#i'm not saying emmrich isn't right to be irritated

[taamlok]

people will be like i hate taash because they're sooo immature, unlike my babygirl pookie bear emmrich 😍 who told on them to his boss 🫡 because they called him a skull fucker death mage 😤 which is not nice 😡 and hurt his feelings 😢 he is 55 🥵

[fatale-distraction]

We Are Family - An EmmRook one-shot

Rating: General

Pairing: Abigail Ingellvar (Elven Mourn Watch Rook) x Emmrich Volkarin

Tags: Fluff, domestic fluff, slice of life, humor

SPOILERS for Emmrich’s personal quests!

Summary: Just a cute little one-shot. Abigail is teaching Manfred a very special word to surprise Emmrich. Spoilers for Emmrich’s character arc.

For more on Abigail and Emmy’s relationship, check out the other works in this series, and Abigail’s profile!

Full one-shot under the cut. Please consider checking it out on Ao3 as well!

"Okay, Manfred," Abigail said patiently, holding up an old learning primer. "Let's try this again. 'Papa.'"

The skeleton hissed and dropped his jaw in what Rook had come to learn was his version of a smile. Abigail sighed.

"Papa," she insisted, lowering the book. "Come on, Manfred, at least give me a 'puh' sound. Emmrich will be so delighted to hear you call him papa!"

"Magic!"

"Magic practice later, Manfred! Right now, I need you to say 'papa.'"

Manfred gave a disappointed hiss and clacked his teeth.

"The stupid creature isn't going to call him 'papa,'" a snide, irritated voice called from across the room. "As if Volkarin weren't ridiculous enough with that construct, now you'll have it chasing him around like a duckling calling him Father."

"Shut up, Hezenkoss," Abigail muttered at the glowing skull. "Or I'll put the cloth over you again. You can go night-night like a cute little canary."

"I am NOT a cute little canary!" Johanna screeched, the skull clattering slightly on its pedestal. Abigail rolled her eyes and mouthed mockingly along with her while Manfred clapped his hands over a garbled giggle. "I am a scientist!"

"Yes, yes…"

"Disrespectful whelp!"

"If you don't have anything useful to say, then kindly shut your yap," Abigail requested with a prim sniff. She straightened her floppy bowtie and turned her attention back to Manfred. "Once again, sweetling. 'Papa.'"

"Lunch!"

"Manfred!"

Johanna groaned long, loud, and resonating. "Construct!" she shrieked. "Say 'Papa' or I will self-immolate and take this entire room and everything and everyone in it down with me!"

"Bad!”

"Very good, Manfred." Abigail gave him an encouraging pat.

At this moment, Emmrich bustled through the door, arms laden with books and sheaves of parchment, cheerfully murmuring to himself about Fade resonance and magical feedback loops. Abigail took advantage of his distraction to hurl the learning primer across the room and out of sight. She held a finger to her lips and Manfred covered his mouth with both hands.

"Ah! Abigail!" Emmrich smiled when he noticed them sitting at the table. "And Manfred, what are we learning today?"

"Lunch!"

"Stupendous!"

Abigail sighed again, fondly this time, as her partner unloaded his burden on top of his desk. Manfred skittered to his side to assist.

"I'm glad you're here, my dearest," Emmrich said, sorting through pages of neat, faded scrawl and precise geometric diagrams. He turned, leaning against his desk with one ankle crossed over the other and smiled at her. "Manfred and I have been working on a little surprise for you. Manfred?"

Jeweled eyes rotated one way and then the other. Manfred turned back to Abigail, crossed the room and threw his bony arms around her middle, resting his head on her bosom.

"Mummy!" he hissed happily.

Abigail's jaw fell open, eyebrows bent upward. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes and she gave a wet, joyful laugh, hugging him back. "Oh, Manfred…" she murmured, resting her cheek on top of his smooth skull.

Emmrich watched them with damp, smiling eyes. Johanna retched in the corner and was ignored.

"We've been practicing a surprise for you, too," admitted Abigail, brushing a finger under her eyes. "Go on, Manfred, give it a try."

The skeleton gave another joyful hiss and took Rook's hand, towing her behind him across the room, where he took Emmrich's hand. The Mortalitasi looked down at him in expectant amusement. Abigail tucked herself against his side, Emmrich's arm circling her waist by reflex. Manfred squeezed their hands in his.

"Papa!" He garbled. "Mummy and Papa!"

Emmrich laughed with delight and surprise, pulling his skeletal son into a hug with his partner. Abigail kissed both their cheeks.

"Excellent job, Manfred!" She said, exultant and proud. "Very good."

"BLECH!" Shrieked Johanna.