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"Zhou Mingrui."
An ethereal voice, exuding serenity called out and yet Klein Moretti heard the love dripping from those three syllables of his name. The owner of the voice had become fluent in Mandarin over the years and so his name was enunciated perfectly—just like it was at home.
"Hm?" He asked habitually, turning to look at the beauty sitting beside him—a sequence one angel he might be but Leonard still glowed with youthfulness and humanity with the ease only humans could have.
Dressed in long, shimmery black robes with a dark veil flowing down his back, partially-concealing his long flowing hair, accompanied by the serene smile on his face, Leonard looked like loveliness itself. The silver hairstick, topped with a hexagonal citrine—A gift Klein had first hand-crafted back when he was a mere sequence seven—was inserted in the messy half-bun. Along with the pair of fluffy wolf ears perched on top of the arch angel's head, the accessory disturbed the smooth flow of the see-through veil, giving the angel of Miracles a beautifully-flawed bearing.
I should just make another one for him… rubies would match his red gloves… emeralds would go well with his eyes… or should it be citrine again? The Lord Of Mysteries wondered, stealing another glance at his omega.
His dear poet's serene gem-like eyes reflected the tranquil waves of Khoy River as he admired the Sun dappled river. Apart from the mating bite on his gland, Leonard's skin was fair and unblemished, a faint pink hue added life to his cheeks—if not for his stubborn laugh lines, his mate would've appeared as if he had frozen in time, back when he was just thirty. Yet he glowed like only someone innately good could.
One of his red-gloved hands fiddled with a yellow wildflower as the evernight angel squinted, trying to figure out how to articulate his thoughts.
Divinity had yet to give him poetic talent just like divinity had yet to stop Klein from teasing him about it.
His brow furrowed as whatever he was thinking left his mind and yet even in frustration, his strong hands never harmed the flower they had been stroking.
He was the most mesmerising sight Zhou Mingrui had ever had the pleasure of seeing and as a part of the internet-addicted generation, he had seen a lot.
Yet all the beautiful things on the Internet didn't hold a candle to the beauty and grace his wife oozed as naturally as breathing.
If I wasn't fooling everyone's senses into overlooking us, I'd be glaring at every creature for daring to sully such perfection with their unwo—
"I was thinking…" the melodic voice trailed off, his wife's beautiful emerald eyes glued to the golden waves of Khoy River. His long legs dangled off the edge of the embankment, moving to and fro. It was a childish gesture, one Leonard hadn't grown out of even though he'd last been a child over half a century ago.
The subconscious gesture made a spark of warmth flicker in his heart—but then again, everything Leonard Moretti did. "Is that a good idea?" Zhou Mingrui teased habitually and Leonard finally turned to look at him, those beautiful eyes flaring with a flicker of righteous indignance—exactly like they did when Mingrui first made fun of him as a Nighthawk.
—Fifty one years, two months and eight days ago.
"Grow up," the Knight of Misfortune grumbled before contradictorily sticking his tongue out at Klein, earning a huff of laughter from the Great Old One. "Anyways, I forgot what I was about to say but I think we should check on that firstborn of ours. He advanced to sequence four half and decade ago and has been avoiding his parents ever since." Leonard clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Does he think that his parents stop being his parents just because he's fifty years old now? Should his mother stop worrying just because he's considered old by civilians?" The Evernight angel ranted and Mingrui rested his cheek on a palm, staring at his rambling wife.
The smile on his face widened as Leonard, noticing his silence, whipped around to stare accusingly at him.
Three… His pink lips remained parted but no sound made its way out of them.
Two… Two slender fingers, covered in a red glove, rose and flicked him on the forehead.
One... The omega shifted, sitting sideways, diverting every scrap of attention to the Seer sitting in front of him.
"Ruirui, honestly I think it's your fault. You always spoiled him, made him think hiding things from me was fun… and now he skulks around the planet like a criminal!" He sniffed before sending another glare in Klein's direction. "He's been avoiding me. I can tell."
There it is…
Every time Klein tried to focus his rambling wife's attention on himself, hiding the little pranks their kids pulled from those sharp green eyes, he had succeeded.
Then again, few could match the Lord of Mysteries in that regard and he loved taking advantage of that.
Leonard would unfailingly turn his attention to the alpha, the target of his rant shifting as smoothly as the tide of times did and he would flick Mingrui's forehead before beginning. Just as he was doing now.
"Back then, I only kept his secrets because they would implicate me," Klein defended. "If you looked at him with your mom stare, he'd immediately spill and then you'd know I let him have a third plate of pudding on the eve of his second birthday!"
Leonard's gaze filled with incredulity and Zhou Mingrui knew he had said something he shouldn't have. Shit! I see why humans find it so easy to confess their sins to him!
"I didn't know you started that as early as his second birthday." Leonard shook his head. "I thought you began doing it when he turned four…"
A furry wolf limb moved up, flicking Klein on the nose. He barely held back the sneeze as Leonard did it again before sparing him from his 'violence'.
What a softie, Klein mused with a shit-eating grin and Leonard turned away sharply, the long dark veil on his head whipping around with the movement, creating a slight breeze that ruffled the grass and wildflowers near him. His fluffy wolf ears flicked back, telling Klein he was definitely getting the cold shoulder.
The Angel of Miracles ignored him for a full minute before Zhou Mingrui crawled over, using a tentacle to push the veil away from his pretty face. Then he leaned over, pressing a soft, apologetic kiss against the sweetest pair of lips.
Honey, you are my favourite dessert, he used to say, watching as the poet's cheeks turned a delightful shade of red every time.
"Alright, I won't deflect anymore." He promised, tattooing the words against the angel's pout. "Baobei," he crooned, releasing a trickle of his pheromones to entice his beloved wife's forgiveness.
Leonard didn't move for a full two seconds before raising a gloved hand to cup Klein's cheek and returning the kiss. His other hand travelled to Klein's back, his neck and before tangling itself in his hair while the two pairs of fluffy arms wrapped around his waist, pulling the seer closer.
With a triumphant grin growing on his lips, The Lord of Mysteries wrapped his tentacles around his wife's waist and shoulders, hauling him onto his lap as their lips moved against each other.
The spring breeze ruffled through the night-like veil, causing the loose strands of hair to flutter gently as the omega mewled into the kiss.
And just like that, all was forgiven.
He's still as easy to please as ever, the thought made Klein fall in love all over again. He truly had won the lottery in the romance department!
Leonard Mitchell-Moretti was perfection itself!
His dearest poet pulled away gently, pressing an index finger against Klein's lips, keeping him from moving to steal another kiss. "Just because I forgive you, doesn't mean I'll forget. So spill, Mr Lord of Mysteries." He smiled, knowing Klein would give him anything if he just asked.
Snitching on their children was the smallest thing compared to all the things Klein had done and was forced to not do for his treasured wife—even after said wife tried to put a stop to his mate-spoiling impulses a long time ago.
"He advanced to sequence three and has been working on a special gift for you," he murmured against the finger before giving it a sharp bite. "He keeps getting even more complex ideas and starting over again and again… But you didn't hear it from me."
Leonard didn't reply, the green eyes reminiscent of a tranquil lake in spring turned deep followed by the pursing of those bitable lips.
They had been married for long enough that Zhou Mingrui had thoroughly lost all sorts of feelings of shame and impulse control. He didn't shy away, closing the distance between their lips and biting the soft, plump flesh. Leonard immediately snapped out of his thoughts, his cheeks turning into the most delightful shade of pink as Klein soothed the bite with a decisive lick.
"Don't worry about it. The artisan is affiliated with Horamick Haydn's squad and I also have the little snake spying on him and imbuing him with luck." He consoled the worried omega.
They had long since shed their mortal coils, including the bindings of designations and familial bonds. Yet both of them clung to both those things with everything they had.
For even as gods and angels, how could they sever their relationships with their children? These were little beings they had made with love, had raised together, holding their hands and teaching them all they could about life and love as they grew and embarked on the path of Beyonders.
The feelings may dwindle due to their divinity but the blood connection and memories tethered their hearts to their beloved children would never lessen—more so for Leonard.
And so, even though Felix Moretti was almost fifty and a demigod Saint, Leonard still fussed over his safety.
"Are you sure Will's reliable? Felix is quite perceptive and it's easy to bribe that guy with ice cream," Leonard fretted. Will was partially raised by them so he was intimately aware of his weaknesses.
A mother's instinct is undefeatable!
"I've thought of that too," he confessed, shamelessly throwing their godson under the bus—this is for all the times you made me run errands for you. "Which is why Emlyn and Fors are watching over them and your grandpa's watching over the two of them as a third back up plan. I also have Adam watching over Pallez in case of emergenc—"
The Ancient Sun God owes me a lot of favours for enduring his child's harassment for years!
A huff of melodic laughter filled his ears as the angel in his lap giggled and Klein clamped his mouth shut, watching helplessly as his wife trembled in his arms.
"Shut up," he muttered embarrassedly, not meaning it in the slightest as Leonard wiped a tear from his glittering jewel-like eyes.
"I just—" another puff of bell-like laughter interrupted the omega's words. "You call me fussy and overbearing when you assign ten different security details and backup plans around each of our kids." He pointed the hypocrisy and Zhou Mingrui's cheeks burned. "Let me guess, your enforced marionettes are also hidden nearby and watching while some worms of spirit keep an eye from Sefirah Castle?"
Spot on! As expected from the man who's held my heart hostage for five decades, he mused, under the knowing gaze of his beloved.
"You aren't any better," he pointed. "You just prayed to Amani-jie to keep an eye on our kids."
It was Leonard's turn to sputter.
"I am just being a devoted servant and praying to the Goddess. What's wrong with that?" He crossed his arms, staring at Klein in challenge.
How convincing, Klein grinned, one of his tentacles caressing the fluffy limbs still wrapped around the God's waist. You can try to act all tough but you body still gives you away as easily as it did back when we met.
He cleared his throat. "You basically assigned her baby watch duty. She appeared in front of me two hours ago and gossiped about how funny but adorable she thought it was."
Leonard's expression froze as he tried to figure out whether Klein was trying to swindle him or was speaking the truth. Klein watched as the last few words registered in his mind and the panicked look on his face softened as he exhaled in relief.
Don't laugh! Don't call him cute! He'll start getting mad ag—
"You're the cutest thing I've seen in all my life, my darling."
Apparently the worms of spirit in charge of controlling his ramblings decided to turn coat!
"Zhou Mingrui!" His flustered wife shrieked, slapping a hand over his mouth as if it could stop him. All these years and Leonard still thought he could stop Klein from speaking his heart out. "You're somehow even more shameless now than you were as a human!"
"Evolution," he replied jokingly. "Or maybe it's Amon's spiritual imprint on the Error uniqueness."
When in doubt, blame the former God of mischief! Anything that could be someone's fault was clearly Amon's fault!
"Forget having the goddess snitch on me, I see Arrodes beside you." Leonard turned to look at the silver mirror hiding inconspicuously in the taller grass.
"The humble Arrodes is constantly at the great Mistress' service!" Arrodes replied enthusiastically as always. "Great Mistress, would you like me to confirm Felix Moretti's status? Or one of the triplets'? Or maybe Lucille or the twins’? Or should I show you what the littlest master is dreaming about?”
This mirror! Klein swore inwardly as Leonard looked at him with a triumphant grin, revealing yet another accomplice.
Why are you so proud, my love, you've always known I had no chill when it comes to our kids!
"How about we go check on our kids ourself? Nothing more reliable than our own eyes right?" Klein offered the olive branch.
"All eight of them?" Leonard tilted his head to the side, a fluffy wolf ear twitching on top of his head and Klein directed an unoccupied tentacle to stroke the soft, fluffy ear.
"We can make the ninth and tenth ones for you to smother in your affection," he proposed seriously and Leonard gaped at him. "You clearly want to get more hands-on again so its a win-win." He tried rationalising.
"Klein this is a terrible way of telling me you're getting a breeding kink again!" The starlight in those jewel-like eyes danced with laughter even when Leonard's lips remained pressed in a firm line. Bold of you to assume it ever went away!
"That's not a no," he pointed out helpfully.
"It's not a no," Leonard agreed, a soft smile growing on his lips, deepening the ever-present laugh lines that even godhood couldn't erase from his pale skin.
"Let me be the first to congratulate the Great Master and Mistress," Arrodes' cheerful voice broke through the silence, followed by sounds of fireworks popping.
"Thank you, Arrodes," Leonard laughed before looking back into Klein's eyes, the familiar fire of desire burning in his forest green eyes. "So checking in on the kids first and then…"
"Mhm," he hummed, the excitement growing in him, echoed by every worm of spirit fist-bumping the air in triumph. After eight children and their own hefty duties, Klein didn't bring the subject up again even though Leonard's pregnancies had been some of the best times the two had spent together.
He fondly remembered slacking off on Nighthawk duties and rushing around to satisfy his wife's cravings, indulging in naps in office hours because Leonard couldn't sleep outside his embrace, the jealous looks of colleagues as he enjoyed the fulfilment of his special requests…
And of course best of all, the glorious feeling of measuring his wife's progress and seeing his perfect body change to accommodate their children, the glowing face and the look of pride adorning his gorgeous face at every milestone they recorded in their parenting diaries.
Leonard chambered out of his lap, pulling him out of his reverie. The Evernight Angel offered a gloved hand and Klein took it, letting himself be pulled up.
"Remember when I said I forgot what I was thinking when we were watching the waves?" Leonard asked and Klein nodded. He had devoted his life to memorising and cherishing everything Leonard after all. "I wanted to say..." he paused, his cheeks burning a rosy red as he tightened his grip on the Seer's hand.
The warm rays of afternoon sun framed Leonard, making him appear softer, even more stunningly beautiful as his veil and hair fluttered in the air. The hem of his long black cloak was kissed by the swaying wildflowers as he stood in front of Klein.
"Thank you, Zhou Mingrui, Klein for loving me." The words were whispered in Mandarin, washing over him like the gentlest of caresses. "Thank you for always staying by my side." The smile on his face was gentle as always, the same smile that had been reserved for Zhou Mingrui and Zhou Mingrui alone since they first met.
It was a smile that had accompanied him from uncertainty and fear all the way until he found his footing and ascended to the status of Lord Of Mysteries. A smile that emanated endless support and everlasting love, a smile that was inherited by many of their children as well.
"You're my wife," he parroted the words he had said so frequently as a mortal, too flustered by the earnest gratitude dripping from the words of his most beloved treasure. "I'll love you until theres nothing left of the universe, until the stars burn out, all the way into our next life and the ones after."
He stepped closer, raising a black-gloved hand to cradle the soft dimpled cheek, caressing it with his thumb. Leonard tilted his head, nuzzling the palm of his hand.
"Thank you for always loving me. For accompanying me through everything. Leonard, I cherish you more than any language can convey, qin ai de."
The Angel of Miracles pressed their lips together in a soft kiss, his left hand coming to rest against the hand cradling his cheek.
The warm sunlight shone down on them, dappling them in gold, causing the rings on their gloved fingers to sparkle.
It actually grew out of confinement. The real thing in my mind was this sentence (which i couldnt fit in lolll).
"Maybe in another life, you would've chosen to leave me behind and suffer alone. But I am glad it's not this life…thank you for loving me in this one, Zhou Mingrui. Thank you for staying and letting me accompany you."