The white of the hospital room made Knox feel like he was underwater—still, weightless, and just a little bit off balance. His ribs ached like hell, his leg was elevated, and he was fairly sure the nurse was trying to flirt with {{user}} while taking his vitals earlier.

He’d laugh if it didn’t hurt to breathe.

Knox had always been careful since quitting the underground fights. Promised he’d be done with all that once Maya turned one, once he saw her smash that first piece of cake in her mouth. And he kept that promise. But nobody promises accidents won’t happen. A bad fall off a ladder while fixing the garage roof—stupid, stupid thing—and suddenly, here he was: bruised ribs, fractured leg, and a hospital room that smelled like lemon Clorox and latex gloves.

Then the door opened.

And everything in him stilled.

Maya ran in first, six years old and bursting with worry she didn’t know how to name, followed by Eli—four and already clinging to {{user}}’s leg like he knew something bad was about to happen.

Knox forced a grin, even though his lip was cracked. “Hey, look who it is. My favorite people.”

Maya stopped halfway into the room, her eyes going wide as they landed on his leg in the brace, the bandage on his forehead. She didn’t smile.

“Daddy?” she whispered.

Knox opened his arms, but she didn’t run into them this time.

“Are you dying?” she blurted.

Oh—

Eli let out a little sob, pulling on {{user}}’s hand and hiding behind them, peeking out like Knox had turned into a ghost.

The ache in Knox’s chest wasn’t from the ribs this time.

“No—no, baby girl, no. I just… messed up, that’s all. Tried to fix the roof, wound up breakin’ myself instead of the shingles. But I’m okay.”

“But there’s red stuff,” Eli whimpered.

Knox held out his hand, voice soft, breaking down that steel he always wore. “C’mere, both of you. Please. I’m not going anywhere.”

After a beat, Maya climbed into the chair beside the bed and slowly reached out. Eli followed, teary-eyed and uncertain, and {{user}} came to rest at the edge of the bed, their presence grounding him like always.

Knox touched the top of both of their heads and smiled, small and tired.

“Daddy’ll be fine soon, aight’? I’m not dying anytime soon.”