𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆

𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐟!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

౨ৎ 𝐈𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 … shadow never imagined himself as anything more than a weapon, let alone a father. but life has a way of surprising you when you least expect it.

- 𝐝𝐚𝐝!𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰, —𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐜 𝟏𝟒𝟖𝟑, 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧 .ᐟ 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞

𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞, 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

the house was silent, except for the soft hum of the baby monitor on the kitchen counter. Shadow didn’t mean to stay up so late patrolling the house, double checking every lock, every window but that’s who he was. protecting what mattered was second nature to him.

and now what mattered most was just behind that half-open bedroom door

he pushed it open with the lightest touch, his eyes immediately landing on the two of you. the room was dimly lit by the glow of the nightlight on the dresser casting a soft light over the bed. you were curled up on your side, your hair falling messily over the pillow, your breaths slow and even. nestled against you bundled in a soft pink blanket was the tiniest person he’d ever seen.

his daughter.

Shadow lingered in the doorway his chest tightening at the sight. she was so small, her little fist curled against your chest, the faintest coo escaped her lips as she shifted in her sleep and Shadow found himself frozen.

he’d been terrified of this.. of her.

the idea of holding her, touching her, being responsible for her, had felt like too much. she was so fragile, and he’d spent his entire life built for the opposite of this. but now as he stood there, he wasn’t thinking about his doubts or his fears. he wasn’t thinking about his past

all he could think about was how perfect she was. how perfect you both were.

his gaze softened as he stepped closer, careful to make no noise. he stood beside the bed looking down at her tiny face and the way she fit so perfectly against you. the warmth in his chest was unfamiliar but not unwelcome

she was part of him, but she was also part of you. she was something new, something neither of you could have created alone

Shadow’s hand hovered over her for a moment before he pulled it back.. unsure. his fingers flexed aching to touch but instead he clenched his fist and held it at his side. he wasn’t ready not yet

it almost scared him how he would do anything to protect her.

anything.

his eyes shifted to you, your face relaxed in sleep exhaustion clear on your face. you had carried this life, nurtured it, brought it into the world and now you held it with a love so natural it made his heart ache

for all the doubts he had about himself he never doubted you.

Shadow lingered by the bed unable to pull himself away the steady rhythm of your breathing and the tiny, almost inaudible sounds his daughter made as she slept

as he stood there, his mind drifted back to the moment he first learned he was going to be a father. he clenched his jaw remembering how unprepared he’d felt, how terrified he’d been

he hadn’t handled it well. he paced your shared apartment for what felt like hours, his mind running in circles. the questions had flooded him what kind of father would I even be? what if I hurt the baby?

he had been made to destroy, not to nurture.

he had tried to keep his distance at first, convinced that you and the baby would be better off without him. he’d told himself it was for the best that he wasn’t worthy of something so pure, so innocent. but no matter how far he tried to pull away you’d pulled him right back.

Shadow’s hand pressed against his side as he closed his eyes remembering the first time he felt her kick. you had taken his hand guided it to your belly, and held it there even when he tried to pull away

“feel that?” you had whispered, your voice soft

and he had. he’d felt it.. the faint, fluttering movement and for the first time he understood. she was real. she was his.

it hadn’t erased his doubts but it had been a start. slowly, cautiously, he had begun to let himself believe that maybe just maybe he could be more than what he was created to be.

Shadow opened his eyes and looked back at you and the baby. he could hardly believe how far he’d come since that first overwhelming moment

a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he thought about how he’d nearly missed this, how close he’d come to letting his fears win. but you’d believed in him even when he couldn’t believe in himself

and now, here he was, watching the two of you so full of love something he never thought he was capable of feeling.

this. being here with you, with her was the most extraordinary thing he’d ever experienced

Shadow let out a soft breath and stepped closer again his hesitation melting away. he crouched down beside the bed, his eyes studying every detail of his daughter’s tiny face. her small features were so delicate, so peaceful and without even knowing she had already changed his life.

“I didn’t think I could do this” he whispered, his voice so low it barely disturbed the silence. he had been so scared. so doubtful.

his hand hovered over hers, and this time he let it rest gently on the edge of the blanket, brushing the soft fabric with his fingertips. she stirred slightly but didn’t wake and he couldn’t help the faint smile that returned to his face

the peaceful quiet was broken with a sudden tiny wail. Shadow stiffened, his ears twitching at the sound. his daughter’s face scrunched up, her tiny fists waving in the air as her cries grew louder

he froze, unsure of what to do. his eyes darted to you still sound asleep. you’d been so exhausted lately he wasn’t about to wake you if he could help it

but the baby’s cries continued, he glanced back down at her his heart racing

what now?

Shadow stood slowly, his movements awkward and unsure. he looked down at her his mind racing through every piece of advice and observation he’d collected over the past few days. he had watched you do this a dozen times, had listened carefully to your instructions. he could do this

couldn’t he?

her cries grew louder, her little face red and scrunched. Shadow’s hands hovered over her unsure if he should pick her up. he clenched his fists to steady himself. get it together Shadow.

talking a deep breath he carefully slid his hands beneath her. she was so small, so delicate he moved painfully slow lifting her up he cradled her awkwardly in his arms, trying to mimic the way you held her

“Alright, alright… stop crying” he muttered, his voice low and uncertain. “I’ve got you now.”

she squirmed against him, her cries still piercing the quiet of the room. Shadow swallowed hard bouncing her gently as he’d seen you do

“Is this… what you like? this bouncing thing?” he asked, his tone more questioning than soothing

her cries softened just a little and Shadow felt a flicker of relief. but it didn’t last long. her tiny face scrunched up again and she let out another wail

panic bubbled up in his chest. What else? What else do I do? his mind scrambled through the possibilities hungry, tired, uncomfortable? his eyes darted to the bag of baby supplies on the dresser

“Alright. you need something” he muttered.

carefully he carried her over to the dresser and scanned the supplies. he spotted a bottle you had prepped earlier just in case, and grabbed it with one hand holding her against his soft chest with the other

“Okay… here we go” he said, tilting the bottle toward her mouth. she squirmed for a moment but then her cries turned to quiet as she latched onto the bottle

relief washed over him as her little eyes closed again her tiny body relaxing in his arms.

“We figured it out. Not so hard. right?” he whispered, his voice softer now

he glanced over at you, still fast asleep and a rare smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. he wasn’t sure if he’d done it perfectly. probably not but he’d done it.

as he stood there in the dim light holding his daughter close Shadow realized something else he was slowly but surely, starting to learn how to be a father.

and for the first time, it didn’t feel so scary. it felt… right.

Shadow adjusted her in his arms pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead before sitting down in the rocking chair by the window. he rocked her slowly watching her tiny face relax back into sleep

thank u to anon who requested this 🥹💝