Benjamin A Langstrom

“Oui, monsieur, cela semble parfait,” he replied, chuckling quietly. “Let no one say y’don’ know how t’romance someone, luv.” Rook eyed up one of the flower displays coming up on the side of the carriage and gave a quick look around.

When they’d just gone past, one of the brightly coloured four o’clock flowers, in full bloom, severed from its stalk and floated quickly to the carriage and Rook’s waiting hand. It was yellow with stripes of orange-red. He tucked it into Ben’s coat button. “There. Pretty as anythin’.”

“I’ll admit, some of it is natural talent, but there’s a large component of living with the master, too.” Ben smiled crookedly as he looked at the purloined petals, then leaned forward to steal a kiss in return. “I know you’ve been practicing moving other things for a while now, but it’s still impressive to watch. You’re amazing, Rook.”

“Well. It’s very much appreciated, either way. Thank you.” He drew Ben in for another kiss, a proper one this time. And then he leaned back in the carriage and watched the park rolling by. He pulled a flask from his coat pocket and held it out.

“I obviously can’t indulge at the moment, but I forgot t’take it out. Want some? What are we eatin’, by the way?” 

“M’almost hopin’ they take after Lucifer an’ stay short.” He laughed at the egg comment, but he’d wondered (worried) the same too, just a short while before.

“Nah. Wouldn’ be able t’feel the kickin’ so much if I were. This kid’s comin’ out in a C-section. Overeager, still. It’ll be interestin’ havin’ another little kid around. For a while anyway– Jasper grew so fast it passed like a blur.” 

“That’s true. Jasper was a cute kid, though.” Smiling, Ben rearranged their hands to lace fingers. “I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

“Name, lowercase ‘n’. Uppercase Name is Amitael– means honest. Liron means ‘my song’. Liron Amitael an’ Jasper Tajrael Rook. I think they work nicely.”

Leaned into the gentle rubs and sighed, their combined efforts getting Liron to settle down.

“Thanks. Kid’s eager as anythin’ t’get out.”

“It started with pets an’ a dhampir, now it jus’ keeps growin’. Got you in deep, Ben.” Eventually settled his head on Ben’s shoulder, slipping one hand across to take his and let it settle in their laps under the blanket.

“M’gettin’ a C-section, but I think it should be good in the next week or so. They’re very active. Feel healthy. Lucifer says their Song is strong as well. So… good signs.”

As if the Nephilim knew they were being talked about, they started kicking up a storm on the front of Rook’s stomach, making him groan quietly. “Oi. Quit that,” he mumbled, free hand rubbing at his abused tum. 

“We decided on the name Liron.”

Ben smiled, gloved thumb sweeping over the back of Rook’s hand as it rested between them. “Is that their name or their Name?” he asked curiously. He remembered that had been a thing with Jasper, that Jasper was only what he was called, but they had given him a different Name too. As promised, mainly so he’d never accidentally let it slip, he’d forgotten that.

“Ooh? Sounds interestin’. Y’know I always love samplin’ new meat.” Only realised after he’d said it how that sounded. Face palmed and shook his head. “Can I blame that one on baby brain?”

Couldn’t help but snort a little at Ben’s proposal. “That sounds interestin’, luv. Have t’say I didn’ think breedin’ would ever catch your interest.” More needling with his elbows, because it feels good to let off some steam and tease Ben again. It’d been too long. “That’d be cool, though, seein’ what kinda critters y’can make. I mean, I think I had possum-chicken when I was there?”

Ben couldn’t help grinning, a bit of color rising in his face. “Maybe being a stepfather to a growing hoard’s inspired me,” he teased back, nudging him back in a manner slightly less boisterous than normal, as if afraid of the common ‘jockular elbowing based miscarriage.’

“We’ve both been distant. But… thank you. This is wonderful.” He pressed a kiss to the corner of Ben’s mouth before he took the package.

Nephilim grew quickly. Rook was sometimes surprised his body managed to keep up with the rapid changes at all; felt like he should have burst more times than he could count, at yet here he still was.

He pulled out the blanket, rubbing the soft fabric and fur against his face.

“Thank you. It’s gorgeous, luv. Luci’s not gonna think I skinned one of his kin though, is he?” Another little laugh as he draped the blanket over their laps. He might not get cold, but he knew Ben wasn’t so lucky.

“Find anythin’ interestin’ while you were there?”

Feeling somewhat emboldened, Ben smiled and sat a little closer, his arm falling around Rook’s side. The water tribe really did do a great job when it came to warm fabrics.

“Naw, it’s some kind of seal-hybrid I think. Seal-boar? Whatever they were, they were round and had a lot of teeth, and they cooked up nice.” He shrugged a shoulder, eyes twinkling. “I may have some bacon for you to sample stashed at the house. It’s a lot different from the things we tried last time you came to visit.”

Rook laughed softly when Ben bowed from the carriage. Had a high blush on his cheeks– a little more green-blue than red nowadays. If anyone asked he’d attribute it to the lamplight.

He took the offered hand and pulled himself up, wheezing a little with the effort.

“You still know how t’make an entrance. Thank you.” He got himself settled in the seat, running a hand along the side of the carriage.

“These would have been all booked up f’Valentine’s anyway. So. Good call leavin’ it for a couple weeks.” Gently nudged Ben with his elbow before resting his arm over his stomach again. “An’ here I was worried about gettin’ tired walkin’.”

Once Ben joined him on the seat, the driver returned to his bench and with a quiet snap of the reins, the carriage took off with a gentle lurch.

“You always see the upside to things,” Ben smiled ruefully, rubbing his arm where he’d been nudged. “I figured after being so...” he hesitated, swallowed, and composed himself. “...Distant, and then missing Valentine’s to boot, you deserved something special.”

His eyes drifted, taking in the tell-tale tightness of Rook’s coat, more noticeable now that he was seated, and a mixture of emotions flickered over his face before he could completely hide them. Envy and fear, perhaps, but chiefly regret. He’d been distant, disappeared to work, and look how far things had progressed without him.