Have you ever asked someone what love is? - Azriel x OC

Part 21

Cas was treated like a prince over the next few days, none of us could say no to him. And Cassian and Mor loved every second of it, constant teasing and flirting. Az had Cassian in the ring when he tried to press me up against the wall. now that was a sight to see.

"Al!" Cas screamed for me, and I dropped the spoon I was holding, racing to his room to find his hand bleeding, panic shooting through me.

"Shit!" my knees thudded against the wooden floor as I fell next to where he had been playing, clutching his small hand in mine to try and put pressure on it as he recoiled "I'm sorry love, I just need to make sure it heals properly"

Tears rolled down his little face and I could feel my own cheeks grow wet at the sight as I soothed him through shaky breaths.

"it hurts Al" he whined, tucking into my front and I scooped him into my arms, pressing my lips to his head.

"I know love, I know." I peered down at our hands where blood continued to leak. It wasn't slowing as quick as I liked.

Before I knew what I was doing, we were stood in front of Cassian, who looked like he had just sat down after a long training session.

"hey-woah. what's wrong with you two?" his eyes flickered over us in concern before he noticed the injury on Cas, getting up quickly before taking the boy's hand in his own, analysing the wound. "it's alright, just a cut" he assured, whether it was to myself or Cas I wasn't sure.

He took Cas from me, sitting him on the counter before pulling out a first aid kit, talking to my brother quietly and I smiled at the sound of quiet teary giggles. My heart hadn't slowed and I sucked air into my lungs at the realisation I had been holding my breath.

"what happened?!" my mate practically fell through the door, hair a mess with frantic eyes.

"just a small cut, nothing Cas can't handle" Cassian winked and Cas beamed, waving his newly bandaged hand up to his favourite Shadowsinger.

"look Azzie! I'm tough like you and Uncle Cas!"

"yeah you are" Az agreed, hand stroking down my back soothingly, pressing a kiss to my temple and I felt the ease he poured through the bond, shoulders relaxing.

"sorry- I just panicked" Gods I didn't even think about what he might've thought at what I pushed down the bond.

"s'okay" he brushed it off with a handsome smile.

"should've seen her face. She was as white as a ghost" Cassian teased, and I rolled my eyes lightly, taking Cas back into my arms and pressing my nose into his hair.

"you okay?" I asked quietly and he hummed happily, babbling on about how he was going to tell his friends about how he got his cut. I didn't have the heart to tell him it would probably be gone by tomorrow night. "sorry about barging in on you"

Cassian just waved me off, taking his seat again before taking a sip of his coffee.

"I don't mind playing nurse" he winked, and I chuckled lightly, turning back to my mate who rose an eyebrow, smile sitting on his lips.

"Who won today?" my eyes took note of Az's leathers, his worn-out appearance. They had been training together.

"who do you think" he retorted, stealing Cas from me and pressing kisses to the giggling boy's face. "who always wins?"

"Azzie!"

My mate grinned as Cassian chuckled, shaking his head at the pair.

"what happened to Cas's stick together?" the Illyrian warrior complained and Cas buried himself in Azriel's chest with a smile, his wings coming around to cocoon them.

The child mumbled into my lover's chest and a grin sprung onto his face.

"what was that?" Cassian stood, poking Cas's side who giggled, turning his head a little so his big eyes peered up at him. I didn't even realise I was smiling until I felt my chest flood with love, catching Az's eye who was staring at me.

"Azzie's wings are bigger, so he's stronger" Cas clarifies, and I pressed my hand to my mouth to muffle my laughter as Cassian gaped in shock.

"his wings are not bigger" he assured and I smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"you sure love? I think they're pretty big"

Cassian scowled at me and I winked, finishing his coffee.

"you would know if you had invited us to your org-"

"Cassian" Az chided, covering one of Cas's ears "language"

The man tutted, shaking his wings out before stealing Cas from Azriel's arms, and tickling him.

"who's got the biggest wings now?" he mocked as Cas screamed with laughter, wiggling around in his arms.

Az and I just laughed along with them, and I tucked myself into his side, his wing pulling around me securely. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and I smiled widely, pressing my face into his shoulder.

"you smell good" I murmured and his chest vibrated with laughter, fingers smoothing over my shoulders.

"I smell like sweat"

"lovely" I grinned, looking up at him. I rose onto my toes and pressed a kiss to his lips, his hand moving to caress my waist.

"Gross" Cas groaned; his face scrunched up in disgust as we turned to look at him.

"yeah gross" Cassian agreed, but his eyes lingered with a glint. I shook my head at the pair of them.

"love is not gross" I stated and Cas giggled.

"kisses are gross"

"kisses are like I love you's but in smaller packages" Az hummed in agreement, squeezing me lightly.

"I love you" he whispered and I smiled up at him.

"I love you more"

"I love you guys" Cassian wiped his eyes dramatically and Cas giggled at him, "and I love you, little me"

"Uncle Cas" he whined "that's not cool"

"it's the coolest" he argued back, tickling him again "get used to it kid"

I cooked for us, that evening. Cas, Az and I sat in our little house eating spaghetti and giggling at everything and nothing until it came time for bed.

Az set him down, like he had done many weeks ago and I stroked his hair back before closing the door behind us.

And as I stared at my mate whilst we lay facing each other, his shadows drawing shapes in my skin, wings draped over us.

I knew that this is what love is. And that it meant everything to me.