Pit's eyes seemed to light up a bit now, "He probably doesn't know but, he restored my sense of purpose. When I was still trying to figure out my way as a new deity...he accidentally reminded me of why it was all worth it."

Pit smiled sadly, "Well, in my case, I found out later that I even saved his life during the very first battle of the uprising..."

He tilted his head, "But, I adopted him after seeing him being thrown out on his birthday. Just for being trans, just for being himself."

++

He gasped at his own words, tilting his head, "Oh ah, that slipped... I uh, I'm the doting parent to a college student I adopted. If we want a more cheerful topic."

He didn't know what to say, but he did finally get back to his feet. Carefully kneeling down to lightly pat Palutena on the back.

"Oh, I see. I'm...so sorry. Truly...I...I don't know what I would do if I lost anyone important to me right now..."

Break, probably.

"Everyone around me has been so fundamental in me finding my ground to stand on. Helping me figure out who I am. If I lost Daku, if I lost my son-"

++

Raised by Medusa if you can believe it-"

He tilted his head, "But...when I declined to return because of that sister and because I had gotten engaged to marry /my/ Dark Pit, my Daku... She deemed me a traitor."

He hesitated now, and it was plain on his face. What if this Palutena hated him after this?

No better way to find out.

"I decided, having learned a lot to better myself, that they deserved that chance to change. Even led to me finding out I had a sister, raised there.

++

"My Palutena's thanklessness led to many arguments, including one that finally caused me to go live on Earth. It's...a long tale, but there came a time where the Underworld began to heal and recover. But, along with that, they also chose to try to redeem themselves. They wanted to change."

++

the pain of a hollow victory. That's...how I felt becoming a deity in replacement of my Palutena. Even though she stabbed me in the back so coldly that my toga was the wrong color for days... The retribution for it felt so underwhelming..."

There was no words. Nothing Pit could say. Not a thing. Not even a gasp. Not a breath. For a moment, he thought even his own heart had stopped.

Until...

"O-Oh..."

It was such a weak reaction, but with his own tears welling up in his eyes, he couldn't find more of one.

"...I understand

++

"During the fight with Hades... I remember, my treasures got broken off too. But I landed safely and then Medusa helped us. Color me surprised in that... We were able to salvage a canon from the treasure and..."

He trailed, tilting his head, "I... I'm sorry, I know this must be hard on you."

He blinked, gasping a bit as he tilted his head, "Ah, I'm sorry, that is...if you want to tell me. You don't have to."

Pit swallowed a lump in his throat. Was this some strange cosmic complication? Certainly... But why? He quietly planted the point of the staff in the ground, resting his hands on the top. Drawing a deep breath.

"...what happened-? What went wrong?"

--

He felt a pang in his chest at the clear pain she was in.

"...you don't have to leave. I...you don't feel malicious to me. Please keep it that way."

||please don't be dead!!! And not over me, specifically,,,, l can and will cry.

Pit chuckled at the thought of Semi actually starting to somehow exceed her master. It sounded so unreal, and yet...

"That's good to hear! I've been doing really well myself. Cayden has been the best kid I could ever ask for. I've been...feeling odd, actually? But in a good way. Somehow stronger?"

"It's okay! I'm just glad to see you at all. It's good to know you're well," Pit managed, wrapping his arms around Dyntos for their hug best he could.

"I've missed you! How's Semi? How's you? What have you been making?"