This was completely spur of the moment. I was supposed to be finishing off a LeLu commission tonight, but I was on tumblr and saw this post by otpprompts on my dash, and I decided I really needed to write it. I briefly considered doing a BixCo version that would tie in to the Galu/Bixco AU, but... I liked this better. I'll still write the BixCo version at some point.

Prompt: Imagine your OTP telling their child that they're adopted.

Adopted

"There's something we've been meaning to tell you…" Bickslow said, his voice gentle and calm as he moved one of the pillows on the couch out of the way and sat down next to his daughter.

India glanced up over the top of the book at him. She knew her father well, and when it came to bad news, it was usually her mother who delivered it. If it was one thing she did know about him, it was that he was soft and he would much rather lie than tell anyone bad news. Well, anyone apart from her uncles and aunt. Bickslow usually told them bad news just for the sake of it, as far as India knew.

Still, it sounded like he had some bad news to share, and India really wasn't sure what it would be. She was always cautious when it came to believing anything her dad said, because, well… He was her dad, and he was kind of a moron sometimes.

"And, you know, you're officially thirteen now so you're probably old enough to hear it," he continued.

"Bix, what on earth are you doing now?" Lucy sighed, drying her hands on a small towel. Her husband was up to no good. She was certain of it.

Her mother's eye-roll only made India even more hesitant to believe whatever her father was about to say, but just to go along with him, she closed her book and crossed her legs under her. "Come on, just tell me what it is," India said.

Bickslow took a steeling breath before he looked his daughter dead in the eyes and announced, "You're adopted."

India snorted, quickly picking up her book again. "Yeah, right." Lucy only shook her head and walked away - she wanted nothing to do with whatever Bickslow was doing.

"I'm serious, Ind. Your mum and me… We wanted to have a baby so bad! But, well… It just wasn't happening. So we decided to adopt one instead, and the second we saw you, we knew you were going to be our kid." India continued to stare at him with a bored expression, and Bickslow let out a quiet sigh before continuing again, "And, okay, I get it, you don't believe me, because we have the same magic and the same hair, and you look so much like your mum that it's not even funny, but… I'm being serious here, Ind. And I just thought it was time you found out, because you're getting older and–"

"Mum!" India shouted, keeping a steady eye on her father's face. He was somewhat convincing - he had a brilliant poker face, it seemed - but she wasn't quite sure. "I'm not adopted, right?"

"Of course not! I went through twenty-six hours of hell for you!" Lucy called back from her study in the next room. "How many times have I told you not to listen to your father?"

India shook her head and Bickslow's face quickly split into a wide grin. He'd had her for a second, he knew, but that was so much more than he'd expected. His daughter had definitely gotten her mother's smarts. He was still trying to figure out how to trick Lucy after all those years. She saw right through him.

"Come 'ere, you." He wrapped his arms around the girl and squeezed her in a tight hug. "I'm just kidding."

"Well, duh…"

"I watched your mother have you. I know you're all mine."

India groaned. "Ugh, Dad, gross."

Bickslow couldn't help but chuckle as he kissed the top of her head. "You're too much like your mother to be adopted anyway," he said softly. "Happy birthday, kiddo."