Requested by @hochiiiyo
Prompt; that’s not how it goes!
~~~*8*~~~
“Daaaddy, we’ve already heard that one, tell a new story!”
Gajeel chuckled, rolling his eyes at his daughter’s insistence. It was getting late, but neither of the twins were going to settle without a story for bedtime, and it was his turn to enthrall them with a new tale. He could hear Levy giggle in the next room, and silently vowed to get back at her later on, when the kids were safely tucked away and sleeping. Right now, he had each twin perched on either knee, bouncing them gently.
“Eh? Ya don’t wanna hear about the dragon and the princess?” He teased, ruffling Shutora’s wild locks. So much like her mother’s…
“Nope! Mama told us that one last night,” she replied, and Yajeh nodded sagely, a serious look in his eyes.
“Yeah, so we wanna hear a new one,” he added, and Gajeel couldn’t help but ruffle his hair as well. Yajeh was more like his father, though he did have a few silly moments thanks to his sister. Despite the years that he had been a father to these two miscreants, he was still in awe that he was something he’d never thought was possible. Maybe he’d give Levy a bit of loving instead of teasing, just to thank her for the millionth time for this.
“Aight then, what did ya have in mind?”
“How’d you and mama meet?” Yajeh piped up, tucking his feet up under him while Shutora nodded wildly at him.
Gajeel froze at the question, a cold sweat pooling at the base of his skull. He clenched his teeth slightly, fighting the shudder of dread that threatened to sweep down his spine. ’Fuck,’ he thought, lcikign his lips nervously. ‘I didn’t think they’d ask this early.’
Two sets of dark honey eyes were staring at him expectantly, waiting for his answer. Obviously, they were hoping for a pretty story that involved anything but that. He knew that they’d ask one day, and then he and Levy would have to tell them honestly; he certainly didn’t want anyone else to do it before they could. But as to how to tell them now…
“Ah, that,” he said, sighing after a long moment. He hugged the twins closer to him, settling for a more vague story that he hoped they would be happy with. After all, they had attention spans of a kitten, hopefully they’d get bored enough to ask for a more entertaining story.
“You know how all your friends are scared of me?” He asked, and the twins bobbed their heads in response. “Well, it was like that with me and yer mom too. I wasn’t exactly the nicest of guys back then, either,” he said, his voice taking on a slight edge.
“So you were mean to mom?” Shutora asked, snuggling closer.
“… Yeah, a bit.”
“Did you say sorry?” Yajeh asked, staring at his father seriously. Gajeel blinked, almost shocked by the question. He nodded slowly, exhaling deeply as he regarded the kids seriously.
“Yeah, I did. Lots and lots, too.”
“Good!” The twins chorused, hugging Gajeel and surprising him. Good? He bit back a mirthless chuckle. It was anything but good, but the kids’ simple answer had him reeling. They were just as forgiving as their mother, he realized.
At least, for now, till they learned everything. And he hoped that when that day came, they would still just be as loving and forgiving as they had been tonight.
“Okay, it’s late guys,” Levy popped her head in, gracing the trio with a warm smile. Gajeel nearly sighed in relief; she had rescued him from elaborating further in his story. He lifted the kids in his arms, ignoring the protests that the kids expressed. Whirling around lightly, he rolled one twin into one of the bunk bed and hoisted the other into the top bunk.
“There, story time’s over, you’re getting the princess and the dragon next time,” he growled, tickling Shutora before ruffling Yajeh’s hair. “Now, get to sleep, brats.”
~~~*8*~~~
“You didn’t tell them,” Levy mused gently, threading her fingers through his mane. He only grunted, nuzzling his face into her lap as she substituted his head for a book stand. It was the last hour before they would drift off into sleep themselves, the time where they could finally cuddle and share their day without the kids bounding in excitedly.
“Couldn’t.” He said simply, sighing deeply. She rubbed a slow circle on his scalp, making him rumble in content. Gone was the anxiety that he had felt earlier, yet he still felt uneasy. It never truly went away, the regret that he felt when he thought back to the fateful event. Despite her eternal forgiveness, he still couldn’t stop the tendrils of guilt wrap around him, threatening to drag him into nightmares.
Her fingers continued their dance on his skull, sliding down to his shoulder as she set aside her book. “Need a distraction?” She asked simply, and he chuckled. Count on her to know exactly what he needed. No words were required, just simple love and understanding.
“Gods yes.”
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