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Alastor sighed as he watched the rain fall. The acid rain was such a bother. We'll it used to be. Alastor hated being inside during the rain. He could wander outside and deal with the burns, but it was hard to enjoy rain when your skin was melting off your flesh. It used to sadden him that he was stuck inside, but now? Now he could find himself looking forward to it. He looked over his shoulder to where Vox was cuddled up against his side. His partner was snoring softly, his antennas occasionally sparking as excess static was left in the air from the lightning.
Alastor never really thought he would finally find a forever partner after all these years. He was told he just had to find ‘the right person’ or ‘there was something wrong with him’, but neither were true.
Vox was the right person for him, but he finally learnt that people needed significant others while Alastor could live just fine without one.
Of course he couldn't see being away from Vox. His antics had grown on him and coming home to see his attractive mate passed out on his bed had grown on Alastor.
Alastor was pulled from his thoughts when he heard two light knocks on their door. “Come in.” He called out quietly, not wanting to disturb Vox's slumber.
Alastor watched in mild amusement as his two daughters entered the room. They were shuffling awkwardly and neither of them were speaking.
“What brings you two here?” Alastor asked with an innocent tilt of his head.
“It's raining.” Harmony deadpanned. “We wanted to see if Pa was okay.”
“Well he is sleeping.” Alastor chuckled. “So I think he’s doing just fine. His neck was acting up, but it wasn't anything I couldn't medicate him for.” Alastor brushed his lips against Vox's forehead and watched as his mate let out a small mewling noise and buried himself deeper into Alastor's side.
Lyric and Harmony watched as their fathers cuddled closely. Alastor was barely moving, obviously trying his best to keep his mate comfortable.
“How do you handle this all? Vaggie always says that you're short-tempered.” Harmony asked as she slowly made her way over to Vox and Alastor.
“Your Pa is simply the love of my life.” Alastor shrugged. “When we first became partners, I was stuck in a room with him for a while so I learnt a lot about him at that time and knew what to expect. He doesn't really surprise me all that much.”
“What about me?” Lyric stuck her tongue out slightly. “Was I a surprise?”
“No. I already knew Vox could have children. I just didn't know I could.” Alastor chuckled a bit as he held out his free arm for his girls. Lyric climbed up into his lap first with Harmony following behind her. “Why are you curious?”
“Well, it's just…” Lyric trailed off and she looked to get sister for assistance.
Harmony laughed a bit nervously. “Pa always seems a bit sick, no matter what, and we were wondering how you're so patient when he's been sick this long. You snapped at Angel for just looking at you wrong.”
“When you're in love, you'd be surprised at the amount of patience you truly have.” Alastor flicked Harmony's ears. “Your Pa being ill is unfortunate, but we vowed that no sickness would separate us, besides, I think it was worth it and so does he.” Alastor’s smile turned more genuine. “We wouldn't have you.” He kissed their foreheads gently before he continued. “I know I'm not the best father, all my attention is usually on Vox, but I'm always watching and I'm quite proud of you girls.”
Lyric seemed more exhausted than usual, her eyes were dulled slightly, but Alastor knew what was going through her mind. He couldn't blame her. She only learnt recently that Alastor was given an ultimatum to either be by Vox's side or raise her. She's probably a bit bitter that he picked Vox, but in their vows Alastor told Vox he would never leave him or pick another over him.
At the end of the day, Alastor would prefer it if he was never born if it meant that his mother was spared from buse from his father’s hands. Love was such a funny thing.
Harmony caught onto the awkwardness and shuffled her hands slightly. “Thank you, Dad.” They smiled. “Is there anything we can do to make Pa feel better?”
Alastor shook his head. “Afraid not, kid. I just need to stay still and let him wake up on his own time.”
Lyric stared down at her father’s sleeping body before she cuddled into Alastor more. “Can you sing that song?”
“Which one?” Alastor tilted his head.
“The one you sang to Pa while he was pregnant!” Harmony chimed in as she made herself comfortable by Alastor’s side.
“I sang a lot of songs to your Pa, but I can hazard a guess.” Alastor chuckled as he wrapped an arm around his two daughters.
The rain continued to pour as Alastor began to sing.
“Where the west breeze meets the horizon, there's a sun full of shadows. Take in the air and rest soundly, for the sun holds all the secrets found.” Alastor poked Lyric's nose before he poked Harmony. “In the blaze, bright and brutal, let the light guide your path, but do not be consumed by the lies or you will be burned.”
Lyric and Harmony exchanged a glance as they listened to their father's words.
“If you heed my warning carefully, the sun will burn a new siren song, a song where you must face the darkness left in her wake. Where the west breeze meets the horizon, there's a daughter waiting to meet. Come home my darling light, you'll only be found when you let yourself be lost.” Alastor finished quietly as he watched Lyric start to doze off. It was the same song he sang specifically to Vox during his pregnancy with her.
Harmony had also dozed off, snoring lightly as she cuddled into her older sister. They both seemed so relaxed and like there wasn't a problem in the world.
“I'm surprised you remember the words.” Vox's voice made his ear flickback to listen to his mate.
“It soothed you, don't know how but it did. I remembered it because it eased your worries.”
Vox shifted away from Alastor and got off the couch. He wandered off the couch and grabbed a blanket left on the coffee table. He draped it over his family before he crawled under the covers and cuddled into Alastor's embrace.
“It's moments like this that makes me see just how worth it that hell was.” Vox whispered as he began to twirl Harmony's ear with his finger.
“They want another sibling. They want a brother, specifically.” Alastor chuckled. “I told them they were too destructive as it was.”
“Is that why they haven't broken anything in a while?” Vox asked with a short laugh.
“Probably.” Alastor shrugged.
Vox stared down at his daughters before he huffed out. “I'll have to think about it.”
“They won't care if you say no. Lyric saw firsthand how horrible your pregnancies are.” Alastor pointed out. “Don't feel pressured because they want a sibling. You're doing all the work.”
“I know.” Vox smiled. “I'm not against another kid, I think I want to wait a few decades though. We have our whole afterlives to do as we please.”
“Ah, not quite.” Alastor poked the center of Vox's screen. “I have many responsibilities as the facility manager, and you have plenty of responsibilities as royalty.”
“You're so lame.” Vox sighed. “I don't want to think about all the stuff I've been neglecting.”
“Not my fault you power all of Hell.” Alastor teased. “Maybe you shouldn't be in such high demand.”
“Papermint works overtime to keep everything functional.” Vox shrugged.
“You should give him another raise.”
“...That’s a good idea.”