"What is that?"
Yakunan looked up at the sky, gazing upward, trying to spot what his son was pointing at. His eyebrows creased as his eyes widened slightly. He turned his attention to his son who stared up at the stars, a look of awe upon his face. The night was beautiful tonight, clear and full of stars. He watched as his son admired the sight.
"That…" he chuckled softly. "Those are stars." He moved closer to where his son stood, placing an arm around his shoulders, drawing him closer.
Xenudah glanced over at his father and smiled softly. "Really?" He gazed back at the sky, smiling brightly at the sight of the star in question. "It looks so pretty," he mumbled softly. He placed his hand against it, staring upwards at it. "Like the sun," he whispered.
Yakunan chuckled slightly. "Yes, just like the sun," he agreed with him, looking up at the star as well.
They spent their time together admiring the stars until they both grew tired. Yakunan took his son into bed with them, holding him close, gently stroking his hair. Xenudah snuggled into his father's chest, closing his eyes, falling asleep soon after. Yakunan lay awake for a while, watching his son sleep peacefully and admiring how peaceful he seemed, not bothered by anything or anyone.
He looked down at his son and smiled lovingly, running his fingers through his son's soft, black hair. "You're such a beautiful child," he whispered softly. He felt tears build up behind his eyes, threatening to spill. "I love you very much. You'll always be my son, my precious little boy." Yakunan leaned over, kissing his son on the head softly. He held him tightly. He knew now that if anything were to happen to his child, there would be no one he could turn to for help. No one he could rely on. He'd need to do whatever it takes to make sure that nothing bad happens to his son. That he wouldn't lose him. That, he could assure.
Yakunan let out a choking sob at the memory. He buried his head deeper into his son's shoulder, feeling the wetness on his cheek grow heavier by the second. "I'm sorry," he whimpered. "I never meant for this to happen. I wanted none of this to happen. You didn't deserve any of it." He sniffed a few more times before releasing another sob into his shoulder. "I'm so, so sorry," Yakunan apologized, clinging onto his child. "Xenu...don't go!"
Xenudah gazed at his father with such a broken expression, as if he was afraid that he'd disappear if he looked away for even a split second. "You promised, you said you would always protect me!" The younger cried desperately, burying his face in his arms.
"I know, I know…" Yakunan murmured, pulling his child closer. "Shhh… It's okay. Everything is going to be alright."
"I want them back!"
"I know you do, son… We'll pull through this together." The former Overlord pulled away just slightly to touch his forehead to Xenudah's own. "You're my world, Xenu… You always will be…"
Xenudah let out a shuddering breath as his father pulled him close once more. "Dad… I'm scared… I don't want to lose you...not again…" Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes. He closed his eyes tightly, pressing his head against his father's chest.
Yakunan sighed and pulled him closer, kissing the top of his head softly, continuing to brush through his hair. "We'll be okay. We won't lose each other this time," Yakunan spoke softly. He pressed another kiss to Xenudah's head before pulling away slowly, wiping his son's tears with his sleeve, cupping his face with his free hand.
"Father, please stay…" Xenudah wept, his eyes full of anguish.
Yakunan stared at his son sadly for a few moments. He swallowed hard, looking down at his son who had grown so much in the past several years. The weight of the pain he had inflicted as the Overlord weighed heavily on his heart. "As long as I can keep you safe, Xenu. I promise," he sighed, looking up at him, brushing some of the black strands from his eyes. "You're a part of me, Xenudah. You'll always be… I love you…"
"I love you too, father…" Xenudah's voice was soft, barely a breath as he spoke.
The two fell silent for a moment as they embraced each other tightly and simply enjoyed each other's company, allowing themselves to forget about the outside world for just a brief moment. They stayed like that until they both began drifting off into slumber, each having a dream about the life they wish they would have had if things had gone differently.
Xenudah's eyes shot wide open as he let out a scream, breathing heavily. He clutched his chest tightly and tried to slow down his heart rate as best he could.
"Oh, Xenu…"Yakunan sat up quickly, grabbing his crying son into his lap, wrapping an arm around him. "It's alright, it was just a nightmare." He rubbed Xenudah's back gently as he continued to cry. "It's going to be oka–"
"No, it's not! It's not gonna be okay!" Xenudah broke down sobbing as his father held him tighter. "Epsilon's going to kill us! He'll kill my wife and daughter!" he cried out. "I'm so scared…" He choked on a sob. He clutched tightly to his father's kimono as he cried, shaking.
"I know…" Yakunan said softly, rocking Xenudah a bit. "I know…"
Xenudah gripped his father tightly, trying to hold himself together. He felt like he was on the verge of collapsing. He couldn't believe everything that had happened. Everything that had changed. All because of his father leaving him. He shook his head as he continued to cry. "He's gonna get all of us killed, dad…" Xenudah said softly. "He's gonna destroy us all… I don't know what to do! FATHER, I'M SO SCAAAARED!"
Yakunan wrapped his arms even more tightly around his son, holding him close to his body. "Shhhh... Shhhhhhhhhh…" he whispered soothingly into his ear as he rocked his son back and forth. He pulled away from him slowly. "Everything is going to be alright… We'll figure out a way out of this. You're my son… My world… No matter what happens, you will never be alone."
Xenudah choked on a sob, his breaths heavy, and laced with emotion. He clung to his father as tightly as he could as the older man held him close. "Dad…" he whimpered. "He's gonna take me away from you… I can't have that! I'm so scared… Dad! I'm scared I'll lose you. And what if something really bad happens?"
"It'll be fine, Xenudah. We've faced worse than being taken away, haven't we?" Yakunan questioned him, rubbing his back gently.
"But he might..." Xenudah whispered hoarsely. "And what if something really bad happens to any of you?! What then?!" He looked into his father's eyes fearfully. "What then, father?" he repeated, desperation in his voice. "How am I supposed to live without you, without any of you? I can't!" He sniffled, closing his eyes tightly. He hugged his father even tighter as he began letting out louder sobs. "Please… Don't leave me..." His voice cracked as he cried and hiccupped, hugging his father tightly, his eyes squeezed shut.
"I won't…" Yakunan whispered, his voice soft and barely a breath. "I won't leave you again, Xenudah… I promise…"
Xenudah cried out, burying his head further into his father's neck. "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!" he screamed as the memories flooded his mind in vivid detail. His breathing quickened, his eyes widening even more. "I'm scared!" He cried as he clung to his father more tightly. "PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!"
Yakunan's brow furrowed with worry as he tightened his grip around his son. He held onto his son as tightly as he could, squeezing his shoulder firmly and whispering comforting words to him, trying to calm him down.
"DON'T YOU EVEN DARE!" Xenudah shrieked. "YOU HAVE TO STAY WITH ME! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!" Xenudah sobbed loudly, shaking as he trembled, holding onto his father tightly. His chest heaved as he continued to gasp for air, unable to calm down.
"I'm here, son…" Yakunan whispered tenderly, stroking his cheek tenderly. "Don't be scared, Xenudah..." He kept repeating his mantra over and over as he caressed his son's hair. "I'm here, Son… It's okay…" He hugged him tightly, pressing his forehead against his son's.
"Father, if you leave, I'll lose myself! I'll lose EVERYTHING!" Xenudah wailed, clinging tightly to his father. He couldn't stop the tears streaming down his face, his hands clutching desperately to his father's clothing. "I can't do this by myself…" He whimpered, still hyperventilating as he cried into his father's chest. His eyes were crazed and frantic, filled with terror as he continued to cry silently, holding onto his father.
"I understand, Son." Yakunan kissed the top of Xenudah's head once more. "I understand…" He continued to murmur softly into his son's ear, rubbing his back softly. He closed his eyes tightly as he continued to rock his son. "I know. I know, I understand how terrifying this must seem to you… I won't leave this time… I promise, Xenudah…"
Xenudah choked on another sob. "Promise?" he asked softly, looking up at his father.
"Yes. Yes, I will stay. I swear upon my very soul to never leave you again… Not ever…" Yakunan nodded, tightening his grip around Xenudah. "I love you, Xenudah." He whispered softly as Xenudah buried his head into his chest again, crying, as did Yakunan.
Xenudah shuddered, desperate to control himself. Tears streamed down his cheeks uncontrollably now, his body shaking, his breathing erratic. He was terrified.
"Just stay here, little one…"
"Dad, I don't know what to do…"
Yakunan gave a gentle sigh. "Xenudah... I know this may be hard for you right now…but just wait a little while longer, alright?"
"I hate waiting…" Xenudah sniffled, his eyes tearing up, continuing to cry softly, holding tightly onto Yakunan's kimono.
"Me too," Yakunan replied, gently wiping Xenudah's tears away with his thumb. He smiled sadly, nuzzling his forehead against Xenudah's. "But we'll make it through this. We both will. Just wait a little bit longer, alright?"
"Okay… I will." Xenudah responded softly, sniffing quietly. "But please don't leave me…"
"Never again, little one. You have my word."
Yakunan sighed quietly, lying down on his back on the temple floor beside his son. His hands were wrapped around his son protectively. He lay there with Xenudah for a few moments before speaking.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, running his hand gently through Xenudah's hair.
Xenudah sighed lightly, curling himself closer to his father. He sniffled quietly, leaning against Yakunan. "Not really… It's stupid anyway…"
Yakunan hummed softly. "We don't need to talk about it if you don't want to, but…maybe you should."
"Can I tell you something though?" Xenudah asked as he curled himself up against his father.
"Of course you can."
"When I was younger… I used to dream about having a family… Of having children… Growing old with them…of raising them together, as one big happy family… Like we were before you left me…" Xenudah paused, pulling away slightly to look at his father. "Are you listening, dad?" He asked quietly.
Yakunan glanced at him. "Mhm…" He nodded softly as he listened closely to his son.
"Sometimes, it felt like you weren't there anymore… I didn't know where you were or why you left me, or if you would ever come back." He continued to speak quietly. "Every time I woke up, I always hoped that maybe, just maybe, you were coming back… That maybe things could get better… That you could come back sooner." He shook his head as he wiped some of his tears away. "I missed you so much, Dad…"
Yakunan chuckled lightly. "I see. You miss me." He commented. "You really think of me sometimes." He smiled.
"Of course I did…" Xenudah frowned slightly, looking away. "After all, that's who I am. Your little kid." He shrugged as he looked away, feeling guilty. "I always thought you loved me… Even when you weren't with me, I could see it in your eyes, Dad… You loved me, no matter what you said… You never stopped loving me." He frowned again. "You're not leaving again… Are you?" he asked, turning to look at his father with wide, frightened eyes as he stared at him worriedly. "You promised… You promised you wouldn't go anywhere…" Xenudah sobbed quietly, hugging his father tightly. He buried his head against Yakunan's chest, wrapping his arms tight around him. "Please don't leave me again!"
"Oh, Xenu…" Yakunan wrapped his son closer, letting a fragile whisper escape. Gently, he ran his fingers through Xenudah's soft hair. "I'm here… I'll never leave you again. I promise…" He whispered, kissing the top of his son's head. "I'm sorry I left you again. But I came back… I won't leave you again... I swear…"
"You're going to stay with me forever, aren't you?" Xenudah murmured, gripping tighter onto his father's kimono.
"As long as you want me to, I'll never leave." Yakunan assured his son. "I'll always be with you. Don't you worry…" He reassured softly. "I won't leave you again… I promise." He repeated, his voice shaking slightly. He hugged his son, closing his eyes tightly. "I will stay with you forever, Xenudah… We'll be a happy, happy family." He smiled, leaning forward and pressing a kiss against Xenudah's forehead. "Just a little longer, okay?" He murmured, squeezing his son tightly. "Just a little longer… Just a little longer…"
"I love you, Dad," Xenudah whispered, snuggling closer to him.
"And I love you too, Xenudah." Yakunan smiled gently, hugging him tighter. "Always and forever…"