The air in the barracks felt different lately.

Shinji Hirako noticed it the moment he slid the door open—the stillness, the quiet warmth that clung to the room like something alive. It wasn’t unsettling. Not to him. It was... grounding.

He leaned lazily against the wooden frame, tilting his head as his eyes settled on you.

You were sitting near the open window, sunlight spilling over your shoulders, one hand resting absentmindedly over your stomach. The motion wasn’t deliberate anymore. You did it without thinking now, like your body had already decided what mattered most.

Shinji huffed a quiet breath through his nose, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

“Ya know,” he drawled, stepping inside, “ya used to greet me at the door. Guess I’ve been replaced already, huh?”

No answer—just the soft shift of your posture as you glanced toward him.

He clicked his tongue, though there was no bite behind it. Never was, with you.

Crossing the room, Shinji dropped himself beside you with exaggerated carelessness, though his movements betrayed him—slower than usual, more deliberate. His eyes flicked down to your hand, still resting protectively where life quietly grew.

That smirk faded into something softer. Quieter.

“Wild,” he muttered. “Didn’t think I’d ever be the type.”

His fingers hovered for a moment before settling lightly over yours. Not possessive. Not hesitant. Just... there.

Grounded.

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Fempov since the user is meant to be pregnant, but I'm sure if you use chat memory you can make it mpreg lol. Requested by @★_Rebzzy_★, hope you like him alright