#credits to dearest friend Kai for idea

[senorquacksalot]

Vilbie…

[mollymauk-teafleak]

Tell us some more about luka?

I’ll do you one better, my friend. Credit to the wonderful @minky-for-short!

Babies were very, very soft. Taako was growing to realise this, the more time he spent with one.

Not that two weeks was a particularly long stretch but it had to be something crazy like eighty per cent of the entire time the little lady had been alive, which was a thought and a half.  Taako considered that as he carefully lifted her out of the makeshift crib they’d cobbled together for her, out of a crate that had once contained fresh peaches which he’d long ago turned into a pie so tasty it would make the gods weep but that was just his opinion.

“Hey there little ankle biter, c’mon, no need for that,” he mumbled sleepily, though there wasn’t much chance of her hearing him under her own plaintive, shrill screams, “If you wanna cuddle all you had to do was ask nicely…gotta work on your manners…”

The tiny half elf didn’t seem to share his opinion, screwing her tiny little fists against her eyes and wailing louder if anything.

“Yeah, okay, point taken,” Taako sighed, pulling the soft star patterned blanket tighter around her, hoping that would comfort her in some small way.

He walked her around what had once been his husband’s study but was now a temporary nursery, slow, wide circles as he rocked the gentle warm weight of the little baby until her snuffling and keening turned into slightly grumpy grizzles. Though Taako’s worries weren’t as easy to shift.

Most of those worries revolved around that word temporary. And what exactly that meant. And what Taako wanted it to mean.

The tiny baby turned closer to his chest, enjoying the silk of his nightshirt, a tiny starfish hand fastening in the front as she let out a high, whimpering sigh. As adorable as it was, it only made Taako groan under his breath, ears drooping a little. He meandered over to the window, perching himself on the cushioned seat so the little girl could look out over the fields if she wanted to. Just letting her see the world, reminding her where she was. Sometimes Taako needed that, after he’d let the memories at the corners of his mind have too much freedom; he needed something to hold on to that confirmed the here and now.

“Had a nightmare, huh, pumpkin?” he whispered, thumb gently running over her pale, almost ice white skin, “No sweat, I’m no stranger to those…they can’t hurt you, not really…”

He stroked the dark blue curls that crowned the top of her head next, they were almost impossibly silky. She seemed to like that a lot, her eyelids suddenly growing heavy and her lips parting so he could see the tip of her tongue poke out. That drew a fond chuckle from the elf.

“Atta girl, I’ve got ya,” he nodded, leaning back against the window and crossing one stick thin leg over the other and bending to kiss her forehead, “If any of those rotten nightmares come back, you just come running to Taako, kay? Well, maybe not running, you can’t even lift your own head up yet. Best wait a while before you give it a go. Believe me, milk that ‘I’m a baby’ excuse for all it’s worth. Pretty soon people are gonna try and get you to, like, do sh…stuff…”

“Good save,” a smooth, low voice without a hint of tiredness spoke up from the doorway.

Taako’s ears shot up instantly, head jerking to see Kravitz smiling coyly, somehow still looking unfairly handsome despite the fact that he’d just gotten back from an incredibly late call out at work. It wasn’t just the slick, dark suit, plush red tie, the gold bands keeping his braids back from his face though that was a pretty significant part of it. It was that smile, crooked and playful, his eyes bright and looking at Taako with so much love that it was pretty disarming.

“I, ah, I just don’t have the change for the swear jar,” he insisted, smiling back despite himself and the blush creeping up his narrow face, “Do I have to make you wear a bell, baby, you scared the hell out of me?”

“Sorry, it just looked too perfect to interrupt,” Kravitz shrugged apologetically, coming in, “May I sit?”

“Sure,” Taako nodded, leaning in and kissing him as soon as he sank down on the cushions next to him. He let it go on a few moments longer than strictly necessary, it hadn’t been fun waking up without his husband’s arm around him and he was ridiculously glad to see him home.

“Easy,” Kravitz giggled when they drew back for air, “Not in front of the baby…”

“She’s asleep, no harm no foul,” Taako snorted and it was true, the little half elf had long since nodded off, still clinging to the front of Taako’s shirt.

Kravitz smiled warmly, putting his arm around his husband, “She really does seem to love you.”

Taako felt his blush get a little deeper and his typical fidgeting start up, “Nah, she must just like hearing Elvish…”

The reaper rolled his red eyes but didn’t argue, kissing Taako’s cheek instead and letting him rest his head on his shoulder, fingers threading through his long hair in a way that made him melt and purr.

“I was thinking, actually…” he murmured after a while, “The little lady doesn’t have a name yet…”

Taako bit his lip, stiffening just a little under his touch, “I…I didn’t think we were going to give her one. I mean, it’s not like she’s…ours.”

Kravitz paused, looking down. He’d been afraid of this subject coming up between the two of them, more and more as they’d hung on to their new charge.

“You don’t want her to be ours…?”

There was a long silence, one where the night’s darkness seemed to press in, almost suffocating, around them. But when Taako eventually spoke, his voice was suddenly thick with tears.

“I do. I don’t want to but I do…”

“My darling,” Kravitz sighed softly, pulling back so he could wrap his arms fully around his husband, hating knowing that something he’d said had upset him so much, scrambling for apologies, “It’s okay…”

“It’s not,” Taako choked out, voice muffled as he pressed his face to Kravitz’s chest, as if that would stop the flow of words he’d been keeping hidden inside him for two weeks, “It’s selfish. I-I know she’d be way better off somewhere else, I’d be the worst parent every for her but…but I don’t want to give her away…I want her to stay here…I want to wreck her life, what the fuck does that say about me?”

Kravitz’s eyes widened in shock, “Taako, no. My dearest, how could you…you’d be a wonderful father. That’s exactly why I brought her here after I found her!”

Taako sniffled, tears rolling thickly down his freckled cheeks, “You…dude, you know more than anyone what a fucking mess I am…”

“That’s two in the swear jar, darling,” Kravitz tried a smile, reaching forward and stemming the flow of tears with a handkerchief swept from the inside of his jacket. When he only got a twisted mouth in response, he sighed gently, “All I know is what a kind, brave, determined person you are. How much you’ve been through and coped with. And how you’d be the perfect father for a poor little girl who’d been through the same…”

Taako sniffed, blinking rapidly, trying to stop the tears, “You…that’s…that’s so gay, babe…”

Kravitz laughed softly, face breaking into a warm grin, “I know right?”

Taako giggled helplessly too, resting his forehead on Kravitz’s until the tightness in his chest let go and he felt more like himself again.

“So…she could be ours…” Taako murmured, feeling the unfamiliar but welcome taste of hope in the back of his mouth, “We could…we could have a daughter.”

Kravitz rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking uncharacteristically shy, “Would now be a good time to mention that I’ve had about five different families I could have asked to take her in my address book this entire time but I didn’t want to say?”

Taako blinked before gasping incredulously, holding the baby tighter so he could shove his husband’s shoulder gently, “You sneak! You got me to cry!”

“I didn’t get you to do anything…” Kravitz shook his head, chuckling, “Are you mad at me?”

“No, course not, babe,” Taako shoved him again just for good measure, “Kind glad you didn’t actually, my existential crisis would have been, like, a factor of ten worse.”

Kravitz looked a little relieved, holding out his arms for the sleeping baby, gently carrying her back over to her peach crate crib, “And now she’s ours, how about that name?”

Taako hummed thoughtfully, tongue poking out in concentration as he padded over, wrapping his arms around Kravitz and resting his head between his shoulder blades, “Could we maybe name her after someone?”

“I think that would a wonderful idea,” Kravitz smiled, “After who?”

The answer came to Taako easily, there was one person more than anyone else that he wanted this little girl, currently soundly asleep in amongst the nest of the softest blankets that could be found at short notice, to grow up like.

“Lucretia,” he murmured, “Maybe something like Luka for short, so we don’t confuse a weeks old baby with a seventy year old human woman…”

Kravitz turned smoothly, cradling his husband’s face in his cool hands, the smile on his face bright and loving just as it had been when he’d first walked in, “I can’t imagine a better name for our daughter.”

Daughter…that word scared Taako. But he thought, as he closed the gap between Kravitz’s lips and his own, it was the best thing he’d ever been scared about in his life.

“Oh shit…Lup is going to kill me…”

[lottie-writes]

Udobure

i have never written this pairing before. lets do this

There were many benefits to the hermit life. Peace, quiet, freedom… But the thing Brady appreciated the most was the lack of people. Without people, there was no trouble, or drama. He could just sit down, relax, and enjoy his tea-

With a startlingly violent crash, a man fell through his roof onto the table, wood and dust splintering and scattering across the carpet. Vaguely, Brady registered tea dripping onto the carpet, likely to leave a stain, but at the moment, he was a little more concerned for his furniture. Oh, and the guy.

“‘Scuse me,” he said, poking him in the face, “You alright there, buddy?”

No response. Yep, he was out.

“Well, crud.” Brady sat for a moment, considering what he should do in a situation like this. Men didn’t fall through the roof everyday, after all. He dragged him off the table and moved him to his bed, wincing every time he accidentally bumped him into the wall.

Brady knew a thing or two about medicine, and he was shocked to find the man’s injuries really weren’t that bad. A broken arm and some shattered ribs, but considering how he entered… Quickly, Brady patched him up the best he could with the staff he kept on hand for emergencies, then left the man to rest. Hopefully that would help somewhat.

Then, he waited. And waited. A sunset later, Brady figured his unexpected guest wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon and resigned himself to sleeping on the couch tonight. Hopefully it wouldn’t rain; he had no idea what to do about his roof. He didn’t have the heart to deal with the mess. He didn’t have the heart to deal with a lot of things, actually, including the yelling coming from his room.

“What nefarious trickery is this?” he heard the man shout, though muffled by the door. Groaning, Brady grabbed a pillow and shoved it into his face, hoping the guy would just go back to sleep. Instead, the door slammed open.

“Who dares attempt to abduct the mighty Owain, Avenger of Righteous Justice?” he announced. Owain pointed a sharp glare in his direction, followed by an equally sharp blade. “Fiend! Release me at once, lest I lose control of my sword hand!”

“Ohh-kay,” Brady said, “go ahead and leave then?”

“Eh? You do not seek to halt my noble quest?”

“...No?” he replied. He didn’t actually know what the guy was saying, but that was probably the right answer. Probably.

“Whoops!” Owain sheathed his sword and offered a bashful smile. “Sorry! I get a little intense, sometimes.” He approached to give him an enthusiastic handshake. “I am the great Owain Dark! Though, I’m sure you must recognize me by now. Take a moment to soak it in!”

Brady blinked. “”Never heard of ya.”

“Really? You know, mighty warrior, enemy of evil, monster slayer?”

“Doesn’t ring a bell,” he said.

“Oh.” To his credit, Owain only looked a little dejected. “Well, then, er-?”

“Brady.”

“Kind Brady! Might you inform me how I came upon this place?” Brady held down his blush and pointed to the hole in his ceiling. When was the last time he’d been genuinely complimented, again?

“Dearest deities of old!” Owain exclaimed. “What happened to your roof?”

“You did,” he said, pointedly. Owain looked dumbly at the damage.

“A dramatic descent is certainly awe-inspiring, but I much prefer the door,” he said.

“Ya just kinda fell through it,” Brady said. “Broke my tea set, too.”

“Truly? Ah! I remember!” Owain put on a serious look. “It was that beast! The dragon! Right as I was about to begin my bold assault, it scooped me into its mighty claws and carried me into the horizon!”

“And dropped you through my roof.”

“And terrorized this innocent!” He nodded resolutely. “It is certain. I cannot allow this villain to roam any longer!”

“Sure ya can handle that?” Brady said. Admittedly, Owain didn’t exactly inspire much confidence.

“I am the mighty Owain Dark!” he asserted. “No man, no monster, no malice can stand against me. Beware, evildoers, your end is nigh!” With a flourish, Owain turned on his heel and exited through the door, politely shutting it behind him. Brady meant to return to his business, but a few moments later he heard a knock.

“Hey, do you know where we are right now?” Owain asked. “Specifically in relation to Mt. Malice?”

“It’s about a few days from here,” Brady answered. Owain wracked his brain for a moment. “I can make ya some food if ya want.”

“That would be nice, actually.”

Though it had been nearly a month since Owain’s unexpected visit, with as much as he occupied Brady’s thoughts, he might as well have still been there. What if he gets mugged? What if that dragon eats him? He was just exaggerating, probably. There’s no way someone like him would actually be doing something as dumb as that.

Nevertheless, Brady was still losing sleep over it. He’d never truly know the answer, would he? But what was the point in wondering? After all, even if Owain were still alive, it’s not like he’d ever see him again-

A knock at the door. Brady jumped out of his seat to wrench it open, only to find the object of his thoughts waiting there. Without a thought for etiquette, he tackled Owain into a desperate hug.

“Y-yer alive!” he wailed. Ugh, was he crying? Not again…

“Of course! The great Owain Dark always emerges victorious!” he said, completely unaffected. “No need to shed tears, gentle Brady. I bring good tidings!” After painstakingly detaching himself from Brady’s grip, Owain reached into his pack and pulled out a wrapped gift, smiling.

It was a brand new tea set, painstakingly decorated and adorned. It was most likely the most expensive thing he’d ever seen, and- oh, he was crying again. Dang it.

“Owain Dark always repays his debts!” he said, resolute. Brady sniffed.

“Y-you didn’t have to...” he said.

“I also didn’t have to bring someone to fix your roof, but...” Brady looked up through the hole. Sure enough, there was someone there, already diligently working on it. Owain laughed joyfully at his expression.

“Now, if it’s not too presumptuous...” he said, leaning in. “Might I see that tea set in action?” Brady blinked.

“Somehow, I thought a pickup line from you would be more grand,” he said.

“It was a friend’s suggestion,” he admitted. They stood there, staring at each other for another moment.

“Well, what’re ya waitin’ for?” Brady said. “Are we gonna do this or not?” Owain nodded excitedly, mumbling under his breath something along the lines of “so it is just his personality,” and entered.

All things considered, his old tea set was pretty boring, anyway.