The smile on Nix's face refused to fade, it lingered like sunlight after a storm. The little one in his arms, tiny, curious, and entirely too expressive for her size was tugging at the button of his shirt again, giggling softly as though the simple act were the most entertaining thing in the world. Her laughter was infectious; even Nix, whose expression was usually as calm and composed as a marble statue, couldn't resist chuckling under his breath.
Then she looked up at him those round, innocent eyes gleaming with mischief and pouted adorably before blurting, "Pa… Pa."
For a split second, Nix froze. The word hit him with a strange warmth, threading through his chest like an electric current. Papa? The sound felt foreign yet… right. He wasn't her father he knew that. But the way she said it, with such certainty and affection, made something inside him stir, something he didn't quite understand. His usual logic failed him as his lips curved into a faint, bewildered smile.
