After nearly an entire night of discussion, Eridan sat at his desk in front of his computer screen as he video called Kanaya on Trollian. Sollux remained anxiously nearby as the connection dialed and he felt his stomach clench when the jade blood answered.
"Eridan? Is everything alright?" she asked worriedly, most likely due to the hour he was calling.
"Kan, Sol an' I have made a decision about the drones an' we wanted to tell you in person. Well, as in person as we could," Eridan started out getting right to the point.
"I am listening," she pressed. The sea troll glanced over at the nearby psionic and worried his lower lip between his sharp teeth before turning back to the screen.
"We have decided that if- when- the drones come to our hive we want you to take the eggs," Eridan said as steadily as he could. "Should any a' them hatch we feel that you would be their best bet for survival."
"Oh," Kanaya seemed stunned.
"We know you kind of have a lot on your plate right now," Sollux cut in coming to stand behind his matesprit and be in view of the camera. "I mean, you don't have to agree to thith if you don't want but ED and I…" he trailed off as he thought about what was to come.
"We don't reckon we'll be makin' it out of our drone visit alive," Eridan finished the thought. "There's just no way we can fill both pails in time an' I refuse to pail with anyone else," the sea troll cast a glance over at Sollux as he remembered the yellow blood's offer of self sacrifice so that Eridan could fill the caliginous pail with Vriska.
"I see," Kanaya said as she processed the weight of what was being said. "Well, as you know, I have been quite enthralled from the beginning of this unexpected phenomenon. I would have no problem raising your wigglers for you should the need arise. It is true that it is somewhat of a task keeping Karkat and Terezi hidden, but they are fully capable of caring for themselves otherwise which is why my hands are not too full to take on caring for wigglers." A look of subdued relief was apparent on both Eridan and Sollux's faces. "That being said, I do hope that the need for me to foster your offspring never arises," the jade blood added solemnly.
"We do too, Kan," Eridan agreed.
The nights went on in agonizing uncertainty. Eridan and Sollux had nearly reverted back to their constant checking in on the eggs that they had done the first few weeks after they had been laid. This time simply peeking in on them wasn't sufficient. A careful inspection of the surface of the shells had to be done each time one of them entered the nursery to check for signs of hatching. A message was sent to the group chat from Nepeta informing everyone that the drones had been to visit her. She was fine but the troll that lived a short walk away from her had been culled. Eridan and Sollux pailed frequently, never knowing how much time they had left together.
Eridan decided he had put off catching bugs for the nursery long enough and went outside to spend a few hours collecting them. He had managed to get two jars filled when suddenly Sollux burst out of the hive in a flurry of psionics.
"ED!" the yellow blood shouted breathlessly. "It'th cracked- there'th a crack!"
"What are you goin' on about?" Eridan asked and looked over to where his matesprit was in the doorway of the hive nearly bouncing in excitement.
"One of the eggth! It lookth like it'th hatching!"
"What? Right now?" Eridan grabbed his jars and ran over to where Sollux was. The psionic led him quickly back to the nursery and Eridan set the jars of bugs down on the floor before eagerly going over to where the eggs sat in their pool of water. Sure enough, the smooth rock colored surface of one of the eggs had a small webbing of cracks near the larger end of it. The sea troll looked back over to Sollux. "Are we sure this is it? It's not broken or anything?"
"It hath to be it," Sollux reasoned. "It'th in the right time frame for it and there'th no way it could have gotten broken with how we've been taking care of them."
"We need to let Kan know," Eridan suddenly realized then hastily pulled out his phone to contact the jade blood. He decided to call her after realizing he didn't have the patience to type out his entire message.
"Eridan?" the Virgo answered her phone in surprise.
"They're hatchin', Kan! Well, one is hatchin' but the rest should be too," the violet blood's words rushed out of his mouth.
"Take a breath, dear. The eggs are hatching?" she repeated calmly just to be sure she had heard correctly.
"Yes, can you get over here?" he asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid I cannot at the moment," Kanaya said with disappointment evident in her voice. "There have been sightings of drones visiting hives near the caves and I must remain here to ensure Karkat and Terezi's safety. I was really wanting to be there to see this moment, but you and Sollux should be able to handle it."
Eridan moved his mouth away from the phone to speak to Sollux, "She can't make it." Sollux nodded in acknowledgement and went back to observing the eggs for any signs of movement. "Is there anythin' else we should know about the hatchin' or anythin' else about grubs? I just don't think I'm ready for this," Eridan began rambling.
"You will do just fine, Eridan. You and Sollux. The only thing I can think of to tell you is not to help the grub break out of the shell. They must do that on their own," said Kanaya.
"ED, it moved a little bit," Sollux said suddenly.
"It's movin', Kan!" Eridan repeated excitedly.
"I wish you two the best of luck," Kanaya told him. "I must go now but I will try to be by as soon as I can."
"Thanks. Good luck to you too," the violet blood responded then ended the phone call. He moved back closer to where Sollux sat at the edge of the shallow pool. "She says we should have no problem handlin' this," Eridan said still sounding a bit uncertain. A faint tapping sound was heard and the two adult trolls looked back down to the egg to see it shift to the tiniest degree. A few more lines were added to the cracks in the shell.
"Holy fuck," Sollux said after a moment. "There'th really a living thing in there." Eridan remained silent and his eyes flicked over to the other two eggs that still sat inert.
"Do you think the room is ready enough? I know I'm probably goin' to have to catch more bugs," Eridan continued to fret.
"Relax, Eridan," Sollux said quietly and reached for his matesprit's cold hand. He felt the ring that he had given the high blood as he laced their fingers together and stroked his thumb over the chilly hand. "We can figure thingth out ath we go." Eridan huffed but accepted Sollux's gestures of comfort. They sat on the floor attentively watching the egg not wanting to miss a single detail of the hatching.
The egg didn't move again until nearly a full five minutes later. The tapping was heard again and stopped when the shell cracked further and a fragment broke away from the center of the webbing of cracks. All was quiet and still for a few moments then the egg shifted much more visibly and more tapping came accompanied by the sound of the shell cracking more. Another fragment of shell fell off leaving a small dark hole. The egg rolled onto its side in the water with the hole facing up and stayed still once again. Just as Sollux was glancing at the other eggs beginning to grow a bit concerned, a tiny squeak came from the hole of the hatching egg. Eridan and Sollux shared a look with each other and Eridan squeezed Sollux's hand lightly.
The tapping resumed until enough pieces of shell had broken off for a small black grub leg to stick out. It appeared that the grub was using one of its legs to break the shell apart bit by bit. A majority of one end of the shell was now quite cracked and the egg shifted again. A larger section of shell became dislodged but still remained barely attached. A second grub leg emerged from the larger hole followed by another faint squeak.
"Shouldn't the others be hatchin' by now too?" Eridan nearly whispered.
"I don't know, ED," Sollux answered quietly.
The grub inside repositioned and pushed against the larger half of the shell that was nearly in pieces. Movement could be seen through the hole in the shell but in the dim lighting of the room it was hard to make out. The larger half of the shell gave a louder cracking sound as it separated nearly completely from the rest of the egg, opening like a hinge almost. The grub within gave a more easily heard squeak as it wiggled around and its head became more visible before it took a moment to rest.
Eridan felt his eyes water against his will as he saw his grub for the first time. His free hand found its way over to his stomach and he rested it there lightly as he felt a pang of fondness knowing that he had made this newly hatching grub inside himself. The grub lay mostly inside its egg still as it took a few moments to gather its strength. Its short black hair was damp from being inside the shell and its small horns were the beginnings of what would clearly grow into the lightning bolt shape of Eridan's. The grub turned its head as it began to wiggle out of its shell. It made it out up to its second set of legs before stopping again breathing heavily.
Sollux inhaled through his nose then breathed out, "ED, look." The psionic was looking at the ear fins on the sides of the grub's face and the rich violet color of what was showing of its body. Its large eyes remained closed as it resumed struggling out of the shell. Sollux reached out intending to try to help it along.
"Don't," Eridan said suddenly to stop him.
"What?" the Gemini asked caught off guard.
"Kan said not to help the grub get out of the shell no matter what. It's one of those important things it has to do on its own," the violet blood said.
"But it'th tho clothse," Sollux said in frustration.
"I know but we have to let- them?- do it on their own. How do we know what sex the grub is?" Eridan asked as he suddenly realized he had no idea.
"Maybe Kanaya can tell?" Sollux shrugged. The grub went back to wiggling the rest of the way out before resting again on top of the fragments of shell. The grub's gills could be seen faintly moving as it lay in the shallow water.
"They're so small," Eridan remarked.
"Yeah," Sollux agreed as he watched the grub intently. Neither troll had ever seen an actual grub before in person and knowing that this one was now theirs to care for was surreal. "A violet blood," Sollux said out loud. "I gueth you two will have a lot in common," he nudged Eridan beside him. Eridan smirked and rolled his eyes.
"I wonder if we can touch them?" Eridan asked. The grub looked as though it would span across both of Eridan's palms put together. Sollux couldn't take his eyes off the newly hatched grub. The sound of Eridan's phone vibrating pierced the stillness of the room and the grub squeaked fluttering its tailfin in the water. The violet blooded adult looked down at his phone to check his new message and missed seeing the grub squeeze its eyes shut tighter before opening them for the first time.
"Holy shit," Sollux gasped in surprise.
"What?" Eridan snapped his attention up from his phone and looked frantically over to Sollux first to find out what was wrong. He just saw a goofy crooked grin on his matesprit's face that exposed his oversized double fangs. Eridan looked back down at the grub and saw a large set of red and blue eyes staring back at him.
"A psionic?" Eridan asked in shock.
"That'th what it lookth like," Sollux said in amusement. "Can't be completely sure until we thee dithplayth of it."
"I don't think a sea dweller has ever had psionics. Not naturally, at least. I'm not countin' how the Condesce fabricated them for her own use," Eridan said. "It isn't exactly normal."
"Tho what are you thaying?" Sollux asked getting a bit defensive.
"I'm just sayin' that if anyone were to see a sea dweller with psionics it would probably be taken as a mutation an' they might be at risk of bein' culled," Eridan explained.
"Yet another reathon to hope FF ith thtill alive," Sollux muttered grimly. "What wath that about?" he asked gesturing to the phone Eridan was still holding.
"Oh. Kan says she's on her way over. She was able to get a trusted ally to keep an eye out for Kar and Rezi," the high blood said. Sollux nodded in acknowledgement.
"Do you think they're hungry?" he asked motioning toward the grub.
"Maybe?" Eridan said uncertainly. He got up to shut the door to the room and grabbed one of the jars of bugs to bring back to where the grub was now beginning to explore the rest of the shallow pool. He pulled a disgruntled face before unscrewing the lid and laying the jar on its side to let the bugs crawl out gradually near the pool. The new parents watched one of the insects get closer to the grub. The grub squeaked and lifted its head out of the water sniffing the air. Its large dual colored eyes locked on to the insect and it let out a few excited chirps before swimming through the water towards its prey.
The infant violet blood clambered up onto the rocky edge of the pool waving its tailfin behind it for balance and blinked its red and blue eyes at the bug. After a brief pause for calculation it charged toward the bug and grabbed it in its mouth. The grub chewed messily with its sharp little fangs and chirped happily after swallowing. Sollux grinned at the display and Eridan felt a smile tug at his lips. The grub spotted another insect and hunted it down as well. The doorbell rang after the grub had eaten three more insects and it squeaked in fear and dashed back into the pool to submerge itself in the water. Sollux got up to answer the door and Eridan stayed beside the pool to watch the grub.
Sollux re entered the room with Kanaya close behind him. "The grub has hatched, then?" she asked eagerly as she was led over to where Eridan sat.
"Yeah the doorbell scared them a bit," the Aquarius told her as she sat beside him on the floor.
"Oh goodness," she chuckled as she peered into the pool to see the grub that was beginning to re emerge from the water. "A psionic violet blood?" she questioned when she saw the infant troll.
"Sol isn't completely sure on that," Eridan said.
"Oh?" Kanaya asked and looked back at Sollux as he sat down on the floor as well.
"I haven't theen any power from them yet. We'll jutht have to wait and thee," Sollux elaborated.
"I see. Hello there, little one," Kanaya cooed to the grub. It chirruped and approached her with curiosity. The jade blood held out her hands in a welcoming gesture and the grub crawled over to her and was picked up into an embrace.
"So we can touch them?" Eridan asked.
"Of course," Kanaya responded surprised that this wasn't well known information. "You can pretty much do whatever you want with her. She is your grub. Well, do not hand feed her and make sure she at least sleeps and eats primarily in the simulated cave nursery. Otherwise, you may do anything you please."
"Her?" Sollux and Eridan asked in unison.
"Yes?" Kanaya blinked. "This grub is female."
"We had no idea," Sollux said. "How can you even tell?"
"It is most likely one of those jade blood things," Kanaya explained.
"Well at least now we know," Eridan said as he watched the Virgo cuddle his new grub.
"Have you named her yet?" Kanaya asked. The grub crawled up her arm to perch on her shoulder.
"Uh," Sollux looked over at Eridan sheepishly. "No we haven't."
"You have not picked her up or named her. What have you two been doing with her?"
"We fed her," Eridan said sweeping his arms out across the room to emphasize the bug population.
"We've been watching her," Sollux added. The grub looked over at Sollux and squeaked then crawled up Kanaya's hair to be on top of her head. The jade blood giggled at the grub's adventurous behavior.
"Well I believe you should come up with a name for her. I brought a certificate of hatching with me. I am going to sneak it into the files so that when the grub is older she does not encounter any problems being an undocumented troll," she told them.
"The other eggth haven't shown sthignth of hatching yet," Sollux said quietly. "Do you think…"
"Give them until the end of the week," Kanaya said gently. "I have seen some eggs hatch ahead of the rest of their clutch." Sollux still didn't look placated but nodded anyways. Kanaya reached up and took the grub off her head and held her out to Sollux. "I am going to prepare a pot of tea if you do not mind. You two can think of a name in the mean time." The Gemini took the grub carefully in his arms and soon she was crawling up his shoulder too.
"Do you remember where I keep the tea, Kan?" Eridan asked.
"Yes dear, I will bring you a cup as well when it is ready," she answered as she stood and brushed a few bugs off her skirt. She left for the meal block and meticulously prepared a pot of some of the rather expensive tea Eridan kept on hand. It was a brand she did not personally get due to the cost but knowing Eridan, he had the funds to spare. When she returned about twenty minutes later with the tea kettle and three cups on a tray Eridan was cuddling the grub in his arms. "We've got a name decided," Eridan announced triumphantly.
"Is that so?" Kanaya asked placing the tray down and carefully pouring tea into two of the cups. Sollux waved her off from pouring the third for him.
"Yes. It invokes power and regality," Eridan continued.
"It'th alright," Sollux shrugged.
"What is the name?" Kanaya asked before taking a sip of her tea.
"Psidon," Eridan answered. "Much like the myth of Poseidon."
"That sounds lovely. That is what you are certain you are going with?" she asked and pulled a slip of paper from within the folds of her blouse. "Once it has been written on the certificate it can not be changed." She took out a pen and began filling out most of the information needed for the certificate.
"We are sure," Eridan confirmed.
"Sollux, would you like to do the honor since Eridan has his hands full?" Kanaya asked as she handed the pen and paper over to the yellow blood.
"Sure, why not?" he answered taking the pen and paper. He looked down at it to find the line for "name" and wrote Psii then mentally kicked himself for doubling the "I". He realized he would be going over he letter limit if he just kept writing the name so he thought of a way to fix it. He finished filling it out and handed the paper back to Kanaya along with the pen.
"Psiion?" the Virgo read aloud.
"You fuckin' doubled the "I" didn't you?" Eridan accused. "Seriously Sol?"
"It thtill thoundth like a good name," Sollux defended.
"Yeah I suppose," Eridan rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you fuckin' did that."
"So her name is Psiion now?" Kanaya asked.
"Looks like it since someone can't fuckin' write," Eridan told her. He set the grub, Psiion, down on the edge of the pool to reach for his cup of tea.
"I believe that suits her marvelously," Kanaya smiled.
"What wath it you told uth that other thpethies callth their male luthuth?" Sollux asked.
"I believe the two terms I discovered were dad and father. I looked more into it and found a few more terms for it. There is daddy, papa, and, oddly enough, pops," she said. Eridan set his tea cup down and picked up the grub once again. He held her in view and she looked at him with her big red and blue eyes.
"Your name is Psiion now because your daddy has a stupid ass typing quirk that fucks up his ability to write properly," Eridan told the grub.
"Fuck you, ED," Sollux shot back.
"I am very interested in seeing what the grub grows up to be like considering this is how her first few hours of life have been," Kanaya laughed and sipped her tea.