In His Name

Chapter 56 - A real offering

"Sneak away with me after you eat."

Rosco's spoon freezes halfway to his mouth, eyes sliding over to Hayden who sits beside him. His god is taking great joy in Rosco's attempts to not look crazy in front of his new human friends. Tansy snickers, before now, the wildflower had been rather accommodating to Rosco's ability to see them while others could not. Not normally expecting the boy to interact with them while in front of others. But Rosco can see their tiny wheels turning, watching Hayden poke fun at him all day.

"What were you saying, Rosco?" Kenneth asks.

Rosco's eyes slide back over to Kenneth and Gabby who are both looking at him expectantly, "Uh," the boy hums, having completely forgotten what he'd been talking to them about. He talks a lot. It's hard to keep track of, especially when people are distracting him. Shooting a glare at Hayden, "Well, I uh, I honestly don't know what I was saying," he admits.

Hayden grins victoriously and Gabby giggles.

"How can you forget what you're talking about while you're talking about it?" Kenneth asks incredulously.

"You're silly, Rosco," Gabby decides.

"I'm easily distracted," Rosco defends himself, finishing off his tiny portion of stew.

"You're also not eating enough," Kenneth complains for the fourth meal in a row.

"He's right," Hayden agrees, "And I am still waiting for an answer."

"An answer to what?" Rosco puzzles.

"Huh?" Kenneth asks confused.

Tansy doubles over laughing.

Rosco shakes his head, trying to keep his conversations straight, "Why does everyone always complain about my eating habits!? I'm already eating more then I normally do."

"We have plenty of food, Rosco. You don't need to ration it," Kenneth worries, already spooning more into Rosco's dish, fully switching into father mode.

Rosco groans but accepts the bowl anyway, he's learned not to fight Kenneth in father mode.

"Sorry about Papa," Gabby whispers while Rosco is tucking her in, "his worrying gets out of hand sometimes."

"It's alright," Rosco chuckles.

She sighs, the sound unbefitting her few years, "I feel like all he does is worry," turning her big green eyes on him, "if he'd had a son like you he wouldn't have to worry so much."

Rosco winces, thinking of the concerned looks Hayden and Tansy had been throwing him the last several days, "I worry the people that care about me too." brushing his fingers through her hair. "And I don't like it either. But, worrying is part of how they show they care about us." tapping her nose, "We just have to do our best to give them as many smiles as we can in return."

She mulls over his words and then nods, "I'll try," she says, her voice determined and sleepily, "He's a good Papa, he should have more smiles."

"I think you're already doing a pretty great job of it," he assures her before she drifts into sleep.

Rosco looks up to find Hayden gone. Tansy is sitting in Kenneth's lap, snuggling even if the man knew nothing about it. Kenneth is reading by the firelight, glancing up when he realizes Rosco had fallen silent.

"She's asleep," Rosco informs, twisting his ring, "So, I think I'll take a walk?"

Kenneth chuckles turning a page, "We've been walking all day."

"Not alone?"

Something in the way the man smiles at him makes Rosco feel like Kenneth knows more than he is letting on, but his eyes just flick back down to his book, "You don't need my permission," he consents, "Just be careful."