#after everything Aimilios still wants to be close with Dusknoir.

[fujii-draws]

Fear

[fujii-draws]

so the dusknoir fic has not left my head since morning and im gonna make it your problem /j.

i like to think that a reason as to why dusknoir was having such a crisis when parental instincts kicked in is because theres still a lot of baggage to unpack when coming to terms with what he had done, and how he sees bits and fractions of it in the current day with aimilios and ribbons.

ribbons decides to relax on his plumage collar thing? instant flashback to back when she was but a teeny tiny eevee, and he was the great adorement in which she so willingly and delightfully looked up towards. back when he chose to play along.

aimilios holds his hand close, and just yammers on about whatever it is that happened in his day? instant flashback to back when the boy was but a timid riolu, not wanting to bother/be of inconvenience to someone like dusknoir, to the point where he didn't believe that dusknoir *should.* back when dusknoir was so caught up in playing House with these two, that he might have just felt a pinch of guilt to what he was about to do next. *might*.

the kids are justifiably worried about him, and actively wish for to be better because they care? instant flashback to the time where the same had happened, and look what became of that.

every action, every gesture of kindness, any word of appreciation is rooted in such turmoil. a voice that constantly beckons and taunts him with how all this could have been possible before if he was not such a *coward.* if he wasn't so caught up in his own fear and self preservation, he could have been someone else, someone whos atonement isnt holding him by the neck like a dog.

in short terms, dusknoir doesn't believe himself to be their father because there is no way he deserves to be called as such. a father loves his children, a father proves to be trustworthy and caring, a father will do everything to ensure the safety of his kids, and even if he *does* prove all those beliefs to be true, does that ever change the volume of the echo that those six dreaded words he uttered to be any lower? does that make his hands any less stained?

i could be wrong, so correct me if i am. very eager to see the epilogue.

NO YOURE ABSOLUTELY ON THE MARK. Hell I’m pretty sure I said the same thing but in the form of a shitty discord screenshot 😭

BUT YEAH. He’s already grateful for the fact that they’d re-invited him into their lives even after everything. And those two being ‘teammates’ is enough for him. He can’t be selfish or overstep boundaries in his eyes (or singular eye). He’ll find himself cradling/hugging those two and think ‘hm. Something a father would do. I should stop.’ Unable to hear Ribbons and Aimilios’s confused whimpers towards why he let them go and left.

He’ll teach Aimilios via reading until the boy’s fallen asleep and he drapes the Lucario with his cloak. He’ll allow Ribbons to stay wrapped around his neck for as long as she wishes. Smiling softly whenever she begins to groom/lick his face. So it’s no surprise why Dusknoir’s mind just glitches to go after those two.