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A pressure on his arm woke Touya up, freeing the tears that had gathered on his lashes. He turned to his side, reaching and grabbing on to the warm body next to him.
Machelle's voice was soft in his ear, soothing over his hitching breaths as he tried to calm himself down. “You're ok now, Touya. You're safe.”
He nodded, burying his face in her neck. He held her tighter in an attempt to quell his shaking. He couldn't tell if it was working but the last thing he was willing to do was to let her go, even as she gave a grunt of protest.
“I'm right here, Panda Bear.” She ran a hand through his hair, smiling when he startled at the nickname. When he looked up at her, she kissed his forehead, doubling down. “My Panda Bear.”
He just watched her, breathing deeply. It didn't matter if he was processing the emotions from the dream or the new sobriquet. The trembling faded away.
She said nothing more, pressing her lips to his snowy locks when he ducked his head back into her collar. She hummed, rubbing circles into his scalp with her finger pads. There was so much that haunted her husband. He had told her so much but she doubted she would ever know everything. Perhaps the light of his being was so bright because he had come from some serious darkness. She marveled at the man in her arms yet again, praying in her heart that he would be granted full peace one day, and further that she could continue to be the one by his side supporting him through it all.
Touya released a harsh breath, warm against her skin.
“You want some water?” She asked in a lower voice, carding her fingers through his hair.
He gave an affirmative hum, sliding down to hold her waist which freed her arm to fetch his water bottle from the nightstand.
She flicked the straw up before holding it up for him. “Sit up a little, Hun.”
He did bare minimum, refusing to detach from her completely as he sipped. His face quickly pressed into her stomach again.
She could feel the tears soak through her nightdress. She rested her hand on the back of his head, gently flexing her fingers. Her heart pained, but she was happy as well. Of course, she didn't want her husband to hurt but his willingness to cry into her like this was something they had worked on for many years. His tears had been something he fought like a war enemy, even in private. For him to finally and continually accept that it was ok to cry, and to do so in her presence… was a breakthrough. “I love you,” she whispered to him in her language and his, keeping him close with light pressure he made to pull away.
He gripped the fabric tighter.
When he started to speak, she hummed to encourage him, listening intently and responding from her heart. When he laughed lightly, her heart twirled, and when he nuzzled her playfully, she peppered him with kisses.
They both looked up at the sound of appliances across the house shutting down.
Machelle tsked. “The slightest piece of weather and they cut the current off.”
Wind blew rain against their windows as if to prove a point.
Beyond the rainstorm came the cry of their youngest from down the hall.
Touya shifted to lay in her lap as Machelle sat up. “Poor Champ.”
Machelle looked down at him. “Can I go check on him?”
“Give it time, ‘Chelle. Please.”
She blinked at him. “Touya.”
“Trust your ‘Panda Bear,’ as I've been so newly dubbed. If he doesn't calm on his own in a few minutes, we'll both go.” He grinned at her. “I know, Mama Bear. Longest four minutes of your life.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling into her navel.
The baby quieted in two minutes.
Touya kept his knowing look pressed into her stomach. He waited the remaining two minutes before speaking up. “We're still going, aren't we?”
“Just to make sure. And to peek on Maya.”
Their daughter slept even lighter than her father, but was quick to comfort herself back to sleep. Touya kept his thoughts in his head.
The two crept out of bed, using the moonlight until they got to the bedroom where Touya flicked finger for a little candle. The small blue light took them down the hall until Touya suddenly snuffed it out.
A wavering light was coming from Champion’s room, illuminating the space just beyond the doorway.
The parents tucked themselves just outside the lit area, peeking inside the room.
“It's ok, Champy,” came Maya's little voice. “It's not dark with my fire, see? But you hafta stay over there.”
Maya sat in the middle of the floor with her back angled to the door, cupping a small blue flame in her palms. She was situated a good distance from the rocking chair she usually parked in - or anything else for that matter, hyper aware of her hands.
Baby Champion was in his crib, tear-stained cheeks pressed against the cage-like railing. He was reaching between the wooden bars towards the light, tiny fingers curling repeatedly.
Machelle smiled, leaning back into Touya’s embrace. She knew Maya would set the house on fire running to keep her flames from her little brother - turning it off wasn't a default thought as yet. They would get there.
Champion’s breath hitched and Touya held her back with a gentle strengthening of his grip. Champion let out a sad whine, hitting the crib railing.
Maya spoke up, glancing at him before quickly refocusing on managing her fire. “Nuh uh, you can't have the two. Either I make light or we hold hands. I can't do the two at the same time.”
Champion whined again and Maya turned to hide the fire from him. He garbled out what they understood as her name in a frustrated tone.
“Ok, then.” The little girl huffed, turning back around.
The baby plopped down on his bottom, sucking on his finger and thumb while watching his sister's blue flame.
Touya's chest jumped with a quiet laugh Machelle felt against her back. He spoke under his breath. “She handles him better than you sometimes.”
“Big sister prowess,” she whispered back. “Comes with the position.”
The chance of the power coming back on within the hour was low. The temptation to join the children in the baby room was strong. They would give it a few more minutes, committing the scene to memory.