It wasnât unusual for Crepus to tuck his boys into bed with a bedtime story. Nor was it unusual for the eldest child to mischievously grin and squirm around demanding for more stories or give some other attempt to keep Crepus there longer in order to stay up even a second longer than normal.Â
âIâve already told your three stories, Diluc,â Crepus had to bite back his smile in an attempt to be stern. âIt is bedtime.âÂ
âButâ!â The childâs little red eyes darted around the room as though to find the excuse he needed to keep his father there and the light turned on. âBut you havenât had a story yet!â
âI havenât had a story?â Crepus couldnât bite back the smile anymore. âAnd who is to read me MY bedtime story? Surely not Adelinde or Elzer.â
âWe are!â Diluc proclaimed loudly, dragging the other boy into his shenanigans.Â
The little blunetteâs free eye popped open, from under the duvet he was snuggled under. A surprised squeak given.Â
âOh you two, eh?â Crepus gently nudged the smaller child with his shoulder in a loving way and causing the timid boy to poke his head out from the covers.Â
âWell, I can if Kaeya doesnât want to,â ,Diluc grinned in triumph. Knowing heâd won himself a few extra minutes.Â
Kaeya didnât deny that so the redheaded child continued.Â
 âWell this is a story about me and my best friend! Can you guess who that is?â Diluc kicked his legs back behind him excitedly. Waiting expectantly for an answer.Â
âYour pet turtle?â Kaeyaâs soft guess came. An uncertain thing forced out of him by Dilucâs bright-eyed stare.Â
Crepus shifted his arm closer the younger, correcting his answer. âKaeya?âÂ
âOf course itâs Kaeya. Silly!â Diluc rolled his eyes and grinned. âSir Lance is cool but Kaeya is my best friend now!â
Kaeya squeaked again. His eye shining brightly under the safety of the cover. Crepus wrapped his arm around him. Squeezing him.Â
âAlright. Iâve got to know,â he smiled. âSo what is this story about my two favorite boys?âÂ
Diluc earned his extra minutes before bed that night. In more ways than one in Crepusâ mind and Kaeyaâs smile.Â