CHAPTER 169
CHAPTER 169
The sky is still dark when Xerxes steps out of his car, and the night breeze brushes against his skin.
It's been weeks since he was discharged from the hospital, but he hasn't been home because he doesn't know how to face the little creatures without burning with hate and disgust. Weeks since Tina’s death. Since he told Ciel to give the babies away, but he doesn't. Ciel hadn't even hesitated—he’s raising, feeding, bathing, and loving them as if they were his own. Xerxes wouldn't miss such a sight if the circumstances were different, but they are not.
Xerxes sighs; he can't stay away from his home just because of two little creatures. He just has to keep his distance and not accidentally crush one of them. As long as he doesn't care and can pretend they don't exist, he won't feel the burning need to get rid of them.
“Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to come in?”
Xerxes blinks at the sight of Ciel standing at the entrance of the mansion, a smile on his face, but his face is wrinkled with tiredness.
“I missed you, Xerxes. Welcome home.”
Home. Xerxes is starting to think this is one terrible idea, but wherever Ciel is, that's where he will be, even if he has to go near them.
“I'm home,” he whispers.
~
It's a little past midnight when the crying began.
Loud and wailing, like sirens cutting through the silence. Xerxes is sitting on the sofa in the bedroom, focused on the screen of his laptop, dressed in sweatpants and a shirt, with a pair of glasses at the bridge of his nose.
He shuts his eyes for a moment, waiting for the crying to stop, but it doesn't; instead, it gets even louder and painfully ear-splitting. He looks over at the bed. Ciel is fast asleep. He must have been so exhausted recently. Xerxes might not know about babies, but he knows it's a lot to take care of them; one is exhausting enough, but there are two of them.
Xerxes opens his eyes and exhales a sigh before shutting his laptop. he could wake Ciel up to attend to them, or he could do the job himself.
Exhaling another sigh, he puts his laptop aside and walks out of the bedroom and heads to the baby's nursery.
When he cracks the door open, he's instantly welcomed with the loudest wailing ever. How has Ciel managed to cope with them for this long? Are babies supposed to cry this loud?
He finds them in their cribs, their tiny fists balled and red faces scrunched up with so many tears running down.
Fuck. What is he supposed to do with them now? He should have just woken Ciel up.
“What do you want?” he mutters, reaching down to one of them. “You’ve been crying for half an hour.”
He tsks as he hesitantly reaches out to pat both of them, and like magic, the crying instantly stops, and they blink up at him. Xerxes freezes.
“What the hell…”
He slowly reaches down and picks one of them up in his hands. The baby looks at him, wide grey eyes staring at him, and then he lets out a soft, gurgling giggle.
He looks down at the other baby, and he reaches his tiny arms up toward Xerxes.
Xerxes’s brow furrows. “Are you joking with me right now?”
He awkwardly sits down on the edge of the small couch near the cribs; one baby nestles in his arm, curling into his chest, tiny fingers wrapping around one of his.
The sound that comes out next makes Xerxes blink: a bright, bubbly laugh.
He stares at the tiny thing. “You're… laughing? At me?”
He is graced with another giggle, and just like that, a crack forms in the armor around his heart. Xerxes can't believe he doesn't even last long before he's melting.
He lightly pokes the baby’s chubby cheek. “What’s funny, huh?”
They squeal at the same time.
Xerxes’s lips twitch into a smile. He doesn't know what it is, but something inside him shifts; it's soft and warm and painfully terrifying. He should have known coming here was a bad idea.
~
The morning sunlight filters into the nursery. Ciel walks in slowly, rubbing his eyes, still groggy. He hasn't slept this well in a long time, but suddenly, he stops at the doorway and freezes at the sight that welcomes him.
One twin is in Xerxes's arms, fast asleep, tucked comfortably against his chest, while he rocks the crib with his leg, where the other one lies asleep, and in his hand is a familiar book: How to Take Care of Your Newborn Babies.
Ciel's stomach is instantly filled with warmth, and a warm smile comes to his face. He hadn't expected Xerxes to come around so soon. He had expected to work hard for his love for the twins.
“You look good like that,” Ciel says quietly.
Xerxes looks up, surprised, but not embarrassed. He steps the door aside and glances at the baby, then back at Ciel. “They were crying, so I thought…” he trails off and blinks. What the hell was he even doing? He can't believe he was even reading a book on how to take care of them.
“You don't have to explain; I understand. I have never seen them so peaceful before,” he pouts as he gets close.
Xerxes smirks faintly. “Guess I’m their favorite now,”
“Don’t get cocky; they will still pick me over you. I'm their mama,” Ciel teases. He adjusts the other baby’s blanket in the crib, then sits beside him on the couch.
“They are the cutest, aren't they, Xerxes?” He smiles up at the man.
“You’re right, they are cute.”
“You don't hate them, do you?”
Xerxes sighs. “I don't. I thought I could, but I guess it can't be helped.”
“You know,” Ciel starts, watching the baby in his arms. “I think we will make one weird little family, and I like the idea of it,” Ciel raises his hand where his ring lies proudly. “When are we getting married, Xerxes?”
Xerxes smiles; he reaches out to hold Ciel's hand, kissing it on the back. “When do you want to get married?”
“I've thought about a lot, actually, and I want us to get married soon. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Xerxes.”
Xerxes pulls him close and gently presses his lips against his, savoring the taste of him, pulling back seconds later to whisper. “Let's get married tomorrow.”