Cupid (DNF + Karlnap)

Chapter 73: Father-Son Disagreements

Techno POV.
✨1,700 years ago✨

“And hearing your enthusiasm is always so great too, Techno.” The blond man seemed quite happy as he said that, and it made me feel happy in response to see my father happy. “You know, one day you will be an incredible Cupid, just like your father,”
“Yeah.” I nodded, but then I glanced away, feeling guilty.

Although I did love my father, and although I did love hearing about his job, it wasn’t something I wanted to do, since I didn’t really like the idea of soulmates. It was a cute story, but it just felt word that there was one person you were destined to be with, when most species (humans included), could form those connections with multiple others.

I didn’t want to tell him that, I knew the passion that he held for his job, and the hope that he had that one of us, myself or Tommy, would follow in his footsteps to become a cupid. Neither of us were cupid-like though, in my opinion. I had no interest in the job, and Tommy had no interest in learning about the job.

“So what are you reading?” Philza questioned, sitting himself down opposite me and eyeing my book with interest. “It must be good if you are already half-way through.”
“A book about mythos.” I responded. “All sorts of human traditions that we created, like Easter and the estival solstice.”

“Interesting.” The man smiled, I was unsure if he took genuine interest in it or not, since my gaze was back down at the page. There was a picture etched in of a woman kneeling in front of a rabbit. Some kind of ancient fable about a woman finding a rabbit who lays eggs.

This was the picture that humans saw, one from their stories down on Earth, to the left was an almost identical photo which showed off our world’s image. In this one there was an angel, one guiding the woman towards the rabbit. A Guardian Angel showing the creature to her, showing her it was safe.

That is what I longed to do, to be a Guardian, to have the sage advice in order to help people and guide them to good fortune (or bad fortune if I felt like it). I smiled as I studied the picture, wondering what it would be like to have that job.

“A Guardian Angel.” He scoffed from beside me, and my gaze shifted over to my father. “It’s a stupid job, humans know basic right and wrong for themselves. They don’t need someone over their shoulder, humming ideas into their head.”

“What’s wrong with that?” I asked, my brows furrowed. “Wouldn't giving ideas help people? They get guided towards something good in order to help them live their lives well.”
“Humans don’t need that.” Philza informed me. “It’s something that you should have learned in school Techno. Humans don’t need a guide.”

‘But they need someone to tell them who their true love is?’ I thought to myself, allowing my brows to furrow. Despite my eagerness to defend my pride (when it came to the job that I wanted to do), I didn’t say anything out loud though, allowing most of my anger to disappear in the firmness I clutched the book with.

“What is wrong now, Techno?” Philza asked, his voice surprising me. I looked up at him to see a gaze which almost sliced me in half. “I can sense your emotions.”
“Nothin’.” I gruffly yet quickly assured him. “It’s nothin’ Phil.” I didn’t look towards him as I said this, hoping it would work.

Yet he was a Cherubin, reading emotions was simple and he knew my words weren’t true. That was another reason why him being my father was hard, he could read the slightest emotion which would betray myself of Tommy. Excited because of a party, he knew. Sad because we failed a test, he knew. Tired because we ate sugar we weren’t supposed to eat, he knew.

“I can tell that isn’t true. Do you need cheering up?” A smile briefly crossed my face at the offer of him cheering me up, something which I thought was stupid yet amusing. Although I shook my head. It wasn’t a simple thing for him to do. Although Cherubins could manipulate and simulate different emotions it was impossible to do on Archangels, even half archangels like myself.

So he couldn’t cheer me up. “No thank you, father.” I allowed the smile to disappear in place of a respectful nod before standing up and moving to where the food was cooking. It was roughly time for the food to be ready, although the main reason I had moved was to avoid the conversation that he wanted to have.

“Dinner should be ready soon.” I hummed, one hand brushing against the wall with rough fingers and the other still holding my book open on the page with the rabbit. My attention had already shifted fully back into the paragraph before I had even finished my sentence.

From the corner of my eye I saw my father’s demeanour shift, noting my interest in the book he was obviously annoyed by. “Really Techno?” He asked. “You continue to read about those useless Guardian Angels despite my dislike of them?”
I glanced over, not liking the feelings that surrounded this. “They are interesting.” I hummed.

“They are useless scum.” He spat, eyes turning a vibrant red for a moment before withering back down to a dull grey. “I do not appreciate you reading about them. I don’t want their stupid goals and ideas polluting my son. You are destined for a greatness they would never provide.”
“Sure… whatever.” It was the fifth time we had had this conversation, and I ignored it.

I hoped that this wouldn’t happen, since I didn’t want to let my father down if I left my beliefs slip, which could often be a burden on a son, but I managed to keep my composure and walk out of the room with some dignity. “You deal with dinner.” I called out. “I’m gonna finish this chapter.”
“Don’t.” Phil warned. “You know I don’t like it.”

Still I ignored him, yet before I even made it to my room my name was called and a firm hand was placed on my shoulder, how did he even get this close to me without me realising? “ᛏᛖᚳᚻᚾᚩ, I am serious.” He said my name in Angelic, a sign that he was serious like he said. “If I catch you wasting your life on these dumb Guardians I will not be happy.”

I merely nodded, not even paying much attention to him if I was being completely honest, most of these were probably just geriatric ramblings, maybe I should try and find him some medications. Many human cultures were making breakthroughs in medicine with herbs which helped with many things, perhaps my father could benefit.

“Whatever you are thinking, make sure to stop it. It is rude to have any hostility, even in your mind.” Although he made the comment he didn’t seem to figure out what my reasoning behind the thoughts would be, and that it would be linked to them. Yet with a deep breath I cleared my mind, as he said. “A good Cupid would never be caught being hostile, it could scare off clients.”

“I know.” I was dejected, although I loved my father he was hopeless. He would never support what I wanted to do.
“Especially if you wanted to go down to the human world. Those poor old Guardian Angels are forced to stay up here, Cupids can go down to Earth.”

That was a good point, the one good point he could really raise against me, yet I stayed silent, my wings tucking themselves behind my back. “I’m just gonna go to my room and finish reading.” I muttered, feeling my eyes dull. “Call me when dinner’s ready.”
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1345 words

A little bit of insight into their relationship.