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monstrousvoice · 2 years

Text

A Night Walk

Fandom: Cult of the Lamb

Relationship: The Lamb X Narinder/The One Who Waits, NariLamb, True Devotion

AN: A request made by @littlepuffy4ever for sweet and fluffy True Devotion, with Lamb trying to tell Narinder that they are pregnant. I hope its sweet enough for you booboo!

Tags: Fluff, Love, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Talk, Unplanned Pregnancy, Lamb is GN here but has a vulva and is able to get pregnant

Warnings: Pregnancy and mentions of having more kids in the future.

Summary: Some things are just...scary to talk about.

Read it on AO3!

The moon shone beautifully up above the treetops. Illuminating autumn leaves of red and orange hues, setting the scene for a peaceful night to walk. Lamb was grateful for the light guiding their path. It was perfect. A look to their right shows Narinder beside them, the black cat looking rested and at peace. His black fur glimmers and shines in the light, and Lamb felt their heart squeeze with adoration at how handsome his profile was to look at.

The red and orange leaves of fall dance and swirl around them as they walk the hidden path of the woods. Their hands were intertwined and when Lamb squeezed, Narinder squeezed back. They leaned their head against his lower bicep as they walked, letting out a pleased hum when he turned his head to briefly nuzzle their own.

Truly a wonderful night.

Lamb only hoped it wouldn’t be ruined after…after the Talk. An anxious voice in their head told them it would be better to never reveal their secret, but they knew the Talk would have to be done eventually. They know they can’t expect to hide their growing belly over the next few months, or for Narinder to somehow miss the eventual birth.

No, they needed to tell him at the start and have a clear conscience moving forward. And if he…if Narinder wanted nothing to do with them or the little one they were growing then that…that would be okay. It would be fine, Lamb thinks even as their eyes sting with unshed tears at the thought.

Going through an entire pregnancy alone was a…scary thought. Even to one who had fought and killed four powerful gods and was currently married to an overthrown one. That was just the issue however. They couldn't force Narinder to stay with them if he didn’t want a family. He had to make so many changes and adjustments in his life, and he had made such incredible progress over the years.

Lamb still sometimes worried he only agreed to marriage with them because the alternative was death by their hands. (A situation that was not true in the slightest. If the cat had said ‘no’ at any time they would have called the whole thing off. But he never did…he had been smiling on their wedding day…)

Lamb loved him, and loved him enough to let him leave if raising kits was a part of mortal life he wasn’t ready to face yet. They wouldn’t put their unborn kit through such a life either. It would be a difficult adjustment, but Lamb could do it. The tiny life growing inside them was a part of Narinder after all. They would do anything for it and it was only a few weeks grown.

“You’ve grown nervous. Why?” Narinder’s voice was low and soft, harmonizing with the quiet sounds of the woods they walked though.

“Just…just thinking.”

Narinder huffs at the vague answer and squeezes their hand again.

“About?” He prods. Lamb slows to a stop, their breath appearing in a puffy cloud of steam as they think of how to respond. They want to go about this the right way…how does one know when the right time to share such a life changing secret is? Is now a good time? Or would it simply ruin the lovely walk the two of them were on?

They tilt their head up and up to study Narinder’s face. Even as a mortal, his height is still incredible, reaching far above others within the cult. His red eyes glint in the pale moonlight with the knowledge of millenia, of a being who has seen the best and worst of what life has to offer and suffered his own battles along the way.

Lamb can also see…affection. Love, for them. It’s soft and tender as he watches them, waiting for a response to his concern. He waits, as he has always done, patiently. Unbothered by the chill of the fall air or the sounds of creatures scurrying through the woods at night. His only care is that Lamb is okay.

Their heart aches with love at the pure devotion there, so plain to see despite his normally standoffish exterior.

“A lot of things. Mostly the future. Our cult and what to put our focus on now that we’ve expanded so large, what lies in store for us all…For you and I.” The cat smiles at their words, suddenly looking much older. He always seems to change when giving life advice, just another trait Lamb adores about him.

“Now? Now we have eternity together my love. You need not think about it all now…we have the rest of time to make changes to this world as we see fit.” His words bring some relief to Lamb, who can’t help but smile softly at him. It falters when they think of how to word their next question.

“Do you…where do you see us, our relationship, going Narinder? How do you want to proceed together?” This makes the old god pause, his brow furrowing as he contemplates on his answer.

“We stay together, like we have. We are already married, my dear. What more is there?” He grumbles, a lone claw reaching up to tap at the metal ring fit snug against Lamb’s horn.

“W-well yes but-” They huff in exasperation, “What if…what if we did more?”

The confused look Narinder gives them is so kissable it’s unfair.

“What are you talking about? What is-...is more than what we have?” His paws gesture between them, as if that can explain the intricate connection they share to one another. The mourning and grieving, the comfort and crying, the years of dedication and time to one another. A sweet, warm sappy feeling blooms in Lamb’s heart at the unspoken words. They truly couldn’t love him more if they tried…

“What I mean is-” They take a deep breath and let it out slow. In through the nose, out through the mouth, to hopefully calm their racing heart.

“...We could have a family.”

There. They said it, it’s out in the open now. They’d feel relieved if it wasn’t for the way Narinder seemed to grow more puzzled.

“Fam-...what? We have one already don’t we? Granted I…I wasn’t the most welcoming to our flock in the beginning but…” His cheeks darken, ears folding flat as he’s suddenly unable to meet Lamb’s eyes.

“I do care for them all now…” He mutters.

Lamb can’t resist anymore, leaning forward to press a firm kiss against the exposed cheek nearest to them.

“Sometimes Narinder…you say the sweetest things.” They coo, wrapping their arms tight against his waist. The affection flusters him further, but he doesn’t pull away out of embarrassment like he used to so many years ago. Instead he wraps his arms around Lamb in return, burying his blushing face in the soft wool atop their head. Lamb continues speaking, their voice a mere whisper against his chest.

“I’m happy you feel that way…but there is something else I’m trying to say.” Narinder has his focus solely on them now as they try speaking the words lodged in their chest.

“What do you think…do you think of having a baby, Narinder?” Lamb felt their voice crack as they spoke, but the words were finally out. It felt like a relief to have spoken them, and an entirely new terror settled in their gut as they waited for their husband’s response. His voice was so soft when he spoke again…

“A baby?” Lamb’s ears had to perk up simply to hear him.

“Yes. A baby.”

Neither of them moved for a long while, Lamb’s face still buried in their husband’s warm, soft chest. Their head rose and fell with the steady breaths he took, the rest of his body completely still. Lamb couldn’t hold it anymore, more words building from the anxiety in their gut and pouring from their mouth in a stream.

“It’s okay if you don’t want this. I won’t force you to be part of something you’re not ready for…but…” Their breath hitched in their throat, tears burning the back of their eyes. “It seems we weren’t as careful as we could have been. And I…I want them so bad Narinder. I want them to exist and grow up and love and play and…be here. I love them so much already-”

Their words are cut off by his paws cupping their face, pulling them away from his chest to meet his eyes. His gaze was intense, focused on them, and it felt very much like he could see into their soul.

“Are you saying…you already…?” Lamb felt the corner of their mouth tilt up in a smile despite the tears welling in the corners of their eyes. They gave a small nod as they grabbed one Narinder’s paws from their face. They brought the limb down, gently placing the warm paw pads against their wool covered tummy.

“Mhm. Only a couple weeks.”

The old god is speechless as stares at them, eyes distant and fuzzy looking.

“I won’t…I won’t force you to stay, if you don’t want this. You can take some time to think-” Their words are cut off by the soft press of lips against their own. It’s a welcome touch, and tears leak down their cheeks as their eyes flutter closed. A soft sound leaves them as Narinder deepens the kiss, giving a small nip to their bottom lip before soothing the sting with a swipe of his tongue.

Lamb is breathless when he pulls away, feeling too many emotions at once but knowing they want Narinder to kiss them again. The old god looks unsure of himself as he pulls away.

“I…I don’t know anything about raising kits from birth.” He sighs, “Aym and Baal were both nearing their adolescent years when I took them as guards.” His eyes look distant as he remembers, a fond smile on his muzzle at the thought of the two young cats. Lamb can’t help their own smile at the thought of them, excited for them to visit with their mother once again in the future. Forneus always makes the best fish casserole…

Narinder shakes himself from the memories, meeting Lamb’s eye with his own. A fiery spark of determination, one Lamb rarely sees from him, is in his eyes.

“If you possess the patience to help me learn, I would be…very happy to welcome this young one into the world. With you.” Lamb can’t help the choked noise of relief that escapes them as they give a wobbly smile, shoulders dropping as an invisible burden leaves them. The tears that were gathering in their eyes finally fell, streaming down their cheeks in a steady trickle. Narinder’s large paw cups their cheek with extreme gentleness as his thumb wipes away a stream of tears.

“I-I’m really happy to hear that, my love.” They whisper, their voice cracking with the overwhelming emotions they felt. Narinder smiled back at them, a single tear escaping from his left eye. Lamb doesn’t hesitate, leaning forward and placing another kiss to his cheek, right where the tear was falling in a slow trickle.

They nuzzle against that same cheek as they stand on the tips of their hooves, trying to get as close as possible to the cat’s pointed ears. They feel his own body lower to accommodate, the arm he has resting on their waist pulling them impossibly closer.

“I love you…so much…” They manage to whisper.

“I love you too, my darling Lamb…” He whispers back, matching their tone.

He pulls away just enough to press their foreheads together, muzzles touching as they basked in their shared happiness.