To Ever Love
Summary: Seamus goes to Rhade's room to try and console the Nietzschean after the revealing events of the 100th ep, "Pride Before The Fall."
Spoilers: "Pride Before The Fall"
Pairings: Beka/Rhade
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"Uh, Rhade?" Seamus asked softly as he entered the Nietzschean's quarters. "You in here?"
"Where else would I be?" Rhade croaked, coming out of his bathroom, looking worn.
"Whoa, you don't look so hot. Then again, I guess you have reason," Seamus said, not seeming to notice the dirty look Rhade gave as he fumbled his way over to his bed. "So uh, shocking, huh?"
"What an obvious statement, Harper. Did you come here for a reason, or just to rub recent events in my face?" The Nietzschean asked, burying his face into his hands.
"Right, why I'm here." Harper stood before Rhade, fidgeting nervously. "I just uh, wanted to let you know I'm here if you need to talk and that you have a right to take this badly. As you obviously have. I mean, Beka was- is- our shipmate and now we find out that she's actually the alpha mother of your entire race. A race of people I despise- begging your pardon- and yet there she is. No one really expected it and you getting sick was the least of the responses I expected from you. It's a lot to absorb."
"You don't get it, Harper," he said, looking up from his hands. "I have... feelings, for Beka."
"Well, yeah, of course you do. I mean, she is the mother of...." He trailed off at Rhade's serious look, one that was a mix of heart-wrenching pain and disgust. "Oh. Ohhhh!" He pointed at the Nietzschean. "You mean feelings! You... Oh." He sat on Rhade's bed next to him. "I see. Yeah, that's something of a-"
"Serious issue? Disgusting emotion?" Rhade asked angrily, surging to his feet.
"I was gonna say a problem, but if you want...." He trailed off, watching Rhade as he paced. His tone softened slightly at seeing his Nietzschean friend so upset. "So uh, how long have you...."
Rhade stopped and looked down and back slightly. "I've known for a while, but I ignored it until today. When I found out that that.... man, had done something to her ship, I grew... angry. I found him and I hit him until I... I started to become undone. I couldn't help it. And then I knew I'd never be able to deny what I felt for... Beka." He gazed at the wall. "I was going to tell her, see what she did. But now...."
"Now you find out she's the mother of your entire race and to love her would be like incest," Seamus filled in, then looked down as Rhade glared back at him. "Sorry."
"So you see why I'm feeling sick. I know why she was chosen for that role- she's a strong warrior with good survival skills and practically Nietzschean herself while still holding onto her humanity-, but now things are just... impossible."
"Well... not necessarily," Seamus said slowly, and Rhade looked at him, slightly confused. "Well, think about it." He moved quickly next to Rhade, the man turning slightly to face him. "Yes, she's the genetic beginning of your race, the Eve of the Nietzscheans. But how long ago was that? 16 generations? Her DNA is bound to be diminished in that time! Uh, not to mention that it's not technically her; just her DNA. So really, you," he pointed at the Nietzschean, "could still be with her, without it being completely inappropriate."
Rhade let out a soft laugh. "You make it sound so simple, Harper."
"So? Maybe it is."
"But it's not!" He roared, whirling about totally and throwing a hand in the air. "Don't you get it? I have to rever her as a mother, have to protect her. I can never have her the way I want! Not now!"
Seamus just stared in serious sorrow at his angered and hurt friend. "If you feel that way, then maybe it's better to try and let those feelings go."
Rhade stared at Seamus a moment, then dropped his arm, still staring. He let out a breath and looked away, closinghis eye momentarily.
"I can't."
"Then you need to figure out what you can do, Rhade. Or you're going to be stuck loving her and being unable to have her for a very long time," he replied, just staring seriously at Rhade for a moment. Then, seeing the man's chagrin, he sighed and placed a light hand on his shoulder. "You do what you have to."
He dropped the hand and walked out, leaving Rhade in the silence with his thoughts.
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A/N: I know, this lacks anything Harper, but being a new Drom fan this episode insprired me to create the first Drom fic that I could post up here! Lol Yes, I am a Beka/Rhade shipper, and I was a Beka/Tyr shipper too, till I heard from around that Tyr goes insane or some such. Well, we'll just have to see!
- V.