Zavien
She spoke and he listened, confirming that she'd finished her quest - whatever that might have been. His head nodded along. She went to see Safrin. Okay. He'd guessed that, but what had Safrin said? Why did Soh look like she was bracing for something? What could the news have been to -
He blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.
Soh might as well have been speaking in tongues for how well Zavien comprehended the words she said. He knew his name. He knew the syllables. He knew what the words were. But his brain refused to compute what they meant or why she was saying them. She couldn't be - They hadn't - How -
Like smoke slowly drifting away to reveal the fire beneath, his heartbeat quickened, light bursting into his eyes as he stiffened. Then it suddenly hit him, the truth clear in her silver eyes: Soh was pregnant.
He shook his head, guilt and shame tumbling through his words. "Soh - I - I'm so sorry. I didn't even - I should have - " Did she hate him now? He'd been so careless, so stupid and inconsiderate. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind to wear a condom, to ask Soh if she was on anything, to even think about how his actions to permanently alter her life - their lives.
Zavien blanked. There was going to be a small human with his and Soh's DNA - a baby. His heart fluttered, awe shifting quickly to terror at the thought of a kid. One that was going to grow up and look to them for guidance. One they would need to teach and protect. One he could lose just as easily as Soh. Who was currently standing in front of him. Pregnant.
Pulling her sharply into his arms, Zavien rested his face against her head, breathing her in as his heart raced, still trying to grapple the truth as it tried to flip and tumble out of his grasp. "Are you okay?" How did she feel about all of this? Did she regret their relationship? Was she suffering? Was she scared? Or maybe - just maybe - did she have that same tiny spark of excitement? He didn't know how to feel - didn't know how he should feel - but the world felt significantly far, his feet not quite touching the floor anymore.
He blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.
Soh might as well have been speaking in tongues for how well Zavien comprehended the words she said. He knew his name. He knew the syllables. He knew what the words were. But his brain refused to compute what they meant or why she was saying them. She couldn't be - They hadn't - How -
Like smoke slowly drifting away to reveal the fire beneath, his heartbeat quickened, light bursting into his eyes as he stiffened. Then it suddenly hit him, the truth clear in her silver eyes: Soh was pregnant.
He shook his head, guilt and shame tumbling through his words. "Soh - I - I'm so sorry. I didn't even - I should have - " Did she hate him now? He'd been so careless, so stupid and inconsiderate. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind to wear a condom, to ask Soh if she was on anything, to even think about how his actions to permanently alter her life - their lives.
Zavien blanked. There was going to be a small human with his and Soh's DNA - a baby. His heart fluttered, awe shifting quickly to terror at the thought of a kid. One that was going to grow up and look to them for guidance. One they would need to teach and protect. One he could lose just as easily as Soh. Who was currently standing in front of him. Pregnant.
Pulling her sharply into his arms, Zavien rested his face against her head, breathing her in as his heart raced, still trying to grapple the truth as it tried to flip and tumble out of his grasp. "Are you okay?" How did she feel about all of this? Did she regret their relationship? Was she suffering? Was she scared? Or maybe - just maybe - did she have that same tiny spark of excitement? He didn't know how to feel - didn't know how he should feel - but the world felt significantly far, his feet not quite touching the floor anymore.
I love you with everything I am,
everything I've been,
and everything I hope to be.
everything I've been,
and everything I hope to be.
