Chapter 190: Accountability
After calming down a bit, Vahn sat on the sofa in his room, holding hands with Rias and Korra while Venelana made herself comfortable atop a floor cushion rather than sitting on one of the three armchairs present, the four of them discussing the trio's pregnancies and their future.
"I still can't believe I'm pregnant..." sighed Korra, resting her head against Vahn's shoulder with her eyes closed as she muttered, "I'm only eighteen, and there's so much going on right now..."
"Hey, I'm just as surprised as you are..." remarked Vahn, unable to erase the smile from his face as he joked, "All things considered, the two of us haven't had that much sex. We must have amazing compatibility..."
"She has always seemed especially susceptible to your semen..." noted Rias, referring to how Korra overheated and became lethargic after Vahn came inside her.
"Ugh...don't say it like I'm some kind of pervert..." groaned Korra, her face flushing as she behaved uncharacteristically timidly.
"You may have doubts now, but that's perfectly normal for an expecting mother giving birth to her first child..." stated Venelana, her expression and tone gentle and motherly as she affirmed, "But as your delivery date draws near and you finally give birth, any doubts you had will be replaced by pure, unadulterated love for your child. You're also not alone. Not just us here, but every member of the Dragon's Pavilion will be supporting you moving forward."
"Yeah, I know..." muttered Korra, gaining a hint of a smile before raising, shaking her head, and asking, "But how am I going to explain this to my friends and family back home? I'm not too concerned about my mom, but my dad and Tenzin are going to freak out, guaranteed. I mean, as far as they're aware, I'm not even seeing anyone..."
"I will meet them, explain the situation, and accept full responsibility..." stated Vahn, squeezing Korra's hand and adopting a broader smile as he softly but confidently appended, "They will doubtlessly be surprised, and your father may even become enraged, but once he holds his grandchild in his arms, he'll come around..."
"I'm not so sure..." muttered Korra, feeling at least a little better but still suffused with doubts, largely due to a lack of self-confidence. She was certain she could become the best, strongest Avatar in history, but she had zero confidence in her capacity as a mother...after all, despite what she had said moments prior, she was a pervert, a battle junkie, and more than a little brutish...
"That's what I'm here for..." whispered Vahn, holding up his and Korra's linked fingers so she could see them as he asserted, "I will shoulder all your doubts and uncertainties and ensure both you and our child can live happily and healthily...I swear on my very being..."
Feeling even more at ease, Korra smiled, exhaled faintly from her nose, and returned her head to Vahn's shoulder, surprising and thrilling him as she muttered a faint, "Looks like I picked the right man to love..."