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He could hear them, out in the garden. Through the open window of their cottage, he could see them if he just raised his head, but he was focused on the task before him. The smell of coffee pervaded the little kitchen, painted in warm hues, with morning glories creeping over the walls and bringing little pop-bursts of blue and pink.
Breakfast dishes were piled in the sink, dirty from their earlier meal and simply left that way for the moment. Crumbs from their bread loaf were scattered on the counter, and the sugar ants they'd come to tolerate were hauling them away.
Gohma was watching them, as he stirred spoonfuls of sugar into a steaming mug of black coffee. He watched the ants organize themselves, a conveyor chain of workers, perfectly communicating in their strange, minuscule tongue. Of one mind, in formations that needed no practice, instincts so ancient and so old it made his own weary bones feel young again.
"Take it easy." He told them, his voice so soft and quiet that the morning couldn't hear him. The ants couldn't, either; or if they did, they didn't care. Diligent, militant, they carried the crumbs away, and Gohma only shook his head, sparing a moment to pity them, before turning to the ice box to fetch the jug of cream.
A peal of shrieks and laughter came to him through the window as milk and coffee swirled together in an autumn-colored galaxy. Now, Gohma looked up, and a smile grew across his face before he even knew it was there.
Sekh was on his knees, a sun hat shading his face. His fiery hair was tucked up inside it, just as his hands were buried in the dirt. Gohma had gotten him gloves, once, but Sekh never used them; he liked feeling the dirt on his fingers, he told him. There was dirt smeared on his cheek, now, from where he'd wiped an arrant bead of sweat off his freckled face.
Behind him, the massive, glittering shape of Zilv'axle, their fire drake, slumbered in his favorite spot beneath their peach tree. Even across the yard, Gohma swore he could hear the rumbles of the old dragon's snores as he rolled over, stretching out languidly and exposing his belly to the air with a guttural groan. He was laying on one of Gohma's shirts- the same one they'd wrapped his egg in, all those years ago. Gohma never did get it back, but he didn't mind.
But it was what was in front of Sekh that both he and Gohma both looking at:
Their sons. Still children even by human standards, but growing each day. Gohma watched as they ran through Sekh's sprawling garden; even in their play, even as Sea'an chased his little brother around with a fistful of earthworms, they didn't dare step on their father's plants.
"Leave me alone, Sea!" Faern'leth cried, clutching his current book tightly as he dodged his brother's infested fingers and fled to the safety of Sekh's presence, ducking behind him with wide eyes, "You're going to get dirt on a library book!"
Sekh burst out laughing, the sound like the colorful fireworks at the city festivals; bright and captivating. "Seashell, go put them back in the compost." He told their eldest, but there was no sternness in his voice, "And leave your brother to his reading."
"He started it!" Sea'an defended himself immediately, planting the hand not full of wrigglers on his hip, "He was prattling on about birds and bugs and-"
"I wasn't prattling!" Faern protested quietly. He hugged his book ever tighter to his chest, shaking his head so insistently that his white and russet bangs fell in his face, "I just identified the birds on our roof. I wasn't prattling."
"Your brother doesn't prattle." Sekh agreed, "Go on, now, go put them back."
Sea'an sighed with all the dramatics of a trained thespian, throwing his head back and stamping his foot like an unhappy rabbit. "Yes, dad." He groaned, turning on his heel as he began to stomp towards the side of the house. Gohma and Sekh both watched him go with amusement, before Sekh turned back to Faern'leth.
"What kind of birds were they, Fae?" Even though he asked it gently, Faern spooked and looked up at him sharply, before he brightened.
"Neverwinter sparrows!" He said in a loud, urgent whisper, like it was a great revelation, "They come down from the north in spring to lay eggs! I- I climbed the trellis and saw their nest, dad! They have eggs! Four of them! They're pink!" His face split into a brilliant smile as he gushed about his birds, his eyes alight such with wonder that it made Gohma's heart flutter.
"Is four a lot?" Sekh prompted, taking every chance to get Faern to talk; unlike his older brother, he was so quiet- something he'd gotten from Gohma.
"Average, I think." Faern shook his head, "Oh, but, we have robins in the tree! They have six eggs."
Gohma pulled his attention away from their conversation to finish his task, pouring a second cup of coffee for himself. When everything was ready, he left the dirty dishes in the sink and picked up the tray of mugs, heading for the back door that led into the garden. He passed his sword on the way, the still-gleaming blade hung up on the wall; unused for years. Resting at last.
He elbowed the door open and stepped out into the garden, the sunlight warming his stony skin like a loving embrace. Sekh and Faern looked up as he approached, and the smile that grew on Sekh's face put the sun's warmth to shame. It was a pity their people tended to live in the shadows, Gohma thought, not for the first time; Sekh was breathtaking in the sunshine.
"Hello, my hero." Sekh grinned, like he knew what Gohma was thinking.
Gohma didn't answer until he'd picked his way across the garden to his mate's side. "Vendui." He rumbled when he was closer, leaning down towards him. Sekh sat up to meet him, tipping his hat back so the brim didn't hit Gohma as they kissed- sweet, soft, with a giggle on Sekh's lips.
"What'cha got, there?" He asked, nodding to the tray as they pulled apart.
Gohma hummed, picking up the mug that was more of a sweet confection than actual coffee, and held it out. "For you." He said, and Sekh's dirt-stained fingers took the mug gleefully, his mismatched eyes lighting up at the sight of his favorite drink.
"Thank you, abbil." He crooned, taking an eager sip. His happy sigh found its home in Gohma's ears as he moved to their son, offering him another mug- this one full of tea, with a lemon wedge squished on the rim.
Neither of them said a word as Faern'leth accepted the drink, giving one another a nod- a thanks, and an acknowledgement, an entire conversation in their own, silent way. Gohma took his own mug- full of simple, black coffee- and looked around for his older son, but didn't spot him immediately. How long did it take to put worms back in the compost?
Sekh seemed to be having the same thought, as he turned and looked around Gohma. "Zilv! Can you go find Sea'an, please?" He called.
The drake snapped awake immediately, his eyes like gleaming amber. He groaned and grumbled, rolling over and getting to his feet. He shook himself out and snorted at them, then trot off with that same, prancing step he'd had since he was a hatchling. Gohma watched him go, amused.
For a moment, the three drow quietly drank their drinks in the garden as they waited. Gohma could hear Faern's sparrows singing on the roof, joining the choir of the other birds that called the forest home. The smell of pollen and soil were rich in the air, mingling with the coffee, and Gohma breathed it in like he'd just come up from under water after a long time. The brilliant, bright hues of the blooming garden around him nearly made him dizzy, their colors blending like... gods, Gohma didn't even know if he had something to compare them to. In all his centuries, he wasn't sure if he'd ever seen so much color and life in one place.
He felt a weight against his leg and looked down to see Faern leaning against him as he opened his book again, flipping right to- what Gohma assumed- his most recent page. He sipped his tea as he stared at his book about birds and bugs, fish and reptiles, feeling the same contentment in the air that Gohma was relishing.
He looked over at Sekh next, to see that even he'd gone still, his eyes closed and face tilted towards the sky. Gohma could see the freckles on his shoulders, his cheeks, like dark stars splattered across a dusky sky, and he nearly salivated at the mere thought of putting his lips on every single one.
The peaceful stillness didn't last for long, though. It was abruptly shattered as a familiar roar filled the air, making all three of them jump. Gohma's head snapped towards the sound, just as a shrieking laugh and thundering footsteps joined the powerful sound.
A moment later, Zilv came galloping around the side of the cottage, Sea'an astride his shoulders like a prince. He might as well have been, Gohma mused as his son galloped up and pointed at Faern with all the authority of a noble.
"Fern bush! What're you reading about now?" He demanded, making Faern jump against Gohma's leg.
"Uh- um- f- frogs?" He stammered, shying behind Gohma, who instinctively reached down and put a hand on his head. He shared a look with Sekh, who just smiled behind his coffee mug, watching their antics.
Astride Zilv, Sea'an nodded, putting a finger on his chin in serious contemplation. "And do you seek to see these... "frogs?"" He asked dramatically.
"I... I suppose?" Faern looked just as bewildered as Gohma felt.
"Then come, dalninuk!" Sea leaned out and offered a hand to his brother, "To the creek!"
Faern stared at his hand, his eyes widening until they threatened to bulge out of his head. "O- Okay!" He leapt to his feet, Sea'an's antics infectious. He ran over and grabbed his big brother's hand, who swung him up onto Zilv's shoulders in front of him with practiced ease, instinctively wrapping an arm around his little brother.
"To the creek, Zilv'axle!" Sea'an cried, nudging the drake with his foot. Zilv let out a snarling bray, even though Gohma would've sworn to the entire pantheon that the drake rolled his eyes as he began to move away- picking carefully through Sekh's garden, of course.
"You three be back at sunset!" Sekh called, getting to his feet as they reached the edge of the yard and Zilv began to take off in earnest.
"'Kay!" Sea'an called back, waving his free hand in acknowledgement.
The two older drow watched their spawn disappear into the surrounding woods, and silence fell in the garden once more.
"... Do we not need to go keep an eye on them?" Gohma asked after a moment.
Sekh took another sip of coffee, before he passed it back to Gohma and wiped his hands on his pants. "Nah. Zilv will keep them safe, and they're young- it's good for them to explore. Besides, that'll keep them busy for a few hours." He turned to look at Gohma, a familiar, mischievous glint in his eye, "Which gives you and I plenty of alone time." He added meaningfully.
Gohma's expression twisted into a wry smirk. "Should we go inside, then?" He asked lowly, and Sekh snickered.
He stepped forward, and Gohma had just enough time to put their drinks down on the edge of the nearby birdbath before Sekh threw his arms around his neck. "Why bother?" He whispered, before their lips met in a kiss.