It’s A Deal
Short Dorxus fic for @latefortevinter ‘s birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day! <3
Dorian looked up from little Felix’s soft sleeping face, glaring at his husband.
“An idea?” “Well… yes.” Vaxus’ grin could have lighted up the entirety of Minrathous, but Dorian was too tired and drained to admire his husband’s beauty. His eyebags had eyebags, Maker’s breath.
“I was thinking…”
“You know that’s never a good idea, amatus. Remember the last time we thought something? The Qunari almost invaded the South through elven mirrors.”
Vax’s grin turned into a grimace, but it didn’t last long. It quickly returned, as bright as ever, and Dorian wondered where he kept all that energy, especially after such a long day spent trying to convince a young child not to fuss about food.
“Come on, dear! Hear me out for a sec!”
“Only if you promise to be quiet about it. It took me two hours to convince Felix to go to sleep.”
“And you did an amazing job about it.” Vax pressed a quick peck on his unshaved face. Dorian appreciated the gesture, but he didn’t dare look in a mirror, not yet. He absolutely needed a bath, first.
“I just thought Felix could use the company of someone his age. A little brother or sister to play and grow up with.” Now the light in Vax’s smile traveled all the way up to his eyes and Dorian had to struggle between the desire to smooch him and the urge to cry.
He didn’t have the strength nor the willpower to face another siege like the one to which he had been subjected today. Dear, sweetest little Felix crying over food, refusing to wear the clothes his Papa had so adoringly bought for him, playing and running like a tornado all around the mansion until night…
Dorian loved his son more than anything else in the world, but two children under the same roof? Two little rascals pulling his mustache, hiding behind the curtains, and smearing chocolate and jam all over the furniture, all while he had to have an eye on them and take care of missives from the magisterium and various threats from different factions? He was not so strong. He would rather face ten Pride demons all at the same time than that.
“Vaxus.” he started, his voice firm while his whole frame shook with sleepiness, exhaustion, and a little bit of betrayal. “Love of my life. At this point, I’m pretty sure you are out of your mind.”
Vax’s sweet eyes widened in surprise, then the tiniest of pouts appeared on his face.
Oh, no! Dorian thought, readying himself. I won’t let you win this one, mister!
“But…”
“Should I remind you that we are new at this? We never cared for a child before. Most of the time, we have to ask for help or read guides to know what to do.” He sniffed, outraged. “Me, amatus! Reading tips about changing diapers! I can’t recognize myself anymore!”
“But that’s a wonderful thing to do!”
“I know!” Dorian jumped, turning to Felix’s crib. He was still sleeping, as peaceful as a nug, and he let out a relieved sigh before turning to his husband with a frown.
“I know. But I want him to have a good, easy life, amatus, and that’s already hard enough with everything happening in Thedas. He doesn’t need us to make things harder for him.”
Vax frowned, too, but out of confusion instead.
“I believe we would actually make them easier for him. I had a wonderful life with my sister Val and…”
“Because your parents were good parents. Because the world wasn’t as insane as it is right now.” Dorian sighed and touched Felix’s little clenched fist with a finger. “We need to think about what he actually needs. He doesn’t need more complications - and there would surely be more if we tried to bite more than we can chew.”
Vax was quiet for a while. Another dangerous sign, Dorian thought with a sleepy smile. It meant his husband was thinking hard about something.
“Dorian.” His strong, calloused hand touched his shoulder. “Do you fear we won’t be good parents?”
He hesitated for a second, then sighed.
“You won’t be like your father.” Vax’s voice was softer, now, a whisper carried in the air. “You never will be like him. I can already tell, love.”
Dorian’s eyes glistened with tears for a moment, then he forced them back, not wanting to worry his beloved. He smiled at him, grateful, and Vax smiled back before looking at their son.
“You’re right, two kids might be too much right now. First, let’s learn how to be the very best for our little Felix here.”
“Yes. But…” Dorian gave him an amused, coy smile. “I am not completely against the idea, I hope you know that. I’m all for adopting a bunch of orphans and fill our home with their maddening cries, once we are ready for it.” He rolled his eyes, remembering the Qunari and the Fen’Harel cultists still going around which they needed to take care of. “And once the world decides to be less dangerous and ask for less of our time and blood.”
“Good.” Vax’s smile was blinding and bright again. “It’s a deal, then.”
Dorian snorted, shaking his head with fondness. His hand found his husband’s and he squeezed it tightly.
“Deal.”
