whose_son_am_i | Labyrinthum IC Inbox

"I can't speak about a laptop being part of the welcoming package. Nor can I really say about the power and water--Alice offered, pending Gamora's approval--to let me live with them shortly after I arrived so I didn't have to worry about the utilities. My contribution, and my testing of the 'wish' system, involved us having a proper hearth and fireplace."

Seto nods, content to leave the mystery alone for now. Someone cares about him...or someone's out to trick him. Hm. Weird.

But he just smiles. "I'm making some progress on getting interest for a game room. I think we might start with a chess tournament to get attention. Maybe I can even go back to making video games someday..."

But back on topic. He's here to look out for Loki. "Your family's standing by you, right? No awkwardness here?"

Loki blinked and looked surprised; his family wasn't he... Wait. His mind remembered a conversation he'd had with Laserhawk recently, about how one defined a family. Seto could see that Loki was having some realizations hit him now, he wasn't as withdrawn and the mask was down a bit.

He did have family here, of his own making. Alice certainly, with her official adoption--and he was very proud of his little princess and honored that she let him be her papa. But Gamora, and Puck, and Seto, and Eilonwy, Webby, and others who were in the strangeness of friends and 'family' of a sort. It just hadn't quite fully hit him until now.

Always so perceptive, except about himself, his Mother had scolded him once.

Finally Loki gave a little soft snort, and a resigned-but-not-unhappy smile. "They are. And thank you for reminding me of it, and being part of it too, Seto."

Seto watched him with a warm sort of satisfaction. He was still a little worried, but Loki would be all right. He'd be back to his magnificent scheming self soon.

But then he listened to those next words. No one ever his birth name to address him, save for Mokuba. It was a remnant of his life before...everything. And maybe it was a part of his true self, beyond the Kaiba way of life.

But the other word floored him more. When he'd said 'family' he'd envisioned Alice and Gamora, and probably Puck...but that he was part of it was astounding. The surprise was clear on his face, eyes widening. He froze, blinking, and then...

Seto decided it was worth risking. He hesitantly stepped forward to offer a hug, the awkwardness making it clear just how unusual this was for him. He'd take it slow and not force it, just in case Loki wasn't receptive, but...

"Yeah. I'm staying," he whispered in either case, head bowed as he made that promise.

Loki could tell Seto was awkward about it, but he definitely wanted and appreciated the hug. So he moved to do so, embracing the other fully and warmly. Acknowledging and recognizing, and smiling when he heard the whispered words. Holding it for a good moment, before letting it fade. Letting the other pull back if he wanted.

"...You're a bit too old to be offered adoption like I did with Alice, but I would count you as part of my family here. Your brother too. No strings on either of you."

Seto relaxed into the hug just a moment later. He did it right, it was fine. And he felt the warm sort of peace that could only come from finding a place to belong.

When he pulled back, he was still smiling. "I'm actually at the right age for what my country calls adoption, though those work more like apprenticeships than anything. And I guess I'm already in one."

He laughed a little. "But names and labels don't matter much...yeah, you're family to me. And I doubt Mokuba will have a problem with it, but we'll ask."

"It's also more that you're...hmm." Loki pondered his words. "You're too grown up in so many ways, to need the same kind of 'adoption' as one would have usually for a family member, were you to be my son so to speak." Hopefully that made sense.

"But the family tie is there for you all the same." Then more quietly. "Your clarity on the matter, and reminding me to see that, really does mean quite a lot to me. Thank you."

There was a brief pondering of what could've been, but it didn't last long. He smiled again and reached out to squeeze his arm.

"Family's the only word needed. I haven't had one other than Mokuba in ten years, and...some childish part of me always wondered what it would be like. I don't have to wonder anymore."

Loki shifted that squeeze of the arm, so that it was a formal handsclasp for them both. "Family it is." With all the solemnity of an oath. "And I was just conversing with one of our other residents the other day about family, and various definitions thereof. Blind of me to have not seen the parallels myself sooner.

"Agreed," Seto answered, squeezing Loki's hand firmly with a smile. He held the oath for a good moment before letting go. His heart felt a little lighter today...and he was relieved he could return the favor for once, after everything Loki had done for him.

"Hey, I didn't see it either," Seto admitted. "Like I said before...where I'm from, family is a rigid concept defined by bloodlines and strict roles. The concept of adding an outsider to the family is inconceivable for most people. But I think I like this better."

"I am certainly happy to have you be part of mine." Loki affirmed, before letting Kaiba pull back if he wanted. "Thank you, also. Those two words are inadequate, but I can't think of how to put the feelings out in any other way."

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