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Phainon missed the warmth of the dawn device on his skin every time they set off on a mission. The constant darkness setting him on edge, it felt unnatural. Looking up at the dark, starless sky.
“Are you giving up already, deliverer?”
Phainon smiled, tightening his grip on his greatsword.
“As if!”
He grinned, picking up his pace to catch up with Mydei.
He was having some cramps, but it was nothing concerning, probably just PMS.
“That's 36 titankin down Mydei, still think you can catch up?”
Phainon smirked, leaning against his greatsword for a moment to catch his breath. Mydei took down the last visible titankin and huffed, crossing his arms.
“You won't keep your lead for long if you keep slacking off like that.”
Phainon took a deep breath as another wave of cramps wracked his body, and put more of his weight against his weapon.
“I'm not slacking, I just make winning look easy.”
Phainon said with a shaky smile. Mydei raised an eyebrow, raking his eyes over how Phainon was holding himself.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
Mydei shrugged, sauntering off.
With Mydei's back finally turned Phainon squeezed his eyes shut, taking a few more deep breaths.
This was the worst his period pain had been since… well ever, even with whatever he had going on in there.
He clutched at his stomach and hunched over. He just needed a moment, just one, and then he'd be back on the field-
“PHAINON!”
Mydei yelled, knocking down a titankin in front of Phainon.
“... how long has that been there?”
He smiled, forcing himself to stand straight. Mydei stared at him incredulously.
“Deliverer, I called out to you several times, are you sure that you're okay?”
Mydei cupped Phainon's face with a gentleness that had no place in such war torn ruins.
“I'm fine, really.”
Phainon leaned into Mydei's hold, placing his hand over his lover's.
“It's hard to believe that when you were leaning against dawnmaker so heavily, it's even begun to tilt.”
Mydei gently turned Phainon's head to his sword stuck in the ground. It was, in fact, tilted from the weight Phainon had put on it.
“Oh. I didn't realize.”
Phainon murmured.
“You're off your game, it's not a fair fight if you're not well, I want to beat you when you're at your best.”
Mydei turned Phainon's head back towards him, pressing their foreheads together. Phainon smiled.
“You say that like you were winning. I recall that I have slain more titankin on this outing than you.”
Phainon clasped his hands behind Mydei's neck, taking comfort in his warmth.
“Haikas, you could've died, stop deflecting, just tell me what's wrong.”
Mydei chastised him, releasing the gentle hold on Phainon's face. Phainon sighed, releasing his hold on Mydei to run a hand through his white hair.
“It's just cramps Mydei, I'm fine.”
Phainon placated, but Mydei crossed his arms.
“Your cramps aren't usually this bad.”
He stated.
“I don't know Mydei, that's just how it is.”
Phainon snapped.
Mydei raised his hands in surrender.
“Okay, I'm sorry for pushing you. There should be pain medication at the next camp.”
Mydei offered, and Phainon sighed.
“That sounds like a good idea. I'm sorry for snapping at you.”
Mydei just smiled one of his softer smiles and waited for Phainon to grab Dawnmaker.
The pain was worse, coming and going in waves, and happening more often as they walked.
Phainon felt something pop and his pants dampened.
He froze.
“Mydei?”
He called out shakily. The Kremnoan prince paused, turning around to face Phainon.
“Something just happened.”
Mydei's brows furrowed in concern.
“Deliverer, what's wrong?”
He asked, stepping closer to Phainon. Phainon shifted his stance slightly, clutching his coat tighter to hide the spot, feeling more fluid gush out of him.
“I don't know!”
Phainon exclaimed as another, even worse wave of pain washes over him, tears build in his eyes. Mydei gently guided him to a wall and sat him against it, removing a gauntlet to wipe Phainon's tears.
“Phainon, can you breathe for me?”
Mydei asked gently, cupping Phainon's cheek with his bare hand. Phainon took some deep breaths in and out.
“Tell me where it hurts, I can't help if I don't know anything.”
Mydei took his palm off of Phainon's cheek and removed his other gauntlet, waiting for Phainon to speak.
“It's embarrassing.”
Phainon murmured. Mydei raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing new then, good to know.”
He huffed.
“It's my pelvis.”
Phainon sighed.
“That's it? You're embarrassed about pelvic pain?”
Mydei asked, and Phainon flushed a light gold.
“It's more than that!-”
Phainon protested when Mydei lifted up his coat, coming face to face with the dark spot. Mydei froze.
“Did you take any blunt hits to the abdomen earlier and not say anything?”
Mydei asked, suddenly serious.
“No!”
Phainon said.
“Phainon, I'm going to take off your pants.”
Phainon's flush deepened.
“Mydei!”
“Phainon, when was your last period?”
Mydei asked, hands shaking.
Phainon froze, the reality sinking in.
“Mydei, you know my period is really irregular…”
Their eyes met as they came to the same realization. Phainon's heart sped up, tears building in his eyes again.
“Phainon…”
Mydei said, and Phainon nodded.
Mydei made quick work of his coat, pants and boots, settling Phainon on top of the laid out coat.
“Aglaea is gonna be so pissed.”
Phainon hissed as more pain hit.
“I think she'll forgive the ruined outfit this time.”
Mydei assured, hefting Phainon's legs over his shoulders.
“You're in active labor Phainon, just push when I tell you, and if I tell you to stop pushing, listen.”
Mydei said sternly, and Phainon nodded with a grimace.
“Doesn't this position remind you of something?”
Phainon said shakily, Mydei looked up at him with a slightly incredulous look.
“Deliverer.”
Mydei growled.
“Well they got here somehow!”
Phainon laughed.
“Your tolerance for pain frightens and impresses me in new ways every day.”
Mydei sighed, taking out his teleslate. Phainon's lips pressed together in a shaky smile.
“I just messaged Aglaea, hopefully it'll get through soon.”
Mydei set the device down, turning his attention back to Phainon.
Phainon trembled as the pain increased, biting his lips to hold back pained grunts.
“Hey, no, you'll hurt yourself. Cry, scream, yell, whatever you need to do. I'll keep us safe until help comes.”
Mydei rubbed circles into Phainon's hip.
Phainon burst into tears.
“I'm so fucking scared!”
He cried.
“So am I, but we're scared together.”
Mydei soothed.
More pain.
“Push!”
Phainon started yelling. He felt like he was being ripped apart, nothing had ever hurt this bad, whywhywhwywhyisthishappening-
“Breathe, stop pushing for a bit.”
Mydei said after an eternity. Phainon opened his eyes, and through the tears he saw Mydei reach for his face.
“You're doing good, just relax, I know it hurts.”
Phainon nodded, and Mydei wiped his tears away.
“I'm never doing this again.”
Phainon said, deathly serious. Mydei nodded.
“We'll talk to Hyacine when we get back.”
Phainon's eyes welled up with tears at that.
“You're a good guy Mydei.”
Phainon sniffled.
“But I win our titankin slaying competition today.”
Mydei tacked on, and Phainon tilted his head to the side.
“I'd love to hear what made you think that.”
He said with a dangerous smile on his face.
“It's now 37 to 36.”
Mydei smirked.
“And I killed 36 titankin while in early labor. I dare you to challenge me on this and see how far you get.”
Phainon hissed as another contraction started.
“Push.”
Mydei set his teleslate down.
“Tribios is coming, but I have to get you out of the ruins first.”
“Mmmhm”
Phainon mumbled, half asleep, sat up against a wall with their baby in his arms, swaddled in Phainon's cape. His lower half was covered by Mydei's cloak.
Mydei sighed.
“You're lucky you're you.”
He sighed, picking up Phainon in a bridal carry.
The second he saw something move in the corner of his vision he sent a wave of crystal at it.
It was a bush blowing in the breeze.
Mydei's blood pressure was probably far higher than it should be, but considering he was carrying his halfway unconscious lover and their child through ruins where any sort of titankin could attack at any moment, it was more than justified.
He trudged on, clutching his small family to his chest.
“I could just walk back out.”
Phainon protested, voice hoarse.
“Absolutely not you Haikas, you just gave birth, you're not doing anything unless you absolutely have to.”
Mydei huffed.
“Snowy! Dei!”
A call from just past a stone archway sounded.
As they passed through the archway, the triplets came into view.
“Oh wow, it's so small”
Tribbie said with wonder.
Phainon nodded.
“Can we get him to the Twilight Courtyard?”
Mydei asked, all three nodded and shortly after the century gate opened.
Hyacine managed to hide her shock quite well if she did say so herself! And she did.
Only Phainon and Mydei would manage to get pregnant despite Phainon being on birth control and having PCOS. Only them.
In all honesty, it's a miracle the baby is as healthy as it is.
Not only being a little premature, but also the risks of developmental problems from Phainon's… habits, for lack of a better term.
Phainon was lucky he was only going to need to stay at the Twilight Courtyard for a couple weeks.
It could've gone so much worse.
Hyacine shuddered at the thought, turning her attention back to the little family.
“Caia. To rejoice. It suits her, what do you think, Mydei?”
“She's certainly something to rejoice about, and it's a promise for her happy future.”
Mydei nodded. Phainon looked at him, smiling, soft and mushy.
“Once you deliver the dawn, she'll rejoice in the sun.”
Mydei gently brushed a thumb across the baby's head, through thin white hair.
“I think you fit the title of Deliverer more accurately than I do now.”
Phainon smirked, and Mydei raised an eyebrow.
“You know, deliverer of ba-”
Mydei covered Phainon's mouth before he could finish that sentence.
“How about we stop talking for a little bit.”
Mydei grimaced.
The little family sat together in the room silently, basking in the light of the Dawn Device and the warmth of each other.