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As a penguin, it was risky for him to have offspring with someone who had a different secondary gender. Being the tiniest penguin species in the world he was often mistaken for a human child due to his small stature.
He realized that dating outside his second-gender origins could be hazardous, especially if they wanted to have children. That's why he discussed it with Barnacles as soon as they became an item.
Luckily, Captain Barnacles had no trouble with the idea of adoption since he always wanted to become a dad and be there for his children. unlike his father who abandoned him and his siblings due to his polar bear instincts.
Now, here he was in the middle of the met Bay holding his contracting abdomen, he knew what was going on as soon as the contractions started.
They were careful, they always used protection, and he always took pregnancy tests. He never let the egg grow because he knew that this egg would be hard to push out.
He didn't know if it would be easier if he shifted or if he should sound the Octoalert.
He knew that he had his basic instincts to fall back on. He could go to his room and lock the door, make a nest, and do this on his own. Or he could call for help.
Peso felt quite embarrassed that this was happening to him. How could he not know that there was an egg growing inside him?
There had to be symptoms. He was a medic, for goodness sake. there had to be some sort of signs. wincing and holding his stomach. He tried to figure out what to do.
Looking around, he noticed the pool of water on the bay floor to help sea creatures in need. (Maybe he can try getting into the water).
He didn't have time to figure it out as he felt his body pushing down for him.
He held on to whatever was in front of him and just helped his body do what it needed to do. As he pushed, he felt the need to push the OCTO alert button more and more, but how would he even get there?
bearing down again he felt his abdomen contract against his body. This egg would deftly be too big to do this on his own.
During the respite, he finally felt like he could push the button on his wrist. Doing so, Captain Barnacles' face came into the camera.
" Peso report, please". He said.
He nearly forgot he was supposed to be on a mission. Helping sea creatures in the Mediterranean Sea, not in his met bay trying to give birth.
He looked at his wrist. I need help." I never made it out of the Met Bay. I think you need to come up here".
"Understood"
Captain Barnacles may have just said he understood the situation, but that was to keep him calm. He always noticed when Peso was about to have a panic attack or an active need for someone to be calm in front of him.
He knew that his boyfriend was in no way calm. He didn't know how to explain when he got up here that he would be a father.
whether he was ready to or not. feeling the pressure again he pushed down as hard as he could.
He just needed to listen to his body, and they would get through this.
……
Captain Barnacles rushed into the room after being summoned by his partner. He was preparing to reprimand him for not participating in the mission.
However, he was taken aback when he saw Peso, lying on the floor with his legs spread apart, attempting to push something out. Concerned, Captain Barnacles inquired about what was happening.
"peso you OK"
Peso didn't even acknowledge the fact that he was there for a few minutes.
"Peso, honey". Barnacle said, kneeling on the ground and touching Peso's shoulder. The medic jumped but looked straight into his eyes.
"S Something's wrong". He started.
"What's wrong? I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong". Barnacle said, rubbing his back.
"I think I'm laying an egg". He said, taking a deep breath, and starting to push again.
barnacle was a bit surprised. Could he even lay an egg? Of course, he's a Penguin, but he's a male. He was confused about this and had a lot of questions.
right now, he had to pay attention to his partner, leaning back against him, his sweaty hair in his face.
He looked tired and done, but he needed to see the progress. He knew that Peso wouldn't lie to him, and he was a medic, so he should know about this stuff.
looking in between his legs, he saw the tip of the egg pinking out. He didn't know what position would be great for Peso right now.
All he knew was that comfort was the most important thing.
So rubbing pesos arms up and down, he leaned on his sweaty hair. "Come on, you can do what your body's telling you. He whispered, "Whatever you need me to do, I will do it, just say the word."
………
Peso felt tremendously grateful that he didn't ask too many questions upon arriving at the MetBay even offered to move him from the floor to a sitting position.
he just knelt and got him into a sitting position with his knees wide open. Check the progress of the egg, and don’t question it.
He knew Barnacles had so many questions, but felt the comforting gesture of him rubbing up and down his arm with his head against Barnacle's chest.
he just knew right then and there that Barnacles would save his questions for later.
But right now, he felt he needed to get this egg out.
Squeezing onto Barnacle's hand, he put one arm beneath his thigh to get more space between his legs and one hand squeezing Barnacle's hand.
He felt tremendous pressure building up in his abdomen.
He knew what it was but couldn't see enough to know when the egg would appear. He didn't want to tell Barnacles to go down between his legs either.
He wanted and needed the comfort of his lover supporting him from behind. so he just did what his body wanted him to do.
When he felt the urge to push, he pushed. when he needed to take a break and take a few breaths.
That's what he did.
……..
30 minutes later
It had been a few hours since Peso started to push, and it was 30 minutes since Barnacles entered the room.
He buried his face deep into Barnacle's shoulder blade, hoping the closeness would help calm his nerves.
The pain was even worse, and the egg didn't feel like an egg anymore. The tip is out, but he was having trouble delivering the widest part of the egg.
barnacles kept saying comforting words to him, hoping that would help comfort him and calm him down.
Peso didn't want to hear comforting words; he wanted to hear the plop of the baby's egg come out of him.
He held his partner's hand tightly, pushing every time; he felt the cramp and breathing every time he felt the cramp release.
Filling his opening split open every time. He beards down and then tries to close around the top of the egg when he releases
which was excruciating. He released a few screens but tried to hold it back as best he could. He didn't want anybody else to come into the Met Bay and see him like this.
He let out a scream as he bared down again, feeling his opening split open and stay open. That meant the egg was finally halfway.
The thing is, he was stung by jellyfish, poisonous Stingrays you name it. His job was dangerous, however, there was nothing worse than the sting of a crowning egg trying to pop out of your body.
He felt his partner rub his back as he sat up a bit to give himself some more memento bearing down. He felt the egg push back a little. Every time he leaned back to catch his breath.
It felt like agony, like the Ring of Fire he. He knew now why the creatures that he helped deliver eggs and babies were in so much pain.
In the end, he knew what to do, but he was hyperventilating now.
He thought he heard brave, you are doing great, but he couldn't breathe. He couldn't catch his breath, and he couldn't do this anymore. He wanted it to be done over with.
He was done.
"I can't anymore". Peso said, trembling and crying.
"Yes you can, you're almost there. I got my hand on the egg. All you have to do is give me one more push". Barnacles encouraged.
one more, He thought to himself, only one more, and he can make this count. He didn't think he had energy for one more, but as soon as the egg was out, he could rest.
he gave one more big push, filling the egg finally slipping fully out while he screamed.
Barnacle's hand finally left his as he caught the egg with both hands.
……
"You did it! It's out". Barnacles said, kissing his forehead.” you did great”.
Barnacles immediately started wiping off the egg as best as he could and kindling the egg to see if there was a baby inside.
peso waited for a few minutes, knowing there was a chance that the egg would be fertilized. He felt like crying.
Could he even do this job with an infant on board?
What's going to happen in the future?
All those thoughts and more came to his mind.
But as he looked at Barnacles gently wrapping up the egg in a blanket. he knew without a shadow of a doubt that they would figure it out.
He also knew that he wanted this baby with barnacles, and no matter what happened in the future, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he was making the right choice.
It doesn't matter what instinct tells either of them to do; they will be there for this child and each other.