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Ostra has always idolized his father ever since he was born, always telling his family and their people that he wants to be just like his great father when he grows up, always watching and observing how he is, so it’s no surprise that he secretly swims from behind the seat of the military area that Cha’ah Toh commands.
His eyes sparkle, smile growing when he watches and listens to his father deliver a speech with that grand headdress he is mesmerized with. He makes eye contact with Namora and he motions with his finger to his lips to keep quiet about it, she smiles before looking back at her predecessor who already knew and sensed his son’s whereabouts.
With the pending smile on his lips, Namora knows he’ll dismiss the army earlier than expected. She secretly watches as Ostra leans his cheek on the throne-esque seat, dreamily looking up to his father.
When Cha’ah Toh dismisses them, Namora winked at Ostra then she swimmed off, he covered his mouth to hide his giggle and it just made his father smile even more. Cha’ah Toh, dramatic as he is, slowly swims on his left and Ostra swims there too as discreetly as he can.
His father chuckles just as to how obvious his eldest son is and Ostra’s heart swells. What is papa smiling about? I hope it’s about me or mama– no! Me and mama!
Cha’ah Toh swims further away and Ostra’s little heart breaks, thinking and accepting that his very own father, the great feathered serpent god didn’t notice his own son!
With crocodile tears in his eyes, he finally stands in a stool-like stone just near the throne, “Papa!” He cries out and Cha’ah Toh conveniently turns around only to be greeted by a disappointed son, “Did you not see me?!”
He quickly swam to his son who rubs his eyes as he sniffs, it hurts to see his son cry but he feels his heart smile at the thought of his son crying for him and his attention. Ostra looks at him kneeling down to get to his level. He puts a hand on his son’s back as he caresses his hair, “Is my son sad?”
“Mhm! You didn’t notice me!” He accuses, a sulky pout forms on his lips.
Cha’ah Toh kisses his forehead and Ostra takes a step closer, “I saw you since the start, my son.” He consoles and Ostra’s eyes immediately brighten with awe until it’s quickly replaced by a sulky one again.
He stomps his foot and Cha’ah Toh refrains a bigger smile, remembering how his wife, the mother of his son, does that same action when jealous. “Why didn’t you call me?!” Ostra’s arms stretch to him and the latter engulfs him in a tight hug as his son sobs a few more.
When Ostra calms down a bit, Cha’ah Toh retrieves but his son’s hands remain on his arm and shoulder, “Well, I thought you were playing with papa, I thought you were hiding.”
“Really?” The latter nods and his heart calms down. Of course my papa knows! He’s the best! He is about to lean on his father again when his eyebrows scrunched upwards and he looked adorable, “Then why aren’t you seeking me?!”
Cha’ah Toh copies his expression as warmth and love for his son spreads through his chest, “Oh, my baby.”
As his father hugs him again, he pouts, “I’m not a baby.” He rests his cheek on his father’s shoulder, content more than ever that he’s going to have his attention for the whole day, “I’m your son.”
“That’s…” he chuckles, “that’s the same.”
He stands up with his son in his arms, Ostra snuggles more and the latter kisses his shoulder, he smiles beneath his father’s skin. “Did you really sense me, papa?”
Cha’ah Toh smiles, “Of course, my Ostra,” he answers gently, “you’re my son and I’ll always know where you are.” Ostra looks at him to grin and his smile grows, bumping his nose carefully to his son’s, making him giggle and lean on his face, “Shall I remove my headdress?”
“No!” He quickly refuses, looking at him who expected the answer, “Just hug me, papa.”
He kisses his cheek, “Alright, my son.” He caresses his back and he can feel Ostra falling asleep, he smiles and tries to kid around, “Do you wanna go for a swim?”
“No.” He quickly refuses again, “I wanna go home,” he yawns and Cha’ah Toh kisses the top of his head, “don’t go anywhere anymore, papa, just stay with me.”
He grins, knowing well his son got the clingy attitude from both his clingy parents, “Of course.” He slowly swims to savor the rare times Ostra is actually clingy to him, always preferring his mama Shuri to hug and kiss more. But he also couldn’t wait to see his wife and boast to her about what just happened.
They arrive and Namora swiftly removes his headdress, pinching Ostra’s cheek after. What woke him up though is the presence of his mother when they entered his parents’ room. Shuri, who was reading a book, stands up and approaches them, kissing her husband first before turning to their son.
“Hi, mama.” He greets but makes no move to ask to be carried by her.
Her lips gape, ignoring the annoying grin on her husband’s face, she’s never going to hear the end of this day. “What happened?” She wraps her arm around his waist and puts a hand on her son’s back.
Ostra and Cha’ah Toh look at each other, simultaneously looking at Shuri and answering with a mischievous smile, “Nothing!” Ostra snickers, settling on his father’s neck again and Shuri almost glares at her son’s father who just gives her heart eyes.
“Not to mama anymore?” She asks, eyebrows scrunching upwards
“No.”
Cha’ah Toh tilts his head slightly back to laugh and Shuri thinks he’s lucky she loves him or else she would’ve sliced his throat. Then he watches Ostra copy the expression on Shuri’s face, “You don’t want mama anymore?”
Ostra looks up at him before hugging him again, “I want papa today.”
“Today only?”
Ostra throws his head back, frustration running in his little body as he’s about to cry again so Cha’ah Toh catches the back of his head to kiss his son’s forehead, “Aw, my baby, I’m just kidding.” He squeezes his cheeks with one hand and he shows Shuri what their son looks like, she grins.
“I’m not a baby!”
Shuri does that expression again, “But you are.”
He copies the look on her face, “Noooo.”
Cha’ah Toh sits him up properly so Ostra is in the middle of his parents, simultaneously, “Yes,” they kiss his cheeks, “you,” again, “are.” And again.
Ostra tries to hug them both by their necks, happy and delighted with their affection and attention geared towards him only. He retracts to lean on Cha’ah Toh’s chest as he walks with his wife toward their hammock.
“Does this mean you’ll sleep with mama?”
Ostra shakes his head, “No,” he hugs his papa’s arm, “just papa only today.”
As if on cue, Cha’ah Toh throws his head back to laugh a boisterous one and Ostra looks up at him with sparkling eyes to hear his father laugh because of him. Shuri’s face and heart softened because of the sight in front of her but glared when her husband gave her a triumphant grin.