my papa taught me how to howl

[jabberwockys]

fandom: aquaman
relationship, characters: kako & koryak
rating: pg
warnings: none
word count: 745
event: koryak day 2025
summary: Every day, they wait for him to appear.
links: cfaa, superlove

Late on a school night, Koryak lies cuddled on the couch with his aana. The news station crackles on their big box TV. It’s not his favorite thing to watch, but it’s Kako’s, and he’ll happily watch TV with her all night long if it means she doesn’t remember he has a math test tomorrow. He really doesn’t want to take that test.

Kako runs her hands through his hair, back and forth. Koryak feels like he could almost fall asleep like this, but his eyes stay glued to the TV. Both of theirs do. He’s young, but not stupid, he knows why his aana watches the news no matter the time of day. It’s the same reason he’s begun to pay attention too. Every day, they wait for it to happen.

Just as Koryak starts to wonder if it will tonight, he appears.

Aquaman is on the late night news in all of his glory. He can hear his aana gasp, causing him to glance up, but she’s smiling. He thinks she looks a little sad, too, but she always smiles when she sees Arthur. Koryak turns his attention back to the TV and watches in amazement as Aquaman fends off a large sea beast. He’s amazing.

Koryak learned a long time ago that Aquaman was his aata. Kako never shied away from telling him. He’s a little sad that Arthur has never come to visit, but it’s hard to resent him when he’s out there saving the world. He’s a busy guy! Koryak can't fault him for never having the time to come by if he's always protecting people. Well, he can a little, but he really doesn't mind as long as his aata is doing something more important.

Then, Koryak notices there's another person on the TV. He’s fighting next to Aquaman. What? The person can’t be too much older than Koryak, maybe just a few years. His head is spinning. He pulls away from his aana, sitting up on the couch. Why is some other kid fighting with his aata? This doesn’t make any sense. If he wanted a sidekick, Koryak has been willing. Getting to be beside Aquaman is something he's always dreamed of.

So, what, Arthur can make time for some random kid, but not Koryak? His own son? Aquaman is supposed to be a superhero. He’s a good guy. Koryak can’t wrap his head around it. His chest starts to get tight, unable to breathe, like a fish out of water. He wants to cry and punch the snot out Aquaman.

“Aana, why? You always said Arthur was a great man. Why would he do this?” Koryak cries, his hands flailing. He feels betrayed by a man he’s never even met.

“Oh, Kory,” Kako grabs his hands, pulling him close, “I don’t know. It’s been a long time since I knew your aata. I used to think he was a god, and now, I’m not sure.”

Hh. Koryak doesn’t like that answer. Aana has always been too kind and considerate for her own good. Why isn’t she angry, like Koryak is? Arthur supposedly has some other family when they’re right here. He abandoned them. It’s not fair!

“I hate him. He was never too busy to come back to Alaska, he just didn’t care,” he says, glaring daggers at the TV. The news segment is over, the channel now talking about the weather, but he still feels resentment towards it.

“Maybe so, Kory. Maybe it’s just the course of life. We can never know for sure, unless he comes knocking,” he can feel his aana pull him in for a hug. Koryak complies, falling forward into her. He doesn’t want to ever let Kako go.

He lays there for a while, head buried in his aana’s hair. She rubs his back, trying to soothe him. It makes him feel a bit like a baby. He won't complain, though. Not now. They both need it a little bit. After who knows how long, he cries all of his tears out. Koryak’s still angry, but he’s mostly tired now.

As if she can read his mind, Kako says, “It’s time for bed, isn’t it?”

Koryak groans, not wanting to get up. He’s comfortable right where he is. When he voices this, his aana just laughs and scoops him up into her arms, carrying him to his bed. It makes Koryak smile. Although Arthur’s abandoned them, he’ll always have his aana.