Chapter Text
Nitride was one and a half years old when it came the time of the year her grandparents and youngest aunts would come visit Pyrrhia. However, they weren’t in the deadline they usually had.
“Wonder how long it’ll take them.” Nitride’s hybrid father, Boron said with curiosity as she and her fathers sat on the edge of town.
“Could they not love us anymore?” Nitride asked with worry. Her fathers put their wings around her.
“Of course they still love us.” Her icewing father, Icesurge said with a comforting tone. “Something probably just came up for them that forced a delay.”
“Wonder what managed to stop dad from visiting.” Boron said with concerned worry. “He is not a dragon to be late.”
“I’m sure he had his reason.” Icesurge said in an attempt to comfort the hybrid. “The few years I’ve known him, he has done everything in his power for his family. He’ll get here as soon as he can.” Nitride could feel her hybrid father lean into her icewing one. “Come on. Let’s get you both to bed.” Icesurge said as he got up before helping Boron up.
“I hope his lung isn’t causing him problems.” Boron said with worry as he followed Icesurge back to the house. Nitride followed her fathers after she looked at the sky one more time.
“Boron. Icesurge.” Cypress called to the couple from the door. It was two days later in the morning. Nitride was reading a scroll while her fathers slept. “You got a letter.” Boron and Icesurge woke up slowly.
“We’ll read it in a few hours.” Boron said with a yawn.
“It’s from your father.” Cypress added on. Nitride looked over at the mudwing and saw Boron’s eyes snap open at the mention of Steelblade before he bolted to Cypress. Nitride saw Icesurge yawn with confusion while Cypress handed the letter to Boron before she turned around to begin opening up the restaurant.
“You can choose who else hears this, but have at least Icesurge and Nitride there when you read this.” Boron said as he read the cover on the letter.
“What’s going on?” Icesurge asked as he walked up next to Boron.
“Dad sent a letter.” Boron said as he walked over to his daughter and sat down next to her. “And he at least wants you two with me when I read this.” Nitride saw a look of interest on her icewing father’s face as he sat on Nitride’s other side.
“Blade sending a letter?” Icesurge commented as Boron opened it. “That can either mean a good thing, or a bad thing.” Nitride could hear her hybrid father take a deep breath before he started reading.
“Dear son and anyone who is hearing him read this.” Boron started. “Me and Sundew have managed to program this plant enough where I don’t have to worry about bleeding out of my mouth anymore. Granted, I still have some minor breathing problems but I’m no longer at risk of randomly not being able to breath.”
Nitride heard a breath of relief from Boron before he continued. “I’m sure you’re wondering why we’re late. That’s because we are packing what we need and coming back home, permanently.”
“See.” Icesurge joked. “I told you he had his reasons for being late.”
“Dad’s coming back.” Boron said with excitement. “It won’t be periodic visits anymore. He’ll be back permanently.” Nitride had heard of the bond her hybrid father and his adopted father had. They had been through so much together that it was near impossible to break their bond.
“Well then let’s make sure the house is ready for him.” Icesurge said as he got up. “Pretty sure Roadrunner said she’d be here today so our daughter can meet her grandmother’s sister.” He paused before he looked at the tribrid. “If you want to meet her.” He added.
“Yes please.” Nitride said with excitement as she got up. Boron and Icesurge laughed as the three of them left their room to carry out the day.
It was roughly another day or two later when a heavily scarred skywing and a sandwing with two small hybrids on her back showed up at the restaurant.
“Ah it’s good to be back.” Steelblade said as he formed into a steelwing. Nitride ran into his wings. “Hey there kiddo.” Steelblade said as he hugged his granddaughter. “Where are your fathers?” The steelwing asked the tribrid.
“Probably inside.” Meerkat joked as Armadillo and Sidewinder climbed off her and bolted into the house. Nitride backed away from Steelblade to stand next to Meerkat while they waited for her fathers. Boron and Icesurge walked out of the house a minute or so later, Boron barely able to contain his excitement.
“You don’t have to contain your excitement son.” Steelblade joked at the hybrid. “Come and give me a hug.” The steelwing said before Boron sprinted at him and threw himself into Steelblade’s wings.
“It’s so nice to hear you’ll be back permanently.” Boron said as he hugged the steelwing. Nitride could see tears forming around her father’s eyes.
“Why’s dad crying?” She asked Meerkat.
“Those aren’t tears of sadness.” Meerkat said quietly. “Those are tears of joy. Your father has a very close bond with Blade. One that rivals my own bond with him.” Meerkat explained. Nitride looked back at the hybrid and the steelwing and saw just how close her father was hugging her grandfather.
“How’s your lung Blade?” Icesurge asked as he sat down next to Nitride.
“Better.” The steelwing replied, a very slight rasp barely noticeable in his voice. “Still a slight pain but nothing major like what happened two years ago.” Boron looked up at the steelwing’s head.
“The plant wasn’t fully able to fix your lung problems?” The hybrid asked. Nitride could feel worry for her grandfather beginning to form inside her.
“We got as far as we could with it.” Steelblade replied. “It stops me from internal lung bleeding and it provides some oxygen so that I can actually do things and not worry about running out of air.” Boron hugged his father again before backing away to sit next to Icesurge. “And how’s the little tribrid doing?” Steelblade asked Nitride. Nitride walked back up to her grandfather and hugged him. “I’ll take that as a way of saying good.” The steelwing joked as he wrapped his wings around her.
“Is there any way we can help with your lung?” Nitride asked.
“Unfortunately not.” Steelblade replied. “We’ve done all we can for my lung. But it’s nothing I can’t live with. I was surviving with worse before you hatched.” He said in an attempt to comfort her.
“I wish you didn’t have to feel a constant pain in your chest.” Nitride said quietly. “Or have trouble breathing.” She added on.
“It’s an unfortunate thing to live with but I can handle it.” Steelblade said, a slight hint of uncertainty in his voice. “But I’m feeling better being with family already.” Steelblade unwrapped his wings and stood up. Nitride turned back to be with her fathers. But something she didn’t notice, that only Boron did, was the horrified confusion in Steelblade’s eye.