Planting the Seeds of Family
Chapter 15
Back in the main house. The two families went up the opulent stairs and to the wing containing the two most important people in their lives, and the guard instantly stepped aside when Kraglin expressed his desire to check on Peter. He was in a different place, after all, and concerned that Peter would be unsettled.
Instead, as they all walked into the room, both Xandarians drew a collective, "Aww".
There was Seroul and Peter fast asleep having fallen asleep in each other's arms, and Tyorells, previous captain of the guard, just starting gushing, "That is too adorable, they look so good together, they could even be brothers".
To this Kraglin agreed, since both their sons looked so happy, so damn adorable. Of course, when they were awake was a different story, so the families stepped from the room, and Yondu noticed there was a small table, outside of the door which wasn't there before.
"Oh, if you want, you can leave all your clothes there, they'll be cleaned overnight" Tyorells stated before looking thoughtful. "You know Kraglin, you and I are about the same size, I actually have some things from my guard days that should fit you…if you want".
Kraglin and Yondu weren't poor by anyone standards, but to be given something even if it was in generosity, felt embarrassing for a moment, so Kraglin just mumbled thanks. As Lizxona cleared his throat.
"I have some food and drink prepared upstairs if you both wish to join us" everyone nodded, as they were led up to the room at the top of the house, where they had a vantage point across the lands, as the sun was almost entirely set and the air was still warm. There were nibbles and cold beers waiting, and the parent's sans their children just drank and chatted for a few hours until they said their goodnights to each other
In the opulent rooms, Kraglin and Yondu were both taken aback by the luxury, true it was expected, but this felt like they were in an elegant hotel, which reminded Yondu of the time before Peter coming into their lives, Kraglin had booked them into a beautiful upstanding residence. His relationship with Kraglin was established but at the time still, so new, neither of them knew where it was heading.
There they had raided the minibars, ordered room service and had distastable sex on every surface thoroughly trashing the room, before ripping everything off.
Yondu had been impressed by Kraglin, he was even more impressed when he found out that the Xandarian had Yarovesky hack into the systems, so none of was paid for, it only looked like it did.
Why they were staying in the hotel, the device Kraglin had was hacking into the accounts of everyone there and stealing a large amount, enough that the total would be huge, but not enough to make it so visible.
Yondu was tempted to re-enact that night, but stopped himself, in truth he just felt awkward, in his own Ravager leathers, which Kraglin understood as the paid just stripped off, leaving their clothes on the table outside and headed for a shower.
Though he was clean, from the day of swimming, he felt like there was no way Kraglin could get into that opulent bed until he showered. Thankfully Yondu felt the same, and the pair stood together as water cascaded over them.
There was no way they were going to have sex, not in this house. Morals, who usually cared about those, but they were guests, and their son was not too far away being guarded. Instead, they just enjoyed and washed each other with the expensive oils, and just kissed each other passionately.
Drying off and slipping into the bed, both of them just stared into each other's eyes other, before Yondu said out loud.
"This feels so fucking weird, no bulkheads or engines". And Kraglin just snuggled closer wrapping his arms across Yondu's torso.
"All this effort just for us…but I really hope it works out, I hope Omevic stays".
"I fucking hope so, I'm not losing two Ravagers because that bastard kid wants to stay with us" Yondu declared in a tone which could have been serious, but Kraglin didn't believe that.
"I know right, I just want to put this shit behind us, and go back to stealing shit, you know the good times.
Both men just chucked, they just drifted off to sleep wrapped into each other's arms. Feeling content that their son was safe, and thanks to the exotics oils both of them smelt amazing.
At the same time further down the hall, two other men of high status were in bed just talking to each other. Due to the nature of their jobs sometimes it went ages before they could have a proper conversation about the crap in their lives. Sometimes Tyorells resented this, in case his mate let it slip at how much he missed being the Captain of the Guard.
"So, I've rescheduled everything, so you have tomorrow free, it wasn't anything urgent, just some meetings with the education authorities, but I'm sure Seroul will appreciate it" Tyorells told his mate, who just nodded, his mind going a mile a minute, and seemed to be ignoring Tyorells who being used to this just carried on.
"You know, it's really nice, that this is Seroul's first ever sleepover, the boys were having so much fun today, and both of them have really picked up swimming", Tyorells remarked, placing his pad down and gesturing for his mate to get closer to him, and Lizxona spoke up
You know something I look at Peter, and something seems off about him, I think it's the way he speaks, he sounds older, like Seroul".
"Probably because he's the only child on the Elector, he's just used to being around adults all the time" Tyorells reasoned, and Lizxona nodded "Yeah maybe", then looked at the ceiling.
"It is a bit weird though if you would have told me a year ago, the Captain of the Ravagers was in our house, I would have just laughed, along with his crew as well."
"Yeah, but if you think about it, our whole set up is weird…look at us. We should have been nothing, and now we're in charge".
There as an uncomfortable silence that filed the pair, since at times Leshara's death was still too raw to even mention, and Tyorells was once again hesitant at going back to the planet where Seroul was born and his mother brutally murdered.
"I really hope Omevic stays with the Ridel's, there a good family, and well you were away at the time, but they were I think the first family to give their support for us". Tyorells said, and Lizxona looked over.
"Yeah, I remember, they are a good family, three fine sons, hopefully, a fourth. A Xandarian in a Darbian family, stranger things have happened…. but he's going to get the best help. I promise you that".
"Yeah and they have a really nice house, I remember looking at it when I was planning the designs for ours, and I wanted something like that, well loved and rustic", his voice was wistful remembering the home he had designed for the on the outer regions.
A place they could grow old together, and make memories, until they had boarded it up until they had had to move into the manor house, and even throwing off the shackles of Lizxona's bastard of a father and tried to make it more inviting. He still couldn't get used to the house, the Bureaucracy , and being referred to "Lord" one thing he likes about the Udonta was that they didn't.
Lizxona who by nature had to be a hard bastard, since he was in charge on pretty much everything, few saw his softer more sentimental side, which reminded Tyorells of Leshara, but he wasn't going to mention that. Losing his twin sister and the months that followed, had tested and pushed their relationship to breaking point, and neither of them spoke about it, but everything was now different.
Pushing his pad aside, the family settled down
But everything else could wait until tomorrow, the Ridel's were good parent's and knew exactly what they were doing.
While this was going on Yarovesky had followed the Ridel family back to their home, past the full and lush gardens which gave the air a pleasant scent. For Yarovesky moments like this were rare, and looking the lands he could see the detail, and instantly recognised that this was where Omevic belonged.
In the back of his mind, he could almost envision the eight-year-old here, working, playing and being normal…whatever that even meant anymore. For Emau Ridel, there were things she needed to know, and she noticed there was something familiar about Yarovesky and the child sleeping in her house. Their eyes were a similar brown colour, and it was easy to see how the life of slavery had impacted them both.
At the main house, there was a table being set up by the teenage boys, with three chairs and a large jug of what looked like cider. Who looked up at their parents and all hesitated when they saw Yarovesky, which made total sense. They were a friendly family, and he was a criminal, but instead of them running, Antoni, spoke up.
"Boys, this is Yarovesky he's been looking out for Omevic since he was rescued."
It wasn't high praise, but it was rare, and Yarovesky was appreciative of it, as the boys just acknowledged his presence unclear at what to say. Until one of them apparently the teenager middle child, spoke up "I checked on Omevic, he's still sleeping".
All Yarovesky could do was mummer a "Thank you", until Antoni broke the tension. And realised that Ravager was speaking to them in their own language, and looked toward him who explained in Darbian again "I had a Master who was Darbian, he was kind enough to teach me", and with that Antoni turned back to his sons
"Ok boys, I want you to go inside, while we talk to Yarovesky, it will be all right" Antoni told his sons, and the eldest looked like he was going to say something, but changed his mind and all three of them disappeared through the door. But not before Yarovesky saw how inviting it looked, and once again it was a reminder of what who he was.
Taking the seat which was being offered to him, Yarovesky sat opposite the family, who just poured him a drink, and Yarovesky tasted the sweet and honeyed cider, his reaction impressing the Ridel family.
"It's from our own orchards, we've been brewing and selling cider for generations", and Yarovesky was overwhelmed by the taste, and instantly wanted more, to grab the offered jug and pout the entire contents down his throat.
Then he remembered that Yondu had informed them to be on their best fucking behaviour, and right now the Ravager didn't want to do anything which would jeopardise Omevic staying with them, and Emau Ridel cleared her throat.
"Look I'll tell you right now, we want Omevic, we know it won't be easy, but we're prepared to do what we can to help him, but there is something we need to know from you".
There was tension in the air, as Antoni, cleared his throat, "You said he had no family, but we need to know what happened on that Slave Ship? I know there is something you don't want to talk about, but would you feel comfortable telling us about it".
Yarovesky has spent years denying the truth about his existence, and telling himself that it didn't matter, but to this family, he wondered if they knew the truth would they hold it against him, or Omevic. He didn't know if Yondu knew, but also knew that Yondu wouldn't care.
In a split second, Yarovesky made his decision.
"Ok, Ok, the truth is about us, not just Omevic but me and several other Ravagers…."
Yarovesky just talked, with each word finding it more cathartic, he had never even spoken to anyone about this, not even to the other Ravagers. But noticed more cider being replaced which was loosening his tongue and he found himself telling them everything about his crappy life of slavery. It was even liberating speaking to them in Darbian, remembering the kindness when his old master had taught him.
He told them of his life since he was liberated, and having the freedom for the first time in his life and how it impacted him, noticing the Ridel's just listened, the look on their faces wasn't judging, just curious.
"I only found out about what I was, because after we were freed, I got curious. I wondered by the Nova Corps liberated us, then just walked away. So, I hacked into their systems and found it the truth". Yarovesky took a long swig of the drink, and tapped his fingers against the glass, and looked away, finally finding the words he had failed to find until now.
"I couldn't tell anyone, because it's hard to deal with. Funny how on Xander anyone can be made like we was. That's accepted, even encouraged, but when it's done if the name of slavery, they don't care. We're considered unpeople, soulless". Yarovesky studied his drink once more and looked up at the Ridel family, his face suddenly concerned. "Now you know this, about Omevic…"
"We don't care about that, it doesn't matter to us, but I am glad you told us, it may make things difficult or easier, but right now all we need for him is to stay, we'll figure it out as we go along".
Yarovesky studied his glass once more, as Emau Ridel, reached out and grabbed his arm, a gesture that startled Yarovesky for a moment, unused to affectionate physical contact. "I am so sorry that happened to you Yarovesky, you have to understand that".
Yarovesky stared at the hand, for a moment and grew uncomfortable, he didn't belong here, with this family, he felt hot and awkward, but then he remembered something.
"I don't think I'll be seeing you tomorrow, so wanted to give you this". He said and took the unit chip out of his pocket and slipped it to the parents whose eyes widened when they saw the amount.
"This is a hundred thousand units, Yarovesky we can't take this", and the Ravager not used to anyone rejecting money just tried to explain.
"That's his cut, from the retravel of the jewels for your Lord, it's also his cut from when we killed his Master…and some…because I owe him. So, give him that when he's older, it's sealed, by the way, it's set to activate when he's twenty. It's when Xandarian come of age. Just never tell him it's from me".
Then the chair squealed as he stood up.
"I have to go, thank you for the cider". Yarovesky said as politely as he could and walked away from the family, back to where he came, even though he had no idea where he was going, but Yarovesky stopped suddenly when they called out his name.
"Yarovesky, tomorrow, we want to keep him away from the Ravagers, try to get them out of his system. But if he wants to stay, you clearly care about him, we can communicate with you, let him know how's he doing".
Yarovesky stopped suddenly, and not even turning around just shook his head. "Naa, just let him forget all about this, and let him get on with his life". With that Yarovesky disappeared into the darkness.
The Ridel parents watched him go and leaned back into their seats, the full ramifications of what they had been told rang in their ears, but all they felt was pity.
"That young man, all of them, they've suffered so much…and all because of that…".
"…I know it doesn't matter, but if he's never told anyone that means it may matter to some, and with Omevic hopefully staying, he's already got so much to deal with. How can we do that to him".
Emau Ridel took her husband by the hand and thought and said the exact same thing.
"Omevic must never know the truth."
To be concluded
Yes, I know, I know, I know
Please review