A CRACK IN THE BRAVE FACE [SLANSKY]

[AKANE]

GOTTA SEE THE COLOR IN YOUR EYES Pregnancy in the normal world was never what a woman really signed up for when she became with child the first time. Everyone around them is always happy, glossing over the bad bits, or flat out leaving out the terrible parts. It was supposed to be a celebration of life, of making a choice to have a family and being happy. This was none of what Akane experienced in her months as her belly grew. To be pregnant in the Menagerie was to be a beacon of comment from anyone and everyone. Here she was scolded for being so selfish, warned against things not to eat, harassed by hands on her stomach constantly, and seemed never to be left alone. Once her belly had swollen to show obvious signs of pregnancy, the harassment began (which quite frankly had the opposite effect and fueled Akane’s anger and pride) everyone and their grandmother felt the need to school her. Even women who had never had children felt the need to speak their piece. Children were scarce in the Menagerie … babies were even more rare. The youngest child Akane had ever seen in The Dome was the youngest from a mother of three in their ring named Aida. She was two years old. There was so much Akane had anticipated would change, but outwardly (and aside from everyone’s run on commentary) nothing really did. Slansky went on his missions, and she still worried for him. Perhaps when he returned there was a touch more tenderness from Slansky now that she carried his child, but it was more for that he was loving two people - not just her. Once her father had calmed down, Husher had hugged her and moved on as if it were completely normal that his sixteen year old daughter were with child by a man twelve years her senior. Neither Slansky nor Husher had spoken much about what had transpired between them when her boyfriend had snuck off to speak to her father. She’d been angry with him all of two seconds before relief and thankfulness had eradicated it completely. Not everyone was negative; some women were thrilled – which was almost worse. They asked how she felt, came to intrude on her privacy constantly to slip her extra rations, or asked to feel her stomach. In the end, the young mother-to-be was in hiding a lot when Slansky was away. Some of the friends she had made were also Hunters , or Scouts – so they were also away a lot. As a result, she was left feeling useless with an alien growing inside her. If this weren’t enough, she desperately missed the thrill and freedom of her little fox-form. The moment she found out she might be pregnant, that same day she and Slansky had spoken of it six long months ago, Akane dare not shift into her animal form. She was too terrified it would hurt the baby, whom speaking of which, was currently bouncing upside-down on her bladder like a trampoline. With a wince, she pushed herself off from the train car rim and toddled over to one of the designated spots to relieve herself for the fifth time that day. The peeing constantly thing was getting old. She felt hot and fat, and slightly cranky. Her body felt like it had been hit by a truck, and her eyes watered every time she remembered Slansky was still gone (which was most of the time), and in the next moment she had the fierce craving for edamame and strawberry ice cream. Mmmm ice cream. She desperately wanted to cool off and though it was winter she felt about a thousand degrees. With a deep sigh she waddled back to the train car and, with heaving effort that made her look like a whale trying to land a plane, levered herself back in. Once inside she took refuge in its dank shade and lay with a wet cloth over her face and her long tangled hair pulled to one side. Just water board me. The torture would be a fun change of pace, she grumbled mentally. Eight months pregnant. Stubbornly, she had not spoken to Slansky about the discord she felt around camp. He had enough to worry over already, and, almost as if they instinctively knew how idiotic it would be to get in the way they kept well away from Akane when he was home. Things were better when he was home anyway, and she would do whatever she had to keep him happy too. She loved him, missed him, hated him at short-lived hormonal times, but inevitably would melt into his arms every time. The baby, whom she fancied was a rambunctious boy – had to be, for crying out loud the kid never slept! – was now happily re-enacting a scene from The Karate Kid (sweet Buddha it had been years since she’d seen that movie). She couldn’t help but smile and brush her palm across her stomach. “Will you please settle down, akachan? You can have all the room you want next month,” she said in a tired, rueful tone and thanked her mother again for tolerating her own unborn shenanigans that, doubtless, she was receiving in kind. Eventually she fell into a dose for a time and after a while was awakened, smiling before opening her eyes. She wasn’t sure what had woken her, a touch, a word, or simply his presence – but Slansky was back. Joy filled her, making her heart beat quicker thus making the baby kick and fuss in her tummy. She ignored the the internal fussing for the moment as her grey-blue hues flashed open eagerly to see him. akachan - baby

WORDS:900+ | TAGS:Slansky Kirov| IRONCHILD@THEMENAGERIE

[Slansky Kirov]

DO YOU LIKE WALKING IN THE RAIN? WHEN YOU THINK OF LOVE DO YOU THINK OF PAIN? YOU'RE THE REASON I'M STRONG It had taken some work. It had taken a lot of work, in fact, but he felt as though each and every bit had been worth it. First he had argued with Cole until she weakened her resolve. Initially, she had said no, on the basis that she believed every man ought preform his job and not ask another to do it for him. Slansky attempted to gain her sympathy, something that he hated to do. In this circumstance, it was necessary. He just short of begged her, in the end, before at last she agreed. She would switch him duties for the new few months so long as Tomas McKellar agreed to it. Slansky had assured that Akane was kept unaware of what he was trying to do. She maintained a very brave face, his beautiful girl, and he was proud of her for that. Slansky felt as though she should not have to be strong for the both of them, however, and it hurt him to see her so worn by her burden. He knew that the child she carried tired her; but more than that, it was having him gone. She did not need to speak her concerns for him to understand her anxiety. Perhaps it ought to have been that Slansky, as the man, went out and brought in food for the women. He did not believe in this gender role, however, and Cole was just as capable of a hunter as himself, if not more so. Thus he had at last struck an agreement and, upon securing Tomas' approval that afternoon, Slansky was able to trek down the Express toward his home with a brilliant smile. Slansky would act the role of omega for the next month or two so he could be near Akane and Cole would temporarily take over his duties as Hunter. He had not been able to find flowers in the bleak season but he had bargained with an acquaintance for a jar of honey. They could at least enjoy some sweet, hot tea. With his breath fogging the air, Slansky felt as though the honey may be even more appreciated. Slansky was quiet when venturing into the train-car. Akane often slept during the day and he did his best not to wake her, although he rarely succeeded. His eyes settled on her resting form and he smiled, tenderly, as he took his boots off by the door and shucked his jacket from his shoulders When he turned to appraise her again and found her beautiful eyes wide awake. His smile widened and he set the honey on a nearby table. He wished to greet her properly, first. He crossed the room to kneel beside her. He kissed her stomach first, with a tenderness typically foreign to large men. Then he crawled up to lay beside her, merely smiling. "I have a... a, ah... gift, love." Slansky declared, in broken English. He had been working on the language. His eyes glittered with mischief. It was clear that he did not just mean the jar of honey, plainly visible from where they lay. He drew up her fingers and kissed her knuckles before playfully biting a fingertip. Oh, how he loved this woman.

[AKANE]

GOTTA SEE THE COLOR IN YOUR EYES Akane beamed at him as he crossed the room and her fingers slid through his rough dark hair when his head lowered to kiss her stomach. He was so good, so gentle. When he shifted up beside her she took a deep breath, taking in his scent, and closed her eyes settling her forehead against his. Automatically, their limbs intertwined. It was always so wonderful to have him home. She tried hard not to let it get to her, tried not to seem so desperate to be in his arms again, but each time she failed and melted into his hold with grateful resigned bliss. In a quick moment of reflection, she realized it was more than just being gone. He was her home. When he was away, it was almost like she was missing him as well as being homesick. Where ever Slansky was, home was. When his English words told her he had a gift, her eyes shifted to the jar of honey. “Oh?” She began (also in English), but as he kissed her knuckles and bit a finger in play she twitched with surprise, grinned and half-heartedly swatted at him. “Hey!” she squeaked. He caught her hand and held it against him. She watched his dark eyes, alight with excitement. There was more in store than the honey. Her head tilted to one side as the side of her mouth kicked up. “What? What is it?” she asked. Just then, the baby shifted and kicked her ribs, hard. She sucked in a sharp breath, put a hand to her stomach and pressed it firmly. The baby settled. She didn’t quite understand why he felt the need to be involved in everything – he wasn’t even born yet. “Settle down little one,” she pleaded and turned a rueful smile to Slansky. “He doesn’t let me get any rest,” she said lightly. “He’s definitely your kid,” she dead-panned and mischievously waggled her eyebrows at him, mimicking his signature move.

WORDS:330+ | TAGS:Slansky Kirov| IRONCHILD@THEMENAGERIE

[Slansky Kirov]

DO YOU LIKE WALKING IN THE RAIN? WHEN YOU THINK OF LOVE DO YOU THINK OF PAIN? YOU'RE THE REASON I'M STRONG It pleased him tremendously to see the excitement light her eyes. Slansky gave another smile, the sort that begins very slowly and stretches moment by moment, second by second, until it met his eyes anew. Then she grimaced, albeit slightly, and Slansky knew that his child had kicked her stomach. He grimaced with her and his forehead against Akane's once more, until their noses brushed. He was on his side facing her and so he used his free hand to gently touch her stomach, palm spread flat and wide. Despite it, the moment certainly was not ruined. Slansky laughed at her comment. "He's going to be strong," Slansky replied proudly, in shiftertongue. "That is a good trait, for this place." He waited patiently for the child to settle beneath the soft shift of his hand. Then he raised his eyes again to Akane. "I made a deal with Tomas and Cole. For the next few months I can stay here and take over Cole's duties as an omega and she will temporarily take over mine as a hunter." He hoped it pleased her; he thought it would. Slansky knew that he would be happier closer to his beloved and his unborn child. He felt as though there were more he could accomplish at home than away, hunting deer in the forlorn wilderness of the Menagerie. "Would you like some tea?" He asked, quite casually, although he knew that her reaction would be anything save casual. He went on to elaborate on his original proposal, with the same nonchalance. "I mean I could no longer stand being away from you for so long. You keep me strong." It was true. Her brave face had maintained his own; it had been torture to say goodbye, day after day, with the knowledge that he could not come back or that while away something could occur in the homestead. What would he do, if Carna were to storm Fallen? What would he do, if the Keepers decided to cruelly intervene? Slansky had many fears for the health and safety of Akane and their child. It constantly occupied his mind, in fact, and he could rest much easier knowing that he would be so near.

[AKANE]

GOTTA SEE THE COLOR IN YOUR EYES That is a good trait, for this place. She loved how his shifter tongue was influenced by his Czech-Russian background. How he phrased things sometimes was just so … her toes curled. Her fingers intertwined with his over the mount of her stomach. She looked like she swallowed a basketball. For the next few months I can stay here. There was a ringing in her ears and she had frozen, her eyes unfocusing somewhere around his lips - the origin of the beautiful words. I can stay here. Those four words were like lyrics to the most heartbreaking and beautiful song she had ever heard. Her eyes began to water instantly. I could no longer stand being away from you for so long. You keep me strong. Her bottom lip trembled. Really? She’d felt that way for so long. They kept each other strong. They’d been together for a long time now but despite that, she occasionally felt the cold grip of fear. What if he changed his mind? What if he didn’t want the baby … what if they were too much? Part of these fears, she reasoned, was her hormones and survival instincts kicking in. Plan for the worst, hope for the best. It was something Husher had taught his daughter from an early age, and Akane had always been the type to prepare. Still, it hurt her to hold the smallest bit of doubt over Slansky – that small part covering a thousand ‘what if’ scenarios that harassed both of them constantly. They had spoken once or twice about it out of necessity, but never in detail. For every single one of them pointed to the same impossibly painful and ultimate question. What if he didn’t come back? That he was staying here with her … Pure joy coursed through her, and with little care to his question about tea she was hysterical for long moments. First, chittering in nonsensical sentences bouncing from Japanese to English, shifter tongue to Slansky’s own language as she gushed through turns of phrase like a blender; Then, She pulled words from each of them, casting about the meanings and phrases in attempt to shape how happy this made her. Tears spilled down her cheeks, both from relief and utter happiness. He was going to be here. Here! She gave up on the million types of thank yous, I love yous, and Thank Gods and instead settled for hearty kisses, her arms wrapping around him as she half-knocked him over with excitement. By the time she settled down, she’d somehow ended in his lap, straddling his legs with her own with her arms wrapped around his neck and shoulders, kissing and kissing him through tears and grins; The basketball bump of baby safely between them. "Really dorogoy? Truly?" she asked, though nothing in her eyes suggested she thought he was lying. It was the best gift he could ever have given, and in that moment despite everything ... she realized, perhaps foolishly, that if she had to pick between her old life and this one? She'd choose Slansky every time.

WORDS:500+ | TAGS:Slansky Kirov| IRONCHILD@THEMENAGERIE