Chapter Text
Fear doesn't remember being born. One minute there's nothing and then suddenly he exists. With his birth(?) comes only one instinct. Protect Thomas.
He knows he doesn't look anything like his host. For one, Thomas is human. Fear's body is large and shaped like a dragon's, with claws and a whiplash tail. His scales are beautiful shades of navy blue, which help him melt seamlessly into the shadows to keep an eye on things.
Someone has to - the Others are hopeless, they spend most of their time arguing.
He enjoys his talks with Logic when he catches the side alone but the King seems to think he's evil right off the bat. And Heart..well Heart seems to be scared of him, as everytime Fear enters the room Heart soon leaves. Which is fine. Didn't hurt at all.
He starts to grow larger and soon he can't go into his room anymore. He would stay in the Commons but he doesn't like how uneasy the others are getting at his size. It's not like he can control his growth spurts.
So Fear takes to roaming the subconscious, and decides watching over and protecting his Host from the shadows is better.
Fear tells himself he's okay with this. He doesn't need to be liked, not to do his job.
**
Thomas breaks a toy and his brother is taking the fall. He can either speak up or stay quiet.
A decision is made and Deceit appears.
Fear is delighted. He didn't realize how lonely he'd been until suddenly he wasn't anymore.
Now he has Deceit.
His perfect little scaley boi who enjoys riddles and has such a way with words..
**
Having a new side to tend to is terrifying. Fear doesn't know the slightest bit about being gentle but he tries. Honest. It's just...frustrating.
Deceit talks back too often, pokes at his insecurities until one day Fear loses control and does the unthinkable.
Fear curses his child. He's a dragon, so spells and magic come easy as breathing. It does make Deceit fall in line but Fear never gets over the guilt.
**
Soon after come twins Greed and Rage, horned beasts that usually spend the days wrestling each other and tearing things apart. Fear often has to break them to stop their rampages. He hates doing it, something tells him his way isn't right but he doesn't know how else to stop them.
**
Little Remus just appears one day and refuses to explain how he came to be. Fear knows the Duke isn't his own but what's one more to take in?
Only Remus never stops. He's always pushing things one step too far.Sometimes he's so tempted to Curse but...The Duke is not his, not truly. It feels wrong.
Instead Fear learns to punish Deceit for any misgivings. That seems to keep Remus in line easy enough. He ignores the part of him that says it's wrong. It works and they can't die, not really. There's not even any blood, so it's fine.
Really.
**
Fear cherishes all of his children. He can't say love. He doesn't know if he's capable of that. But he fretts over their well being and is proud of their abilities. He teaches them how to hide and manipulate and when to be LOUD.
And for a long time it's the four of them.
Then one night, after weeks of agony Fear passes out and wakes up with a little Anxiety.
Literally.