A talk with mommy dearest is always good for the soul.

Son of Man - Disney (Tarzan)

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Present.

"The power to be strong, the wisdom to be wise. All these things will come to you in time. In learning you will teach and in teaching you will learn. This I know, my little prince." He could hear his mothers voice whispering in his skull as he walked up the steps to her pyramid home, more like a fortress than what humans would know as a 'house'.

The open doors were so comforting, memories of his youth running from room to room with his mother chasing him in her red skirts falling to her knees. Simple, miraculous times he remembered as he stepped inside. The familiar scents and sounds of the forest surrounding them, his drop ship at the base of the pyramid for a quick escape should he need it, familiar to him so decadently. He sauntered into the lounge and found her sitting on the chaise, a bowl of fruit in front of her that she was slowly peeling.

"I did not think you would come." Her voice was no longer soft, caressing to him but booming and razor sharp as it was when she was displeased.

"What was this urgent matter that needed attending?" He crossed his arms over his broad chest and tilted his head to the side, clicking as he observed her. "I was hunting."

"Your father is dead." Her tone dipped into a lower octave one of distress and his expression did not change.

"And?" Tilting his head to the other side he clacked his lower mandibles. A long sigh escaped her as she set the fruit she had been peeling down and looked at him straight on.

"I understand that you were not close to him, my son," She began and he let out a bark of a laugh. "But he died honorably, destroying a kiande-amede infection on the backwater planet known as Earth. It is said he took an abomination of yautja and serpent birth in single combat."

He almost wanted to tune her out but it piqued his interest when she said abomination, he had heard of those things occurring after a yautja is infected by a serpents parasite. Perhaps such a thing could be cultivated, dissected, grown to–

"I know you have done terrible things, my son, terrible to comprehend. Committing acts that are unbecoming of a male of your birth, of your stature! Only as your mother can I forgive you…barely." Her voice cut through his most delicious thoughts and he snapped his eyes to her once more.

"Terrible things? Perhaps you are not listening correctly, mother," He purred and he put his hand on the sword clipped to his belt, he had come fully outfitted which was odd to see one's relatives.

"You took my favorite daughter from me, ripping her away from her mother. That…I cannot forgive you." The tension he could taste and he smiled widely now at her not phased by her threat.

"She is safe. Take that knowledge to heart…I wouldn't let harm become of her." He leaned forward a bit and licked his inner mouth as he stared her down. "Don't you trust me?"

"No."

He chuckled and turned and began to waltz almost away towards the corridor that led to the compound opening. "Then you are wise, mother, wiser than I gave you credit."

His footsteps echoed and he made his way to the dropship, stepping over the bodies of the warriors that had been sent to hinder his path. He had taken his trophies from them, tusks and teeth, now it was time to scratch his salty sweet itch.

The alarm of proximity was blaring, waking him from his sleep in the cockpit and he clicked, putting his feet back down and yawning as he tinkered with the teeth and tusk necklace he had created. Beads of jewels were strung along the bones and he held as he tapped his claws on the airlock door as he impatiently waited for them to open. The compound filled with music, cn'lip and drugs of many kinds filling his senses as he walked through the maze of tables and chairs. Walking past the hostess into the section meant for the girls he clicked as he stood in her doorway.

"Nydeki." She sat up at her name and smiled when she saw him, scooting to the edge of the bed she looked at what he held in his hand as he shut the door behind him.

"Is that for me?" Her voice was soft and careful as she took the necklace, allowing him to clip it around her slender shoulders. Inhaling her hair he watched her with curiosity as she played with the sharp teeth, turning them over in her small, clawless hands.

"You like it?" He clicked and she smiled looking up at him as she leaned up to him licking his tusk as she did before sitting back down.

"I love it. It's beautiful…" She whispered and Mlevi curled his fingers in her hair, the silkness and softness were captivating.

"Father is dead." Looking at him now she frowned then asked him in return.

"How?"

"Abomination killed him as did a ooman war strike while cleaning up at a serpent infestation. Always like him to die in such flamboyant ways." Watching her face as he spoke he checked her for any noticeable emotional attachment to the old bastard.

"Oh…he was gentle to me but I cannot grieve for him." She looked at the door then up at him. "He's not my father. My father is a skull on mothers nightstand."

He snorted a laugh and whispered to her now. "I missed your scent and screams, little one…"

A shiver went down her back and she laid back, reaching up to touch his face as she smiled. "That was actually rather saccharine."

Putting a hand on either side of her he smirked as she curled a leg over his scarred thigh. "I'll try to make it as saccharine for you as I can."