Grey and Lonely Heart - Part One (PG-13)
"I see you've made some changes since the last time I was here uncle?"
"Just some minor ones, with new arrangements of the furniture," Rygel gestured as he maneuvered his throne sled aside his guest through the spacious halls of the Royal Hynerian Palace. "And a much needed reupholstering of the walls. Like with the rest of Hyneria, my cousin let the palace collapse into a near state of disrepair."
"You've done well in fixing the damage did" He smiled. "But this palace seems a bit smaller."
Rygel laughed looking up at the strapping young man walking next to him. "Not surprising there! The last time you were here, you barely reached your father's waist. Now look at you, a full grown man in eight cycles."
"All thanks to Sebacean genetic engineering. Not only are we born fast but because of accelerated growth we are able to reach full maturity in under eight cycles."
"Efficient militarily but it didn't give you much time for a childhood."
"No it didn't," D'Argo shook his head sadly. "According to my father I aged almost three times the rate of Earth children with accelerated learning on top of everything else. I literally grew up before their very eyes. My mother was prepared unfortunately my father wasn't. He said that with me, everything felt like it was on fast forward. One moment I was playing with stuffed animals and the next, I was asking stuff about girls."
Rygel smirked. "Let me guess what he said when you asked him that question."
In unison they echoed out loud laughing. "Go ask your mother!"
"I'm grateful that you decided to drop by for a visit but I wish you'd given us a little warning to prepare." Rygel admitted.
"It was a spur of a moment decision and I didn't want any fanfare. I just missed seeing you and this place, that's all," D'Argo replied before looking about. "Tell me, is she still here?"
Rygel continued to maneuver his throne sled along. "She never left. Her sleeping quarter's are just down this hallway."
"She's still serving in your Royal Court?"
"Serving? She's running it now!" Rygel laughed. "Putting her in charge was the best decision I ever made. She's smart, underhanded, ruthless and manipulating when needed. Most importantly, I can always count on her to guard my back. I just love watching her work!"
D'Argo frowned momentary. "Doesn't sound like the same person I remember?"
"How do you remember her?"
"Being very sad at one time."
Rygel sighed before nodding. "She has been through a lot but she has finally managed to move on with her life. I know she'll be happy to see you again."
Long ago, when D'Argo was still very young, he remembered clearly the faces of his parents and friends. He even remembered Chiana's face and the fact that every time she smiled at him, her eyes always betrayed a deep sadness. Even the mere mention of his name was a source of pain to her. She never called him D'Argo but referred to him only as 'D'. He couldn't understand why, not until he was older when his father told him all about Ka' D'Argo. The person he was named after in honour of him.
Rygel approached the door and knocked. From the other side, D'Argo heard a faint voice calling back.
"It's open!"
Moving through the door behind Rygel, D'Argo saw a living area fit for a queen. It was very luxurious with priceless furniture, rich upholstery and carpeting so thick he almost saw his feet disappearing the moment he stepped in.
"Chiana!" Rygel called moving into the centre of the living area. "We have a surprise visitor who would like to see you."
In the next room, a familiar and overly cheerful voice purred back. "A visitor? Well, I sure hope he's big, strong and…"
Chiana strolled in wearing an elegant dark blue body suit with long loose fitting sleeves and the ever-familiar high leather boots and kneepads. She stopped the instant she saw Rygel's companion but not before she finished burbling out.
"Handsome…"
Rygel watched as the two stared at each other for a long moment. D'Argo smiled warmly at the sight of Chiana while the Nebari just stared back in astonishment, not believing in what she was seeing.
"D, is that you?"
D'Argo grinned from ear to ear, answering. "Yes, it's me Chiana."
The Nebari cocked her head back, still studying him. "You… You have really grown!"
"You have Sebacean genetic engineering to thank for that."
Oh, yes! I will be sure to thank the Peacekeepers for small favours. A feline smile played across Chiana's lips before realizing that she was staring at him too intently.
"Sorry," She blinked, shaking her head slightly. "It's just a shock thinking that just three cycles ago you weren't even chest high on me. You really have changed."
D'Argo just continued to smile politely, his eyes never leaving Chiana's. "And you look as lovely as ever."
Chiana froze, her eyes darting over to Rygel as if to ask. Did he just flirt with me?
She recovered, and tried to repay the compliment by saying. "Thank you and might I say that I see a lot of your father in you."
"And people say that I have Rygel's eyes and my mother's nose." D'Argo mused aloud.
They chuckled together at his joke, including Rygel, but the Hynerian Dominar became increasingly concerned. D'Argo and Chiana had barely met 100 microts ago and now the two were starring at each other so intently that the entire palace could collapse around them and they wouldn't be any the wiser.
Meanwhile, Chiana was trying to suppress her sudden, lustful attraction to her two best friend's son. D'Argo wasn't making it easier for her as his eyes gave her a frank survey, the same loving way that Crichton always looked at Aeryn whenever she walked into the room.
No, she had to be imagining things.
"How long will you be staying?" She asked.
"For a while," D'Argo answered. "I was hoping to see the capital again and its wonderful sights. Maybe you can show me around?"
"No, she can't." Rygel interrupted, wishing to put a stop to this. "We have the Kalish ambassador arriving within the next weeken and arrangements still have to be made."
Chiana turned pleading. "Rygel, everything is set for their arrival."
"I want to go over everything once more. You know how important the Kalish like to feel, being the centre of the universe in their little overdeveloped minds."
"Uncle," D'Argo said to Rygel, using his best persuasive voice. "Surely you can find someone else to take her position. Having Chiana showing me the sights of your proud city would mean so much to me."
Rygel always enjoyed hearing D'Argo calling him 'uncle', which just made saying no to him even harder.
"Very well," Rygel yielded. "But be on your best behaviour!"
"I always do." D'Argo smiled again.
"I was also talking to Chiana." Rygel huffed before maneuvring his throne sled out of Chiana's room. It has been a while since he saw Chiana getting that hungry look in her eyes. What was even more surprising was D'Argo giving the very same look back. The way things were heading, it probably wouldn't take much time before D'Argo ended up in her bed, Rygel thought worriedly. It was going to happen regardless of what he did to try and prevent it. They're both adults now and he couldn't place them under guard, even if he was their Dominar. Sometimes, it's just best to stand back and let the situation develop on it's own. For better or worse.
Chiana felt the tension in the room rise when Rygel finally left. D'Argo watched her with guarded interest.
"I have a confession." He whispered to her.
"Oh?" Chiana breathed out nervously.
She couldn't stop herself from having wild fantasies of dragging him to her bed in the next room and frelling him as often and many times as possible until one of them passed out.
No, stop that! He was Crichton and Aeryn's son!!
D'Argo took one step towards her. "When I was growing up, I had a crush on you."
Chiana swallowed hard and took one step back. "Really?"
"Actually a crush on you and Granny."
Chiana stopped and stared for a long moment before D'Argo cracked a wide smile. "I had you going there."
Chiana laughed in nervous relief. "Weirder stuff happened to us and please don't joke about Wrinkles again, it's seriously killing the mood."
D'Argo took another step towards the Nebari. "Okay, lets just talk about you."
Chiana took another step away from him and backed herself right into a chair. It was getting very hot in here and the way things were going if he got within arms reach of her, she wouldn't be held responsible for what might happen next.
"On second thought, let's talk about Granny!"
"But I want to talk about you." D'Argo took another few steps closer.
For her own good, Chiana kept her hands on the chair, gripping the armrests tightly. He was almost in her face. She could smell him but she managed to restrain herself through sheer willpower.
Chiana kept repeating silently to herself. I can look and admire but DON'T TOUCH! Because Aeryn might kill her if she did the latter.
She almost stuttered aloud. "About… About what?"
"What would you like to do?"
She was going to faint. Or grab him and rip his clothes off.
"Wh-What?"
"Are you going to show me around the city to see the sights?"
Chiana finally started to breath easier. "Show you around! Yes, I would love to, D. I know some new and wonderful places we can visit."
He nodded happily. "What time would be good for you?"
"It's still early," Chiana said, still trying to think straight with him so close. "Give me an arn, no, make it two for me to get ready?"
She needed to take a cold shower first just to settle down.
"I'll be waiting." He said oh-so-softly, his kind and gentle eyes locked with hers before turning to leave and shutting the door behind him.
Chiana still leaned against the chair trying to gather herself after his departure. He didn't have to touch her once to get her all worked up.
"Oh, frell!" She breathed excitedly.
This was going to be interesting the next few days, but first she really needed a cold shower, a very long cold shower!