Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hyacine looked around with interest, clinging tighter to her father's hand. It was the first time her father had taken her to work in this big place with a very complicated name – the university, she thinks.

The building seemed huge and a little magical to her – with long corridors, rustling coats and a bunch of doors with signs with complicated words written on them. The air smelled of coffee and paper, and students kept walking past, looking back at them with affection.

Her dad brought her here because both grandfathers were on vacation at sea, and her uncle Veritas was away on a business trip to a scientific conference during these three days. She usually went to kindergarten, but last week several children from their group got chicken pox, which is why everyone was quarantined.

“Dad, where is your office?” asked Hyacine, tugging her father's hand.

“On the fourth floor. And this is called the auditorium” answered Anaxa, looking down at her with a soft smile. “But today you will not be with me, but with other ladies”.

“What ladies?” frowned Hyacine, instantly clutching his hand tighter. “I thought I’ll be with you”.

Anaxa leaned down a little to be on the same level with her and gently patted her on the shoulder.

“You can't come with me – I have two lectures today and a meeting with the boss. But you'll be right next door, in the next wing. Don't worry, they are kind, and they have lots of candy. And if you want, they'll even print out coloring books for you. Is that okay?”

Hyacine looked doubtfully into her dad's eyes, as if trying to figure out if he was telling the truth or just trying to console her. Then she sniffed and asked a little more quietly:

“Do they know that I'm coming?”

“Of course,” Anaxa nodded. “I warned them yesterday. They are already waiting for you.”

Hyacine pressed her free palm to her chest, as if trying to contain the swelling excitement inside.

“But you will take me back then...?”

“Of course,” Anaxa said softly and squeezed her palm lightly. “As soon as I finish the work, I will come to you straight away. I promise.”

The women really turned out to be very nice, immediately surrounding the girl with attention. One leaned over to greet her as an equal, the second was already taking a box of pencils out of the drawer, and the third offered to choose a sticker - "for the mood." Hyacine was shy at first, but seeing that her dad had not lied, she smiled timidly.

Meanwhile, Anaxa straightened up, moved a little to the side and, without smiling, briefly looked at everyone present.

“Girls,” he said in an even, almost icy voice, “if even one hair falls from my daughter's head, I swear, you will go looking for it on all the floors along with your own heads. Do I make myself clear?”

Those who had not met him before tensed up, but the older secretary only grinned and shook her head – it was not the first time. It was too much to anger this man, and if you looked askance at his child, the omega was ready to rip out anyone's throat. The others nodded in unison, instantly becoming serious.

Anaxa nodded, as if putting the final period in the conversation, and then turned back to Hyacine. Any hint of tension immediately disappeared from his face. His features softened, his voice became a little quieter, almost gentle.

“Well, princess, behave yourself. And I need to work”.

Hyacine nodded again, a little more confidently, clutching a sticker with a shiny rainbow in her hands. But as soon as Anaxa took half a step back, the girl leaned on him with all her weight, pulling on the bag. Omega wanted to be indignant, but was immediately interrupted by a childish, equally indignant voice:

“Dad, what about Ica?” she asked, pulling the bag harder, as much as the hands of a five-year-old girl allowed.

The man immediately came to his senses, opening his bag and taking out a small plush unicorn, which looked more like a ball. But if his daughter liked it, who was he to judge?

The girl sighed with relief and hugged the plush unicorn to her chest. Anaxa squatted down and quickly kissed the girl on the forehead, after which he looked around the room again, reminding the women of what he had said, and without further ado, left the office.

The door closed softly. Hyacine remained standing in the middle of the room, slightly hunched over, as if listening to her father's fading steps.

“Well, princess” a warm voice of one of the women rang out, “let's go see what coloring books we have? Your dad said you like animals.”

“And we brought cookies, too” added another, already opening the box.

Hyacine hesitated for a moment, and then nodded timidly and went after them, still holding Ica tightly in her arms. After all, if there are coloring books and candies here... maybe it won't be so scary to be without dad.

Several hours passed unnoticed.

Hyacine, having settled down on a soft rug near the coffee table, was intently coloring a purple dinosaur that looked like one of the toys at home that her dad had bought for her.

Women would come up to her from time to time with new markers and cookies, praising her for her neatness and asking if she wanted anything else, but they always get refused. Of course, she wouldn't mind reading a book, but she didn't see anything like fairy tales here. Only some gray and adult books.

The women were still very kind, trying to answer all her questions, but they were much more often talking to each other and clicking on the keys on their computers. Sometimes one of them would call on the phone, pressing the receiver with her shoulder and hastily writing something down. Dad said that they had "a lot to do," and it seemed to be true.

The girl yawned, twirled the box of stickers in her hands and looked at the door again. Sitting still was getting boring, and even the abundance of pencils and sheets of paper for drawing could no longer satisfy the childish restlessness.

The door remained slightly ajar, and shadows flickered behind it from time to time. Someone passed by, sometimes voices, ringing laughter or the clatter of heels could be heard. Hyacine fidgeted, pulled Ica towards her and whispered:

“We'll just take a look. Just a little bit. No one will notice”.

Just at that moment, a tall man with papers in his hands entered the office. He was saying something quickly, and all three women immediately turned around. One jumped up, the second reached for the folders, and the third nodded and clicked something on the computer.

Hyacine rose from the carpet, quietly slipped past the chairs, as if playing spies, and carefully went around the large table, slipping out into the corridor.

The corridor outside the office turned out to be much quieter than she expected. No one paid attention to her. The adults were hurrying about their business, immersed in conversations, phones, and papers. Only occasionally did some of the students look at her in surprise, but otherwise they did not react in any way. At first, she walked confidently, peering into doors, looking for dad. But dad was nowhere to be found.

The stairs went up, then down again. Everything looked the same: white walls, gray doors, strange sounds from around the corners. She turned down one hallway, then another, and when she tried to go back, she couldn’t remember where she’d come from. Everything was mixed up – the adults, the signs, the carpeted hallways.

Stopping at a notice board that was large compared to her, she looked around hurt, hugging Ica closer.

“I think…” she whispered. “We’re lost.”

Her lips trembled, her eyes filled with tears. She blinked, trying to hold on, but there was already a nasty lump in her throat, making it hard to breathe.

Dad would scold her. He left her because he thought she’d behave. And now… now she was lost.

She sobbed quietly, pressing Ica to her face and pressing her back against the wall. The cold prickled her skin through her thin dress, but she didn't care now.

“Hyacine? What are you doing here alone?”

Hyacine shuddered and raised her head. Through the veil of tears that had welled up, familiar outlines appeared before her. White disheveled hair and a slightly wrinkled T-shirt. The bright blue eyes of the alpha, and it was definitely him, she could already distinguish smells well, looked at her with surprise and slight concern.

“Phainon?” she asked quietly, with difficulty suppressing another sob.

Phainon flinched slightly at the child's trembling voice, but quickly pulled himself together. Kneeling down in front of her, he reached forward, wrapping his arm around her thin shoulders and pulled her closer.

“What happened? Does something hurt?” he asked, examining the child for injuries.

Hyacine shook her head, sobbing louder, and pressed her forehead into his shoulder.

“N-no...” she whispered, sobbing. The man pulled her closer, wrapping his other arm under her knees and carefully lifted her into his arms. “I... I got lost... I wanted to find daddy... but here... everything is the same! And daddy, he will scold... because I did not listen...”

Phainon gently rocked her in his arms, pressing her to his chest. Phainon was good. And warm. And even big. He often came to their house, and also bought her toys. She didn't fully understand what kind of relationship Phainon and her dad had, but since the alpha was ready to give her new markers and secretly give her candy, she wasn't against it.

“Now, now, don't cry. Dad won't scold you” said Phainon, continuing to rock her gently in his arms. It was lucky that he had a break between classes. “Better tell me, who did dad leave you with?”

The girl sobbed again, but more quietly, wiping her wet nose with her fist.

“With the ladies” she answered, under Phainon's confused gaze. There were many women in this building. But, thinking logically, there were only a few places where Anaxa could leave his daughter.

And, as if on cue, a woman came down the stairs, or rather, jumped out, looking around worriedly. Phainon noticed her at once, recognizing one of the secretaries in the reception area, where he often dropped in, with a neat hairdo, a strict skirt and a lost expression on her face. The woman noticed them almost simultaneously, her eyes widened, and she practically ran towards them.

“Oh, my God, Hyacine, there you are!” she exclaimed, finding herself next to them. “We've already run around the entire floor!”

Hyacine immediately pressed herself closer to Phainon and whispered in his ear:

“I didn't do it on purpose...”

“It's all right” Phainon quickly reassured either Hyacine or the secretary. “I found her here. It seems she just decided to look for her father and got lost.”

“Good afternoon, Phainon” she greeted him, recognizing the guy. “We were distracted for a minute, who knew that she... Oh...”

“It's okay” Phainon smiled lightly, stroking the girl's back. “She's fine. A little scared, but nothing happened”.

The secretary nodded, pressing her hand to her chest, as if she had just now managed to exhale.

“Professor Anaxagoras will skin us alive,” she muttered, “we promised to keep an eye on her. And you were sitting quietly…”

“Little ones get bored” Phainon answered calmly. “Even adults don’t have fun in places like this. The professor should be free soon, right?” After all, it was worth maintaining subordination in front of strangers. “You can tell him that I took her.”

The secretary nodded in agreement, quickly straightening her blouse and glancing at Hyacine. Only the deaf-mute didn’t know about Anaxa’s relationship with Phainon, mainly due to the latter’s efforts. Therefore, entrusting the child to this man didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

“Of course, I’ll write to him that she’s with you,” she said a little softer, no longer hiding the relief in her voice. “Just please stay in touch and don’t go far.”

“Agreed” Phainon nodded easily. “Don't worry, I'll make sure she's okay.”

He lightly bounced the girl in his arms, as if reminding her that she was safe. She gave a weak chuckle in response and rested her forehead on his shoulder.

“Thank you, Phainon” the woman said at last and hurried back, already taking out her phone and obviously typing a message to Anaxa.

When they were alone, Phainon smiled quietly and leaned closer to the girl's ear.

“Well, would you like some cocoa?”

Hyacine thought for a moment and nodded without raising her head. He stepped towards the cafeteria, and only then did Hyacine stir, looking at him slightly from under her brows. Now, sitting in the arms of an adult, everything around her no longer seemed so big and scary.

“Do you study here?” she asked with interest, grabbing the toy more comfortably.

“Yeah. Horrible, tell me?” Phainon grinned, opening the heavy door with his shoulder.

“You're an adult” she said doubtfully, staring at him with distrust.

“Imagine, even adults have to learn sometimes. Scary, isn't it?”

“Has daddy learned yet?” Hyacine bowed her head slightly, hugging Ica tighter.

“Dad? Dad outsmarted everyone a long time ago” he said with a smile, sitting her down on a chair. “Now he teaches people like me himself. Strict, by the way. Did you know?”

“I knew” the girl nodded proudly. “When he swears, his eyebrows are like this!” she frowned, pretending to look menacing.

Phainon burst out laughing, quietly, so as not to scare away her just-returned mood.

“Exactly, exactly. I even got a little scared. Will you sit here while I go over there to get you some cocoa?”

She nodded in response, settling herself more comfortably, and placing the plush Ica between her legs. Phainon smiled at her again encouragingly and headed towards the counter, trying not to lose sight of the girl. He noticed how she was watching him with a close, slightly wary gaze, as if she was afraid of being alone again. So, while he was waiting for the barista to finish frothing the milk, he periodically looked back and winked at her.

Meanwhile, Hyacine sat, gently swinging her legs and periodically stroking Ica's head. She tried to look calm, like a real adult. She didn't even fidget much. Only sometimes she frowned when someone spoke too loudly or opened the door, causing a draft to move her hair, braided into two ponytails.

When Phainon returned with the steaming cup, placing it carefully in front of her, Hyacine looked up at him and smiled, reaching for the mug.

“I'll twist their heads off” Anaxa cursed, lifting the already satisfied Hyacine into his arms under Phainon's laughing gaze. The smell of wood gave off residual anxiety a kilometer away. “Not only are the reports constantly full of mistakes, they couldn't even keep an eye on the most obedient and calm child in the world!”

“The most obedient?” Phainon raised an eyebrow. “Are we talking about just Hyacine right now?”

“And you don't meddle in at all” Anaxa snapped, but without malice – more out of habit. He looked down at his daughter, hugging her. “But with you, young lady, we're going to have a serious talk”.

Hyacine immediately hung her head, looking down and squeezing Ica with her small fingers.

“I didn't mean it” she muttered.

“Whether it was on purpose or not, you left alone without telling anyone” Anaxa's voice remained even, but a little sterner than usual. “Do you know how easy it is to get lost here? What if Phainon hadn't found you? What if you had gone outside?”

He pulled back a little to look into her eyes, and Hyacine involuntarily hid her nose behind the toy's ear.

“But, da-a-ad...”

“No "but dad". You can't do that, anything could have happened to you. That's why I want you to promise me that you won't run away like that again”.

Hyacine sighed quietly, hugging the toy even tighter.

“I promise”.

Anaxa relaxed a little, stroked her head and smiled.

“That's great”.

“Maybe we should go home already?” Phainon cut in.

Anaxa chuckled slightly, letting go of Hyacine and getting up from his seat.

“We really will go home, but you still have one more class to attend” he answered mockingly.

Phainon let out a groan of pain.

Chapter Text

“No-o-o, Cipher, that's not how the path should be!" Hyacine was indignant, taking small stones from the girl next to her, collected from the area, and laying everything out again. Cipher pouted with displeasure, pursed her lips and sat a little to the side, picking at the sand with a stick.

“Well, build the palace on your own then” she muttered, but after a couple of seconds she crawled closer again, unable to resist. “Maybe we should make a pond too?”

The sun was setting, but the playground near the garden was still noisy. Someone was kicking a ball, joyful squeals were heard every now and then from the slide, while Hyacine and Cipher occupied the sandbox.

“Yes, a great idea” Hyacine confirmed, continuing to lay out stones, even sticking out the tip of her tongue from zeal. “Ica will have the best castle in the world!”

Cipher, inspired, settled down to the side so as not to interfere with each other, and scooped up sand with her hands, digging a small hole that would eventually become a pond. The teachers stood quietly to the side, watching the children running around and greeting the parents who kept arriving.

“Cinny, give me some pebbles,” Cipher poked her friend in the shoulder, attracting her attention. “The lake should also be beautiful.”

“We’ve already run out of everything, we still need to collect more,” Hyacine shook her head. “We can also collect grass for the lake instead of reeds.”

“Exactly!” Cipher jumped up. “You build for now, and I’ll run and look!”

She nimbly jumped over the edge of the sandbox and dashed like an arrow to the edge of the playground. The teachers, talking at the entrance, didn’t even have time to turn around properly before Cipher had already darted around the corner of the building. Hyacine watched her go, but said nothing – she was sure that her friend would return with her palms full of “reeds”.

For many, including their parents and teachers, their friendship looked strange. Quiet, and generally obedient, at least compared to other children, Hyacine and completely uncontrollable Cipher – like a wild cat, with a mind of her own, rarely listening to adults. Except maybe to her mother.

Hyacine was just about to level the last path by the castle, when she caught a familiar voice out of the corner of her ear:

“Cifera! Come here, it’s time to go home!”

She raised her head – a tall woman in a light sleeveless blouse and light hair approached the gate of the playground. Cipher emerged from around the corner almost at the same second, clutching an armful of grass and small twigs to her chest.

“Mom! Look, I found some reeds!” She proudly showed off her catch, but Aglaya only shook her head with a slight smile.

“The reeds can wait until tomorrow. Come on, say goodbye”.

“But mo-o-om, can we play a little more?” Cipher immediately jumped up to Aglaya, holding the grass in her hands like a trophy. “We're almost done! Please!”

“Cipher, it's already evening...” Aglaya began, but the girl grabbed her hand and whispered as if it was a matter of life and death: “Just five minutes! Please, please, please-e-e-e!”

Aglaya rolled her eyes slightly, but noticing how Hyacine was sitting in the sandbox and watching, holding her breath, she only sighed.

“Okay. But only five minutes”.

Cipher, jubilant, rushed back to the sandbox, leaving the woman at the gate.

“Mom let me play some more!” the girl boasted, quickly laying out the stones around the "pool". Hyacine smiled contentedly in response. Sometimes it seemed to her that if her friend had a tail, she would certainly wave it from side to side after each successful prank.

“And Phainon promised to come for me today!” said Hyacine, smoothing out the castle wall with her hands. They hadn't yet thought about how the plump unicorn would squeeze through such a small gate of the sand castle.

“Phainon?” asked Cipher, tearing herself away from her "pool". “Is that the one who gave you the toy?”

“Uh-huh!” nodded Hyacine, picking up a stone and carefully laying it on the path. “He always takes me when dad is busy”.

Cipher was about to answer something when a creak came from the gate and a tall man in a dark shirt entered the landing. His gaze immediately found Hyacine.

“Hyacine” he called, and the girl immediately raised her head. The smile that flashed across her face quickly faded.

“Where is Phainon?” she asked, not even trying to hide her disappointment.

“Who?” Alhaitham didn’t understand.

“Daddy's friend!” the girl explained willingly, getting up from her knees and dusting her palms. “He often comes to us, we play, and he promised that he would pick me up today”.

Alhaitham lingered his gaze on her for a moment, but remained silent, as if thinking about what he had heard.

“Phainon, huh?” he asked quietly, as if checking if he remembered correctly.

“Mhm!” Hyacine happily confirmed, but then frowned again. “Do you know him?”

“No” Haitham answered calmly, but there was something harsh in his voice.

“Oh, so you're Alhaitham?” Aglaya's voice was heard nearby. Alpha stepped back from the gate and smiled, extending her hand for a handshake. "I'm Cipher’s mother, Aglaya. From what I understand, you're Hyacine’s grandfather? Nice to meet you”.

Alhaitham nodded politely, returning the handshake.

“That's right” he answered. “And so, you're acquainted... with this Phainon?”

Aglaya raised her eyebrows slightly, but nodded. “I've met him a couple of times. He sometimes takes Hyacine when her father is busy”.

Alhaitham slowly turned his gaze to his granddaughter, who was trying to straighten the "pond" in the sandbox, ignoring their entire conversation.

“I didn't know that my son's life had... someone new” he said dryly.

Aglaya smiled slightly, but without the same warmth. She wasn't going to show hostility towards Anaxagoras in front of his father.

“I don't think that's a question for me. I only saw that Hyacine was happy when he came. Children rarely hide who they like”.

In the sandbox, Cipher and Hyacine were already happily jumping around the castle, building a "bridge" out of sticks. The sun was sinking toward the horizon, painting the sand in a soft golden glow.

“The five minutes are up” Aglaya said loudly enough for her daughter to hear. Cipher pouted with displeasure. “Come on, young lady, you've already begged for more time than you need today. It's time to go home”.

Cipher sighed softly, turning back to Hyacine to hug her goodbye.

“See you tomorrow!” Cipher called out from the gate, while Aglaya was helping her put on her favorite sweater with cat ears on the hood. The evenings were rather chilly.

Alhaitham watched them go until the gate slammed behind Aglaya and Cipher. The playground had noticeably cleared up – parents were rushing to pick up their children, and the noise gradually died down.

“It’s time for us too” he said quietly, approaching the sandbox.

Hyacine reluctantly stood up, shaking her palms and looking sadly at the unfinished castle.

“What if it falls apart tomorrow...?”

“You’ll build a new one” Haitham answered calmly, grabbing her small backpack from the edge of the sandbox. Hyacine picked up Ica in her arms, placing her other hand in Alhaitham’s large palm.

They headed towards the gate, and only when they were outside the garden, he asked in an even but attentive voice: “So, will you tell me about this Phainon?”

Having settled down on a soft carpet with a warm blanket and a pillow under her back, Hyacine, as if spellbound, looked at the TV screen. Colored pictures replaced one another, completely occupying the child's attention, while worried adults quietly talked, sitting at a table nearby.

“And who is he?” Kaveh didn’t calm down, trying to squeeze at least some crumbs of information out of his husband. But, it seemed, apart from what their little granddaughter told them, they would not be able to find out more. The only thing they could do was ask their son directly. “How did it happen that he didn't tell anyone about this?”

His light hair had become disheveled during the day, with individual strands sticking out in different directions every now and then. Omega sighed quietly, rubbing his temples from fatigue. The customer today was terribly annoying. The migraine just wouldn't go away after 4 hours of explanations about why building a building out of bricks is irrational from an earthquake resistance point of view, and why it's better to use a steel frame for a skyscraper.

“Perhaps he didn't think it was worth mentioning,” Alhaitham said dryly, taking a sip from his mug.

Kaveh poured himself more tea, sipping discontentedly from the mug. Alhaitham, with his arms folded across his chest, merely watched him with a serene expression.

“And you think that's okay?” Kaveh exclaimed, raising his voice. “He could have at least warned us! What if that... Phainon...”

“Kave” Haitham interrupted, gesturing to lower his voice and nodding softly in Hyacine's direction. Kaveh took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. It was worth restraining himself in front of the child.

“I’m just… afraid that history might repeat itself” Kaveh said quietly, setting the mug back on the table. “That Anaxa will trust the wrong person again”.

Kaveh froze, looking down at his hands, clutching the mug. His eyes reflected the memory of their son, barely noticeably rounded, crying in despair in his arms, and then, locked inside himself, refusing any help. Even if what happened had hardened Anaxa, Kaveh refused to even allow something like that to happen again.

“Kaveh,” Alhaitham called again, covering his palm with his own. Omega looked up at him, letting him know that he was listening. “I know you’re worried. So am I. But Anaxagoras is no longer a child, he has the right to make his own decisions about what to do with his life. Our job is only to be there and always be ready to support. Both him and Veritas.

Kaveh was silent for a moment, listening to the quiet murmur of the cartoon and the laughter of Hyacine, who clapped her hands when something particularly bright appeared on the screen.

A smile, barely noticeable, nevertheless touched his lips.

“You always say the right things at the moment when I’m almost boiling” he muttered, slightly squeezing his husband’s fingers in response.

Kaveh smiled slightly, visibly relaxing. Despite the constant squabbles and squabbles, there were some things she and her husband always agreed on.

“Grandpa” Hyacine called, drawing attention to herself. Both men turned around in unison. The girl’s gaze was riveted on the elder. Kaveh sighed quietly.

“Yes, Cinny, I’m already on my way, my joy” Kaveh answered, disentangling himself from Haitham’s weak grip, walking slightly tiredly toward his granddaughter.

“Will daddy come soon?” she asked, snuggling closer to his warm side as soon as Kaveh sat down next to her.

“Soon” Kaveh smiled softly, hugging her shoulders and pulling her toward him. “He said he’d try to come back before you go to bed”.

Hyacine nodded in satisfaction, but still frowned a little, continuing to look at the screen. For a moment it seemed that she would lose herself in the cartoon again, but instead she said quietly: “I want him to come with Phainon”.

Kaveh froze, barely glancing across the room at her husband. Alhaitham did not react in any way, only returned to his mug, but the tense line of his shoulders still betrayed that he was listening to every word.

“We’ll see, my joy” Kaveh answered carefully, stroking her hair. The ponytails made in the morning had become completely disheveled by the end of the day, so Kaveh simply took off the elastic bands, letting the girl’s hair down.

The girl sighed, but nodded, as if she accepted this answer, and again immersed herself in the warm, multi-colored glow of the screen. The room became almost silent, if you don’t count the distant sounds of the TV program and muffled footsteps in the entrance.

The click of the lock sounded unexpectedly loud against the background of the muffled sound of the TV. Hyacine immediately jumped up, throwing off the blanket, and rushed into the corridor. Kaveh stood up after him, and Alhaitham, although he remained at the table, turned towards the door.

“Dad!” the girl cried out joyfully, clinging to the legs of the man who entered.

He bent down slightly, stroking his daughter's back, and, stepping over the sneakers scattered in the hallway, took off his jacket. The corridor smelled of evening air and something tart, like spicy tea.

“Dad, where is Phainon?” Hyacine asked, frowning, looking behind the stranger's back.

“Yes, Sweetheart, where is Phainon?” instead of a greeting, Kaveh asked with a forced smile on his face, following him into the corridor. “Or should I first ask who Phainon is, and only then – how is it that your father and I are hearing about him for the first time?”

Anaxa raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“So you didn't ask” he said sincerely, as if that explained everything.

Kaveh froze in place, silently looking at Alhaitham, who had managed to approach them, and only took a little deeper breath and, without hurrying, took a sip from his mug.

“That's true” Haitham noted dryly, “we didn't ask”.

Kaveh stared at them both, squinting, and theatrically raised his hands.

“Well, thank you! So this is why I suffered for several hours, giving birth to both of them?!” he was indignant, addressing the ceiling rather than anyone in particular. “Not only did they get almost nothing from me in appearance, but they also took after their father in character!”

Anaxa held back a smile, and the aforementioned father, without even blinking, took another sip of tea.

“But logical” Alhaitham said calmly.

“More like neurodivergent!” Kaveh mimicked, taking the jacket from his son’s hands and closing the door. “So, why are you standing on the threshold?”

“Dad, we’re need to go h-”

“I won’t let you go anywhere in this dark, you’ll stay here!” Kaveh said in a tone that didn’t provoke any objections, kicking Anaxa in the back. “Come on, come on, go ahead”.

Anaxa sighed resignedly, but walked into the apartment without resistance, picking up Hyacine in his arms, mentally hoping to survive the evening, which seemed to be turning into an interrogation.

Chapter Text

“Da-a-ad, are we getting there soon?” Hyacine drew from the back seat, swinging her legs in the seat and leaning forward every now and then, as if this would shorten the journey.

Tearing himself away from the book he had grabbed for the trip, Anaxa turned around, looking at his daughter. Pencils and a coloring book with pictures were scattered all over the back seat, and even somewhere on the floor. Plush Ica was squeezed somewhere between the seat and the child's side.

“Be patient, honey, there's only a little bit left,” said Anaxa. It wasn’t difficult to understand the child's impatience.

Hyacine sighed quietly, with difficulty pulling Ica out of his peculiar captivity, clasping her arms around him. The neat ponytail made that morning was disheveled from constant fidgeting, and several strands were unpleasantly getting into her eyes.

“You said ‘a little’ half an hour ago,” she muttered under her breath.

Omega sighed quietly.

“This time dad isn’t lying. Look out the window,” Phainon, who had been watching the road with concentration, came to his rescue. Anaxa himself had a driver’s license, but due to his lesser experience, he preferred to sit in the passenger seat on the side.

Hyacine pressed herself against the glass, her eyes wide open: ahead, she could already see the shimmering water, sparkling in the sun, and a long strip of light sand.

“Sea-a-a!” the girl said enthusiastically, jumping up in her chair and almost dropping Ica to the floor.

Anaxa smiled involuntarily, watching his daughter's delight. He even put the book aside, leaving a bookmark between the pages.

Phainon slowed down, turning onto a narrow road leading to the beach parking lot. The car rolled smoothly down the slope, and Giacina could no longer sit still – every now and then she reached for the belts, as if ready to jump out at that very second.

“Calm down, Cinny. We'll stop now and I'll unbuckle you, don't tug at the belt,” Anaxa said, adding severity to his voice, looking in the rearview mirror.

Hyacine frowned, but still stopped tugging at the buckle.

“You're strict,” Phainon jokingly noted, turning the steering wheel and driving into an empty space.

“The last thing we need is for her to pinch her fingers.”

As soon as the engine stopped, the omega climbed out, approaching the back door from the side of the child seat. As soon as the lock clicked, the girl joyfully clapped her hands and reached out.

“Don’t run away, there are cars driving here,” her father warned her, helping her out of the seat.

Hyacine clung to the omega’s hand as soon as she found herself on the ground. And immediately opened her eyes wider, catching the smell of the salty wind, greedily sniffing the air.

“It smells like the sea!” she said happily, as if the adults themselves didn’t know it.

Anaxa only smiled softly, adjusting the thin strappy sundress thrown over her swimsuit on her shoulder.

Meanwhile, Phainon slammed the trunk and lifted a large beach backpack onto his shoulder, taking an umbrella in his other hand. As usual, easily balancing with the load, the alpha caught up with them in a couple of steps. He glanced at Anaxa – he, as expected, was holding his daughter's hand so carefully, as if it were the most valuable treasure in the world.

“Don't even think about it,” he warned with a slight grin, noticing how Anaxa wanted to reach out for the bag of towels. “I'll carry it myself, you keep an eye on her.”

Omega just rolled his eyes, but he really didn't argue. Hyacine impatiently tugged her father's hand, almost jumping on the spot.

“Well, let's go already!” her voice rang with impatience.

Anaxa laughed quietly, giving in to her zeal, and allowed himself to be drawn forward. They almost ran down the path, and soon the sand began to crunch under their feet. The salty air became thicker, the soft sound of the surf covered them.

Hyacine almost rushed forward, but Anaxa managed to hold her hand, pulling it back slightly.

“And who’s going to take off her shoes and dress?” he reminded softly, helping his daughter pull her sarafan over her head.

At this point, Phainon lowered his backpack and opened his umbrella, looking back at them with a noticeable smile.

Hyacine stamped her bare foot on the sand, raising her head to her father again.

“Well, can I go now?”

“Wait,” Anaxa quickly gathered her pink hair into a new ponytail, brushing the excess strands away from her face. “That's it, now go.”

Hyacine squealed happily and immediately took off, racing with the wind to the surf line. The sand crunched under her small feet, leaving an uneven mark that was quickly washed away by the oncoming waves.

As soon as she touched the water, the girl gasped and immediately pulled her legs back, as if she had been burned.

“It's cold!” she screamed, but the next second she laughed and stepped forward again, letting the foam run up above her ankles.

Anaxa smiled, shaking his head. He followed, but without haste, still watching her as she pushed against the waves, now squealing, now laughing.

Phainon, sitting on the blanket under the umbrella, picked up the valve and diligently inflated the children's ring, watching everything out of the corner of his eye.

Phainon did it quickly: the unicorn spread its wings and proudly extended its horn, as if ready to furrow the sea. Alpha closed the valve and, rising, headed for the shore.

“Cinny, look who swam to you!” he called out.

Hyacine immediately tore herself away from the water and turned sharply. Seeing the multi-colored unicorn in Phaenon's hands, the girl squealed joyfully and waved her arms.

"Ica is now a sea unicorn!"

Phainon laughed, lowering the ring into the water so that it would be easier for Hyacine to climb into it.

The girl happily darted inside the ring and, splashing her arms to the sides, laughed loudly. The waves gently rocked her, and Phainon, without moving a step away, held her so that she would not float away.

Anaxa came closer, stopping so that the water reached his knees. He watched as his daughter, happily throwing up her hands, tried to “control” the unicorn herself, and Phainon from time to time slightly turned the circle to help.

“Look, dad! I’m swimming!” Hyacine cried, her eyes shining and desperately waving her palms in the water.

“I see, Cinny,” his heart sank in her chest with tenderness.

Phainon held the circle confidently and calmly, allowing the girl to feel independent, continuing to watch Anaxa out of the corner of his eye. The omega's pose was slightly tense, as if he was ready to jump up at any second.

“A little more – and you'll swim into the sea yourself,” the alpha noted with a slight grin, slightly lifting the circle so that the wave would pick it up and roll it forward.

Hyacine laughed so loudly that seagulls flew up over the water.

Anaxa couldn't help but smile, although anxiety was still clinging to him. He stepped closer, allowing the foam to wash his legs a little higher, and extended his hand – more to feel the stability himself than to help.

Phainon caught this gesture, touched the omega's fingers with his gaze and – as if by chance – moved closer.

“Relax,” he said quietly, barely audible through the noise of the surf. “Everything is under control.”

Anaxa exhaled, feeling the tension gradually release. He lingered his gaze on his daughter – she was laughing so loudly that his heart was filled with warmth. And at that moment he caught Phainon's confident gaze on him.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” the alpha said calmly. “Go and rest on the shore. You’re not a fan of the water.”

Anaxa wanted to object – the habit of keeping everything under control was playing up – but there was so much firmness and care in Phainon’s voice at once that the words stuck in his throat against his will. And, surprising himself, he nodded.

“Okay,” on the verge of a whisper.

Phainon smiled slightly and turned the circle again, dragging Hyacine further along the waves. Anaxa turned around and slowly walked to the shore, allowing himself to retreat for the first time in a long time.

Anaxa jumped up, almost choking from the weight of what had fallen on his chest. His skin immediately felt cold, and a familiar childish giggle was heard under his ear.

Finally opening his eye and blinking, he saw his daughter's face, which was beaming with satisfaction from the successful prank.

“Daddy, wake up!” Hyacine shouted, pressing on her father's shoulders and rocking on his chest. Anaxa winced slightly from the loud sound.

“Why scare me like that…” his heart was still pounding wildly in his chest from the sudden awakening.

He wanted to frown angrily, but the sight of his daughter's shining face, from which cold sea water was dripping onto it, instantly drove away any irritation. He just grabbed Hyacine in his arms and stood up, sitting down on the sand, sitting her on his lap.

“How come you’re not frozen?” he muttered in surprise, running his hand over her cold, wet legs. And the next second he realized that something was missing. Or, to be more precise, someone. “Where did you lose Phainon?”

“He went to buy ice cream,” Hyacine answered, snuggling closer to her father as soon as his hands carefully wrapped her in a towel.

Anaxa nodded with satisfaction, accepting the answer. He continued to dry his daughter, trying to get rid of the goosebumps from her skin. The wet hair stuck to the child's forehead and cheeks, getting in the way a little, so he also tried to tuck it behind her ears.

“Warm yourself in the sun while we wait for Phainon,” Anaxa said, carefully drying Hyacine and pushing her towards the sand. He reached into his bag and fished out a children's set with a bucket, shovels and molds, handing it to his daughter.

Hyacine happily grabbed the toys and immediately rushed to the sand, sitting down and starting to mold something like a castle. Anaxa sat down next to her, leaning slightly to watch her create with concentration.

“Here I am,” Anaxa slightly shuddered in surprise, hearing Phainon's voice behind him. Alpha handed him a regular ice cream cone, holding two more cones in his other hand and a bag of something on his forearm.

“Thank you,” he nodded, accepting the cone from his hands.

Phainon sat down on the sand next to him, placing the bag between them. He handed Hyacine a bright cone, generously decorated with colorful sprinkles.

“For the princess of the sand castle,” he announced solemnly.

“Yippeee!” the girl instantly forgot about the construction, enthusiastically taking up the sweet.

Anaxa watched as his daughter concentratedly licked the waffle cone, trying to catch every drop of melting ice cream.

“What's in the bag?” he asked, nodding at the object between them.

“Oh, this,” Phainon came to his senses, showing the contents. “Strawberries. They were beautiful, I thought you wouldn't refuse. And I also got you some coffee.”

Anaxa nodded approvingly, accepting the cool can of coffee. The condensation immediately moistened his palm.

“Perfect. Thank you.”

He leaned back on his elbows, sipping his coffee and watching as Hyacine, having finished with the ice cream, returned with renewed enthusiasm to building the castle, now decorating it with strawberries instead of sticks to imitate flags.

Wait, what?

Anaxa blinked before jumping up.

“No, no, no, Cinny, you can't use food!” almost spilling the coffee, he still managed to get to his daughter and take the container with berries.

Phainon, clearly relaxed, did not even have time to understand what had happened.

“Giacina, what are you doing?” Phainon finally tore himself away from contemplating the horizon and raised himself on his elbow, watching the sudden commotion.

“Daddy took the strawberries!” Hyacine said indignantly, pointing her finger at Anaxa, who had already managed to set the container away from the sandy "construction site."

Anaxa sighed, trying to remain patient. He placed the container of strawberries at a safe distance, on top of a folded towel.

"She wanted to stick the berries in the sand instead of flags."

Understanding, mixed with a slight grin, flashed across the alpha's face.

"Ah... Well, creative." He turned to Hyacine, who was looking at him with hope, seeking support. "But daddy is right, honey. Sand is not very pleasant to the teeth. We will ruin delicious strawberries."

Hyacine pouted, clearly disappointed.

"But it will be beautiful..."

"It will," Phainon agreed, his gaze sliding along the beach in search of a solution. "But you know what will be even more beautiful? Look here." He bent down, picking up several small, flat shells, shimmering in the sun like mother-of-pearl. "They sparkle! Like real precious flags for a castle.”

The idea worked. Hyacine's eyes lit up with renewed vigor. She immediately forgot about the strawberries, enthusiastically grabbing the shells from his hand.

Anaxa sighed with relief.

The sun had noticeably shifted toward the horizon, painting the sky in soft peach tones. The sand castle had grown to incredible sizes, acquiring complex bastions, a deep moat, and a whole garden of shell flowers.

“Dad, I’m hungry,” Hyacine put down the bucket and reached for Anaxa, leaving a sandy imprint on his hand.

Phainon, who was digging an additional tunnel at the request of the “architect,” raised his head and met Anaxa’s gaze. He was already taking out a container with the strawberries he had saved earlier.

Hyacine lazily took the berry, but instead of eating it, thoughtfully rolled it in her palm.

“Will you finish building the bridge across the moat? Otherwise, the royal procession will have no place to pass...”

“Of course, we’ll finish building it,” Phainon easily jumped to his feet and shook his hands. “Eat and don’t worry about anything.”

He began to tamp down the damp sand, and Anaxa, smiling, sat nearby, watching from the side.

When the omega turned around, worried by the silence behind him, the words stuck in his throat. Hyacine was lying on her side on the warm blanket, curled up. In one hand she was still clutching an untouched strawberry, and the other was tucked under her cheek.

Just like that, she fell asleep.

Anaxa gently touched Phainon’s elbow. He turned around, and his face also softened at the sight of the sleeping child.

“And at home I can't put her to bed for several hours,” Anaxa whispered.

Phainon chuckled quietly, putting aside a lump of damp sand.

“The sea, the sun, fresh air... The best sleeping pill.”

Anaxa nodded, pressing himself against the warm body of Phainon next to him. The evening breeze stirred their hair, and the last rays of the sun painted their skin golden.

“You know,” Phainon began quietly, pressing his cheek to the top of the omega's head, enveloping the latter with his scent. A herd of goosebumps ran across Anaxa's body. “I see how you worry about her every step and control everything, and I understand why. But I want you to know that you no longer have to be responsible for everything yourself. Perhaps I will never become a father to Hyacine, but I am ready to become a support and support for both of you in any case.”

Anaxa frozed. Something inside him visibly trembled from someone else's words. The sound of the surf retreated somewhere far away, leaving only the beating of his own heart and the low, warm voice of the alpha, penetrating straight into the soul.

“And why are you suddenly drawn to sentimentality,” Anaxa answered, trying to hide his own embarrassment. And yet, against his will, he pressed himself closer to the man.

Phainon only laughed quietly, and his laughter vibrated somewhere under Anaxa's ear, warming him from within.

Chapter Text

Phainon never considered himself a coward. It was not in his rules to run away and hide from problems. And the upbringing of an alpha simply would not allow him to show himself from such a side. But now, standing here, near the front door of the entrance to the house of his omega's parents, his knees were shaking shamefully, and his hand was convulsively squeezing the translucent bag with treats bought for tea. With titanic efforts, the gods are witnesses, he forced himself to stay in place, and not to run wherever his eyes looked at the hysterical instructions of his brain, while the omega next to him looked at him worriedly.

“Phainon?”

He shuddered slightly, turning his head towards Anaxa. Frowning, the man looked up at him, as if scanning. Phainon perked up.

“Sorry, did you say something?” It’s possible that, lost in his thoughts, he could simply miss some of his lover's words. The tips of his ears burned with warmth. What a shame.

Anaxa sighed quietly.

“Listen, we don't have to go there today. We don't have to go to my parents at all. I only agreed to this because you assured me you had nothing against it, but if you don't want to-”

“But I do!” Phainon cut him off. Anaxa frowned slightly, unhappy with the interruption, but didn't focus on it. “I'm just worried,” he admitted honestly. “What if they don't like me?”

“You think too much,” Anaxa chuckled, giving him a light flick, to which alpha quietly "ouch". Anaxa grinned. “The main thing is that I like you.”

Phainon's cheeks flushed along with his ears. The serious way the omega could say something like that always surprised him and made him feel like a teenager in comparison to him. However, he didn't mind. It wouldn't hurt to say that he even liked it.

"So, what? Are we going?" Anaxa asked, nodding towards the entrance. His gaze was still burning into Phainon’s face, as if trying to embarrass him even more. But, somehow, the omega's attitude and his light grip on his elbow inspired confidence.

Phainon exhaled, leaning down in a rush of emotion and touching omega’s lips. The kiss was quick, awkward, but somehow especially sincere. Anaxa was taken aback by this movement, but didn’t pull away. On the contrary, he barely noticeably moved towards, lingering a little longer than the spontaneity of the moment allowed.

"Now let's go," Phainon exhaled warmly into Anaxa's face, pulling away.

Omega narrowed his eyes, but the corners of his lips twitched in an almost invisible smile. It seemed he wanted to say something sarcastic, but he only exhaled heavily and pulled Phainon towards the entrance to the building.

The door swung open before Anaxa could ring the bell a second time.

A man in a casual T-shirt and pants appeared on the threshold. His light hair was gathered into a careless bun. A pencil could be seen behind his ear, hidden there by the man out of habit. It was easy to guess from the smell that an omega was standing in front of them.

“Kaveh,” Phainon’s consciousness immediately prompted.

“Ah, so you've arrived!” he threw up his hands, as if he was greeting not his son and a guest, but a delegation from another city. “Come in quickly, why are you standing in the draft!”

The first thing he did was rush to Anaxa, hugging him tightly, and only then turned his gaze with interest to Phainon. He straightened up reflexively, squeezing the bag of treats so tightly that the cellophane rustled pitifully.

“Good evening, sir” with an effort of will, the alpha forced his voice to sound steady. His fingers trembled slightly under the scrutinizing gaze of carmine eyes, but he continued to hold his face steadfastly, smiling affably. “My name is Phainon. I am glad to meet you.”

“Kaveh,” the man responded lively and extended his hand. His grip was unexpectedly strong for such a soft, almost homely appearance. “And I am very glad too, Phainon.”

Phainon quickly slipped his hand into the offered one, returning the handshake.

“Ah, gods, at last I can put a face to the name. Anaxa does nothing but give evasive answers whenever I ask about you.”

“Dad,” Anaxa groaned, blushing slightly. Now that was something new. “We just got here. At least let us take our shoes off.”

“All right, all right, don’t grumble,” Kaveh waved him off, but stepped aside to make way. “Come in. Make yourselves at home.”

Phainon took an uncertain step forward, and the scent of the apartment – warm and cozy, with notes of coffee and old books – seemed to envelop him. His shoulders eased ever so slightly.

“And what’s that you’ve got there?” Kaveh cast a curious glance at the bag in the alpha’s hands.

“Something for tea…” Phainon held the bag out to the omega. “I hope you’ll like it.”

“Ah, you really shouldn’t have!” Kaveh exclaimed theatrically, though he was already taking the treat and peering inside with genuine interest. “Oh, this is wonderful. I like you already.”

Anaxa snorted as he pulled off his shoes.

“You’re awfully easy to be bribed.”

“Bribed?” Kaveh narrowed his eyes playfully. “Oh, that wasn’t bribery. But if you’d brought along a bottle of good red wine – then yes, you might have melted my heart.”

He laughed, winking at Phainon, then, as if suddenly remembering himself, nodded toward the doorway:

“I’m rambling. Come on, let’s head to the kitchen.”

The kitchen turned out to be spacious and cozy, filled with the scent of fresh pastries and something fragrant simmering in the oven. At the table by the window sat another man. He set his book aside and lifted a steady, observant gaze toward the newcomers. From his posture, from the quiet but complete command he held over the space, Phainon instantly recognized an alpha.

“Al-Haytham,” flashed through his mind, and Faenon drew in a deep breath, forcing down the first impulse – panic.

“Well, time for introductions,” Kaveh said cheerfully, giving Phainon an encouraging push forward. “Al-Haytham, this is Phainon . Phainon , my husband – Al-Haytham.”

“Good evening,” Phainon said, and this time his voice almost didn’t tremble.

“Good evening. Nice to meet you,” Al-Haytham replied calmly, extending his hand.

Phainon felt the tension slowly ebbing away. Apparently, things weren’t so bad, and no one was planning to kill him on the spot. That was reassuring.

“And who’s looking after Hyacine?” Kaveh asked, addressing the question to his son, while he filled the kettle with water.

“She’s staying the night with Veritas and Avanturine,” the omega replied, closing the lid and pressing the button.

“Wonderful. Let her have some fun with her uncle today, he’s been far too relaxed,” Kaveh nodded approvingly, placing mugs on the table. “Otherwise, she’s always underfoot in my kitchen when I’m trying to bake. Covered in flour and insisting I give her some dough to ‘play’ with too.”

Phainon couldn’t help but smile, imagining the scene. He stole a glance at Al-Haytham, who had returned to his seat, curious about his reaction to such domestic details. But the alpha simply turned a page in his book, and the faintest trace of a smile touched his lips.

“Sit down, Phainon,” Kaveh said with a light gesture, sliding a chair over and breaking his reverie. “Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself? Anaxa said you’re still studying.”

“Yes, final year,” the alpha finally said as he sat at the table. Resisting such care was difficult. “I’m studying to become a programmer.”

“A programmer?” Kaveh exclaimed, recalling from his son’s words that they had first met at one of Anaxa’s lectures. “Do IT students study philosophy too?”

“Everyone does,” Anaxa replied, settling next to Haytham and peering into his book. “But he came on his own initiative.”

“It was an open lecture,” Phainon confirmed, feeling warmth spread through his chest at the memory. “My friend studies in the philosophy department and invited me along. I didn’t expect it to be… so interesting.”

Haytham finally set his book aside, his attentive gaze settling on Phainon with interest.

“And what exactly caught your attention at my son’s lecture? His academic explorations rarely captivate an unprepared audience.”

“Dad,” Anaxa sighed, though his eyes betrayed hidden curiosity. They had never discussed this before; honestly, he himself was curious to hear the answer.

“Uh… well… what got me was how he talked about choice,” Phainon blurted out unexpectedly, looking away. He couldn’t exactly admit that he had spent the whole lecture thinking not about the ideas, but about the attractive lecturer and the cut of his shirt. “Well, like… in programming, we always write conditions: if this, then that. But he said that a person is always choosing, even when they’re not choosing. Like, refusing to choose is also a choice.”

Anaxa stared at him with wide eyes. He didn’t remember saying anything like that during the lecture.

“Just the other day… My friend was struggling with a mortgage, agonizing over it for three months, completely losing his mind. After that lecture, I told him, ‘Look, you’ve already made a choice – you’re choosing not to choose.’ He was blown away… and the next day he gave the bank his answer.”

Kaveh froze mid-bite with the pastry Phainon had brought, while Haytham stopped turning the pages of his book.

“And…?” Kaveh couldn’t contain himself.

“They approved his loan,” Phainon shrugged. “He said it felt like a weight lifted off his shoulders. Just because he stopped overthinking.”

The hiss and whistle of the boiling kettle rang deafeningly in the sudden silence. At that moment, Anaxa silently thanked every known god that his parents’ attention wasn’t on him. Otherwise, they would have read, without a doubt, his– censored version – bewilderment on his face.

“God,” Kaveh whispered. “Haytham, do you hear this? Your son is actually changing people’s lives. Even if not exactly how he planned.”

Anaxa suddenly coughed, as if choked by his own embarrassment.

“The kettle,” he exhaled, hoarsely and hurriedly, springing up from his seat. His movements were a bit sharper than usual. For a few seconds, he just stood with his back to everyone, hands braced on the countertop, pretending to straighten the mugs, giving everyone a moment to recover from the mounting awkwardness.

“Dad,” Anaxa said, turning around while still avoiding direct eye contact. “Could you help? Seems like this kettle’s acting up again… it won’t turn off.”

Kaveh, still mulling over the mortgage story, froze for a moment before realizing he was being rescued.

“Ah? Oh, right!” He jumped up with exaggerated readiness. “Something’s always… probably the contacts have corroded again. Let’s take a look.”

He joined his son at the counter, beginning to twist the kettle’s lid pointlessly, even though it had been silent the whole time. All to make as much noise as possible, burying this conversation once and for all.

“Ah, that’s the problem,” Kaveh announced loudly, triumphantly clicking the perfectly fine kettle lid. “Just a clogged drain valve. Nothing serious.”

He set the kettle back down with the air of someone who’d just repaired a jet engine. And it didn’t matter at all that an electric kettle doesn’t even have a drain valve.

Al-Haytham observed the commotion with an unruffled expression. His fingers slowly turned the page of his book.

“Interest rate,” he murmured thoughtfully, more to himself than anyone else. “Ultimately, many existential questions really boil down to–”

“Tea!”

Kaveh interrupted him without ceremony, slamming several cups filled to the brim onto the table. The gaze of his crimson eyes bore into the alpha’s face with lethal intensity, predicting a painful and prolonged death if he didn’t shut up immediately.

Al-Haytham obediently fell silent. Phainon , catching that look, instinctively recoiled and took a sip of his tea. He swallowed audibly, and the sound seemed deafening.

“Sugar?” Kaveh asked unexpectedly softly, his voice returning to its usual, domestic tone as if the previous five seconds had never existed. Only his carmine eyes still tracked every movement of the guest.

“I… no, thank you,” Phainon whispered.

“Right. Would ruin the flavor,” Kaveh nodded approvingly, sliding the sugar bowl aside with the air of someone who had just averted another disaster.

Fortunately, the evening went much more smoothly after that. The tension that had hung in the air for a moment dissipated, as if it had never existed. The conversation gradually shifted to neutral topics: the weather, new books, work. It turned out that Kaveh worked as an architect – and a rather successful one at that – which explained the pencil tucked behind his ear and the general, casual disorder of his appearance.

Phainon leaned forward slightly, listening. There was a spark in Kaveh’s voice when he began talking about his latest projects – complex shapes, controversial decisions, and the never-ending debates with clients. The alpha, unaware of himself, smiled: in this surge of enthusiasm was a genuine love for his craft.

“You have to understand too,” Kaveh said, gesturing animatedly, “when work becomes more than work. When it takes everything from you and only returns it when you collapse face-first into your pillow.”

“I understand,” Phainon said quietly, recalling nights at his laptop, when code swam in his eyes as lines and his head buzzed, yet he couldn’t stop.

Haytham, who had been silently reading his book the whole time, cast a brief glance at his husband and remarked dryly:

“And yet after nights like that, you’re always complaining about a headache.”

“Details!” Kaveh protested, pressing a hand to his chest as if unjustly accused. “Art requires sacrifice.”

Kaveh threw his hands up theatrically, and at that moment Anaxa suddenly lifted his head, as if remembering something important:

“By the way, father,” he said, turning to Haytham, “you promised to show me the materials on translation history. Remember, I asked last week?”

Haytham finally closed his book and set it on the table. His movements were deliberate, as if he had been waiting for the perfect excuse to shift his attention.

“Yes, I remember. They’re in the office, on the top shelf.”

“Perfect,” Anaxa said, rising from his chair and stepping toward the door, but paused and looked at Faenon. “You don’t mind if we step out for ten minutes?”

Phainon straightened, trying to hide the sudden pang of anxiety, and shook his head quickly:

“Of course not.”

“Good,” Anaxa said with a brief smile, disappearing through the doorway with Haytham.

The door closed behind them, and silence settled over the kitchen, broken only by the ticking of the clock. Faenon was left alone with Kaveh. He nervously traced the rim of his cup with a finger, feeling the treacherous warmth spread across his neck.

Kaveh finished his tea and set the cup down with a soft clink. He looked at Faenon with a thoughtful, yet gentle gaze.

“So, will you help me clean up?” he suggested, standing and gathering the empty cups.

Phainon immediately rose, grateful for the chance to occupy his hands. “Of course.”

They carried the dishes to the sink. Kaveh turned on the water, and the even hum of the stream filled the quiet.

They stood at the sink in comfortable silence, passing washed plates to each other. The foam stung their fingers, and the scent of citrus detergent mingled with the lingering aroma of tea and sweets. Phainon felt a strange calm gradually fill him. There was something quietly healing in this simple, domestic act.

“You know,” Kaveh paused for a moment, looking at the foam on his hands, “when Anaxa came home in tears a few years ago… I was honestly at a loss for a second.”

He fell silent, as if reliving the moment. Water quietly ran into the sink.

“He usually held himself together. Even as a child, if he cried, it was quietly into his pillow. But that time…” Kaveh sighed. “He sat on the floor in the hallway, right by the door, and cried like the world had ended.”

Phainon froze for a moment. It was frightening to move – he didn’t want to disturb this moment of private confession. Anaxa himself didn’t like to dwell on the past, and especially not on the biological father of his daughter. There was no doubt that this was exactly what Kaveh was talking about.

"We… Alhaitham and I back then…" Kaveh fell silent for a moment, searching for the right words. "We were just there for him. Told him it wasn’t his fault. That some people just… turn out worse than you’d expect."

He rinsed a plate and handed it to Phainon. The water was nearly hot.

“But you know what’s the most amazing thing?” Kaveh’s voice softened. “Even after all that, he never regretted Hyacine. Not even once.”

Phainon felt his chest tighten. Against his will, an image surfaced in his mind: a slightly younger omega holding his newborn daughter.

“I remember him sitting by her crib at night,” Kaveh continued, drying the same plate for the fifth time. “Whispering to her, singing… His eyes red from sleep deprivation, but he couldn’t fall asleep – afraid she’d stop breathing if he did.”

Water continued to run, filling the sink. The scent of citrus soap blended with something subtly homely, comforting.

“One time I found him asleep on the floor beside her crib,” Kaveh said with a wistful smile. “His hand slipped through the bars so she could hold his finger. That’s how they slept.”

Finally, he placed the plate on the drying rack and turned to Faenon. There was no reproach or suspicion in his gaze – only a tentative hope.

“Just… be careful with them. Please.”

Phainon nodded, still unable to trust his own voice. At that moment, the door opened slightly, and Anaxa peered into the kitchen.

“Everything okay?” Anaxa asked, his gaze flicking between his father and Phainon, trying to read the atmosphere in the room.

Kaveh instantly transformed. His face lit up with a light, carefree smile, as if the past few minutes had been spent discussing nothing more serious than the weather.

“Everything’s fine, sweetheart!" he said cheerfully, drying his hands on a towel. “Faenon just helped me tidy up after our little tea party.”

Anaxa raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced that the conversation had been limited to washing dishes, but he didn’t press it. He stepped into the kitchen, and Phainon couldn’t help but linger on him. He couldn’t explain why, but in this environment, in this house… Anaxa, his omega, usually such a confident, grown man, seemed younger. More vulnerable.

Perhaps it was the way he unconsciously pressed close to Haytham while he read, as if seeking protection from his father. Or the way he allowed Kaveh to adjust his hair without the usual “Dad, stop.” Here, he could simply be a son. Not a father, not the responsible adult, not the one who always had to be strong.

Phainon suddenly realized he was seeing him differently – not the composed, sometimes cynical omega he appeared to the world, but the one he was here, safe in his parents’ home. The one who still needed a father and a dad to feel completely secure.

He wanted to be someone with whom Anaxa could also show vulnerability. And in that moment, his heart tightened at the thought: I want to be that safe place for him. I want him to come to me and shed the mask of the weary, responsible omega who has to be strong every day. I want him to allow himself to be vulnerable, knowing I won’t see it as weakness.

He looked at Anaxa, now smiling lightly at another of Kaveh’s jokes, and it suddenly became clear – this was the greatest privilege. Not just to love a strong, confident person, but to be someone that person trusts with their helplessness. To witness not only his resilience, but the fatigue that hides behind it.

And Phainon quietly promised himself he would strive to be worthy of that trust. Not merely to protect, but to create a space where he wouldn’t need to be guarded. Where he could just be. Tired. Imperfect. As he was here and now – slightly younger, slightly more vulnerable, and infinitely alive.

Kaveh, as if sensing his thoughts, met his gaze and gave a barely perceptible nod, smiling. This test, Phainon realized, he had certainly passed.

Chapter Text

The air in the kindergarten locker room was warm and smelled of starched, ironed dresses, watercolors, and apples. The hands of the wall clock pointed to five. Razio stood near the entrance, leaning against the doorframe, watching his husband help his little niece put on her jacket.

Hyacine fidgeted, trying to simultaneously tuck her arms into her sleeves and hold Iсa still. Aventurine patiently adjusted her hood, quietly joking with her, and Hyacine laughed, even when her jacket stubbornly refused to fasten. Finally managing the pesky clasp, the omega rose from his knees and, taking the girl's hand, walked to the front door.

“Well, we can go,” he nodded slightly at Veritas. All the things were packed, the teachers had been alerted, the child was dressed. Ratio nodded in response, opening the door and stepping outside.

But Aventurine suddenly stopped, feeling a slight resistance in the hand he was holding Hyacine. She didn't move. Her gaze was fixed on another girl, Cipher, who was sitting quietly on a bench by the window, watching the cars approaching the garden. Usually they were picked up at the same time, but today there was still no sign of Cipher's mother.

Ratio, already standing outside, noticed the pause and turned around. His gaze slid from the motionless Hyacinna to the lonely figure on the bench, and he understood everything. He silently retreated back into the locker room.

Aventurine sat down next to his niece.

“Something wrong, little flower?” he asked quietly, following her gaze.

Hyacine hesitated before gently freeing her hand from the adult's grip and stepping aside.

“Just a moment.”

Under the surprised gaze of Aventurine and Ratio, she ran up to the girl on the bench, who seemed oblivious to her surroundings, still looking out the window for the familiar car. Hyacine gently touched her hand, causing Cipher to flinch and turn around. She smiled when she saw her friend, but when she noticed she was already dressed, her expression drooped.

“Oh, you're leaving already…” she said, disappointed.

Hyacine frowned, clearly reluctant to abandon her friend, but then confidently handed her the plush toy she'd been holding this whole time.

“Here,” she said, practically shoving Ica into Cipher's arms. “He'll be with you while you wait for Mom. So you won't be sad.”

Cipher looked at the unicorn in surprise, then at her friend's determined face. Slowly, her fingers closed around the toy, and a warm smile spread across her face.

“Thank you,” she replied, no longer clutching the toy so lonely.

Hyacine nodded, hugged her friend, turned, and ran back to the adults. Aventurine greeted her with a broad smile, while Ratio, standing a little distance away, looked at his niece with quiet warmth in his eyes.

“Ready now?” Aventurine asked, extending his hand again.

Hyacine confidently placed her hand in his and nodded.

“Ready!” She turned around again, this time waving her free hand in farewell. “See you tomorrow, Cypher!”

“Bye!” came the quiet but joyful reply.

The air in the small café was thick and sweet with the smell of fresh pastries and chocolate. The doorbell chimed softly above, announcing new visitors. Hyacine glanced up from her waffle cone at the sound but quickly lost interest and returned to her ice cream – dessert was far more interesting than unfamiliar faces.

They settled at a small table by the window. The alpha sat beside Hyacine, while Aventurine took the seat across from them, slowly sipping his coffee. His coat was casually draped over the back of his chair.

“What happened this time?” Aventurine asked lazily, watching his husband type something irritably into his phone. It wasn’t a new sight – in fact, it was almost routine. “Another mess at the lab while you’re gone?”

“If only,” Ratio sighed, setting his phone down on the table with visible annoyance before reaching for his own cup. “Students. Sometimes I regret ever agreeing to this.”

“Someone’s ‘brilliant’ research?” the omega teased with a smirk.

“A coursework,” Ratio muttered, grimacing as he took a sip. “From a third-year student who apparently discovered a new way to produce ATP. Without glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, or any actual effort. He claims cells can generate energy directly from water. No mitochondria, no enzymes, none of that ‘biochemical nonsense.’”

Aventurine snorted, trying – and failing – to hide a smile behind his coffee cup.

“Well, water is the basis of life. Maybe he’s just a visionary ahead of his time?”

“He’s only ahead of his time for the retake,” Ratio replied dryly. “He cites not Krebs or Embden but some naturopath blogger, and demands his ‘discovery’ be patented immediately. My review ended up longer than his entire ‘research.’ I swear, I’m going to hang myself one of these days.”

“What are mitochondria…?” came a small voice from beside them.

Veritas turned toward his niece in surprise. She was already lifting another piece of waffle to her mouth, chocolate smeared across her cheeks, looking up at him with genuine curiosity. For a brief moment, his face softened, irritation over the illiterate coursework vanished, replaced by a gentler expression.

“Mitochondria,” he repeated, choosing words she could understand. “They’re… tiny things inside every cell. Really, really tiny. They make energy so the cell can work.”

Hyacine frowned thoughtfully.

“Like batteries?”

“Almost,” Ratio nodded, his tone softening further. “But batteries just store energy. Mitochondria create it. From what you eat and the air you breathe.”

Aventurine smiled and leaned closer to the girl.

“So, you ate your ice cream, it was good, right? Well, the mitochondria in your cells are now turning it into energy so you can run, jump, and talk without getting tired.”

“So they eat ice cream too?” Hyacine asked seriously, scooping another spoonful of melting dessert.

Ratio couldn’t help but smile.

“In a way, yes,” he said. “They don’t eat the ice cream itself, but the sugar in it. And they turn that sugar into energy for your whole body.”

Hyacine thought about that for a moment, then nodded solemnly and reached for a napkin. It seemed she was done with her dessert.

“So if I don’t eat, they get tired too?”

Ratio raised an eyebrow, surprised by the logic.

“Yes,” he said after a short pause. “They do. And then they start working worse. Very observant.”

“The genes in your family are impossible to get rid of,” Aventurine chuckled proudly, giving his goddaughter an approving look.

Ratio snorted but didn’t argue. Sharp wit really did run in their family – hardly something to be surprised about.

“So, are we going for a walk?” Hyacine asked, already half ready to bolt off in whatever direction her feet took her, glancing between the adults.

Aventurine wiped the last traces of chocolate from the corners of her mouth with a napkin and stood up.

“Of course we are. Just promise you’ll behave.”

“I promise!” the girl blurted out at once, bouncing on her toes with impatience.

He deftly grabbed his coat from the back of the chair, glancing around for the staff. Ratio took his time, straightening the folds of his cloak with deliberate care before helping the child out from behind the table.

Meanwhile, Aventurine had already paid, tapping his phone against the terminal with an easy, practiced motion and offering the waitress a grateful smile.

“All set?” he called, turning toward them, his coat collar turned up against the chill outside.

Ratio nodded, resting a hand on Hyacine’s shoulder and gently guiding her toward the door.

“Sometimes I’m amazed by how straightforward kids are,” Aventurine said, leaning back on the park bench as he watched his goddaughter from afar. She stood beneath the slide with a boy around her age, maybe a little older and animatedly telling him something, gesturing with her hands.

Ratio sat beside his husband, one leg crossed over the other, watching the children on the playground with mild disinterest – more out of habit than curiosity. His phone was on silent and tucked away in a bag. Not even his own. Just to be sure.

“Social connections at her age are usually based on short-term shared interests,” he remarked in his usual dry, academic tone, as if lecturing a class. “In this case, they’re probably bonded by curiosity about the slide’s construction, or by whatever imaginative game she’s come up with.”

Aventurine snorted, glancing at him with amused disbelief.

“I’ll never get over how you manage to turn the simplest things into scientific definitions. She just made a friend, Veritas. It’s called ‘being friends.’ You know that word?”

Ratio rolled his eyes but smiled faintly, choosing not to respond. After nearly ten years of marriage, he’d learned to let such teasing slide.

“Anyway,” Aventurine changed the subject, realizing that his favorite game ‘push your husband until he snaps’ wasn’t going to happen today. Pity. “So, what’s going on with Anaxa? Why did he ask us to babysit today?”

“He’s introducing his boyfriend to our parents,” Ratio replied.

Aventurine blinked in surprise.

“His who?”

“Don’t look at me like that. I only found out recently myself. Apparently, it’s one of his students – fourth year, I think. Or maybe not his student. I don’t remember,” the alpha mumbled, leaning back and closing his eyes. Dad drove him crazy trying to get information out of him that he didn't even have. “What I do know is that the name’s Phainon.”

Aventurine turned back toward the playground in stunned silence, scanning for Hyacine. After a long pause, he finally muttered:

“Holy shit.”

“Holy shit,” Ratio agreed with a smirk.

“And he didn’t tell anyone.”

“He didn’t.”

“You’re kidding me,” Aventurine said, shooting him an incredulous look.

“A little,” Ratio admitted, lifting his head and meeting his gaze. “What else should I say?”

“Well, maybe how you even found out about it?”

“Hyacine accidently told grandparents,” Ratio said with a shrug.

“She knew?!”

“She literally lives in the same house as Anaxa. Why wouldn’t she know?”

“What do I know?”

Both of them almost jumped, caught off guard like guilty teenagers. Hyacine’s voice came from right behind them, startlingly clear for someone who’d been by the slide just a second ago. Now she stood there, a little out of breath, a loose strand falling from her braid.

“Uh… nothing, sunshine. We were just talking,” Aventurine recovered quickly, flashing her a smile.

To his relief, Hyacine didn’t seem in the mood to pester the adults with questions today. The playground and her new friend were far more interesting.

“Okay,” she said simply, reaching for Aventurine’s bag. “I’m thirsty.”

Aventurine froze, realizing instantly that – of course – he hadn’t brought any water.

But Veritas came to the rescue, wordlessly handing her a bottle that seemed to appear out of thin air.

Aventurine stared at him.

“Where did you…?”

“Bought it at the park entrance,” Ratio replied calmly.

That was enough of an answer. Aventurine sighed and shook his head helplessly. Sometimes he forgot he lived with a man who planned everything three steps ahead.

Hyacine took a few big gulps, exhaled loudly, and handed the bottle back before dashing toward the playground again. The boy was waiting for her by the slide.

The two men remained seated on the bench. Their conversation faded, replaced by the quiet comfort of shared silence. Somewhere nearby, sparrows chirped in the bushes, and the air smelled of damp leaves and roasted nuts from a cart by the gate.

Aventurine watched Hyacine climb the swing, soar higher and higher, then leap off with a laugh, nearly stumbling but still landing on her feet.

The day was slipping toward evening. The air grew cooler, heavier with moisture, and long shadows stretched across the park. Children’s laughter was fading, some already yawning, others being half-dragged away by parents under the familiar refrain of “five more minutes.”

Time drifted lazily until the sun brushed the treetops, and Aventurine finally sighed and stood.

“It’s time,” he said, straightening his shoulders. “A bit longer, and we’ll be driving home in the dark.”

Ratio nodded in agreement.

It took calling Hyacine twice before she came running – flushed, hair tousled, grinning from ear to ear.

“Already going home?” she asked, her voice tinged with disappointment, clutching Aventurine’s hand.

“Already,” he said with a smile, smoothing her hair. “Don’t worry. If you want, we’ll come again.”

The car rolled softly along the evening road. Outside, shop lights flickered past, trees turned to silhouettes, and in the back seat, Hyacine sat quietly, gazing out the window. Aventurine kept his eyes on the road, tapping the steering wheel in rhythm with the music, while Veritas sat beside him, half-dozing, watching the passing lights.

The silence was broken by a small, sleepy voice from the back seat.

“Uncle…”

“Mm?” the alpha murmured, turning his head slightly.

“Why don’t you have kids?” Hyacine asked innocently, her voice filled with genuine curiosity – never noticing how Aventurine’s hands trembled ever so slightly on the wheel.

For a heartbeat, the car fell completely silent. Even the music seemed to fade into the background. Aventurine stopped tapping the wheel; his gaze locked on the road, too focused, too still.

Ratio stirred, slowly turning in his seat. His expression remained composed, but his eyes flickered with emotion: surprise, uncertainty, and something deeper, harder to name. He glanced at Aventurine, then back at the child.

“Why do you ask?” he said gently.

“Well…” Hyacine hesitated, lowering her gaze. “Dad’s younger than you, and he has me. But you…” She paused, searching for words. “You don’t have anyone.”

Aventurine’s grip on the wheel tightened. He let out a quiet breath, eyes fixed ahead. The question, so innocent, so simple, cut sharper than any blade. Involuntarily, a memory surfaced: a piece of paper with a single handwritten word that had sounded like a sentence – “infertility”.

Ratio saw the color drain from his husband’s knuckles where they gripped the wheel. He exhaled slowly, collecting his thoughts, glancing between Aventurine and the child.

“Hyacine,” he began quietly, choosing each word with care – though he wasn’t sure for whose sake, hers, his husband’s, or his own. “Sometimes… it just happens. Some people, no matter how much they want to, can’t have children. It’s just the way life works sometimes.”

The hum of the engine filled the silence that followed. Aventurine sat motionless, his eyes fixed on the road.

Hyacine looked at her uncle with wide, serious eyes. Then she nodded once, as if simply filing the answer away. She didn’t ask anything else.

A few minutes later, her breathing evened out, and her head tilted to the side. She’d fallen asleep, hugging her plush unicorn tightly to her chest.

They drove the rest of the way in silence. Aventurine kept his eyes on the road, though his shoulders slowly relaxed. Ratio turned to the window, watching the flickering lights of the streets, his hand squeezing comfortingly on his husband’s leg.