Work Text:
Child.
He blinks.
Gaze drifting over a great expanse of darkness and starlight.
What woke him up?
He sits up.
A clawed hand rubbing his chest.
Absentminded.
A pressure in his chest.
More like the idea of an ache.
Where was he?
My Child.
Oh.
That’s right.
Father.
He answers.
He drifts.
Following the call.
Following the bind.
Father found him.
He was hurt and Father found him.
Why was he hurt?
Father coos.
The sound washing over him.
Echoing in his chest.
Makes him shudder under the weight of it.
He sings back.
Trilling under the attention.
Father lifts a hand.
Dwarfing him.
So that he may sit contentedly on Father’s palm.
Father.
The hand cradles him so gently.
So kindly.
A too large thumb presses against his face.
Lifting up to press down on his head.
He whines, letting himself be squished down.
Curling up smaller and smaller.
Letting himself be remolded.
Made to be more like Father.
The pressure in his chest builds.
His Core cries.
Father relents.
Laughing.
Amused.
He smiles back.
Happy that Father is happy.
He pushes himself up.
Black hands covered in starlight catches his attention.
He blinks.
Confusion.
His hands shouldn’t be black.
Right?
They should be-
Pain throbs.
Sharp.
Piercing.
He cries out, holding his head.
Father coos.
Child? My Child?
It isn’t as comforting as it should be.
He leans into it.
Wants it to take away the pain again.
Wants the pain to stop.
He opens his mouth.
To ask for relief.
No sound comes out.
Father shushes him, running His other hand over him.
Blanketing him in calm.
In serenity.
The pain subsides.
The pressure stays.
Constricting.
He lifts off.
Drifting around the space above Father’s hand.
Stretching.
Stretching.
Stretching.
The pressure doesn’t budge.
But it’s easier.
Easier to ignore.
Easier to pretend he’s okay.
He blinks.
Looking away.
Looking out on green skies and purple clouds.
Of floating rocks and swirling mists.
Where?
He can’t help but ask.
He drifts forward.
Away.
Father’s hand catches him.
He slips between fingers, darting away.
Wanting to explore.
Father catches him again.
Cages him in His cupped hands.
Squeezes him down.
To become small.
Smaller.
And smaller still.
He trills, cooing to be released.
Father relents.
He looks up to Father’s face.
Sharp teeth bared in disappointment.
Red eyes shining in anger.
Father’s core rumbles.
Powerful.
Encapsulating.
Overwhelming.
My Child.
Mine.
He shrinks.
Core answering.
Knowing now his mistake.
Knowing with clarity.
Father. Home. Stay.