"Baba!! Baba!!!"
Sylus is immediately on high alert when he hears his little girl calling his name. His ears immediately track the sound of her bare feet running across tile, his body acting on instinct to get him to her as quick as possible. She's only taken 5 steps more when he's sweeping her up into his arms.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you hurt?"
She shakes her head enthusiastically. Her hair is so long now it whips both of them in the face. "Nooo, Baba, I scared!"
He frowns. She grabs his cheeks urgently. "What's scared you, princess?"
"There's monster in my closet!!"
Some of the tension fades from his shoulders. While it could still be an intruder, it's highly unlikely - unless they somehow snuck past Mephisto and a billion other security measures. He holds her closer to him as he heads to her bedroom. "Alright, sweetheart, I'll deal with it."
She rests her cheek on his shoulder, tiny hands holding the collar of his shirt and his necklace. Oh how he'd burn the entire world down for her. He kisses her head, in lieu of destroying everything.
When he gets to her room, he gently sets her down on her bed. "Stay in the center, alright?"
She clutches her blanket, fiercely staring down her closet door right across from her.
He takes a step toward it. Through the slats, he can hear a quiet sigh. He smiles to himself; this monster was clearly dragged into this against his will.
He reaches out slowly for the door. Glances back over his shoulder at his baby girl, who's leaning forward in anticipation... And he swings it open!
He bites his lip to fight the laughter bubbling up, but his shoulders still shake with the effort as he sees Zayne, his darling husband, dressed up in a monster onesie he certainly doesn't remember buying, with a headband with sproingy googly eyes hanging from it as an added bonus. He glares at Sylus, but it's softened by the silly situation he finds himself in, and the little girl behind Sylus.
She points a finger at her Papa, pulling up the blanket to cover half her face with the other. "Monster!" she cries. Sylus can hear the laughter in her own voice.
He covers his mouth with his hand to hide his smile. "Don't worry, princess. Baba will take care of this monster for you."
Zayne shakes his head as Sylus slips into the space and closes the door behind him. Sylus's hands fall to his waist like second nature. His mouth finds the plush fabric of his shoulder to stifle his giggles.
"Shut up," Zayne grumbles, and yet his hands rest against his body as well, head angling toward his without a second thought.
Sylus tugs at the onesie. "When did you get this?" he asks through his laughter.
"Last week when I took her shopping. She insisted. There's one for you, too."
"I can't wait to see it."
He sighs again, but Sylus pulls back and sees the small smile on his lips. "She's still waiting."
"Mhm." Sylus leans forward and brushes a kiss to that smile. "Don't worry, snowflake. I'm a professional at exterminating pesky monsters in closets."
Zayne hums as he chases another kiss. "You're insufferable."
"I love you, too."
In the cramped space, Sylus helps undo the onesie and peel it off Zayne, still dressed in his clothes from his at-home work - a button down shirt and tie with pajama pants. Zayne pulls off the headband and sets it aside. Sylus ruffles his hair.
"Baba?" their daughter calls uncertainly.
Sylus steals one last kiss. A kiss that promises more later, lingering just long enough to have Zayne's fingers digging into his shirt at his side, fighting the need to devour him.
Sylus slips out first, leaning against the door and pretending to look worn out from a fight. "It took a lot of effort," he pants, "but your monster is no more." He dramatically swings the door open, presenting Zayne, back to his normal self (if not a little ragged from the close proximity with his husband).
"Papa!" she calls. She giggles as she launches herself off the end of the bed and gets swept up by Sylus's evol into Zayne's arms. He can see the gratitude in his eyes when he hugs her; no doubt that leap would have sprained an ankle or skinned a knee.
Zayne kisses her head. "I'm normal again, cupcake. There's no more monsters in there now."
She's bouncing in his arms when she pulls away and reaches for Sylus. He leans down to be hugged by her, his hand settling at the small of Zayne's back as she plants a wet kiss on his cheek. "Tank you, Baba!"
He presses a kiss to her cheek in turn. "Of course, princess." He smirks as he kisses Zayne's cheek after. "And you, too, snowflake."
Zayne chuckles softly as he pecks Sylus's lips. "Thank you for transforming me back to myself."
"Baba! Baba!"
"What is it, sweetie?"
"You be monster!"
Zayne turns his head away to snicker as Sylus sighs and succumbs to his fate. "Of course, sweetheart."
