Ugh.
He hated this.
Hated these feelings.
It felt disgusting-
Made him feel-
A shudder runs down his spine.
Mortal.
He scowls as he stomps around his temple.
What the hell was he supposed to do?
It wasn't like he could fix anything.
Not right now.
Faustina was still sleeping.
He doubted he'd get to check on his Kitten with her help.
Without it?
Yeah, that was a big fat no.
Which was stupid, because he was a god.
Who were these brats to tell him no?
Ugh!
He drags his hands down his face before he holds his newly freed hand out in front of him.
He should be thrilled.
Finally, after twenty shit filled years, he had some of his power back.
He should be happy.
So, why the fuck did it bother him?
Her screams had never done so before. So, why did it have to start now, right when she'd gotten one of the stupid things off.
It didn't make any damned sense.
He scowls.
Then again, what the fuck had in the last-
Ugh.
He wanted so badly to say years-
But it wasn't.
It was one.
A year.
He knew what changed, he turns his glare towards the sitting room.
And they were sleeping on his fucking sofa.
He curls his lip.
Dumb.
It was so fucking dumb.
But that didn't change that it was.
He stomps into the room. They needed to go.
He needed time to think.
Space.
But as he reaches over the back of the sofa to shake them awake, he's met with a small pair of green eyes.
The exact same color as his personal pain in the ass.
And the sister that also inhabited the body.
It throws him off.
"Uh, hi?"
The boy nods before he tilts his head and looks up at him curiously.
He grimaces before he takes a step back.
Great. Just what he needed, a tiny little mini T to-
His eyes narrow.
"Look," he glares at the kid, "I don't know if you understand the situation, but uh, you're kind of taking up my time here."
The boy purses his lips as he holds up his arms and looks around before he turns back to him.
"With them," he stabs the air between him and Faustina, "again, being young and stupid, you might not realize that's a girl and a boy you're with."
Daniel looks down at Faustina and points, before he points to himself and crosses his arms.
"She is not yours," he seethes, "they are mine. Don't get any stupid ideas in that tiny brain you have."
Daniel scowls as he glares up at him defiantly.
"T and Faustina are mine, you little mud rat."
Daniel tilts his head as he raises an eyebrow.
"I will not lower myself to argue with a baby."
Daniel shrugs.
"But, I don't mind lowering you. As in, I will squish you."
Daniel blinks up at him with a small frown.
"Are you too young to talk? What is this? My daughter was smaller than you when she started talking." He taps a finger to his chin, "I think."
Daniel frowns as he looks away and shrugs.
"Oh for me sake," he grabs the boy by the chin and forces him to look up, "just, hold still."
When they finally lock eyes, he gasps.
No.
That wasn't even fair.
This little cretin had existed in their life for less than a day, and yet he had a stronger bond to them.
A blood bond.
He snarls as he releases the boy.
Fuck that.
"Okay now, you listen to me, you mute mutt."
Daniel stares at him expectantly.
"You might be related to them, but they are mine, first and foremost. You can bond and connect all you want with the rest of that family, but she-" he points to Faustina, "is mine. I need all the time they give me, which means they don't have time for you. Cling to the momma Squid, she loves taking care of everyone. Or cling to my daughter. Pale, blue hair, can't miss her. She loves helping people. You can even cling to the big guy Lover Boy or Guyliner. But if, at any point, I do not get the attention that I have grown accustomed to. I will, with sheer glee-" he presses his thumb to the kid's forehead, "squish you like the miserable little pest you are."
Daniel's eyes widened in fear as he nods.
"Good."
His eyes narrow.
Why was the kid so hot?
He pulls his hand away before he touches Faustina's forehead.
That seemed more normal for mortals.
Great.
"And let me tell you, right fucking now, just because you are their little brother, doesn't mean you're more important than me. Got it?" He asks in a growl.
Daniel falls back, frightened as he nods.
"Good."
He walks around the couch and plucks the bottle Faustina had used last night before he narrows his eyes to read the instructions.
"Mortals are so fragile, a little heat cooks your brain." He rolls his eyes before he pours the liquid into a tiny plastic cup, "drink this and lay down, if anything is going to kill you, it will be me. But only if you don't listen to me. Got it?"
Daniel quickly takes the cup and nods.
"Then drink it."
Daniel downs the shot.
"Good."
He walks out of the room before he stops.
What in the underworld had he just done?
His eyes narrow as he looks over his shoulder and finds Daniel looking between Faustina and the floor, lost.
"Oh for the love of-" He rolls his eyes, "just sleep with her."
Daniel grins before he nods and quickly scrambles onto the couch to hide behind her.
Fuck.
What was wrong with him?
He rears back to yell for Pain and Panic, only to stop.
He drags his hands down his face before he sets off to search for them.
Since when did he worry about waking unwanted guests?
She stares down at the maps in front of her, her fingers drumming incessantly beside it as the pages blur once again.
Fuck. It was so hard to think. Even after sleeping away almost an entire day.
But she had to think. Had to plan.
Had to focus on anything besides her constant worry.
Deez's injuries.
The fact Deez had injuries.
T staying out for a few days, also possibly injured while witnessing the battle between a powerful witch and a fucking god.
She slams her hand down on the table before she presses her fingers to her temples.
At least they knew the witch was dead. That Deez was safe from her trying to summon her again.
"Uma…" Harry frowns as he reaches over and laces their fingers together. "We can be figurin' this out."
"I can't-" she growls, "It's like I can't even think straight right now."
Harry lets out a sigh as he runs his thumb over the back of her hand, "I know ya not be likin' the idea, but ya might be needin' ta be takin' a break."
"We're supposed to be saving everyone."
"Aye, but we can'nah be doin' that if we can'nah be thinkin' straight." He points out gently.
Her eyes drift to the doorway, leading to the new room they were sharing. The room where Gil and Deez were still sleeping.
"There ya be goin' again." He bites his lip, "It be ah shit situation, but ain'nah one of us in the right mind ta be savin' others with our Baby Girl bein' in that state."
She takes a deep breath before she turns to him, searching his face as if answers could be found there.
She bites her lip as she leans forward and gently runs a thumb along his jaw, still amazed there was no sign of his injury, "Pretty Boy-" Her voice catches in her throat.
"Cap'n," Harry sighs as she suddenly finds herself in his lap, enveloped in a hug. "We ain'nah given' up on the kids, but we need ta be focusin' on us for a bit."
Her arms tighten around him as she rests her chin on his shoulder, "The longer we wait, the more fortified he gets. We'll lose opportunities to free people if we wait."
"I be ah knowin', but if ya we can'nah be focusin' we be ah settin' the trap for 'em."
She sighs, "I know- I just-" She drops her eyes.
She needed T.
Needed Faustina.
She needed her family to be together.
But, they were apparently busy playing babysitter. Something she also needed.
She wasn't sure what she would do if her uncle showed up right now, but-
The desire to stab him for making Deez take off one of his cuffs in that state was pretty close to the top of the list.
The fucking prick.
She knew he was callous-
But to force Deez to-
Her stomach turns.
Deez's hands brought back memories of when Harry had brought T and Faustina home.
It was all she could do to hope they wouldn't scar as badly.
That none of her Baby Girl's injuries would scar, period.
She didn't want her Baby Girl forced to be reminded of last night every time she looked at her hands.
Didn't want her Baby Girl to remember anything from last night, period.
She didn't have a single detail-
But looking at Deez, she wasn't sure she wanted to either.
The next few days were going to be hell for them.
All of them.
And all she wanted was for all of them to be together, deal with this as a family.
But-
Damn it.
She hated this.
Hated that she couldn't argue with her Beauty Girl.
The last thing they needed was fucking Hades making everything worse. Still-
"-who the fuck gave them permission to stay with Senior? They should be here with us, damn it. We're supposed to be a family, and they're never fucking here. "
She scowls.
She knew it wasn't fair, but at this moment she couldn't bring herself to care.
"Deez, their sister, is fucking wounded, and they're off doing fuck knows what to entertain that prick."
Her eyes widen.
They wouldn't-
Would they?
Go out alone.
"Ya be ah leavin' me 'gain," Harry sighs, "I can'nah be helpin' if ya ain'nah tellin' me what be runnin' 'round up here." He knocks his fist to her head lightly.
"They're with that fuckin' asshole," Her eye twitches, "passed out at his temple, and are now probably running around the Isle to keep the asshole entertained."
Harry bites his lip.
"And, yes, I get it. Go them for getting Uncle to send the imps with medicine and her charms and talismans, but I didn't tell them to. I never okayed that. They didn't even ask. They just took it upon them-fucking-selves. Again."
"Uma." Harry pulls her into a hug, "I be tellin' ya I can be ah checkin' in on 'em. Ya know James would be ah comin' with, I might be able ta convince Beam too."
She scowls, "you shouldn't have to. They should've come straight home."
"But we both be ah knowin' that if they did'nah be ah doin' that, there be bein' ah reason." Harry presses.
She buries her face in the crook of his shoulder, resisting the urge to shout how little she gave a fuck about their stupid excuses.
"Let me be ah findin' the reason. You be ah lookin' after those two, Sea Gods know they be ah needin' ya when they be ah wakin' up." Harry presses his lips to her temple, "we be ah needin' the break. We be ah needin' the whole family. Let me be ah bringin' them home."
She sighs as she hugs him tightly, "I don't want to lose you too."
"Ya ain'nah gonna be losin' me," he cups the back of her head with one hand as he slowly rocks in place.
She sighs as she rests her forehead against him, "I just want us together right now."
"Aye," Harry pulls her back to look her in the eyes, "let me be ah doin' that for ya. For us."
She closes her eyes, "promise me you'll come back with them?"
Harry bites his lip before he looks over his shoulder at the entrance to their new room, "I be ah swearin'."
She nods as she hugs him tighter. "Please, just bring them home."
DEEZ!
He shoots up with her name still on his lips.
His heart slams against his chest as he looks around wildly.
Where the fuck was she?
The image of her broken, limp body lingered in his mind.
Persisted.
Taunted.
He'd been too slow. Again.
What the fuck was happening?
How had he ended up at Seniors?
He shakes his head.
He was missing something.
Where the fuck was Deez?
Why the fuck was he here?
He needed to go.
Needed to find her.
Needed to- He jumps nearly a foot in the air when he feels a tug on his sleeve, his heart skipping a couple of beats and possibly taking years off his life.
His eyes sweep around him before they drop at another tug, and lock with scared green eyes.
He blinks.
"Tina?" He frowns as he scoops her into his arm and presses her against him protectively.
It had been forever since his sister had looked at him with that level of fear in her-
Wait.
His eyes drop to the filthy mop of black hair.
Too dirty.
Too short.
This wasn't-
Fuck!
His head shoots up as the memories flood him.
The boy-
Daniel-
That's who was clutching on to him for all his worth.
Not Tina.
But how the fuck had he mistaken-
His nostrils flare when he alerts to the fetid stench of blood and death
No.
How?
His eyes search the room wildly.
They were at Seniors.
They were safe.
Wait-
His brow arches, since when was the Temple-
A shiver runs down his spine.
No. Not the point.
He could feel it.
Another presence watching him.
But no matter where he searched, how carefully he checked the shadows-
Nothing.
No one.
What the-
He stills when he feels Daniel shiver, but before he can ask, the child yanks on his hood with a cry of distress as he desperately gestures behind them.
But, he'd already looked-
He spins on his heels, dagger gripped in one hand as the other secured the boy to his chest.
Only to find nothing.
What the hell was going on!
He frowns when his eyes sweep over the empty room.
Nothing.
The fuck was going on?
Was Senior dicking-
He pauses when his eyes fall on Mim's grimoire, which seemed to have spilled from his bag.
As if it were trying to escape
He stills.
That didn't look like any leather he'd ever seen before.
His eyes narrow at the different tones of stitched together leather.
Or-
He hesitantly walks closer.
He had to be seeing shit. There was no way he was seeing what he thought he was. It had to be the dregs of the dream still lingering.
Was the book?
No…
There was no way the book was staring at him.
Daniel whimpers before he's assaulted with a barrage of small slaps.
He drops the boy in surprise.
"Kids man. So quick to bite."
He startles as he whips around, letting out a sigh of relief when he sees the god casually leaning against the door frame, sipping something from a mug.
He shivers.
No.
No, he did not feel eyes on his back.
He turns in concern when he hears a metallic grating, only to find Daniel struggling to push the book back into the bag with a sword.
Fair.
He quickly picks his bag up, shaking it to get the book securely inside.
Nope.
Just fucking nope.
There was no way the damn thing was glaring at him. He snaps the bag shut before he tosses it away from him and Daniel.
"You took her grimoire?" Hades asks as he leans against the back of the couch, "Yeesh, no wonder there's a heaviness in here." He clicks his tongue, "the things that book has seen, not to mention the disgusting spells inside it."
He returns his attention to Senior, relieved that he doesn't jump when Daniel claws his way up his side like a rat. He wraps his arms around the tiny boy, securing him against his side.
"Mazel Tov on your new baby boy."
"Funny." He steps further away from his bag.
"Best thing, kiddo, you've got a new mommy and daddy all in one, and a whole slew of new family waiting for you." He tips his mug towards them, "emphasis on new slew of family."
Daniel's eyes narrow at the god before turning to stare up at him expectantly.
Wow, the small boy's eyes seemed just so, familiar.
"Yeah," He sighs, "I know. He can be a jackass, but he's our jackass, remember that."
The small boy tilts his head before he resumes resting against his shoulder
He turns back to Senior, "Mornin'." he walks back to the couch before he perches on the back of it. "Thanks for last night, he feels better."
"Whatever," Hades shrugs before he turns, "Pain and Panic made a big deal outta wanting to feed you," the god rolls his eyes, "as if you'd actually eat it."
"Oh no, how horrible." He snorts at the lie. The imps wouldn't make a small deal to Senior, let alone a big one. They would've just done it, and dealt with the consequences. "But for serious, where is it?"
"They're bringing it." He tilts his head, "shocked ya want it, but whatever."
"S'not like you're gonna poison it," T rolls his eyes, "you're not one to waste an investment."
Hades presses a hand to his chest, "Moi? Waste time and energy like that? No," he rolls his eyes, "I just know the imps can't cook for shit."
"Uh… to your standard maybe? I eat rat jerky."
"What's wrong with rat jerky? Me, I like worm cocktails."
He tilts his head, "they good?"
"If we weren't on the isle, I'd have one mixed up, so you could try it yourself. A little refined for your childish pallet, but, eh, I've been wrong about you a lot."
"Good. Fuck expectations."
"Clearly." Hades rolls his eyes again before he plops into his chair, "so, what's the plan then?" His nose scrunches in distaste, "and don't even try to tell me there isn't one."
He frowns.
What was the plan?
He hadn't thought that far out.
How could he when Deez was-
He shakes his head, "right now I'm jus' playin' shit by ear."
Hades huffs, "wrong answer. You are not allowed to play shit by ear while I don't know what's going on with my daughter."
"Well, I can't play shit period with a kid in my lap either so… I wouldn't worry too much about it. Ain't like I'm leavin' him here with you."
"Why not? The imps kept my daughter alive, so, ya know, you can go check on her and come back."
"Uh huh, but you're here an' kids packin' enough trauma."
Hades narrows his eyes before he huffs again and looks away, muttering, and mumbling under his breath.
"Look, the minute Lil' Demon's stable we're headin'-"
"Deal!" Hades shoots to his feet, "be right back." he slams his mug on the coffee table before he leaves, "I knew those books would come in handy."
He snorts, "famous last words."
So…
Daniel is legit related to T and Tina?
Surprised?
Thoughts?
Questions?
Concerns?
Poor fucking Umes is trying so hard to keep her shit together-
There's just so much, and it all keeps stacking up.
She's under so much pressure.
How much longer until she blows?
My heart is like legit breaking for her.
The fuck is going on between SR and T?
Would love to hear your theories
Much love and shit
-Twisted