Chapter Text
Malleus, for as long as he could remember, had heard tales and speculation about the missing Little Lady of Briar. His betrothed from before either were ‘born’. The child Lilia had for less than a full day before she had been spirited away while his poor guardian (adoptive father, not that either of them could admit that to other people) had been recovering. Her ‘birth’ had taken too much out of him. It had taken years for Lilia to recover fully from bringing her into the world.
(Dire Crowley's rejection of her immediately after her creation had also caused damage, but that was never acknowledged, lest Malleus’ rage turn to the Corvid.)
He had often (too often) wondered about the babe. How much would be different had she still been there. She would have been of the same age group as him. They would have grown together, played together, been with each other nearly constantly. Would they have been inseparable? Or would they have been rivals?
Malleus liked to think they would have been each other's best friend. Betrothal or not.
Now here she was, nearly one hundred and ninety years later, returned to them.
Returned to them frail and cursed horribly. It wound around her like thorny vines, digging in and arresting her movements. Smothering her spirit. Drowning her thoughts.
She was much too small, limbs too thin, so very pale.
A feeling welled up within him as he watched her wake up with pained noises, only for her to freeze as metaphysical thorns (felt and not truly seen) surrounded her and dug their insidious points into her very being.
It lasted only two minutes, but they were some of the longest two minutes of his life. He prayed to his great great grandmother Maleficent that Lilia did not wake to witness it.
Light returned to her eyes soon enough and the first thing she did was blink at him, give a shy grin, and greet him cheerfully.
Yes. She was his now. His hatchling. Grandmother can just burn the contract. Lilia would surely agree.
…
“Could you help me out of here without waking him? I gotta go to the restroom.” Yuu plowed ahead, just going with it after her too cheery greeting.
Malleus did as asked and carefully extracted her from the dead to the world Lilia’s hold.
He held her with ease and set her gently on her feet.
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“You are welcome. The facilities are on the other side of the door to your right.” His smooth voice was lovely to her ears, but no attraction was felt. Good. Just like she hoped.
Her voice kink hadn't fucked her over. Thank fuck. Things would have been awkward otherwise.
Yuu used the restroom and washed her face a bit, getting the dried tears and crust off of it. She felt a million times better from just that.
A knock quietly came from the door. “I have some clothes for you to change into if you wish.” Malleus said from the other side.
Yuu opened the door, thanking him as she took the clothes from him. They were obviously Lilia's, but something told her that he would love it if she wore them.
It was a simple outfit of an oversized and well loved knit sweater, the yarn was super soft and not wool. Yuu hated wool. The sleeves were six inches too long. It also was like a dress on her. The leggings fit a bit loosely around her waist and covered her feet from being a bit too long.
She looked… soft. Small. Young.
It was the first time it truly hit her that she was really a child, a fifteen (soon to be sixteen) year old, but a child none the less.
The realization left her breathless.
…
Yuu exited the restroom after calming down. Crow was sitting on the nightstand beside the bed watching Lilia and Malleus talking to each other. Lilia looked a bit distressed.
All three looked at her in unison. Freaky.
Lilia's eyes lit up in pure joy and… love? Yuu’s stomach did a flip and she didn't know what to think. She shuffled back over to the bed and stood awkwardly.
Lilia was having none of that and got her back into the pile of blankets and pillows that reminded Yuu of her nest. Did he nest too? Lilia cuddled her close.
Not much was said as Lilia was riding a parental high of some sort.
A knock came from the door before Sebek’s voice floated into the room.
“I have Grim for Yuu-sensei.”
“Come in.” Malleus said.
The door opened a crack before Grim bounded into the room. Yuu let out a happy chirp before scooping her baby up. Sebek closed the door behind him as he entered.
“Were you good for Jamil?” Yuu asked a happily purring Grim. He had loafed into her lap.
“I went to spend the night with Ace and Deuce. I wanted to play games with them. Riddle had me study. I did it for two whole hours and Trey gave me cake!”
“So you behaved, right? Riddle won't text me that you set something on fire, right?”
“I was better behaved than the other two.The great and powerful Grim is always good.” He puffed out his chest even as he settled even more into his loaf.
“Who is this?” Malleus asked. Grim puffed up a bit, but his fur settled as Yuu stroked a soothing hand down his back.
“This is Grim, my son.”
Lilia made a strange sound.
Crow was dying of laughter once more. What? She only told the truth.
Sebek was standing in the corner, screaming into his hands.
…
It was a bit later, after Lilia also started snuggling Grim, that Silver finally made an appearance.
Lilia was over the moon and still not using words as he entered.
He approached the bed slowly and finally looked at her once he got close. Yuu and Silver locked eyes.
“This is Silver. Your brother.” Sebek spoke up, trying to be helpful.
Yuu internally sighed. She reached over and pulled Silver into the nest as well. Lilia had gone sonic with happy squeaks.
“Lilia is gone. I have never seen him this thrilled before.” Crow observed.
“Can you blame him? All of his children are in one place for the first time ever. I would be thrilled as well.” She snorted.
“Don't forget Lilia also has a grand kitten. Even if, in fae terms, this is a case of a baby raising a baby.” Crow said with a chuckle.
“I have a feeling that my age is going to cause problems."
“Oh. Most assuredly. You got this though, fledgling. Just steal some kneecaps, that will show them you are a strong, independent hatchling.”
“Stealing kneecaps sounds fun~” Yuu sang playfully.
She focused back on the others only to see green sparkles where Malleus teleported and Lilia gone as well. Silver was asleep.
“Lord Malleus and Lord Lilia have to inform the Queen of your return.” Sebek explained.
...
Yuu was able to make his escape while Lilia and Malleus were gone. He wanted to sleep in his own bed and process. Crow let out a weary sigh.
He slumped into Ramshackle with a sigh. His back hurt. Crow let out a weary sigh.
Jamil was ready with a bath already ran for him.
“Sebek texted me. I thought you might want to relax.”
Yuu could kiss him. So he did. Quick and light on the lips. “You are just too good to me, dear.”
Yuu went to take that bath.
Jamil relationship up!
Jamil is putty in your hands~
Crow gagged before flopping on Yuu’s bed.
…
Jamil had frozen. His brain was just mush. His face would never not blush again.
He was done for.
Great Seven, was he done for.
...
Yuu checked the group chat
Trap card: you ok yuu?
Deuces: yeah!
Muffin Man: I hope you are feeling better
Cay Cay: that was totes not #cammable
Your Majesty: Let them rest.
Trap card: we are! just a bit worried
Snek: Yuu is fine. They did have the meeting with Lilia, though.
Trap card: shit. thats gotta be rough
Lightning Rod: Yuu-sensei is fine! They are in Diasomnia at the moment!
Yuu read as the GC devolved from there as her two idiots started bickering
Me?: im fine, guys. Back home now. Just got done with a much needed bath. Gonna go to sleep for a week. Ugh. Feelings. Tal to you all later
Yuu then texted Riddle.
‘I’mma go for Jamil. Already pecked him on the lips in thanks for the amazing bath’
❤️👑: I approve 100%. Go get him, love. After you rest, though.
Yuu giggled and sent his first boyfriend back a kissy face emoji
…
Yuu woke up later to two boys in his bed. Ace and Deuce.
Mmmmm. Yes. Bestie cuddles.
He checked his phone to see Sebek had been able to get Lilia to give Yuu some space. Malleus had helped.
…
Yuu resisted the urge to punt the Headmage through a wall. He had just waltzed into Yuu's territory uninvited.
“I have a great offer! Mid October is the Beans Fest and there are structures used as cover that had been deemed unsafe a while back. They were never taken down, so I propose that you can do it. Since you did such an amazing job with that old cottage!”
Yuu and Jamil stared at the jumped up feather duster. (Crow’s insult to his other self.)
“Get out. I’ll do it, but leave.” Yuu said in monotone, very unimpressed.
...
“So the overblot timeline is this” Yuu began after Crow told them the General Timeline. They were sprawled out on the floor in the main lounge, starfished in front of the fireplace. The perpetual night and forever mid Autumn made things a bit chilly. “August was Riddle. This month, September was Leona. Nothing happened for October. The end of November is Azul. December would have been Jamil if he hadn't taken his chance to get away. Nothing happened for January. Mid February is Vil. Early march is Idia. Early April Malleus loses it because of Lilia. And at the end of April everyone left over dies because of a mysterious Blot filled creature.” Yuu had their suspicion that the mysterious Blot Creature was a Blot Stone fueled Grim. There was a reason Yuu had three in their inventory. Grim wasn't eating any on their watch. Ace and Deuce were amazing and had given them the stone from Leona’s OB.
Yuu was trying not to think of the whole Lilia situation. Now that Yuu was there it might not even be a thing that happens.
“Do you think that the whole Lilia trying to leave will even happen now?” they asked Crow.
“Decidedly not. There is no way he's going to let a silly thing like his age stop him now. Especially once he gets a copy of your student file. Though, the Head asshat, Lilia and yourself will have to fill out paperwork to fully establish your identity and the whole custody thing.”
“I am going with Lilia.” Yuu said immediately. No way were they going with the Headmage. This reset version was shady, flighty, and all sorts of other things. “You were nothing but bad vibes before the whole time loop thing happened to you, dad.” they told him.
“Don't I know and regret that?” He sighed. “I am sure Divus already filed the heritage test results with the proper authorities. He and the jumped up feather duster will be dealing with the Authorities and the Magical Child Welfare office as we speak. It will be straightforward. Since you are fae, most standard human child welfare laws do not apply to you. The whole thing about you being kidnapped as an infant will be handled by Queen Maleficia, as it is a Briar Valley matter. Basically all that will be done is that your case will be shut and they will be dropping off custody paperwork.” He explained. “Fae matters are dealt with by the Briar Courts.”
“That's convenient.” Yuu hummed. They slid back to paying attention to the world only to find Lilia curled up on the couch and hugging his knees while staring at them with huge eyes.
Yuu had a feeling that Lilia was going to be around a lot. (Not that Yuu minded. They yearned for the love and affection of parental figures.)
Poor guy.