“Well, at least it wasn’t while you were recovering,” said Louisa. Veronyka remained very silent. Louisa chose to ignore the quiet admission. “How long have you known?” She turned to her sister again now, her expression softening.

“I found out for sure today but… I’ve suspected since we found Alzadaal’s treasure vault,” said Veronyka.

“Well, you’re lucky that you haven’t been visiting our tribe recently,” said Louisa. “They would’ve smelled you coming.”

“Keepers and Seekers smell different, don’t they?” Veronyka asked. Louisa nodded. “Then I guess that’s how my friends took a while to find out.”

“Even had they known, it is very subtle,” said Louisa. “Apart from the fact that it’s taboo to say that unless you’re family or tribe.”

“So it’s weird that Y’shtola told me?” Veronyka asked.

“Y’shtola is smart and respectful, she wouldn’t say it without good reason,” said Louisa.

“Yeah, I guess she was just worried about our adventures,” said Veronyka, remembering at the last moment to keep quiet about the void stuff.

“Did you come home to stay here until you have the baby?” Louisa asked, warming to the situation far more quickly than either of them had expected.

“Actually, Tataru found an archipelago of islands for us all,” said Veronyka. “We’re thinking of starting our new life there.”

“I heard about those,” said Louisa. “Merlwyb will be happy to know that they’re being put to good use. And this will probably spoil the surprise but there are actually mammets to help you out if you need help building or gardening or tending animals.”

“It really is perfect,” said Veronyka, tears stinging her eyes.

“Babe, what’s wrong?” Lyse asked, rubbing her upper arm.

“Just… something nice and good is finally happening,” said Veronyka. “What’s the catch?”

“There is none,” said Louisa, holding her sister’s other shoulder. “You’ve saved the world, now it’s time to rest.”

“Yeah, isn’t that what you said when you decided to risk pregnancy?” Lyse asked. “The world’s safe enough for babies?”

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,” said Louisa, and Veronyka managed a tiny giggle at her wife’s flustered face. 

“I wish mum and dad were here to see this,” said Veronyka, the emotions staying now.

“I know they’re watching,” said Louisa. “The Sharlayan scholars allowed me access to the Aitiascope, so I managed to see them. They’re so proud of us, Nyka, proud of how we’ve grown.”

“I should see them,” Veronyka managed to say through her tears, the waves of emotion crashing over her. “Before it’s too unsafe.”

“We’ve had enough emotions for one day, surely?” Lyse asked, and Veronyka sniffled and wiped her face.

“I’d heard that pregnant women get emotional, but this is a bit ridiculous,” said Veronyka. Lyse kissed her cheek.

“My family too,” Lyse whispered, and now she was crying too.

Tea was had, safe tea for pregnant women with a touch of ginger after the frog incident was mentioned. More tears were shed, and advice was given, and the two were sent on their way with supplies to help nourish growing babies and their very hungry and soon to be exhausted mother. They left while Louisa was trying to tell them which sexual positions would be best, Louisa laughing at the last and wishing them well and promising to visit at the earliest opportunity. This was followed up by a ‘linkpearl first!’ that had her blushing scarlet.

“Now are we ready to depart for the island?” Tataru asked after they found her at the markets.

“Yeah, we are,” said Veronyka, leaning against her wife for support and closing her eyes.

And then, at last, they were at the island. Lyse disembarked first, insisting on sweeping her wife into her arms to carry her over the ‘threshold’, as it were.

“There are going to be many buildings,” said Tataru. “Are you going to carry her over each and every one?”

“Absolutely,” said Lyse, Veronyka giggling in her arms. But then she stopped, gasped, and pointed as a mammet who Tataru introduced as the Felicitous Furball came to greet them.

“They’re already dressed the part!” said Veronyka. “Cat ears for the babysitters.” Her ears instinctively flattered when the mammet began to speak but, once its voice evened out, she was more than happy to listen. Even if she took in almost none of it.

While the mammets built their little hideaway in record time, Lyse sat down so that Veronyka could use her lap as a makeshift pillow.

“You okay, baby?” Lyse asked, running her hand through her wife’s hair.

“Tired,” said Veronyka. “It’s been a long day.”

“And that’s on top of being pregnant,” said Lyse. “It takes a lot of energy to make one baby, let alone four.”

Apodo: Mochi

País: México

Edad: XXI

Triggers o temas que te incomoden: Suicidio, violaciones, violencia contra animales.

Contraseña: ---

SOBRE LOS PERSONAJES:

Nombre del personaje: Zero

Edad: 22 años

Tiempo viviendo en el underground: 3 años

Ocupación: Rarerat

Face Claim: Jung Hoseok

About Zero

1. ¿Su nombre? No lo recuerda. Ni siquiera está seguro de haber tenido uno alguna vez. Estaba tan acostumbrado a los tres números que componían su placa que ya se han vuelto parte de él. 038. Así rezaba la identificación que siempre pendía de su pecho. Pero al ser de los pocos ceros en la casa de vigilancia, ese número particular se volvió su marca personal.

A Zero lo desecharon por una de las razones más absurdas: las pequeñas pecas que se extienden por todos sus hombros, espalda y parte de su rostro. Incluso sus iris chocolate muestran pequeños lunares más oscuros en su interior. Los puntos cafés no eran aceptados para aquella familia de piel perfecta. No era lo que ellos pidieron, alegaron cuando el pequeño Zero fue entregado a sus padres. Se negaron a aceptarlo, aun cuando el “defecto” no era visible cuando se cubría con ropa. Sin miramientos, lo asignaron a una casa de vigilancia en la que pasó alrededor de 18 años. Habitante de ningún lado, Zero no era aceptado ni en la falsa utopía por no ser perfecto ni en el hogar de los marginados por no estar lo suficientemente roto. Vivió al margen, haciendo pequeños trabajos dentro de su prisión para sobrevivir.

2. Sin embargo, un día perdió la apuesta: lo seleccionaron como conejillo de indias. Zero tenía un cuerpo fuerte, aparentemente sano y los laboratorios siempre necesitaban gente; las “muestras” morían cada día.

Los primeros meses sólo fue monitoreo. Chequeaban sus signos vitales, le hacían consumir pastillas coloridas y luego esperaban por una reacción que casi nunca ocurría. No era tan malo, había pensado el muchacho, pero el sofocante aislamiento comenzó a hacerse peor. Las dosis eran más fuertes y comenzaban a combinarse con ejercicios que lo sometían a diferentes tipos de presión: una descarga eléctrica, carreras maratónicas, baños de agua fría… Las torturas se disfrazaban y siempre se intentaban mantener al mínimo, pero el cuerpo de Zero comenzó a resentirlo: quemaduras, moretones y cicatrices aparecieron en su cuerpo sin que siquiera lo notara.

Dos meses fueron suficientes para que se rompiera. Ya no podía soportarlo y la única salida viable implicaba salir dentro de una bolsa negra. Había escuchado rumores aquí y allá. La promesa de algo más para ellos, un pequeño rayo de esperanza, pero era una tirada de dados. Nadie estaba seguro de que el underground  fuera real. Pero todo parecía mejor que aquel infierno. Lo peor que podía ocurrirle era morir en el intento de salir, pero ese era su destino si se quedaba, así que decidió escapar. No fue nada fácil, pero tampoco complicado. Nadie lo detuvo, ni siquiera lo intentaron.  

3. Vagó varios días sin rumbo. No tenía idea de a dónde dirigirse. Su pequeño rayo de luz se volvía más sombrío con el pasar de los días. Hambriento, desamparado, estaba al borde del colapso cuando lo encontraron cerca de la entrada al subterráneo. Perdió el conocimiento y dos días después, cuando abrió los ojos, un mundo nuevo y cubierto de polvo le recibió. Estaba dentro.

4. El sol nunca salía en el underground, esa fue una de las primeras cosas que aprendió. Aun cuando las cosas parecen ir bien, aun cuando la falsa seguridad  permite dormir por las noches, los llantos y las marcas del mundo real nunca se borran. El underground es un lugar duro. No todos sobreviven, pero al menos tienes compañía, “comprensión”, o eso pensaba Zero. No debería haberle tomado por sorpresa cuando las miradas curiosas buscando deformidades no encontraron nada ni los chequeos médicos le diagnosticaron una muerte segura y el rechazo apareció en las facciones de su nueva familia. Para él nada había cambiado. Muchos de los habitantes del underground consideraban que Zero era alguien relativamente normal y no merecía estar ahí, robando los recursos vitales que tanto trabajo costaba conseguir.