The Equation of Hearts

√𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟼𝟿ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـﮩ

He never woke up from that dream.

The heat of the spring reverted his hair to their usual curls and was no longer a brown that could be mistaken for black - but was a brown that seemed to actually be a dark brown regardless of light. Still not the same colour as his mother's, but it now faded from that light brunette into a chestnut brown, warm and welcoming. So it was like his hair had decided to stop growing with Tenshi's undertones and begin growing with Elena's. Not that people could see Elena's with the way his hair coiled in the heat of their nation.

He left the spring and patted Camilla's head as she went in after him, he had only his army grieves and the bandages on. Naeem gave him a towel and he left it around his neck easily - before he went to get lost in the castle walls, he was indubitably lost. There was a maid rushing past that saw him and bowed briefly before he choked on his words to ask for help. Mateo never needed help. He'd just learn it on his own. So he got to that. He got to looking around the castle walls for places that he would recognise. And there were only some.

"Mateo!" Tenshi called, he turned around and stood sternly as he faced his father, his hand on his chest and looking down in respect, "come, let's take you to your room," he offered, walking ahead. Mateo wondered whether if he held his father's hand, this Tenshi would get uncomfortable. Was the other one?

"Oh? Have you done all your work today?" Elena wondered as the pair walked past her.

"Naeem took up being the royal advisor, so I have far less to do," he excused, Elena rushed to Mateo's side and took a hold of his hand. Mateo remembered why he wasn't bothered about things like affection prior - it was because Elena was like an open faucet of the affection he otherwise missed from Tenshi.

"Did Mateo forget his way? You've only been gone for some months! Oh I suppose someone has to have your father's memory," she giggled and squeezed his hand. They walked along and Tenshi opened the door for him to a room. A single glass window that led to a balcony of sun-baked stone, a large bed by that very door. There was a study and cupboard, as well as a bathroom closed away. It was his bedroom.

"Mum..." Mateo looked at it and then to her, with a stoic look she smiled at lovingly,

"Yes, my baby? Tell me everything that happened! How was I? You worked under me right? Was I an evil patroness?" She giggled and hugged his arm. He shook his head,

"Can I... style your hair," he whispered. He never asked, "please..." he never pleaded either - because he never would request it in the first place. He only ever styled Elena's hair when she offered, that usually meant he was sad and not telling anyone. But they looked at his eyes and he wasn't offering anything other than a feeling of anonymity to them.

"Please ask me more," she gave her welcoming and wide grin, rushing to the middle of his room and sitting down. He followed behind her and sat down. Tenshi also sat down.

"I'll help you around the castle," Tenshi offered, sitting in front of his wife and offering his hands that she played with. Mateo was running his own hands through the hair, leaning forward to smell the fragrant spice she was always around. Also the strangely warm smell of mustard oil.

"Tell me about the other me," she requested and he hummed as he braided her hair absently,

"...You have four children... they're closer than Naeem, Camilla and I..." he claimed, "the oldest and youngest look like Uncle Juno." He recalled and tensed, "did you speak to Uncle Juno today? How is Auntie Yenma and the new baby?" He worried and Elena giggled,

"They're fine! They visited with the baby and she's so cute," Elena doted,

"Mashallah, she's healthy," Tenshi agreed.