Chapter Title: These Boys of His
Series Title: Unlikely Brothers
Ages in this chapter: Tanner (10) Dashen (16)
POV: Nyssa Kor
Chapter Summary: Colton's oldest friend, Nyssa Kor, rescues the boys and wonders at the positive changes they have brought to her friend's life.
Virgil Colton. Huh. Never took him as the father figure type. In fact, if I recall correctly when we were kids, he swore up and down that he'd never spend one single moment chasing a bunch of whiny, bratty kids around.
Well... Heh. Look at him now.
True, I did enjoy chiding my old friend for the various bold statements we'd shared during our childhood. Virgil never could imagine himself as a parent. Just wasn't in his blood, he used to say. That, despite having the most loving of parents of his own.
Now, here we were. On my ship, safely stowing these two kids that he'd somehow latched onto. The boys were sleeping off a far too exhausting adventure that had landed unintentionally in a towering heap of trouble. I'd gotten a com from Virgil. He knew that I often frequented the planet where they'd been stranded. Details shared were sparse, but enough. Virgil never did anything without reason, so there were definitely secrets around these boys. Whether it was both of them or only one, I couldn't know.
Bottom line, Virgil asked me to keep my activities under the radar of the Empire and the locals alike.
For my old friend, I did.
And I saw that indeed, this old friend of mine had grown into something he had vowed never to be.
I happily called him on it of course. Such was the solidity of our relationship. "Funny, Virgil." I said, watching those achingly stunning blue eyes of his. Sure I was a sucker for the blonde, blue-eyed type, and damn if Virgil Colton hadn't broken the mold on that look. "Those old conversations we had way back when. You remember. Not wanting a family, not wanting to be a father figure. All that nonsense you spouted time after time. You'll pardon me if I say that… this…" My hand motioned toward the sleeping boys. "This makes me smile."
"Come on, Ny. Hardly a father figure." He responded back.
I shrugged. "Eh, you say so, but you went out of your way to make sure these boys were located and in the hands of someone you could trust rather than having the local authorities scoop them up for you. Dare I even say you sounded desperate on the com when you reached out to me?"
"Desperate may be pushing it."
Yeah, that was a lie. Virgil Colton may be able to fool most anyone in the galaxy, but he and I? We knew each other inside and out. There was a particular subtle tone to him when he was stressed. Maybe three people n the galaxy couple hear it. He'd been desperate all right.
"I know you won't tell me why they are so important. Sensing some secrets there and that's fine. Perhaps in the future. Whatever it is though, it's a good thing. These kids, they are right for you. This guardian, non father figure thing you have going on, whatever the hell you want to call it," I reached over to caress, then kiss his cheek, "It looks good on you."
He could have argued with me, but there was no point. I could see into him like few others. And with me, he the same.
"They're okay, by the way." I picked up the conversation again. "Just some bruising and exhaustion. All they know is that you sent me. I gave them the code to prove it. They barely got a good look at me, helmet on and all. They're intentionally sedated. Otherwise, I get the feeling that the older one wouldn't have even considered closing his eyes worrying on about the little one."
"It's true." Virgil said, clearly knowing these boys. "I owe you for this."
"No debt, Virg. Never between us. We've saved each other's asses enough times. I do regret that I've not visited lately for our private time, but duty has called and kept me moving. Even disposed of a few Imps here and there." I do enjoy target practice and those troopers are really nothing but a hateful annoyance anyway. The galaxy is better for less of them.
"How long will they sleep?"
"A few hours. They only asked that I didn't separate them before I offered the rest. They're quite attached." It wasn't a question.
"Heh. You've no idea, Ny. No idea at all. Long story. Information that I can't completely share, not that I don't trust you with my life. I always have, always will. It's just..."
I held up my hands. "No need to explain. We've all got our secrets, Virg. They are important to you. That's all you need say."
Our friendship ran deep. Perhaps the most important relationship I'd ever had. Virgil Colton never withheld information unless he needed do. These boys of his, I didn't ask, but I held the younger one, Tannerlin, at about ten or eleven standard years. No doubt he was the one my friend was protecting. The other, older one, Dashen. I'd seen him before around Kaolin in my travels there.
"The older boy, he's a runner for you. Thought I'd seen him somewhere. That dark hair on that tall, lean frame is hard to miss."
Virgil affirmed my statement with a nod, leaving it there while his concerned eyes watched the sedated pair sleeping restfully.
There they were, shoulder to shoulder, squeezed onto my ship's compact bed, breathing easily. Dirty faces and torn clothes. The older one, Dashen, his elbow encroaching onto his younger companion, needing to keep that contact. Needing to keep him safe, even in the unconscious world.
"They're brothers." Virgil said. Another lie, but I let him finish. "Not by blood, but by tragedy. Annoying as hell too, is what they really are. Still," He paused purposely. "I offered Dashen a hand when he was at rock bottom. He's worth it. They are worth it. Don't ask me why and I know what I said when I was young. I still don't do the father figure thing very well. One day though, when it's safe, I'm certain I'll share the entire truth. For now..."
"For now, they're important to you and each other. That's enough. You know what's between you and me stays that way. Always has, always will. We formed that trust when we were kids. It's never wavered. It will never waiver."
Our blood oath sealed long ago, this was a man I trusted above all others. I was the same for him. However, even within that bond, we both kept certain secrets hidden. It was simply who we were. A depth of trust while also remaining completely comfortable within our understanding.
I stole another glance at the boys. Virgil's boys. Still quiet.
"Virg, I've got business here, so my ship stays grounded."
He understood. I'd gladly offer them the comfort to sleep off the hypo, but he'd have to be the one to get them over to his ship.
"I'll move them when they wake."
"Make yourself at home until then. What's mine is yours." He knew that without saying, but I offered regardless. "They trust you, you know. Those boys. Without a doubt, they knew you'd come for them. Dashen, in his exhausted words, he said that to me flat out. It was in his eyes too. I don't think I'm too far off the mark when I say that he's not really had something like that in his life." It wasn't a guess on my part.
My old friend shook his head. "No far at all, no."
"And the little one, he's so different, but he trusts very deeply in Dashen. That is quite the circle you've created simply by reaching out to someone when they were down. You're a good man, Virgil Colton."
I collapsed the feet between us and set my lips to his.
"You and I will see each other soon. Once my work here is done, we'll find time. Just the two of us."
"I do look forward to that."
"Until then," I moved back toward where the boys slept, reaching for the blanket that the little one had accidentally kicked off to the side. I pulled it over the pair. "Take care of your boys. I suspect they may return the the favor one day. If… they've not done so already."
My old friend smiled. It really was a good look on him. It brought the youth back to his face. These boys though, they had lightened him already. That I had seen immediately.
Yes, there was something different about Virgil Colton these days. The most positives of something different there could ever be.
Without even knowing the full story, I was glad for it.
"I will see you soon, Virgil Colton." I said, lowering my ship's ramp to depart. "Give your boys the best for me."
He nodded and pushed long blonde hair behind his ears in a practiced move of many decades. For almost as long as I'd known him, Virgil kept his hair of length. Originally, it was a failed attempted to be rebellious as he was growing up. After, it just became who he was. And who he was all depended on who you were to him. His business side was shades different than his personal one.
Now there was this new paternal side. I'd only been privy to it for brief moments, but I certainly appreciated what I saw and felt from my friend.
I looked forward to officially meeting these boys of his one day.
Exiting my ship, I gave my dear friend one last nod before vanishing from his sight. When I returned some hours later, the three of them were gone. Virgil dropped a com that they'd arrived home safely, the boys having been healer checked and approved. And most importantly, that all would be okay.
There was relief in his message. Worrying over something other than his business ventures wasn't a normal thing for Virgil Colton. There was this strange feeling in my gut that these boys - this Dashen and Tannerlin - were possibly the best thing to happen to Virgil in a very long time.
Would he ever admit to that?
Nope. Not a chance.
Didn't mean it wasn't true.
I smiled while listening to his com message, happy in knowing that my friend had finally found true purpose in life. One that had nothing to do with criminal's or business or making money or posturing against enemies.
Instead, it had everything to do with family and love and hopefulness.
Three things that most of us seek, but few ever truly find.
My old friend was one of the lucky ones. Finally.
END
