This is an old design of my avatar that I created a while back. I plan on recreating this sometime in the future with the updated version of my avatar.
This was sketched out then created on Illustrator.
“Enough.” Came the sour reply. “I don’t care if all of Brastavalia is on fire. I haven’t seen my son or even my husband all day, and I am tired. Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow...”
The voices were distant to my ears, and quickly fading. I shifted in my seat, lost in the fuzzy, numbing warmth of sleep. I started slightly when warm lips pressed to my cheek, but quickly recovered and let my eyes flutter open. Grier leaned over the arm of my chair, beaming up at me.
“We were reading.” I told him, stifling a yawn.
He chuckled quietly, and his hand brushed back Izaak’s bangs from his face. “I’m not familiar with that magic.”
“Beg pardon?”
Scarlet eyes peeked at me out of their corners coyly. “The magic that allows you to read with your eyes closed. I’m afraid I don’t know that spell.”
I shifted my grip on our son, collapsed against my chest and breathing quiet but deep snores. A frown slipped across my lips, and I glanced at the book still clasped in my hand.
“... I was just resting my eyes for a moment.”
Another soft chuckle, and the goblin stretched up to kiss my cheek again. “And how did our little miracle find the southern keep’s reports? Sufficiently stimulating, I would think?”
I hummed a soft sigh at that, flicking my gaze to meet his. “He was listening intently last I checked...” I ran my thumb back and forth over Izaak’s shoulders, and felt him heave a heavy sigh against my palm. “Brastavalia is on fire?”
Grier scoffed, shaking his head. “You would think so, the way Hibik was going on.” He straightened, reaching out his hands. “Here, let me take Izaak for a bit. You can go get some rest.”
I shook my head. “I’m fine-”
“Nikostratus, if you insist on dismissing the nursemaids and staying up with him all night, the least you can do is let me take a shift now and then.” He interrupted, and I didn’t object as he scooped our son off my lap to cradle against his shoulder. “Besides, I could use a little miracle right now, if I’m to settle this dispute between the Hil’gan Lords.”
I hmmed again, unable to stifle the yawn that followed. “I find he’s a pretty good listener.” I mused, carefully closing the book of reports and placing it on the end table. I watched Grier rock to and fro, soothing our son back into a deeper sleep as he stirred. The corners of my lips twitched, and I stretched slightly, standing. “I can sleep well knowing the Kingdom is in good hands.”
Grier smirked as I bent over him to steal a quick kiss. His free hand came up, running over the back of my head. I hummed a final sigh, then straightened to head back to the bedroom.
“We won’t be long.” He assured me.
Babies, babies, babies on the brain. This time Nikostratus with his and Grier’s eldest, Izaak. Obviously over-protective Nikostratus makes excuses to bring their son everywhere with him. But he’s no stay-at-home dad; there’s still a Kingdom to run after all. And he’s not exactly the type to ask for help.
Luckily, Grier is just as hands on, and the two trade off to make sure nothing goes amiss. It also helps that Nikostratus has perfected the art of reading with his eyes closed :)). Izaak doesn’t get to stay an only child for long, and the boys have to adjust their lifestyle to parenting quickly.
I actually had the lines for this done before my brief Hiatus, so I colored it once I was free today. Just a quick sketch and color, playing with the pallets.
Read more about Nikostratus and his husband Grier in my story Royal Flush. I have other doodles under the tag #monster doodles, and more stories on my Masterlist. Please feel free to BuyMeACoffee while you are there to help out.
