Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Five years he’d waited for this – to see if finally, after so much blood spent and tears cried, Inpu would be able to bring his husband back to him. When Inpu saw the unmistakable figure lying there, quiet and peaceful, his breath caught so harshly he almost started choking; grasping onto the bannister so as not to collapse.  

“Oh my gods,” babbling now as his vision hazed with tears, Inpu fell to his knees, crawling desperately to the man and herding him into his arms with instinctual softness, feverish with the innate desire to hold him once more. Bryan came just as willing; curling into Inpu sluggishly when he pulled him closer onto his lap, eyes closed and face weary against the slow energy bleeding from his tired limbs. So worn like this, limp against him, Inpu had never thought him more beautiful.  

Aching to keep looking at him, Inpu curled his hand around the side of Bryan’s head and raised his cheek upwards to get a better look at him, studying every inch he’d feared he would forget, the same face he’d see time and time again whenever he closed his eyes. The five years they’d been apart had been bruising, so to cradle him again finally felt so unbelievable Inpu had to hold him just a little tighter. The brush of dove-white eyelashes against his palm caught the breath in his chest, and when finally Bryan’s eyes fluttered open to peer drowsily up at him – so open and tender – Inpu sobbed carelessly and leaned down to press his lips to his husband's temple in raw devotion.  

Tenderly, he tucked Bryan’s head into the curve of his shoulder, cupping his neck as gently as he dared for the mere assurance that his husband was here – alive, unharmed, warm in his arms once again. Inpu thumbed soothingly at his lover’s pulse, and let his tears fall into the crown of his pale hair.  

A slight bump against his chin had him pulling back as little as he could, turning now to look at Bryan who’d moved his head drowsily out from underneath Inpu’s chin, instead dropping it further back onto his shoulder in favour of staring up at Inpu. “Hey,” Bryan murmured, warm and earnest, smiling dopily at him with thick adoration.  

“Hi,” he whispered back, suddenly shy in the quietness of the moment but unable to look away for even a second. There was a quiet snort from Bryan, and soon Inpu was ducking down to pepper endless kisses across his face, flittering down the bridge of his nose, his cheeks, the corner of his lips and eyes, grinning stupidly all the while as Bryan snickered and bathed in the attention. “You’re home,” breathing the words against his skin, Inpu pressed a final firm kiss to Bryan’s hairline before resting his forehead against the others' own, content in the moment.  

A few heartbeats passed before Inpu shifted again, still keeping his head rested on Bryan’s crown but turning to peer at the three hanging back timidly near the other end of the bridge – it was clear none of the kids had taken their eyes off the two, attentive and wide-eyed as they perked up the second their father caught their gaze. They stumbled over themselves for a moment when Inpu beckoned them over invitingly, unsure and nervous. Still, it didn’t take long before Lotus began bounding forwards and came to a skidding to a halt only mere feet away from where the two held another on the floor.  

Lotus was clearly unfamiliar with what to do, but it was sweet the way they made an effort to hunch in on themselves and caution their movements as if Bryan were a startled animal, shifting forwards on their heel and craning their neck to get the best view possible of where Bryan still lay curled against Inpu.  

Fondly, Inpu pet Bryan’s cheek with his knuckles to rekindle his drooping attention, noting the fact honey eyes had closed again. “Ahlan, habibi,” he tucked a stray lock behind the other's ear, “I’ll explain everything in detail later, I promise, but for now, let’s just say that we’re uhm – parents?”  

It took a few seconds of silence, the fog in Bryan’s brain clearing enough to take in that information, but soon he heard the keen of confusion and shuffle of wings, a quiet “huh?” murmured into the crook of Inpu’s neck.  

“The soul crystal, hayati – it gave us three beautiful children, see?” Inpu gently grasped his chin and turned it in Lotus’s direction, Femi hiding just behind them with her hand grasped nervously onto their robe and Atlas still a fair bit away but subtly inching closer. He could tell Bryan had reopened his eyes from the way Lotus curled closer in on themselves, yet still unable to keep their tail from wagging viciously in clear excitement.  

Inpu let go of his chin in favour of stroking mindlessly over Bryan’s hair, familiarising himself with his husband in his arms again, but he knew Bryan hadn’t looked away from Lotus yet; immediately enamoured with the sight of them just as Inpu had been three years ago.  

Bryan reached up his hand, and instantly Lotus was throwing caution to the wind and leaning forwards to push their face into his palm, purring noisily as they wiggled in delight they were unable to contain. “Gosh, you’re so pretty,” Bryan murmured sleepily, voice caught in awe as he thumbed over Lotus’s cheek delicately. It was then Femi huddled up closer against her siblings' back and popped her head over their shoulder, ears twitching so much she whacked Lotus in the face with them a couple of times.  

“Hi,” she hushed shyly, her smile tentative as she tucked in closer against Lotus, ignoring their grumbling as Lotus leaned their head away to avoid the relentless attack.  

“Hi, moro mou,” Bryan cooed adoringly, coaxing the two closer so they settled on the floor in better reach. As he fawned over his children, Inpu perked his head up to glance over them and make eye contact with Atlas – slightly closer now, but still hanging back too far and staring at them earnestly. He reached a hand out to beckon his son forward, and it took only a second of trepidation before he stumbled towards them fidgeting fitfully with his hands; when Atlas was close enough, Inpu grasped his elbow and swept his thumb over his skin soothingly, before urging him down to kneel at his side.  

“Bryan - this is Atlas, your son,” he pressed another kiss to Bryan’s hair and smiled at the utter devotion in Atlas’s gaze, skittish and apprehensive but unable to stop himself from rocking forwards on his heels to be just that bit closer to his father, so reverent in Bryan’s presence before he’d even properly met him.  

Bryan lifted his head slightly off of Inpu’s shoulder and reached forward to cup Atlas’s head and bring his son gently towards him – Atlas came compliantly, wings flitting behind him as Bryan pressed a sweet kiss to his cheek, chirping a “poulaki mou” to him that had Atlas huddling even closer, nudging his head to Inpu’s chest to rest there comfortably and keep looking enrapturedly at Bryan.  

Ivory wings stretched out for a moment, shaking out the lethargy drooping them so heavily before they puffed out to wrap warmly around the three children and hustle them together tighter. Bryan brought his hands to Inpu’s face and leaned up to kiss the dip in his eyebrows, murmuring sweet nothings against his skin that had Inpu tearing up again, pressing forward to burrow his head into Bryan’s shoulder and let his arms cradle him lovingly.  

They held each other there on the bridge, content and complete with one another, finally returning after so many years of hurt – Inpu pulled Atlas, Femi, and Lotus even closer, and breathed in the quietness of his joy.  

Chapter Text

The walk back into the house was cautious – with Bryan cradled in his arms, still weak and tired, the last thing Inpu wanted to do was trip and send his newly revived husband flying; partly because it would hurt him greatly, of course, but also because he’s sure Bryan would ignore him for weeks after that in pettiness and that is not what he needs right now.  

The kids were trotting closely too, trailing after Inpu like little ducklings and babbling nonsense to Bryan that he’d dutifully hum answers to, just small affectionate ramblings like how their days had been, or what new animal they’d seen last week. 

When they finally crossed through the door into the throne room, Bryan tilted his head back and gazed around the room again, smiling drowsily at the familiar sight of their home; a little battered and dusty maybe, odd scuff marks here and there that tugged ever so slightly at his irritance, but he wouldn’t gripe Inpu about that just yet. Instead, he let his head drop back to the other's chest with a dramatic thump and reached up one of his limp wings to brush at the nape of Inpu’s neck. 

Inpu moved his head down a bit to look at the man in his arms, warmly grinning when Bryan shifted to press a kiss to his jaw. “We should get you cleaned up a little, hm?” Turning his head to look at the kids mulling behind, he gestured them deeper into the house. “Why don’t you three ready the bedroom while you wait for us, we’ll only be a moment.” They hesitated briefly, eyes flicking from him to Bryan, but he nudged his head once again unyieldingly and the three of them hurried off as told. 

With that, Inpu made his way to the bathroom on the other side of the mansion, fitted with a large circular alabaster bath he knew Bryan had favoured in the time he’d lived here. Inpu had never used it as often in the other’s absence, the luxury a touch too unfamiliar to him - but with his husband's return, a small part of him felt desperate to prove to Bryan that his life here was much better than Elysium; that Inpu’s decision to bring him back was justified. Bryan loved him dearly, this much he was aware of, but doubt had him wondering if maybe this existence wasn’t what the angel wanted.  

Had he taken that choice away from him, forced him to come back purely because of his own selfishness? Inpu had spent five years entirely set on his desire to have his husband back in his arms, but suddenly the what-if of the other's reluctance was setting in to haunt him. 

He could question it another time, perhaps, but for now, he needed to savour what he does have.  

Concern left Inpu unable to let go of Bryan for too long, a reassuring hand constantly squeezing his shoulder or trailing up and down the length of his side as Inpu helped him undress, hiking the angel up into his arms again when Bryan was finished to lower him carefully into the bath. He kept his movements as slow and still as possible, hesitant to hurt the other in any way but also longing to stay in the quiet moment as much as time would let them, only drawing away for a heartbeat while Bryan settled in. Briefly, Inpu fretted over the temperature of the water, dipping his hand in countless times to ensure it wasn’t too cold nor too hot; but clearly it was fine, as Bryan just batted him away humorously and submerged himself further, flushing a pretty pink from the heat of the room.  

Bryan kept his cheek laid flat against the edge of the tub; eyes closed in simple bliss as Inpu worked the shampoo into his hair with firm steady hands. So weary like this, melting into the warmth, he let his husband fuss over him while he dozed off, ruffled wings weightless in the heated water behind him.  

Few words were shared between them, nonsensical hums and whispers of affection kissed into warm skin – to hold and cradle Bryan after so long is enough for Inpu, a blessing to brush tender lips to his lover’s temple and allow hands as bloodstained as his to be kind again. Such vulnerability like this had become foreign to him after endless empty years, but Inpu doesn’t fear it; to be so fragile is to be loved, he’s learnt, and denying that would make him a fool.  

So he doesn’t flee, or draw back in hesitance, pull himself away from any chance of getting hurt here. Inpu will lose Bryan again – whether to time, injury, or disease, he knows it will happen, knows that eventually, he will reach the point where there is nothing he can do as both pharaoh and husband. He was foolish the first time to believe he could bring Bryan back, and he's aware he'll be foolish again, but in the interim Inpu is grateful for the chance to be gentle once more. 

The water cupped in his palm is warm as he soothes it into damp white curls, as attentive and delicate as possible. Bryan peers up at him fondly from where he rests his head on the bath’s edge, and Inpu can do nothing but grin stupidly and tilt down to kiss him.  

- 

This time around, Bryan tried to protest Inpu’s attempts to carry him once again, nudging his hands away and shifting his weight to rest heavily on the wall. He was fully dry, dove hair curling messily on his neck in a way that Inpu is aware he hates, clothed in soft draping linen and a finer robe his husband had pulled onto him when worrying over the cold drafts in the house; Inpu had even spent time meticulously drying and straightening near each of the feathers on his wings with the utmost amount of care. Bryan appreciated the fuss, had missed it even in the many years spent apart, but he was stubbornly insistent he could make the mere walk to their bedroom by himself – even if his tired legs swayed beneath him, as had been pointed out to him prior.  

“Never mind,” he gasped out quickly the second they entered the main room, “the floors so fucking cold, oh my gods, ” He reached out frantically to grasp Inpu’s sleeve, pulling him closer despite his fond grumbles and latching onto the other's shoulders. Inpu got the hint fairly quickly, curling his hands under Bryan’s knees to tug him up onto his back with no further complaint and pressing in his tails a bit tighter to ensure he was completely secure.  

He unhooked his hand for only a second to poke Bryan teasingly in the side, badgering out an “I told you so,” that had Bryan retaliating with a harmless nip to one of his tall ears and placing his hands over Inpu’s eyes to blind him annoyingly - he stumbled performatively for a second, mimed dropping the other in an act of banter that made Bryan snort and grasp on even tighter. 

The second they reached the bedroom, the three already occupying the room perked up in excitement – they'd clearly been busy, Inpu noted, the bed carefully cleaned and resheeted with sweet-smelling candles lining the bedside tables and vanity. “We tidied the room up like you asked – is it okay? We can redo it if need be,” Femi approached first, rambling nervously and wringing her hands together, peering up at the two with tentative eyes. 

He felt more than saw the smile Bryan pressed into his throat from where he’d tucked his head into his shoulder, fond at the sight of her eagerness. “It’s perfect, ya ammoura, just as I asked of you.” Inpu reassured, rapping his knuckles on her head gently and softening at the giggle she let out. “Now come, I need to put your father to bed.” Femi moves to walk close behind them as Inpu makes his way towards Bryan’s side of the bed, sticking near as the dove is carefully lowered onto the pillows and under silk sheets. 

Mere seconds after Bryan’s head hit the pillow, eyes shut and so close to already drifting away, there was a shift somewhere nearby and suddenly a head of hair fell limply to rest on his collarbone; daring Lotus who’d already wedged into their place next to Bryan’s side, curling in to become as close as possible and lulling their head back to gaze raptly at their new-found father.  

“Gods Lotus, not so soon,” Inpu snorted as he moved to shoo them away, but quickly was he intercepted by Bryan’s hand batting him away airily and moving to tuck Lotus’s head in further, thumbing over their hairline in clear fondness and even reaching a wing out to coax the other two in to climb under the covers as well. Evidently, he was already comfortable with their little concept of family, smiling adoringly at them as Femi wiggled herself into the curve of Lotus’s torso and Atlas – albeit with a very nervous gentleness, afraid to cause any discomfort – plopped himself on top of Bryan’s chest to lay his head above his father's heart. 

Trailing his fingers down the span of Bryan’s cheek for just a moment, Inpu pulled away from the bed only briefly to blow out any excess candles and let the room darken even further in the waning sunset, redding hues casting on the sweet face he hurried to return to. 

Carefully, unwilling to disrupt any of his family, he tucked himself under the sheets as considerately as he could and bundled the quilt tighter around their little huddle. Inpu slotted perfectly into Bryan's side; digging his head neatly into the others shoulder and hoisting an arm over the small of Atlas’s back to hold them both, enveloped by the wings stretching out to blanket them all.