It was curious, in every sense, to so consider a veritable world separate from the one they existed in. That was not to say, of course, that the near ancient Fae had not heard of other worlds before. Within the terribly great expanse off his life he had heard a great many things. Some of which turned out to be but entirely true, others proving to be no more than a metaphorical fools gold and some of those tales lingering in some place between truth and lie. The existence of this Shadow Stream, he suspected, was entirely true. After all, his source was wholly trustworthy in that fashion and yet Aiden's very consideration of what else might exist in that realm of shadows was hardly a poor one. There was every chance, after all, that something crafted of shadow itself might prove capable of existing permanently in the realm even if he suspected Aiden and himself were not. After all, Aiden in the very least would eventually require both food and water and while he so hardly voiced that very concern- Matteo had well come to suspect a creature such as himself might struggle in a land crafted of nothing more then shade and with his own affinities suppressed by that very darkened embrace. It would be curious, however, to see how much Aiden's owner powers might expand when surrounded by nothing but shadow and too- there was every chance that vampiric woman might be utterly unable to reach the boy there. If his own affinity for Future Sight was incapable of piercing that dark veil and that vampiric woman held no power of nearly the same level off his own he saw little way in which she might breech that barrier. Such a place could yet prove a sanctuary of sorts for Aiden alone. Matteo offering several of those considerations aloud now as he bit into his sandwich again. His efforts to reassure his companion they were hardly fated to die in that shadowy realm with their appearance within his later visions prompting that less than enthusiastic utterance from the younger man. Matteo's eyes rolling loosely.

"Do not be too excited about living now, you might hurt yourself."

That very tease fell readily from his lips. Matteo chuckling softly once more as he lent further back upon that rug in a decidedly laconic fashion, that sun having done a truly fabulous job of so drying out his clothing even if a few of those damp patches still remained. How wholly pleasant an afternoon this was. That sudden query of just how they might reach that Stream however readily prompted that coaxing off his own affinity back to life. Matteo content to continue to eat that sandwich as that reddened hue eclipsed the silver off his gaze and brought those images to life behind his eyes. Matteo frowned ever so slightly before that silver hue so readily returned. His gaze refocusing readily upon Aiden then as the WereKing waited so patiently- only for Matteo to insist the very gateway to that world appeared to be within Aiden's own city and that it so required the use of.....lines. Somehow. Why were lines important? While so many off his visions were strikingly clear a small portion of them so tended to be....symbolic rather than factual. Their interpretation open to question. This vision a veritable mix of both. After all, he knew that city decidedly well and yet why did he continue to see it crossed over with lines? That sudden snort from his son followed by that sardonic insistence he was so helpful prompted the return of a scowl to his own features, that soft huff parting his own lips.

"It is better than nothing. I should like to see you try without my help!"

Aiden, he suspected, would hardly get terribly far. After all, without his very vision they would hardly know where to begin looking at al! Matteo considered those curious lines for several more moments before insisting they would surely work it out. For now he was assured his adoptive son had been subject to enough training for the day. The frenchman content to afford his companion the rest off the afternoon to do with as he pleased. A concept, he knew, that was very near foreign to the emerald-eyed man. To be utterly free of responsibility or obligation or duty in any sense was decidedly rare for his companion and yet the near ancient Fae believed it nothing short of important to at least attempt to prompt his companion to dare to indulge in leisure time. That very insinuation that he might otherwise be sequestered into helping him in the kitchen only further prompting the young man to assure him he could find something to do with his time. Matteo afforded him that ready nod, that slight simper touching his lips all the same as he moved to reach for his own piece of that chocolate tart. It was only once that lunch was thoroughly complete and that plate of cookies equally consumed by them both that Matteo at last saw reason to rise from that blanket, his hands dusting any grass from himself as Aiden got to his feet in turn. The Frenchman insisting he need make a start on those dinner preparations sooner rather than later.

"If you need a car or a bike the keys are on a rack just inside my office door, 2nd floor, 13th door on the left. If your looking for the games room which has near every console known to man in it, that is another floor up and down the hall, the door is marked. If you need any assistance or get lost ask any member of staff inside or out and they will help you. Come home when it gets dark and dinner should be ready. Have fun, Mon Amie."

That easy chuckle so readily hummed from within the depths off his throat. Matteo abruptly disappearing then to leave Aiden to his own devices for the afternoon. The Frenchman near curious as to just how the boy might choose to spend his time when he knew so readily the very idea of it was rather overwhelming to him altogether. His own figure appeared readily within that kitchen then, that housekeeper offering her greeting as she bustled past, Matteo readily heading for that fridge and pantry in turn to select those very ingredients he so required for that cheese-based evening meal. How he adored that cooking process, even if only for the manner in which it so allowed him that chance to consider those very thoughts that turned within his own mind. Those recipes he had made a hundred thousand times before requiring near no thought on his part. Rather, in this, Matteo was content to consider instead that final thing he so wished to...discuss with Aiden. Tonight, he supposed, was as good a night as any and yet that very anxiety of sorts still managed to tug at him. Perhaps Gregory was right, perhaps he had become prone to cowardice in his old age and yet- he quite suspected such was not the case. Rather, just how Aiden might respond to that very suggestion remained unclear and yet the boy deserved to have it offered to him all the same. Even if he might so chose not to take it up. A possibility Matteo had long considered might be the case if only for Aiden's utter determination to attempt to keep others out of harm's way- even at the expense off his own happiness. There was a selflessness to his adoptive son- a truly profound one, even if Aiden himself would readily deny it. Yet perhaps, for once, he might yet coax the boy into taking something....for himself.

It was some hours later, when that sun had finally set, that Aiden made his reappearance into that kitchen just as the Frenchman so finished preparing that requested and favoured meal of Mac and Cheese with those slices of sausage included. That bowl was easily pushed toward his companion then, that ready grin upon his lips as he grasped his own bowl before leading the way into that living room. Matteo, tonight, so hardly bothering with that dining table. The frenchman instead all but flopping onto the nearest couch with that bowl balanced precariously upon his chest to eat from. His hand waving in that light gesture to insist Aiden do the same.

"So, tell me, Mon Amie, what did you do with your afternoon?"

He had hardly chosen, for once, to peer into that very future, rather, Matteo was wholly determined to let Aiden speak of it himself. The Fae distinctly curious as to exactly what the WereKing might have found to do for those few hours. In the very least none off his staff had returned to him to say the Panther had gotten into any kind of trouble. 31 years old or otherwise the Frenchman remained distinctly assured Aiden was wholly capable of creating 'trouble' if he desired it. That very meal was nothing short of exceptional, even Matteo content to admit he had taken quite a delight in it as that empty bowl was placed aside. Yet, he could so hardly put off that conversation he so desired to have with his companion any longer. Even if he knew merely boarching that very topic was likely to prompt a wariness within the younger man all the same. Any topic of those more...emotive concerns so tending to prompt those very barriers Aiden wielded so effortlessly to slam into place- even against himself. Matteo silent for several moments before he considered those very words.

"There is something I should like to discuss with you, Aidun- before the evening gets to late. It is a discussion, I think, that is well overdue. Though that fault is my own alone- and a little bit my governments."

That soft simper so momentarily lingered upon his lips once more before he so simply raised one hand- that manilla folder appearing within it then. Matteo, for perhaps the first time, appearing almost slightly....nervous. A trait the Frenchman was distinctly determined to conceal lest Aiden pick up upon it to readily and yet- the very significance of this conversation surely dictated no less. Matteo allowing one hand to run through his hair then in that rarely seen gesture of indecision before His gaze lifted again to Aiden's own as he sat across from him.

"I know I do not often say it, in fact, I do not ever think we have ever truly spoken of it though I think you know by now that I have thought of you as my son for....a very long time. If there had been some way, any way, within your childhood that I could have taken you away from that...woman that I did not foresee leading to your death, or mine, I would have done it. Believe me, I would have, in a heartbeat. If my death alone would have freed you then I'd gladly have allowed it but in those visions I saw, without me, she always found you again and then I wasn't there too..."

Matteo paused, he surely hardly need voice that fate that might have awaited Aiden if Matteo himself had been killed and all but abandoned the boy to that woman entirely.. Aiden, he knew, had not always understood why he could not merely take him away from that place even despite how desperately he desired to. A desire that had not lessened over the years. Fate was a truly mysterious deity- and often a cruel one. The Frenchman never before having spoken, to Aiden himself at least, off how that incapability on his own part to take Aiden away with him had afflicted him so profoundly in turn over those years. Yet it was hardly upon that past he so wished to dwell when it could not be changed. Matteo sighing softly once more as Aiden took that folder into his hands.

"I am sorry, Aidun. For everything I have not been able to give you even despite how desperately I wanted too. I still want to, even now. I never stopped thinking of you though. You were never forgotten. Not once. I cannot give you everything in this world you might desire but I can offer you something else, perhaps. I applied for that at least 6 years ago. It was approved by the government only just recently."

His hand gestured readily to that folder then for Aiden to open it and take those series of papers from within, along with several certificates and other documentation. The largest of those documents was a decidedly thick tome with the National Emblem of France so adoring the front. That look of confusion upon the younger mans features hardly unanticipated as he held it within his hands.

"Do you know what that is, Mon Amie? It is formulaire d'adoption adulte. Adult Adoption forms, Aidun. Approved, at last, by both our countries."

That faint simper so touched his lips once more, Matteo paused to allow his companion to fully understand just what he was holding and the very implications of it all at once before he continued.

"Because your Mother and Father were never issued with death certificates when they died and your birth certificate was undoubtedly lost in the fire, the government struggled to find you, or any existence of you at all. It took rather a long time and rather a lot of searching but eventually I managed to gather that paperwork needed. Your birth certificate is in that paperwork too- if you ever have need of it. Adult adoption is very common in France and recognised in every country in the world. It is not the same as when a child is adopted, you do not need to change your last name or cut any ties to your biological parents, I would never attempt to replace them. This is merely making you officially a part of my family too- it you desire it. I know what family means to you Aidun. No matter how you pretend. I think sometimes, Mon Amie, you forget what you mean to me- now you cannot forget."

There was every chance, he knew, that Aiden might not desire such a thing. Matteo wholly prepared for the boy to react negatively. After all, on occasion, when emotion overwhelmed him, Aiden could be decidedly...difficult in every sense. A result of the trauma off his life to be sure. Yet- how much he desired hat Aiden might understand how very much he mattered in this world, even if only to him. The Frenchman rather hopeful Aiden might be willing to let himself...be loved. He could not change all that had happened. He could not bring back those who had died but perhaps he could give his son back that family he knew he craved. Those final words uttered quietly then.

"Regardless of what you might chose you always have been, and always will be, my son. That will not ever change. I know how you feel about allowing anyone to be close to you but I have been with you 21 years. I have known what I was involving myself in from the beginning so you cannot chase me away with that notion, Scoundrel. The simple truth of it Aidun, is that I love you. In in the end that is all there is to it- and you always have a place here with me."



m a t t e o
it's tough to be a god