Go find a diaper bag? Iroh had said. Sure. Bumi’s answer had been short, quick, as they separated inside the baby store. A simple enough task for him to do alone, especially considering he’d already read online about what to look for in a good- useful- bag.
The place was not that big, but it sure was packed full of stuff. Bumi went by the strollers, the 6-12 month old toys and the bedding section too, on the way to the bags. It was astounding the amount of stuff babies needed, once it was all laid out like this. They’d already selected quite the collection of things, piling up on the counter, for baby Thale. Their baby.
Their tiny, little, very own, and very baby, baby.
Okay. A bag. There was a wall filled with them, in all sizes, shapes and colors. There were backpacks, and satchels, purse-like bags, picnic-like ones. Big bags he was sure could fit a little baby whole, alongside the diapers and a bottle or two. And there were small ones he wasn’t sure would fit two diapers and a pacifier.
Every color in the rainbow, plus a combination of them. Plain, striped, polka dots, and geometrical figures. Stamped with animals, and phrases and animal print patterns. Glitter, sequins and rhinestones, too. It was their own fashion show.
Bumi was just stuck there.
His eyes moved over the diaper bags, blurred in the mesh of colors, trying to separate one from the other, and trying to stop himself from crying in a baby store as his eyes started prickling at the corners. Out of all the things he could cry over in the light of recent events, a baby bag was not something he’d be particularly proud of, if he were honest. Even if it wasn’t really the bag.
It was not that he minded crying, and he could care less about someone catching him tearing up, here and anywhere. No, Bumi didn’t mind about that. It was just- his hands closed around a plush animal he didn’t remember picking up, pressing it against his chest. Moisture gathered in his lashes, little drops clouded his view, muddled the colors further.
It was just- his chest heaved with threatening emotion, and a tear slipped down his cheek. And then another, and soon enough Iroh was walking towards him, and Bumi wiped them away in a haste, hand reaching out for a bag. Any bag.
Iroh’s face was a mixture of amusement, and curiosity over the choice, if a bit too knowing. Bumi could spot similar feelings in Iroh’s love-filled golden eyes, as he inspected the orange bag as if it were a conscious buy and not a desperation act. Iroh’s smile had to be the sweetest one in the whole universe as he took it to the counter, a hand taking Bumi with him too, because he’d stay rooted to the floor there otherwise.
Luckily for Bumi, the salesperson said it was a good bag. Iroh’s elbow nudged Bumi’s side, and he blushed, ignoring the fact that the boy behind the counter probably said that about everything he sold after all. They were offered a different color; blue maybe, given they’ll have a boy, black to make it more discreet, pastel yellow?
But Bumi was already in love with that dumb bag, and his voice would betray him if he spoke, so Iroh was once again the biggest blessing of his life, very politely declining, and Bumi’s fingers eased around the plush. He still couldn’t remember when he’d grabbed it, but it was going on the pile of things they were buying. If anything because it was already manhandled, plus it was a cute squid, the baby’s own baby kraken. Their baby.
Their baby boy, that now owned a baby squid.
Four days later, Bumi laid awake at night. He could sense Iroh awake next to him as well, both of them pretending they could sleep, not daring to move a muscle in case the other did manage to do so. Not letting a word slip past their lips, in case they devolved into a renewed mess as they’d done so after dinner.
When he couldn’t pretend anymore, and his back muscles were as tense as they’d ever been sharing a bed with his husband, he got up. The bag was on the table, bright and orange, and calling him over. He sat to go through it, check everything they’d need the very next day was there. Verifying everything as if he’d not done it four times already, maybe even six, and two more with Iroh. He just had to make sure one last time.
And he couldn’t go back to bed, no matter how soothing the movement of the ship, or how warm Iroh waiting in bed was, the nerves were just too much. So he sat there, staring at the bag that somehow found its way to Bumi’s hands, until Iroh’s own found his shoulders.
A kiss was placed on his cheek, pillows fixed somewhere to his side, and then Iroh’s arms were pulling Bumi between his legs, head resting on his husband’s chest. Eventually, Admiral moved to their side, his nose booping their hands, and inspecting the bag, before he curled to sleep on the floor under the table.
And that’s how the morning sun found them, Bumi holding that stupid orange bag, Iroh holding Bumi, their dog guarding their sleep once it eventually found them. It wouldn’t be long until the alarm went off, and they would have to get up and go pick their baby up.
Their very own, tiny baby, with their very own orange bag.
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