Archive of Our Own ^beta

Diluc’s Daddy Time

He felt like he might stop breathing if he took his eyes off them for even a moment. At the very least he’d cried several times since they were born, already growing far too quickly. 

They were too precious, and he was too emotional, but when it came to this, he didn’t mind. He couldn’t believe it, that something so lucky had happened to someone like him. He didn’t deserve them, but he would protect them with his last breath.

Diluc’s heart melted as Kyra caught his finger in her little hand, and at the way she put every bit of muscle she had into keeping that grip. His heart fluttered when Elaris’ bundled feet kicked at his belly from where she sat cradled on his legs.

With as dramatic, and feisty as Kyra could be, he had a feeling Elaris had been the one doing most of the kicking when he’d feel Jean’s belly. Even with her feet wrapped up, they were almost always on the move.

“Oh? Were you the one keeping mommy up all those nights?” he asked, softly grabbing Elaris’ little toes through the fabric. “We’ll never be able to keep up with you when you start walking…”

Just like that his eyes began to sting again. He realized now, years that he had taken for granted, that seemed like long luxurious days, they must have seemed like the blink of an eye to his father.

“Diluc? Are you okay?”

Of course there always seemed to be someone around to catch his emotional hiccups.

Jean had witnessed it several times at this point. The fact that she had to deal with his nightmares was bad enough, now they involved his daughters, and that only amplified the severity of the dreams.

He kept his head down, and not trusting his voice, nodded, hoping Jean wouldn’t notice. He had no such luck. Jean sat next to him, and picked up Elaris, who was just starting to hungry-fuss now that she heard mommy's voice.

“It’s okay to be emotional, Diluc,” Jean said, cupping his cheek. “This… is a lot, they grow so quickly, and…” she trailed off, and her eyes fluttered with their own emotion and understanding.

This was all he had. 

His own family, something to hold close, protect, and cherish… and his fear of how quickly it could all be taken away. Kyra squirmed in his arms, and started fussing for food, now that she’d hear the voice of her dinner.

“Ah, yes, yes. So impatient, my little ones. Too bad daddy can’t help out, hm?” Jean laughed quietly.

Diluc’s own stomach rumbled, complaining that he hadn’t yet eaten, he could feel his cheeks heat up at the timing. This earned another laugh from Jean.

“That’s not what I meant by help,” she teased.

Diluc moved closer to Jean, leaning into her slightly as he watched their newborns for a long while. The room became so quiet when they were both fed, burped, and calm, Kyra’s eyes slowly closing, Elaris already asleep.

A year earlier they weren’t here. There were no tiny hands, no tiny feet, no tiny eyes looking up at him, no tiny burps. Now, at barely over a month old, he could hardly remember what that was like.

He didn’t want to.

Going back was not an option. He couldn’t be alone again, he wouldn’t survive it.

Diluc could feel the familiar tightness of panic in his chest, threatening to pull him into the depths, and he surely would have sunk were it not for the hand landing on his.

His spiraling focus shifted in an instant.

Elaris had managed to free an arm, even in sleep, and it rested gently over his own hand. Small, soft, and warm, and real.

Perfect.