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“Ah,” he said as a soft form of acknowledgment.

He patted Titan’s legs until he lifted them off his lap, then climbed to his feet.

“I’m gonna go check on the eggs. I’m sure Buttons still has everything under control, but I don’t like being away too long.

I’ll come back for a bit, and when the other four wake up, we can have brunch with everyone to take your mind off things, okay, Titan?

You, Al, and Kyle can tell us all for the millionth time why it’s completely arbitrary and stupid how humans determine what foods are only meant to be eaten in the morning, and I’ll listen and nod and keep my hot takes to myself. ”

Titan did not think brunch would make him forget his thoughts, not even if Ezra withheld his hottest takes, but he told him, “That would be agreeable” anyway, so as to not cause him undue concern about his well-being. Ezra grinned and kissed him on the cheek before heading up to their room.

“Uncle Titan,” possibly-McCartney said, drawing Titan’s attention away from Ezra’s retreating form and back to the small huddle on the floor.

“Yes?”

“Would you like to play Wealth Disparity with us?”

“I do not believe I have played before. What is the aim of this boring game?”

“It is a simulation of an unsustainable economic system, and the goal is to cause the other players to lose all of their currency. Play with us, thank you very much please? If you do, I will allow you to play as the Scottish canine, even though it is my most favoritest.”

“Very well,” he said, lowering himself to the floor. He did not feel much like playing games, but the fact that his company was being requested warmed his heart. Perhaps his father did not approve of him, but this did not matter, as his opinion was no longer the one that Titan valued most.

Titan waited patiently in bed while Ezra conducted his bizarre nightly ritual of wishing good night to the eggs.

It was not the act of saying good night that was bizarre, but rather the fact that he insisted on calling the offspring inside by what he said were “nicknames,” which he had told Titan were false, placeholder names that would be replaced by true names later on.

When Titan had suggested they simply name the offspring before the hatching to avoid this, Ezra had refused, stating he did not feel as though they could “do the offspring justice” until meeting them during the hatching.

It was aggravating, but only minutely.

Titan was becoming increasingly adept at “going with the flow.”

“Good night, Mary and Jane,” Ezra whispered to the first egg in the inefficient human nest, laying his hand briefly over the domed top and smiling as the shell swirled in a kaleidoscope of colors in response.

He moved to the middle egg. “Good night, Cheech and Chong.” Then, to the final egg. “Good night, Snoop. Good night, Dogg.”

“I do not understand these nicknames,” Titan grumped halfheartedly, coming to take Ezra into his arms as Ezra switched off the light and climbed into bed.

The way they curled together was almost involuntary, with Titan’s front pressed to Ezra’s back, one arm resting on Ezra’s hip and their legs entangled.

“They’re culturally significant Earth titles.”

“Then why can we not simply use them as the actual names for our offspring?”

“Because I’m bullshitting you, the names are just funny.”

“What is humorous about them? ”

“Mm, don’t worry about it,” Ezra said with a yawn, burrowing deeper into the pillow. “Hey,” he added after it had been silent for a few seconds. “How are you doing?”

“I am adequate,” Titan said blankly.

“Are you lying?”

Titan considered the question. “I am uncertain. I am displeased with how the conversation with my father went, but I am trying to heed everyone’s advice and not let it ‘get to me.’ I will admit, however, that it is not proving to be quite so simple.

As I told you, they intend to come to Earth for the hatching despite their great displeasure with us, and I have concerns that this will taint what is meant to be a joyous experience, as they are not coming to celebrate—they are coming in order to be the first to make a statement before the news reaches Darvrok 6 and negative publicity spreads. ”

“Yeah, well, maybe seeing their super-cute grandkids will help sway them to our side,” Ezra said, and although his tone was as light and reassuring as it had been all day, Titan’s hand on Ezra’s bare forearm told another story.

He was apprehensive.

Fearful.

Yet he pretended for Titan’s sake to be at ease.

Titan frowned and held him closer, nuzzling the place where Ezra’s neck met his shoulder.

“I feel your apprehension,” he admitted quietly.

“I have great sorries for not having asked about the emotions in your heart. I hope you do not think that my father’s words have any impact on how I feel about you.

He does not despise you—not precisely. Rather, he finds your slut blood unsatisfactory. ”

“Yeah, that’s not really better, but thank you. Don’t worry about me, man, I’m fine.”

“Are you being untruthful?”

The sinking feeling Titan was absorbing through his telepat hy suggested that he was.

“No. Or like, not exactly. I trust you, don’t worry—I know you’re not planning on leaving me or anything.

It’s just… I dunno, I guess it would have been cool to be the type of person someone would be proud to have as a son-in-law.

” The way he spoke was casual, but his skin on Titan’s betrayed his pain.

“If they do not feel pride about you, then that is a reflection on them, not you,” Titan said resolutely, and he sensed rather than saw Ezra smile.

“Thanks, babe. The same is true in reverse, too. Just so you know.”

“I suppose so.”

“That settles that, then.” Ezra yawned again, although it seemed a tad exaggerated. “I’m beat. Good night.” He strained to look over his shoulder so that Titan could give him a kiss on the lips, then readjusted to assume a comfortable unconsciousness position and said nothing more.

Titan wanted to believe that his father’s words were really that easy to dismiss, but as he kept his palm pressed on Ezra’s bare arm, he could feel the underlying rejection he was trying to hide.

It was there even after he fell into unconsciousness, so deeply ingrained that not even separation from reality could make it go away.

Titan lay awake for over an hour, sensing it, worrying over it, and revisiting his conversation with his father.

He had worked so hard to convince Ezra that he was worthy of being loved—that he would never again be abandoned—but could it be that his father’s heartlessness had put them right back at the beginning?

What if Ezra’s pain caused him to once more believe commitment was not for him?

The heavy feeling in Titan’s chest from earlier that day returned.

He closed his eyes, but did not sleep .

He spent the night holding Ezra close, hoping his love would outweigh the rest.