#gamok

[asyakiya]

It was truly painful for little Gamok to realize that Grigon, whom he considered his father, didn't acknowledge him as his son and ALWAYS favored his own son, Glordon.

Over time, Gamok outgrew his childhood grievances and pain, but while he was little, it was one of the hardest trials of his short life...

[ladyanaconda]

Little Brother

First one-shot from the shared AU with @asyakiya, featuring Gamok! I hope I wrote it in-character.

**

Gamok had never seen his father smile. At least, not when he was around. As far as he knew, that gesture was only reserved for Mom, or for whenever he got good news from the battlefield. But for Gamok, Father only had an indifferent frown at best, or a scowl at worst.

Then Mommy got sick shortly after his fourth birthday. One morning, he didn’t find his parents in the dining hall for breakfast, and he reached their room just in time to see a medic talking with Father. Even from afar, Gamok sensed the worry, but Father… his was stronger and intermingled with something else… Gamok couldn’t put his claw on it, but it was painful.

“What are the chances it’ll be viable?” asked Father. He sounded… worried.

“We’ll have to wait and see, Your Wrath, but I recommend the Empress stays in bed, just to be safe.” Said the medic. “And make sure she doesn’t get stressed.” 

Gamok shyly approached. “D-Dad? Where’s mommy?”  

A shiver ran down his spine as Father looked down at him with a deep frown. Gamok couldn’t remember a time when he’d looked at him any differently. 

“Go to your room, boy. Your mother needs to rest,” growled Father. 

Gamok’s anxiety only increased over the following weeks. He’d try to see Mommy, but the guards at the door would usher him away, saying that she was sick but offering no further explanation than that. Father, some maids carrying a tray of food, and the medic were the only ones who got into the room.

For the first time, Gamok resorted to using his ‘ability’ to figure out what was going on. He’d focus on his mental bubble whenever he sensed things from people every time he asked, but he couldn’t make out much.

…gg..

…grav…

…aby…

He wouldn’t understand what was going on until a few weeks later, when Father, surprisingly, let him go explore the Karajor. Gamok was excited. He’s been asking to see his father’s flagship for as long as he can remember.

The palace’s atmosphere was completely different when he and Workko returned a few hours later. Gamok instinctively headed straight to his parents’ chambers, wanting to tell Mommy about his trip to the Karajor; he was turning around the corner when a maid passed by him, carrying stained silk sheets, but she scurried away before he could ask. Alarmed, Gamok rushed toward the doors. They were open.

Gamok timidly peeked in. Father and the palace medics were around the bed, the former stroking Mommy’s head and whispering comforting words, looking down at something she was holding.

“Mommy?” Gamok called out.

“Go to your room, boy,” growled Father.

“Grigon,” Mommy said. Her voice sounded tired, but still firm, before she turned to Gamok, smiling a bit. “Come in, sweetie.” 

As Gamok got closer, he noticed Mommy looked… pale and sweaty. When one medic gingerly placed him on the bed, he inspected what Mommy held. It was round and purplish, and she was cradling like it was the greatest treasure in the world. 

An egg.

“Gamok, this is your little brother or sister.” 

....

As the weeks went by, Gamok noticed a significant change in the palace atmosphere. Until that point, Gamok had never seen Father smile. Or if he did, it must’ve been when he wasn’t around. Now, he was constantly in a good mood, constantly radiating a warm, excited aura. Mommy felt even warmer than before every time she peeked down at the egg cradled in the silk bassinet she’d made with her own silk.

“Can I see the egg?” Gamok asked now and then. 

Mommy always lifted him in her gauntlets and let him take a peek.

Father would frown and tell him to go away.

His parents weren’t the only ones whose mood changed. Throughout the palace, servants and soldiers alike were talking about the new egg, and the implications it brought; Gamok overheard someone mention that she’d pray to Shaak’vi that this egg hatched, for this might be Father and Mommy’s last chance at being parents. What did she mean by that? He is their child; they are his parents.

“Hey, now that Lord Grigon and Lady Asthra are finally having a child of their own, do you think they’ll get rid of–?”

“Quiet, you! He’s listening!” 

Three months later, the egg’s shell was thinning and softening up, and a tiny shape could be made out beneath the light. From this point on, Father and Mommy’s joy and excitement increased; the former, in particular, would spend hours with the egg, narrating battle anecdotes excitedly to the little embryo. 

“And that, my son, is how you blow up an enemy fleet in record time.” Father finished, lovingly staring at the egg in the bassinet. 

My son… How come Father has never called him that?

“Did I hatch from an egg too?” asked Gamok curiously. 

“Yeah, you did,” said Father without looking at him. 

“Did you tell me stories in the egg too?” 

“He did, sweetie, you just don’t remember,” said Mommy, then threw Father a frown, but he simply rolled his eyes. 

...

The palace atmosphere changed a third time when the egg finally hatched—but not in the way Gamok expected. Suddenly, the fluttering eagerness and hope were replaced by a heavy disappointment; everyone spoke in hushed whispers, and he overheard the word ‘runt’ a few times, though he couldn’t understand what it meant. 

Father changed too, but his aura was… confusing. He was disappointed, but also… hurting. He was sad, but there was an underlying warmth that remained in the depths. Gamok didn’t know what to make of it. 

“Mommy?” Gamok called out into his parents’ room shortly after Father walked out. 

She was out of her carapace, on the bed, looking down at the silky crib where the egg had incubated; unlike Father, the warm aura was far stronger, if intermingled with the bitter sadness and fear. She smiled at him. 

“Hi, sweetie.” Mommy gestured for him to get closer and lifted him up in her nubs toward the cradle. “Meet your little brother.”

Gamok leaned his head closer to the crib. There, swaddled in Mommy’s silk, was a tiny purple larva, sound asleep.

“What’s his name?” asked Gamok.

“Glordon. His name starts with ‘G’, just like yours and Grigon’s.” 

That’s when Gamok noticed his father wasn’t around. Before the egg hatched, Father spent most of the time near the cradle, telling it stories or talking to it, but now… he was barely in the room. 

“Where is Father?” 

Briefly, Mommy’s aura turned sour. “He’s… busy.” 

“Doesn’t he like the baby anymore?” 

“It’s not that, sweetie. He’s just… worried.” 

“Why?” asked Gamok. Glordon coughed a few times, but didn’t cry, simply going back to sleep. “Is something wrong with Glordon?” 

Mommy hesitated. “Glordon hatched before time, and he’s… smaller than usual because of that. He’ll be prone to getting sick because of it.” Her aura soured again, though she tried to keep her expression. “Your father knows that, and it upsets him; that’s why he’s… working most of the time.” 

Gamok tilted his head when Glordon coughed again. “I think he’s cold. Could I warm him up?”

As Mommy placed him next to the crib, Gamok carefully climbed on it and curled up around Glordon; the little larva finally stirred, but instead of crying, he snuggled into the newfound warmth, his little ears twitching. Mommy smiled.

“He likes you already.” She said. 

Gamok stared at little Glordon for a while, making sure he was comfortable as he, too, joined him into sleep.

My little brother… I’ll always protect you.

[jjb25]

“Super color power” LOLLLLLLLL I LOVE YANG YOOOO 😂😂😂😂

[asyakiya]

Mom's favorite boys😊😊😊

[asyakiya]

One of the most powerful forms of love is the love between brothers.

Even if they belong to different species.

Even if the younger brother outgrows the older brother.

But even then, the older brother remains Big Brother, always ready to protect his Little Brother.

Even if he sometimes surprises and sometimes irritates with his naivety😅

[asyakiya]

Sooner or later, even the most stubborn fighter may admit that he was wrong.

Lord Grigon, the Blood Emperor, was no exception: he finally acknowledged Gamok as his son after seeing his immense devotion to home and family, despite Aoki's tempting offer to come with them.

After all, they really are father and son

[asyakiya]

My friend @ladyanaconda and I have come up with a collaborative AU based on the Elio franchise.

It doesn't have a specific title yet, but for now it's called "The Prince and the Adopted Son."

This story is about the Hylurgian culture and the imperial family, who, even before Glordon's birth, adopted a child of the Aoki race named Gamok.

Ashtra, the Blood Empress and Grigon's consort, initiated the adoption of this child from infancy, and it was with her that Gamok became very close.

How, in the future, he became close to his adopted younger brother, Glordon, whom he swore to protect at all costs.

Gamok belongs to me

Ashtra belongs to @ladyanaconda

[ladyanaconda]

You imagine Gamok couldn't command any respect, loyalty, and obedience from every single non-royal because he wasn't Hylurgian, let alone seen as a "real" prince?

That's right. Grigon tried to keep him out of sight when possible, but Ashtra insisted that they let bring him to victory festivals and such events because he was part of the family.

The noble houses were outright disgusted by him and told their kids not to associate with the 'filthy avian'; members of the Armada were distant and sometimes dismissive (except for Workko); civilians were... polite, but didn't acknowledge him as a Prince.