Chapter Text
He can hear the little giggles around the corner waiting for him. From the little excited flaps of feathered wings, he already knows who’s there. His two little troublemakers, it was to be expected when they are so young. Still learning the ways of their world and each day growing into what they were meant to be. Endless sea of potentials and paths, he cannot wait to see what they will become. Most of his dear children have shown signs of being great leaders, others knights and scholars. They will lead the Imperium to glory like none others before.
However right now they are still children running around the palace, still exploring the world that they are learning about. He feigns surprise when Horus and Sanguinius jump out with loud cries before running away snickering to themselves. They were just about the age of when they visited him in his dreams to tell him their names. Such curiosity the warp can hold just as it was dangerous. “At least they are not fighting again.” Constantin said with a smile decorated on his face, initially the captain general didn’t know how to feel about the primarchs but eventually with their constant presence being around the palace. He had come around to them, Lion and Leman seems to be the closest ones to him. With him having to play the meditator between the two.
Oh how time passes when Constantin had to hold those two apart before they tried to tear each other apart with the fights and now they get along like a house on fire. Malcador told him that he should have made them girls, it would be a lot easier but have he seen girls fight? He didn’t want to get into that, either way he was glad his custodes were getting around being comfortable around his sons. Sons….that was a funny word when he thinks about it.
When he was creating them he never thought he would come to love them like this, he just thought of them as another project for his plan, however when they visited his dreams. He cannot fathom himself not loving them, they were just children. Not tools like he initially thought, they came with their own quirks and aspirations already it seems. At first he feared the implication of it, that maybe he should just scrub the idea, in the end they all had said they will help him build an Imperium like never before. They will fulfill his wish as their creator, he couldn’t stop himself from telling them that he wasn’t their creator but their father. The little smile from them was worth more than gold at that moment.
He was just glad they didn’t remember the many conversations they had in his dreams, so they can grow up with the curiosity and excitement as kids.
“Father…..” A tiny voice calls to him sounding unsure and he looks down to find Lorgar looking at him with those big violet eyes of his, Magnus floated next to his brother encouraging him to speak louder. Lorgar was such a shy kid even if amongst his sons he was the best speaker out of them. His words hold weight that no normal humans can ignore, initially he worried about how Lorgar can command his future legion. But after seeing him and Roboute had an intense debate over a topic that frankly didn’t matter, those worries were put to rest. “What is wrong, my son?” He asked gently, lifting him up into his arms so they could speak eye to eye, Magnus followed and made himself comfortable on his shoulder. It was a familiar routine with Magnus liking to make himself comfortable on his shoulders. Reminded him of those parrots from long ago.
“Roboute picked another star from the sky again.” Lorgar said, ducking his head when he made eye contact with Constantin. Just like his custodes being uncomfortable around his primarchs, the primarchs were the same around them. Although some warmed up faster than the others, Lorgar was the latter half. He was like that with a lot of people, his own brothers had been trying to get him out of his shell more often. Perhaps it was because he was a beta, most of his brothers were alphas and omegas only him being the only beta? He should look into that, maybe he will ask some of the nobles to bring their beta children to come and play with him. Maybe he would be more comfortable with those like him? “I see…” He pets his head gently “Please tell him to put it back, it’s very loud.” Lorgar pouts trying to cover his ears.
Lorgar was always more sensitive than the others about the warp and Roboute. “Alright I will go tell him to put it back, will you be alright with letting Constantin take you back to your room?” Lorgar shyly peeks at Constantin from his father’s arms and looks at Magnus then at him with an unsure look. “You can do it Lorgar.” Magnus encourages with a smile, Lorgar looks at Constantin again who tries to keep a warm smile on his face. He pressed his lips together before giving a small shy nod. Revelation chuckles and hands Lorgar over to Constantin.
Lorgar keeps Constantin at a distance as much as he can, his eyes downcast too anxious to face the captain general. He leans in, placing a gentle kiss on Lorgar’s forehead using his abilities to help block out the noise that bothers him. Even now the warp tries to influence his sons but they have their own little immune systems that protects them, even then it doesn’t mean it stops them from trying. “Are you coming with me, Magnus?” His son nods eagerly, Roboute like his brothers, however he is also very picky about who can go into his equatorial room that also act as his bedroom.
“I want to see what story the star tells this time.” He laughs and Revelation moves him out of his shoulder into his arms as they travel to Roboute’s room. Malcador joins him halfway there, giving Magnu’s cheek a gentle pinch making the youngling hide his face from his uncle with a little whine. “Roboute picked another star huh? Just like how you picked something forbidden from the gardens of the chaos gods.” Malcador said humorously, he rolls his eyes at his friend but doesn’t deny the fact that he did and that’s why they are desperately trying to get it back. A fruitless effort as it doesn’t want to go back based on their conversations in his dreams.
They enter the equatorial room, where Roboute sat in his many cushions along with Dorn who was busy flipping through pages of his architecture book, he is never affected by the warp’s influence, Corax had snuggled up to Roboute’s side sleeping and Angron was poking at the ‘star’ in Roboute’s hands. 3 pairs of eyes turn to them when the door is opened and Angron places a finger to his lips telling to be quiet as he gestures to a sleeping Corax.
It seems like the 3 little alphas already found themselves acting as the guard to the omega. Just like how Ferrus could guard Fulgrim from anyone he didn’t like. It was like this with the omegas, the alphas always guarded them no matter what, however few seemed to have their favorite, it was very cute in his opinion. “Father, why are you here? Hello Magnus!” Angron asks bouncing over to greet them, Dorn has not looked up from his book, it must be really good to captivate his attention like this. Magnus leaves his arms to greet his brother with a hug “What are you doing here?” Magnus tilts his head since Angron would usually be found in the gardens more than Roboute’s room. “There was singing so I came to see, Roboute also felt sad and I wanted to make him feel better.” Angron tells him, he turns to look back at Roboute who was busy talking with the star. “Come come it's a really pretty song.” He said excitedly, dragging Magnus behind him.
Malcador and Revelation share a grin before they follow the children with few paces behind. Angron pulls Magnus close to Roboute before the omega looks up with wide eyes, like their arrival didn’t register with him until now.
His star filled eyes was like if the galaxy had kissed them and left the stars behind. There used to be more stars but as he grew they seemed to be settling into more normal deep blue eyes. He wonders if he will retain them as it was a special part of Guilliman. “I didn’t hear you guys…” He mumbles quietly looking back at the star with a small pout, he already knows why they were here. And he was going to put it back really but the song was soft and Corax liked it too. But it wasn’t the correct star either, he wonders if he will be able to find the correct one soon. “Roboute will you please put the star back? It’s bothering Lorgar.” He asked gently, it was a regular conversation that happened very often and he wondered why his son kept picking stars out of the sky even when he was asked not to.
Roboute looks down at Corax before nodding slowly and places the star back from where he plucked it out of the sky. “Thank you.” He smiles petting the soft blonde hair, he looks at Malcador hoping he will distract the other children so he can speak with Roboute alone.
His old friend nods, gently guiding Magnus and Angron towards the many bookshelves that lined the room. Everyone had their own little library in the palace, little was an understatement however it cannot compare to the major one that was opened to the public. However the books were very personalized to each of his sons and Magnus was always eager to read something different.
He sat on the cushion, making sure to not jostle Dorn and Corax too much, he gently pats his lap asking Roboute to join him. Dorn shifts slightly when the omega moves, finally looking up from his book since they came in here. “I will be back.” Roboute offers him a toothy smile despite his inner panic and Dorn reluctantly lets him go.
Roboute sits on his father’s lap, feeling smaller than before, his father always seemed so big and he knew he was in trouble. Tears glistening in the corner of his eyes, he tries to hold them back as his shoulders tremble lightly. Revelation brings his son closer to him to comfort the scared child, this was not what he wanted to open. “Ssh it’s ok, I’m not mad at you. I just want to know why. Why do you pick the stars from the sky?” It takes a while before Roboute regains his composure to look at his fathers. Those teary eyes just break his heart and he wipes the little tears in the corner of his eyes “Take your time.” He encourages Roboute swallows lightly before pointing towards the sky.
“I….I want to find the star of happiness for everyone…” He whispers softly like he was sharing a terrible secret . Revelation blinks with surprise before he smiles hugging his son close, so that’s what it was. Always so hopeful, what was he even saying when hope was right here with him. The hope wanting to find happiness for everyone, so human, so kind. “I see, thank you. I’m sure everyone would love it. But happiness is already here, my child. With you and everyone.” He watches how a bright smile beams at him and for the first time.
He can hear the stars twinkling with joy.
He can see many futures: the bad, the good, destruction and hope everything all at once. He was sure though, the best future where they are headed, the Imperium of man will stand above all and alongside him will be his sons and friends. Old and new.
He cannot wait for the moment of Sanguinius and Lion arguing who has the right to take Roboute’s hand in marriage, for Ferrus and Fulgrim to run away for a vacation that they will have to drag them back, for Dorn and Perturabo to build the greatest palace they ever seen and for a grand wedding that awaits them. Malcador will for sure have a crying competition with Erda and he cannot wait for all of it to come to pass.