Chapter Text
Spite paced the nursery with a scowl while Lucanis rocked his wailing son and wondered how long it would be before Spite launched into his new nightly rant. Not long, as it turned out. The demon stopped in front of the rocking chair and thrust an accusing finger in their direction. Lucanis didn't know if it was meant for him or the infant in his arms. Knowing Spite, probably both.
"I was writing. To Curiosity," Spite snapped.
"I know, Spite," Lucanis replied. "And I apologize. But Enzo needs me awake right now. We talked about how this would happen, remember?"
Violet eyes settled on his son, and Spite growled. "Why does? It scream? It is fed. It is dry. What does? It want?"
Lucanis shook his head. "I don't think he knows what he wants. I think he is just confused."
Spite tilted his head like a bird. "Confused?"
"Until three days ago, all he knew was the inside of Rook's belly," Lucanis explained. "It was warm and dark and quiet. Now he is in a new world that is bright and cold and loud, and he doesn't know what to make of it." He offered Spite a weary smile. "Sound familiar?"
Spite continued to assess the baby for a few long moments, and then he settled into their body alongside Lucanis. They had long since learned how to inhabit the space together, and even as Lucanis's vision tinted violet, his son was still cradled safely in his own arms. The glow from their eyes caught Enzo's attention, and though his cries did not stop, they did quiet just a bit.
"This world is—" Spite began, and Enzo startled, his wails cutting off abruptly at Spite's volume.
Softly, Lucanis reminded him.
He felt their lips twist in another scowl, but when Spite spoke again, his voice was quiet.
"This world is. Not so bad. Lucanis and Rook. Will help. There are candles. And fire. And messes. You will be good. At messes. I think."
Lucanis chuckled. Perhaps he should have been alarmed at the thought of what trouble his son and Spite might create together, but they would simply have to deal with it as it came. He imagined it was not unlike a family with a large dog: he and Rook would have to watch them carefully, but he suspected that in time, once Spite and Enzo had bonded, Spite would be just as fiercely protective of him as he was of Lucanis and his wife.
That bonding was not to start quite yet, however. Having adjusted to the novelty of Spite's glowing eyes, Enzo screwed up his face and resumed his wailing. With the mental equivalent of throwing up his hands, Spite left their body and headed for the door.
"I'm going back. To the bedroom," he grumbled.
Once he was gone, Lucanis also rose from the rocking chair. Perhaps a change of scenery was in order for him and Enzo as well.
"Come on, mijito," he sighed. "Let's see if you like the smell of brewing coffee."