*taps mic* Is this still on?
Uh, hi! I’m back with another part of my Greater Beings AU! I’m still working on this fic, but it’s becoming very lengthy. Almost 4,500 words currently. There will probably four parts, and I am working on part three. (I’ve got my inspiration back! Woo!)
Warning: This whole fic is very depressing. Warnings will be used for each part individually.
Warnings: Near falling, snakes, homophobia, transphobia, implied stalker, aphobe, threats (let me know if there’s anything else)
Ships: Adster (Adonis x Aster (OCs)), eventual implied dukceit
Doran grunted as the stubborn apple finally came off of the branch it was on. He threw it into the basket of apples on the ground beneath him. He reached for another apple on a higher branch and felt the hand that was steadying him start to slip. He quickly wrapped his legs around the branch he was on and grabbed it with his arms.
“Doran, please be careful!” Papa yelled up into the branches. Doran smiled through shaky breaths.
“I am!” He shouted back down. Through the branches, he saw the figure of his papa standing with his arms crossed. His green eyes glittered nervously.
“Come on down, this tree’s been picked enough,” Papa said, shaking his head. Doran looked back up at the apple he had been trying to reach. If he was just a bit taller…
“Don’t even think about it, mister.” Doran groaned but obeyed, making his way down the tree. Once his feet hit the ground, his papa ruffled his hair. Doran hissed and shrank away, running a hand through his blonde hair in an attempt to fix it.
“You’re brave, Doran, but a part of being brave is knowing when to stop.” Papa chuckled, “Come on, there are only a couple more trees to pick.” Doran nodded and walked after his papa, eyeing his hat. A few seconds later, he jumped up and snatched it from his papa’s head, revealing his brown hair. Doran laughed and took off, hearing Papa gasp and laugh behind him.
Doran felt strong arms pick him up and spin him around, stopping him mid-sprint.
“You little thief!” Papa laughed. Doran giggled loudly as he held the hat close. Papa set him down after a while, Doran having to close his eyes to keep the world from spinning. When he opened his eyes, his papa had his hat on his head. Doran gaped; he hadn’t even realized he had lost it.
“Disorient the person and take your thing back. I’ve taught you this, Doran.” Papa said, wagging his finger playfully. Doran shrugged.
“I wasn’t looking to keep it.” He grinned. Papa smiled.
“No more playing or climbing trees so high you almost fall, ok? Your dad will have dinner done soon, and I want to be at the house when your sister gets there.” Papa said. Doran perked up and nodded. How could I forget that Zandra was coming home? His sister was a priestess of the god Roman and didn’t have many opportunities to visit. Doran loved his sister and missed her often. They had been close as kids and she had been a pillar of strength in his life. Other than his papa and dad of course.
Doran couldn’t stop the memories that flowed back to him, and honestly, he didn’t want them to stop. The beaming smile paired with bright green eyes. Strong arms that made Doran feel safe. The games they would play where she was the Dragon Witch that had to be slain and he was a brave knight. All the things she taught him, like prayers to the different gods, their parent’s weak spot for puppy-dog eyes, how to hold and swing a sword, and most importantly, how to be a good older brother to Kit.
Kit was the youngest kid in the family, and once he could walk, he had been a handful. His curly hair was untamable, and his normally blonde hair was always caked with dust and mud. He had a chipped tooth from the time he had tried to jump over a stream and his green eyes were always filled with mischief. Doran loved him but got overwhelmed by the six-year old’s endless energy easily. He was learning to be patient.
Doran considered himself to be one of the calmest people in his family, even though he did have sudden spurts of energy and was always down to have fun. He was also hardworking, like his papa and dad. Since Kit couldn’t do many of the bigger chores, the responsibility fell on Doran most days. He didn’t mind though, it was something to do, and he got to bond with his parents.
“Let’s head back, Doran! That’s enough for today!” Papa called, pulling Doran from his thoughts.
“Coming!” Doran shouted, sliding down the tree he had been in. Once on the ground, he grabbed as many of the baskets of apples that he could carry and hauled them onto the cart his family owned. Doran wiped a bead of sweat from his brow and looked up at the sky, smiling at the beautiful sunset. Papa placed the last basket into the cart and then the two were off, both pulling the cart behind them.
When they finally reached the house, it was almost dark, the god Logan’s stars already poking through the sky. Their house was small, just a hut with a straw roof. It had a kitchen area and three rooms, one for Doran’s parents, one for Doran and Kit, and one for Zandra when she visited.
Papa and Doran dropped the cart off near the front of the house and walked in, letting the warmth and sweet smells wash over them.
“Papa!” Kit cried, jumping off the stool he had been on and running to Papa. Papa laughed and kneeled down so he could hug Kit. Doran smiled and took off his cloak, hanging it up, and pulled off his shoes, putting them by the door.
“Hi, dad!” Doran said, turning to his dad. His dad stood over the fire as he finished with dinner, blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail.
“Hello Doran, how did harvesting go?” Dad asked, turning slightly to look at his son.
“Good! We’re all done!” Doran answered, grunting as Kit barged into him, giving him an aggressive hug.
“So you’ll be able to attend the market with me tomorrow?” Dad asked. Doran sighed.
“What’s wrong? You love the market.” Papa said.
“I just wanted to spend time with Zandra,” Doran muttered.
“You’ll have plenty of time to do that.” Said a voice from one of the back rooms. Doran gasped and ran to hug the robed figure.
“Hey, Doran!” His sister said with a laugh.
“When did you get here?” He asked, muttering into her white robe.
“A few minutes ago,” Zandra said.
“Let me hug her too, Doran!” Papa said. Doran backed up and let Papa hug his daughter.
“Hi, papa,” Zandra said softly.
“We’ve missed you, Zandra,” Papa replied.
“I’ve missed you too.” Zandra smiled.
“You look good! Your work has been treating you well?” Papa asked. Zandra nodded and did a little twirl, showing off her priestly outfit. She had a long, flowy white robe on. The insignia that was sown over one of her breasts was a red flame. At her hip were a sword and a brown satchel. She was pretty muscular but had defiantly gained a few pounds from how well the priests and priestesses were treated.
Zandra gasped and knelt down, looking at Kit, who was currently hiding behind Dad.
“Is this Kit? Hey, kiddo!” She held out a hand to him, “You’ve grown up so fast!”
“Who is that?” Kit whispered after a few moments. Zandra giggled.
“I’m your sister, Zandra. Gosh, the last time I saw you was when you were born.” She smiled. Kit still wore a look of confusion. Doran bent down to his brother’s side.
“Remember the Dragon Witch? And who I told you came up with her?” He whispered. Kit gasped and pointed.
“You’re the Dragon Witch!” He squealed. Zandra laughed.
“Well, I made her, yes.” She winked.
“Doran’s the Dragon Warlock!” Kit blurted out.
“I… might’ve taken some of your ideas,” Doran said, coughing.
“It’s good to have the team expanded, Warlock,” Zandra smirked.
“No! They’ve made an alliance! I need my sword! The kingdom is in danger!” Kit shouted, running to his and Doran’s room, voice fading a bit. Papa and Dad chuckled.
“You can fight them later, dinner is ready!” Dad shouted, taking the stew away from the fire. Doran, could you put the fire out?” Doran nodded and grabbed the bucket that they used to put out the fire. He carefully placed it over the fire, covering it completely. Zandra came by his side and said a quick prayer over the now enclosed fire. Doran was in awe with how reverently she was speaking, how her words wove through the air like birds flying through the sky.
Doran and his family had sworn an oath to the god Roman when Zandra had become his priestess. Though the family didn’t have to do as much as Zandra by any means. They honored Roman and the fires he let the family used. They prayed to him as a family before they slept. They welcomed any priestess or priest or cleric of Roman’s that came along. And they never put out a fire with water. To them, that was indirectly saying that Remus was more powerful than his brother, as Remus was the god of water.
“Kit! Help me set the table!” Dad shouted.
“But the kingdom!” Kit yelled.
“Now, Kit!” Papa warned. There was a groan, and Kit walked back into the main area, dragging his feet. Zandra smirked and nudged Doran.
“He reminds me of someone.” She whispered. Doran stuck his tongue out in retaliation.
Soon, dinner was placed on the table, with the entire family around it. Zandra said a prayer to Roman and Thomas, who was the head god. The meal was bigger than it normally was, as Papa and Dad didn’t want to make Sandra worry. They weren’t poor, but they weren’t wealthy either. They lived comfortably. At least, that’s how Doran would describe it.
Doran tried to hold himself back from eating his food quickly, but the smell and taste of the food were hard to resist. Dad really pulled out all the stops. He thought with a smile. Too soon, the meal was over.
“That was really good, Dad. Thank you.” Zandra said, dipping her head.
“I’m glad you liked it,” Dad replied, glancing at the empty plates and what little was left of the stew.
“Kit, why don’t you and I clean up?” Papa suggested, standing up. Dad reached over and put his hand on his husband’s.
“Let me do it, Aster. You’ve been working all day.” He said, smiling lovingly. Papa sighed and nodded, resting in his chair.
“Come on, Kit,” Dad said, stretching.
“Oh, Doran! I have something for you.” Zandra said, standing up with a big smile. Doran raised an eyebrow.
“I have learned not to trust that sentence, Z,” Doran said hesitantly.
“I promise you, it’s nothing bad, D.”
“You don’t trust a priestess?” Zandra grinned. Doran rolled his eyes and stood up. Zandra’s grin widened. She led him back to her room and sat on her bed, patting next to her. Doran sat down with hesitance. Zandra clicked her tongue and made a low ‘pspsps’ sound.
A tiny head popped up out of a pile of dirt.
Doran felt his eyes widen in awe as he saw the snake slither toward him, tongue flicking out. Its black scales shone in the dull light.
“Woah!” He gasped. Zandra laughed softly and picked up the snake.
“This one was brought over from Nusantara. He was going to be sacrificed, but after praying and talking to a high priestess, I was allowed to keep her. I felt that she would be perfect for you. She’s not venomous, and Dad and Papa said it was ok for you to have her.” She said, holding up the snake to Doran.
“Really?” He whispered. Zandra nodded, loving the look of awe on her little brother’s face. He was a pro, holding the snake so that it was supported, but letting her slither around his arms. He giggled as she came to rest around his shoulders, flicking her tongue at his face.
“Can… I name her? Or does she have one?”
“…Nothing seems right.” Doran said after a few seconds.
“Let’s go get the night fire started. I want to show you something she does.” Zandra said, standing and walking to the main area of the house; Doran following close behind with his snake on her perch. When they got out to the main area, the fire in the fireplace was already going, with the rest of the family sitting in front of it.
“Hold her up to the light, D!” Zandra said with a flourish of her hand. Doran gently took his snake off of his shoulders and held her up. Doran’s jaw dropped as his snake’s scales turned rainbow. Wherever the light hit the scales, they shone and danced with color.
“She looks like a beam of sunshine!” Kit gasped.
“Liakáda.” Doran whispered, “That’s your name.”
“‘Sunshine’. It’s perfect.” Zandra nodded. Liakáda lifted her head higher, seeming like she was proud of herself.
“Thank you Zandra,” Doran said, a huge smile bursting forth. He put Liakáda back around his shoulders and hugged his sister tightly.
A knock came at the door.
“Who could be here at this hour?” Papa asked, humming.
“I’ll get it.” Dad sighed, getting up. He walked to the door; a bit tense. Doran glanced at the window, noting how late it was. He released his sister, intrigued. When Doran’s dad opened the door, Doran heard Zandra give a huge sigh.
A pale man stood outside, his outfit garish and startling. His hair was greasy and black, only reaching his ears. His dark brown eyes glittered with mischief. He wore black, flowy pants with a matching long sleeve black shirt. The shirt had puffy sleeves with green frills on the cuffs and on the bottom hem of the shirt. The top few buttons were undone, partially covering the wave insignia that was sewn over his breast. A medium-sized silver morning star hung on his back, supported by a leather sash. He had a leather pouch that hung from a silver chain around his waist. His pants were tucked into high heeled, black boots.
“Hello, sir. I am Xeno. I am a priest of Remus.” Xeno said.
“What are you doing here, Xeno?” Zandra snapped, suddenly upset. Xeno grinned.
“Zandra! Hello, my dear.” Xeno greeted.
“I have told you how many times to not call me that.” Zandra sighed.
“I will win you eventually.” Xeno winked.
“You know this man?” Dad asked, turning to Zandra.
“The head priests, priestesses, and clerics in our area have been trying to get Remus’ and Roman’s followers to get along. But like the twins and like fire and water, it’s not working.” Zandra growled.
“All of you Roman followers are just a bit too stubborn. You need to relax!” Xeno said.
“We’ll relax when you all calm down and stop gallivanting everywhere in search of fun.” Zandra snapped.
“Anyway. I was just on my way to town when I thought I’d drop by. I might have seen you through the window and decided to say hello.” Xeno suddenly changed the subject, looking around, “This must be your family. Is your mother out?”
Everyone in the room stiffened.
“I told you, Xeno. I have two fathers.” Zandra whispered, venom in her voice. Xeno’s face fell into one of mean scrutiny. His eyes seemed to turn black. Doran moved in front of Kit and Liakáda hissed.
“You were serious about that?”
“And the fact I don’t experience romantic or sexual attraction.”
“I’ve told you, that can be changed.”
“Get out of here.” Papa spoke up as he stood, “Get out of our house. And never speak to us again.”
“You want to live like this, Zandra? With people that are not norm-.” Xeno started. Zandra cut him off by thrusting her sword against his throat.
“If I somehow change, which won’t happen, I would never be with you, Xeno. Get that through your head. You’ve insulted my family, me and Roman. You try and ridicule me when I have done nothing wrong and am accepted by my fellow followers of Roman. I suggest you leave this instant before my hand slips and I push this sword deep into your throat.” Zandra hissed. Xeno growled and backed away.
“You are all insane. This world is being infected with people like you. My fellow followers accept your kind for some reason. You’ve tainted them. I could fix you, Zandra, if you weren’t so stubborn. You’ll pay for breaking my heart and insulting me. For being one of their kind.” His head jerked toward Papa and Dad.
“Roman will protect us. And I’m sure even Remus wouldn’t be happy with what you’re saying.” Zandra said. Xeno snarled.
“I know my god better than you, freak.” He turned, as if to leave, then paused.
“And let’s see how long your god will be willing to protect people like you.” After that, he stalked into the night, morning star glistening under the light of the moon.
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