💬 Content Warning: Suggestive humor, light innuendo, emotional parental bonding.
Malcolm
As we all finished up our first round of food, we sat in comfortable silence, waiting for our second round to be cooked. Sensing the lull, I cleared my throat to gather their attention. "While we wait for the second course, would you like to receive the gifts we prepared for you?"
Getting to watch my daughter's expression change to delighted surprise brought me a sense of pride. I'm not a bad parent. I can still build as great a bond with her as I have with my sons.
"Gifts? You have all given me plenty already. What more is there to give?" Her careful tone belied her excited expression and tapping fingernails. She reminded me a lot of Nyota right now. "Oh Little Queen, this is just the beginning. This is your chance to redo your room, your wardrobe, or even your hairstyle. Though I will admit to being very strongly against you chopping off your hair again. A bob was not your look."
Nyota piped in, getting excited himself, which makes me like 5% worried about what he plans to give her. When I said the man has no boundaries, I meant it. Creators, if you are listening, please don't let him plan to give her a dildo or something of that self-care nature.
"Well, since your Korran brought it up, I'll be gracious in letting him present his gifts first." Nyota sat back balancing on two chair legs smugly as if we were in a best gift competition. Ignoring his attention-seeking antics, I pull her gift out of my storage space. Placing it in front of her, I keep a cool expression so she wouldn't see how anxious I was.
She opened the decorative box, then pulled out the three items one by one.
The first item was a protective charm designed to grant her temporary wards over her mind, body, essence, and soul. Once she re-learned— or remembered how to create such wards herself, it will serve as a good second layer of protection.
Next, she pulled out a collection of three books: one on leadership, another on history, and the third on law. She examined each one carefully before giving me a nod, her smile turning sharp with ambition.
I returned the nod with a proud expression. I can already tell she is going to be a formidable Sentinel.
Before, she seemed to just be following Koba Dillard, but now it looks like she will be claiming this chosen path for her own. I look forward to discussing and arguing topics with her to help keep her mind sharp and ready. Watching her ask her Nimra for help getting the last gift out, my pride grows even more when I note how mature and present Nyx now appears to be.
In the past, she refused to talk about such topics, saying that when she became the Dillard Matriarch, she would be personally trained by the current Matriarch on what would be appropriate for her as Koba's partner. Now, she is like a sponge. She wants to absorb anything she can learn.
The gasp and the trickle of tears when she saw the personal tea set I had made for her let me know I could finally release the breath I'd been holding. "The set is flexible enough that you can do a full tea ceremony or just pack up your travel necessities. Included are various teas I recommend. I've also included the ingredients for the draught you enjoy so much." I give her a soft smile, very pleased my gifts are well received.
"You are giving me a tea called Breathe, Focus, Fuck' em?" She asked, turning her amusement on me this time. "Yes, that is my favorite blend when I need to calm down after someone pissed me off." I reply with a shrug.
"I feel I will need to be keeping this one well stocked. Knowing I can have a great cup of tea after dealing with idiots at school will be rewarding." She commented before she got up from her chair to come around to my side. She pulled me into a strong hug, nuzzling into me, scent marking me in the process. "Thank you, Papa. These gifts are wonderful. I will use them well." My Emberling places a kiss on my cheek, then goes back to her seat.
I'm in a bit of a daze experiencing so much affection from her. It has been over 5 years since she has been so expressive with me. I must have been in a daze longer than I realized. Nyota poking me with a claw brings me back into the present. I quickly wipe my watery eyes and the others say nothing just exchange loving smiles. Getting my emotions settled again, my brain reminds me of something I had been wanting to ask of Nyx.
"Emberling, before we move on to your mother's gift…"
"Hey, why don't I get to go next?" Nyota interjects with a pout, but I keep talking without acknowledging his interruption.
"Before we move on, I wanted to ask you if you would consider calling me Korran and your mama, Nimra, as you once did. Like Nyota is Azrail, these are our parental names gifted to us by you and your brothers. If you wish to keep calling us as you do now, that is perfectly okay, but it would make us very happy to be called by the names you gave us before." Davi gripped my hand so tightly I felt my bones fracture and knit several times. I tapped her hand to get her to lighten up so my hand could properly set. She glanced at our hands, then loosened her grip.
She wasn't expecting me to ask for this—she had only mentioned it in passing recently how much she missed being called Nimra by Nyx. Over the years, she had started calling us by our enclave titles, so I know how much it would mean to her if she could have this bond again with her daughter.
"Oh, umm, can you explain the names' meanings first? I didn't know I was calling you the wrong things. Why didn't you say anything before now?" Nyx looked at us with worry and confusion. Her nails tapped against her teacup, her scent shifting—like tea left unfinished… and wood on the verge of splintering.
"We had just gotten you back, and we were happy you remembered us at all once we realized you had amnesia. It's been years since you called us by our parental names. You had been calling us by our enclave titles of Patriarch, Matriarch, and Crown Consort for the past seven years, so this is a selfish request more than anything."
When you seemed so accepting of calling Nyota, Azrail, we couldn't help hoping you wouldn't mind using ours too." I explained, trying to soothe her scent back to calm. The nail tapping stopped, and she looked us each in the face as if to gauge our truthfulness.
"To be honest, I had been wondering about the names you and my brothers had been using, but I hadn't been sure if it was okay for me to bring it up since you all never said anything about it." Her scent shifted back to calmer notes, and she gave us a relaxed smile. "I guess both sides have been working under misunderstandings. So tell me, what do Nimra, Azrail, and Korran mean?" I felt Davi scoot closer to Nyx and take hold of her hand.
"Nimra means heart-bound one. You and the boys told me you saw me as the heart of our family circle, so I bind us all together. Of course, I responded that I would happily share that role with my only daughter so she could know what it means to be loved so immensely and completely." Davi pulled Nyx into a side hug and kissed her head.
"I feel I failed you in this since you somehow still ended up hurt in the most horrible way possible by a partner, but I will make sure you never settle for anything less ever again." Nyx hugged her tightly. They whispered to each other, obviously having a moment, so we let them use this moment to strengthen their weakened bond.
They eventually release each other, turning their attention back to us. "Korran means core-steel. As the Patriarch, so I am the unshakable presence to shield you and be a living pillar of strength to support you." I say simply. Her beaming smile makes me puff out my chest, pride swelling that she takes pride in me. So this is what it's like to have my daughter look at me with hero-worship again. I best be careful, or else she will know exactly how much I'm wrapped around her finger. My precious Emberling, my baby girl.
Like the being of chaos he is, Nyota once again knocks me out of my introspection. "Azrail means wrathful protector. I'm the one they don't see coming. I'm the heavy blade to Korran's knife. I'm the yang to his yin. I handle the dirty work that these two can't be seen handling. I'm the…"
"Yes, yes, Azrail. I get it. You are the boogeyman, and I'm proud of you for supporting Nimra and Korran the way you do." She leans over, giving him a kiss on his cheek. He blushes and gives her a silly grin. Nyota Ajei is blushing. I nearly dropped my glass. I look at Davi to see her shocked expression as well. This is the man who is very hard to embarrass because of his no-filter feature.
One kiss and praise from his daughter, and he is putty. A wide grin blooms on my face. Well, well … well, I can't help but suddenly be looking forward to the next public event. I wonder if the man Solhara and nearby regions call Chaos Incarnate will behave as usual in public or will show his true self with his little queen in attendance. Should I place a bet with Davi? The odds may be in my favor. I do have a new weapon I want to design but no longer have the funds to get it.