Chapter Text
John grunted, bracing his pregnant belly against the handle of the folding step ladder he was standing on.
He groaned out of sheer exhaustion. The omega was only a week over six months but he looked like he was eight months.
Damn twins.
John scowled. They were going to be quite the handfuls when they were born, he just knew it.
With the way they made it impossible for the omega to get into a comfortable sleeping position, John would bet money he’d go through many sleepless nights soothing their cries after they were born.
At the moment, he was trying to cover the ceiling and walls of the nursery with night lights in the shape of tiny stars and comets. He saw them at the store and thought they were adorable.
The omega sharply gasped as a cramp shot through his stomach.
“John?” Bob had passed by, stopping in front of the doorway, just in time to see what happened.
He practically flew to his omega’s side, hands ready to catch his mate if he fell.
John’s head turned to look at his alpha, their eyes locking.
“What are you doing?? Get. Down!”
John rolled his eyes, protesting. “I’m not Humpty Dumpty. Can’t I decorate the nursery in peace?”
Bob’s eyes softened. “You have to understand my worry.. you’re carrying twins. I assume they’re heavy together—“
“Wow, the classic fatshaming.”
“That’s not what I meant!” Bob’s voice had risen a pitch in a mock defense.
John chuckled before carefully turning around on the step ladder, Bob’s hands instantly on both his mate’s sides.
The blond accidentally dropped one of the stars on Bob’s face. His laugh was like bubbles, popping and playful. It was contagious because the brunet ended up giggling.
“My star-boy.”
John bent forward and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of Bob’s mouth, the alpha eagerly rising on his toes.
“I really like that.” Bob blushed.
To John, Bob was his star.
Not because a decorative star fell on his face. Not because he acted all-American by wearing socks paired with sandals on the beach.
Not even because, with the power of Sentry, he could fly so high up into the night sky, he could touch the stars— or even become a supernova with his power of a million exploding suns.
It was because he shone brightly in every way, that Bob was John’s star-boy.
The softer man was exceptionally loving and considerate. He was a visionary, who inspired the best out of others. Not just John— Yelena, Ava, Bucky, Alexei.
John was certain the love of his life would be the best father because of this reason, and he hoped their kids would take after him.