SINGLE PARENT WAR DERG CHILDREN THING.
Mar. 8th, 2016 10:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ofthehellguardPLEASE DO NOT JUDGE ME THERE IS A REASON I AM NOT POSTING THIS ON MY OTHER ACCOUNTS LMAO. beware of disposable woman plot
Less by coincidence and more by necessity War had always kept a spare bedroom with three beds at the ready, in anticipation of any need from the other Horsemen. Now that room would house his children, and he would have to find ways to divert his siblings' attention from his home.
Ruin bore four riders much better than War expected him to and they arrived much earlier than he anticipated, the sun of his homeworld just barely peeking over the horizon. At the sight of the carved-out mountain War called home the youngest Horseman saw Chane's shoulder's slump, and felt keenly his children's disappointment. Their mother's home had been warm and cozy, and dragons were ever drawn to open sky…
He'd never given any thought to making his home seem more welcoming. He hadn't needed to.
He let them sleep in his bed that first night, curled up against each other while he cradled the sleeping Iayu in his arms, running through a list of what he would need if he were to raise them all here by himself. He could not risk the possibility that his brothers would see his children as a threat to their pact with the Charred Council, but he had no idea how he could possibly keep them safe alone...
xxx
By the time War had set up their bedroom, stocked his pantry with food his children could actually eat and put away anything they could possibly hurt themselves on he had completely forgotten he had duties besides simply ensuring these four motherless children did not meet an untimely end.
Ruin, to War's eternal gratitude, whinnied loudly at the sudden appearance of a visitor, and War had just enough time to herd his children into their bedroom and lock the door before going to meet the Watcher at the entrance.
“Since when do you keep this place shut up?” the Watcher demanded irritably, patience thinned from having to deal with a concerned flaming warhorse.
“What is the Council's bidding?” War asked, keenly aware that he had little time before his children grew impatient and started calling for him.
“You're in a good mood. You're summoned to the realm of the Charred Council, where they will brief you personally. Your brothers will be there too, so don't be late!”
By this time War had developed a reputation for his short temper, and to his relief the Watcher evidently had no desire to stay long and risk provoking it. He flitted away at once, and War shot Ruin a grateful look before returning to his children.
“Father,” Chane said, stamping his foot. “What did we do wrong?”
“Nothing, I merely...”
He hadn't yet informed them that their existence must remain a secret, and had no time to explain what was happening before stowing them away like stolen contraband.
“I had a visitor,” he began. “Others may be unhappy if they see you, so I was forced to put you out of sight. I'm sorry.”
They each turned to look at each other, then back up at him. “Why?”
He stiffened. Now that he had said it he rather regretted telling them that they would make others unhappy, but the truth—that their mere existence was a crime—seemed too much for their young minds to bear.
“Unhappy is the wrong word,” he said slowly. “Others will try to hurt you, if they know you are here. When I have visitors, you must sit quietly in your room and wait for me to come get you. Understand?”
They did not, and by the time War had to put his foot down and remind them that he was their father and they had to do as he said he had remembered why he never dealt with the nephilim children until they were older.
“I must go,” he finished wearily. “I have an errand to run, and I do not know when I will return.”
“You're leaving us here?” Meltia asked incredulously. “Alone?”
“I can't bring you with me. You'll have to stay inside...”
“How long will you be gone?” Dios asked.
War hesitated. “I don't know.”
“Will you be back by sunset?” Iayu asked hopefully.
“No.”
The four of them gave him the same frightened look.
“No one will come here if I am not home,” he assured them, despite his own doubts. If only he could leave Ruin here to guard them! “You will be safe, as long as you stay inside.”
“We can't go outside?”
“No.” War was beginning to see a pattern in their conversations. “I will return as soon as I am able.”
They pouted and gave each other frightened looks, but War had no choice but to leave them there as he left to perform his duties...
xxx
Every time War thought he was getting accustomed to balancing his duties and his children, something new always happened to correct him. It hadn’t even occurred to him that perhaps a growing dragon would have unusual needs, but when Meltia chomped off the head of the spoon she’d been eating cereal with one morning he decided he probably ought to do some research. And perhaps get new spoons.
Unfortunately with a reputation like his it was difficult to do anything without inviting scrutiny, although at least the subject of dragons would seem perfectly within his usual interests. Even when he could afford to be away from home finding time to prowl the Council’s libraries without being seen was incredibly difficult. He had no fear of the various minions the Council employed, but whenever the Keeper of Oblivion arrived at the archives he did his best to make a quick exit.
Young dragons, as it turned out, developed a taste for all manner of minerals which they had difficulty controlling until a certain age, and after trying to replace four sets of cutlery without anyone noticing War switched to wooden spoons and forks. He also put a lock on his armory; he rather doubted their jaws were strong enough to bite through anything thicker than a spoon, but he wasn’t about to take any chances.
They also preferred warmth while they slept, though their inner fire meant they didn’t strictly need it. That explained why War would often awaken with a tiny dragon or two curled up against his chest, and why they seemed to take turns doing so… He took to leaving their blankets and pillows out in the sun to warm up and heating stones to put on their beds, though that didn’t stop Iayu from trying to keep him company some nights.
That wasn’t the only change: Dios and Meltia fell ill one day, and just when War realized that he had no idea how to nurse them back to health except trying to keep fevers down and ensuring they ate and drank the twins began coughing up flames.
“Does this mean we get the metal spoons back?” Dios asked hopefully, as War sighed and set to carving out a new set of wooden cutlery.
xxx
He knew their easy acceptance of his frequent absences wouldn’t last: he had intended to find ways to keep them occupied, perhaps to secure an area outside where they could play safely while he was gone, but what with illnesses and food and missions and coming up with excuses not to accompany his siblings on their usual excursions he had never found the time to actually do it.
When he stepped into his home after his latest mission and was not greeted by the usual stampede of bored, lonely children he knew immediately that something was wrong.
“Hello?” he called into the hallway. No answer.
By the time he’d made his way to their bedroom door he’d seen at once what must have happened: the barricade he’d set up when he first moved in, blocking off the rest of the fortress had been taken down, enough for a few small children to climb through.
His heart froze in his chest. There were things down there, and he’d blocked it off for a reason…
Xxx
Well, at least he knew there wasn’t anything else down here to eat them in their sleep…
Several hours later War limped back to the occupied portion of his home, herding four sobbing and frightened children ahead of him.
“We’re sorry,” Chane said.
“We were just gonna move the door back a little!” Meltia said.
“So we’d have more room…”
“I know,” he said wearily, feeling too guilty to be truly upset with them. “Well, it’s clear now, so if you promise not to touch anything you may explore down there.”
Their joy was short-lived: War’s wounds did not heal as they usually did, and as he grew weaker and weaker he was forced to block the fortress off again for fear of some poison he’d had no knowledge of.
“When I’m better I’ll clear it out and you can go down there,” he promised.
Iayu clutched her favorite blanket closer. “You will get better, right Father?”
He did not. Even his own hardy constitution was not enough to overcome whatever had been in that fell beast’s blood, and when he slept for a full day and awoke to four children sitting by his bed with glasses of water and wet washcloths he knew he would have to seek help.
“I will be fine,” he assured them, though inwardly his heart clenched at the thought of how they would live if ever he did perish…
Xxx
Thank the Creator for Ruin: War passed out before they’d even made it out of the void, and awoke in the familiar sanctuary of Fury’s home feeling much better already.
“Why did you let it get this bad?” Strife demanded, setting a bowl of soup on the bedside table. “There’s no way you didn’t notice.”
“I thought it would resolve itself,” War said. And he couldn’t afford to be away from home for so long…
"And where did Ruin go?" Strife went on. "He left as soon as he brought you here."
Less by coincidence and more by necessity War had always kept a spare bedroom with three beds at the ready, in anticipation of any need from the other Horsemen. Now that room would house his children, and he would have to find ways to divert his siblings' attention from his home.
Ruin bore four riders much better than War expected him to and they arrived much earlier than he anticipated, the sun of his homeworld just barely peeking over the horizon. At the sight of the carved-out mountain War called home the youngest Horseman saw Chane's shoulder's slump, and felt keenly his children's disappointment. Their mother's home had been warm and cozy, and dragons were ever drawn to open sky…
He'd never given any thought to making his home seem more welcoming. He hadn't needed to.
He let them sleep in his bed that first night, curled up against each other while he cradled the sleeping Iayu in his arms, running through a list of what he would need if he were to raise them all here by himself. He could not risk the possibility that his brothers would see his children as a threat to their pact with the Charred Council, but he had no idea how he could possibly keep them safe alone...
xxx
By the time War had set up their bedroom, stocked his pantry with food his children could actually eat and put away anything they could possibly hurt themselves on he had completely forgotten he had duties besides simply ensuring these four motherless children did not meet an untimely end.
Ruin, to War's eternal gratitude, whinnied loudly at the sudden appearance of a visitor, and War had just enough time to herd his children into their bedroom and lock the door before going to meet the Watcher at the entrance.
“Since when do you keep this place shut up?” the Watcher demanded irritably, patience thinned from having to deal with a concerned flaming warhorse.
“What is the Council's bidding?” War asked, keenly aware that he had little time before his children grew impatient and started calling for him.
“You're in a good mood. You're summoned to the realm of the Charred Council, where they will brief you personally. Your brothers will be there too, so don't be late!”
By this time War had developed a reputation for his short temper, and to his relief the Watcher evidently had no desire to stay long and risk provoking it. He flitted away at once, and War shot Ruin a grateful look before returning to his children.
“Father,” Chane said, stamping his foot. “What did we do wrong?”
“Nothing, I merely...”
He hadn't yet informed them that their existence must remain a secret, and had no time to explain what was happening before stowing them away like stolen contraband.
“I had a visitor,” he began. “Others may be unhappy if they see you, so I was forced to put you out of sight. I'm sorry.”
They each turned to look at each other, then back up at him. “Why?”
He stiffened. Now that he had said it he rather regretted telling them that they would make others unhappy, but the truth—that their mere existence was a crime—seemed too much for their young minds to bear.
“Unhappy is the wrong word,” he said slowly. “Others will try to hurt you, if they know you are here. When I have visitors, you must sit quietly in your room and wait for me to come get you. Understand?”
They did not, and by the time War had to put his foot down and remind them that he was their father and they had to do as he said he had remembered why he never dealt with the nephilim children until they were older.
“I must go,” he finished wearily. “I have an errand to run, and I do not know when I will return.”
“You're leaving us here?” Meltia asked incredulously. “Alone?”
“I can't bring you with me. You'll have to stay inside...”
“How long will you be gone?” Dios asked.
War hesitated. “I don't know.”
“Will you be back by sunset?” Iayu asked hopefully.
“No.”
The four of them gave him the same frightened look.
“No one will come here if I am not home,” he assured them, despite his own doubts. If only he could leave Ruin here to guard them! “You will be safe, as long as you stay inside.”
“We can't go outside?”
“No.” War was beginning to see a pattern in their conversations. “I will return as soon as I am able.”
They pouted and gave each other frightened looks, but War had no choice but to leave them there as he left to perform his duties...
xxx
Every time War thought he was getting accustomed to balancing his duties and his children, something new always happened to correct him. It hadn’t even occurred to him that perhaps a growing dragon would have unusual needs, but when Meltia chomped off the head of the spoon she’d been eating cereal with one morning he decided he probably ought to do some research. And perhaps get new spoons.
Unfortunately with a reputation like his it was difficult to do anything without inviting scrutiny, although at least the subject of dragons would seem perfectly within his usual interests. Even when he could afford to be away from home finding time to prowl the Council’s libraries without being seen was incredibly difficult. He had no fear of the various minions the Council employed, but whenever the Keeper of Oblivion arrived at the archives he did his best to make a quick exit.
Young dragons, as it turned out, developed a taste for all manner of minerals which they had difficulty controlling until a certain age, and after trying to replace four sets of cutlery without anyone noticing War switched to wooden spoons and forks. He also put a lock on his armory; he rather doubted their jaws were strong enough to bite through anything thicker than a spoon, but he wasn’t about to take any chances.
They also preferred warmth while they slept, though their inner fire meant they didn’t strictly need it. That explained why War would often awaken with a tiny dragon or two curled up against his chest, and why they seemed to take turns doing so… He took to leaving their blankets and pillows out in the sun to warm up and heating stones to put on their beds, though that didn’t stop Iayu from trying to keep him company some nights.
That wasn’t the only change: Dios and Meltia fell ill one day, and just when War realized that he had no idea how to nurse them back to health except trying to keep fevers down and ensuring they ate and drank the twins began coughing up flames.
“Does this mean we get the metal spoons back?” Dios asked hopefully, as War sighed and set to carving out a new set of wooden cutlery.
xxx
He knew their easy acceptance of his frequent absences wouldn’t last: he had intended to find ways to keep them occupied, perhaps to secure an area outside where they could play safely while he was gone, but what with illnesses and food and missions and coming up with excuses not to accompany his siblings on their usual excursions he had never found the time to actually do it.
When he stepped into his home after his latest mission and was not greeted by the usual stampede of bored, lonely children he knew immediately that something was wrong.
“Hello?” he called into the hallway. No answer.
By the time he’d made his way to their bedroom door he’d seen at once what must have happened: the barricade he’d set up when he first moved in, blocking off the rest of the fortress had been taken down, enough for a few small children to climb through.
His heart froze in his chest. There were things down there, and he’d blocked it off for a reason…
Xxx
Well, at least he knew there wasn’t anything else down here to eat them in their sleep…
Several hours later War limped back to the occupied portion of his home, herding four sobbing and frightened children ahead of him.
“We’re sorry,” Chane said.
“We were just gonna move the door back a little!” Meltia said.
“So we’d have more room…”
“I know,” he said wearily, feeling too guilty to be truly upset with them. “Well, it’s clear now, so if you promise not to touch anything you may explore down there.”
Their joy was short-lived: War’s wounds did not heal as they usually did, and as he grew weaker and weaker he was forced to block the fortress off again for fear of some poison he’d had no knowledge of.
“When I’m better I’ll clear it out and you can go down there,” he promised.
Iayu clutched her favorite blanket closer. “You will get better, right Father?”
He did not. Even his own hardy constitution was not enough to overcome whatever had been in that fell beast’s blood, and when he slept for a full day and awoke to four children sitting by his bed with glasses of water and wet washcloths he knew he would have to seek help.
“I will be fine,” he assured them, though inwardly his heart clenched at the thought of how they would live if ever he did perish…
Xxx
Thank the Creator for Ruin: War passed out before they’d even made it out of the void, and awoke in the familiar sanctuary of Fury’s home feeling much better already.
“Why did you let it get this bad?” Strife demanded, setting a bowl of soup on the bedside table. “There’s no way you didn’t notice.”
“I thought it would resolve itself,” War said. And he couldn’t afford to be away from home for so long…
"And where did Ruin go?" Strife went on. "He left as soon as he brought you here."
