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In the quiet and cozy atmosphere of the two archons’ shared abode, the warm light shining from the hearth takes the place of the sun. Both the Anemo Archon and Geo Archon had decided today would not be a day of work, nor play, but instead a day of rest.
That mantra was more meant for the little one in the home, not the two adults. Ever since the two deities had Dvalin, their way of life both together and apart had switched. In the past, since they began seeing each other, most if not all of Barbatos and Morax's meet-ups or dates were scheduled for the opportunity of activity. Going out to eat together, sparring, drinking… even meetings for official matters became dates somewhat. It felt like no matter what they were doing, Rex Lapis and Barbatos would make it fun all for themselves, slipping in teases and sly romantic remarks. Any of the original Seven would vouch for that.
But with the birth of a new dragon, Dvalin, the pair's time together became less about spending time together for the sake of their bond, but instead for the sake of the baby. Which of course is predictable, if one were to try for pregnancy. However, Dvalin's birth was not planned. In fact, he was not conceived by the two at all. The little dragon was found scrutinized and wounded by farmers in Mondstadt's grassy plains. His sharp claws destroy farmers' crops, unknowingly setting them back months. Swords and spears were raised to deal with him; to send him away. That is until the Anemo Archon laid eyes upon him. A beautiful, big dragon he was. His size was nothing to scoff at, but Barbatos knew all too well that a soul like Dvalin did not deserve a fate of deject. This was not what the god wanted, nor what they would stand for. Even for their people, they would not excuse such disgracefulness hurled at a creature born of such gracefulness.
The god of wind took the dragon in, only realizing how young he was after the fact. He must've only been a few months old. “Already faced with such unfair resentment…”
To soothe the bleeding heart of Dvalin, Barbatos would play and sing for him—help him regain at least an ounce of trust in humanity.
Such a fable only took place a month ago now. To form a workaround for the young one's large size, the Anemo Archon helped and encouraged the dragons to form into a more humanoid one; to be more manageable. So at present, a horned infant slumbers, swaddled in the arms of his caretaker.
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Venti had never acted as a parent before, but it seemed they had a knack for it.
“Morax, look!”
“Whats wrong?” The other man whipped around in an instant, unable to discern whether his partner's cry was one of despair or otherwise.
To his relief, the view his eyes began to focus on was that of a dream. The tiny claws of the newborn dragon have wrapped themselves around Venti's ring finger, squeezing in the little one's sleep. The child hasn't had a lot of quiet moments lately, and neither have the two new caregivers. This is such a treat.
The adoring, proud smile the younger god took on is as joyful as morax had seen them in a while. He matched their emotions in turn.
“It seems like he really has started to trust you.”
“I suppose I was worrying for nothing,”
The sound of the song that usually flows from Venti's lips is instead a deep, exhausted sigh. Out of the two of them, Barbatos has been the one managing the baby the most. Zhongli has his matters to attend to–to be present in his nation. On the other hand, Ventis duties for their city can be fulfilled away from it, thankfully. Answering prayers, sending the winds out to check on things… it's not difficult to trust their citizens in keeping the place up and running without issue. Without that freedom, Mondstadt wouldn't be Mondstadt and Barbatos wouldn't be the god of freedom.
They are thankful for this time to themselves, but spending it with a child is something new, let alone doing so without the company of Morax. Before, when Zhongli had work to attend to, they would just sit and look pretty until he came home. But with an infant to manage, things have become stressful. Harder. Feeding Dvalin, bathing him, teaching him, keeping him happy, keeping him safe… it is much harder than they thought it would be.
So the sigh of relief that escapes their throat isn't unwarranted. They tilt their head back against the couch and shut their eyes momentarily, enjoying the tranquility exuding from the home. Their child is happy and their beloved is here with them. All is well. Thank the gods Zhongli took off work today.
“Barbatos, take a rest. A short nap may do you some good. I cleaned my chambers this morning.”
“Not yet. I want to enjoy this. He's quite precious.”
Venti rests their gaze on Dvalin, smiling gingerly with no intent to get up from their seat. Their eyebags are prominent, but their attachment to the kid is even more so. The closeness between the two is something special. So special, in fact, that Zhongli isn't entirely sure Dvalin likes him all that much.
“Youve been sitting here since barely past midnight, baobei. I can hold the child while you bathe and dress.”
“Im not sure he'd be keen on being handed over to you, love. Dragons are territorial, you should know.”
The weak jab Venti throws at Zhongli is an appreciated reminder that Venti's eyes are not only on just the child, but him as well. That's how he likes it. He takes steps from behind the couch to the armrest of it, leaning down to get a better look at his lover. Truly, he's never seen them lack so much spirit.
“I'm aware, but I'm not sure there's any other choice.”
It's a blunt statement, unsurprisingly for the Geo Archon. And Barbatos is aware he's right this time. It was only in the morning before poor Dvalin began to wail from his crib in the room adjacent to theirs, so they've been up for hours trying to soothe him. They take their sweet time to raise their head, giving their beloved some type of puppy dog eyes. Not to let them stay where they are, but just to let him know they really don't want to let go.
“Do you need help standing? You may be numb by now.” Zhongli's unexpected jokes always keep barbatos happy.
“Hah, what a gentleman you are.”
The older man helps the younger to their feet with one steady, helpful hand while their other arm stays firmly wrapped around the swaddled baby, securing him to their chest. Zhongli leans down to give the sleepy god a chaste, gentle kiss to their temple, then between their eyebrows, eyelids, nose, cheeks, then lips. He wants to see them laugh again, like they did before. Thankfully, this works, getting some giggles out of the bard.
“Hehe. Just make sure not to drop him, blockhead.”
Their grip on Dvalin is noticeably hesitant to be undone, but eventually they hand the little boy over to him. Zhongli doesn't remember how he looked as a child, let alone an infant, but he doesn't think he would have any shot at being as cute as this little one. As he takes Dvalin carefully into his grasp, he takes a good long look at the boy. Small tendrils of teal hair that just slightly curl before his forehead, his squinting eyes, his horns that are barely growing in… somehow, the magnificence of the child really does remind him of barbatos. The gentleness of the boy almost feels hereditary, despite not being biologically Ventis. Anything they touch is blessed, he thinks.
Morax simply spaces out looking at the tiny dragon, when Barbatos’ voice comes back into focus.
“Hold his head, dear!”
“Oh, excuse me.”
The mesmerized man quickly shelters the bottom of the soft head in his arms, holding it up by his occipital bone. Venti backs up on their feet, raking their eyes over the view in front of them. Their eyes seem unusually shimmery.
“I think you make a fine father.”
Something about the raw adoration in their eyes says more than they let themselves utter. Ventis sleep-ruffled hair and polite placement of their hands coming to rest together really exudes genuinity. The other archon can only smile, attempting to ignore the growing warmth in his heart at the new label.
“I should be telling you that.”
“Youve told me that far more than enough already. I mean what I say." Venti takes a step forward once more, letting their heavy head rest against their lover's robed chest.
“Truly, you two resemble each other quite a bit.” Zhongli's free arm takes a gentle wrap around the bard's back. It's hard for him not to think out loud when the two most precious beings to him are both in his arms. Something so important to Barbatos is by default important to him.
“Id argue he resembles you a bit more. Look at those teeth coming in.” They reach their fingers to Dvalin’s lips, opening his mouth to poke the tip of one of the many growing fangs.
“His draconic features are not what I am referring to. I mean his presence feels akin to yours.”
A kiss to Morax's collarbone urges him to look down at Venti, having been previously watching the baby outstretch his hands, squeezing his newborn claws around only air. He must be missing his original caregiver's presence.
“I think that's just cuz you loooove me.” Their usual—albeit more direct—teasing has returned. He was wondering how long it'd take. As much as he doesn't like to admit it, Morax misses it when he's forced to bear the world without Venti's chaff voice.
“I never denied that I do.”
“Heh. Well then I love you too.” A short kiss to the Geo Archon's lips, as fleeting as a wisp of the winds. He has no time to reciprocate in the way he's been aching to before the feeling is gone. A smile remains. “You were right, I need to get out of these clothes… ive been in them for one too many nights. Ehe.”
Barbatos’ fingers brush over Dvalin’s forehead, then reach for Zhonglis to do the same. The way in which they do so makes him feel like he's being just as babied as the actual baby is. “Ill take a short bath, then I'll be back to feed him. Can you hold the fort while I'm gone, hon?”
“Ill see what I can do.”
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A wail that can only be described as glass shattering erupts from Zhongli's chambers, surely startling even the heavens.
“Morax?”
Airy yet frequent steps can be heard from the hallway, racing to open the door of the bedroom before finally getting a peek inside. With their robe untied and dripping wet hair, it looks like Venti was just about done with their bath, anyway. They immediately race to the bed when they see Morax cradling the ceaselessly upset child, attempting to calm him down somehow. Of course its not working.
“Baobei, he's okay.”
“What happened?”
“He seems hungry, I believe. I have not seen you feed him in a few hours.”
“I can't constantly feed him! I've already been feeding him too much, I think… is it noticeable?” the tubbiness of the child is, in fact, noticeable.
“We will wean him off soon. But it really has been a good while since his last feeding.”
The man looks concerned as he gazes at the crying baby in his arms. Venti watches his eyes, and the disappointment in them is evident.
“Thank you for trying to calm him. Ah, I guess you really do just want your meal, huh? Miss me that much?”
Barbatos’ tone is noticeably less stressed when directed at Dvalin, despite the situation, hoping their attitude will somehow rub off on their child. With an apologetic glance, Zhongli hands Dvalin back over to Barbatos’ open arms, their chest already visible. They maneuver the infant's head just under their breast, his horns and claws scraping up against the delicate skin. At this point, they're already used to it. If Dvalin is getting fed, then Venti is getting scratched and pulled at. Truthfully, they pray he may lose that habit soon.
With a few more “shhh”’s and “hush”’s, the dragon child takes his caregiver's breast to his mouth and begins to suck. Thankfully, Dvalin’s fangs haven't developed to the point where it hurts when he feeds yet. Still, the claw marks his squeezing insists on making isn't anything to disregard. Watching as his lover handles the baby, a stir of both devotion and shame fill his lungs. To be the amazing father Venti says he is, he should have been able to find a way to quiet and calm Dvalin, is what he thinks. He simply does not have the paternal talent that Barbatos does. The flexibility and flow of a father are traits he is going to have to adapt to.
“Im sorry you couldn't enjoy your bath for longer, dove.”
“Hush, don't apologize. I was just about done anyway.”
A lingering quiet—now that the baby is occupied—urges Venti to speak.
“You seem down now, dear. Whatever is the matter?” Barbatos' ability to check on and be there for everyone around them is another thing Morax admires about them. That's what makes them, he's realized. They've got both Dvalin and him all swooped up in their arms.
“I could not calm him on my own. I must find a way to do so without having to need you with me.”
“Youre being much too hard on yourself. This is new for both of us, and like I said, dragons are territorial. He may very well just take a little while to warm up to you.”
Morax frowns.
“But am I not his father now?”
“Aha, well..” Venti was trying to be funny about the whole ‘you make a great father’ thing. Y'know, to fluster him. But now that they think about it, they really should start considering what zhongli is to this child. Venti took Dvalin in as their own, and Zhongli is their partner. So what now?
“Do you… want to be his father? I know it's a big responsibility, I didn't mean to force it on you.”
“I don't see why I wouldn't. We are partners, and with that I had already expected to have kids with you.”
Barbatos pauses the rocking of their child as he feeds, thoughts stopped in their tracks before gearing up again, only able to let out a flustered laugh. “Haha! Ah, really now? You wanted to have kids with me from the very start, huh?” They push him in the upper arm weakly.
“Do not make it seem like that, Barbatos. I didn't intend on being together just for fun.”
“Heh, thanks for the clarification, mister baby maker.”
Through the jokes, though, there is sweet intent. The intention to stay with them through it all. Through life, through death, through hardships, through fun… it is a nice thought for the both of them. Maybe one day they'll have a more relaxed life than this one. Barbatos tries to shift the subject.
“Im sure you guys will get some nice bonding time in. you can teach him how to use his tail to his advantage. Oh! Or you could show him how to use his horns in battle. Butting heads and all that.”
The larger dragon laughs. “That seems too dangerous for an infant. I'm surprised that was what came to your mind.”
“Oh, I know. I'm just thinking about the future." The future of their family is something that relieves the pair. A quiet life after retirement.
Barbatos continues to bounce the baby ever so lightly as he feeds. They've learned Dvalin likes constant movement. Sometimes, they like to raise him into the sky and watch him spread his tiny wings. When Venti found him, he couldn't even fly yet, despite his massive circumference. They hope one day they'll both fly together, and then he will have the strength to fly all on his own. To experience the world without their constant watch.
Venti at last pulls Dvalin away from their breast, knowing if they let him go on any longer, his tummy will be a bit too full. They just got a bath, they do not want to deal with spit up at the moment. As his teeth unlatch from the warm skin of his caregiver, he coos before his head is rested on their shoulder. Patting his back to burp him, they take a look at Zhongli who seems to eye what they're doing very carefully.
“I promise, it'll all work out fine. He was doing quite well with you until he started getting hungry, I assume.”
“He liked to pull on my hair. He got it tangled around his fingers, so I had to set him on his back to untangle it all.”
“Awwwh, I'm sorry to have missed that. Was papa playing with you?”
The emotionally touched archon ruffles Dvalin’s short hair before continuing. “He’s gonna like you even more than me by the time he’s a year old if i keep leaving you two alone together!” Venti's dramatic exclamation makes both the child and the old man beside them giggle. The insinuation of Zhongli being Dvalin’s ‘papa’ once again makes his heart sing. He didn't expect for this milestone to happen this soon in their relationship; to have a kid together. He wasn't prepared to be called papa. He isn't complaining though.
“‘Papa’ has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?”
Oh, of course they noticed his flushing. Morax only ever blushes on his ears, and he supposes they must be red hot by now. How could they not be? By the grace of the heavens, both his child and beloved sit right in front of him. The sight could not be more resplendent.
“It does indeed.”