#stetik

The older son had been different in his attitude toward the world since birth. He had always been very tactile, sensitive, and conscientious. When he had his first haircut, he was upset — he felt sorry for his hair, thinking it would be lonely without him. He never threw tantrums. He was fed with milk mixed with the light of his father's soul, which left a faint reddish tint in his hair — a quiet reflection of the one who gave him life.

But the most wonderful thing is the way Stetik relates to his two fathers. He perceives them very differently. With Papa Spamton, he is more energetic, laughs more often, gets involved in adventures. He will first tell a secret to Spamton — and only later, if he feels like it, share it with Tenna. With Papa Tenna, Stetik has a completely different bond — deep, almost wordless, and no less tender because of it.

They spend a lot of time together, because Stetik is a melancholic by nature, and Tenna never pressures him, never rushes him. When Stetik wants a hug, Tenna picks him up — holds him close, sits him on the crook of his arm. Stetik says something quietly, pressing his cheek against his father's broad chest, and stays still. Tenna kisses his forehead, smooths his long, slightly disproportionate antennae, and whispers something only Stetik knows. They can sit like that for an hour, or two — in no hurry at all.

Stetik deeply respects Papa Tenna. For him, his father has always been a role model: the one whose leg you could wrap yourself around when scared, hide behind the wide pant leg if a stranger approaches. Yet Stetik would never tell his father about a mistake he made, or about something he thinks his father would disapprove of. He is not afraid of punishment — he is afraid that his father will be disappointed in him, that his father will not be pleased. Tenna has never scolded Stetik — he has never given him a reason to — only occasionally offered quiet guidance. But Stetik still wants to be someone Papa Tenna can be proud of. He wants to be just as brave, just as strong, and… at least a little bit just as big.✨❤