#kinda inspired by Lyra teasing the Henry and Alice fic

[loosesodamarble]

From Luck to Jesse

Summary: The day of their daughter's birth, Luck is confronted with fear and hesitation. Magna is there to reassure his husband though. They're fathers in this together. Genre: general, some hurt-comfort Word count: ~1000 Warning: brief mentions of abuse

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When it came time to cut open the blood cocoon and truly bring their new daughter into the world, Luck ran into the room before Magna. His smile stretched across his face, bright enough to rival the look he wore during their wedding. He stopped in front of the blood cocoon and stared at it for a moment.

It's time. Our little girl is ready for the world, Luck thought to himself.

Luck glanced over his shoulder to see Magna speed-walk in after him. Magna smiled, half annoyed-half amused.

"Man, someone's too excited 'round here."

"Maybe you're not excited enough! Get over here already, Magna!"

"Alrigh' alrigh'!"

Once a tub of warm water and a soft towel was prepped, Magna brought out a medical kit and a clean scalpel to cut the cocoon. The husbands shared a look before Manga pressed the blade into the cocoon's surface and glided it through.

With the seal broken, the magic blood within began to dissipate like steam. As the blood faded, a small, pink shape was revealed. A baby, their baby, their daughter. Bits of blood and other fluid clung to the infant's body. She had already begun crying and wriggling. She was alive and a fighter!

With Magna still holding the scalpel, Luck instinctively moved to pick up the baby.

Smack!

Carissa loomed over Luck, looking upon him with contempt. Her hand, hovering close to where he once stood, had been cold.

Luck saw how close his hand was to touching his daughter. He curled his fingers back before withdrawing his whole hand.

"Luck?" Magna's voice was a distant echo in his ears.

"I… I shouldn't…" Luck took a step back as he whispered those words. "Magna, I don't…"

It only took a second for Magna to change gears. He'd already set down the scalpel and wiped his hands so he picked up the baby and moved her to the tub.

Luck quietly watched his husband gently, oh so tenderly, washed their daughter off. He watched and wished he wasn't so afraid of what his own hands could do.

While Magna cleaned up their daughter, Luck shuffled to the bedroom and sat on the bed's edge.

Why did he hesitate all of a sudden? He'd never hesitated when handling children before. He wasn't Sterling's favorite but he always treated her with care. Hikari loved to roughhouse with him. Finral and Mallory's sons would gang up on him. Hell, he'd even held many of the children as babies. So then why couldn't he touch his own daughter?

The mattress shifted under the weight of another person.

"She's all clean now," Magna said in a neutral tone. "Even fell asleep while I bathed her."

Luck looked to the side. And sure enough, the babe was already sound asleep an swaddled like a newborn should've been. Her little fighter instinct was already tired out. A smile cracked Luck's somber face.

"Wanna hold her?" Magna offered with a grin.

Immediately, Luck's mood dropped. Magna saw that and sighed.

"Well, at least get a good look at her." Magna scooted closer until he and Luck were shoulder-to-shoulder. "She's got your hair." He shifted his arms a bit as he tried to point to her forehead and barely present locks. "The color's there at least. But I really hope it's as fluffy as yours too. She'll be the cutest gal in town and then we can be like 'hey, not flirting with my daughter.'"

"Mhm…"

Magna and Luck sat in silence for a while longer. Their daughter slept peacefully in Magna's arms.

"Luck, you don't gotta worry about hurting her, y'know… You love her too much for that."

At his words, Luck cringed.

"My mom loved me and yet she still…" Luck threw his head back and groaned. "She loved me, I know she did. She had to have loved me!" Luck bit his lip when he noticed how loud he was getting. He held still for a moment, watching if the baby stirred. And when she remained serene, he went on, "But that didn't stop her from hitting me… How do I know I won't end up the same?"

Magna leaned in and bonked his head against Luck's.

"There's a lot of things that'll stop you," Magna muttered. "For one, I'd skin your ass if you tried to hurt our baby. Second, the squad would crucify you. But you'd also kick your own ass if you did." He sat upright and looked Luck in the eye. "Also, look at where you are in life. You've got a stable job and home. You've got a husband and more friends than you can count to watch your back. And you've got the mind to hesitate and consider your actions towards your child. You won't hurt her, I promise."

Luck listened to Magna. How his husky voice was warm with reassurance. He watched Magna's face. How his eyes lit up at the mention of them being married and his lips were smiling with confidence. He let the words sink into him.

And Magna was right.

Luck had everything his mom lacked when she raised him. She loved him but she was so vulnerable and alone. It didn't excuse a thing. But it put into perspective her lashing out at him.

Luck looked at his daughter again. She was so small and helpless. He reached out and touched the edge of her blanket.

"Do you wanna hold her now?" Magna shifted, as if to hand the baby over. And Luck pulled his hand back before his finger could brush his daughter's cheek.

"… Not yet. She looks so comfy in your arms right now. Maybe tomorrow though."

"Heh. Let's hope she doesn't get too comfy with me before then. Or maybe she's already chosen me as her favorite dad!"

"Hah!" Luck bumped Magna with his elbow. "I won't let you win, Magna!"

The men shared a laugh before turning their eyes to their daughter again. The gift that they’d been given.