Chapter Text
"Suoh?"
Silence.
"Suoh."
Nothing.
"Suoohh."
A soft, squeaky voice pierced the air, filled with childish persistence. Kuromi had always had an annoyingly high-pitched voice—not as booming and commanding as his father Sebek’s, but still grating. Suoh could handle Sebek’s loud proclamations far more than he could the pipsqueak who trailed him endlessly, filling every moment with insufferable chatter. The pitter-patter of small feet against the stone floors echoed behind him, a constant reminder that he was never alone.
There had been a time—perhaps in another life—when Suoh might have tolerated Kuromi’s presence, even welcomed it. But now? The world around him had dimmed, drained of color, just as it had been this time last year.
"Suoh, where are you going? Father's looking for you!" Kuromi chirped.
"None of your business." His reply was cold, clipped.
"But it's getting late. It can be dangerous."
"I can handle myself just fine." He quickened his pace, hoping to lose the boy.
Warmth—unexpected and unwelcome—wrapped around his wrist.
“Ugh! What do you want—” Suoh snapped, his words dying in his throat.
Kuromi’s aurora-colored eyes locked onto his, a haunting shade of silver framed by pale skin. Eyes too familiar, too painful to look at.
"Let me go."
"B-but it's getting dark, and Mama always said—"
At that, Suoh yanked his arm away, harder than he intended. Kuromi stumbled backward, landing on the cold floor with a soft thud. He blinked up at Suoh, confusion flickering in his gaze. He had never seen Suoh this way before—not just angry, but something else. Something fractured.
"Do not. And I mean never, ever," Suoh's voice darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Follow me around again!"
Kuromi flinched at the venom in his tone.
"I don’t need you parroting your parents’ teachings at me, okay? I already know them!" His voice cracked on the word "parents," and without another glance, he turned sharply, storming toward the castle’s back entrance.
---
Suoh tore through the halls, ignoring the calls of maids, the confused looks of guards. Even when he passed Sebek, who no longer carried the energy he once did, he did not stop. He shoved past, threatening to hurl magic at anyone who dared get in his way.
He felt suffocated.
His face burned, his chest tightened, and his vision blurred at the edges.
No one could tell him what to do. Not his parents, not the king and queen, not Lilia, not Sebek. Certainly not Kuromi, with his desperate attempts to play pretend knight.
He didn't need anyone.
But as he climbed the hill just beyond the castle grounds, his legs grew heavier. Each step was a struggle against the weight of his memories. The tree at the top stood solemnly against the dimming sky, its branches swaying gently, whispering secrets he didn't want to hear. The joyful squeals of him and Kuromi as they bumbled about. Sebek’s loud warnings for them to be careful.
Then, his gaze dropped to the slab of stone resting beneath its shade.
The name carved into it sent a fresh wave of grief crashing over him. That of a color which Suoh could no longer bring to say aloud. The current cause of his evident emotional struggles.
Suoh’s hands trembled as he stepped closer. A small bundle of flowers had been placed there—Sebek’s doing, no doubt. But among them were tiny, imperfectly plucked blossoms, the kind that only small hands could gather.
Kuromi.
A small, sad smile ghosted across Suoh’s lips.
He could still remember the makeshift flower crowns, the childish wedding games, the laughter. How he used to fumble, weaving petals together, placing them on Sebek and Silver’s heads—only to find out they had already been married.
“You really made a fool out of me,” he whispered, kneeling before the grave.
Suoh had lost too much too soon.
His first memories were stained with the brutal loss of his brother Riyuu. His innocence, once a flame of boundless energy, had been snuffed out, leaving behind a restless, volatile ember. His family grieved, his siblings mourned, but no one could console him. No one except Silver.
Silver had been his anchor—his second mother. More patient than anyone else, always ready with gentle words and steady hands.
Suoh finally managed to look directly at the carved stone, almost as if making eye contact with whom he missed dearly. So many memories coming back to him.
"Suoh… listen to me carefully..."
"I—I can go get Papa-Sebek—"
A fleeting warmth, a hand brushing against his own.
"Promise me… that you will control your emotions."
"What?"
Silver’s eyes, tired yet full of love, locked onto his.
"You will be loved by so many more than just me, Suoh. Don’t let them down."
Suoh had clung to that hand, to that warmth, to those words.
"I—I promise!"
And then, he let go.
By the time he returned, Silver was gone. His last gaze had been given to Sebek and Kuromi. Not Suoh.
Not him.
That thought alone sent his grief spiraling into rage.
“I promised… so why did you do that?!” His voice cracked as his hand slammed against the cold stone. The impact barely registered, his forehead pressing against the rough surface.
"I cherished you…"
The stone was unforgiving. Cold. A sharp contrast to the warmth that once held him.
---
The moon had begun to rise.
Sebek would be looking for him soon.
Suoh inhaled sharply, forcing himself to his feet. He had to go back.
When he returned, Lilia was waiting at the castle’s entrance, his ever-youthful face softened with understanding.
"Suoh, there you are."
Suoh grunted in response, stepping past him.
Lilia walked beside him in comfortable silence, waiting.
"I hope you were able to talk out your feelings," he said eventually.
Suoh said nothing.
"I'm sure Silver is content to know how you're doing."
That made Suoh’s stomach twist.
He retreated to his room without another word.
---
The next morning, the halls were alive with the familiar cries of a distressed child.
“Father! H-hold on!”
Suoh paused mid-step, glancing down the corridor.
Sebek strode ahead, his posture rigid, his expression hardened.
Kuromi scrambled behind him, struggling to keep up.
"Papa, please wait! I want to go with you!"
Sebek came to an abrupt stop. When he turned, his glare was sharp enough to cut through stone.
"Quit it, brat!" His voice was a whip crack. "You're staying here. Do not cause more trouble than you already have."
"But I—"
"Enough!" Sebek snapped.
Sebek turned to leave, Lilla quickly rushed to Kuromi’s side, leaving Suoh to bear witness of the scene before him alone.
He stood frozen.
“Oh Kuro, don’t cry,” He said softly, wiping tears from the child's eyes.
“P-apa doesn’t love me!” he wailed.
“Shh, don’t say such a thing.” He said before looking up with determined eyes.
“Sebek. What do you have to say for yourself!” he snapped quickly before the half-fae had a chance to leave.
“What is there to say? That…mistake…Is good for nothing.”
Good for nothing?
Something about that sentence felt so right to Suoh.
“Sebek!” Lilla got up from Kuromi’s side, his eyes slanted into a glare.
“Look at him! He isn’t worthy of anything that Silver left behind!”
“That doesn’t mean you can just-”
“It;s all his fault Silver’s gone!”
All his fault.
That’s when it clicked for Suoh. It was so simple.
His gaze drifted to the ribbon tied around Kuromi’s neck.
Silver’s ribbon.
Sebek was right.
It was all Kuromi’s fault.
Sebek made his way out the hall, Lillia in quick pursuit.
Kuromi was left weeping, desperately wiping away his tears.
Sebek was completely right. How hadn’t he seen it before? Sebek understood him completely!
A twisted smile crept across Suoh’s face as he stepped toward the trembling boy.
"Suoh?" Kuromi sniffled, eyes hopeful despite his tears.
He’s been in this pit before. Wanting someone. Even if it was impossible.
Suoh crouched before him, voice eerily calm.
“Your father’s right, Kuro…” he said eerily, eyes slit.
“W-what?” Kuromi’s voice shook, not because he was crying, but because he was scared.
“S-uoh- what's wrong you're-”
Before Kuromi could finish, he was pulled up by his ribbon roughly. His watery eyes met Suohs cold sharp ones.
“Everything is your fault.”
He harshly began to pull, the ribbon loosening. Kuromi began to struggle. “Stop! It's mine!” He said with a whimper.
Suoh’s mind flared, his voice now a snarl. “It's not yours!” His grip tightened. “It's Silver's! Not yours!” He said his voice cracking.
“Let me go!” Kuromi's own determination flared despite his urge to cry more.
“No! No! No.” Suoh's emotions swirled. His clutch now more powerful than ever. His free hand clasped onto the smaller boy's shoulder.
“It's not yours! You don't deserve it! You never did!”
“S-uoh-. You're hurting me!” Kuromi whined, flinching as Suoh applied more pressure.
“I. I was first! Silver… He didn't need you! They had me!” His inner feelings began to spill. “I-I…”
Soon enough the ribbon loosened enough that Kuromi plopped to the ground at full force. He turned over slightly, catching his breath before looking up at Suoh terrified.
Suoh as well was in shock as he looked between the ribbon and Kuromi. How had his behavior gotten this far? He was acting so much worse as time went on without Riyuu and now without Silver.
“Suoh…please…” Kuromi croaked. “Give it back…mama gave it to me…” he said with such teary eyes that it made Suoh's heart crack.
Suoh couldn't take it. He shook his head and ran off, leaving Kuromi distressed all alone.
The terror in Kuromi’s eyes shattered him.
He had promised Silver…and yet here he broke the promise…again and again.
—-----
As Suoh ran all he could think was about what Sebek said, how he himself actually felt, the fear in Kuromi's eyes.
As he slowed down, he took a moment to look at the ribbon in his hand. His eyes softening. He placed it against his cheek, nuzzling it softly. It had probably been washed countless times already. But he believed he could still faintly smell Silver's scent, ever so slightly.
“I-m sorry…I just…oh my promise…” he whispered.
He felt awful. What had gotten into him. He's been hurting someone he's cherished…it was everything Silver asked of him.
“Suoh.”
It was Sebek.
“Y-yes?” He quickly hid the ribbon in his pocket. He looked up at him with timid eyes. They always had a strange bond, but if Silver was his second mother, Sebek was his second father.
It was ironic, because at a time, he'd prefer Sebek over Silver. But time changes people after all.
However, ever since Silver had gone. He and Sebek shared that father son once more, almost a bit more than before.
Sebek had never held the same energy as before. He was more reserved, rather aggressive when it came to his occupation. But currently he looked at Suoh with softness, wearing a soft smile.
“Wanna head into town?” He said almost cheerfully.
Suoh's eyes sparkled.
“Into town?”
“Yes. Your father sent me to go on a simple patrol. Your mother even said you could come along.” He said calmly.
Suoh felt a sense of childlike joy.
He remembered times when he Sebek and Silver would go on patrols in town. They felt more and more like family outings every time. They hadn't gone out since Silver had Kuromi and gotten ill.
“O-okay!” He chirped falling along Sebek's side.
It was as if
all his ill intent had dissipated. His behavior may have been wrong, both him and Sebek. But at the same time, he felt content with his behavior not being reprimanded. In favor he would rather ignore it and rebuild his connection with the last remnant of Silver that he had left.