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“This will be your room.” Uncle Karnak turned to face her. Penny’s blank, albeit slightly curious , green eyes scanned every inch of it, from the lavender-colored walls to the colorful knitted quilt that lay draped across the bed. A little lion plush sat on the blankets, leaning up against a pillow.
Karnak fiddled with his hands. “I didn’t know what your favorite color was, so a bit of guesswork went into the walls. Lions, I remembered, were your favorite.” It was a statement, but he found he sounded as certain as the sky was green.
“I like lions…” Penny whispered. “Did you know that boy lions get jealous and eat their own children?” She blinked up innocently at him. Karnak blinked back.
“Well, I certainly do now.” He muttered.
“Would you ever eat me?” She asked. Karnak sputtered. “No. Absolutely not. I don’t think you’d ever have to worry about something like that .” Penny crossed over to sit on the bed. She took the lion plush in her arms, holding it firmly against her chest. “Why not?”
Kid has a lot of questions , Karnak mused. “I am not a lion. I am human.” He stated firmly. “That is never something you need to worry yourself with.” He crossed to sit next to her. “What makes you ask?”
He watched as Penny stroked one of the toy’s plush ears. “People do bad things…” She whispered. Karnak felt his heart sink. His brother was in fact, quite a… character . In another lifetime, he would say he was proud of him… but in this one? He was far from it. The very thought of showing anything but anger towards him disgusted Karnak.
The custody battle had been an easy win on his part. Karnak was lucky to get Penny under his care. He would give her the best life, he just knew it. He only wished he could have gotten Ezra too. Another child in his care would have been challenging, but something Karnak would have taken on instead of the court trial and funeral they’d both gotten instead.
It could see how badly it all affected Penny. Her eyes were dull, and a permanent frown adorned her features. She looked like a hollowed-out shell, looking more like an adult than a seven-year-old should appear.
“People do bad things, yes. The world is full of monsters- it is not something I can prevent. Despite my best efforts, there would simply be too many to deal with…” Karnak snuck his hand into his pocket, pulling out a miniature wooden marionette. It stood only an inch or two, with little wire strings attached to the arms. He let it hang in front of Penny’s face. “But our strings are our own to command. And I choose to protect you and care for you- even if you decide you don’t want me to.”
Karnak thought he saw Penny’s eyes light up, even the slightest bit. “Really?” She tilted her head. Her little voice broke. Karnak came to kneel in front of her, gently pressing the marionette into her hand.
“Really. Until the day I’m old and grey and frail, and beyond that still.” Karnak affirmed. A small curl of Penny’s lips was the only answer he needed to see that his words helped. He pushed himself up, offering out a hand. “Now, little bellies need to be filled. What would you like for dinner?”
Penny shrugged.
Karnak chuckled, shaking his head. “Why don’t you help me pick it all out? Then, we can cook it together. Does that seem to your liking?” He asked. Penny worried her lip. “Can the lion come too?” She clutched the stuffed toy tighter.
“Of course.” He nodded. “Do you have a name in mind for your lion?”
Penny looked at him wide-eyed. “He’s mine? Really?”
“He’s all yours, should you wish it.” Karnak grinned. He crouched down at her level once more, tilting his head at her. “It wouldn’t hurt to have a dinner guest, I suppose. What do you think?” He reached out a finger, pressing it gently to the lion’s nose.
The child’s eyes traced the lion plush, while her arms held it away from her. “Roary.” She tilted her gaze up to him, uncertain. Karnak beamed down at her. “Roary it is. A fine name for the good sir.” Before he could stand up fully, Penny took his hand. “He’ll have a spot at the table too?” She asked.
“You are correct. A guest such as that will always have a place.” Karnak winked down at her. “To the kitchen, then?”
Penny was already marching onward before he could finish. Karnak let himself be tugged along- even if Penny didn’t know where she was going, she certainly acted like it. She’d find the kitchen eventually. A laugh bubbled in his chest when she turned right down a hallway, leading them in the opposite direction.
Eventually.
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Chicken nuggets and baked beans ended up becoming dinner. An odd combination, perhaps, but it was filling. Karnak watched Penny as she tried to feed a nugget to Sir Roary. The lion had been knighted when they had stumbled across the toy swords he had been working on. A good use of them , Karnak thought.
And now the plush was sitting in a chair, propped up by a large stack of books. Its mane was covered in crumbs- Karnak would shake them free later, should Penny give him the chance.
All he could let himself focus on now was the small smile on her face. It was barely noticeable at first glance, but it was bigger than what she gave earlier and that was a win in Karnak’s book.
“Uncle Karnak?” Penny turned to look at him.
He tilted his head. “Hm?”
“I like the color green.” She stated, calmly. “But I like the purple in my room, too.” Karnak felt his heart swell, and he offered an earnest smile in return.
“Very good. Very good indeed.” He said.
Penny simply went back to feeding Sir Roary once more.