Chapter Text
It had been quite a while since the trio came to Castle Town. The transition from having to run after their boss day by day and meeting his every demand – and somehow even more than that – to a quiet life they could enjoy, one where they could take it easy and slow, a very welcome change. They’d now had all the time to savor being closer to each other than they’d ever have been when they used to have a stable job, even if it took them a few weeks to get used to their new found freedom. They’d grown even closer than they’d ever imagined themselves to become, promised to love one other as long as they were able to, and always stay loyal to each other.
After they had finally married, things hardly changed. Besides the obvious rings they’d now worn there were no further differences in what they did together, how they interacted with each other, how much they loved one other, or the ways they chose to show it. They weren’t treated any differently by any of the residents, and it wasn’t like they wanted them to. They were still just that odd throuple living in Mike’s former room, just that they happened to be married now. All things considered, they had preferred it that way.
And just because they were spouses now, didn’t mean they couldn’t go out on the occasional date together anymore.
Even if Battat usually didn’t like to go out (more because he’d have to be around other people that weren’t his spouses), he was once again able to be convinced to visit the local cat cafe Pluey liked so much. He slowly came to like it as well, even if only for the fact he got to see how happy and giddy his husband became whenever a Tasque would approach their table. Angel, he loved that smile, that overjoyed purr they’d subconsciously release when the cat jumped up and onto his lap, that light blush on his cheeks, barely even visible against his shadowed skin…
What he didn’t quite like as much was the fact that for some reason whenever they’d sit and tried to enjoy their dates, without fail, a couple of darkners would always invite themselves to their table for a while. Be it the trio’s friends Patch and Button, or that Swatchling and Zapper that kept yelling at each other or trying to one up the other, or sometimes even some random Addisons trying to sell them junk like Marriage Shoes or something. Why would they need those, they were already married!
And of course, much to the Pippins’ dismay, today was once again no exception to that rather annoying rule.
Lanino waved at the three, flames jumping from his suit in excitement. The green one held back a groan as the weather duo approached, quickly joining their table like those seats were meant to be kept free for them. It wasn’t that he necessarily disliked them, but their overly sweet demeanor towards each other always made him want to throw up. He supposed his partners could be similar, but that was something entirely different! And at least they didn’t have to show their relationship off in public like the weather tended to do.
When the two finally sat, a short gasp sounded from the spouse to his left, making him glance over in mild curiosity.
“We’re so very sorry for bothering you”, the weather man started, not sounding apologetic in the slightest, “but we just had to show you three our precious little Bo!” Elnina beamed at the seemingly newborn child she held in her arms, the little one looking barely over a month old. She grinned from one eye to the other, cooing towards her daughter.
Jongler’s head had started to wiggle from side to side in what seemed like excitement, giggling to themselves like a little school girl. A look to the other side of the table confirmed the Shadowguy’s similar reaction to the little weather daughter, well, minus the head wiggles. It held its head propped up on one of its palms, looking over in awe at such a small being while absentmindedly petting a Tasque’s fur.
Battat raised an eyebrow in confusion. What was so special about a baby, anyway? All things considered, that was just a small person, and it’d grow up just like everyone here has. He supposed it was the two’s right to do whatever they pleased – as long as it didn’t hurt anyone – but did they have to go and disturb other people’s dates just because they now had another mouth to feed? Why would they even boast about that? Hey, look! We have to spend more money on food now, isn’t that awesome?!
At least the weather didn’t stick around for much longer, although their offspring seemed to have a lasting impact on both the Pippins’ partners. The Zapper was still giddy about how utterly adorable she was, even long after they’d left the cafe and arrived at home at the end of the day. Pluey looked like they agreed, giggling and purring at their spouse’s continuous reaction to the little one.
And still, Battat was dumbfounded. He’d never expected both his partners to have such a soft spot for children, but on the other hand, how could he have? While working in TV World there were never any children present, at least not up until Kris and their friends showed up. But he didn’t really count them as kids anymore, those three were already teenagers. Heck, that pink lizard girl was as tall as Pluey, if not even taller! Besides that, here in Castle Town there weren’t really many other children (or at least non-adults) around either, and he barely even got to see the few that were around, like that strange round spade kid he couldn’t remember the name of right now. For some reason the name Mr. Generosity came to mind, but that couldn’t be right.
He brushed the thought aside, it wasn’t that important anyway. They’d both come to their senses again eventually.
On an otherwise very ordinary day for the trio, an unexpected knock on their door had startled them, not being used to visitors. People still didn’t particularly like the three, or at least they didn’t tend to seek out their presence. Jongler quickly answered, none other than Elnina and Lanino standing before them with their little daughter Bo holding onto her father’s hand. With a slightly embarrassed undertone in their voice, the weather woman had asked if the three were willing to look after their child due to an important errand the two had to run.
The Zapper didn’t need to be asked twice, instantly obliged as they patiently waited for the little girl to come in, her having to be reassured at first that her parents would be back very soon.
It barely took a minute for little Bo to warm up to the trio, and soon enough she was laughing and playing on the floor with both the Shadowguy and the Zapper, even the Pippins (reluctantly) joining in after a while. Despite what he might say, he was slowly but surely enjoying himself as well, perhaps more because of his spouses than anything else. They’d always had that ability to make him smile just by their presence alone, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. It was one of the main reasons he wanted to marry the two in the first place!
Things started to ramp up by around the fourth time the three were asked to babysit for the weather duo. They were on their way home, and Jongler seemed so enamored by the kid they couldn’t stop smiling. And while she had slowly grown on the green Pippins as well, he still couldn’t quite fathom their fascination with the little one.
As soon as they’d arrived in the Mike room and sat down on the couch, the Zapper let out a sigh, staring wistfully into the distance.
“Wouldn’ it be cutes if we’s had our own kid?”
Safe for the Shadowguy’s purrs of agreement, it fell silent in the room. Battat could only stare at them, eyes widening incredulously, and if his face wasn’t already white he’d have somehow become even paler.
“What, no! Are you crazy??”, he then yelled louder than intended, Pluey instantly pulling its hat over its head and leaning farther away from him, seeking comfort in its other partner’s presence. They pulled it close, protectively wrapping their arms around it.
“Do you have any idea how much responsibility that is?”, the die continued ranting, “How do you even expect us to-”
“Batts, stop yellin’. Youse makin’ Pluey upset.”, Jongler demonstratively held onto their spouse a little tighter and rubbed their shoulder soothingly, shooting a stern look towards the other.
He let out a short huff, on one hand incredibly annoyed at getting interrupted, on the other a little ashamed at his own outburst. He knew Pluey hated loud noises, he knew it didn’t like getting screamed at and how much that could scare it. But then again, he had valid concerns, and those needed to be brought up – even if he could have done so less harshly.
“Look”, the Pippins continued after a pause, thankfully quieter than before, “taking care of someone else’s child is one thing, but raising one ourselves?” He grabbed at the side of his head, already feeling a migraine approaching, gesturing around with his other hand. “It’s not like we can just give it to someone else if we don’t want it anymore, you know that!”
Jongler sighed, “’Course wes know dat. We ain’t talkin’ bout a toy here or nothins”, Pluey perked up to give a small nod, still frowning. They hated when their two partners would argue like that. Of course, they couldn’t always agree on everything forever, and little fights in a relationship were inevitable from time to time, but it didn’t mean they couldn’t be upset about it whenever one would break out.
“It’s just- I don’t know if we’re even ready for this. It’s gonna be so much work, and-”, Battat paused once more, taking a breath, “and what if… it turns out we suck at being parents?”
“Batts”, a gentle hand placed on his knee, the Zapper shuffling a little closer, “’S fine if ya ain’t ready. ‘N it’s fine if ya don’t want no kids at all eithers”, they looked to the side, seeming slightly disappointed, “Was jus’. Thinkin’ out louds anyway… Shouldn’ta said anythin’.”
The Pippins fell silent, averting his eyes in shame. Of course he had to go and bring down the mood again, but what else was he supposed to do? Lie to them and watch how they all failed to raise an offspring? They didn’t know what could happen, what if there were complications, what if their child turned out to have an incurable illness due to being a mix of three different darkners? What if they weren’t even compatible, weren’t even able to produce a baby in the first place?
He let his gaze fall to the ground, gripping his hands tightly together. They were mad at him, he could feel it – if not mad, they were disappointed, which was arguably far worse. The two seemed so excited about the idea of having a kid, and of course he had to go and ruin everything with his stupid paranoia. Surely they’d be happier if he wasn’t there, wasn’t holding them back from living their life like they wanted to. As much as that thought pained him, if it meant the two were better off… maybe the best course of action was for him to break up with them. He didn’t want to, Angel knows he’d rather die than hurt them in any way, but he knew it was only selfish of him if he stayed with them, prevented them from starting a family.
Battat couldn’t bring himself to say anything on the matter.
“We’s goin ta bed”, his spouse informed him after a long while of sitting in complete silence, them and the Shadowguy heading towards their bedroom, “don’ts stay up too long, kay?”
“I won’t”, he lied, already mentally preparing himself to get used to the feeling of sleeping on the couch for the next few weeks. It was what he deserved.