20 October 2020

Prompt: Glow

Character/Pairing: Dingo King (OC), Luka Couffaine, Harmony Couffaine (OC), Brielle Girard (OC); Bringo, Lukanette

Rating: T / PG-13 / Teen

Notes: I had the idea of Bri telling Dingo she was pregnant ("baby glow"), but then Toddler Harmony kinda just took over. Oops. xD (I usually play Harmony as more mellow & Melody as the little ball of Chaos, but I'm thinking Harmony was pretty chaotic as a kid and mellowed out as she grew up (and had to Big Sister to four other Couffaines). HEY THIS WAS A DINGO CHALLENGE WHAT'S THE HOUSE BAND DOING HERE?!

"…Bri's acting weird," Dingo whispers into his phone. There's an amused sound on the other end, one that neither agrees nor disagrees with him.

"What did you do this time?" Luka asks. There's a giggle, followed by a muffled curse. "No, no, no – Harm, we need pants today! Maman's taking you to see Ma S, remember? Pants!"

Dingo smiles a little as he hears Harmony's toddler voice scream a very vocal NO at her papa, but the smile disappears when he hears movement beyond the bedroom. He leans back against the door and gulps.

"I did nothing," he pouts. "Why d'you always assume I did something?"

"…are you seriously going to make me answer that? Pants, Harmonika," Luka tuts. There's a shuffling, and Harmony sounds a lot closer than she had a moment ago. There's a squeal and a cry of no no no no! "Ding, I mean it. What did you do? Bri was on the phone with Mari almost an hour last night. She won't tell me anything."

"See?!" Dingo hisses. "Weird! I'm scared to go out there, Lu."

"…man up, dumb…dumb," Luka says, barely catching the near-slip in time. Harmony giggles louder, and Dingo grins. Marinette had ripped Luka a new one the time he came over and Harmony had crashed into his legs with a cry of Uncle Dumbass! "Just go talk to her."

"She's been singing," Dingo says. "And giggling. She hasn't smiled this much since…shit, since she won that award for the short film about cheese."

"…that film was so fucking weird," Luka groans, and then lets out a shit as Harmony gasps. "…you can't say that. Don't tell Maman."

"Papa said –" Harmony starts, but then she's giggling again, and Dingo imagines Luka's started tickling her.

"Papa said you're the prettiest Harmony in the house," Luka coos, using that voice that's not quite Baby Voice but is reserved just for his little girl. "You don't want Papa in trouble, do you?"

"Yes," Harmony giggles, and Luka groans.

"I'd offer you shelter when Mari kicks you out, but Bri's…holy shit," Dingo blinks, his eyes widening. Luka hums, and Dingo groans. "Mate, she's fucking nesting. You don't think…but she can't be…we're not…we weren't even…I mean I wasn't even…"

"Words, Ding," Luka says. "Full sentences. I'm running on maybe three hours of sleep here."

"…she can't be pregnant," Dingo gulps. "Luka, I am not father material. She can't be...she…oh my God, I got her pregnant!"

"Pause on the freak-out," Luka says. There's a bit more shuffling and an exaggerated smacking noise. "Ok, you're good. And remember: don't tell Maman –"

"Uncle Dumbass is a fucking idiot?" Harmony's voice comes through the phone, clear as a bell, and it's almost enough to snap Dingo out of his spiral. He loves that little hurricane. Maybe a kid won't be so bad, if it turns out half as cool as Harmony.

"…Harm, you're killing me," Luka groans, but Harmony just giggles again. "Go find your Maman."

"Maaaaaaamaaaaaaaan!" Harmony cries, and Dingo can hear her running away. Luka groans again, and there's a flopping.

"…did you at least get her pants on her?" Dingo snickers, and he imagines Luka's flipping him off.

"She is dressed and presentable," Luka grumbles. "Her clothes even fit and match, so Mari won't skin me for that, at least."

"Just teaching your daughter to say fuck," Dingo says with a grin. The knob behind him jiggles, and he snaps his jaw together as Brielle knocks.

"Perry? Why did you lock the door?" she calls, and Dingo gulps.

"…I heard," Luka says. "Talk to her. The sooner you do, the better it will be."

"She's going to divorce me," Dingo says. "She doesn't want kids."

"Yes, she does," Luka says. "One kid, at least. She's kinda nuts about Harmony."

"She wants your kid," Dingo snaps, and Luka makes a choking noise.

"She can't have her," he says, sounding a little smug. "I love my kid."

"Everyone loves your kid," Dingo mutters. "Harmony is awesome."

"Of course she is," Luka says. "She's a Couffaine."

"Dingo! Open the Goddamned door!" Bri shouts from the other side, knocking a bit harder. "I can hear you on the phone, dumbass! Luka, hang up!"

"That's my cue," Luka laughs, and Dingo yelps when the door is pushed open and he's sent to the ground. Brielle is standing on the other side, a hand on her hip and the key to the room in the other. One eyebrow is arched imperiously over the other, and Dingo tries to smile sweetly at his beautiful, pissed off, possibly hormonal (because it implies but definitely doesn't mean pregnant when it could just mean period) wife. "Good luck, dumbass."

"I'm going to fucking kill you," Dingo says a bit too cheerfully. Luka just laughs and hangs up on him, and Dingo chucks his phone behind him before crossing his legs and grabbing his ankles. He wishes he had his shades so Bri couldn't see the massive panic in his eyes. "Hey, beautiful. What's up?"

Brielle's annoyance seems to disappear at his question, replaced by that soft look she's been wearing for the better part of the week. She sits in front of him, close enough that her feet can touch his but still away enough that she's comfortable. Safe. She tucks some hair behind her ear and looks away, still smiling.

"We…we need to talk," she says, and Dingo doesn't know if he's scared or not. Her hand subconsciously goes to her very flat stomach, and Dingo realizes it's not really fear. Well, not just fear.

There's a lot of fear.

But he's also kind of really excited.

"…holy shit," he breathes, reaching out to lay his hand over hers. He looks up at her, still uncertain, but she's smiling.

And he can't help but smile, too.