*Lucio runs into the room with Annie close on his heels* Lucio wait!
*Spine was infinitely better, he could even stand and was starting some physical therapy to walk and use his new prosthetic! He was keeping himself steady with a walker, holding on to it tightly with a doctor next to him trying to help him when Lucio run in*
*He looked down at his son and grinned* Lucio! Hey! *he let go and tried to reach out to pick him up, but fell over instead* Ah, fuck that hurt. Slow down big guy, be careful!
*Lucio cooed and babbled, hugging him* dadada
*he hugged him back, he was still in a lot of pain but he wasn't just going to leave his baby hanging* yeah, dada! That's me *he smiled and kissed his forehead* Dada missed you too
*Lucio smiled and clapped his hands together before leaning back to where he was almost falling out of Spine's arms*
CAREFUL! *he scrambled and moved his arms to stop Lucio* Don't do that! What if you hit your head and got hurt?
*the very polite and totally not annoyed doctor behind him cleared her throat, reminding him where he was* I'll see you again in 30 minutes *she bowed her head to him and Lucio before she left the room, moving out of the way for Annie to come in*
*Annie was just watching, waiting to see if she needed to step in*
*Lucio screamed excitedly when he was caught, clearly trusting that Spine wouldn't let him fall as he attempted to do it again*
*he caught him once again, deciding to hold him with one arm as he used the other to force himself to stand up* Lucio stop *baby was gonna give his daddy a heart attack*
*he giggled and cooed happily, holding onto Spine with a little smile*
*he sighed in relief that Lucio maybe probably hopefully listened to him this time* Yeah, stay still just like that. You're absolutely precious, you know that?
*he blew bubbles with his spit and leaned toward him this time* Dada
He really loves you huh? *Annie walked over and sat on the edge of Spine's bed with a smile* he kept saying Dada so I think he was asking for you.
*He laughed and hugged his son* Really? Well I love him too, and I love that he's finally saying Daddy *a sad smile creeped it's way in* I just.... I wish.... I know for sure he would love his Momma like this too.
... You'll get her back. I know you will. You love her too much to lose her forever. The gods wouldn't do that to you.
If the Gods thought like that, then the twins wouldn't exist because that fucker of a man I call uncle wouldn't have been here, working for the Queen. Even if the war still went the way it did back then though, kind Gods wouldn't have taken my mom.... I mean, for fucks sake, with everything that's happened to me and the little guys life, how do we even know that there's kind Gods?
*she seemed a little shocked at the outburst* oh... I take it you aren't a religious man? I'm sorry. I didn't mean any offense
....it's...fine, I guess. You didn't know don't worry, just...why even worship Gods if all they do is hurt you and take away the things you love?
*she seems to think for a moment, placing her hands on her stomach* probably because it's easier to think that there has to be a reason, than that you probably did something wrong. If I think the gods decided for me then it's not my fault. I don't believe in benevolent gods. But I believe in fair gods. I trust that the pain will be balanced out in the end.
.... *he looked down at Lucio and started to think. Spine still struggled to sleep some nights, he'd sleep on the floor of Lucio's room just in case someone tried to take him away. He struggled to even go to and from work, his car was suffocatingly small like a coffin*
*but he had safety. He had a home, a stable home where he didn't have to worry about moving every few months. He had friends, well he had at least one, and he had some resemblance of a supportive family. Most important of all though, he had Lucio*
*he didn't know if it was equal, but he wouldn't give his son up for anything—nothing in this world or the next mattered so much to him*
*she cleared her throat softly* the Duchess said you're free to leave as soon as you're feeling better. Or stay if you want.
...I'll stay for a while. Just to get used to the prosthetic, and hopefully I can start to spend more time with my sisters. *he smiled at Lucio, nuzzling his nose* Thank you for watching him, and sorry about getting so...angry. This whole situation is just so stressful for all of us, I didn't mean to lash out so harshly at you or at the comment.
I understand, my lord. I wouldn't hold it against you. *she smiles gently*
