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Astral wasn't, for now. He just watched the three from his spot on the table. He did reach in eventually, but not for Simon. He lifted the leopard up, the now man letting out a sound of surprise. He tried to get out of Astral's fingers, reaching for Simon.
Simon held onto the man’s hand only for a moment. “It’s gonna be okay.” He said quietly, squeezing his hand before letting it go.
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The leopard let out a small whimper, trying to hold onto Simon's hand. Astral lifted him up, sitting back in his chair. He laid the terrified man on his palm, gently rubbing the man's back.
"We've still got to find a name for you," he said calmly.
Simon felt terrible but there wasn’t much he could’ve done to interfere. He’d only try to if he thought things were starting to get bad.
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Astral hummed some as he thought, still running his fingers over the trembling man.
"How does Leo sound?" he finally asked, looking to Simon. The leopard was on the verge of tears, of course. He hated this, he hated this, he didn't want Astral holding him.
“Yeah that sounds good to me.” He responded, smiling softly up at the god. He just wanted his friend to be brought back, seeing how he was panicking.
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Astral was surprised to see Simon smile, let alone at him, but he smiled back.
"Perfect, then!" He gently patted Leo's head, moving to slip him back onto the bed with Simon.
Glad that the smile seemed to please the god, he let it fall after another moment, pulling Leo close again. He held the other gently, giving him space to move away if he wanted to.
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Leo held onto Simon's shirt, a couple tears falling as he clung to the other. Astral just let out a sigh, patting Leo's head before pulling his hand out.
Simon rubbed Leo’s back gently, hoping the other would be able to calm down some now that he was back.
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Leo shook some, clinging to Simon still. He didn't like having a name- he was just a leopard, he didn't need one. It made him more human, he didn't want that. He cried into the other's shoulder, so scared and confused.
If Simon had known that was what was bothering Leo, he would be quick to reassure him that names certainly weren’t just a human thing. But for the moment, they couldn’t talk super freely.
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No, they couldn't. Astral watched the two for now, but he grew bored quickly. No one was really doing anything, in his eyes. He moved to reach his hand in again, just gently running a finger over Simon's head.
Simon looked up at Astral as he did so, smiling at him briefly. Anything that’d hopefully make the god feel a bit more merciful.
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Astral smiled back some, his thumb moving to gently rub Simon's cheek. Leo trembled some at how close Astral was, clinging to Simon tighter. He didn't want to get taken away again.
Simon wanted to pull away, but he knew he couldn’t considering he’d already been let off the hook yesterday. He’d just have to deal with this and hope Astral wouldn’t want too much more of him.
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Astral left his thumb there, for a moment, caressing Simon's cheek. The man forgot just how much access to his mind Astral had, then.
"How are you and the baby doing?" the god asked. He moved his hand to slip it under Simon, intending to pick him up.
“We’re doing fine.” He replied, leaning into Astral’s hand to make it slightly easier for the god to scoop him up. If the god wanted to pick him up, Simon knew he’d get what he wanted regardless of how Simon felt about it. He should just be thankful Astral had picked him up as gently as he did.
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"I'm glad," Astral said. He lifted Simon up as the man leaned into him, letting Leo come up. Seeing as Leo was still clinging to the other man, there wasn't much Astral would really bother doing about that. The god lifted the two closer to himself, near his chest.
Simon nodded in acknowledgement. He really hadn’t had any complications with his pregnancy yet, just all of the normal annoying symptoms. Simon pet Leo’s head, hoping that’d calm the other down a bit.
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Astral moved so he wasn't just hovering over the room anymore, sitting on the bed. He hummed, fingers still resting on Simon's head and back. Leo did his best to focus on Simon, but he was still trembling some as he found himself once again in Astral's hand.
It wasn’t good that Leo was acting this scared. Hopefully Astral wouldn’t mind as much since he was just a pet for the most part instead of a toy like him and Mia. “How did you sleep last night?” He asked, looking up at the god.
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It wasn't good, but not for the reasons Simon probably thought.
"I slept quite well. And you?" Astral hadn't really done anything to Simon, even things he could get away with without hurting the child, because he didn't want to risk anything.
“I slept okay.” He responded. “Thanks for making us breakfast.” Simon had no idea just yet how far Astral would push him. And he wasn’t eager to find out. All he knew for now is that he had it easy.
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"You're welcome. I want to make sure you're eating properly, after all." He truly did have no idea. Astral moved his finger to push Leo lightly to the side, one finger resting on Simon's baby bump.
He nodded. “I’m doing my very best at that.” He wasn’t comfortable with Astral touching his stomach but of course he couldn’t express that, or really do much of anything to make him stop.
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"And I'm glad for that." Astral hummed, moving his finger from Simon's stomach back up to his cheek. He'd get used to it soon enough.
Simon seemed a bit more comfortable when Astral moved his touch, leaning into that contact slightly.
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Astral wasn't sure whether Simon leaned into his touch because he enjoyed it or because it's what the man thought Astral wanted, and he didn't really care. He hummed softly, rubbing Simon cheek and holding him close.
It was most definitely the latter. Simon was just doing whatever he thought would lower his chances of getting hurt by Astral right now.
