✨─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───✨
~ Date: Unknown ~
~ Location: Nursery ~ an interdimensional space pocket
~ tethered to the edge of the home dimension ~
✨─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───✨
🐦🔥 [ Phoenix ☯ POV ] 🐦🔥
Phoenix could not hold back the tears that rushed to his eyes. For one terrible heartbeat, he thought Solaris was rejecting him. He looked away, trying to hide the way his expression cracked, and shakily whispered, "I understand." His chest hurt so badly he thought he might be sick.
Solaris clutched at Phoenix's robes and shook his head hard enough that his little horns nearly knocked against Phoenix's chin. "No, Mama—Master Phoenix, that is not what I meant! I do not want you to be my de facto Mama. I want you to be my real Mama. I only said I would accept de facto because I thought that was all you were willing to give me."
Phoenix froze. "You want me to be your Mama?" His voice came out barely above a whisper. He was afraid that if he said it too loudly, the moment would shatter.
Solaris nodded, tears shining in his big periwinkle eyes. "I already thought of you that way. I almost called you Mama so many times over the past twenty-two thousand years, but I was afraid you would not want that from me. I did not want to be greedy. I just wanted to stay beside you, even if all I could ever be was your system."
Phoenix's breath caught. He pulled Solaris closer and held him like something precious. "I would be honored to be your Mama, Solaris. I never offered because I thought it would make you uncomfortable. I wanted you close. I dreamed of you having a form I could hold, but I kept it to myself because I did not want to burden you with my feelings."
Solaris melted against him, crying harder now, but the tears felt different. Phoenix gently rocked him without thinking, the motion instinctive and strangely familiar. He pressed a soft kiss between Solaris's little button horns, and Solaris flushed so brightly that his horns glowed with warm, dancing light.
"Then call me Mama from now on," Phoenix said, voice rough with emotion. "When we are alone, or when you speak to me through our bond, call me that as much as you want. In the worlds, we will be careful. I do not want anyone seeing you and trying to harm you or using you against me."
Solaris perked up and nodded solemnly. "Yes, Mama Phoenix. Inside the Nursery, I have a touchable physical form. In the worlds, I can project this form through our bond, but others cannot see me unless I allow it or unless they enter the Nursery. I will stay hidden unless Mama gives me permission."
Phoenix let out a breath he had not realized he was holding. "Good. I trust you, sweetie. I just refuse to risk you." He cuddled Solaris a moment longer, then reluctantly looked toward the softly glowing blank orb near the throne. "Now that we have cleared up the misunderstanding... what exactly is that orb?"
Solaris stiffened. Phoenix lifted one hand toward it, but Solaris cried out before he could touch it. "Stop! Please do not touch it yet, Mama."
Phoenix immediately lowered his hand and stepped back. Solaris's fear was real, not dramatics, so Phoenix forced his questions down and waited.
Solaris looked miserable. "I cannot explain the orb yet. I have precise orders about it, but I promise it will not be long before I can tell you. Mama, please continue to be patient with me just a little longer."
Phoenix studied him, then nodded. He would not push Solaris any further today. Too much had already been said, and too many wounds had been opened. "All right. I will wait."
His gaze sharpened as his thoughts turned back to the larger problem. He needed power. He needed answers. He needed enough strength to find whoever had kidnapped and imprisoned him and make them pay. But even thinking the word task made his jaw tighten. Missions. Orders. Commands. Those words still belonged to the Jailer System in the darkest corners of his mind.
Phoenix inhaled slowly and reminded himself that this was different. Solaris was not the Jailer System. Solaris had never forced him. Solaris was his little phoenix dragon, his best friend, and now, impossibly, his child.
"Okay, Solaris," Phoenix said at last, rubbing a hand over his face. "Now what? You mentioned tasks before. What is the first one?"
Solaris nuzzled against his neck once before lifting his head. "The first world is waiting, Mama Phoenix. This time, the tasks will only work if you accept them willingly. I will never force you."
Phoenix felt some of the tension ease from his shoulders. "Good. Then let us see what kind of mess this first world has waiting for us."
~ ✨~🐉~ ☯ ~🐦🔥~✨~