AND FOR ONCE . . . the gloved hand doesn’t dart away from such a grip, no recoiling or hissing like he’ s become accustomed to reacting. Touch had always been something to be feared, a means of attack on his person, whether it be from another sentient creature or just a beast. Yet recently, when all hope had been drained from the eldritch creature, abandoned by its creator in such a desolate and stranger world, a flickering light in the darkness had found him. The cold coals of his once hope barren heart had found a new purpose, new meaning in the world outside of earning his creator’s favor. Webber. He came along seemingly from nowhere, small, sassy and rather endearing. Oni would be lying if he said he didn’ t remind him of himself at that age, though he wasn’t much more mature in the beginning he found himself thinking more responsibly once he’d met the younger one. Tired eyes peer down at the small creature with a fondness that had never crossed his face before meeting him. Oni never had a family, not really. The entity had abandoned him and he was left to wander aimlessly searching. Left for dead in a cold world, just like Webber, it seemed, except he wouldn’t let him be alone like he was. Wouldn’t let him starve or suffer, for once he was able to siphon a bit of hope from himself purely because of the privilege of being around Webber. For once he knew what it meant to be full and he made sure that Webber knew the same. But today, today he was hungry, in need of another batch of some sort of hope, and he worried but not for himself. No, his mind was now always on the younger, for he couldn’t live off of hope alone – he needed food and water, shelter and protection and Oni would give it all to provide it for him.
A light, reassuring squeeze of the younger’s hand before gaze is turned towards the horizon as the sunlight begins to peek through the brush while their fire continues to roar. For once in his life, for some reason, he felt a distinct protectiveness over another living being. All at once, Webber’s life became far more important than his, he was all that mattered and Oni’s life suddenly had a new purpose. One that stepped outside of whatever plan the creator had for him previously. And perhaps what was even odder was that he couldn’t care less about what the Entity would say about it. No longer was he bound solely to pleasing a creator that had abandoned him here, left him to rot. No Oni never had a family, never felt any sort of bond like this one, but he supposes this is what family is – what it’s supposed to be.
