Family Matters

If they went in together, they would leave together.

That’s what Lucent promised Nocti, the day they were surrendered to the orphanage. The day he realized their parents - whoever they were - probably weren’t going to come.

Maybe they were busy, wondered Nocti, innocently. Still holding onto hope, always the more optimistic of the twins.

Lucent would be inclined to believe it if he didn’t see bloom after bloom - those who blossomed after they did - get scooped up, an hour at most passing after they emerged from the Garden and opened their eyes for the first time. Some took longer, but not as long as theirs had. The caretakers assured them that sometimes it happens, but someone will come right along any minute now and collect their new children, to bring them to a loving, happy home.

And that minute stretched. Into hours. Into days.

Maybe they forgot, offered Nocti, less sure now. Lucent thought that was just as bad. He didn’t have all the words yet to properly convey his feelings on the matter, but something felt icky about it all. More blooms collected, more grown pouflons passing them by. More time the twins spent huddled together, taking comfort in each other, knowing that they weren’t alone.

And then the day came. A kindly pouflon walking up to the twins, smiling gently. Sadly.

Both stood up in excitement, legs wobbling. Was she here to take them home? Was their waiting over?

Well. It was true on both accounts, but not in the ways they would think.

As they settled into the orphanage, surrounded by other abandoned blooms, walls echoing with screams of laughter, Nocti looked to his brother.

Maybe they weren’t wanted, Nocti ruminated, ears wilted. Lucent, still fresh in the world, may not have known a lot of things, but he did know one thing.

Anyone who made his brother look that sad wasn’t worth it. And with all the power in his little body, he’d make sure it would never happen again.

–

A pouflon came in one day.

He looked nice, Lucent supposed. Gentle eyes. Soft colors. But he was wary all the same. He’s seen it happen a few times before; a grown-up would walk in, see the twins, and then ask the question.

To take one of them home.

Lucent was popular, with his calm demeanor and sparkling eyes. Any future parent would like a special child like him.

He headbutted the first one who dared to suggest it.

He made it clear that if he’s going, his brother is, too, and suddenly the grown-up looked less interested (after a pained groan).

Or somelon would ask Nocti, with his playful personality and charismatic charm, if he would like a home. Nocti would ask if that included his brother, and if not, then he wasn’t interested in the stinky adult (an affronted gasp usually followed that declaration).

So he expected more of the same today. The twins had a system now, a way to keep them together. It was always disappointing when a grown-up let them down once again, but at least it was fun giving them a run for their coin.

And of course, this pouflon asked to be his father. Yeah, he’s heard that before. You look nice, he said, but he isn’t leaving without his brother. Nocti was nearby, ready for tricks once again. He could always count on Nocti to have his back; why couldn’t adults understand that they were a pair, that they were all each other had?

And then this pouflon, who just noticed the other similar looking bloom, was quiet. Then he nodded. Well, that would be rather cruel, wouldn’t it? To separate twins.

Lucent nodded vigorously. At least somelon understood.

And in a move that surprised him, he turned to Nocti and asked if he could also be his father. The bloom was as stunned as Lucent felt. Was this real? It wasn’t a joke? No joke, assured the pouflon. He had a home that was more than big enough for both of them.

It still didn’t feel real, even as the pouflon spoke to the orphanage owner, signed all kinds of papers with all kinds of words Lucent couldn’t understand. Didn’t feel real when they left the orphanage, saw the building disappear over the horizon, knowing they wouldn’t come back. Didn’t feel real as the city gave way to field, then forest.

It finally felt real, when the trio stopped in front of a cozy house tucked away into Redwick Forest, and the pouflon declared they were home.

Lucent looked to Nocti, who had the widest grin he had ever seen on his face. And he smiled back.

He kept his promise after all.