"Kuro-Chan, we need to talk."

Kurogane looked up into the tree he was leaning against. The canned cat was back again to either fight or fuck him. That seemed to be their only two choices as of late, but he supposed that was better than just trying to kill each other.

"What?" he caught the cat reflexively when he pounced down.

"I've lied to you."

"You're an enemy soldier sent every night to keep me off the battlefield. Of course you've lied to me."

"Yes but... This is probably the worst lie I've told."

Kurogane set him down before finally getting a good look at his face, "Fai, that is too vulnerable a face to show me." His ears lowered in tension.

"Maybe... But maybe not. Not now, at least," Fai gripped his own arms and looked around, "We are alone, yes?"

"Yes, get to talking."

"Well, you know I'm a Beta, right?"

"I can smell as much," Kurogane rolled his eyes, "Were you really an alpha just wanting to deny his instincts?"

"No… Actually, I'm pregnant," Fai said quietly.

Kurogane stared him down until he was visibly shaking. His mind was entirely blank, so his only option was to talk, "A beta male can't get pregnant."

"No, they can't," Fai knelt on the ground and wrapped himself tighter.

"Neither can Alpha males. Which makes you…"

"An Omega," Fai nodded, "An Omega in hiding, really."

"And you thought you wouldn't get pregnant?!"

"I shouldn't have," Fai hid his face, "I should be infertile. Taking that medicine was the only way I could join the military."

"So, you took infertility drugs, joined the military pretending to be a Beta, and are now somehow pregnant with my child?" Kurogane crouched down with Fai to process the information while his tail swished violently on the grass.

"It gets worse," Fai mumbled.

"Heh?" Kurogane growled, "How could it?"

"Ashura," Fai glanced up.

"Ashura? King Ashura of Celes?"

One nod, "He's my father."

Kurogane could have evaporated with the heat he felt growing inside him. He was angry at how stupid this Beta, no, Omega could be. He tried to find his calm before he spoke again.

"Okay, you thought you were infertile. You thought you could have some fun, only to find out the medicine didn't work. So, what do you want to do now?"

Fai let out a sob, "I don't know! What choices do I even have?! I'm a crown prince with an enemy soldier's baby growing inside me. I'm fucked."

Kurogane took a few breaths, "That's not what I asked. What do you /want/ to do?"

"I want…" Fai leaned back against the tree, "I want to stop fighting."

"And the kid?"

Fai cradled his stomach, "I want to keep it."

Kurogane nodded and waved Fai over, "We do have an option, albeit a dangerous one."

"We?" Fai moved closer, "Really?"

"Yes, really. It's my kid too, so I'll take responsibility," Kurogane assured.

Fai leaned into his chest and hugged him tightly, "Thank you!"

Kurogane scoffed and placed a hand over his back, "What did you expect from me? I have honor."

Fai laughed through his tears, "I don't know! I was scared!" He sighed and pressed harder against him, "I still am… If my father ever finds out…"

"When."

"When?"

"When he finds out."

Fai blanched, "What, exactly, is your plan?"

"I talk to my Princess, you talk to King Ashura."

"I can't tell him! He'll disown me! I'll be banished!"

"So, at worst you'll move here and never go home. At best, you'll move here and still visit home," Kurogane reasoned.

"Live… here? Will the Empress allow it?"

"Yes. Princess Tomoyo can convince her of anything."

"But will the Princess allow-"

"I will!" a young voice piped up from behind them.

"Tomoyo! You shouldn't be here!"

"It's safe," she waved him off and walked into the garden, "Fai won't hurt me, after all."

Kurogane grumbled but let her stay, "Fine, but would you warn me next time?"

Tomoyo shook her head, "You know I can't do that. But I have no issue housing your child's mother."

Fai separated from Kurogane and bowed before her, "Thank you, Princess. I'm in your debt."

"Nonesense!" Tomoyo chirped, "Please, just call me Tomoyo. If my own protector cannot address me correctly, then you should follow suit."

She ignored Kurogane's grumblings and continued, "You may live here from now on, but I would suggest telling your King. You may not know how he'll react, but he deserves to know what happened to you."

Fai raised his head, "I, um… Okay, yes. I will return to him."

Kurogane closed his eyes, "If things go sour, I'll meet you here tomorrow. If not, then we'll meet here on the next night of battle."

"Mhm, that will work," Fai agreed.

Before he left for the night, Fai kissed Kurogane briefly in thanks, but refrained from bowing to the Princess.

"Tomoyo, thank you. There is no way Kurogane would be allowed in my country. Truly, I am indebted to your kindness."

She laughed lightly, "I'm just happy to be an Aunt!"

Fai grinned at her statement before heading back home.