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“Get out.”
Douma only knelt closer, at the edge of the bath and smiled adoringly at Akaza.
“Aww. Still not feeling so great, hm?” He asked as if the smaller upper moon wasn’t fighting the urge to grab him by the throat and make him suffer for his hand in putting him in this burdensome situation for a second time!
To his credit, Akaza didn’t lash out at Douma’s audacity this time, though that was mostly due to the fact that a majority of his energy was being channeled towards managing the pains that came and went about every ten minutes or so; pains that were getting progressively worse as the late night hours dragged on.
“I’m in labor. Are you completely incompetent?” He hissed instead, muscles tensing beneath his pale striped skin as he felt a contraction brewing. He shifted in the water, trying to move his hips a little to relieve some of the pain, holding his aching belly with one arm and clinging to the edge of the bath with the other.
“Oh, Akaza Dono, you’re doing so well…”
Dammit if he’d admit that Douma’s encouragement was at all helpful in that moment, but Dammit, he couldn’t hide the wanting groan that slipped out from his throat whilst the rest of him was occupied on managing the pain.
“You can hold onto my hand if you need to…” Douma offered. “Or I could-“
“Quiet!” Akaza seethed through clenched teeth. “I told you to get out so go…just…fuck…”
Douma frowned, and flicked open one of his fans, using it carefully to wave some cool air over Akaza’s body. That had been helpful last time, with Gyutaro, he remembered.
“You’re far too tense, my lovely.” He hummed, looking Akaza over from head to toe and shaking his head. “Come now. Swallow that gargantuan pride of yours and let me help you.”
He hadn’t even finished chastising him when Akaza gasped and made a desperate grab for Douma’s arm, squeezing it tight and taking a few long, deep, and vocal breaths through the rest of the contraction.
“That’s it. See? I’ve got you.” Douma’s infatuated smile returned to his face. “You can do this, Akaza Dono. Breathe nice and slowly, just like that.”
“You need to be watching Gyutaro…” The Upper Three demon muttered, words almost unintelligible as he rested back against the stone walls of the bath, removing his hand from Douma’s arm again and using it to rub circles around his engorged abdomen instead.
This position was becoming uncomfortable and he wanted nothing more than to turn over on his knees but of course that required asking Douma for aid at this point and there were just some things that were never possible.
“Don’t fret over the little darling.” Douma assured his mate, seeming to have read either Akaza’s thoughts or the desperate language of his body, as he placed his fan aside and moved so that he might help the other moon change positions in the water.
“Careful, my love.” He spoke gently and Akaza wanted to just bite him. Anywhere he could reach and as hard as he possibly could.
“Where is my son?” He demanded, though he did let go quite a sigh of relief once he was able to spread his legs a little further out while resting his knees on the bottom of the bath and moving the weight of his upper body to rest against the wall he now laid his crossed arms and head down upon. “Douma, I swear, if you don’t-“
“I just told you not to worry, didn’t I?” The rainbow eyed demon reached downward into the warmth of the water to massage the small of Akaza’s back. The other didn’t say he was grateful but the pitiful yet relieved moaning and groaning he was letting go now was all the encouragement Douma needed to continue rubbing. “The bedroom doors are locked, I’ve ordered my staff not to disturb us and the last time I checked on him, Gyutaro was just sitting quietly and reading his book…He’s quite efficient in looking after himself you know. Very mature for his age.”
“Quiet…” Akaza huffed.
Douma didn’t flinch when sharp nails dug into the flesh of his arm, tearing his silk kimono easily and causing blood to drip down his wrist and into the water. “My, my, this one is much closer than the last few, is it not?” He inquired softly, though failing to hide his excitement at being nearer to meeting their second born.
“She’s been stubborn…” Akaza muttered through his pain. “But I think she’s giving up on staying inside for much longer…”
“Finally!” Douma giggled happily. “I was beginning to fear she’d take much longer to give in. Seems to take after her mother quite a bit, but that’s alright. I think that iron will of yours is precious.”
Akaza growled but didn’t let Douma go. In fact he clung tighter to his unborn baby’s father as the pain of the contraction worsened, forcing him to want to hold his breath.
“Shh, breathe, Akaza-dono. Breathe with me. Just like this. You remember. I know you can do it…”
“No, I-Fuck! Shit! Not yet…” He grunted and his breath began to come in panicked, desperate pants.
“Shh you’re going to be fine.” Douma’s tone dropped into the serious voice he hardly ever allowed himself to use. It showed off more emotion than he was comfortable giving out to most, but for Akaza, he didn’t care to hide it away so much.
“Do you need to push?” He asked his mate, still rubbing at the base of his spine.
“Yeah…” Akaza took a moment to catch his breath, trembling just slightly as he waited for another contraction to rear its ugly head after the last particularly painful one. It had been nearly seven hours since he’d started to really feel his labor and long before that since it had actually started. Now finally it looked like their daughter was ready to give up her nice warm home for a much colder world and just as he was with Gyutaro, Akaza felt…well, he felt terrified. It was humiliating to say the least, but luckily for now he didn’t have much time to process those emotions just yet.
“Whenever you’re ready.” Douma assured him. “I’m here. I’ve got you.”
“Stop saying shit like that…” Akaza sniffed through the threat. “Acting all sweet, like you actually give a fuck.”
Douma sighed and rolled his eyes fondly at the dramatics. “You know I love you.” He smiled again, looking absolutely drenched in nothing but fondness for Akaza.
Was it ever real though, was the question. Akaza wasn’t sure, but he supposed he could at least pretend that someone loved him as he felt a horrid urge to bear down creeping up on him when a new pain engulfed his body.
“Shit-“ He started to curse but bit down on his lip instead and just pushed with every bit of strength he had to give.
“There we are. See? You remember how to do this.” Douma encouraged him, paying absolutely no mind to the claws still sinking deeper into his arm. “Very good, Akaza-dono. You’re so very strong.”
Akaza wanted to wail as he pushed a second time but he held it in when he saw a little shaggy head of green and black hair peeking into the room from the doorway.
“What’s happening?” Gyutaro asked, obviously concerned as he took in the scene before him, his glowing golden eyes wide with worry for his mother and little sister that he knew Akaza was carrying.
“Mommy’s just fine, my dear.” Douma spoke gently to his boy, giving him one of his signature “absolutely nothing is going wrong at all” smiles that he liked to feign for everyone in the Upper Moon Meetings.
Gyutaro, fortunately, was not mindless, and knew better, so he timidly stepped closer.
“Mommy doesn’t look alright at all.” He frowned.
“I’m fine…” Akaza lied through clenched teeth. He needed to push again and he really wanted to scream at the top of his lungs if he was being honest but never in front of poor Gyutaro.
“Go play with your toys for awhile longer, son.” Douma tried to convince their little fledgling. “I promise as soon as baby sister is here, I’ll call for you.”
Gyutaro gave a little gasp of what seemed to be a bit of panic mixed with delight and that promise was enough to send him running back to wherever he’d left his book and beloved dolls before.
“Shut the door!” Akaza wrenched his nails from Douma’s arm just to let him free to complete said task. “Can you put some sort of field around the room? I can’t let him hear anything…”
He shifted his body, sitting upward a bit more, and though Douma moved quickly to do as Akaza had asked him, he couldn’t miss the little sliver of white hair beginning to poke out from between his mate’s thighs, right where his body was opening up to let their daughter out.
“Done and done. Simple.” His smile brightened, and when he took Akaza’s hand again he guided it gently down into the water between his legs. “Feel right here. Her head’s starting to crown already.”
“Oh fuck-“ Akaza’s eyes had been closed tight against the pain but they shot open when his fingers stroked through the tiny mop of hair that was beginning to emerge from him. He could feel her little head just beneath that soft hair too, and it filled him with new vigor, a determination to have his offspring out and in his arms NOW.
“Easy does it now.” Douma warned him. “I know you want it over with but be careful with the head. You’ll hurt yourself.”
“It’ll regenerate you dumb fuck! Shut up!” Akaza cursed, gripping onto Douma again with sharp claws and what felt like vicious intent.
Oh well, whether or not it was, Douma forgave him for it.
“She’s almost there, love. Just a few more and you’re done.” He assured Akaza as he helped him the best he could to steady his body while he pushed.
“Her head…” Akaza growled then panted, quickly reaching down with one hand to cup the baby’s emerging face. “Shit! Fuck you, Douma! I swear I’ll-“
“Shh, Akaza-Dono, just one more push.” Douma’s voice was soft now and it seemed to do the trick in calming his agonized mate as Akaza halted his cursing and gave one last hard push to bring out their daughter’s shoulder’s and then promptly after, the rest of her little body.
“Fuck! Get a towel!” His body was trembling again as he pulled the newborn up to his chest, holding her protectively against him as she began to cry.
“Awww look at her!” Douma practically squealed with delight, bringing over a soft, warm towel to cover the squalling infant in as Akaza attempted to guard her away from him and the rest of the world.
“Stop. I’ve got her.” He huffed, grabbing the wrappings from Douma so he wouldn’t have any reason to be closer than what was absolutely necessary.
Akaza remembered feeling this way when he’d delivered Gyutaro too. Everything in him screamed to defend this tiny screaming creature that kicked and flailed against his chest. He didn’t even want to let Douma near and knowing that he’d have to soon so that he could clean her up properly was already stressing him out.
“Oh look at her eyes, Akaza-dono! They’re just like her brother’s aren’t they!?”
At least it seemed like Douma at least didn’t mind the sudden shift in his mood, or maybe even halfway understood. There was no blame placed upon Akaza for his sudden defensiveness. That much he was glad for…Not that he cared what Douma thought or anything. It was just less stressful to deal with his whining as well.
“Call Gyutaro.” Akaza sighed, hugging his little pale, white haired baby close to his chest, her umbilical cord still attaching her to him and his womb. “But he needs to be quiet. Make sure he knows that.”
“Of course.” Douma agreed, bending to kiss Akaza’s forehead.
The exhausted demon growled but not as harshly as he normally would have.
“Stop it. Go. And if you touch me again-“
“You’ll severe some part of me I can’t bear to live without. Yes, darling, I know…but I still love you.” He pecked Akaza’s cheek then before he got up to fetch Gyutaro, humming a content little tune to himself as he practically skipped into the next room to give his son the news.
Akaza didn’t love him. He didn’t. He wouldn’t. Never could.
At least that’s what he swore.