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Vox woke up to an empty space beside him, cold but crumpled as his arm remained extended to the space. It had been four days since Shoto had left for a team building with his company. Four excruciating days that felt like months. The omega's familiar lavender scent had long been gone, and Vox could only hold on to a shirt that the boy threw at him on his way out.
("I scented it; I know you'd miss me." Shoto laughed, as he threw the shirt on Vox's face. The alpha could only scoff.
Oh how right the smaller was.)
As he dwelled over the missing boy, he suddenly remembered a more important business than daydreaming about him. The said boy has a child, and that child is gonna wake up soon.
Back then, he'd stay a bit longer in bed to bask under the warm sun seeping through his windows. But after getting together with the young demon slayer, Vox knew that he has more responsibilities on his plate, the forgotten sets of pastel books with graphics of children and tips on parenthood hidden in the storage room.
Trudging the hallways of the apartment towards the kitchen, Vox found himself in a rhythm he was more familiar with. He cooked a meal for two, putting flower-shaped carrots on the smaller plate and tossing the leftovers on his own. Shoto wasn't really the type to cook too much, and when he does, it's often only for Hana. He'd make himself a warm cup of tea, two buttered toasts on the side before moving on with his day.
(When Vox found out about his eating habits, he made it a life mission to feed the boy, along with his little gremlin.)
Smaller and quiet steps can be heard along the doorway. Vox turned around just in time to see said gremlin, with a mess of bed hair. He hold back a snort, as she blinked, tiredly. "Hi, uncle Vox." She called out and sat on one of the chairs.
"You're just in time, sweetheart." Vox kissed her forehead—she giggled—and placed Hana's plate right in front of her, before settling down on the chair beside her.
She gasped and pointed towards the potatoes, "Is that a heart?"
Vox only nodded with a hum.
They both ate comfortably, and mostly in silence. Sometimes, Hana would blabber about the cute vegetable shapes that Vox would cut out, or how the beef stew he made was hot, but that she likes the flavor, nonetheless. Vox would entertain her quips and when they were done, he picked up her empty plate, save for the glass that Hana was drinking on, and placed them on the sink.
At this point, Vox knew Hana would be going back to her room, to prepare for her day, so he continued cleaning the plates instead. Instead, Vox felt a tug on his side.
Looking down, he saw Hana holding the glass with one of her hands and reaching it out to Vox. "Thanks for the meal, dad."
Vox smiled as he picked up the glass, "No problem. Now, go fix your hair, young one."
Cheeks a bit red and eyes that shone bright, Hana nodded with a small grin and lightly ran along the halls. It was only then, did Vox realized what happened, and— Oh.
Oh. He needed a breather.
Fortunately, Vox already placed the glass on the sink before the realization kicked in, or else there's more mess to fix and not just the ones in Vox's head. He dried his hands abruptly and reached out for his phone to call for his person. He has to tell Shoto.
"Hello, Vox? Did something happen?" Shoto's serene voice filled his ears and for once, Vox remembered how to breathe.
"Yeah," He let out, almost breathy.
"Are you okay? Is Hana okay?" Vox could feel the omega's worry and he lightly chuckled.
"She's okay." He assured the other, before sighing, shakingly. "But I don't think I am."
Vox could hear a bit of shuffle on the other end. "Oh, babe. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Yeah," Vox leaned his rear on the counter and looked up to the ceiling. "Hana called me dad today."
"Oh."
"Yeah," He laughed a bit, "I said the same thing.
“I mean, she left after that and that's when everything sinks in, and I don't know how I can express how I feel. like, like, a part of me hoped that she calls me that soon, but I didn't expect it to happen and—and, I don't know. I'm just—" Vox inhaled, and let out a big breath. "Shoto, I feel so much happiness that I wish you were here so I can hold you and tell it to you personally."
"Aw, babe." Shoto cooed and giggled. It's more genuine and giddier than just mere teasing. it's like he's excited about something, and Vox can see why.
When Vox came into the picture, Hana wasn't pretty keen on the idea of having him around. It's normal, after all, for a child to be more territorial with their omega parent during their early stages of development (He read that one from the books), and that it's going to take a minimum amount of two months before they start talking to you (This wasn't from any of the books he read. He had to experience it first hand.).
He and Shoto have already been together for about 7 months, and Vox and Hana's relationship had progressed further than just a greeting. Still, there was an invisible line that Vox knew he can't cross just yet. Hana may have no qualms about them living in Vox's place anymore, but that doesn't mean Vox has free reign on what he can do with her father. For her, Vox is uncle Vox, like how Uki is uncle Uki or how Shu is uncle Shu. Vox is not someone she considers as a family just yet, even though she knows that Vox and Shoto are more than what Uki and Shoto are.
So yes, Vox, for the third time in his life, felt his heart squeezed, and like the second time, it's because of the happiness he's feeling.
Shoto quietly said, "Wish I could hear it first-hand as well, but I'm so happy for you."
"Yeah," Vox wiped the tear on one of his tear ducts. "I still can't process it, but I'll be okay."
"Take your time." The purple-haired told him. "I don't know how many emotions you're going through right now, so take your time. Oh, and Vox?"
"Yeah?"
"I miss you too." The younger said, hushed like it's a secret between them. "I'll be home soon."
Vox smiled, softly. "I'll be waiting, always."
The two talked a bit more before Shoto mentioned he was being called already to go back to the activity. With another set of kiss noises on both ends, they resume their respective activities.
By the time Vox was done with a few chores, he went up to see Hana's door wide open. The man peeked to see the child struggling with her braids, and Vox knocked softly to not startle her.
"Do you need help?" He asked and grinned to himself when the young child nodded, enthusiastically as she excitedly told Vox what kind of braid she wants to wear.
Yeah, Vox will be okay waiting for a bit.