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Ren looks over the training hall, wondering why she’s the only one who doesn’t get magic lessons with Dad. Is she not good enough? Do girls not get to be mages? Is it because she’s not as well behaved like the others?
“Is Ren. Upset?” Oh! It’s No… Spite can’t be Papa because Papa’s Papa’s and he can’t be Dad because Dad’s Dad. What does that make Spite? How’s she supposed to refer to her third Dad? “Why. Is Ren. Upset?!” Third Dad demands. Hmm. No, that’s not it.
Ren fiddles with the block in her pocket. “Why am I the only one who’s different?” She might not be able to see Spite, but she can tell he’s hovering around her.
“Different?” He asks. “In what way? I’m a spirit. Lucanis has no magic. Kal has too much. Leon is blind. Fey has an impossible natural hair color.”
Ren feels a little silly, but she didn’t get this far by letting something like that stop her. “Why am I the only one without magic? Even Papa has you to help him. I’m just… Me.” She can feel her emotions bubbling up uncomfortably. “Is it because I’m the only girl? Did I do something wrong?” She can hear bare feet padding over to her as Spite cries out, unable to do much to help.
“No!” Spite determines. “Ren is Ren! Ren did. Nothing!” She didn’t do anything? Is that why she’s different? What did everyone else do? She needs to do it, too. “Ren is fine as she is! Ren is great!”
“Hey.” Dad’s voice calls soothingly. “What’s wrong, kiddo?” He’s kneeling in front of her, waiting for her to make the first move. Ren doesn’t want Dad right now! Dad wouldn’t understand, anyway!
Biting her lip hard enough to draw blood, Ren rushes off. Her dad’s call after her, but she doesn’t care to listen right now.
Ren runs and runs and runs all the way to Auntie Aloe’s place. She’ll understand, right? Auntie will know what to do! She’s a girl, too! All Ren needs to do is find her and then—
She turns the corner, only to see Auntie Aloe healing Nella with her sparkly purple magic. Right. She forgot Auntie Aloe was a mage, too. Why’s she the only one left out?
Turning on her heels, Ren rushes away, uncaring of how tired she may be. Why’s she always the only one left out of these things?
Something appears in front of her, so Ren runs face first into something solid. Her face hurts, and there’s tears in her eyes.
“Ren? Sweetly, whats wrong?” She sniffles, finding a familiar face in front of her.
“Aunt— Aunti Eshi?” Auntie Eshi doesn’t have magic just like her. She might understand.
“Ren, baby, whats wrong? Where your Dads?”
She glares up at her. “Why am I the only one that’s different?”
“I’m sorry?” Auntie doesn’t know how to handle her either. It hurts inside. “Come here, let’s get you sorted out.” Auntie holds out her hand waiting for ren to choose.
Well, Auntie Eshi’s the most likely to understand her right now. Ren takes the offer, wondering what Auntie has in store.
Auntie takes her through town, stopping at the cafe they all like! Auntie orders them hot cocoa and then leads Ren to a table. “Why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you? It’s got to be big if it’s taken you this far from home.”
“Why am I the only one who’s different? Everyone else is a boy and they all have magic but I don’t.”
Eshi lays a hand on Ren’s, smiling softly. “Sometimes, that’s just how families are, sweetie. You might be the only girl, but you know what that means? It means you’re special, even with everything the boys have.” Ren’s not sure that helps, but the hot cocoa is here so she sips it happily. “You know, growing up I felt like an outsider, too.”
Ren perks up, “You did?”
Auntie scratches lightly at her cheek. “My siblings we’re always better at things than me, and I’m the oldest, so I didn’t get the same chances to bond with the three of them that they had with each other.”
“But Auntie Aloe is a girl. And Uncle Moni doesn’t have magic either!”
Auntie looks sad. “But Allona was always closest with your Dad, sweetie. And Nello bonded with those two a lot more than he did with me since he’s the youngest.”
Ren takes a sip. “But you get along so well!”
“We do now, but it wasn’t always like that.” Auntie smiles at her. “But you know what else has changed? My siblings and I all get along much better now, and we have you and your siblings, and my two, and Allona’s girl.”
Ren looks at Auntie. “Oh! Dad said you had another baby! When do we get to see them?!”
“Oakley’s a bit young to be traveling so far, but I promise you’ll be able to see him soon.” Auntie Eshi smiles at her.
Ren pouts. “Another boy?”
“Not everything is going to work out the way you want it to. Sometimes you just have to live with the cards you were dealt. For you, that means being the most special in your family because of your differences.”
“You really think I’m special for not being able to do anything they can?” She pouts. That’s not special! That just means she’s not as good as her brothers!”
Auntie tried to give her a reassuring smile but it doesn’t quite become one. “The only non-mage in a mage family? Yeah, I’d consider that pretty special.” Nope. Not convinced. “Let me put it this way: You would consider Leon special because of everything he can do without being able to see, right?” Ren nods, not really sure where this is going but agreeing with that statement. “Well, think about all the things you can do without magic! Like how you get special training with your Uncle and they don’t. Don’t you think they’d be a little jealous that you get to see your Uncle more than they do?”
Oh. She has a point. “But I don’t get lessons with Dad.”
“Well, your Dad is an idiot and he needs to come up with something the two of you can do together because he needs to spend a more equal time with all of you.” Oh! She knows that expression! It’s the one Ren’s Auntie’s and Uncle’s use when they want to hit Dad! Even Papa gets it sometimes! “Don’t worry, sweetie, I’ll make sure your Dad knows better.”
Ren finishes her hot cocoa, thinking over everything she was told and deciding Auntie has a point. “Auntie?”
“Hm?”
“I wish I had a mom like you.” Auntie Eshi inhales her drink, coughing and spluttering for a minute while she tries to recover.
“That’s very sweet of you to say.” Auntie’s very pink right now. “Now, why don’t we get you home? I know your dads are going to be worried about you.” Ren nods, yawning. She guesses it’s pretty late and all.
Ren offers her hand, letting her Aunt guide her home. They’re pretty far away, and she’s tired now that she’s thinking about it. “We’ll be there soon.” Auntie assures. Ren nods, rubbing at her eyes.
It pretty quiet as they walk home, and Auntie seems to be preoccupied about something. She wonders what it is.
“Ren!” Papa calls, seeing them approach. He runs over and scoops her up. “We were so worried about you!” Mmmm. Papa’s arms. It’s nice and safe and warm here.
“Sorry for keeping her out so long, Lucanis. She was upset and I didn’t want her to have to go home without at least talking about it.” Papa says something, but Ren doesn’t really care when she’s all warm and stuff right now, so instead, she buries her head in his neck and lets her eyes flutter close.
When she wakes, it’s to Papa tucking her into bed, and Dad handing her Spitey back after she lost it a few days ago. They kiss her goodnight and leave the room though she doesn’t hear them walk away.
She missed Spitey so much! Giving him a big squeeze, a weird purple shape lights up on the end of her bed. She blinks drowsily, trying to piece it together.
“Ren?” Oh! That’s Spite’s voice! And it’s coming from the weird purple man sitting on her bed… That means it’s Spite on her bed! Which means— A few tears prick at her eyes. Why can she see him now? “Ren sees! Good! Ren should always! Be able! To see!”
Spite comes over to give her a hug, and even though she’s can’t feel it, it’s the best hug she’s ever had. A thought comes to mind as she starts falling asleep again. “Spite?” She tries. “Will you be my mom?”
Spite freezes, then grins. “Yes! Spite is mom!” He cheers for just a moment before remembering that he’s supposed to be quiet. “Ren should sleep. Ren tired.” She nods, warm and fuzzy inside.
Ren ends up falling asleep with Spitey in her arms, her Mom watching over her, and a smile on her face.