[ Now, Ryoma should've been on his way to the throne room well over ten minutes ago, but something held him back. There was a sense of unease surrounding his chambers; a sort of unhappy vulnerability that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand at end and put him in the mood to deal with the problem--violently, if need be. He glances to Saizo, giving a little jerk of his chin to send his shinobi on with his excuses as he turns, opening the doors to the royal family's private chambers once more. ]
Niles, my love?
[ The sense of upset is stronger, now, and Ryoma finds himself searching a hair underneath frantically for his mate, instincts driving him to find his husband as quickly as possible. ]
[For Niless, he had always attempted to hide when something was bothering him. He particularly liked to do it when it came to Ryoma, knowing that he had so much going on. So any time he was worried or freaking out, he tried to stuff it away.
And sometimes, he couldn't do that.
He had just begun showing, about six months after they had gotten married, which had brought up questions on if Niles would be a suitable spouse for Ryoma. And now, the rumors kept blooming, and it made Niles wonder if he'd be a suitable parent.
So, he decided to hide in bed for the day and deal with it later, knowing Ryoma was busy.
Ryoma seemed to have other ideas though, and it made Niles blink, sitting up in bed.]
[ He tries not to sound too relieved as he shuts the doors behind him, crossing the floor to their bed. Niles appears to have made a rather cozy nest, and nothing would please Ryoma's base instincts more than to muscle his way in and cradle his heart close--but he tries to be more than just knothead instinct. Instead, he sits on the edge of the bed, reaching out to run a hand over Niles' side with a fond smile.
... of course, that means that he has to explain why he's sitting on the bed, gazing at Niles adoringly and not. You know. Off being a king and whatnot. The smile takes on a sheepish twitch as he ducks his head. ]
I'm sorry if you were looking forward to catching up on rest. I just... wanted to see you were safe.
[Niles blinked as Ryoma just plopped himself down on the bed. He wasn't expecting that. He knows that an Alpha doesn't need to do something like that. They live their lives, and their Omegas bear their children and that's the end to that.
So for Ryoma to just... sit on the bed and touch him while he's in his nest makes him curious, confused... and happy.]
[ Ryoma smiles--softly, kindly, leaning in close to press a kiss to Niles' cheek and take in his scent, wanting to reassure himself that everything is fine. Niles is safe, happy, warm, and... laced with an undercurrent of worry. Ryoma knows the sour feeling at the back of his throat, now, brow furrowing just a little as he nuzzles against Niles--likely looking ridiculous in his full regalia, but he doesn't care.
He loves Niles. His Omega is the center of his inner world, the place where his heart comes to rest and finds its peace. Having him haunted by a strange, unhappy undercurrent is just too much to bear. ]
... I must confess, I'm reluctant to leave you today. Are you feeling all right?
[Now Niles is completely confused. This was the last thing he would have expected. Ryoma is a kind man to him, yes, but it's still an Alpha, who is supposed to be this stern, strong individual, with an Omega, who is supposed to run the household and keep emotions to themselves.
He had been in the free world enough to know how this works.
But Ryoma is asking if he's okay? Is this a trap? Is he going to get punished if he's honest? Perhaps he'll get told to suck it up and act like an adult.
But still. He cannot lie to Ryoma. He hates lying to Ryoma, who has taken such good care of him. So, after pausing, he looks right at him.]
[ Ryoma's never been much of one for the theory of the Ideal Alpha and Omega--it seems a disservice, to leave partners so... separate from each other. Ryoma's father was always so kind to his mother, always asking her fond questions and spending long hours with her while their children played nearby.
It's his most secret hope that he'll be half the man his father was. He pulls back, face--gentle, he hopes, as he tries to smooth out the severity of his usual expression. He wants Niles to be honest with him. He wants Niles to be happy.
... he wants the undercurrent of fear to leave the air between them. It's driving him up the wall in the worst way imaginable--and there's no one to hold responsible for it but himself. ]
What's wrong? Please, you know you can speak to me about anything that troubles you.
[Niles knows gossip. He's listened to it to help Leo out, or for himself to survive. He knows how easy it flows and how quickly it gets used to spread false information, but also an incredible amount of true information.
So for him to bring it up, means he's taking this seriously.]
First, when I didn't get pregnant immediately, and how terrible of an omega I am to not be immediately pregnant with your child. And then when I got pregnant, it continued to that I wouldn't be a good parent.
[ Gossip is the worst, and Ryoma's immediately on edge at hearing that it's the root of the problem. He frowns and then smooths it away--it won't do for Niles to think Ryoma is upset with him, after all. He reaches out to take Niles' hands in his, listening to him intently.
Try as he might, he can't help the furrow in his brow, or the fire in his eye at the true cause of Niles' stress. ]
Yes, well. It takes two people to create a child, and considering most of the people with the loosest tongues in the court have a nanny or designated caretaker for their children, I wouldn't put all that much stock into the aspersions they cast on your predicted style of parenting.
[ Is that Ryoma being rude? He's being rude. He's being rude and pulling Niles to him, wrapping him in a hug. ]
You're going to be a wonderful father, Niles. Don't doubt that.
Mmm, and some people say that I'm the cruel one of us two.
[It does, however, make Niles feel better. As if he doesn't have anything to worry about. Normally, gossip doesn't bothered the omega. He's probably the one giving more gossip.
But being pregnant in a new environment seems to be a struggle for him. He takes a deep breath.]
The problem is that I haven't had a father... so I have no idea what I'm doing.
[ Now, an argument could be made that honesty was the sincerest form of cruelty, but Ryoma was going to neatly sidestep that and busy himself with kissing Niles' cheeks, hugging him close and rubbing at the small of his back. He moves to sit with his lover, trying to draw him close that he can try cover around him--he wants to be the big, strong Alpha protecting his mate from all the world's woes.
... even if the woes are coming from inside the Omega. ]
In all honesty? I worry about that too, and my father was an amazing man. I think... as long as we trust our instincts, and the true friends around us, our children will be fine. I can't see you trying to hurt our baby--not when you love them so much already.
Oh please, Ryoma. You don't get to use what I use.
[Then again, Niles admits he's cruel, so he's not too good at that. With a grin on his lips, he moves in and kisses him again. Hands curling around him with a light hum.]
I see... that, I appreciate. [With a light chuckle.] Whenever you say something like that... I can believe you.
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timeasmymeasure
[oh, all i want is to know your name and whisper it in your ear] soft fluffy things
Date: 2018-11-22 04:25 am (UTC)Niles, my love?
[ The sense of upset is stronger, now, and Ryoma finds himself searching a hair underneath frantically for his mate, instincts driving him to find his husband as quickly as possible. ]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-22 04:31 am (UTC)And sometimes, he couldn't do that.
He had just begun showing, about six months after they had gotten married, which had brought up questions on if Niles would be a suitable spouse for Ryoma. And now, the rumors kept blooming, and it made Niles wonder if he'd be a suitable parent.
So, he decided to hide in bed for the day and deal with it later, knowing Ryoma was busy.
Ryoma seemed to have other ideas though, and it made Niles blink, sitting up in bed.]
...Ryoma?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-22 04:44 am (UTC)[ He tries not to sound too relieved as he shuts the doors behind him, crossing the floor to their bed. Niles appears to have made a rather cozy nest, and nothing would please Ryoma's base instincts more than to muscle his way in and cradle his heart close--but he tries to be more than just knothead instinct. Instead, he sits on the edge of the bed, reaching out to run a hand over Niles' side with a fond smile.
... of course, that means that he has to explain why he's sitting on the bed, gazing at Niles adoringly and not. You know. Off being a king and whatnot. The smile takes on a sheepish twitch as he ducks his head. ]
I'm sorry if you were looking forward to catching up on rest. I just... wanted to see you were safe.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-22 04:58 am (UTC)So for Ryoma to just... sit on the bed and touch him while he's in his nest makes him curious, confused... and happy.]
Ah, yes. I'm safe. Just staying warm.
[He looks at Ryoma.]
Thank you. I appreciate it.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-22 05:01 am (UTC)He loves Niles. His Omega is the center of his inner world, the place where his heart comes to rest and finds its peace. Having him haunted by a strange, unhappy undercurrent is just too much to bear. ]
... I must confess, I'm reluctant to leave you today. Are you feeling all right?
no subject
Date: 2018-11-22 05:05 am (UTC)He had been in the free world enough to know how this works.
But Ryoma is asking if he's okay? Is this a trap? Is he going to get punished if he's honest? Perhaps he'll get told to suck it up and act like an adult.
But still. He cannot lie to Ryoma. He hates lying to Ryoma, who has taken such good care of him. So, after pausing, he looks right at him.]
...Not... really. But I'll be okay.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-22 05:20 am (UTC)It's his most secret hope that he'll be half the man his father was. He pulls back, face--gentle, he hopes, as he tries to smooth out the severity of his usual expression. He wants Niles to be honest with him. He wants Niles to be happy.
... he wants the undercurrent of fear to leave the air between them. It's driving him up the wall in the worst way imaginable--and there's no one to hold responsible for it but himself. ]
What's wrong? Please, you know you can speak to me about anything that troubles you.
no subject
Date: 2018-11-26 07:04 pm (UTC)[Niles knows gossip. He's listened to it to help Leo out, or for himself to survive. He knows how easy it flows and how quickly it gets used to spread false information, but also an incredible amount of true information.
So for him to bring it up, means he's taking this seriously.]
First, when I didn't get pregnant immediately, and how terrible of an omega I am to not be immediately pregnant with your child. And then when I got pregnant, it continued to that I wouldn't be a good parent.
[He's... stressed. Very stressed.]
no subject
Date: 2018-12-04 04:54 am (UTC)Try as he might, he can't help the furrow in his brow, or the fire in his eye at the true cause of Niles' stress. ]
Yes, well. It takes two people to create a child, and considering most of the people with the loosest tongues in the court have a nanny or designated caretaker for their children, I wouldn't put all that much stock into the aspersions they cast on your predicted style of parenting.
[ Is that Ryoma being rude? He's being rude. He's being rude and pulling Niles to him, wrapping him in a hug. ]
You're going to be a wonderful father, Niles. Don't doubt that.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-07 10:11 pm (UTC)Mmm, and some people say that I'm the cruel one of us two.
[It does, however, make Niles feel better. As if he doesn't have anything to worry about. Normally, gossip doesn't bothered the omega. He's probably the one giving more gossip.
But being pregnant in a new environment seems to be a struggle for him. He takes a deep breath.]
The problem is that I haven't had a father... so I have no idea what I'm doing.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-09 04:51 pm (UTC)[ Now, an argument could be made that honesty was the sincerest form of cruelty, but Ryoma was going to neatly sidestep that and busy himself with kissing Niles' cheeks, hugging him close and rubbing at the small of his back. He moves to sit with his lover, trying to draw him close that he can try cover around him--he wants to be the big, strong Alpha protecting his mate from all the world's woes.
... even if the woes are coming from inside the Omega. ]
In all honesty? I worry about that too, and my father was an amazing man. I think... as long as we trust our instincts, and the true friends around us, our children will be fine. I can't see you trying to hurt our baby--not when you love them so much already.
no subject
Date: 2019-01-01 02:30 am (UTC)[Then again, Niles admits he's cruel, so he's not too good at that. With a grin on his lips, he moves in and kisses him again. Hands curling around him with a light hum.]
I see... that, I appreciate. [With a light chuckle.] Whenever you say something like that... I can believe you.