The evening sun was setting, and Dio was sulking on the porch.
Seraphiel crawled over to his side and suddenly poked his cheek.
"Muda?" the baby babbled, blinking up at him.
"…"
Dio let out a huff but still scooped the little guy into his arms, letting Seraphiel happily grab the ouroboros silver coin dangling from his chest.
"Because of you, I got a three-way lecture today," Dio grumbled. "That jerk Clark totally ratted me out."
"Seraphiel, don't ever take after Clark."
"Take after what?"
A voice from behind made Dio's spine stiffen, his blond hair practically standing on end.
He turned slowly to see Locke standing in the porch's shadow, having appeared out of nowhere.
"N-Nothing!" Dio forced a laugh, holding Seraphiel up like a shield. "I'm just teaching Seraphiel how to strike poses."
Locke raised an eyebrow, eyeing the few strands of blond hair clutched in the baby's tiny fist. "That's some pose."
As if on cue, Seraphiel giggled, waving his prize gleefully.
Dio's face darkened as he shoved the baby into Locke's arms. "Here, take him! He's such a pain!"
But Locke didn't take him. Instead, he sat down beside Dio.
The evening breeze swept through the porch, carrying the scent of freshly turned soil.
"Dio," Locke said suddenly, "do you know why I adopted Seraphiel?"
Dio froze, his red eyes flickering. "…Fate?"
"No." Locke gazed at the sun sinking below the horizon. "That night, when I thought I was done for… the first thing I thought about was whether you'd end up alone."
Seraphiel went quiet, his dark eyes fixed on his brother.
Dio's fingers tightened unconsciously. "I've got The World."
"A Stand can't talk to you," Locke said softly. "It can't carry you home when you're exhausted from training, or…"
"Clark can do that stuff," Dio quipped. "Isn't a brother just someone to do my bidding?"
"…"
Locke couldn't help but laugh, ruffling Dio's hair. "So that's how you see Clark?"
"Hmph!" Dio's grumbling said it all.
"Look, I don't want you to be alone down the road," Locke said gently, guiding Dio's hand to Seraphiel's cheek. "He's family now, Dio—someone who'll be with us for life."
"Ah-woo!" Seraphiel, right on cue, chomped onto Dio's finger, gumming it toothlessly.
Dio went quiet for a moment.
In the twilight, his voice softened, losing its usual edge. "Dad, I'll protect him."
Locke smiled and stood, just as Clark poked his head out from the kitchen window. "Uncle Locke! Dio! Mom says dinner's—"
His words cut off as he saw Dio holding Seraphiel, a flicker of envy in his eyes.
"C'mere, Seraphiel." Dio, ever the prankster, raised the baby's hand. "Say Clark's a—"
"Dio Kent! You're picking on Clark again!" Locke grabbed Dio by the collar, while Seraphiel kicked his little legs happily in the air.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the porch's wooden floor.
Clark, watching the scene, suddenly grinned. "Dio… you actually like being a big brother, don't you?"
Dio's red eyes glinted in the dusk. He turned away with a huff, subtly shifting to make Seraphiel more comfortable.
Yup. Locke caught the moment with a satisfied nod.
As the sun's glow faded, the aroma of dinner wafted from the Kent family kitchen.
Martha set the final dish—a steaming stew—on the table, the broth glistening temptingly under the light.
"Dinner's ready!"
Clark bolted to the table, eyes sparkling at the sight of roast chicken legs. But soon, his attention shifted to Seraphiel in Martha's arms.
"Mom, can I feed my brother?" Clark asked eagerly, reaching out.
Martha shook her head with a smile. "Not yet, Clark. Seraphiel's still on baby food."
"Aww…" Clark's shoulders slumped as he plopped back into his chair, poking at his mashed potatoes and muttering, "I wanna take care of him too…"
Dio, sitting across from him, sliced his potatoes, but his red eyes kept darting to Seraphiel in Martha's arms.
The baby was nibbling on rice cereal, occasionally wrinkling his face at a spoonful of apple puree, clearly not a fan of the tartness.
"Auntie," Dio said, setting down his knife and fork, "he doesn't seem to like the apple stuff."
Martha raised an eyebrow. "Dio, are you worried about your brother?"
"Who's worried?!" Dio coughed, flustered. "I just don't want Seraphiel spitting out stuff he doesn't like. It's a waste of food."
"Is that so?" Clark smirked. "Dio, you just wanna feed him, don't you?"
"Shut it, Clark!"
Laughter erupted around the table, and even Seraphiel joined in, giggling and smacking his highchair tray, splattering rice cereal—right onto Dio's face.
Dio: "…"
Clark: "Pfft."
Dio: "Clark, you looking for a fight?"
"Ahem!" Locke coughed loudly, cutting off the brewing brotherly brawl.
Wiping his mouth, he turned to Jonathan, who was sitting quietly at the head of the table. "What's with you today, man? You're awfully quiet."
Jonathan propped his chin, looking serious. "Locke, I've been wrestling with a big question."
"What's that?"
"Is my status in this family slipping?"
"…"
Locke paused for two seconds before answering gravely, "Buddy, you're selling yourself short."
Jonathan: "?"
He scratched his head, confused. "What's that gibberish, Locke?"
"It's a Chinese idiom," Martha said, chuckling. "Locke's saying you're always the pillar of this family."
Jonathan's face lit up. "Honey, you get me!"
He pulled a few tickets from his pocket, waving them proudly. "Old Bob gave me these—tickets to the new magic show in Smallville! Anyone in?"
"Me! Me!" Clark's hands shot up, nearly leaping from his chair. "I wanna see magic! They say the guy can make stuff disappear!"
"Now that you mention it," Martha said, smiling as she scooped up Seraphiel, "it's been ages since I've seen a magic show."
"Sorry, honey," Jonathan said, taking her hand with a tender look. "I've been letting you down all these years."
"No way, Jonathan," Martha said softly, shaking her head. "I've been happy all this time."
Her gaze swept over everyone at the table, her voice warm. "First Locke, then Dio and Clark, and now Seraphiel… this family just keeps getting livelier."
"Honey…" Jonathan's eyes misted up.
Locke: "…"
He shivered, thinking to himself, Man, these two are so sappy!
But seeing the family so happy together, his lips curved into a smile.
Wiping his mouth, he nodded. "Alright, let's all go."
Catching a glance at Dio, he noticed the boy's grumpy face but saw a spark of curiosity in his red eyes.
Locke paused, realizing Dio had probably never seen a magic show either.
For a small town like theirs, events like this were a rare treat.
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