Morning Glory

Author's Notes: For Cakie.

Sunlight poured in through the immaculately clean windows and through closed eyelids. The scent of coffee, curry and his mate wafted into Marth’s senses. Slowly, his sapphire eyes fluttered open. Surrounding him was a pile of his mate’s dirty clothes. It was something that used to embarrass the both of them for different reasons. Ren was flattered but worried about marking his perfect prince with something as simple as a dirty band t-shirt. Marth was worried that it was unbecoming for a man of his status to cling to his mate’s favourite clothes so desperately. However, the both of them reassured the other that it was fine and that it didn’t bother him. Underneath the ring of dirty laundry was a fluffy flannel blanket that Marth always carried with him on all his travels. He had been swaddled in it as a babe and planned on continuing that tradition once he had given birth.

Slowly, the prince rose from his nest. His joints popped and cracked as he stretched. Soft groans escaped him but he continued to stretch to the best of his ability. Moving around was easier said than done in the current state he was in, after all. His soft, sapphire gaze rested upon his stomach that was fat with his and Ren’s child. A smile crept across his lips. Warmth blossomed inside his chest as he rested his palms on his belly, taut and tight from his unborn bundle of joy. Slow, loving circles and hearts were drawn across his swollen tummy as he imagined their future together.

Marth’s pregnancy was a shock and massive deal to everyone and everything it seemed. His father, Cornelius, wasn’t happy that his first grandchild would be born to a common Alpha but still demanded the best care for his son and future grandchild nonetheless. The future king was coddled incessantly. He didn’t really know how to take to it. He was used to being pampered his whole life but it wasn’t enough to prepare him for this.

“You’re up early,” Ren murmured as he padded into the room. Happiness rose in Marth’s soul and heart like the carbonation in citrus soda at the sight of his Alpha, his lover, his other half. “Come on. I got a surprise for you, Marmar.”

The bluenet chuckled. “Alright, dearest. Just give me a moment—” Swiftly, Ren made his way towards the prince. His forearms slipped underneath the pregnant man’s knees and upper back and suddenly, he was up in the air. “Ren!” the Omega gasped as he clung to the younger man’s shirt. That familiar and oh-so-comforting scent wafted into his senses again as he was carried out of the room, down the hall and the stairs.

He felt Ren tremble under him but he continued to be carried nonetheless. He swallowed. Big, blue eyes stared up at his lover’s face as he not-so-effortlessly carried him to the sunroom. Or he tried to anyway. Slowly, he lowered Marth to the ground with a shuddering huff. “Sorry, I... I gotta work on my endurance.”

“Don’t apologize. It was... It was lovely. Do give me a warning next time though,” he said with a soft laugh.

Ren winked as he opened the villa’s door. “No promises.”

Instantly, the two were bathed in warm sunlight and the tickling scent of flora. Colours surrounded the two as Ren led the waddling Marth inside the sunroom. The two had been spending a lot of time together in here since the start of Marth’s pregnancy. He had considered setting his nest in here at one point but didn’t want to be a bother to the gardener or anyone else. In the center of the room was the white iron table littered with various blue and violet flowers—hibiscus, forget-me-nots, morning glories, ‘blue’ roses that were a dusty violet—and plates of his favourite foods.

The prince coughed as he tried to ignore his mouth watering at the sight of strawberry shortcakes, melon bread, and his lover’s signature tonkatsu curry. Not to mention the delicious scent of Ren’s coffee that was currently being poured into a teacup shaped like a blue flower.

“What’s the occasion?” Marth asked as he sat down. He pulled the chair closer to the table, or as close as he could get with his tummy in the way.

“Nothing really... I just,” Ren paused as he sat down across from his mate. “Well. No. I... I thought of a name is all.”

Marth blinked. “Tell me.”

“Why don’t we eat first?” Ren smiled before loading up a spoonful of curry rice for him and holding it out for Marth. “Say ‘aahhhhh’~.”

Marth rolled his eyes. “Ahhh~”

“Good boy.”

A flush crept up the Omega’s neck as he swallowed the food. Wordlessly, the two ate together and let the comforting silence and tinkling of cutlery surround them. Though, curiosity got the better of the prince as he nibbled on the cookie coating of the melon bread.

“Liza and Kokoro.” Marth stopped as Ren continued. “I... I thought that if the baby is a girl... She could be named Liza or... Kokoro.”

Liza... Marth’s mother’s name. It was something he had considered as well. But where did Kokoro come from? Was it from his time as a Phantom Thief? The thought made him chuckle. It was an adorable name nonetheless. Still, he was curious. “What made you think of the latter?”

Ren rolled his shoulders. “...It sounded like... Goro.”

Marth blinked.

“I see. Were you thinking...”

“If that’s alright. They’re your child too, obviously.”

After a long pause, Marth smiled. “Kokoro or Goro would be... lovely.”