Pride Stories: Prideful Battle

Deagan Pride

Daegan was slightly miffed that his supposed first month of independence was spent in the same manor he spent two years trying to escape from—The Oni Estate.

Inside an immaculate sandstone and golden room, he sat with his old friend Pandora, an androgynous Greek demigod from the Kalinago Tribe, and newer friend Kor, a resurrected member of the same tribe now living in a cartoon character-esque clay body.  A non-intelligent shabit, a living clay servant, lingered nearby making food for Daegan.

“I don’t get why I have to be here. Vasi must be punishing me for finding out about her and Mr. Joseph’s jobs. But it’s her fault for talking to herself, she knows I hide under things,” Daegan pouted as he leaned against the table. “I hate this place.”

It hadn’t been long since he’d discovered the family who’d been mentoring and taking care of him for the past nine years were the Spy Masters of Moreno, the mythical organization he’d recently become an agent for. He’d only discovered it accidentally while being in the wrong place at the wrong time the day his mentor’s daughter, Vasi, took over for her father. 

“Eh it’s ritzy, feels a bit like a tomb. Could be worse, you’re just a whore for the outdoors,” Pandora teased.

“You have no idea,” Kor agreed. “First day I was alive again, sacred I was going to die again. This stringy white boy with red streaks, the god-priest Raphael, the servant of a divine king, calling him a dick.” 

“He is a dick. It took him, and his entire family, nearly a year to realize I wasn’t being ridiculous about the whole ‘don’t trap me anywhere no matter how big it is, freedom is a big deal to me,’ thing,” the blonde frowned. 

“Yeah… Dali does seem more open when she comes to me,” Pandora admitted.

“And I am glad to walk around the actual city after that…Though given Ellie’s home was invaded…I understand to a point why he would make sure his family wouldn’t get hurt,” Kor pointed out.

“Be careful. That almost sounded like a compliment to Father.” 

A dark-skinned Egyptian man by the name of Hakim walked into the kitchen, an excitable Hindu demigoddess, Dali, behind him. The latter instantly went and tackled Pandora off their chair.

“No one would complement Mr. Raphael. Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Luca are the only valid adulty adults, Mrs. Eldora being the next closest when she lets me bribe her with sweets,” Daegan stated with a curt nod to emphasize his point. 

“He is the one that got you certified as an agent early. Though I have my own frustrations with him,” Hakim tried to spin.

“Ah yes, ‘frustrations’. Any schemes for marriage contracts today?” Kor asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I talked him down to one a month,” he sighed, then stared at his older adoptive sister, Dali. “I’m just surprised Pandora was so eager to come back. Last time you came you and him dueled until sundown when Dali called you dadd-” 

A piece of French bread struck his forehead, thrown by an embarrassed Dali.

“Wha- never mind I don’t want to know,” Daegan said with a grimace.

“I won in the end,” Pandora boasted.

“Only because it was nearly sundown,” Dali argued, holding their shorter lover from under their arms like a smug cat. “Besides no more talk of Dad. It’s pride month! Let’s celebrate. Even Dad loosens up during this month.” 

“The city would rebel if he didn’t,” Hakim said as he snuck some food from Daegan’s plate, a habit Daegan knew well given the boy tended to forget meals.

Daegan wordlessly pushed the plate towards him, not having much appetite. 

“So you guys are going out to celebrate at one of those pride thingies?” Daegan asked, looking back towards Pandora. 

“We all are.” Pandora managed to escape their lover’s grasp and put a hand on Daegan’s shoulder. “Come on, you keep avoiding my invites to these things and you’re at least on the demi-romantic spectrum. Enjoy time with your people. It’s Hakim’s first.”

“I am not wearing the body leather you sent me.” Hakim stared at Pandora.

“This really is probably more of a you thing than me thing. You know I don’t put much thought into any of… that. I’m plenty happy I’m supposed to be in an arranged marriage… eventually,” Daegan said as he took out his phone. “What does one even wear to these things?” 

There was a long pause as he typed on his phone. A slow expression of both curiosity and shock slowly grew on his features as he scrolled. 

“I’m confident in my body but not that confident,” He said, setting the phone down and pushing it away. “I’ll find something in my closet.” 

“Oh please, you have me around, and don’t ask me what I can whip up.” Pandora poked his cheeks.

“And you can match my fabulous fashion sense?” Deagan raised his brow playfully. 

“Bitch I might.” Pandora flicked their wrist and manifested several rainbow feathers. The feathers of their semi-divine pet, Juanita the divine serpent.

“Guess who is in their shedding period?”

“You’re going to use sacred feathers…For pride outfits?” Hakim questioned. “I swear your serpent sheds a metric ton of feathers every season.”

“It is technically a celebration about embracing your true self,” Kor offered.

“Well, you can come to my room and help me pick out an outfit and or help whip up fun accessories for me if you want,” Daegan said, hopping off of his seat. 

“Come on, let's have some fun,” Dali responded, following close behind the two as they went to Daegan’s room to do some makeovers.

Daegan brought them to his slightly messy room and they began going through his closet looking for suitable clothes. 

“Seriously, why don’t you ever get the shabits to clean your room?” Dali asked as she looked at the assorted junk and piles of separated clothes by type.

Daegan gave a slight hiss of protest. 

“My space, don’t want anything Oni invading my safe zone without permission,” he grumbled. 

“You let Kor come here. Jabroni came here,” Dali pointed out.

“Kor’s a friend and a person, not Oni. And I can’t control Jabroni.” 

“Wait do you consider me a person?” Dali asked in an accusatory tone.

“I consider you a person, but you’re an Oni person,” Daegan said with a frown.

“Enough chatter more fashion,” Pandora skeeved as they dived into the dug-up piles of clothes. 

“I feel like I don’t have anything very ‘pride’ coded… You’d think I would’ve picked up something at least rainbow-esque with some fun little sassy saying or something… I mean I’ve got some mesh stuff? And some skirts that I got purely to piss off people who’ve said things about others or my beauty routines,” Daegan hummed, trying to think of what he’d seen in the pictures besides borderline rainbow male lingerie. “But over half of everything is black… Curse black for being the best universal color.” 

“I think that just makes you basic,” Pandora said as they poked their head out of the pile of clothes. “There is a pile of robes I am going to guess was given to you by the Oni I can use to sew…After taking the tracking spells off. Really, five?”

“He tried to get out via the literal death hallway,” Dali explained.

“And I would have gotten away with it too without your family’s bs,” Daegan frowned before spinning around towards Pandora. “And you take it back I’m not basic!” 

He was giving a large pout. Pandora of all people knew Daegan genuinely really cared about his appearance and looking nice. From fashion to hair to skin care. 

“Fine, fine, grumpy but there is plenty of stuff here I can make and I know you don’t want too much showing. How about a bit of mesh with the black threads of the extra? Let the chest out a bit in a v-neck while taking the gold to do some nice symbols.” Pandora suggested.

“I don’t mind showing skin, I’ve got a good body. I just don’t want to show that much skin,” Daegan said. “But yeah, yeah if it’s my style then go for it. Though I thought, like, Pride was when you wear all those rainbows and pride flags and stuff?” 

“Some do. Others keep low key or go with costumes and cosplay…and you’re lacking a decent amount of the rainbow so we work with the black, gold, whites, blues, greens, and purples.” Pandora began to pocket many of the extra robes.

Daegan gave a nod and let them do their thing while going to look through what was in his closet again.

Pandora went into a frenzy of work as they created light constructions of sewing needles and machines working independently of their hands, trying to work while asking for corrections.

Eventually, Daegan was dressed in something relatively appropriate considering his limited wardrobe. A cropped black shirt with golden accents of spiraling flame motifs, mesh covering the rest of his torso along with corset boning to frame his abs. He wore a black mini skirt with details of green, blue, and purple over top of gray gradient leggings. Over everything he sported a sleeveless white cardigan and a black beanie rested in his recently cut, short curls.  

“Well, am I gorgeous enough to be dragged along with you two?” Daegan hummed to Pandora, knowing fully well the two demigods were unfortunately rated as some of the prettiest people around. 

“You do well, Cheeto head.” Pandora floated cross-legged on a light platform and tousled his hair. 

“He’s alright,” Dali said flatly.  

Daegan leaned into the playful tussling and a small chuckle before his crimson eyes landed coldly on Dali. 

“You know I’m here for ditching the Oni and just going with you and Kor,” Daegan said, only half joking. 

“She’s just grumpy that a date became a family outing.” 

“No I’m not,” Dali crossed her arms while Pandora floated by. 

“Oh. Do I need to reign you in?” Pandora asked with a coy smile. “Be good and you might get a nice reward ton-”

“-Please do not say anything gross,” Daegan pleaded. 

“Prude.” 

Dali picked up Pandora and cradled them in her arms. 

“We’ll catch up. Hakim and Kor can take you to where the parade starts,” Dali said before rushing away in the form of a bolt of electricity. 

Daegan sighed having had their best friend stolen away again. He wandered back to find Hakim and Kor in the kitchen, a clear pout on his face. 

“-So it’s your first time since-”

“Transitioning,” Hakim admitted. “Some people still call me Hakima…I probably should’ve chosen a better name.” 

Kor placed a hand on Hakim’s. 

“It’s a nice name.”

“Well, I mean, guess this is your chance to go show off who you are. It is pride after all,” Daegan said as he entered the room, leaning back against a wall. 

Kor immediately took the handoff.

“It’s…different in my culture. The gods sculpt each of my people at birth…and with the male-leaning bias, people actively still think I did so to gain social prestige and am gunning to be the lord of the family.”

“Do people still think your brothers give a damn about the family position?” Kor asked.

“A person is smart, people are #^%$-ing stupid,” Hakim cursed. 

“First off, guys, I don’t give a shiz about your ‘relations’. Pandora is my best friend and I have to deal with them being all googoo eyes for Dali. Second, well they suck, I can murder people if you want. If not, can we please leave this hellhole of a house?” 

“Say one good thing about the house and I’ll do you one better and go to the opposite spot of the city where the parade starts,” Hakim promised.

“Uhg,” Daegan grimaced. “The slides are fun when you’re not being chucked down them by jerkface people.” 

“Father has not forgiven you for defacing his portraits in retaliation,” Hakim said as he opened the door of a starry night sky next to him. 

“What about our outfits?”

“It is handled,” Hakim said simply.

Daegan gave no hesitation, speed-walking through the portal to escape. 

The other end of the portal had a vast collection of magical beings preparing floats and stands. A technicolor of pride with a menagerie of creatures. Hakim and Kor’s clothes shapeshifted into a pink, blue, and white suit for Hakim while Kor wore a tee-shirt with the word Ally in bright letters.

“You guys look far more suited for Pride than I do,” Daegan joked as he gave a hum and skipped out to go investigate. 

Everywhere Daegan turned to was a monument or display of pride and affection as the parade slowly started its march. Going in order of the acronym, LGBTQIA+. Float by float, procession by procession.

Daegan climbed up onto a lip to see everything. The flashes of bright colors and sparkles from other’s outfits, the assortment of noises, all of the stimuli drawing his attention every which way. Before he ever processed it, he’d already begun wandering quite a ways away from where he’d arrived, 

Daegan saw the Law-speakers and their enforcer demigods in between making sure no one interrupted or tried anything wrong during the festivities. Some he recognized from the handful of times he had tried to run off into the city.

He continued to explore, looking around, growing further away from his company as he searched out everything that caught his eyes from a distance. 

Several of the more eye-catching pieces were basically lingerie and fetish gear. At least among the mortal folk. Most of the clearly magical population wore more Pride versions of traditional clothing, from robes and armor.

Daegan did his best to avoid staring at anything too intimate on any given person though bright rainbow leather made it difficult sometimes. He delved deeper into the crowds, giving friendly waves and making small talk of complementing some of the more tame outfits, especially the armor-based ones. 

“You got better at stealth.” Daegan heard a familiar voice from above.

“I’ve always been good at stealth, thank you very much,” Daegan said, looking up. 

Pandora floated above, wearing a mix of traditional Taino clothes. A thick loincloth that reached the ankle over shorts and a top made of rainbow feathers with a gold and silver headdress, a male symbol in the gold and a female symbol in the silver.

“I’m assuming the girlfriend is five steps behind you?” 

“By that, making sure Hakim isn’t lost. Didn’t have to ditch ‘em, you know.” 

“Didn’t mean to. There’s just a lot of stuff. I’ve got a weak attention span where there are bright colors, loud noises, or sparkelies,” Daegan said before gesturing around to make his point. 

“Jeez, must feel like heading off to dreamland for ya. Let’s get back to the others. Besides, you might get a better view from above.” Pandora offered a hand.

Daegan gratefully took the offering. Pandora pulled him above the crowd who cheered the action as compliments on his outfit and some flirtation all around was thrown his way.

Daegan appeared a bit flustered for a moment but then simply giddy at the compliments, excited to have genuine compliments about his appearance. 

“See Dali is wrong. I’m more than just ‘alright’,” he boasted happily. 

“Don’t get ahead of yourself and watch the tone with my girl,” Pandora chided as they flew higher and saw the parade going its way. “You know you don’t have to act jealous right?”

Daegan only pouted and looked away. 

“Come, I have noticed you’ve gotten grouchy ever since we started to date…she makes me happy but I don’t like that it’s making you think I am abandoning you,” Pandora told Daegen. 

“It’s fine, I want you to be happy. Even if she does steal almost all of your attention because even when you visit me at the Oni’s you spend time with her, and she stole my position as your weapons tester, and she’s super powerful and undefeatable because why not, and let’s not forget effortlessly pretty,” Daegan said with more than a slight saltiness in his voice. 

“Well that’s…not all the way true. You are better at long-range than her. And she does work at it. She asks Hakim every morning to do her makeup. Also, she has lost battles.” 

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I just hate the fact I lose in nearly every category to her. I’m gonna beat her one day, mark my words,” Daegan scoffed. “Who am I kidding? I want to be her. Not in the weird ‘I want to date you’ way, but in the other ways.” 

“It's more common than you think. But if it’s any consolation, you will always be one of my best friends,” Pandora promised as they floated back to the rest of the group.

“Yeah, yeah, back to chipper, happy-go-lucky,” Daegan said with a click of his tongue and a bright grin. 

Pandora let go of Daegan in front of the others, floating themselves into Dali’s arms.

“Your favorite fae has returned,” Daegan grinned with some flare. 

“Then we can do this right,” Hakim said as he pointed to several rows of seats waiting for the parade and performers to catch up to Daegan. 

Daegan plopped down in a seat though very quickly his leg began vibrating and his gaze kept snapping every which way. 

“Daegan, try to keep your leg under control, it's spreading.” Pandora pointed at Dali’s also nervous leg. “I’ll get us some food. Any preference?” 

Daegan's expression flashed to a slightly guilty look as he soothed one hand over his thigh to steady himself and the other rubbed at the back of his scarred neck. 

“Nope, whatever you choose is fine,” Daegan chirped, regaining his smile. 

“Alright. Tell me what I miss,” Pandora said before going away in a flash of light.

Dali and Daegan were left with no one to talk to while Kor and Hakim were having some kind of mix of argument and wordplay-based flirting. Daegan looked away, making small bored noises to keep himself entertained as he tried to tame and fix the flame ombre curls sticking out from under his beanie. Dali was barely doing better as she fiddled with the straps of her clothes and mumbled to herself.

“Sitting sucks,” Daegan finally sighed out loud. 

“It’s all I do these days…Not many calls for monster hunting or fighting…can barely do that right.” 

“Well, at least you’re notable enough that they will at least think of calling on you if something happens. But just make your fun then. Like I do by challenging you every other week. Or go out and search for things to do, people to help. Hell, do volunteer work picking up a park,” Daegan shrugged disinterestedly. 

“Maybe,” Dali mused. “I don’t know…When Eldora found me in India I didn’t think I could do much of anything. Fast forward to now I still don’t think that. I barely do well with my studies and most people are too scared of me for much else. Do you remember what I do most of the time when Pandora isn’t around?”

“Usually too busy trying to escape.”

“Nearly all of it was training. For fighting. For military stuff. Monsters and weaknesses. I made no time for myself…I thought I had to.”

“No one has to do anything. It’s stupid if people tell you that you do, just break their noses if they try or get someone else to do that, or play a prank. Regardless, people and circumstances don’t control anything. You control yourself. If you don’t want to train, which can’t relate, move that outside and it’d be a dream come true, then cut back, you’re a full-ass adult. I mean, your feelings are valid and I’m sorry you feel that way, but you’ve got control of your reign. You’ve even got the facilities to do whatever, just need the heart.”

“It’s different. In my birth faith, there is this thing called Dharma. Your inherent destiny. You reach enlightenment when you figure that out and do it…Hindu demigods are not born the natural way, they are born to do something big in their lifetime or because the gods want to…The only time that feels right is with Pandora…Can I tell you something stupid?”

“Well I’m fae so I don't see the same things as stupid but shoot,” Daegan replied, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. 

“I think if I ever stop training, ever stop being as tough as I am…no one would want me,” Dali admitted. “Eldora introduced me to the family because she thought they were smart enough to have someone as strong as me. I am one of her apprentices because of my strength…I was only rescued from the streets because I am a demigod…I would be nothing without it.”

“You’re you without it. I have one power and that doesn’t make me less of a person. Pandora doesn’t love and adore you because of your powers, it’s because you make them happy. I mean yeah, I won’t say it didn’t affect your chances of Eldora helping you, Joseph wouldn’t have saved me if I wasn't half fae, but they wouldn’t have taken us if they didn’t like us. Personality is the stuff that matters. You could have all the powers in the world, be related to the most important people; if you act like an ass, nine out of ten people will hate your guts and want you dead even if just behind your back. But, if you have a good personality? Even without power and connections a good amount of people will think you’re an absolute gem of a person. Least the important ones will,” Daegan looked at Dali with a small smile as he elbowed her. “Seriously, you think Pani out of all people gives two flying fluffs if you have powers? It’d piss off their mom if you didn’t and they would find it hilarious.” 

“Heh.” She gave a small smile. “I still need to find my dharma…something. I can’t coast off absolute power forever. Martin is a spy who can take out a kingdom in a single night. Jamil is a general who can rival Alexander. Hakim made sure our family would still be on the map…I punch good…Maybe I can try and do more stuff around Moreno. Rio is doing one last recruit drive in Europa, around Ireland. Maybe I can stop by more often…Not like I’m needed here- It’d also be nice to be near Pandora more often.”

Daegan put on a show of dramatism, the back of his hand against his forehead as he pretended to be faint. 

“And with that my dear bestest friend shall have their limited time stolen even more,” Daegan sighed sarcastically before straightening up and smiling again. “You do you boo, whatever floats your boat. And if nothing else you are my training companion because while I doubt I will ever beat you in a fair fight, you better believe I will learn to hold my own against you eventually.” 

“You are one of the only people to last a few minutes against me without magic. But yeah shooting for heaven. I swear if you just had a bit more speed you would get a good hit off,” Dali smirked.

“I’ll work on it. I’ll be the fastest a human can physically be!” He beamed back.

“You know,” Hakim said from above them. “Most people do a bit of display during pride.”

“You’re right Lord Hakim,” Kor joined. “Maybe these two can do one in the Oni family stay but what would that be?” She played dumb.

“Well, displays of physicality have always been in vogue for festivals. Perhaps a practice fight. Just for fun.” 

“Yes! Finally something entertaining!” Daegan cheered, jumping out of his chair before clearing his throat. “If you want to. Obviously.” 

Dali cracked her neck.

“I need to exercise. Chicago dogs, both magic and mortal, are fatty.” She rose from her seat and unbuttoned some of the suits and took off the dress shoes. “I’ll even throw a bone of no lighting.”

“What? Going easy on me?” Daegan raised a brow as he took off his cardigan. 

“Just didn’t want to embarrass you in front of all these people,” Dali joked. “Come take the first shot.”

Daegan grinned and rushed forward. He faked a left before starting right. The moment he saw her move he reacted, quickly to jump back and changed it for a kick towards her side. 

She did a small spin on the ball of her heel and avoided the strike. She made a roundhouse kick, getting into the regular rhythm of their sparring session as Pandora walked back with food.

“What did I miss?” they asked Hakim. 

“Reconciliation…to an extent,” Hakim explained as Pandora passed a snowcone to him.

“Should we stop them now?” Kor asked, taking in the rhythm of the physicality and the rapid dance of blows.

“Eh,” Pandora said, sitting patiently with the food.

Daegan ducked and rolled under a strike. 

“Oh, Pani is here!” Daegan chirped happily, getting distracted for a moment. 

He nearly missed an ax kick that broke concrete.

“How about this: If Dali can beat you in the next minute, she gets the bigger snow cone. You get it if you manage to get a straight hit,” Pandora offered.

“Haha! Now that’s my kind of challenge!” Daegan beamed. 

“Big talk.” Dali got an upper cut into his stomach. “Can you pay the check though?” 

Daegan chuckled through the pain. 

“Like I give up easy. And there are frozen sweets on the line.” 

He recovered and jumped back from another punch, attempting to kick while the arm was extended. As he did, Pandora blew a kiss to Dali, who looked toward them. In that brief moment, Daegan’s kick managed to make contact with her throat.

“Hah, I did it?” Daegan chuckled in breathless disbelief as a wide smile grew on his face. “I did-” 

The next thing he knew he was on the ground groaning in pain. 

“That doesn't count!” Dali shouted.

“It was a hit!” Daegan retorted, still recovering on the ground, holding his ribs. 

“Technically it was,” Hakim said, giving the snow cone to Daegan. 

“I am betrayed by my beloved,” Dali groaned before Pandora kissed her and gave her a smaller snowcone. “I no longer care.”

Daegan let out a singsong tune of joy as he readily ate a spoonful. He hopped up onto his former seat, crouching while balanced on his toes as he enjoyed his rainbow-colored reward. 

“Still. No honor,” Dali said as she grumpily ate her snow cone and several people in the watching crowd bounced in joy on unseen bets.

“You still won, I just got the hit first,” Daegan stuck out his already stained tongue. 

“Simmer down and enjoy the show,” Pandora urged them both as a float with flying acrobats and demigods with firework-like abilities were showing off their skills.

Daegan’s attention was officially captured again. The music, movement, and bright flashes of color stole his focus, forgetting to even eat his snowcone as his eyes remained glued on the sights. 

The group watched the parade with renewed insistence as Pandora helped Dali’s injured pride. Daegan’s concentration was only broken again after his snow cone melted onto his hand and he went back to eating enough of the frozen treat so it wouldn't leak. 

“What does one do after a parade?” Daegan asked Pandora.

“Bar crawling, parties, some places hold events. But it’s mostly just vibing with no judgment,” Pandora explained.

“I always vibe regardless of judgment,” Daegan joked. “But I’ll take your lead on that one.” 

“Well, let’s have some fun then.” Pandora got up and led the others. 

Deagen took in the unabashed fun and joy around. No worry, no fear, just pure community around him as every one may not be doing important things or even significant things. They were at least doing fun things. Whatever brought them joy and a sense of self with no shame to hold them back.

Daegan hung close to the two sets of couples, simply glad to be out of the house and to be somewhere that they could celebrate and be themselves. His first pride event, regardless of not having taken time to think of labeling himself as part of the community before, was a success in his opinion.