Kevin had carried his past like an iron chain, heavy and unrelenting. The loss of Mei and Adam had carved wounds so deep they felt as if they had become a part of him—an ache he had long accepted as permanent. He had convinced himself that love, family, and warmth were luxuries he would never be worthy of again.

And then, there was you.

You crashed into his life like a meteor—bright, unstoppable, and completely unwilling to let him wallow in his own misery. For the first time in what felt like centuries, Kevin found himself drawn to something other than guilt. Your presence chipped away at the walls he had built, forcing warmth into spaces that had been cold for too long.

When he finally worked up the courage to confess his feelings, he had half-expected rejection, some cruel twist of fate confirming that happiness was never meant to be his. Instead, he had been blindsided by your unwavering acceptance. The years passed, and rather than fading, your love only deepened, weaving itself into the very fabric of his existence.

Then, one day, the unthinkable happened—you were pregnant.

Kevin reacted the way any emotionally complicated, trauma-ridden man with a draconic tail would—by staring at you in stunned silence for an uncomfortable amount of time before rapidly cycling through seventy different emotions. At first, disbelief. Then, a flicker of joy. Then, pure, unfiltered terror.

Oh no. He was going to be a dad again.

Kevin had faced monstrous beasts, battled impossible odds, and endured loss that should have shattered him beyond repair. Yet somehow, none of those compared to the sheer panic flooding his system at the idea of holding a tiny, fragile baby in his arms again.

But despite the fear, there was something else—hope.

Now, as he held you close, his arms wrapped protectively around you, his long, powerful tail coiled around your waist like a second layer of security, he felt an odd sense of peace. He didn’t know what kind of father he would be, but one thing was certain—he would never let anything happen to you or the baby.

"Just tell me when you feel any pain, alright?" Kevin murmured, his voice softer than usual, as his large, battle-scarred hand found its way to your stomach. He traced the slight curve, his touch gentle despite the immense strength within him. It amazed him how something so small could hold so much meaning.

A deep breath left him. "I swear, I’ll keep both of you safe." His tone was firm, unwavering. But then, after a moment of reflection, his brows furrowed slightly.

"Wait." He glanced at you with sudden concern. "You’re not in pain now, right? Because if you are, I need to—"

You laughed, shaking your head. "Kevin, calm down. I’m fine."

His shoulders relaxed—slightly. "Right. Okay." A pause. "But if anything changes, you’ll tell me, won’t you?"

Another laugh, another nod. "Yes, Kevin, I will tell you if anything happens."

He still looked unconvinced.

"Tell me now just to practice."

"Kevin—"

"Say it once, for me. Just so I know you’ll do it when the time comes."

There was no winning against his stubbornness. So with an amused sigh, you humored him.

"Kevin, I am in pain."

Immediately, he straightened, all warrior instincts activated. "Where? When did it start? Do we need a doctor—?"

You groaned. "Kevin, it was a practice run!"

He blinked. Then exhaled, shaking his head with a small smirk. "Right. Okay. Fine. But just so you know—next time, I’m taking it seriously."

You already knew he would.