#swissaeon

They haven’t been able to stop thinking about him for weeks.

Swiss, one of Dew’s friends, though how Dew knows him Aeon has no clue, he’s tall and entirely too handsome, braids tied up in a loose ponytail, the sleeves of his button up rolled up to the elbow and exposing entirely too broad forearms, curls of black tattoo ink peeking out.

He’s just come off of work, messenger bag stuffed with papers slung over his shoulder, his lanyard with the badge labeling him as one of the music teachers at the local high school still wound through a few of the belt loops of his slacks. The top button of his shirt’s undone, gold wire glasses slightly crooked on his nose. Despite having just come off of a long day of work, he grins widely at Aeon as he approaches the counter.

“Good afternoon!” Swiss says, entirely too chipper.

“Afternoon,” Aeon repeats, doing their very best to jump up to their customer service voice and not go as crimson as the maraschino cherries in the jar by the ice cream counter. “Welcome to Spillways, what can I get started for you?”

“Can I please get a large iced dirty chai with-”

“Extra shot and a pump of salted caramel syrup?”

Swiss and Aeon both stare at each other before Aeon laughs nervously, their face burning hot as the fight against their flush turns futile.

“Didn’t realize you knew my order,” Swiss says, easily. Aeon bites their tongue to keep from blurting out that they’ve had it memorized since the first time he came in while they were working. That they’ve made it for themself on their break just to try it because he seemed to like it that much.

“I- uh- yeah,” Aeon settles for saying. “It’s uh- It’s different. Stands out.”

“Oh, really?” he laughs, pulling out his wallet. “How much do I owe you for my different drink?”

“Five bucks and thirty cents,” Aeon rattles off. He hands them exact change, and as they open the register, Aeon hears the rustle of bills as Swiss puts something in the tip jar. If they didn’t know better, they’d swear that they’d seen a five. They did see a glint of gold from the bracelet he’s wearing, and Aeon turns to start making his drink before their heart throws a conniption.

They can feel his eyes on the back of their head as they pull the shots, and Aeon tries to shake the feeling off. They’re on the job, they can’t be this distracted.

Aeon does their best to make Swiss’s chai as quickly as they can, wanting to finish their shift and get somewhere to calm down over this puppy crush. They’re just glad Dew is out on break, because he’s somehow the best at reading through whatever poker face they have.

As they finish up, mixing the syrup and chai and espresso and milk and pouring it over ice, a marker on the back counter catches their eye. Remembers Dew passing his number to the nurse practitioner a few months back who he’s seeing now.

Aeon decides to do something stupid. They grab a napkin and scrawl down their number as legibly as they can.

“One large iced dirty chai with salted caramel,” Aeon says as brightly as they can manage, slapping a lid onto the cup and handing it to Swiss, straw and napkin included.

“Thank you,” Swiss says, eyes gleaming.

“Have a good afternoon,” Aeon smiles, and Swiss smiles back. Aeon thinks their heart might give out.

“You too!” Swiss says before heading out. Aeon’s posture drops the moment the door chimes as it shuts behind him.

“What the fuck did I do?” they whisper, cleaning out the espresso machine.

Dew comes back from his smoke break not that long later. He smiles wryly when he sees how flushed Aeon’s face is.

“You alright, kid?” he asks, something genuine there.

“Perfect,” Aeon says, a little too tense. “I’ve got three minutes left.”

Dew laughs, patting Aeon on the shoulder. “I’ve got it, you can go. Have a good night.”

“Fuck, thank you,” Aeon sighs in relief. “You’re great. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow,” Dew hums, smiling to himself as Aeon rushes into the back room, shoving their purple apron into their locker cubby and swapping their black silicone rings for the silver ones they don’t wear on shift.

Aeon grabs their bag and jacket, punching out before stepping out into the warm spring air. The fresh air does wonders to regulate their nervous system, and before long, they’ve actually calmed down.

They take a deep breath before starting their walk home. But before getting too far, a familiar voice calls out from the next block.

“Hey! Aeon!”

Aeon freezes, looking up like a deer hearing a snapping branch. Lo and behold, Swiss crosses the street in a bit of a rush. They tense, looking for any sort of apprehension or disgust on his face and find none.

“Hi,” they offer, still on the back foot.

“Hey,” he says, softer. “This your number?”

He holds out the napkin, and Aeon stares at their own handwriting. “Yeah. Uh. Yeah, it is,” they gulp.

At the affirmation, Swiss lights up. “Fuck, that’s great, I’ve been wanting to ask for a while, but it’s so rude to do it while you’re working, you can’t get away if you don’t want-”

Aeon’s shoulders relax as Swiss rambles, shifting to run a hand over his braids.

“What I meant to say,” he says, taking a slow breath. “I don’t know your schedule, but I’m off of work on Friday. End of term. I- uh. Would you like to come grab dinner with me?”

Aeon grins, heart fluttering against their ribs like a bird trying to break free. “I work the morning shift. That sounds- that sounds great. Text me the details?”

Swiss matches their smile, bright and genuine and warm. “Of course. I don’t- I don’t want to keep you, but I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you,” Aeon says, clutching their bag to their side. “Genuinely. Didn’t know how you’d take it.”

“Thank you for being bold, Aeon,” Swiss whispers, grabbing their shoulder and squeezing it gently. “I’ll talk to you tonight?”

Aeon nods. “Talk to you tonight, Swiss.”

At least physically warm. Looking down to see the strap secured through the o-ring between their legs does funny things to Aeon’s body temperature. It's the exact shade of their skin, skinny and not too long, and it really looks like it belongs there. Euphoria and anticipation and glee mixing in their veins until the heat of the room is the last thing on their mind.

There’s lips on Aeon’s temple, and a soft crackle of ozone filters between the two of them. Swiss’s quintessence warms their blood even further, nerve endings flickering to life, connections forming.

“Fuck,” Aeon sighs, melting a little more with the magic. They flex their fingers, reaching to knead at the covers.

“Yeah, bug?” Swiss rumbles, nosing into their hair. “Feeling good already? Haven’t even gotten my hand on you yet.”

Aeon nods, eyes fluttering shut as their stomach swoops. “You always make me feel good. Like feeling you. Your magic.”

“And it’s always a treat to give it to you,” he whispers. “Like making my buggy feel good.”

He wraps an arm slowly around Aeon’s narrow chest, his hand pressed right over their heart as he holds them to him. Aeon goes without hesitation, letting Swiss manipulate them in his lap. He spreads his thighs a little more, opening Aeon’s legs even more.

Aeon opens their eyes, swallowing audibly as they take in the sight. Swiss’s other hand sliding down the softness of their stomach, carding through a sparse happy trail before toying with the edge of the harness. Their arousal sparks, his hand so close to where they want him more than anything. “Swiss,” Aeon breathes, trying to push their hips up into his hand, but finding no leverage.

“So pretty,” Swiss hums against Aeon’s temple. “Handsome. You picked out a lovely cock, bug. Fits you just right. It’s yours.”

“Thanks,” Aeon breathes, head spinning already and they haven’t even been touched yet. “Oh fuck-”

Swiss chuckles as he runs a fingertip along the length of it, drawing a slow circle over the tip. With the quintessence, it feels like the silicone is really part of their body. Aeon’s nerves react as such, back arching a little, trying to get more pressure, more touch, more anything.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he promises, tapping the thumb of his other hand over Aeon’s chest, holding them secure and steady. “I’ve got you. Won’t leave you hanging.”

“I know you won’t,” Aeon nods, gnawing at their bottom lip as they try to take a few deep breaths.

“Good,” Swiss says, and then both of his hands are gone. But before Aeon can whine and turn to face him, they hear the click of Swiss opening the bottle of lube they keep on their nightstand, and then pouring it in his palm.

Aeon melts right back into the perfect headspace he’d made them, light and euphoric and so excited they swear they’re buzzing in his lap.

Swiss’s hand comes back to settle right over their sternum, and that touch is enough to keep them anchored to the world around them. They rest their head back on Swiss’s shoulder, just breathing him in.

“Love you,” they whisper. “Thank you.”

“Anything,” Swiss says, ducking to kiss over the racing line of their pulse. “I promise. Love you too.”

Aeon chuffs happily, shuddering at the scrape of his stubble against their jaw. Their tail flicks, nudging against Swiss’s. And then Swiss’s other arm snakes around Aeon’s hip, and there’s a warm, big hand wrapped around them, and all Aeon can do is moan, buzzing through their chest.

Swiss chuckles, stroking Aeon root to tip slow and steady. “That’s it, handsome. Sing so pretty for me,” he murmurs, hooking his chin over their shoulder to watch as he works.

“Fuck, Swiss,” they keen, toes curling as their nerves react as if they’ve been struck by lightning. Aeon realizes that Swiss hadn’t done anything to warm the lube up except the natural warmth of his fire, and for some reason, that makes their hips buck up into his grip.

“Easy, sweetheart,” he coos, “Gonna take good care of you. My good boy.”

Aeon shudders all the way down through their tail, just melting into Swiss’s lap. They reach up to hold onto his arm, the one slung across their chest almost like a seatbelt, just needing to touch and feel their partner. “Mhm. Yours,” they whisper, bottom lip pinned between their teeth.

“Just feel for me,” Swiss hums, a low rumble in his chest. They can feel how hard he is, especially with how much they’ve squirmed since Swiss got his hand on their cock, but he makes no move to seek out any relief of his own.

Aeon nods, turning just slightly to nose at Swiss’s jaw, just to breathe him in as he touches them.

“Good boy,” he says, and the slide of his hand is almost overly slick, grip tight and warm and melting every thought out of Aeon’s head. It’s perfect. All they can do is moan and pant as Swiss keeps an even pace, twisting his wrist at the tip of the strap.

“Fuck, shit, that’s good,” they slur, struggling to keep their eyes open. But fuck, the sight’s so good, their own cock between their legs, the quintessenced sensation perfectly matching the visuals. It’s almost enough to make them cum, just from the sight alone.

Swiss laughs, and it sounds like the bells above the chapel. His hand speeds up, the slick sounds going straight to Aeon’s dick and making their toes curl, back arching so hard it hurts. He pulls them back to his chest, holding them steady so he can keep working them over.

“Just feel good, baby, look at you, such a good boy for me, you deserve this,” Swiss whispers, a stream of praise and filth that cuts through the clouds that Aeon’s floating through. “Deserve to feel good, deserve to enjoy your body like this, that’s it, I’ve got you, handsome.”

Aeon nods weakly, hips twitching up into Swiss’s hand, but this time he allows it, lets them chase the pleasure he’s giving in spades. “Fuck- Swiss- Please-”

“I know, baby,” he purrs, “That’s it, look at you. So handsome falling apart for me. Will you show me, buggy? I want to see you. Please, sweetheart?”

Aeon nods, feeling the tension in their gut crank tighter and tighter. “Uh-huh-” they gasp, struggling to keep their eyes open so they can watch his hand on their cock. “Fuck, I’m gonna- Please don’t stop-”

“Never-” Swiss growls, nipping at Aeon’s pulse. His hand moves almost in a blur, intent on pushing Aeon closer and closer. “Show me. Cum f’r me, let me see you.”

The little zing of pain from Swiss’s teeth is enough for the tension to snap. Aeon cums with a cry, hips bucking as their cunt squeezes around nothing, eyes rolling back in their head. Swiss keeps his hand moving, driving Aeon higher and higher, pleasure so sharp it almost burns.

“That’s it, that’s it. Good boy, such a good fucking boy, cumming for me,” Swiss rambles. “There you go.”

Eventually, Aeon’s not sure how long they float, they come back down, still held fast in Swiss’s lap. He presses kisses to their cheek, temple, the line of their jaw. “Fuck,” they laugh, turning to nuzzle against his throat.

“There’s my bug,” Swiss says. They can feel his smile against their skin.

“Thank you,” they whisper, voice rough.

“Don’t have to thank me,” he whispers back, kissing their forehead. “Love you.”

Swiss turns to say something to Copia, but the lead just pulls Aeon with her. They stumble, chin smacking into his shoulder.

Aeon yelps. “Hey- I’m sorry- It was my fault, Papa-”

“Sorry won’t get you much right now, pipistrello cattivo,” Copia all but growls, gesturing towards the bed as he sits down in the wingback chair he keeps in his room for reading. Mostly reading. “You did not come to rehearsal. The least you can do now is do what you’re told, Aeon. Swiss can tell you all about what I will do if you don’t do that very basic thing.”

Swiss shudders all the way down to the spade of their tail. His swallow is audible, even as her golden eyes darken with memory and arousal. Their cock throbs visibly against his thigh. “He’s not- Bug, Cee’s not bluffing.” Swiss leans in to whisper, though it’s not very far considering the lead.

“I’ll take your word for it,” Aeon whispers back. Copia clears his throat and they squeak. When they startle, it pulls Swiss with them, the two of them stumbling together until Aeon’s knees hit the edge of Copia’s bed.

Swiss falls with them, caging them in. She looks just as startled as Aeon, gold eyes bright. They can hear the way he swallows. “Fuck, baby,” they whisper.

Aeon gulps and hooks a leg around the back of Swiss’s knee. “Cee- Cee wants a show. We should be good.” Their hips press up to meet his, groaning as their dicks brush together.

They groan, rolling down a little more firmly. Swiss tries to prop himself up to get a little better leverage. The lead wrenches Aeon up off of the bed, and they squeal, clawing at Swiss’s shoulders as the collar pulls in an attempt to keep him down.

Faintly they’re both aware of how the room begins to smell of chocolate and citrus, but both ghouls are so entangled in each other that it doesn’t really register. Not when the sensation of eyes on them makes Aeon’s cunt flutter around nothing, makes Swiss’s cock throb where it’s pinned between their bodies.

Swiss moans in their ear at a particularly satisfying roll of her hips, but no matter how Aeon angles their own hips, it doesn’t feel as good as they want. With a snarl and a shove at their shoulders, Aeon rolls the two of them over until they’re straddling Swiss.

It’s a strain to sit up as much as they can, dragging their cunt over and over his cock, collar digging into the back of their neck. Swiss takes a little mercy on them, propping herself up to try and give Aeon some slack.

It’s difficult when their head lolls back, groaning loudly as Aeon’s dick grinds over the head of theirs and pulling at the lead.

“Was- was gonna try riding you-” Aeon huffs, black and white hair hanging in their face as they try to roll their hips in short, frantic little humps. “Oh fuck- but this feels so fucking good-”

Swiss nods in agreement, her hands finding Aeon’s hips. His tail lashes, whacking against the bed and Aeon’s calves. Aeon wraps their own tail around hers in an attempt to pin it to the bed, their thighs squeezing around Swiss’s hips as they grind. “So good, oh fuck, buggy,” they whine.

“Getting me in fucking trouble,” Aeon hisses, ducking down to nip at Swiss’s jaw, even as he moves to try and keep the slack between them. “Because you wanted to get your dick wet-”

“Like you weren’t jumping at the chance to get fucked,” Swiss laughs, her hand shooting up to grab Aeon’s chin. They roll again, Swiss pinning Aeon down to grind against their cunt, smearing slick and pre into their bush. “You could’a said no, stickbug.”

Aeon’s teeth snap into the open air. They don’t argue her because they know she’s right. And here they are, wrestling like animals while their summoner watches. Their claws dig into Swiss’s shoulders, desperately bucking up to try and turn them both over again.

“Cute, buggy,” Swiss laughs, groaning as her cock slides between their folds, head catching and so close to popping inside. Aeon wails when the underside of it slides heavy and slick over their dick, pleasure jolting up their spine.

“Fuck, need- need you-” Aeon gasps, baring their throat and whining as it pulls against the lead. Swiss follows, taking the leather of their collar between his teeth.

“Got me,” she hisses, hitching their legs around her hips so she can openly grind against their cunt. Slick drips down their crack, smears all over Swiss’s thighs, and Aeon can feel a tightening in their stomach that only gets worse when Swiss drips pre and smears it over their cock. “You’ve got me-”

Aeon nods frantically, letting them take what they want from them. This isn’t going to last very much longer, as much as they want to put on a show for their summoner.

“Fuck- Swiss- I-” Aeon keens, back arching as his cock ruts through their folds. “Please, oh Lucifer, Goldie, I-”

“I’ve got you-” Swiss says again, a broken record as they lose all sense of rhythm. “Shit- Aeon- Baby- I’ve got you- oh fuck-”

Aeon’s mismatched eyes roll back in their head as Swiss spills hot and sticky all over their cunt, painting them pearly white. She doesn’t stop moving, smearing the mess against them until Aeon follows him over the edge.

Cunt throbbing around nothing, soaking Swiss’s cock, dripping down her balls and smearing over her thighs, the two of them reduced to a moaning, shaking mess. He hauls them close, hips jerking and twitching as their limbs tangle together until it’s hard to tell where one ends and one begins.

A long pause. “I know,” Aeon whispers. “Think the only reason I can is because how busy we’ve been.”

“I get it.” His eyes sting. He doesn’t want to tell them about how he’s been staring at his ceiling for the last five hours. “Between Cee and Omega, I’m going all day.”

“How is Cee?” Aeon asks carefully. Swiss kneads at the blanket under him, squeezing until his knuckles strain.

“Getting a little better, I think,” he whispers. “Still- still grieving. We’re at the start of a very long road, bug. I just- fuck.”

“Fuck,” Aeon agrees. “And you?”

Swiss takes a long, shaky breath. The hand not holding the phone to his ear presses to the ache at the crook of his neck of a bond stretched across continents. “Just trying to keep busy. Don’t think I’m doing too well at that.”

“Baby,” they say, so softly it makes Swiss’s chest ache. “Me too.”

“I’m sorry,” he croaks.

“Don’t be,” Aeon says, without hesitation. “Cee needed you. You did what you needed to. I- I won’t ever fault you for that.”

“I didn’t tell you that I was- fuck. That it was getting worse. I just didn’t want to scare you and I just hurt us instead.”

“I’m just glad you’re with Cee, and Aeth, and Sunny and Cue and Meg,” Aeon whispers, a reassurance they’ve mentioned every time they’ve talked. “Only a couple more weeks, and I’ll be right there too.”

“Couple more weeks,” Swiss parrots. He slings his arm over his forehead, putting pressure on the dull ache right between his eyes. “Fuck.”

“Fuck,” Aeon agrees. “What’s on your docket today? When you actually get up?”

“Mostly just being with Copia,” Swiss says. “Meeting with Omega at noon. He wanted to talk about maybe getting me on meds. For the whole. You know.” He gestures wildly in the air, even though Aeon can’t see him.

“Which part?” they ask gently.

“I think he said the nightmares. The anxiety. Can’t help Cee the best I can if I’m not sleeping.”

“Oh, love,” Aeon hums, chuffing softly. “I hope it goes well. I’m sorry I can’t help from here.”

“You are,” Swiss says, pulling their pillow to his chest and taking a deep breath of the blackberry scent that’s fading there. “Just hearing you. It’s enough to help.”

“I’m glad. Me too,” they yawn.

“I don’t want to keep you,” Swiss says, trying hard not to whine.

“You’re not keeping me,” Aeon’s quick to promise. “I want to be here. On the phone with you. Miss your voice.”

“Miss yours. I can’t wait to see you again,” Swiss whispers, trying to hide how hoarse his voice is.

“Me neither. Do you wanna stay with me?” Aeon asks, tail padding against the bed.

“Of course,” Swiss says. “I’ll stay until Sunny comes and gets me to help check on the greenhouse.”

Aeon chuckles. “Mountain says thank you, by the way. And not to raid his stash.”

“I promise on my life that we’re not,” Swiss laughs, real and genuine. He feels a little lighter, a relief.

“Alright, then,” Aeon teases, laughing with him.

Swiss sighs, takes a deep breath. “I love you, Aeon,” he whispers.

“Love you too.”

“Till the earth starts to crumble,” he adds, tucking the phone between his head and the pillow, turning onto his side.

“Till the earth starts to crumble,” Aeon echoes.

Swiss’d waited until Aeon came home from tour before even thinking about adopting her. He’d video called countless times while they were apart, Eclipse sleeping peacefully on his chest, and Swiss had watched Aeon’s eyes soften every time they looked at her. Swiss thanks the Prince every single day that they’d fallen in love with her too. When she’d opened her eyes, they’d named her together.

Every single member of the pack loves the little kit just as much as Swiss and Aeon do, bickering among themselves about who gets to watch her when Swiss is on duty with Frater and Aeon is working in the infirmary. Taking care of Eclipse had been a packwide affair from the moment Swiss had introduced her to them.

Mountain watches the two of them, keeping a mental eye on the clock, knowing that Swiss’s shift is about to end, and he’ll be home soon. It had been difficult, to say the least, when he’d returned to work after a leave of absence after the official adoption papers had gone through. But he’d promised her he’d always be back for her, that he wouldn’t leave her for the world, and he hasn’t proven himself wrong yet.

“Oh, look at that,” Rain coos as Eclipse grabs a different marker. “Is that the pack, sweet girl?”

Eclipse looks up at him and beams just like her father, her silver and gold eyes shining in the afternoon light. “Yeah! S’for Daddy and Ren.”

Rain smiles fondly, smoothing a hand over top of her hair, tied back in twists that end in little lavender and gold beads. They rattle and clink gently whenever she moves her head. “They’re gonna love it,” he says.

As if on cue, all three ghouls’ ears perk up at the sound of approaching bootsteps. Mountain sits up a little straighter, old, vigilant habits never put to rest. Rain’s fingers slowly curl into the back of Eclipse’s shirt, ready to pull her behind him. Eclipse, however, doesn’t pick up on the older ghouls’ apprehensions, attention split between her drawing and whoever’s at the door.

Keys rattle in the lock. Rain and Mountain hold their breaths.

The door swings open and a ghoul steps into the den. Mountain relaxes with a relieved huff as Eclipse beams, gasping and jumping to her feet with a peal of laughter. Her stubby little tail wags behind her so fast it’s a blur. “Daddy!”

Swiss pulls off his helmet, setting it aside just in time to have his legs tackled by a toddling kit. He bends and scoops her up, groaning as his back protests slightly. “Hi, baby girl,” he laughs. “Lucifer, you’re getting big, huh? You used to fit in the palm of one of my hands.”

Eclipse shakes her head, sending the beads in her hair clinking against each other. “Nuh-uh,” she giggles.

“Yeah-huh,” he teases. “Uncle Aef has the pictures.”

Eclipse sticks her face into the crook of Swiss’s neck, and he adjusts her in his arms. Rain watches him visibly relax the longer he has his kit, a big hand in the center of her back to keep her balanced. “How’s my sweetheart? What’d you do with Uncle Mo and Rain?”

Rain smiles fondly as Eclipse pulls back to babble to Swiss about her day. “Watched the puppy show, an’ Uncle Mo made sandwiches, an’ me an’ Rain are drawing pictures.”

“Oh? That sounds fun, baby, you wanna show me?”

Swiss sets her down, and he lets Eclipse wrap her chubby fingers around one of his own and nearly drag him over to the coffee table. Rain scoots to the side to make room for the whirlwind of force. “See, Daddy?”

Swiss kneels at the edge of the table, watching as Eclipse paws at a sheet of paper. Rain subtly pushes it towards her, helping her grab it. “Oh, look at that, Clip. Is that us?”

She beams, showing him the array of stick figures drawn in every color under the sun. “S’me and you and Ren,” she points at the figures in the center, drawn in lavender and yellow and brown. She points to the tallest one. “S’Uncle Mo.”

Swiss laughs, kissing her temple. “Yeah, dunno who else it would be, baby.” A stick figure, shorter than the rest and drawn in bright orange, catches his eye, and Swiss cackles. “Who’s that, is that Aunt Rory?”

“No!” Eclipse giggles along, showing the gap between her front teeth. “S’Uncle Dew!”

“You did such a good job drawing us, baby. I’m gonna hang this up in our room for Ren when they get home.” Swiss nuzzles into the side of her head, breathing in her sweet apple scent.

“Daddy, when’s Ren comin’ home?” She asks, kicking up into a quiet little purr as her father scents her.

“They’re with Uncle Aef right now, helping people feel better. They’ll both be home in time for dinner, okay?”

She hums, pouting a little. Rain reaches up and rubs her shoulder. “They’ll be back before you know it, sweetheart,” he says. Mountain makes a noise of agreement.

Eclipse whines softly. “Want Ren too,” she mumbles, nuzzling fiercely against Swiss. He hums, rubbing her back.

“I know, baby. How about we go take a nap in the nook, and by the time you wake up, Ren will be home.”

She pulls back, metallic eyes bright and wide at the mention of the nook underneath her parents’ hearth. If Eclipse had it her way, all three of them would sleep in there every night. Unfortunately for her, sleeping on the floor more often than not is hell on Swiss’s back despite the large volume of blankets and pillows shoved under there, so they do their best to compromise. “P’ease, Daddy?”

He smiles and kisses her cheek, hauling her back into his arms. “Of course, Clip. Can you say bye to Uncle Mount and Uncle Rain?”

She waves, settling happily into Swiss’s arms as he stands. Rain hands him the picture she’d drawn as he too gets to his feet. “Bye!”

“Thank you for watching her,” Swiss whispers, presses his forehead to Rain’s.

“We’re more than happy to, edelweiss,” Mountain smiles.

He smiles back before leaving the common room, making his way to his and Aeon’s room. Swiss takes a deep breath once he crosses the threshold, relaxing as his mate’s scent, baked into everything here, hits him.

Eclipse squirms a little in his arms, and he tosses her gently onto the mattress to make her squeal with laughter as she hits the blankets and pillows. It’s contagious, and Swiss smiles wide enough to make his eyes crinkle.

“Alright, Clip. How about you get Miss Kitty and pick out a book, and Daddy will read it to you once he gets changed?” he prompts gently, and Eclipse’s eyes go wide. She nods, the beads in her hair rattling, and she clambers out of her parents’ nest to grab those items from their bookshelf.

Swiss smiles as she toddles off, a little girl on a mission, and unclips his cape. He tosses it into the hearth, knowing exactly where it will wind up later. He ducks into the bathroom to wash up quick and change into a soft, worn shirt and sweats. When he comes back out, the only reason he knows Eclipse hasn’t snuck out of the room is her soft, giggling laughter and the bed skirt along the edge of the hearth not quite sitting right.

He sighs fondly. It’s a bit of a struggle to get to his knees, back protesting, but he crawls under his bed without complaint. Anything for his little girl.

She’s already made herself comfortable in the copious pillows and blankets that make up this secret nest. There’s a floppy tabby cat plushie clutched in her arms, well-loved and worn. Once upon a time, when Swiss had first met her, the cat had been twice her size.

Eclipse has the newly unfurled spade of her tail tucked between her lips, nuzzling into the blankets with her parents’ scents baked in. She looks half asleep already.

“You comfy, baby?” He smiles as her eyes shoot open and she nods. Swiss crawls up behind her and tucks her against his chest. Eclipse melts into it. He reaches over and flicks on the string of lights, casting soft yellow light throughout the nook, just enough to read by.

“Mhm,” she mumbles, reaching with her little hand for the picture book she’d picked out. Swiss takes in the bright, primary colors painted on the cover, recognizing one of her favorites.

“Oh, good choice, sweetheart.” He flips the book open in front of her so they can both see. “Maisy is visiting Charley today. Hello, Charley. Hello, Maisy.”

As he reads, Swiss can feel his daughter relax and droop against him, and he doesn’t need to see her face to know she’s fallen asleep by the time he finishes the story. He sets the book aside, and she turns in her sleep so her face presses against Swiss’s chest, crushing Miss Kitty between them.

Swiss kisses between the little nubs of her horns, wrapping his tail around her and settling into the blankets. He hates to admit it, but he follows her to sleep, warm and comfortable and safe with one of the most precious things that’s ever happened to him.

He doesn’t know how much time passes, but his ear twitches at the sound of a camera shutter. Swiss cracks one golden eye open, arms tightening around Eclipse, but he relaxes as Aeon puts their phone away.

“Hey, buggy,” he says, voice low and raspy with sleep.

“Hey,” they say, smiling brightly, tail wagging idly behind them. “How’s the fruit bat?”

“She had a good day,” he says, carding fingers through her twists gently. “Wants her Ren, of course.”

“Well, I’m here now,” they shrug, settling into the nook behind her. They chuff happily as they kiss the crown of their daughter’s head. “Cirr and Dew just started on dinner. But we can stay here until then, they say an hour.”

Swiss smiles at them, unwrapping one arm from around Eclipse, who shifts and huffs a little in her sleep, and wrapping it around Aeon, hauling them in a little closer. Something deep and instinctual settles and calms when his mate’s body covers Eclipse’s back, the little ghoulette safe and protected by her parents.

Aeon watches him for a moment, long, thin fingers reaching over her to brush a braid out of Swiss’s face. It’s tender and soft, and Swiss smiles back at them, still halfway in the haze of sleep.

“You two are the best things that have ever happened to me,” he whispers, holding them both close.

Aeon snorts. “Sap.”

“It’s true and you know it.”

They roll their eyes playfully, leaning over Eclipse to kiss Swiss sweetly. “I love you.”

“Love you too. Now, let’s nap before Miss Fruit Bat wakes up and chatters your ear off.”

“And whose daughter is she?” Aeon teases, but settles into the nest, tail slinging over Swiss’s hip. He entwines his own around theirs.