Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hurrying through the town, you adjusted the mask over your face. If anyone saw you they would order you back into your home, but you would die if you went back. There was no more food in your meager hovel, you needed to find food, or else you were going to die. Pulling your knit cap further over your ears, you scurried down the road. Tail curling nervously around your thigh, the eerie silence made your skin crawl. The putrid smell of death hung heavily in the air, you adjusted your mask again. 

You made it to the store without much difficulty, ducking inside and hastily grabbing some items off the shelves. Your rubber gloves squeaked as sweat gathered inside them; it was uncomfortable but you had to bear with it. Only taking the necessities you moved to the front of the story. Your anxiety peaked as you placed your items at the register, the doctor manning the station stared at you oddly. 

“I’d like to pay for these—”

“Allow me to scan you for the virus and I’ll let you have them for free.”

You blinked, staring at the woman in shock, her ear twitched, “Alright.”

The doctor pressed a device against your temple, and a low beep echoed through the room; her eyes lighting up, “Finally,” She breathed.

You raised a brow in confusion, “What is this about, doctor?”

“The virus has been spreading too quickly, I was tasked with finding anyone who has not yet been affected. You are the first.”

“You’re not infected either—are you?” Your heart trembled, were you about to catch the virus?

“No… but I was born infertile, so the virus would never affect me,” She muttered, a hand falling to her stomach.

You reached out holding her shaking hands, “It’s okay, you are so brave, thank you for finding me.”

A bright smile crossed her face, “I was just following orders, it’s not a big deal… but we need to get out of here!”

You barely had time to orient yourself as she started dragging you away, out of the store and down the street; your groceries a forgotten thought. She took you to the outskirts of the virus-ridden city, “Where are you taking me?”

The doctor glanced at you, “We have to get you off the world—or else the Lagus will go extinct.”

You stared at her, it had been nearly a century since the planet Tanlagus had closed off the planet to outsiders. The amount of kidnappings and Lagus ending up in auction houses was enough of a reason. Now the long tradition was being broken to save the species, a pit formed in your stomach.

“Alright—are you coming with me?” You asked, eyes pleading, “There should be enough space for both of us.”

She shook her head, “There are only enough fluids to last one person a month, you need all the strength you can get.”

Disposing of your gloves and mask, she threw them off to the side. You were pressed into the pod by her careful hands, she gave you a sad look. The doctor pressed an IV into your arm, you winced at the uncomfortable pain.

“What will I do?” You asked, tears building in your eyes.

“What you have to,” She murmured, “May the High God guide your light.”

“May the High God guide yours.”

The doctor shut the door to the pod, taking several large steps away. The pod shook as it was sent hurdling up in the sky, the doctor gave you a small wave—you never got to learn her name. Panic filled your chest as green smoke filled the pod, you covered your face to no avail. Darkness seeped into the edges of your vision. 

Everything was dark when you woke up, your body sluggish; nothing was right, and your body felt strange. Your eyes fluttered close at the sudden light, it was blinding you moved your hands to cover your eyes. Muffled voices reached your ears, you tried to get up to no avail. Your body was not heeding your commands, squirming around you squinted at your surroundings. You had no idea where you were.

Chapter Text

Clawing yourself back to consciousness was a struggle in and of itself, your body was stiff. Blinking away the cloudyness of your vision you were met with the sight of several buff aliens towering over you. You scrambled back, eyes wild, “What the fuck!”

“Oi, that’s our line,” The red one snapped, “Wat ahah ya doin' all the bloody way out heah?”

“Er—I was running away—anyways who the fuck are you, people?!” You blurted out; one by one they each shouted out their names.

“Captain Ginyu!”

“Jeice!”

“Burter!”

“Recoome!”

“And Guldo!”

“Together we are the Ginyu Force,” They all proclaimed, all of them striking a variety of poses.

You blinked, “The what?”

“You’ve never heard of us?” Captain Ginyu exclaimed like you had just made a slight against his pride. 

“No?”

“They barely have a power level of one hundred,” Burter mentioned after tapping a button on his scouter.

“We should just get rid of them, no point in keepin' a weaklin' ahround,” Jiece said. 

“You can't kill me!” You blurted out, waving your hands around desperately.

Ginyu quirked a brow, “Why not?”

“I’m a Lagus!”

That got everyone’s attention, of course, it did, who would not recognize the name of the universe’s most reclusive species and the best breeders? 

“Seriously?” Guldo breathed, looking you up and down.

“I thought their planet was closed off,” Jiece challenged, “How do we know ya ahren’t lying?”

Pulling off your hat you allowed your elongated ears to show and unwound your tail from your waist, two of the most prominent visible tells for a Lagus. 

“Well guess they weren’t lying,” Burter murmured.

“Lord Frieza will be most delighted to hear of this update,” Ginyu declared, “Now what is your name little Lagus.”

Your ears were hot as you forced out your name, wringing your hands together. Heat had already begun to pool in your stomach, your estrus was not supposed to start for a few days, though it seemed it might be coming early. Maybe being around all of these attractive people was the cause, you would not mind having any of them breed you. 

“Recoome is confused, why little Lagus out here?” He asked, striking a dramatic thinking pose.

“Tanlagus was overcome by a virus,” You explained, heart stumbling in your chest, “I’m most likely the last one not infected.”

That got their attention, Guldo was the first to break the silence, “What kind of virus?”

“It basically eats away at the reproductive organs before spreading to the rest of the body and slowly killing the host.”

Their hands all went for their junk, a wince of pain washing over all of them. You blinked in confusion at their odd reaction, maybe it was an offworlder thing. 

Ginyu broke the awkward silence, “And you're not infected… right?”

“Yeah the doctor that sent me away, scanned me and said I was all good,” You reassured, which made the Ginyu Force collectively sigh in relief. 

“Soooo you're a girl right?” Guldo asked, he was quickly smacked on the back of his head.

“Ya can't ask questions liyyke that, mate,” Jeice snapped. 

“A girl?” You questioned, “What’s a girl?”

Their eyes jumped to you, before glancing back at each other, Guldo was the first to break the silence, “What do you mean?”

You blinked, “What I said…?”

“A girl is—er—a female! Yeah a female,” Jeice quickly supplied. 

“Is that like a doe or a buck?” You asked, leaning forward, curiosity brimming in your eyes. 

“Er… sure?” Guldo replied after a moment.

You looked at Jeice, “Which one are you?”

“Obviously a bloke!”

Your brows furrowed, “What’s that?”

Burter brushed off Jeice, “Don’t mind him he speaks funny—”

“HEY!”

“—Anyway what he means is, that he is a male. Which one are you?”

You thought for a moment, “Which one can have babies?”

“Females,” Jeice said, still glaring at Burter from the corner of his eyes. 

“Okay, are any of you females?”

Jeice was sputtering again, “No, none of us ahre!”

You frowned, “That’s pretty unlucky, statistically I would have thought at least one of you was a doe.”

Ginyu paused, “What’s the difference between a doe and a buck?”

“Well a doe is the one who gets pregnant and the buck is the one who impregnates the doe. Like my parents, Da was a doe and Pa was the buck,” You explained, “But my one Auntie kept switching between doe and buck, you could never tell.”

Now you were being stared at again.

“That—that is the bloody most confusin' biology I’ve evah heahrd of…” Jeice muttered. 

You shrugged, “Not really—anyways where are we going,” You asked. 

“We’re meeting up with the main ship,” He replied. 

“Why?”

“To report to Lord Frieza.”

You blinked, “Who’s that?”

“Oh, right you’re not used to how things are done up here,” Ginyu muttered, “Lord Frieza is the Emperor of the Universe and our boss.”

You nodded your head, sort of following along with what he was saying. It was a little confusing, but you did not feel like trying to get him to elaborate. 

Ginyu crossed his arms, “Jeice take them to the spare room.”

“Ay, Captayyn,” Jeice saluted Ginyu and led you out of the room. 

Following Jeice, he showed you down several hallways before reaching your new room. The spare room was not much larger than your cramped apartment. A decently sized bed, pressed flush against the wall, and a door which you assumed led to the bathroom.

“Well I’ll leave ya ta make yaself at home,” Jeice said, striking a pose before leaving.

Taking another long glance around the room, you fell on top of the plush bed, heat pooling in your stomach.

Chapter Text

Your vision was blurry, a wave of pain washing over you, your heats were never usually this bad. The heat radiating off of you was too much, you needed someone—anyone—before you were able to ride them out with just your fingers. Now not even your hands could sate your desires, tears pooled in the corners of your eyes. A flinch racked through your body at the touch of another, your bleary eyes raised to meet a pair of deep green eyes. 

“Wat’s wrong?” Jeice’s voice was soft, as he gently caressed your arm. 

You pressed into the touch, wanting more of the addicting feeling. His brows pinched in understanding, it was common knowledge that Lagus had heats. Times when they became so fertile that all they wanted was to be fucked senseless. 

Jeice made a face, “I should get the bloody captayyn.”

As soon as his hands left your sides, another wave of agony washed over your form. Panic streaked across his face as he quickly embraced you, his body curling around yours. 

“Please…” You begged, pawing at his spandex-covered chest, “Help…me…”

Jeice took one last look at the door before sighing, “Fine but I'm usin' a franger.”

He pulled off his shoes and took out a condom, you were not going to ask why he had one. Setting the wrapper beside you he quickly shimmied out of his uniform, you watch with bated breath. The rippling of his muscles as he moved only served to turn you on more. Languidly you fumbled with your clothes, body not listening to your commands. 

Jeice grabbed your scrambling hands, making you pause; he grabbed the hem of your shirt and pulled it up over your head. He held your wrists in place above you with one of his hands; the other hand was placed firmly on your waist. Leaning down he swallowed your nipple into his mouth; the breath rushed from your lungs. Jeice’s tongue encircled your perked nipple, a moan escaped your open maw. You felt him smirk against your chest, your tail wound around his thigh. He kept playing with your nipples for what felt like hours, you writhed under his tongue, grasping desperately at the hand that held you in place. A broken whine slipped from your mouth as he drew away from your chest.

“Ya'ah good as gold bynny,” Jeice murmured breathlessly. 

His free hand drifted down, sliding down your shorts and underwear. The air was cool against your damp core, you whimpered at the sensation. Jeice presses a kiss to your lips, gently biting at your bottom lip. 

He pulled back, “Is this okay, bynny?” 

“Yes,” You exhaled, moving to meet his lips. 

Two of his digits plunged into you, back arched to get more of his addicting touch. Jeice started slowly, pumping into your wetness in time with his kisses; his fingers alone were making a knot form in your stomach. Scissoring his hands, stretching your core, he pulled them out. He kissed down the complaint on your puffy lips; grabbing the condom at your side. 

His cock was already hard, he gave it a few pumps for good measure before slipping the condom on. You puffed up your cheeks in annoyance, deep down you wanted him to fill you full of kits. 

“I’m not gettin' ya fahkin' pregnant bynny; Ginyu would av my head,” Jeice exclaimed, noticing the look on your face. 

“Fine,” You mumbled, easing up on your annoyance, you would be pregnant soon enough anyway. It was only a matter of time after all. 

In one motion Jeice slid into you, eliciting a startled gasp from your throat. His hands held your hips as he rocked back and forth; you clawed at the bedsheets below you. 

“Fuhk ya beaut,” He moaned, pressing his weight against you, pinning you to the mattress. 

A breathy whine broke from your mouth, hands shifting to grab fistfuls of his snowy locks. Jeice grunted as he bit down on your shoulder, drawing light trails of blood. Breathless you threw your head back against the mattress, loving how his body felt against yours. This was a hundred times better than riding out your heat with your hands. 

It felt like hours had gone by in a heated haze, your bodies pressing together in tandem. Like there was no one else in the universe but you and Jiece, everything was perfect. Jeice was going to be in so much trouble, neither of you could care less at that moment—still riding off the post-sex euphoria. 

Burter raised a brow as Jeice came stumbling out of the Lagus’ room, in a haphazardly put-on uniform. “I see you were getting a little frisky with the Lagus—Captain ain’t gonna be happy~”

“I’ll take your bathroom cleaning for a week,” Jeice pleaded, “Just don’t tell Captain.”

“Mmm, I’ll have to think about it~”

“Please!”

So much for a “ride or die” best friend.  

Ginyu was a little suspicious about how fervently Jeice was taking to cleaning the bathrooms. He was not going to comment though—it had been a while since Jeice was so passionate about something other than work. Ginyu was happy that his right-hand man was taking some time to do things that made him happy. However, cleaning bathrooms was a strange hobby. 

Chapter Text

Your heat was—thankfully—fast this time around, usually, they lasted a week to ten days. This time yours only raged on for three days, a good sign for you. A devilish grin spread across your face, despite the precautions Jeice had deployed while you were in heat, you could feel that they had not worked. Kits. 

You were over the moon with excitement, you had always wanted kits of your own. Jealousy always brewed inside of you whenever you saw a young doe with their newborn kits. Sure you did not expect to have them with Jeice, but you were not complaining. Kits were kits after all. You were given odd looks due to your strangely chipper attitude, you just about bounced around the ship. 

“What’s got you all excited?” Burter asked, slurring his speech.

You grinned, moving a finger to your lips, “It’s a secret~”

“Fine, keep your secrets you little minx,” He teased.

You skipped away, barely able to wait for yourself to become swollen with the kit, a hand falling to your stomach. Keeping the father a secret was not something you could hope to do, given the children more often than not took after the buck rather than the doe—especially with inter-species kits. The mere thought of a little kit with lush white hair and the cutest red skin made your skin tingle. 

Unfortunately, Jeice was keeping his distance, which was a feat itself on such a small ship. Whenever you turned a corner he was already halfway around the next. It was getting a little irritating, watching him flee at the sight of you. If he kept this up someone was bound to notice Jeice’s odd behavior. 

You walked into one of the common rooms, and Ginyu immediately noticed your presence.

“Ah, just the person I wanted to see,” Ginyu exclaimed, “Have a seat, we need to have a word.”

You nodded your head, taking the plush seat across from him, “What did you wanna talk about Gin—Captain?”

“You can call me Ginyu—now onto business. If anyone tries to take advantage of you, come straight to me I will sort them out myself,” He murmured darkly.

You blinked, “What does that mean?”

“Er—if you don’t want to do something with them, you can say no. If they don’t listen to your no, come get me or,” Ginyu held out a small device. “Press this button and I’ll come running.”

“Alright.”

“Also, we will be joining up with the main ship before the end of this cycle, take it easy until then,” He said. 

Nodding you bid Ginyu farewell and headed back to your room as you rounded a corner you ran into someone. Before you could fall you were caught by a pair of firm hands, you stared into a familiar pair of green eyes. Jeice’s cheeks were dark as he quickly helped you regain your balance. 

“Sawrry about the bloody othah day,” He murmured, hands lingering on your upper arms. “I shouldn't av done that wile ya weah outtah it.”

“It’s okay, I was perfectly lucid,” You assured, “Just outrageously horny because of hormones and shit.”

Jeice let out a long sigh like a weight had been lifted from his chest, before saying, “I'm not garn ta be doin' anythin' liyyke that anytime soon, ya heahr.”

You bit down your emotions, “Alright.”

Jeice quickly fled the scene and you walked back to your room, feeling substantially worse than before. 

The ship rumbled and shook as it docked in the bay of the main ship, you were strapped to one of the spare seats while the ship landed. The others were more used to landings so they had no need to sit down. As soon as the ship stopped shaking you unbuckled yourself and trailed after the Ginyu Force. Walking out into a far larger ship was strange, the only building that came close to the size of the one you were currently aboard was the capital building. 

“Before we take you to see Frieza, you need to see a doctor,” Ginyu said, marching in the direction of what you assumed was the medical bay. The rest of the Ginyu Force and you follow close behind. 

Frieza’s ship was large, to say the least, you stared up at the tall hallways in awe. Following behind Ginyu you were surrounded by the rest of the Force. Jeice was pointedly not looking at you in favor of surveying the other people wandering the halls. You were given weird looks as you followed after them, by various soldiers loitering around. 

Walking down several halls you would have gotten lost a long time ago if you were not following behind someone. With how winding the various halls were and you could not read their written language, it was different from the one you had been taught. 

After walking down a few more hallways Ginyu finally stopped in front of a towering door, he pressed the pad at the side of the door and it slid open. With wide eyes you quickly looked over the spacious room, several test tubes and devices were scattered across the room along with cots and various doors. You watched as a short green reptilian doctor turned around to greet the group that had piled into the medical bay. 

“Captain, to what do I owe the pleasure for this… surprise visit,” The doctor asked, eyes flicking to your form.

Ginyu towered over the slight doctor as he spoke, “This is a Lagus doe we picked up during our travels, we need you to look over them before they are shown to Lord Frieza.”

The doctor quickly ushered you into a different room, so that he could run a few tests. You sat down on the examination table, watching as the doctor bustled around the room. Now that you were alone with the doctor you decided to let loose your possible pregnancy.

“I might be carrying a kit.”

The doctor blinked, staring at you for a long moment before hurrying over to a cabinet, “Pull up your shirt.”

You did as he asked, watching as he spread a cool cream across your bare stomach. Using a small device he rolled it over your abdomen, the reptilian doctor got pale as he put the device back.

“You are indeed pregnant, may I ask you a few questions?”

You nodded your head.

“Alright, when was your last heat?” The doctor asked.

“Around two weeks ago.”

“When were you last intimate with someone?”

“Two weeks ago,” You said.

He paled further, “Can I ask which one?”

“Huh?”

“The father, who is the father?” The doctor clarified.

“Jeice.”

The doctor looked like he wanted to cry at that moment, “Does he know?”

“Nope,” You said, popping the “p.”

“I am going to have to tell them about the kit,” The doctor said, “It would be different if you weren’t such a high-priority individual, apologies.”

You shrugged your shoulders. “It’s alright, not much point in keeping it a secret, they’ll find out eventually anyways.”

“I will be telling them now,” The doctor said before leaving the room, you stayed put, listening through the cracked door.

“The Lagus is pregnant with a kit,” The doctor revealed, before pointing at Jeice, “He is the father.”

Jeice paled, “I'm garn ta be a wat?”

“What the fuck, Jeice!” Ginyu exclaimed, anger streaking across his face. 

“But I used protection!”

The doctor made a face, “Those aren’t one hundred percent effective.”

Jeice’s face fell into his hands, he had messed up big time; now he had a child on the way.

“The Lagus will also have to stay in the lab for a few hours so that we can run a few tests,” The doctor mentioned, “If you would like to see them you can go in.”

The entire Ginyu Force clambered into the room, it was a bit cramped but they made it work. 

“Why did you go off and hook up with Jeice?” Ginyu demanded fire in his eyes. 

A sheepish smile spread across your face, “I couldn't help it—”

Jeice’s scouter made a noise, and his eyes drifted to the numbers shooting across his screen, “Why has your power level shot up?!”

You blinked before explaining it the same way you had been taught, “Well… after a Lagus has been inseminated their body kinda condenses power to feed the kit. After the child is born some of it stays, so depending on who I mate with it makes my body stronger to supply the baby and keep me from dying.”

The doctor quickly jotted that down, “Is there anything else we should know?”

You closed your eyes thinking for a long moment, “I’m going to be really horny and my body is probably not going to hold up very well during the pregnancy—since this is my first and Jeice is by no means weak.”

Jeice’s cheeks darkened at the bluntness of your words, you looked at him oddly.

“What?”

Burter piped up, “Most people aren’t so open about their… needs…”

You blinked, “Really?”

You were met with wide stares, glancing around an embarrassed heat spread across your face. 

“No one on Tanlagus kept quiet about their sex lives—is it supposed to be a secret?”

“…It shouldn't be public knowledge,” Ginyu said after a moment of deliberation, his cheeks several shades darker. 

“Oh, okay,” You murmured. 

Ginyu swallowed thickly, “After the doctor is done running tests we will go meet with Lord Frieza.”

The doctor stiffened at your side, “We can go now if needed, no tests that are on a time crunch.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

The anxiety that you had been staving off came back like a tidal wave. You were far from ready to meet the so-called “Emperor of the Universe.”

(This is me as the reader)

Chapter Text

Walking into the large room had chills running down your back, you could only see one person in the room. A short blue woman with a cropped lilac bob, her eyes locked with yours, intrigue alight in her golden eyes. 

“Ah, back already, Ginyu?”

You blinked, the woman did not say that, it took longer than you would ever admit to notice him. The hovering chair spun around and you locked eyes with him. There was no doubt about it, this was Lord Frieza. Blood-red eyes contrasted with pale white skin; he quirked a brow before redirecting his attention back to Ginyu.

“What is this?”

“We found a Lagus stranded in space on our way to join up with the main ship,” Ginyu explained.

“A Lagus?” Frieza mused as he leaned forward in his seat, hands steepled as he stared you down. 

“Tanlagus has closed its borders for almost a century at this point,” The blue woman mentioned, “What is one doing out here?”

“According to the Lagus, there was a virus that was plaguing the planet,” Ginyu explained simply. 

Frieza's gaze remained steady, his crimson eyes scanning you with an intensity that made the air feel electric. The blue woman, her expression unreadable, glanced between Frieza and you. 

"A virus, you say?" Frieza's tone was cold, his interest piqued as he addressed you directly. "And you are...?"

You quickly muttered out your name, keeping your gaze steady, not wanting to do anything that could be considered a faux pas. 

Frieza's lips curled into a smirk, though his eyes remained unreadable. "And what is it you expect from me? Mercy? Assistance?"

The blue woman, seemingly intrigued by the dynamics at play, folded her arms and tilted her head forward. "Or perhaps there's something more you're seeking?"

Frieza's attention shifted to her for a moment before returning to you. "Indeed. What do you have to offer, Lagus, that could make your presence worthwhile to us?"

You knew what they were fishing for, your survival hung in the balance after all. He wanted to know if you would be able to do what your species was made for. There was no choice for you in the end, the only option was clear. You were a doe, after all, just a breeder here. 

“I am still young in terms of my species—I am more than willing to play my role,” You said.

Frieza hummed, “I suppose a legacy of my own would be useful—Father had several children.”

“The Lagus is already pregnant,” The doctor piped up, drawing Frieza’s attention. 

“What’s stopping me from getting rid of the little nuisance right now?” Frieza mused, your hands curled defensively over your stomach. You noticed Jeice still at Ginyu’s side, his muscles taut as he stared down Frieza. If Frieza made a move, would Jeice do anything?

The doctor quickly intervened, “I would strongly advise against that, my Lord. Killing the fetus now would cause severe mental strain on the Lagus and potentially damage the survival chances of future children. Also, the Lagus bearing the child will help them get closer to being able to bear your children. At this point their body is nowhere near strengthened enough to survive your offspring, my Lord.”

Frieza hummed as if he was thinking about it, your heart trembled, ribs aching from the pounding in your chest. You were only able to breathe easily when he swapped topics, talking about something to Ginyu. Your hands shook tremendously and your vision swam, that could have been the end of your kit. Part of you wished you had never stepped foot on this ship, then maybe Frieza would have never known about you.

Once you were out of the room you finally allowed yourself to process what happened. You were allowed to live and were now a part of the Frieza Force, it was better than being dead you supposed. At least you had some semblance of choice in this place, even if it was between two bad options. 

You pressed a hand to the wall for support, taking slow, deliberate breaths. The unsettling thought of what might have happened if the doctor hadn’t intervened plagued your mind. You glanced down at your hands, still trembling, and then at your stomach, protectively cradled beneath your fingers. The life growing within you was a fragile hope, a tiny spark in a vast and indifferent universe.

Ginyu’s voice drew your attention. He approached, flanked by Jeice, whose gaze was as intense as ever. You forced yourself to stand straight and meet their eyes, trying to muster a semblance of composure.

“I trust you’re well?” Ginyu asked, his tone polite but carrying an undertone of formality.

“As well as can be expected,” you replied, your voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside.

Jeice’s gaze softened slightly, though he said nothing. His stance remained vigilant, his muscles tense as if he was ready to spring into action if needed. It was a small comfort, knowing that someone at least showed a hint of concern.

“The ship has accommodations for you,” Ginyu continued, his eyes scanning you with a mix of curiosity and professionalism. “For now, you’ll be provided with quarters. It’s not luxurious, but it’s functional. You’ll also be under constant observation until further notice.”

You nodded, your thoughts already racing ahead. The reality of living under such scrutiny was daunting, but it was a small price to pay for the chance to survive.

“Thank you,” you said quietly, trying to sound sincere.

“Of course,” Ginyu muttered, stopping in front of what you assumed was your new quarters, “I will leave you with Jeice.”

You blinked, watching as Ginyu quickly left. Turning your attention to Jeice whose red face seemed darker than before. You lead him into your new room and turn to pay attention to him.

“Sawrry about knockin' ya up,” He said softly. 

The awkwardness of the situation was palpable as Jeice’s apology hung in the air. You watched as he shifted uncomfortably, his usual confident demeanor replaced by something more subdued.

“There’s no need to apologize,” you said, trying to ease the tension. “It’s not like I wasn’t prepared for the possibility.”

Jeice’s expression softened slightly. “Yer, well, it’s not the bloody best situation fawr anyone involved. Just... tryin' ta make sah ya know that not everyone here’s lookin’ ta make things 'ahrdah fawr ya.”

You nodded, feeling a small measure of relief at his words. You bid him farewell and slumped against your door. Staring up at the ceiling you let out a long sigh, resting your hand on your stomach, this was going to be a long pregnancy.