Grian looks on as his uncle heals Iskall, ears twitching each time the taller hisses out in pain. His violet eyes wander around the room with sharp eyes, trying to find something to distract himself with, but there's honestly not a lot to comment on. It's mostly the same, with a few minor things having been moved or replaced, which meant he had nothing here to comment on. Joy.

The silence was suffocating, unbearable even, but Grian didn't know what to say to end it.

Perhaps telling the healer the truth about your father? Rook suggested, speaking up for the first time in a while, He deserves to know what really happened.

That's not just something you bring up out of nowhere, the dirty blond internally scoffed. Plus he needs to focus on Iskall at the moment - me telling him would most definitely just distract him.

Rook hummed, I suppose that's true, but you will have to tell him soon.

'Soon' isn't now.

Grian tuned out whatever Rook said next, focusing back to what was going on around him.

"-eks and your arm should heal up okay. I must say you got lucky, had you been hit from a different angle you most definitely would have lost this arm." His uncle gently patted Iskall on his non-injured arm gently, "But yeah, you'll be fine, kid."

"That's a relief." Mambo breathed out, shoulders slumping finally. He turned to Grian with a tired grin, "You heard that G? Iskall will be fine! He gets to keep both arms."

Grian grins back, "Yeah! Having two different arms is cool and all but it does take a lot to get used to."

"That they do." Apollo mumbled, having just walked in as the short man had said it, "How did this happen?"

The gathered Hermits all froze, remembering the truth of their recent adventures. Grian looked around, only to find everyone looking at him. Damn it why is it always him?

He sighed and sat down on the chair nearest to himself, "Would you believe me if I said I got it from Death?"

"Sounds reasonable." Xavion shrugged, uncaring for the others looks, "I did go out adventuring in my early years, you know that right? I saw some pretty out there stuff there - nothing your throw at me would shock me."

"What if I said I kinda - not really - got adopted by Death?" Grian wondered, eyebrows raised.

His uncle paused in his movements but just shrugged, "Well I'm happy to know you've gotten a parent figure finally." The man visibly flinched as he said it, clearly remembering his brother.

Now, Grian, Rook hissed, and Grian could practically see the dragon sneer down at him, Strike!

"Dad was innocent!" He blurted out, his words more jumbled then he would have liked due to Rook's pushing. Using the elders stunned silence he gathered himself again, "Dad didn't do anything of what you think - well he kind of did but he was being controlled and had no way to know what he was doing - and he was being controlled by the same person who took me."

"I-I-" Xavion stared blankly at his nephew, tears building in his eyes without him even noticing. Xisuma and EX were quick to hug him, wrapping him up tightly, "Xen was innocent? He didn't have control? I - oh my god. Oh my god he didn't have control over himself."

Doc looked as his mom's eyes slitted, a hiss building low in her throat, "Mom?"

"Who did it!" She bellowed, teeth bared in a snarl as stood up, "Who do I need to kill?"

"No one. Fallacy's already dead, you can't kill them." Doc said, gently grabbing his mom and bushing her back down in her seat, "We killed them."

"Have you?" She breathed, calming down slightly at the information.

"Yeah, I even got to punch them!" Doc grinned, he almost sounded like he was bragging about it.

"Brag later." EX growled, hand resting on the top of his fathers head, "Some people are grieving here." This prompted Apollo to snap out of his stupor and go to his husband, bringing the taller man into his arms as their sons got caught in the middle. And after whipping her tears Lina joined in too.

Grian looked on in sadness, because as much as he should probably join them he didn't feel compelled too. Maybe it was because he knew he'd be seeing his dad soon, or maybe it was because he didn't know his father that well or even held much of a bond with him. Don't get him wronged, he loved his dad! But...but Death had become the parent figure in his life, his Dama. So the void of having lost a parent wasn't there. And it infuriated and saddened Grian so much he couldn't stay close to his grieving family, to the family he had been ripped away from at such a young age, so he ran.

Okay he didn't really, he just simply walked out. But the meaning behind it was there.

Grian didn't pay attention to where he was going, letting his instincts lead him, so when he looked up he was surprised to see the door of his old house in front of himself. For a second he thought about leaving but something kept him from doing so, so instead he went inside.

The house felt stiff and dead, the air stale from no one being in there in such a time. But he was not alone there as his fathers spirit sat patiently on the couch, waiting. When he walked into the room the spirit gave him a soft smile, "I see you came to see me."

"I said I would, didn't I?" Grian replied, tail swishing behind him gently. He really didn't know how he should act, not with the complicated history between the two of them. Follow your instincts, Rook said, nudging him to take a seat, Do what you feel is right.

What if I want to run away?

Then run, but we both know you won't.

"That you did," Xenagoras agreed, hair falling onto his face as he dipped his head, "But I was not sure you'd stick to it, especially with our history."

"It wasn't you." Grian growled, "It was Fallacy."

His father sighed, "My little star, avoiding this like you are right now is not helping you. You must accept that I did what I did. Yes, it was Fallacy who was controlling me, but I still did everything - and in your mind you've just blocked it all out." The dead man gently placed a ghostly hand on his son's shoulder, "To heal you need to admit that the person who threw you off that cliff and me are one and the same. Was I not in control? Most definitely not, but that does not change my point here. I hurt you, my son, and as much as you and me both wish to sweep it under the rug and ignore it. We can't, that is our history and we can't change it. Can we try to fix the relationship Fallacy ruined? Yes, we most definitely can. Can we change what happened in the past? No, and we shouldn't." Xenagoras knelt down to look his son in the eyes, ghostly, hollow, eyes shining with tears, "Our pasts shaped who we are, but it's us who decides our futures."

Grian sniffed, "What are you implying?"

"I was your father by birth, but I am not the parent there for you now." The dead Void said with a smile, "And I'm so sorry for not being able to be there for you, but I'm still happy. Do you know why?" Grian shrugged. Xenagoras laughed lightly, taking his son's face into his transparent hand, "Because I do not care if I can no longer be a part of your life - I just want to see you happy. Death in less than a year has managed to love you more than I did when I was alive, their the perfect parent for you."

"You can be!" Grian exclaimed, at his fathers confused look he explained, "You can be a part of my life! Maybe not like you would have had none of this ever happened, but you can still be there!"

Xenagoras smiled softly at his son, vision blurry with tears, "Thank you, little star, this is more than I could ever wish to ask for." The spirit wiped at his eyes, "Oh would you look at that. I had to go and get emotional."

There were voices outside, everyone he had just left. Actually how long had he been here? Oh well, it doesn't matter. He looks from the door to the spirit of his dad, and then back again, "Hey, do you want to see everyone again?"

Xenagoras visibly brightened, "Oh can I?" At Grian's nod he smiled, clapping his hands together, "I'd love nothing more!" In that moment the young Void couldn't help but smile, because he remembers seeing his father this happy back when he was still a little kid - before his mom died and Fallacy took control of his mind - this, a bright man who cared for others more than anything, this was the father Grian remembered growing up with in his early years. It was bittersweet, but not in a bad way.

Grian stood up and walked towards the door, a small smile on his face. He turned back one last time, "You ready?" at his fathers nod his smile grew, "Time to face the music then - together."

Behind him Xenagoras echoed him with his own "Together" and for a moment he could see a young him and his father saying the same thing. And he smiled, because times may have changed but the memories held one strong.

And with a gentle push of his hand the door opened, the star filled sky greeting him with a twinkle. There was no moon in the sky, just stars.

Grian smiled, he liked the stars.

<Imagine being late and then finish a chapter only to forget to publish it cuz you were doing studying for a test - couldn't be me! Hah ;w;

Anyways! I did it! I fucking finished a chapter! Tomorrow is my last test of the term and then later on in the same day I'm going back to school to go to a fancy gathering of my class (and let me tell y'all this I look fucking good in a black tux jacket, this bitch will be looking fine ;3)  I think I only have two or so main chapters left before the epilogue and extras, so woo! I hope you all enjoyed this cuz I had fun just casually writing it out.

Stay safe and have a wonderful time everyone!>