Days And Nights (Book of Life and Maya and the Three One Shots)

For His Sake

Chaska and Camazotz get into a heated argument when someone hears them.

Camazotz and Zatz were visiting Chaska one night. They couldn't visit as often as they'd like, due to Mictlan, but it let them escape the Underworld for a while.

Chaska would often try to convince Camazotz to go into hiding with her, to which he always refused. They argued about it often and this was no exception.

"It's a risk no matter what you do, Camazotz." Chaska said, "This is the safer choice."

"You know Mictlan's wrath." Camazotz argued, "He'll do far worse to us if he finds us. We're already taking a risk just being here."

"He hasn't found me yet. And he never will. If you hide with me, he won't find you either."

"The difference between us is that Mictlan doesn't value you. He values me, so he'd eventually find us."

"You've done it before, you can do it again."

"Which is why I won't hide."

"You're seriously willing to risk the stability of your son to-"

"At least I'm not being reckless like you."

Chaska was taken aback, "Reckless?"

"Yes. You don't think the rest of us haven't thought about escaping? About being free from Mictlan? You were the only one foolish enough to actually go through with it. Mictlan had us searching for days. Be lucky he didn't care about you enough to find you or you'd be dead right now."

Something snapped within Chaska, "You thought it was easy for me to leave? I didn't want to leave everything behind, but I did. Because I'd rather not live under a tyrant, worrying that every day could be my last!"

"And living in fear is the better choice? You're alone out here!"

"At least I'm alive!"

The two deities heard small footsteps descending down the hall. They exchanged glances and went to see what it was. Sure enough, it was what they thought. Estrella was laying on the floor in the hallway and Zatz was buried in his fur, muffling his sobs.

Camazotz knelt down to his son, "Mijo?" He gently asked.

"Please don't hate each other." Zatz cried, "Please don't be mad."

"Ay, Zatzy, your father and I don't hate each other." Chaska said, running a hand through his hair.

"You were yelling." Zatz lifted his head, but didn't look at his aunt and father, "If you hate each other, we can't come here anymore. I like coming here." Zatz wiped his tears with a sniffle.

Camazotz and Chaska felt the guilt sink into them. They should've known Zatz could hear them, especially with how loud they were. 

"Zatz, just because Chaska and I argue, doesn't mean we hate each other." Camazotz said, picking Zatz up in his arms.

"Really?" Zatz asked. 

"Of course." Chaska said, wiping a tear from his eye, "If you had a sibling, you'd fight with them, too. It's normal for everyone to fight. But your father and I still love each other."

"Does this mean we'll still visit you?"

"Of course, we will." Camazotz smiled, "Now, come on. Let's get you to bed."

Chaska and Camazotz tucked Zatz into bed and watched over him as he slept.

"I'm sorry, Camazotz." Chaska whispered, "How you raise Zatz is your business." 

"I'm sorry, too." Camazotz replied, "You weren't foolish, you were brave to leave."

"Well, you've got one thing right. I am alone out here. I can't complain too much. You, Zatz, Vucub, and Tezcatlipoca visit me. I can't get rid of Tezcatlipoca, but he counts. But I haven't seen Cipactli in years. She was the closest thing I had to a sister and yet… she doesn't care enough to see me. She's… abandoned me. But still, if anything happened to any of you… I don't know how I could live with myself." Chaska took a deep breath as a tear fell down her face. 

Camazotz put an arm around her, "It's alright, Chaska. I know you worry for all of us. But I promise that nothing will happen to us. We're too smart for it."

Chaska smiled at her brother. She licked his cheek before licking Zatz’s cheek, "You two are going to be the death of me."

That night, Chaska and Camazotz silently agreed to never talk about hiding again. For Zatz’s sake.