Queen's note: Calmer time between the chaos. Before I go for the heart again. ;3

Garnets

Chapter Nine:

Domestic

It was surprisingly quiet in the Fortress. Lily was not aware how used to she was living on the ocean, the feel and sounds, until the constant vibration stopped. It was still, stable and quiet. Almost alarmingly so before Lily remembered that Riggs could play music. There was now something always on in the garden-greenhouse level that was Lily's new home area. Nothing offensive or really loud, but low music and nature sounds in the garden proper.

It helped immensely to keep that stillness, and in turn the intrusive thoughts at bay.

Not so much with the restlessness though.

Even with how Lily had been slowed down by the apocalypse, she had still been mostly active on the sea platform. The walk up to the galley was a good low impact… mess hall? Just a kitchen?

What was the proper term to use in regards to a space born, castle like Fortress of… doom?

Even if Lily had to take it slow in her walks and take breaks, it was really nice that she could more or less breathe again. Not be so dependent on the mask and tank of meds and pure oxygen. Not that Lily had that set up right now, but a new mask was being made for her. Vega had the information on the medication mix and was sure he could improve it. Or improve the dispenser?

Who knew being drowned in healthy would work?

Lily only partly forgave the big guy for that.

"Riggs- wait I'm out of that section, Vega?" Lily asked as she walked, still getting used to the layout of what areas of the Fortress that were open.

"Yes, miss Lily?" The AI was prompt to answer, sometimes it seemed like he was happy to have someone else who actually not only talked to him, but also needed to keep asking random questions.

"I'm on the right track to the galley?" Lily asked, glancing down the sling her right arm was in, as well as the stuff she had put in there. Still impressed how whatever painkiller that was used kept that whole shoulder numb for a little over a day. At first Lily had been wary as the massive man held her arm and pricked the needle in her right arm the first time.

She was learning despite the Slayer's bulk, he was surprisingly gentle and nimble with his fingers.

"Yes you are, stay in this hall. It'll be to your left."

"Question for you," Lily gave in.

"Yes?"

"Is it a 'galley,' or something else the proper term?"

"Either galley, kitchen or mess hall. The terms will work interchangeably," Vega helpfully supplied. "Except for the kitchen proper. Are you going to be making something with the fish you thawed out?"

"Yeah," Lily smiled, carefully pulling out the squash out of the sling to lift and show the AI, assuming there were cameras he could see even if she was able to spot them all yet. "Got my first big spaghetti squash to harvest! I'm going to make something tasty."

"I can not wait to see the result." Vega was nice how he was encouraging all the time.

"I have another question," Lily paused to catch her breath, leaning on the wall while putting the squash back in her center of gravity. "Does…. Does the big guy ever eat? I know I'm not around him a lot the last few days. Or well, when in the… stasis pod. I don't think I've seen him eat or drink."

"He is capable of eating, but does not seem to need to do so nearly as much as you would think someone of his mass would." Vega understood her confusion completely it seemed. "I believe it's due to the amount of Argent energy, hell energy and wraith energy saturation the Slayer has."

"Does he hydrate?" Lily asked, confused.

"Oh yes. The Slayer is very good about staying hydrated." Vega assured, leaving out that the man had to, to keep up with the blood loss sometimes.

"If I made a plate for him, would he come eat?" Lily was back to walking, finding what was a mess hall, a long dining room like area, as it was currently this was the only way to get into the kitchen proper. She was not sure where the Slayer was to be honest. He had gone planet side a day ago to look for something, and Vega had warned her that sometimes the missions were anywhere from a few hours to forty eight hours. 'At least.'

There was a new addition in the kitchen, making Lily smile as she saw the step by one of the back counters. She nudged it, finding the boxy step was solid but not so heavy she could not scoot it around.

Some things were fairly universal in kitchens though, between humans and those that made the Fortress. Argenta?

The biggest drawback was that the Argenta seemed to be just that bit taller than humans on average. With the step, Lily was at a more comfortable level with the wide counter. It was one of the counter spaces that was by itself, possible for prep, possible for chiefs long past to put food before it went out as it seemed an out of the way counter.

Lily put the spaghetti squash on the counter along with two zucchini and a cucumber.

"You really should not use the sling to carry vegetables." Vega noted.

The young woman gave a nervous giggle out of guilt, finding where the door to the refrigerator like a cool-box was in the back of the kitchen. "I know… but it did not feel like there was strain, and, well it was easier to carry it."

"Just please do not hinder your healing." Vega asked, "You are overall a better patient then the Slayer. I would hate to see you learn some of his bad habits."

"I'll try to be better." Lily promised as she picked up a plastic container in the fridge-cabinet thing. Demonstrating that promise by walking back to the counter to drop off the container first and go back to find the half onion. It took longer to get ready to cook, as Lily had to track down what she wanted as much as just exploring how things were laid out again.

The woman looked up after deboning the thick filets, listening intently and then looking around.

"Vega?"

"Yes, miss Lily?"

"Could you play some classic rock in here, or just anything?" Lily asked, making a face, "It's just too quiet."

"Of course." Vega seemed happy, and the first notes of a Queen song began.

Lily sighed, relieved as the music of the bohemian rhapsody started. Not extremely loud, just enough to keep the stillness away. Then the young woman smiled and started humming as she got herself situated with the task of cutting the bigger squash. It was far more of a task with her dominant arm stuck in a sling, but the old kitchen knives from the platform had been wonderfully sharpened.

The seeds were pulled out and set to the side, while the 'guts' of the squash were saved for the fuzzy army as a treat. Most of the vegetable scraps were, with a few bits of fish for the cats. "It wouldn't be a bad idea to start new sprouts right Vega? With all that new growing room?"

"It would be nice to see some more green," Vega said and considered, "Before Riggs was situated in that system, I did see water treatment and pumps, as well as a compost system. There seems to have been a few pools and waterways in the garden."

"So it shouldn't hurt to start cleaning it up and getting things growing again." Lily smiled as she stepped down in favor of sitting on the step instead as she needed to just sit and breathe. "How's that new mask coming by the way?"

"It should be done today," Vega assured, checking the fabrication area. After finding that the mask was already taken he had to add while spitting his attention between the two rooms as he was talking to Lily. Nothing remotely strenuous for his systems, or like it had been on Mars. "The Slayer seems to want to make sure it's functioning correctly. I've already finished the dispenses for the medicine. It should be easier for you to use it then the prototype that you originally had."

"Ooh," Lily smiled from where she was resting, leaning back on the cabinet-like door. "That would be nice. It would be nice to try and move around a lot more with it."

"You have been improving every day," Vega noted, turning his attention back to the kitchen as he finished with the Slayer. "Have you been uncomfortable?"

"Yes and no," Lily looked upwards as she thought, shifting her left arm before glancing at the bandage on it. "My left arm feels like an infection is starting. The right is still numb but no real pressure."

"Would you like to go to the medical bay once you're done?" Vega asked, "We may not have antibiotics yet but I can get a scan to see how bad it is."

Lily chewed her lip, as much as she wanted to just go back to bed once eating… she did know better. "I can do that. I'm really tired though."

"You've been through quite a lot of physical trauma, not just your arm being dislocated" Vega pointed out, though did see the need to mention the mental trauma. "Your body needs time and rest to heal. Can you tell if you have a fever?"

"And food, but… I don't think so." Lily started to add, before reaching up to press her fingers to her cheek then forehead as she got up. The woman paused and smiled to see one of the cleaning drones coming into the kitchen. It reminded her of horseshoe crabs without the tail as it found random spots to clean. She wiggled her fingers, and smiled as it paused what it was doing to wiggle some of the cleaner legs back in an attempt at a wave.

Lily was pretty sure Vega was making it emote, but it was a sweet gesture as she carefully stood to finish what she was doing.

The little drones needed eyebrows. That would be funny.

Lily finished with the squash all cut up, getting the seasoning on the fish before finally having to get down and find a pot. She sort of missed the microwave in the galley on the platform, if only this part was faster. Boiling the spaghetti squash was the next quickest way to get it to soft to pull apart and finish off with the zucchini.

She could at least eat slices of cucumber as cooking took much longer than normal.

A pot was found, well she found many but there was a human one stashed inside the cabinet. Just big enough for the bigger squash, and after a trip to the sink basin had to bring the step over.

Shoot the step over with a foot really, same difference.

The pot was half full, the squash halves just starting to float when Lily stopped the water. Staring at the sink and pot for a long few moments, then looked between it and the stove area.

"Did you forget how heavy the pot would be?" Vega asked gently, watching as the young woman sighed and thick her head against the nearby counter.

"I want to function like before. Like normal." Lily said into the counter where she was hunched over. "I could haul submarines on the tracks and pull myself out of the water in full gear. I was able to help dad pull up the ROVs. This absolutely fucking sucks."

There was a deep rumbling sound before a chuff like chuckle sound behind Lily.

The woman jumped with another curse, turning around with wide eyes as the new wall taking up the doorway to the kitchen. "Oh my god, how do you make no sound?!"

The Slayer gave a lopsided grin as he walked in, as if to mess with Lily he made his steps heavier half way through. Holding something in his left hand, the giant of a man reached around her to pick up the pot.

"...that's just offensive." Lily grumbled, watching him move to the stove. She trailed after with a pan to set to the side. She sighed, "...thank you. I was trying to get this made before you came back up."

The Slayer had that slight chemical smell around him that Lily was learning meant he had been working on cleaning his armor and weapons.

The bigger man hummed, setting the stove to start boiling the water and squash. He watched Lily bring the swordfish filets over, definitely thicker like stakes. Then the rest of the vegetables, letting her handle that much until she leaned against a counter.

A large hand nudged Lily, the Slayer using a knuckle to get attention before reaching out. Lily just had enough warning with that before she was picked up. Making a squeak sound but instead of being squished, the young woman was just put up on the tall counter away from the food.

It was still startling how easily she could be just picked up. Lily looked up, now a bit more even with the other. Blinking as the Slayer offered her what he had been holding, almost hidden in his hand.

"Is that my new mask?" Lily asked in awe, reaching out to take the offering. Pulling it chose to try and use both hands to turn it around. It was not just a simple filter mask that had been modified. It had been made streamlined, and could almost pass as human made from the outside but for an opal like purple with a metallic shine. It felt nothing like plastic or silicone, though the lining was just as soft as the high quality silicone diving mask she had in storage.

It seemed a bit heavier than it should be, even with the strap.

The Slayer tapped one of Lily's knees, drawing her attention up. She put the mask back in his held out hands. Head ducking a bit as he carefully put it over her head. Held up against her face, the human found it was a perfect fit. She could pull the strap tight on either side.

The Demigod was being careful as he guided Lily's free hand to first the dispenser. She gasped as the tight band in her chest loosened for the first time since she woke up in the stasis pod. Lily felt around, finding that small button was on both sides around her lower jaw line. Next she was shown something on the left cheek of the mask.

Lily rather… gracefully yipped as she was startled by the mask shifting. Almost transforming. She might have fallen off the counter if the Slayer had not been expecting it and held her down by her sides. Eyes wide she felt over the mask with both hands. The strap was almost reinforced, keeping the whole thing firmly in place. There was a new visor screen that covered the formally uncovered top half of her face, with a faint outline of a hud.

She found the same button and pressed it. Nothing happened, it was not a deep button, not the dispenser.

"How?" Lily asked, the sudden excitement spilling out in her voice. "How does it work?"

The Slayer smiled again, letting go he nudged Lily to put her fingers back over the button. Pressing over her two fingers with one of his own, only to hold a sustained pressure. His other hand held up and lifted a finger for the count of 1… 2… 3 seconds.

The visor shield retracted, leaving no evidence of how it popped up. The over strap around the back of her head did much the same, making Lily glad her hair was still cut short. The Slayer pulled his hands back, letting them rest as he crossed his arms. Watching in amusement as Lily did the whole thing at least twice to make sure she could.

Lily looked up, eyes bright, "How deep can this go underwater?"

"You cannot dive with it," Vega noted, "But I would not go deeper than twenty feet for this one in the case of an emergency."

The Slayer shook his head, uncrossing his arms to sign. No water. No air for you with.

Lily pouted for just a moment before pulling the mask down. Loosen straps just enough to let her peer inside the mask. Trying to see how the filters and medicine dispenser worked. When that proved to be too much of a mystery to work out right away, Lily looked up.

"Thank you." She grinned back, thrilled with the present. Getting a large hand on her head in return with a ruffle. "Now I can get into all the trouble eh?

The Slayer gave an amused rumble, glancing at the boiling water. He glanced down next, and once more proved that he did not have much personal space. A large hand tapped Lily's right leg, then grasping her ankle to push up her pants leg and expose the dive knife that was back to being there.

"Hey!" Lily protested, trying to kick her trapped leg, then use the other foot to try to get him to let go. Yet that risked her balance, "Stop trying to steal my dive tools! They're useful and I only have a few."

The Demigod slipped the dive knife out of its spot to look over. Easily holding it out of Lily's reach. It was knife like, one side, but no real hilt, almost one solid metal with a line cutter and a thicker built end as if the hit something. It was definitely more tool-like than his own blades.

"Rude."

Those eerie blue eyes glanced up, the Slayer smirked, trying to cut his thumb on the small blade.

"It's a tool, not just a McStabby." Lily protested, and given the interactions with the big man before. She dared to stick her right leg out, shaking it in a demand, "Put it back where you found it."

The Slayer snorted, but he was smiling as he caught the waving slipper covered foot. He almost seemed to debate something, yet the dive tool was slid back into its place. The bigger man reached behind him for a pocket and offered something that had finally finished being decontaminated. The Slayer had to be extra careful with sharpening the dull blade, as it was the standard human Space Marine issue, not like his own made of Argenta hull alloy.

Lily paused and then reached out to take the familiar sheath. She turned it over, finding her sire name in the underside of it, and it had a new addition that it had straps attached. Overall it was a blade she knew very well, as Lily opened it just an inch to confirm seeing the small groove in the blade.

She was very careful to touch the edge of the blade, using no pressure she could feel how sharp it was now.

Lily looked up, carefully keeping putting the blade back in the sheath. "When did you go back?"

When you slept in pod. The Slayer had to sign slower, using the human signs.

The young woman took a few steady breaths as the water boiled off to the right. She looked up and finally dared to ask, "It wasn't, like, chaotic for him right?"

The Demigod shook his head, signing to start, and had to pause and press his lips together as the big man considered how to use the right words. He was too used to using a hybrid mix of human and Argenta signs. He looked up at the nearest camera. Vega. Tell her. It was still, his terms. Not that he asked.

"The Slayer is trying to say that Mr. Hawkins did not suffer." Vega spoke up, the background music dropping in volume, "He was found sitting in the hall leading to the old security room you both met originally."

It seemed at first just like surface level comforting words but Lily made sure to listen to it all. Turning the old combat knife over in her hands. She knew her father really well, and looked up at the living legend that she heard about through her father's stories. "He somehow asked you, I bet. Didn't he?"

The Slayer blinked at that, tilting his head as the question reminded him how Lily was not really as young as she seemed to his perspective. It took three seconds before he gave a nod. Quiet, calm.

What had the Slayer said that first meeting, when they were with the guinea pigs? Let him be stronger?

"It sounds morbid, but, thank you. For not letting my dad keep suffering." Lily made herself voice her thoughts, but looked down at the old knife. At a rumble, she peeked up, finding a large hand offered for the knife in question. After a hesitation Lily set it back in the Slayer's palm, watching as he caught her left leg to strap it on her calf. Definitely a more appropriate place for now then on her chest like her dad used to do.

She huffed as a big hand was placed on her head, Lily finally understanding the awkward motion was his attempt to be reassuring. "Did you see what happened to… mom?"

The slayer shook his head, lifting his hand to be able to check the pot. Taking it off the heat as he picked out the soft squash out of the boiling water. Inadvertently proving he was not fully human himself again.

"The mass that was your mother was not anywhere in the area." Vega explained, "I haven't picked up the same energy yet since that storm."

Lily took a deep breath, and some tension dropped out of her back, turning to watch the bigger man. "Maybe she succumbed to the saltwater in the hurricane? She was as stuck on the platform as I was in some ways."

The Demigod considered as he reached for the oil that lived near the stove. It was possible, but also as likely that the new higher demon could have opened a portal to hell to escape the storm. He did not mention that, as the Slayer did not want to cause the little one beside him any more stress as she seemed to be taking the situation with her father well.

"Make sure the pan is nice and hot before putting the filets in." Lily said after watching for a minute, turning on the counter. Rightly guessing the big guy was partly taking over to give her a moment. "You can test it by tapping the thicker end of the fish to the pan and oil. If it doesn't start to crisp it's not ready."

There was a rumbling sound that came out of Slayer. Showing that he was listening as he moved the pan into the heat, unphased as he had to move the still hot pot.

"How do you do that?" Lily finally asked, motioning to the pot, "Everyone else would get third degree burns."

Hell is hotter. The Demigod had to think about the human signs again, but offered one large hand to Lily. Watching as she tapped his fingers, then palm as if testing how hot he was after moving the pot. Even with her lingering calluses, to him her left hand was soft as the Slayer let her inspect. His own calluses were thicker, his skin over all was thickened compared to a normal human now.

"Damn," Lilly finally said as the hand was pulled away, she looked up, between him and the seasoned fish and bowl of zucchini waiting to be cooked. "Is that going to be enough for you?"

The Slayer blinked, looking surprised at the question. Tapping his chest.

"Yes you, I never got to make that promised dinner." Lily said, kicking her legs in the air.

The man gave an interesting sound before it changed into a happy grumble. For now not minding taking direction of how to cook the food from Lily. He did not talk, but it was proving that he also was not completely mute. Though Lily did not know it was a self imposed mutism. The demigod was still mostly human, and like all humans he could make a range of non verbal sounds. Likely had to get comfortable again with whoever else was around.

Lily smiled as the area started to smell good with the cooking. Delighted that her new 'roommate' was no slouch with cooking even as she reached over to rub her left arm. Wincing first at the numb pull of her right shoulder, then blinked down at a wet feeling.

"Oh, ew, Vega I think there is an infection." Lily called to the AI, hearing the Slayer give a snort and sniff the air before looking at her. She was poking her arm as the patch like bandage was getting a small dark spot.

"Once you eat, please come to Medical," The AI said, able to see that there was not too much weeping from the cameras.

"Yeah, can do." Lily sighed, missing how the man beside her frowned as he tried to remember where he found that smell before.