The Fall

21. Declaration

1.28.21

Connor's POV

His words made me want to throw up and cry at the same time. I can't believe that he would even recommend divorcing my father, his soulmate. Maybe things are worse between them than I thought. "A-are you serious!?" I shouted into the phone, unable to keep my voice quiet after the news he had just dropped down on me. I know that I had told him to follow his heart, but I didn't mean to this extent. I didn't want to see them tear apart. I mean, I know I was lucky in that a lot of children have to go through that at a much younger age, but I think this may have been worse than if it had happened when I was a child. I have known them to be together for over a hundred years; it flabergasts me that they would ever think about splitting up.

"Connor, I know that it will serve as a shock to you, but we just aren't happy together anymore. Your father and I have always had a rocky relationship, and it's just gotten worse ever since our freedom was taken. I don't want to drag you into this, but there are a few things I need to think about."

"Come on, just try a little bit longer? I know that the two of you can make up if you really want to. I've seen it happen! When you would fight when I was a kid, you would always make up. What makes it so different now that I'm older."

"It has nothing to do with your age. It has to do with the amount of time he and I have spent at odds since we got together. All of the times we've fought, and all the time he spent ignoring me every second of the day. After a while, I've just gotten sick of it. My emotions are all over the place, and it's no longer healthy for me to continue our relationship."

My mouth was still hanging open, and I had to spit out a fly after a few moments. "I don't know what to say..."

"Conny, remember that we both still love you, and we always will. It just hasn't worked out."

"Have you talked to dad yet about this?" I whispered, and the other line went dead silent for a moment.

"He hasn't been home in a long time; there aren't many chances for me to talk to him anymore. I will as soon as I can."

"He was just here bothering me about helping Benji take away his control."

"I saw that on TV. Is that why everyone was fighting down there?"

"Yeah, the moon goddess showed up and basically told us we were in charge now. Father didn't like that very much, so he brought all of his demons down to try and intimidate us to death. It didn't work."

"My little boy is growing up," Papa squealed, and a light blush tainted my cheeks."

"Yeah, I suppose that I am growing up."

"It's good to see; I thought that you were always going to be the little boy that ran around the halls of the mansion wearing underwear on his head." I laughed at the memory, and I could pretty much feel his smiling miles away. I remember just how chaotic a kid I was, and I really miss the days. Back when I didn't have to worry about holding back my magic, I was able to be happy with my friend. It may not seem like much, but I longed for it.

"I want to go back to that, but I kind of like the newfound maturity I've gained after so many years of being a crazy teenager. I just wish that everything would go back to normal already."

"Don't we all. Just remember that that's what you're fighting for, not some dumb trophy. You're standing for everyone's livelihood, including our own. I want you to win it. If not for you, then for me."

"I promise I will, papa."

"Oh, and if you see your father in the future, send him my way. He and I are going to have a little talk about what we covered and also about hurting his own son. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Yeah, I'll see you then." I hung up the phone feeling more confused, but I at least had a new motivation to write this Declaration. Papa told me to win the war, and this was the beginning of the effort. This document will become the single most important one in our future, and I'm not about to let shitty writing mark it unreadable. 

I finished up around 6pm, and I walked into Benji's office with the finished result. He was sitting cross-legged on his desk on the phone with someone, and I could tell from his tone of voice that it wasn't formal at all. He seemed like he was talking with a friend, but I could tell he wasn't. I just wonder who it is.

"Oh, hey Connor. What's up." His brown eyes scanned me over, and I felt slightly nervous under the watchful gaze. I know I'm not interrupting his phone call too much, but I still feel like I've walked in on an intimate moment. Just his posture showed it was some kind of personal one. 

"I finished up the declaration."

"Good, let me see it. I'll call you back, Dad," he stated into the phone before hanging up, and I brought it over while he climbed down from the desk. He took the paper out of my hands, and I waited anxiously as he looked through it. "There are quite a few good clauses in here."

"I mean, I tried, but what are you referring to specifically."

He began to list off some of my ideas, and I listened closely to everything he was saying. After a while of him reading, he stopped. "This whole thing is actually pretty good; I'm surprised you got it done in just a few days."

"I did my best."

"Now all we have to do is get all of the council members to sign it, and we'll be able to send it to the humans. Everything falls into place from there."

"Benji, can we talk about something? As friends, this time."

"What's up?" he asked, and I began to get a little bit nervous. Nothing is more frightening than the thought that he may disapprove of me.

"My Papa is thinking about divorcing my dad..."

"Oh Connor, come here," he whispered before pulling me into a tight hug, and I leaned heavily into him. I didn't let any tears out, but I was still pretty sad from the way my parents were behaving. I just want everything to go back to normal.

"I don't want them to split up! There's so many different ways that it could go wrong and hurt one or both of them."

"I would venture to say that one of them will end up hurt no matter what the outcome is."

"You're not helping! Where's your optimism?"

"I'm a realist."

"Whatever... Benji, will things ever go back to the way that they were before?"

"One day, but probably not soon. Just win, and we'll think about it after."

"I suppose that you're right."

"When am I not?"

"So conceited."

"You know it." 

We both shared a small smile, and I relaxed in the knowledge that the world hadn't gone to shit quite yet. Heaven knows it will soon...