Card Houses

The first time they were alone, she’d held him up to her like a trophy. He pressed himself against her as if she was silently commanding him to, and though that was what she’d had in mind… she found his immediate response to be—unnerving.
Still, she continued to hold him until her arms ached; her heart was set on getting used to motherhood the best that she could. It would help her sweetheart in his divine planning, and she’d always found the motherly gig to be appealing. Having a family with her darling made her, to put it lightly, the happiest gal in the world! 1

And yet… her ‘son’s’ new, psychotic, trademark smile and his latest ability to obey with just a single command, made everything a little less thrilling. That smile was so beautiful because it reminded her so much of Him; and still, it also made her mull over the evil act she’d preformed to see it. She did have a little conscience still intact (something that her lover picked at when they argued) and could see that what she’d helped to contrive in creating a family, had been the most insidious thing she’d ever accomplished. It felt worse than slowly poisoning a dog, or beating an elderly man to death; it felt worse than suffocating a harmless baby.
To create a broken toy; one with absolutely no known love left, and probably a more damaged mind than even her mentality… that in itself was completely monstrous. 2

She tried to drive away the thoughts with a fun game to play. She decided to take out decks of Joker cards and spread them across the floor in chaotic patterns. He seemed to enjoy the idea, especially when gusts of air from the swinging door occasionally sent clouds of the cards all over the building. He’d automatically chase them like fireflies; trying his best to catch each and every one before it got away. There was no denying a warm feeling that stretched in her chest when she watched him scavenge childishly for cards. The feeling almost matched the continuity of a parent as they watched their child grow to become an adult. A feeling that made her forget the real reason they had him.
Other than simply spreading out the cards, she would encourage him to help her make houses out of the cards. 3

“Houses fit for queens and kings!” She’d laugh as she started. 4

It was a small pastime she’d enjoyed before ever having her son with her; something that had kept her busy when things moved slowly. But, as they began to construct the little buildings, she found it three-times as much fun.
He was terrible at it. Every time they’d gotten a base to the castle, he’d inattentively knock it over without meaning too. She could tell that he wasn’t sorry either. 5

Instead of brutalizing him, (which she couldn’t deny was her first thought) she held out both of her arms and gently lifted him from his underarms. Pulling him in front of her, she moved her arms so that they wrapped around his entire body and held him against her frame. He was cold and uncomfortable. After a variety of experiments and excursions upon his still juvenile body it was only be expected; yet it still made her a little angry that he couldn’t give off the same warmth that she could.
She constantly held him to her after their first day as mother and child. In the isolation from her sweetheart, she felt the need for familiarity, and having an agreeable son to keep her company at that. 6

She always felt his confusion, although his smiley muscles remained intact, she knew he was a little more than stunned by her wanting to be close to him. 7

It made her smile in turn, to know that she could surprise someone still…