fall asleep to lightning bugs
dad!quinn brainrot
tw: no use of y/n however they are AFAB (use of mama)
waves hit concrete, clash, retreat and repeat. a few lone boats linger on the lake, their lights blinding enough to make you have to cup your hand around your eyes to shield them from the sight
if it bothers the two figures in the lake, they make no indication of it. the smaller figure, a mop of curly brown hair that’s unruly, stands in the knee deep water, the life jacket tight around her neck, her hands cupped as she holds a handful of water-
and the taller figure over her-crouched behind her so he doesn’t tower over her, hair still dripping wet as he stands behind her and carefully picks through her palm, looking at the tiny treasures and any signs of seashells or pretty rocks.
the darkness looms over the horizon, hazy and lazy, threatening to fall any second. mosquitos dance around their feet, zipping in and out, no doubt leaving reminders of their presence to find later
“guys,” you cup your hands over your mouth as you stand, “it’s late-“
“awe,” the small voice pipes up first, a carbon copy of Quinn, “five more minutes, Mama! we’re trying to find a sparkly rock-“
as if she doesn’t already have five from this season alone, like quinn doesn’t take the rocks she gives him very seriously, buried deep in his pockets as he travels, worn now and smooth with age.
quinn says something to her, quieter, and her shoulders slump but she drops the handful of sand back into the water, lets quinn swing her onto his hip as they tread water in.
an hour passes. long enough for her eyes to grow deep with sleep as she threatens to sleep any second.
“Daddy,” her voice says, deep on the brink of sleep, “you promised we were catchin’ fireflies tonight.”
quinn looks at you through the rim of a half gone, half warm beer, questioning you without words, just a raised eyebrow, something the two of you were able to accomplish after many years together.
you two argue without saying anything for a second: it’s late you say, i promised he counters back
“daddy did promise, didn’t he?” you finally say, and quinn and his shadow shoot up at the same time, no longer tired.
you retreat back into the house, gathering up old mason jars from around the kitchen, quinn meets you in there. his arms slip around your hips and rest, his chin on your shoulder as he rocks back and forth slowly. his lips against your ear, voice gentle: “thank you.”
you hum gently back, already lost in the rhythm he has you in: “she missed you.”
“i missed my girls.”
“daddy!” she sticks her head back into the house, “mama! hurry! they’re out.”
“we’re being beckoned.” you tease and quinn sighs gently but pulls away, his hands between your face as he kisses you, hard, on the lips, grabs the mason jars from you and follows you outside.
“oh! behind you, babe!”
standing in the front yard, quinn holds the mason jar as he watches you and his baby chase around the lights that flicker and dance, squealing as they just get away from you, catching one and running to quinn with cupped hands as he kneels and gently slides it into a glowing jar.
“i think we’re almost there, honey.” quinn says gently to his shadow, “maybe one more?”
“help us, daddy!”
he laughs, the mason jar discarded onto the porch steps, she’s on top of his shoulders and his hand tangled in yours as he kisses the back of your hand-
“tell me when you see one.”
there’s loud squealing, and pointing, and many missed attempts (most exaggerated, as quinn hopes those are the memories burned into her mind) before everyone is gathered on the porch, the jar, now filled with grass and a stick and a small army of glowing lights made possible with the holes at the top of the lid.
“we did good.”
quinn is whispering; his baby trying to fall asleep any second, memorized by the lights he promised to put in the flower box outside her bedroom window, a promise she’d be safe, they’d keep watch.
“with her or the fireflies?”
he smirks: “both, obviously.”
and he leans over, grabs your hand and kisses the back of it again before falling into a comfortable silence with his two favorite girls again.













