SMILE
The clock ticked. The seconds passed. And with such passing moments, he'd spent them pacing back and forth over-and-over, nonstop since he arrived at the hospital. He was frantic. That much he did not attempt to hide despite his best efforts. His head was all covered with sweat. His palms itched. His stomach churned.
"Being all nervous isn't going to help." Said a woman as she sat on a chair. Gazing at the warry man with a stone-cold face. Her purple eyes, seemingly unimpressed.
The man meanwhile immediately turned to his sister. Glaring at her with violet irises of his own. "Lynette, not helping."
Upon his words, the woman breath a sigh. "You're right. Sorry."
The man's shoulders began to drop alongside the daggers he shot. Instantly, he came near her and sat to the seat next to his sibling.
"No. I'm sorry." He apologized. "It's just…well-"
"Its okay." Said his former assistant. "I understand."
The magician crept a smile. A small one but genuine all the same. Lynette too reflected his expression. For it had been the first since he saw him smile upon meeting him after her arrival. A little while came by, and his anxiety started to plague his mental state once more. She saw his tensing body. He saw as his breathing became less natural.
She reached her hand and held his. Causing Lyney to jolt. "She's going to be okay." She assured him.
"How would you know?" Her brother responded, and like a switch, her reaction shifted from dark and gloomy to light and humorous. The hilarity of his inquiry. Does he realize the absurdity of what he just asked?
She began to laugh. But she had to suppress herself so to not draw for any unwanted attention. "You're joking, right?" Lynette told between chuckles. "Lyney, this is the Traveler we're talking about. As in, the 'Hero of Teyvat'. The 'Slayer of the Heavenly Principals'. The very reason why the Sovereigns and the Archons are out right now just to make sure that no one would come to interrupt her. I'm pretty sure she could handle this well."
"I know." Answered the former Fatuus. "But still, its kind of my fault that she's suffering right now. She wouldn't be at the other side of that door if it weren't for me. If only I could be there with her."
"You were with her." She reminded him. "Till you fainted."
A blush emerged from his cheeks. And he did not make a for a retort. Potentially so to avoid furthering on such a topic.
Once more, the sounds of only the clock were all that could be heard…
"I've also just received a message from Freminet." Informed the female Fontainian. Breaking the silence (much to the performer's relief). "He told that his already on his way here from Sumeru. Though he apologizes in advance since he might not be able to make it until tonight."
Lyney nodded. "That Freminet. Hope his not overdoing himself there."
"His well." Stated the woman. "I've actually paid him a visit since recently, and he seemed to be doing fine. In fact, it would seem that a certain forest ranger has managed to have caught his fancy."
"Oh really." Now he made a smug smirk on his face, and instantly like an apple dropping from the branch to the ground, Lynette regretted ever letting him in on that last part.
"Lyney…" She was about to scold.
"Relax." He brushed. "I just found it quite amusing, that's all. We…really have come a long way, haven't we?"
She couldn't help but agree. "We have." Then followed. "We all have."
They both then remained there, reminiscing of the times since quitting the Fatui, aiding in the rebellion against Celestia along with the rest of the different people from different nations. To think a mere stage performer like him could play a hand in actually defying the divine. As an orphan who grew within the House of the Hearth, he had always known that he would do just that eventually. But to actually win.
Many things came and went by in his life since. Considering as the Fatui has hitherto served its purpose, he and his siblings decided to leave after a long heart felt discussion.
Lyney and lynette continued to chat all throughout. Catching up about life. Conversing in regards to mundane things. things that which were robbed from them during their days of a tender age. He himself couldn't believe his own luck. Emerging as a rock star in the world of illusionists was definitely something which he had envisioned. To meet friends from around the continent and learning how to trust once more was unexpected for him, but welcomed. However, to win the hand of the most beautiful maiden in all of Teyvat, really-just how lucky could he get. He wonders on what specifically did he ever done in order to receive all such blessings. A little more and he would be convinced that his luck could be the total opposite of a certain fellow Pyro-based allogene from the City of Freedom (at least, before the latter would later grow and become the head of his respective Adventurer's division).
"By the way," The man then came to inquire his sister a question. "How's the new school your running?"
"Smoothly." She spoke her words plainly yet with a tone of matter of fact. As if it was something to be anticipated. "Furina funds really well."
But just before they were to proceed, the door in front of them fortuitously swinged open. He could feel his heart pounding again. His body trembling. His breath shaking.
Silence fell for a second. A minute? An hour? A year? Every passing moment seemed akin to forever within his perspective.
Both had their respective attentions at the melusine before them. In their chests were the emotions of both worry and anticipation.
Soon, Sigewinne took off her mask, and revealed to them a smile.
"Congratulations, Mr. Lyney."
And with that, he didn't waste a minute too soon. The magician sprinted his way, passing through the nurse, entering the room where Lumine was at. There, he found his wife. Laying in bed with a hospital gown. Exhausted, but beautiful, as she always was. When her golden irises met his, relief came to wash over him.
She grinned as he slowly approached.
The (use to be) Traveler gestured for his voice to lower, he nodded and obliged. He crouched himself, kissing his partner on the forehead before completely kneeling to meet her level.
Beside her head, were two bundles all wrapped and covered with the exception of their faces. Almost like a gift.
He couldn't believe his eyes upon seeing them for the very first time. How they soundly slept, how his immediate instinct was to protect them.
The feeling, the bliss, the joy that which he currently felt – truly, was he really this deserving?
One of them would later squirm. Revealing their yellow eyes which reminded him of their mother. They yawned, then met their eyes with his. Seemingly as if they were curious as to what and who he was.
He saw himself reflected within their pure gaze.
Then the blond neared herself closer to the small new born, whispering the words;
"Come meet your dad."
Dad. Now that was something he never knew he would ever be addressed as. That he would be.
To become a dad. A father. To have a family of his own.
All suddenly flown flooding into his mind. How he was robbed off a childhood which he was supposed to have had. How he and Lynette were forced to grow-up faster than anyone of their age. How they grew seeing the more darker aspects of this world at a time when they were still fragile and vulnerable.
But now, this. Her. Them…
If this was a dream, he prayed to whatever higher power that might be listening…
For him to be let asleep for eternity.
Except he wasn't asleep, nor was he dreaming. Which only served to make this one single moment all the more overwhelming.
What did he do to deserve all this? Did he even deserve all this?
Then, he saw something which would have instantly made his heart cease.
A babe. His child, smiled at him. A true-authentic-genuine smile. A smile so precious that teeth weren't required to make their smile ingrained into his memory. Their first smile. And it was directly right at him.
He was flabbergasted. His lips copying that of the infant's. He cast his pupils briefly to his spouse, seeing if she were witnessing this as well.
She grinned whilst nodding.
He returned his glance at the still smiling bundle, gently reaching his finger to hold them by the cheek. Then to their sleeping twin.
Tears fell from his eyes. And Lyney did not even try to suppress them.
He will always have a family through Lynette and Freminet. But this… being at this moment. This moment shared with his beloved and the children they made together.
Children he could call his own.
…
Words simply failed to elaborate.
He would later hear a creak. Thus, craning his head behind him, only to see Freminet along with many other of their friends peaking their heads.
But they were haste to leave them be for now. Surprisingly at the insistence of Charlotte.
He looked back and saw why.
Lumine fell into slumber, along with the-his kids.
His family.
How soundly they appeared. How relaxed. How peaceful.
He caressed the faces of his children for one more time, still having a difficulty in believing that all this was truly happening.
It became then that at this point, he made a solemn oath, vowing to protect them with whatever he was worth.
To protect the family he could call his.