Chapter 52

Cheers and enjoy. Last edited August 25th, 2017.

Torian visited Chère every day. Every day, for an hour, they would sit together.

And for the first week, Torian kept silent the entire time.

The second week, Kevain tagged along.

Kevainwas not a good vod. It took Chère all of five seconds to figure out that Kevain was going to help her, and so the two of them would talk about Torian as if he wasn't even there. Every time Kevain got it wrong, Torian would have to correct him.

By the third week, Torian was sick of it and kicked Kevain out and just dealt with Chère on his own terms.

By week four, they had established some trust. Torian came into the medbay which acted as her office for now, and parked his levi-chair in its usual spot. Chère looked up from her datapad and smiled at him. She pulled her stool in her usual spot across from him.

"Welcome, Torian." began the little blonde.

"Chère." Torian said with a calm nod.

"How are you feeling today?"

Torian pondered. "Okay, waking up; less painful."

Chère nodded. "How's the exercises?"

Torian shrugged. "Kevain helps, getting easier."

Chère smiled and jotted it down on her pad before looking up. "Mako tells me that she has been using an experimental stim to help with the cartilage growth, she says that you will have an MRI to see how much it has helped you progress."

Torian nodded. "Looking forward to it."

Chère nodded and smiled. "May I touch you to see the progress of your healing?"

Torian nodded and she came close and started at his knees and moved up. She got close, and he got a whiff of how she smelled: flowers and woods; musky. For a petite woman, she knew how to grab a body and test the range of motions. She did not use the strength of her arms, but rather lifted with her body, from the hips and thighs. After several tests, she moved away from Torian and took more notes. "I cannot say for certain without the MRI, but I would say you are progressing well."

Torian nodded. "Sleeping doesn't hurt as much."

Chère looked at him wide eyed. "Really?"

Torian nodded. "Really."

Chère walked up to his levi-chair as she typed away, looked up at him. "How has that affected your mood?"

Torian pondered and shrugged. "Better, want to punch Kevain less."

Chère chuckled, a sound like a bell tinkling. "I suppose that is a good sign."

Chère sat on the stool again, but scooted closer to Torian. She took her glasses off and looked at him. "So, Torian, last we spoke you had mentioned how being branded arue'tal had affected how you viewed yourself?"

Torian groaned. "Being called a traitor by your Clan would make anyone feel bad."

Chère nodded. "You do know that that kind of institutionalized shunning, however hurtful and wrong, was primarily being directed at you because of your father?"

Torian nodded. "Why we killed Jicoln."

Chère sighed. "You're father."

Torian shook his head. "Keep trying to get me to call him buir, never gonna happen."

Chère frowned. "And why is that?"

Torian's gaze intensified. "When we caught Jicoln, spoke to him. Disowned his parenthood. With Mandalorians, doesn't get much worse than that."

Chère nodded. "We, you mean with Miss Ravera?"

"Raidre." Torian nodded. "Yes."

Chère frowned and rubbed her temple. "Where is she?"

Torian froze. "Hunting."

"I have yet to meet Miss Ravera."

Torian swallowed, Chère felt off. "Raidre. Busy hunting."

Chère looked Torian in the eye. "But with all the fights you mentioned in previous visits, I believe it would be best if we all sat tog-"

Torian stood, his legs shook, but he stood. "No."

Chère gasped in shock. "Torian, you are standing?"

"No mediation."

Chère frowned. "Why it would only-"

"No." Torian shook harder, but remained upright. "I will talk things out with her. Alone."

Chère nodded, but the frown remained in place. "I doubt you."

Torian frowned, but his legs shook too much so he sat back down and panted. He looked back at Chère. "Why?"

Chère tucked some of her blonde hair behind her left ear. "Darling, you have barely touched on what bothers you-"

Torian shook his head. "No."

"But-"

Torian sighed. "Chère, you think I'm more hurt than I am."

Chère remained silent for a moment. "You used a personal pronoun. Twice in the same sentence."

Torian groaned, rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Listen, simple. The weak die, the weak are cast aside. Being weak, causes stress. Yes, I'm afraid Raidre will find someone else. An older, more mature and more open man than I."

Chère dropped her stylus, but said nothing.

Torian blinked, realized she was afraid to say anything for fear he wouldn't talk anymore, swallowed through a dry throat and gave the therapist what she wanted.

"Being raised by Clan Ordo, it sucked. But had Corridan. He watched my six. Ordo wasn't home, but after a while, when I got big enough and mean enough, it became safe. The Mantis… Mantis is home. Mako, is family, Gault, Blizz and-"

Torian paused as he raked a hand through his hair. "And Raidre. They're family. Of course, I'm scared of being a burden to them, slowing them down, holding them back. And, being replaced…Well, that would suck."

Torian looked back at Chère. "But haven't talked to Raidre, she's been away, hunting. When she comes back, will talk, clear the air. Fix what I broke when I left."

After a moment of silence, Torian gestured to Chère to let her know he was done and Chère cleared her throat. "Oh, wow, okay. Pardon me, that was maybe the most you have said at one time since I have met you."

Torian gave her a self-deprecating smile. "Raidre calls me laconic."

Chère nodded. "Very astute of her. You said you wanted to fix what you broke when you left, what do you mean by that?"

Torian sighed and raked his hands through his hair some more. "Hurt her."

Chère nodded, looked from side to side. "But how?"

Torian shook his head shrugged. "Don't know. Gotta ask."

"Oh." said Chère. "Well, it you want medi-."

"No." Torian looked up at Chère.

The girl smiled gently, nodded. "If you change your mind. I will be here for a bit longer."

Torian nodded. "Making progress?"

Chère nodded. "Yes, I am glad we have helped you work through that rage."

Torian nodded. "Getting better."