Oh? What's this? A slightly longer chapter? đź‘€
It (he) looked away from Father, and back to the tiny one that had just spoken.
It (he) doesn't know what a papa is, but Father was Father.
It (he) picked up the tiny one and held the tiny one up to Father.
"Father. Little Guardian. Little Guardian. Father." It (he) said.
Father looked… shocked?
"Noooooo!" Little Guardian whined, wiggling in its (his) hold. "I'm Nanaki! I told you Nanaki'sss my name!"
Father made a weird noise that Father sometime made when happy. "Well, Nanaki, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Grimoire."
Little Guardian stopped wiggling. "Hi Mr. Grimoire!"
Its (his) lips went down. "Father. Little Guardian." It (he) said, managing to make its (his) voice lower.
Both Father and Little Guardian turned to look at it (him).
It (he) said nothing. Father sighed.
"Well, Vincent can you put Nanaki down?"
"Little Guardian." It (he) said.
Father tilted his head. It (he) did the same.
"Vincent… can you put Little Guardian down?" Father asked, using the right title.
It (he) put Little Guardian down.
"But my name'ss Nanakiiiiii!" Little Guardian whined again.
"Little Guardian." It (he) said.
Father sighed.
"And what. Is going on here?" A new being growled.
It (he) stiffened. It (he) looked over to see a creature stalk closer to it (him), Father, and Little Guardian. Lips pulled back, showing off teeth that were getting sharper. Low growls emerged from its (his) throat, taking to a different sound.
The new creature stopped. It looked like a bigger Little Guardian.
"Papa!" Little Guardian shouted.
Its (his) eyes, didn't flicker away, but it (he) saw how Little Guardian turned to it (him).
"Don't be mean to my papa!" Little Guardian said.
Papa? The creature was Little Guardian's Papa? Was this what a Papa was?
"Vincent." Father spoke up. "Stop."
It (he) would listen to Father. But it (he) would not let Papa attack.
All was silent.
"Hello. I'm Grimoire, and this is my son, Vincent." Father said, breaking the silence.
"… I am Seto. I see you've met my son, Nanaki."
It (he) twitched.
Son. Father has called it (him) a son before. Little Guardian is also a son. It (he) took this information for later.
Papa nodded. "Hello Grimoire, Vincent."
It did not stop the growl. "Chaos." It said.
It was pleased to see Papa's hackles rise.
"Papa! Chaos is my friend!" Little Guardian shouted again. Little Guardian then turned to Father. "And why did you call Chaos Vincent? Chaos said his name's Chaos."
"… That's because Chaos isn't his name. Vincent is." Father said.
Names… names… its (his) name wasn't Chaos? Its (his) name was Vincent?
It (he) turned away from Papa, and looked at Father in confusion.
Father stared back. Sad. Father was sad. And scared. Why was Father scared?
"I think…" Papa said, making it (him) to look back at the creature. "We should continue this conversation elsewhere."
"That sounds wise." Father said.
Little Guardian and Father deemed Papa not a threat. But it (he) will keep an eye on Papa.
Together all four of them traveled through Cosmo Canyon. All four of them went into the hand dug caves. It (he) made sure Father didn't trip.
It (he) has come to know that Father's eyes are different than its (his).
All four of them continued until they reached a room filled with furs. There, a creature like yet not like Little Guardian and Papa sat. Waiting.
It (he) was pleased to see the new creature's hackles rise at it (him).
"Mama!" Little Guardian ran to the new creature.
"Mama, I met a new friend and I met his papa, and papa was being mean to my new friend and my new friend was being mean to papa and-"
"Hush, little flame." The new Mama licked Little Guardian's head.
It (he) was secretly happy about this. It (he) didn't know Little Guardian could make so much noise.
Mama's eyes flickered around. "We've got company. But first, why were you out so late? We've told you to stay inside."
Little Guardian wiggled around. "I couldn't sleep! And I felt like I had to go outside!"
It (he) watched as Papa's and Mama's stares sharpened. "You felt like you had to go outside?" Papa questioned.
Little Guardian hummed, nodding.
Mama and Papa looked at one another, communicating in a way it (he) didn't understand.
A hand touched its (his) arm. Looking to see, it (he) saw Father.
"Speaking of, why were you out Vincent?" Father asked. "I thought we were staying in the Inn."
It (he) thought about it… it (he)… wasn't sure. Like Little Guardian, it (he) felt like it (he) needed to go outside.
It took a moment, trying to move its (his) mouth properly, but ultimately it (he) said, "felt… outside… like… Little Guardian…"
Father frowned.
"It seems something has brought our sons together." Papa said, stealing its (his) and Father's attention.
Father nodded.
"Now… what's this about… Chaos?" Papa asked.
Father stiffened. As if knowing it (he) would start to growl, Father sat a hand on its (his) shoulder.
"It wouldn't happen to involve why your son feels… so ancient would it?" Mama asked.
Father froze. It (he) tilted its (his) head.
An…cient? Old. It meant old. So, so old.
It (he) felt ageless. It (he) felt new.
It (he) didn't know.
Father would know. Father knows everything.
Mama and Papa communicated in the way it (he) didn't know.
"Perhaps, it would help if a human was here." Papa said.
"Bugenhagen would probably be best. Although we might have to have this conversation wait in the morning."
Mama and Papa looked at Father.
Silent.
"I think…" Father said. "I think that would be best."
Mama nodded. "Good. Now come along my little flame. Time for bed."
Little Guardian whined. Little Guardian whined a lot it (he) noticed.
"Come, Vincent. Let's head back to the inn. We need the sleep too." Father said.
It (he) didn't want sleep. But it (he) would listen to Father.
It (he) wanted to know why it (he) felt the way it (he) did.