Page 128 of Gratification in Gluttony

“Ah, Flo, you got such a way with words,” Toni said dryly, and Flo flipped him off.

Hiding his snicker in Toni’s side, Jude wrapped his arms around his waist. “I like that you’re a poof,” he said quietly, and Toni kissed his brow.

“Me too.”

“Now, get your stupid ass over here and meet your niblings. And, Toni”—Flo paused, leveling him with a stare that instilled the kind of terror only an older sister could—“deities help you, if you forgot my crisps.”

“I got them right here.” Toni lifted the bag of crisps as he and Jude crossed the waiting room. “Don’t get your gills in a twist.”

Passing his father, Toni met his blank gaze fleetingly, hating the small part of him that still yearned for his father’s love and acceptance. He didn’t need it, though. Not anymore. Jude had been right; Toni had a family, and Marlyn Maryno was simply a man he used to know.

As they entered Flo’s birthing room, Toni let Jude go so he could envelope his sister in a hug. He held her tight, and she fisted her hands in the back of his shirt as she buried her face inhis chest. He felt her silent tears wet his shirt, and he may have shed a few himself.

But when they parted, Toni smiled down at her. “Hey, sis, how you doing?”

“Never better,” she said as he patted his cheek. “Now give me my crisps.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He kissed her forehead before he helped her back to bed, ignoring her annoyed complaints of, “I had babies; I didn’t die,” and “Stop with the fussing. I’m getting enough of it from Mak, I don’t need it from you too.”

Toni’s mother sat on the loveseat near the window, a bundle in her arms, black eyes studying Jude guardedly. Mak was holding what Toni assumed was the second baby, though he could only see blankets. Jude hovered near the door, like he wasn’t sure if he should be in the room or not.

When Toni waved him closer, Jude approached, taking Toni’s hand as Toni said, “Flo, this is Jude, my human. Jude, this is my sister, Flo, and her husband, Mak.”

Mak nodded in silent greeting, and Jude followed suit.

Nerves exploded in his stomach once more as he met his mother’s watery gaze. “Hey, Ma. This is—”

“Jude, yes,” his mother said, cocking her head to scrutinize him more closely. “I heard you the first time. I may be getting older, but my hearing is as good as ever, I’ll have you know.”

Toni huffed, half in amusement, half in exasperation. “Right, well, Jude, this is my mother, Goldi Maryno.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Jude said politely, if not a bit stiff.

“Charmed, I’m sure,” Goldi said with a haughty smirk. “I see why you caught Toni’s eye. You’re very exotic looking, not like the usual humans I see.”

And Toni groaned. “Ma, you can’t say that. That’s, like, offensive and shit.”

“Oh no, did I do a speciesism? I’m sorry, but how am I supposed to know these things?” she said indignantly. “You young kids are always changing what words are or aren’t offensive. I can’t keep up. I meant it as a compliment.”

“Still,” Toni said, cringing apologetically at Jude.

“I don’t know why you’re mad at me,” Goldi sniffed as she stood and placed the baby she was holding in Flo’s arms. “I’ve been a wreck all day, caring for your sister as she brought about the miracle of life. My poor nerves can’t take much more.”

“It’s fine,” Jude dismissed, giving Toni’s hand a squeeze in reassurance when he mouthed asorry.

“Go get yourself a coffee, Ma,” Flo said, and Goldi nodded, placing a kiss on Flo’s head before she made to leave.

She stopped in front of Toni and Jude, reaching up to pat Toni’s cheek. “Good to see you, baby. Come by for lunch sometime.” She glanced at Jude in uncertainty, before offering a tiny smile. “Bring your human, if you like.”

Toni didn’t know if that would happen, but he gave her a noncommittal head wobble. “Sure, Ma.”

With one last pat to Toni’s cheek, Goldi took her leave, slipping out of the doors to join the rest of the family. Toni watched until she disappeared, then blew out a heavy breath.

“C’mere, Toni,” Flo said, and Toni sat down at the edge of his sister’s bed to peer down at the baby in her arms. “This here is Bas, after Mak’s late father. He came into the world screaming. The doctor said she’d never heard such healthy lungs.”

The little boy was a lighter blue than Flo and Toni, with almost a purplish hue to his light stripes. “Well, would you look at him? Hey, Bas.”

“He’s so small,” Jude said, peering over Toni’s shoulder.

---