Activity

“Daddy?” Leana gasped at Nithel’s tone, looking at him in shock.

“You don’t know anything about survival…” Nathair whispered, and thoughts raced behind his eyes.

You don’t know my story. Nithel’s heart pulsed with anger, but at his next thought it turned to pain. But I don’t know yours, either. 

“Exactly how much do you ‘want what’s best for Alessio’” Nathair challenged softly. “So many people claim that, but kind people aren’t very willing to go that far. Kind people only give enough kindness and love to make you hope, before they realize you’re too much to handle and throw you away. Or find someone more important and forget about you.”

You truly believe everything you’ve said. The sorrow overcame the anger. Who hurt you, Nathair? 

“We’re weapons now, you get that? You don’t know how to do anything else!”

I know what it is to be a weapon. I know what it is for my son to be made a weapon. I hate it.

“I’m just telling you what you don’t have the guts to accept now. I haven’t lied once here,” He looked at the fiery human lie-detector, “have I, Alessio?”

Nithel ignored yelling in the background.

Nathair glared at Nithel. “If you care for him at all you’ll do him the courtesy of not leaving him to think you’ll stay.”

Nithel pressed his lips together, and his eyes sadden.

“He never promised he’d stay…” Leana whispered, and glanced to Nithel, eyes sad. “He never promised to come back… But always promised he’d try…”

Nithel struggled not to cry, but tears leaked out and over, anyway.

Nathair vanished, and Leana clutched his arm.

Nithel found him, tried to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry…” Softly. “I shouldn’t have shouted at you. I… don’t know your story… But I do mean what I say about Alessio. I do love him. I want what’s best for him. I don’t… know what the future holds. But if I’m alive… if I’m able to find him… I don’t want to lose him. I want to serve him… however I should.” Nithel brow crinkled and he looked at Leana, more tears flowing. He struggled to breathe, I want Avigail to make him her dumpling stew. For him to play with the kids, in the fields. To teach him how to carve. His eyes find Alessio just a moment, before squeezing his eyes shut. Oh, Holy One. This man raised Alessio. He hurt Alessio, but… only because he… loves Alessio… somehow… And he doesn’t know what love is. What do I do?

——-

@this-is-not-an-alien @hannahrenner @ragnarok 🐒