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"Dei—!"
Mydei can't stop the smile from churning up on his face, as his husband's whiny voice echoes from his phone.
"It can't be helped, Deliverer." He casually responds in return as he slips out of the taxi and walks past the security gate, straight into the hospital's front lobby. "Just accept it already."
"But I want to be there!" Phainon complains earnestly. "Today is an important day for us. You know what, maybe I should just abandon this meeting altogether—"
Scoffing, Mydei doesn't even bother to lower his reprimanding tone. "Don't be stupid, Deliverer. Too many important things are hanging in that meeting and your entire team needs you to be there."
Phainon miserably groans for the nth time. "I know. But that makes this entire situation even more annoying and baffling. I cleared all of my schedules today from weeks ago."
"Things happened." Mydei shrugs, as his right hand naturally falls on his swelling belly and rubs it gently. "Don't lash it out to your underlings. Your assistant was already so close to tears on the phone this morning."
"I'd never." Phainon scoffs. "Though I can't say the same for that bi—"
"Phainon."
"—Caenis." Phainon corrects with a cough. "We're already on our last leg for the year too, damn it." He groans. "How did she even offend all of our main partners?"
"She must've thought it was her chance since Aglaea is bedridden in the hospital," Mydei remarks in equal discontent. "However, she shouldn't have crossed the line. The acting head Aglaea chose was you, not her."
"That old bat only cares about protocol if it benefits her." The white-haired male grumbles in disgust.
"Go make her pay later." Mydei chuckles at his husband's uncharacteristic ire. "I'm pretty sure everyone wants to cuss her out too."
"Oh I'm definitely doing more than that for sure." Phainon mutters under his breath. "Thankfully, everyone reached out to my team first before unilaterally breaking the contracts. Otherwise…"
Mydei grimaces at the possibility. Aglaea would straight up roll down from her hospital bed and 'handle' Caenis herself if that happens, elegance and criminal records be damned.
(Though, he hardly believes such a thing as a criminal record to be beyond Aglaea's control as well.)
"But, Mydei." Phainon's voice turns petulant once again. "Can't we just reschedule your obgyn appointment, hm?"
"We've talked about this, Deliverer. The answer is no—" Mydei gasps lightly when he feels a light kick in his tummy.
"Mydei?"
"It seems that your child has enough of your whining as well." Mydei chuckles in disbelief as he lightly rubs his swelling tummy and softly scold them to stay calm. "I faintly felt them kicking me just now."
"They kicked?" Phainon's deep coo is both amusing and flattering. "Oh Kephale, I wish I could feel that— Hold on, they must've been agreeing with me then, Dei! They want their papa to be there as well!"
Mydei can feel a faint headache forming at the back of his head at his husband's ridiculous attempt to justify his desire. "Look, it's just one appointment, Deliverer." He sighs exasperatedly before he takes a big inhale to even out his shortening breaths. He was a very fit person who could run around the park twenty times without losing his breath— he and Phainon often had many (silly) physical competitions and he wasn't lagging in his victories, but the additional weight in his body is not as easy to handle. "I'm not in a new trimester either, so there shouldn't be anything major or new to note."
"Still, it's— Wait, you've been walking for quite a while, haven't you Mydei? You haven't arrived at the ward?" Phainon's voice is full of confusion, but laden with worry as well. "Are you alright? I heard your shortening breath as well."
"Stop assuming the worst." Mydei scoffs, though he does silently come to a halt and lean on a nearby wall for a moment. "It was your fault. I was too occupied with your call, and ended up dropping myself at the front building's lobby earlier," He explains briefly.
"Then you should've gotten back in the taxi and asked to be dropped at the back lobby instead," It's Phainon's turn to sigh exasperatedly. "Are you sure you are alright? Ah, I knew it, I should've tagged along—"
"I'm pregnant, HKS. Not sick." Mydei rolls his eyes as he resumes his pace. "And if you tag along, who would placate those partners of yours and smack Caenis for this almost-catastrophe?" He points out evenly.
Phainon's frustrated whimper echoes from his phone at the reminder. "This sucks so much— What if our child accuses me of being unattentive later on?" He frantically wails out.
Mydei's eyebrows twitch at the sudden exclamation. For all the great things Phainon surely is, sometimes he is still filled with unbridled desire to smack his husband. Or pull on Phainon's stupid ahoge for the sheer absurdness he sometimes spouted.
And he's the pregnant one with volatile moods and unstable hormones between them both.
"You, are being dramatic." Mydei dryly remarks as he finally arrives at the centre of the hospital's huge complex. Just like any other day, the high-ceiled open space is quite crowded with patients, families and staff alike. Casting a glance at his watch, he belatedly realizes that he has some extra time to spare.
Should he visit his favourite cafe then? He's been craving for a cool, sweet and tart drink and one of the cafes here sells that exact beverage he desires.
Mind made up, Mydei turns the direction of his steps and makes a detour to his favourite cafe near the children's ward.
"—mean, Dei. You know I'm not being dramatic." Phainon huffs. "It is an important milestone."
Mydei might've missed the beginning of Phainon's complaint while he pondered earlier, but it isn't hard to guess what the white-haired male talked about.
"Again, let me remind you that it's just a regular checkup, Deliverer." Mydei calmly says, his right hand automatically resumes his position to protect his tummy as he walks past some crowds. "It's nothing important."
"It's still a part of our child's development and your well-being."
"By Nikador," Mydei exhales deeply, his patience finally thinning out, though his heart is still warmed by Phainon's (excessive) attentiveness. "Out of all people, I didn't expect you to be this fussy."
"That's not nice, Dei." The white-haired male sniffs. "I'm just concerned."
"No, I notice you've become more and more of a worrywart as my pregnancy progresses." Mydei refutes firmly as he puts his foot down. "Tone it down—"
"Hold on, stop."
"What?"
"Stop walking, Mydei. Turn around and go straight to the maternity wards now. No detour."
Mydei immediately halts in surprise, in tandem with the order. "How did you know?" He bewilderedly asks as he looks around the open corridor. There are only some staff and some elderly people who sit in the garden on his right. Then how—
"Ah, are you looking for me?" Phainon accurately guesses with a chuckle. "Unfortunately, I'm still very much stuck here."
"Then—?"
"I can hear the water fountain in the background, Dei." Phainon rather mirthfully points out. "And the only place where a water fountain exists within the hospital's perimeter is the side garden that leads to the cafe you adore."
Mydei sighs deeply at being caught red-handed by such a silly thing. "It's just one caramel apple latte."
"No means no, Dei."
"I can just buy it and you can't do anything to stop me." Mydei stubbornly sniffs in disdain.
"However, you promised me you'd go straight to the obgyn since you don't want anyone accompanying you right now." Phainon gently but firmly says. "Or are you going back on your own words?"
Fuck.
The scold stings and Mydei winces internally.
Phainon did urge him to call Krateros or his friends to accompany him— that was how much Phainon was worried about him going all alone. However, he felt going to the doctor should be exclusively Phainon's privilege and thus, he firmly declined all kinds of suggestions the white-haired male threw out. He didn't want to cancel the appointment either, knowing Doctor Baizhu is a very hard and busy man to get ahold of.
So he promised that he would go straight to the appointment and straight back home as well to placate Phainon earlier. Who would've thought that it'd come back and bite him in the ass?
Groaning in annoyance at his defeat, Mydei turns around and walks straight to the maternity wards this time.
"Good boy," Phainon teases.
"You'd better be thankful that you aren't here, HKS." Mydei grumbles irritably as he's ultimately denied of his craving.
"If I am, then you'd be holding that apple caramel goodness in your hands five minutes ago."
"Fuck you."
"Language." Phainon sings songs. "And I did. You're carrying the proof, in fact."
Phainon's smug reply only inflates his ire. "You scoundrel." Mydei spats as the maternity area reception desk finally comes into view from afar, along with his husband's bark of laughs.
"Are you there yet?"
"I am, in a moment." Mydei peeks at his watch again. "It's still a little early."
"Ah right, you don't need to check in at the receptionist."
"Why?" Mydei raises his eyebrow as he nods at a passing nurse. "Did you already call them?"
"Kind of?"
"Kind of?" Mydei frowns and turns to the corner, where his doctor's practice room is. "What do you mean by—"
Mydei halts in his tracks as his eyes widen in surprise, completely in disbelief at what he's seeing.
Standing in the middle of the almost empty corridor is his scoundrel of a husband, wearing an impish smile as his right hand holds his phone.
"Yeah, because I already checked you in." Phainon's voice doubles in his ears, each coming from the man himself and the phone on his ear.
"You—!"
"Surprise." Phainon swiftly threads forward after ending the call, enveloping him in a loose hug— mindful of his substantial stomach before leaving a kiss on his forehead.
"How—"
"I managed to push the meeting back for two hours." Phainon merrily answers his unsaid questions.
"What—?" Mydei dumbfoundedly remarks. "But—"
"I called every rep myself and asked for their understanding, and they happily agreed after I explained things." Phainon shrugs. "I guess they could hear my earnest plea."
"Then why—"
"Because I only got the final okay right when I arrived at the back lobby." Phainon chuckles. "Otherwise, I'd have needed to turn straight back to the office."
"Wait, how long have you been here?" Mydei questions, still bewildered by the whole thing.
"Not too long ago." Phainon honestly answers. "That's why I realised you took way too long to arrive and noticed the fountain's sound."
"Unbelievable." Mydei murmurs under his breath as he shoves his husband's right shoulder. Instead of caving in to his push, Phainon just laughs guiltlessly and pulls him into another hug.
The scent of musk with a hint of fresh aquatic smell soon envelops him and Mydei can feel his body unwillingly melts within Phainon's warm hold. Resting his head on the white-haired male's shoulder, he takes a deep inhale of the wonderful scent, as the tension he's been internally suppressing also loosens at Phainon's grounding hold around his body.
Despite his bravado and talks, he was actually quite worried. While he is used to and more than capable of taking care of himself, Mydei has to admit that he's often overwhelmed these days. Carrying another life is far more strenuous than he expected and it's taking a toll on his body. He can't afford to be reckless even to the smallest degree— not when his precious baby is involved and Phainon has faithfully, reliably, and steadfastly been on his side at every turn of his pregnancy. The white-haired male has never missed any appointment either, always ready to go and attentively paying attention to his schedule even without being informed.
Hence, Phainon's absence earlier was actually getting on his nerves, despite his better judgment.
"HKS." He bites menacingly, still. Unwilling to lose.
It seems that Phainon also senses his relief, because the smug, mirthful smile on Phainon's face morphs into a gentle one. "Sorry, sorry." Phainon hums as a warm hand strokes the back of his head. "I couldn't be sure and I didn't want to give you false hope."
"You are truly infuriating, you know that?" Mydei snides, still reluctant to let go of his anger at being tricked.
"I know, I'm a very bad husband." Phainon steadfastly agrees as he leaves another kiss on his forehead. "Forgive me, hm?" He earnestly asks as the white-haired male lifts his right hand and kisses his knuckles gently, all while looking at him with gleaming cyan eyes full of affection.
And what kind of heart doesn't soften at the display of pure devotion?
"I'm not the only one you should apologise to." Mydei sniffs half-heartedly.
As if he were truly a knight in his previous life, Phainon swiftly lets go of his hold and immediately falls on his knees in front of him. With utter reverence and gentleness, the white-haired male kisses his swelling tummy and rubs it affectionately.
"Papa's sorry, little one," Phainon murmurs lovingly. "Papa's little princess will forgive Papa, right?"
Mydei twitches and clenches his fists as he's filled with embarrassment and endearment at the same time. He was just pulling on Phainon's leg, but of course. This is Phainon he's talking about. Of fucking course he has no shame or qualms about making a fool of himself.
But this part of Phainon is also what he holds so dear in his heart.
"Get up, Deliverer." Mydei hisses, as he can feel his ears turning red at the gushing of the nurses nearby. "And they could be a prince."
The older male leaves a shameless (but loving) kiss on the centre of his tummy first, before he straightens his back completely. "No, I am sure we are having a daughter," Phainon says with a smile as the white-haired male wraps his arm around his waist once again.
"I am the one who's carrying them, Deliverer." Mydei wryly points out as he lets himself be led to a nearby seat by his husband. "Though if they still want to hide like last month's scan, there's nothing we can do."
"Well, they'll be greatly loved and adored regardless of their gender." Phainon nods as he too, takes a seat beside him. "Want to bet though?"
"What?" Mydei scrunches up in distaste. "You want to bet on our child?"
"Our child," Phainon suddenly gushes with a dopey smile. "It's been a while since you said that."
Oh dear Nikador above.
"HKS." Mydei growls under his breath, though his ears feel hot again as well. "Stop being a sap and answer me."
"I bet that our child," Phainon repeats and Mydei shakes his head in exasperation, "Is a little princess."
"And if you win?" Mydei asks as he deftly swats Phainon's creeping hand on his tummy.
"Then I get to choose the colour of our child's swaddle and clothes for two months."
Mydei feels his jaw drop at the prospect of Phainon choosing their child's attire. Without a doubt, the white-haired male will try to dress them in anything yellow and purple…
—and he can't have that.
"That's—"
"You instinctively know that I am right, right?" Phainon cuts with a smug smile. "Otherwise you won't say no, right, Mydei?"
Mydei scowls at the taunt. "You're being too overconfident, HKS." He scoffs, tucking the sudden feeling that Phainon was correct to the back of his mind.
"Then—"
"Mister Khaslana, Mister Mydeimos, Doctor Baizhu is ready to receive both of you."
"Thank you." Phainon smiles politely at the nurse before he shifts his attention back, "Let's go, Mydei." He urges as the older male stands up first and offer his arms.
"Let's meet Doctor Baizhu and find out whose claim our child supports."