Tobi looked at his mother. They sat in the house he had grown up in, though, in truth, it was only ever a dream. a few moments had passed now as she hummed while cooking and then came to offer him a mug of hot cocoa while holding herself a cup of tea.
"You gave me tea last time," he noted.
"Well, you like this more," she said simply.
He nodded, accepting the mug. The rich aroma filled the room, thick with nostalgia. He glanced down at the creamy, chocolatey surface as a few marshmallows bobbed to the top.
"This is quite nice," he admitted.
"Of course it is. This is reality, dear," she replied, sipping her tea.
"Is it?" he asked.
She laughed lightly.
"You've forgotten so much. Every god is ruler of their own domain, though Fate's is the largest, since it exists everywhere... except nowhere. And it seems you've befriended the god who owns said domain."
"I guess so," Tobi said, his voice uncertain.
"Are you scared?"
"No."
"Have you ever been afraid?"
"I can't remember."
"I remember," she said fondly. "I tried scaring you a few times when you were little. You always kept such a blank face... but you were so cute. Despite being so stoic, you never left my side. It was quite endearing."
She smiled to herself before continuing.
"Though... there was one time. You were truly afraid. I tried taking that lily away, but you wouldn't budge. You held onto it so tightly. It was sweet so I decided to hide it one day. You spent the whole day looking for it. You even cried when you couldn't find it."
"I did?" he murmured, unsure.
"You did. You even gave it a name."
"Really? What was it?" he asked, curious.
"Eliora," she answered gently.
Tobi fell silent. The name struck something deep.
"I see..." he said quietly.
"Is that all?" she asked, teasing as she laughed at his blank expression. "Oh, Tobi dear. You're far too awkward and straightforward. Even as a child, you were like that. But now, as an adult? You're even worse," she mused, stirring her tea.
"I don't know how to change that," he admitted.
"It's fine. You still managed to get girls looking your way, though you only ever had eyes for one."
"I can't even remember her that well," he said honestly. "But... the feelings haven't faded."
"Of course they haven't. Your memories linger, even now. And I know, even as your mother, that you place her on a higher pedestal than me."
"Sorry."
"It's fine. It's adorable, really. Any mother would feel the same, seeing her awkward, not-so-party-loving son falling head over heels for a girl, even attempting to flirt with her."
"Did I flirt?" he asked, tilting his head.
She laughed. "Well... in reality, I wouldn't quite call it that. But you had your moments. In that dream, you actually did a much better job," she admitted.
"Is that it? Was I not a good husband in real life?" he asked, his voice cold, though she knew it was laced with worry.
"Oh my, don't be absurd." She smiled, resting her cup down. "You may not have been smooth, but... you were a devoted husband. A wonderful partner."
He nodded, quietly taking that in.
"Well, enough about that, dear," she continued. "Even if Fate can't see into this place, he'll know what you're meant to do next, even if you have the help of that... Lord of... Nothing. Still, you've evaded every attempt so far. Are you sure you'll be so lucky again?"
Her gaze softened, shifting toward his arm.
"And... I can see you've already picked up some scars," she added gently, her eyes resting on the scorched flesh along his forearm.
"And I've survived regardless," Tobi said simply.
She pouted, then sighed, exasperated.
"What am I going to do with you?" she muttered before finishing her tea and heading to the kitchen for coffee.
Halfway there, she paused and turned back.
"Very well. Then you should go find that other god, not that detestable fire one. But the other..." she paused briefly in thought, "He was your loyal shadow, was he not? Oh my, you wouldn't remember that… though he still dwells in his domain. Go find it. I imagine you will; you always seem to stumble into such dire straits," she said tiredly before disappearing down the hallway.
"I see. Thank you, then. I should get going," Tobi said, preparing to leave.
"A-Already, dear? But I made cookies, your favourite," she said honestly, returning to find him gone.
"Oh… gone so soon?" she asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.
"Of course not. What kind of son would I be to leave without trying them?" he said, standing beside her.
"Very well. Though, do take that mask off; it's unbecoming. And rather rude," she added.
So he did.
Her eyes widened.
She stepped closer, placing her hand gently on his cheek, if it could even be called that anymore. The skin was scorched beyond recognition; the bone was visible in places. A miracle he was even alive.
"Oh God..." she whispered, her fingers trembling against what remained of his face.
On the good side, he smiled softly and sweetly.
But her expression tightened. She gritted her teeth.
"You foolish boy," she scolded.
Grabbing his arm, she dragged him to the couch and forced him down with motherly authority. A chair appeared as she positioned herself on top, and two more arms appeared from her body as she clicked her tongue disapprovingly.
"This may hurt. Honestly, you shouldn't even be alive. Tenacious, how proud that makes me. But how dare you not say a word? My poor baby is hurt; there's hardly any flesh left, just bone! You make this poor mother of yours worry herself sick," she rambled as her hands moved with divine precision, already weaving.
Golden thread formed between her fingers as she began to repair the damage, recreating what had been lost.
Tobi smiled softly from the good side of his face.
"I see. Thank you, Mother," he said genuinely.
"Well, that is my job, darling. Just… do be a little less reckless next time," she sighed.
"I might be. But I can rely on you, right?"
"Hmm… of course," she said with a hum. "Though I may need to hide for a time. Perhaps I'll seek out that friend of yours," she mused, eyes never leaving her work, though she was a bit worried.
"This hurts, doesn't it?" she asked gently. "It is okay to cry."
But he only laughed.
"It's fine."
"...Very well."
She said nothing more, only worked quiet and focused. Her hands moved methodically, each stitch, each strand of woven skin, as precise and delicate as a mother's lullaby.
"They're all done. Your face is like a baby's again," she said happily, as Tobi checked his reflection in the mirror. It certainly looked much better now. He smiled, and she clapped her hands in satisfaction.
He looked at her, confused.
"You copied when you were a baby? It wasn't that long ago, at least for me," she murmured.
He chuckled.
"I guess not."
"Then shall we eat before you leave your poor mother once again?" she said with a dramatic sigh.
"Oh, we should do that, shouldn't we?" he replied bluntly, and she sighed in exasperation.
"I might need to teach you some social cues."
"Are mine wrong?" he asked, and she laughed, shaking her head.
"You needn't worry. It's endearing, really; besides, the girl you love, she likes that part of you best," she said simply.