𝑭𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑺 - 𝑹.𝑵𝑰𝑲𝑶𝑳𝑨𝑰

chapter 45

FOURTY FIVE

The room slowly started to warm up, the soft hum of quiet chatter filling the air. Liliana, peacefully asleep in your arms, was wrapped snugly in a blanket. Her tiny breaths were soft and rhythmic, perfectly matching the slow rise and fall of your own chest as you drifted into your own slumber.

Your wings, instinctively and tenderly, folded around her like a nest, a soft cocoon of warmth and safety, completely shielding her from the outside world. The soft, gentle rustle of feathers was the only sound that could be heard, a sound both comforting and serene.

Across the room, Fyodor and your father were locked in their own conversation. It was impossible to know what they were discussing, as their words were low and measured, the type of conversation that sounded so normal to them but was completely indecipherable to anyone else in the room. A strange, distant air surrounded them as they spoke—like two ancient souls who could communicate without uttering more than a few words, both the epitome of calm and collected.

Meanwhile, Nikolai, Shoyu, and Sigma were off in their own corner, though Sigma looked like he had been forced into the conversation against his will. His usual stoic expression was still there, though he occasionally cast a glance at the chaotic pair of Nikolai and Shoyu. The latter was, predictably, full of energy, always ready to crack a joke or make the situation more dramatic than it needed to be.

"Man, have you ever seen a more perfect baby?" Nikolai asked, his voice loud and filled with pride. He was practically glowing with excitement, like a new parent despite it being his first time with a child, his mismatched eyes sparkling with happiness.

Shoyu leaned back in his chair, grinning. "She's already got your energy, though. You two are literally the same person," he said with a laugh, watching as Nikolai fidgeted with a small toy he had found earlier, trying to entertain Liliana despite the fact that she was fast asleep.

Sigma sighed, his voice quiet but still carrying a trace of mild disapproval. "Nikolai, for the last time, she's not going to talk right now. Let her sleep."

But it was already too late. Nikolai was already loudly exclaiming, "SHE'S GONNA BE THE NEXT SUPERSTAR OF THE WORLD! JUST WAIT UNTIL SHE'S OLDER!"

Shoyu chuckled, his hand running through his light grayish-blue hair. "Well, at least we'll have an entire army of baby entertainers. You're gonna have to hire a staff just to keep up with her."

Sigma, in the corner, looked utterly defeated but resigned. "I swear, these two are gonna be the death of me."

You, completely unaware of the playful chatter around you, simply drifted deeper into your peaceful slumber, the soft weight of Liliana in your arms and the protective embrace of your wings the only things grounding you in the moment. For the first time in a while, everything felt... right. It was a strange kind of peace that seemed impossible in the chaos of your life, but here you were, holding your daughter, the world still, just for a moment.

Everything else could wait.

"Anyways, what do you think her hair color will be?" Nikolai beamed, puffing up his chest like a proud rooster. His voice echoed off the hospital walls, animated and bold as ever. He leaned forward, practically bouncing on the heels of his boots. "Honestly? I'm hoping white—pure white! So she's like a mini girl version of me!" His grin stretched wide, mismatched eyes practically shimmering as he threw a dramatic hand to his chest, as if he were announcing his candidacy for Father of the Century.

Shoyu clapped him on the back, laughing so hard his light-grayish-blue strands bounced over his forehead, and the thin yellow streaks caught in the fluorescent lights. "You're dreaming, jester boy. I say light gray. With curls. I always liked curls!" he said, twirling an imaginary lock in the air with exaggerated flair.