Chapter Text
It’s not until mid-July that Poseidon is finally able to meet with Sally after the near miss with Apollo in Grand Central Station. Amphitrite finished her business on Olympus, but left directly for her parent’s palace in the Arctic with Triton in tow, and both will remain there for at least a few days more.
While more than aware of the need to keep up appearances… Poseidon has been an absolute mess of emotions, and is more than thankful that his pregnancy is coinciding with the standard hurricane season.
As it turns out, realizing he had just felt his little pearl actually move position and not just clench their fist had had him accidentally kickstart the first hurricane of the year weeks earlier than originally allotted for. His melting pot of emotional fervor as he blubbers in joy behind closed doors leaves him feeling like a ship on the high seas, and the hurricane that the mortals named Alberto ends up being just as weepy as he is.
He’s very sheepish about it, and Fane, his long time loyal general, and, dare he say it, friend, has been giving him the side-eye more than once in their council meetings. Its getting to the point that Poseidon may have to read him into the secret. Fane had been discreet in his questioning glances, but too many more from the towering mershark and trying to stop the palace gossip from noticing and creating uncontrollably spiraling rumors would be a hassle. Best to nip it in the bud early, if he can.
But first, Poseidon needs to find the time to step away from Atlantis so that he can at least share the news with either Sally or Amphitrite. Delphin had taken the opportunity to completely pack his schedule full for the next several weeks on that day he had shooed him from his office. While Poseidon had not overly minded at the time, he’s rather nearing the end of his rope.
It’s several hours later, as Poseidon lays flopped face first over his desk, idly caressing the area over where his little pearl hides, that Fane slips into his office. Poseidon does not bother to appear presentable- Fane has seen him in far worse states than this.
His thumb bumps into the clamshell around his neck, and Poseidon holds it out so as to consider its iridescent sheen carefully. It doesn’t take long for him to finalize his decision, and he moves to swiftly clasp Fane by the shoulders faster than the mershark can blink.
Poseidon grins at Fane, who more than recognizes this particularly feral expression and immediately tries to backpedal.
Fane tries too late to escape- with but a twist of a current, Poseidon whisks them away from Atlantis to a quiet park near Sally’s apartment.
Knowing that Fane would not become bipedal unless he absolutely had to, Poseidon was carrying his massive general like a groom would a bride instead of letting his general flop on the ground like the fish out of water he is.
Fane scrubs a hand down his face, tail flicking once in irritation.
“You’ve got to be fucking joking. On land? Seriously?” Fane scowls impressively at his king.
Poseidon, still gleeful at his successful prank on his long-time friend and loyal subject, doesn’t even falter, and simply starts walking.
Lip lifting into an irritable sneer that shows off several of his impressively sharp teeth, Fane finally shifts his tail away, which disappears along with his other mer features for his rarely used human guise, and forcefully breaks out of his Lord’s hold to land on his feet with ease.
“Why, exactly, did you feel the need to take me to the surface?” Fane hisses at his king under his breath as he steps into place just to Poseidon's left and a half step behind him. His general is watching their surroundings intently, taking in every detail as they walk, senses honed to detect any non-mortal presence.
“I needed to get out of Atlantis,” Poseidon admits. “But Delpin has completely packed my schedule, and I don’t feel like trying to avoid the lecture from deviating from it. So, this is me choosing to read you in on what I’ve been keeping secret. I’ve been meaning to do it, but this was an opportune moment.”
Fane snorts. This time Poseidon is the one too slow to avoid what’s coming, and Fane’s the one grinning as he ruffles his king’s hair. “About damn time, Your Majesty. I was wondering if there was going to be an unexpected volcanic eruption next with how pent up you’ve been.”
They settle into an easy silence as Poseidon leads them to Sally’s apartment. Poseidon had checked ahead of time to ensure Sally was home, but seeing her was still a sight for sore eyes when she opened the apartment door after he knocked. She was already dressed down for the evening, cozy in sweatpants and a soft blue shirt.
Poseidon doesn’t hesitate to enfold her into a hug and drop a kiss to her cheek, and Sally affectionately returns them before welcoming them both into her apartment. Fane has to carefully duck and twist his massive frame to enter through the doorway.
Fane barked out a startled laugh when he was told that the mortal woman they had come to meet had gotten his king pregnant. He clapped Sally on the shoulder in congratulations before carefully taking a seat at her table, unsure if the chair could hold him. It creaked in warning, but held. Poseidon and Sally watched him together for a moment, bemused, before they broke out their research across the kitchen table.
Before they actually get into the documenting and comparing the details of his pregnancy, Poseidon finally gets to spout about everything the little pearl was doing… including about them being able to move around now.
Due to how and where the little pearl was developing, Poseidon was the only one able to feel them move, but Sally was over the moon with joy at the news anyway.
As it turns out, when Poseidon and Sally go over their comparison chart again, they find that the little pearl is developing three times faster than the standard mortal pregnancy. All three of them were wary about how fast the little pearl was growing, but as Poseidon could tell their every move and development, and could confirm that everything was going smoothly, but just at triple speed… There was no need to read in another, although one versed in medicine, in on the little pearl, not yet.
Fane, mostly, did not interject into their discussion unless it was to ask a clarifying question, but it was obvious that he was serious about memorizing the pertinent details about Poseidon’s pregnancy, and what they’ve worked out may happen as it develops further- especially that the birth is predicted for mid-August with their new time table.
They manage to finish their documentation and research before the time Delphin allotted for Fane and Poseidon’s private discussion ran out, and the expecting couple took the opportunity to cuddle for the remaining time they had left before the ocean deities were due to return to Atlantis.
Currently, Sally’s head was resting on his chest over where the little pearl lay, snuggled into her worn couch, their hands clasped together, fingers interlocked, over his chest. Meanwhile, Fane flipped through the news channels on Sally’s oak framed box TV, granting them pseudo-privacy as he casually gathered information about mortal affairs, preferably for anything they may have planned in regards to the ocean.
In what seems a blink of an eye, but in reality was thirty minutes, Fane turns the TV off and steps away from where he had been leaning against the wall, and turns to his king, who is gently cradling his dozing paramour.
“Your Majesty,” Fane rumbles quietly. “It’s time to return.”
Poseidon closes his eyes, mournful at having to part so soon. He rises, still cradling Sally, and carries her to her room and gently places her on her bed. It’s far too warm to tuck her into her covers, so Poseidon lays a thin blanket over the sleeping mortal. He turns to leave, but hesitates in the doorway. The god turns back, and gently presses a kiss to her forehead before leaving, closing the bedroom door behind him with a soft click.
Fane has already ensured the apartment is secured, and Poseidon is left with no other excuse to linger. In a mimicry of their earlier arrival, Poseidon clasps Fane once more on the shoulder, and flashes them back to Atlantis.