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If Noogai had to pick a least favorite child, it’d no doubt be Chosen. It was mainly due to his past experiences with his children, how he used to be so harsh to them as to injure them physically. During his past, Noogai didn’t like Chosen because of how much Chosen disregards him, how he was always quiet and wouldn’t do what Noogai instructed, how he damaged their reputation by being a ‘freak.’
As the years went on, Noogai learned to appreciate his online children, but before all of that, Noogai was admittedly horrible to his creations. He remembered punishing them when he had a bad day and not viewing them as sentient beings, using them only as a punching bag and a tool to maintain their online home. He remembered not hating Victim as much as Chosen just because the older would listen to him more, would fear him more. Because he listened to Noogai, and was willing to work hard despite his punishments. Chosen on the other hand was less controlled, and always seemed to be tearing away from Noogai’s influence. He wouldn’t listen to anything Noogai instructed, instead preferring to do whatever he wanted, spending time alone and using his powers despite Noogai’s complaints. It even went to a point where Noogai chained Chosen to stop him from bursting fire, ice, lightning, or using any other ability he was born with. He would trap Chosen in his room, his ankle chained to a giant metal ball.
Indeed, at times they seemed more like his prisoners than children. The worst part was Noogai was little aware of this, he wasn’t aware of how bad he was to his creations, he wasn’t aware of how he was really treating them, and what effect it had on them. Until he met Second, who showed him that they each had a unique personality and were interested in different things, how they cared about Noogai and it hurt them both physically and emotionally to see their own father act that way towards them.
It was a hard thing to realize and comprehend, but Noogai has been doing better since. He was aware how his relationship with some of his children cannot be mended though. He was aware of that every time Victim shrank back when Noogai raised a hand, he was aware of that every time Chosen extinguished his flames and clasped his hands together when Noogai entered the room, he was aware of that every time Dark would tense up and stand in an almost battle stance in front of his brother to cover him from danger, the danger being Noogai himself. He was aware of that every time any of them gave him a wary look, when they would cease to talk and stare at Noogai. It was a horrible feeling to not get trusted by his own creations, his own children, but Noogai understood where the wariness stems from.
And it wasn’t like Noogai had never tried changing this relationship. And it was when he tried to that led to one of the biggest flaws in him and Chosen’s relationship. It started when he entered the house. He was aware how the day was ‘take your child to work’ day, and he decided that would be a good time to spend time with one of his children. Since his interactions with Victim and Dark last time(he made it a personal mission to spend more time with all his children, not just Second) went decently well, he thought it shouldn’t have gone bad with Chosen, since the other was somewhat a mix between the other three children. Powerful and prone to anger like Dark, secretive and quiet like Victim, and curious and caring(though he doesn’t show it) like Second. If Noogai can interact with the other three, hanging out with Chosen should be no problem.
He knocked on Chosen’s door, his mood bright today at the thought of mending their relationship.
“Hey Chosen, are you ready to go?”
Just as he asked, the door opened, and Noogai just barely had time to back away before the door hit his face. From the slight twitch at the end of Chosen’s mouth, it was obvious he did it on purpose. If it was Noogai back then, Chosen was sure to get a beating for it, but instead the current Noogai just laughed it off. “I’ll take it as a yes.”
He didn’t receive a verbal answer, but Noogai was used to it, as Chosen was always more quiet around him(though considering how he’s more quiet around people he isn’t familiar with, that part did bug Noogai. He would need a lot more interacting for Chosen to open up, doesn’t he?).
So where to? Noogai went through the choices the parenting article gave him. There were so many places Noogai had never brought any of his children—let alone Chosen—to, and Noogai couldn’t help the guilt that seeps in from realizing that. Maybe the zoo would be better, since people seem to always feel calmer around adorable animals.
With his mind settled, Noogai opened his phone, ready to call a car when he heard a blast of fire beside him. Right, Chosen can fly. How could he forget?
Just as Noogai predicted, Chosen seemed to loosen up a bit when he saw the first animal there despite him being skeptical before. Though he seemed to tense up as soon as they found their way to where the birds stayed. The birds in their cages, flapping around as they tried to locate where they were. It was after seeing them that Noogai realized his mistake of bringing Chosen here. The animals here were caged, just like Chosen was before. Noogai watched as his creation’s scarlet eyes focused on the bird cage just next to them and the tiny blue bird chirping as it flew around, trying to find an entrance. Noogai silently cursed his mistake as he grabbed Chosen’s hand(which caused him to turn to Noogai sharply) and led him out of the area, a little faster than normal.
Noogai felt the hand in his being tugged away when they finally exited the area, instead arriving at the mammals area. He looked back in time to see Chosen looking away, his body language obviously telling Noogai how he didn’t want to talk. As always, Noogai noted not without feeling empty. All along the way, Chosen didn’t even say a single word to his maker, and Noogai knew it was less because of his introversion than how uncomfortable he was next to Noogai. Regardless, Noogai continued, attempting small talk with Chosen all the while. He’d receive short quiet tentative answers occasionally, but normally the reply was so straight forward that Noogai found the conversation would end immediately once he replies.
It was when they finally left the zoo that Noogai spotted an ice cream shop nearby. Right, sweets always make people feel better.
“Are you hungry, Chosen?”
“No.” Again the straight forward answer.
“Oh. Well there’s an ice cream shop nearby. Do you want one?” Please say yes, Noogai thought, and Chosen seemed to sense his thoughts, since he quietly nodded. Great, Chosen finally gave a response that suited Noogai’s plan. “What flavor?”
“Anything’s fine.” And he immediately gave one that didn’t suit his plan. Regardless, Noogai simply gave a smile as he walked towards the shop, Chosen following close behind. He stopped following Noogai once they reached the front door though, and Noogai noticed how he was clutching both of his hands, the pose Chosen always made when concerning his powers. “I’ll stay outside and wait.” Noogai heard him mutter.
When Noogai exited again, with the dairy sweets in his hands, he was surprised to see Chosen gone. He should be nearby, Noogai told himself despite the panic that came to him in a rush. What if the person he met last time with Dark found him-
Talk of the devil. Just like last time, Noogai found the familiar dark clothed tradesman approaching him. The suspicious man reached out a hand just like last time.“Considered our offer?”
“No.” Noogai responded without hesitation. “I will never sell Dark to you.” Now that Noogai viewed his children—his creations—as more than tools and objects, he will never even consider giving one of these conscious sentient beings away, no matter how much money the tradesman offered. Besides, what they may do with Dark’s power…
Then a thought struck him. Don’t tell him they have Chosen-
“An exchange would be fair enough. You get the older, quieter one. We get the younger, more chaotic one. I bet he’s more of a bother anyway.” Noogai resisted the urge to reject the offer again at once. He can’t just let them keep Chosen.
But he is more of a bother than Dark, right? He doesn’t listen to anything you say, and he isn’t even as talented as Dark. Besides, Dark is so powerful, and he probably has the ability to defeat Chosen. Wouldn’t it be nicer to just accept? It’s safer-
Noogai shut the thoughts away. He couldn’t do something like that. Besides, Dark would be devastated if they lost Chosen.
You don’t know for sure. Besides, wouldn’t the same thing happen the other way around?
Again, Noogai shut the thought out. He couldn’t make the offer.
“Well?” the trader asked questioningly, vicious eyes peeking from his mask.
“I-”
BOOM
An explosion stopped their conversation midway, and both men were blasted off their feet. Smoke surrounded the area, blinding Noogai’s vision and making him cough uncontrollably. Flames engulfed the building nearby, flames that Noogai recognized.
“Chosen!” Noogai approached closer to the blown up place, and sure enough his creation stood there, dirtied and injured but alive, though his gaze was fixed on something else. Someone else.
“Chosen!..” Noogai’s enthusiastic cry turned eventually to silent horror as he followed Chosen’s gaze. A girl, about Victim’s age, was dead on the ground, her black hair covering her deathly pale face. There were burns all over her, parts of her body completely burned off. It took a minute before Noogai finally spoke, reaching out a hand to comfort his creation while doing so.
“...Cho-”
“There’s more dead people inside but…” Chosen shrugged almost nonchalantly, which had Noogai widen his eyes in surprise. “They’re all burnt to a crisp.” The calmness Chosen uttered the words and stared at the dead body admittedly scared Noogai. He understood Chosen was known to be tough but this reaction was way too calm. No real person should be so calm about so many people dying in front of him because of him, yet here was Chosen, his scarlet eyes deep and hollow.
“They’re the people who attacked me and tried to take me away, the ones dead. Well, except for her. She was probably just passing by…” That’s when the tears finally poured down, guilt filling his eyes. It was when Noogai reached down and hugged Chosen in his arms, attempting to comfort him that Noogai realized that was probably the first time he ever saw Chosen cry.
“I killed her. I killed them.” Noogai heard his creation mutter over and over again as more tears poured down. He didn’t fail to notice how Chosen was holding his hands together, as if trying to stop any more fire from escaping out. He didn’t fail to notice how Chosen kept that pose all while the police tried to figure out what happened, when the ambulance came and checked them for injury and covered them with a shock blanket, when they were finally sent home.
“What happened?” Victim questioned when they finally came back. Noogai had to do all the explaining, since Chosen barely said a word all this time.
Noogai remembered seeing Dark’s expression widen when he heard about the explosion. Even though Noogai left the trade part out, Dark seemed to guess already. After all, he knew about the tradesman from last time. All while Noogai noticed Second in the corner listening, his arm wrapped around Chosen and occasionally speaking softly to his brother.
The next time Noogai came online, Chosen seemed to recover, though he still acted quiet next to Noogai. As always.
But, Noogai was content with it. Quietness was perhaps as far as his relationship with Chosen will progress, but Noogai won’t stop trying to improve it anyway.
Bonus:
“Hey, isn’t Alan picking us up this time?” Dark asked his brothers.
“Yeah,” Victim said at the same time as Chosen said “I forgot he was going to.”
“Oh, is your father picking you all up?” Mitsi asked curiously, earning her a few nods. She clapped her hands together with a smile. “I have wanted to meet him for some time now. I wonder what he’s like.”
Horrible, both Victim and Chosen thought secretly while Dark replied that literally, which caused Victim to cover his mouth. Luckily, considering all of the things Dark says on a daily average, Mitsi assumed he was kidding and simply chuckled. “Well, I assume it’s the opposite?”
“Yeah,” Victim lied as he let go of Dark, who shot him a glare. “He’s great.”
“Do you want to meet him to ask him for your blessing?” Dark teased, which caused both Victim and Mitsi to blush light pink. It was then that Noogai arrived, which was the only reason Dark’s mouth wasn’t covered by Victim again.
Noogai paused when he saw Mitsi though. Was he dreaming or did she look just like the dead girl from last year’s explosion? He was tempted to ask Chosen when all three of his creations hopped on the car and waved the girl goodbye.
He looked towards Chosen from the rearview mirror. He was smiling and didn’t seem bothered. When he saw Noogai looking, his smile even seemed to widen. Noogai turned his attention back to the front, but his mind was still running.
Why did they look identical?