Mew is amused by Gulf's animated narratives of the playground funs.

"... there he goes to kick it... it was a self goal and the kids do not even know it..." Gulf laughs, lying across his chest, naked and glorious.

But he does not like the bug bites on his wife's thighs... only he allowed to bite there!

Maybe he can just pour poison fire all over it and be done with it... but wife says grass and bugs keep that field fit enough for playing...

Whatever that means!

Mew pulls his beloved's head close and gives a peck on that babbling lips and wife pushes him away with a giggle to finish his story.

"... and P'Mew! The littles ones... the call me Mama sometimes and it is good Thanya is not there... or Tharn for that matter..."

Gulf is now rolling all over his body and Mew cannot contain his smile if he tried.

This time when Gulf rolls closer he traps his wife under him and tries to bite that beautiful nose, just because he could.

"Kids love you... that is why. Sometimes with younger ones, we try to help them... they end up calling me 'Mama' too..." Mew laughs. "but... Tuaeng all this running around... is it necessary? You can sit on a chair by the shade and teach, right?"

All Mew gets is a slap on his elbow for his trouble and Gulf once again starts excitedly telling him about their playground adventures.

Apparently, Type has not joined yet because he still needs to recover from some cough or something.

Who knows!

At least Techno is there.

"You can come stay with me..." Tharn says and Type gives an unamused look.

"Your parents are expecting you. Don't you have a bunch of festivals at the time?"

"Yes... and I want you to there... so..." Tharn cheekily smiles.

"You mean the palace?!!" Type shoves Tharn's head off of his lap.

"Awwww... Tyyyy!!! What is wrong with that?"

Oh really? What is so wrong with that amazing idea. To the Emperor's Castle... family home...

It is just like any other home... with two picket fences and flower pots!

He can just prance in and then dance his way out! What is so wrong with that? It is not like he is their species' eternal enemy or nothing like that...

"You, my baby, are overthinking, Kitten."
Tharn groans and tries to detangle himself from the blankets. "About kittens, we can also take Haza with us. I miss him too much and he is just giving me attitude."

Does Tharn think before he speaks? At least he is listening to himself, right? Like...a demon baby? To the Wizard Emperor's palace.

What could go wrong?

Tharn finally defeats the blanket and stands up with a soft jump and an 'aha'.

So ffing annoying!

"So what do you think?" Tharn smiles so bright and Type has this insane urge to smack that big head.

They hear a soft knock on their cabin door and Type growls a little sensing a powerful wizard aura.

"Big Bo!!!" Tharn quickly rushes to the door and there he is!

"P'Thorn." Type dips his head in welcome, blushing from top to bottom.

"We were... just... trying to clean the bedroom and...e"

Thorn tunes out Type's obvious tries of nonchalance and pats those red cheeks.

"How have you been, Nong? Bub has been worried. You seem okay, though. Aren't you?"

Tharn quickly answers in his stead. "He coughed yesterday in class and was so tired in the evening. He is not eating much... and would not sleep until really late."

Thorn chuckles at Type's angry glare.

"Those all are okay. He is fine. Appetite will come back. And he is a necromancer. They get more energy at night, Bub. So, it is also part of healing."
Thorn hands over a huge packet he has been carrying to Type. "Moms sent these. Some pickles, nose drops, cough potions such... They stink and burn but is good for you."

Type's heart jumps a little seeing the packed goodies marked with ingredients and expiration dates. "Must have been such a hassle."

Thorn waves away his words. "Now go away... shoo. Stop pestering me. I will make you the soup to bring back the appetite."

Thorn drops another huge basket on the kitchen counter and starts bringing out pans and pots from the bottom cabinets.

He swats away Type's hands when the boy tries to help. "Go away."

Type finally sits on the stool watching Thorn moves around their small kitchenette like a mini tornado, chopping and cutting with precision.

"Your brother cannot even light the stove without burning himself and lighting the curtains." Type quips and Thorn laughs.

"Yeah... none of them can cook. Maxie can make something to survive but Bub would rather wither and die than cook something for himself."

Type smiles and soon rich aroma of creamy, comfort soup fills their whole cabin.

The whole pot is boiling and Type's mouth waters. Thorn finally takes some kind of dried leaves and crushes them with his palms and dusts over the soup.

"BUB! Lunch! Come eat!" Thorn quickly pours a big bowl of soup to Type, and slides to him. "I would have made ginger bread from scratch but this oven is good for nothing. So I got some from the store. It is good but mom's is the best. I will make you one day, little one."

Thorn plates the bread and the quick salad he made with fresh veggies he got from the market.

Type dives in without question. It is so yum and it burns his throat so good.

Thorn adds another layer of cream for Tharn because he knows his Bub cannot handle the heat. "The small pot for you... The other one is spicier."

Tharn also goes in with a small nod.
Type watches Thorn fondly raking his fingers through Tharn's head as he eats. "Anything else you want?"

"Mmm mmm. No." Tharn would not even look up.

"You can have this soup for next two days. Add the dried Hyjam leaves for Type okay? You do not have. It will burn your little whimpy tongue. Add cream and stir after you pour it in the bowl. Do not add directly to the pot or it will go bad too early."

Thorn does not have any but waits patiently for both of them to finish.
And Type burps a little accidently and looks around embarrassed, covering his face.

"I will take it as a compliment. Thank you Type." Thorn laughs and laughs when Tharn starts burping so loud.

"Gross! Stop it." Thorn smacks his brother with a spoon, taking their dishes and washing them.

"I can do it, P'Thorn." Type tries.

"Na... sickie babies get free rides. Oh... when you are free come visit the medical huts, please Type. I think you can help."

Type nods. "How is he?"

"The torture was the least of his suffering. He has anxiety every night. Will not sleep unless sedated. It's a mess. The boy did not deserve it, Type. I feel so... responsible."

Type remains silent.

He has no words. This has gone out of proportion.

"I am not any better. I have done worse." Type says.

He has...

"Me too." Thorn says. "Tharn is the worst of us all."

Tharn simply smiles popping his head on his palm, as if they are talking about daisies and poppies.

"But... the reason. What did that kid do to deserve this? You are not the same." Thorn affectionately pats Type's back. "I do not know why you are sick. If it is because of my hard headed brother... I will have a tight talk with him for you..."

Type splutters.

"But... if you have any nonsense notions like guilt or anything... please know they are misplaced." Thorn says conviction and Type has the insane urge to believe him. "He is alive because of you. He is healing because of you. Once he has his anxiety in check... I will even train him personally."

"He is lucky to have you, you know." A mentor like this... Like Tapith Commander... a blessing indeed.

"He is 'my' brother. Everyone else are mere soldiers." Tharn scowls and Type rolls his eyes.

Thorn on the other hand, smacks Tharn's head again. "Okay, I gotta go!"

"Already!!! I thought we could play some cards and teach Type how to play Unpis" Tharn follows his brother like a whining puppy and Type follows them as well.

"Can't Bub! I will see you for Zeezmya festival. Type you are unofficially invited. You will receive the scroll from the Empress, Himself. Please be there."

Thorn leaves giving a tight pat on Tharn's cheek and a pinch to Type. "Eat and rest."

"Seeeee... you are invited. I told you so." Tharn says shutting the door. "I thought he would stay for some time. Always busy busy."

Type merely drops his head to Tharn's shoulder and gets himself carried to the bedroom. "Do not worry, beloved. I had changed our sheets. Wanna soil them too?"

Type huffs and Tharn snorts.

But they do not do anything. Simply lying around, fingers drawing patterns on each other's bodies.

He is not sure about attending the festival. From what he knows this festival is about the Wizard Empire Dynasty and ancestors something. He would be intruding.

"You are not intruding my home." Tharn bites Type's nose.

"Stay out of my head, Wolf."

"Oooooh... Wolf? What did I do?" Tharn growls. "My family loves you. You have to be there."

"I will think about it." Type puts an end to the discussion.

"Kitten, babe, they will be hap..."

"I.Will.Think.About.It!" Type rolls away from Tharn.

"Okay... okay... do not sulk... Come here! We have some weeks before making this decision."

Visiting the medical huts are never easy. He tags behind the healer team and they do make him feel not at home.

He smirks.

He does correct the healer-in-command on several occasions and there is something so gratifying about stepping on some toes.

He has his fun, until he is finally escorted to the healing hut of the person who he is actually meant to visit.

"The boy does not respond to necromancers. You know because you all did it to him. Why would the Crown Prince take such an unthoughtful risk?!" The healer hands him the medical chart with obvious scorn.

"Why indeed." He smiles widely.

She leaves with a huff and Type gets into the tent once she is out of sight.

The boy's hands are tied together and he is shivering... no... shaking in fear. The eyes are void and he is shaking his head so badly.

Everything stops when Type gets in and the boy unnervingly stares at him.

"Kill me?" He asks.

"No." Type answers going through the list of healing potions.

"You a nerc."

"Necromancer. Yes."

"You did this to me."

"My people. Yes." Type takes the pen torch from his pocket and shows the patient. "I am going to use this to check your eyes, throat and ears. You consent?"

The boy laughs and laughs falling back to the bed, the shaking begins... "Oh, d... do I con... con... consent?!"

"Did they rape you?" Type asks point blank and accepts the hate in the boy's eyes.

"Do you want to?"

"No." Type says conversationally. "If it happened, I will be checking your genitalia orifices as well."

"You are so empathetic." The boy's face starts to spasm and Type shrugs.

"You are in already in hell fire. A cup of water won't make a difference."

The boy stares at him unnervingly and Type gives them back, until the silence stretches too far.

"Look. I am a healer. I am a Necromancer. It will either work or it won't. But it won't go worse than this. The worst is done."

After an eternity the boy gives him a nod. If Type has not been observing intently, he would have missed it.

"No." The boy says when he shines light inside the dilated pupil and Type stops.

"No, they did not rape me. I was an afterthought. They already had their plan set, changed it to accommodate me."

Type's eyes lower a bit in shame. The boy suffered because of what? He says nothing though. What can he say?

Sorry?

This was not supposed to happen?

That not all necromancers are that bad?

"Shit happens. Your pupils are dilated because you are not sleeping. Under sedation you are actually awake. Happens to people who have gone through projections. Cavities are healing. Your heart is weak and your brain is not getting enough pozon, causing spams. You need to get your breathing right." Type informs the boy.

"You are not a healer, are you? Here to kill me?"

"I am not here to kill you. I am a healer. Trained and all that. I just did not like it as a profession." Type says.

The boy can go a long time without blinking. Type will give him that.

"What is your name?"

"You know my name."

Type shakes his head. "This says a number, that is it."

"Yinpay." The boy says and Type knows for sure he is lying.

"I have good news. You will survive. Will take time, medicine and after multiple anxiety attacks. But you will. And if you turn your life around, even thrive. You can lie, manipulate and plot under all these vulnerabilities. Impressive." Type pulls the boy to his chest and retrieves the surgical blade he has been hiding under the hand ties. No doubt, waiting to plunge when Type starts to coo and coddle him.

The boy's smile turns sinister and Type smiles back just as sinister, understandingly.

The smile wavers a bit as Type scribbles on the note without giving him any due attention. "You are not a healer."

"Assassin by work. Ironic isn't it." Type answers and pushes the boy back to the bed. "Okay NC 92074, if you do not commit suicide... you have a bright life ahead... yes, despite feeling so broken at present."

Type taps the ampules he has carried and starts explaining its working.

"You are the one who saved me, aren't you?" The boy asks point blank and Type despite his best-efforts gulps.

"What you mean?"

"It was not P'Thorn... it was you."

Type does not reply.

"It won't go worse than this. The worst is done. P' Thorn would never say that." P'Thorn is always: look up the sky, the brightness beyond and all that.

"You said it that day also. Are you P'Thorn's faen?"

"Would we have a problem if I was?"

The boy nods. "He deserves a better... 'Empress.'"

Type smiles genuinely. "Preach. He does. Let me guess, someone like you?"

The disgust on the boy's face cannot be unseen. "Gods! No... but someone definitely better than you."

The boy thankfully does not talk after that and slips into anxiety freeze as Type draws blood and injects potions and crystals.

"You are going to have severe anxiety tonight but I am not sedating you. You... need to feel back in control. And you are in control here... I will ask your P'Thorn to be here at night, to pull you through it." Type completes his examination and shows the boy his observation list.

"Will you be there?"

"If you want to, yes."

"Yes, please... after all... you are the one... who actually bought me back? Can you remove my hand ties?"

"Good try, but no... You will choke your own throat if you could. And we cannot have that." Type stands. "I will be here though."

"I won't try to die... if you teach me..." The boy yawns. "If you teach me how to do to them, what they did to me... one at a time."

"Survive, first."

It is not a promise but a hope, and that is what the boy needs the most.

"Why did you never tell me you were a healer?" Tharn asks in jealousy.

"I was the one who handled you when you went and got yourself wounded by a stupid necromancer. What did you think... I got all that knowledge by osmosis from atmosphere?" Type scowls, shaking the vials to mix the potions.

"You heal me... only me and... we have other healers for others."

Type smiles cutely, pulling Tharn for a close kiss. "Fuck off, babe...fuck off."

Tharn grumbles but collects the medicines and deposits them neatly next to the observation room.

"You need to rest too. You have been sick too." Tharn whines clearly seeking attention and Type is tired of smacking him.

So, he lets Tharn be.

"What are you smiling at?!!!" Tharn growls and Type does not feel like explaining that he finds this jealousy cute.

They both enter the boy's chamber and Thorn is reading some story and there goes his faen getting jealous and all.

"Behave... You can read if you want..."

Type watches as Tharn snatches the book and start reading with vengeance.
It is so stupid; it is so cu... so annoying.

Tharn has everyone loving and doting on him from all the sides... even Type... no matter how small their love era would be.

Yet he gets jealous for silliest of reasons.

Type shakes his head with a huff and helps their anxious patient to do grounding techniques to make himself aware that he is not in the past... but here... in the healing tent... surrounded by people who are worried about his wellbeing.

"So... I have been thinking... when you are at the palace, I will take you to that medical museum our Royal Healer is gabby about. He invited us two personally."

"Puppy... I told you I would think about it!"

"Think now!"

Type pins Tharn with a glare and the puppy whines throwing his head back.

There are so many... so many things that could go wrong.

Life does not give a fuck about optimism!

Yet here he is!

Clutching his satchel and standing behind Tharn in front of the palace gates.
Tharn is dragging him to god knows where and stops at... what looks like a grocery store?

"Mama Mi!" Tharn shouts and the mothers welcome them with a warm smile.

"Type!!! You are a few days late. What happened?"

"Uhmmm... Some rogues were messing with the portals around the university and P'Thorn asked me to check it... So..."

"Aiisssh... always working working that boy! Do not listen to him always. You have a few days' worth of good holidays. Dorm is closed, right?"

"Yes, Si... Mama Mi... So, I have been thinking I could go to my home island after visiting here..."

"Nonsense! You will lose a whole week by travelling. Gulf is making some things for you two. Go, go. I need to get these groceries accounted for or else the feast will be a disaster! Tharn, ask your P'San to come here."

Tharn is smiling smug and Type gives a shove when no one is looking at them.
"Told you everyone would be happy to have you here."

"It is not right, Tharaa... I am a necromancer and it literally prickles their skin."

"Those who are prickled can peel out their skin." Tharn pecks tries to peck his head but Type jumps away in time.

"Behave! We are not doing it here!"

"Doing what!!!" Tharn wiggles his eyebrows. "What kitty kitty... what?"

Type blushes and starts walking a whole arm away from the grabby puppy.

"We should have taken Haza also. He would love Mama Mi."

Tharn might be born out of Mama G's womb but his attachment to Mama Mi is incomparable. Max is the exact opposite. He loves his mother but... attachment all way through Mama G.

He does not know how family even works here.

His father has a wife. That's it. He says they are his parents. That's it.

"I have a... a... stepmother... if that's what it is called. She... is my father's wife." Type says randomly but Tharn just hums.

"You know!" Type accuses.

"Of course I know. I snoop your stuff. I have been after your ass, even before you knew my real name. Of course I know. It is also in your Uni records. She cosigned your enrolment and also your allowances come from her account. So..."

Type should be really mad about the invasion of his privacy! He should be.

"You stay in your lane, Tharn!"

"I am... It is about you. You are my lane."
They stopped talking when they reach the Empress's wing and there goes his kitty, shy and uncomfortable.

"Maybe I should just leav..."

"TYPE!" Gulf rushes to him, taking hold of his hands. "How have you been?"

The hands grab his face, squishes his cheeks tight and lifts to see inside his nose.

"Mae, leave him alone. He is fine." Tharn says but who listens.

Currently Mama has his neck inside Type's throat and Tharn with a sigh pulls his mama back from his bewildered mate.

"Relax. He is fine... And he will be here for all the vacation. You can...do whatever that does not spook him, please." Tharn grumbles.

"You're right! You must be tired." Type is dragged to a castle behind the main block and all the routes make him dizzy.

"For security reasons. You will get the hang of it in a few days." Tharn adds helpfully.

'Stay out of my head.' Type mouths and Tharn makes kissie faces behind his mother's back.

"So, Type you stay here. You will get enough privacy and none of my kids annoy you here... Also, you can take some time off of noise and all that. Please get in."

What in the!!!

This is all way across Tharn's room!

No!

No!

No!

"Tharn, this is perfect for your 'friend' to stay, right? Papa Siwa and Mymi is just over there if he needs anything. Oh, we are over there, sweetheart, if you need me or Da... Emperor Mew."

Type wants to laugh so bad at Tharn's face and he ducks his head when Mama G gives him an evil grin.

'So much for not-letting-you-sleep-at-night-Type.'
Type coughs.

"He can stay at the guest wing! My old room! He stayed there before, rememeber?! Mae!!!"

"Huh! How could you!" Gulf clutches his own chest in mock offence. "Type is not just a guest anymore. He is a very close friend, aren't you? He has saved your life more than once from what I hear. He should not stay anywhere else but with our family. Now, go. Let the kid get some rest."

Tharn scowls so bad that Mama G flicks his forehead.

"Now... shoo Type. Oh, the room only opens from inside. So..."

Now its time for Type to go up the flames.

Gulf drags Tharn away, asking Type to settle down. Type had to chuckle at how cutely Tharn is looking back at him.
He waves a bye and gets an angry glare in return.

"So silly."

"So silly who?"

Type jumps when Thanya asks him standing next to the pillar.

This child is something else. How long has she been standing here without their notice.

Thanya giggles and comes to hug his knee.

"Do you remember me?" Thanya asks looking up.

"Of course I remember! What kind of question is that! How can I forget Than-Than?!"

"It's Thanya... My name is Thanya – the fairy princess."

"uuuhhh okay..."

They stay silent for a few moments and she smiles up at him. "You are pretty."

"Leave that kid alone, Thanya! He barely stepped foot inside!" Empress Gulf comes back, yanks her off of his knees, puts her on his hip and leaves with an apologetic smile.

He does notice the necromancer diminishers around the area and he takes no offence to it.

There is only so much this family can do for him.

But for whatever reason, he notices the Emperor being cold and distant towards him. A grunt or a nod is all he notices when his name is even brought up. Tharn as usual is not noticing anything out of the ordinary but... something does feel off.

Especially when Mama Mi's smile towards him wavers, every once in a while.

He knows for sure Tharn will not believe him but he still tries. He just does not get enough alone time with him in this gigantic abode.

Of course, it is the festival season and everyone, from beggars to royalties have their work stitched for them.

Even Type had to help here and there, despite the whole family tries to keep him away from chores.

Hey, he does not mind!

Anything to get off this awkward feeling in his tummy.

He does not like it.

"Puppy... are you sure, they do not mind... I mean, this festival... this is about your family's history and the Empire... are you sure... I mean..." Type tries while he helps some valets hang the decorated fruit husks along the wall.

"No one is more welcome here than you." Tharn waves away his concerns as usual and runs away when Mama Mi calls for him.

"Is just... I do not think I am welcome here, Tharn." Type mumbles to the air with a sad frown.

"Hold him, please!" P'Win thrusts a weeping Matt to his hand and yanks down the little pants down his bum.

"See... you have not peed. You have to wear your pants! We have guests here. Not you, Type!"

"Uhhh..."

Win angrily tries to put the diaper and pants back but Matt is not having it.
The mother does look on the verge of a meltdown though. His son will not leave his side and will not listen to him too.

"Have you seen my Guardian?" Win asks miserably as Matt starts crying louder.
Type shakes his head and Win drops his head to his palm with a loud sigh.

"You know what... you stay here with your naked baby for a while. I will go and find where... where your Guardian is... bring him here."

"No... Type! You should be resting and enjoying the festivities... not..."

"I can roam around free here. No one will ask me questions! I can go and get him quickly. You stay here... or in my room. Please."

Type barely waits for the nod and rushes off to get the grandfather and he now knows for sure... he is not exactly welcome.

He just cannot pinpoint what that is.
All he received is a curt nod and a distrustful stare... without nothing much to do, he followed the Emperor to Matt.

"oy oy oy... we won't wear pants in this household... stop with the tears, now, son." Oh, Matt has so much to complain about.

"Father, you cannot tell him that! We have guests here and he cannot stay like this."

"Do you want to see others walking around without pants? Tell me..." Mew asks Matt and Win giggles.

"That would be horrendous." Win says clutching Mew's elbows.

The family laughs and that puts a smile on Type's face and... the Emperor glares at him and the smile vanishes just as quickly.

So, he is lying wide awake on his bed until he hears soft scratches and muffled 'Type' on the other side.

Tharn is here!

Type quickly opens the door and his lips are slammed against hungry ones.
"... mmph... we nee... need to talk..."

"Yeah." Tharn stops kissing him with a wide grin. "Fuck! I missed you! We need to talk about your position. I want you on me."

Tharn grabs Type and throws him over the shoulder with an excited laugh.
"Tharaa... Not that! This is important!"

"Yeah yeah... you are welcome here, everyone is looking weirdly at you, especially my dad..." Tharn pulls on Type's pants and the bewildered look his beloved face makes him laugh. "I know you, Kitten... Relax... It does not matter. I want you here and that is all you should focus on..."

Rest of Type's words are changed to moans and...

Oh well...

They can always talk later.

Yet, when Tharn starts snoring next to him, lying a bit away, on his stomach, Type shifts uncomfortably around...

Sigh!

Should he just wake up this asshole and be done with all the things that are running in his mind?

But...

Type gently drags his forefinger on Tharn's spine, gawking unashamedly at the perfect masculine physique.

"mmm... you wanna fuck 'gain?" Tharn mumbles sleepily and Type removes his finger offended.

"no!!!" He whisper yells and Tharn wiggles.

"mmmkay... just wake me up if you are getting *yawn*... fris,...ky." Tharn adds so helpfully before falling back asleep.
Type is so done; he falls back with a groan.

He thinks, Tharn's brain and dick has exchanged places. Because come on...

But... he is not just overthinking it.

He feels something is off! Like he has caught stealing or worse peeking into their bedroom or something.

But...

It makes no sense!

Then there is whole another reason.
They can extend warmth and comfort as a diplomatic relationship but... as their son's faen? As a family?

Even Mama G is not smiling as before.
Only Matt, Thanya and Win remain the same. And they actually do not count... because Matt and Thanya... come on they are kids... Win... well P'Win is so gentle and affectionate to everyone... but...

"I can hear you thinking... stop it." Tharn turns around, throws his leg over Type's tummy.

"Fuck off!" Type tries to push the man off without any success.

But this feels nice... maybe he is overthinking it.

His intuitions could be wrong.

Their bedroom door opens gently and Type sits up fast... Fuck he is naked! With Tharn.

Please don't be Mama G!

"P'Type?" Thanya calls softly.

Double fuck!

"Y... yeah?"

He reaches for his night shorts by the bed post and tries to get it on under the blanket... wiggling like a worm.

"Have you seen my P'Tharn?" Thanya sniffles.

"Mmm..." What should he say?! "W... Why what happened?" Type asks gently.

"Go away Thanya!" Tharn says somewhere under the covers and Thanya rushes to them with outstretched hands.

"Bad dream! Boogie woogie man!"

"Mmm yeah... go sleep." Tharn says and Type kicks under the covers hoping to get Tharn's shin.

You do not talk like that to your little sister who had a nightmare.

Thanya throws a doll at him and tries to climb their bed, clutching on the edges.
Type with a sigh, pulls her up and deposit her next to Tharn... who she climbs on and sits on the back.

"Wake up!" She takes the doll off of Type hands and gives a hard smack on Tharn's head.

"You will get it from me, brat!!!!" Tharn says annoyed and Type just picks her up before the second smack.

"Your brother is grouchy because he is tired. Come on I will take you to your bedroom."

"NO!!!" She vehemently shakes her head and Type is lost.

What should he do!!!

"Tharn!" He hisses.

"Throw her away." Tharn adds helpfully, covering his head with a pillow! And god help him, he is gonna smack Tharn's head too... not with the doll!

"I will sleep with P'Type!" Thanya announces, proceeding to make her own space between them.

"What?! You cannot sleep here!" Type panics. No kids should sleep with others, other than parents.

Good people or bad people.

No co-sleeping!

Nu-uh!

"Why not?" Thanya asks, not bit caring... already placed the doll on Tharn to sleep. "P'Tharn is here sleeping. I can too..."

How old is she?! She should be just nodding and obeying, not questioning....
very ridiculous, illogical questions.

"Coz you are a princess and princesses do not sleep with strangers."

There... a perfect answer.

"Where?" Thanya yawns, wiggles plastering herself against Tharn's body and pats the space next to her for Type to lie down.

"Huh?"

"Stranger, where?"

She asks innocently and yawns.

"Tharn!" Type calls for help and receives a small snore in return.

All this family is causing him stress! Too much stress.

"Scary P'Type." She whines and Type sighs.

He cannot ignore that and he does try to sleep next to her but... the poor child is humming and kicking her legs without sleeping.

The nightmare has shaken her up.

"Come on. Let's go see the moon." Type lifts her to his hip, and the doll by its hair as they sit by the bench on the edge of their veranda.

From here, they can see the patrolling soldiers below and assassins hidden behind every nook and cranny.

The gardens look especially beautiful from this top view and Thanya seems to have forgotten her bad dream too.

"What was the dream about?" He asks and she merely drops her head on his shoulder and does not reply. "The things in your dreams cannot follow you to this realm, you know that right, child?"

"Scary." That is all she says, blinking up at the moon.

Type sighs and summons three wisps and Thanya is enthralled by them. She tries to catch it but they move away in whisper like screams.

"Play?"

"No, dear. They are for your parents to know you are with me." The wisps fly away... one to Mama G's room, one to Mama Mi's and one to Tharn... just in case.

"more." She says, yawning big.

"I will show you something better." Type lets his necromancy flow and little images of flowers, birds and butterflies form around his palm.

She tries to touch and they make small jingling sounds.

"What those..." She yawns.

"Souls. P'Type is a necromancer." He says and she smiles.

An innocent child what she knows? She is a wizard and that they are enemies?

"Flowers have souls?" She asks gently.

"Everything that had a life... have souls, child."

"Does Thanya have a soul?"

"Of course!!! A big one." Type says and she smiles.

"Do you have?"

"Yup!"

"Our souls would be friends." She says with a big smile and the big gap between her teeth, the innocence and happiness in her eyes... Type's heart melts into puddle.

"And... *yawn* and... when we are old... we marry, P'Type."

Type laughs.

"I will be honoured. I will remember this, Thanya... Don't you forget!" He cannot wait to bring this up when she is old enough to know what marriage is.

She does try to catch the little souls that swim around his palm a few times...

But soon her eyelids are getting heavy and she tries to fight the sleep.

So, Type creates a small dreamcatcher chakra around her... and slowly she falls asleep, clutching his collar.

"You left me!" Tharn whines and cuddles to his back, peeking to check if Thanya is asleep.

"oh, now you care." Type rolls his eyes, whispering.

"Of course I care. She is my little baby... but if I make a fuss about it, she will loose it. Everyone is worried about her night walks."

"she gets them often."

"Kids. They get nightmares a lot. If I also start making a huge deal, then it will blow up out of proportions. She sleeps with one of us, then she will be okay. Happens."

Type frowns, looking down at the sleeping child on his lap.

They stare at her and the little souls surrounding her, together but their tired bodies soon join Thanya in slumber.

Type is the first to wake up with a jerk, clutching Thanya close to his chest, when he feels someone tugging on her hands.

"Phor!" Type calls in surprise seeing Emperor Mew trying to take Thanya to his hands. The wisp is glowing next to him.

Type yawns, fixing her dress and hands over the child to her father.

"She had a nightmare and was roaming around." Type yawns again, calling back all his wisps. "Fine now. I will get a dreamcatcher pendant if she gets a lot of them."

"That won't be necessary." Emperor says and even in his sleepy mind, Type feels that the answer is cold.

"Okay..." He says blinking drowsily.

"Puppy wake up! Your dad is here to take Thanya... Come on!"

Tharn whines but stands up wobbly, clutches on Type's shoulder and they both stumbles into Type's bedroom without a care.

Type waves at the Emperor with a smile before closing the door... his sleep-ridden mind not really knowing what it is doing.

Mew is lost.

This is...

This is not what he wants for his young son.

His little boy...

The father leaves to his own bedroom with a sigh, his precious daughter clutched to his chest.

The palace starts to figuratively collapse on him as days pass until he cannot shake away the feeling that he is not welcome.

Especially now that Tharn has gone to temple for two days... everything feels distant.

Not Matt.

He loves kissing and drooling on Type's cheeks. If he had teeth he would have ate those apple cheeks too.

Not Thanya.

She loves him... have said it, shown it and more than once announced they are going to get married one day.

Not P'Win.

He always has that welcoming smile, hugs him whenever he can and pinches his cheeks whenever he feels like.

But everyone else...

Even Max is looking funny at him.

Dammit.

He cannot bear it.

He finally decides to tell some lie and take a break because...

He just can't.

Sigh!

Now he needs to put it across to the family in question.

So... he, after packing, finds them in the mother's lounge area.

See what he means.

They all looked up when he entered the room and ducked together when their eyes met.

"Hi..." He says and no one answers and he gulps.

Yikes.

"Do you need something, Nong?" Mama Mi finally takes pity on him and... he... would have cried if it would not have been so embarrassing.

"Ummm... I need to go f... for... some assignments." He says before he chickens out.

None of the family gives him any attention, except Mama Mi who nods.

Seeeeee...

Anybody gets what he is saying.

"So... I would just go now..." Type cringes inward and Mama Mi does not even say anything back.

Not even a token of resistance; normally that is what he has seen when the guest leaves.

'Please come back soon.'

'Cant you stay a while longer.'

Nothing.

Type wrings his hands together and Mama G, finally looks up sadly. "Maybe you should wait till evening tea..."

"uhhh... I was wondering if I could go as early as possible."

"I think that would be for the best too." The voice of the Emperor booms around the room and Type nods.

Every pore of his body is shivering in self-disgust.

Crap!

They actually want him to go.

For how long!

Well, it does not matter. What happened; happened.

So, he takes the bag from the room and rushes out of the palace as fast as his feet would go.

Anymore faster, he would be running and it would be more embarrassing.

Yikes.

"'No'..." Type takes his messenger bowl once he is a good distance away from his faen's family. "Please... 'No. I need to stay with you for one night... One night is all I ask. Morning I will get out of your hair... but for tonight I have to disturb you and your family. Just for a night."

He sends and waits impatiently.

Yikes.