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Kei was bone-weary. The museum had been alive with energy today; too alive, in fact. A new exhibit had drawn in a swarm of visitors, their constant presence pressing against his nerves, draining him. He loved that people were so invested in history, but it didn’t change the fact that every fibre of his body now ached. As soon as work had ended, practice followed, pulling at muscles already overworked. His body screamed for rest, for relief, for the warmth waiting for him at home.
All he wanted was to sink into his bed, to lose himself in the quiet comfort of his beautiful omega. Tobio was nearing the end of his second trimester, his belly round with new life, radiant in ways Kei still found hard to put into words. Tobio had always been endearing, but pregnancy softened him in ways that melted the alpha’s heart. There was a glow about him now, one that made Kei love him more with each passing day.
Kei fumbled with the key, sliding it into the lock with tired hands, the door giving way to the familiar warmth of their home. The scent of homemade curry filled the air, rich and inviting, making his stomach grumble despite his exhaustion. He stepped inside, toeing off his shoes with a soft sigh, the day already starting to slip away behind him.
Kei followed the scent of curry into the kitchen. Tobio had been obsessed with the dish for weeks now—another quirk of the pregnancy, his cravings shifting unpredictably. He expected to find the omega waiting there, but the room was empty save for the simmering pot on the stove. A frown tugged at his lips as he scanned the space, a flicker of unease making his chest tighten. It wasn’t until he wandered into the living room that he exhaled, tension leaving him in a long, relieved sigh.
There, curled up on the couch, was his omega, eyes fixed on the TV, completely unaware of Kei’s presence. The sight made him smile.
“Good evening,” Kei’s voice was soft as he greeted from behind, and Tobio turned, his face lighting up in an instant. The brightness of his smile stole the breath from Kei’s lungs. In that moment, everything else fell away—his exhaustion, the soreness in his muscles—all of it melted under the warmth of Tobio’s gaze.
“Kei! How are you?” Tobio tilted his head to the side, a soft smile curling at the corners of his lips, and Kei couldn’t resist the magnetic pull that drew him down. He dropped to his knees behind the couch, burying his face in the warm curve of Tobio’s neck. The omega’s scent enveloped him: sweet, deep blueberry mingling with the rich, comforting aroma of milk, a signature of the upcoming arrival. Kei closed his eyes, his mind fogging in bliss, the alpha inside him rumbling in satisfaction as he breathed in the heady mix that felt both instinctual and grounding.
“Much better now,” he mumbled, his voice muffled against Tobio’s skin, too content to pull away even to speak. A soft hand found its way to Kei’s hair, fingers threading through the strands in slow, soothing strokes that made Kei melt further.
“How was the exhibit?” Tobio’s voice was low, calm, as if he were the one offering comfort, and maybe he was—he always did.
“Stressful,” Kei sighed, eyes still closed, his body heavy with exhaustion but weightless with contentment. “A lot of people came today.” Tobio made a quiet sound of surprise, his gaze elsewhere but his attention fully on Kei, like it always was. “Practice was dreadful too. Coach made us do way too much, and I’m beat.”
Tobio hummed softly, his fingers still moving through Kei’s hair in gentle patterns. “Want to take a shower while I get dinner ready? It’ll be done soon.”
Kei’s lips curved against Tobio’s neck, a lazy smile tugging at his exhaustion. “Mmh, I’d rather stay here,” he murmured, nuzzling deeper into the soft, familiar scent of his mate.
“You stink, Kei. Go shower,” Tobio teased, his voice light and amused, though his hand never stopped its gentle caress.
“You’re no fun,” Kei groaned, taking one last indulgent inhale of that blueberry scent before reluctantly pulling himself to his feet. He stretched his arms above his head, rolling his stiff shoulders as he made his way toward the bathroom. Passing the couch, he took in the sight of his omega—shorts and ankle length frog socks, with one of Kei’s black oversized shirts stretched snugly over his growing belly. It was such a common, heartwarming sight that he almost missed it: the small, black mass curled on top of Tobio’s stomach.
Kei paused mid-step, blinking as his brain caught up. He turned back, frowning slightly as he tried to make sense of it. “What’s that?”
Tobio looked up at him, puzzled. “What’s what?”
Kei pointed. “That thing on your stomach.”
Tobio’s confusion melted into amusement, though he tried to keep a straight face. “That would be your son,” he deadpanned.
Kei rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to facepalm. “No, I mean the other thing.”
“Oh, her.” Tobio grinned, feigning innocence as he gently stroked the black mass. “She’s a kitten.” Suddenly, a tiny head with two pointy ears emerged, followed by the slow blink of ocean-blue eyes. Indeed, a kitten. Kei felt ridiculous for not noticing sooner.
“I found her when I went to the store today,” Tobio explained, his voice softening as he continued to scratch the kitten’s head. “She let me pet her.”
“So, you just brought her home because she let you pet her?” Kei’s brow arched, though there was no real irritation in his voice.
Tobio scoffed, feigning offence as he kept petting the kitten. “Of course not. I took her to the vet first. She doesn’t have an owner, so… yeah, she’s ours now.”
“And you couldn’t leave her there?”
Tobio gasped dramatically, covering the kitten’s ears as if she could understand their conversation. “Why? She was all alone, I couldn’t just leave her.”
Kei sighed, sitting beside Tobio and taking a closer look at the kitten. She really was beautiful, her calm demeanour and striking blue eyes mirroring Tobio’s in a way that tugged at Kei’s heart. Still, practicality gnawed at the back of his mind. “Tobio, be realistic. In a few months, the baby will be here. It’ll be a lot to handle. Do you really think we can take care of a cat too?”
“I’ll take care of her, I’ve got this,” Tobio replied, not missing a beat. He glanced up at Kei, determination lighting his eyes. “She’s really sweet, Kei. Just look at her.”
“She’s cute, I’ll give you that,” Kei admitted, though he still felt the weight of responsibility settling in. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration mixing with the exhaustion still weighing him down.
The little kitten, now fully awake, let out a tiny yawn, stretching her little paws. Tobio cooed at her, his voice soft with adoration as he scratched her head again. The cat, encouraged, hopped down from Tobio’s belly and padded over to Kei, sniffing curiously at his clothes as if she were assessing the newcomer.
“Isn’t she adorable?” Tobio’s voice was light, a fond smile on his lips, his hands clasped together against the side of his face in that way that always made Kei’s heart skip.
Kei rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t help but feel a slight tug at his heartstrings. “Yes, but I don’t think you’re actually hearing me, Tobio.”
“I am,” Tobio countered, his voice soft but resolute, as the kitten began to climb up Kei’s body, still sniffing as she went. “I just don’t agree.” He glanced up, his ocean-blue eyes steady, unwavering. “I know we can take care of her and our son when he’s born. Trust me.”
Kei contemplated for a moment, his gaze shifting from the kitten, now sprawled across him, to Tobio. The little furball was undeniably adorable, with her sleek black fur and those curious, ocean-blue eyes—so much like Tobio’s. It was almost uncanny, the resemblance.
Kei sighed internally. Saying no to Tobio had never been his strong suit. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the cat—she was cute, no doubt about it—but the practical side of him worried. With the due date creeping closer, he felt the weight of everything coming at them, the unknowns swirling in his mind. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous.
Yet, as his eyes flicked back to Tobio, radiating warmth and excitement, Kei couldn’t bring himself to voice his concerns. They were in this together, for better or worse, and he wasn’t about to ruin Tobio’s joy over something as small as a kitten.
Silently, Kei placed a careful hand on Tobio’s belly, his fingers tracing slow, gentle circles as he searched for a kick.
“She spent almost all afternoon napping here,” Tobio murmured, placing his hand on top of Kei’s, guiding it slightly lower. “As if she could feel him. I think they’re going to be good friends.”
Kei snorted, though the affection in his voice was unmistakable. “You think?” But the teasing faded as soon as he felt it—a soft, unmistakable nudge beneath his palm. The baby kicked, and Kei couldn’t stop the little gasp that escaped him. He had felt their son move countless times by now, but every time, it sent a thrill through him, grounding him in this surreal, beautiful reality.
“I’m sure,” Tobio replied, glancing over Kei’s shoulder. The kitten had climbed up and curled comfortably, already dozing off again, her tiny body vibrating with soft purrs. “See? She likes you. We’re not getting rid of her.”
It was hard for Kei to look at the kitten perched on his shoulder, but he could feel the warmth radiating from her small body, the rhythmic pulse of her purring. Despite himself, he felt his resistance crumbling.
“Fine, she stays,” he sighed, though there was a softness in his voice that betrayed him. Tobio’s face lit up with excitement, his hands clapping together in delight.
“Good,” Tobio grinned, “because I already named her.”
Kei raised a brow, suspicious. “Why do I have a bad feeling about this name?”
Tobio rolled his eyes, undeterred. “Oh, shut up, you’ll love it.” Clearing his throat dramatically, his eyes sparkled with mischief as he announced, “Hima, short for Himawari.”
“Sunflower?” Kei blinked, the name sinking in.
Tobio nodded, looking pleased with himself. “Yes. Do you like it?”
Kei hummed, feigning deep thought as he carefully lifted the kitten into the air, holding her like Simba. “I was thinking of something more dramatic, like... ‘the void.”
Tobio groaned, his hand swatting lightly at Kei’s arm. “No way. If that’s your best, I’m not letting you near the baby’s name.”
“Fine, fine,” Kei chuckled, lowering the kitten back down and placing her gently on the couch. “Hima’s cool, I guess.”
“Great!” Tobio beamed, but when he attempted to rise from the couch, his balance betrayed him. His belly, now prominent, made standing more of a challenge. Kei, noticing his mate’s struggle, immediately moved to his side, steadying him with a firm but gentle grip.
Kei helped him up with ease, his touch lingering for just a moment longer than necessary, as if to reassure both of them that everything was going to be alright. “Go take a shower,” Tobio said, his voice soft but firm. “I’ll finish up with dinner.”
As Kei watched Tobio disappear into the kitchen, he couldn’t help but marvel at the changes happening around them. The thought of their baby’s arrival excited him, but there was also a weight to it, a sense of responsibility settling in as the due date loomed closer.
The rest of the evening passed in peaceful contentment. Tobio’s cooking, as always, was the best Kei had ever tasted. There was something about the way Tobio prepared meals that made everything else fade into the background—like the world shrunk down to just them, a quiet moment of normalcy that Kei cherished.
While Tobio showered and blow-dried his hair, Kei washed the dishes, the familiar rhythm grounding him after such a long, exhausting day. The sound of water running, the scent of curry lingering in the air, it felt like home in every sense.
By the time Kei finished, Tobio had already curled up in bed, the soft glow of the lamp casting a warm light over him. Hima, predictably, was nestled by his side, the tiny kitten already fast asleep, her small chest rising and falling in sync with Tobio’s.
“She’s going to sleep here too?” Kei raised a brow, already knowing the answer.
“She’s just a baby,” Tobio pouted, his lower lip jutting out ever so slightly. “She won’t bother.”
Kei sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that day, but he couldn’t help the fondness that tugged at his heart. Tobio definitely knew what he was doing with that pout. Kei was sure of it by now, there was no way Tobio didn’t realise the effect it had on him.
Resigned, Kei crawled into bed beside them, the weight of the day melting away as his body sank into the mattress. Every muscle in his body sighed in relief, and for a moment, he just breathed in the peace of it all.
Without missing a beat, Tobio shifted closer, curling up on Kei’s chest with practised ease, his warmth a familiar comfort. Hima woke up by the movements and, not wanting to be left out, climbed up onto the other side of Kei’s chest, her tiny paws kneading the fabric of his shirt before she, too, curled into a little ball.
Kei looked up at the ceiling, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “Is this my life now?”
Tobio giggled softly, his fingers tracing idle patterns on Kei’s chest, as if drawing invisible constellations. His face was lit up with that radiant smile that made Kei feel like all the exhaustion of the day was worth it. “Just wait till we adopt a dog.”
“Till we do what?” Kei asked, his voice dry but amused. He could already see where this was going.
“What do you think about golden retrievers? They’re pretty cute, and their fur reminds me of your hair.”
Kei groaned playfully. ““Can we at least hold off until the baby’s here?”
“Yeah, sure,” Tobio replied, but there was a teasing glint in his eyes that made Kei doubt it.
Somehow, he found it hard to believe that Tobio was going to wait very long.