393. The Family Meme

[skirtedjustice]

The FAMILY Meme

How does it work? Simple! Choose a relationship (or roll for one, if it suits your fancy), and then RNG for a situation! That, or just go straight for whatever situation appeals to you. These are all fairly vague: just something to start you off!

Comments

[si_espana]

The sudden change of mood is like a plate being thrown hard at the ground. It breaks to pieces with a loud crash, bits and pieces flying everywhere hard and fast enough to hurt.

One minute, he's high, climbing up even higher towards what promises to be an explosive climax after so long. Kain's lips on his skin makes him ache and shiver just as his stroking hand leaves his head light and knees weak. But just as Spain was desperate to plead, to beg for more, it all stops. Green eyes crack open, a whine escaping him in protest. He breathes hard, reaching for Kain to pull him back when he hears a scream. A very familiar scream. A very familiar, tiny scream.

"...Joa-JOAQUIN!"

And there, small and looking so furious, is Joaquin. With a stick. And he's jabbing at Kain with it.

The sight quickly spurs Spain to action, practically pushing away Kain and falling all over himself to get covered up and get the little boy to stop attacking his knight. Tanned cheeks turn redder but for a different reason now as he calls off the boy. I'm a bad father! How can I let my son see something like that?!

"Joaquin, stop!"

[towersandragons]

Kain has no idea what's going on - what just happened, but he's at least shunned enough to have the good sense to back away even in spite of how hard he's reeling from being attacked while he was in such a vulnerable position. He never expected that to happen, even in spite of how they were fooling around right in the entrance hall of Spain's house. Romano is too intimidated by him to do anything and everyone else just never... did that when he shows the dark-haired nation any sort of affectionate attention.

The screaming and kicking and crying child though throws the dragoon violently from his fit of feverish passion. He's confused, bewildered, and he can tell that Spain is very upset along with the small boy who keeps trying to charge at him regardless of how Kain's lover holds him back. Kain says nothing though. As much as he wants to comfort Spain and help him with that ball of spitting rage, he's never dealt with such small children before and he's at a loss for what to do. His instincts tell him that trying to interfere will only make matters worse, but he's not certain if that makes it the right course of action.

[si_espana]

Joaquin is so strong for someone so small, his obvious rage fueling him. Spain has to hold onto him fast lest he gets away and launches himself at Kain again. He's more concerned about Kain as he knows the dragoon would never harm a child, but Joaquin would have no such qualms. He tries to reason with Joaquin, speaking gently but firmly, trying to make him settle down. Somehow he's able to gauge why his adopted son is so upset. After seeing what they have been doing, just imagine what an innocent child must have concluded: his new Papa being attacked by this big, towering stranger.

Eventually, Joaquin tires, sniffling and clinging to Spain, but still eyeing Kain with a healthy dose of mistrust and anger. Spain doesn't know whether to be saddened or proud of such a display. He hadn't wanted their first meeting to be like this.

And poor Kain. He looks so confused, lost and Spain doesn't blame him. He has yet to actually tell the blond about Joaquin, not really knowing how to break the news to him. The subject of children (marriage) hasn't ever been brought up between them, though it's quite obvious how the Iberian Nation adores them. As he looks to Kain now with Joaquin in his arms, he wonders how Kain would take this now. He keeps his gaze on the silent dragoon, smiling a soft, entreating smile that tries to say so much: apologies, affection, love, pleas for understanding. His eyes and his smile says that they have much to talk about and he apologizes for not telling him sooner.

[towersandragons]

The way the child keeps glaring at him accusatorially makes him feel guilty and remorseful, as though he's done something wrong, but he silently reminds himself that this is likely simply a very big misunderstanding. He doesn't expect a boy that young to understand what he and Spain were doing - would hope he didn't - but that still doesn't explain why the boy is even there to begin with.

The dragon knight takes a few moments to comb his fingers through his own long blonde hair, straightening the locks out after Spain's desperate assault on them moments ago. The action is also a little bit of a distraction too because Kain is very apprehensive about what his next move should be. He looks to Spain, pleadingly, still stunned and nervous, since he takes his cues from the brunet in most cases where national business is concerned and this situation is one he can only fit under that same heading. He waits to be called over, for an explanation, anything really. Spain's smile is mildly comforting, but he's hesitant to make any presumptions.

"Is he... yours?" he asks quietly, his throat suddenly feeling raw and hoarse, choked tightly.

[si_espana]

Spain hears that catch in Kain's voice and feels terribly guilty. This would probably not be happening if he had told Kain about Joaquin before all this. He doesn't like that look on his lover's face and he wishes he could make it go away, make this easier for him.

He looks down to Joaquin who is still holding on so tightly to him. He smiles down to the boy, fond and affectionate, and brushes a kiss over his little dark head. "Si." The Iberian Nation admits, not looking at Kain again quite yet. "He is, in a way."

It takes another moment, of deliberation and decision, before Spain raises his eyes to Kain again. He looks pleadingly to him as he rises, taking up Joaquin into his arms. "Will you please wait for me in the living room?" Spain's Madrid townhouse has three living rooms; Kain knows which one he is speaking of, though. "I just need to give Joaquin over to his niñera."

[towersandragons]

Numbly, Kain only nods and turns on his heel sharply, heading for the aforementioned room. He's.... stunned. The child is... Spain's? Does that mean he's been with- No. The dragoon quickly cuts off his train of thoughts there. No, there is more to this story. Spain said that the boy was his in a way. Did nations even have children the way humans did? Kain never had the sense to ask because he figured it would never be an issue for them. Now he wishes he had and his guilt multiplies a little. He should have taken the time before he left to understand Spain better...

The knight sits in one of the armchairs and tries not to fidget anxiously too much. He does his best not to think about anything at all while he waits, but his mind is running a mile per millisecond, honestly. What was going on?

[si_espana]

Joaquin has tired himself enough that he ends up falling asleep once Spain tucks him in in his room with his niñera close by. The Iberian Nation takes the time to watch his adopted son sleep for a while, just taking in how he breathes and lies back tiredly against his bed. It's been a while since he's had a child in the house and he relishes each moment he can with Joaquin. He just wishes today didn't have to end up like this for the poor boy. Kissing over his head, Spain leaves him to his rest.

He appears in the living room where Kain waits after a while, bearing coffee and pastries. It's early yet and it looks like he'll be having breakfast with his newly-returned Knight for today. He greets him with a smile and a kiss on the cheek after setting everything down before him.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

[towersandragons]

By the time Spain arrives, the dragoon has already stopped wondering about what the child is doing here and has moved straight on to what's going to happen now. He realizes that he just made about the absolute worst first impression an adult can accidentally make with a child. How is that going to affect life here for them? Presuming the boy is a permanent, or at least a long-term resident, what will happen if he never comes to like Kain? What if Kain can't cope with the toddler's presence? What then? Will Spain tell him to leave, for good? He can't possibly justify putting a child out of his home for a grown man and he can't see the Iberian Nation able to do any better with such a situation.

Despite the bundle of raw nerves Kain has managed to work himself into while Spain saw to putting the toddler down for rest, he accepts the kiss and shakes his head in reply to his lover's apology. "There is no need," he insists, though he speaks tersely, tension obvious in how he sits, how he says his words, even how he looks back at Spain and eyes the light breakfast before them. He's embarrassed, worried, and he feels uneasy in the silence of the room, but too fearful of saying the wrong thing to break it himself.

[si_espana]

Spain would have wanted to sit as close as possible with Kain. Anyone can tell, even Spain, that he's tense and the Iberian Nation wants nothing more than to give him comfort at the moment. He wants to hold his hand, lean against him, ask him how he is and what took him so long in coming back. Just be close to him because he has been gone so long and now he's back. But there is a more pressing issue at the moment and it must come first. He'll have all the time in the world to snuggle and cuddle with his knight later once things have been straightened out.

He takes the chair beside Kain and picks up a cup. He starts making Kain a cup of coffee, the gentle clinking of china against silver breaking the tense silence in the room. "Joaquin is the son of a couple who worked for me. They... got into an accident recently and left Joaquin with no one."

The death of Joaquin's parents was a shock and Spain had taken it upon himself to help with all the arrangements, including making sure that Joaquin was being taken care of during that very trying time.

[towersandragons]

Kain is quiet while Spain explains the situation slowly. A pang of remorse for the child, Joaquin, shoots through his chest; he also lost both of his parents at a young age - his mother when he was about the same age and his father when he was only a little older. Neither of them were taken naturally by illness either. He lets air rush out of his lungs through his nose audibly, lowering his eyes from Spain to the china set. He remains silent until the dark-haired nation prompts him to speak.

[si_espana]

Kain's coffee is prepared soon enough and he places it before him before continuing. "So, I've taken him in and I plan to raise him as my own.

"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. I just..." The Iberian Nation pauses as he tries to compose what he needs to say. "I didn't know how to tell you. We've never talked about children and I never knew how..." To talk about it. How Kain feels about children. How he would accept Joaquin. "It's just something that I knew I had to do. He has nowhere to go, Kain, and his parents have been with me for so long. It didn't seem right to send him away when he's practically family."

Will Kain leave him because of Joaquin? Because of this decision where he didn't consult with Kain first when this is something they should have talked about first? Maybe. It's not fair of him to just suddenly thrust this at Kain, but Joaquin is his responsibility.

Green eyes lift to meet with blue ones and Spain waits for what Kain would say.

[towersandragons]

The dragoon understands that Spain has many responsibilities he cannot hope to understand completely, but that is why trust is so very important to their relationship. He can't honestly say he is comfortable with Joaquin living with them, however, at the same time, he doesn't think it's right to send the child away either - much less an orphaned child with no other home to be sent to. He swallows down a gulp of air hard and looks away from Spain for a few moments, mulling over the best response he can give, even in these circumstances. This is a difficult situation, but, as usual, he's distracted from his concerns by the mild distress he sees in Spain's emerald green eyes and finally, he rises from his seat.

Hesitating only for a moment because of the dramatic flair this gesture has to it in such a time period, Kain nevertheless kneels down at the nation's feet. "You do not answer to me," he says sincerely, placing his hands on the brunet's knees as he looks up at him. "This is your house, your home, your life, and it is not my place to tell you how you should run it. I will love you regardless of who you take into your care, regardless of who you befriend and who you war with. My fate is tied to yours, Spain. I only wish for your well-being and survival. I will never leave your side until you send me from it."

[si_espana]

The kneeling makes Spain's eyes widen, a bit startled as you don't really see many people kneel before others nowadays. Unless it's a proposal, but even then... The thought makes a flush come alive on the Spaniard's face, distracted by thoughts of weddings and forever that he misses a bit of what Kain has to say to him. Thankfully he manages to focus back and he's glad that he did.

Kain has his hands on his knees and Spain cannot resist taking them in his. They're big, strong hands, so very capable of violence but also gentleness. Spain loves those hands and the man they belong to, this man kneeling before him so earnestly. The Iberian Nation sighs and moves forward, sinking down to join Kain on the floor.

He kneels before his dragoon now, hands clasping his, leaning to kiss and rub over those warm, precious fingers. Kain may be taller than him still even like this, but they're both on the floor. Equal.

"I love you, Kain, and I want you in my life," He holds Kain's hands to his chest, smiling to him earnestly, eyes soft with what could be impending tears. "To have a family with you if you let me. And yes, this is my house, my home, my life and you're already a part of it, but I want you to understand that you matter to me so much and I'd like to care about the things that you do." This just isn't about him and if they're going to be building a family together, they both must take into account everything, including whatever Kain's thoughts are about all this.

[towersandragons]

Despite his own action, Kain wasn't expecting Spain to join him in this kneeling position. At first, he's flustered and loses his train of thought, but once his lover starts speaking to him, his attention sharpens. He listens quietly, moved by Spain's adoring smile and heartfelt words. Finally, when the ageless man is finished, he leans forward and presses his lips to his forehead in a warm, firm kiss. Then he pulls back again to meet those green eyes shining with unshed tears. He understands that Spain isn't on the verge of crying because he's upset, but that matters little that it still breaks the dragoon's heart to see such emotion from the man he cares so much and so deeply for.

"I understand why you did what you have," he explains softly, "I am not angry. I... merely worry." And then the dragon knight goes quiet for a little while, breaking eye contact with Spain as his gaze shifts uncomfortably to the floor. "...I'm not certain I will be an appropriate, much less the best, choice for fatherhood. I do not want to put you in a position where you feel you must choose between the two of us, therefore, I will nonetheless strive to be a passable partner for you at the very least."

[si_espana]

Kain says he will do his best and for Spain that is already a lot. He smiles more at hearing that, along with the fact that Kain is staying. He really doesn't want to think about what he would do if the blond decides to leave him again. It was hard enough the first time Kain had to go. Spain squeezes his hands again and leans to give him a kiss, soft and loving against those lips.

He doesn't go far even when the kiss ends and he speaks, "Thank you. I'm sure you'll do well, no matter what you say."

Kain mentions fatherhood and again, Spain wonders. They've been together as a couple for a while and now they're going to be raising Joaquin together. Could they be ready for something more? The Nation mulls about that quietly as he finds himself looking down at Kain's hands again, a fingertip gently touching over his left ring finger.

[towersandragons]

Kain's hands are nothing special, as far as he's concerned, so when he follows the nation's line of sight to his hand, notices the little intimate touch brushing over his skin, he can't help but look at the other man with puzzlement obvious on his face. He doesn't comment on Spain's assessment that he would be a fine father; his own was impossibly strict, to the point where he often he hated the man immensely when he himself was a child. That's not even taking into account the miles of emotional baggage he knows he still carries around with him sometimes. Kain doesn't want to pollute his relationship with Antonio, much less the relationship between the country and Joaquin.

"What is it?" he asks instead, choosing to blatantly ignore his concerns about parenthood.