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[apuckalypse]

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[apuckalypse]

[mom said they were handsome........]

What are you going to do with us :)

[ruevealing]

Spoil and love you and hide you all within my wings. :)

[apuckalypse]

At this rate we won't all fit.

[ruevealing]

Do not doubt the power of a mother's wingspan, little cub!

[apuckalypse]

[Every time they say that, he gets a little tickle of glee. Secretly.]

Please forgive me for this grievous error!

[ruevealing]

[but is it really secret? is it really?]

Besides, no matter how big our family grows, you shall always have a special place in my wings and in my heart. My very first son. The honorary oldest.

[apuckalypse]

[About as secret as anything ever is with Casey Junior.]

Can you be the oldest while still being the youngest?

[Gosh he's never been the oldest anything.]

[ruevealing]

I decree it so. :)

My oldest, youngest son. ♥

[apuckalypse]

:) <3

Is it OK that you're my second mom?

[ruevealing]

[oh. a shift that rue was not entirely prepared for, but not upset by.]

Does that bother you, darling?

[apuckalypse]

Not really. She

[Hm.]

She was mostly my mom in name only, so I just wondered.

[ruevealing]

[For all they've talked of Leo, it occurs to Rue that they haven't spoken much of Casey's real mother.]

Has she been much on your mind since you began calling me mom?

[apuckalypse]

Not since then, but...

[Hmm, hmm.]

Can I ask a weird question?

[ruevealing]

You may.

[apuckalypse]

Do you know anything about buried memories?

[ruevealing]

Only through passing alone. It's nothing I've ever gone through myself, but the fae have notoriously sharp memories.

Is that something you've experienced?

[apuckalypse]

Yeah.

[...He did it to himself again, didn't he.]

When that fae hurt Leo, I remembered something. The day my other mom died.

[ruevealing]

[The way Rue sucks in a sharp breath without even realizing it. Of course it makes sense that if Casey was there, he would bury that kind of memory away. What child should have to carry such a terrible thing along with them?]

Tell me everything, darling. How does that realization make you feel? Is that the only memory you have of her?

Does calling me your mother feel different now? Is it too much?

[apuckalypse]

No, it's not like that. It's

hang on.

[....Ring, ring.]

[ruevealing]

[Not to be a boomer but Rue looks relived at the call. Rue is happy to text all of their kids but important conversations take a lot more concentration to type them out with their talons. These phones are just not made for them!]

My love, hello. Thank you for calling me. This is so much more convenient.

[apuckalypse]

I figured it would be.

[He's not entirely convinced it'll be easier to say than type, but his tone isn't exactly tearful. It's quiet, a little guarded. But he's had several weeks to shelf and compartmentalize a lot of these feelings, so. There is that.]

I just- I wanted to say. I wasn't there, I didn't see it. I just know that's the day it happened.

[ruevealing]

[Of course Rue picks up on that particular tone. They wish they could hold Casey's hand while he works through this, but they can continue sharing their warmth and support from their cottage straight to his heart.]

Tell me what parts you remember now. Anything at all that is weighing on you.

[apuckalypse]

[He's quiet for a long moment, mulling over the invitation and how he ought to respond.]

I remember... she used to come back from missions and see me right away. She called me 'little fireball'? I don't know why. Your nickname reminded me of that. [A beat, and then,] I don't want you to stop! And I don't want to stop calling you mom, either. So don't worry about that.

[ruevealing]

I do not want to stop either, as long as you are comfortable and happy. You know how deeply I care for you, how impossible it is for me to look at you and not be reminded that you are my son.

[and then more gently,]

But I do not wish to cross any boundaries. It is the same as before, I do not wish to take your mother's place or push her out. So anytime that you want to speak about her, I would be so happy to hear. Including now.

[Little fireball is darling, even if Rue is missing the context.]

I imagine you must have been on her mind while she was out. Seeing you after would be the highlight of her day.

[apuckalypse]

A mother's intuition?

[There's a sliver of humour in his tone. He's seen how Rue lights up when they see him. He knows the truth.]

I do remember that, though. A little bit. When she came back, she'd carry me to the mess hall and we'd eat together. She was supposed to come back around then, but... when our door opened it wasn't her. The Krang had found our base, they were- people were-

[He halts again, a slow inhale. It was a long time ago... he's not afraid of them anymore. (Maybe a little. Maybe Krang Prime, a little. Maybe the Technodrome, a lot.)]

...She was scouting that day. Outside the base. She never came home.