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It was another day at Unum’s domain. Not particularly a bad or good one, it was just as it is: a day. Something as inevitable as it is expected.
The sun was shining brightly, because why wouldn’t it? This was Unum’s domain, the sun would always come to shine here. (Sometimes it shines so brightly it burns. Like as if his love–or is it fascination or obsession?–was desperately trying to cover your whole being. Leaving you with burns that are hard to get rid of, considering you have the sun for a husband and stars for children and sister-wives.)
It would be a cause for concern if the sun wasn’t shining brightly here.
You sat on a bench outside in his garden. You were here for a few simple reasons.
1. It wasn’t lunch time yet.
2. There wasn’t much to do inside Unum’s residence except sit around and talk to paintings. Especially since he currently wasn’t here.
3. You weren’t allowed to enter Aeliana, Solaris, and Ignis’s residence. That was forbidden, even if you have already broken the rule once. Fortunately all that happened was Solaris’s shocked expression and a reminder that you’re not allowed to be there.
4. Lastly, your children were outside in the garden as well, and you were here to supervise them.
The last one was the most prominent reason.
Noor and shams (or Sirius, but no one uses that name, nor are they allowed to except Septem, he can. Not like you want to use that name anyway) were outside in the garden like you were.
The two of them were play fighting. The first time they did so worried you, and you were going to stop them. But since you realized that they both left unscathed each match, there was no need to stop their fun.
(“Young stars need to release their energy, or else it will build up and explode. This is a great way for them to release it without harming themselves or others,” Ignis had said one day.)
It’s better than them trying to fight you. Despite Noor and Shams being children, they are much stronger than you. It makes sense, you suppose. You are a human–placebo–and they are stars.
But still, someone had to watch to make sure nothing happened. Unum was having a meeting with Septem and you had no idea what his wives were doing.
(It’s not something you are allowed to be privy to, anyway. You are more like a pet–cute, can do tricks, and only here to take care of the children–even if Unum calls himself your husband.)
This round Shams wins, again.
Noor had always been smaller and thinner than his sister, but now he seems more so. He was weaker as well.
Usually the children were about an equal match. Now Noor would be lucky to win. You didn’t need to speculate as to why as you already knew.
Ever since Septem used his original name to order him not to eat, he has been indeed eating less, barely anything. You can see how he looks at the food at the dinner table–hungry. Starving. As well as the slight envy he has watching others eat without him being able to.
No matter how much food you put on the plate, he ends up only having a few bites.
It worries you, it worries you very much. You wish you could let him just eat.
But no, it’s just always what Septem declares. He wants Noor to stop eating less, despite the fact he wasn’t even eating enough in the first place? He can simply order for it to happen, because he is the commander.
He wants to have meetings with Unum, ones that grow more frequent and frequent, longer, and ones you cannot have any information on what is being said in there? Just a word and Unum will do whatever to obey.
(No matter how much he denies it, he really is like a bootlicker.)
What was it that Septem wanted with your children? What was the reason to starve Noor?
You were getting sick of him in Unum’s domain.
Before checking how the check-ups were, he wasn’t that bad, even if he took a lot of the children’s and Unum’s time.
You still remember how Septem reprimanded Unum and Duae for making you leave the children. You still remember how he took a look at your rotting hands and said he’ll find a solution. Or just before he ordered Noor to stop eating, how he was pleasantly surprised that you cared enough about your children to want to see how the check-ups were like.
Now your opinion on him was in the negatives.
Looking down at said hands, they were completely black and numb. It was hard to move them. The black was even starting to spread across your arms.
Ignoring that, it worries you what Septem wants with your children.
Noor was growing weaker while Shams was growing stronger. If Septem already has decided to starve Noor, what will he do with Shams?
Watching them both, you saw how she won again. Every day she was growing stronger, enough that she forgets to be gentler when it comes to you. Your body is much more weaker and breakable than anyone else’s in The Garden.
You saw in the check-ups how much more thoroughly Septem was studying Shams.
While nothing has been ordered of her (at least to your knowledge), it still worries you what his plans are. It is clear he won’t just let the children be children, because even if they grow fast, they’re still children for now.
Septem clearly wants Noor to grow weaker for whatever reason, but what is his reasoning for not wanting the same for Shams? Not that you want her to eat less, but the inconsistency was worrying you.
I won’t let him touch my children.
Yeah, but what are you supposed to do? He’s a symbol, the commander of each one to be exact.
And who are you? Just a human that was supposed to be eaten but instead got turned into a useful pet.
The heat outside suddenly intensified, leaving you sweating. You knew what that must mean, Unum was back from his meeting with Septem.
You stood up and walked over to the children, remaining some distance so as not to get hurt. “Noor, Shams, it’s time to stop playing.”
They both paused. Noor was currently pinned down onto the ground with his legs up as if trying to kick her off and a hand pulling her hair. Shams was on top of him, pinning him down in a way to try to get him to stay down.
Noor stopped trying to kick her nor pull her head and instead just laid in the grass. Shams got off of him but pouted as they were forced to stop playing.
“But why?” Shams asked.
You smiled, knowing they’d be excited. “Your father is back. I thought you two would like to greet him?”
You didn’t even have time to finish the last sentence before they both stood up and went running into Unum’s residence. Shams, excited and eager, and Noor, calmer but no less eager.
You went inside as well, except you walked instead of running.
Inside was a pretty cute sight. Shams was looking up at him, talking fast and excitedly. You couldn’t pick up her words if you tried as they were so quick. However Unum seemed to have no problem following along, looking interested and nodding along. Just like how he did with his wives or when you first picked him at Nulla’s hotel,
Noor wasn’t speaking, however he was hugging Unum’s left. A hand was on top of his hair.
You stood there, simply staring. You didn’t want to ruin the cute moment. A few minutes passed until Shams was done speaking. She turned to Noor and asked if he wanted to go back to playing. Noor agreed, and so they ran past you and outside again.
You were going to join them to supervise, but in just a moment as you also wanted to greet him.
You walked up to him, seeing how his face brightened and his shining pupils shined just a little more as he saw you. It was cute, you almost forgot your worries from before.
Almost.
You walked until you stood in front of him. The warmth was much more prominent now, making you slightly lightheaded, something you ignore. You never thought you’d ever feel so much warmth until you met Unum.
You kissed him on the cheek, a spark spread through your body at the brief contact your lips had on his skin.
Cheek kisses weren’t something the garden knew about, the rest of the garden didn’t even know about it. When you kissed Unum’s cheek for the first time, he got so excited learning about a human concept that wasn’t in the books he read, he demanded another.
His fascination with humanity was sometimes endearing. You think he’d be great friends with Sextam if she could still make humans.
(You pointedly decide to ignore how the first day with him, his fascination with humanity and the human body almost got you eaten alive.)
He smiled, pleased by your action.
(He was dangerous and crazy, but you couldn’t help but love him regardless.)
“How were the children while I was gone?” he asked you.
(The children. The same children that were initially just an experiment for you. As much as he’s proven to be…actually a pretty good parent, it still doesn’t change the beginning. What was the reason for him wanting descendants in the first place? You doubt it’s because he really wanted to be a father.)
(That was a question you’d rather not want answered as it could break the fantasy.)
“They were play fighting outside and I was just watching them,” you answered.
(Sometimes you worried that if something would actually happen while watching them, what you could do. Sure, Noor and Shams listened to you, but that doesn’t mean they can’t just stop. You’re not nearly as strong as them, nor can you really enforce anything. Unlike Unum, Septem, or even his wives.)
Unum nods at the information. You hesitate for a moment, frowning, before bringing up a topic you’re sure will be shut down immediately. “Shams is getting stronger every day, but Noor just keeps getting weaker..”
(Because he is starving. He is starving and as his parent you can’t do anything about it.)
Unum’s face darkens slightly and he loses that smile. “Septem knows what he is doing and we shouldn’t question him,” he says but the words seem forced and hesitant.
(You clearly aren’t the only one worried and unable to do anything about it. Except, unlike you, Unum seems content pretending everything is fine and just going along with everything Septem says. You wish he would just stand up to him for once.)
You didn’t agree with his sentiment, but you let it go. You have no power here despite them being your children as well. “I’m going to go back to watch the children,” you say. Mostly you say it because you want to, but a part of you wants to escape from this conversation you started.
You leave Unum and go outside. The heat is much more bearable when not inside the residence with the literal sun symbol. However it was still enough to make you sweat.
The children were back to play fighting. A small smile graces your face at the sight.
You go back to sitting on the same bench, watching the children again.
You know now, deep in your soul, that you will not let anything happen to your children. You’ll fight Septem if you have to. Even if you’ll most likely lose, you’d do it for your children.
He doesn’t deserve his power, don’t you think so too?
But for now your job is to simply watch the children as they play.