"Hmph, I thought you liked my kisses," Derlik teased, managing to get one last kiss in before he let Kye go. His son wasn't there to just make Derlik happy; that was a byproduct of this all. He was there for Derlik to help raise and look after, and to make sure he had the best life he could be given.
Kye twisted away, shaking his head. "Where did you get that idea from?" he asked, pretending to act innocent. He had adapted that from Derlik, really. He was thankful for all the care he received now, truly happy. Kye could barely remember wanting to have his part in his village. To work until he ached. Every day. But his role wasn't on Earth anymore. It was here. And to think this all started from a messed up mistake.
(Derlik: you literally told me so yesterday)
(Kye: no…?)
"Close, but no dice," Derlik said, chuckling some. "You're getting better at acting all cutesy, though, I'm proud." The god laughed then, wrapping his arms around Kye's waist so he couldn't pull away again, kissing his forehead. It really had all come from one messy, tragic mistake that has led to so much pain, but so much joy, too.
Kye pouted, seeming to egg Derlik on. "What do you mean acting?" he questioned before breaking out into a fit of laughter. Derlik always did do what he wanted. And if that meant kissing his son to tease him, he'd do it however long he wanted to.
It was a good thing that all Derlik ever wanted to do with Kye now was to pamper and shower affection on him. It was much, much better than the old days for sure. Derlik laughed right along with Kye, a hand coming up to ruffle his hair. He was still being careful of Blake, humming softly.
Kye offered a small smile up at Derlik, seeming quite content. He moved a hand up to try and push his hair back in place some, seeing as his father was content on messing it up from his affection.
Derlik laughed some when Kye moved to fix his hair, his hand sneaking up to move part of it to the wrong side.
"I'm glad to see you two are getting along," Serna said, laughing some. She found it… peaceful, to see them so loving. It still baffled her some how they had come so far.
Kye glared at Derlik for practically the fifteenth time before looking back to Serna again. He decided to get up off of his father to scoot away to fix his hair again. At least to where it looked a normal amount of messy. "Define getting along because I define that as being mean," he pretended to huff. There was a lot of irony there. Derlik could get mean if he wished to, and this was far from it. Though, now, this technically was his "mean." To his son anyways.
“I’d also define this as ‘getting along.’” Blake spoke up from his spot in Kye’s pocket, peeking his head out of the top to actually look at the people he was speaking to.
Derlik laughed some.
"Kye, I do believe you've been outvoted on this being mean, three to one." Derlik kept close, looking down at Blake to wink and lightly ruffling his head with one finger.
"Thanks, kiddo." Serna laughed softly, shaking her head. Derlik really had gotten nicer over the years, if this was what Kye could call mean.
Blake didn’t necessarily mind the attention, merely fixing his hair once Derlik was done messing with it.
Kye pouted when Blake spoke up but then rolled his eyes. He had actually been trying to get Derlik to steal him again into his lap for more hugs or something along that line. Despite his technical age, he always reverted back to somewhat childish behavior when his form appeared so. It was just fun that way. “Come on, we know your mean isn’t really all that mean anymore,” he joked.
It was always fun when Kye was young. It was more acceptable for Derlik to baby him, and let him know just how much the god cared. It wasn't the same when Kye got older in his physical age, even though compared to Derlik he would always be a child to Derlik. Such a young soul…
"Nope, not in comparison!" Derlik agreed, laughing. He snagged his arms around Kye's waist, pulling him back so the boy was facing out ad Derlik pressed a big, goofy kiss to the back of his head.
"But it's my mean now~"
Kye let out a noise in surprise, not quite expecting to be tugged back so quickly. At being kissed again, he smiled softly. "Yeah, it is," he replied, looking up at Derlik fondly. He was trying not to think of what could have been. If he didn't pass that test…
That was something he wasn't fond of. He had to remember everything from every single life cycle. After having a handful of them now, it was always the first one that irked him consistently.
(Ayyyyyy the test :3)
(It's really not what you might expect it to be you gotta think uwu)
(ugh i hate tHinKinG)
((Ew thinking))
Kye hadn't been the first to be given the test; he was one of the few who had passed, enough. Derlik would never tell Kye that, though, how even the clothes on his back were proof of the low passing rate. He doubted his son wanted to learn just how many souls they both had on or with them at any given moment.
Derlik didn't like that Kye had to remember everything, either. Still, if Kye didn't… well, he wouldn't be Kye. Sure, it would be his soul, be his life, but it wouldn't be him.
The god smiled in turn, pressing a much more gentle kiss to Kye's cheek as he was looking back.
"And it'll be the meanest I'll ever get from now on."
Kye turned around to embrace his father. Well, mostly, the hug being kind of a half hug as to still not crush Blake. "I love you," he said, voice already seeming to return to its cheerful tone. He blushed a moment, remembering both Serna and Blake were watching. He turned around again to smile at the goddess across from him. "Thank you for your help today Miss Serna," he said, trying to be polite.
“Yes, thank you.” Blake echoed, peeking his head out of Kye’s pocket yet again just so they could be polite and look at who they were speaking to.
"I love you too, kiddo." Derlik hugged back as much as he could with Blake still there, a smile on his lips.
"You're welcome, dearies!" The goddess stood, humming some. "And thank you, for taking the time out of your busy schedules to have some tea with me." The goddess started to pack up the cookies she had made, wrapping them up before offering them to Derlik.
"So, take these with you for the rest of the day, hm?" With a smile, the goddess patted both Blake's and Kye's head.
Kye began to get excited at the notion of having more of Serna's baked goods around. He gave Serna a smile at the gentle touch. He always loved how the goddess was kind to everyone. Heck, if he didn't already have a mom, he would willingly address her as such with her permission.
(Kye, seeing Derlik and Serna hanging out one day: Dad, Mom!)
(Every other god: 👀)
"And I don't want to hear about either of the children having any alcohol, do you understand me?" Serna leveled a finger at Derlik, a smile threatening to break up her play at seriousness.
"Or no cookies for you!"
"Y-Yes ma'am!" Derlik said in turn.
(Aaaa Kye would definitely be a few more life cycles before he genuinely considered calling Serna mom because he still misses his birth mother a lot. He gets over it because he keeps all the happy memories in mind first.)
Kye gave Serna a mock salute to signal his understanding. Due to the fact that he and Derlik shared similar thinking as of late, he knew it was likely they'd have drinks in some way. Serna wouldn't have to hear about it. Plus, to make the goddess feel better, he promised it wouldn't even be that much. Like a sip or two.
(Right, of course. I could so see Serna and Kye's mom would get along really well)
Serna laughed softly, using her hands to wave the three out of the house.
"Now, come on, you boys, go have your fun. Don't let little old me stop you- unless you're drinking." Derlik laughed softly, standing with Kye in his arms.
"Yes, ma'am!"