Chapter Text
"Right, and I just asked you if you knew something, and you ignored me." Scott was trying to not get upset. He was tired, and the direction this meeting was going in wasn't seeming good. He just didn't know what the actual outcome would be. He just wanted answers.
"We can come back to it later, Scott. Right now we-"
"Is Joey attending or not?" Scott snapped at Solstice. Solstice opened his mouth to snap back before Aviel grabbed his arm.
"He was sent an invite." Aviel stood up. Good, Scott was getting tired of Solstice ignoring him. If he wasn't so good at his job, Scott would fire him. "But it is not our right to know if they will attend or not."
"They?"
"Joey and his plus one." Aviel stayed looking at Scott, but Scott saw his note-keeper look at solstice with an odd look. Scott wasn't being told something.
"It's not Xornoth is it?" Scott bit the bullet. He was tired of dancing around the subject. Aviel sighed, pinching the bridge of their nose.
"Emperor. We cannot dictate if your sibling can attend a wedding they were invited to."
"Grian and Scar don't even get along with Joey" Scott pressed his hands on the table standing up. "If Joey and Xornoth are attending, I will not be. Nor will Tommy."
"Then they will miss you." Solstice crossed his legs and leaned into the chair. Jimmy gave Scott an urgent look. Scott ignored it. He was tired, and his head hurt. He didn't get to eat today, and it seemed like he kept getting bad news.
"I don't understand why it's so difficult to send an owl over to any of them really! Just to ask!"
"Xornoth is exiled from this kingdom. They are exiled from the Oceanic Empires." Aviels voice was stern, and they were holding eye contact with Scott. "They are not bound to the lost empire. They were offered shelter there-"
"There is an agreement that Joey and Xornoth will stay away from me and my family forever." Scott cut the air with his hand. "You and solstice are supposed to take care of any affairs that rise. And this is an affair that has risen."
"And you don't think it's rude to ask Emperor Joey to not bring his fiancée?" Aviel was getting an edge to their voice.
Jimmy grabbed Scott's arm, standing up to face him. "Scott-" his voice was so soft, so full of love. Scott turned to look at him. His eyes told a whole other story. Concern, Fear. "This isn't something worth fighting." Scott's heart sank.
"Think about it, Petal. The likelihood of Joey leaving the lost empire with Xornoth? The world isn't stopping just because our best friends are getting married. Joey and Xornoth are probably too busy-"
"Jimmy" Scott was so taken back. "I don't think you realize what's at stake here. Plus, They are still an allied empire to the wood elves last I checked."
"I don't think Scar even knows who Joey is." Jimmy laughed lightly.
"Do you really think they're the ones picking out the guest list? We have special standing because we are in the party- Jimmy-" Scott felt like he was going crazy.
"Scott…" Jimmy smiled, tilting his head to the side a bit. Scott knew he was about to say something stupid. He watched his hands being taken by Jimmy as the blond opened his mouth to speak. "Don't you think you're overreacting just a bit? It's already going to be stressful on Tommy-"
Scott's ears were ringing. He didn't register anything the Codfather was saying. Jimmy had had a lot of stupid moments, but this one felt like a kick to his stomach.
"Scott?" Solstice's voice brought him back enough. He couldn't look at Jimmy. Solstice looked… pitiful. He had these big worried eyes for Scott and this distaste for Jimmy.
"No- you're right!" Scott pulled his hands away from Jimmy.
"Oh! I am?!" Jimmy perked up. Scott resisted punching him
"Yup! You are absolutely right and in fact, with that I don't think I have anything else I'd like to discuss right now. Jimmy and I will-" Scott could hear his heart in his ears. Everyone's facial features turned blurry. He looked right at Elijah who was waiting to write something down. Unsure what to write in the mess of things.
"Tomorrow Jimmy and I will tell Tommy, then we will- send our reservation, and start planning our outfits-" he didn't even know what words were coming out of his mouth.
"Elijah. Please disregard any notes taken for this part of the meeting. We will rejoin and continue our discussion and feelings once we've taken a rest." Solstice said.
Scott found himself just nodding, once again being ignored. He was so done with his advisors ignoring him. "Dismissed" he called, his voice sharp as he turned around to storm out of the room.
"Scott!" Solstice called. Jimmy echoed him and ran after Scott.
"Hey- hey! Scott! Slow down" Jimmy hurried to stand in front of Scott. Scott glared, stopping.
"What? What could you possibly want right now?" Scott snapped. Jimmy's smile fell and he stood a bit straighter, trying to get closer to Scott. Scott took a step back.
"Scott- what's wrong, you don't have to worry-"
"Well I worry anyways!" Scott broke. "They could say they'll not be going and I'd still worry that they'd show up! Don't you know that? " Scott stared at Jimmy. Jimmy backed up a half step and let Scott get everything out.
"I just want someone, preferably my husband, to back me up and support me even if I am crazy!" Scott wasn't crying, his voice was raised, but he kept his distance.
"Aeor above, I just want to keep my Child and husband safe!" Scott was shaking. He thought he might pass out. Someone else stood behind him.
"And I'm sorry for not wanting to be near the person that killed my mother." Scott's wings were fluffed, expanded a bit. Jimmy backed away and glared right back at him.
"It's called paranoia Scott. I wouldn't let him-"
"Jimmy." Solstice's voice saved Jimmy from saying anything else. "It's been a while since you've heard from Ariadne, I imagine. Perhaps check in with her and Tommy?"
Jimmy looked like he wanted to tell solstice off, but thought for a second more and turned to continue dons the hallway. Scott watched him until he vanished via the stairs.
"Scott."
"I don't want to talk right now. I'd like to isolate." Scott avoided solstice hand.
"Scott, you cannot just avoid forever. At some point you'll have to see them again."
"I get to make that choice. I get to choose the timing." Scott declared.
"Are you sure?" Solstice asked. His voice didn't sound right.
"I'm… sure." Scott slowly turned around. Solstice was replaced by a figure. Scott couldn't quite place the shape of it- just… something that existed. Gold glowed around the being and outlined the only coherent lines. Antlers. great. Now he was hallucinating.
"I've laid out your path. Your whole being. Your whole life."
Scott opened his mouth to argue, to apologize, to belittle, to beg. But he couldn't. His mouth wouldn't open.
"Our story will never be over." They got closer. Scott inhaled, tears finally streaming down his face after having built up. Here Aeor was, scolding him like a child. So disappointed in him that he had to come face to face. Xornoth never failed Exor. It's how they became so powerful. The urge to scream was in his throat. It was bubbling up and the tears in his eyes made everything hard to see.
The room got darker and darker as Scott choked on his screams. The only thing he could see was a light now. A glowing light that stood still. Scott struggled but moved forward. He walked down the hall he had walked a million times. If felt so unfamiliar to him, but the more he walked, the more breathing became easier and he seemed to actually feel again the further he followed the light. Up the stairs and to the left-
Until his hand hit wood as he knocked. And the lights turned back on, and the cold slowly left his bones.
"Yeah- hold on-" there was a moment of whispered cursing and jostling before the door opened. Tommy looked at Scott and he held a varsity of emotions.
"Whoa. What happened to you?" Tommy blurted. He covered his mouth immediately, horrified by what he just said. That should have made him feel miserable, but Scott let a laugh out. Further startling Tommy, the twelve year old seemed to scramble to figure out what to do.
"Aeor, you wouldn't believe. How are you? Can I come in? I down think I've seen your room since you got all that stuff" Scott sniffled. Tommy hesitated but nodded, motioning for Scott to follow. Tommy's room felt too big for the space Tommy actually took up. Scott wondered if he liked that… Scott picked a tighter space to live in growing up. It was cozy. Having so much space left him feeling hollow.
"Don't ask me how I got those to hang-" Tommy looked at this poster he got. Scott smiled and shrugged.
"I won't." He agreed. Tommy looked at him and smiled a little sideways.
"How was your meeting with Ariadne?" Scott sat down on the end of Tommy's bed. Tommy sat in a chair he pulled away from his desk.
"Boring…"
"Was she boring? Or the material?"
"Oh… well Ariadne was great. Very much a woman" Tommy nodded. Scott laughed, covering his mouth.
"Tommy!" Scott scolded playfully. Tommy hesitated and waited to react until he could be sure Scott wasn't mad… then he smiled all smug like.
"I'm being honest."
"Ah- well you better watch who you say those jokes to. Not everyone would find them funny" Scott smiled, wiping his face. Tommy hummed and wiped his palms on his knees.
"So…. what happened?"
Scott rolled his eyes, smiling and sniffling. "I told you, you won't believe it."
"Please? I made something and "-uhh-" Tommy thought for a moment. "Oh! I won't give it to you until you tell me what happened." Tommy crossed his arms. Scott scoffed and sighed, ruffling his wings.
"Wow, taking lessons on gatekeeping and blackmail?" He mused. "Okay, okay. Jimmy and I are fighting" Scott watched Tommy's eyes get wide. Tommy didn't need to know about the whole meeting.
"No way. Why? What did he say?"
"I love that you assume it was him that's in the wrong."
"Well you could never be wrong?" Tommy suggested. Scott giggled. "See!" Tommy pointed. He looked so excited to have gotten the reaction out of Scott. What did he say?"
"Well, I was really upset over this thing that's happening." Scott looked down at his hands, messing with his rings. He avoided touching his wedding bands. "And he told me I was overreacting." Scott looked back at Tommy. Tommy's eyes snapped wide open and he laughed before covering his mouth.
"No he didn't!" He sat back down after jumping up.
"I know right?" Scott's laugh was wet and he could only wipe his face again.
"See. You should make sure you tell the cod counsel. Ariadne told me about CodBoy." He leaned forward, whispering. Scott laughed, covering his mouth again as he watched Tommy.
"Right. Now you promised me something?" Scott leaned forward, smiling at Tommy. Tommy jumped up.
"Okay- okay, listen up" Tommy grabbed a disk off his frame on the wall. Scott smiled and watched as the disk was loaded into the jukebox and turned up so he could hear it. And the funniest thing happened.
Tommy started bouncing with the beat, quietly counting until he started speaking? Rapping?
"Here's the deal-" Tommy bobbed his head, holding a fake microphone. "There's this dude named Scott, he's really a lot, a total big deal, His husband Jimmy got a real good steal" Tommy grinned at Scott while he smiled, placing his hands in his lap as he watched the performance. "He's a king, and when he pings all his crew, they all already knew, Scott knows what's up, he grows his power, even after sitting in his tower!" Tommy moved around a little much for Scott, and his head definitely hurt. But seeing Tommy just goofing around made his chest feel warmer.
"Jimmy's a fish, not the kind you'd want, in a dish, He's a bit of a goof, real aloof, But he's got a good heart, should he apologize? Revolutionize-! saying sorry to your husband- doesn't need a party! He's got the speed, ready to go, y'all he better plead! Probably on his knees- but don't be gross, or you'll get the bees" Tommy had begun to run out of rhymes and his rhythm was a little funny now. But he never stuttered, and he kept confident. And he lasted until the track slowed down before restarting. Tommy hurried to shut it off before looking at Scott with a huge grin. Scott smiled back before slowly clapping, sniffling and laughing again.
"Oh wow. Wow, I think that may just be the best rap I've ever heard" Scott applauded the kid. Tommy's face flushed and he waved Scott off.
"Oh- that wasn't even my best work. I have many talents" Tommy pulled the disk from the box and put it back away.
"Yeah? What are all your talents?"
Tommy narrowed his eyes at Scott. "I don't know… I think I should keep them a secret if I ever have to whip 'em out." Tommy crossed his arms. Scott leaned back on his hands and smiled at Tommy.
"Really? Why would you have to whip them out?" Scott teased. Tommy rolled his eyes.
"Scott, you're so stupid! I can't tell you or else you'll be on guard!"
"Ah- True. sorry, sorry. I'll just keep assuming." Scott grinned. Tommy looked back at the window, then to Scott.
"You have a church, right?" Tommy asked. Scott stared at the window.
"mhm" was all Scott could muster. This was Tommy's fourth week here. Scott felt like they already rushed so much, overloading Tommy. But he kept asking to see things- to be involved. Scott looked back to Tommy. He ignored the golden glint he saw in the kids eyes.
"Can I see it?" Tommy asked. He was blunt as ever. That Scared Scott more. He also figured the Church was the last place he would want to be after his hallucination.
"Not today." Scott looked down at his hands. Tommy made an unhappy noise.
"Do you worship any of the Gods?" Scott asked. Tommy paced around the room.
"Yeah." He looked at Scott. Scott watched him move to the other side of the bed and flop down next to Scott.
"My parents went to The Watcher ceremonies." He stared up at the ceiling. Scott just watched him. He didn't encourage him to continue, nor did he press on. He just let there be silence while Tommy thought. "After they died, It was kinda shitty- sorry- It was crappy" He corrected. Scott smiled.
"Like- I don't remember a lot. But the orphanage didn't let me go to church anymore? I would have had to be accompanied, and no one wanted to visit after the sickness." He closed his eyes, almost like he was trying to remember. He would have been so young.
"The Watson's followed Mother Death, and the oldest kid talked a lot about the Blood God. There were just too many gods. I hated it." Tommy was careful as he turned to lay on his side. Scott's hand found his hair and Tommy shuddered but didn't push him away.
"I missed The church though." He admitted. "Like- the feeling that someone would keep me safe if I did all the right things- If I just talked to them and asked. My parents always told me that I didn't have to be perfect. The Watchers hated Perfect." Tommy slowed his breathing down to the point Scott was a bit fearful he wasn't breathing.
"But then I'd have to explain that to the Watson's."
"What about your other family?" Scott asked. Tommy meant to press his face into the bed, but Scott's thigh was in the way.
"they're.. Well the two brothers worshiped singular deities, but still Watchers." Tommy laid back on his back. Scott scratched his scalp still and Tommy seemed to be okay with it (if not enjoying himself). "Which is kind of how I got into Prime. Prime has it's own church, did you know? It's big enough because it's like some sort of subgroup of the watchers- but it's not really a group, but it kind of is…" Tommy opened his eyes to look at Scott. Scott tilted his head and nodded.
"Puffy travels out to go to the Church of Prime on holidays." Scott smiled. He saw something glimmer in Tommy's eyes.
"Do you want a place to pray?" Scott asked. Tommy blinked.
"You'd build a whole church for me?" Tommy smiled. Scott laughed, pushing Tommy's hair over his eyes.
"No." Scott watched dramatic disappointment flood the kid. "But I can set up an area for you that's for worship. It would be yours- or whoever you allow to use it. Just for Prime."
"Your God won't get mad?" Tommy leaned up. Aeor did not in fact like sharing, as has been stated so many times to Scott.
"No. That's for me to deal with."
"What if you get sick- or hurt-"
"Aeor doesn't punish for being kind to others." Scott reassured himself more than Tommy.
"Jimmy doesn't have a church, but he has his cod sanctuary. And I have my own little corner in the Cod Empire." Scott brushed Tommy's hair back out of his face. "So if you want something…Just let us know." Scott stared down at Tommy. Tommy's eyes were closed again and he let his response be silence.
It was weird to look at Tommy. Not in any bad way. But in a way that felt like Scott was looking in some sort of veil of himself and Jimmy. He supposed he was supposed to see it. But Tommy was adopted. He came from a family that was so far off their own family trees. Yet the way he joked and never seemed to understand the tone people carried, or the blondness of his hair; Scott could see Jimmy so clearly. It was weird how he saw himself too. A kid trapped in a place. He didn't know where to stand or what to say. Scott saw the way he silenced himself if one look was given to him. He made himself as small as possible in a castle that leaves everything in the open.
Scott was going to do better though. He promised.
"I don't know what's so hard for you to understand, Scott. Look at Xornoth- Have they ever once begged so hard to go and do something so common?"
"That's not fair. Xornoth has friends, they have a god that's so easily pleased, they have all your attention!"
"Scott Major! We do not speak ill of Gods in this house. And we especially do not belittle your family"
"I wasn't belittling! I was stating a fact!"
"Why can't you just be what I'm asking you to be? I just need you to sit here, smile, be polite. Don't talk, don't be mean, don't go on about your games and songs. Scott, please. I just need you to sit, and be my perfect child."
"I'm sorry"
"I know you are, honey. You just need some reminders. And I will always be here to remind you."
"Well there's a reason you were born as a girl, wasn't there?, I really do not care about the gender Scott. What I do care about is how…how he is."
"How he is?"
"Scott, We don't like the Ocean Empire. They've not worked hard for what they have! They were given it to them by some random happening. Gods don't just pull out of nowhere. Look at us-"
"But he's good to me, and the Ocean empire is becoming so big! It could be a benefit- and I don't see Xornoth going out and getting laid."
"Because they are focusing on what's actually important. They are trying to become a good ruler. And what are you doing? Sleeping with fish? How's that going to help you? Help a kingdom? Help your kingdom?"
"What does it matter if Xornoth will be crowned anyways?"
"Scott."
"I just want something that's mine for once! Is that too much to ask for? For some sort of liberation?"
"It will not be him. Do you understand me? The people you surround yourself with show your people who you are."
"He will be perfect"
Scott didn't realize he had fallen asleep until there was a hand on his shoulder. Scott had stopped startling awake a while ago. There was no rush, he never felt in danger or any sense of surprise. Or maybe he knew the hand that woke him. Jimmy's expression was so soft, and he looked so apologetic to Scott. Scott tried to sit up to hug Jimmy, but only managed in pulling Jimmy down into some sort of weird angled hold. Tommy was still next to him and asleep. Jimmy was being careful to only wake Scott.
"Hey" Jimmy whispered. Scott found his eyes and swallowed.
"Hi" He whispered back.
"I'm sorry" Jimmy pressed his face into Scott's cheek. Scott closed his eyes.
"And what are you sorry for?"
"For being such an ass" Jimmy grumbled. Scott smiled and combed his hair with his fingers.
"And what made you an ass?" Scott was going to drag this out.
"For not supporting you when you needed it. You're right. I would be just as mad if Xornoth was there. I just didn't want you to be freaking out-"
"Stop talking now, you're going to ruin it." Scott buried his face in Jimmy's hair.
"Right." Jimmy sighed.
"Right-"
"Shh" Scott shushed Jimmy and carefully tugged his hair so he'd look at him. Scott kissed Jimmy briefly and Jimmy just smiled back.
"I was actually coming over to find you" Jimmy whispered. Scott stayed quiet as Tommy shifted next to him. "Ariadne wants to hold a meeting. Aviel has a clear-"
"Jimmy" Scott whined quietly.
"What?!"
"I'm going back to sleep" Scott turned his head to face Tommy, closing his eyes. Jimmy sighed. Scott stayed quiet, his breathing became steady. Jimmy didn't leave though. He shifted around the room before sitting on the floor where Scott could still reach him. Scott forced his smile down as his hand found Jimmy's hair.
Scott had gotten in the habit of walking nearly shoulder to shoulder with Tommy. That way he'd always be close enough for Scott to shield with his wing if needed. Not that Tommy couldn't protect himself. It was something that just sort of came naturally.
"Do I get a say in what I learn?" Tommy was dragging his feat more as Jimmy lead them down the hallway.
"You can give suggestions. I'm sure they'd be flexible. What do you want to learn?" Jimmy asked, looking behind him. Tommy shrugged as if he could see him.
"Things that matter."
"I think any school would teach you things that matter" Scott mused. Tommy deadpanned at him and walked faster so he was next to Jimmy. Scott just smiled.
Ariadne was standing talking to Aviel when they stepped into the office. They both stopped at the same time and smiled at the family.
"Hello! I don't believe I've gotten to talk to you a whole lot, Emperor Scott." She lowered her head. Scott smiled at her and moved to stand behind Tommy. her eyes found the kid and she looked back to Aviel. Aviel hummed and smiled at Tommy.
"We were hoping Tommy could attend to other things while we talked." Aviel looked at him. Scott squeezed Tommy's shoulder.
"How come?"
"Just so we can have your input as parents." The way Aviel looked at scott meant there was more to it. "With all respect for Tommy, I think this is a more adult matter" they looked at Jimmy next. Jimmy frowned and looked back to Scott. It was an awkward moment as Scott looked to Jimmy, no one saying anything.
"Yeah. Okay, how about you go make sure friend is doing okay? Do you remember how to get there?" Scott turned Tommy to face him. Tommy scowled for a moment before fixing himself up.
"Yeah. I remember. Have fun." Tommy glared back at Aviel. "Or whatever" he mumbled and left the office. Jimmy moved to close the door behind them.
"Still spending a lot of time with Jimmy, hm?" Aviel commented. Scott stared and Ariadne coughed before motioning for Scott and Jimmy to sit.
"Thank you guys… and thank you for trusting me- talking to aviel, I've realized how much work this is and I'm very honored you'd trust me" she bowed her head. Jimmy perked up, taking Scott's hand.
"Of course! You were my first choice- I would have actually begged you if I needed to" Jimmy announced. Scott looked at him and smiled a little sideways. Jimmy just grinned back.
"Uhm- okay! So after talking to Tommy and looking at what Aviel gathered, Tommy is a very intelligent kid." Ariadne looked over her notes.
"He's got a lot of common sense and is able to hold conversations really well. Very sociable! Which is good." Aviel was nodding along as she spoke, agreeing with what she was saying. "he's definitely lacking in geography and political studies. He hardly knows the surrounding kingdoms and their rulers, nor the history of a lot of it."
That was the least favorite part of Scott's learning. He hated having to list the rulers, remember when people died and who took over. He hated staring at maps until he saw them in his sleep. He didn't blame Tommy. It did make him curious as to what he had learned in his previous schools.
"He's also doesn't have great manners…" Ariadne smiled sheepishly.
"Not for a Royal standard anyways. His language and attitude is very common focused." Aviel spoke up.
"He did come from a common family." Scott reminded. Aviel looked at him and sighed.
"He can mask for an extended amount, but he slips up a lot and starts getting antsy easily." Aviel looked at their own notes.
Scott looked at Jimmy who shrugged. "Sounds like a normal kid to me. It's boring having to sit through all of this." Jimmy ignored the scowl Aviel sent his way. "But is that what you want to focus on? Just some proper etiquette training?"
Ariadne nodded. "To start, yes. As we feel he is progressing and able to focus on these subjects less, we can revisit what he's to learn next." She looked at Aviel for approval. Aviel nodded at her.
"Great! Anything else? This seems like something Tommy could have been here for." Jimmy looked at Scott. Scott looked back to aviel. It seemed odd that this would be all they'd want to bring up. That they'd want to hide this from Tommy despite Tommy being the subject.
"Two things" Aviel held their fingers up. "Firstly. We would really like you two to consider if he is a proper heir for either kingdom. If so, we need to adjust his schooling as he gets older to prepare." Aviel looked at them.
"Can we come back to that? When he's older?" Scott asked. He didn't want to think about Tommy being an heir. Not now, not for a while. Jimmy nodded along. Aviel and Ariadne shared a look that made Scott's stomach sink. They'd keep asking about it. It would be something always in the back of their minds.
"Sure. Once you've officially adopted him, we will have this discussion again." Aviel cleared their throat.
"We wanted to run things by you first that way we could come to an agreement." Aviel responded calmly. "But we did have another point we wanted to make."
Scott looked at Jimmy a little annoyed that they weren't being let go. Scott half wondered if Tommy was waiting outside the door trying to eavesdrop. Jimmy just smiled at him. "and what would that be?" Scott asked.
"The Wedding reception in three months." Aviel looked between them. Scott tilted his head.
"What about it? Tommy's coming with us. Jimmy already spoke to his team about it. We've already talked about it. Remember?" Scott didn't want anyone else butting in about this. A trip that they'd take as a family to another country. Where Tommy would officially be seen by others as their son.
A trip he had already had a fight with this advisors about.
"Calm down, Scott" Aviel warned. "We both agree he is going with you. But we suggest you make an announcement or send letters of warning. It would be informal to bring Tommy without warning. You'd be taking the spotlight from your friends." Aviel squinted at Scott and Scott's cheeks warmed as he looked down in his lap. Jimmy took his hand and nodded.
Again with the being scolded. Scott wasn't a kid. He didn't need aviel to talk down to him like this. He was their emperor.
"That makes sense…. Do we need to tell everyone? Like everyone everyone?" Jimmy looked a little worried. Ariadne smiled so gently to reassure him.
"Preferably Grian, Scar and any major party members."
"How soon? It's just barely been a month." Scott pointed out. Aviel looked at Scott and Scott didn't have the mind to decode the look.
"I understand, but you really should explain yourselves before too much longer. Especially if you've been insisting that this will go through." They tilted their head up slightly. Scott glared.
And now the judgment. Subtle in the conversation and seem poised in how they said it. But sharp and letting their true opinions slip.
"I'm not worried about what they'll think, I'm worried about overwhelming Tommy. We literally just talked about this, Aviel. Remember?" Scott's voice had an edge and Jimmy squeezed hid hand.
"Well you should have considered that sooner. You can't shelter him forever. He still has three months until the actual event. Plenty of time to work with him." Aviel smiled. Scott clenched his jaw and squeezed jimmys hand back. He looked at his husband, glancing to his lips than his face.
Don't you think you're overreacting?
"Great. We'll work on letters soon. Is that all? Anything else?" Scott asked, dropping everything. His head was starting to hurt and he felt sick.
Ariadne shook her head looking a little uncomfortable. "Not as of now. While I'm here, I'll start Tommy's education and Aviel will take over once I've left. I'll resume whenever Tommy visits the cod empire." She shifted and smiled a little. "And of course sharing notes along the way. Aviel and I will always be in communication!!" She nodded, looking back at Aviel who confirmed.
Scott kept his posture perfect. He wanted to slouch and tune this out, but they were almost done. He was just tired of his own team judging him, holding onto the same expectations his mother used as a cage.
He waited until early morning to sneak out of Jimmys humid hold. The cold hit his bones for a second before he pulled his robes on, pushing his feet into his boots. His heart was racing as he grabbed the door handle. It wasn't like he was doing anything bad, but he didn't want Jimmy to be worried about him, and he didn't want Tommy asking questions.
"Scott?" Jimmy mumbled, feeling around the bed. Scoff held his breath and tried to think. "I've got to use the bathroom, love. I'll be right back okay? Keep the bed warm for me" Scott shuffled over, kissing Jimmys head. Jimmy snored in response.
The castle in the morning was a special sort of cold. It chilled your bones and the sun shining through the windows seemed to make it colder in a way. You could see the frost from the morning lining the windows on the first floor; and if you held your breath before exhaling you could see it. Most staff were still asleep or just attending to their jobs. Morning cleaners swept and wiped dust off of shelves. Got places that were normally crowded or popular. It was quiet enough you could hear birds chirping outside and smell the frosted grass.
The town was quiet too. The church wasn't too far from the castle, having its own path. But you walked alongside the road leaning into Chromia. You could hear parents who were up early enjoying their morning, or people taking their dogs on early works. Any fresh snow made the sun shine brighter as he walked down the path and up to the doors of the church.
The church was almost always quiet. But the morning made it feel pin-drop silent. No public were praying; no priests out to ask questions, no acolytes to watch your footsteps. They were getting ready for their day, waking up and organizing their things. Only a few seemed to be up earlier, reading near the back.
They didn't even look up at Scott.
Scott's heart seemed to race as he walked down the isle. The stained glass made his vision weird and narrowed in on the alter at the front. The golden basin, the antlers behind it, an engraving of their prayer.
Scott kneeled, staring at the golden powder. He wasn't going to, but his pointer and middle finger dipped into it and smeared the gold down his lips. And his vocal cords stopped. He could hear himself breathe. He let his eyes close.
Please Guide my head. Please Hold my heart. Allow me to Breathe, Allow me to Listen, Allow me to Watch
The words rattled in his brain as he thought them. His lips twitched and he held his hands in his lap, his head now bowed.
What do I do? Who can I ask for help? Why do I see you in him? Why won't you leave him alone? Do you hear me still? Do you love me still?
Scott opened his eyes, staring back at the antlers. Once they connected him to Aeor. He hadn't touched them in a while. Not since Xornoths banishment. Imagining them on his head felt wrong now.
What am I doing wrong? What do you want him for? Why am I not good enough?
The longer he stared at the antlers the more weird they looked. The elegant and well foraged branches seemed like they were warping. The gold looked like it was fading into a brass.
He blinked and it fixed it.
What is yours. Is mine.
his eyes closed again and he gripped his hands harder. He could hear a match being lit.
With so much life. So much energy. So much curiosity. Another one to prove to me that the cycle continues.
Scott wanted to say that Tommy was already "claimed". He had his own god. He was only interested in Aeor because Aeor was apart of Scott. And he very much wanted to believe Tommy was interested in what was apart of Scott.
He's curious enough to be shown what I can do. How I can help. How I can guide his head. His heart. His breathing, his listening, his watching.
Scott didn't want the gold to ever reach Tommy's lips.
Share your security. Save your family. Grow your faith.
Tears ran down Scott's face. And they dripped gold when they landed on his robes.
There was still gold smeared into the sabric of his robes by the end of the day while they were eating. Jimmy didn't say anything about it, and Tommy while looking, didn't ask. He was way more focused on getting Jimmy to chase him around the castle to prove who knew it better.
Tommy ended up winnning. And not because Scott had shown him shortcuts while Jimmy was away. Jimmy had to wear a hat of shame that Tommy found buried in some chest in his closet. He said it didn't have a label on it, but Scott doubted it.
Him and xornoth used to love putting on plays and dressing up. They had their own costume chest that Scott had long forgotten about until he saw the silly hat placed on his husbands head.
"You look really sexy right now" Scott smiled at Jimmy teasing. Jimmy glared.
"Now don't you start. I know you helped him."
"was I not supposed to?" Scott grinned at Tommy. Tommy just shoved food in his mouth to not laigh.
"Were you- no! No!! I was supposed to be able to win! Do you know how long I've been here?!"
"Obviously not long enough" Scott smirked. Jimmy gasped.
"Now this is just rude!" He scoffed.
"Get good, Big Man" Tommy shifted, letting his expression and tone get cocky.
"Or maybe old man. I think old man is totally better."
"I am not old!!" Jimmy gasped. "How dare you?! My own spawn, my own son, my own blood and all." Jimmy frowned heavily.
Tommy rolled his eyes. "You saying that makes you sound old too." He pointed at Jimmy with his fork. Scott raised his eyebrows at the kid to remind him to not do that. Tommy's face flushed and he dropped the utensil.
"Tommy" Scott shifted, pushing his food around.
"Scott" Tommy watched him.
"We're going to tell our friends about you." Scott looked at Jimmy and then Tommy.
"Is this what all of these meetings have been about?"
"A few of them" Jimmy nodded. "We're all going to go back to the Avianary in three months for our friends wedding ceremony. I'm in the party" Jimmy smiled. Tommy looked between them.
"…okay… and? Is that all?"
"They might want to meet you before. But if you don't want to, you don't have to." Scott knew he'd have to eventually. Tommy leaned back in his seat, picking his fork back up and moving food around.
"Alright. Are there…" Tommy started. He shook his head. "Never mind."
"You can ask" Jimmy encouraged. Tommy shook his head again. "Nah. It's silly. Who's getting married in the Avianary?" He looked at them.
"Grian of the Moon Family and Prince Scar." Scott worked on eating again after answering. Tommy blinked and looked at Jimmy and Scott.
"You're friends with Grian?!"
"Of course. He's one of my best mates!" Jimmy Beamed.
"We're very close with a lot of surrounding rulers." Scott smiled at his kid.
"You'll probably get used to seeing a lot of them around. Those lessons with Aviel and Ariadne will come in handy."
"…will there be kids my age?" Tommy asked. Scott paused and thought about it. He didn't know. None of their friends had kids, and if they were planning, they certainly wouldn't match Tommy's age.
"I'm… sure there will be kids alike." Jimmy spoke up. "But there's a recession of kids right now. Most of us are just getting married or settling in." Jimmy shifted, shoving food into his mouth so Scott had to pick up the conversation.
"King Cleo from Hermittopia has a shadow. I'm sure they'll be in attendance. I think they're around your age." Scott thought about it. Cleo had written some time ago about having a shadow who was studying under gem, but now themselves. He didn't know much else though.
"And I think there are some new trainee's for castle staff, probably a little older than you." Scott tried to think of any other kids who may be there. There just weren't a lot that he knew about.
"I'm sure friends of friends." Jimmy nodded.
"And if there's not?" Tommy put his cheek in his hand with his elbow on the table. Scott bit back his request for Tommy to sit straighter.
"Then you can stick right Next to us." Jimmy beamed. Tommy deadpanned.
"Do you know how lame it is to sit Next to your par- guardians" neither of them mentioned the near slip of parents. "While there's probably a whole bunch of things to get into?" Tommy scoffed. Scott and Jimmy glanced at each other and smiled.
"Yeah. We do, Tommy." He nodded. "We've been there before too. Trust us." Scott smiled at Tommy. He couldn't help but see his reflection though. A kid about to go to an event he definitely didn't want to go to. Unsure about who would be there. Unsure if making friends was an option.
At least this time he could reach out to that mirror, holding Tommy rather than witnessing him be torn apart.