adelphoi | (no subject)

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[ never before has alisaie so deeply, keenly known what it is to feel bittersweet.

arriving on hydaelyn again, surrounded by the familiar walls of the rising stones, eorzea's peoples and lands safe, restored, full - is it not what she had dreamt of since first she awoke in that icy pod? since she looked out over a wide vista of stars and attempted to process the fact that her home was gone? mourning an entire world had been a monumental effort, and when the news had come that their homes could yet be salvaged she had never been more relieved.

that relief, of course, had been soon followed by a sweeping despair. they were to return home, and only home, the natha had a duty to fulfill, to see to it that everything was restored exactly as it was, no exception, no compromise. for the greater good, they had insisted, and alisaie's heart had broken clean in two. she had made so many connections, so many close friends, she had carved a life out for herself on el nysa and -

- and prompto. to lose him forever was an ache she could not bear. she had already lost so much, so many, and to lose him.. of course she fought. she railed and shouted herself hoarse, she petitioned the natha again and again, begged, but they would not be moved. and so she was home again, surrounded by familiar walls and familiar friends, but on her clothing she could still smell prompto's skin, the sensation of his last kiss clinging to her mouth like a ghost.

a week of stunned grieving was all she allowed herself, but alisaie would not be defeated. traveling to other worlds.. it is possible, she has seen it done. the ascians, the warriors of the first - all had traveled between the planes, and alisaie was entirely certain, with all of her heart, that his eos was one of the many echoes, the worlds connected to her own by the sundering of the mothercrystal. prompto was gone and yet he still somehow felt so very close, just out of reach of her touch, her voice, her heart.

the pregnancy, of course, had been.. entirely unexpected. the natha had rendered them sterile, but she can only assume that they had reversed it some time before their restoration of their homes, long enough for him to quicken within her womb and leave her with a soul to remember him by, a sweet child with her own dark eyes and prompto's fair hair, and smile, and laugh that breaks her heart to hear. but gods she loves him, this little sunshine boy who thrives on touch and love, who sleeps well and smiles often and gives her the extra drive she needs to work, to finish, to find the way to drive open the doorway between their worlds. it is unstable, and unable to linger for long, it is entirely possible that this is a one-way trip, that she will never be able to find her way back, and that is all that stalls her. prompto is her heart, her husband, the mother of her child - but hydaelyn is her home, her family is here, and the thought of leaving her brother behind forever, leaving urianger, and the scions..

gods, it is nearly enough to unmake her, to convince her to abandon her work.

but they remind her, all of them, that prompto too is her family, that their child deserves to know his father, that if she does not make this step she will never see him again. she will.. simply have to do it again, to find a way to keep the doorway open. and if she has not, at least she has said her goodbyes, she has made her peace, and decided what it is that she needs.

and so that is what brings her here at last, to eos, where the air is thick with darkness, where the aether is in upheaval. gods, this is the home he had returned to? this is where he has been? the atmosphere is heady and oppressive, the roads swarmed with terrible daemons. she had made the right decision.

finding him, however, was much more difficult. finding her way to a well lit station had been difficult enough in a foreign world, and she had learned quickly to arrange her hair to cover her ears, avoiding questions she does not have the time to answer. but soon enough she had learned of him, where he was, and how to arrive there - to a city called lestallum, the last great bastion against the doom hovering on the horizon.

alisaie's heart is pounding when she arrives before the worn wooden door, in a narrow staircase with yellow walls, the paint peeling and the light harsh. she's ruffled and dusty with travel, exhausted and anxious, smelling of sweat and chocobo but once she had arrived in the city she could not bring herself to wait another second before searching him out, finding him. hefting the sleeping child higher on her hip, alisaie presses a kiss to his pale blonde head, taking a deep, stilling breath.

and she knocks. ]

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[ It's okay, he's long known he's her secondary lover. Cookies will always been first in her heart. Actually, now that they have kids, too, he's probably third...maybe fourth after Peo. Oh well, he can live with being fourth, especially when his efforts earn him reactions like this. ]

Figured you deserved somethin' sweet after putting up with hospital mush for weeks. [ With a chuckle, he leans in to press a soft peck to the corner of her jaw. ] Eat up! You want anything else? Think I'm gonna make a sandwich.

[ He's a bit too tired for pancakes right now, sorry. But maybe in the morning... ]

[ yeah i mean.. yeah.. that is all true. but she has room enough in her heart for cookies, children, peo, and prompto, luckily for him. she has a lot of love to give.

she's giving a lot of it to these cookies right now, shoving two of them right into her mouth and chewing gratefully around a pleasured groan. they taste just as good as they smelled, nice and buttery and sweet. mmm.. prompto's kiss earns a smile, and though her mouth is full she still turns her head enough to bump her nose affectionately to his cheek. ]

A sandwich is just fine.

[ another cookie, and she leans onto one hand, the other still gently rocking the baby bouncers. the girls are nicely tuckered from their bath. smiling, alisaie speaks again in a soft, squishy sort of tone. ]

You're so good to me..

[ Yeah, he's done good. He always knows he's hit a home run with she gets all doughy-sounding like this, and he grins to himself as he reaches into the fridge for some sandwich fixings. It's well stocked, but no thanks to Prompto himself — he has to give Ignis credit for that one.

When he turns around, he wears the same smile, soft and warm and full of joy. Sure, the world is still blanketed in darkness, and they face a tough road ahead, raising not one, but three children now in a world like this. But with her at his side, what could he ever have to fear? In this little space they have carved out in the universe, in this moment, everything is peaceful, everything is perfect.

Instead of responding, he sets the fixings on the counter, turns to her and slips his arms around her waist, before lowering his mouth to hers in a kiss that is as slow and sweet as it is intense and deep, the kind that will leave them both breathless when he pulls away.

She already knows all his reasons. This is just a reminder. ]

[ no.. he abandoned the sandwiches so soon!! couldn't he cuddle her after there's real food in her belly?

.. but okay, she can't really complain about this. it's unexpected and sudden, so her breath hitches a little, but just as soon she's lifting her arms and slipping them easily over his shoulders (still holding the cookie bag in one hand), and tilting her head to kiss him more properly.

it's a good kiss, the kind that makes her belly tighten up and her heart skip and leap up into her throat, the fingers of her free hand curling into his collar to hold tight. with her teeth dragging his lower lip, she smiles coyly against his mouth, nuzzling her nose alongside his own, breathing his breath, kissing between soft, murmured words. ]

Missed me, did you?

Mmm...dunno what gave you that idea...

[ He murmurs back, right against her lips, his mouth pulling into an irresistible smile It's been some time since he's just been able to hold her and kiss her like this, so even though there are things to do, sandwiches to be made and children to be put to bed, he lets the moment linger, kissing the corner of her mouth, nose pressed to her cheek. ]

I love you.

[ He whispers reverently, before pressing a line of soft kisses along her jaw and down her neck, where he buries his face against her skin.

He missed her so damn much. ]

I love you.

[ oh.. his kisses stray from her mouth, down her throat, and alisaie arches into it, tipping up her chin and closing her eyes and soaking in the feel of his mouth on her skin. they've always been touchy and affectionate, and it's been a month since he could last really hold her like this, full in his arms, squeezing her close.

murmuring under her breath, alisaie turns her head to nip playfully at his ear, her smile curving against his cheek. ]

I love you, too.

[ her answer comes easily as always, though it does not come without a twinge of guilt tugging at her heart. gently, she smooths a hand over the back of his shoulders, down his spine, and up again. ]

I am.. sorry.

[ He maintains this space against her then, breathing in her skin, pressing soft, fluttering kisses again and again to the sweep of her neck. How had he once gone for years without being able to hold her like this? How had he ever known a time in his life where she wasn't at his side? This month apart had been so long, hard on the children, but him as well. Prompto is not the sort of person who can go it alone, and he had missed her presence keenly, had not adjusted to her absence in their bed. At last, things can begin to return to normal.

...You know, as normal as they can be with two infants in the home, anyway. ]

Don't be. You have nothing to be sorry for.

[ Which goes without saying...but still. ]

All that matters is you're home now. With us.

[ With all of them, their family. ]

Still..

[ whether or not she has control over what happened, prompto and louie suffered nonetheless. alisaie struggles still with the terrible fear of losing her loved ones, remembers clearly the terror and grief she had felt when prompto had been lost to her not once, but three times before. the last thing she should ever want would be to put him through the very same torment.

nevertheless, he is right. she is home and well, their children are hale and healthy, and they can move forward, past the dodged bullet that nearly struck their little family. there is plenty ahead of them, much to be done, and all that matters is that she's here, pressed close to him, warm and safe.

bumping her nose to his jaw, alisaie finds her way to his mouth again to brush a kiss there. ]

Have you already forgotten your sandwich?

[ It is all the matters, and it's the only balm that Prompto needs to recover from the hurt. For how devastated he had been, his heart is resilient as ever, and already he feels whole once more, just holding her like this. Just kissing her like this. ]

Don't you mean...have I already forgotten your sandwich?

[ He murmurs to her lips, quiet and private. HE KNOWS HER HEART. She wants him to eat, but she wants to eat, too! So at last he lets go and steps back to finish his work with the sandwiches — but not before pressing his mouth fully to hers once more, lips slotted together perfectly, sharing her breath. This is still who they are, through it all. Two halves of a greater whole, formed just right for the other.

And now, to make some sandwiches. ]

[ okay, he isn't wrong. she's hungry!! and amazing as those cookies are, the idea of real actual food after so long eating hospital slop is very, very exciting.

so she slips onto a barstool to watch him work, shoving another cookie (or two) into her mouth, her free hand setting to rocking the baby bouncers again, though the twins are happily snoozing by now. it's been a hard day for everyone! ]

Are you excited to be a proud papa again?

[ she knows the answer but she wants to hear him say it anyway.. ]

[ The moment that question leaves her lips, an irresistible grin jumps to his face, his gaze darting the two precious bundles snoozing in the rockers. They're all tuckered out and sleeping (for now!!), and just the mere sight of them nearly brings a tear to his eye. They're beautiful. Perfect. More than he could ever be worthy of. He will never understand how he is able to be a part of something so wonderful, but he's so glad to have been able to build this little family with her. ]

You bet I am! [ He nearly shouts. Whoops. Fortunately, the girls seem to have already learned to tune out his voice. ] That is — yeah. Only a month old, and I couldn't be prouder of 'em...

[ A little misty-eyed, he dabs at the corner of his eye before finishing up a sandwich and passing it over the counter to her. ]

Luna looks more like you, I think. She's got that little button nose...aaaaaand she likes to try 'n' pull my hair out more than Luci does.

[ ah, she is about to murder him when he exclaims loudly..

.. but thankfully the girls do not so much as stir, so he will escape her wrath. like as not they'll be up again in a few hours to mewling noisemakers, so she's happy to enjoy the quiet for now, while she can.

happy to enjoy this sandwich, too, even while prompto gets misty eyed for the umpteenth time today alone. ]

Mm, mayhaps she is trying to tell you something..

[ she says, through a big, satisfying bite. ]

Or mayhaps she likes chocobos.

[ His mouth turns into a wry grin as he sets to work on the second sandwich, a laugh huffed out of him. ]

Mmm, definitely the second one. I guess there are worse things than havin' your hair resemble a chocobo...to an infant, anyway.

[ But it doesn't look like that to anyone old enough to tell the difference, gosh!!! ]

[ hold the phone. alisaie drops her sandwich immediately. ]

So you admit it, then? After all of these long years, you at last speak the trush?

[ ...Oh.

No. What has he done.

Immediately, Prompto's hands fly up, waving quickly to dispel any sort of notion she may be forming that that was any kind of admittance. Because! It's! Not! True!!! ]

N-noooooo! No! Nope. That's not what I meant! [ what's the trush though ] I-I only meant that to a baby, a human who is less than a month old, it miiiiiight, maybe, could sort of resemble one, a little.

[ And that's as much as he will concede, thank you very much! ]

[ HEH.....

their many years together culminate at last to this moment. prompto backpedals desperately, but it's far too late, the damage is done. he spoke the words, there can be no un-saying them, not now, it is over for him..

even better, here's louie coming down the stairs in his pajamas, ready to be tucked in. ]

Yeah, Daddy chocobo-head, Daddy chocobo-head!

[ alisaie bursts immediately into a cackle. ah, from the mouths of babes - betrayed by his own son!! ]

[ Ah...time to disown them all. Or, well, he can leave and take the girls with him, but Alisaie and Louie have gone too far. It's almost like they planned this. How could he be betrayed so swiftly by his own son?!

His sandwich still in process, Prompto turns around and scoops Louie up into one of those pretzel-twisting dad holds where he somehow manages to both tickle him and blow raspberries on his tummy at the same time. ]

Ohhhh, I see how it is! You're a wise guy now, huh?! We'll see how you like your chocobo-head dad now!

[ His attack is unrelenting, and Louie squeals with laughter. Good thing the girls are still dead to the world... ]

[ poor louie is a casualty of this war.. but alisaie continues to laugh nonetheless, even through a mouthful of her sandwich. ]

Unhand that poor boy!

[ she pipes up at last, standing so that she can wrestle the squealing louie from his father's maniacal tickle-grasp, scooping him near to smother his face with kisses. ]

'Tis not his fault that his father looks like an oversized chicken, after all.

[ this is why he's a mamas boy ]

[ Yeah, yeah, keep laughing, Alisaie!!! He'll see it to it that the girls are his and there are two of them, so watch out!!!

Prompto throws up his hands once Alisaie pulls Louie away, but not before he reaches over to give his son a good hair-tousling. The nerve of some people's kids! ]

I have no idea what you're talkin' about! [ HE WILL CUT OFF HER AHOGE WHILE SHE SLEEPS ] I ought to put you both to bed.

[ Alisaie has been back in the house for half a day and already she's a menace! ]

[ silly boy, thinking she will never not be in charge of all of the children, and him too.. but she will allow him to keep his impossible dream alive. ]

Are you threatening us?

[ not that, like.. she wouldn't be super happy to be put to bed. please do put them all to bed, then she doesn't have to do it herself, because louie is at that age where he hates to go to bed even when he's pajama'd up and nodding off in his seat. ]

Chocobos are aggressive when aggravated, I suppose.

[ OH MY GOD, she's unrelenting!!! This family was a mistake, he's returning them to the family store. ]

Ohhh, yeah, and they don't read bedtime stories or give backrubs either, so you better choose your next words carefully!

[ Once again, the blackmail, he's not above it! ]

[ too bad they were made in hydaelyn, he can't return them, the store they came from is in another (castle) world. suck it, prompto!!!! ]

Of course they can, they need only be trained properly.

[ HEHEHhh of course she is unrelenting, she's got all of her mojo back now too so she's super sassy and ornery now!! one more bite to finish off her sandwich, and alisaie hefts louie more comfortably into her arms and steps toward prompto, tipping her chin to kiss his cheek. ]

They are very smart, and sweet, and loyal, after all.

[ they would never return their family to the family store. ]

[ Yeah, yeah, yeah...he knows her routine perfectly! She dunks him and then tries to butter him back up again with sweet kisses and compliments! Well, this time it's

totally going to work yet again, for the millionth time, even if he's fully aware of what she's doing! Besides, he'll find a way to get his revenge...he will, he will, this time for sure.

But for now, it's time to get this boy to bed! Pour one out for his unfinished, uneaten sandwich, he'll remember to eat tomorrow, probably, or when the girls wake them up at ass o'clock. ]

Well, I guess it's time to put this son of a chocobo to bed.

[ Ah, but promises are promises! He reaches into Alisaie's bag of cookies on the counter and pops one into Louie's mouth. ]

Aye, it is, which I shall do.

[ her, not him, not both of them. she hasn't noticed that he hasn't eaten his sandwich, you know!! prompto has been home to put louie to bed for near on a month on his own, alisaie is perfectly capable of picking up the slack this one time. ]

Just bring the girls up with you when you finish. [ a beat. ] Now, give your papa a kiss.

[ she says, and louie turns in her arms to reach for prompto's head with his little hands, to lay a cookie crumby kiss right on his cheek. nini, daddy chocobo! ]

[ Fine, she'll let her have this one! Mostly because he's really freakin' hungry, all this sass has worked up his appetite. Prompto leans in to receive Louie's kiss, crumbs and all, before kissing his boy on the brow, running a hand over his hair. ]

Sweet dreams, my little chicobo. [ And then, to Alisaie: ] Make sure you don't forget to do the voices!

[ She volunteered, so she must accept her full responsibility with putting Louie to bed! Once they're gone, Prompto returns at last to finish making and eating his sandwich, though it's hard not to just distractedly stare at his little baby girls for long periods of time. They look so peaceful...he'll try to remember this when they're screeching in a little while.

...He also steals one of Alisaie's cookies. It's a husband tax. He likes to live dangerously. ]

using the same icon twice in a row...how embarrassing

WOW HOW DARE YOU

:kissing_closed_eyes:

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