“You’ll feel better.” Yao holds up one of his own maternity gowns. “If you put this on, then there’ll be cake waiting for you.”
“Cake? Yao, I’ve already been eating way too much.”
“It’s homemade chocolate cheesecake.”
“…One slice, then.” He puts on the gown and looks at himself in the mirror. He turns sideways and cradles his belly. “It’s still hard to believe…”
“I know.”
“I’m going to have two babies soon.”
“We’ll be with you every step of the way. Now, let’s go or there’ll be no more cake for you.”
“Coming.” He waddles down the stairs.
When he comes downstairs, he’s faced with a room full of people. All his siblings have gathered around. “What?”
“We decided to throw you a baby shower,” Yao says. “You deserve one, too.”
“But… Don’t you all hate me?”
“No!” They all exclaim.
“How could we?”
“Never!”
“You’re our brother!”
Kiku lets out a relieved breath. “I’m sorry…”
“Nonsense.” Yao puts him down in a chair and makes sure he’s comfortable.
“We’re your family.”
Kiku smiles and rubs his stomach.
“Can I feel?” Mei asks.
“Oh, yes, go ahead.”
She kneels down next to him and places her hands on his stomach. “We couldn’t believe it when Yao told us. If you’d said it sooner, we’d have had more time to get you presents.”
“There’s no need.” Kiku bites his lip. He doesn’t want to start crying.
Despite the short notice, they did all manage to find cute gifts for the babies. Kiku unpacks clothes and toys and the softest towels he’s ever felt, all while eating Ivan’s freshly baked cake.
“I have a surprise for you too,” Yao says.
“Even more?”
He chuckles. “Yes. Come with me.” He helps Kiku up and takes him to the kitchen.
There, he stands eye in eye with Alfred. “Hey,” the latter says sheepishly.
“Alfred?”
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Yao says and he closes the door to the kitchen behind him.
Alfred’s eyes are glued to Kiku’s belly. “It’s true…”
“It is.”
“I’m such an idiot…”
“You are a bit.”
Alfred fidgets with his shirt. “I’m sorry.”
“Yes…”
“Can I…” He swallows. “Can I feel?”
Kiku reaches out his hand. Alfred steps closer and Kiku guides his hand to his belly. The babies kick. Alfred gasps and it takes him everything to not burst out in tears. “My children…”
“If you’ll have them.”
“Kiku, of course I will. Even if you don’t want me around, which I’d understand, I’d do anything I can to help you out.”
“You’re saying you would want to be around?”
“I…” He gets up and cups Kiku’s face. “I love you still.”
It’s Kiku who starts crying first and he buries his face in Alfred’s chest. The latter holds him close.
“I will do whatever it takes to be a good father to our children. And a good mate to you too if you’ll have me.”
“You don’t think I’d let you go now?”
Alfred chuckles and kisses him. As nervous as he is, there is also plenty of excitement ahead.
To Alfred: Hey Alfred, so I know that Kiku tied you up on you bed the night you found out that Yao and Kiku were related. I have a question about that. Kiku left immediately, and Yao almost immediately after him, so who untied you? Did you somehow manage to get out, or did someone find you and then untied you?
Alfred managed to wiggle his lower body off the bed. His hands were still tied to the bedpost and his restraints dug in his wrists. He stretched his leg and managed to reach his phone with the tip of his toe. He pulled it closer, lifting it up with his feet.
He had the phone. Great. What now?
With agonizing effort, he managed to unlock his phone using his feet. He called his friends and held the phone up between his feet. If only they wouldn’t laugh at him…
Gilbert and Mathias couldn’t stop laughing at him. They were both doubled over, tears in their eyes as they watched Alfred struggle. “This isn’t funny!”
“It is!” Gilbert tried to catch his breath. “It’s so funny!”
“Look at you!” Mathias joined in.
“Just untie me!”“Wait, wait.” Gilbert took a picture with his phone. “There, saved for eternity.”
“I swear…”
“Relax, no one has to know. Now, let’s see what you got yourself into.”
On his lunch break, Ivan heads to the marketing department. He’s a man on a mission. He looks around for Alfred and finds him with his two friends. “Alfred.”
He looks up and his relaxed expression turns into a nearly mortified one.
“Braginsky?”
“You just can’t help but make the same mistakes, can you.” He expected to get angry upon seeing the man who slept with his mate and almost fathered his child, but he wasn’t prepared for this overwhelming urge to punch him in the face.
“You leave our friend alone,” Gilbert says.
“I just wanted to have a talk with him. I was hoping he’d be responsible enough for that.”
“He’s more responsible than you.”
“Are you sure? Last time I checked, I’m the one actually taking care of my child. I may not be perfect, but at least I didn’t knock an Omega up and then left him to raise his two children on his own.”
“What are you talking about?” Alfred asks, decidedly paler than before.
“Remember Kiku?”
“Yes, of course. How is he?”
“Close to giving birth to your children. I’d hurry with making amends if you want to be in the delivery room.”
“What? No, that’s not possible.”
“Grow some guts and come see for yourself.”
“No, Kiku would have told me.”
“He didn’t because he thinks you won’t care anyway.”
“Alfred, what is this about?” Mathias asks.
“I, um…”
“I’ll leave you to it.” Ivan walks away. He’s completed his mission.
To Alfred and Kiku: Do you two know what you want to name your babies yet?
"We didn't have much time because the babies can be born any moment now, but we're happy with what we came up with." Kiku adjusts his position on the couch, but it doesn't change much. He's given up on getting comfortable during these last few days.
"We're going to name them Naomi and Maya."
"Now, if these two girls would hurry and come out..."
"Not too soon, right?"
Kiku looks over at him. "What do you mean?"
"Well, just... You know... So we have time to prepare and all..."
“Man, I feel like going for a drink!” Gilbert says as the workday ends.
“First round’s on me!” Mathias joins in.
“Sorry, guys.” Alfred packs his suitcase. “I’m going to have to pass up on this one.”
“Another date?” Mathias teases, wiggling his eyebrows. “When will you introduce us to Mr. Kiku?”
“Not tonight. He’s… a private person. And I kind of promised to pick up takeout on the way home.”
“Wait, he’s in your house?” Gilbert sits back down in his desk chair, determined to learn every juicy detail.
“Yeah, he… slept over.”
They both cheer.
“Oh, grow up! I’ve got to go, he’s the hangry type.”
“And I know what he’s hungry for,” Mathias teases, followed by Gilbert snickering.
“You’re both schoolgirls, you know that?” Alfred pulls on his coat. “And don’t you dare do anything to interrupt us tonight.”
“Can’t promise anything,” Gilbert chuckles.
“We’re schoolgirls after all. Alfred and Kiku, sitting in a tree...”
Alfred rolls his eyes and leaves his giggling friends behind.
Yao opens the envelope with trembling fingers. He wants to know before Ivan so he can plan how to bring the bad news, if necessary. He tries to open the letter and drops it from his shaking hands. He picks it up again and reads...
Kiku cracks his neck, and then his shoulders. He promises himself to take a break when Alfred comes home. He’s worked all day long, putting him slightly ahead of schedule. That calls for an evening off. He puts away his pencil as soon as the front door opens.
“Hello,” Alfred says, carrying a bag of takeout to the kitchen counter. “Did you manage to find everything?”
“Yes. I’ve kind of claimed the table for my work.”
“You know I'll buy everything you make, right?”
“... I hope not.” Kiku clears the coffee table by the couch.
Alfred glances at the table. “Is that the new chapter?”
“... No, it's… a side project…”
“Oh, a new story? Awesome!” Before he can think better of it, Alfred steps closer to the table and studies the drawings. “This is… Uhm...”
“Yes. It is.”
Alfred’s cheeks turn pink.
“I’m passionate about my official work, and it sells well, but not well enough to pay the bills.”
“...And sexy stuff does?”
“You’d be surprised by how much you can earn with it.”
“...How does this even work...”
“Which one?”
Alfred holds one of the pages up.
“Oh, that one. Why, did you want to try it out?”
“Maybe...” Alfred takes another look. “Yes, actually. I want to try it out.”
“...Wait, are you serious?”
Yao parks his car outside Alfred’s apartment building and takes a few deep breaths. Maybe it’s wrong to tell Alfred first. But Ivan’s still at work and Yao just wants to settle things. He checks himself in the mirror, realizes that there’s no point in doing so, and stops searching for reasons to postpone going inside. Hoping that he’s doing the right thing, he gets out of the car.
“I feel a gentle stretch in my shoulders… Does this count as yoga?”
“I doubt it.” Kiku props a pillow up underneath Alfred’s head. “Is it too tight?”
“No, I don’t think so.” Alfred pulls at the necktie that ties his wrists to the headboard. “So, am I sexy already?”
“The idea is that you’re at my mercy now.”
“Alright. I think it’s time to remove my pants then.”
Kiku strips Alfred of his last clothes. “You’re sure you want to do this?”
“Very sure.”
“Alright...” Kiku leans in and kisses Alfred’s lips. It’s a bit strange since he himself is still fully clothed. He places kisses along Alfred’s neck, behind his ear, and down to his chest. He reaches down to pull off his own—
The doorbell.
“Shit. Quick, untie me.”
Kiku fumbles with the knot, but can’t undo it. “Come on...”
“I thought you knew how to do this?”
“I know how to draw it…!” The knot just won’t come loose.
“Have you ever even done this before?”
“Of course not!”
Another ring.
“You’ll have to answer it,” Alfred said.
“Me?”
“It’s probably just the mailman.”
“And if it isn’t? What if it’s someone important?”
Alfred tugs at tie restraints again. “Look, if it’s two guys, one blond and one with white hair, kick them as hard as you can. Otherwise, you’ll be fine.”
Kiku climbs off the bed. “Stay right here.”
“...Seriously?”
“You know what I mean!” He straightens his clothes and runs to the front door, opening it.
Yao opens his mouth to say something, but freezes when he’s faced with no one other than his little brother. He looks confused, then questioning, and then the realization sets in. “Don’t tell me...”
“Yao? What are you doing here? Do you know Alfred?”
“Know him?” He pushes past Kiku into the hallway. “Where is he?”
“Alfred?”
“Yes, Alfred.”
“He’s, um...”
“Kiku, go to the car.” He presses his car keys in Kiku’s hand. “Wait for me there.”
“What, why?”
“Did he hurt you? If he did, I swear...”
“Yao, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
“Just go. I’ll take care of this.”
Yao marches into the bedroom and yelps a bit when he sees Alfred’s naked form. Alfred, on the other hand, screams and thrashes around, trying to cover himself somehow. “What are you doing here?!”
“What’s my brother doing here?!”
“Who’s your brother?!”
“Yao!” Kiku enters the bedroom as well, his cheeks red.
“Wait...” Alfred looks between them. “Is he… You’re related?!”
“How do you know my brother?” Kiku asks Alfred.
“He’s… He’s the Omega...” He swallows thickly. “The one I got pregnant...”
“Y-You...”
“Save the stammering,” Yao growls. “I just got the results. The child isn’t yours.”
“H-He’s not?” Alfred lets out a relieved breath before giving Kiku a panicked look. “I swear, I didn’t know!”
“I need to go...” Kiku gathers his clothes and toothbrush.
“Kiku, please!”
He grabs his drawings from the living room and storms out of the apartment.
Alfred considers that this is how he may die: tied to the bed with Yao looking ready to strangle him. “I swear I didn’t know.”
“I cannot legally kill you,” Yao hisses. “That’s why I’ll leave before I do something irreversible. But if I ever see you near my family again...”
“But… But Kiku...”
“Especially him!”
Alfred doesn’t want to break things off with Kiku. But after all of this, he just knows that Kiku never wants to see him again. He was a fool for thinking he could make something like this work… “I’ll stay away.”
“Good! Now go enjoy that you haven’t ruined multiple lives!” Yao slams the bedroom door behind him and runs out of the apartment.
Alfred rests his head against the headboard. “Wait… Wait! Can someone untie me?” He pulls at the ties. “...Anyone? Please?”
Kiku watches how Alfred puts his cup down. Picks it up again. Puts down again. “Trouble at work?”
“No? What makes you say that?”
“You’re acting like you’ve got ants in your pants.”
“Oh... Yeah, just something at work.”
“Something serious?”
“Kinda.”
Kiku sighs.
“...Okay, it’s not work-related.”
“Oh, really.” Kiku raises an eyebrow. “Want to talk about it?”
“Kind of... But you’ll hate me.”
“Try me.”
Alfred sighs and picks up his cup once more. “I slept with an Omega a while ago. He’s pregnant now.”
“Yours?”
“Not certain.”
“And if it is?”
“Then I’ll talk to the Omega about what happens next.”
Kiku puts his hand on Alfred’s arm. “I don’t hate you. You’re not the first person to make big mistakes.”
“Huge mistakes.”
“Let’s take this step by step. If you really are going to be a father... Then we’ll take it from there.”
“You know, we’re not mated. You can run anytime.”
Kiku leans closer and kisses Alfred’s lips. “I can always decide to run. It’s easy. But I don’t like easy. So, let’s save the running for when there’s really no other options left.”
“...I love you...”
Kiku freezes.
“I’m sorry... That’s inappropriate...”
“No, it’s okay. Say it again.”
“I love you.”
“Well, maybe I love you too. If you take your cup off my drawings right now.”
((I forgot what has been happening so I hope this fits in)) Kiku, you need to at least listen to Yao's side of the story, actually listen because people make mistakes and maybe it wasn't his fault.
Kiku wakes from Alfred climbing out of the bed and walking into the bathroom. He rubs his eyes and stretches. He’s sore, but he’d expected to be.
He can hear Alfred get into the shower and he grabs his phone. Some notifications, an email, nothing urgent. His thumb hovers over Yao’s number. Can he face him after walking out like that? But if he doesn’t…
He sits up. He doesn’t want to lose contact with Yao like this. But what if he ends up saying hurtful things in his anger? He promises himself to bite his tongue the entire call and dials Yao’s number before he can go back.
“Kiku? Are you alright? Where are you?”
“I… stayed somewhere else.” Yao doesn’t need to know about his wild night. “I’m sorry for walking out like that.”
“It’s okay. It must have been a shock.”
“Yao… did you cheat on Ivan?”
“Technically, yes. But it was mostly circumstantial. I wasn’t having an affair.”
“Then what happened?” He sits on the edge of the bed.
“A colleague of Ivan’s had the hots for me and he blackmailed Ivan to get my attention. I went to shut him up, but then my heat started and then he went into rut, and it was all one big mess.”
“Have you done a test?”
“We will soon. Kiku, I know what it looks like, but I’m not attracted to anyone but Ivan.”
“Yes, I… I believe you. I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions.” The shower stops. “I’ve got to go. Can we meet up soon?”
“Of course. Bye.”
Kiku hangs up just as Alfred enters the bedroom with a towel around his waist. “Hey, you’re awake.”
“I just called my brother.”
“And?” He pulls on his pants.
“Turns out it was a misunderstanding.”
“He doesn’t mind you running off to your boyfriend?”
“He doesn’t know about you. If my brother knew I had a boyfriend, he’d hire a private investigator.”
“He would?” Alfred chuckles, grabbing a tie.
“If he knew that you work for the same company as my brother-in-law, he’d be at your door in minutes.”
“We work for the same company?” He walks up to the bed. “What’s his name? Maybe I know him.”
“Iv—”
Alfred’s phone rings. “Sorry.” He reads the message. “I gotta go. You make yourself at home. Leave, or stay, whatever you like.” He steals a quick kiss and heads off. Kiku lays back on the bed, not in the mood for getting up just yet.
((Mun returned from Germany sick and is now bedridden. Sounds like the perfect time to answer some asks!))
“Gilbert, bro!” Alfred wraps an arm around his shoulders. “How have you been doing, man? Hey, what happened to that girl you mentioned? Did it turn into something? Come on, let’s go get a drink!”
