Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Jin
The needle continues working against my chest. It hurts way more than any other tattoo I’ve gotten in the past. Tilly warned me but I didn’t think it would hurt this badly, holy shit!
“You still doing okay, Jin?”
“Yep! So good! Super peachy! Tis but a scratch!”
“You’re such a liar,” she says with a chuckle that helps soothe the hurt just a tiny bit. “Would talking help or would you prefer I remain quiet?”
“Talk. Please. Tell me about your girlfriend?”
“Which one?”
“You have two partners? I didn’t realize that, Tilly!”
Tilly hums, her face taking on a softer look. She still continues moving the needle across the skin of my chest, but now her brows are a little less furrowed.
“I have two,” she agrees softly. “Just like cupids can’t see their own soulmate ties, I’ve never been able to use my special magic to see who might be connected to me. It took a bit for the three of us to figure our shit out but when we finally figured it out, we just clicked.”
“That sounds lovely. Are they witches like you?”
“One is,” she explains with a small smile.
“She travels from town to town telling people’s fortunes.
She’s a very talented enchantress named Daisy.
I’ve seen her impart blessings on people and occasionally, when she meets a real bad egg, she tends to curse them with the most ridiculous inconveniences. ”
My eyes widen. “She curses people? And you’re cool with that?”
“Hell yeah,” Tilly says with a giggle. “Some people need a little karma! It’s one of the things that made me fall in love with her.”
“I’m seeing a whole new side to you, Tilly.”
“It’s little things like shoe laces always going undone. Or never finding a parking spot. Things that are inconvenient but never dangerous.”
I hum in understanding. “What about your other partner?”
“Pearl,” Tilly says with a grin. “She’s a type of fae and works at a restaurant that specializes in fairy type meals. It’s a spot that lots of vampires frequent because she makes a mean bowl of bloop.”
I tilt my head to the side. “What’s bloop?”
“Blood soup,” Tilly explains with a chuckle. “We’re an interesting trio but I wouldn’t have it any other way. When you find your people, you do everything you can to stick together. Everything, even the hard parts of life, feel just a little bit easier when you’re not facing it alone.”
“I know exactly what you mean.”
“I know you do,” she says with a wink. “It’s almost like my magical tattoo actually had a meaning,” she says, teasing me.
Just then, the bell above the door goes off, letting us know someone is entering the parlor. I look over, a smile spreading across my face at the sight of my mate.
“Oh, wow,” Tilly says under her breath. “You are so in love with that man.”
I’m startled by Tilly’s words. I look at her, raising my brow. “Well duh! He’s my soulmate! You know that.”
“I know, but seeing it is something else entirely. That type of happiness looks good on you, Jin.”
Leo walks over to us, our egg strapped to his chest in a wrap. He’s been taking our egg with him to work and when we get home, the egg goes in the nest with us. It’s been working out really well for us.
“I hope it’s okay that I came early,” Leo says, looking at the tattoo across my chest. I thought about surprising him but I like that he’s getting to see it while Tilly works on it.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I tell him with a smile. “You can help distract me because ouchie!”
“I warned you,” Tilly says under her breath. If she wasn’t using permanent ink on my skin I’d kick her.
“It’s beautiful,” Leo says, his pretty brown eyes misty with unshed tears. “Your art is so incredible, Tilly and it looks so good right there, Jin. I love it.”
“Good,” I say, reaching out and taking his hand. “I love you.” Leo’s cheeks flame. I’ll never grow tired of seeing him blush. “How was work?”
“Really good!” Leo says, perking up. “I have some very exciting news!”
“Oh yeah?” Tilly asks, looking up at him for a moment before going back to tattooing.
“I’ve been promoted!”
“Wait, really? That’s amazing, Leo!” I say, excited but doing my best to stay still. “I knew your boss would see how well you’ve been doing lately.”
“He said that finding my mate must have settled me because I’m more focused at work,” Leo says, looking a bit embarrassed. I don’t understand why though. He should be nothing but excited.
“I talked to my boss as well,” I tell him softly. “Once the baby has hatched, I’m going to go on paternal leave and when I come back, I’ll just work a couple hours a week so that I can stay home with the baby, just like how we talked about.”
“That’s perfect,” Leo says, squeezing my hand. I squeeze back but mostly because ouchie, ouchie, ouchie!
“You two are so cute,” Tilly says softly. “I’m so glad you found each other.” She looks up at me. “And figured your shit out.”
Leo giggles. “Mister ‘only I can have flaming wings’.”
“Exactly!” Tilly agrees with a snort. She wipes my chest one last time before sitting back. “Alrighty then, I think we’re all done, Jin.”
“Oh, thank Christ,” I say, my body slumping against the seat, making Tilly and Leo laugh.
As Tilly covers everything up and I get my shirt back on, Tilly keeps looking at our egg, smiling fondly.
“Your egg is beautiful,” Tilly says as she guides us over to the counter. “Their shell is so gorgeous. I hope you’ll keep it when they hatch.”
“That’s the plan,” I say with a nod, handing over my card so that I can pay for my ink. I really need to go home and ice my chest because, again, ouchie. I add a tip and take my card back. “Thank you again, Tilly. You’ve done another masterpiece.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for choosing me.”
“There’s no one else I’d trust,” I tell her seriously. “One of these days we should get together so we can meet your partners.”
“I’ll ask them,” she says, leaning against the counter. “I’d like that. I’ll even make Daisy promise it’s a magic free outing.”
Leo looks confused but nods along. We say our goodbyes and head out to Leo’s car. He straps our egg into the baby seat, making sure the egg is safe while we drive home. I reach over, placing my hand on Leo’s thigh as we pull out of the parking lot and head towards home.
It still feels so thrilling to know we have a home together. A place we’ll be raising our child. A place we get to call our own.
“I’m so proud of you, Leo.”
He darts a look over at me before his eyes are back on the road. “For what?”
“For your promotion! That’s so amazing, love. I’m so happy for you. I couldn’t really gush while I was getting my tattoo but I’m so proud.”
“Thank you. It comes with a raise and my boss trusts me to work from home when necessary. I think it’ll be good.”
“It’s going to be great. I know you mentioned everything felt really boring for a while. Are you still worried about that?”
Leo shakes his head. “Work is still boring but there’s comfort to it now instead of feeling monotonous. I know exactly what to expect while I’m at work and then I get to come home to my favorite flavor of chaos,” he says, giving me a grin.
I squeeze his thigh. “I bring a little chaos and you bring tranquility. We balance each other.”
“We do,” he says softly, fondness clear in his voice. “And our baby will benefit from that too.”
“They will. I can’t wait to meet them, Leo. I hope it’s soon.”
“It will be. Any day now.”
Leo pulls the car into our driveway and turns off the car. He leans across the dash and kisses me. I’m not expecting it, but I sink into the kiss quickly. He’s so soft with me. The love I have for him blooms so brightly inside of me.
“Ready to go inside?”
“Yeah,” I say against his lips. “Maybe we can pick this back up in our nest?”
Leo gives me a little smirk before getting out of the car and grabbing our egg. He makes a surprised noise that makes me freeze, one foot inside the car and the other on the ground. I turn around towards the backseat, seeing Leo hovering over our egg.
“What’s wrong?”
“Change of plans! We’re going straight to the nest and not for sex!”
“What’s going on?”
“There’s a crack!”
“Like a butt crack?”
“On the egg, Jin! Our baby is coming!”
“Oh!”
I leap out of the car, closing the door behind me. I get to our front door, unlocking it and letting Leo rush past me. I follow behind until all three of us are at the nest. Leo shoves my jacket off, telling me it’s stinky from outside.
Adrenaline is making my hands shake, excitement so thick in the air even I feel like I can smell it. Eventually, after much finagling and readjusting and hastily changed clothes, I get into the nest on the other side of our egg.
“Show me the crack,” I say with an excited grin.
“Which one?” Leo asks with a snort, making both of us laugh. He brings his hand to the egg, pointing out the tiny crack.
Right there. Proof that our baby is getting ready to emerge from their shell. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so excited before.
“I’ve always loved adventures and trying new things,” I say softly, reaching past our egg and placing my hand on Leo’s hip. He looks over at me, his brow raised in question. “I think being your mate and becoming a parent alongside you is my greatest adventure yet.”
“You say the sappiest things,” Leo says but there’s a warmth in his brown eyes that tells me he loves it. Maybe just as much as I love saying it. “I’m glad we’re doing this together. There’s no one else I’d rather become a father with.”
“I love you,” I say, squeezing his hip. “How long does hatching usually take?”
“Everyone is different. Could be moments could be hours. We should keep an eye on them though, just in case they need a little help.”
“I wouldn’t dream of missing this,” I tell him seriously, my eyes going back to that little crack.
I have no idea how much time passes but Leo and I talk softly, watching as that little crack slowly splinters and widens the longer we wait. I’m not sure what I was expecting but a little fiery red wing popping through the shell was not it.
I don’t know why I thought there would be a human baby inside this egg but now that I really think about it, this makes so much more sense! Our baby finally breaks free, their feathers damp from just being born. They open their little eyes, showing off red eyes that look so much like my own.
“Oh,” I breathe out, staring. “They’re beautiful. Look at them, Leo!”
“I’m looking,” Leo says, his voice thick with emotions. “I’m looking. Their feathers are already so vibrant!”
I bring my hand close, letting them rub their little face against my skin. “Aww, baby’s first scenting,” I say softly, grinning from ear to ear.
“My turn, my turn,” Leo says, holding out his hand as well. Our baby rubs their face against his wrist, instinct driving them to find and mark their parents. They’re doing such a wonderful job, I feel overwhelmed with love and pride and affection.
“When do they shift into their human skin?”
“Any moment now,” Leo tells me. He holds out his hands and our baby finally hops out of their egg, landing in Leo’s palms. He brings our little phoenix to his chest and a moment later, the air around our baby shivers and shakes.
The changes washes over them until there’s a little baby human resting against Leo’s chest.
“A little boy,” I say, my voice catching. I carefully take our baby’s egg, picking up all the pieces and bringing it out of our nest to keep it safe. Then I get back into the nest, wrapping myself around my family.
“Apollo,” Leo says, his eyes watery with unshed tears. “His name. I think Apollo fits him, don’t you?”
“It’s perfect,” I tell him, kissing the side of his head.
I look down at our son, taking him in. He’s got the most adorable cheeks I’ve ever seen on a baby.
His hair is so fine it’s barely there, the only reason I can see it is because it’s as red as my own.
I wonder if his eyes will match mine or be brown like Leo’s in this form.
“I love you,” I say, kissing Leo again. “And I love you,” I say, kissing the top of Apollo’s head.
“I love you too,” Leo says with a sigh, leaning against me. We stare down at our son, drinking him in.
I didn’t know life could feel like this.
I love adventure and exploring and finding new things but for the first time ever, I don’t feel a sense of wanderlust. I feel content to stay right here, lounging with my mate and my son.
Maybe someday that drive for exploration will return but when that happens, I won’t be adventuring alone.
I’ll have a family to drag along with me.
I never dreamed that taking a chance on a tattoo would bring me here. Although, maybe I have Raphael to thank, since I seem to recall he’s the reason I literally ran into Leo. Or maybe the universe really did know the two of us belonged together and the thing that led us here doesn’t even matter.
We stay in the nest until Apollo grows fussy, ready to eat for the first time.
As I make Apollo’s first bottle, I smile.
This is just another first I get to check off my list. First kisses, first times, first baby, first bottles.
I get all of these experiences with my favorite people.
I don’t know what I did in a past life to earn all of this, but I’ll forever be grateful.
I wouldn’t trade any of this for anything.
For the first time, probably since my volcano birthed me, I’m content just to settle down and be.