Holy Lies

The cat sat up, still a happy purr came from him. This bird was really a fun one. Usually those he chased reacted so negative to him, wouldn’t play with him… maybe he’ll consider this bird his new friend? Maybe.

“ Ohh, yes! I wanna try! “ 

He jumped up to his feet, excited red eyes looking at Roy. Ears perked up, forward as he concentrated on the bird. However, not yet fully in hunting instinct ways. He may be too happy about this all. 

“ Let’s see how fast you fly! “

He ruffled his feathers, letting himself get caught up in the excitement. It’s been a while since he’s played with anyone like this, and the cat certainly did seem thrilled for such a simple game. “Well then, come on and catch me!”

Roy suddenly launched himself up into the air, taking himself just above the treeline with a few beats of his wings. And there he hovered for a few moments, hanging over the canopy... Before folding his wings to dive back in, evening out to soar between the trees. Twisting and turning to make sure he didn’t hit anything, but still managing to keep up speed.

It’s not like Roy liked tattling on his little siblings... But getting his feathers pulled really did hurt! He huffed, hands resting on his hips as Michael protested. “I am not lying, and you know it.” But this was why he went to Loki. Because their father really did have a talent for getting things smoothed over.

And, let’s face it, Roy couldn’t stay mad at his brother. Even if he could be a bit of a brat sometimes.

Oh yes, Michiru might have figured those spaces would have been the shrines Roy visited. They happened to be popular tourist destinations. Not that was a bad thing in Michiru’s opinion. It certainly encouraged more offerings to their respective upkeep. He couldn’t exactly say his family’s shrine did as well for donations…

He laughed. “I suppose it’s a bit of a tongue twister. Even alot of my old teachers struggled with the pronunciation.”

“We’ll be having our annual doll festival later this month, if you’re thinking of visiting. It’s kind of our signature ceremony.”

          “A joke. I see.” He blinks, making a mental note of such a joke now. Perhaps he could use the joke in the future. Lips quirk into a soft smile at the thought of entertaining a human with such jokes. “This is why I love cats, they’re adorable little creatures. I want one of them one day so I can see if they really do jump to the ceiling if scared.” He looked so soft and genuinely happy when speaking on the little fluff balls that he had come to love a lot. 

            Then he’s nodding his head eagerly, his other hand rising so that his fingers can play with the small flower that had blossomed in his palm, a tiny daisy. Then he’s turning his hand over to prove it is attached to him, it is a part of him. “I am gifted, this rare gift was what I was born with but my control isn’t always that great.”

He seemed to be a bit of a strange kid... But it seemed like talking was helping. Not to mention Roy didn’t mind the company in the least, especially knowing a thunderstorm was on the horizon. “I don’t know if they actually can, honestly. But, hey, I’ve heard that they’re pretty great to have around. I’d just suggest that you get one from the animal shelter; They could always use more love.”

          He hadn’t even noticed the wings that the other had at first, having been too spooked by sudden bursts of loud noises that he was still not used to even though they came and went more frequently than they did back home. “Still, I feel quite bad for just attaching myself to you like that.” Another boom in the distance has him gravitating right back towards the other but this time, he doesn’t lay a single hand on him. He takes another deep breath and focuses on the others wing. “Why would a cat be on the ceiling?” He’s not so up to date on sayings and some jokes and such, bear with him. “I’ve never seen a winged person before. But, since you’ve shown me your gift, I can show you mine.” He holds out his small pale hand and focuses, then out pops a small flower, blooming right in the palm of his hand, as if it was planted in his skin.

He didn’t get it? Huh... “It’s a joke.” Roy wasn’t bothered by it. Honestly, the genuine confusion was kind of endearing. “Cats have a habit of jumping up into the air when they get scared. It’s a joke that if they get scared enough, they’ll end up reaching the ceiling and attaching their claws to it.” He let out a soft chuckle as he explained, his wings reaching around the stranger a bit. A natural motion to him, as if it would protect them from the thunder.

Loki was silent as he watched Roy as the other fluttered to the edge and paced.  He listened to his concerns about the cult and that awful awful man.  He watched his posture grow tense and the fear creep onto his features.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Loki cooed as he walked up to his son, taking one of his hands he gently tugged on it, urging Roy from the ledge so he wouldn’t run away.  That, and high ledges always made him a little nervous.  He cupped Roy’s face in his hands “That’s not something you need to worry about.  You know me, you know your family, we would never let those awful people near you ever again.  Hell, we were even worried about letting the scientists near you when they first reached out.”

He hugged the boy “You will never be hurt by anyone like that again.”  He stepped back and gave Roy’s hands a gentle squeeze “If you’re really that nervous about it, we can have one of the other kids stay with you.”

The goblin grinned wickedly “I’m sure it’d give any cultist quite the scare if they showed up expecting an angel and were greeted with a demon.”

This was why Roy liked to talk to his dad. Loki always seemed to know how to ease his fears. Even if they were always present... His dad was right here. His family was always here for him. And as he was pulled into a hug, Roy hugged back. Even wrapping his wings around the goblin, holding him close until he stepped away.

The look on Loki’s face, however, managed to get a laugh bursting free from him. “Dad, no, they might die of a heart attack.” He gently headbutted Loki with another laugh. Softer, but it was clear that he was feeling better. “But I know. You guys will keep me safe. You always have.” And they always will.

“Well of course you were found.  You know all you kids were found, whether it was by me or your big brother.” Loki replied as he looked back at his son.  He remembered the day his children had found the little bird.  He remembered the day each and ever one of his children were found.

The god knew it’d been bothering Roy for some time.  They’d always kept the circumstances of their first meeting somewhat vague.  Loki hated lying.  Half truths were fine, but to lie to a child was cruel.

But his son had seemed so uneasy the past few days.  He wondered what might be wrong.  Though, with the question that was proposed, Loki felt he might already know.

“I know, I just...” His wings shifted, feathers briefly ruffled before laying down properly again. It wasn’t that he was unhappy; He loved his dad dearly, as with all of his other siblings. His life had been so much better since they had found him. And yet... The thought bothered him. Of Jeremy, of the cult...

He suddenly stood up, a powerful flap placing him on the edge of the roof before he moved away. Suddenly wanting to walk around a bit. “It’s been over a decade. Jeremy had been so...so...” Roy groaned, stopping his pacing to look over at Loki. “He’d been so stupidly obsessed with me. But it’s been more than ten years, and I haven’t heard a peep out of him. About anything to do with that cult.”

It was clear that Roy was caught off guard. Not just by tripping, but by someone actually catching him and his groceries. He stood there blinking at the stranger for a few moments before managing a smile, taking the bag with a soft chuckle. “Haa, you can say that again.” The last thing the avian wanted was to smash his groceries. “Thanks. That was a pretty good save on your part.”

Michiru eyed the wings as they stretched again. It was still quite a remarkable phenomenon for him, though he endeavored to curtail looking at them for too long in favor of maintaining eye contact with Roy out of respect.

“Oh? Which shrines were they? Maybe I know some of them.” Michiru was already acquainted with a handful from their family’s own one, but recently he’d managed to become much more familiar through his nighttime pursuits. “My family maintains the Kururugi shrine across the way.”

He wasn’t really that bothered by Michiru watching his wings. He could understand, they weren’t a normal thing to see. Not on a person, or moving them the way a person would. Plus, he wasn’t getting to hear about holy this, or angel that. It was nice.