Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Taeui lounges on the soft green grass and stretches out, letting his body soak up the warm summer sun. Up in Ilay's lair the sun never felt as warm with the chilly air and winds blanketing the mountains, but in the Tarten forest, it felt like Taeui could feel each individual sunbeam grazing over his skin and warming him gently. He sighs softly as closes his eyes, a small relaxed smile graces his face as the wind softly tousles his hair.

He must have dozed away at some point because he jolted awake when he felt a hard toe nudge his shoulder.

"Aish what the--?" he squints up and sees Christoph's beautiful face looking down on him. The golden-haired elf had his arms crossed over his chest and was glaring at Taeui as if he had eaten the forbidden fruit from their World Tree.

"Must be nice to be taking a nap so casually while you're in someone else's territory. Anyone could come here and kill you." Christoph grouses.

"Why would anyone come here to kill me? I thought there was a no killing rule here in your forest." Taeui points out.

"It's not my forest, it's Richard's now." Christoph says mulishly.

"Right, right." Taeui says absentmindedly as he recalls the elvish ceremony form last night. When he was a child he always wanted to see an elvish ceremony where they supposedly danced under the stars around their World Tree and there would be lavish decor and singing and delicious food and Taeui would party all night with the elves.

But after going through it last night, all of little Taeui's childish excitement had died a slow painful death. It was long with so many speeches and chants and prayers. No wonder Ilay looked at him pitifully when Taeui said how excited he was to see it. That damn lizard should have warned him!

Taeui would have loved nothing more than to head out with Johan after the first chants, but since he was Ilay's mate and a part of the 'presiding families' he had to stay through the damn thing until Richard had finished his prayers just so Taeui could toss a damn branch at him and say three mangled elvish words at him.

(Ilay had definitely laughed at him as he struggled through the words, fucking bastard)

"Shouldn't you be at the castle then? I thought you all had breakfast together as a family?" Taeui asks.

"Only the main family does, and I'm fortunately not part of that nonsense. And shouldn't you be with your…mate?" Christoph spits out the last word as if it were a rancid piece of meat that he accidently chewed on.

"Ilay had things to discuss with Richard. A commission job or something." Taeui shrugs. "Then we'll probably head back home."

Christoph purses his lips. "I thought you wanted to see the Crystal Falls and the White Cave? You should stay at least another day and then I can take you back to your lair or you can just wait here for Ilay while he goes on his commission."

"Oh I saw them both with Ilay." Taeui says with a shrug.

Christoph swivels his head and glares. "You said you were going to see them with me!"

"I was but then two days ago I couldn't find you at all, and Ilay happened to be free so I went with him." Taeui explains.

Oddly, Christoph's face flushes slightly and he has to turn away from Taeui. "Well…you should have waited."

"…oh, sorry Chris, I thought you wouldn't have minded. You said that you've seen it a thousand times before so I figured it wouldn't be such a big deal." Taeui answers.

"That doesn't mean I didn't want to see it with you!" Christoph exclaims.

Taeui blinks. "Then you should be clearer with your words next time."

That causes the elf to huff and pout, and Taeui nearly cooed at how cute Christoph looked. Like one of those dolls that was made to look like they had a pouty face and puffy cheeks. If Taeui wasn't afraid that he'd be murdered on the spot, he would have poked the elf's cheeks.

"So…what did you think?" Christoph asks, taking Taeui out of his musings.

"Hm?"

"The caves? And the waterfall? What did you think?"

"Oh--oh yes ah…they were nice. Very pretty." Taeui stumbles. Well from the little he saw of them they did seem nice. For the most part though he was either staring up at the sky as Ilay fucked into him or staring down at Ilay as he rode Ilay's dicks. But there was no way he'd ever tell Christoph. Who knows what the elf would do if he learned that Taeui and Ilay desecrated their sacred areas.

Christoph just gave him a withering glare and shakes his head. "Humans. Still just a bunch of crude apes."

Taeui pouts and was about to retort when he suddenly felt a shiver go down his spine and a familiar presence seemed to fill his senses.

"Well that's quite a rude thing to say to my beloved mate." a deep smooth voice says. The words felt like they were caressing Taeui's spine with a slow languid drag of warm fingertips. He could smell the smoky snappy scent of Ilay's aura before the dragon even came close and when Taeui turned his head, he immediately focuses his gaze on smoldering dark eyes that seemed to wrap Taeui up in their hold.

"Ugh get a room." Christoph mutters from beside Taeui.

"I already have one." Ilay says with an easy smile.

"Do you share a room in your lair too?" a childish voice asks, and Taeui embarrassingly realizes that he missed a whole ass child riding on Ilay's shoulder.

"Of course. Anywhere we go, I'm always sharing with Taeui." Ilay answers.

"But don't you want to have your own? I liked having my own room and not having to share with anyone." The child asks.

"Ah well…when you're older you might find someone you'll want to share your room forever with. Might even be tempted to lock them in there forever." Ilay says as he gazes down on Taeui's lounging body on the grass.

"Don't say such scary things in front of a child, Ilay." Taeui scolds wondering who would be crazy enough to allow Ilay to look after a child.

Ilay laughs and then lifts the child off his shoulder and sets him down. He even pats the child's hair which nearly made Taeui's brain explode from the confusing (scary but sweet?) sight.

"Oliver is made from much stronger stuff than any regular child, isn't that right?" Ilay asks.

Oliver nods happily, still naively interpreting Ilay's words and then toddles over to Christoph. "We missed you at breakfast. I wanted to come find you and then uncle Ilay said he'd take me to you since he was also looking for his wife."

Taeui was so caught off guard with the casual drop of 'uncle Ilay' that he didn’t even think about scolding Ilay about calling him his wife again.

Ilay laughs lightly. "I figured that a parasite would always stick close to their chosen host."

Christoph bristles, and Taeui has to quickly intervene. He had no desire to see Ilay punch the shit out of Christoph to 'get him out of his head' or whatever insane reason Ilay had the last time he punched the shit out of Christoph. Standing up quickly, Taeui puts his hands on Ilay's chest and gives a strained laugh.

"Ah…I'm getting a little warm out here, let's--ah--head back inside." Taeui says.

Ilay raises his brow as if to say I know what you're trying to do, but he shrugs easily and takes one of Taeui's hands to place a small kiss against his palm.

Taeui blushes furiously and pulls the hand close, keeping his fists closed as if to try and keep the kiss from flying off his palm. Ilay of course just smirks slyly and starts to head back.

But then Oliver, the daring child, rushes over to Ilay and takes his hand in his small ones. "Uncle Ilay, are we heading back now? But we just got here?"

"My wife wants to go back inside." He answers glancing over at Taeui who was once again struck dumb by the casual use of 'uncle Ilay'.

"Oh then should I call him auntie Tay?" Oliver asks.

Taeui immediately goes red and sputters indignantly over Ilay's light laughter. "It's not auntie, it's uncle!" Taeui cries.

"But aren't you uncle Ilay's wife?" Oliver asks tilting his head.

"Your uncle Ilay is unfortunately mentally addled so he mixes his words up. I'm not his wife, I'm his husband." Taeui corrects unaware of the utter devastation he wrought against the poor elf behind him. Ilay of course just smiles as if he won a particularly large horde of treasure from a kingdom, and Oliver just shrugs with the easy blasé attitude of an innocent child. Then with his free hand, Oliver grabs Taeui's and swings both Ilay's and Taeui's hands in his as he walks in-between them.

"Papa told me I should always hold two people's hands when we're walking outside." Oliver explains with a bright smile. Taeui just nods, once again stunned by the strangely sweet scene he was in. He takes a quick glance up at Ilay, trying to gauge his reaction but Ilay was looking ahead with the usual small upturn of his lips. As Oliver chattered between them, Taeui can't help but envision a different child. One with silver locks and dark eyes with a beautiful cherubic face that would disguise the sharp dangerous personality underneath.

I wish it was our child.

But as soon as the thought comes, he immediately shakes his head.

What the hell was he thinking? A child with Ilay? That would be crazy…would the dragon even want one?

Well he did joke that he could get me pregnant…

Taeui laughs nervously at the thought. No there was no way. It would be impossible. Not even the strongest magicians had been able to let same sex couples have a baby together.

But doesn't it mean that Ilay wouldn't be opposed…?

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Ilay suddenly asks, jolting Taeui out of his thoughts. Taeui laughs nervously and scratches his cheeks.

"Oh nothing…just wondering what you were like as a child."

"Ah well if my brother's descriptions are to be believed, I was a precocious child and a little more prone to dramatics compared to myself now. Why do you ask, Taeui?" Ilay asks with a sly look.

"No reason. Just curious." Taeui mutters.

"Hmm and what about you? What were you like as a child?"

Taeui pauses a bit to think and scratches his head. "Hmm…normal I think? I was a pretty average kid."

"Somehow I doubt that. I'm sure you were quite an interesting and cute child." Ilay says.

A blush suddenly forms on Taeui's cheeks. He wonders if it meant Ilay wouldn't mind having a child that took after Taeui more.

"What am I like?" Oliver says and Taeui once again startles and kicks himself for forgetting that there was a whole ass child between them.

"A very intelligent and mature child." Ilay answers.

Oliver beams and was about to say something when he catches sight of Richard and calls out to him, "Papa!" he drags Taeui and Ilay over and Taeui nearly falls flat on his face at the sudden surge.

He had forgotten how strong elvish children were. Ilay must be internally laughing at him once again for his weak human frame.

Richard merely quirks his eyes at the scene, but extends his hand out for Oliver to take. The child easily lets go of Taeui and Ilay's hand to go to his father. Richard takes him in his arms and holds the boy against his hip.

"Ilay, thanks for looking after Oliver." Richard thanks.

"It's no problem. We happened to be going in the same direction." Ilay answers.

Richard nods and when he smiles at the two of them, Taeui immediately feels his haunches bristle. That smile never boded well.

And he was right because Richard says, "You both looked quite comfortable with a child. Any plans in the future?"

Taeui blushes red and his jaw drops. What was it with non-humans and their strange ideas about men getting pregnant?!

Ilay, the bastard, just chuckles and wraps his arms around Taeui's waist pulling him close. "I'll leave it up to my mate."

"Ya! You're asking me to do the impossible here!" Taeui exclaims.

"Is it?" Christoph suddenly asks from behind.

Taeui swings his head around. "Of course it is! Impossible truly impossible! I don't have the right parts!"

Christoph though just scoffs and shakes his head. "But you wouldn't be opposed?"

"W-well I--I--erm--just--" Taeui sputters because he isn't opposed but it's just not possible! No matter what the stupid twisted dragon says. Besides, they'd been having copious amounts of sex for nearly three years now. Mated for over a year now and there was no sign that Taeui had ever been pregnant. With the amount of semen that Ilay pumped into him he would have definitely gotten pregnant by now.

"Ahem…I'm not opposed. It's just not possible." Taeui mutters.

Christoph looks like he swallowed a particularly bitter and sour fruit and just clicks his tongue before turning his head away and crossing his arms. "You have terrible tastes, Tay."

"Careful there, Chris. I'm not so forgiving a second time." Ilay says with a sharp smile.

"Aish alright alright! Enough of this conversation!" Taeui, now blisteringly red, says as he waves his hands about and pushes Ilay towards the house. "C'mon, we should pack so we can leave before it gets dark."

"Ah leaving so soon? You could stay longer." Richard suggests.

Ilay shrugs. "My wife is missing the comforts of home."

"Ya! Who's you're wife?!" Taeui yells smacking Ilay's arm, but Ilay of course laughs like the bastard he is and easily lifts Taeui up in one arm to carry him inside.

"See? He's getting a little grouchy now that he's been away from our nest for a while."

"I see." Richard muses while Christoph just shakes his head muttering something that sounded suspiciously like, "Weak apes."

Taeui wants to cry at the injustice of it all, but he just buries his head in Ilay's soft silver locks and groans. "You're all bastards." he hisses quietly into Ilay's hair.

Ilay laughs brightly and somehow it makes Taeui feel just a little bit better.

Flying on Ilay never got old for Taeui. Ilay had specially made a saddle for him to comfortably carry Taeui so that he wasn't sitting right on Ilay's hard scales. Although perhaps saddle wasn't the right word. It was more like a carriage that comfortably sat at the junction of Ilay's neck and shoulder. It was large enough that Taeui could even lie down and take a nap if he wished and it was spelled so that nothing could jostle the inside. It kept the wind out unless Taeui opened the top and kept him warm despite the cold air outside.

Taeui loved staring out the window and looking past the horizon and the beautiful landscapes they flew over. Ilay would always fly slower just so Taeui could take in the scenery and if there was a particularly nice spot that caught Taeui's attention, Ilay would land and they'd spend an hour or so just enjoying the area.

He sighs and puts his head against the spelled glass windows. All the talk of children made the familiar ache rise up in him. He always loved kids, and he thought it would be nice to have one or two little children that looked just like Ilay. Though he worried what it might mean for the world to have more Ilays around. Maybe with Taeui’s personality mixed in it won’t be so bad?

And then Taeui could teach them how to garden, read them his favorite books, take them to his favorite spots.

Ilay would obviously teach them how to be fierce dragons. He'd probably teach them how to fight. But he'd be gentle, Taeui thinks as he recalls the way Ilay would carefully muse Oliver's hair. If Ilay could do that to a stranger's child then he'd surely be even gentler with their own.

Taeui is suddenly struck by the image of Ilay holding onto a sweet little baby, and his heart twists a bit in his chest. Longing suddenly strikes him and he wishes more than anything that he could see that outside his dreams. He places a hand over his belly and yearns for a child, wishing more than anything that he could carry one for Ilay.

Maybe it was because they were finally back in the comforts of their home, or maybe all the thoughts of a baby ignited something in Taeui because as soon as they landed in the lair and Ilay was back in his human form, Taeui pounces on him and drags him down for a kiss. Ilay only pauses for a moment before his large hands were encircling Taeui's waist and lifting him up. Instinctively, Taeui wraps his legs around Ilay's midsection and grinds himself as close as he can to the other dragon.

The sound of fluttering wings echo in the entryway as Ilay carries Taeui up to their bedroom. They barely make it onto the bed before Taeui tears away Ilay's clothes and Ilay makes quick work of Taeui's own. Their tongues slip and slide against each other as they try to devour the other.

Fire ignites all throughout Taeui's body as he grips onto Ilay tightly and pulls him close, connecting their naked hot skin together. The touch inflames Taeui further as he presses himself against Ilay. His hips thrust up, and he moans loudly at the sweet friction.

"Ilay, Ilay." Taeui pants as he peppers Ilay's body with kisses. His hands run all along Ilay's thick corded muscles and smooth skin as he continues to rut against Ilay.

"Tay." Ilay groans. His hand snakes down, running down Taeui's crack before sliding into his entrance. Taeui gasps and throws his head back at the intrusion. It felt better than usual, as if every part of his body was sensitized to the max. Every touch made his head go fuzzy with pleasure and he's soon crying out as his orgasm slams against him from just Ilay's fingers.

Ilay captures his lips once more, swallowing the rest of Taeui's moans and lines up his dick against Taeui's wet heated entrance.

But when Taeui feels the dick pressed against him, he's suddenly hit with a terrible ache, and he pulls away from Ilay's kiss.

"Ilay, Ilay put them both in." Taeui says quickly before he could second guess himself.

Ilay stares at him and tilts his head. "Will you be alright, Tay?"

"Yes. Please just…put them both in." Taeui asks as a heated blush crawls up his face.

There's a hungry, but pleased gleam in Ilay's eyes as he presses a quick kiss against Taeui's lips. "I'd be happy to, Tay." he whispers. Then he takes both his leaking cocks in his hand and presses both heads against Taeui's entrance.

It shouldn't be possible with so little preparation, but somehow, both cocks slip inside. Taeui feels his breath catch as he's completely filled. It was never easy to take them both and Taeui normally needed two orgasms and plenty of prep, but this time it felt like his hole was swallowing them eagerly. He could feel his slick drop down his ass as Ilay slowly pushes inside. Each inch filling Taeui to the brim until they were fully sheathed inside him.

The fullness nearly chokes Taeui, and he digs his nails into Ilay’s shoulder.

“Breathe Tay.” Ilay whispers against Taeui’s ear.

He breathes deeply letting his body adjust to the impossible fullness and pressure. As his body adjusts he could feel the fire still burning through his veins and the desire for more starts building in his belly.

Taeui rocks his hips slowly against Ilay, the small rocking motions sending electric pleasure through him. Soft noises escape his lips with each movement and then Ilay’s hand grip tightly against the back of Taeui’s thighs.

The dragon’s face was flush as he stares heatedly at Taeui.

“Tay, Tay, I can’t resist any longer.” He hisses.

“Then move.” Taeui demands.

He could almost hear Ilay’s patience snap as he surges forward. All Taeui can do is scramble his hands along the sheets and scream as he’s fucked to oblivion.

As Ilay comes again and again inside Taeui’s sloppy hole, the ache inside him starts to recede. He was swimming in the fuzzy pleasure overtaking his mind. When he looks down and sees his distended stomach, he can’t help but think, “I’m going to get pregnant. I’m going to get pregnant with Ilay’s child.”

With that blissful thought, Taeui falls unconscious as Ilay spills inside him once more.

_*_*_

Taeui sighs as he wipes the sweat from his brow. He slowly gets up only to wobble slightly as the world spins around him. Ilay’s solid body is suddenly beside him as his hand presses itself against Taeui’s lower back.

“Tay, you’ve been stumbling more recently.” Ilay says with worry coloring his voice.

“I’m probably just tired. I haven’t been sleeping well recently.” Taeui answers softly as he rubs his head.

Ilay hums but doesn’t look convinced. “I’ll do a diagnosis spell tonight.”

“You really don’t have to—“

“Tay, your life is my life.” Ilay interrupts sharply. “Besides it’s just a diagnosis spell, nothing complicated.”

Taeui sighs but nods. “Alright, but I think I just need some good sleep. I keep waking up because of these strange dreams.”

“Dreams?” Ilay asks suspiciously. Taeui winces. He forgot to keep that from Ilay. Ever since Abdul Rahman-still-simping-at-Jaeui’s-feet-al Saud did that dream ritual, Ilay’s been particularly testy about Taeui’s dreams.

“It’s nothing bad, just odd. It’s always the same too. Just me walking down a row of peach trees when one falls down and splits open. Then a white snake comes out of it and crawls under my shirt.” Taeui quickly explains.

“Hmm I suppose there shouldn’t be anything wrong with that.” Ilay acquiesces after he touches Taeui’s bracelet.

Taeui nods and then laughs offhandedly. “I’m sure if my mom was still around she’d tell me it’s a conception dream haha.”

Ilay blinks and stares. “A conception dream?”

“Ah yeah in Goryeo if you have reoccurring dreams about animals, nature or jewels it could mean it’s a conception pregnancy dream. But they’re often wrong just as much as they are right. Mostly something older women gossip about with each other.” Taeui explains fondly, not noticing the intense look in Ilays eyes.

“Interesting…” Ilay mutters as he guides Taeui inside. The rest of the day, Ilay was in and out of the treasure room and pacing around the lair as if he were trying to find something. But when Taeui asked if Ilay needed help, he would shake his head and make Taeui sit down on the couch, telling him that this was something he needed to take care of.

That night, before they went to bed, Ilay comes up to Taeui with an amulet that had a large clear gem at the center.

“Here, Tay, put this on, it should tell us if you are afflicted with anything.” Ilay says.

Taeui raises his brow. “I thought you were going to cast a diagnosis spell?”

“This is much more accurate.” Ilay insists.

Taeui shrugs and then takes the amulet and puts it on his neck.

Nothing happens for a few seconds but then the gem suddenly lets out an intense white light that fills the room. It doesn’t die out until Taeui, still yelling in surprise, takes it off his neck and tosses it to Ilay.

“What was that?!” Taeui demands. “Am I going to die?!”

Ilay laughs so suddenly that Taeui was sorely tempted to smack him. But then he sweeps Taeui up in his arms and kisses him deeply.

“MMPH—Ilay!—You—Ummph—YA listen to me you dumb lizard!” Taeui yells as he tries to pull his lips away. But Ilay captures them once more and doesn't stop until Taeui is flush and panting.

Finally Ilay, pulls back and grins widely. “Tay, you're pregnant."

Taeui feels his brain screech to a halt and he stares dumbfounded at Ilay. Then the rickety wheels in his brain slowly start to move with the painfully grinding slowness of an old rusty gear.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

Taeui takes a pillow and starts smacking it on Ilay who's just smiling like a dumb lizard. "No. You. Fucking. Dumb. Lying. Lizard!"

Ilay shrugs against the fluffy onslaught. "I'm not lying Tay. Check your mana channels."

Taeui suddenly stops his assault and puts the pillow down. Then he runs to the bathroom and sits on the cold tile with his legs crossed. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath just like how Uncle Chang-in taught him when he first tried to teach Taeui how to sense mana and open up his mana channels. Not that it did much, Taeui was still a woefully low D-class knight. Just barely above cannon fodder. More like second line cannon fodder.

He follows the tiny trickles of mana in his veins and slowly maps them out. Seconds painfully tick by has he has to drag his senses through his body until…

Taeui's eyes fly open and he places a hand on is belly, close to where the lower mana core should be. Right there, underneath his fingertips, he feels something. The soft flutter of butterfly wings against his pitifully small mana core and Ilay's heart fragment.

He counts each flutter against his fingertips.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

A steady beat inside him.

"Oh great Yuuji, I'm p-pr-pregnant." Taeui stutters.

"I told you, Tay." Ilay's deep voice calls from the bathroom doorway.

Damnit. Taeui forgot to close and lock it in the heat of the moment.

"Fuck you, Ilay, how was I supposed to know that you weren't just fucking with me?!"

"I was fucking you. That's what led to this situation." Ilay deadpans.

If Taeui were stronger, he'd rip the toilet off the ground and throw it at Ilay's damn face. But instead, he just grabbed the first thing his hand came in contact with on the sink (a toothbrush) and hurls it with the force of an angry lover at Ilay's face.

The toothbrush woefully misses Ilay's face and instead pitifully bounces off Ilay's masculine chest before clattering to the floor. In that moment Taeui feels a strong kinship with that toothbrush.

"You got me pregnant!" Taeui yells suddenly feeling very unhinged.

"I did."

"You got a MAN pregnant!"

"Clearly."

"I'M PREGNANT!" Taeui screeches motioning to his belly.

"Yes, we've established that. Now I'm thinking that the children would stay in our room in their first year but after that, I think the room across from ours would be nice. I think a nice light warm yellow would be good, what do you think Tay?"

"I'm gunna have your baby." Taeui says suddenly feeling exhausted.

Ilay huffs and then walks over to Taeui to lift him up in his strong arms. "Yes you are. Which is why you shouldn't be sitting on the cold floor like that Tay."

Ilay goes back to their room and settles Taeui on the bed. He tucks Taeui in and hands him a glass of sweet sparkling juice which Taeui immediately drinks down.

"After three years you got me pregnant. You actually put a baby in me." Taeui whisper to himself as he stares at the bottom of the glass as if it had all the answer to the universe.

"Well there was no possible way for you to get pregnant before you consumed a piece of my heart, and actually, you would only have gotten pregnant if you wanted to get pregnant, Tay." Ilay says offhandedly.

Taeui's head swivels up to Ilays. "What do you mean if I wanted to get pregnant?!"

Ilay blinks. "The piece of my heart in you which allowed this to happen only reacts to your desires, Tay. If you hadn't wanted to get pregnant, truly wanted a child, then it never would have happened."

Taeui's mouth opens and closes rapidly like a gasping fish. "Me? Me?! You didn't tell me this!"

Ilay raises his brow. "I did. A day after we mated."

"A day after…" Taeui whispers to himself as he looks down on his hands.

Ilay just shrugs noncommittally, and then smirks at Taeui. "We'll just have to see."

"You said 'we'll just have to see'! That doesn't explain anything!" Taeui accuses.

But Ilay just raises his brow. "Yes and then later that day I told you that if you really wanted to have a child we can discuss it and that it would be your choice."

"I thought you were just messing with me!"

Ilay gives him the same pitiful look he had when Taeui was talking about how excited he was to see the elvish ceremony. "Tay…you really need learn to think about things more carefully. What will you do when we have this child?"

"Well obviously you'll be the one teaching them all these complicated dragon-kin things to them not me! Humans are way simpler!" Taeui yells while pointing his finger at Ilay.

Ilay smiles and takes the outstretched hand and places a kiss on the finger. "You're right. I'll make sure to clearly explain everything to our child about being a dragon. And you'll explain all the complicated things about being a human."

"Ya! Humans aren't complicated! We're simple. Simple!" Taeui protests.

"Not if they take after you." Ilay says with a teasing smile.

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"It means…" Ilay presses forward, pushing Taeui gently against the pillows and putting his large warm hands over Taeui's soft belly. "…that I hope our child takes after you, Tay. A cute, stubborn, brave little thing that that looks just like you."

Taeui blushes and purses his lips. "Well I'd rather have our child take after you."

Ilay laughs. "Then, we'll have to see which one of use ends up the winner."

"Fine." Taeui sighs, and then he realizes that he's already gotten used to the idea of being pregnant with Ilay's child. The thought depresses him in a way. What's his life come to if he could easily except the fact that a man could get pregnant from a male dragon?

He sighs morosely and tries to pinch Ilay's cheeks. Unfortunately, those cut and sharp cheekbones aren't just for show and there's hardly anything for Taeui's fingers to purchase on. "Ugh. I've really become the insane one here." Taeui grumbles.

Ilay hums and presses a kiss on Taeui's forehead. "Did you just notice?"

This time Taeui smacks Ilay's chest for that.

(It ended up hurting his own hand instead. The bastard.)

---

Since Taeui learned about his pregnancy, he was infinitely grateful that he hasn't had the typical pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness (yet). He mostly feels fatigue especially after he's been working in the gardens, and he's been hungrier than usual. Based on the intensity of the light, Ilay tells Taeui that he must be two months along, and possibly conceived right after they returned from Tarten.

("I'll have to send Richard a fruit basket as thanks." Ilay had mused, and Taeui just lobbed an apple core at his head in response. Ilay dodged of course.)

Taeui is sure that he'll experience more changes and side effects once the pregnancy advances. Ilay is certainly acting a little different since they found out about his pregnancy.

The dragon has been digging through his treasury looking for various fabrics, pillows, furniture and all manner of things for the baby's room and bedding.

"I thought baby's shouldn't have blankets and pillows around their bed until they're older." Taeui says as he picks up a soft fuzzy blanket from the pile.

"Really? Human infants are quite fragile." Ilay muses. "Our child will need nesting materials in their bed. Especially when they're in dragon form." Ilay explains.

"Oh…wait am I going to give birth to them in dragon form?" Taeui asks a little hysterically. He would definitely have words with Ilay if he found out he had to push a spiky scaly baby out of his delicate asshole.

Ilay just stares at him. "No you'll be laying an egg of course" as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"What the fuck? Did I suddenly become a chicken?" Taeui asks, a little disturbed by the idea that he'll have to push an egg out of his ass.

"No, you're certainly still a human, but dragons are always born in an egg." Ilay says.

"So…will I have to sit on them or something after I…lay them?" Taeui asks hesitantly.

Ilay barks a laugh. "No. They'll quickly hatch a day or two later. We just need to keep them in their little nest."

"Then what's the point of being in an egg?"

Ilay shrugs. "I don't know. Take it up with the Creator."

"I just might." Taeui grumbles thinking about the utter preposterousness of it all. He starts rifling through the piles of pillows and blankets to get his mind off…egg laying. As he goes through the materials, he stumbles on a thin blue blanket with colorful dragons that move along the fabric, flapping their wings and flying through the expanse.

He pulls it out to admire it and rubs his fingers against the soft material. The tiny moving embroidered dragons move away from his fingers and circle around his hand. Their shiny threads catch the light, making it look like their scales were gleaming.

"Ah you found my old baby blanket." Ilay says as he walks over to Taeui.

"This was yours?" Taeui asks incredulously. He can't imagine Ilay having a baby blanket…or anything that would even suggest that Ilay was ever a tiny little thing. Taeui can't help himself, he throws the blanket over Ilay's head and tries to wrap it around his body. The edges barely touch and it only goes down to Ilay's chest, but Taeui tries to picture a baby Ilay wrapped up in his baby blanket, all small and chubby cheeked.

"Yeah I can't see it." Taeui finally says. "But I think this should definitely go in the nesting pile for the baby."

Ilay huffs but takes the blanket and carefully folds it before putting it on the very top of the nesting pile.

_*_*_

On the third month Taeui holds a mournful funeral as he watches Ilay stack the beers in a locked portion of the treasure room. The runes would keep it cool and fresh until Taeui can drink again…six months from now.

Taeui keens sadly as Ilay closes the door and locks it.

“Tay, you can probably drink alcohol safely while you’re pregnant. They are dragon children.” Ilay says as he watches Taeui stare sadly at the locked box.

“But they’re also part human and humans can’t drink alcohol while pregnant.” Taeui answers.

“They’ll mostly be dragon Tay, any blood from a lower species will be overwhelmed by the dragon blood.” Ilay says.

“My blood is stubborn! There’s a chance they could have a little and they’d be affected.” Taeui cries.

Ilay huffs and smiles. “Yes yes Tay. They could. And I’ll even stay sober with you in solidarity.”

“You better, bastard lizard. If I see you drinking an ice cold beer I’ll kill you with my bare hands and then take the damn beer.” Taeui growls.

“Hm sexy.”

“Ilay!”

The dragon just shrugs and presses a kiss on Taeui’s forehead. “Don’t worry Tay. I won’t let you suffer alone.”

“Better not. I’m carrying you’re damn spawn.” Taeui grumbles.

Ilay laughs and guides him out of the treasure room. “Come, Tay. I have a chocolate banana and pickle crepe ready for you.”

Taeui hums excitedly, his loss of beer forgotten temporarily by the promise of something sweet and pickled. He’ll have more complaints tomorrow, and Ilay will listen and soothe as he always does.

----

"You haven't been on a commission. Weren't you supposed to do one for Richard?" Taeui asks after belated realizing that Ilay had been at home for quite some time.

Ilay huffs. "Why would I leave you when you're pregnant? Besides it was a small job. I was mostly interested because it would make that Rahman's life a little harder."

"You should definitely go, Ilay." Taeui says immediately.

But Ilay just laughs and pulls Taeui to his side. "You're more important than annoying that little desert rat. Besides who'll make sure you get all your new favorite foods?"

Taeui huffs as he thinks of pollack soup and kimchi. "Fine. But when the baby is out, you should definitely find a job that would annoy that guy."

"I promise."

_*_*_

It's not that Taeui was purposefully keeping the pregnancy and baby a secret. It's just that between the shock of it all, the sudden urge to dig through Ilay's treasure horde to find the softest, cutest things for the baby, and Taeui desperately reading up on dragon hatchlings, he had…forgotten to tell everyone about the happy news.

Which led to Kyle suddenly crashing into Ilay's lair sometime during Taeui's fourth month of pregnancy.

"Ilay! You terrible excuse of a brother, is Taeui pregnant!!?" Kyle shouts as he lands in a graceless heap in the foyer.

Ilay just yawns as he stares down at his brother from the top of the staircase and nods. "Yes. Four months now."

"You devil! And you didn't tell me? Ilay, I've come to expect it from, but you, Tay?!" Kyle says turning his watery eyes on Taeui this time who was standing beside Ilay eating preserved persimmons. 

Taeui winces. "Ah…it slipped my mind. Sorry Kyle…but--er--surprise?"

Kyle looks like he's a second away from coughing blood from a stress induced mana backlash. "I can't believe you two. I had to learn this from Rita who happened to see it on our family tapestry in the basement."

"We still have that? I thought I burned it?" Ilay muses.

"We made an extra one because of you." Kyle mutters pitifully. "And then we had to keep it locked in the basement in case you went on one of your temper tantrums and decided to start burning historical magical artifacts and ancient literature. We lost the entire collection of a first edition series of Yuuji's Passion Gospels because of your childish tantrums!"

Taeui winces and silently mourns the loss of those precious old books. His uncle Chang-in would also be so sad…

Taeui gasps and puts his hand over his mouth. "Oh shit."

Ilay is at Taeui's side and puts his hand on Taeui's waist. "Are you alright? Feeling sick?"

"I forgot to tell my brother and uncle." Taeui says as his face pales, and while Ilay doesn't understand why that was such a big deal, Kyle at least gives him a sympathetic look.

"You should tell them in a neutral territory." Kyle suggests. "And maybe keep Ilay far away for a bit."

"That might be a good idea."

It turned out that Taeui didn't have to agonize where and when he'd tell his brother and uncle because Jaeui and Chang-in suddenly come knocking on Ilay's lair a week after Kyle's visit. Taeui mindlessly opens the door to let them in and when Jaeui comes to embrace Taeui, he suddenly freezes as his body comes in contact with a very noticeable bump on Taeui's lower belly and the flicker of mana that passes through them as the baby recognizes it's kin.

Jaeui quickly pulls back and stares wide-eyed at Taeui.

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

Jaeui makes an aborted motion with his hands, and his face twists in a way that Taeui's never seen before. He watches his older brother take a deep breath and then motions frantically towards Taeui's lower half. "You don't have the parts!"

"I know."

"Then how?"

"The only other opening I have down there."

Jaeui skin goes grey, and he looks like he might faint. "…in dragon form?" he whispers slightly horrified at the idea.

"No in--ah--egg form."

Jaeui looks even more disturbed. He puts his hands together as if in prayer and presses the edge against his nose. "Egg form. My niece or nephew are coming into this world as an egg." He mutters to himself.

Chang-in takes mercy on both of them and just clasps his hand on Taeui's shoulder. "Congratulations, Taeui. We're both very happy for you. Right Jaeui?"

"Yes." Jaeui says, still slightly pale from the onslaught of information. "On another note…where's that dragon?"

"Jaeui no."

"Jaeui most definitely yes." Jaeui hisses.

Taeui sighs and puts his hand on Jaeui's shoulder. "Hyung, I wouldn't have gotten pregnant if I didn't really want a child. It's always been in my control, and after I came back from Tarten, I guess I got hit with bad dragon-baby fever." He jokes.

His brother's face twists, and he looks ready to start crying rivers of blood. "Taeui, I don't think those words belong together in a sentence."

"I think you'll have to get used to me saying the most outlandish things now that I'm mated to a dragon." Taeui says placatingly.

Jaeui takes his brother's hand in his and sighs softly. "I really should have just locked you up in a tower."

"Well then wouldn't that have made a more classic story? It might have been more fun for me to get Tay." Ilay says as he suddenly appears in the foyer.

Jaeui glares at the dragon and turns to Taeui. "You know…they say it's easier to be a single mother than to co-parent with a terrible partner. Me and uncle Chang-in would also be there to help you."

Taeui sighs and pats his brother's hand. "I'll take you up on it if Ilay ever annoys me too much. Now c'mon, let's have some tea in the garden."

And after that, it seemed like everyone found about Taeui's pregnancy. There were piles and piles of gifts that Ilay just started chucking them in the treasure room and Taeui had long given up on writing thank you letters. Most of them weren't even from people he knew. Mostly people who knew of Ilay and wanted to get into his good graces.

Surprisingly Abdul Rahman-still-an-annoying-prick-al Saud also gave them a gift, which Ilay immediately burned with great pleasure without even opening it.

(Taeui toasted some marshmallows over the flame and ate it with chocolate and pickles)

_*_*_

Sometime in the fifth month, Chris came stomping over and glared heatedly at Taeui before thrusting a box at him while calling him a foolish ape. Then he left as suddenly as he came, leaving Taeui slightly flabbergasted over the whole thing.

When he opened the gift, it was the first time Ilay looked impressed.

"Hm not bad." Ilay says.

"What is it?" Taeui asks taking out the little vial with a shining golden liquid inside.

"Diluted sap from the World Tree." Ilay says as if that explained everything.

"I'm not following. They gave me tree juice? Is it an elvish health tonic?"

Ilay laughs. "No, in essence it's a bottle of luck. It's said that if you drink it, you can control Fate and Misfortune cannot touch you for a day."

Taeui blinks and then blinks again. "And why don't the elves just sell this and make a fortune that would make the al Saud's look poor?"

"Because it's technically supposed to be a sacred liquid only known to the elvish royalty and only drunk in dire situations of said royalty. The World Tree also only sheds a few droplets of sap every 300 years and the potion takes another fifty to prepare. So only ten vials are made every 350 years." Ilay explains.

"Then how the hell do you know about it and why the hell did Chris give this to me?!" Taeui asks hysterically.

Ilay shrugs. "I was given one when I saved the Tarten's World Tree from destruction…hm fifty years ago?"

"So you drank it before?" Taeui asks with interest.

"No, I threw it somewhere in my treasury. I don't need luck when I have skill and power." Ilay says. Taeui felt like crying or slapping Ilay in the face and yelling at how unfair the world is.

"Ilay, if you weren't the father of this child, I would divorce you for that." Taeui states as he holds back his frustrated tears.

Ilay gives him a sharp smirk in return. "You can try, Tay."

_*_*_

Taeui's sixth month was his horniest month, which obviously suited Ilay just fine.

Anywhere, anytime, even just looking at a banana would make Taeui heat up and demand a cock. To suck, to touch, to ride, to fuck into him. Taeui wanted it.

And Ilay of course gladly delivered.

He'd lift Taeui up and sit him on his long thick cock and bounce him on his lap until Taeui was a crying mess above him. Ilay's big pale hands would touch and press against Taeui's swollen belly and he'd kiss all along his taunt stretched skin, humming lightly as he feels the baby's magic pulse.

Those moments when Ilay would reverently skim his hands over Taeui's swollen belly and look at their growing baby with soft dark eyes would push Taeui over the edge and he'd come just on the thought that Ilay would make such a great father.

And when they'd cuddle to sleep, Ilay would always put a possessive arm around Taeui and their baby, shielding them with his large frame. Then Taeui would drift to sleep, safely ensconced in his mate's arms, wishing that their baby could be there with him already.

_*_*_

During Taeui's seventh month, Jaeui suddenly threw Taeui a surprise baby shower.

When pressed, Jaeui said he wanted to celebrate his niece or nephew's upcoming birth and do something nice for his brother. Uncle Chang-In later told him that Jaeui, Chris, and Kyle fought for the privilege to plan and throw Taeui's baby shower. It was apparently a fierce competition, and Taeui was touched that his older brother would deign to enter something like that to win such a dubious honor.

The party was held at Kyle's lair in his expansive gardens. They lined the trees with twinkling lights and colorful balloons. The tables had a large flower arrangements and each had a tower of all of Taeui's favorite pastries and sweets.

"Hyung this is amazing!" Taeui says as he waddles over to his older brother and throws his arms around him as best he can.

"I'm glad you like it, Taeui." Jaeui says with a soft smile. "I made sure to keep it small, but everyone here is happy to celebrate you and the baby."

Taeui nods excitedly feeling warm and fluttery as he takes in all the happy faces around him. Rita and the kitchen staff made a delicious luncheon spread with all of the foods Taeui had been craving and everyone stopped by to give Taeui and Ilay their well wishes.

When they played the baby belly measuring contest, Ilay managed to eke out a win over Jaeui who normally always won these types of games.

Ilay, being the braggadocios winner, dangled his perfectly sized string in front of a fuming Jaeui. "I guess this time, experience triumphs over luck, Jay."

Jaeui's brow twitches and would have demanded a rematch, blindfolded this time, if Taeui hadn't come in-between to hadn't out the prizes.  In the sidelines, Chris just shakes his head as he downs his drink, muttering, "If even Jeong Jaeui hasn't managed to kill that bastard dragon…"

Towards the end of the party, Mauer released a beautiful fireworks display, and Taeui leans against his brother as he watches the fireworks bloom in the skies.

"Thanks, Hyung. This was wonderful." Taeui says softly.

"Anything for you, Taeui."

"You'll be a great uncle."

"The best one right?"

Taeui laughs quietly. "Yes. But don’t tell Kyle."

"I'm telling him any chance I get."

"Hyung!"

Jaeui shrugs unrepentantly. "That family absconded you to their dangerous high mountains. I get to be a little petty."

Taeui laughs. "As if you would have any trouble getting to where I am."

"It's the principle of it all. What if I suddenly lose my magic powers? I'd have to risk my neck anytime I wanted to see you."

Taeui leans his head on Jaeui's shoulder. "Then I'll make Ilay fly me to you instead."

Jaeui chuckles lightly. "They'll be so many international incidents from that."

"You're worth it, hyung. Besides Kyle's the one who'll have to deal with the paperwork."

"I'd almost feel sorry for the man if he wasn’t such a backstabbing bitch in our little competition."

"…someday you'll have to tell me what happened during that competition."

"Hmm maybe someday."

_*_*_

At eight months pregnant, Taeui nearly doubles in size and then spontaneously sets the curtains on fire.

"Holy shit!" Taeui shouts as he fumbles towards the curtains to rip them down and stomp on the flames. Ilay somehow blinks into the room, takes one look at Taeui and the burning curtains and then waves his hands. The fire immediately burns out, but when Taeui sighs in relief, fire springs to life once more and he shouts in surprise.

"What's happening? Is it me?!" Taeui cries.

"No, I think it's the baby." Ilay says as he waves his hand once more to make the flames go away. The baby lights it again and there was an odd back and forth of burning and unburning the curtains until Ilay just banishes the offending curtains.

Taeui stares at Ilay and then looks at his baby bump. "Is this going to be a regular thing until I give birth?"

Ilay chuckles and then touches Taeui's belly fondly. "No, a week at most. The baby's magic is starting to settle around this time and outbursts like these are normal. But…I think we should get you a water talisman when the baby is born. It seems they'll take after me and set things on fire fairly frequently. Impressive though, most baby dragons only make a bit of smoke when they're still inside their mother. But like me they managed a full powerful flame while still in the womb."

Taeui should have been more annoyed, but he found Ilay's proud words endearing. Especially when he was slowly rubbing Taeui's swollen belly.

"Not even born yet and already such a pain in the ass. You really do take after your father." Taeui sighs, but he still puts his hand over Ilay's. "At least you'll get his good looks."

Ilay huffs but presses a kiss against the swollen belly. "Hm, I still hope you'll get your mother's good looks."

"Aish don't curse our child like that."

"I'm not cursing our child. I'm blessing them. But if that's what you think, I sincerely hope they get my brains." Ilay says.

"Oi!" Taeui was about to smack Ilay in retaliation, but Ilay grabs his hand and then pulls him in for a kiss. Taeui's body immediately relaxes and goes limp in Ilay's hold as he tries to press himself closer to his mate. Without warning, Ilay suddenly brings his arms around the backs of Taeui's thighs and lifts him up easily, as if he weren't eight months pregnant.

"Ilay! I'm heavy! What if you drop me?" Taeui scolds.

Ilay retaliates by lightly pinching Taeui's butt. "My wife has such little faith in me. Even though everyone says you're heavy with my child, you're still as light as a feather to me."

Taeui blushes and hides his face in Ilay's hair. "Don't lie, I'm a whale."

"You've never even seen a real whale."

"I've seen pictures."

Ilay laughs as he crosses the threshold to their bedroom and gently lays Taeui down. "Tay, you're lovely. Even now I wish I could consume you bones and all. With our child in you so that you'll both always lay comfortably safe inside me."

"That's terrifying Ilay."

"And yet you're still here and hard."

Taeui blushes. "It's an instinctual response."

"Mm-hm."

Taeui would have definitely given a snarky response back, but with Ilay's mouth and hands suddenly descending on him, all thoughts burst into flames like their curtains.

_*_*_

At the nine month mark, Taeui gets increasingly anxious about his delivery date. He's been feeling small contractions in his belly since a week ago and Ilay says that it's only a matter of time before he lays the egg. Restlessness crawls beneath his skin and he has the sudden inexplicable urge to go back to his childhood home in Goryeo.

Ilay had initially refused, saying that Taeui should stay in their nest. But Taeui had grabbed Ilay by the lapels and demanded that he take Taeui to his childhood home or so help him Taeui would climb down the mountain himself and walk all the way there.

Ilay being the reasonable dragon he was, relented and flew Taeui back to Goryeo. Chang-In happily made sure that Taeui's childhood home was cleaned and prepped before their visit, and Taeui made sure to bring all the soft nesting materials from Ilay's mountain to his old home.

It took a day for Taeui and Ilay to make the nest just right (according to Taeui's exacting specifications), but once that was done, Taeui happily climbed into the nest and snuggled along the soft blankets and pillows.

"Thank you, Ilay. I know this wasn't want you wanted but I feel a lot better now." Taeui says as he turns to his mate who was lying beside him.

Ilay huffs and strokes Taeui's cheeks. "I should have known. The birthing dragon normally goes to their original homeland to lay their egg, but I thought it wouldn't affect you the same way."

"I guess some things transcend species." Taeui jokes.

Coming back to his hometown was both nice and bittersweet. It was like knowing your old favorite sweater just didn’t fit right anymore after so many years, but he still enjoyed seeing it, feeling it, breathing in the old town and replacing the old memories with the new ones.

As he walks down the street he puts a hand over his belly and strokes it. "I'll have to bring you back here when you're born, so you know where I come from. Maybe you'll even like it here better than the mountains."

He doubts it. Any child of Ilay would much prefer to be flying high in the thin cold mountain air, drifting through the wind currents rather than staying stuck on the ground where the air was thicker and warmer.

Even Taeui realizes how much he misses Ilay's home now that he was here.

But he can't bring himself to leave, not until he's laid their child.

He goes through the old food vendor street and grabs a few snacks. Silently he wished Ilay could be here, but the dragon had to take care of some emergency with Kyle. Something about an attack on Tarten. But Ilay assured him that he'd be there for the child's birth, he'd be able to sense it and go to Taeui right away, so that at least put Taeui at ease.

Taeui shudders and hopes that the poor bastards who planned the attack would die a quick death. Ilay had not been happy to be called over this morning. He had given Taeui a quick kiss and a promise to quickly burn up the suicidal imbeciles who tried to attack a World Tree under a dragon's protection.

As Taeui finishes his shopping, he suddenly notices a shadow trailing behind him. Taeui hastens his steps and puts his hand over the bracelet. But before he could do anything, something hits the back of his neck and suddenly it felt like his body was dropping.

The baby. Taeui thinks desperately as he clutches his belly. His body is careening towards the ground and he tries to relax as he feels his shoulder hit the hard ground. His vision blurs as he sees the shadowy figures descend upon him and he's lifted off the ground.

Through the strange warbling sounds he hears is the rough sound of a voice saying "…al Saud will be pleased."

And the last thing Taeui thinks is: Ah, damn that Abdul Rahman-about-to-be-roast-meat-al-Saud when I get my hands on him, I'll tell on him so hard to Jaeui-hyung.

_*_*_

When Taeui regains consciousness, he finds himself in a small brick cell with a window on one side. Cautiously he sits up, wincing when he puts some pressure against his right shoulder, and he feels his ankle twinge as well. His whole body felt bruised but when he checked the baby, he could still feel a steady thrum of magic.

He breathes a sigh of relief and presses his hand against his belly.

"You're safe. Still safe." he whispers to the baby. He takes stock of himself and realizes that he was not in his clothes. They basically put him in a glorified potato sack that itches badly, and Ilay's bracelet was woefully missing from his wrist.

He clicks his tongue. No way to contact Ilay now then and he tries to tamp down the building fear and anxiety inside him.

He takes another breath and tries to steady his shaking hands. He has nothing to worry about. Ilay would find him. Ilay always found him, but in the meantime, Taeui will do whatever he has to for him and the baby to survive. He moves his hand behind his ears and nearly sighs in relief when he feels the tell-tale rune Ilay left there. It seemed his captors didn’t' think to check for storage runes on the body. He presses it, sending a tiny bit a mana through it and the rune glows lightly. A tiny vial falls into his hands and Taeui bring it up to the meager light.

The diluted sap of the World Tree still shimmers a vibrant gold and without hesitation, Taeui pops off the cap and drinks it down. He'll need all the luck he can get.

As soon as he drinks it down, he suddenly hears a thump thump from the floor. A panel slides open and a dark-skinned man with a mask covering half his face comes out.

He's wearing clothes typically found in the al Saud kingdom, and he has a bottle of water in his hands with a loaf of bread. As soon as he looks at Taeui, he catches the glimpse of the vial and his mouth twists.

"What's that in your hands?" he demands as he quickly moves forward. Taeui moves backwards and brings his arms up to protect his baby, but then he sees the man's foot suddenly catch on the edge and falls face first onto the hard ground. There's an awful crunch and the man goes limp.

Taeui stares for a few moments and pokes the man's head with his foot.

"Damn is this what Jaeui-hyung always feels like?" Taeui says to himself as he rolls the man away from the opening. Then he shimmies through the exit, careful to not let the baby bump hit the ledge and makes his way down the twisting circular steps.

By the time he reaches the end, he's huffing and puffing and his legs are slightly shaky. But he hadn't seen another guard and he's able to push the door open and finds himself out of the prison (a high tower, how ironic) built on a cliff face.

Taeui grimaces as he peers down the sheer rockface. There was no way safe way for him to climb down, but then how did the other man get there…?

A transportation circle? But that might lead to somewhere even worse and Taeui is not knowledgeable enough to recircuit the circle to another destination.

He groans and takes a seat first, his back was killing him and he wanted to be comfortable while he thought of the next steps. As he stares out into the vast horizon he watches the group of swallows fly up from the cliff and circle around the area, their chirps echoing through skies.

A thought suddenly catches in his mind.

Swallows would make their nests in large caves. It was nesting season for them, and to have such a large cluster meant…

Taeui moves to the edge of the cliff and looks down carefully.

Sure enough he sees a stream of swallows flowing into the cliff. Into a cave on the cliffside.

Taeui bites his lip, how the hell is he supposed to--

A swallow flutters a little too close to Taeui and he flinches back, causing a flash of light to pierce his eye. He blinks and then moves towards the shiny thing hidden in a lump on the thick grass.

He picks it up and sees that it's a small gold medallion tied to a string. When he pulls it, it triggers a magic circle around the area and the lump moves aside to reveal a stairway that goes into the ground.

"Of course…nest harvesters." Taeui scoffs. He goes down the tunnel that was lit by an overgrown path of glowing blue mushrooms. By the looks of it, it seemed they hadn't used this path in a long time, perhaps the person who had found the nest had passed and never told anyone their secret location, and it was lost forever, until Taeui was kidnapped and then dosed himself with some Jaeui-level luck.

At the end of the path, he finds himself in a very large cave with hundreds of swallow nests lining the walls. He gives them a shallow bow and excuses himself as he makes his way to a bird-poop free section and settles himself. The entrance to the cave was well hidden by brush that managed to grow on the cliff-face, so Taeui's location was secure for now. He needs to find a way to signal to Ilay, but without the bracelet he isn't sure. He tries to feel Ilay through the mating bond but all he feels is a thrum of anger and desperation on Ilay's end.

Taeui grimaces and tries to send his own feelings of safety and calm. He's not sure if it's received but he needs to find a way to signal Ilay his location or find a way to get out of here. Taeui sighs and leans his back against the cool wall. His back hurt and he was cramping terribly in his lower belly. Despite all this, he feels extremely sleepy and his eyes droop heavily.

Maybe just a few minutes. Taeui thinks as he closes his eyes and leans his head against the wall.

Taeui wakes with a jolt of pain coursing through his body.

"Fuck!" he shouts bending forward and startling the poor swallows who start to screech and flutter around the cave.

Something wet gushes between his thighs. "Fuck fuck fuck. I thought I had super luck today!" Taeui grunts through the contraction.

He wasn't ready. He doesn't have a proper nest. His baby is going to be born in a fucking bird-shit infested cave without Ilay around.

Taeui wants to cry.

Fuck it, he does cry.

Fat tears roll down his face as he spreads his legs and breathes through the contractions. They were fast, and Taeui could feel something moving, dropping down further and further. Pain courses through his body and he screams into the air. Cursing Abdul-Rahman-soon-to-be-dead-al Saud. Yelling at Ilay to come find him already damnit! And screaming at the damn birds who are making a huge ruckus around him.

And when he roars out the ground echoes and vibrates. The walls of the cave shake and a disoriented Taeui thinks that maybe in his rage he managed to level up his mana. But then he feels a familiar tug in his soul. The air seems to spark around him and there warm scent of whisky and fire envelop the space.

A whoosh of strong wind pushes through the inside of the cave and giant dragon snot pops inside, startling the already panicked birds.

(Poor things would probably never use this cave to nest again)

But Taeui didn't care a whit about them. All he knows is that Ilay was here. He just had to shrink his stupid gigantic head and come inside already you stupid excuse of a lizard! Your child is being born!

Apparently Taeui said the last thing out loud because with a whoosh of air, Ilay's body shrinks and he's suddenly in front of Taeui. Thick arms wrap around Taeui's waist and Ilay's nose is buried in Taeui's damp hair as he slots himself between Taeui's back and the rock wall.

His long legs frame Taeui's body, and words fly out of his lips across Taeui's ear.

"I'm here. I'm here, Tay. I have you. I found you. You'll be okay. Both of you. I love you. Iloveyou."

Taeui's never heard Ilay's voice waver like this. Even when Taeui was nearly kidnapped by Abdul Rahman-pain-in-the-ass-al Saud, Ilay had never once had this edge of fear winding its way into his voice. Fury was always the default with Ilay. It was always the easiest emotion for him. Get angry, burn everything, and then fuck all his other emotions into Taeui.

But this time Ilay sounded desperately afraid. The hands holding him had the slightest tremor in their fingertips and Ilay held onto Taeui as if he were both the most fragile treasure and something to be quickly consumed and horded.

Taeui could only sigh in relief as he feels the hard planes of Ilay's front against his back and smell the familiar smokey whiskey scent that curled around him. He grips Ilay's forearms tightly as a contraction hits him. He's screaming and cursing nonsense as he feels something start to drop and push against his tiny opening.

It felt like he was tearing in two. Ilay's fingers are wiping away the tears that were falling like rain while Taeui curses out the dragon.

At the widest part, Taeui smacks his fists against Ilay's arm. "AAahH I hate you! I hate you so much you stupid dragon! Imma cut off both your dicks and EAT THEMMmnNMm!"

The egg finally comes out, steaming and wet as it rolls slightly onto the hard ground. Taeui is panting heavily when Ilay scoops it up and presses it against Taeui's chest.

"Tay, Tay look it's our egg. Our baby." Ilay says with a soft reverence in his voice.

Taeui wipes away the tears and looks down at the egg. He shouldn't have wiped the tears away because as soon as he sees it, he starts to cry again. His shaking arms come up to hold his baby. The shell of the egg was warm and Taeui could feel the familiar pulse of magic underneath the shell.

"Oh…you're in there." Taeui whispers as he caresses the egg. Impatience grips his heart. He wants to meet them so badly.

Ilay must have sensed it because he says, "With how hot the egg is, they'll probably hatch tomorrow."

"Really? We'll meet you soon then, baby?" Taeui says as he presses his lips against the egg. There's a responding pulse and Taeui wants to cry again.

Ilay wraps his arms around the both of them and says, "Let's go to your nest, Tay. The baby can hatch safely there."

"Okay." Taeui mumbles, feeling extremely worn out from the birth. But when Ilay tries to help him up, Taeui immediately doubles over and squats onto the ground.

"Tay!"

"Ilay! Ilay I--oh FUCK!" Taeui exclaims when he feels the very familiar contraction and drop in his stomach. It comes faster than his first and all he can do is shout at Ilay to "catch it!" as the second egg falls down into Ilay's waiting hands.

Taeui goes shock still as he stares at the second egg in Ilay's hand.

"Two?" he whispers disbelievingly.

"Two." Ilay echoes just as shocked.

Ilay barely manages to catch Taeui before he falls on his ass, completely wiped from birthing two fucking eggs. Somehow, Ilay manages to conjure a blanket and securely wraps the eggs against Taeui's chest as Ilay picks him up and heads to the cave entrance.

"Ah, wait the tower--those bastards who took me--"

"Eradicated." Ilay says simply.

"Oh…good." Taeui says as he leans his head against Ilay's chest. He places both hands on the warm eggs and closes his eyes as he feels the air rush around his face, safe and secure in Ilay's arms.

_*_*_

Soft warmth is the first thing Taeui notices when he wakes. His face is pressed against a fluffy pillow and he's surrounded by comfortable blankets and cushions. There's a toasty weighted blanket over him that makes Taeui want to curl up again and sleep more, but as he shifts, his lower half twinges and the memories flood back.

"The babies!" Taeui yells as he sits up quickly. He throws the blankets off him, but when his arms fly out they hit something beside him.

"Tay." Ilay's voice rumbles.

"Ilay, the babies?" Taeui asks breathlessly.

Ilay shifts aside and Taeui sighs loudly in relief as he sees the eggs safely tucked beside Ilay in the soft blue blanket with dragons flying on the fabric. Taeui tucks himself against Ilay as he takes the eggs in his arms, marveling at their warmth.

"They look smaller than I thought." Taeui remarks. He swore they must have been melon sized when they fell out of his poor hole, but he supposes that his asshole might not be the best judge of size in the moment.

"Not by much, but you did have two of them inside so it's no wonder they're slightly smaller than usual." Ilay muses.

"I'm glad that they were smaller. I thought I was going to die when I pushed them out." Taeui says as he fondly gazes on the eggs. Now that they've been dried and cleaned and Taeui wasn't in terrible pain, Taeui can see the coloring on their shell. One was a pearly iridescent white, and the other was a shimmery light gold.

While Taeui was gazing lovingly at the eggs, Ilay nuzzles the top of Taeui's head. "And you? Are you feeling well?"

"Just slightly sore down there, but I got away before they could do anything." Taeui answers as he leans towards Ilay's touch.

"Good. Then Chris' gift did its job." Ilay says.

"You knew?" Taeui asks.

"Of course, you're smart and resourceful Tay, it would have been the first thing you did." Ilay states. "It's why I also took my vial, it would maximize the luck between the two of us and allowed me to find you quickly. I hate to admit it, but you were in a very powerful array and barrier that would have taken me some time to dismantle if you hadn't started giving birth in that moment."

Taeui blinks. "What does me giving birth have anything to do with it?"

"It's ancient blood magic. Once the mother starts giving birth, the sire will be called to their location no matter where they are. I was able to take out Prince Rashid and his people once I arrived."

"Prince Rashid? Not Prince Abdul Rahman Abid al Saud?"

"No, it seems we ended up caught in their internal affairs." Ilay says with a furious downturn of his lips. "One of the many nephews felt jilted that he didn’t win the throne so he decided to play a little trick and make us think that Rahman was the one who did it. I burned half his palace before I figured it out after I luckily caught one of Rashid's rats."

Ilay pauses for a moment and clicks his tongue in annoyance. "Actually Rahman was one the ones who helped me narrow down the area of their base. I was already close by when I sensed your location."

Taeui purses his lips. Great, now they owed Abdul Rahman-always-has-an-ulterior-Jaeui-shaped-motive-al Saud a favor. "What did he ask for?"

Ilay shrugs. "Surprisingly nothing. But he probably plans to use this to get into Jaeui's good graces."

"Ilay…I'm begging you. Don't say a word about this to hyung."

"Unfortunately, I did create a small international incident by burning up part of the al Saud royal palace…and Chang-In just so happened to be there."

Taeui groans and buries his head in Ilay's shoulder. "I thought we were supposed to have maximum luck?"

Ilay shrugs. "Perhaps it's for the best. Who knows, having a powerful member of the al Saud family as your brother-in-law could be useful."

"Why would I need a mere royal from the al Saud family when I already have a dragon?" Taeui whines.

Ilay laughs brightly and wraps his arms around Taeui's waist and pulls him on his lap. Ilay runs his nose and lips along the column of Taeui's neck, placing feather-light kisses against the golden skin as he says, "Why indeed? Perhaps then, this was for Jay's benefit."

"Figures." Taeui mutters though he can't imagine what Jaeui would need with the damn royal.

He was about to gripe more when he feels a strong burst of mana and heat coming from the eggs in his arms. Taeui gasps and lays them down quickly as he feels them start to shake.

"Ilay, Ilay is it?--Are they?"

"Hm they're hatching." Ilay says, eyes bright and focused on the shaking eggs.

After the initial burst, it wasn't as dramatic as Taeui thought it would be. Cracks form on the shell and with a small pop pop pop the eggshell crumbles away leaving two babies foundering on their backs.

They cry out as air hits their skin for the first time and Taeui immediately takes one while Ilay takes the other.

"Oh shh-shh-shh baby, I'm here. You're appa is here." Taeui says carefully as he rocks the baby. At Taeui's voice, the baby stops crying and he nuzzles into Taeui's chest. His tiny uncoordinated hands manages to fist Taeui's shirt close to the collar. It feels like Taeui's heart had been carefully carved out of his chest and is now being held in the baby's tiny flailing hands.

As Taeui carefully takes stock of his baby's appearance, he could already tell that the little one in his arms will probably be the spitting image of Ilay. He had porcelain pale skin with a thick head of silver hair and when he opens his eyes, Taeui sees that it's the same dark shade as Ilay's.

"It seems we both won, Tay." Ilay's suspiciously thick voice says, breaking Taeui's focus on his baby.

Taeui looks up at Ilay and sees that the baby in Ilay's arms had the same deep brown hair, golden skin and brown eyes as Taeui.

"Oh." Taeui says quietly as he takes in the image of Ilay with their child. Seeing Ilay and their baby made Taeui feel like someone had cracked his chest open and dumped an armful of birds inside his chest to replace his steady beating heart because nothing else could explain the fluttering feelings in his too small chest.

The babies though had no care over Taeui's twisting emotional moment and cried out impatiently for their first meal. Ilay huffs fondly and draws a rune in the air. A magic circuit appears and drops four shining mana stones in Ilay's palm.

He gives one to each baby who both eagerly chomp it down with their fresh baby dragon-teeth, and Taeui was infinitely grateful that dragon-babies did not drink milk like human ones.

(The first time Taeui stutteringly asked about it, Ilay had laughed and told him no, drinking milk as infants was a mammal thing. Not a dragon thing.)

After finishing their mana stones, the babies grew sleepy and they were put back down in the nest, snuggling against the fluffy blanket. The little snuffling noises they make are like arrows to Taeui's heart, and he coos quietly at them. He wants to bundle both of them up and hold them in his arms until the end of time. His little babies. His--

“Oh shit…Ilay, we don’t have a name for one of them.” Taeui gasps

Ilay hums. “Hm you’re right. Well we did have a second boy name we liked. We could use that one.”

“Yes but how do we pick which one gets what name?” Taeui exclaims.

“Draw straws?”

Taeui glares, and Ilay puts his hand up.

“Kidding.”

“Uh-huh.” Taeui huffs and he looks down at their silver haired baby. “I think he looks like a Jaehyun. I bet he’ll be a bright child.”

Ilay hums thoughtfully and agrees, “I think it suits him and this one will be Taeyang.”

“Taeyang? That wasn’t on our list.” Taeui says with flushed cheeks.

“It was on my list.” Ilay replies easily. “Since you gave Jaehyun his name, I’ll get to choose the name for our second son. Besides, he reminds me of someone who shines brightly like the sun.” Ilay says as he looks fondly at Taeui.

Taeui flushes but eventually he nods and kisses Ilay on the cheek.

“I think they’ll do.” Taeui says. “But are you sure you’re okay with names from Goryeo?”

Ilay nods. “They’ll already carry the Reigrow name. They should have something from their mother’s country.”

Taeui smiles brightly and leans against Ilay. "Alright then. A name from each of us."

"A perfect reflection of us." Ilay agrees as he carefully strokes their downy hair with his large hands. Taeui feels his eyes water again, and he has to take a deep breath to keep himself from crying, again.

(It doesn't work, he's balling when the babies start nuzzling Ilay's hand and he cries three more times that day.)

_*_*_

Once again, it’s not like Taeui purposefully forgot to tell people that he gave birth. But between the kidnapping, giving birth, babies hatching, and moving back to Ilay's lair, time sort of…slipped away from him.

It’s not his fault his babies were so cute! There’s literally nothing else in his mind anytime he catches sight of the twins.

So one balmy morning a week after his kidnapping, there was a very loud series of thuds from Ilay’s front door.

Both Taeui and Ilay turned to each other.

“Were you expecting anyone?” Taeui asks as he shifts Jaehyun in his arms.

Ilay shrugs as he picks Taeyang up. “No one I know. Perhaps the relatives have finally come to send their well wishes.”

“Relatives?” Taeui asks stupidly and then the realization hit him. “The relatives!—I haven’t told Jaeui!”

“Mn and I haven’t told Kyle.”

The pair look at each other and Taeui smacks Ilay’s arm.

“Ilay! You didn’t tell anyone?!”

“What for? They’d find out eventually and I had other things to think about.” Ilay replied unapologetically. “Even you forgot.”

“I was busy birthing your children you animal!”

“And I’m eternally grateful for it.” Ilay says pressing a kiss on Taeui’s forehead. “Should I make them leave?”

Taeui sighs and trepidatiously says, “No, let’s go greet them.”

They trek down to the foyer and Ilay opens the door unceremoniously, causing the bodies who were pressed against the door to tumble through in an undignified heap.

The babies look down on them unimpressed.

Jaeui who managed to avoid the pile up due to his awesome luck is the first one through the foyer and immediately descends onto Taeui.

"Taeui, are you alright? Are the babies--?" he looks down on the babe in Taeui's arms and his eyes soften. "They're beautiful, Taeui."

Taeui smiles back. "Thank you, Hyung. And I'm obviously alright. Ilay managed to take care of it and the babies were born safely. They just hatched a week ago. This little guy's name is Jaehyun."

Jaeui freezes for a moment and he looks up at Taeui with misty eyes. "Jaehyun?"

"Hm our bright little guy who'll be just as bright and amazing as his uncle." Taeui replies softly. "Here, you should hold your namesake." Taeui says as he carefully deposits, Jaehyun into Jaeui's arms. The baby doesn’t even say a peep as he's transferred over to his uncle. Instead, the baby looks up at Jaeui with his warm dark eyes and reaches his tiny hands out to touch Jaeui's cheeks.

Jaeui looks ready to cry as he smiles down at his nephew and nuzzles his soft silver hair. Taeui's heart feels especially full when he sees his brother and son bond like that with each other.

"Jaeui if that's how you feel with Jaehyun, you should see the other one." Chang-In says as he finally disentangles himself from the pile of bodies. Jaeui looks to Ilay and his eyes nearly pop out when he sees Taeyang.

Ilay looks especially smug as he holds the baby up. "This one's name is Taeyang."

"Ilay chose that name." Taeui mutters.

Jaeui just says a soft "Ah. It suits him."

Surprisingly, Ilay offers up Taeyang to Jaeui, who only pauses for a moment before transferring Jaehyun to Chang-In who coos softly at an unimpressed Jaehyun. Then Jaeui takes Taeyang from Ilay's arms. He looks down at Taeyang's big brown eyes and burst into tears.

That causes Taeyang to start crying and Jaehyun to cry in solidarity.

Once everyone was sufficiently calm, they relocate to the living area. Taeui and Ilay hold onto their children while everyone else gathers around to coo and aw at the little babes.

"Two boys! Twins! I can't believe how blessed we are." Kyle blubbers messily into his handkerchief.

Chris just purses his lips, "Taeui are you sure you're a regular human? It's been centuries since a dragon has laid more than one egg in a single birth. This might even be the first for a cross-species birth."

Taeui rolls his eyes as he feeds the babies more mana stones. "I'm a regular human being."

"It's true. When I met Taeui he said he was just a mere D-class knight." Ilay adds.

"Mere D-class knight my ass." Chris grumbles. "How could a D-class knight have enough magic energy to sustain two dragon babes?"

"It's the power of love I suppose." Ilay says with a smile as he lift Jaehyun up and smiles at his son.

Everyone looks mildly disturbed at Ilay and unanimously decide to change the subject. Whatever it was, love, Taeui's hidden talents, super dragon sperm, it didn't matter when there were two very cute babies to pay attention to.

With the sun setting, Ilay decides that he's had enough of people invading his space and unceremoniously starts herding them out. Kyle is still sniffling as he kisses the unimpressed babies.

"Oh you'll have to come visit uncle Kyle in his lair soon. Rita will have a full spread ready for you cuties." Kyle cries.

Ilay pushes his brother's face away. "Stop spewing on them, you'll make them stupid."

"Ilay!"

"Ah haha we'll be sure to visit when they're a little older, Kyle." Taeui intersects with ease.

"Tay~ you're the best little brother I could ask for." Kyle sniffles.

Chris just glares at Ilay and then turns to Taeui. "Don't let that brute do this again to you, Tay. You might not survive a second time."

"I really don’t plan to. Two is more than enough for me." Taeui says with a long sigh.

Chris looks pleased. "If you ever need a break, feel free to come to Tarten."

Ilay growls and puts his arms around Taeui. "Are you sure Richard would allow it? He's fairly territorial for an elf. Does he even know where you are?"

Immediately, Chris' face flattens. "I'll find a way." he mutters as he spins away quickly.

Chang-In smiles as he gives Taeui a one-arm hug. "Take care of yourself Taeui. We'll always be here to help you with the babies if you and Ilay ever need a break. Oh and don't worry about the incident in Riyadh. Apparently, Prince Rahman talked to his uncle the current king and has taken care of it."

Taeui smiles and simply nods. He actually hasn't given a single thought to Abdul Rahman-probably-not-as-bad-but-still-a-shithead-al Saud and his half-destroyed palace.

Ilay just scoffs and rolls his eyes. "Obviously. His other nephew was the one who caused trouble."

"Right." Chang-In says easily.

Jaeui is the last to leave and he carefully hugs Taeui, making sure to keep enough space so Taeyang isn't squished between their bodies. "Tell me if anything happens. I'll be staying in Riaydh for a little bit so I'll have access to their teleportation circles. I'll be able to come here in no time."

Taeui smiles, "You're always welcome to see your nephews, hyung, so come whenever you want."

Jaeui returns the smile and nods. He gives his nephews one last kiss on each of their foreheads and walks out, leaving only Ilay, Taeui and the babies in the foyer.

Taeui sighs and turns to Ilay, "Next time, we should only let them in one at a time."

"Agreed. I should change the wards." Ilay says already writing something in the air.

"Oi I was only half-kidding!"

"But you were at least half-serious?"

Taeui sighs and buries his head in Ilay's strong shoulders. "…maybe just two at a time."

"That would work, and no elves of course."

"Ilay."

"Fine." Ilay huffs as he reorganizes the runes. Taeui isn't sure that Ilay actually did as he asked, but he'll have to just trust the dragon. Jaehyun smiles and waves his tiny hands around the runes which distracts Taeui from his annoyance.

Ah it'll be much harder to remember why he was so annoyed at Ilay when their babies are always doing such cute things.

But watching Ilay smile at their son, face slightly aglow from the runes still spinning in the air, makes Taeui's heart thump loudly in his chest. The love digs it's way deeply into his heart and carves itself into his soul, bit by bloody bit.

He can't help but lean towards Ilay's chest and take a bite from the firm pec.

Ilay just raises his brow. "Something you need, Tay?"

"Unfortunately, you." Taeui sighs. "Fatherhood is a good look on you."

Ilay laughs brightly and it makes Taeui's heart squeeze, especially when he has Jaehyun in his arms like that. Ilay then bends his head down and kisses Taeui firmly on the lips. His tongue swipes Taeui's lips as they enter and tangle themselves with Taeui's.

When they part, Taeui is panting and very hard.

"The babies need to nap but after, we can reacquaint ourselves." Ilay whispers hotly in Taeui's ear.

"I'd like that." Taeui answers back just as breathily.

Ilay's eyes crinkle as he smiles. "Perhaps we'll even make another one?"

"In your fucking dreams, you damn lizard."

Ilay's laugh echoes through the lair, and Taeui couldn't be happier.