Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Angus was fine.  

It was nothing to be afraid of. Just a bit of a headache that was festering behind his right eye and had been pounding like a drum kit in the base of his skull. But he’s dealt with worse… 

That doesn't mean it still didn’t hurt. 

He would live. Besides… How could he be The World’s Greatest Detective and not get over a tiny headache? 

His day had been awful. School had dragged on; teachers talking in monotone voices about things he already knew. Students asking nonsense questions and getting meaningless answers. His lunch had tasted like sawdust in his mouth, so he had shoved it in his bag after two bites. 

He spent the majority of the day with his head in his arms as he tried not to fall into a pit of pain. When the bell had finally rung, he avoided all the other creatures and all the noise by bee-lining it home. 

Lucky for him, neither Taako or Kravitz were home yet, so Angus dimmed the lights and trudged through their house. His empty stomach rumbled, and after checking the medicine cabinet to see they were out of fantasy ibuprofen, Angus made his way to the kitchen. 

PB and J, his brain said. Classic after school snack. 

“I guess,” Angus mumbled, his words hardly a whisper. 

He slapped together something resembling a sandwich, his movements shaky as his hands trembled and his head felt airy. He stumbled over to the light switch, dimming the kitchen lights as he sat at the table with his sandwich on a plate. 

After mustering the courage to eat his food -- his stomach churning at the sight of the bread -- he could only swallow half of it. The taste wasn’t any better, but Angus was bright. He knew that he would only get rid of this headache once he gave his body the nutrients it needed. 

He burped uncomfortably, blinking slowly and painfully, as he pushed away his plate. 

Water, he thought. You should drink some water. 

But as he tried to stand, he swayed in a way that made his stomach roll. 

He felt his body collapse back into his chair, and before he could stop it, his head was falling onto the table. Maybe a nap, a voice in the back of his head said, and then his eyes were sliding shut. 

Blissful darkness surrounded him. 

---- 

“--Go. Ango,” A voice says in his ear. 

Angus groans, the familiar pain seeping back into his awareness. He squeezes his eyes shut, and when he pries them open, there is a face close to his own. He realizes that weight on his shoulder is a hand. 

“Hey, Little Man,” Taako says, his eyebrows narrowed but a smile dancing on his lips. “Did they make you take the Pacer Test in gym today? Why are you so tired?” 

Angus pushed himself up, looking around in confusion. “Wha… What happened?” 

“You were taking a nap,” Taako says, his smile fading. “You must have been really sleepy to have decided to take it at the table.” 

Angus was about to respond when his eyes landed on the half eaten sandwich and a sudden spike of pain shot out from behind his eye. The migraine had spread to his whole head now; an angry fist of agony squeezing around his brain as if it was a stress toy. 

Angus groaned, clutching his forehead with his hands as his eyes clamped shut. 

“Ango?” Taako asked, his voice softer now. “You okay, Kid?” 

Angus reached out one hand and started waving blindly. Not rudley; not asking his adopted father to leave. Instead asking him for a second of silence. 

Taako seemed to understand as he stopped speaking, but the warmth of his body stayed close. 

Eventually, the pain lessened and Angus opened his eyes blearily. 

“Angus,” Taako whispers. “Baby, please, can you look over here?” 

Angus continues to stare forward for a second, the words spoken to him taking a bit longer to catch up to his mind than normal. Taako waits, and Angus slowly turns his head to his guardian. 

He peers at Taako’s face, concern coating every inch of the Elf’s expression, through slitted eyes. Taako must have made the lights brighter when he returned home, unknowing of his son’s condition. 

Wordlessly, Taako gently reaches up and grabs onto the sides of Angus’ glasses with his thumb and forefingers and pulls the lenses away. The world instantly becomes blurry, but the lack of definition in shape or line helps Angus’ eyes relax. Without so much to focus on, he can take in and understand more of what Taako is saying. 

“Is it your head?” Taako asks, but he sounds like he always knows the answer. 

Angus hums in affirmation. 

“Kiddo,” Taako says in sympathy, fingers dancing over Angus’ cheek like he wants to hold it, but is afraid to touch him. 

Angus would have normally leaned into his adopted father’s touch, but right now he was afraid to move. 

“Are you hungry?” Taako asks, warily eyeing the sandwich next to them. 

The question makes Angus’ stomach do flips and he whines, shaking his head softly. 

“Okay, okay,” Taako breathes, “No worries. How about we go lie down, huh? Your bed would be a lot better than the table.” 

A smile stretches over the Elf’s lips as Angus nods. Taako pushes himself to his feet, but when Angus makes no action to move, the boy’s eyes just staring ahead blankly, Taako places his hand gently on his shoulder. 

 Angus looks up, his gaze moving all around the blurry figure in front of him, until he settles on a place he assumes is the middle ground of Taako’s face. 

“Want me to carry you?” Taako asks, his voice farther than before, but blessedly soft. 

Usually Magnus, (or sometimes if he’s feeling lucky, Barry), would be the one to carry Angus when needed. Taako never really got the chance to carry around his son, even after he was formally adopted by the Elf and Reaper, because once he turned eleven, Angus claimed he wasn’t a kid any more and would protest against being carried. 

Now Angus was twelve, yet he hadn’t really hit his growth spurt so he was practically the same size as when Taako met the child, and it wouldn’t be a problem for the Wizard to lift him up a flight of stairs. 

“Baby,” Taako tries again, Angus practicing his thousand-yard-state towards the bridge of the Elf’s nose. “Want me to carry you to bed?” 

Angus blinks, takes a deep inhale, and hums. “Yes, please.” 

Taako leans down, “I’m gonna wrap my arms under yours, okay?” Angus nods his consent and Taako wraps his child up in his long embrace. “Alright, up we go.” 

Taako pulls them up and Angus instantly latches onto his adopted father. Taako smiles, his son’s limbs wrapped around his neck and waist, and starts towards the stairs. It doesn't take them long, Taako being much stronger than anyone expects, and soon enough they are entering Angus’ room. 

Taako leaves the overhead light off, and instead turns on the bedside lamp, leaving it on the dimmest setting. He walks towards Angus’ double bed, sitting down on the side of the mattress so now Angus is tucked into his lap. 

“Come on, Kiddo,” Taako whispers, “let’s get you lying down.” 

He’s about to gently pry Angus off when he feels the kid stiffen and then start shaking. The boy has his face buried in Taako’s neck, and although this isn’t the first time he has seen his child cry, it doesn't hurt any less. 

“Oh, Baby Boy,” Taako coos, wrapping his arms around the boy and pulling him in close. “Baby, Baby, Boy.” 

He rocks them both as Angus sobs against him, allowing his child to feel for the first time in a while. He wasn’t about to part them when Angus was in deep pain, and obviously overwhelmed and needing a connection. 

He wasn’t about to banish his son to a feeling of solitude… he wasn’t about to become them . 

Angus cries for a bit, wordless tears filling the half light of the room, and when it finally starts to taper off, he leans back with a sniff. 

“S-- Sorry,” Angus hiccups. 

“Never,” Taako says, reaching a hand up to brush away tears with his fingers. “Never be sorry. It is never your fault to feel, and it is never your fault for asking for help. Okay?” 

Angus’ face scrunches up again, but before he can dissolve back into tears, he forces it away and looks up to his father. “I’m too big for this,” he says in the smallest voice. 

“Too big for what, Baby? Sitting in my lap? Because if that’s so, Krav sits in my lap all the time and--” 

“No, no…” Angus takes a shaky breath. Taako can see both the physical and emotional pain in his features. “Too big to get hurt by headaches. Too big to cry about it…” 

Taako places his hand on the side of his son’s face. Angus leans into the touch gently. 

“Angus,” Taako says sternly but not unkindly. “You never need to think like that. Everyone gets hurt, and everyone cries. Even your Dad and I cry.” 

Angus looks up doubtfully. 

Taako laughs softly. “I know, I know… But Taako, you’re the saviour of the world. How could you cry over a headache? Or, or… or a tummy ache?” Taako says those last words in a silly mockery of Angus’ voice. Angus smiles gently. Taako continues, “But it’s true. Last time I was sick I cried to Kravitz about it and he held me, not all too different to how I’m holding you now… 

And when your Uncle Magnus broke his foot last month, he put on a brave face to you, but he cried when Uncle Merle examined it. And none of us made fun, because we understood. Sometimes it’s too much to be brave and you gotta let it all out… but only the bravest people really know that it’s okay to cry. Okay to let yourself be seen. Do you understand, Bubba?” 

Angus nodded tiredly and Taako’s smile widened. 

“Wonderful,” the Elf said, kissing the top of his son’s head. “Now, let’s get you in bed. I’ll go get some water from downstairs and your glasses.” 

Angus just nodded again. 

---- 

While Taako was getting the supplies, he grabbed his stone of farspeech and sent out a quick text. 

Ango’s got a killer migraine. Pick up some meds on way home? 

Kravvy: Oh no. Of course, Love. Home within the hour. 

Thanks babe <3 xoxox

Taako took the water, a sleeve of saltines, and Angus’ glasses up to his son’s room. The boy was seemingly asleep when he entered, so the Elf stayed quiet as he laid everything down. He then sat down gently on the side of the mattress, smiling at his boy and running a hand gently through his short curls. 

Angus’ hand suddenly came up from under the blankets and placed itself on Taako’s leg. 

“Stay,” Angus mumbled, his eyes still closed. 

Taako just hummed. “Of course, Bub.” 

He shimmied down beside his son, pulling the boy into his arms as small limbs wrapped around him like a body pillow. Taako’s laugh came out in a huff, and he rested his nose on the crown of Angus’ head, inhaling deeply. 

The scent of their fabric softener, lavender, the tiniest hint of Kravitz’s cologne, and something so distinctly Angus that it almost brought tears to Taako’s eyes.

Taako had never felt luckier in his life.

Chapter Text

Angus wasn’t fine. 

He woke in a heart wrenching cold sweat that kept his pyjamas plastered to his body, and his blankets feeling like a stone pushing him deeper underwater. 

With tears burning his eyes, Angus fought his sheets, desperately trying to untangle his feet from them. He wasn’t thinking, and only half awake, so when he rolled off the bed and hit the floor, it shouldn't have been such a shock. 

But again, he wasn’t thinking. 

“Stop,” he mumbled, struggling against something that existed only in his mind. “Stop!”   

In his imagination, the thing wrapped around his body was a tendril of black fog. A dark, tar like substance that was going to drag him into a pool of suffocation and keep him there. The very stuff he was drowning in a minute ago. 

Eventually, the blankets untangle themselves from his feet and once he is free, Angus runs on all fours to the other side of the room. He throws open his door, climbing to his feet and darting into the hallway. There was only one other door he needed, and it was down a long and dark chamber. 

Angus stared at the door to his parents room for a long moment, not having the courage to run to it or even make a sound. His hands shook as he looked back towards his bed, the blankets on the ground conctorting in his mind to something writhing and dangerous. 

Tears streamed down his cheeks and he hiccuped. 

“Ta… Taako…” His voice was a whisper that got swallowed by the hall. There was no way either of his father’s would hear him. 

But this was silly. He was twelve years old… Angus could handle the dark, horrifying abyss of his bedroom. Angus could stomach the rest of the night by himself. He was about to turn back when the words of Taako crept into his mind. 

You never need to think like that. Everyone gets hurt, and everyone cries.

Angus really needed his Dads. He wasn’t too big for comfort. He wasn’t too big to cry. 

So, eyes blurry from both the tears and lack of glasses, Angus put both hands in front of him, took a deep breath, and started running. He mostly kept his eyes closed, so he ran into the wall once or twice, but eventually his fingers found the engraved wood of his parents door. 

He opened his eyes just enough to locate the handle and turned it quickly, little hands shaking almost too much to get a proper grip. 

The door opened to a half lit room bathed in moonlight from the window. Angus could see enough to know that there were two creature sized lumps on the bed. He takes large steps, hoping to avoid anything that may have been left haphazardly on the floor, towards Taako’s side of the bed. 

Angus knew Taako was the lighter sleeper of the two. 

He was almost to his father when Angus thought he saw a dark shape move around the open closet, and in a spike of fear, he dove to the ground, hiding behind Taako’s side of the mattress. 

There was an audible thump as he fell to the ground, but the dull pain was nothing compared to his racing heart. He slapped a hand over his mouth to hide his mounting sobs. 

There was a rustle on the bed above, and then after a second of tension, there was a gentle, “Baby?” 

Kravitz groaned, the blankets shifting, and Taako huffed. “Not you, Baby. I think Angus is in here.” 

Angus didn’t dare speak. The darkness had followed him from his room. Next it was gonna gobble him up and make his parents watch. Tears sprung to his eyes. 

“Angus?” 

Angus’ head shot up and he could make out a blurry, pale figure leaning over the side of the bed. Taako’s long, blonde hair was hanging around him like a sheet, making it impossibly hard to find his father’s face among it all. 

He couldn’t help the desperate whimper that escaped him knowing his Papa was there. 

“Oh, Darling,” Taako said quickly, opening his arms for the boy. “Come up here, Baby.” 

Angus hesitated for a moment, before he couldn’t take it anymore and scrambled up into Taako’s arms, his father embracing him with a tight hug. 

“What’s wrong, Bub-- oh dear. You’re very hot, Ango,” Taako says, his voice soft. 

Angus doesn't care. He now openly sobs knowing that he was the tiniest bit protected here. He heard some words being exchanged over his head, but he was crying too much to make them out. 

“Angus,” someone finally said, and Angus’ shoulders stiffened in anticipation. “Did you have a nightmare?” 

Angus pulled back, finding both of his parents turned towards them. He couldn’t see their faces, but he assumed they were worried and tense. He nodded, a sob catching in his chest. 

“It’s-- Over-- There,” He hiccuped between every word, a shaking hand pointing over towards where he saw the shape moving by the closet. 

“What’s over there, Baby?” Taako asked. 

“M-- Monster.” 

Kravitz moved from the bed, walking towards the closet and Angus’ breath quickened. He tried to stop his father; to warn him of the impending danger, but he wasn’t quick enough. Kravitz turned on the light in the walk-in closet and Angus squinted. 

The dark shape was illuminated and Angus squeaked in fear, burying his face in Taako’s chest. 

“This?” Kravitz asked, and Angus looked over to see his father holding the shape in his hands. Angus nodded. “It’s just your Papa’s dress, Honey.” 

Angus’ eyes narrowed in confusion. 

“It must have been moving in the wind from the window,” Taako says. “And without your glasses you couldn’t tell what it was.” 

Angus swallowed heavily. 

“Were you dreaming of monsters, Bubba?” Taako asks, his voice softer than before. 

Angus just stares at the blankets, feeling foolish and small, tears streaming down his cheeks but his sobs staying firmly hidden in his chest. 

“Bub?” 

Angus brings his eyes up, his gaze meeting Taako’s. Taako has leaned in closer, his forehead almost touching his son’s, and even without his glasses, Angus can see the raw worry brewing in his father’s eyes. 

Angus finally nods, hiccupping pitifully. 

“Oh, Baby Boy,” Taako says, pulling Angus back in towards his chest. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” Kravitz asks, sitting down next to his husband and son. 

“I was being taken away by the monsters,” Angus mumbles, hiding his face in Taako’s shoulder so he doesn't have to face his parents when admitting such juvenile things. “Away from you guys and everyone else. I-- I… I had to be alone again.” 

There was a long moment of silence between the three of them, but Angus knew an unspoken conversation was being shared over his head. Before either Taako or Kravitz could say anything, though, Angus sat up tall and tried to steady his voice. 

“I’m okay now, though,” he says quickly. “I can go back to my bed. I’m fine.” 

“Ango,” Taako starts, sounding so impossibly sad. “Babe--” 

“No, it’s okay. Thank you for helping me, but I’m not a child. I’m more than capable of going back to sleep by myself.” 

Angus starts to crawl out of Taako’s lap, despite everything telling him not to, when a hand gently touches his shoulder. He stills, trying not to look back as he knows it will only lead to more tears from him. 

“Honey,” Kravitz’s voice is steady, “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” 

“No. It’s alright,” Angus ignores how his voice wavers. “I’m… I’m capable.” 

“You may be,” Kravitz says, “but you don’t have to be. It’s okay to need some help once in a while.” 

Angus’ head turns slightly, his parents coming into his peripheral view. His hands ball into fists; his eyes burn and his chest tightens. 

He needs to be strong and brave, to show him that he can do it. That he’s worth more than people think. But they’re also his parents. And for once, he wants to be coddled, and hugged, and rocked, and have someone else tell him he’s strong instead of telling himself. 

“I’m,” Angus pauses to catch his breath, “I’m not a baby.” 

“I know you’re not, Bubba,” Taako says, careful not to call him baby when Angus knows he wants to. “I never mean to upset you when I say that. Sometimes it’s just hard for me to remember you’re growing up. But… but just because you are, it doesn't mean you have to be in a big rush to grow up. We’re all allowed to take time and indulge in the things we need to.” 

“Do you understand, Darling?” Kravitz asks, not unkindly. 

Angus allows himself to cry, a sob escaping his chest and tears clouding his already impared vision. Neither of his father’s jumped to his side. They wait for him to make his decision, and when he finally turns back to them, they’re there with open arms. 

They both embrace him as he crawls into their laps. Angus lets himself go, shaking and crying like he hadn’t in a long time. He thinks about what his papa told him a while ago; how it was okay to ask for help. 

“I love you,” Angus says between sobs. 

“We love you as well,” Kravitz whispers.   

“More than anything,” Taako says. 

Angus just nods. Suddenly, it felt like a massive weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He felt ten times lighter. 

Thank goodness his parents were there to hold him so he didn’t float away.

Chapter Text

Fine. Fine. Fine. You’re fine.  

The words ran through Angus’ mind like a grandfather clock ticking out the seconds. Like his brain was a fucking bomb that was about to go off.

One… Fine … Two… Fine … Three… 

He couldn’t concentrate; couldn’t focus on anything around him. He didn’t know where he was, didn’t know what was happening. His vision was blurry and his heart was beating at a speed that shouldn’t be regular. 

Fine, fine, fine. 

In his head, he was back in his childhood home. The place he was raised as nothing more than second hand furniture. Where he was looked upon with such distaste as a child who couldn’t bring more to the Mcdonald name. 

His hand hurt. His hand burned and he didn’t understand why. 

His father must have punished him again. But Angus didn’t know what he did wrong. Why was he getting punished if he didn’t do anything?  

Hot tears ran down his flushed face and he’s suddenly choking on sobs that fill the air around him. With a shock of terror, he clamps his mouth shut so no one will hear. 

His mother’s voice fills his head. A child shall be seen and not heard. Good ones will make sure they are practically invisible. 

Angus shuts his eyes, the tears and the pain and the noise of someone -- most likely his father -- saying his name. He doesn't understand why he’s back in such a horrid place. 

He needs Taako and Kravitz to come save him. To scoop him up and carry him far, far away from here. 

“Taako,” he tries to call, but his voice is strangled and messes up the word. “Ta--” he catches himself on a sob, and as a last resort, he calls as loud as he can, “Papa!” 

He cries and waits for a response, but still, no one comes. 

---- 

Taako was too overwhelmed for this. 

There were about a million people that were in his kitchen that shouldn’t be, pots boiling over on the stove, a hand and a voice in his ear, and his son currently crying his eyes out in the corner. 

“Everyone get out!” Taako shouts, his voice full of heat, and he points a stiff finger towards the living room. 

The head’s of his family members turn towards him, collective panic brewing in their eyes, but they all make the conscious decision to shuffle out of the room. Lup hesitates for a second, staring at her nephew with a teary gaze, before looking down and leaving. 

Kravitz stays, but Taako never meant for him to leave as well. The reaper starts turning off stove burners and then takes a seat not too far away, ready to step in. 

Taako sighs, then turns back to the matter at hand. 

Angus had tucked himself into the far corner of the kitchen. He was curled up as tight as he could be, his hands covering his head and tugging on his short curls. He was sobbing loudly, obviously not fully aware of what was happening, as tears ran down his ruddy cheeks. 

There was a large burn on his palm; the thing that started all of this in the first place. 

Taako knelt down in front of his son, his heart clenching in worry, and he had to stop himself from placing a gentle hand on his child’s knee. 

“Angus,” Taako says, his voice soft but sturdy. “Angus, can you hear me?” 

There isn’t a response from his son, just the sounds of crying as the boy rocks himself back and forth. 

“Baby, I need you to know that you’re safe. Nothing is wrong and you’re okay. It’s me. It’s Taako.” Still nothing as Angus stares blankly at the tiled floor. “Kravitz is here as well. We’re both here and we’re both gonna keep you safe.” 

Kravitz comes over to kneel beside his husband, the same look of worry creased into his face. “Angus,” Kravitz says, “You’re here. You’re in your house -- in your kitchen, to be exact. You’re not there. They are not going to hurt you.” 

Taako looks over at Kravitz with shocked eyes. “Do you think that’s where he thinks he is?” He asks in a whisper. 

“Possibly. I’m just trying to cover all our bases.” 

Angus sobs once more, but then he opens his mouth and makes a sound that seems oddly familiar. Like it would be a word that is normally in his vocabulary, yet it’s hard for him to say right now. 

“What was that, Bub?” Taako asks, leaning forward slightly. 

“Ta…” Angus starts, but then cuts himself off with a particular rough sob, and tears flow down his cheeks faster than before. He takes a deep breath and then calls out, “Papa!”   

Kravitz and Taako both take pause, the room filling with unnatural silence as they both try to comprehend what they just heard their son say. Even though Angus has been legally their child for almost a year, and they have both been calling themselves Dad and Papa in conversation, Angus has never reciprocated it back. 

So now, in a great time of need for their child, it only makes sense that he would call out to the people he is closest with. That just didn’t necessarily mean Taako and Kravitz were ready to hear it. 

Ragged breathing pulls Taako from his stuper. 

Angus is starting to hyperventilate. His chest heaves unevenly, the air he sucks in is strangled and leaves his body in a whispery gasp. He yanks at his hair with a strong, tight grip. 

“Baby,” Taako says, his voice soft and desperate. “Baby, Papa’s right here.” 

Angus continues to suck in air uneasily, and all Taako wants to do is pull him in close and give him a hug, but he can’t. Wherever his son is right now, it’s not in this room, and it’s not with them. 

Taako doesn't know where an unexpected touch would send him next. 

Suddenly, Kravitz is gone from beside him, but he’s back before Taako can call out for him. His husband's face is solemn as he reaches a gentle hand toward Angus, Kravitz’s fingers dancing lightly over the back of Angus’ fists, and the child tenses for only a second. 

“It’s just me, Love,” Kravitz says, his voice full of sorrow. “It’s me Dad.” 

Angus seems to relax a bit, the words getting through to him. 

“This will help, I promise,” Kravitz says, opening up his fist to reveal an ice cube from the fridge. He holds it between two fingers and gently touches it to the surface of Angus’ non-burnt hand. 

A whimper escapes Angus’ lips, tears starting to prick in Taako’s own eyes, but then the boy leans into the touch as Kravitz starts circling the ice over their son’s skin. 

“Can you feel that?” Kravitz asks. “That’s me, Love. Focus on the cold on this hand. It’s nice, right?” 

Taako was starting to understand. If this attack was caused by the burning pain in Angus’ hand, hopefully a different sensation -- cold to contrast the heat -- would help ground the child and bring him back to the present. 

Kravitz continues to roll the ice cube, the heat of Angus’ skin melting it slowly over the seconds, and eventually, Angus blinks slowly. He takes a longer breath, holding it for a proper amount of time, and then exhaling shakily. 

He releases his grip from his hair, Kravitz bringing his hand back, and the boy looks up at his parents. 

“Papa?” Angus asks in the smallest voice, his teary eyes finding Taako first. 

Taako nods, a tear rolling down his cheek. Angus looks over to Kravitz. 

“Dad?”  

Kraitz smiles. “Yeah, Darling. We’re right here.” 

Angus sobs again, but it sounds different. Less confused and distressed… but instead more relieved. He opens his arms shakily. “Ca… Can I have a-- a hug?”  

Taako couldn’t have scooped him up faster. Angus buries his face in Taako’s long neck, his cries prominent but not as heartbreaking. Kravitz deposes of the leftover ice and then joins his son and husband in the embrace. 

“You’re here,” Taako mutters over and over into his son’s ear. “You’re here.” 

“I-- I’m-- here,” Angus gets out between hiccups. He sounds like he’s trying so hard to convince himself of that. “But… I was there …” His voice is barely a whisper on the last word. 

“I know, Baby. But you’re not there anymore. We’ve got you. Daddy and Papa have you and are not letting you go.” 

Small tears roll down Taako’s face and Kravitz touches gently under his husband’s chin. Taako looks up, his tears dripping down to land on the crown of Angus’ head, and Kravitz wipes them away quickly. 

“My Love,” Kravitz breathes, leaning his forehead against Taako’s. 

There was a silent promise that went unspoken between them. He was gone, but now he’s back. We will do everything and more to keep him here. He’ll never be taken by them ever again. 

“My Everything,” Taako whispers back, and Kravitz smiles softly. 

Angus’ cries lessen and he lets himself relax between his fathers. Soon enough he’s breathing gently against Taako’s collar bone. All three of them let themselves exhale, huddled together in the corner of the kitchen, making promises none of them had to say and believing every unspoken word. 

----

“This should be good as new in a jiff,” Merle says, examining Angus’ burnt hand. 

They are gathered in the living room, Angus between his parents as the rest of his family watches closely. Angus, now back to his lively self, smiles in relief. 

“Okay. Thanks, Merle.” 

The dwarf just smiles, his hand glowing as he holds it above the child’s injury. The burn wasn’t anything to fret about -- if Merle’s word was anything to go by -- and Angus claimed it didn’t really hurt that much. It was still enough to startle himself and his family quite a bit, though. 

Taako looks away from his son, content that he was doing okay, and over to his sister. Lup was sitting on the arm of the living room’s biggest lounge chair, seated practically on top of her husband, and was watching her nephew with worried eyes. 

She didn’t even realize her brother was watching her until he spoke up. 

“Lulu,” Taakp whispered. Her eyes flicked over to him. “You okay?” 

It was a silly question that he already knew the answer to. Lup blamed herself for Angus’ panic attack; she was the one using the stove top when the child stumbled and accidentally burnt his hand. He was under her supervision when he started to panic. 

“It wasn’t your fault,” Taako says before Lup can answer. 

Lup bites her lip. “But I--” 

“No,” Taako says, his voice firm. He scooted a bit closer to her to not draw attention with their conversation. Even Barry seemed oblivious. “You aren't them, so it’s not your fault he went where he did. And don’t even try to blame yourself for the burn. That could have been anyone. I don’t expect you to catch my kid every time he trips.” 

Lup looked as though she wanted to rebuttal, but she kept her mouth shut and smiled gently. If they wanted to talk about this more, it could wait until they we’re alone.   

“Okay,” she said. 

Barry looked over to his wife. “You okay?” He asks, mirroring the question Taako asked a minute ago. 

Lup nodded, leaning down and kissing Barry quickly. Barry laughed gently when she pulled away. “Love you,” the human said. 

Lup smiled, kissed his forehead, and then looked over to where her brother was smirking at her. “Shut it,” she hissed, and then smugly said, “Papa.”  

Taako gasped happily. “You heard that?” 

“Hard not too.” 

“Don’t draw too much attention to it. I think if he knows we’re excited about it, he’ll stop saying it.” 

Lup made the motion of zipping her mouth shut. “Lips are sealed.” 

Taako chuckled. Angus was looking at him now, so the elf turned back to his son. 

“All better, Ango?” Taako asked. 

Angus nodded. “All better.” 

“Wonderful.” 

Angus leaned in to his father, giving him a tight hug. “Love you, Papa.” 

Taako’s heart fluttered and his eyes burned as he blinked back tears. “More than anything, Baby.”