#mild stuff

The last thing Ignis wanted to do was to make acquaintance with the toilet bowl at nearly three in the morning.

He had woken up not but ten minutes earlier, in a sudden hot flash and feeling sick to his stomach. The slight hump happening to his belly was the culprit behind it, and yet his attempts to soothe it brought him no avail. Rubbing it, curling up, pulling his shirt up; none of it really worked. Even as he kicked the covers off, it still felt like he was sweltering. A hot flash, it must have been. With his other options exhausted, he tried to take slow, even breathes, as Lunafreya had suggested before. While he struggled for a moment, it seemed to slowly help, and for a second, he thought he had pushed it off.

He then felt his stomach growl, and felt as if he was going to explode.

Impressively, he was somehow able to both rush into the bathroom and not make a single sound; at least, Noctis didn’t awake right away, but he could honestly sleep through anything. Ignis spent what felt like hours over the toilet, for what in truth was merely five minutes, but it was an agonizing five minutes nonetheless. By the time he was finished, it took nearly all his strength to reach up to the handle for flushing, before he fell back against the tub, looking and feeling entirely wiped. Despite how tired he now felt, he couldn’t feel himself fading, no matter how heavy his eyelids felt. His position was hardly comfortable or even a stable feeling, but he wanted nothing to do than to just finally pass out and not have to deal with this.

“Ig?”

Snapping somewhat to attention, Ignis looked up and saw his husband standing over him, a look of surprise and concern on Noctis’s face. Ignis simply sighed, and softly turned his head away. “Didn’t…mean to wake you,” he noted weakly.

“Didn’t. I had to pee, and then I found you here,” Noctis explained. “What happened?”

Ignis glanced up at him with a fairly miserable look. “Pregnancy based sickness…not my best moment…”

“You’ve had worse.”

“Like what?”

“Our third date at that Italian joint.”

“I told the waiter that I needed them to go easy on the basil.”

“I’ll never forget how you were able to instill the fear of God into that chocobo.”

“Shut up.”

The two laughed, though Ignis’s was a fair bit weaker. He then sighed, and leaned his head back on the tub side. “All part of the beautiful experience that is pregnancy, eh? I know Luna mentioned it but…god, experiencing it…”

“Think it helped she had Lucien there to help her,” Noctis pointed out, crouching down to his partner’s level and gently lifting his head up. “And you have me, lest you forget. What can I do?”

Ignis blinked gently, and a hint of a smile came over him. “Water…and a fresh top. This one feels…completely soaked.”

“Certainly looks the part,” Noctis teased gently, reaching down and pulling Ignis’s shirt slowly off over his head. His hint of a bump now sat on full display, and he had to admit, it did feel a bit better now to have it revealed. Meanwhile, Noctis just tossed the shirt into the tub, and then hoisted up Ignis into his arms. “First, let’s getcha back in bed.”

Normally, Ignis would have objected to being carried in such a fashion, but with how he was feeling, he would have likely surprised himself by asking for this. Without issue, he was carried back to their bedroom, and gently set back on his bedside. He waved off the covers being offered, and took the new shirt from Noctis. “I can handle this…water, please,” Ignis requested.

Noctis gave a nod, and hurried off, while Ignis pulled on the new top. He had to admit, it felt a little weird to have someone serve him, as small as a part Noctis was playing. Not that Ignis minded it, he was simply more used to serving others, a task he had no problem with fulfilling. It just made him feel worthwhile, like he had a reason to be with and there for another, even if they were a friend or a partner, in Noctis’s case. At first, he was expecting a situation like this to feel unnatural, or at the least bit wrong. In truth, given his current state, it felt rather good, but in a way he couldn’t exactly pin down. Normally, he would reflect on this, but he was just happy to be feeling any good feeling at the moment, rather than another flavor of exhaustion.

Soon, Noctis reappeared, handing off a cup of water to his partner, who greedily guzzled nearly half of it in one go. “Heh, easy there. Don’t need you choking,” Noctis remarked, patting his shoulder.

Ignis eventually lowered the mug, gasping as he did. Looking down, he couldn’t help but chuckle at it; written on the mug’s side in big, blocky letters was “#1 DAD”. It was a ‘womb-warming’ gift, as Noctis had joked, given to him a few days after he was confirmed pregnant. At first, Ignis found it charming, but didn’t think it’d see much use, but slowly, it was becoming a regular mug of his. Now, in this moment, it was a small comfort.

“Anything else I can getcha?” Noctis offered. “I know it’s late, and you kinda just tossed up dinner, but if ya need me to make you anything, or get some crackers, I could…”

“No…no, I should be fine,” Ignis responded, setting the mug down on the nightstand and slowly leaning back. “I think…I am starting to feel that ‘post-vomit’ sensation they talk about…feeling a good bit better…”

“Ah, good.” A look of visible relief came over Noctis’s face, which was a rare sight to see, all things considered. “Am I good too…?” He gestured at his side of the bed.

“Oh, please,” Ignis nodded. “I am in desperate need of some cuddling now, my dear.”

“That I can handle,” Noctis chuckled, as he climbed back into bed. “Not that I couldn’t have handled doing anything else for you, but, you know.”

“Preferences?”

“Yeah, that.”

“Mm.”

Lucy had to admit, being within the ruins of an abandoned vault felt...off-putting. It was reminding her of home in the worst ways possible, whether it be the way the pipes have grown rusty, posters have partially decayed, or how vacant rooms were all messed up, as if picked over or left in a hurry. Part of her worried her own vault could end up like this, but she tried not to dwell on that—hopefully, there would at least be some explanation for what went down within the walls of this vault.

As she traveled through, she came across a room, marked with a sign that read 'TESTING LOUNGE', though when she peaked in, it seemed more just like a simple common area, with a long table against the opposing wall, filled with what appeared to be covered dishes. After an initial glance over, Lucy was just going to pass over it, but it smelled...odd. Not odd odd, but good odd, like...something was just freshly made.

Slowly she stepped in, somewhat hesitantly as she approached the table. The entire vault showed clear signs of age and disrepair, and yet both the table and the covered dishes looked brand new. As soon as she got close enough, she reached a hand out and grabbed the lid of one of the dishes. "Please don't be anything weird," she mumbled to herself, closing her eyes and looking away as she uncovered the dish.

When there was no immediate unpleasant sound or feeling, she reopened her eyes and looked back down at the tray...only to find that it was full of what looked to be miniature quiches. Tiny bread cups filled with what appeared to be a mix of gooey cheese and spinach, and they certainly smelled a part. She swore she could still see the steam freshly rising off of them.

"Oh...well...," she started while relaxing, before feeling a low rumble in her belly. Making a face down at herself, she eyed the mini-quiches again, before pursing her lips and checking around her. "I mean...having one probably wouldn't hurt," she reasoned with a shrug, grabbing one from the plate. She took a second to let it cool before popping it in her mouth and—

Her eyes widened, and her jaw would have dropped if not for the fact she couldn't stop herself from chomping down on it. "Oh my god...oh my god," she gasped, covering her mouth as she let the flavors of the finger food fill her. "Holy fudge...," she mumbled, chewing the rest of it slowly before just as gingerly swallowing it. She could hardly believe what she had just experienced; it was nothing short of amazing. She looked back down at the rest of the quiches, and against her better judgement, started digging into the rest of them.

They were small, so went down in quick bites, and weren't even all that filling, so she was able to polish off the whole plate with ease. Unknown to her, though, was her belly was starting to bloat out just the slightest. Not enough to be outwardly noticeable, but if one felt it, it would be obvious.

When she finished the last one, she sighed in pleasure...before realization followed by guilt came over her as she looked at the now empty tray. "I ate all of them?!" She sputtered, covering her mouth as she stepped back. "God, what a pig...but they were really good...and hey, they at least got other...stuff..."

Her eyes wandered across the other covered dishes, and assuming from the wonderful smells that still filled the room, she could only assume similar delights awaited her under each lid. She held her hands to her chest, eyeing them all with a strong desire. "W-Well...if they're all fresh and...no one is here, it'd...it'd be a waste to not at least try them...right?"

That was all the excuse she needed, as the moment she lifted up a second lid and saw strips of perfectly cooked salmon atop toasted slices of bread, it was practically over. Even as she tried to limit herself to just one, the fish was so fresh and the bread was too crisp that she simply couldn't stop herself from having another, then two more, than three more, and soon the entire plate was empty, just like the first. Again, her belly bloated out the slightest bit more, again, she felt guilt over eating the whole thing, but again she eyed another platter, and such the cycle continued.

Each lid revealed a dish more delectable than the last: wagyu beef sliders with freshly baked buns, miniature bagels with a fruity spread of cream cheese, freshly mixed deviled eggs topped with bacon, perfectly wrapped dumplings full of beef and vegetables. Soon, the finger foods revealed main courses, much to Lucy's delight. There were full on steaks, artisanal sandwiches, personal pizzas, fresh noodles drowning in their own homemade sauce. She couldn't keep the smile off her face as she slurped and swallowed every little bit in front of her, her stomach easily able to handle it all and then some. That said, her stomach did continue to grow out, becoming rounder and looking heavier with each thing she packed away. While she did notice it here and there, it was hardly a deterrent to get her to stop; everything was just too good.

However, like all good things, an end did come. Every lid was toppled, and every tray was cleared. With the last piece of bread, she soaked up the last of the au jus she could managed, before popping it into her mouth. "Urrp," she belched, barely making an excuse to cover it. "Pardon me...phew, was that good," she laughed, leaning against the table with one hand as she patted her rounded belly with her other. "Sure am stuffed now, golly. Could really go for a nap. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I—"

Her thoughts were interrupted by a strange feeling in her belly. Not a cramp, or a gurgle, but more of...of a press. From within her. It was as if there was something inside her that was pushing against her form. With a confused look, she turned down to her belly, and watched it...before catching it. The surface of her belly, just under her jumpsuit, pushing outward.

"O-Oh, jeez!!" She sputtered, nearly falling over before catching herself. "Was...was that...?" She reached down, and rub the spot she just saw the movement at. Not even a few seconds later, she felt it again, not far off. There was no doubt about what it was this time.

A wave of emotions came over her face. "Wh-What, I—this can't be—I'm r-really...pregnant??" She stood up, and felt all around her belly. She even unzipped her suit and pulled up her tank top to get a better look at it. Not only was her middle firm and heavy, but there was the characteristic linea nigra right down the center of her stomach.

"Holy shit...," she gasped, now slowly rubbing her swell. "I'm...pregnant..." She then glanced back at the cleared table behind her. "With...a food baby?"

She felt another kick. Looking down at herself again, she blinked, taking a moment to really asses what had just happened to her, before patting the side of her bump, and then suiting back up. "Well...guess you're along for the ride now," she remarked. "Better get going."

======================

Noctis quietly opened the door to his home, only to walk into the kitchen and come to a halt.

“Ah, Noct,” Ignis smiled, waving to his husband. He was seated at the dining table, while across from his sat Lunafreya, who was at the moment very pregnant. “Wasn’t expecting you home so soon. Something come up at work?”

Noctis took a moment to glance at Lunafreya for a moment, his eyesight growing hazy for a brief moment, before bouncing his gaze back at his husband. “Shipment mistake. We ended up with crates of frozen patties instead of fish. We’re closed until we can get it sorted out.”

“Oh, that’s rough,” Lunafreya remarked, wincing a tad. “Hopefully, won’t be too much of a strain on you two.”

“We’ll manage for a few days,” Ignis responded, as Noctis made his way over to the fridge. “Not like we have nothing saved or anything.”

“I know, I know. You just know how I worry about you two boys.”

“Whatcha doing here, anyways?” Noctis asked rather bluntly, as he cracked open a can of soda.

“Just some HOA business,” she remarked plainly. “I could tell Iggy here was relieved when he heard we’re much looser on things here then where you were last time.”

Ignis chuckled a bit bashfully, adjusting his glasses. “Y-Yes, right. Anyways, thanks again for coming over about it, Luna. Can’t imagine it’s too easy with your condition and all.”

“My condition?” She chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “I’m pregnant, not sick. If anything, I was happy to get out of the house for a while. Lucien’s been a gem helping me out, but it means I spend a lotta time sitting on my ass.”

“You’re making a baby. That’s something,” Noctis pointed out bluntly.

“Noct!”

“Heh, he’s right,” Lunafreya noted in playful agreement, grabbing the table and pushing herself to her feet. She then paused, and winced a tad. “Ooh…”

Ignis quickly jumped to his feet and to her side. “Hey, is everything alright?”

“Yes…just a bit of movement,” she remarked with a small chuckle. “Well, a lot, to be more accurate. So close to being due…really, I wouldn’t be surprised if I pop any day now.”

“Mm,” Noctis nodded, sipping his drink as his eyes lingered on her belly. “Well, let us know when you do. If you need the help. We’re just up the road, after all.”

“Of course,” she nodded, gently waving off Ignis. “Course, Lucien and I have a plan for when the baby does come, but with how stressed he’s getting over it all, I worry he’ll have a hernia if even the smallest thing goes astray. That includes the baby coming early.”

“You’d think he’d account for that…,” Noctis quipped under his breath, can to his mouth.

“Maybe Gladio could stop by? He’s worked with expectant couples a few times, he might be able to provide some…pointers? Exercises?” Ignis shrugged. “It’d be something.”

“I’ll see what we have time for,” she noted, and then her face lit up. “Oh, and speaking of time, better get going. Lucien is cooking up some sliders, as per my request.” She smiled regally. “Plus, I’m sure you boys have some plans, so I’ll get out of your hair now.”

“Always nice to have you over,” Noctis nodded, smiling at her. “When ya finally have the kid, bring your family over and we’ll have a cookout or something. Been forever since we’ve had one.”

“That sounds great, actually!” Lunafreya nodded. “We can hash out the details later on. I’ll just see myself out. Have a good evening, you guys!”

The two said their goodbyes, watching as she waddled her way down the hall to the door, and soon out of the house. “What a remarkable woman she is,” Ignis commented with a light chuckle. “Such a pleasure to talk to even when it’s that drab HOA stuff. I can see why you had eyes for her all those years back.”

“Yeah, back when I liked girls,” Noctis joked, and the two laughed. Silence hung between them for a moment, only broken by the sound of Noctis sipping, before the darker haired man spoke back up. “You ever thought about having a kid with me?”

“Occasionally,” he responded quickly, and with a shrug. “Not that I’d mind for the sake of it, but I heard from Prompto the whole adoption process is a bit of a—”

“No, no,” Noctis shook his head, interrupting him. “I mean, like. A child between the both of us. Not adopted.”

Ignis gave him a strange look. “You mean like…establishing some kind of surrogacy of the sort? Well, I guess I wouldn’t—”

“Ignis.” Noctis spoke flatly, which came as a bit of a shock to him. “I was asking in the sense of what if I got you pregnant.”

“What if…WHAT!?!” Ignis yelped, jumping back almost. “Noctis, what are you…what spurred this?!”

He gave his husband a look. “You’re smart, love. I don’t need to spell it out.”

Ignis sputtered. “Wh-What, Luna?! Did seeing her today suddenly make you want to, what, knock me up?” He seemed to have calmed down a bit, but still looked on in bewilderment.

“She’s our neighbor. I’ve seen her a few times in the past months,” Noctis remarked, his tone still casual. “It’s been…circulating. In my head. Seeing her today…guess it just set me off, ya know?” He set his can down, and gave his husband a more serious look. “Are you against this idea?”

Ignis opened his mouth to answer, before closing it. “Not…entirely,” he continued after a moment, pushing up his glasses. “I was just a bit shocked, is all. Didn’t seem like you to suggest something like this, especially not out of the blue.”

“Like I said, it’s been circulating,” he noted, pointing at his head. “Probably wouldn’t even have said anything if Luna wasn’t here today. Maybe not ever even. I want you to at least understand two things.” He turned his head away for a moment, staring down at the counter. “One, I know it’s a lot to ask for, considering what you’ve had to deal with before. It could reopen some old wounds. You’d have my full support, of course, but you can say no. And two…,” he took a breath. “...I only bring this up because…I do want to have a kid with you, Ignis.”

Ignis’s eyes widened, as he stared at his husband. Noctis turned to look at him, a small yet bright smile on his face. “I’d love to share the experience of having a child with you, love. But I want it to be something you love, too. So, I’m more than happy to take a different avenue if that suits you better.” Slowly, he extended his hand out, offering it to his husband.

Ignis, while still a bit surprised, yet also equally touched, stood there for a moment in frozen contemplation. A million different ideas and emotions were spinning through his head at the moment. Maybe there was something clever he could say, something romantic or sexy. Maybe skip all that and drag him back for making out. But there was also a fear gnawing at him, that common of possible parents. Worry about being a good parent, but also the desire to want a child. Even then, there was another fear, that of becoming pregnant as the man he was now. He had to admit, his mind zipped to the worse case scenarios…but he’d be lying if the happier moments didn’t shine through as well.

Collecting himself, he simply smiled, reaching out to take his partner’s hand and squeeze it. “I’ll need some time to think it over. But…I’m happy you want a child with me, Noctis. It means a lot.”

Noctis’s smile grew. “Of course. And please, take all the time you need. Last thing I’d want to do is rush into this. Though…there is another matter we’re going to need to figure out soon.”

“Really? What’s that?”

Before he could respond, the quietness of the kitchen was broken by the sounds of growling stomachs from both men.

“Dinner,” Noctis chuckled. “In case that didn’t quite give it away.”

"So how did this happen, huh?"

Giganta glared over at the tiny window on her cell cage, and saw the smirking visage of Cheetah leaning up against it. She simply gave her a look, before shifting in her cell and huffing.

"No, come on! Seriously, I wanna know!!" Barbara insisted among her chuckles. "Hey—look! I'm in the same boat as you!" She pressed her own pregnant belly up against the glass. "See? Let me guess, is that Wonder Woman's too?"

Giganta looked down at her own belly, which was smaller that Barbara's—relatively speaking, at least, due to being earlier on than her contemporary. With a sigh, she rested a hand on her bump. "What of it?" Her voice boomed, though even just her normal speaking voice echoed throughout her cell.

"Knew it," Cheetah chuckled, placing her hands on her hips. "What was the reason? Trying to break into Themyscira, just like me?"

"I did not TRY like you did and fail, little kitty," the giantess shot back, with a hint of a smirk. "I was within the deepest halls of the island, plotting to destroy the Amazon homeland from within with my superior size AND strength. It helped I had acquired an even larger from a deal with the Enchantress."

"Ah, I see," she nodded along, really only half-listening. "And yet, here you are, huge. In more ways than one, at that..."

Giganta shifted in place, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. "I was not told the spell would last for an...extended period of time. Or if any affliction were to come my way. Here I thought that would be enough to evade capture..."

"You know, they say a brain is a muscle," Barbara went on, putting a finger to her temple. "I assume that doesn't grow with the rest of your muscles when you get big?"

Giganta glared at her, though with a steelier gaze.

"Barb, come on." Turning to her one side, Cheetah frowned as she saw Wonder Woman step up to her side. "Stop teasing her like that. We tried giving her the best space we could."

"Pff. Whatever," she scoffed, and crossed her arms.

Diana sighed, but then turned her attention to her larger prisoner. "Doris, how are you doing in there?"

The giantess looked down at the hero, before glancing away. "...fine," she responded, almost at a whisper.

"Anything we can supply you with? Your whole roast is taking a little while longer to prepare, but can get you something else in the meantime."

"...I'll be fine. Thank you."

"Alright, but just call if you do." She turned back to Cheetah. "As for you?"

She simply blew the hero off. "I'll be fine. You just get back to...whatever it is you do."

"Good evening to you, too, Barbara," Diana chuckled, before turning and heading out of the cell.

The moment she was gone, Cheetah grinned at Giganta. "Oh? What was that? Was someone feeling coy around their baby mama?"

She crossed her arms. "Silence...," she demanded.

"Yeh? Really? So you admit you have the hots for Wonder Woman?"

"I SAID SILENCE!!" Giganta's voice boomed, causing the whole cell block to shake.

"Okay, okay! Take it easy there!!" She laughed, holding her hands up. "Just having a little fun is all, ya know?" She turned her back to the window, chuckling still. "Like...wow. Both of us having crushes on that woman..."

"...both?"

Cheetah's eyes widened as she realized what she had just said. Jerking head back to the window, she saw Giganta looking down at her with surprise, and then a smirk of her own. "Well, well...," she chuckled.

"So. Enjoying your stay?"

Barbara glanced over, and glared daggers as Diana walked in, rather confidently at that. The feline supervillain was resting in her 'personal quarters'—practically a glorified cell—drumming her fingers against the massive swell that was her belly. She was appearing calm, even content, until Wonder Woman stepped in.

"Oh, sure. Very lovely," Cheetah started in a mocking tone. "Discount the fact I have to carry your child and remain within the boundaries of your private island club, and it's almost like I'm on vacation. Truly, no notes."

Diana chuckled, walking forward. "Why the long face? You're the one who wanted to get into Themyscira for the first place. We just thought we'd teach you the rules about entering through inappropriate means."

"Never have I ever been some place where punishment was child-bearing!"

"Regional thing, you know. Customs and all that."

"Since when did you get a smart mouth?"

"I pick up a lot from how Donna and Superman's kid talk."

Barbara scowled, leaping down from the branch and starting for the heroine. "You like seeing me like this, don't you?" She huffed, holding the sides of her bump. "All bloated and fat. Your own personal prisoner for you to view as you please."

"Certainly a distinct look for you," Diana teased.

"Yeah? And you probably really like the fact that it's yours, huh?" She added, getting right up into her face. "I have to carry your spawn. Your legacy. That of the amazing Wonder Woman, yeah?"

Diana put a hand to her own chin, chuckling. "Well, I—"

"Wouldn't even be surprised if you'd get off to the idea of knocking me up yourself!" Barbara continued, much to her rival's surprise. "Grabbing real tight on my hips and pounding a baby into me. Watching as I grow nice and heavy and round with your handiwork. Seeing me struggle to do basic things...waddling about, and...being sluggish...and..."

"...Barbara?"

Cheetah blinked, and looked up at Diana. The two stared at each other, wide eyed and red faced. "...uhhhh...," she droned for a second, before quickly turning away, covering her face. "G-Give me a second..."