I do think Missa is a sort of emotional anchor for the Death Family, but distinctly NOT in a “Phil is emotionally neglectful and sometimes completely neglectful of one child for the other and Missa is the only one who can possibly address the kids’ emotional needs now” type of way- because I’ve seen that argument made before.
Instead I think Phil, Chayanne and Lullah all express their emotional needs in very, very different ways that gets lost in translation a lot and they spend a LOT of time and energy consciously communicating with each other to overcome that sort of “language” barrier. They DO communicate with each other, but it’s exhausting, draining, and sometimes distressing for them to do so, so they tend to hold on to it until the emotions really boil over and HAVE to be addressed
But whenever they see Missa he catches on immediately and addresses/soothes their feelings in a way that makes it clear he tends to see through to the heart of the issue. Like Chayanne doesn’t have to ask to be cherished and allowed to be a silly kid, Missa just takes him on wacky harmless adventures and excitedly talks to him about things he wants to do together with him. Lullah doesn’t have to ask to not be coddled but still treated as part of the family, Missa immediately saw her as part of their little family of fighters and equally capable as them and tells her so constantly. Even Phil doesn’t have to communicate that he misses Missa constantly and cherishes even the littlest connections they have, Missa leaves him gifts every time he’s online to fill their home with so even if they can’t see each other his presence is always around.
It makes it so whenever he’s around you can tell that his family just relaxes into him, knowing that for just a few hours they don’t have to fight an uphill battle of constant danger and miscommunication. He’s their safe zone- more than any nest they’ve ever built- and THAT’S why they need him more than anything
