Chapter Text
"Stelle, baby, sweetheart I'm fu-flipping tired,” Akivili sighed, “please, please go to sle- Caelus don't do that!"
Just like any doting mother, Akivili loved their babies to death, and they'd probably do anything for them if they had to, but sometimes, yes, sometimes even a mother's love strains, especially when the last of their brain cells probably just died in that stupid thesis a while ago.
But Stelle, sweet, quiet, lovely little Stelle who was an absolute angel any other time was being absolutely obstinate today, crying her little head off and refusing to fall asleep.
They'd made sure to check everything! She's had her lunch, they made sure they both burped plenty, their diapers are clean and Akivili even made sure to warm the blanket in the dryer like she always likes it for her naps, but even with everything off the list she was still squirming like a fish and bawling as if her little life depended on it.
And all her crying was making Caelus, the rowdier of the two cry as well, upset that his sibling was upset and usually he refused to sleep unless Akivili was holding him, but when Stelle was so distraught they had to make the executive decision to try and calm.her down first, having given Caelus their shirt as a substitute which worked for a while, but eventually even his little racoon brain realized that this wasn't his papa and with his sister still crying and hiccuping he started crying again as well, and at this point the situation was probably beyond salvaging no matter how they tried bouncing her in their arms and cooing at her to no avail.
They really need to figure out a way to clone themselves.
Before they can even attempt to gather their thoughts, twin wails sounded again and Akivili feels about ready to start crying themselves when suddenly the sound of a key turning in the door catches their attention, and the distinct lack of the jingling of a multitude of colorful keychains already alert them to two possibilities, and when even Stelle stops crying as hard and instead reaches out with little grabby hands towards the doorway the suspects are quickly narrowed down to one.
"Oh Nanook, thank the gods you're here”, Akivili whirled around immediately, sighing a breath of relief.
There's the sound of movement in the hallway as they get closer before ducking under the doorway to the twins' room, Nanook waves at them. Out of their usual attire dressed only in a dark workout shirt and sweats it seems that they'd swung by after going to the gym, and while usually they'd be more self conscious about their stretch marks not being hidden by their clothes – which were now commandeered by the other twin – they're just grateful for someone's help in wrangling the kids.
"I could hear the crying from outside,” Nanook said, their sympathy evident as they eyed the sulking child in the other’s arms, “sounds like you're in a bit of a pickle?"
"Like you couldn't imagine,” Akivili whines, “I think Stelle missed you…"
By now Stelle's earth shattering wails had toned down to watery sniffles instead as she continued making grabby hands at Nanook, wiggling a bit more and Akivili was all too glad to hand her over to their friend who cradles Stelle with practiced ease, chuckling at her.
"Who knew something so tiny could fit this much crying? I wouldn't be surprised if you two just woke the dead."
Meanwhile Akivili quickly runs over to where Caelus had ended up tangled in their discarded shirt to gently pluck him from the crib and carry him instead, once he was in their arms again his crying immediately dies down to sniffles as well.
"There we go… that wasn't so bad was it?", Akivili sighed, they really loved these two more than anything in the world, and they’d do anything for them, but sometimes, they were just a bit much. They were glad that this bout of misbehavior was over for now. In the back Nanook has the gall to look slightly smug at how easily Stelle behaved for them instead, but considering that they did literally just save them, Akivili would overlook this slight for now.
In their arms Caelus babbles something incoherent while Stelle merely curls in more on herself, tucking her face away in her hands, having finally exhausted herself from all the crying.
After a bit of patting and Akivili humming a nursery rhyme quietly, eventually Caelus' babbling trails off and his tiny head droops and falls onto Akvili's shoulders as well, and finally there was peace.
Carefully so as to not wake them up again after fighting a war to put them to sleep, Akivili first tucks in Caelus, wrapping the blanket securely around him before turning to Nanook and taking Stelle gingerly from their arms. Although asleep she makes a little noise of protest and both adults freeze, worried that they may have messed up, but eventually her little face relaxes and Akivili manages to transfer her to her little cot with a sigh of relief and they make sure to swaddle her in extra blankets as she gets cold more easily.
Once they were certain both babies were secure and cozy, Akivili motions for Nanook to sneak out of the room with them before they carefully and quietly close the door with a barely audible click. After listening for another moment or two Akivili finally breathes a sigh of relief, entire body sagging in exhaustion.
Ugh, speaking of which, Caelus still had their shirt.
Covering their unsightly scars as well as they can, Akivili mumbles an apology before making their way to their room.
"Sorry you had to see me like that…,” Akivili chuckled sheepishly, refusing to meet Nanooks eyes in embarrassment, “I'll go get dressed, hope I didn't give you nightmares."
At their words Nanook couldn't help but frown, everyone knew that Akivili was still insecure about their body, it had been especially apparent while they were still pregnant. It came as a shock to Nanook, back then, considering their main reaction to meeting Akivili for the first time was awestruck wonder at how beautiful they were. And to this day that opinion hadn't changed at all, so whenever Akivili went off on themselves like that, they felt the need to interject.
"You know I'd never think of you like that, none of us do,” they said as straight faced as ever, “We all saw what pregnancy did to you, and yet you chose to stay strong for these little bundles of chaos, and it shows,” Nanook took a deep breath, making sure they don't derail their thoughts into dangerously confessional territory before they continued, “it really shows; in how deeply you care for them. Stelle and Caelus are very fortunate indeed to have such a wonderful and loving parent and I too am very fortunate to call that same wonderful and beautiful person my friend."
Akivili was floored; trust Nanook to deliver the most stunning monologues with the most deadpan of expressions – but if Yaoshi had bothered to replace the broken lights in the living room maybe Akivili would have caught the dark flush that accompanied Nanooks words, a matching hue on Akivili's cheeks as well. Wringing their hands they scramble for words, how does one even respond to such a heartfelt compliment, they thought frantically.
"You– you always know what to say, don't you,” Akivili said and sniffled pitifully, “thank you, Nanook. I– I'm glad to have you as my friend as well."
Immediately their expression softens into a rare smile and Nanook leans down to gently bump their forehead against theirs, one of their few ways of showing affection without words and what could Akivili do besides smile back at them?
"Thank you, I really mean it", Akivili whispered.
"I know, you must be exhausted, you should rest,” Nanook responded, briefly closing their eyes.
"Pfft, and what could have possibly given that away?" Akivili retorted, sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Call it intuition,” As usual Nanook merely chuckles at their sass, settling instead for reaching for Akivili's hands.
Laughing softly, Akivili acquiesced easily as they let their friend scoop them up and carry them to their room before a mighty yawn escapes them. In the back of their head they idly note that Nanook would make a great father, both of them were. They carefully lower Akivili onto the bed before pulling the sheets over them, making sure to cover them properly.
"Sleep well,” Nanook mumbled into the crown of Akivilis hair, “I'll get us dinner while you nap, any preferences?"
"Mmrgh, tired…" Akivili yawned.
"Alright Chinese it is." Nanook reluctantly peeled themselves away from the other.
"Get me the noodles thaaanks…"
By the time Nanook has their phone out Akivili is already out like a light, snoring with gentle little puffs in the same cute way as their babies did, or was it the other way around since they came first? In any case; it was quite endearing. Akivili mumbles something incoherent under their breath and Nanook can't help the fond smile that sneaks onto their face.
"I think I'm in love with you." They confessed quietly into the silence, like a coward, and even then it fills them with equal parts of fear and hope that maybe, maybe Akivili may have heard them this time, but their expression remains unchanged, another quiet puff of air being their only answer, and they're not sure if they're more relieved or disappointed.
Next time, they'll tell them when they're awake, surely.