"You" said Acronix, smiling mischievously, "are going to be an uncle"

Krux blinked, "uh... what?"

"I'm having a baby"

"Are you sure?" Krux's eyebrows furrowed, "I support you, whatever you do, but... I don't think this is a good time"

"I wouldn't tell you if I wasn't sure" said Acronix, confidant as ever, "I'm leaving tomorrow, Wu has a friend I can go to"

"Wu knows?"

Acronix hesitates, looking embarrassed, "he... he knew before I did, confronted me about it a couple weeks ago"

"And you only told me now?!" Krux's mind raced, if he knew about Acronix..

"Hey, there's nothing to worry about! He's safe, and besides- I needed some time to think about it"

"Wait- what, exactly, did he say to you" said Krux

"well... he took me aside, told me he, ya'know, knew, and offered to help"

"What kind of help?"

Acronix looked awkward, "well, he offered to help me take whatever steps I needed, this friend of his, he said she could help to get rid of it, if I needed, and I'd have taken him up on it, but, well, it wasn't his only offer"

"Oh?" said Krux, curiosity peaked.

"He said" Acronix continued, "that if I had the baby... he'd help me support it. Make sure it had, you know, food, shelter, an education, even if I... even if I don't make it, either through the pregnancy or the war, it'll be cared for. Guaranteed. I- well, I want to have kids someday, and even if I live through the war... I don't see myself being able to care for a child. Not on my own."

"You wouldn't be on your own" said Krux, Acronix snorted.

"you know what I mean, all that travel, all that... running, a child doesn't deserve that"

"I understand" Krux paused, "wait, I'm not losing my powers to this kid too, am I?"

"Oh, oh no! I asked Wu about it" said Acronix, "did you know we weren't the first time twin's? Apparently, the kid didn't receive her full powers until the aunt passed"

"Ahhh" said Krux, relieved, but then, he frown, "wait, how did Wu know this?"

"Don't know, it must've been written down somewhere, I suppose"

"I guess that makes sense" said Krux.

"Of course" added Acronix "I might not have to worry either- Jasper's the father"

Krux paused, wracking his brain, "Jasper, thats... metal, right?"

"Earth" corrected Acronix, "really, you must pay more attention at meetings"

"I'm not sure I'd like to pay so much attention as you do" said Krux, with more than a hint of snark.

"Brother!" said Acronix, feigning offense as he punched him playfully on the arm

"But, in all seriousness, I'm proud, Acronix, I certainly wouldn't go through with it" said Krux, chuckling a little.

Acronix put a hand to his stomach, smiling, "yeah, it's... scary, but... at the same time, I can't wait to meet the little fella"