meretricula | 90% down, 10% to go!

oh, what. ~snaps~

Glorfindel watched Estel bounce out of the suite he shared with Erestor, after his third bedtime story, with an exasperated sigh. "You know, you're half the reason that child is getting fat," he remarked.

"A little candy never hurt anyone," Erestor said defensively.

"A little," Glorfindel agreed. "You're constitutionally incapable of saying 'no' to him, so you let him have all the candy and stories and attention he wants, and if he weren't a generally good-natured child he'd be spoiled rotten by now."

"Well, he doesn't have a mother to fuss over him," Erestor replied softly. "I'd rather overcompensate than have him feel lonely, if it's all the same to you."

Glorfindel got up to stand behind Erestor, rubbing his shoulders. "No one's saying he doesn't deserve a little fussing over. But he's gotten so attached to you that he skips all his athletics to sit with you in the library, which is the other reason he's so pudgy, by the way, and he throws tantrums whenever you can't read his bedtime story, and... Erestor, I'm sorry, but you aren't his mother."

"It's not like I'll ever have children of my own," Erestor said, in tones that would have been sharp if they hadn't been so tired.

Glorfindel blinked. "Do you... want children?" He would have given Erestor anything he wanted, if he could, but this might prove problematic.

"No, not really," Erestor sighed. "But..."

Glorfindel pulled Erestor around and bent to kiss him, smiling at the taste of candy that lingered in his mouth. "If you want to be Estel's mother, go ahead, Erestor. Just bear in mind that mothers have to discipline their children, as well as fuss over them."

Erestor tilted his head back for another kiss, sugar-stained lips curved upwards. "All right."

*

"Estel? Sweetheart, don't you have lessons with Glorfindel now?" Erestor asked gently of the child reading quietly at his feet.

"Wanna stay here with you," Estel said, pouting.

"Well, you can't, little one," Erestor said firmly, picking up the child with the intention of carrying him to Glorfindel. His arms protested immediately, and he began to entertain the thought that his lover might have been right about the candy. As he staggered his way to the door, it opened of its own accord. Glorfindel, with his usual masterful grasp of the obvious, had determined his wayward pupil's location and come to retrieve him. "Oh! Glorfindel, thank you." He handed over the child, who immediately began to shriek.

"NO! WANT ERESTOR!"

Glorfindel glared at Erestor, mouthing a silent, "You see?" Erestor pinched the bridge of his nose, attempting to think through the rising volume of Estel's wailing.

"I'll come with you, all right?" he said at last, desperate to stop the screaming. "Would that be okay?"

Estel hiccuped, his face red and blotchy. "...I guess."

Erestor retrieved his book and followed Glorfindel down to the practice yard, musing as he went that perhaps Estel was a little spoiled.