feeling all the shades of indigo

REMI

& now I'm all alone in the dark of night

Intimate as he and Hotaru have been together, still Remi lurks like the shadowy figure he is at her bedside as their daughter joins her brother on the Valkyrie's breast. It isn't his place to nudge into bed beside her nor to crouch over her. Kneeling at her bedside, Hotaru's words steal away whatever breath he's managed to secure in his lungs as she offers their daughter's middle name to Vai. It tugs painfully in all the most tender places, and though Remi's muffled sob is one of joy, something within him breaks as well. Pushing down these feelings, the alchemist gives Vai as heartfelt a look as he can, glassy as his eyes are, before turning back to the mother of his twins.

"You did so very well." He whispers to the three of them. Reaching for another cold cloth to lay against Hotaru's forehead, the alchemist beams down at her before turning his attention to the small heads laying against her chest. "They are beautiful." Reaching out just a finger—made shaky with restraint—Remi gently caresses their skin, marvelling at how delicate and soft they felt. "Mateo was not born, and Aoife..." The alchemist shakes his head softly, not wanting to speak of mother's dying just now. "I have never been here for this part." He explains shakily.

The moon is shining but I can't see the light