A True Parent
Don’t tell the others, but Jake was fucking terrified. Why, one might ask? For good reason.
This was the worst beating in a long time, maybe ever. Every inch of the body was either sore or stinging. He could hear Steven crying in the headspace, Marc quietly trying to soothe him despite crying, too. But Jake wasn’t crying.
Jake made sure to never cry.
That’s when he felt a hand on top of his head. He immediately flinched, not making a sound, but somehow pinning himself even closer to the wall.
“It is only I, Jake Lockley.”
“Kh..” he had trouble mustering up the energy to speak. He was fairly certain that even if he could, it would hurt to move his jaw from where she had punched it. He had to admit, it did feel nice hearing his name spoken in such a calming voice after having the body’s deadname be screamed at him for the past half an hour.
“It is alright. I am here.”
Jake raised an eyebrow. Khonshu let out a small sigh.
“Physically, you will be alright. You wish to be healed, do you not?”
Jake nodded, finding it difficult to raise his head after lowering it.
Khonshu put a skeletal hand on Jake’s cheek, brushing his thumb over the red, belt-shaped mark on it. Jake could feel his muscles relax before tensing up again.
“You may still be sore for a bit, but most of the damage to the body has been healed.”
“Thanks.”
Jake leaned back against the wall, sighing to himself.
“Jake, let me have the body.”
“Shut up, Marc.”
“Jake-“ Steven attempted to object.
“I said shut up!”
The two went quiet.
“I have to say, I agree with the others this time. You should all share the same amount of grief. Having all of that weight on your shoulders is going to, how you humans say, ‘come back to bite you in the ass.’”
Jake groaned.
“Fine. Marc?”
“On it.”
The body’s eyes flashed white before Marc shook his head.
“Hey, Khonshu.”
“Hello, little bug.”
Marc was quiet.
“What now?”
“The body most likely needs some form of rest or nourishment. Your father is out of town, correct?”
“Yeah, he won’t be back ‘til Tuesday.”
Khonshu quieted, pondering if there were any other options for food.
“Ah, I have an idea!” Steven piped up. “Marc, check under our bed.”
Marc crawled over to the bed, looking under it like Steven requested. There were a bunch of little, wrapped foods. Candy bars, chips, fruit snacks…
“Steven, where’d you get all this stuff?”
“I’ve snuck it upstairs when mum wasn’t looking,” Steven smiled from the window reflection.
“Very clever, Steven.”
“Thanks, Mister Khonshu!”
Marc smiled as he reached for a packet of fruit snacks.
“Let’s keep it down, yeah? Jake’s trying to sleep,” Steven asked.
“Got it, buddy. Plus, I don’t want mom going for round 2.”
“Right…”
“Boys?”
“Hm?”
“Once Jake wakes up, I wish to tell you something. A way for your mother to never hurt you again.”
“What do you mean?” Marc questioned.
“I will tell you later. I do not think you can handle it as of now.”
“Alright.”
Marc broke open the packet and began eating.