Chapter 1: Oxygen
Summary:
Hold on. You’re still breathing.
In which an ancient, wizened, patient, and lonely Affini happens upon a soul in desperate need of assistance.
Content warnings for this chapter: Non-consensual xenodrugging, mentions of grief and death in flashback
Notes:
This is where it all starts!
Chapter Text
Within the pleasant blue and teal-hued observation room, Chloros Gleras, 27th Bloom, was in distress.
The young terran she had brought aboard the ship was in a dire state. When one of her fellows, Antris, approached him, they said he had screamed in fear and threw everything he had at them, mostly amounting to rocks and a storage container from his camp. He did have some sort of gun, but it apparently jammed when he tried to fire it. When he had nothing left, he had suddenly frozen up, and then collapsed to the ground, barely responsive. If her friend hadn’t scooped him up and immediately brought him to the veterinarian, there was a real risk of him needing longer-term sedation, just to ensure his survival.
“Poor thing was trembling as if he would explode,” Antris had said. “And in a way I worry his heart would have if I didn’t catch him and bring him here.”
That was correct. Even though he had been brought into a clean and safe environment, away from that ratty tent he called a camp, it was discovered that on top of being incredibly clammy and cold, his heart rate was extremely high, as if merely being at rest was taxing on his body. While a cocktail of Class-E and Class-Z xenodrugs were enough to put him into a state of rest, he seemed to have trauma great enough that he was still resisting them, judging by his occasional squirms and wriggles and moments of ragged breathing. The bed he was laying on was comfortable enough that it helped with reducing his stress, albeit only slightly.
If her core could break upon seeing something distressing, Chloros was certain that it would disintegrate upon first seeing him.
She straightened her standing posture while observing him through the observation room window, The veterinarian, a dependable friend by the name of Fernis, was displaying signs of worry of his own, albeit subdued. The needles on his broad shoulders were ever so slightly bristled as he continued to scan the terran’s vitals, the ridges of bark above his eyes furrowed in a scowl.
“Unusual,” he kept repeating. “So very unusual. The xenodrugs should be putting him at ease, but whatever happened with him, they’re mostly only keeping it in check. It’s almost as if his body literally can’t rest unless forced to, and even then it’s a struggle.”
Chloros took a moment to think, while Fernis continued. “I don’t want to up the dosage too high, lest his body react badly. But at the same time, he seems to be having trouble just relaxing without more. This is usually so easy…”
He turned his head to peer at Chloros over his shoulder. “And I’m still abiding by your request to avoid Class-B, since cases like these are so fragile. It would be a lot easier if I could, though.”
“I know,” Chloros said finally. A vine crept out from her form and towards him, gently entangling with it. His scowl softened slightly from the gesture of affection. “How long do you think he should be under for?”
Fernis turned back to the vitals displayed on his monitor, his gnarled digits taking notes for him. “Without scanning his psyche, I can only surmise that he’s been through some grievous trauma. The past few hours being just the latest in a never ending journey. Best case scenario, he awakens after a few days, but in an unfamiliar environment that will leave him on edge. He will doubtless require time to acclimate.”
“And the worst case scenario?”
The silence between them was only seconds long, but it still felt like eternity. “Fernis, my friend, please tell me,” she pleaded in a whisper.
Their eyes met, resigned gold encountering brilliant blue. An approximation of a sigh left him. “His body would risk dying from sheer stress. We’d need to take drastic measures to prevent that.”
He’d just become empty.
The thought came unbidden, and it sent a pang of sorrow through her. Such a frail, delicate thing, so close to oblivion, he might fall into it lest he get pulled back…
“Fernis,” Chloros said, another vine reaching to tangle with his. This time, it was for stability. Assurance. Steadying herself amidst the whirlwind. “What do you recommend, should he wake up?”
“He’s not ready for domestication, not yet,” the veterinarian said. “He won’t be stable enough for it right now. But he could use a warden. I’d suggest Antris, but they’ve got their own vines full right now with their own floret, and they tell me it will be some time before they consider another one.”
Ah yes, Antris. Their floret was, in their words, “a right pain in the roots”, but it was said out of amusement, not agitation. Still, it meant that caring for two sophonts at once was out of the question, especially with one having such a fragile psyche already.
“There’s plenty of us on the ship that would love to have him,” Fernis continued, “but you know how they are. So eager to have a floret that they’ll rush the process and risk causing harm to him, even if we can just fix it later. In my opinion, we shouldn’t have to fix someone else’s mistakes because they got too excited. Should avoid it entirely.”
Chloros gave a slight chuckle. While he projected the front of a friendly and composed fellow, Fernis had privately expressed to her how annoying it can be to have to care for terrans and other sophonts, and also put up with Affini that get far too excited by the prospect of having a floret that they ignore what he says and just went for the nuclear option, as the terrans say. To anyone else, he might come off like a grouch, but she knew him well enough to recognize it was only because he cared deeply about every soul that came to him, and causing undue harm and stress was an easy way to upset him.
Her vines untangled with his own, finally, and she rested a smooth-barked hand upon his shoulder. “Let’s save that for when he’s in a better condition,” she said kindly. “We literally just picked him up today. I don’t want to overwhelm him when he’s already struggling.”
Fernis’ facial features softened, and a smile formed under his eyes. “I agree. So here’s what I can do. I’ll keep monitoring him while I work with other patients here. You go on and see what Antris is up to and let them know how he’s doing. And if something comes up, you’ll know first thing.”
This time, a full embrace, arms wrapped around him and vines entwining once more. A rumbling of his biorhythm emanated from his bulky torso, a sign of his contentment and ease.
“He’s lucky to have you,” Chloros said.
“He’s lucky to have us,” Fernis corrected, but not in a rude fashion. She knew that he was reaffirming that he wasn’t the only one invested in his health. “You go ahead and enjoy the rest of your day now, Chloros. I’ll be seeing you soon.”
“Likewise, dear friend.”
A disentanglement followed. She stood up to her full height, adopting a friendly smile. “Oh, before I go, can you let Roltan know I wish to meet with him?” Another old friend, a passionate, charismatic wordsmith who, much like the floret he’s bonded with, will eagerly talk your head off about whatever he’s most enthused about should he be given the chance. “I desire his counsel.”
“I will do that shortly, yes. See you around.”
She found herself reluctantly leaving, but she did eventually leave. Part of her wanted to stay and observe him for days on end, but she knew that Fernis would handle it for her. For now she needed to clear her head.
He’ll persevere, a part of her said. He will. Somehow.
There can be no hope in this hell. No hope at all.
At least, that’s what he came to believe. Ever since her passing, any chance of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel became increasingly incapable of coming to fruition. She was the guiding light in an all-consuming void, and without her, the darkness was drawing closer, closer, ever closer. A predator ready to snap him up in its jaws and devour him should he slip for even an instant.
Suffice to say, he was on edge.
The last few days were a blur. He remembered a few key points, but beyond that, not much else. Her passing, of course, was the biggest one, something he could not ignore. He could only grieve her for a short while, and bury her in a hastily-constructed grave as best he can, before just as hastily making an exit as he sensed darkness approaching.
Money. Her money. The last thing she gave him to ensure he could continue without her. It greased palms and opened doors, and loathe as he was to admit it, he did like having it. If nothing else, it got him places that just pleading his case didn’t.
A gun. Just a small one. But plenty of ammunition, should he need it. It was also a gift from her, one that always made him feel like she’d be with him when he needed it most. Oh, it was beat to shit after several years, and there was always a risk of jamming, and yet, its age and the wear and tear did nothing to its aim. He could point and shoot, and be assured his shots would land.
Rumblings through the communication transponder he picked up, warning of the Accord facing a losing battle against aliens nobody has ever seen before. What they were called, it didn’t matter. So long as they stayed the hell away from him, they could do whatever they wanted. If the Accord went belly-up, by all means, let it happen. That damnable empire took everything from him.
Every day, a test. Every day, a coin flip. Would he awaken the next morning into a continuation of this hell? Or would he embrace oblivion in the end, finally freed from this torturous mortal coil?
Wait. Something’s in the trees.
His already strained heart took that as a sign to go into overtime again, adrenaline surging through him. He grabbed her gun and shuffled out of the tent, the night sky making things hard to see…
And he didn’t want to see what was in front of him. Tall, massive, mimicking the trees, bearing down on him with a seeming grin of malice. Too many arms, or vines, or tentacles, whatever the fuck. Was this a demon sent to collect his soul?
What did it just say? Didn’t matter, it had to die.
A lift of his arm, and a pull of the trigger. A click.
Oh fuck.
Everything started to collapse. His cracked, blistered, bloody hands tried to grab anything to throw at the monster to make it go away and not kill him. His mouth was open, and he heard the distant sound of his own screaming.
At least until suddenly everything froze. His whole body put on pause like in a holo recording. He couldn’t move, even while raw, unfettered panic and terror arced through his whole being, his body becoming stiff as stone. Blood in his veins crystallized into ice.
The monster approached, and then
The first thing he noticed as the nightmare came to an end was that he wasn’t in his tent anymore. The second thing he noticed was that instead of the usual coldness that assaulted his fragile body every morning since her passing, there was pleasant warmth all around, especially with…
A blanket around him?
Where was he?
The terran willed his heavy, droopy eyelids to open up so he can find out where he was, and he was caught off-guard by the sight. Gone was the dry, dead cave his tent was set up in, the unforgivably frigid air merely a distant memory. He quickly realized that he was no longer out in the wilds, instead, he was inside somewhere that felt… safe?
It was a massive room, with a ceiling that stretched far higher than expected. The walls were a calm, ocean blue hue, with smooth, flawless paneling. Far away from where he was, a massive monitor fit snugly inside the wall, currently turned off and displaying only black. Below, shelves containing devices and other objects he didn’t recognize.
To his right, a massive door leading to some other room. To his left, more space in the… living room, he guessed, before transitioning into a sizable kitchenette… or rather, just a kitchen. There was no refrigerator or dishwasher that he expected, though there was a stovetop at the very back, underneath cabinets high above. A central island was in the middle, with some strange, square object sitting upon it. That wasn’t a microwave, so what was it?
Now his gaze fell downward to observe where he was positioned in here. It was a very large bed, far longer than was expected for terrans, and the sheets and blanket (stars they were soft) matched the walls, a peaceful blue. Behind his head and back, several pillows kept him propped up so he wasn’t laying horizontally.
He brought up his hands to scratch an itch on the side of his face. He only now realized that his fingers and palms were hidden under snugly wrapped bandages, so he could not see the scars and scabs that defined the body parts he trusted most. While anxiety lingered at the edge of his mind, he was quickly able to deduce that whatever happened, someone found him, brought him to safety, and took care to dress his hands.
Now he was cluing into a dull ache in his hands. Okay, he must have hurt them really badly. Maybe it was from trying to defend himself against… whatever that monster was. Hopefully his savior sent it packing.
Everything was coming into focus now. His whole body ached severely – stars, why did he have to be cursed with frequent muscle pains? – and he lacked energy to do more than sit. Yet, part of him wanted to find a way out of here, maybe see-
That train of thought got derailed when mechanical noises rang out, and a large panel next to the monitor suddenly shifted aside. What came through shocked him to the core.
A gargantuan creature that easily hit 15 feet at its max height, towering over him without even trying. Sporting a roughly terranoid shape, two arms, two legs, and a torso with a head. This thing was seemingly wearing a strange dress made of… vines? Green-blue ones at that, its legs hidden under the poofy dress, while up top, its torso was very obviously plant-like, sinewy vines and leaves combining into an inverted triangle of an upper half. Around its chest, what looked like stiff bark was affixed, like a strange piece of armor. Its face was the most interesting of all – vaguely reminiscent of a terran’s, with what he guessed her were somewhat large, plump ‘lips’ on its mouth, soft, feminine curves along the jaw and cheeks. What seemed to count as hair for this creature looked more like a thick bush of blue flowers, with long braids hanging over its shoulders. Two large, fluffy antennae pointed up from its scalp, bobbing with its movements. And... those eyes. Brilliant, radiant blue, practically calling for him to stare into them. He almost fell for it, but something told him to avert his gaze, and he did.
What threw him for a loop next was the fact that, when this creature turned around and spoke behind it, he could hear it speak in a language he could understand. In a deep, feminine voice, at that.
“Tell Roltan that I’ll need those files in the coming weeks,” he heard it – no, she – say to whoever he couldn’t see. “I need everything I can for my special guest.”
“Can do, catch you later,” an even deeper, masculine voice said, and then the door shut tight, leaving him with the creature.
She turned around, and for an instant, their eyes met, until leaves abruptly manifested from her ‘hair’ to cover them. She continued to face him, and for a moment, his breath caught in his throat.
Terror began to rise again, threatening to hold on tight and utterly consume him, until-
“There is no need to fear, little one,” she rumbled. Immediately a lot of his anxiety faded, but it was still there, lingering in the corner of his mind. A snake coiled to strike should it be given a reason to. “You’re safe in my care.”
He found his voice finally. “W… wh… where… what is… what the hell is… fuck…”
“Language!” a disembodied voice rang out, high pitched and grating on the ears. The sheer loudness and shrillness assaulted his senses, and he cried out, a throbbing in his skull forming as he tried to protect himself from the abuse of his senses. Eyes screwed tight, hands on his ears.
Blind, he remained oblivious to the large… woman? … bluntly saying something like “Hab unit, lower volume,” and then there was silence for a moment, until he heard rustling that drew closer. It took up to a minute for him to find his center, and when he dared to open his eyes, that… woman was there. But instead of standing tall, here she had chosen to crouch down all the way, so that her head was level with his. She was still keeping her distance from him, leaves hiding her eyes, but he could tell she was looking directly at him.
“Just breathe,” she crooned. “Slow. Steady. In, then out. Take a deep breath…”
He found himself doing as she said, taking a deep breath that filled his tired lungs.
“Hold it. Just a moment longer. Then exhale.”
He obeyed. Everything still hurt, but he felt significantly less distressed now, finally getting his heart rate back down (how had he not noticed it slamming into his ribcage like a jackhammer?).
Silence, then, he gingerly lowered his hands. Now, the throbbing in his head was reduced to a mild ache, and the only noises in the room were his somewhat harried breaths and her occasionally creaking as she adjusted her stance before him.
“There we go,” she said, her mouth forming a smile. “You’re alright, little one. Just some noise, is all. Can you speak?”
He tried to respond in the affirmative, and his mouth opened – but no sound came out. He blinked his eyes, and made another attempt, but his vocal chords seemed to have taken that moment to take a break from functioning. Great. Just great. He was in an unfamiliar place, staring at an entity he couldn’t make sense of, and he was in pain. Now he couldn’t even speak.
The anguish showed on his face, apparently, because she said, “Your voice doesn’t seem to be working, dear. I understand. Don’t worry, let me make it easier for you. I’ll just ask you some questions, and you can nod once for yes, or shake twice for no. Does that work?”
After a third attempt to vocalize failed, he made a frustrated huff, before slowly nodding his head.
“Excellent. Okay. Do you know where you are?”
Two shakes of the head. How could he? This place was clean, and soft, and smelled nice…
“Understandable. Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything soon, I just need to assess you for a moment. Next… do you hurt?”
Of course he hurt. Everything did nowadays. He hardly remembered a time that he didn’t hurt. He nodded again, then held up his bandaged hands, trying to flex them, and wincing as red-hot anger knifed through his fingers and palms. Okay, bad idea.
“Not surprising, considering how torn up they were when we found out. Alright. One more.” She seemingly didn’t move, but he heard a low creaking coming from her. What was it?
“Do you feel safe here?”
...did he feel safe anywhere? Ever since that fateful day? There was no way he could say yes to that. He’d be a stars-damned liar if he did.
He shook his head no.
“To be expected,” she noted, and it was then he noticed what appeared to be tentacles – no, vines – snaking out from her. One reached for some sort of tablet from somewhere he couldn’t see, while another grabbed something and… held it out to him.
A glass of water. Pure, refreshing, cool. How long had it been since he tasted fresh, pure hydration?
He stared at it, transfixed. Her oddly comforting voice came again. “Can you drink for yourself? It’s alright if you can’t.”
He needed his hands to be unbandaged for that. With another shake of his head, his expression fell. It dawned at him that he’d need assistance doing anything while his hands were healing.
To his surprise, a warm, friendly laugh escaped her. “Don’t worry, dear, just relax and drink. And tap my vine if it’s too much.”
She brought the glass to his mouth, and slowly tipped it upward, till the life-giving liquid fell upon his tongue. Suddenly he became aware of how parched and dry he was! He had to hold himself back from grabbing the thing and chugging it. Instead, he remained rooted where he sat, letting her dictate how much water he’d be able to sip and swallow. He was slowly feeling more rejuvenated, but it still wasn’t enough to completely make his exhaustion and pain wear off.
“Hab unit, keep volume low. Send my notes to Fernis. Let me know what he says as soon as possible,” the large woman said, only just raising her voice so she can be heard by… hab unit, apparently, but sparing his ears of loud sound.
“Right away, ma’am,” the hab unit whispered.
Soon the glass was empty of water. He wanted so much more, but weakness still clung to his form like an all-encompassing cloak. Stars, he hated this weakness. It had been haunting him since youth…
She addressed him again, this time bringing herself slightly closer. The glass was pulled away, set somewhere he couldn’t see. “That should help you stay hydrated while you sleep again. You’ve had a long day, my dear, and you need to rest up.”
He wanted to object, tell her that no, he was fine, but suddenly he felt a wave of pain shoot through his torso and grimaced, grinding his teeth. It faded shortly, but stars-DAMN did it hurt.
Her face shifted, sporting a worried expression. “Oh, you poor thing… you really do need to rest. You’ll get plenty of it here, I promise.” A pause, one that stretched seemingly for ages. “Before you sleep again, though, I would like to ask your permission for something. May I touch you?”
He must have surprised her with his response, given how he rapidly shook his head, eyes wide with apprehension. He braced for her to be like the others, overstepping his boundaries and forcing themselves upon him and-
“Okay. I will respect that,” the alien replied. “You deserve that much, at least.”
Then she stood up, and up, and up, reminding him of just how tall she was at her full height. She could probably pick him up and throw him around like a ragdoll without any effort. It scared him, sure, but… it also excited him? Somehow?
“Just lay back and get some sleep, dear. When you’re more rested, we’ll see how far you’re coming along.”
He nodded, the only thing he could reply with, and found his exhaustion creeping upon him again. He leaned back.
And this time, as he entered the void of slumber, there was a lot less uncertainty of his fate.
Chapter 2: Keratin
Summary:
Bloodied, battered, beaten… but not broken.
In which the newest arrival is treated to something that takes the edge off, and discovers more about this new world he’s in.
Content warnings for this chapter: Descriptions of blood and injury, non-consensual xenodrug use, medical care, panic attack, affini hypnosis
Notes:
Second chapter in! And the protagonist gets properly acquainted with the Affini of the hour. She'll take very good care of him, I promise!
Chapter Text
›FernoutParadise: Chloros, are you around?
›ChloroFeel: Yes, I am. Sorry for the delay, I was out getting some things for my newest guest.
›FernoutParadise: Ah, understandable. How is he doing?
›ChloroFeel: Better, somewhat. I was able to get him to drink water, and while he seems wary of me, he’s not hostile. There was an incident where he went nonverbal, however.
›FernoutParadise: What happened?
›ChloroFeel: My hab unit’s AI chided him for an outburst of profanity, and its default volume was enough to cause him physical pain, on top of preventing him from speaking. It would appear he’s sensitive to loud and/or high pitched noises.
›FernoutParadise: That does complicate matters, especially with how loud it can sometimes get in your part of the ship. Can he walk on his own?
›ChloroFeel: Not sure yet. I plan to test for that when I get back and treat him to breakfast, and change his bandages too.
›FernoutParadise: If he can at least walk at a slow pace, that’s promising. Nonetheless, be there to catch him if he risks falling.
›ChloroFeel: You know I’ll be there to catch him.
›FernoutParadise: That I do. Also, your last message about his refusing your touch… that may be an issue when you change his bandages, but give him something to alleviate it and he should be able to relax.
›ChloroFeel: Will do. And I believe I know the right kind of breakfast he’d like when I get back.
›FernoutParadise: I’ll leave it to you. He’s stable enough that he should be comfortable in your care. Just remember what we previously discussed.
›ChloroFeel: I will. Admittedly… I hope that he reaches a point where he becomes mine.
›FernoutParadise: A relatable desire, but not yet. Not until he’s ready.
›ChloroFeel: I understand. I’ll talk later, I’m heading home.
›FernoutParadise: Keep me posted.
He stood upon the dark shore at night, the moon hanging overhead and casting brilliant lunar light down upon the ocean. The ocean’s waves gently rolled over the shore, over and over, a repetition that was natural and pure. The sand under his feet felt good, brushing against and around those parts of him with its course, gritty sensation. There was a nice, cool breeze flowing through the air, lightly blowing his hair around. It grounded him, kept him stable and reminded him things were good…
Here, in this tranquil realm, nothing could harm him. Not that man, or the Accord, or anyone else. All he had here was peace and a pleasant display before him. The day was his enemy, but the night, it welcomed him. Comforted him. Embraced him with solitude and grace. He could sit here forever and not get bored of it.
He bent down, retrieving a good sized rock from the sandy ground. It had a solid weight to it, perfect for throwing. He stood up straight, positioned his body right, and launched it through the air. It skipped over the water a sizable distance, causing ripples with every bounce, before losing speed and breaching the water’s surface. It went under with a splash, disappearing into the luminous void under the waves.
What this place was, he never knew how it came to be. It just did one night. When things got really bad, when he absolutely needed escape, he arrived here, where no one and nothing could hurt him. And he was alone. Alone…
Without her.
He wished she would join him here, in this beautiful place. Here, forever, so he wouldn’t ever have to say goodbye to her ever again. Try as he might, he could not conjure even a quick flash of her face to see. Why not? Why could he not see her again? He knew what she looked like, but it was as if something just outright negated any attempts to manifest her visage.
Maybe it’d be better if he stayed here forever…
Suddenly, a new sound entered his awareness. Something completely foreign, something that didn’t belong. It was… singing?
A woman’s voice. Not one he recognized. Yet it was a very pleasant song, one that compelled him to turn his head in its direction.
There, in the distance, he saw a figure. He could not make out anything about it, saved that it looked shadowy. Yet he knew that the singing was coming from it.
He took his first step towards it.
Tired, exhausted eyelids fluttered open as he left the dreaming world and returned to the waking one. Once more, he was back in that soft, ultra-comfy bed, with the pillows keeping his head elevated. It was just like the previous day, but the atmosphere felt different… more comfortable, more relaxed…
It took him several seconds to register that the singing he heard in his dream had followed him into reality. And just like in the dream, it was incredibly pleasant to the ear. Melodic, gentle, almost lulling him back to sleep. But something else prevented him from doing so.
Something smelled fantastic, he realized. The smell filled the room, unmistakable, giving him flashes of what life was like many years ago. She always made it for him every morning, and it was always a treat. For a moment, he wondered if this was another dream, and lifted his hands up – nope, still bandaged and achy, damn.
Nudging the blanket off of him, he came to realize that he was luckily not naked as the day he was born, otherwise this would have been far more awkward. He just had a simple navy-blue cloth shirt with short sleeves on his torso, with the design of a fully-bloomed lotus on the chest. Comfortable boxer briefs covered his pelvis, with a plaid pattern of multiple blue shades, and on his feet, pitch black socks that kept them warm. Whoever his caretaker was, she made sure to give him some modesty, instead of just leaving him nude and exposed.
The song and the aroma were coming from the kitchen, and so he turned his head in that direction. There was the giant plant-like woman, standing in the kitchen, the song coming from her. It was somewhat loud, but compared to the noise from yesterday, it was a tolerable sound level. It didn’t feel like regular song, though. It wormed its way into his brain, instilling a desire to keep listening and perhaps bring himself closer. And so he would.
Slowly, carefully, trying to avoid agitating the dull aches in his body, he sat up straight, then turned his body so he can swing his legs around towards the ground. But instead of touching the floor like he expected, his legs just dangled in the air, prompting him to look down.
He was much higher than he had thought. If he tried to get off now, it’d be a fall that would really hurt, to say the least. He frowned, annoyed that he couldn’t just jump off safely. He glanced up to see the woman, noticing how she seemed to be standing in front of the stove. Her large body obscured whatever she was doing, though he had a feeling she was cooking something. Could she have been…?
“Madam Gleras, your adorable guest is awake,” that disembodied voice from earlier announced suddenly. This time, it wasn’t ear-piercingly loud, it was significantly quieter. It still startled him, though, making him jump.
The pleasant song stopped, but even so, the relaxed feelings it gave him didn’t fade. In fact, now he was realizing it was more than just a lovely song, it was a sensation that penetrated through his body, making his vision clearer and his heart settle into a comfortable rhythm. Now he could hear whatever she was doing, which sounded like the sizzle of meat and eggs in a pan. No way…
“Thank you, hab,” the woman replied in a gentle voice. “I will be with him shortly.”
“Don’t keep the little man waiting~!” ‘Hab’ replied cheerily, volume still low.
Even through the haze, he couldn’t stop himself from furrowing his brow at that. He was a fully grown man, not a child. It reminded him of his teenage years, which he preferred stayed buried.
Above all else, he had millions of questions. Among them, he wanted to know – where was he? Who is this lady? Was this a setup for something bad, or did some random kind soul take pity upon him in his lowest moments?
More importantly, where the hell was his backpack?
The distant clatter of silverware on ceramic cut through the din, but even though it was one of those noises he hated, there was no bolt of pain through his head upon hearing it. It simply existed as a noise, not a dreadful attack on his senses. He could not understand why.
She seemed to have finished cooking, because soon the sizzling noises stopped, and more clinking followed before she put a plate of something he couldn’t see on the middle island. He became aware of the four chairs around it, all of them being very tall. There was no way he’d be able to climb into them by himself!
She stood up straight, before striding towards him now, those strange vines from earlier gently waving around behind her.
She gingerly crouched so she was eye level with him, a friendly smile on her masked visage. Her eyes were still covered by leaves, making him wonder how she could see.
“Good morning, sleepy head,” she said. “You’re awake just in time for breakfast. Now, I know you said you’d rather I didn’t touch you, but there’s no way for you to get off the bed and eat without my help. So let me help you, okay?”
He made a face at that. He had fought long and hard for several years to earn his autonomy, and here he was, where he had very little of it. It stirred rage and resentment in him, and yet, he could not act on it whatsoever, knowing that even if his hands weren’t mangled and he still had the gun, he’d stand no chance against the colossal woman before him. Feeling helpless was awful, even if he could predict altruistic desires from her.
“Fine,” he muttered, “but I’ve got questions and I want answers to them.”
“Of course, dear, I will explain everything as best as I can. But first, breakfast, then your bandages,” she replied. Her arms extended towards him, and he hesitated, before lifting his own, so she can hook her hands under his armpits. Up he went, lifted into her arms…
And it was the strangest thing. Whatever anxiety and stress he had suddenly became suppressed, and his otherwise stiff body became jelly, turning limp in her embrace. He blinked his eyes, baffled, staring up at her. Whatever she was doing, it could not be explained by mere touch or smell. This was a bone-deep sensation, the kind that almost entirely suppressed any desire beyond just relaxing.
She was so soft, too. Despite very clearly being composed of bark, vines, and other plant material, it was like being pressed against the comfiest pillow or plush toy. Almost like she was made for hugging.
“Wh… what’s… what’s this feeling?” he mumbled, head swimming.
“It’s just me,” she replied. He squinted, annoyed by her answering the question and ignoring it at the same time.
She brought him to the kitchen island, but instead of placing him in one of those high chairs, she sat in one with him still in her arms. He glanced at the counter, and saw that instead of there being two plates of food for two people, there was just one. And the food was…
Scrambled eggs with chorizo and cheese.
His favorite. Down to the presentation and the aroma, and the exact same kind of chorizo he loved.
How did she know?
He blinked his eyes, staring at the dish before him. Intense waves of emotion rolled through him, memories flooding into his mind’s eye. And despite trying desperately to hold them in, he couldn’t stop them… his breath hitched as fresh tears began to leave streaks down his tired face, and he felt like he was going to succumb to a crying fit.
He was right about to collapse entirely when something brushed against the top of his head, and as quickly as the waterworks started, they stopped. Sniffles and hiccups left him as he sat there in her arms, realizing she was petting and stroking his head gently, and this time it instilled a sense of safety and belonging. Whoever she was, she was tuning into his distress and preventing him from breaking down.
“Shhh… it’s okay,” she murmured. “I’m here, and I’ll take good care of you.”
“Y-you’re not my mom,” he retorted, but the angry energy he intended just came across as grumpy instead. “Hell, I d-don’t even know your name! Or whatever you are!”
She simply chuckled at him, and ran her soft fingers through his hair. In his peripheral vision, he saw a vine snake out from behind her. His eyes tracked its movements as she went to pick up a fork, stab it into the food, and then bring it towards him.
“Open your mouth, please.”
Flooded with raw emotion, there was no room for conscious objection. So he just obeyed, letting his jaw hang slack. The fork was placed in his mouth, and he caught the food between his teeth, slipping it off the utensil and beginning to chew and swallow. Another rush of emotions surged through him. The flavor was a perfect recreation… no, it was the exact same taste as all those years ago. He could never forget such a meal made with love.
He didn’t know how to feel as she proceeded to keep feeding him. He kept flip flopping between her calming touch and the maelstrom inside him having a stopper put on it, straining to break free, but never doing so.
Another bite, then another, then another… before long the plate was completely cleared, and he was feeling very full. And tired, and sad, and confused, and-
“Hey.”
His eyes opened after he realized he had shut them. He turned his head upward to gaze upon her, and he felt incredibly small under her gaze.
“Do you feel better now?” she asked quietly.
“M… muh… maybe a little,” he replied. “S-sorry, sorry, just… sorry…”
“You have nothing to apologize for, little one.”
Why is she being so… so nice and comforting?
The vine holding the fork set it down, and then pushed the plate farther away. Patting his head gently, she lifted him up and sat him on the counter, so that he was sitting upright and facing her now. The effect of being so close to her lessened slightly now that she wasn’t holding him against her chest, but it was still there.
“How do you feel now, after eating?”
He placed a bandaged hand on his stomach. He no longer felt incredible hunger, and for the first time in days, he sensed this would keep him satiated for more than just an hour at most.
“B-better. Um, a lot better, actually.” He fixed his eyes on her face now, taking a steadying breath. “A-are you gonna tell me your name at least?”
The giant plant-like life form smiled and leaned back in her seat. “Of course. I am Chloros Gleras, 27th Bloom, she/they, but just Chloros is fine. You are currently in my habitation unit aboard the Excellence.”
Alright, that narrowed things down. He was off-world, and this lady had a name, and she was reasonably polite. That meant progress in understanding his current situation.
He took a moment to observe her up close, now that he could focus on her without emotions or exhaustion in the way. Though she mentioned she was ‘27th bloom’, whatever that meant, the vibrancy and vigor her body displayed made him imagine someone much younger. He became aware that she had large, wooden pauldrons on her shoulders, made of tough bark like with her chestpiece and curved upwards. Together with the dress-like skirt that hid the bottom half of her body, and she ended up looking like a regal queen of some description. He wondered – if she actually were a member of royalty among her people, then why did she just have this apartment-like building, instead of a big castle?
Never mind that, he had more pressing questions.
“Right… and what are you, exactly? You’re not, um, one of those monsters, are you?”
Just the idea of that creature that attacked me earlier makes me nervous.
A charming giggle came from Chloros. “Oh, darling, did Antris scare you that badly? I’ll have to tell them to dial it back next time we pick up more of you.”
Pick up more? That sounded ominous. Still, she wasn’t answering him properly, which annoyed him. Before he could press it, she spoke again.
“But to answer your question, I and my fellows are the Affini. We are an empire spanning multiple galaxies, and yours is the latest one we’ve visited. We’re here to rescue you from the nightmare that is your ‘Terran Accord’, and grant your species safety and prosperity under our care.”
He sucked in a breath at the word ‘empire’. Oh great, another galactic superpower claiming to offer good things, while likely hiding a knife behind its back. Despite keeping his facial expression even, it seemed that she picked up on his reservations, for she continued, “We are nothing like your Accord. In fact, the Accord is no more. We made quick work of that. You don’t have to worry about them anymore, my dear.”
If his jaw could drop any further, it’d fall into his lap. Were these the xenos that had been menacing the Accord? And they just annihilated the Terran empire without effort? That didn’t bode well for everyone else, he just knew it. He closed his mouth, getting a handle on his shock.
“Alright,” he said, shifting in his seat. His lower back hurt slightly, but he ignored it, focused on her. “So you kicked the Accord’s collective ass-”
“Language like that isn’t allowed,” the hab unit said firmly. He stiffened, glancing at the ceiling with a raised eyebrow. He was about to comment on it, but Chloros beat him to it.
“Apologies, little one. That’s my habitation unit’s AI. She chimes in whenever she hears profanity. It’s frowned upon in our society.”
Really? They have a stigma against swearing?
“Yeah, whatever,” he sighed, turning back to Chloros. “Anyway, you took down the Accord. Now what? How are you gonna care for us? And what if we don’t want your help?”
He admittedly said that with more defiance in his tone than intended, but if she was offended, she didn’t let it show. She still bore a small smile on her face, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was a predator sizing up her prey, waiting for a chance to pounce and claim him. He had dealt with far too many of those over the last few years...
“That’s the thing, little one. Now that your Accord has surrendered, we have begun a campaign of domesticating every Terran we can find. We’ll give you brand new lives of comfort, peace, and love, no matter what, and you won’t need to worry about anything else. Trust me on this.”
Domesticating. Something about that term ignited a deep, primal worry inside of him. The kind that even one with an iron-hard mind would be hard-pressed to ignore. The implications were sinister, and he did not like them.
“But that’s something for later. For now, your health takes priority. You can speak and eat, so that’s good, but I will need to remove your bandages and inspect your hands, before they can be dressed again.”
With the revelation of domesticating fresh in his mind, a major twinge of anxiety rushed through him. He reflexively inched away from her, and it took a surprising amount of effort to do it, as if his own body was fighting against him. If anything, it seemed like his body wanted to get closer, not move away. Oh, that just made his anxiety worse. What was she doing to him?
“I… I don’t… I don’t think I trust you,” he managed to say. “I don’t want to be domesticated. Just fix me up and send me off.”
A vine appeared from behind her and tapped her chin, mimicking a gesture for deep thought. “Hmm… that’s not in my power, I’m afraid. But you must at least let me tend to your hands, dear. They won’t heal without assistance.”
Damn it, she’s not letting him have a choice in the matter? Just when he thought he had some ground! He’s traded one crappy regime for another, and this time he couldn’t anticipate whatever she might do to him. I’m just as powerless as ever, he thought.
Especially with his most treasured possession, the hands that he trusted most of all. With them, he could accomplish great things. Without, he was lacking in capability. He might as well have lost his arms too. If his pride was a part of his body, he was certain it’d be hurting because of it.
“Fine.” He held up his hands for her, and saw that they were looking redder than before. Guess they bled a little from earlier. “Just be very careful, they’re sensitive.”
“Are they, now?” Chloros’ curiosity was evident, as she moved her hands to gently grab onto his forearms. He braced for discomfort, but there was nothing. Strange. “Well, I have something that can assist with that.”
Before he could inquire about it, he felt faint pricks along his wrists, so mild he didn’t realize them at first. Suddenly, the dull aches in his hands faded, and an indescribable feeling took their place. And instead of stiffness, his palms and digits felt substantially looser. While he was grateful for it, that meant she did something without telling him. Alarm bells rang in his mind.
“What did you-?”
She shushed him, another vine pressing against his mouth to interrupt him. He sat rigidly and watched as she carefully undid his bandages, expecting agony to flare from the adhesive being removed. His worries were unfounded, because there was… pleasure. Small amounts, sure, but still. It actually felt kind of good to have them removed.
Although the sight of his hands contrasted with those good feelings. With nothing to hide them, the true extent of the damage after several years was revealed – angry red scars crisscrossing over the palms and backs of his hands, with several scrapes and scratches telling a rough, bloody story. Speaking of blood, some of it started to ooze from the scrapes, having been opened from the bandages coming off. His nails didn’t look great either, with the ends of them looking worn and chipped, and some being very short compared to the others. Just seeing them made his heart sink – his greatest tools, the things he can truly call his own, were just like him, damaged and frayed and very close to falling apart.
“Dear me… you’ve been through a lot, I can tell,” Chloros murmured, quiet awe in her voice. “That just proves to me how strong you are at heart, to have faced so much before we found you.”
She was complimenting him? After dangling that ominous warning of domestication above his head? He didn’t know whether to take it at face value or see it as a trick to lower his guard.
“What do you want from me, exactly?” he asked warily, eyes narrowed. He could see several more vines behind her moving around, reaching into a cabinet to procure items needed to care for her patient. One vine held a roll of gauze, while another had the actual bandages ready to apply. Yet another was coiled around a bottle containing a clear, pale green liquid, and still another had what appeared to be some sort of cleaning pad.
Chloros peered at him, and removed her hands from him, while two other vines appeared to keep his arms propped up. She went to touch him again, taking his right hand in both of hers. The vine with the pad went in, and started to gently clean off any excess blood and fluid. For a fraction of a second, unbearable discomfort was about to rise, but it was quickly dissolved due to whatever she injected him with.
“For you to be healthy and happy. This is the way of the Affini.”
The tendril holding the green bottle drew near, and turned it upside down, unscrewing the cap. It dribbled some of that fluid onto the freshly cleaned wounds, and he expected pain… but instead, it was barely discernible as it oozed onto his hand. She moved her left hand and placed it upon his own, gently working the gel deeper into the scars that marked years of his life.
What should have been discomfort at best, and agonizing pain at worst, turned out to be something far, far better. The way her almost silky green ‘skin’ on her fingers brushed against his palm, alongside the strange aura emanating from her that kept him mostly relaxed… it was easy to get distracted. Sure enough, he found his mind wandering as she worked to treat his hands, barely registering how she used her other vines to work on his left hand. For the next minute or so, he felt comfortable bliss as she cleansed, treated, and touched his hands to ensure he could still feel and that ointment soaked into the wounds.
And then there was the fact that he had someone else touching him, in a way that did not provoke pain or aversion. His heart surged. What about this xeno made it so she could make physical contact with him and achieve the desired result, without him recoiling?
Incredible…
He was so lost in how good it felt, not realizing that she had finished up and was now wrapping gauze around his wounded appendages. This part went quickly, and soon, both palms and sets of fingers were comfortably wrapped up in white material that fit snugly around him without restricting range of movement.
It wasn’t until she cleared her throat (did Affini have throats?) that he snapped out of it, and managed to register what she was saying.
“...I said, all better now, my dear. These should heal completely in around two or three days.”
He blinked his eyes rapidly, forcing himself to focus now. He muttered an “uh huh” in response, and carefully pulled his hands free, to rest them on his lap now.
The haze was still there, but he could think a little better now that that was dealt with. He fixed her with a stare, brow furrowed.
“Okay, hands are all good. Now what? Do I get to leave?”
A sighing sound came from her. “That isn’t possible, petal.”
Petal.
His face flushed as a mixture of revulsion and excitement rose inside of him. It was a cute pet name, but it clashed with his reflexive hatred of them. Years of enduring mocking, humiliating, degrading nicknames and monikers had lowered his opinion of them severely, and he could not stop those feelings manifesting inside of himself.
“What do you mean?” The young man was growing tired of this. People continuing to deny his autonomy and rights always seemed to be a factor in his life, and this woman, despite her clearly being genuine in helping him, just came across like all the rest. “You fed me, you healed me, and I figure you got my stuff. So give it back, give me a ship, and let me get back to… to…”
Home, he wanted to say, but he couldn’t. Home was far away, and very likely gone at this point. Homesickness was a constant companion in his travels, and he could never quite shake it. Just thinking about it made him quiver slightly, and he had to grit his teeth to not shed more tears.
“It’s alright,” Chloros said softly. “I know how badly you want to return home, but please understand, that’s just not possible. Now that you’re in my care, this is your home for the foreseeable future.”
“But it’s not,” he spat, rather more harshly than intended. “You’re holding me against my will and I am sick and tired of people trying to take advantage of me. So, one last time – gimme my things, and let. Me. Leave.”
Her expression turned into one of shock at his outburst, and he almost felt bad. Almost. That probably hurt her in a way he didn’t anticipate.
He braced for her to snap at him, but Chloros apparently chose not to, for she instead nodded her head. “Okay. But on one condition. You must prove to me that you are capable of taking care of yourself, without any involvement from me or other Affini whatsoever. Then, and only then, will it be considered to let you leave the ship to fend for yourself.”
Something about that bothered him. He should easily be able to do that, he’s done it for years ever since he left home, and yet, the years had worn on him. He had spent far too long in the cold, going hungry for days on end, and barely clinging to his sense of self in a harsh world that seemed determined to break his spirit before crushing his bones.
And yet, today, he was treated to an amazing breakfast, had his injured hands looked at, and was treated almost with respect, except for the “being held captive” thing. A mess of contradictions that his depression-addled mind just couldn’t unravel.
Could he do it? Could he prove his independence to these aliens and win his freedom? Or would they be like the rest, hurting him under the guise of knowing better than he?
“Ugh… my head is hurting from all this,” he admitted, clutching his forehead with a newly-dressed palm.
“It’s a lot to take in, I know,” Chloros offered. “Why don’t we just focus on something else now? We should see if you can walk under your own power now that you’re awake and lucid.”
Oh. Yeah. Walking. Walking was good. He liked to walk, and that would be a big help in ensuring he could take care of himself in this stranger’s eyes.
“Yeah, alright. I can try.”
“Very good. Let me help you down.”
Her green-blue limbs moved to hook under his arms again, and she stood out of her high chair. Once more, he was in the air, before gradually being lowered all the way to the ground.
Solid, even ground under his feet was a rarity, and he almost didn’t believe it was stable. When Chloros placed him down, he wobbled slightly, realizing his stance was uneven, but he managed to correct before a vine caught him. He nudged it aside, giving an irritated huff.
She brought herself down, glancing at him. “I want you to make your way to the bed for me.” A tendril gestured at the large mattress he had been sleeping on earlier. “You can take all the time you need, as long as you get there. Are you ready, petal?”
“Stop calling me that,” he muttered. If she took offense, she kept it to herself. “Yes, I’m ready.”
“Then, feel free to make your way over. Starting… now.”
He found himself hesitating. His legs suddenly felt very unsteady as he quickly realized that this may not work out how he hoped. But he had to. He just had to.
He lifted his leg up, moved forward, and promptly fell down, almost cracking his head on the floor before Chloros effortlessly caught him with her vines before impact. A gasp left him as he realized how close he was to grievously hurting himself from that fall.
“Fuck!” he blurted. Naturally the hab unit AI chimed something about profanity, but that just made him follow up with “Fuck off!”
His arms flailed as he tried to grab something to steady himself with, until he realized Chloros’ vines were pulling him back into a standing position. Shaking with rage and embarrassment, he grunted and attempted to walk forward again, and he almost managed to steady himself as his foot came down, but the leg behind him lost its balance and he started falling backward instead. Once more, caught by the Affini, forced back upright.
More profanity emerged from his mouth as he discovered he was failing this test so hard. It should be so easy to just walk, but despite the perfectly smooth, stable floor, it was like his legs were incapable of supporting his weight, and just skidded out from under him.
Not good, not good.
His pulse began to quicken as he spent the next few minutes trying and failing to achieve more than a step or two. Frustration was mounting, humiliation intensifying. He had never felt so betrayed by his own body before.
“Stars damn it! I have this! I know I do! Just… just…”
Before he knew it the world fell away. He was just a tiny speck in the void, an insignificant mote of dust, as the absolutely enormous weight of his guilt, shame, and despair crashed down upon his skull. It suffocated him, infested his thoughts and compelled reality around him to grow darker and more oppressive.
Spiraling inward. Negative energy snuffing out all thoughts. The shadows closing in. Chest heaving as he began to hyperventilate.
Oblivion's ingress.
I’m a fucking failure. I’m going to die. All I’ll ever be is dust in the wind.
He heard Chloros saying something, but he couldn’t register it. He was breaking down rapidly and becoming-
“Zane, look at me.”
And then it was over, the darkness disappearing in an instant. Instead, warm, comforting, blue light took over, filling his eyesight. At once, everything terrible had gone away, replaced with a very comforting sense of peace and stability. It took several seconds for him to realize he was staring into Chloros’ eyes, and even longer to register that she had said his name.
Oh. Zane. That’s me.
“I… I… what…?” Zane stammered. While he was still struggling to think clearly, this time it wasn’t from the sheer weight of his failures. No, he felt… free. Weightless. No need to think about anything else but just the pleasant kaleidoscope that was the gaze of Chloros.
“Take a deep breath, Zane. Steady yourself. Just breathe. Let it go.”
Zane’s lungs were working properly again, and his breathing settled down steadily. His strained heart took mercy on him by decreasing its speed until it was back to normal again.
He stayed standing, still as a statue. He said nothing, while Chloros’ voice rang out once more, thrumming through his entire being and echoing in his mind, suppressing the darkness that had threatened to overtake him.
“That’s it. Slow and steady. Just keep looking at me. You’re safe.”
Forever? Zane wanted to ask, but he couldn’t find the words or the willpower. That was fine, just peering into the endless shimmer that was Chloros suited him perfectly.
And then it ended. The trance he was in came to a halt as leaves covered her eyes again, snapping him out of it. He gasped, and then he was pulled into her arms. He only just became aware that any energy he had previously had been sucked out of him, and everything felt so heavy, including his eyelids.
“C...Chloros, what happened?” Zane’s voice was small, tired, worried. He was just lucid enough to register that things took place, but not what they were.
“You were having a panic attack,” Chloros whispered to him. “You were straining so hard, your mind couldn’t take it. I had to step in.”
The way she moved indicated she was taking him somewhere, and it turned out to be the bed that he tried and failed to walk to. Once again he was laid down upon it, back into the comfortable embrace of the mattress, the blanket, and the pillows. He struggled to keep his eyes open, not wanting to sleep right then.
“I… I could have handled it,” Zane tried to object, but the intended defiance was rendered as just a tired grunt.
“Regardless,” Chloros chided, taking a hand and stroking the side of his face, “you need to rest now after that. We can try again later when you wake up. Okay, petal?”
“D-don’t… ugh…”
Zane absolutely had nothing to spare. And so, he drifted off, with the last thing he saw being a comforting smile on Chloros’ mask.
Chapter 3: Epidermis
Summary:
Keep the bad things out. Draw the good things in.
Progress is being made with Zane. But Chloros still has worries. Luckily, she has a friend to turn to.
Content warnings for this chapter: Mention of character death and blood in news reports
Notes:
Third chapter's here! We get to meet Antris and their floret while Chloros gets some air. I think they're pretty charming, but I'm biased I'd say!
The pace picks up a fair bit here, now that I've hit my stride.
Also, seeing all the kudos on my story really warms my heart. My first story, and I've already got a sizable amount of folks who enjoy it! That makes my heart so happy <3
As always, please leave comments and feedback!
Chapter Text
Zane’s low, steady snoring was something Chloros had come to recognize and be put at ease by.
Three days had passed since his panic attack. Since then, he had been showing signs of increased lethargy and exhaustion, a seeming consequence of his body ramping itself up for a complete breakdown, only to be cut short before it could start in earnest. Such a hard stop for that mental process must have been taxing on his body and brain, hence his new tendency to nap for hours at a time, especially throughout the day.
In the times he was awake, he had allowed her to care for him still, albeit with reluctance. Chloros had chosen to make him that dish he loved so much again, and as before, the tears came, but her soothing rhythm and presence kept the bubbling anguish inside from boiling over. He never expressed it, but Chloros got the sense that he was grateful that she could help him keep his emotions in check.
His hands were looking so much better too. The scabs and scratches were healing up fast, and the scars were already beginning to soften. His nails were growing normally again, the ointment she gave him jump-starting his natural healing processes so that his hands would be back in working order. He had reached the point where the bandages were no longer necessary, letting his rapidly-healing hands remain uncovered as he slept.
And he had been making great progress in walking. Though he nearly tripped and fell a few more times, he was approaching a steadier, more even stride. He had been able to reach the bed by himself, and go past it, before succumbing to weakness, at which point his warden was there to catch him and tuck him back in. He had protested, but he could not deny how tired he was.
He had finally started confiding in her on the second day about his love for recreation, including writing fiction and poetry, and his adoration for video games. When she had informed him that she had plenty of paper and writing utensils for the former, and lots of games to play for the latter, his mood had improved substantially, but the lethargy remained.
Now, she was observing him as he was resting again. With no need to interact with him, her terranoid form had disassembled and faded, a much more amorphous and tree-like shape taking its place. She set herself down in the corner away from the bed, and fiddled with a pad using the myriad vines that constituted her body.
Where was it… ah, there. All the information that she and Roltan, bless his inquisitive soul, could find and piece together about Zane’s history.
Zane Jakobson, assigned male at birth and identifying as such. He/him. Twenty-five years of age. Long, dark hair, thinning on the top of his scalp, and very pale skin, with striking blue eyes underlined by exhausted circles beneath. Thin-bodied and shorter than the average male terran.
Born to one Hammond Jakobson and one Minerva Jakobson, with an older brother, Axton. Grew up on the agricultural world of Thypso, a planet with a growing season that was near year-round. Zane’s parents were farmers who spent a mostly idyllic livelihood on this world, with Hammond being the typical gruff, hard-working husband, and Minerva the kind, doting wife. Both were highly regarded in their community, Hammond in particular being seen as someone who embodied the best traits a terran should have, and Minerva the heart and soul of the people.
But something had changed five years after Zane was born. Slowly, steadily, Hammond became colder, more distant, from his wife and sons. Chatter from the community indicated that it could be traced back to when Hammond’s prized cow suddenly became grievously ill, and then died well before her predicted end of lifespan. The cow had been a major contributor to the farm’s success, and when she died, something in Hammond had as well.
Neighbors had spoken of the atmosphere around the Jakobson farm becoming more tense and unwelcoming over time. As Zane entered his mid-teens, rumors began to circulate around Hammond seeing another woman behind Minerva’s back, and frequent shouting and sounds of arguments coming from the residence every other night.
As the years had passed, the situation reached a fever pitch, until, one fateful night, screams were heard in the dark hours. When neighbors rushed in to help, all they had found was Hammond dead in the kitchen, a massive kitchen knife buried in his chest and his blood pooling on the floor, and Axton catatonic in the attic. Hammond’s wife and second son were nowhere to be found.
Authorities ruled it as a murder, with a full investigation being launched. Yet, despite their best efforts, Zane and Minerva seemingly vanished into the aether, never to be seen again…
Until seven years later. Authorities had managed to track the now-adult Zane and his mother on a different part of Thypso, and attempted to subdue them for Hammond’s murder. The only information available about that was the fact that out of the two ships sent to find him, only one was seen leaving the planet. The other had been left behind, revealed to have a massive hole blasted out of it, and the officers alive but grievously injured.
In the wake of such a tragedy, Axton, who had remained on Thypso, vowed to find his wayward brother and parent and bring them home. Chloros noted the specific wording, how he avoided saying “bring them to justice”, since she was aware of a tendency for terrans to lose themselves to vengeance and rage.
Information had been sketchy from then on. Sightings of Zane and Minerva were reported, usually in areas where feralists were still holding out, and which were notorious for criminal activity. Despite this, Zane and Minerva had managed to navigate them fairly well, it seemed.
Two years after, that same ship was last seen on the frontier planet of Neith, shortly before the Affini Compact arrived. A year later, and then came the present, where Antris found him… alone, without Minerva.
What had happened to his mother? Chloros had an idea, but without conclusive evidence, that was all it could be. An idea.
Either way, poor Zane had had a hard life. Alone, scared, running from everything and everyone, clearly trying to protect his mother and himself from an unforgiving universe, until she just… disappeared. Leaving him alone with his sorrow.
That was what she saw in Zane’s eyes. Deep, profound sorrow. The kind that etched a huge scar on your psyche even if your physical body was completely healthy. Chloros could tell that in spite of his defiant front, he was desperately yearning for stability, safety, peace… someone to care for him. Someone to hold him in the night and assuage whatever fears he had.
A parental figure. To dry his tears and treat his wounds whenever he fell, to raise him up from the deep, dark pit of depression that threatened to consume him.
And despite it all, here he was. Alive. In her hab unit, sleeping. He occasionally tossed and turned and muttered incoherent words in distress, but a gentle brush of her vine over his head managed to settle him down again for at least an hour.
Such a vulnerable, frail terran. Chloros knew that he needed the utmost care, lest he completely shatter like glass from the next blow.
Of all the sophonts she had cared for over the years, he seemed the most unique. Certainly, there were plenty just like him, ones so full of bone-deep trauma that only a mildly strong gust would be enough to make them collapse. With time, their wounds healed, and their true personalities shined through, and then they were granted the honor of domestication.
The thought of just domesticating him and having it done with crossed her mind. And as soon as it came, she squelched it. No. Even if it would fix everything, she knew that what he needed was a gentle, guiding hand, leading him to confront his fears and trauma, so that when the time came, he would be completely willing to have his soul entwined with her own.
Besides, she liked challenges, and helping him overcome some of the toughest ones he had was a call to action she just couldn’t ignore. Something about him made him stand out from the rest, but she couldn’t-
In the midst of her thoughts, a notification appeared on her pad. It was from Antris.
She opened the channel.
›AuntCelery: hey hun! you around? <3
›ChloroFeel: Yes, I’m here. My guest has just fallen asleep.
›AuntCelery: aww, bet he looks so cute sleeping! got pictures??
›ChloroFeel: No, sorry. He seems anxious about the idea, so I am abstaining.
›AuntCelery: dirt! oh well
›AuntCelery: say, I think your little man will be just fine without you for a bit, you want to get together at Jackie’s? Simon kept begging me for a burger there and I just couldn’t say no, plus I want to see you! ::)
Chloros didn’t reply immediately. She glanced at Zane’s slumbering form, taking note of how, even with his somewhat labored breathing, he bore a peaceful expression on his face. His health was improving at a good pace, and she doubted he would go wandering off on his own. She theorized she’d only be gone an hour and a half, and he’d still be asleep when she got back.
She needed to clear her head anyway. Despite her growing attachment to Zane, even she knew she had to take time off and let herself unwind, if only for a short while.
›ChloroFeel: I will be there in five minutes.
›AuntCelery: yay!! Simon’s super excited, he’s got something great to show you <3 <3 <3
Over the course of a minute, her huge tree form turned in on itself and reshaped her silhouette, until she was back to her dress-clad terranoid body. Stowing her pad inside of her chest cavity, she approached the door to her abode.
She spared a glance at her ward, smiling faintly, before she left.
“...and so, I says to the lad, I says, ‘Oi, get yer head outta yer fanny and touch mine!’ And it took ages before he finally did it, bless his nervous heart!”
Simon Thrane, First Floret, laughed uproariously as he was recounting how he had gotten intimate with an easily flustered sophont a week ago. Chloros found him quite charming and was only mildly jealous that Antris had claimed him already.
The three of them were at the burger joint known as just Jackie’s, run by a particularly large and warmhearted floret and their equally jovial master, Xur. It was a popular place to eat in this part of the Excellence, where many sophonts and affini gathered to have lunch and socialize. Fairly busy, too, there were lots of people here today, which made things a little loud and chaotic, but nothing Chloros wasn’t used to.
Zane wouldn’t appreciate it, though, she pondered. Too much noise.
Oh, she was already thinking of him while away. Was that a good sign? She couldn’t quite tell.
Simon continued to chatter, a big grin on his face. He was a well-built fellow, with a huge, bushy beard and curly hairstyle, both a vibrant orange, with a pink flower perched on the left side of his head. Currently, he was sitting in his owner’s lap, clad in a long-sleeved shirt with magenta and pink flower patterns on it, and navy blue jeans on his legs. Much like the man himself, his voice was loud and boisterous, with a thick accent she had heard was of ‘Scottish’ descent.
Antris Thrane, 9th Bloom, sat in their chair, cradling their lively floret with a relaxed expression. They were much like Simon to some degree – large, stocky, with a frame evocative of strength and dominance. It was a perfect match for the big guy who was sitting in their lap. Flowers of varying shades of pink and crimson were visible all over their dark green body, with a massive mane of ‘hair’ spilling past their shoulders and all the way down to their knees. If you saw them from behind and at a certain angle, you might think that the mane was actually a cape of some sort.
Ruby spheres peered from Antris’ face and at Chloros, while a dark vine held a smoothie to their lips, sipping it down. Another brushed against Simon’s face, causing him to pause in his speech so his owner could get a turn. “Chloros, you’ve been quiet,” they observed. “Something the matter?”
Chloros tried to be subtle about it, but subtlety never worked on her friend. They had a keen eye and an even keener mind, able to deduce the most minute gestures and determine someone’s real feelings in only a microsecond. She sometimes forgot about that.
“Oh… just, ah, still thinking about my guest,” she admitted. She idly spun her straw around the now empty smoothie cup she had, stirring the dregs of her drink absentmindedly. “He’s progressing at a good pace, but there’s still a lot of work to do if he’s going to be his best.”
“You’re what, eighteen blooms more than me? You’ve got all the time in the world, honey-vines,” Antris laughed. Chloros could feel an appendage snake its way over to her side, and she instinctively coiled a tendril around it, grateful for the assurance. Their rhythms joined together, Antris’ energetic vibe melding with Chloros’ steady, calculated one, forming a soothing melody for both parties.
“Besides, much as I love to blather about getting him domesticated right away, I know how much you love the slow route. We’re gonna have to set up play dates with him and Simon at some point!”
“Oh aye, that reminds me,” Simon piped up suddenly. “Antris, you brought that thing I made with us, right?”
Antris tore their gaze off of Chloros to address their floret, and smiled, nodding. “Of course, flower, just a second.” The plant material composing their chest parted slightly, and out came a small object, one that Chloros didn’t recognize at first.
Simon beamed as he turned to the older Affini. “Little gift I made for your boy, thought he’d appreciate it.”
‘Your boy’.
Zane wasn’t her floret yet, but Simon was treating him like he was already. Once again, that desire to just get the domestication done with right away was there, and she was tempted, if only a little.
There was a hole in her form that had remained empty for some time, and Zane seemed like the right fit. She’d just have to wait. Wait how long? As long as it took. This was a marathon, not a sprint, as the terrans loved to say.
She gingerly accepted the object in her free hand, and discovered it was what the terrans described as a puzzle box. It was a square, wooden box, with knobs, buttons, and other avenues for manipulation dotted on all sides except the bottom. Right way, she knew it would be a perfect fit for Zane – it would let him use his healed hands on top of stimulating his brain and distracting him from the otherwise persistent cloud of depression that followed him everywhere.
“Oh my… this is wonderful, Simon,” Chloros said, beaming a wide smile on her mask. “You’re so kind. I just know he’ll love it, thank you.”
Simon laughed heartily in reply. “Oh-ho-ho-ho, the only thanks I need is from the lad himself when he gets his hands on it!”
Chloros opened her chest and stowed it away. Her torso was fairly spacious, with lots of empty space around her core. It was very handy to just keep things in there and pull them back out at a moment’s notice, without needing to carry containers everywhere.
Affini had so many advantages over terrans, she knew. All of it in service of taking care of them and making them have a bright future in a universe that was otherwise cold and dark. Would it ever end? Maybe. But it’d be so long after her final bloom, she imagined.
Ah. She was getting existential again. She really ought to stop doing that.
She glanced up to see that Antris was distracted with their floret, petting and stroking him affectionately and eliciting chuckles from the man. With a lull in the conversation, she decided to pull out her pad and jot some notes down for later.
More games for Zane, especially ones that seemed to fit his preferences – platformers and first-person narratives, with science-fiction themes. He also had expressed a fondness for farming simulators. All of which were perfectly doable, she just had to shoot Roltan a message and he’d be able to provide.
The puzzle box was a start. She could get more like that, to give his hands something to work with, and also encourage more creative thinking in that mind of his. Behind his trauma, Chloros could see brilliance and elegance, it just needed to be let free.
Maybe some artist’s tools as well? While he expressed desire to write, he didn’t indicate an affinity for visual arts. Even so, maybe just scribbling doodles on paper with pens and crayons would be something to ease his stress.
Extra cooking tools and utensils were of course handy to have, and other ingredients too. She loved making food for him, and while she had a feeling that he’d eventually no longer need to held and fed by her, she could still make him all sorts of exquisite dishes he was sure to love.
Despite the variables she had to account for, she felt no stress. If anything, it was exhilarating, because it meant she was doing something other than finding florets for other Affini and watching them find their destined bonds. She had a good feeling about Zane. In her core of cores, she knew that he’d be alright, she just needed to guide him on this long and winding path.
›ChlorosHab: ALERT: WARD HAS LEFT THE HABITATION UNIT.
Her body, previously laid back and relaxed, immediately jolted to life and went stiff the instant she saw that message.
Did she forget to lock her unit’s front door? Did he somehow sneak out? Did someone take him?
›ChloroFeel: Triangulate current position of Ward Zane Jakobson.
›ChlorosHab: LOCATE: WARD ZANE JAKOBSON IS AT SAINT’S LIBRARY. HEIGHTENED STRESS LEVELS DETECTED.
No time to think.
Antris and Simon were saying something, but she was deaf to their words as she raced away in a flash, shedding her terranoid form for a more chaotic mass of vines and limbs that propelled her at rapid speeds.
I will not fail you, little one. I will not.
Chapter 4: Neuron
Summary:
Connections make our lives better.
Restless and impatient, Zane takes a risk, and finds that it’s worth it. Kind of.
No content warnings for this chapter
Notes:
Little guy can't stay home for very long. Can relate. Luckily book clubs exist on the ship!
Fourth chapter in and things are getting interesting. I happened to be listening to the OST for Blasphemous while writing this, and found that the theme for the Mercy Dreams area fit Saint's Library rather well. Listening to that, Stardew Valley, and Slime Rancher has also been quite helpful in getting in the mood for HDG.
As always, your feedback and input is appreciated! <3
Chapter Text
After several days in Chloros’ care, no longer needing to worry about food, rest, and safety, Zane had come to a definitive, carefully thought-out conclusion:
He was getting stir-crazy.
He had woken up to discover that Chloros had left the hab unit, and left him a note on the pad she had given him.
“Zane, I’m going to be out for a short time with a friend. If I’m not back when you wake up, don’t fret, I will return without hesitation. Just relax and entertain yourself. - Chloros”
Entertain himself? How, in this environment that he had absolutely no control over? Relaxation just wasn’t possible in such a state, no matter how many video games or writing implements she gave him.
Though he was grateful for all she had been doing for him beyond just caring for his wounds and feeding him, he still felt terribly stifled and trapped. To his knowledge, everything in his current situation started and ended with Chloros, and he was growing tired of it.
He had been in situations like this before. While on the run, he and his mother often had to take shelter with other kind souls around the galaxy, and though they were all too eager to accommodate the two, for one reason or another they had to abandon them in some form, which never went over well with the young man. Frequently, Mom had to hurry him along whenever they had to run, and once they were away from whatever danger had appeared, only then could she console him and remind him that they’re still together and that was what mattered.
Until she wasn’t.
But even though she was no longer with him, his memories of her remained. Both in his mind, and in the large backpack he had been carrying around for several years, which, much to his relief, Chloros had retrieved and brought into the hab unit.
Frayed, torn in places, haphazardly stitched together in others, it nonetheless did its duty in holding all sorts of things on his back and leaving his hands free. It still carried all the things he wanted to keep.
He still had a bit of Mom’s money left. Something told him he no longer needed it, but he still held onto it, if only so it would come in handy eventually.
The gun was still here, her weathered, dented pistol that still fired true. However, while the weapon itself remained, the ammunition it used was gone, including what was in the magazine, and the firing pin had been removed. So even if he could arm himself, without anything to actually shoot with, it was just an awkward club, and there was no way in hell he’d use it to smack someone. Unlike the old cartoons he used to watch, pistol-whipping someone was just as damaging to them as it was to the pistol itself, and considering its fragility, it ought to be protected.
The transponder wasn’t there, but he found himself not really caring about it. If the Accord had collapsed like Chloros claimed, was there really any point to trying to follow their transmissions now? Hell, maybe it was a blessing, since it meant that overarching sense of doom from trying to keep track of everything befalling humanity would lessen. Ignorance is bliss and all that.
His journal was also fairly weathered and worn, but mostly intact, apart from some torn pages. With this, he was able to keep a good timeline of all that had transpired since the day he and Mom left. He had lost the pen he used to write with, but Chloros gave him plenty of extras, so no worries there.
And finally… the most prized possession of all.
The family photograph.
He held it in his trembling hands, taking a shuddering breath. Back before it all went to hell, all four of them were close-knit. It was very evident in this photo, showing them in the living room back home, with Zane’s 10-year-old self sat in his mother’s lap, his father having an arm around her, and his brother, 17 at the time, behind the couch they all sat on, head resting on his arms. All of them smiling brightly.
Those were better days, for sure. At times, he wondered if he could have done anything to have prevented the quartet from splintering. Mom always assured him that it had nothing to do with him at all, that it was solely Dad who was responsible for the chain of events that led to the family collapsing.
Yet there was always that nagging doubt in the back of his mind. The doubt that said he could have fixed it somehow and stopped it all. No matter how much his logical side objected, that thought continued to persist, even after all these years.
Damn it. Here he was, feeling close to spiraling again, and no Chloros to cut in and maybe take it away.
Wait, take it away? He hoped he wasn’t growing reliant on a giant plant monster.
Ugh, fuck this. I need some air.
He put the photograph back, and stood up, glancing at his hands. The otherwise recurring bloody scrapes and scratches that defined them in recent times had faded quickly, and though the scars remained, they were much less visible now, looking more like just faint lines across his palms instead of angry gashes. It helped that they felt better too, with him regaining full usage of them again, with no stiffness or joint pain in them that he could sense…
Trying his best to ignore thoughts of Chloros (and failing), he went over to the compiler. She had shown him that it was a wondrous device that could make anything and everything, which made no sense. How could such a thing about the size of a microwave be able to manufacture anything you asked of it, including food and drink?
She’d have to explain that to him later. Zane requested something simple, a moderately sized walking stick. While his mobility was getting better, he still didn’t trust himself to walk for long stretches without issue, and so he’d need a tool for that. He didn’t feel like a wheelchair was necessary, and he doubted he could request something like a jetpack, but a plain old cane would be perfect.
It was finished in under a minute, and when he went to retrieve it, Zane felt warmth along the smooth, wooden shaft before it quickly dissipated. Compilers were wonders, but even they couldn’t ignore the laws of thermodynamics, especially temperature.
Zane took the stick and tested it, giving a firm tap against the floor. Aside from a dull thunk, it remained solid. He pressed it again and leaned his full weight upon it, and he could not find any apparent signs of stress or weakness in the design. Fresh out of the printer, yet built to endure all manner of activity. At least these Affini have an eye for structural integrity.
He peered at himself, his outfit for the day looking more like what a tourist would wear – a bright blue-yellow floral collared shirt, and tan shorts around his legs, on top of sandals of the same color. Chloros made him wear it, despite his protests of finding it dumb-looking. There was a saving grace in that it fit his frame perfectly and was very comfortable to wear.
Where would he go? He hadn’t a clue. He had no idea what the rest of the Excellence was like, or what it had to offer. And while he feared other Affini accosting him, he did remember something important…
On his left wrist, a thick white bracelet was visible, with an ornate sapphire gem on it. It was a compromise he had managed to make with Chloros when she brought up putting a “wardship collar” on him. Just to indicate that while he wasn’t a “floret” (whatever that meant), he was still not available for any other Affini while in her care.
Zane had bristled at the idea, both for the utterly humiliating aspect of being officially “owned” by her, like a common dog, and the fact that he couldn’t say no to it, his protests falling on deaf ears (do Affini even have ears?). Thankfully, he had managed to get through to his… warden, and said he’d be willing to wear it on his wrist instead of his neck. She had taken time to consider, before acquiescing to his offer.
Hopefully this dumb thing works.
He approached the door, hearing the hab unit AI chime something, but he mentally deafened himself to it. He still had a life, and he was going to keep hold of it, no matter what these walking shrubs said.
Zane watched the door slide open, and made his way out for a walk.
The beauty of the Excellence was something he had no words for. He expected a cold, lifeless set of hallways full of pure steel, like that of other ships he had been on.
Instead, it was utopia, or at least the closest thing to it. High above, the ship apparently was designed to emulate the sky, with the ceiling hard to discern behind a blue aura, and a bright, but not uncomfortably-so orb of light providing illumination. He could look straight at it for more than a second without feeling it scorch his eyeballs, though he still decided to not stare at it dead-on as he walked.
The world around him was a stark contrast to what he knew of the Terran Accord. Instead of a run-down, barely functioning city, it was a huge, sprawling garden of life and light. Paved, patterned walkways were everywhere, and tons of greenery filled the landscape, including plants he didn’t recognize. Some of them moved of their own accord, making him suspect they were Affini who were adopting odd shapes for some reason.
The air was refreshingly clear. No smog, no vaguely bad smells or tastes. No, just pure air, blown along by a pleasant breeze, as if he was in a forest in spring. He took in a deep breath, inhaling nothing but freshness.
Zane could see countless Affini milling about, and… terrans alongside them? They varied between being carried by their… ugh, owners… and looking stoned out of their minds, to simply walking alongside them, completely sober. Several were being blatantly toyed with by their owners, either being felt up by vines and limbs, or getting their faces blasted with flowers full of odd spores. A lot of them wore collars of varying designs, and revulsion welled up in Zane’s gut, and yet…
They all looked happy. Carefree. None them had anything to worry about whatsoever. Zane hypothesized that if he asked them if they had issues, they’d respond in the negative. A perfectly blissful existence.
One enforced by the Affini.
Was this what Chloros meant by ‘domestication’? To be kept under the thumbs of these massive plants, chained to their wills, until their dying day?
Such existential horror was tempered by the fact that it all seemed utopian. After the numerous wars and pains mankind had inflicted upon itself, peace was a fleeting dream, yet here were the Affini, taking over and bringing mankind into the fold. Chloros had mentioned how the end result of domestication was to take away all the pain and suffering experienced by people like Zane and replace it with comfort and safety.
Is it worth losing your soul to secure peace?
Wait, stop. Dial it back. Existentialism got him nowhere, as overwhelming as it was. He had to steel his mind and remind himself that he was on a walk to get some air, and maybe scope out his surroundings, so that he got a sense for the Excellence outside of Chloros’ hab.
He felt several pairs of eyes boring into him, and realized that several Affini – without terrans joined at the hip – were looking at him with interest.
A sheep among wolves.
He quickly held up his wrist where his bracelet was, adopting a warning glare, and just like that, they all averted their gazes, no longer focused on him. Zane swallowed, the rising terror in his heart subsiding, if only by a smidge.
He felt so exposed out here, where was…
A large, metal sign caught his eye, and he read what it had to say.
SAINT’S LIBRARY
Luminescence Book Club session today!
Bring your own books and stories!
New members welcome!
Starts at 1:30 PM
A book club? That sounded interesting. It was in a language he recognized, and he had a feeling that it being a library meant that there would be some measure of quiet. If nothing else, he could lose himself in the books and maybe get some inspiration for what he wanted to write.
Good chance of possibly meeting fellow terrans and seeing what life is like in general, too, he supposed.
Easy decision, finally.
He started towards Saint’s Library, walking at a slightly brisk stride, ever thankful that the stick he had enabled him to keep going.
Saint’s Library was enormous.
And very easy to get lost in for someone as fresh-faced as Zane.
Thankfully it was fairly quiet, with only mild background chatter from patrons around him, and what sounded like soft strings and piano played through the establishment. The music came from a duo of Affini and terran, the former gracefully playing the keys of a large piano with its vines and hands, and the latter using a large, heavy guitar-like instrument, strumming it with practiced skill.
The environment reminded him of a different library that Dad had taken him to when he was a pre-teen, with the décor having the aesthetic of an old visual style called “clockpunk”. Golds, browns, and whites were the primary colors. Decorations all over, in the form of clocks, gears, and other timekeeping-related devices. Sturdy tables and chairs everywhere he saw. And of course, the numerous shelves full of books with titles and authors he had never seen before. He wanted so badly to just take one and read away, but he didn’t know how this worked, and so he was content with just observing.
He had only been in here for a few minutes, and already he was liking it. Calm, relaxed, and having energy that wasn’t overwhelming…
Perfection.
He found himself loosening up as he walked through the library, his cane making barely audible thunks on the floor as it guided him through the place. Despite the massive size of the building, it didn’t take long for him to find what he was looking for.
An open space with a very long table and several seats occupied by, at a glance, fifteen terrans. More than he was used to – he never liked large gatherings – but the fact that they were enjoying themselves was promising. Though they all had collars on their necks, there weren’t any Affini lurking around. Maybe they were allowed distance?
One of them, a dark-skinned, feminine-looking person with a large rose over their left eye and vibrant blue streaks in their otherwise dark hair, happened to see Zane there, and they smiled at him before motioning for him to come closer. A moment’s hesitation followed, and it stretched on forever, even though it was only a second in reality.
Zane found himself cautiously approaching, and a few heads turned towards him curiously, having noticed his presence. This time, instead of feeling like prey amidst predators, he just felt the usual social anxiety around other people realizing he was there.
“Um… h-hi,” Zane stammered. “Is this, um… the book club?”
The one with the rose on their eye gave him a friendly smile, speaking to him in a relaxed tone, “Luminescence? You found it, friend. Care to join us?”
He nodded his head in the affirmative, and when the apparent host gestured to an empty chair, he took it, carefully seating himself in it and setting his cane by his side. To his right was a tall, thin woman with sharp, angular features and short red hair, and on his left, a balding person about his height who looked like they were in their late 80s, yet carried the energy of someone in their early 30s.
Other people continued to chatter, but the three individuals around Zane focused on him. “So,” the rose said in a smooth contralto, adjusting the black dress they wore. “You’re a new face, I take it. What’s your name, friend?”
“Uh, Zane, he/him,” he replied. Some anxiety remained, but it was mild compared to the kind he had around the Affini. “I’m, um, I’m new here. I just got on the ship last… last week, yeah. Haven’t seen friendly faces in a long while. R-really out of my element, you see.”
The rose smiled kindly, sitting up straighter. “Well, you’re in good company, Zane. I’m Frey Samur, First Floret, they/it. I’m the host of this book club, have been for four years.”
It gestured to the two individuals around him, giving them a chance to introduce themselves. The woman spoke first, greeting Zane with a cheerful expression and a charming Texan drawl. “Hiya! Amy Jeng, Second Floret, she/they, at your service!”
“’lo, Isaac Corta, First Floret, they/he,” the fellow on his left greeted, sounding as old as he looked, and having an accent that sounded like a mix of British and Russian.
Zane could feel himself relaxing more and more, finding that he already liked these people. Could he possibly make friends here? That’d be really nice. At the very least it’d be someone other than Chloros to talk to.
“It’s, um, nice to meet all of you. I-I dunno if I’ll talk much, I…”
Frey held up a hand, signaling for him to stop. He did.
“That’s quite alright, friend. You’re not at all required to participate if you don’t want to. Simply joining and listening is enough. Everybody is welcome here.”
That was a massive load off his shoulders. For once, he could just… do what he liked, on his own terms, and they were accommodating for him. Whether he just wanted to lurk, or actively participate, it didn’t matter, they welcomed his presence all the same.
And so that’s how it went for the next hour and a half. Zane listening to Frey, Amy, and Isaac discuss the book of the week, apparently some sort of fantasy-noir hybrid about an undead elf investigating their own death and discovering plenty of twists and turns.
Zane simply listened, absorbing it all. Partway through, they paused to address him and ask if he had any input, and that was when he started to get into the conversation properly. His voice joined the group’s, and he found himself speaking with less reservations. They all liked what he had to say, minimal as it was, with Frey in particular looking very pleased to have him.
Though part of him was still wary about the Affini, he realized that maybe Chloros’ words were true. They really did want to take care of terrans, but instead of dominating them like he expected, they allowed them to remain more or less themselves while bonded to them, and free to embrace culture and arts.
He had many more questions to ask, but he’d have to direct them to Chloros later. This new insight would-
He felt a thick weight on his shoulder, before everything went black.
Chapter 5: Retrograde
Summary:
The past lives forever, even if hidden.
Zane and Chloros reach some kind of understanding. Meanwhile, a man who’s lost everything searches the stars...
Content warnings for this chapter: Non-consensual xenodrugging, memory suppression, near panic attack, emotional breakdown, brief suicide mention
Notes:
This chapter was kinda hard to write, if only because it's rather emotionally charged. But then again, if I can make myself (and readers) feel things, then that's a good sign!
Honestly, this is one of my favorite chapters so far. I think it's because it leans hard into the whole "for your own good" aspect of the setting, alongside writing Zane's reaction to it once it hits him properly.
Also, things are moving outside of the bubble around Zane and Chloros! I think you'll enjoy the other guy's arc as well when I get to it :3
As always, any and all feedback is appreciated!
Chapter Text
She held her catatonic ward against her chest as she rushed into her hab unit, door quickly shunting open, then sliding shut behind her. Zane was breathing, but he was staring off into space, unresponsive. Guilt and shame surged through her mind as she quickly sat him down on the bed, putting him in an upright position, while he just stared blankly at nothing, completely out of it. The cocktail she had injected into him had put him in a trance that preserved his sanity and strength, but left him effectively dead to the world.
Chloros cursed herself for making such a careless mistake. She had thought he’d be fine by himself while she was out, and he nearly paid the price for her lapse in judgment. And she just knew that the instant she applied the counteragent to free him from his trance, he’d take issue with her way of handling things. She was used to sophonts objecting and protesting to everything she did to make them healthy and happy, but with Zane…
She dreaded it. Dreaded having to make him upset again in the process of acclimating him to life here. The vines and leaves of her body twitched and quivered with anxious energy, only this time, Zane wouldn’t be able to react while in his induced stupor.
A part of Chloros berated her for letting him wear the bracelet instead of the collar, telling her she should have just forced it onto him so this wouldn’t have happened. She was making everything so needlessly difficult for herself, why not just take what she wanted right away? The Affini were literally born to domesticate and care for sophonts, so why was she refusing to act on her cultural imperative?
Because that’s not who I am, she snarled at herself. Other Affini were happy to be aggressively affectionate and dominant, taking what they wanted, but she just could not muster such energy. Above all else, Chloros wanted to be a gentle caretaker, not an overwhelming dominator. Especially with such fragile beings like her ward.
One wrong move and he’d crumple like a wet paper towel.
“I’m so sorry, petal,” she murmured, touching the young man’s face. No response, of course, besides a mild grunt and a drip of drool from his mouth. “Please find it in your soul to forgive me.”
She prepared her counteragent while thinking back to that encounter…
Racing past numerous Affini and sophonts, Chloros was a blur of green and blue, deftly dodging passersby and navigating obstacles in her haste to reach Zane. Nothing else mattered but his safety, and she knew if she didn’t hurry up, he’d probably break completely without her.
She didn’t even acknowledge the front desk receptionist as she whirled through Saint’s Library, homing in on Zane’s position. She was there in a flash, and what she saw hurt her core.
Another Affini, one only somewhat shorter than her in terranoid form, had Zane in their clutches. She recognized them, a lanky, leering individual by the name of Torn Pahanin, Third Bloom.
Zane was in Torn’s grasp, resisting and struggling against their grip. “H-hey, lemme go!” she heard him snap. “I’m not your pet, asshole!”
She noticed that there were several other sophonts nearby, and remembered the sign for the book club being hosted here, realizing that this may have been what Zane was drawn to.
“Oho, what’s this? A cutie without an owner? Well, finders, keepers, if you ask me!” Torn announced, chuckling. “Now, if y’all will excuse me, I-”
Chloros tuned them out, recognizing the clear signs of one of Zane’s panic attacks – hyperventilation, pupils and irises shrinking, speech petering out, sweat beading on his forehead.
If she didn’t act now, he would snap like a twig.
She rushed past Torn, moving far too fast for them to react, as she roughly yanked her ward out of their arms and into her own. Zane let out a gasp, seeming to recognize that he had changed hands, but he was rapidly approaching collapse and unable to process that it was her.
She planned for that, of course. A quick prick into his neck, and he suddenly went limp in her arms, eyes glazing over. Crisis averted… now to deal with the perpetrator.
She assumed her regal queen form, keeping Zane against her chest, while glaring at Torn intensely. “Torn,” she said with barely restrained rage. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Hey, what gives?” Torn asked back, ignoring Chloros’ anger. “I had that little guy first!”
“No. No you did not.” She grabbed Zane’s wrist and held it up, revealing the bracelet that his attempted domesticator had missed.
Some of Torn’s energy faded, but their arrogance was still on display. They narrowed their eyes and folded their arms, and Chloros could feel a discordant cacophony radiating from them. Envy and entitlement were a terrible combination, especially from someone like Torn. “Oh, big whoop. So what if I missed that? If he’s not domesticated yet, only a matter of time before somebody corrects it. Dunno why you’re delaying it. Dirt, you should be thanking me!”
Zane was trembling while in his xenodrug-induced trance. While her rage was white-hot, she was still lucid enough to notice that Zane was… holding onto her. Tightly, with both hands, as if he were on a boat in a massive storm, trying desperately to not fall off and drown. If she wasn’t in full-on “mama bear” mode, she’d have focused on reassuring him he wouldn’t fall.
“Torn,” Chloros heard one of the florets say. Frey, its name was. Yes, the book club host. “There’s no need for this. Please, let’s all just calm down…”
Torn ignored it. Their gaze was firmly locked on Chloros, and if looks could kill, she’d have collapsed into a pile of decayed leaves on the spot. She wouldn’t falter, though. This youngbloom needed to be reminded of who truly owned who here.
“I will only say this once.” Chloros intensified her cadence, and the arrogant attitude that Torn displayed immediately wilted, making them recoil. Their rhythm may have been strong, but it paled in comparison to Chloros’ expertise in radiating unadulterated anger. “Do. Not. Touch. Zane. He is mine. You cannot have him. Do I make myself clear?”
She did not threaten them. But her aura of protectiveness proved she was not to be trifled with. Torn attempted to stare her down, but by then, their confidence completely evaporated, and they held up their vines and hands.
“Fine, fine, whatever. Keep the little guy. I can find others.” And then they made a hasty exit, leaving Chloros, Zane, and the book club alone. A distant “fire me!” could be heard as Torn kept walking away.
Chloros stood there, feeling her own body shake like a thin-furred animal in winter. She hadn’t felt such fury and rage in forever. Even though she never really liked Torn all that much, they had never inspired such intensity from her before. And the storm inside her was still raging, threatening to explode…
She suddenly realized that the other florets were talking to her, and at once her intimidating aura vanished. She slouched, turning to Frey, Amy, and Isaac.
“I am so sorry you had to see that, little ones,” she said, all her anger replaced with worry and guilt. “Are any of you hurt? Did Torn hurt him?”
“No,” Amy answered. “Torn just ignored us while trying to take him. Is… is he okay?”
These must have been his new friends. That meant he was capable of socializing with others still. Good, he could be functional to a degree without her, but it still made her core sink that his first encounter with them had to turn out like this.
She quickly inspected him, and apart from the small injection site on his neck from earlier, he was not harmed. That was a relief.
“He’s fine,” Chloros announced. The book club’s nervousness dissipated, and their usual energy returned. “But I need to take him home for now. I’m sorry.”
“We understand,” Frey chimed in, glancing at Chloros, then centering its eye upon the catatonic young man in her arms. “I’d hate for him to have bad memories associated with his first time here. He’s welcome to return when he’s ready.”
Chloros nodded. She could not say anymore. She didn’t need to, because Frey followed up with, “Go ahead and take care of him. We have another meeting next week, and you’re welcome to join him if he wants to come again.”
She offered it a relieved smile, and quickly began to retreat, cradling her ward protectively.
The counteragent was ready. Just one prick, and he’d be jolted back into consciousness, but with something missing.
This was the hard part. Leaving him like this would be easy, but it would not be conducive to his long-term health. At the same time, his potential reaction made her hesitate. It was for his own good, yet she knew how much he’d hate such an explanation.
The only option, then, was to explain everything, and let him get it out of his system. She’d just have to endure whatever anger he had towards her, and reaffirm her duty and their bond.
Forgive me, petal.
The needle went in, then quickly retracted. Like a light bulb suddenly flicking on after its switch was flipped, Zane broke out of his trance and gasped, panting, eyes returning to normal. He struggled to speak, eyes darting around in a frenzy, before realizing Chloros was in front of him. He settled down slightly, but only just.
“Chloros?” he asked shakily. His body was still trembling, but not as badly as before. “How’d we get here? I don’t… I don’t remember what happened.”
Chloros’ vines settled around him, gently touching his arms and head. He flinched, but didn’t push her away.
This is going to hurt me so much more than you.
“You were accosted by another Affini. Torn. They were trying to take you for themself while you were at the book club. I came in and stopped them, and now we’re here. Safe and sound.”
Zane squinted at her. “Whoa, whoa, wait a second. I remember the book club, yeah, but… nothing between then and now. Did I have a panic attack again?”
She nodded. She forced herself to keep talking, ignoring the part of her that screamed at her to stop. “Almost, yes. Torn’s behavior was bringing you close to one. I stopped it.”
He glanced down, rubbing his temple with his hand. He was thinking hard. “Okay, okay, but I don’t get it. You say it happened, but it’s like, every time I try to remember it, I just… can’t. Did Torn do something to me?”
Moment of truth.
“No. I did, Zane. I suppressed that memory.”
The sudden silence might as well have been the most deafening one in the universe. Realization had clearly struck Zane, and his confusion was rapidly morphing into anger.
“Fucking excuse me?” he barked. Hab chimed, but both of them ignored it. “You… you… you fucked with my head?!”
Chloros knew that he wouldn’t have another attack with her so close to him, but that wouldn’t stop his rising rage from exploding at her. Not unless she forced it to stop. And right now, she knew he had to vent, as much as it pained her.
“I was not doing it out of malice, but yes. Affini can do this with xenodrugs to edit, block, or add memories. Usually done for therapy, especially with sophonts who have suffered severe trauma.”
He shrugged her vines off and quickly stood up on the bed, fists balled and shaking while he raised his voice. “I don’t care what your intentions are, you got your grimy vines in my skull and tampered with my memory! You violated me! THOSE ARE MY MEMORIES, NOT YOURS!”
She steeled herself, willing her body to remain rigid, her vines retracting. “Yes, they are your memories,” she said haltingly. “And they still are. I have not done anything else to you, Zane. The only thing I have suppressed is that particular incident, your other memories are intact. You did not lose anything. You just can’t recall one incident that you’re-”
“Don’t you DARE tell me what I’m better off with,” Zane interrupted, pointing an accusing finger at her. “You’re the same as the Accord – forcing us to suffer and fade while pretending that you know what’s good for us. Well, guess what? YOU’RE FUCKING WRONG!”
No point in trying to reason with him. He was hyped up on rage, and justified in it. Chloros had to ride it out as best she could.
“I know, Zane, but-”
“SHUT UP!”
He looked ready to punch her. He was digging his fingers into his hands, so intensely she worried he might undo some of the work put into healing them.
“You’re a monster, Chloros! Every last one of you are monsters! I HATE YOU!”
That was the last coherent thing he said. What followed was an extended period of Zane screaming and swearing at her, alternating between expressing his hatred of her and yelling his lungs out. She wanted so badly to stop it, and she very well could…
But he had to get through this. Let his anger flow, let him get it out, let him get tired from it. She’d forgive him for everything, she always would. She just hoped he would forgive her.
After a seeming eternity, it became evident that Zane’s rage was finally starting to exhaust itself. The well of venom and hatred ran dry, and he collapsed in a heap, tears streaming down his face. He cried, hiding his face in his hands, the atomic meltdown replaced with absolute despair as he wailed.
The first stage was over. Now came the second one, where she could hopefully pull him out of it.
When his core-rending cries settled into soft, hiccuping sobs, Chloros saw her opportunity and took it. With tenderness, she grasped his hands in her own, a vine snaking its way to his chin and tilting his head up to face her.
Zane’s eyes were red, and he was sniffling and coughing, the remnants of his meltdown lingering still. He stared at her, a mixture of anger and hurt in his eyes.
“W… why, Chloros?” he muttered brokenly. “Why….?”
His warden gently massaged the palms of his hands as she spoke. He relaxed, but only slightly. “Zane… please understand. None of us do this out of any malice whatsoever. The Affini are caretakers first and foremost. We live to love and embrace other species. And we do everything in our power to take their pain away.”
“Even… even… s-stealing our-”
“No, petal,” Chloros crooned. “We never steal anything from you. Your memories are still there, completely intact. I only prevented the incident with Torn from being recalled easily. In fact, try remembering something you cherish most.”
Zane paused, tearful eyes shut tight as he did as asked. He opened them shortly after, elation in his voice. “I… I remember Mom. And Dad. And, and, my brother. The farm, the-”
She shushed him, nodding. “Yes. Everything else is exactly as you remember. I did not take anything but the most recent trauma away. Understand, Zane, that we are meticulous and precise in caring for sophonts like you. This comes naturally to us. We can’t just leave you to suffer.”
Zane coughed a little, fixing her with a stare. Her leaves were hiding her eyes, a precaution to avoid accidentally entrancing him. “B-but how… how can I trust you won’t just… rip it away if I misbehave or some shit? If y-you can just… twist us into pets… then…”
“We do not twist anyone into something they don’t want to be. We help them bloom into something they yearn for at heart. I know it sounds horrific on its face for a terran, but we do everything out of love, not violence.”
A glimmer of understanding was visible in those heartbroken eyes, but she knew he was still unconvinced. He let out another quiet sob, eyes closing again. “Just… fuck… I… okay. Okay. Just… just promise me something, Chloros.”
“Anything, petal.”
“Don’t… don’t take away what makes me… me. Too many people have tried to turn me into something I don’t w-want to become. I-If I lose… if I…”
Chloros said nothing, waiting for him to finish. “If y-you can guarantee… guarantee I’ll get to stay myself… while I’m here… t-then… maybe…”
He trailed off, hands squeezing hers. She knew him well enough by now that he didn’t need to say anything more for her to understand.
Terrans like him treasured their pasts highly, to the extent that they’ll refuse any form of treatment that could possibly take it away. Some would rather die than ever lose something so precious to them, even when it was clearly destroying them. Too many sophonts, terrans included, took their own lives because of it. She knew Zane wouldn’t, but she had to keep him from ever getting there.
“You have my word, Zane,” Chloros said to him. She attuned herself to him, her aura washing over him and dulling the worst of his emotions, letting him recover, though he was clearly worn out from it all still. “You will not lose your identity in my care. I’m your warden, and I will never knowingly hurt you.”
I love you, she wanted to add, but she stopped herself. Now wasn’t the time for that.
He did not react as her vines went to wipe off the tears from his face. He just sat there, emitting the occasional sniffle, while he wound down with her help.
“You must be tired after today,” Chloros said softly. “Would you like to lay down and sleep for a while?”
She could sense his hesitation. He had completely exhausted his body and yet he seemed very unsure of himself, despite it being such a simple question.
She waited for him to respond. When he did, it surprised her.
“Y-yeah, um… can… can we… hug? I… I think I want…”
Zane didn’t finish, but that was okay. She took the initiative. Easily climbing into bed, she raised him up into her arms, her bark chestpiece segmenting itself to reveal the bare vines of her torso. She laid down, allowing her ward to rest on top of her, his head placed right on her chest, where her core resided.
Nothing more was said. Both understood each other.
This would be a long road. One that she would ensure he could walk with joy in his heart.
The captain of the Hyperion furrowed his brow while taking a long drag from his cigar, the filtration unit in his quarters sucking up the smoke so he didn’t suffocate.
How many years had it been since that night? He remembered it clearly, but time kind of fudged the numbers. Even a strong guy in his early 30s could be affected by it. It didn’t diminish his determination in his mission, luckily.
He studied the news post on his pad, the light from it and a lamp on his desk being the only things illuminating the immediate area around him.
FRONTIER FALLEN TO XENOS
Dire news today, folks. Neith was taken by the damnable weeds we’ve come to know as the Affini Compact. Like the rest of the Terran Accord, the xenos hit the frontier world fast and hard, subjugating it in a matter of days.
Our brothers and sisters continue to dwindle, but we must be vigilant. We cannot go quietly while the pyre of our brilliance still burns. We must fight, and fight, until we no longer can.
Tch. The usual propaganda bullshit followed. But there was an element of truth in it.
The Affini were overwhelming mankind with no signs of stopping. An existential horror from beyond the stars that kept taking everyone and anyone they got their vile vines on…
He put the pad down, exhaling a puff of smoke and pinching the bridge of his nose. This was exhausting. The chances of finding his target were becoming more and more unlikely with every passing week, but he couldn’t give up. He couldn’t dishonor his family’s memory if he just crumbled. He needed to be strong, and brave, and…
Stars, he sounded like his damned father. About the only thing he regretted about the bastard’s death was that it was too quick, too merciful. He should have suffered.
Just behind him, the door to his quarters opened, and he heard his engineer speak. “Captain Jakobson-”
“Please, Maya,” he said tiredly, turning around in his seat to face her. “You know you can just call me Axton, right?”
“Right, um… Axton… the crew’s got a lead. A real one, this time.”
Axton Jakobson, son of Hammond and Minerva, and older brother to Zane, stared at her.
Finally, some progress.
Chapter 6: Explicit
Summary:
It’s all there, and completely clear. Well, almost all of it.
After a hectic first week, Zane and Chloros have a frank discussion.
Content warnings: Discussion of memory manipulation
Notes:
Last chapter was pretty intense, huh? Don't worry, it's dialed back a lot in this one, and gets pretty contemplative. Plus, a picnic scene! Who doesn't like those?
This is also one of my favorite chapters, where Zane and Chloros get to talk in a relatively comfortable context, and discuss one of the central tenets of the setting. Existentialism comes into play here, which I'm realizing will be a recurring theme in the story... hard to miss in a setting where hot queer plant aliens take over and care for you, whether you want it or not, I suppose.
Also, for you Destiny players out there, I like to imagine Chloros sounds like Savathun. You know, just in case you wanted her to be more of a plommy :3
As always, feedback and input is greatly appreciated!
Chapter Text
Four days had passed since the incident. Zane was starting to feel a lot less hostile and paranoid towards Chloros now, but uncertainty still tugged at his mind. He had stopped napping through the day as much, but gained a new habit in its place – clinging to Chloros as much as possible and growing distressed whenever they’re apart. He had also accepted wearing the wardship collar, and it was fastened snugly around his neck, ensuring that any other Affini would immediately know not to mess with him due to being ‘taken’ already.
He couldn’t explain it. Several days ago, he was unleashing all manner of fury and invective towards her because of her reaching into his mind, even if it was for a good cause. Now, Zane felt so fragile that to be separated from her was to lose the one thing that kept him from falling.
He was a mess of a man. Even so, Chloros did not judge him or reprimand him in any way. He had verbally eviscerated her, stuck a knife in her heart, and she instead chose to forgive him and focus on soothing him. She had ignored his barbs and focused on his wellbeing, not her own.
Did she care about him, truly? Or was it an act, a way to make him break later?
Zane muttered incoherently as he gazed at the ceiling of the hab unit. He was laying on top of Chloros, letting her gently stroke and pet him while they laid on the bed they shared. It was odd, sharing a bed with someone, especially a plant alien, but he was starting to like it. Just the fact that she was holding him and helping him stay relaxed and centered did a lot to quell the raging storm in his mind.
It was still there, though. Dormant and tamed, it remained nonetheless. It varied in intensity, and he could never tell when it would become overpowering.
Chloros’ voice cut through the silent ambiance, disrupting his thoughts. “Zane, petal. How are you feeling?”
He couldn’t lie and say he was fine. He couldn’t lie and say he felt bad either. What could he say, really? This was a situation he had no idea how to navigate.
“...I don’t know,” Zane admitted with a sigh. His right hand clung to Chloros’, their fingers laced together. Zane had discovered that, with his hands fully healed and the scars on them completely gone, he was much more comfortable with them being touched. Mostly in regards to his warden, who was all too happy to hold and caress them. “There’s… a lot to think about. I just don’t know where to even start. And I can’t really… get myself together in the hab unit here. Sorry.”
She squeezed his hand affectionately. Her voice was low, helping him stay relaxed, her aura enveloping him like an invisible blanket.
“I understand, dear. Last week was a lot to experience. And I know that being in here all day is not conducive to your state of mind, even though I’m here with you.”
He didn’t reply, just continuing to stare at the ceiling. Flawless, smooth paneling covered it, with the lights dimmed so that the unit was illuminated, but allowing him to look up instead of being blinded.
Her body was so soft. He had expected a lot of discomfort due to her being composed of plant material, especially with how he had spotted thorns on some of her vines. Yet, laying on her like this, it was akin to the softest bed in existence. It reminded him of one family he and Mom had stayed with, who were lucky enough to have a guest bedroom with mattresses made of something called memory foam. Archaic, sure, but it was something that conformed to his body and let him get proper restful sleep, compared to the common spring mattress at best and solid, hard ground at worst.
Chloros was basically a living memory foam bed for him. And despite his reservations, Zane couldn’t imagine himself choosing anything else. He didn’t know if that was a bad sign.
He heard her speak again, her melodic voice being pleasant to the ear. “Well, I have an idea of how to fix that. There’s a place a little ways away that doesn’t have much foot traffic, so it’s very quiet. I can take you there for some peace and quiet among the flowers. Would you like that?”
He contemplated it. He never really had any chance to truly admire nature outside of the family farm, and going on the run meant any kind of delay was a risk, one he couldn’t afford. So he couldn’t relax and smell the flowers, as it were.
Here, though, it was different. Chloros had done a lot to make his stay on the Excellence comfortable, and he could understand that the Affini were doing their best to help their florets embrace culture and creativity.
Maybe that was what he needed. No book club, no being out in public. Just a nice, quiet sit in the field, away from everyone, with his warden tending to him.
Although…
“Will Torn try and hurt me again?”
He still couldn’t remember Torn’s attempt to take him, but he knew enough to recognize that that particular Affini was bad for his health. Even with a wardship collar, he had a feeling that wouldn’t truly stop them.
“Last I heard...” Chloros said, one vine rubbing against the left side of his face. He had stopped flinching from the touch of her vines now, but he still wasn’t sure how he felt about it compared to her more familiar extremities. “...Torn has been reprimanded and is now forbidden from entering this section of the ship for quite some time. Arrogant as they are, even they won’t dare to disobey a direct order from a superior. They will not bother you again for the foreseeable future. At the very least, they will be closely monitored so that they can be prevented from doing the same thing to other sophonts they believe to be free to claim.”
Affini aren’t afraid to call out and discipline their fellows if they make a serious faux pas, Zane concluded. So they have some standards.
“That’s, um… that’s good. In that case, I think… I think I want to go to that place you mentioned.”
He couldn’t see it from this angle, but he was certain a smile had formed on her mask. Her aura shifted – a mild, subtle background element beforehand, and now, a prominent, more obvious cadence, one that felt incredibly soothing to be around.
“Of course, petal. Do you want me to carry you there, or do you wish to walk beside me?”
He immediately wanted to say yes to the first option, but he hesitated. He didn’t want to be too dependent on her. Zane still wanted to make sure he could function without being tethered at the hip, even though said tethering was keeping the darkness at bay.
After a minute of silence, he replied, “I want to walk. I want to bring my cane, too, just in case.”
A pleasant rumble radiated from her body and into him, making him shudder slightly. It brought on a sensation he couldn’t accurately define, outside of just thinking it felt good.
“That’s absolutely doable, my dear. Let’s find you an outfit for our little picnic, then.”
Zane nodded. By this point he had gotten used to having a new set of clothes every day, and this would be no different.
He wished he could keep some favorites, though…
Chloros said this area was known as the Floral Retreat. It wasn’t used often, so the only people that were here today were Chloros and Zane. The only noise here was the occasional rustle through the trees and bushes, and the calls of birds and insects that he had a feeling were simulated. He didn’t recall seeing either of those on their way here.
Today, Chloros let him decide his outfit, instead of just giving him one and leaving it at that. A navy blue t-shirt with white vine-like patterns across the chest and shoulders, and snow-white shorts around his hips once again, this time with a blue rose pattern on the left leg. His feet were clad in comfortable sandals once more, and around his neck, his wardship collar was snug and secure. The soft, white band held a brilliant sapphire gemstone on a small chain beneath it, resembling Chloros’ eyes, as it rested against Zane’s chest.
While he stayed close to his warden along the way here, she abided by his preference and allowed him to walk beside her, slowing her stride so he can keep up. She did lower a vine into his free hand, so he can still feel connected to her. His walking stick made little sound as it impacted the smooth ground of the path to the Floral Retreat, his footsteps being louder. The two of them said little on their way here, which Zane appreciated, since it meant he could focus on his stride instead of being distracted by conversation. He theorized it was also deliberate on Chloros’ part to allow him to enjoy the surroundings.
If so, it was working. He was able to properly drink in the details around him as they entered the area – massive trees with countless branches, flowers blooming over them, vines hanging down and canopies so thick that they provided perfect shade against the artificial sun around the base. Nearby, a large river of some sort was flowing, providing gentle ambiance of running water.
Zane saw small insects flying around, butterflies and bees and all manner of little creature flitting through the air on tiny wings.
Zane saw the leaves of nearby bushes rustle as a breeze flowed through, animating the otherwise still plant structures.
Zane saw Chloros unrolling a large, floral blanket for them to set their food and game upon, placing it upon the soft grass near the river.
Zane saw this place and felt a sense of peace wash over him.
Peace.
It was a feeling he didn’t really recognize. It was almost completely foreign. Like visiting a different country and seeing how their way of life was much better than your own. Which was technically accurate, considering he was well away from terran territory and deep in the Affini’s domain.
It was so unlike everything back home, he still had trouble believing it...
With the blanket set out, a basket placed in the middle, and plates and cutlery in their positions, it was time for their picnic to begin. Zane slowly sat himself down upon the blanket, setting his cane to the side and sitting cross-legged. Chloros’ lower body (did she have legs? He couldn’t tell under her dress) just sort of compressed itself downward, until it looked more like her torso was perched upon a very large bush.
Affini biology is so confusing.
“It’s been quite some time since I’ve brought someone else here,” Chloros said finally, breaking the silence between them. “It’s as beautiful as I remember it.”
Zane nodded, letting his gaze wander. While Chloros busied herself with getting the food ready, he allowed himself to ponder his situation.
He was a long, long, long way from home now. Well, he was before, but now he really was far away. Chloros hadn’t told him if the Excellence had left Neith’s orbit, and he kept forgetting to ask. Not like it really mattered, since he doubted he’d be able to go back. Neith wasn’t even his home, but he was still homesick for it. Was that the right word? He didn’t know.
His thoughts drifted to his brother. Since that night, Zane had no idea what became of his older sibling. Was he still at the farm, just trying to move on? Was he out in the void, trying to find the other Jakobson sibling? Or had he been taken by other Affini and made into a floret?
If it was that last one, he had no idea what to expect. Chloros was nice, but she wasn’t above ramming needles into him and using her hypnotic eyes to control him. Zane had a feeling that other Affini may not be as reserved and precise as she was, even if it was in the name of reducing pain.
All he could really hope for was that Axton was still alive…
“Petal?”
Zane blinked, turning back to her. “Sorry… bit lost in thought.”
“I can tell, dear. Maybe you ought to put that on hold, food’s ready.”
Maybe I really do need to stop thinking about that so much. Besides, I’m starving…
He moved his gaze to survey what she brought out. Chloros had worked to get his input on what to bring to the picnic, and with the compiler, it was easy to just request what they wanted and have it be ready in a minute. Zane took a whiff, and…
Air fried chicken tenders with barbecue sauce for dipping.
Crumbly blueberry bars.
Hearty egg salad with bacon bits.
Corn bread with pieces of jalapeno inside.
And strawberry lemonade.
There was plenty of food for both of them. At the very least, Zane would be well fed. He wasn’t certain if Affini could ingest food and derive nutrition from it, but Chloros seemed quite interested in it herself.
“Shall we?” his warden asked kindly, beaming at him through leaf-shrouded eyes.
Two hours had passed as the pair enjoyed their lunch. Though it wasn’t hand-made due to being compiled on short notice, Zane didn’t care, it all tasted incredibly good. If you had given the food to him, and neglected to tell him it had been manifested into being via advanced technology, he’d never have known the difference.
They had chosen to play a game together partway through. Zane had told her about his love for board games, especially chess, and when she brought the chess board and pieces out, he was thrilled. She took the black side, and he took the white.
Despite being an incomprehensibly older entity than him, Zane had her number in the game. Or at least it seemed like it. Was she deliberately being bad to spare his feelings? Or was she genuinely unskilled at chess? Either way, Zane kept beating her every time, his mood improving with his victories. She was a graceful loser, thankfully, accepting her losses with dignity and praising him for outsmarting her.
The food was all consumed by then. A loud belch of approval left his lips, causing him to flush with embarrassment. Chloros opted to chuckle instead, and her laughter resonated through him. In a way that made his own body vibrate on a level he didn’t know how to process, except that it felt welcome…
What was this plant doing to him? Several years of running had trained his mind to react to anything that wasn’t himself or his Mom with extreme distrust and paranoia, especially if it seemed threatening in any way. A defense mechanism corrupted by grief, twisted into a broken, malfunctioning machine that could not be shut off. Chloros had somehow done exactly that, or at least made it actually function properly instead of going off at anything and everything.
The panic attacks were unavoidable, though. Every terran had their breaking point, and his brain liked to momentarily shut off and stop working when the torment became too strong to bear. All of them left him in worse states than before. Chloros, however, had gone out of her way to stop at least two of them in recent memory from hitting a fever pitch. The second time, even blotting out his memory of the event.
He could sense it was still there. Trying to actually recall it, though, was like attempting to open a locked safe deposit box without its key – it will never open on its own. That memory just laid dormant in his mind, locked up tight, with Chloros holding the key to it in her vines.
He took a sip of lemonade and looked up at her. This time, her attention wasn’t on him. She seemed to be focused on the river, watching the cool, clear water rush past.
Chloros wasn’t a liar, that was certain. But she did a lot of things to him without his consent. Good intentions didn’t change how it was a violation of his autonomy.
And she seemed to know him better than he himself did. They only knew each other for a week so far, but she read him like a book.
That was a question that demanded an answer.
“Chloros,” he said aloud. Immediately she snapped out of her reverie and turned to him, all smiles.
“Yes, Zane? What is it? Did you enjoy the meal?”
“Yeah, I did. But there’s something I can’t stop thinking about…”
A quiet rumble left her body, floating through the air and penetrating through him, causing him to shudder. “I’d be happy to discuss whatever is on your mind. Would you like to sit on my lap while we do so?”
He wanted to say yes so, so badly. But before he could do it, he squelched the thought. He still had to maintain some level of independence, instead of becoming completely subservient, and prove he could remain sober around her.
His pride really was determined to stay strong in the face of overwhelming power.
“I think I’d prefer sitting next to you, actually, if that’s okay,” he managed to say. Chloros’ expression didn’t falter, though he wondered if she was disappointed behind her mask.
“Absolutely, dear.” Her vines were automatically putting the plates, cutlery, and drink glasses back into the basket, and when Zane stood up, she also took the blanket and folded it up expertly, before it also disappeared into the basket. Her hands were free, and she used her right hand to pat the space next to her for him to sit.
With cane in hand, Zane stepped towards her, taking his place beside his warden. Much closer, now, but not wrapped up in her vines or held in her arms.
Need to keep a clear head if I’m gonna pick her brain about this… like she picked mine.
“So,” Zane said awkwardly, shifting in his seat. His eyes didn’t meet hers, instead focusing on the river as it passed by. “I wanted to talk about the whole memory thing.”
Chloros stiffened ever so slightly. She said nothing, however. He took that as a sign to continue.
“Well, more accurately… I want to know how you know so much about me. You knew enough that you took that memory of Torn and locked it up. And you know enough that I loved the food Mom made for me while we were on the run.”
Again, Chloros said nothing. She just peered at him. Why wasn’t she saying something?
“I can’t hide anything from you. That much I know. What I don’t know is… how did you figure it out without me telling you anything?”
There was a long silence from her, still. He wanted to push it, but he had a feeling that she was thinking. Trying to phrase it in a way he’ll understand, perhaps?
When Chloros finally answered him, he let loose a breath he hadn’t known he was holding.
“When Antris brought you to me and my friend Fernis, you were given a cocktail of xenodrugs to keep you sedated and calm your strained body. A day before you were discharged and given to me, Fernis had taken the time to entrance you and look into your memories, so that I would know the best way to care for you.”
Anger flared inside of him on instinct. Such a blatant disregard for his privacy, especially while they forcibly put him under, sickened him. The urge to curse her out was there. But he held his tongue, waiting for her to explain further.
“As you are aware of by now, Affini like myself and Fernis are able to use xenodrugs to interact with and alter sophonts’ memories in the process of preparing them for domestication, as well as undergoing therapy. In your case, however, we didn’t do anything more than simply view your past. Fernis said he didn’t want to risk further trauma with how unstable you were, even while sedated.”
So no tampering with his mind. Just hiding a recent trauma. Even if he knew he could remember everything, Chloros confirming what he suspected helped a little.
Chloros continued, “Fernis showed me the most impactful parts of your life. Specifically, your mixed relationship with your brother, before your father’s cow passed away, and from there we were able to piece together an accurate overview of your likes, dislikes, triggers, and other important information. Cross-referencing it with news reports about the Jakobson family helped as well.”
Of course. The day Dad died, Zane knew that it would be all over the news. He and Mom had to abandon everything for their safety. A huge catalyst for his inability to trust anyone except himself and his mother – the authorities were hunting him, and anyone he tried to make connections with was a possible informant of theirs. All they could do was take risks and scramble when the jig was up.
“Your father was murdered. By whom, I cannot say. It would appear that memory is being suppressed on its own, as a trauma response. The same for what befell your mother. All we can glean from you is that both your parents are gone, and that your brother’s status is unknown.”
His mouth was closed, but he grit his teeth. Those memories were also blocked, and they would stay that way. Too horrible to even think about, and he’d die before ever letting anyone see them…
“Fernis informed me that while it may not inherently be a bad thing to leave those memories be, he has stressed that for you to move on from your dark past, you must allow us to bring them to the fore, so you can properly heal. Only then will you be deemed sufficient for domestication.”
“You haven’t even told me what domestication is even supposed to be for,” Zane finally said, glaring up at her. “All I’ve seen so far is Affini treating us like pets that can be drugged into brainlessness. I don’t want that to be my fate. No way in hell.”
He knew he was right. Every time he tried to get a good answer from her about domestication, she either dodged the question or gave a non-answer. He hated information being withheld from him. It just served to amplify his mistrust.
“Zane…” Chloros’ voice was small, unbecoming of a giant like herself. “Do you think domestication is punishment? A fate worse than death?”
His first thought was to say yes. After all, terrans domesticated animals all the time – cows, dogs, chickens. Why would it be any different for Affini? If anything, it was worse, since terrans were sapient, while all the animals were… well, not. At least, Zane hoped they weren’t.
“It’s oppression,” he said simply. “Dominating people weaker than you and reducing them into just... things. I’m not stupid, Chloros, I know how this shit works.”
Zane felt something snake across his hand. Another vine. Another attempt to sooth him. He did his best to ignore it. Chloros needed to be reminded that she can’t just baby him when he decides to get mouthy.
“I understand how you feel about it. Your species has a long history of inflicting subjugation and slavery upon themselves, all in the name of power. Power that’s fleeting and crumbles in short order. Affini see this suffering in action, and in our culture, it is seen as a desperate cry for help.”
“But we’ve always defeated our oppressors. Every time they try to dominate the weak, we’re there beating them back, making them regret ever daring to think they could have power over us for very long.”
Chloros fixed him with a stare. Even with the leaves obscuring her eyes, he found himself unnerved at how they were boring into his soul.
“Zane, mankind as you know it is a damaged, malfunctioning machine. Unable to fix itself, not without help. We have seen species like yours before. Too many who imploded on themselves and became barely salvageable when we arrived. The Affini’s purpose is to fix what’s broken and make it better. Without us, your species would be like all the rest that we couldn’t save.”
She may not have intended it, but she was coming across very condescendingly. Another jolt of anger, but again, he forced it down. He needed to keep his head clear.
“What if we don’t want to be saved, then? At least we’d be ourselves. Not… not…”
Her tone softened, but her stare didn’t. “The question is not ‘do they desire our help?’, but rather, ‘will they be better off with our help?’. And every time, the answer is a resounding yes. Every species in the Affini Compact has thrived in our care, because we do everything in our power to ensure their prosperity.”
Zane snorted. “By clamping their souls in chains. Please stop bullshitting me, Chloros. You’re not gonna convince me you’re any better.”
I’m being so mean to her, he realized. But she’s trampling over me, even with her being so gentle. Make it make sense!
“You are not the first to react like this,” Chloros murmured, finally turning away. “And you will not be the last, either.”
At least she admits it.
“This is simply how it is, Zane. We are literally born to care for others. Preferably with their consent, but if they refuse… it takes significant negotiation for them to stay independent. To use one of your sayings, it’s a coin flip of if they embrace or avoid domestication.”
“You still haven’t answered the question.”
“I was getting to that, petal. Domestication… is neither punishment, nor reward. It simply is. We find a species that needs our help, and give it to them. We bind them to us, so that they no longer experience any form of conflict, or despair, or oppression. We ensure their lives are enriched and fulfilling. We’re very good at it, you know.”
He hesitantly pulled his hand away from her vine, and held it up, looking at his palm. Completely healed, no signs of any injury at all. Chloros had erased almost all the damage on his body over the years, but she couldn’t fix everything about his mind. At least, he didn’t think she could.
He just couldn’t parse it. They wanted to free mankind, but this was just another form of enslavement, he was sure of it. All those history classes in school, and his college work, told him that this was a very bad thing to do to another sapient being. Yet Chloros was here treating it as an inevitable part of existence under them.
Did anything he knew mean anything in the end?
“I… Chloros… this all sounds completely crazy,” he admitted bitterly. “I’m supposed to just… accept that a race of plant alien gods want to help us by making us into pets? That’s… that’s like saying it’s good for me if I swallow bleach. We do the exact same thing to dogs and cats, and they never once ask for it. How the hell am I supposed to be okay with this?”
A blue-green tendril found its way to his shoulder. He expected to recoil, but he didn’t. Was she still screwing with him somehow?
“Terrans are used to subjugating animals for their convenience,” Chloros observed. “This creates a dynamic where the animal is inherently seen as lesser than the owner. An objectively one-sided relationship, all take, no give.”
He noted that she didn’t react to his accusation of the Affini being deities. Did she agree, or was she just ignoring it? “Our way of domestication, on the other hand, is different. We do it not for our own ends… but for yours. In every sophont, we see something yearning to bloom and be let free. We own you, yes… but we love you enough to help you become something better. Something more true to yourselves.”
He wanted to tell her off, tell her she was wrong and evil and bad and other negative things. But even so, he could sympathize with her to some degree, even if it scared him that he was doing it at all.
Was this more mindfuckery? Was she subtly coercing him into believing her? It all sounded so blatantly wrong, an affront to all he knew about how life should work.
And… and…
He was tired. Physically and mentally. He was hating this conversation the longer it went on. He still didn’t know what to think.
“Just… fuck, Chloros,” was all he had to reply with, turning away and shutting his eyes. This was a battle he couldn’t win, like all the rest. He couldn’t do anything to change his fate. That pained him more than anything else.
“This is part of the process, Zane,” Chloros said gently. He could feel her large hand settling upon his head, and he shuddered under her touch. It shouldn’t feel that good, but… “Understand that whether or not you agree to domestication, my promise to you still holds. Your memories and self will remain. It is the one thing we do our best to preserve, even if the rest of you changes.”
Part of him saw it as a hollow promise. Another saw it as genuine.
Stars, he was drained from this.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” he said after a long period of silence. “I don't… I don’t like it. I don’t know if I ever will.”
“Of course, petal. We don’t need to continue further today. What do you want to do instead?”
He looked at her. Really looked at her. Inscrutable as Affini appeared to be, he could understand how honest she was being with the question. She cared, even if he thought otherwise.
“Can we just… sit? My head hurts from this, I think I need to lay down…”
Her hand smoothly moved to his shoulder now, pushing him towards her. Zane did not object, letting her guide him into resting his head on her lap. Soft, comfortable, sleep-inducing…
Even so, he felt somewhat restless. Then he remembered something about her from when he first met her…
“Can, um… can you sing for me? I… I like it when you do that.”
Her digits stroked the side of his face as her voice swelled with pride. “Oh, I do so love to sing.~”
She cleared her throat (he still didn’t know if they even had throats), and then, an illustrious melody arose from her. This was different from the aura she radiated – it was a song of life, of peace, of understanding. Of safety.
He felt safe in her care.
Even if he wasn’t sure that he wanted it.
Zane’s eyelids began to droop closed, his energy steadily dwindling more and more. Chloros’ song followed him into his dreams, ensuring he would rest without interruption.
He did like that, at least.
Chapter 7: Chosen One
Summary:
Wish I may, wish I might, be someone else tonight...
Elsewhere in the universe, Axton and company find something they weren’t prepared for...
Content warnings: Mention of familial abuse, mention of character deaths
Notes:
Alright, Zane and Chloros have had their fun. Now it's time for a different perspective! Axton and his crew take the stage... and boy oh boy, is Zane's brother a wreck, even if he hides it.
This is also where I introduce one of my new favorite Affini characters so far. I've felt that more plant daddies (or pladdies, as it were) deserve a chance to shine, and here's Mithrax, your resident mushroom plad who can't stop making terrible puns. he just like me fr fr
Starting from here, there's gonna be two arcs. The first and main one involving Zane and Chloros getting closer, and the second, the B-plot, centering on Axton trying to navigate around the Affini while searching for his brother. Both have their challenges... and both are total wrecks of men. They get better, though! I promise!
As always, feedback and input is appreciated and loved!
Chapter Text
Three.
Two.
One.
The Hyperion tore open a portal back into realspace, ejecting itself from the hyperdimensional plane. Just as quickly, the hole clamped shut, reality having noticed the tear and forcing it closed after the ship was all the way through.
Beaten and rusty she may have been, the Hyperion still flew true. Some parts of her had broken off in the years since Axton and his crew found it, but with the talents of Maya and Amanda, the ship ran with all the grace of a bird of prey.
The crew’s clothing reflected the ship’s appearance – worn, frayed outfits that had seen plenty of wear and tear, but were still perfectly serviceable. Lucky, for it meant they could take a beating, like their wearers.
The mullet-wearing, stubble-chinned Axton was incredibly lucky to have gotten it. As part of his campaign to locate his brother, he had gathered a rag-tag crew of individuals he knew would assist him, before working to get a ship so they were spaceworthy. They didn’t have to look far – some rich asshole had landed on Thypso years ago, trying to budge his way into the local community.
Axton had managed to win the guy’s ship without firing a single shot, or even spending a single credit. His silver tongue helped him in persuading the man to hand over the keys, as well as convincing him to give up his life of stock brokerage to become a farmer. His crew was very impressed… apart from Troy, who had suggested just shooting the guy, but his input was ignored.
He wondered how that guy was doing. Maybe trading his stocks for a tractor would help. Or maybe he just doubled down and refused to give up his money.
Either way, this ship belonged to him and his crew now. And it was in far better hands than Mr. Rich Idiot.
The bridge of the Hyperion was a little cramped and small, but provided a good view of everything in front of the ship. While Axton’s chair was in the middle of the room, the pilot’s seat was all the way at the front, with terminals for interacting with the ship’s systems was to his left.
Axton gripped the arms of his captain’s seat as the Hyperion slowed down significantly, drifting through the stars. Far away, in the distance, in front of this system’s sun, was the planet they were looking for.
Neith. The last place where Mom and Zane had gone to… and also a place that the Affini were in charge of. A frontier world in the iron grip of these stars-damned weeds.
They were about to enter the belly of the beast. To his knowledge, every encounter with the Affini ended in failure for terrans, the latter tending to vanish. Horror stories abounded, and while he hadn’t seen any proof of them, he had a sinking feeling that whatever the Affini had in mind for mankind, it was not pleasant.
His crew were at their stations. The blond-haired, gold-eyed Amanda in the pilot’s seat, expertly correcting the ship’s course so it stayed straight. Maya, all dark, keeping a close watch on the different systems around the ship, ready to activate or deactivate various functions at a moment’s notice. Kendra, the medical officer, was keeping inventory in the medbay, while Troy, their combat specialist, was doing the same in the armory.
All of them had their quirks. All of them had their vices.
All of them were Captain Jakobson’s responsibility.
“We’ve made it,” Amanda called out. “Gonna do a scan for any Accord or Compact vessels in the system, see what we have to deal with.”
“All systems in working order,” Maya announced from her station. “It will be at least a few hours before we can jump again.”
“So let’s make it count,” Axton answered, before keying the intercom so the whole crew would hear him. “Alright, crew, we’re here. We’re en route to Neith now, in Affini territory. Remember, we do not engage, they outnumber us millions to five and have way better armaments than we do. We need to get in, find what we’re looking for, and get the hell out before they know we’re here.”
“Permission to speak, Captain?” Troy’s gruff voice said through the intercom.
“Go ahead, Troy.”
“Should I get the molotovs and burner ready? Heard chatter from the last place about how much the weeds utterly hate fire, and if they catch us, we oughta make them burn.”
Axton frowned slightly. Troy was an AWOL soldier who looked for any excuse to have a firefight, even, or especially, when it was a terrible idea. If that man wasn’t their only option for muscle, he’d have left his trigger-happy ass back on Thypso.
“No,” Axton answered. “We are not fighting them. We are avoiding them. A straight fight is out of the question, and the less attention we draw to ourselves, the better.”
“Got it, sir.” Axton imagined that reckless man pouting in response. He really hoped Troy would gain an extra brain cell before they touched down…
“Amanda, see anything?”
A pause, before his pilot replied. “There is one Compact ship nearby, but it’s on the other side of the planet. Even if they do find us, we’re likely to be gone by the time they get ready to follow.”
Lucky us.
“Alright, let’s just make our way down to those coordinates. Amanda, take us in. Maya, be ready to divert power to stealth systems if needed. Troy, prepare silenced pistols and light armor for all of us. Kendra, get medkits ready. Pull this off, and I’ll be buying permanent homes for all of you.”
A resounding “sir, yes sir!” rang out as everyone went to work. Axton slowly got up out of his seat and moved to approach Amanda while she focused on charting a path to Neith.
“Hey, Cap,” Amanda said casually as he drew near, not bothering to look up. He didn’t mind, he didn’t want to disrupt her focus too much. “Path I got here looks uneventful, but I’m ready to react if shit goes down. You can count on me.”
“It’s appreciated.” Axton clapped a hand on his pilot’s shoulder, smiling brightly. “You’ve been instrumental in all this, I hope you know that.”
“Sure do.” He couldn’t see it, but he was certain there was a grin on her face. “Shame we can’t fight those weeds on even footing, but if we can at least get your brother out, I’m cool with it. You got a plan of what to do when we get him?”
To be truthful, Axton did not have a plan. He had tunnel vision on the objective of locating Zane and bringing him back to Thypso. Beyond that… no clue. He couldn’t admit that, though. The crew looked up to him, and if he faltered, it would spell doom.
“I got an inkling,” he half-lied. “But that’s for when we pick him up. For now, just getting to him takes priority.”
“Understood. I got it from here, you go ahead and check on everyone else, yeah?”
“Will do. Ping me if something comes up.”
And with that, he let her be. He turned his attention to the rest of the crew.
For the next few hours, he took time to check in on them and assuage any fears or doubts they might have had. Maya was nervous due to the horror stories she had heard. Troy was annoyed that he wouldn’t be able to light up any Affini, but was willing to get weapons ready as requested. Kendra just hoped that nobody would catch anything contagious during their time there, since nobody knew if Affini altered worlds they conquered to their liking. He did his best to ease their worries, so that they could be more focused on the task at hand.
He finished by returning to his quarters. It was a small room, only enough for a one person mattress, a desk, and a bedside table, but it was enough. At least in here he was able to smoke and calm his nerves before things went down.
He sat in his chair, a cigar placed between his teeth. One flick of his lighter later, and he was already feeling the nicotine surging into him, calming him enough so he could think properly.
Outwardly, Axton was brave, committed, and unflappable in the face of danger. To his crew, he was a paragon, leading a dangerous mission to find the family he cares about and save them from terrifying aliens.
That was a lie. Axton was completely fucking terrified.
Terrified of the weeds, of what they’re capable of. For all he knew, they were enslaving and working terrans to death, or even just eating them outright. He never thought he’d have to face scary, incomprehensible alien monsters like in the games and cartoons he and Zane loved.
Terrified of what was in store for humanity. The Terran Accord was gone, subjugated by the Affini Compact. All their achievements, all their accomplishments… soon to be snuffed out. He had hoped there was some possibility of victory, but as it was, all that could be done was avoid the Affini as much as possible and stay hidden.
But most importantly… he was terrified for Zane.
Their relationship was never the best. Axton had initially enjoyed being the archetypal big brother bully, heckling and taunting little Zane and getting under his skin. While it lessened as they grew into manhood and Axton became more aware of how much he hurt his brother, the damage had already been done, and he had a good feeling that Zane hated his guts.
Still, he tried to be there for him when Dad became increasingly hateful, bigoted, and downright cruel since the cow, Bessy, died suddenly. Dad had chosen to withdraw emotionally, and focus on trying to “toughen up” his sons out of a misguided attempt to prepare them for a man’s world. The methods he used – corporal punishment, pitting the brothers against each other, showing no sympathy for when they were bullied at school – achieved the opposite effect. Zane became increasingly depressed and prone to tears, while Axton was building up more and more volcanic rage, especially when Zane became the target of Dad’s abuse. And though Mom tried to make Dad stop, her protests fell on deaf ears.
Axton did his best to protect his brother from the one they thought of as their father. It got his ass beat pretty badly, but it didn’t deter him, it just reinforced that he needed to stand up and defend his loved ones from the monstrous tyrant that Dad was becoming.
Dad’s death was perhaps inevitable. He didn’t know who killed the man, just that he was killed. He couldn’t remember it clearly, due to finding himself waking up in the attic shortly after Zane and Mom ran for their lives.
After all this, regret was gnawing at the elder Jakobson sibling. He had failed Zane. Completely. He should have been there for him from the start, instead of just being another tormentor. His attempts to rekindle their relationship were too little, too late. And now, he was on what was likely a suicide mission, all in a desperate attempt to make up for his failings.
How Axton hadn’t completely broken from the strain was a mystery that he couldn’t quite unravel. Maybe Dad’s “teachings” did actually toughen him up enough to go through with it. Maybe he always possessed this inner fire that became a blazing inferno after that night.
Regardless, the fact remained that if he didn’t find his remaining family, this universe would be getting a whole lot bleaker from here on out.
He sighed, finishing up his cigar and taking a seat on his bed. It’d be a few hours before they made planetfall, and he needed to get some rest before the big, dangerous next step.
As he closed his eyes and sunk into slumber, there was one thought on his mind.
I hope he can give me a second chance.
The Hyperion did not face any obstacles when it touched down on Neith. While Axton was grateful for the lack of problems so far, that was no excuse to let his guard down. If anything, it was more reason to stay vigilant, lest the most powerful enemy humanity has faced be hiding tricks that were waiting to be sprung.
Everyone had filed out of the ship, geared up and ready to roll. The coordinates of Zane’s last known position were leading them through a dense forest, and towards a hill out in the rolling plains. The sun was setting, so while there was light, it was steadily being lost.
Axton was taking point, keeping his suppressed sidearm readied. Troy was in the back, providing cover from behind. Amanda, Maya, and Kendra were between them, keeping eyes and ears out for any unusual activity around them.
Besides the rustle of trees from the wind, it was silent. The five terrans didn’t know what to expect, and it was clearly getting to them. Especially Maya.
“This is really creepy,” Maya said shakily. “Keep thinking something’s gonna dart out…”
“I haven’t detected any Affini in this region,” Amanda said to her, taking her hand and squeezing it. Axton quietly wondered if the two of them had a bond beyond just being teammates. “You’ll be okay, hon, I promise.”
“I wonder,” the short, bespectacled Kendra chimed in, “if the Affini would be open to peace talks between us and them. Surely they-”
“You a weedfucker, Kendra?” Troy, the big, bald bruiser, snorted. “Man, they’re not even here and you’re already wanting them to collar and leash ya.”
“No,” was her retort as she glared at him. “I’m just saying, if we can reach some kind of peace, then maybe…”
“Yeah, peace, so you can suck their vines and get their yummy seed.”
“Cut the chatter,” Axton said sharply, glancing behind him and looking at Troy pointedly. He at least had the decency to look startled and shut up. “We’re almost there. We need to keep a low profile, remember?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Silence befell the five-man team as they kept trudging along. Axton realized he was getting nervous himself. They had been on the move for long enough that he was also wondering if there were being watched by a predator that was waiting for the perfect time to strike…
Thankfully, those worries were unfounded, because Axton could see more light coming through the trees far ahead. They were leaving the forest…
And then there was the hill. A gravel-and-dirt path lead up to to the top of it, where something indistinct was located. It was getting too dark to recognize it right away.
“Up the hill, quickly. Chest lights on.”
Faint clicks were heard, followed by rapid sounds of boots meeting dirt as the team picked up the pace and turned on their lights. They could see more easily even as darkness settled in, which Axton was thankful for.
What he wasn’t thankful for, however, was what they found at the top of the hill.
It was a grave. A patch of dirt that fit the size of an adult terran, with a large rock at the end of it serving as an impromptu headstone. On the side facing Axton, a crudely carved message was written:
Minerva Jakobson
Loved her son Zane without bounds
Taken before her time
Axton’s body went as rigid as the headstone. Revelation crashed down upon him like a hammer striking a nail, rooting him to where he stood.
Mom was dead. And had been for a while.
Just when he thought this couldn’t get worse, here he was, discovering the grave site of his mother, and his brother nowhere to be seen. Were they too late?
He tried to say something to the crew, but no words came out. Crippling, soul-breaking loneliness had found its prey, and now its claws were digging into him, ripping at him, tearing him apart from within.
“Axton?” he heard Amanda say. He could not muster a response, for he was elsewhere.
Mom… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I failed you, just like I failed Zane.
It was taking all his composure to not collapse into a puddle of tears in front of his crewmates. As much as he wanted to just scream and wail in despair, he needed to keep that brave face they had come to rely on. Even if it physically hurt.
A hand rested upon his shoulder suddenly. He forced himself to wrench his eyes away from Mom’s grave, and saw Amanda there, looking concerned.
“Ax… it’s okay. Nobody could have known about this. It’s not your fault.”
It’s all my fault, he so badly wanted to say. I could have saved them, but she’s dead and he’s likely been taken by them. What good am I?
Maya and Kendra drew closer, and before he knew it, he had fallen to his knees, unable to stop himself from succumbing to grief. He cried. He cried so, so hard. He couldn’t maintain his image of being the indomitable leader anymore. Right now, Axton the captain was replaced by Axton the mourner.
He could feel their arms around him, hugging him. He couldn’t tell if Troy was there too, but even if he wasn’t, that didn’t matter. His crew cared enough about him to realize he needed them while in one of his lowest moments, and for that, he was eternally grateful, even if it made him sob harder. He couldn’t form words, but he didn’t need to. Just knowing they had his back was enough.
It took a long time for him to get the grief out of his system. When it was over, he found that he just felt empty. Like someone took his heart and teleported it out of his chest.
Was this entire quest a dead end…?
Troy suddenly said something, and though he was in the throes of mourning, Axton knew something was up. He blinked his eyes, rubbing them with his other hand, and spoke up. “Troy, w-what is it?”
“We, uh… we got a situation, captain,” the team’s muscle said.
He didn’t like that. He shrugged the girls off of him, and stood up, and as if the universe was laughing at him, his hurting heart nearly stopped at what he saw.
It was one of them. The Affini. A colossal abomination of colorful foliage and fungi, so large that Axton felt like just a teddy bear by comparison. It had countless legs that looked like thorny roots, and its torso was massive, broad-shouldered, bearing two thick arms with clawed hands. On its face, a macabre visage was found, with six emerald eyes on the top half, and a needle-filled mouth on its jaw. A “beard” of foliage and mushrooms hung off of its chin.
They were cornered!
“Fucking weed!” Troy shouted, holding his sidearm up and pointing it at the monster. Gunshots pierced the air, snapping Axton out of his traumatic stupor and forcing him back into reality. In that instant, he saw the rounds rip through the Affini, but if they hurt it, they probably didn’t do anything.
“Troy, don’t!” Axton barked, but it was too late.
A fetid tendril shot out and smacked the gun out of Troy’s hand, while several more ensnared the man. He roared in both fury and panic, struggling against his bonds while being pulled against the monster. “LEMME GO, FUCKER!” Troy screamed, trying valiantly to escape his bonds, and failing.
To everyone’s surprise, the monster… was chuckling. A deep, disturbingly terran-like chuckle as it drew Troy into its grasp. It was like a physical object, penetrating Axton’s whole body and momentarily disorienting him.
What the fuck?!
Before he could mount a response, more of those foul vines appeared. Rather than grab everyone else, they were simply pointed in the crew’s direction.
“Well now! It seems like we have some fighters! Especially this little fella, huh?” the Affini chortled. Troy kept squirming and spouting obscenities, until he was abruptly muffled by a thin appendage around his face.
“Hold your fire! HOLD YOUR FIRE!” Axton yelled, just in time. The girls were ready to shoot, but at his command, they lowered their weapons. Nervous energy was animating them, and he couldn’t blame them.
The monster peered at the four, another chuckle leaving it. “Ah, good, I don’t have to force you all to be tied up. That saves me a lot of trouble. A fun guy with fungi only has so mushroom in his chest, you know.”
Did… did it just crack two terrible puns? Axton didn’t know whether to scream in terror or just be immensely disappointed.
He chose the latter.
“First, that was just awful. Second, I demand you release my crewmate now!” Axton found his charisma and fortitude returning, if only so he could think of a way to save Troy from a horrible fate.
“Ah, but that’s the problem, petal.” Axton couldn’t stop himself from flinching at that pet name. “Your friend here tried to hurt me, and that’s grounds for immediate wardship. I’m so sorry… the rest of you can try for independence, though!”
“Axton, what do we do?” Amanda was looking frantic, gripping her sidearm so tightly that it probably hurt.
“Wait, wait, wait, just wait a minute.” Axton straightened his back, glancing at Troy, seeing the panic in his crewmate’s eyes. He didn’t like the guy, but he couldn’t just abandon him. “Listen here, you… whatever you are. We’re not here to fight. We’re looking for someone.”
“Don’t suppose that someone goes by the name of Mithrax Mardum, 18th Bloom, he/they?” the massive mushroom man said with a grin.
So that was the beast’s name. Interesting.
“Uh, no, someone else.”
“Well, I’d be all too happy to help you little cuties out!” Mithrax announced. His infectiously positive demeanor really didn’t help matters. “I’m sure the sophont you’re looking for is somewhere, either on this planet, or another ship picked them up. If you’ll just join me aboard the Fortitude, I’m sure we’ll be able to track that little rascal down!”
“Captain, this is a trap!” Kendra hissed, trembling like a leaf. Her terror was quite evident, which just hurt Axton’s heart even more. “They’re gonna kill us if we go along with him!”
“Kill? Oh, nononono, no such thing, sweetling~” The vine closest to Kendra went to touch her face, and she screamed, falling backward. Maya and Amanda were ready to leap in, and Axton knew he had to act. “Awww, I’m sorry, that wasn’t on purpose!”
“Enough!” he snapped, taking a defiant step towards the giant that had Troy in his clutches. The hothead had a pleading look in his eyes as he continued to struggle, though his efforts were weakening.
Axton took a breath, steeling himself. Mithrax simply grinned at him in a lazy fashion. He couldn’t wilt against this horror. Not now, when his team needed him.
“You say you can help us find someone? Can you do that?” Axton asked warily. He knew this was a severely one-sided setup. No way he could turn this in his favor. But he had to try.
“Oh, yeah, we sure can! It’s really easy to search around and find out wherever you adorable little guys and girls and all in between are.”
He hesitated. Did he take this creature’s offer at face value, and take a risk in order to find the one person he loved most in this terrible universe? Or did he decline, and just doom his team to a horrible destiny?
Mithrax had leaned closer, his smile fading as he observed the captain. Before Axton could speak, Mithrax said, “Oh my… whoever this sophont is, they must be near and dear to your heart. Do they have a name, little one?”
Silence.
Then…
“Zane Jakobson. He/him.”
Mithrax leaned back, stroking his fungal beard with his right hand. “Hmmm… sad to say I don’t recognize that name. But tell you what. Unlike your friend here, the lot of you seem quite reasonable. If you’re willing to let yourself aboard the Fortitude, we can negotiate your independence and see about finding this Zane of yours.”
“Negotiate?!” Maya parroted in disbelief. “We don’t need to negotiate-”
“Maya, please.”
His engineer turned to him, and her face softened when she saw the pain in his eyes. She clammed up, letting him take the lead again.
Axton fixed Mithrax with a stare. “Can you guarantee our safety while we’re on your ship?”
“Oh, of course, cutie. Just make sure to behave, unlike Troy here, and I promise, no harm will come to you. There’s plenty of nice things in store too! Whaddya say?”
Mithrax’s jovial demeanor was disarming. Axton felt sweat along his brow. This was a losing fight, and all he could do was take the least terrible option.
He glanced at Maya, at Kendra, at Amanda. They were looking back with a mixture of panic and uncertainty. He felt for them, and wanted to make it go away…
I have to choose.
He sighed, then turned back to Mithrax. “Okay. We’ll join you. But this is purely to find Zane, not becoming part of your crew. Just don’t hurt us and we’ll comply. Got it?”
“Hmhmhm! Sure thing, petal! Let me just call a shuttle…”
He could feel everyone staring at him with questioning looks on their faces. He turned to the girls, addressing them, “Listen, it’s a shit hand we’ve been dealt, but it’s the only one we’ve got. I’ll get us out of this, I promise. I’m sorry I can’t do more.”
No one said anything. Then Amanda stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Ax, you’re doing your best, and that’s what matters. We’re with you all the way.”
That elicited a small smile. This day had completely gone to shit, and he expected them to turn on him. But here they were, joining him on the road to damnation.
They cared about him.
As a small, sleek shuttle cut through the night sky and began to touch down, Axton only wondered one thing.
Did I make the right choice?
Chapter 8: Worth a Chance
Summary:
A part of moving forward.
Axton’s crew are among the Affini now. It’s a risky gambit, but Axton has to see it through.
Content warnings: Brief affini hypnosis
Notes:
Oops, looks like locating Zane and their mom didn't go as planned... but luckily the Affini Axton meets are friendly! Or at least Mithrax is. Dynine's another story. On the other hand, yay, bonding between crew mates!
Also, yes, Mithrax will continue to make puns. There is no escape.
Gosh, I've been getting lots of attention both here and in the HDG discord, and let me tell you, it's super flattering. People love my work so much, it makes my heart flutter with joy. I'm so happy y'all are liking what I'm making! It makes me feel super duper good <3
As always, feedback and input is loved!
Chapter Text
As the shuttle flew away from Neith’s orbit with everyone seated in oddly comfortable chairs, Axton realized that maybe going along with Mithrax was a bad idea.
Not because the surprisingly friendly and affable mushroom man was a danger. Well, he was, but he got the sense that Mithrax wouldn’t go back on his word of not harming them, as long as everyone else behaved. And everyone was behaving, if only so they didn’t accidentally screw the whole crew over.
Nor because Troy was still wrapped up in those vines, and the idiot was currently incapacitated, having gone limp. He wasn’t dead or sick, thankfully, but whatever Mithrax did to him, it clearly made him strop struggling. It got him to shut up, at least.
No, it wasn’t any of that.
It was because Mithrax kept making stars-awful jokes and testing Axton’s sanity.
“...so while I was rooting around, I happened to come across you delightful sophonts! Others might think otherwise, but I call’em as mycelium! And I don’t take any shiitake from anyone, no sir! But crimini, you all had me worried for a second when you drew your guns on me! The morel of the story is, haste leads to waste!”
Axton’s eye was twitching so hard, part of him expected it to leap out of his face.
Maybe he should just tied us up anyway and spared us the agony.
Unlike their captain, however, Maya, Amanda and Kendra were put at ease by Mithrax’s humor, laughing happily. Once you got past the fact that he was a terrifying fungal monstrosity, Mithrax was actually a pretty decent guy, willing to banter and crack wise and make people feel welcome.
The abundance of snacks and food didn’t hurt either. Axton had made damn sure that they weren’t laced with any strange toxins or chemicals before his crewmates ingested, and while he only had Mithrax’s word to go on, the big mushroom said there was absolutely no ‘xenodrugs’ in the food.
He didn’t like that word, but there wasn’t a whole lot he could do about it.
Mithrax had said the crew needed to disarm themselves for their own safety. There was a lot of grumbling from everyone, but Axton had realized that if they wanted help, they’d have to play by the plants’ rules. So they surrendered their weapons, which got taken away and… disposed of, apparently? Mithrax didn’t show what happened to them, but it still made Axton worry. He had taken away Kendra’s medical supplies for some reason too.
“Mmph, hey, Ax!” Amanda said, mouth muffled by a biscuit before she chewed and swallowed. “You gotta try this, it’s so fuck-”
“Excuse me,” Mithrax cut in sharply. “I know you terrans love to swear, but please try to keep it to a minimum while you’re with us. Profanity is unbecoming of you adorable creatures.”
Axton looked at him with annoyance. “Seriously? We’re not allowed to say-”
A vine shot out and he flinched away as it… just pressed against his mouth and shushed him. He blinked, glaring up at Mithrax.
“Correct, you’re not allowed. At the very least, it’s highly discouraged. Please understand, petal, harsh language just makes life harsh.”
Is this an alien monster or a stay-at-home dad?
“Whatever,” Axton grumbled while pushing the vine off. Why did it tingle? “Anyway. You were telling us about the Fortitude?”
Mithrax stood up straighter, a charming smile on that wood mask he had for a face. “Oh, yes! I’m biased, naturally, but it’s a pretty lovely vessel. It might be small, but let me tell you, there’s a lot to do and see. And rest assured that while we look for Zane, all of you will be treated to a habitation unit for the duration of your stay. You’ll love it, I promise.”
“Uh huh,” Axton muttered, running a hand through his hair. He didn’t believe this guy for a second, even with his pleasant demeanor (minus the fact that he was holding a fellow terran in his vines). “Just remember, sightseeing’s not the focus. We’re looking for Zane, and as soon as we get him, we’re out of here.”
Mithrax tilted his head curiously. “Hmm, I see. Might I ask what your relationship with this ‘Zane’ character is? That may help us with locating him.”
Axton hesitated, averting his gaze. Much as he hated to admit it, the Affini were his best shot at finding his younger sibling. But admitting anything would mean taking part in whatever nightmare world awaited him and his fellows, and there was no telling what they’d see, or what would happen to him. Mithrax was pleasant enough, but Axton was still wary of him, and there was no guarantee other Affini were like him.
“Ax,” Amanda said softly, placing a hand on his arm. Their gazes met. No words were said, but he understood – this was their best option, and he might as well take it.
“Yeah, okay,” Axton sighed. “He’s my little brother. Short guy, pale, dark hair, backpack. We’ve been searching for him and my mother, but…”
He trailed off, feeling that deep sadness well up again. Only Amanda squeezing his hand prevented it from taking over. He gave her a small, grateful smile for that.
“Now we’re just focusing on Zane. He’s all I have left in this universe. I don’t want to lose him too. That’s why I’m doing everything I can to track him down. If the Affini can help, it’d be welcome.”
I really hope I don’t make it a habit of allying with weeds.
Mithrax listened intently, a large hand stroking his chin. For towering floral aliens, they were… startlingly terran-like with their mannerisms. Take away the plant growth and vines, and they’d just be really tall individuals. It was kind of unsettling.
“Hmhm, I understand. We have experience with families being broken and scattered across the stars. Don’t fret, Mr. Jakobson, you have my guarantee – we’ll find Zane and bring him home to you. That’s a Mithrax Mardum promise!”
It occurred to Axton just then that, apart from a slight shift in inertia upon takeoff, he didn’t feel any turbulence or shaking of the shuttle. Come to think of it, he had lost track of how long they were onboard for.
“Yeah, sure. Anyway, how much longer till we arrive?”
That earned a charming laugh from the fungal titan as he pulled out a tablet from within his body. “Hoho! Well, funny you say that, because it looks like we’ve just made it.”
Wait, what? Why didn’t we feel anything?
The backdoor of the shuttle gradually shunted forward, allowing light from outside to peek in as it deployed a loading ramp. By this point, the girls had consumed all the snacks available, and were looking very relaxed, which changed as they immediately stood up in preparation to leave. Axton followed them, glancing at Mithrax, who beckoned for them to join him on the way out.
As everyone came out, they were all astonished to find something completely unexpected. Instead of a cramped hangar bay like on your average Accord vessel, they were walking into what looked like an enormous nature reserve, with buildings in the distance resembling restaurants and book stores. The ceiling was humongous, and made of transparent material, indicating that Neith was above them in the “sky”, yet there was plenty of light.
Axton found himself staring up for a moment, before something moved in his lower peripheral vision. He looked forward, and saw something that made his heart jump.
Three other Affini standing before them, looking to be about Mithrax’s height. Compared to him, they all looked like walking, talking gardens of flowers and vegetation. One of them, who looked like a very tall and thin entity clad in an all-encompassing mantle of greens and browns, peered down at the group with a pleasant smile on their vaguely beak-like mask.
“Ah, new arrivals,” the apparent leader said aloud with a deep, authoritative voice. Axton felt another strange wave pass through him for a moment, and he forced himself to stay straight-backed. The girls, however, looked suddenly woozy, with Kendra in particular losing her balance and needing Amanda and Maya to catch her. “Oh, apologies, I sometimes forget my rhythm affects sophonts more strongly than expected.”
Rhythm? They weren’t making sound, but Axton could feel some kind of… invisible aura around them. What the hell was it?
The leader tipped their torso forward in a bow, their avian visage adorned with three purple eyes and a remarkably terran-like smile. “Welcome to the Fortitude, young sophonts. I am Captain Dynine Rift, 19th Bloom, they/them. It’s a pleasure to see some new faces.”
“Yeah, hi,” Axton greeted, hands on his hips. “Captain Axton Jakobson, he/him, of the Hyperion. You’ll have to forgive us, we’re not used to being on vessels like this.”
Dynine stood back up, their hands put together. Axton wasn’t sure, but he swore he saw talon-like digits on their hands. “Well met, Captain Jakobson, it’s an honor to have you aboard. Have you come to join the Compact?”
Axton folded his arms, shaking his head. “Sorry, I can’t. My crew and I are only here to get help with finding my brother. Once that’s done, we’re out. So don’t get too attached, yeah?”
Dynine tilted their head quizzically. “Are you so certain of that? It’d be a shame to see you standing all the time, when you’d look so much better on your knees.”
An invisible hand suddenly gripped Axton’s body, and before he knew it his knees were shaking. Gravity was now screaming for him to fall. He tried his best to resist that command to kneel, and he almost had it… but his left leg was starting to buckle. Before he could fall, though, a vine wrapped around his waist, and it was only when Mithrax spoke that he realized the big guy was keeping him standing.
“Uh, Captain Rift, I don’t think that’s really necessary, they’re harmless! Trust me, apart from this cutie I got tangled up in me, they’re all perfectly reasonable and willing to cooperate with us, as long as we cooperate with them! I promise, they wouldn’t hurt a gnat!”
Axton grit his teeth. Mithrax had him, but that could not stop the gradually increasing influence to submit… submit… submit…
The weight lifted abruptly, and he gasped, no longer struggling to stay standing or think straight. The girls were staring in surprise and shock, and anxiety radiated off of them as Axton tried to parse what the fuck just happened.
“Hm, I see,” Dynine remarked. “In that case, I trust your judgment, Mithrax. I and my seconds have business to attend to. You are free to show these adorable terrans around the ship. Do make sure they get their own habitation unit as well. Ta-ta for now.”
The captain of the Hyperion watched the trio leave down a path that led somewhere he couldn’t see. He panted, holding his head, feeling a headache suddenly manifest.
“Mithrax, what the hell was that?!” he snapped, glaring at the mushroom man.
“I’m so sorry, I forgot to tell you! Dynine likes to get first pick of new arrivals unless they’re certain they’re not liable to hurt themselves or others!” Mithrax looked very sheepish, waving his vines around in… embarrassment?
“Y-you couldn’t have told us earlier?” Axton heard his engineer pipe up. “It looked like Dynine was gonna make the captain’s head explode!”
“I know, and I am deeply apologetic.” The way Mithrax’s mask morphed into resembling a kicked puppy made a lot of Axton’s anger die off, but it still remained.
“Son of… ugh. Okay, that’s gonna be an issue.”
That vine around his waist retracted, with Amanda moving to grab him, just making sure he could stand. It occurred to him that in spite of the commotion, Troy remained deeply asleep within Mithrax’s foliage. That must have been some powerful shit.
“I think you all deserve to rest, let me give you a quick tour of the ship and take you to your hab. I’ll do my best to explain everything!” Mithrax offered.
Captain Jakobson grunted, glaring at their mushroom-based guide with agitation. “Yeah, you better. Stars, I need some painkiller for this!”
He heard Mithrax babble something about fixing it, but he tuned him out as they began to walk into the Fortitude proper.
This is off to a fucking horrid start.
Thankfully, apart from that terrible first impression, the tour of the Fortitude was much more amiable. Mithrax was very gracious and kind, moving at a pace so they could easily keep close and not get left behind, and even if they risked it, he always shot a vine out to get their attention and steer them back towards him. Despite coming across like a comical dope of an old man, Axton could see through that facade. Mithrax was very intelligent and keen-eyed, for certain.
He was slightly unnerved by how the girls were apparently smitten with him. They all laughed at his jokes, Maya and Kendra in particular, and though they had been initially terrified of him, now they were staying very close, even holding his vines in their hands. He wanted to believe it was just the big guy’s seemingly endless charm, but after that encounter with Dynine, he wasn’t so sure.
The crew were delayed on their way to their assigned habitation unit, repeatedly, due to Mithrax getting excited by things they passed by. A favorite bookstore of his, a restaurant he liked to frequent, a comedy club that he loved…
This was surreal. He had expected the inside of the ship to be horrible. Instead, it was paradise, or as close to paradise as it got.
Even more surreal when Axton tried to pay for some drinks that he and the crew had ordered at a drink stand. The owner of the stand, a short and cheery man, looked at him quizzically when Axton tried to present credits, and informed him that there was no need to pay for anything, he was just happy to provide refreshments for people.
This didn’t make sense. They had wonders upon wonders here, and yet, there weren’t signs of low supplies, and not a single credit was accepted. Everything was completely free.
To a man who was used to carrying money in his pockets and worrying over how much he’d be able to buy with limited funding, it was like a chair to the back.
“How?” he had asked Mithrax.
Mithrax had just smirked at him and laughed another charming old man laugh. “Does it matter, little one? Honestly, the fact that your species hasn’t already collapsed on itself with your deplorable capitalistic way of life is a feat in itself.”
Something about that rankled Axton, but he couldn’t really determine why. He did agree with the assessment of capitalism being a nightmare hell world… but to hear it from an alien like him made him feel something he couldn’t describe.
Before long they had made it to the hab unit, which looked more like a very comfy and large cottage amidst a field of flowers. Mithrax had mentioned that a different Affini with an affectation for terran farmsteads used to own it, but she had moved into a different one last year, so this one became available.
It was a thing of beauty, both inside and out. Tons of space to move around in, seats of all sorts (bean bags, chairs, stools) were everywhere, and the atmosphere brought to mind that of a quaint little house on a farm. And luckily, it didn’t carry the bad smells associated with farm work – if anything, there was a pleasant aroma of vanilla in the air. His favorite.
Can they read our minds?
Even with that uncomfortable thought in his skull, he did feel mostly at ease. Until he overheard Mithrax speaking, “Alright, cuties, you go ahead and get settled in, and I’ll return later!”
Axton turned, and saw him stepping out the front door… with Troy still tapped out in his vines. Alarm surged inside of him, and he called out, “Hey, wait, where are you taking Troy?”
Mithrax looked at him, tilting his head. “Why, to the vet, of course. He needs to be checked over before he’s granted wardship.”
Protectiveness surged. Axton stepped towards the Affini, any anxiety and uncertainty melting away. A Captain needed to stand.
“Wait just a damn second. That’s my crewmate you’re trying to make off with. I know he was an idiot and shot you first, but he doesn’t deserve whatever you’ve got in mind for him.”
Mithrax was looking even more confused. “It’s not about what he deserves, it’s about what he needs. We’ll take good care of him, I promise! I’ll be back later for the negotiation thingamabob, so rest up!”
“Don’t you dar-”
The front door suddenly shunted closed before he could finish. Axton rushed to try and open it, and no matter what he tried, it remained sealed tight, locked from inside.
“Fuck me,” he snarled. His fist thunked against the door. Once again, someone took something from him, and this time, there was nothing he could do about it.
Why do I have to care about the assholes too?
He hadn’t realized he was trembling until he felt a familiar presence behind him, followed by a soft hand upon his arm. He lifted his head up and peered back to see it was Amanda, her previous relaxed demeanor replaced with a much more serious one. She was looking at him with concern.
Biting back another obscenity, Axton slowly stood up straight again, stepping back from the door. He turned to address his remaining crew members, seeing their expressions. The joy had passed, and now there was worry. For him? For Troy? A combination?
Axton opened his mouth to speak. But nothing came out. For a long while, he had no idea what to say, and could only muster a frustrated growl while holding his head. That headache from earlier was still there, although it had subsided mostly.
“Well…” Kendra offered nervously, tapping her index fingers together. Her glasses looked a little lopsided. “At least we don’t have to worry about him screwing up again?”
Axton wanted to tell her off for making an ill-timed remark, and just shook his head. His voice was located, finally. “Just… let’s just try and settle down now. A lot has happened today and I need a break. I think there’s… four or five bedrooms in here? You all can pick one or share, I don’t care.”
He started to stride away from them, and though he heard them try to talk to him, he ignored them.
As he approached one of the bedrooms, he realized he had forgotten his stack of cigars back on the Hyperion. Which was still on Neith’s surface.
Way to go, dipshit.
Axton laid in bed for an hour, and could not rest. Even with the incredibly comfortable mattress under his white tank-top and briefs-clad body, he was far too wound up with anxiety to feel tired.
His mind was awash in thoughts, some good, a lot of it bad. And it was so, so, so damn noisy in his brain.
Guilt. Failure. Shame. Regret. All of it eating away at him.
Especially in regards to Mom.
All this time, he had been traveling the universe, valiantly searching for the family that he had been separated from. Today, reality had decided to kick him in the balls, twice over, for showing his mother’s grave, and also landing him in a situation that didn’t look so great.
Zane had to be out there. He just had to be. If he wasn’t… if he had somehow died, or worse...
It was silent and dark in this room. He didn’t really pay attention to the surroundings, just staring at the ceiling. His mind was a maelstrom of emotions and thoughts that he could not suppress.
Millions upon millions of voices screaming at him inside that threatened to-
“Ax, you still up?”
He jumped slightly as he heard that voice. He slowly turned his head, and saw it was Amanda there. She had a plain tank and briefs as well, but hers was colored black for contrast.
He blinked his eyes at her, sitting up. “Amanda… something wrong?”
She said nothing, merely walking over and taking a seat on the bed with him. Though it was dark, seeing her up close like this let him observe her features more clearly – small scars over her left eyebrow and bottom lip, remnants from a scuffle from years ago with an Accord squad that had tried to kill them after a deal went sour. She had kicked a lot of ass that day, and had the dents in her body to show for it.
Her eyes were brilliant. Calming gold irises that showed compassion and grace, and since it was night time (at least in this part of the ship), she had removed the hair clip keeping her long hairstyle up, letting it flow down her shoulders.
She said nothing still, at least until she reached for his hand. “I just thought you’d want some company tonight. Is that okay?”
Stars. She was the first person he hired for this journey, and on top of her expertise with a gun and fantastic piloting skills, she had a calming presence that could even get the otherwise gung-ho Troy to simmer down. For that, Axton was grateful.
His large, calloused hand allowed her smaller, lightly scarred one to hold and squeeze gently. The whirlwind inside of him began to dissipate all of a sudden, and everything felt a bit clearer.
“Um… yeah. I don’t feel like talking, though.”
“We don’t need to. We can just… lay together. Alright?”
His otherwise persistent frown transitioned into a light smile. “That’d be great, actually.”
She understood him on a level that he only thought Mom could have achieved. That was when Axton knew, maybe this would be worth it in the end, as long as he had people like her by his side.
That night, Axton found himself sleeping much better as they held each other in this strange new world they were in.
Chapter 9: Contrition
Summary:
A burden that breaks bones under its ungodly weight.
Zane’s subconscious sees fit to torture him. Chloros is there when he needs her.
Content warnings: Intense nightmare, violence, nudity and bathing scene, discussion of familial abuse, non-consensual xenodrugging
Notes:
Oof, this was a difficult chapter to write... again, emotional ones do that. But hey, it means Zane and Chloros get closer! Plus we get to see some backstory on the little man.
Now, the atmosphere in the next few chapters after this will be a fair bit more positive, which I'm sure will be a nice breather for my readers. Zane will get to make connections and actually enjoy himself, which is good! Chloros' little man deserves it. <3
I yearn for your feedback as always!
Chapter Text
This family was nice.
The Shepards were much like Zane’s family back in the day, a quartet of close-knit people who were incredibly loving and friendly. When Zane and Mom arrived on their doorstep during a bone-chilling burst of rain that night, they didn’t hesitate to take in the Jakobsons and treat them to warm food, hot showers, and comfortable beds. They had nothing to offer, but the Shepards didn’t care, they just saw some lost souls in need of help and gave it.
Zane had gotten to know them during the three weeks he and Mom stayed with them. Katherine Shepard was the matron who ran everything, boasting an aura of confidence and authority, while her husband, Timothy, was in charge of rearing the kids, Alexis and Ginny. All of them were a sharp contrast to his own family.
Timothy was his favorite. He was a playful sort with a passion for sewing, which Zane also took a shine to. It was an activity that required careful use of the hands and a lot of time and patience, but it allowed Zane to create things and express himself in a manner that felt true to himself. He never learned this from Dad. He kind of wished Timothy took up that space.
Maybe Alexis and Ginny could take his brother’s space too.
But the only one who couldn’t be replaced was Mom.
She was his guiding light, his beacon in this dark void. Without her, there was nothing he could live for. If he lost her too…
Wait. There’s a knock on the door.
Timothy goes over to peek through the window.
The door explodes. Timothy goes with it.
Men in the armor and colors of the Terran Accord burst through, yelling orders to stay down. Shadowy entities laser focused on their targets.
They’ve come for the Jakobsons.
Zane is rooted to the spot in panic. Alexis and Ginny are crying. Katherine’s trying to tell them to leave, but she just gets a rifle butt to the face for her trouble.
They’re.
They’re grabbing Mom.
She’s screaming.
Zane screams too. He’s jumping to his feet and rushing to rescue her.
A gloved fist hits his face and some teeth are knocked loose as he crumples.
Up he gets, blood drooling from his mouth, as he’s possessed with a feral fervor to save her. Another punch, crushing his nose, and this time he stays down.
The umbral shapes approach and start kicking and beating the life out of him.
Mom yells his name. He tries to reach for her, even as his body becomes bruised and blackened under the assault.
He’s losing her.
He can’t.
Can’t.
Can’t can’t can’t can’t CAN’T CAN’T
“NO!!!”
Zane shouted as he sat up, jolted out of that horrific nightmare. His heart rattled against his chest at a million miles a minute, sweat soaking his body while twin waterfalls gushed from his eyes. Fear and panic had an iron grip on his mind, rational thought forced to the wayside, as he darted his eyes around in desperation.
Mom’s gone mom’s gone mom’s gone she’s gone she’s gone I can’t I can’t-
Suddenly a familiar embrace wrapped itself around him. He knew it was Chloros right away, and in that terrifying moment of instability, he realized she had arrived to save him.
He clung to her tightly, face buried in her vines as he sobbed. The nightmare was over, but it still held onto his soul. All he could do was grab her and wail his heart out for half an hour.
Chloros said nothing, merely hugging him and petting him. Even with her cadence reverberating through his body, it still took a good length of time for him to work through the worst of it, his loud crying reduced to pitiful sobs and coughs.
“Zane, it’s okay, I’m here,” he heard Chloros say. He couldn’t reply, the anguish locking his entire body into a death grip. He didn’t want to let go…
Another minute passed before she started to nudge his face free from her vines, and he resisted initially before letting her guide him. He realized he looked like a wreck, eyes and face red and hair disheveled. He was breathing heavily, unable to calm down by himself.
She was looking at him with concern on her face. Her hand went to stroke his cheek, and he found himself leaning into her touch.
“Zane… did you have a bad dream?” she asked quietly. He couldn’t speak, and just nodded. Even though he was starting to recognize he was back in reality, the utter mindfuck of that nightmare would not let him settle.
“It’s affecting you badly,” Chloros noted, a needle-tipped vine visible in his peripheral vision. “I can give you something for it-”
“N-no, no, no needle,” he babbled quickly, shaking his head. He didn’t want to feel pain again, it was still fresh in his mind after that beating. Merely saying that made him feel like the child he felt he was at heart.
To his surprise, she didn’t just stab it in him immediately. Instead, Chloros nodded and took the needle away, replacing it with… an azure flower. One with its petals closed up.
“Will this work, dear? All you have to do is relax and breathe it in. It will help, I promise.”
He’d take anything at this point, as long as it wasn’t a needle. He nodded, his whole body quivering from the sheer trauma.
The flower slowly opened, petals giving way to a fuzzy core within. He stared at it for a moment, then up at her, getting a warm smile in response.
“It’s okay, it won’t hurt at all. I have you,” Chloros murmured, petting his head again.
“O-okay, okay… do it.”
The flower was soon placed over his face, and he took a deep breath.
He expected to cough and sputter. Instead, all the anxiety and stress in his body began to steadily melt away as whatever was in that flower surged through his sinuses and into his system. The tears were still flowing, but his trembling began to ebb, and the rapid-fire rattling of his heart was finally winding down into something more stable.
The flower was pulled back as Chloros said, “Now, exhale.”
He did. A long, loud sigh escaped him as the oxygen he had imbibed was cast back out of his mouth and nose as carbon dioxide, his lungs doing their duty of ensuring he got air. A lot of his stress was gone, but it was still there.
Chloros had noticed. “Keep going, petal. Breathe. Relax. I won’t leave you.”
Once more that flower was pressed against him, and he breathed in deep. Once more, the strange floral scent and spores surged into his lungs and distributed the agent she gave him, bringing his stress down further and further.
Another retraction of the flower. Another sigh. Another intake of that glorious inhalant.
It only took three applications before Zane had finally calmed down completely, but he still felt miserable. Chloros replaced the vine she dosed him with, and went to adjust their position in the bed, letting him sit in her lap as they were both upright now.
“Feeling better?” she crooned sweetly. Zane nodded in the affirmative, now fully aware they were in her hab unit again, whether nothing could harm him.
“I… yeah… s-sorry, I… that was a really screwed up dream,” he said finally, blinking his eyes. Some of her vines were working to wipe off the tears. Ordinarily he’d have inched away, but right now he couldn’t object to such a gesture.
“I’m sorry you had to experience it, honey. Do you feel like talking about it?”
Several moments passed as Zane thought over whether he should. She wasn’t his actual mother, but she was acting like one, and right now he felt he desperately needed to get this off his chest.
“Y-yeah, um… yeah. I… I was dreaming about… one of the families we stayed with,” Zane said quietly. The gentle touches of her vines and hand kept him steady. “The, the Shepards. Stuck with them for a month. They were, they were nice.”
No response. Chloros was evidently letting him speak at his own pace without interruption, while doing her best to keep him soothed.
“T… Timothy, the dad, he… he went to get the door. The Accord, t-they came for us. They were taking Mom from me.” Even with that relaxing agent in his system, he struggled to speak without breaking down again. “I-I tried to stop them. Stop them from taking her. They just beat the shit out of me. Couldn’t… couldn’t stop… stop them.”
Still nothing. He swallowed, his grip slackening on her body as he became aware of how he was still holding onto her with a fiercely tight grasp.
“Th-that was one of my fears. Them finding us. Them taking us. Taking her. I… I feel like I failed her, Chloros. I don’t, I don’t have any wins, I can’t win, I...”
She started lifting him up into her arms, and then, she brought him closer so he could nuzzle his face into her neck. Vegetation had never felt so soft and comforting before. He instinctively pressed his face in.
“You didn’t fail anyone, Zane. Especially not her. I know she loved you to her last breath. That alone is a victory.”
He wasn’t sure if she was being truthful with that statement, or if she was only saying that because she had looked into his brain and saw his life story. Either way, merely hearing the words was enough to cut through the depressive fog and make him slump.
She doesn’t think I’m a failure…
He became aware that she was starting to stand up and off the bed, still carrying him in her arms. It made him feel smaller than he really was.
“W-where we going?”
Her hand stroked over his back. “I say what you need is a good, long soak in the bath. I think you’ll like that special shampoo I have for your hair.”
Oh. Right. He had mentioned previously how distraught he was about the thinning hair on top of his head. Despite still being in his mid-20s, he was unlucky enough to be suffering from early male pattern balding, which always made him self-conscious. Was it stress? Was it genetics? It didn’t matter, he had been losing hair for years and it was terrible.
His mood was improved at the mention of that, and now he was starting to smile. “T-thank you…”
“It’s my pleasure.”
Wait, why did he agree to a bath? He was a grown man, he could take a shower by himself, he didn’t need her.
A part of him said no, actually. It said he did, in fact, need Chloros to bathe him. To run her gentle, soft hands on his body and through his hair, murmuring sweet nothings and emanating peace into him, safeguarding him from the universe…
Zane was worried about just how attached he was getting to her.
When they entered the incredibly large and fancy bathroom, which housed a tall counter and just-as-tall bath – one he couldn’t get into by himself, predictably – Zane had felt a wave of embarrassment spike through him. It was only then that he had put two and two together and realized what a bath would actually mean.
Chloros didn’t seem fazed at all about it. She had calmly informed him he needed to strip, and so he did, grumbling internally about the lack of privacy. Even if she had a point about her being naked all the time by comparison, that didn’t stop his inherent embarrassment over being naked around someone else. Especially someone who was a caretaker.
So he was nude. And then casually scooped up, and placed into the massive tub full of luxuriously warm water. It was just the right temperature for him, he noticed, which did a lot to put him at ease. He expected her to stay out, but it seemed she wanted to join him, and so there she was, holding him against her again, with his back against her chest. Despite her sheer size, the water only moved upward a smidge.
Chloros was already getting to work on him. A vine had grabbed a bottle of clear blue liquid, while her hands busied themselves getting his hair and head wet. The feeling of pure bath water dampening his hair caused a lot of tension in his head to disperse, especially as she took to delicately untangling the knots in his hair. Having bed head tended to do that.
He hadn’t been bathed like this since he was a child. Being able to bathe yourself, and then upgrade to showers, meant it was no longer necessary beyond pleasure. Pleasure couldn’t always be afforded. Being given this treatment as an adult gave him feelings he couldn’t really understand.
When Chloros finished untangling his hair, she finally said something. “Alright. What I have for you is a special blend. It will heal your damaged hair follicles and stimulate their growth, helping your hair fill in much faster than normal. You will have a full head of hair again in about… mmm, a few days.”
Days.
He and Mom had attempted other treatments before, but they always needed to work for a year at minimum to show any sort of progress. So to have this being given to him… his heart surged.
Three pumps dispensed enough of that liquid Chloros had gotten to cover her hands. And then… on his head they went.
As Chloros worked her digits through his hair, lathering the shampoo into a mass of bubbles and suds, something seemed to penetrate past the skin and bone of his head and into his brain. However, he didn’t register it, due to the feeling of her hands working over his head causing tons of feel-good chemicals to surge within him. A pleasant distraction, one that made him lean into her touch readily and forget all about his worries…
It was much nicer than any other shampoo he had used. He hadn’t often gotten to shower, going for weeks at most without one, and even on the occasions he did, the cleansing agents provided either didn’t exist or felt somewhat uncomfortable to use, making showering a nauseating chore instead of a chance to relax and unwind.
It was a change of pace he found himself enjoying.
He could hear her humming quietly behind… no, around him. Her physical body was positioned behind him, but it sounded like her voice was hitting him from every possible direction. No way he can escape hearing her, and he knew he didn’t want to.
Zane had come to enjoy Chloros’ voice. Both speaking normally, and when she chose to be lyrical. Even if she never said any actual words, merely hearing her voice was entrancing, and he found he could listen to it all day and not get bored.
There were so many things that made him start to realize he desired her. Her voice, her demeanor, her focus on solving every issue he had, listening to him when he needed it… she was the perfect caretaker.
So why was he still so damn unsure?
The xenodrugs were the biggest reason. Even with them working perfectly on him, it always made him worry what they were doing to him beyond negating pain or stopping panic attacks. There was also her tendency to straight up inject them into him without bothering to get his input. Even with the flower from earlier, he got the sense that she would have dosed him up anyway, she just let him change the method.
She gave him some degree of choice and autonomy, but he realized that it was just a polite fiction at best. She’d do what she wanted, whenever she wanted, and it was only because of her apparent ingrained desire to care for and love a terran that stopped her from upgrading to actively hurting him.
He suspected that the only reason he wasn’t regularly trying to flee from her or defend himself was because of that odd aura she emanated. At low levels, it kept him from getting too stressed. At high strength, he’d find his willpower wilting under it. And there was no telling whether it was on purpose.
Even now, as Chloros focused on the hair care, Zane suspected that there was an ulterior motive behind all this. One he couldn’t get away from.
In the end, it was another loss. Another pilfering of his identity and autonomy, ripped away from him and forcing him to watch as others just stomped over him and took control. He had no power. No way to stand up for himself.
A long sigh escaped him, and it was then that he heard her song stop. She was talking again. “Alright, now for the next step, conditioner.” Chloros scooped water into her hands and started to rinse the shampoo off. He wondered why that was necessary, since he thought the shampoo should be good enough to be a two-in-one deal.
Still, he was silent, apart from grunting a little as she tilted his head to access him better. At that moment, he got a strange feeling inside of him. One that compelled him to speak. He held his tongue-
“You know, you mentioned that you have never had any wins before. I’m curious as to why you say this? Surely you must have some under your belt, as you terrans like to say.”
He would have remained quiet, but found himself talking almost on reflex, despite not wanting to. “Uh, um, well, you know my history and how much it sucked. I feel like ever since Dad went evil, any wins I had were really just pyrrhic victories at best and crippling losses in disguise at worst. Couldn’t win against him, or my brother, or all the assholes at school that liked to pick on me. And especially not with keeping Mom safe while we were running.”
What the hell? Why was he just blurting that all out in one go? He really didn’t want to talk, and yet, he felt compelled to spill the beans. It was unnatural and it scared him a little.
“Tell me about your brother,” Chloros said. Another bottle was retrieved, pumping that conditioner he couldn’t see into her hands.
Zane couldn’t stop himself from speaking. “He was a jackass. He always bullied and mocked me when we were kids. Made fun of me for being short, weak, that kind of crap. It really sent my self-esteem down the toilet, even after he started dialing it back as we grew up. I didn’t care, though. He hurt me, and if he wants to make up for it, he’s gonna have to put some real effort into it.”
Chloros made an “mhm” sound as she put her hands on his head again, this time getting the conditioner all over his hair. It had a different feel compared to the shampoo, but it felt welcome all the same. “Continue.”
“I hate Dad the most for what he did to us, though. He hit us, especially me, and I regularly got bruises from him when I wasn’t being beat to shit by the kids at school. He said I was failing as a man if I didn’t shape up. It just made me break down more often and become even more of a weakling in his eyes. My brother tried to protect me, but I don’t know why, since he had already lost me when we were young.”
“Lost you?”
“He had his chance to not abuse me as a child and chose to abuse me anyway. I hate him. If I see him again, I don’t know if I’ll ever accept him back in my life.”
Chloros murmured something indistinct as she worked. He took that as another sign to continue.
“And I still haven’t been winning since Mom and I went on the run. Every family we met, they were either informants tracking us, or too weak to defend us when the Accord came calling. We could never stay for long. Mom kept trying to cheer me up, but I always felt like a stars-damned weakling for not being able to keep hold of anyone for long. And now she’s gone too. That’s why I don’t have any wins at all, Chloros. It feels like the universe conspires to make me lose no matter what. Hell, even now, I feel like I’m losing to you, since I’m pretty sure you’re forcing me to talk when I don’t want to. Bet it’s one of those xenodrug things you snuck into me. Stars, why am I being such a motormouth? This sucks. Just reinforces how I’m not allowed to have anything good at all, at least not without a huge asterisk.”
Zane knew he was sounding increasingly bitter and resentful as he spoke. But there was no stopping all this talk. Even as she began to rinse off the conditioner, he said, “You’re making me feel more and more attached to you and I don’t know if it’s good or bad. You’re acting like a mother figure, but my real Mom is dead and buried. I don’t want you to take her place. You said you wouldn’t take her memory from me, but it feels like you’re just lying to me. Are you?”
So, so bitter. All of his pent-up agitation and resentment was being forced out of him. He could no longer hide his true feelings, as mixed up and scrambled they were.
Chloros, for her part, did not react to all that right away. She simply rinsed out his hair again, humming to herself, before gently grabbing and turning him around. Now he was facing her, looking up at her, able to speak to her face to face.
“What I’m hearing is a lot of guilt and shame you’ve been carrying for several years, Zane. People hurt you, and you felt powerless to do anything about it. Your ability to trust others is severely damaged by what you experienced.”
“And you’re not helping,” Zane said flatly. “You just keep doing things to me no matter what I say or do. I’m still having a hard time believing you actually care about me as a person. I bet you want to domesticate me right away, but something’s holding you back.”
Zane was incapable of keeping a potentially brutal (yet honest) assessment of her from escaping his lips. If he thought it, it would leave his mouth upon request. His filter had been taken from him…
Apart from a mild stiffening of Chloros’ body, though, she did not rise to his unintentional bait. She merely stroked the side of his face, her expression kept neutral.
“What would you think if I said that I did want to domesticate you… but at a much later date?”
Naturally, he was unable to keep his mouth shut. “I’d think you’re still screwing with me. But something tells me that you’re honest. Even if that’s probably whatever you dosed me with that’s making me think that. What’s really stopping you from just taking me now, Chloros? You could do anything you want to me and I’d be completely unable to defend myself. You could snap me in half and make me just a mindless toy like all the other florets I see. Literally nothing would stop you.”
Her continued lack of reaction caused annoyance to rise inside of him. “Why are you being so nice? Why aren’t you getting angry? I’m spitting venom at you and treating you like trash, but you’re ignoring all my barbs no matter how hurtful they are. Do you just not care what I have to say?”
She paused, keeping her eyes on him. Still hidden behind leaves, negating any potential entrancement. She knew he was right… so what stopped her?
“I have gone without a floret of my own for so long,” Chloros admitted. “And when I saw you, something compelled me to have you. But your status when you came in made me realize just how much work I’d need to put in to ensure you would embrace domestication, especially with your personality that I was hoping to see behind the trauma. I’m an oldbloom’s oldbloom, petal. I’m willing to wait as long as it takes.”
“You want to keep the real me. The manchild who can’t do anything by himself-”
“False.”
That startled him, making him shut up.
“I do not see a manchild in you, Zane. What I see…” Her hand took a soft hold of his chin, an act that felt invasive, yet comforting at the same time. “...is a man who, despite being dealt a bad hand by life, continued to persevere. A man who could have given up completely, but never did. Something always prevented you from losing yourself.”
“Yeah, I guess I got that determinator spirit or whatever fancy bullshit it is.”
“Maybe you do. Regardless… I feel it is my duty to give you the best life possible, when your previous one was nothing but misery.”
“Because you feel obligated to?”
“No. Because I love you. With all my being.”
He had no spiteful reply or witty retort. All he could do was stare at her, eyes wide.
“You… you love me.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.
Chloros nodded. “I do. Many Affini would say the same towards their wards and florets, but my feelings towards you are completely genuine. I love you, Zane. I want to give you the best life possible, because I adore everything about you. Your creative spirit, your compassion, your zest for life that keeps you going. I admire it all.”
She released his chin, both hands now holding the sides of his face. Zane didn’t take his eyes off of her, remaining silent.
“I need you as much as you need me, Zane. I know I can do whatever I want… but I also know that would just ruin you. My greatest goal in life is to love you, unerringly, and give you a second chance with me. And if it takes decades for you… that’s fine by me. I may not be your mother by blood, but I’d like to be your mother by proxy, if you’ll have me.”
He couldn’t formulate a response. Such a revelation was mindblowing. She was forgoing her desire to have him now to work through all his trauma as best she can… and loving him like he was her own son. He blinked his eyes, struggling to make sense of it.
“I… you… you mean it, Chloros?” he murmured quietly. He received a warm smile in return.
“I do. Whether you accept me now or much later, know this: my love for you is immense, and it drives me to protect and heal you from all that has befallen you. I will never abandon you like others have abandoned you.”
Zane couldn’t stop himself from forming tears under his eyes. But this time, they were not borne of rage, frustration, despair, or terror. None of those things.
They were of happiness.
An emotion he never thought he’d associate with weeping.
“I… I… I don’t know how to say it, but… i-it makes me feel… happy. T-to be… loved. I… I don’t know if I can a-accept you as my new mom right now, but… I think… I think I want you in my life. I-if you’ll have me. Stars, I, I’m crying again, but it’s a good kind of crying, you know?”
Chloros pulled him close, pressing her lips on his forehead with a gentle kiss. She held him against her chest, her internal rhythm surging through him and causing the good feelings inside to amplify.
Zane had spent most of his life in a horrible nightmare. And what he had thought was another nightmare, was instead a pleasant dream.
Chloros would help him. And love him. And give him what he’s been yearning for after everything he had lost.
He didn’t consider himself her floret yet. But now they were drawn together.
Now, he had hope.
Chapter 10: Serotonin
Summary:
A bond that can be counted on.
Zane and Chloros have grown much closer. Zane gets to make a new friend and is allowed a hint of gay, as a treat.
Content warnings: Mention of sexual activity
Notes:
Holy crap, chapter 10! It's a big milestone! WOOOOO *throws confetti*
This was a very pleasing chapter to write. Zane gets to have a good day with a new friend, plus he discovers how it feels to smooch a bigger guy with a beard! Like smooching a big, Scottish walrus~
So just a headsup, posting may get a bit slower, as I've now gotten through the chapter backlog on AO3. I'll still be writing, it's just that updates will take longer to put out.
Next chapter is going to get a whole lot saucier, though. Not spoiling~
Feedback and input is always loved!
Chapter Text
Click. Clack. Whirrr.
The sounds of mechanisms shifting and gears turning were heard in the kitchen of Chloros’ hab unit that morning.
Once breakfast had concluded, Zane had decided to busy himself with a puzzle box that Chloros gave him. Hearing it was from the floret of her friend Antris had made Zane give a genuine smile for the first time in a long while, and it made her core surge to see such honest joy.
Really, joy was something Zane was starting to express properly as of late. His first week on the Excellence was fraught with worry and uncertainty, especially towards Chloros. His second week, on the other hand, was where things were starting to settle down. Much of his anxiety and worries were dampened, and he was regarding Chloros more positively, now taking pleasure in her presence instead of having mild anxiety.
This was good. He was acclimating to Affini culture at a good pace. Now that he had accepted her, he was well on his way to having a good, happy life for the rest of his days.
Exactly what Chloros was aiming for.
As Zane fiddled with the puzzle box, Chloros was reading on her pad, sipping a cup of coffee. While Affini didn’t need to consume food and drink, getting by with mineral water and similar, Chloros had taken it upon herself to alter her body to accommodate consuming food for wards like Zane. It was done to both “humanize” her in his eyes, and also because she enjoyed doing it regardless, especially if she got to share with him.
One of her vines located Zane’s head, and had begun to stroke the side of his face in an affectionate manner. This time, instead of shying away at worst or having no reaction at best, he responded with a pleased chuckle.
She peeked over the top of her pad from time to time, taking looks at him and watching him work. He was focused on the box, hands carefully adjusting the mechanisms of the container as he got closer and closer to opening it.
In a way, Zane was a puzzle box for her. He had mechanisms that she had to carefully adjust and work with, so that when the prize inside of him – his pure soul – was revealed, that would be the moment that he would be unequivocally hers and hers alone.
Was it possessive? Sure.
Was it borne of love and admiration? Absolutely.
Was it appealing to her nature to assuage pain and suffering? Oh yes it was.
Plus, you know, it was simply fun. Fun to learn how Zane worked, what brought him happiness, what made him hurt, his preferences, his favorite things…
It brought her great joy, to be able to care for him on such an intimate level. She was settling into her role as his mother figure nicely, and though he didn’t seem ready to actually address her as his mother, that was fine. Merely filling that role for him was enough for Chloros. In time, he would grace her with the title befitting it, and she would gladly accept it.
›(1) NEW MESSAGE FROM: AuntCelery
Oh, Antris wanted to talk. She glanced at Zane again, who was still occupied with the box, and took her attention off of him, opening the chat room.
›AuntCelery: hey chloros!!! just wanted to say hi, hope your boy’s doing okay <3
›ChloroFeel: He’s doing much better, yes. He’s improving steadily, and he’s accepted me on some level.
›AuntCelery: what, for domestication?
›ChloroFeel: Not yet. But he has accepted me officially as someone he can count on.
›AuntCelery: hey thats good either way! Oh btw, you mind if I invite simon in the chat? He wanted to say something
›ChloroFeel: Go ahead.
›SimonSez has entered the group chat
›SimonSez: allo allo! Its me, simon! :D
›ChloroFeel: Hello Simon. It’s nice to hear from you. :)
›SimonSez: likewise, chloros! Say, is your boy available to hang out? I think he could use a friend!!
Chloros stroked her chin with a vine. Zane had friends in the book club, yes, but no one else outside of that. It would do him some good to add to his circles. And she knew Simon well enough that she was confident he would treat Zane well.
›ChloroFeel: I don’t see why not. How about in an hour, at Lorna’s Park?
›SimonSez: oh heck thats perfect! I know you said how he dislikes noise and large groups, so itll be great! Should I bring anything he’ll like?
›ChloroFeel: Just your calming presence and winning smile is enough. Although… I doubt he’d say no to ice cream. Rocky road flavor, specifically.
›SimonSez: can do! I can pick some up on my way, looking forward to it! Tell him I said hi <3
›ChloroFeel: I absolutely will. :)
“Yes!” Zane announced suddenly. Chloros lifted her eyes up to see what he was cheering about.
Oh, he had finally managed to open the puzzle box. Where once there was a closed wooden cube, now it had been opened, unfolding its panels outward to reveal the prize contained inside of it.
As it turned out, there was another puzzle box inside. Zane had opened that to reveal a third, even smaller one, but luckily it ended there. Even a talented woodworker like Simon had to obey the laws of physical space.
Zane pulled the last panel open, revealing…
A tiny piece of folded up paper. His excitement turned to bafflement as he took hold of it and started to unfold it, taking care to not damage the delicate material. When he finally opened it all the way, and looked at what was written… he started to laugh. “Oh, stars, he got me.”
“Hm? May I see, petal?”
The vine against his face moved away, and when he held out the paper to her, she used a second vine to hold onto it without hurting it. She brought it close, and read what it had to say.
Made ya look ;P - Simon
Chloros stared at it for a moment. She could not prevent herself from beginning to laugh in turn, which prompted Zane to join in. A few minutes passed as the pair indulged themselves in laughing their heads off, highly amused by Simon’s sense of humor.
Oh, goodness, that man is a treasure. Antris made the right call in claiming him.
When they both settled down, there were still a few giggles to be had between them. Chloros managed to compose herself first, sitting up a bit more as she took her turn to speak. “Oh, dearie me, he’s a charmer!”
Zane nodded, cheeks red from laughter. Chloros had a feeling he needed something like that, and was thankful Simon was the catalyst. Speaking of…
“Mm, Zane, I have a question. How do you feel about spending time with the man who made you laugh?”
Zane’s eyes lit up in excitement, though he spoke with caution. “Oh, uh, that sounds like a great idea. But where though? Hopefully nowhere that’s noisy?”
She reached to gently stroke his head – full of hair on top and making him look much more handsome in her opinion – with one of her tendrils, giving him an adoring smile. “He says he wants to see you at Lorna’s Park. It’s nice and calm, and you may make more friends that way. Plus, he says he’s bringing ice cream.”
“...what kind?”
“Rocky road. Just how you like it.”
“No way.”
“Yes way, petal.”
No apprehension now. Just pure, unadulterated excitement. If it were possible for an Affini’s core to grow bigger, Chloros’ would have increased by three times its normal size.
“Yeah! Okay, yeah, I’d love to!” Zane said excitedly, sitting up in his high chair and leaning over the table with both hands on it. “Can you help me pick an outfit?”
She beamed at him, reaching over with her left hand to gently ruffle his newly filled-in head of hair. “Oh, of course, darling. Anything for you.~”
Once again, Zane would be on his own with strangers. This time, Chloros opted to walk him to Lorna’s Park, since he had mentioned having a little anxiety about being outside ever since the situation with Torn. Despite having that memory blocked, his body reacted to the context for it without his control, though it was mostly held in check. He pondered if that memory would ever be unlocked.
Zane was fine having Chloros escort him. It meant that he got to be around her a little bit longer before meeting this potential new friend. Plus, he was able to hold onto one of Chloros’ hands as they walked, which did a lot to put him at ease. Guess I’m the hand holding type now.
His outfit of the day was something he and Chloros decided upon together. A black tank top with a blooming blue rose across the chest, and a dark teal, opened overshirt with a collar on top of it. Dark blue jeans, rugged and tough, yet stretchy and very mobile to walk in, ensuring he had full range of movement. Blue walking shoes with black accents, designed so that they would provide maximum grip, while staying snug on his socks-clad feet. His pad was in his pocket, while his non-holding hand was carrying his cane. It had been altered as of recent, sporting an engraving of a rose along the side, an indication of his growing affection for Chloros. His wardship collar was on again, the gem indicating his connection to Chloros resting on his chest.
Before, he had felt noticeable nervousness over the collar, especially in public. Now, though, it was barely there. He hadn’t expected to get used to wearing such a thing on a regular basis, but now that he did, it felt kind of liberating. It certainly helped that it felt comfortable enough that he barely noticed it, as if it was a natural part of his body.
Lorna’s Park looked lively. Mossy archways indicated the entrance, and upon passing through, Zane discovered that ‘park’ was kind of a misnomer. It looked more like a massive, sprawling field with rolling hills, with countless decorative flowers, trees, and fountains. The ambiance was somewhat loud, due to there being some Affini and sophonts here already, but it was tolerable enough.
“Wow,” Zane murmured, squeezing Chloros’ hand. “It’s… really pretty.”
“One of the hallmarks of the Excellence,” his warden explained. “Did you know it was actually named after the first captain in its history? I remember when I had first come aboard and saw her in action. She’s been so influential that this place commemorates her role in our long journey in the cosmos. She’s moved on to other ships since then, but her presence is still felt here.”
Zane listened intently. He had become more open about learning the history and customs of Affini, showing his yearning for knowledge. Chloros had made sure to forward articles of interest to his pad for him to read, but he still liked hearing it from her firsthand. Good excuse to hear her talk at length.
“Lorna was an absolute delight. She was always so pleasant to talk to, and I sometimes wish she would return at the helm of the Excellence. I have nothing against the current captain, of course, but they don’t quite have the same kind of zest that Lorna did. I-”
“Oi, there you are!”
Their conversation was cut short as they heard someone call out to them. Both Affini and ward turned their heads to see whoever it was.
There was quite a large man standing next to a running fountain, waving at them with a grin on his face. As they drew closer, Zane got a better look at the guy. He was very tall, taller than the already short younger Jakobson brother. He was a burly man, clearly sporting some muscle on top of his large belly, indicating that he had a lot of strength on his portly frame. His hair was a vibrant orange, fluffy and curly, and that massive beard jutting from his chin was similar. Pink-hued eyes stared out from that smiling face, too. He was clad in a t-shirt that was vertically split between a white and a pink side, with one flower of the opposite color on the shoulders. His shorts followed the same pattern, though oddly, he was barefoot. It seemed to be a recurring choice for a lot of the florets and wards on the ship. There was a collar wrapped around his neck, sporting a white band, and a rose-shaped crystal dangling from it.
Zane and Chloros waved as they approached, and when they were close enough, the man lowered his voice. Doing that already made Zane like him, as he revealed he was aware of Zane’s issues with sound.
“Hey Chloros! Good to see ya! And is this your boy, huh? Well, yer a handsome lad, I’ll say!” the man said, chuckling.
“Ah, yes, he certainly is my boy,” Chloros said warmly, patting Zane’s head. It caused him to blush slightly, especially with the man’s compliment in mind. “Zane, this is Simon Thrane, First Floret, he/him. He belongs to a very good friend of mine.”
“Sure do!” Simon answered, hands on his hips. “Me plum Antris has been very good to me since I met’em, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. What about you, lad?”
Zane didn’t answer initially, he instead looked up at Chloros. She smiled at him and nodded, giving him silent encouragement. Letting go of her hand, he took a step forward, turning his gaze upon Simon.
“Um, hi. Zane Jakobson, he/him. I’m, uh… not a floret yet, dunno if I want to be one. But I’m with Chloros and will be for a while. She’s… she’s nice.”
That earned a charming laugh from the larger man. “Hah, I know she is! Yer in good vines, Zane.”
Nodding, Zane turned to see Chloros crouching down all the way so she was eye level with him. As she addressed him, he wondered when she would retract those leaves from her eyes.
“You should be just fine with Simon, but if anything happens, please message me and I will come right away. How’s that sound?”
“Yeah, uh, I’ll keep that in mind. I think I’ll be okay.”
“Good. Go ahead and enjoy yourself, I’ll see you later. Love you.~”
She leaned forward to kiss his cheek, and for a moment, his entire body quaked. Surely a kiss on the cheek shouldn’t cause that, but somehow, it made him feel incredibly warm and good all over. It only lasted a second, but he found himself wanting it to last for longer.
“Um, uh, love you too,” Zane stuttered, earning a giggle from both his warden and Simon. With a pat on the head and another smooch on the other cheek, Chloros stood all the way back up, waving them goodbye as she turned to leave.
Zane watched her go, and couldn’t stop himself from already wanting to follow her. Despite going out of his way to do this, there was that distinct urge to drop everything and run back into her arms, the need to feel her body around his own, so he can enjoy her calming aura again…
It must have been obvious to Simon, because he had come over and gently placed a strong hand upon Zane’s shoulder. “Getting attached, are we? Don’t blame ya, I was like that with me plum before the implant. Had a feeling I was theirs from the very beginning.”
Zane could only nod his head in reply. Domestication still sounded slightly scary, and he had no idea when he’d accept it, but he knew that if he did come around to it, he wanted Chloros to do it to him. No one else.
Had he really fallen that hard for her all of a sudden?
“Hey, lad,” Simon said gently, making Zane snap out of it and turn to him. “You’ll go back to her when the day is over, I promise. For now, lemme treat ya to somethin’ nice. You like ice cream, yeah?”
“Oh, um, yeah. Chloros said you got-”
“Rocky road? You betcha!”
“...is marriage a thing around here? I’d marry you right now if it is.”
“Mmm, well, domestication is sorta like that, I s’pose. Anyway, let’s not dawdle! We oughtta make the most of this time together.”
Simon extended an open hand to him. A pause followed, before Zane gently took it, and the contrast between his smaller, more delicate hand and Simon’s larger, thicker one was obvious.
Hand in hand, the pair began their date.
The ice cream cones were perfect.
Of course, anything that was rocky road was perfect to Zane. He hadn’t had any ice cream in a long while, actually, so to have it again, in his favorite flavor, no less, was a delight.
He and Simon had spent the day wandering around Lorna’s Park, enjoying the sights and scenery. Simon had revealed to him that he brought a cooler containing not just ice cream, but also easily-opened cans of soda, alongside turkey sandwiches. A mini picnic, as it were.
The whole time, Zane was becoming much more comfortable around him, enjoying his presence and boisterous spirit. And Simon had done him a courtesy by slowing down a bit when he noticed Zane was lagging behind at one point, alongside keeping the pair from approaching particularly noisy and crowded areas of the park.
Simon was a good friend, he knew.
At the moment, the two had stopped to sit at a bench with several trees behind them. A few people, Affini and terran, passed by, and Zane had taken to doing a bit of people-watching as he finished his ice cream. Despite being out in the mildly warm weather (he still wasn’t used to weather systems on a space ship), the ice cream melted far more slowly than he was used to, reducing the likelihood of dripping everywhere and allowing him to take his time with it.
Zane sat close beside Simon, staying quiet as the last of the cone disappeared behind his lips. He let his eyes pass over all the strangers around them, noticing how they were all happy and carefree.
He had trepidation over domestication still. But seeing all of these terrans leading joyful lives with their caretakers, and even knowing one personally… he was starting to wonder if the trepidation was really necessary.
“Lost in thought, lad?” Simon said suddenly, chuckling. “Nae worries, I do that sometimes meself.”
Zane turned towards him, joining him in the light laughter. “Oh, yeah, um, was just thinking about… all this.” He gestured at the florets running around.
“All this, meaning…?”
“Becoming a floret. They all look so… happy and comfortable while bound to the Affini. You’re a floret too. Could you shed some light on it for me?”
The big Scotsman adopted a smirk. “Well, for one thing, the sex is mindblowing. Feeling me plum make me squirm and writhe in absolute ecstasy while they praise me for-”
Zane blushed intensely and waved his hands quickly, forcing Simon to stop. “N-no, no, uh, I wasn’t interested in that. I meant, uh… in general. Like, how it works, and what it feels like when… when you’re domesticated.”
Simon blinked, before his expression softened. “Oh. Aye. Well. I won’t lie to ya, I was a fair bit nervous about the procedure meself when I first heard about it. It sounds mighty scary, don’t it?”
Zane nodded. “Yeah. I’m still wondering if it’s something I want. I’m… I’m worried if I’ll be able to stay myself when it’s done. I mean, Chloros promised me I won’t change, but even so…”
“Ah, I get what yer meanin’.” An arm found its way around Zane’s shoulder, and he found himself leaning into the big man’s touch. He felt nice and soft. “Bein’ Antris’ floret for a few years, I can vouch for the fact that while I’m owned by them for the rest o’ me life, Antris took great care to assuage me worries and ensure me memories and personality remained intact. They’re a bit like Chloros – they wanted to claim me, but they preferred keepin’ me ‘brilliance’ as they called it.”
So Chloros wasn’t an outlier. If Antris had a similar approach, then that raised the possibility of it being a common view among the Affini. That did a lot to quell Zane’s doubts.
“I feel a whole lot closer to Antris than ever before. And trust me, when they found me, I was a bleedin’ wreck. Now, I’m a happy lad who wants to share his love with everyone! I rose like a phoenix with their help!”
Zane could understand that. Domestication sounded like a rebirth, if not physically, then mentally. He could get behind the idea of it letting a floret-to-be embrace a whole new life of peace and love with that in mind.
“And when I say love, that includes the physical and romantic kind. Speakin’ o’ which… Zane, boyo. You the type to kiss fellow lads?”
That question caught Zane off-guard, making him sputter. Simon might as well have sucker punched him with it. “I-I’m sorry, what?”
“I said, you a fellow lad kisser?” Simon had a disarming grin behind his facial hair.
Zane stuttered, looking up at him. “Oh, uh, um… y-yeah, I’ve dated a few guys before, and some women too, n-never lasted all that long though. It’s, um, been a long time since I got with anyone, and I dunno if…”
Simon moved a hand to gently ruffle his hair. Zane couldn’t stop himself from chuckling a bit. “Here’s the thing, lad. When you’re with the Affini, love is everywhere. No need to worry about trying to woo lads and lasses and all in between. Lotta people are all too willing to get together with ya if asked. And if ya wanna bang? That’s all good too!”
Zane was now red like a tomato, and he wanted to have the ground swallow him up. Simon was flustering the crap out of him, and he was struggling to keep his composure against such blatant flirtation. If only he was as smooth in return.
“I, uh, um… I don’t… don’t know how to feel about that kind of thing. I’m still, uh, learning how life is like here, i-it’s only my second week…”
Simon was still all smiles. Zane wondered if it was even possible for him to be anything but happy. “Well, tell ya what. If yer willing to give it a go, I can show ya what it’s like to kiss a good friend. And if ya don’t like, that’s fine by me! I’m more than happy to stay buddies with ye. Whaddya say?”
Zane felt like he was going to explode from pent-up embarrassment. Simon was blatantly offering to kiss him, in public, for all to see, when they only knew each other for a few hours! He was doing it so casually, like he was offering Zane a piece of candy.
His embarrassed behavior brought a deep chuckle from the man, and he patted his own lap. “You ain’t gonna lose nuthin’ by trying it out. I’m fine either way, mate.”
Zane blinked his eyes for a moment, still trying to wrap his head around it. Then…
“O-okay.”
Slowly, hesitantly, he climbed onto Simon’s lap, becoming acutely aware of just how much smaller he was compared to this mountain of strength. Simon was looking at him kindly, one arm wrapped around him, the other resting on the back of the bench.
“There we go, there’s a good lad. You’re quite light, ain’t ya? Feel soft, too. How adorable.”
The compliments were really making Zane’s heart flutter. Was he already falling head over heels for this man? It felt rather quick, and yet… it felt natural. He shifted to get comfortable, staring up at Simon. The Scotsman rumbled in his chest, moving his free hand to gently stroke the side of Zane’s face.
“Stars, you’re even more good-looking up close…”
Zane’s heart quickened. Somehow Simon was quickly wrapping him around his finger, and he couldn’t object to it. He liked it. A lot.
“Come a bit closer, if you don’t mind...~”
Zane did.
And then their lips met.
Kissing a heavily bearded guy was… an experience. While he wasn’t a fan of his own facial hair, he found himself highly enjoying Simon’s. It tickled his face pleasantly, providing some comfort as their bodies pressed together. Zane’s eyes were closed as he more or less melted into Simon’s touch, clinging to him as they indulged in each other.
Simon held him comfortably, ensuring he’d never fall. Zane expected him to up the ante any minute, but no, it stayed at this comfortable level of gentle kisses and smooches. He could taste some of the ice cream still on Simon’s mouth, which made things even better. His hands moved to hold Simon’s shoulders so he can brace himself better.
Simon allowed Zane to pace himself, which was good, because it let Zane determine if he wanted to stay like this or upgrade to a full-on makeout. He opted for the current pace, finding that simply being held and indulging in this pleasurable activity in the midst of nature put him at ease.
Several minutes passed before the two finally disconnected. Zane was left panting shakily, staring at Simon with a flushed look on his face. Simon, for his part, just grinned at him lazily.
“You liked that, didn’t ya?” the big man teased, moving a hand down to grab onto the smaller man’s bottom. It made Zane jump, his red face turning redder.
“Uh, um, y-yeah, yeah, I did, um… t-that was nice,” Zane stuttered. “How, um… how long have we been here?”
Simon pulled out his pad and looked at it. “Mm, three hours. Pretty good for a first date. Does that make me yer big boyfriend now?”
Zane hesitated. He didn’t want to hurt Simon’s feelings, but he didn’t know if he had the heart to commit to a relationship so quickly. It apparently showed, because Simon chose to pat him on the head and smile. “If ya need time to think on it, take all ya need. I’m just happy I got to spend time with a friendly face.”
“Oh, uh, yeah, uh… I-I need to think on it, but… I do want to do this again…”
“Absolutely, boyo.”
For the time being, Zane chose to just nuzzle into Simon’s shoulder with a sigh. He was content to just sit there for a while, until it was time to let Chloros know he was coming home.
Coming home…
The Excellence was starting to feel more like home with every passing day.
That was a good thing, wasn’t it?
Chapter 11: Dopamine
Summary:
There is comfort in company.
After Zane’s date with Simon, it’s off to the book club again… and pages aren’t the only thing that will be spread.
Content warnings: Description of domestication, nudity, explicit three-way sex scene
Notes:
This is a chapter that was certainly hot to write. And for a guy like Zane, he's well-deserving of it! Plus a bit of cuteness with Chloros in the intro helps :3
First time writing a sex scene in an ongoing story instead of just being a one-shot, and honestly, I'm impressed with myself. I had intended on saving sex scenes for near the climax (heh) of the story, but realized... you know what? My protagonist deserves some loving now that his mental state has improved a fair bit. And who better than to have two delightful florets give him that loving?
This boy is such a seed, I swear. I have a feeling he'll getting another chance with this pair at a later date. For those boylikers who enjoy boys getting some intimacy, y'all will definitely enjoy, I'm sure.
As always, I welcome your feedback!
Chapter Text
Five days later...
Zane took a good, long look at himself in the mirror.
As it turned out, the bathroom had a full-sized shower unit hidden in the wall. It was decidedly large, like the bathtub, but he was able to operate it and shower by himself, which was good, since it meant he could cleanse himself without needing to bathe constantly. That could be saved for whenever he wanted to be intimate and close with Chloros. Stars, he was liking that…
The shower had a mirror that rotated into view once a button was pressed. It let him view himself while he was toweling off. What he saw stoked the embers within his heart.
His naked body, for once, felt nice to look at. Previously, he had become more and more skinny and lacking in weight, years of fleeing having taken their toll. Coupled with sleepless nights, the overarching sense of dread of being caught, and other stressors, it had been working to make him waste away. It didn’t help that he dealt with frequent outbreaks of acne on his back and shoulders. Now, though, that no longer applied.
The exhausted bags under his eyes were almost entirely gone, where you now had to look really closely to see if they ever existed. His pale skin was starting to darken as he spent more time in the sun, giving him a healthier complexion. Some scars he had received years ago had healed and disappeared. And above all else, there was no more body hair anywhere, leaving just smooth, soft skin. He had seen a bottle of body wash that claimed it would easily remove body and facial hair, and when he tried it, he was astonished to see that his hair came off after rinsing, with absolutely no pain or discomfort to speak of. It even got rid of the bush on his groin and scrotum and the hair between his buttocks! He had always been self-conscious of that.
Being fed on a regular basis by Chloros had meant he was finally putting on weight again. A lot of weight, actually. Where he was previously an emaciated man, now he was a pleasantly plump one, with a lot of the fat having collected on his now pudgy tummy, his wider hips, and his much more rounded bottom. For the last one, he took a moment to slap it, and was pleased to see that it rippled in an alluring fashion. He thought about possibly going further, but knew he had limited time, so he abstained.
With his facial hair gone, his soft, youthful features were now much more apparent. No longer would he have to worry about looking off-putting because of his genes deciding he needed quick-growing facial hair while neglecting the hair on the top of his head. Now he looked smooth all over, with a full head of dark, wavy hair. Chloros had helped him style it, and he fell in love with it right away.
All in all, it was close to the perfect body he had always wanted, but never could have while still on Thypso. Especially not while Dad was still in the picture.
No doubt about it. Zane had become a bottom-heavy boy and could finally enjoy this body of his.
Smiling brightly, he left the shower, and finished drying himself before moving to get dressed. The book club meeting this week was in an hour, and he had to get ready. This time, he decided on his own outfit, having gotten used to how fashion for wards and florets worked.
A navy blue, buttoned-up shirt, with white text in Affini script that the compiler had said translated to “Love and Hope”. Black jeans that were sure to emphasize his newly sized-up butt, and comfy boxers that fit snugly around it. Sandals once again – he really took a liking to those. It all fit perfectly, and though he worried how it would feel on his now hairless body, he was pleased that it felt as comfy, if not moreso, now. And of course, his wardship collar, the gem on it reflecting light from the ceiling.
Now fully-dressed, he took the collar and observed it. It marked him as belonging to Chloros, without being her floret. More and more, Zane was finding the concept appealing. But that deep-rooted, primal anxiety of losing himself remained.
Plus, it would be more than simply entering a relationship with another person. Chloros had said that once the paperwork for his domestication was filed, he would have to have surgery in order to have a special implant – a haustoric, she explained – grafted around his spine and nervous system. Once in place, it would permanently spread throughout his body, growing around his insides, linking him to Chloros with a part of her inside the implant. It would be an invisible leash connecting the two, with Chloros having full control. He would be forever bound to her…
Bound to a loving, doting, and very attractive mother figure.
Simon had teased him about being a ‘seed’. Was this what he meant?
“Zane, sweetie,” he heard Chloros call from behind the closed door of the bathroom. “Are you ready?”
Zane’s train of thought got derailed, forcing him back into reality. Right, book club!
“J-just a minute!” he called back. Hastily putting the collar around his neck, he did a once-over of his hair, before opening the door and stepping into the hab unit’s living room.
Chloros was there, sitting on the bed and reading from her pad like usual. She turned as the door opened, and a bright expression of joy was visible on her mask as she took in her ward.
“Well, aren’t you a good-looking young man,” she giggled.
Zane looked away shyly, face growing pink. “I, uh, I feel as great as I look. I-it’s nice.”
“That’s very good, petal.” Putting her pad away, she stood up and approached him, crouching down so they were eye level. “You’ve come such a long way… I’m so proud of you.~”
Zane looked at her with a grateful smile. “Certainly helps I got a great caretaker like you, right?”
“Stroking my ego? Naughty boy,” she teased, giving him a little headpat. That made his head swim slightly, and he had to suppress a whine as she withdrew, only for his blush to brighten as she leaned in to plant another smooch on his cheek. “Do you feel ready to go out by yourself? Or would you like me to take you there?”
He thought about it. His first instinct was to say he wanted to go alone, but he had been warming up to the idea of taking her hand and going places to be seen off. Simon had said this was natural for those who gravitated to mother figures..
It was then he remembered that Simon had called him a mommy’s boy the other day. He didn’t recognize the significance, but now he did. Wow, I’m slow.
“I think, uh, I want you to take me there. Makes me feel safer with you.”
“Absolutely, my boy.~”
Her hand was held out, and he happily took hold of it.
Once more, they left the hab unit.
A steadily blossoming relationship between a mother and her new son had formed.
“...so what was your favorite part of The Time Healer?” Frey asked of him.
Zane smiled, leaning forward on the table. “Oh, it had to be the part where Dante had to say goodbye to his sister while closing the time rift. That kind of thing always makes me emotional. Seeing him sacrifice himself for the good of all... I know I cried a little over it.”
That got Frey to smile at him. “Funny, that’s my favorite part too. I always did have a bias for heroic sacrifices. Don’t know why, it just really resonates with me.”
Back in Saint’s Library. This time, Chloros accompanied him all the way to Luminescence, and this time they had a brief meet and greet. Chloros reminded him of how Torn was still forbidden from coming here, and there was nothing indicating Torn was disobeying, so he was in the clear.
The book club adored seeing him again. Especially Frey and Amy, it appeared. He wondered why. Was it the energy he gave off, now that he was in a much better mental state? Could they somehow sense he was a ‘seed’, as well, like Simon claimed?
If they could… it didn’t bother him too much, strangely enough.
This week, they were discussing a book about a hardboiled detective who discovers a plot to rewrite the timestreams, and only just barely manages to stop it, at the cost of his own life. It was one of the more interesting reads Zane had, as he always enjoyed ones with a more science-fiction or cosmic angle.
“Amy? Isaac? How about you?” Frey announced, gesturing to the individuals in question.
“Oh!” Amy piped up first, looking excited while on Zane’s left. “It was during the big battle against the Agent! It was really cool how the author had them duke it out in the middle of a crowd with nobody ever noticing or getting hurt!”
“I concur,” Isaac said, resting his elbows on the table to Zane’s right. “That scene would have been ruined if the author just wrote it as a straight fight. She played to the strengths of Dante’s character, while still making it very tense and exciting. I commend her for that.”
Similar sentiments were shared as the conversation continued. Zane knew this book club was perfect for him. He could make friends at his own pace and share in what he loves about literature, and they’d be all too happy to have him. It made him feel like he belonged.
He hadn’t felt that in a long time. He took that as a good omen.
About half an hour later, the book club was starting to wrap up for the week. Most of the members had already filtered out, leaving just Zane, Amy, and Frey. Zane stood up and was about to leave, pulling his pad out to message Chloros, when he felt a hand on his arm.
He turned and saw Frey and Amy behind him. Frey had opted for a white, floral dress this week, one that emphasized its sizable cleavage, and its hair done up in a short ponytail. Meanwhile, Amy had a dark green tube top and black skirt, matching her bright green eyes, while her long, auburn hair spilled down her back. They were looking at him with great interest, with Frey’s eye gazing upon him with intent he couldn’t discern.
“Oh, hey, what’s up?” Zane said casually.
“You know, Zane, you’ve been such a wonderful addition to Luminescence,” Frey replied. It drew closer, now hugging itself against his arm. Suddenly things felt a lot warmer as he realized its generous bust was squishing against his arm, causing him to blush. Had it always been that busty?
“Oh yeah!” Amy said brightly. She squatted down a bit, putting a hand on Zane’s shoulder and beaming at him with delight. “It’s nice to have a lovely guy like you around!”
“So Amy and I have been talking,” Frey continued. It lowered its voice while leaning in to speak into Zane’s ear, and his heart began to race. Its smooth, dark voice was doing things to him. “And we wanted to treat you to something nice. There’s a quieter section in the Library for those who like getting intimate.”
Oh.
Oh.
They were… offering him to have sex with them.
It really surprised him. While he was starting to get used to sex being rather casual aboard the Excellence, it was still surprising to have someone actually express interest in him in so long. Especially two people at once.
Hell, three, considering Simon.
“We just think you’re really nice and want to give you a good bit of lovin’, darlin’,” Amy purred into his other ear.
Zane swallowed, heat rising inside of him. Their twin gazes made him feel so very small, especially since Amy towered over the both of them by a head.
Years ago, he might have declined, due to not being in the best mental state, alongside severe self-consciousness towards his very flawed body back then. Now, though, he was feeling much braver… but…
“Uh… um… i-if I say yes,” he said haltingly, glancing between the pair. “W-would you, uh, go easy on me? I haven’t, um, done anything like that in… a-a while.”
An amused giggle came from both of them, and suddenly Amy and Frey went in to gently kiss his cheeks. Zane was certain he would have exploded on the spot from the gesture.
“Oh, of course, honey,” Frey purred, reaching to stroke his chin with its free hand. “We’ll go at your pace, whatever works best for you. We can have a safe word as well.”
Safe words, okay, yes, that was a good safety net. If he didn’t like this, he had an immediate out.
“I-I’d like that, yeah,” Zane said after a moment, nodding his head.
“Perfect.~”
Hearing that word uttered right against his ear really ignited something in the short man and it took major willpower to not just collapse into an overly flustered puddle that used to be one Zane Jakobson.
Soon, he was being led away from the book club’s meeting table, and towards a different part of the Library… this time, holding the hands of two delightful florets that desired him.
How am I so lucky?
When Zane imagined sex in the library like in some of the porn he viewed, he imagined it involving being pressed against book shelves or something like that.
He didn’t expect a library to have a section dedicated for people to make love in.
This part of Saint’s Library was half as large as the main area of the building, but it was still rather big. It was about as large as the family-owned supermarket he visited on weekends with Mom. Only, instead of grocery aisles, there were countless cube-like structures all around the room, with vine and flower patterns around them. Metallic sliding doors were visible on one side, and from what Zane could see, there was no transparency, so nobody could see in or out.
Guaranteed privacy.
“I’m so excited,” Amy kept whispering in between giggles. She and Frey radiated energies that Zane surmised was a sign of their libido rising, especially as they neared one of the cubes.
“We’ll treat you very well, don’t worry, cutie,” Frey purred. Another smooch on his cheek, making him shudder, as it finally withdrew and used its free hand to input a code on a keypad next to the door. Small beeps and boops were heard before a somewhat louder one indicated its passcode was accepted, and the door opened, allowing entry inside.
Zane was astonished at what he saw. The room had the expected Affini stylings of looking like an encapsulated garden, with one wall taken up by a massive bed with a wooden frame and blue-green patterned blankets with a fluffy appearance, which he had a solid hunch were incredibly soft, alongside dozens of pillows near the headboard. Patterns of foliage in different colors lined the walls and the floor. A large rug, also patterned with vibrant flowers, rested square in the middle of the room, part of it underneath the bedframe. The lights were dimmed, adding to the sensual atmosphere. Soft, dreamy music filled the room. A pleasant aroma was in the air, reminding him of chocolate. Nearby, a compiler unit was close, with a screen showing options for…
Lube. Dildos. Gags. Cages. And all sorts of other objects used for sex and kink.
He jumped as his big bottom was grabbed out of nowhere, and judging by how it was his left cheek getting grasped, that was Amy’s doing. Her giggling as he turned to address her was proof.
“Sorry, hun, just can’t resist when a cute boy has such a lovely butt,” the tall woman remarked playfully.
“Ah… w-well, good to know it’s liked,” he replied, still quite red-faced.
“Alright, lovepetals,” Frey announced, finally disconnecting from its paramours-to-be. It walked over to the bed, beckoning for Zane to join it. “Why don’t we start with a bit of foreplay, mm? Come on over, cute boy...~”
Zane hesitated, but Amy wouldn’t let him. She lightly pushed him forward, and he got the hint. He came closer and climbed onto the bed, setting himself next to Frey, and soon after, Amy joined them.
He was between them now. And good golly, he felt hot all over.
Frey adjusted its position, lying on its side, turning to him and gently cupping the side of Zane’s face. It made him turn toward the dark rose, who lowered its voice to a sensual purr. “What safe word do you think works best, cutie?”
Zane’s voice caught in his throat. They had barely even started, and here he was, already speechless. It was different from going nonverbal from his senses getting overwhelmed. This was the result of being so flustered and hot under the collar that the part of his brain responsible for speech was glitching out.
“Hmmm, can’t speak? That’s okay. I can suggest some, and you can give me a thumbs up for whatever you think is best.”
“We like it when cuties get speechless, it’s adorable~” Amy laughed, reaching to stroke his hair. That sent a pleasurable wave through him, making him sigh.
“Let’s see… rabbit.”
No thumb.
“Scissors.”
No.
“Exodus.”
Thumbs up.
“How fitting.~” It purred and leaned in to nuzzle him, placing a gentle kiss upon his nose. That made him shudder for certain. “Alright, our safe word is ‘exodus’.”
“Yep, ‘exodus’! And if you still can’t speak, you can snap your fingers, and we’ll put the brakes on everything, okay darlin’?”
That did a lot to put him at ease. They gave him options for both verbal and nonverbal ways of an out, should he not want it anymore. That proved to him that they cared about him beyond simple lust.
“O… okay, yeah,” Zane said finally, smiling. “You two are r-really… really nice.”
“We try our best,” Frey said kindly. “Now, why don’t we start with something nice and easy… Amy, you like having boys in your lap, don’t you?”
“Sure do! How about it, Zane?”
“A-ah… sure.”
Amy sat up all the way, legs spread to make room. The countless pillows let her rest comfortably in a seated position as she gestured for him to join her. Zane slowly, carefully made his way to her, adjusting so he was also seated with his back to Amy’s chest. She felt very soft to lean against…
Frey was quick to follow, crawling on all fours and approaching him with a gleam in its eye. Soon enough, he was caught between them again, held against Amy’s bosom while Frey took up his front.
It smiled at him, reaching to stroke his cheek. “You look like such a soft boy,” it cooed. “I absolutely adore soft boys. So sweet and lovely.~”
He let out a shuddering breath. The praise from Frey was doing numbers on his mind. He stared into its face, eyes locked with it.
“Ooh, look at him, he’s already smitten I think,” Amy giggled softly.
“I can tell.~”
“I… oh, gosh,” Zane stuttered out.
“How does a soft kiss sound, Zane?”
He remembered how Simon kissed him. A big, strong man, kissing him like a lover. Amy and Frey were likely to be similar.
“I, I like those, yeah…”
Frey closed the distance, its mouth finding his. Soft, plump lips pressed against his own, with Frey’s warm breath joining with his. He kissed back somewhat awkwardly, but Frey was able to adapt with ease, holding his face with one hand as their lips danced together. Slow, soft, passionate… his heart was all aflutter.
Amy wasn’t sitting idle either. She was using her hands on him, stroking his shoulders and arms in an affectionate manner. Her soft, delicate hands felt oh-so-good upon his body, and he was very thankful he had his body hair taken off before heading out today.
The two-pronged attack on him was really lighting his fire. He hoped they could handle his heat.
Frey eventually broke the kiss, but it didn’t retreat. It simply smiled at him, giving a quick smooch to his chin. “You can touch me, if you like. Go on…~”
“It really likes having its breasts played with,” Amy chimed in helpfully. “Sides and back too!”
“She is correct.~”
Zane was spurred on by their encouragement. His hands moved, and found themselves upon Frey’s generous bust. For a moment, he simply held its breasts, discovering just how heavy and full and squishy they were.
“Oooh… good choice,” Frey purred, moving to speak into Zane’s ear. “Play with my tits as much as you like, hon. They’re alllll yours.~”
He didn’t need to be told twice. With its go-ahead, Zane began to work his hands upon it, grasping and squeezing with care and attention. Though it had been ages since he had touched someone with a bust as big as Frey’s, he still remembered how to manipulate them to some degree, and it was thankfully a muscle memory that hadn’t departed him. Hearing Frey moan into his ear proved that he was doing something right.
“Stars, you’re so gentle, I love it. Keep going. And don’t be afraid to look at my cleavage either.”
Zane did as ordered. How could he disobey it, when it was speaking to him in such an intensely intimate and passionate fashion? His eyes were now laser-focused on the valley that was the top of Frey’s chest, and though the lighting made it a bit difficult to see, merely seeing the crevice between its mounds excited him. He continued to fondle and massage those heavenly breasts, heart starting to pound. Even through the dress it wore, he could feel its nipples starting to stiffen...
Amy took a different approach. Her hands moved downward, her right resting upon his stomach, her left… upon his crotch. That sent another surge of heat through him, moving towards his loins and stoking the growing inferno deep within.
“Mm, Zane… can I touch you there?” Amy crooned quietly.
It took a moment for Zane to what realize that question meant, and he blushed intensely. “Uh, um, uh… y-you can, but… gently.”
“Of course.~”
She had the digits of a master, it seemed. Her right hand was gently rubbing his plump belly, rolling it around in a lazy circle, while her left was applying pressure upon the crotch of his jeans. Stimulation abounded, causing blood to circulate south of his body.
He couldn’t stop himself. He let out a soft, pleasurable moan, getting distracted from touching Frey. Both of his partners in that instant knew what sound he made right away, causing both to chuckle.
“Golly, he sounds even cuter when he moans, Frey~”
“He absolutely does.”
Frey slowly pulled itself back from him, and reached behind to undo something behind it. Zane didn’t really pay attention, his focus was on Amy touching him. His arms fell down as he shuddered in her embrace, and for a moment he just stared upward, catching Amy looking upon him with tenderness in her eyes.
A soft rustling of cloth was barely heard, and then he felt a hand upon his chin, tugging his vision back down. What he saw made his heart jump.
Frey, sitting in front of him, its dress tossed aside. Now it was nude apart from a set of frilly panties on its pelvis, hiding something between its thighs. Its breasts were now freed, drooping downward via gravity, with even darker nipples adorning the ends.
“A lot of sophonts like my breasts,” it cooed, crawling towards him again. This time, Frey shifted so that its bust was right in Zane’s face, and he could feel sweat forming on his forehead. “And it seems like you’re one of them, my my… Can you use your hands and your mouth on me, cutie?”
Nodding silently, Zane made his decision. He opened his mouth, catching Frey’s right nipple between his teeth. He nibbled and sucked, breathing hotly upon Frey’s soft flesh, enveloping its nipple between his lips. His right hand went to grab hold of Frey’s left mound, resuming his desire to squeeze and grope such a perfect orb of softness.
Frey moaned oh so delightfully above him, letting out a shuddering breath. Its hand found his head, petting him affectionately. “Good boy… such a good boy.~”
Fuck…
That really got him to quiver between the pair. He couldn’t see it with his face full of boob, but he swore Amy was smirking as she said, “Would you look at that… Frey, he likes being called that.”
“Because, mm… because he is a good boy, Amy. So sweet and gentle with us.~”
Between Frey’s praise, Amy’s touches, and the taste and feel of a teat in his mouth, Zane couldn’t deny the raging inferno between his legs anymore. A bulge had begun to form in his pants, quickly forming a blatantly obvious tent, one that twitched hard as Amy kept rubbing.
“O-oh, oh my… Frey, he’s getting so hard.”
“Is he, now? That’s cute…”
No doubt about it. He had a kink for being praised. Especially if it involved “good” and “boy” in the same sentence.
His whole body trembled, and he tried to grind his hips against Amy’s touch, firmly sucking on Frey’s nipple. It felt good to do this, to wrap his mouth around something soft and pliable and sweet and…
“Zane, sweetie pie. You mind if I unzip your pants?”
He pulled his mouth off of Frey for only a second, vocalizing, “Go ahead,” before getting back into it, not wanting to stay departed from Frey for any longer.
Amy’s fingers located the button for his jeans, undoing it with ease, before tugging the zipper down. With only his underwear to keep it contained, that raging stiffie became even more obvious, straining against the soft cloth that kept it prisoner. The containment didn’t last very long before Amy opened his boxers, and…
Out sprang his shaft, standing tall and twitching firmly. He was a decent size for his age, a good five inches of length and half an inch thick. The rush of cold air made him grunt, and there was a bit of pre-cum already visible on the round, pink head. Underneath, his smooth, hairless sack was visible, clenching up against his groin in anticipation.
Amy’s hand was quick to wrap around his shaft. He promptly moaned into Frey’s chest, arousal beginning to quickly escalate inside of him. It was a feeling he hadn’t experienced in ages, and to finally feel it once more was almost overwhelming.
He swore he heard the gentle music change to something a little more energized, but still sensual. Did the room pick up on the increasing pleasure?
“Mm, lemme pull back a bit,” Frey announced. It gently tugged its nipple free, leaving Zane sputtering, a bit of drool leaking over his chin.
“Gosh, Frey, look at his cock,” he heard Amy say with glee. Frey’s eyes were cast downward… and it smirked.
“I see him, Amy. And dear me, he’s so, so pretty…”
That made him flush, another moan escaping his lips. His whole body quaked against Amy’s form, stimulation quickly building… especially as she began to stroke her hand up and down over his length.
“Pretty and soft! Stars, I think I’m in love.~”
“I think I am too.” Frey looked at him with clear passion in its gaze, and he couldn’t stop another lustful moan from leaving him. “You’re so cute when you moan for us, you know that?”
Zane could only nod his head. Pressure was building, excitement intensifying, electricity arcing through his body. He had gone speechless again, this time from pure, absolute pleasure.
“I think we might get him to cum in a minute, Frey…”
Amy was right. Any second, he was going to explode like a firework. Their efforts were bringing him close to the edge, especially as Amy was jerking him more intensely.
“Mmm… a good boy like him deserves to cum, I’d say.” Frey shifted, its breasts wobbling with the motions as it sat up, smiling. “Zane, be a dear and tell me… do you want to cum on my breasts? Or… in my mouth?”
It took a lot of willpower to not detonate immediately when he heard that second option. Zane was a grenade with its pin pulled off and his internal timer rapidly counting down towards a big explosion, and he only had seconds to react. “M-m-m-muh, muh, mouth,” Zane finally babbled out.
“Excellent.~”
“Lemme just back off then, have at it, Frey, make him gush.~”
As soon as Amy’s hand made an exit, Frey was upon him. It took hold of his shaft and smooched the tip firmly, before pushing it past its lips and into its mouth proper. Wet, velvety folds graced his length as Frey sucked him firmly, while Amy let out a lustful growl. “Cum for us, sweet boy.~”
And he did.
Zane’s entire body went stiff as a rock as he cried out in exquisite ecstasy. He trembled, his member shuddering as his essence began to surge, gushing from his tip and into Frey’s mouth. Spurt after spurt was ejected from him and into Frey, and it swallowed every last drop, lewd slurping noises filling the air as Zane’s voice filled the room with his needy moans and shaky gasps.
He lost track of time as his orgasm continued, the pleasure high temporarily blanking his brain. It wasn’t until he felt his member get exposed to the cooler air again, with Frey’s saliva around it, that he became aware that it was over.
He was limp in Amy’s embrace, all his energy spent from such a powerful climax. All he could do was sit there, sweaty, shaky, panting, unable to form a coherent sentence, much less an actual thought.
Holy fuuuuuck.
“Awww… he came so hard for you,” Amy said behind him. “So quickly, too. We did a number on him.~”
“I’ll say,” Frey remarked, wiping its mouth with the back of its hand. It leaned back in towards him again, touching his cheek and speaking quietly. “You did so well for us, honey. How do you feel after all that?”
“G… g…. g-good,” Zane grunted. “Really… really good… s-stars…”
“Mission accomplished,” Frey giggled, giving him a quick smooch on the nose. “You’re probably really tired after all that… we can stay here for a while so you can recover before Chloros picks you back up. Okay, honey?”
“T-that… that sounds… g-good.”
“Cuddle pile time,” Amy announced.
Before he knew it, he was being gently lifted up and moved around, till all three of them were laying down together. Amy had discarded her top during it, and now, she and Frey were sandwiching him between their breasts. It elicited another needy, albeit tired moan from him as he nuzzled against Frey’s cleavage, his shaking body finally starting to settle.
“I think he likes us,” he heard Frey chuckle as exhaustion began to take hold…
›TheBorderlander: chloros? Are you there?
›ChloroFeel: Hello Zane. How did the book club go?
›TheBorderlander: it went good
›TheBorderlander: had to stay another hour because Frey and Amy wanted to do stuff with me
›ChloroFeel: Your friends enjoy your presence, I can tell. Are you ready to come back?
›TheBorderlander: yeah um
›TheBorderlander: were in the after dark section of the library
›TheBorderlander: youll have to come get me
›ChloroFeel: Oh, Zane, you adorable charmer. Yes, I’ll be on my way. Just enjoy your time with them.
›TheBorderlander: :BlueHeart:
Chapter 12: Blue on the Run
Summary:
Blue storm, runnin’ on.
As Axton does his best to navigate the world of the Affini, he and his crew reminisce about a brush with danger.
No content warnings for this chapter
Notes:
First action scene in the story, and holy hell, that was a rush! Quite a contrast between the deep loving Zane got last chapter, and the action-packed thrills Axton's crew experienced on their way. Certainly makes for a bit of whiplash, but that's part of the fun, right?
There'll be more like this, Axton reminiscing on his adventures before meeting the Affini. Compared to Zane, Axton and company go through a lot more trouble, all to find the little guy. Ax is quite determined!
Next chapter will settle down a bit, but there'll be tension still. Especially since a certain plant bird will be at the helm...
Your feedback is adored!
Chapter Text
Axton was in a foul mood.
It was the next morning, and Mithrax hadn’t returned. Which meant Troy was still stars-knows-where. And while the habitation unit was ludicrously comfortable and homey, he couldn’t relax. It all felt wrong. So wrong. He kept expecting traps and surprises in this home, and so far, all he found were things that helped to make life more comfortable.
It was driving him crazy. He wasn’t usually this paranoid, but Mithrax taking his sweet time to get back for negotiation had him on edge. He had enough on his plate with not knowing Zane’s status – now he had to worry about a crewmate who he had come to care for even with Troy’s negative qualities. He’d never admit it, but he was a bleeding heart.
On top of this, he was really kicking himself for not going back to the Hyperion for his cigars. Having developed an appreciation for (and addiction to) tobacco and nicotine during the search for his brother, he was really feeling a humongous craving for one. That was impossible now, since he was certain that even if the Fortitude hadn’t left Neith’s orbit, no Affini would let them off the ship, just for something as minuscule as cigars.
So, to recap:
Headache, no cigars, stuck on an alien ship, crewmate isn’t accounted for, mother’s dead, brother still not found yet.
How the fuck did I mess this up so badly?
He grumbled as he sat at the kitchen table, sipping his coffee and biting into the admittedly amazing chocolate pancakes. Maya had managed to access something known as a “compiler”, which was able to replicate and provide just about anything and everything… including food and drink. Axton had been skeptical, but having had his first bite of the breakfast Maya whipped up with it, his doubts were assuaged immediately from how good it all was. It wasn’t hand made, yet it tasted like it was made by the finest chef in the universe.
How that was possible, he had no clue.
Amanda, Maya, and Kendra were at the table with him, conversing among themselves. They were mostly at ease, talking about how nice the place was and how wonderful the compiler happened to be. Maya showed great delight in particular – she had previously mentioned how she yearned to be a chef, but she never had the time, money, or opportunities for it. Luckily, the compiler could provide both fresh ingredients and cookware, so she could indulge in her love for culinary crafting. She was planning to make lunch and dinner later today, which did lift Axton’s spirits slightly.
Still, he couldn’t shake that negative energy. So many things were out of his control and there was nothing he could do about it except just wait it out and hope for the best. He hated this – he was a man of action, and being told “just sit on your ass and wait until something happens” was anathema to him. He could be out there, doing things, all in the name of finding Zane…
“Ax? Your food’s getting cold,” he heard Amanda point out.
He blinked, realizing he had been staring off into space while occupied with his thoughts. “Gah, sorry… just a lot on my mind,” he remarked. “Nothing to worry about, though.” He went to finish his food, and luckily it was still kind of warm instead of frigid.
The girls looked unconvinced, but thankfully they didn’t push it. Right now, he didn’t feel like engaging in word vomit over his emotions, especially on his first morning with them here on the Fortitude. He needed to stay composed, even if it hurt.
“So anyway,” Maya started again, “I was thinking I could make everyone some burgers for lunch, and then finish off with my mom’s steak recipe for dinner. Hopefully it’ll work okay with that compiler giving me stuff!”
“Well, if the pancakes are any indication,” Kendra mused in between bites, “it’ll be terrific. I haven’t had burgers in… ever, actually.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope, no jokes here. It’s been far too long and now you’re making me want them, guh…”
“If I could fast forward the clock right now I’d be making you those burgers immediately.”
“Wouldn’t that be something?”
Axton glanced out of the kitchen and into the living room of the unit, working on his pancakes. He was used to cramped, tight spaces on Accord vessels, and even the Hyperion, nice as it was, was kind of stuffy and boxed in. Having so much space to move in was unusual for him.
He turned back to look at the girls, with Amanda having said something he couldn’t catch. “Sorry, Amanda, I didn’t quite hear that.”
“Oh, I was saying, I was suddenly reminded of how we narrowly escaped the Accord when we found the lead that brought us to Neith. Not gonna lie, I still get chills thinking about how intense that was.”
Oh, yeah. He remembered now. That was a very close call…
“You all were instrumental in helping us jump away,” Axton replied. “I just wish that squad saw reason.”
“It’s the Accord, captain,” Kendra said. “You know how they are. If you’re not bending the knee and sucking their dick, you’re a traitor who needs a bullet in the skull.”
“Let a man dream, Kendra.”
“My dream involves going back to bed in my room, holy crap that bed is sooooo soft!” Maya chimed in, giggling.
He found himself agreeing with her assessment, even if it annoyed him. Turning to Amanda, he said, “Hey, remind me how that escape thing went? Memory’s a bit hazy.”
“Oh yeah! Here’s how it went down…”
Axton paced around the bridge of the Hyperion, thinking hard. The idle thrumming of the ship’s engine powering it filled in the otherwise silent room.
They had just managed to get some information as to Zane and Mom’s whereabouts. According to some of the locals on the industrial planet they were in orbit over, there were sightings of a galactic police vessel suddenly touching down one night, alongside a short, dangerously thin man with a backpack and an older, stressed-looking woman in tow being spotted.
The description of the pair matched Zane and Mom’s appearances. Especially with how haggard the man appeared to look. Allegedly, they had stayed on-world for a month, before making a hasty exit when real law enforcement of the Accord arrived. Supposedly, Zane had let slip that he and Mom were going to Neith next.
That was their next stop, then. Neith. A frontier world taken by the Affini. Riding into the jaws of death, for certain…
“Jump drive’s almost ready, Captain,” Maya told him, typing something on her console. “Give it about five minutes and we can get going.”
Axton nodded, parking himself in his captain’s seat. “Good. The sooner we leave this place, the better.”
“Ain’t the Accord a lot more prevalent in this sector?” Troy piped in over the intercom.
“Yes, but that’s because of the Compact forcing them to withdraw to places like here,” Kendra answered. “They’re losing ground really fast.”
“All the more reason to get out of-”
“Shit, Accord patrol incoming!” Amanda called out.
Axton’s heart jumped. Damn it, they were found before they were ready. Sure enough, through the cockpit, he suddenly saw two vessels the size of the Hyperion streak into view, adorned in the blue and gold of the Terran Accord.
This was going to get ugly.
The screen above the captain’s chair flickered to life, revealing a scowling woman clad in Accord grey. “You! Unregistered terran vessel! You are trespassing in Accord space without authorization! Identify yourself!”
Crap. He’d have to try and stall them.
“Captain Axton Jakobson of the Hyperion. We’re just passing through, we don’t want trouble. We’ll be out of your hair in a few minutes.”
The patrol leader growled. “No, what you’re going to do is surrender and turn yourselves in. If you’re not with the Accord, you’re with the weeds. Come peacefully and your deaths might be merciful.”
Ugh. The Accord were very quick to accuse anyone and everyone of being traitors, even if they just existed outside of their jurisdiction. Axton knew he was dealing with one of the more fanatical types and it worried him.
“We’re not armed, and we have no beef with you,” Axton answered. “This sector looks locked down as it is, I doubt-”
“Silence! Your refusal to surrender marks you as dangerous traitors! Your deaths will be swift. Pray to your gods if you have any.” The screen flickered off, putting a hard stop to the conversation.
“Captain, they’re charging weapons!” Maya announced, eyes wide. Sure enough, Axton could see energy coalescing on the wings and noses of the patrol ships. He gripped the arms of his chair tightly.
“Maya, how long until we can jump?”
“Two minutes, but if they hit us, we’ll lose the charge and have to start over!”
Dammit. Taking any hits would result in death by a thousand cuts.
“Captain, I can buy us some time, but I need to have more power to push the engines,” Amanda said, glancing over her shoulder.
“That will delay the jump charge to five minutes, but it’ll give us a chance to avoid their shots!”
Gambit time.
“Okay. Maya, divert power to ship engines by 25%. Lock jump coordinates for Neith. Amanda, do everything you can to avoid their fire. We only got one shot, so make it count.”
“Yes sir!”
“Everyone, buckle in, this is going to get rough!”
The thrumming noise intensified as Maya rerouted ship power towards the engines and boosters, allowing for greater maneuverability. Axton quickly buckled the safety belts on his seat, ensuring that he wouldn’t get flung around from how hard Amanda would need to bank. Just then, the guns of the patrol ships’ were lit up brightly, ready to fire.
“Amanda! Now!”
“On it!”
Intense inertia forced the entirety of the ship to the right, getting clear of the sudden bolts of plasma that came flying through. Having missed their target, they just kept moving into the void of space, leaving the ship unscathed.
Amanda didn’t waste time, already turning the ship and putting as much power into the engines as possible. Propulsion roared to life as the Hyperion was directed to a different course, away from its attackers. Amanda gunned it, sending the ship flying forward.
“Maya, watch the radar!” Axton ordered.
“They’re pursuing and ready to fire!”
“Hang on, guys!”
Amanda banked to the left suddenly, more energy fire surging past and missing its mark. Streams of plasma rounds began to trail after the ship, the rate of fire increasing as more shots were dispensed. Axton held onto his chair’s arms, eyeing the screen above him, letting him see the position of their pursuers. Amanda and Maya had their own screens, so everyone could keep track.
Axton was certain that if the squad leader was talking to them now, she’d be yelling at them to die in agony. Good thing she seemed more focused on the “killing you” part instead of the threats.
Amanda pulled back and send the ship flying upward, another narrow dodge, before dipping down. The Hyperion was a hunk of junk, but Amanda made her fly like it was the best ship ever made.
Perspiration formed on his forehead as the chase continued, with Amanda bobbing every which way to avoid the two enemy ships’ deadly attacks. He kept an eye on his radar, joining Maya in calling out shots to scramble out of the way from, and Amanda continued to show agility with the ship. If you told Axton she was born to pilot this thing, he wouldn’t have believed you at first. Good thing he didn’t get nausea from this, otherwise he’d have puked everywhere.
Suddenly the fire stopped.
“They’ve stopped firing plasma, but I’m detecting missiles being primed! They’ll track and hit us for sure!” Maya called out.
“Amanda, ready the chaff!”
“Got it!”
Buttons were pressed, and the tracking-scrambling chaff was prepared for dispersal. Right away, dozens of projectiles appeared on radar, labeled as the ship-obliterating missiles they were. A direct hit and they’d be toast.
›FIVE (5) MISSILES INCOMING
They were approaching rapidly, and then…
“Chaff, now!”
“Deploying!”
›CHAFF DEPLOYED, FIVE (5) CHARGES REMAINING
The radar displayed a cloud graphic behind the Hyperion, washing over the oncoming missiles. They were forced to go wildly off-course and detonate harmlessly in vacuum. The ship was equipped with a dedicated apparatus for tampering with any kind of tracking and homing, but had limited charges and needed to be refilled once they were empty. He hoped they wouldn’t run empty.
“More missiles!”
“Readying chaff again!”
›TEN (10) MISSILES INCOMING
Another countermeasure out, another foiled attempt at bringing their ship down. The missiles continued to fire, and more and more charges were spent…
›CHAFF DEPLOYED, THREE (3) CHARGES REMAINING
Clouds of fire bloomed in the void, unable to harm anyone, but more followed.
›CHAFF DEPLOYED, TWO (2) CHARGES REMAINING
Forced off-course, unable to aim true, the missiles could only become fireworks behind the Hyperion as it continued to flee.
›CHAFF DEPLOYED, ONE (1) CHARGE REMAINING
If sound could travel in space, Axton was sure those explosions would deafen him.
›CHAFF DEPLOYED, ZERO (0) CHARGES REMAINING
Another set of missiles, doomed to miss their mark. Alas...
“Fuck! Chaff is gone! Repeat, chaff is gone!” Amanda announced in alarm.
Just then, Axton saw black dots in front of the ship on the screen. Wait, was that…
“Captain, detecting asteroids up ahead, they can give us cover.”
“Amanda, take us in! We can shake them!”
“Yep! Cutting through now!”
Axton was forced back into his seat as Amanda stepped on it. He saw faint outlines and shapes in the dark of space, realizing they were the rocks in question, as Amanda deftly navigated around them, bobbing and weaving. She maneuvered the Hyperion so that the missiles would end up hitting the rocks by mistake, destroying them but leaving the ship unharmed.
›FIVE (5) MISSILES INCOMING
“Keep going! Don’t stop!” Axton barked.
He glanced at the bottom of the radar, and saw that of the two patrol ships chasing them, one suddenly disappeared, as if something took it out.
“Captain, one of the Accord ships is gone! One of the asteroids took it down!” Maya informed him.
Axton nodded. One less thing to worry about.
›THREE (3) MISSILES INCOMING
As Amanda continued to roll and swerve away from certain death, the captain addressed his engineer. “Maya, status on jump charge?”
“One minute! We can jump away as soon as it’s ready!”
More fiery blasts in the void as the seekers collided with spinning rocks. Yet the remaining Accord patrol ship continued its pursuit, determined to make Axton’s crew die an agonizing death in space.
No chance that was happening.
“We’re leaving the asteroid field! We don’t have anything to divert their attacks!”
›ONE (1) MISSILE INCOMING
“Shit… Amanda?”
“Don’t worry, I got an idea!”
He felt the ship lurch towards the right as Amanda rolled it around, and though they changed direction, that singular rocket-propelled explosive ordinance wasn’t giving up so easily. It followed the Hyperion like a predator, determined to score a kill.
Observing the radar, Axton twigged to what Amanda’s plan was. She was approaching the remaining patrol ship, with the missile still hot on their trail. Was she…
“Maya, time to jump?”
“Fifteen seconds!”
“Get ready to hit it on my go!”
He couldn’t see from here, but he was certain Amanda was sweating literal bullets as she was doing all she can to keep ahead of that deadly ordinance.
“Ten seconds!”
It felt like forever. Axton’s hands were holding his chair’s arms so tightly the knuckles were turning white.
“Five seconds!”
They were about to collide shortly. This was going to be very tight.
“Three! Two! ONE!”
“DO IT!”
Lights out, bootlickers.
Maya input the command, and the entirety of the Hyperion shuddered as it forced open a hole in reality, quickly rushing through. In its wake, the hole closed shut, leaving empty space… and doing nothing to stop that missile from going straight back to sender.
›TARGET DESTROYED
“Now that was absolutely amazing. If it were any other pilot, we’d have been dead. You’re an absolute rockstar, Amanda.”
“Aw, thanks, Ax!” his pilot replied with a charming giggle. “If I’m being honest, I was screaming on the inside, but I didn’t wanna scare y’all, so I forced myself to stay cool.”
“A++ for that,” Axton said, finishing his food. By then everyone was full, as in, actually full, instead of just “good enough” like with the usual amounts of food they had. Despite being just pancakes with chocolate, they were surprisingly filling.
Axton glanced at his plate for a moment, before looking over at the kitchen counter. Despite having a stove for putting cookware on and a sink to wash off in, he didn’t see any soap or disposal. Hell, there weren’t any trash cans.
Maya must have caught his confusion, because she chimed in with, “Hey, I think the compiler can get rid of the plates for us if we put them back in.”
Axton tilted his head at her. “What, it can magically vaporize porcelain too?”
“I mean, if it can make it out of thin air, then maybe!”
How does any of this make sense…
Maya gathered the plates and cutlery, and went over to place it into the compiler’s construction bay. Once her arms were clear, she pressed a button, and suddenly the dirty plates and utensils were quickly vaporized, leaving only empty space where they once were.
Axton stared. It really could make up and break down anything…
“How the-”
A knocking noise could be heard from afar. It was coming from the front door. It was followed up by a familiar voice.
“Hellooooo! It’s Mithrax! You cuties awake in there?”
Ugh, again with the pet names. Axton felt like he was going to pop a blood vessel with how much they were being used.
Glancing at his crew, he stood out of his chair, calling out, “Yeah, we’re up, we just finished breakfast. Mind opening the door?”
“Sure can! Just a second!”
Axton beckoned for the girls to follow him, and at once they moved, staying close behind him. The front door opened, revealing Mithrax standing there, but with a different shape now. His bulky torso hadn’t changed, but the numerous root legs he started with were now just two big, thick appendages with mushroom-covered thighs and feet. He was grinning in a charming fashion as he greeted the crew.
“Hello, hello! Good to see you, early risers! How was your meal?”
Axton folded his arms, frowning up at the big fungus. “Just fine. What do you want?”
He noticed that there was a distinct absence of his dumbass crewmate within Mithrax’s body. So Troy was still gone. Damn it.
“I did some smooth talking with Captain Rift, and they told me we can get your negotiation for independence started right away, if you like!” Mithrax’s positive energy continued to radiate without bounds, and Axton had to resist the urge to smile. He wasn’t going to just let this guy force him to be happy.
“Good. Maybe I can get them to see some sense. And where the hell is Troy? He should be with us too.”
Mithrax waved some vines around dismissively. “Oh, don’t worry your little head about it. I’m just his warden now, and I’ll be taking care of him. He may be adorable, but he’s clearly got some issues that need to be worked on. He’ll be just fine!”
“That was not part of the agreement,” Axton snarled, fists balling up.
Mithrax held his vines up in response. “I’m sorry, it’s not in my power to decide what happens to you. It’s up to Captain Rift. Please understand, it’s just how things work here.”
Fucking dammit.
Axton put a palm over his face, sighing loudly, before looking back at the fungal Affini. “Ugh, fine. Just take us to Dynine, then. The faster this crap is dealt with, the better.”
“Can do! Just follow me, cuties~!”
As he and the Hyperion crew filed out to follow him, Axton found his craving for a cigar was getting really strong right then. And once more he cursed himself for getting into this situation.
Chapter 13: Work It Out
Summary:
We all need to remember that nothing in this world comes for free.
Negotiations for independence are underway. Unfortunately for Axton, it doesn’t quite go how he expects it to.
Content warnings: Brief affini hypnosis, mention of domestication, description of health issues
Notes:
Dynine's a really intimidating plant, aren't they? Don't worry, they're perfectly benevolent! ... as long as you're a good little sophont~
Another chapter longer than usual, and despite it being fairly chill, I know I felt rather excited to write it. Dynine's a character I'm having lean into the more sinister, scary side of the Affini Compact with. They will absolutely help you... and they don't care if you object, you WILL have their help. You WILL feel better. You have no choice.
Anyway!
Axton's really in it now. Can he navigate it? Let's hope so!
Your feedback and love fuels me as usual <3
Chapter Text
“Mister Jakobson, you mentioned wanting a cigar, right?”
“Not that it’s really any of your business, but yeah. I left my collection back on the Hyperion. Still feel stupid over that. I would kill for any kind of tobacco right now.”
“Hmm, I see. Just a second…”
“What are you doing, Mithrax?”
“Tada! Here you go!”
“...is this real?”
“Sure is! Well, kinda. We don’t allow actual smoking or anything like that, but for those with addictions to it, we have alternatives to both satisfy cravings and heal damage as a result in the process. All without any form of fire or ash!”
“And you’re absolutely sure this doesn’t have any of your ‘xenodrugs’ or whatever?”
“Correct. It contains ingredients that simulate that of tobacco and nicotine, fulfilling the craving, but avoiding addiction. It also has an agent that will work to repair damage to the lungs, throat, and mouth over the course of a few days. Plus, instead of noxious smoke, it just produces water vapor! Perfectly safe.”
Axton stared at the cigar-shaped object held in Mithrax’s outstretched hand and frowned.
As much as he desperately yearned for the feel of rolled up tobacco in his mouth and soothing smoke entering his lungs, he was still on-guard around the Affini. If they can casually restrain people and make them into “wards” with complete disregard for their opinion, he doubted they’d be be above sneaking drugs or other crap into things like this.
Yet, looking at the thing, it was practically calling his name. Shaped exactly like he expected, but instead of a brown casing held with a gold band, it was a dark green thing with a tapered point on one end, and a lightly glowing blue… thing on the other end. A pleasant scent emanated from it faintly.
He glanced up at Mithrax, giving him a skeptical look. The mushroom man simply smiled back, and though he was a giant alien, Axton could sense some sort of honesty in that face.
“Fine,” Axton muttered, taking it. He reflexively went to get his lighter, and paused as he remembered he left that on the Hyperion as well. Grunting in annoyance, he took the smaller end of the plant-cigar and put in his mouth, taking a puff.
Where he expected smoke, there was instead a cool, pleasant rush of air into his mouth and sinuses. As it entered his lungs, he was surprised that instead of a mild burning sensation in his chest that would give way to relaxation… only the relaxation came. No burning, no smoke. Just a strangely nice feeling in his chest and mouth as he inhaled the cigar’s contents. When he took it out of his mouth and exhaled, he saw that just wispy trails of vapor left him, not smoke.
It objectively was not tobacco, he knew it. But it tasted exactly like it. He’d have mistaken it for just a really nice cigar at first glance.
He waited a second for any adverse reactions. So far, nothing, aside from realizing he could breathe a little more clearly. He looked at the glowing blue end, a little perplexed by the lack of ash or otherwise spent material.
“...okay, I’m convinced,” he said after a moment, earning a grateful smile from Mithrax.
The morning was off to a slightly better start now. Mithrax had led them into a rather large meeting room elsewhere on the ship, and the first thing that Axton noticed about it was that, around the large table in the middle, there were tall chairs… but all the Affini present chose to stay standing. He surmised the chairs were purely for non-Affini.
The meeting room slightly differed from the rest of the ship. While it still had some Affini stylings like patterns of plants and trees along the walls, it was otherwise mostly flawless, smooth silver paneling everywhere, with a pitch black floor. The table was also silver, the chairs having black seats and shiny legs.
Given the height of the chairs, it would have been impossible to climb them safely, which meant the only way he and his crew could be seated was with the help of Mithrax. The girls didn’t seem to mind, but Axton could not hide his disapproval of it. Mithrax took it in stride, even with Axton cursing under his breath as the big man lifted them all into the chairs and scooted them in for them.
On one end, Axton saw Dynine, flanked by their seconds. The captain of the Fortitude still had a hungry gleam in their eyes that seemed to only manifest when they locked eyes with Axton for brief moments, which unsettled him. Thankfully they didn’t seem interested in pulling anything like the crap they did earlier.
Once everyone was seated, Dynine was the first to speak.
“Welcome, welcome, faces old and new. We are here to discuss negotiation of independence for the crew of the terran vessel, Hyperion. As always, I am your illustrious Captain Dynine Rift, 19th Bloom, they/them, of the Fortitude, and beside me are Janiks Toria, 3rd Bloom, she/her, and Kalis Numar, 4th Bloom, he/it. We will hear your case and consider if you qualify for independence aboard the Fortitude, or if assistance is necessary. Now, please state your identities, and we can begin.”
Axton sat up a little, holding the plant cigar in his hand as he spoke. “Captain Axton Jakobson of the Hyperion, he/him. Beside me are Amanda Smith, Kendra Wong, and Maya McHearth, all she/her. Accompanying us today is Mithrax Mardum, 18th Bloom, he/they. I would be joined by one more, Troy Carver, he/him, but he’s apparently Mithrax’s ward now. So he’s not able to be here today.”
The two Affini flanking Dynine glanced at the Hyperion crew, taking notes on large tablets, before turning to their own captain. Dynine simply smiled, taloned hands clasped together.
“Splendid, splendid. If there’s nothing else to say, we may begin in earnest. First, let me state that it is an honor to represent my side of the discussion, and to speak to such delightful sophonts. Especially you, Captain Jakobson.”
Axton willed his body to stay still and ignore the bolt of anger that rose in him. He was getting very sick of the pet names and shit. He was a grown man, not a child. Infantilizing him like this did not endear him to them… but he had to avoid hostilities. This was their world, so he had to play by their rules.
“Right… well, it’s an honor to be here on the Fortitude, with such… uh… gracious hosts,” he said a little awkwardly.
Dynine chuckled softly, that smile growing wider. Axton swore they were a predator sizing him up, and it sparked a twinge of primal fear, which he forced back down. No. Can’t show weakness against these weeds. None at all. They would pounce on it.
“So polite!” Dynine remarked, clapping their hands. “Now then, with pleasantries out of the way… Captain Jakobson. Please state your reasoning for coming aboard the Fortitude willingly, and your motive for desiring independence.”
Not quite willingly, but just enough to work.
“My crew and I are looking for my younger brother, Zane Jakobson, he/him. We’ve been searching for him and my mother, Minerva Jakobson, she/her, for a long time. Our last lead brought us to Neith, where…”
He paused, swallowing. It really hurt to bring it up, but he had to, just to make sure Dynine would understand. The avian plant said nothing, merely tilting their head and giving him room to speak.
“...where we found my mother’s grave, and Zane nowhere to be found. We suspect that he’s already either left the planet, or was found by someone else. Regardless, Mithrax here has said that he and the rest of the Fortitude will be willing to help us find my brother. At the same time, we have no interest in staying here for longer than is necessary. This is strictly a temporary alliance. As soon as we locate Zane and confirm he’s alive and safe, we plan to leave the ship and go back to Thypso.”
“And how do you propose we assist you?” Dynine inquired.
“Well, you stomped the Terran Accord and won, so clearly you can cover a lot of ground all over the galaxy. And you sure know a lot more than I can imagine. If he’s still out on his own, he can’t have gotten far. He might still be on Neith somewhere, or maybe a different Affini vessel found him before you got here. If you can pinpoint his location and bring him to us, we can take over from there and get him home.”
He took a drag from the strange plant-made cigar Mithrax gave him, and found that his focus was feeling a little sharper after he exhaled. “For what it’s worth, I sincerely apologize for Troy having attacked Mithrax here. He’s always been a reckless idiot, and I had thought he would obey my orders to hold his fire, but he ignored me. His actions are his own and do not reflect on us.”
Dynine turned to Kalis for a moment, who faced them and said nothing, yet Axton got the sense they were saying something he couldn’t hear. Dynine looked back at him and spoke, “Apology accepted. We understand that even great leaders can’t completely control their subordinates if they’re determined to act out. That said, for the time being, Troy is to remain a ward of Mithrax until it is absolutely certain that he can behave himself while he’s here.”
Axton gripped the cigar a little firmly. Why won’t they let me discipline him for his dumbassery?
“That aside… for you to be considered independent, there are three qualifiers you must fulfill. To do so, you will have to discuss your recent history, motivations, thoughts, and other behavior to determine your status among us,” Dynine said.
Axton frowned. Did they mean he’d have to discuss his personal life just to be granted independence? These weeds were super invasive…
“Alright, let’s hear those qualifiers.”
“Excellent. First, we must ask if any of you are at risk of harming yourselves or others. This is the biggest one – we value the physical and mental well-being of all sophonts under our care. If we have cause to believe you or your companions are liable to cause harm to themselves or each other, independence will be impossible to attain.”
Axton leaned back, blowing vapor from his mouth. The girls and Mithrax were looking at him as he spoke, “Well, we all know Troy failed that one miserably. Not much I can do about that except hope he improves. But the rest of us? We’re pretty tight-knit and close. None of us would dream of hurting a hair on each other’s heads. The only times we employed violence was against people actively trying to kill us, like the Terran Accord. Otherwise, it’s like this – you don’t mess with us, and we don’t mess with you.”
Dynine nodded, and Kalis and Janiks jotted that down. “Excellent. You are off to a very good start, Captain Jakobson. Now, for the second qualifier…”
As Dynine briefly conversed with their seconds, Axton felt something touching his back. Assuming it to be Mithrax, he idly shoved the vine off of him, not letting the big guy distract him. Fungus man needs to back off.
“...during your stay here, although you may have independence, the Affini Compact will do everything in its power to render assistance beyond information on your brother’s whereabouts. We will provide more than just food and drink, we will also supply services for mental health counseling, medical care, and other amenities to ensure your livelihoods are improved. Please tell me any issues you or your crew have, both mentally and physically, and we will do our best to assist. Accepting aid will also go a long way to proving your independence, as it proves you’re willing to recognize your suffering and seek help.”
Axton leaned forward, looking at them skeptically. “Do we have to pay for any of it? I mean, I know the food and stuff is free, but surely your medical care has to be expensive. I got credits to spare-”
He suddenly grunted as he felt that vine against him again, and swatted it away, refusing to acknowledge Mithrax.
“...and I’m willing to pay it.”
At this, Dynine laughed, as if he had told the best joke ever. “Ohohoho! Oh, Captain Jakobson, you are hilarious. There is no need for the exchange of currency in the Compact. The system you call ‘capitalism’ has no place here. Everything provided here will be absolutely free, no questions asked.”
Axton squinted at that. “How’s that supposed to work? Nothing ever comes for free, I’ve learned that a long time ago.”
“Then you’d do well to unlearn it,” Dynine said simply. “But we’re getting off-track.” They spared a glance at the girls, continuing, “If you or your crewmates have problems of any sort – physical illnesses, mental health disorders, and similar – you will need to let us address them and provide aid as necessary. No sophont will be allowed to suffer under our watchful eyes. You will be given the finest healthcare, I promise you.”
Axton looked at Maya, Kendra, and Amanda, who seemed calm, but he could tell they were nervous. He had to assure them. “It’s okay, you can speak for yourselves,” he said kindly.
They all nodded, and his engineer, was the first to speak. “Hey, um, it’s Maya. I have really bad liver damage from a life of alcoholism. I’ve been sober for three years, but I deal with regular bouts of nausea and weakness. My medication keeps it in check, but I left it back on the Hyperion. I can probably go without it for another day or so, but…”
“Solved,” Dynine said abruptly. “Next please.”
Now his medical officer. “I’m Kendra. I’m clinically blind and require prescription lenses to see. A few years ago I caught a disease from one planet’s local wildlife, and though I recovered, it occasionally resurfaces in the form of making my legs temporarily weak. It makes walking difficult during those times. I can get by with a cane or wheelchair when it strikes.”
“Also perfectly fixable. Coincidentally, we’ve had an influx of sophonts who have displayed mobility issues, so you’ll be seen to especially quickly. Who else?”
Pilot next. “Hey, Amanda here. I got issues with my heart where it occasionally speeds up or slows down more than it should. It stays normal if I’m in a high stress situation, like if I’m piloting and need to get away from danger, but any other time, I risk it getting really out of whack. My meds are still on the Hyperion, which is a real pain, but it’s stayed pretty stable recently. I also have issues with heartburn.”
“That’s quite easy to deal with. Now… Captain Jakobson.” Dynine centered their gaze upon him, and suddenly he felt significantly smaller than he really was. He swallowed his anxiety, refusing to let it get to him.
“Well… no way to miss that I’m a smoker, right?” he said casually, taking another drag and blowing the vapor out of his mouth. “Obviously my lungs are banged up from it. I also have to deal with really intense nightmares, which can make it hard to sleep for more than a few hours. A lot of it’s due to my upbringing, which, for the record, I don’t intend on disclosing to the Affini right away. No offense. But that’s it for me. I’m sure you can fix that too.”
More note taking from Dynine’s assistants. Probably already putting together treatments for his crew’s illnesses. “I see, I see. No need to speak for Troy, however, we already know what he has, so that’s redundant.”
Before they could continue, Axton felt that stars-damned vine prodding him again. Growling in irritation, he turned around to face the mushroom man. “Stars-dammit, Mithrax, would you knock that shit o-”
He stopped. Mithrax’s vines were nowhere near him. The big guy looked surprised that he was addressed so rudely. “Hey… that’s mean, I’m not doing anything,” Mithrax said in a quiet voice.
He froze. If Mithrax wasn’t touching him, then who the hell was? He slowly turned back around, and discovered Dynine was looking at him with an unreadable expression… eyes slightly widened.
He forced himself to relax, realizing his blunder. “Apologies. I’ve been a stress volcano since my dad died, then finding my mom gone too. But I can still say that as long as you help us find my brother, we’ll cause no trouble.”
Dynine tented their fingers together, gazing at the elder Jakobson brother with clear intent. He couldn’t discern it, which made him freak out internally. He stared back, determined to show defiance.
“Regardless, this leads me to the third and final qualifier for independence. That is to say… accepting your place in the Compact. Whether or not you realize it, the Terran Accord is no more. Your old politics and laws no longer apply. Your political rights and autonomy are very limited now that the Human Domestication Treaty has been signed. Suffice to say, while you are in our care, you will submit to our authority.”
Axton stared at them. Human Domestication Treaty? He had heard rumblings about that, but never knew what it was called until now. He suddenly felt nervousness well in his gut. It was enough that his free hand was slightly shaking as Dynine continued.
“The Treaty itself is quite long, and it will take far too much time for your liking to read through in its entirety, I gather. So let me simplify its key points: accept the Compact in your lives, behave yourself accordingly, and your independence is achieved. If you give us any reason to believe you are leading an unhappy life, or are a danger to others, you will be considered for therapy, wardship, or domestication.”
Axton couldn’t stop himself from quivering. These stars-damned weeds were just… straight up telling him to submit to them as their alien overlords? No way in hell. Call it cliché, but he had a heart of freedom in his chest, and he wasn’t going to lose it to some overgrown plant monsters. If he could, he’d just walk out of here and tell them all to go fuck themselves.
Still, it was very tempting to just submit. They could work miracles, and they were willing to help him find his brother. Was this a price he was willing to pay in order to save his family from being snuffed out forever?
“This concludes the three qualifiers for independence.” Dynine glanced over at Mithrax for a moment. “Mithrax, do you have any input?”
The fungal giant that was Mithrax perked up as he was addressed, and he smiled, standing up straighter. “Oh, yeah! Well, you already know how I feel, but for the sake of the case, I will say that I like this crew a lot! Troy’s fun, even if he’s a squirrelly sort. And the girls like me back too! And Axton here’s quite a fun guy once you get past his grouchy exterior!”
Axton turned to glare at Mithrax, saying nothing, and only getting a dopey smile in reply.
“Very well. Captain Jakobson, do you have anything to add before we conclude?”
He turned back around, and folded his arms, cigar in his mouth. He blew another puff, now looking at Dynine with a flat expression. “Nope. Nothing else to say. It all sounds alright to me.”
“Understood. Allow me to convene with my seconds for a moment, please.”
Axton tried to hide it, but he was failing. He was nervous. Dynine was making him nervous. They were casually demanding he and his crew submit to their rule, or risk… whatever domestication meant. Merely hearing the word filled Axton with dread. It sounded very ominous and he realized Troy was probably in a heap of shit.
The girls were looking at him with concern. Mithrax had drawn closer, gently touching Axton’s shoulder. “Mister Jakobson, are you alright? You’re trembling…”
“I’m fine,” he lied, turning to address Mithrax. “I’m sorry for that outburst earlier. Just… this is a lot to take in.”
“Oh, I know, that’s the usual reaction. But I can tell you’re scared.”
“Mithrax, please, I don’t need you psychoanalyzing me right now,” Axton grunted, narrowing his eyes at the Affini. “Honestly, I just want to get out of here and get back in bed.”
“There’s nothing to fear at all, believe me. All of us have the same goal, and that’s making sure you live happy and healthy lives! Trust me, when you see Troy again, you’ll know I’m right, he’s improving by leaps and bounds!”
“You are literally stressing me out more and more with every word,” Axton said bitterly. “Can you-”
“Your attention, please.”
Axton shut up and quickly moved to face Dynine now. Their face bore an expression that looked… very smug. And hungry.
Bad signs.
“The crew of the Hyperion have proven their qualification for independence under the Affini Compact. Henceforth, you will be granted safety, care, and a home aboard the Fortitude. All of you will cared for according to your needs. We are pleased to have you with us in our journey across the cosmos.”
Axton sighed, slumping in his chair. Okay, that was very tense. Now he could relax. “Alright. Thank you, Captain Rift. What’s next?”
“Your crewmates are free to go. Mithrax, could you show them the way to the veterinarian? I would prefer that they be looked at as soon as possible while I speak with Captain Jakobson for a moment.”
“Sure can! Come on, cuties, it’ll be a good time!” Mithrax replied eagerly. He beckoned them to follow with his vines, and though Axton wanted to object, he felt it would fall on deaf ears.
The girls looked at him, with Amanda showing some worry in particular. He waved her off, saying, “Go on, I’ll catch up. Ping me if you need me, okay?”
“You got it, Ax.”
Soon, it was just him in the room now, with three Affini gazing upon him. He swallowed, willing himself to remain still as stone.
“Did I fail the qualifications or something?” Axton asked, furrowing his brow.
Dynine laughed, waving a dismissive vine. “Oh, not at all! In fact, you passed with flying colors, same as your companions.”
“Then why am I still here?”
“It’s quite simple. Kalis, would you please?”
The one named Kalis walked around and approached, and when it drew close, it placed a slip of paper and a pen in front of Axton, before retreating back to its place beside Dynine. He quirked an eyebrow and picked up the paper in his hand, and felt his eyes become wide as dinner plates when he read the headline:
Sophont Mental Health Counseling Submission Form
“...what the hell is this?” Axton growled, looking back up.
“I did not lie when I said you achieved independence, Axton,” Dynine said, leaning forward. “I also did not lie when I said that you must accept our aid in any and all capacity. This is one such form of it.”
“I don’t need therapy,” he countered. “I’m fine.”
“No you are not.”
Again, he was snatched by an unseen appendage, one that made him rock back in his chair. He gasped, eyes wide, feeling like he got yanked back by a rope around his chest. Mercifully, it faded quickly, letting him slump back forward to steady himself on the table.
“You can lie to us all you wish, Axton, but we all know that you are not fine at all. In fact, I imagine you’re one bad day away from crumbling completely. As such, while your crewmates’ mental health is stable, yours needs to be worked on. We will assign you a therapist to work through your issues and help you heal whatever is afflicting you so badly.”
The captain of the Hyperion felt great rage ignite inside his heart. He hadn’t expected them to force their help on him like this, and it was sending his indignation into overdrive. “Yeah? And how do I know you’re not just gonna, I dunno, stick your vines in my brain and make me something I’m not?”
Dynine’s voice was firm, undaunted. They clearly didn’t see him as a threat. If anything, he may have seemed like a gnat to them. “Our mission is to bring peace and safety to other species we come across. Our methods vary, but in the end, every single sophont we’ve brought under our wing has benefited from our aid in one way or another.”
“Yeah, but that relies on me signing this form, right?” he said, grabbing the paper and waving it about. “So if I don’t sign it, then no therapy is needed, since I’m clearly of-”
“Wrong.”
Again, his whole body went rigid, and he found himself unable to think properly. Dynine’s visage was all-encompassing, boring into his brain and locking him in place, preventing him from doing anything except sit there in a trance.
“You are hurting, Axton. And you will continue to be hurting, unless we help you. You need our benevolence, regardless of your feelings on the matter.”
His heart was thumping a tattoo against his ribs as he struggled to speak, but Dynine continued. “So, if you’re a good boy… you will sign the form. Now.”
Their invisible grip suddenly released him, and he felt everything rushing back. He gasped, holding his chest with his free hand and trying to steady himself.
Dynine said nothing as Axton struggled to process this. They would not accept no for an answer. It was killing him inside to realize that there was no way out of this. Was there ever?
Before he did, though, he took a moment to sit up, panting. “If… I do sign it… that guarantees my independence with the crew, right?”
Dynine, thankfully, changed their stoic face into a pleased, relaxed expression. “Absolutely, darling. Keep in mind, we are not in the business of causing pain. We focus on relieving it. What do you say?”
He hesitated for a moment. “Okay, okay, just… can I read over it first?”
“Oh, of course. Take your time.”
He held up the form and scanned it with his eyes. Thankfully, unlike a lot of other documents he’s had to work with, there was a lack of technical jargon or other legal babble that would make his already strained mind melt just trying to comprehend it.
If he signed this, he’d be signing his life away to the Compact. Damning his soul to whatever horrors they had in store, claiming it to be for his own good. If he refused, they’d just force it on him anyway. If he accepted… there was still a chance of getting out of this. Maybe.
Stars, why is this so fucking difficult?
“Made a decision yet?” Dynine chimed with a smug laugh.
Axton ignored them, and stared at the form.
He looked at it for a minute, hesitation having a hold of him.
Please don’t make me regret this…
Sign Your Name Below
I, Axton Jakobson, agree to be assigned a mental health specialist as an independent citizen of the Affini Compact. I confirm I sign this of my own free will.
Chapter 14: Absolution
Summary:
If you were able, would you go change the past?
Axton goes to therapy. He hates it. Even if it works.
Content warnings: Non-consensual xenodrugging, therapy session, discussion of familial abuse, emotional breakdown
Notes:
Oof, another emotional one... but just like Zane needed Chloros giving her love, Axton needs therapy, no matter how much he complains about it. And thankfully, he's got the perfect counselor!
I notice I feel compelled to bang out a chapter when it involves dealing emotional damage to my characters. Especially ones that try to act strong, but are devastated inside. Just makes it all the more bittersweet for them to finally admit that they're hurting and need help. And the Affini can provide help in spades! And needles. And drugs. And hugging.
I know I might be risking burnout with posting chapters so quickly, but... dang it, I wanna write! And I feel compelled! Don't worry, I am indeed pacing myself and taking care of my own needs.
(insert love for feedback here)
Chapter Text
›WongNumber: Test
›WongNumber: okay chat room is up, everyone here?
›WenchOfWrenches: im here!!!
›AceDefiant: I’m here too
›WongNumber: okay so that leaves just the captain
›WongNumber: while we wait for him, how’s everyone doing?
›AceDefiant: pretty good! Heart’s feeling kinda better with the meds the vet gave me
›AceDefiant: still feels really weird to call their doctors “vets” though.
›WenchOfWrenches: yeah, kinda feels condescending, but they’ve been super nice and friendly
›WongNumber: they may not have a word for ‘doctor’ in their language and this is the closest approximation for it
›WenchOfWrenches: meh, as long as they fix my fired up liver, I’m a happy camper
›WenchOfWrenches: ...wait, I swear I wrote something crasser than fire
›WongNumber: oh… do they have a profanity filter?
›AceDefiant: oh troy is gonna HATE that, the man’s mouth is so filthy im surprised he hasnt had tons of soap bars jammed into his throat before ax hired him
›WongNumber: maybe he already did and that’s why he’s a dummy
›WongNumber: ...alright, that’s going to be annoying
›WaywardSun: Hey.
›WenchOfWrenches: captain!!!! :D
›AceDefiant: hey ax, glad to see you, how’s it? <3
›WaywardSun: Not great. Apparently they’re making me go to therapy after yesterday.
›WongNumber: really? They won’t let you decline?
›WaywardSun: I mean, I probably could, but they’d have forced it on me anyway. So in an hour they want me to meet some new plant person to discuss my issues.
›AceDefiant: you don’t want to do it?
›WaywardSun: I don’t feel all that great telling them about my bogdirt, so I know I’m gonna hate it.
›WaywardSun: Oh, don’t tell me they have a filter for profanity…
›WongNumber: afraid they do, captain
›WaywardSun: Frost me. Okay. Well, regardless, I’m gonna have to go see some shrink today. This is stupid.
›AceDefiant: hope it goes well! You know we’re here for you, ax
›WaywardSun: I appreciate that, sincerely. Just… stay safe, okay? There’s still a lot of unknowns here and trying to wrap my head around it all is exhausting.
›WenchOfWrenches: we’ll be okay!!!
›WongNumber: yeah don’t sweat it, Mithrax is available if we need him
›WaywardSun: If he does anything wrong, let me know immediately. Still don’t trust the Affini yet, no matter what they say.
›AceDefiant: can do! You stay safe as well, youre not alone in this ax
›WaywardSun: Thank you. I’ll talk later, I need to head out.
›AceDefiant: bye!
›WongNumber: have a good day
›WenchOfWrenches: good luck!!!!
The extremely comfortable chair and pleasant atmosphere of the room did absolutely nothing to make Axton feel relaxed. Not even having another of those plant cigars Mithrax gave him a stack of helped. Nor did his new, oddly comfortable dark clothes from the compiler.
The captain of the Hyperion sat with his arms folded as he glared at the large, dark green and crimson clad xeno on the chair opposite of him. He wondered if he was going to encounter an Affini who wasn’t a colossus.
The Affini before him peered at him through a pair of opaque, circular glasses. She was only a little bit shorter than the average Affini, which still made her quite massive compared to him. She sat in a much larger chair, her vine-composed body structured to resemble that of a huge woman clad in garments with “fur” around the neck and wrists. But in place of fur, there were rings of flowers, of various colors. The Affini herself looked a little easier on the eyes, due to her face seeming to lack the strange wooden masks other Affini bore on their heads… though, she was lacking a mouth, so it was difficult to read any expressions she made, especially with her glasses on. Her ‘hair’ was very long, created from vines and plant material and resting over her chest, with only a single rose adorning the left side of her head.
The room was uncannily inviting. He expected having to go to the office of the “veterinarian”, but no, they told him to go to the hab unit of some other Affini who specialized in in-person therapy. It reminded him of one of those cabins you might find out in the woods during winter – made of logs, covered in snow, but holding a glowing hearth and the promise of safety from a blizzard. The walls looked like they were made of logs and wood, but he knew it was all fake. Shelves lined the walls, full of various books and literature. Doors leading to other rooms were visible, and to his left was something mimicking that of a fireplace. Though, instead of an actual roaring fire, there was just a display screen showing such… yet he felt warmth from it like it was real, and heard the crackling of burning wood being simulated. Supposedly the Affini hated fire, but this one, at least, set the atmosphere by pretending to have a roaring hearth. Between them was a very large table, one set mercifully low enough for a terran to place things on. Upon it were two glasses of clear water, the one for her looking far larger.
“Hab unit, begin recording audio.” The therapist leaned back in her seat, tapping something on her pad, before finally speaking. “Alright, dear. For posterity, please state your identity and purpose for attending this therapy session, then we can begin.”
Axton sighed, blowing vapor out as he tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “Axton Jakobson, he/him, captain of the terran vessel Hyperion. I’m here only because I was told by Captain Dynine Rift of the Fortitude that I needed mental health counseling. I absolutely hate the idea, but I’m not allowed to decline, so… here I am.”
She nodded, taking notes again, before she replied. “Welcome, Axton. I am Kabr Clipse, 3rd Bloom, she/it. I am your assigned mental health counselor for the duration of your stay on the Fortitude. While you are here, I am tasked with assessing your mental state and hopefully healing whatever traumas and pains you may have as a result of your experiences.”
“Even if I don’t want to?” Axton found himself saying, agitation in his voice.
Kabr looked at him, and he was glad that her eyes were covered by those glasses. He wondered what would happen if she removed them and made eye contact uninhibited. “It may not be what you want, but it’s what you need. As a reminder, the objective of the Compact is to bring peace and stability to all other species we encounter, with this being one such method. Trust me when I say that you will appreciate it when we’re finished.”
“Whatever… but can I say one thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“You people have a thing against profanity. Which, I won’t lie, is extremely annoying and distracting.”
“Yes, we believe profanity is uncouth. That said… would you feel more comfortable if you could use obscenities?”
“You’ll let me?”
“I will have to edit them out afterward, but if that will help you stay at ease, then yes. You are allowed to swear. But try not to do it too much.”
“Fucking thank you,” Axton said forcefully, feeling a whole lot of tension disperse in that instant. “My crew and I have the mouths of sailors, so to be told I can’t do that is like being told I’m not allowed to eat food even when I’m starving.”
“I see.” Another few taps, then she lowered her pad. “Very well. Are there any other questions you wish to ask?”
He thought about it. Nothing sprang to mind. He had already picked up some food on the way here, so he wasn’t hungry. The cigars Mithrax gave him would work to keep him relaxed a little. Letting him swear would also be a boon, since it’d mean he’d be able to express himself properly instead of being forced to be polite to people he didn’t give a rat’s ass about. And while he still feared for his crew’s safety, knowing Amanda, Maya and Kendra were just a tap away certainly helped.
“No… I think that’s it.”
“Very good. In that case, our session can officially begin. Remember, part of this healing requires you to be honest both to me and yourself. Now... I will ask you one question: how are you feeling at this moment?”
He wasn’t certain if she meant that honestly, or if it was just a routine she did on auto-pilot. Kind of like a retail employee going through the motions. Still, she seemed to care… even if they only knew each other for a few minutes.
“Right now? I’m pretty damn pissed.” He shifted in his seat to get comfortable. “I’m supposed to be out there, searching for my brother, and you said you’d help, but it feels like I’m just wasting my time on nonsense. Every second I spend here is another second that my brother is out there, alone and afraid.”
“That’s understandable.” Tap, tap, tap, tap. “You are in an unfamiliar environment, unable to reach a loved one on your own terms. The Terran Accord has had many broken families under its reign, and the Jakobsons are no different.”
“You have my file or whatever?”
“Oh, yes. Captain Rift forwarded it to me, alongside relevant information on your family’s history.”
“So you know just about everything.”
“Well, almost. We have information from official news sources and word-of-mouth, but nothing from your family itself before they split in the wake of your father’s murder. What your thoughts were, what the dynamics were like, what led to Hammond’s demise and Zane and Minerva disappearing.”
Not surprising. Dad dying caught the attention of everyone for miles, and the Accord certainly didn’t ignore it, as barely functional and fascistic as it was. He had remembered the Accord announcing that they would find any signs of Zane and Minerva out in the galaxy, to punish them for Dad’s death. But, they couldn’t have killed him… could they?
“Yeah, that was a like a signal flare for the media. Bunch of pretentious pricks. Pretending they cared about my family, while in the same breath, demonizing my brother for the crime of self defense. They didn’t even have any proof that he did it. All they had was Dad’s corpse.”
“Do you know who is responsible then?”
“No. Well, maybe I do. But I can’t remember it at all. I just know that I woke up in the attic afterward, and Zane and Mom had skipped town by then.”
More tapping. Kabr adjusted her glasses before she continued. “I see. That may be a repressed memory, but we won’t get into that right now. If it’s alright with you, I’d like to ask about your dynamic with your brother. You seem to hold him in high regard.”
Axton sighed, leaning forward and putting his hand on his head. “He’s my little brother. We… we had a pretty awful relationship as kids. Which I really regret. He didn’t deserve what I did to him.”
The Affini stuck a vine into her glass, and the water level began to lower. Apparently she was absorbing it, instead of just drinking it normally. Weird.
“Are you comfortable with elaborating on that, little one?”
He flinched at the term of affection, looking at her. “Look, can you knock it off with the pet names and crap? It’s really grating and makes me feel like a child. I’m not. I’m a grown man. I get enough of it from the big ‘shroom guy.”
If she was offended, she didn’t show it. She remained speaking in a neutral tone. “Very well. I will cease addressing you as such, at least for this session. Now, can you answer the question about your brother?”
“I… okay.” He put the cigar to his lips and inhaled, relief washing over him momentarily as he expelled vapor from himself.
“When Zane was born, I was your average dumb boy who finally had an easy target to bully. I mocked and teased him a lot, and took pleasure in hurting him. But when he was five and I was twelve, that’s when I started to dial it back.”
“That’s when your father’s cow, Bessy, died suddenly. Correct?”
“Yeah. Dad started turning really stars-damned mean and cruel. He was perfectly friendly, albeit a bit strict, before then. After Bessy died, though, he just become an increasingly tyrannical bully of a parent. I was his first target. He wanted to teach me and Zane how to harden yourself in a ‘man’s world’, and I became his first…”
He paused. Axton realized he was shaking. Kabr noticed, as she lowered her voice some. “It’s alright, Axton. You can speak. You will not be judged here.”
Relaxing, Axton continued. “I became his first punching bag. He beat me. A lot. Said I needed to toughen up and show strength against adversity. But it didn’t work. No matter how much he bruised me and risked breaking my bones… it only made me fucking hate everything about him.”
“I believe that is what is known as ‘toxic masculinity’, where the males of your species have the mistaken assumption that cruelty, hatred, and bigotry are virtues, and that you need to display dominance and strength at all times, with no room for vulnerability.”
“Yeah, you got that right. He displayed that a fair bit. Instead of inspiring me to be better, it just made me despise him with all my being. Especially when… when he went after Zane.”
“How did he react to your father’s behavior?”
“He was the complete opposite compared to me. I embraced hatred and self-defense. Zane, on the other hand… he broke. All he could do was run and hide and cry his heart out.”
Even now, merely remembering the times he caught Zane sobbing after a particularly bad beating made his heart ache. That image burned itself into his mind, and he knew it would never be forgotten so long as he lived.
“Judging by you mentioning you stopped abusing Zane yourself, it sounds like you took to defending him from your father.”
“...yeah. I did. I knew that I had screwed up as a kid, and now Dad was coming after my little brother. If I couldn’t undo the damage I did to him, then I could at least try and prevent further damage from the bastard that was our father.”
He could not see it, but her tone of voice after that made him imagine her smiling. “Well, I will say this, Axton. The fact that you showed remorse for your actions, and vowed to protect your loved one against an abuser, is a sign of your good heart. You have the capacity for compassion in your soul, that much is clear.”
His stern face softened, and he found himself smiling slightly. “I… thank you. That means a lot.”
He realized he suddenly felt thirsty, and glanced at the water glass on his end of the table. “The water’s free, right?” he asked.
“Oh, of course,” she said brightly.
Nodding, Axton reached for the glass and observed it. Nothing looked wrong, it just seemed like plain, cold water. Knowing the Affini’s tendency to cultivate life, he gathered it was completely pure water, without any contaminants whatsoever.
“Thank you,” he said, taking a grateful drink of it. It went by fast, and he set the now-empty glass down. While it just tasted cold, part of him realized it was slightly… odd. Maybe I’m just overthinking it.
Kabr lowered her pad, again looking at him with no discernible expression. For a supposed therapist, seeing a faceless woman creeped him out. Or at least, he thought it should have, yet while he acknowledged it looked creepy, he didn’t feel genuine revulsion. If anything, she was kind of pretty…
That was concerning. The Affini were ethereal entities from beyond the void that were determined to subjugate humanity. He imagined alien invaders to be ugly, horrific creatures that were so incomprehensibly monstrous that merely glimpsing one would permanently shred your sanity from the staggering level of CANNOT BE. Yet, here, all he saw was a somewhat attractive plant woman.
He didn’t like that. At all.
“I’d like to ask another question, if that’s alright,” Kabr said. “You mention how your father tried to instill the values of showing dominance and power to others as an unshakable man. Do you think he succeeded?”
“No. Dunno why he chose that, maybe it was lurking inside him all along, and the cow dying caused it to slowly manifest. Either way, they didn’t stick for me. I’m not like him. I’ll never be like him. I…”
He paused, a strange feeling washing over him. Kabr noticed, for she said, “Are you alright?”
He shrugged at her. “Actually, no, I’m not fine. In fact, I’m extremely fucked up.”
What?
That should be on the inside, not the outside. She did not have the honor of hearing this from him yet. So why was he saying it?
“Define this for me, please.”
He couldn’t stop himself, his cigar hand shaking as he spoke. “I’m fucked up because for all that I portray myself as the leader everyone can depend on, I keep hurting myself and repressing just how scared and broken I am at heart. I bluster that I’m a hero, but really I’m a loser who can’t bear to show the weakness in his heart.”
Kabr stared at him. His eyes were wide as he realized he couldn’t stop talking, even as his mind was screaming at him to shut up. “I can’t deny it, I think I did internalize some of Dad’s bullshit. Mainly how I have to hide my feelings around my friends and subordinates, so they just see a guy who, while traumatized, has his shit together. But I don’t. I don’t think I ever did.”
He was trembling harder as struggled to stay composed. “I… dammit. I thought I was better. I should be better. I have to be better. But I’m not. I can’t be better. I failed Mom. I failed Zane. And I failed myself. Whatever… whatever’s making me do this, I hate it and I… I…”
He stammered, finding he couldn’t quite speak for a moment. Emotions were welling up, and in spite of Axton’s best efforts, they were coming forth regardless. He was a champagne bottle, violently shaken around, then opened to unleash a violent spray of feelings that could no longer be contained.
Axton couldn't hide it anymore. “I’m scared, Kabr. Scared I’ll lose the one person I have left in this universe that I know I can relate to. I’m scared that after all my effort to find him, my own brother, the man I’ve scoured the galaxy for… he’ll… he’ll reject me. He’ll make all my efforts worthless. He’ll spit in my face and damn me for daring to show my face to him after everything I did. Because I abused him. He’s broken because of me.”
Axton’s breath hitched. His eyes burned as tears threatened to break through and roll down his face. He lost his grip on the cigar, with it tumbling towards the ground. Kabr reacted faster than him, a vine reaching to snatch it and place it on the table.
“Oh, stars, I broke him, Kabr. I broke him! My own, my own brother! I set him on this path, I made him run, I made him susceptible to Dad’s torture! It’s all my fault! IT’S ALL MY FAULT!”
His composure was now completely shattered. The stalwart, brave, indomitable hero that Axton was known to be had disappeared. A different one appeared before Kabr. One absolutely crippled with guilt, anguish, and shame.
Axton put his head in his hands and dissolved into uncontrollable weeping. He could not bear to look at Kabr, his sorrow reaching a critical state.
For several minutes, that was all Axton did.
Weep.
Sob.
Admit fault.
He was responsible for this.
It’s his own damn fault for the family collapsing in the end.
Nothing was worth this anymore.
That was how it went for a long time. When he was finally able to cease wailing his lungs out, the morose captain didn’t move, keeping his face hidden. He didn’t want to look up, wracked with emotion as he was.
Nothing was said for a moment, then… something brushed against his hands. Axton didn’t react, too focused on his own anguish. It wasn’t until he felt two other things touching him, and his hands being gently pulled off and his head lifted up, that it was apparent that Kabr had used her vines to make him look at her.
“I’m… I’m… sorry… shit, I… dammit…”
“Axton,” Kabr said gently. “It’s okay. You’re alright. This guilt has been eating away at you for so long... You don’t need to repress it any longer. I am proud that you were able to realize what has been hurting you, because this means you’ve taken a major step forward in healing.”
“W-what… admitting… that I’m a fuckup?” Axton hiccuped, unable to muster any venom.
“That is not what you are,” Kabr said. “You are simply a man with flaws. Every terran has them. To realize it, and admit it, shows you can accept them and break free from the chains of grief and guilt that have been dragging you down.”
“K-Kabr, I… I’m a wreck. I don’t, I don’t know if it’s worth pursuing Zane anymore, not with how… how I completely ruined him from the outset. I could, could have stopped, but now, now he’s got scars that I made on his soul. I can’t change the past. I… dammit.”
Another wave of tears began to flow. Mercifully, Kabr took that moment to gently stroke his face with her vines, and he found it oddly soothing, even while in the depths of despair.
“Your guilt and shame need not define you, Axton. You can move past it. I know you can.”
“How? How, Kabr? I… I don’t know…”
“Only you know how.”
She paused, leaning back a little. “I think that will be all for today. Hab, stop recording and save.”
Axton sniffed, blinking his now red eyes, acutely aware of how awful he looked. He said nothing as Kabr spoke again.
“You’ve done very well for our first session, Axton. I’m proud of you.” If she had a mouth, Axton swore she’d be smiling, with how her happiness shown in her voice. “This session will be edited later. We’re all done for today.”
“Okay, I… can… can I leave now?”
“You may. But first… would you like a hug?”
Even in his depression-fueled state, the question caught him off-guard. A therapist should not be offering affection like this to their patients, and though he really liked the idea (he especially liked being hugged by Amanda), to have an Affini hold him after forcing him to deconstruct himself was incredibly paradoxical. Like offering a sandwich to someone after you left them starving for weeks.
“I… I… I don’t know…”
“It’s a simple question, dear. Most sophonts I meet like them, even the ones that claim to hate affection. And right now, I believe you’d do well with one.”
Weakened by the outburst of grief, his armor shattered and revealing his vulnerable core, Axton could only muster one word.
“Please…”
Those vines were joined by several more, gently coiling around him and lifting him into the air. He flinched, then relaxed, finding they felt nice against him. Axton was drawn towards Kabr, and soon he was placed in her lap.
“There we are. Just relax, Axton. You’re going to be okay.”
Her arms wrapped around him and held his face against her chest. He sobbed a little more, unable to do anything else.
Admitting you had a problem was always the hardest part, he knew. But whatever Kabr did to get him to this stage…
Axton was grateful for it.
Chapter 15: Enjoy This World
Summary:
So live your life, so live your dream, no matter what tomorrow brings.
Axton has an encounter with the other captain. He also discovers what life is like for more than just terrans.
Content warnings: Xenrani scent play, xenodrug medication, brief affini hypnosis, brief post-sex scene
Notes:
Axton feels better! Well, kind of. He at least feels less crappy. That's something right?
This chapter gives us a side of Dynine full of whimsy and hamminess, a sharp contrast to their intimidating persona earlier. Turns out, even an eldritch bird bush knows how to rock a suit and a cane and be the life of the party!
Also, first time writing a character here that isn't human or Affini! That's right, it's a xenra! And she's quite lovely. I hope you enjoy her!
The last scene made me grin, for obvious reasons.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Text
Some days had passed after his therapy session, and Axton was feeling… not necessarily happier. He still had storms of thoughts raging in his head that made it hard to settle. That would take time to dissipate. Kabr, at least, recognized this and was willing to provide options for treating his trauma.
In the bathroom attached to his bedroom in the hab unit, he stared at himself in the mirror. Clad in just a tank top and boxer briefs, Axton got a good look at himself and realized a few things.
Though he had been staying moderately fit in his quest to find his brother, the mental toll was apparent. His otherwise handsome face, adorned with a full, dark blonde mustache and short beard, was betrayed by the dark circles beneath his eyes. They had been getting worse as of late, due to bouts of insomnia and nightmares.
Still, once you got past that, and saw those brilliant red eyes of his, one would find it hard to not be smitten with him. Even if he never felt it, he tended to radiate an aura of confidence and assurance, one that led people to stay at ease, even in high stress situations. How he did it, he had no clue.
He was thankful that he was able to keep his also dark blonde hair looking soft and luxurious. He had been doing all he can to make it stay that way, even taking some risky medications to promote hair growth and health. They worked… even if they sometimes made him sick.
He held up his hand. Rough, calloused, weathered from years of adventure, his hands nonetheless still worked perfectly. He had become aware over the years of how the usage of one’s hands seemed to be something he and Zane shared. Axton’s were strong, tough, powerful, the hands of an adventurer. Zane’s, far as he remembered, were soft, delicate, and unsuited for hard effort. Even so, he still had strength, even if he had been too depressed to really use it. Axton wanted to show him how to access that strength…
If he’ll let me. If he’ll want me in his life again.
Sighing, he grabbed three bottles of pills on the counter and looked at them.
Kabr had prescribed him some medication to help make his life easier during the course of his therapy with her. All three had labels with his name on it, their designations, descriptions for what they did, and recommended dosages.
One was dark blue and labeled “Class-Z”. It was designed to assist with his sleep problems, alongside making it less likely for him to have nightmares. When he slept, he’d either just go dreamless at worst, or experience actual good dreams at best. This one had to be taken every night before bed with a glass of water. Anything to make the terrors stop...
The second was a bright green. “Class-F”, apparently. Designed to negate intrusive thoughts and stop them from manifesting. Taken every morning, preferably with food and drink. He wasn’t sure how that worked, but it being a pill meant no risk of getting needles in him or anything.
The third was orange. “Class-E”, serving as a faster-acting sedative and relaxing agent. If he was ever feeling extremely stressed and unable to rest, having one of these would help. These didn’t need food or beverage alongside it, it would instantly dissolve in his mouth and work in under a minute. While recommended only for high stress situations, he was still able to take them every day normally and they’d work fine.
He wasn’t used to this. His usual experience with doctors had them hold off on prescribing drugs and medication until after a proper diagnosis was conducted, which meant waiting seemingly forever to get an answer. But with Kabr at least, she just gave him the stuff with absolutely no hesitation, as if giving him free candy.
Once again, he was baffled. Axton was in a world where aliens forcibly put him through therapy and gave him drugs to deal with his issues, instead of letting him decide what he wanted. Ostensibly, it was to help him… but he feared it was to control him. To turn him into something he would not be comfortable becoming.
The xenodrugs did work as described, at least. He was going to sleep at a reasonable time, and waking up every subsequent morning, feeling more rested, and even having a good dream once. He wasn’t able to recall it perfectly, all he knew was that it involved himself with the entirety of the Hyperion crew… snuggled together in bed.
Even Troy was there. Yes, the moron that got him into this mess. Somehow, he was in the dream, and Axton didn’t feel revulsion at the idea of sharing a bed with the idiot.
Did he have feelings for all of them, including Troy?
If he admitted it to any of them, would they accept him? It was just the five of them, so no real command structure could apply, apart from Axton being the guy who hired them for this mission. And Amanda at least liked to be physically close. But expressing affection for all of them might be…
Okay, maybe he needed the F now.
The other two could wait. He took a glass on the side of the sink, turned on the tap, and filled it with refreshingly cool water. Once it was filled partway, he stopped the water, popped an F pill in his mouth and swallowed it with a mouthful of that clear liquid.
As soon as it went down his esophagus and into his stomach, the effects came into play. The thoughts about not being accepted suddenly stopped, a raging geyser now having a massive cap blocking it. He didn’t feel any different. It was just those particular thought patterns that were prevented from spiraling out of control.
Holy shit it works.
Setting the pill bottles back, he stripped and got into the shower. Settling in aboard the Fortitude was taking a while, but so long as the crew seemed to be in good spirits, he could accept it.
After his shower, he planned to clear his head by going on a walk. The crew were okay, and while he still hadn’t heard from Troy in some time, Mithrax had promised to schedule a “playdate” (ugh) with him very soon. Just to be safe, he took an E pill and placed it in his pocket, in case something happened to blindside him.
Everything was alright.
Seemingly.
It was nice out today. The “sun” was out, lighting up the place, and making the vast nature reserve-like environment of the Fortitude look beautiful.
That tracked with how the Affini made their ships a hybrid of space traveling vessels and mobile cities to cultivate life. He had been doing some reading after his therapy session, and was astounded to find countless articles – literally countless because he started getting overwhelmed after hitting page ten of the infinite search results – on the history of the Affini, how their ships worked, what their culture was like…
Far from what the horror stories circulating in terran space claimed, the Affini had a rich, diverse background. One that was so immense that trying to understand it all would make one’s head spin clean off their shoulders. The Affini weren’t monsters, as a terran might understand the term. They were just people. People who transformed every environment they entered, yes, but still people.
He appreciated that. But what he didn’t appreciate was the concept of domestication.
Claiming terrans and other species as their pets, pacifying them and reducing them into things to be owned. An existential nightmare that supposedly brought peace, but he knew these articles he read were biased in favor of the Affini. Written by the victors, as the saying went.
The Class-F in his system was able to prevent thoughts like those from dominating his mind. But he still thought them from time to time. He was able to recognize how distressing they were at first glance, instead of being overwhelmed by the distress in itself. For once, he could think clearly about it, and...
Stars, the F worked wonders.
Gah, why was he thinking that? These drugs were working a little too effectively, maybe.
Clad in an all-black outfit of a t-shirt, shorts, and boots, Axton muttered as he strode down the pathway, passing by countless Affini, fellow terrans, and other species he didn’t recognize. He had read about the Affini domesticating other species, yes, but it hadn’t really sunk in until now.
He saw so much variety. Humanoid bees. Jellyfish-like creatures. Tall, massive fox-like entities. Even what looked like gigantic centaurs with moth-like torsos where the horse head should go.
Mankind was not the only one in the Compact’s crosshairs, he realized. And the Terran Accord, an empire that spanned the galaxy, even with it only coasting along on inertia, was absolutely no match against a force like this. Millennia of mankind’s struggles… made irrelevant just by the Affini existing.
Were we destined for this before we were even born?
“Axtonnnnn~! I see youuuuu~!”
Oh fuck me.
He recognized that voice and it made his skin crawl just hearing it. He tried to ignore it, settling into something resembling a power walk. He didn’t want to outright run, and make himself look stupid. He could escape at-
Alas, Captain Dynine Rift was far too fast. They caught up to him before long, and snaked their head around in front of him, forcing him to skid to a halt. He nearly tripped and smashed his face into theirs, and staggered before managing to stand up straight.
“Oh, goodness me, that was a close one!” Dynine chortled, flashing some seriously sharp, needle-like teeth under their beak. “You really need to watch where you’re going, darling.”
Once the initial shock of EVIL DEMON BIRD FACE IN HIS FACE wore off, annoyance crept back in. “Yeah, hello to you too, Captain Rift,” Axton grunted. “What do you want this time?”
“Is that any way to treat a new friend? Oh, you wound me!” More chuckles. Clearly amused with themself.
This was odd. Dynine had been acting like an intimidating, smug prick in his last few encounters with them. Now, they were being a goofy, chummy sort, like they knew each other for years.
Axton frowned, folding his arms. “We aren’t friends. Probably won’t ever be.”
Dynine made a tut-tut noise, and then he saw movement on his left peripheral. Their head suddenly retracted and went back into place on their shoulders, and when Axton looked, he saw that their robe of plants and flowers had been altered to look more like a business suit of some sort, coat tails fanning out from behind them, thick legs now revealed to have feet with three clawed toes. A large stick resembling a classy cane was held in their left set of talons as they peered at Axton from above.
“Oh, but we are, dear Axton. We became friends the moment we met. Everyone on the Fortitude is a friend of Dynine’s!”
Ughhhh. Dynine made Mithrax look perfectly calm with how obnoxiously cheery they were being. They somehow made him want the mushroom man’s company instead.
“Whatever. You still haven’t told me what you want,” Axton said grumpily.
With a twirl of their cane, Dynine shuffled around to stand in front of him, bearing a disarming smile on their beak and their arms spread wide. “Why, I just thought I’d join one of my favorite new arrivals on a walk this fine morning! Even a captain like myself deserves to be out and about, and what better way than to spend it with a new companion?”
“We’re not-”
He was interrupted when the end of that cane suddenly pressed against his chest, making him freeze, and Dynine’s voice drilled into his brain.
“We. Are. Friends. Say it, petal.”
Another invisible snatching of his body, rooting him to the spot. Axton gasped, unable to look away. Third time being transfixed, and yet again, his mind was left temporarily blank as he was forced to reply against his will.
“W-w-w-we… a-a-a-are… f-f-friends.”
Dynine’s predatory grin stretched so wide Axton saw it reach to the top of their face, and it added an element of fear on top of the mind control he was being put under.
“See, was that so hard?”
Axton nearly fell over when it ended, but (un?)fortunately, one of Dynine’s vines caught him and kept him upright. He panted for a moment, looking up at them with indignation.
This both horrified and annoyed him. Horror, because Dynine could casually flash their eyes at him, and force him into doing something he didn’t want, purely because they demanded it. Annoyance, because Dynine could counter any objection he made with what amounted to “good argument, unfortunately I’m putting strings on your soul”.
If he could get away with putting a fist in that face of theirs, he would have. As it was, all he could do was glare at them angrily.
Dynine’s grin became more relaxed now as they backed up, chuckling. “Knew you’d see it my way. They all do, in time.~”
Oh, he did not like how that sounded. He took a moment to pull himself together, thankful that he wasn’t feeling a headache come on.
“Ugh… so, Cap-”
“Please, when I’m not working, you may address me as just Dynine. Just like how I’m calling you Axton instead of Captain Jakobson.”
“Fine. Dynine… you wanted to walk with me?”
“And get to know you better! How else is this friendship supposed to be cultivated?”
He wanted to snarkily reply that Dynine could just force him to be a friend via that hypnosis, but he decided against it. This stylishly-dressed bird would likely assume it to be an instruction and do it instantly and rob him of his soul.
He needed to think ahead of them.
“R-right, so… let’s… walk then, I guess?”
“Sounds divine, Axxy~!”
Please just fucking kill me if you’re going to call me that.
Groaning, he resumed his walk, this time with a hammy, bombastic plant-bird… creature beside him. He still wasn’t used to having giant plant people casually walking around him, especially one that seemed really intent on forcing their way into his space.
“So, Axton,” Dynine said in a relaxed voice, twirling their cane as they went. “How are you adapting to life in the Compact? Doing well, I hope?”
Axton gave a noncommittal shrug. “As well as I can, I guess. My crew’s doing okay, which is all I can ask for. And… well, I guess it’s nice to not have to worry about food or clean clothes now.”
A pleased chuckle was heard above him. “That’s the Compact for you! Taking care of any and every sophont we encounter and giving them the good lives they need. Plus, all the pets you could ever ask for~”
Axton couldn’t say anything to that. As much as he wanted to snap at them that terrans were not pets, two things stopped him. One, Dynine could just force him to agree. Two, he saw plenty of pets all over the place, so he could easily just be countered with that. Being proven wrong was never a good feeling.
“And even for those who don’t become darling pets… well, they still get opportunities to smile every day. Which makes me smile! So much joy to be had as captain~”
Axton saw an Affini cradling their floret in their arms, who looked absolutely stoned with a flower pressed against his face. It made the Jakobson brother swallow nervously at the sight, while Dynine remained oblivious. At least, he thought they were oblivious, unless it was an act to throw him off-guard.
He really wasn’t sure. Dynine seemed like the type to project an air of blithe joy, but in an instant they would descend upon you with all the intensity of a lightning bolt. And when they struck, the impact would be felt.
“It has its… privileges,” Axton said. “It’s mostly the responsibilities I keep in mind, though.”
“Oh, of course, of course!” Dynine said with a nod. “Always important to remember your duties, and the mantle of protection you bear towards all sophonts you see!”
“What do your duties involve, anyway? Besides screwing with me, obviously.”
Dynine’s head extended from their shoulders again and positioned itself next to Axton’s, so they could speak while at “eye level”, but it just made him frightfully unnerved. “Oh, I have so many! But the most important ones involving jumping to different regions of the universe, seeking out cuties like yourself, and bringing them aboard for domestication. I, of course, like to see them for myself when new ones arrive…”
Oh, he remembered that. How Dynine tried to force him to kneel before Mithrax saved his ass. But he still hadn’t seen Mithrax anywhere since the negotiation, so if Dynine wanted to try that trick again, there was no way to be rescued.
Come to think of it, Axton wondered. While getting brain-jacked by this bird felt very uncomfortable at best, there was… a strange sense of freedom in it. The kind that was extremely horrible on its face, yet carried an appeal of some sort. Can’t have bad thoughts if you don’t actually think, right?
Stars, why was he imagining this? He needed to change the subject.
But Dynine didn’t give him a chance, because a vine suddenly tapped his face to get his attention. “Oh, look, look Axxy! Someone I think you’ll enjoy~”
They pointed their cane out in front, and directed his attention forward. He saw what looked like a large cafe, a sign at the entrance reading “Jake & Jilly’s”. Several tables and chairs were outside, though only one was occupied by a… a very large creature. Smaller than Dynine, but still very big. It looked like some kind of fox, but with a body structure resembling a terran’s. Its pelt was pitch black with red streaks, and on its face, horns curved around its head… and Axton had to stare for a minute to realize that yes, this fox creature had a third eye. Along with a smaller pair of horns around that eye. And an enormous, absolutely fluffy tail curled around the chair it sat in.
Coupled with its rather bulky frame, especially its arms that bore massive clawed hands, and the frightening saber-like fangs jutting from its mouth, Axton got the sense that this was an entity that could probably maul him to death if he so much as twitched wrong in its presence. Hell, probably not even that. Just existing might have been enough.
So his surprise was quite clear when, as soon as Dynine made a whistling noise and beckoned for the creature to come over, that towering, furry titan of death… immediately dropped the latte it had been sipping and bolted out of its seat, catapulting itself at Dynine and burying its face in their vines. An apex predator, acting like an oversized puppy for its master.
Axton had to pinch himself to make sure this wasn’t a hallucination. Ow. Okay, nope, this was real.
“Ahhh, such a good girl, Harken,” Dynine crooned, their head remaining near Axton while they used their free hand to pat and scritch the creature. “Yes, you’re my good girl, oh yes you are~”
That huge tail thumped on the ground while the one known as Harken chittered and snorted appreciatively. Axton knew right away what was going on.
Harken was Dynine’s pet.
And she(?) was enormous. Bigger than him, for sure, and he was slightly taller than the average male terran. Yep, no way in hell he’d win in a match up against Harken.
And on top of this, there was a… pervasive smell wafting from her. One that instantly shot itself into his sinuses. It wasn’t a bad smell, mind, but he couldn’t describe it, beyond feeling… vaguely happy? It matched Harken’s state at least.
“Uh, um… what’s going on here?” Axton asked once he managed to focus enough to cut through the sudden happy feeling. His head swam with good feelings, and it didn’t bode well, even if it was nice.
The huge bird murmured something in a language Axton didn’t recognize, before turning their head to face him now. They had one hell of an amused smirk on their face.
“Oh, yes, you don’t know. This right here is Harken Rift, First Floret, she/her. She is one of my pets, the first of three, and she is oh-so-sweet and adorable.” They spoke with immense pride and glee. “I know she might seem scary at first glance, but trust me, she’s absolutely friendly!”
Wait a second. Axton recognized this species after his trip through the overnet. Harken was…
“She’s a xenra.”
Dynine’s expression brightened at that. “Hmhm! You’ve done your homework. Yes, she is a xenra. Gorgeous creatures, they are. Perfect lapdogs… if I’m using the metaphor right, that is.”
The longer Axton stood there, in proximity to Harken, the more that oddly happy feeling grew. His agitation and stress were melting away, and though he acknowledged how odd this all was, it was coming from curiosity instead of apprehension.
Alarm bells rang.
Axton knew they were there but ignored them.
“So, um… you said she’s friendly?” Axton said cautiously.
It was then that Harken had twigged to the fact that he existed, and pulled her face out of Dynine’s vines. All three of her bright green eyes focused on him, and while they weren’t hypnotic like her owner’s, he still didn’t know what to expect. He froze.
“Oh, would you like to say hello, flower?” Dynine asked, scratching behind her ear. Harken gave what sounded like an affirmative snort. “Then, by all means, introduce yourself to Axton here. He’s a grumpy sort, but even the grumps like big cuties~”
The massive dog-like xeno extracted herself from Dynine’s grasp, and approached Axton slowly. She was several feet taller than him, and he knew that if he looked like a threat in any way, he was dead.
She said nothing, gazing upon him. That smell she radiated made his head feel somewhat foggy, and it was getting harder to… to…
Suddenly two large, fuzzy arms lifted him and shoved him against her, planting his face right up against her neck. The scent was much stronger here. So much that for a few seconds, he completely tapped out, utter bliss filling his body. He clung to her, wanting more of it, all conscious thought forced aside in favor of good smell good smell good smell.
“Ah, seems like he enjoys your scent, sweetie,” he heard Dynine remark. What felt like a deep, guttural growl of contentment rippled from Harken’s ultra soft chest. Something told him it was her way of indicating her agreement. “You like him too? Oh, how lovely! You can have him for a while if you wish, my treat to you.”
Another rumble, followed by Harken scooping him up so he could be cradled against her musclebound, thick-pelted torso. She ensured his face was still buried in the fluff of her neck, so he wouldn’t escape being completely blissed out on her.
“Hold onto Axxy for me, dear, he’s joining us for a walk. Mayhaps we’ll bump into Cross and Nico on our way, who knows?”
More animalistic grunts and snorts came from Harken in reply. Axton vaguely realized that they were engaging each other in conversation now, but with only one side being understandable, he could only guess at what was being said.
“Egad, no, flower. Remember what happened last time?”
Grunt. Snort. Growl.
“So you had to learn to control your pheromones for once. The one time I don’t just puppet you around and you end up fogging up the entire building!”
Offended-sounding snort.
“Oh, don’t be such a sourvixen. You know I’m right. Just be glad we could fix their noses.”
More of this idle chatter continued, while Axton continued to drift, unable to comprehend everything… else…
Axton woke up and groaned, attempting to move his body. He swiftly became aware that he could not.
Also, everything felt warm. And sweaty. And sticky. And…
Hold on, was he naked? And did his blanket feel…
Oh, stars, what was that wonderful scent?
He was able to pull his head free, and discovered several things.
One: He wasn’t in the hab unit he shared with the crew.
Two: He was definitely naked.
Three: What he thought was his blanket was actually Harken, now cuddling him with her huge body, and snoring rather loudly.
He blinked his eyes, and tried to turn his head to get a better view of his surroundings. Then suddenly, the smirking visage of Dynine appeared, and a fourth factoid manifested:
He had been brought to Dynine’s hab unit. And…
Oh. A fifth factoid. Judging by the way he felt a particularly sticky sensation on his groin and wetness on his pelvis…
Oh, stars.
“Shhh… she’s sleeping,” Dynine murmured. “She really took a liking to you, and I couldn’t say no to her. Don’t worry, you’ll be freshened up and returned to your hab unit in a few hours.”
Axton could only groan in exasperation.
A stinky fox compelled me to fuck her. What has my life come to?
Chapter 16: Attraction
Summary:
Different ways for souls of all sorts to be drawn to each other.
Zane discovers two kinds of passion in the Compact – the hot, intense kind, and the warm, slow-burn sort. Both are in abundance.
Content warnings: Explicit sex scene at the start, mention of cancer
Notes:
This one was a bit delayed because I was struggling with describing a hair salon run by an Affini, but then I got the suggestion of making it styled after 50s era barber shops, and that helped immensely! So here it is for you lovely people.
Zane's having some good stuff happen to him lately, and it's lovely! He's got friends, a possible lover, and a deepening relationship with his future plommy. Paradise has its perks!
This was a nice chapter to write, since we get some insight on Isaac. I figured having a very old floret and his owner would be nice to see in HDG, and so, here's Isaac and Kaiga! They're a treat :3
All feedback is welcome, once again!
Chapter Text
›TheUmbralRose: hey zane you around?
›TheBorderlander: oh im here, whats up?
›TheUmbralRose: I want to see you again and have some fun <3 are you available?
›TheBorderlander: oh uh
›TheBorderlander: yeah chloros is out with one of her friends, im just doing some writing
›TheUmbralRose: perfect
›TheUmbralRose: amy’s busy with her owner, so its just you and me this time :BlueRose:
›TheUmbralRose: your place or mine?
›TheBorderlander: keysmash.mp4
›TheBorderlander: mine sounds good!
›TheUmbralRose: lovely, be there in about 10 minutes, prepare yourself <3
Zane hadn’t expected Frey to develop a hunger for him in particular, but he was pleasantly surprised nonetheless. It felt good to be desired, wanted, lusted after… needed. And they were happy to do things to a degree he was comfortable with most, putting his needs and desires over their own.
And as it turned out, what he needed that morning was to engage in deep, intense rutting of the rose who adored him.
They were laying together in the bed he shared with Chloros, their naked bodies colliding with each other over and over. His thicker, chubbier, lighter-skinned body contrasted heavily with their slimmer, curvy, dark-hued one. Animalistic grunts and pants left Zane as he nuzzled into Frey’s chest, while they held him close, adding their own lustful noises to the cacophony around the pair. The sounds of flesh on flesh echoed around the unit, their union creating a nonstop din. The lights were dimmed for atmosphere, letting them enjoy each other in the darkness.
Frey laid on their back, legs spread and hooked around his hips. Blissful moans escaped them as he hammered into their bottom, their smaller-sized length sandwiched between their bodies. He could feel it twitch firmly as he relentlessly plowed them, perspiration soaking their forms.
Zane hadn’t realized he had such carnal hunger for them either, not until this moment. In his last get-together with them and Amy, he was completely submissive, letting them play with him to their hearts’ content. Now, he was… still that, but more focused on giving into primal urges with an eager partner, instead of actually being dominant. And Frey was very eager, on top of very encouraging.
In between needy moans and gasps of exertion, the rose called to him, telling him to keep going, keep rutting them, keep being such a good boy for them. All the praise and encouragement did wonders for Zane, who never relented, an inferno having ignited inside of him.
He bottomed out inside with every thrust, their perfectly smooth, hot tunnel enveloping him with practiced ease. A good amount of lube had been used beforehand, and it was making a wet mess that trailed down onto the bed sheet. In the back of Zane’s mind, he hoped Chloros would let it slide with how much he found himself needing this…
Frey’s nails, like thorns on their fingers, dug into his back as they spoke again, breathing heavily. “Ohhh… Z-Zane, I’m… I’m so glad to have met you, sweet boy...~”
His heart surged, and it amplified the passion and pleasure between the two. He would have said something similar, but his focus was elsewhere… not that either of them minded.
Zane huffed and puffed, tension welling inside his loins. Sooner or later, he was going to burst. Nothing else mattered except fulfilling his primal desire to claim their body in this moment…
He could feel it. Deep in his body. Getting ready to reach the edge. About to burst any second.
He was close.
“F… F-Frey, I, I’m…!” Zane tried to say, but he couldn’t quite focus enough to speak coherently.
Luckily Frey understood, reaching to tug his head out of their cleavage so they can look at him, sweat rolling down their forehead. “M-me too… go on, finish inside me!” they told him, letting out puffs of hot air.
That command was enough for him.
His hips crashed against theirs one last time as moaned Frey’s name, grinding against their lusciously soft bottom as he came. He twitched inside of them, gushing his heated load deep into their depths. Bolts of pleasure arced through him, and he was seeing stars…
He could feel Frey clenching around him, determined to wring every last drop from him. He heard their voice, calling to him in turn, and for an instant, he forgot about anything else that mattered. Right now, he was focused on Frey…
Until he promptly slumped on top of them, head resting on their chest again. Zane groaned against them, all his energy now taken from him. He could feel Frey slouching beneath him too, and for a short while, both of them said nothing, merely winding down from their combined surge of passion.
Several minutes passed, and during it, Zane was almost tempted to just sleep like this, still buried inside of them. At least, until Frey gently stroked his hair with a little purr.
“Mmmmm… gosh, Zane… you really know how to treat me well,” they said with a giggle. “Of course, it’s what I expect from a good boy like yourself.~”
Zane blushed heavily, looking away, though he didn’t object. His length had softened by this point, and he gingerly pulled out of their backside with a grunt. Frey took the lead this time, nudging the both of them left-ward, so they could lay on their sides and get more comfortable.
“Much better,” Frey murmured, touching the side of his face with their hand. “I know I enjoyed that… what about you?”
“Y… yeah, I, I did.”
“Excellent.~”
They shifted a little, so they could lean their head down and plant a smooch on his nose. Heat washed over him in response, making him shudder.
“I’m glad to have met you, Zane. You’re a real treasure. I want to do this again soon.”
He gave a soft smile in reply, followed by a little laugh. It prompted them to chuckle in return. “Oh, you have the most adorable laugh… I have got to hear it more.”
Again, he looked down, hiding his face in embarrassment. Hearing compliments was something he was still getting used to, especially in intimate contexts. Even so, it was a major boost to his courage, and it was making him steadily happier.
For a while, the two simply laid together, basking in each other’s comforting presence. When it came time for Frey to leave to go back to their owner, Zane almost didn’t want them to go… but they promised they’d love to see him again.
That was fine. Merely having such a delightful rose desire him was enough.
Zane was still thinking about yesterday’s encounter as Chloros led him down the path to the salon. He was wearing another black-and-blue outfit today, another one he put together himself.
Having a friend like Frey who liked hanging out with him, and being very eager to be intimate with him, was something he hadn’t experienced before. Usually, of the people he dated, there was a period of time where they only made out with him, and getting to the point of sexual contact was a rarity. Even then, he could never quite gel with their pace, and so the relationships that got that far ended up crashing out before long. It did make it significantly easier how all the usual social conventions he was used to were mostly gone, in favor of just “hey do you want to be my friend/lover, yes/no? Okay”. Especially with how they were willing to take it slow for him and let him decide, even while flustering him into a puddle.
He hadn’t expected things to escalate so quickly here…
Then again, being in the Compact tended to subvert expectations.
He was learning a lot with Chloros’ help. She had taken the time to teach him everything there is to know about the Affini Compact, and it was almost like he was back in school again with one of his favorite teachers. Coincidentally, that teacher was an older woman, and quite a tall one too…
He had endeavored to take lots of notes, absorbing everything he could. It was actually rather fun, having his brain be stimulated like this, and learn something other than the history of mankind. Zane always did have a fascination with history, and learning about the Affini had been very enlightening. Plus, it had become a way for him and his warden to grow closer.
He was… starting to feel normal again.
Whatever “normal” meant around here.
“Here it is, dear,” Chloros said sweetly, squeezing his hand.
Zane looked up, and saw a decidedly large building before him.
It reminded him of a salon Mom used to frequent, but several times larger. And as expected, it had some unique flair. A humongous sign at the top, reading “Corta’s Clips: Hair Care For Cuties!”, was visible, flanked by one spinning red-white pillar-like structure on each side. The large windows and glass front door, patterned to resemble blades of grass, revealed a lively environment inside, with several Affini and sophonts within.
Sophonts. I’m using that word more often.
It was apparently a term the Affini used to describe sentient beings, whether they were normal terrans, or inorganic entities like robots. Chloros had said that it was used to encompass all individuals with sentience, including those who didn’t identify as ‘people’. He didn’t quite understand it entirely, but he had made an effort to incorporate it into his lexicon just to be on the safe side. Accidentally offending someone out of ignorance was something he really wanted to avoid.
Zane looked up at the sign, and realized that the word “Corta” looked familiar…
“Wait, I think… I think I know that name,” he said.
“Oh? One of your friends?”
“Yeah, Isaac, from the book club. He might be here with his owner.”
“Oh, I love when the universe aligns like that,” Chloros said with a smile. “Now, would you still like for me to stay with you here? Or are you comfortable on your own again? Either way is perfectly acceptable.”
Zane wanted to say she could leave and they’d meet each other later, but… he didn’t know. He was becoming more attached to her again, to the point he exhibited slight stress at the thought of being apart from her for too long. Not enough for him to be incapable of functioning, but enough that it was distracting. It was a problem that he had brought to her attention, something the both of them were working on.
Zane turned his head to address her, momentarily silent. It was a conundrum – neither of them wanted him to be completely dependent on her just to function, yet both were highly enjoying each other’s presence and regularly filled each other’s thoughts. She was giving him the choice, and yet, to be allowed to make a decision like this felt like it had serious weight. On its face, it didn’t sound so heavy, but his attachment to Chloros made it so. It was slightly concerning.
“I… I’m not sure,” he admitted, his face falling. “I know you have things to do and sophonts to see so I don’t want to tie you down, but…”
Chloros crouched down so she look at him more closely, her smile never wavering. “I can see your reasoning, petal. How about we do this – you said Isaac is likely to be here, so I will come inside with you. If he’s there, then I will simply wait by the door until you’re called up, and leave you with him until you’re done. If he’s not, then I will stay with you. Does that work for you?”
Somehow she always had fitting alternative solutions or compromises for otherwise strictly binary problems. It was something he appreciated. It prevented him from worrying too much about how to approach situations he was still working around, and also granted him autonomy he desired during his wardship.
Just like… like she’s a mother to me.
He blushed at the thought, and nodded. “Okay, that’s perfect.”
“Anything less, and I wouldn’t be a proper warden for my boy, would I?” she laughed, giving him what had quickly become enamored by recently – her soft, tender lips upon his forehead. Merely feeling them against his face sent a good tremor through him. At times, he wanted to ask her to deliver it to his mouth instead, but he decided against it, unsure if that would change their dynamic. Maybe… later on?
With that out of the way, the pair made their way inside.
Corta’s Clips lived up to how it advertised itself outside. It resembled a barber shop from over half a millennium ago, which Zane only knew of via the archived information he had found on the overnet. Black and white tiles lined the floor, and the main area was massive, sporting a large amount of stations for the sophonts working there to care for patrons. Numerous video screens were placed next to the mirrors of each station, letting the patrons have something to watch if they weren’t interested in conversation. Burnished metal seats, equipped with comfortable cushions resembling leather and colored red, were present, several being occupied already. The noise was a little loud, but luckily not too badly.
Easygoing music played over invisible speakers, and Zane swore he recognized the tune and vocalist, but all he could remember is that the band was a blues rock group hailing from the state of Texas back on Terra. The singer in this song was speaking about his dapper fashion style as he was heading out to a party, making all the girls swoon…
Zane wanted to be exactly like that, and found himself resonating with it quite well.
As it turned out, Isaac actually was present, and not only that, he was assisting his owner in styling and cutting sophonts’ hair. His owner, an Affini who sported wooden parts all over his body, was occupied with another patron, letting Isaac be in charge of Zane.
Now that they were up close again, Zane could get a better look at the old man. Isaac was only marginally taller, and though he had a few wrinkles on his face, he appeared to have aged very gracefully. He had a full head of long, flowing hair, colored dark silver and falling over his shoulders. He sported a vibrant green shirt with patterns of logs and wood over it, and black jeans with a large vine snaking around the left leg. It certainly matched with his owner.
Isaac had been all too happy to do it. He had a very affable demeanor, taking the time to get to know both Zane and Chloros, the latter of whom regarded him quite warmly and encouraged him to take care of her ward before she left. Once again, Zane found himself missing her, but having Isaac work on him helped to distract him.
Zane was sat in one of the chairs, leaning back in a red leather seat and his head positioned over an attached sink, with a black, flower-patterned apron fastened around him. Having requested a wash and a treatment for putting blue highlights in his hair, Zane stared up at the ceiling as Isaac expertly took care of him, sudsing up his hair with shampoo that made him feel oh-so-nice and relaxed, then rinsing it out with warm water. The process took a few minutes, and during this time, the two were chatting with each other.
“So you’ve been with Kaiga for ten years?” Zane asked, feeling quite relaxed. Earlier, he had managed to catch Isaac’s owner’s identity, that being Kaiga Corta, Third Bloom, he/they. Zane found the tree man to be very pleasant, with Kaiga having quite a warm demeanor and the most charming laugh.
“Oh, yes,” Isaac answered happily. “It’s been quite some time since I became his floret, and I haven’t looked back ever since. He’s perfect for me, and I for him.”
Zane had heard similar sentiments from other florets who spoke highly of their owners. Amy’s matched her energy with his excitable go-getter attitude, while Frey’s was a more curious sort with a passion for literature and gardening (literal, not metaphorical). Chloros was a good match for him, he came to realize – would she be even better when his domestication came?
“He’s like me in a lot of aspects,” Isaac continued, working the soap into Zane’s hair with his gentle hands. “Patient, wise, careful… and a core of solid gold. He saved me when I was at my lowest.”
Now that got Zane’s attention. Isaac was implying that he had reached a precipice where he couldn’t continue on, and it was only by a miracle that he had been found and brought onboard.
Isaac hummed along to the song in the salon as he rinsed out the shampoo, then took a different bottle and focused on conditioner. As it settled into his much fluffier hair, Zane took that moment to speak again. “Can I ask about that? It’s fine if you don’t want to share, I…”
He trailed off, suddenly anxious, but Isaac only chuckled in reply. “Oh, I don’t mind at all. It’s one of my fondest memories, actually. See, I was in a really bad spot in my eighties – my wife had passed away five years ago, and I had no children. I was diagnosed with liver cancer that was particularly aggressive. At the time, I lacked the funds to pay for treatment, and even then, with how far along it had progressed, I was told I only had a 20% chance of surviving.”
Zane found himself sobering at that. A man like Isaac had grown old, and unfortunately had no support for a disease that was doing everything it could to eat him alive. He had no one to care for him, so all he could have done was just wait to die…
“I had resigned myself to simply enjoying the peace and solitude of my apartment. I had accepted that my life had run its course. But then everything changed when a certain tree man knocked on my door.”
The conditioner was working, ensuring Zane’s hair would stay nice and fluffy after being cleaned by the shampoo earlier. Soon, it was rinsed out as well. Isaac continued to speak as he withdrew his hands and reached for a bottle of dark blue hair dye, setting it close by, while strapping on black gloves. Zane listened intently.
“Kaiga introduced himself as being of the Affini, and said he had come to perform a wellness check on me. Initially, I was disturbed to see a walking, talking tree in my own home, but something about him put me at ease.”
He instructed Zane to lift his head up out of the sink, and Zane did so. The sink was moved aside, and Isaac went to gently grab portions of his hair in one hand, while the other had the dye. He busied himself with carefully applying the hair color-altering pigments to different parts of Zane’s hair, and Zane wondered if he was a hair stylist in his youth.
“For the next few days, Kaiga simply visited me and provided what I had been wanting most – company. He sat with me every morning and every evening, making food for me and trading stories with me from his own life. Sometimes I questioned why he cared so much, but he said that it was his duty to care for a soul in need of aid, and he was happy to give it. As it turned out, the Affini have this as a central tenet, one that I found calming.”
Zane sat still, drinking it all in. He knew about wellness checks, where the Affini would send members to specific individuals to give them care that they may not be willing to ask for, for various reasons. Isaac was helping him understand what they were like, and he had a feeling that others just like Isaac were in dire need of it. Even if they didn’t want it.
“But what led to you becoming his floret?” Zane asked. He tilted his head to let Isaac access the side better, letting out a sigh as he felt those practiced hands work on his hair.
“Eventually,” Isaac replied, “my cancer reached a critical stage, and I was close to succumbing. Kaiga reacted quickly, stabilizing me with his xenodrugs, then bringing me out of my apartment and aboard the Excellence. There, I was introduced to the amazing healthcare that only Affini could provide, where they not only completely eliminated my cancer, but they even took care of other problems I had, like my arthritis and back pain. It was then that I knew… Kaiga saved me, and I wanted to repay him by letting him make me his floret.”
Saved by the Affini, preventing death from claiming someone in his twilight years, and giving him a new lease on life in the vines of a very kind owner…
Zane wondered if there was anything the Compact couldn’t do.
“And so, ten years later, here I am. Enjoying a quiet, comfortable life with my owner, the love of my life. He gave me a second chance on top of his affection. I cherish every day I spend with him.”
If Zane’s heart could melt from how incredibly saccharine that all was, he was certain that he’d need a wellness check on himself because of it. It was a sweet, touching story, and it made him wonder just how many lives the Affini had saved with their intervention.
“Also, he gives the best hugs, but I may be biased,” the old man laughed. “Right, almost done…”
Another few minutes passed as Zane let Isaac work. He angled his head around as the man worked, helping that dye seep in better.
Eventually, he was finished. Taking off the gloves and setting them aside, Isaac reached to grab a handheld mirror, and held it up so that it could reflect off the mirror in front of them and let Zane see the back of his head.
“So, what do you think, my good man?”
Zane found himself staring in open-mouthed silence. His perfect hair thanks to Chloros had reached a new level, enhanced by the myriad streaks of dark blue highlights in his hair. Fluffy, soft, and now styled up, it added a finishing touch to how he looked.
He felt complete, now. He could never get this back on Thypso, and now, it was a dream come true.
“It’s… it’s amazing,” Zane breathed. “Just how I wanted it. You’re awesome, Isaac.”
He could see the old man sport a charming grin as he laughed. “I just try my best. Luckily, plenty of sophonts like my best!”
The apron around Zane was soon unfastened and then pulled off, and Zane stood up out of the chair, bringing himself closer to the large mirror. He inspected his highlights closely, happiness washing over him.
“Now,” he heard Isaac say behind him, “once that sets in about five minutes, it will stay that way no matter how much you wash it. But if you want to change it up, you’re welcome to return any time!”
Zane turned to face him now, a bright expression on his face. “You’re an awesome guy, Isaac. Are you gonna be at the book club again next week?”
“Oh, absolutely,” Isaac started, but he was interrupted when Kaiga strode into view behind him, resting a mossy hand upon his head. Isaac gave a contented sigh and turned to address his Affini, reaching to grab an outstretched vine and squeezing.
“I see my love’s new friend has been taken care of,” Kaiga commented. His voice was deep, and he spoke slowly and carefully, which was fitting for someone looking like an ambulatory tree. “I don’t think I caught your name, little one.”
After Zane introduced himself, Kaiga chuckled, giving his floret a gentle pat. “Good to see my love enjoying himself with a new face. I hope we get to see you again sometime soon.”
“I’ll let you know,” Zane replied kindly, before sending Chloros a quick message to let her know he was done.
Ten minutes later, they were on the way back to her hab unit. Chloros was idly petting and stroking Zane’s newly highlighted ‘do, and once more, her aura of peace radiated into him, bringing his soul ever so slightly closer to hers.
This was a life he could get used to, he was sure.
With Mo… Chloros by his side.
Chapter 17: Senses
Summary:
The tools we use to navigate the world.
Even paradise has its limits. And Zane struggles with reconciliation and loneliness. Chloros has just the thing to distract him.
Content warnings: Xenodrugged makeout, affini hypnosis, mommy kink, sexual contact
Notes:
This chapter was so hot my hands ignited and I needed to find a fire extinguisher /j
So! The sexy stuff continues, and this time, it's purely between the man and plant of the hour. No one else, it's just a ward and his affini. And hot DAMN, was it fun to write. It was only a matter of time before the two got intimate, and what better way than to really lean into Class-A and kissing?
Plus, I'm particularly proud of one line I wrote near the end. Y'all can guess at what I mean :3
Feel free to spam the comments about how hot the plampt sex was, I yearn for it~
Chapter Text
“I think I miss him, Chloros.”
The Affini in charge of Zane’s wellbeing glanced down at him while they sat on the new couch in her hab unit, confusion on her face.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that, petal?”
“I miss him. My brother. Axton.”
Zane knew that expressing his melancholy thoughts while they were relaxing together, watching a movie, with him nestled in her lap, was likely to kill the mood. Yet he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about his sibling.
The movie they were watching, apparently the ‘floret cut’ (ie a version with objectionable elements like violence or capitalism edited out), had its plot center around a brother and sister on opposite sides of the galaxy, and fighting tooth and nail to reunite. Eventually they achieve it, with the help of a youngbloom Affini who guides the brother to her. It was a sweet story, one that Zane resonated with…
Perhaps a little too well, he thought.
He sighed while resting against Chloros, wearing just a tank top and boxers. Today was a lazy day, and so the pair opted to stay in, binging movies together. It was nice to just do nothing but watch entertainment all day, with Zane held comfortably by his warden. And even though he didn’t really have objections to non-floret cuts, he still appreciated softer versions of media like this.
Chloros’ soft hand was on his head, running her fingers through his hair. It was a sensation that always made him go a little limp, happy to just be held and pet. But it couldn’t quiet the storm gathering in his mind.
The credits rolling suddenly stopped, as Chloros had paused it. She looked at him with a tender expression on her face.
“Tell me what’s wrong, petal. I will listen.”
...huh. Normally she asked if he wanted to discuss things, but her outright telling him to talk made him feel the urge to obey, even if it was in a gentle way. Nodding, he shifted to get comfortable, staring at the screen.
“Axton’s out there somewhere, I know it,” Zane said. “I have a feeling we’ll see each other eventually. I just… don’t know if I’m ready to see him again. Even though I feel like I want to.”
Chloros’ other hand took hold of Zane’s, their fingers joining once again. Another gesture he had grown to enjoy, their bond deepening from such intimacy. It calmed him, kept him steady, and it simply felt nice to have her larger digits in between his own while she squeezed him.
“He hurt me from the start, and I don’t want to forgive him for that pain. But he tried to help me when Dad started losing his mind. And now… with Mom gone… I…”
“Speak, Zane.”
“He’s all I have left of my family. I don’t want to lose him, but I don’t know if I’m ready to let him back in. My heart already hurts from all that’s happened. It might hurt even more if we reunite.”
For a few moments, Chloros just kept petting and holding him. It felt nice, but he really wished she would talk more so he didn’t have to carry the conversation. He continued nonetheless.
“Do I still hate him for what he did? Kind of. I guess. I wished he was better from the very start, instead of only realizing how much he hurt me after Dad became cruel to both of us. He had his chance and wasted it. I don’t… ugh…”
He closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling, but it didn’t feel good. He realized that if he kept speaking, this would bring up a wave of tears that he didn’t want. Even with Chloros helping him with it, he always hated crying. It made him feel like a child who lacked the fortitude that was expected of him.
Stars, Dad’s words were still ringing in his head, even years after his death. The bastard really did have a firm grip on him from beyond the grave. Part of him hoped that Dad didn’t get a proper funeral.
“How long have you been carrying this hatred, Zane?” Chloros asked quietly.
“Since… since I was like three, I guess. I think I read something about how abuse in childhood can leave lasting scars into adulthood. Which… explains a lot.”
And he had anecdotes to back it up. Back in school, one of his friends had admitted that he suffered from severe trust issues due to being abused himself when off-campus. Zane had wanted to help him back then, but never got the chance to, and then the friend disappeared. He wondered if he was still okay.
Chloros hummed softly as he leaned back into her vine-clad body. Her chestpiece was segmented again, allowing him to rest against soft vines instead of hard wood. Cushy, comfortable vines…
“Scars like these are hard to heal,” Chloros said. “And the hatred associated with them takes even longer to fade. I understand how you feel, Zane. I would like to offer some insight.”
Zane turned his head to look up at her, curiosity in his eyes. What could she say to enlighten him?
“This pain need not be forgiven, if you don’t want to. It need not be forgotten, either, as it’s a part of you. But it can be… released.”
“I’m sorry?”
“You can choose to forgive your brother for what he did, or refuse. That is your decision. But keeping your hatred of him close, and having it blind you to everything else… it’s hazardous. It can compromise your judgment and weigh you down. Clinging to hatred is a denial of the love that you can give and receive. And without love… it is impossible to function.”
“But… but what if I don’t love him anymore? What if I reject him because I still hate his guts? I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop myself, this is a lot of pent-up shit I’m dealing with...”
Chloros retracted the hand on his head, and moved it to stroke his chin while looking at him warmly.
“The fact that you have to ask that at all means you do still love him to some degree. Recognize it, and let this pain go. Even if you never find each other again, you can at least move forward with your life without it weighing you down. You’re in an environment with love as a focus, dear. The hate can be left behind.”
He understood. As much as the hate and spite drove him to continue, he was becoming more and more aware of how utterly exhausting it was. When that well inevitably went dry, what did he have left?
He could still love. If not Axton, then maybe… he could still love Chloros. That was something that seemed right to him.
“I… okay. I-I don’t know if I’m ready to let it go quite yet, but… I’ll at least chew on it for a while. Thanks, Chloros.”
As he finished that sentence, he noticed a shift in her aura. Mild, almost imperceptible, but once he caught on to it, it was hard to ignore. Chloros didn’t change size in that instant, at least not physically, but something about her seemed… larger. More imposing. More of a colossus.
“I’m glad,” Chloros said. Her voice deepened suddenly, and hearing her speak to him now was sending waves through him that made him shudder slightly. “I think I have something else that might help…”
Was she… flirting with him? He struggled to think, but not in a fashion that was negative. Instead of his mind being handicapped by stress and pain, it was feeling a little more free, a little more relaxed. Thoughts were there, but his focus was starting to slacken.
He was about to look her in the eye, but a vine gently grabbed his chin and held him in place. “No, no, no peeking, petal. It’s a surprise. One that a good boy deserves.”
When Frey called him that, it did things to him. Made him feel wanted, loved, appreciated.
When Chloros did it, those same feelings were amplified by a factor of 100.
And he wanted more.
“Close your eyes, Zane.~”
He couldn’t object, and so he obeyed. He kept them shut tight, and for an instant, all was still. His other senses were still in working order. They kept him aware of other elements in play here.
His ears picked up on the minimal ambient noise of the hab unit, and the subtle sounds of Chloros’ vines shifting ever so slightly. He heard his own breathing, slow, quiet, at ease. Other than that, nothing else.
The sense of touch informed him he was comfortable in Chloros’ lap still. Her body always seemed perfect to rest on, providing lots of soft cushioning, and his sleep cycle was now under control with a definite place to rest. The bed and couch were comfortable, but Chloros was moreso. Chloros’ hand had left his own, her silken touch escaping him, and he almost gave in to the urge to grab it and pull it back.
He was able to taste the remnants of his lunch from earlier, a big, hearty sandwich with pulled beef, cheddar cheese, and barbecue sauce, all held inside two slices of pleasingly crunchy bread. It had been followed up with a side of seasoned steak fries and root beer. A big lunch that left him satisfied… he wondered if he could subsist on it. It certainly helped that, despite his stomach having issues with beef, he was able to consume the whole thing without a problem. Was it something about how it was compiled? Either way, it was lovely.
And lastly, the sense of smell. Chloros had opted to arrange the hab unit so that a mild scent of vanilla filled the air, ensuring an atmosphere of relaxation at all times. Though, the vanilla was pushed aside, in favor of a wholly new scent that seemed to worm its way into his mind. Sweet, and tantalizingly so, filling him with a yearning for her that went beyond warden and ward. With how he was positioned, he gathered it was coming from Chloros, but with his eyes closed, he couldn’t confirm it.
The only sense he couldn’t use here was his sight. All he saw was darkness behind his eyelids. He didn’t dare open them. Not yet. Chloros requested it of him, and so he would stay blind, at least for the moment.
“You’re being a very good boy for me, darling. Just stay like that for a moment longer.”
He shuddered, and nodded. His curiosity begged to know what she was cooking up, but he ignored it. He didn’t want to let Chloros down.
She started to move him, then. Slowly, gingerly, cradling him like the priceless artifact he knew she saw him as. Raising him up, higher and higher.
“Hands on my shoulders, please.”
He did so, putting his arms out and resting his hands upon the pauldrons that she had. Being wooden, they weren’t as soft, but they were smooth and flawless. Immaculately sculpted to fit her regal queen appearance.
He realized he was being held up by vines now, as he felt her hands move to cradle the sides of his face and tilt his head upwards. The way her vines held him, gripping his hips and bottom in particular, made him shiver. He had an inkling of what might happen, but remained silent and blind, not wanting to disappoint her.
“There. Now, stay like that and relax. Here it comes...~”
He waited. And waited. And waited. Time had lost meaning here, and he wondered just how long she was going to leave him in suspense. What if-
Lips.
Lips upon his own.
Soft, smooth, larger, plump.
Chloros’ lips were pressing against his.
It was like kissing Frey, but… greater. More intense. More powerful.
The pleasurable sensation of another’s mouth upon his own was good by itself. Chloros’ mouth was doing things to him he didn’t expect. Right away, intense jolts and arcs of feel-good essence surged through the skin on his mouth and through his body. Very soon, Zane’s body was lit up with a growing bonfire of intensity.
Chloros rubbed his cheeks with her thumbs as she remained lip-locked with him. His hot breath flowed out into her mouth, and hers into his own, mingling together. She tasted perfect. There was no other way to describe it. If he had to, he’d have said she had the flavor of…
Love.
Love had a flavor. And a smell. And a physical sensation.
Chloros’ love had all this and more.
He didn’t dare open his eyes, keeping them shut tight. Luckily, she made no command to open them, so he could just relax and allow her to continue.
His whole body was quickly becoming more sensitive, as he became acutely aware of just how his own clothes felt upon him. The soft cloth moved with every slight shift and movement he made, and it stoked the embers that were building within. Her vines coiled around his form, one rubbing slow circles over his soft stomach, another squeezing part of his backside. Both actions gave him pleasure, amplified by whatever she was doing to intensify his reactions.
Zane couldn’t stop himself as he moaned against her mouth. Before, he was deathly afraid of being touched. Now, he desperately yearned for her to touch him, feel him, play with him. His hands gripped her pauldrons tightly, and though he somewhat worried he might hurt them on her wood, he knew her well enough that no harm would come to him while she put all her focus on making him feel good.
When she disconnected for a moment, Zane let out a rather pitiful whine of need. Embarrassment came to the front. Such intensity and yearning was something he wasn’t used to, and he realized he was quickly growing addicted to his warden’s sweet taste.
“Mmm, I know, petal,” Chloros murmured, her voice penetrating every layer of material of his body to reach into his mind. “I know exactly what you crave.”
Zane shivered, realizing the implication. A young man like him with a newly rekindled libido meant he had been consuming all manner of ‘florn’ – that is to say, pornography starring florets. And his current fascination as of late was the act of kissing. He had fantasized about having another’s mouth upon him, tasting him, stealing his breath away, leaving him gasping and moaning…
Especially if that ‘other’ was an Affini.
“C-Chloros,” Zane breathed. He wanted to continue, but couldn’t. It was like she had kissed away any other words from his mind except the name he knew her by. His thoughts were all centered on her, his incredibly warm, sweet-cored guardian, giving him affection that was a step above.
“Feeling good, my darling? You have Class-A’s to thank for that.”
Class-A… he remembered. A type of xenodrug designed to amplify the senses of those it’s applied to, primarily touch. It made sense now – she had kissed it into him, and making him into a needy, stimulated mess while in her grasp.
“Y-yeah, yeah… s-stars…”
“There’s more where that came from, my boy.~”
He was silenced as she went back in, beginning the dance between them once more. This time, her vines snaked under his clothes, finding bare skin. Skin that was helpless against her firm squeezes, gropes, and grabs, his squishy body a prime target for her affections. His hefty backside was rubbed all over, as were his thick thighs, and he could feel more targeting his nipples, adding more fuel for his fire.
His back arched while arousal rocketed through him, every single nerve ending alight with warmth. With every light squeeze and stroke, his whole body felt it. All of it. The entirety of Zane had turned into an erogenous zone in only a minute’s time.
He wanted her.
No, he needed her.
Deep-seated desires were activated, and though he couldn’t see, the tent forming between his legs was impossible to miss, even with everything else happening. Merely touching the fabric of his underwear made him quiver and whine from desire.
She pulled her mouth free again, and started to speak. Every word was punctuated with a firm smooch against his lips.
“You.”
Smooch.
“Are.”
Smooch.
“A delight.”
A firm, deep smooch for several seconds.
“So soft and sweet.”
His voice was silenced. He could no longer say anything. He didn’t want to say anything. All he wanted was to melt in her arms and submit to her passion and grace. He was a plaything, her plaything...
“Let me help you with that, my sweet boy.”
A thin appendage snuck into the crotch of his boxers. It coiled around his erection, and before he knew it, she was starting to rhythmically stroke, using up-and-down motions that made his hips buck against her. His fingers dug so firmly into her shoulders he wondered if she’d notice.
Her assault on his mouth resumed. This time, something wet and vine-like pushed past his lips and against his teeth. He quickly realized it was her tongue. A new reflex kicked in, one that automatically made him open his teeth to allow access.
“Mmmmmh~”
In went that tongue, brushing against his own, then the sides of his mouth. She must have concentrated the A in this part, because it was making him squirm and moan more intensely. Zane’s whole body was engulfed in a pleasant warmth, radiating through him, a blaze of passion and desire.
Again, he bucked his hips against her, moaning and whining needily. Her tongue muffled him, stole his breath, stole his words. Chloros wordlessly decreed he was not allowed to speak, and until she lifted that decree, he was forbidden from using language. It was surprisingly exciting to know.
Her tongue was starting to probe further. Further past his own. And…
Into his throat.
He expected to gag and choke, with such a thing likely to cut off his air flow. No such thing occurred. Instead, she pushed further, deeper into his throat, making his neck bulge slightly from that thick appendage. His gag reflex was suppressed, and he was still receiving air, meaning all he could do was take it. Take it all.
He could take it.
He would take it. Like a good boy.
He was her good boy. Hers. Hers alone.
The thought lingered in his brain as she didn’t relent.
Hers. Hers. Hers. Hers. Hers.
He groaned around her, pressure and tension ramping up over time. He only just became aware that his boxers were lowered, exposing his lower half to the cooler air, as she mercilessly teased and touched him.
He was being overloaded. Quickly reaching the edge, about to detonate like a stick of dynamite with the fuse lit and rapidly burning away. Only moments remained until the inevitable explosion.
She eventually retracted her tongue, pulling back, snaking it out of his throat and mouth and into her own. Zane was left gasping and panting, heart racing.
All this time, he kept his eyes screwed shut. He wondered if-
“Open your eyes and look into mine.”
Zane fixed his gaze upon her and stared into the brilliant, ocean blue of her eyes. A deep, endless sea of peace and serenity, one that erased any and all doubt, fear, anxiety, and guilt. It connected him to her, bridging his soul with hers for several blissful moments.
He was in a world where he belonged to her. It was the only world.
Chloros loves me. Chloros wants me. Chloros loves me. Chloros wants me.
Chloros.
Chloros… is…
Is…
“M… muh… muh…”
“Speak, my boy.”
There was only one word that he could utter while entranced by her. A word that part of him realized would be unable to be taken back if he said it.
He did it anyway.
“Momma…”
A deep, reverberating chuckle was heard, washing over him. She was delighted by how much he said in a single word, and her stroking quickened.
“Good boy, Zane. That’s right. I’m Momma. And you’re mine.”
He could say no more, because he was right about to explode, and he-
“Cum for Momma.~”
All the pressure came out at once.
Zane let out a loud cry as he reached climax, madly rocking his hips as he spasmed. Ropes of hot, sticky white fluid rushed out of him, splattering onto the vines constituting Chloros’ exposed chest and stomach.
It was an orgasm that was far more intense than the last few ones he had recently. If the ones before were bombs exploding, this one was a volcano erupting. Heat and lust and desire and passion were raging inside as he came, twitching and squirming quite hard as she didn’t let up with her stroking.
And yet, he never broke eye contact with her. To do so was to turn his head away from the peace she embodied.
She was his peace.
Zane’s climax persisted for several long moments, and then there was no more. He was spent, dried out, incapable of offering anything else. When it subsided, he went limp, trembling, quaking, shivering as he still felt everything that was oh-so-good.
“Mmmh, I’m so proud of you, my boy. You did perfectly. Momma loves you.~”
He gave a tired, dopey smile in response. He was still unable to tear his eyes away, and so, the trance only ended when the leaves around her face moved back into position.
The enthralling blue ocean of Chloros’ gaze dissipated. Zane was snapped back into reality. It was so jarring that it actually frightened him, and his eyes shifted around, desperate for something to-
Something jabbed him in the neck. The intense stimulation of his nerves and senses came to an abrupt end, and now, he was left with only exhaustion. He collapsed against her, face landing in the vines of her neck. He clung to Chloros with what little strength he had left, though it was only a small amount.
Chloros held Zane gently, her vines retracting. Only her hands touched him now, and she leaned back against the couch, saying nothing. Instead, she only began to hum, the sound penetrating into his mind.
As Zane felt slumber take hold, a single thought was left in his mind as Chloros’ voice followed him into vivid dreams.
I love you, Momma.
Chapter 18: Green Light Ride
Summary:
Driving through forever.
Axton finally reunites with Troy and discovers what kind of warden Mithrax is. The captain and the muscle bond over a shared memory.
Content warnings: Mention of police brutality, chase scene with gun usage
Notes:
Sexy time with Chloros and Zane over! It's now EPIC CHASE SCENE TIME with the Hyperion crew! Also Troy gets some characterization and it's good :3
I had a lot of fun writing this one. It felt good to do a chase scene again, but more grounded, compared to the old school dog fight in Chapter 12. Plus, Troy here gets to beat up a cop, and Axton blasts some away! Ain't that nice?
I think I'll have to focus more on Mithrax soon, he's a favorite, but I haven't figured out how to put a spotlight on him... could give him a solo chapter, maybe.
Either way, please let me know how I did! <3
Chapter Text
Axton stared blankly at the man before him.
Troy returned the stare with a happy grin. “Sup, Cap?” he said with a laugh. A light, easygoing one, filled with joy instead of smugness or mockery.
Axton turned to address Mithrax, who was also grinning cheerfully. He looked back at Troy, then at Mithrax, then at Troy, then at Mithrax.
A long silence followed. Troy took note of it, and coughed awkwardly. Mithrax reached behind to scratch the back of his own neck.
Finally, Axton found his voice, catching it before it could completely abandon him in this absolutely asinine situation, and used it to start off with a single word.
“What.”
Troy offered a sympathetic smile. “Yeah, it’s kinda surprising to me too. I know how you feel, Cap.”
A hand went over the Hyperion captain’s face as he sat there in yet another extremely comfy chair within the hab unit that belonged to Mithrax. He was starting to wonder if it was literally impossible for anything to be hard to sit in around the Affini.
Mithrax’s hab unit was a fair bit smaller than the one he and his crew were using. It was a lot more chaotic and haphazard too, looking more like a very large, wooden shack, and inside, a fungal forest that looked more at home in the jungle of a different planet Axton had been to. Mushrooms everywhere, vines and moss dangling from the ceiling… contrasting with obviously artificial elements like some display screens, shelves, some beds, the doors, and the compiler. And despite his worries over potentially inhaling something foul, he didn’t smell anything strange within the fungal giant’s abode.
He looked at Troy now. The man was sitting in a hammock of sorts that dangled from the ceiling, swaying back and forth gently, and holding what looked like a round mushroom plush toy in his arms. His muscle looked more or less how he last saw him – about his height, broad-shouldered, tan-skinned, still sporting a smooth and shiny dome. The biggest changes were the fact that he wore a collar around his neck with a dangling green crystal, and what appeared to be dark green pajamas with more mushroom patterns all over. Though, Troy’s bright emerald eyes still remained, which did a lot to inform Axton that it was still his crewmate in there. But how much was left?
“Alright, first off,” Axton said, rubbing his temple, “are you okay?”
Troy chuckled. “’Are you okay’, he says. Cap, I’m more than okay. I’m feeling great! Mithrax has been a really cool guy to get to know.”
“Actually, I’m a fungi,” Mithrax corrected, mouth open in a grin.
“Don’t. You. Start.” Axton glared at the Affini with as much contempt as he could muster. If he heard another terrible joke like that, Axton feared he’d have a stroke.
Troy rolled his eyes and squeezed his plush in his arms. “Believe me, I hated the puns too, at first. But honestly, once you get used to this dude, it’s actually nice to hear him crack jokes. His sense of humor’s better than mine anyway.”
Axton raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you had a sense of humor?”
“If you call ‘spitting slurs and swearing at people’ humor, then yeah, I did. Mithrax taught me otherwise, though. In fact… hey, Mithrax.”
“What’s up, Troy?”
“You know, there’s a time in the year where people are more likely to trip and hurt themselves. You know what it’s called?”
“Mmm, can’t say I do, petal. What is it?”
Oh don’t you dare-
“The fall season!”
As if to taunt Axton, a disembodied ba-dum-tshh sound played before Troy and Mithrax giggled together. Meanwhile, the Hyperion captain realized that maybe he ought to just hurry up and let himself be domesticated so he didn’t have to think about these awful jokes anymore.
Stars, why was he cursed like this?
“Ohohoho! Oh, goodness, petal, I’m really rubbing off on you!” Mithrax guffawed.
“And rubbing me in general,” Troy teased, smirking. That made Axton blink.
“Hang on, hang on… I thought you hated the we-”
He stopped, noticing that Mithrax was flashing a warning look at him with one eye. He hastily continued, “The, the Affini, sorry. Hell, you shot at Mithrax here.”
“I did, didn’t I? I was never the brightest, I know.” Troy gave a wistful sigh. “But Mithrax accepts me anyway. Which is real nice.”
A lot of it didn’t make sense for Axton, still. He kept waiting for Mithrax to express annoyance at the very least, but no, the big guy didn’t seem to care all that much. It was apparently treated like a minor scratch instead of leaden slugs ripping through an organic body. It probably hurt, but he remembered that Mithrax hadn’t expressed pain in any way when he snatched Troy up.
Did Affini even feel pain?
Slumping in his seat, Axton brought his plant-cigar to his lips and inhaled. Mithrax was at least correct in that these things were a fair bit better than his private collection. Smaller, lighter, and much more flavorful, with none of the toxic fumes and smoke associated with a regular cigar. Plus, he was starting to breathe and think better with whatever it was doing to him. He still missed his stash, no doubt about that, but for now, these would work.
“Oh, Mithrax told me you got a stack of those!” Troy said, looking at the cigar in Axton’s hand. “What’re they loaded with? A? C? Wait, no, can’t be those, you’re still pretty lucid and aren’t bonding with your chair.”
Axton rolled his eyes. Troy getting so familiar with these ‘xenodrugs’ worried him, but the man didn’t seem to be inebriated, so maybe Mithrax just informed him of their existence instead of shooting him up with the stuff.
“...no, none of those. It’s basically one of those vaping things.”
“Oh, right, right!”
Behind Troy, Axton saw something small and squirrel-shaped dart around Mithrax’s form. The Affini slowly moved a fungus-covered arm, bringing it upwards, as the creature finally came to a halt on his hand. He said something in what he assumed to be the Affini’s language, since it sounded somewhat similar to what Dynine had been using to speak to Harken with.
Stars, that was an experience. Harken reeked, in a way that made Axton want more instead of scrambling to protect his nose. If he didn’t have his crew’s safety taking priority, he thought he’d just lay there with her for eternity, basking in her mind-fogging aroma, feeling her softness, her warmth, her…
Her strong legs around him, anchoring their hips together…
Shaking his head to dismiss that lurid memory, Axton forced himself to focus and address Mithrax now. “Hey, mushroom man. What’s that?”
Mithrax paused and smiled over at Axton, holding his arm out. “’That’, little one, is none other than my very first floret. A cute rinan by the name of Khubo Mardum, First Floret, it/its! It’s been my faithful companion for a long time. Go ahead and introduce yourself, sweetling.”
The squirrel creature stood up on its hind legs and turned toward Axton, letting him get a better look. It looked just like a small, furry rodent, an oversized mouse, with a dark grey pelt and crimson red eyes. It wore an open shirt around its torso, dark green like Troy’s pajamas. A set of goggles was perched on its head, rounded ears adorning it, and a dark green collar was fastened around its neck. Instead of a crystal or similarly fitting decoration, it had an array of small switches, dials, and other manipulation devices along the band. It also sported a long, thin tail with a fluffy tip on the end.
Khubo began to chitter and squeak, and immediately, an electronic, vaguely masculine voice came from it. “Hello! Good to meetcha, cigar terran man! Mithrax says lots about you!”
In Axton’s stomach, nervousness began to pool. He knew all too well about the rinans, how the Accord tried to break them down after first contact and exploit them for its own gain. He had joined a few protests in the past, all in the name of demanding the Accord treat the rinans better. Alas, when you’re up against a titanic fascist government that only sees you as a resource at best and vermin at worst, it made no impact at all. He narrowly avoided getting arrested during one protest, when the local police decided to attack the protestors with all manner of violence and weaponry to make them disperse. He managed to escape in the chaos, though he had to take a week off for a sprained ankle and eye irritation from tear gas bombs. The others suffered far worse…
He didn’t know if Khubo would treat him differently for being terran. Would it lump him in with the Accord who abused the little critters just for being aliens in their way?
Axton looked at Khubo, and struggled to say something, but it cut him off. “No need to worry, cigar terran man! Khubo likes you already!”
“Uh… hi. My name’s just Axton, though.”
“Well met, friend Axton!” Khubo chirped happily. It smiled brightly at him, before suddenly darting up Mithrax’s arm and perching itself upon the top of his head.
A vine made its way upward and started to pat the critter on the head, earning some affectionate squeaks.
“It’s a real sweetheart, ain’t it?” Mithrax crooned. “My adorable little flower, yes it is~”
It seemed at that point, Mithrax started to get distracted by petting and doting on Khubo. Axton and Troy certainly noticed, with the latter giving a sigh, before turning to his captain.
“He does that to me too, and it’s nice.”
Axton snorted. “Yeah, I bet he does. Anyway. While our resident mushroom man is occupied, I want you to do something for me.”
“Can do, Cap, what is it?”
Axton leaned forward, putting his plant-cigar down on the arm of his chair. He put his hands together, fingers tenting, while looking at Troy searchingly.
“Can you remember something for me? Like, say... that delivery we did for that guy who brought us to the lead for Zane?”
He half expected Troy to look at him in confusion, like many other florets and wards who struggled to think under the influence of xenodrugs. Blissed out, brainless, unable to think beyond what their owners allowed them to…
His fears were assuaged, thankfully, when Troy smiled and nodded, hugging his plush toy tighter.
“Oh, how could I ever forget? That was a heck of a time!”
In the early hours, within a quiet parking lot of a city on a dusty desert planet, two men were at work.
“Hey, be careful with that thing,” Axton hissed as he saw Troy heft the crate into the back of the jeep.
“I know what I’m doin’,” Troy retorted. Luckily, despite the crate’s cumbersome heaviness, it fit perfectly into the jeep, and Troy was able to get it secured with straps so it wouldn’t fall out or get rattled too much.
The duo were performing a job for one of Troy’s contacts, a shady character who didn’t reveal much about himself beyond saying he could point them in the right direction of Axton’s brother. Their mission was simple – break into a museum, secure an artifact in one of the exhibits, load it up, and deliver it to the employer. If they did it right, then they would get the information they’d need. The contact said something about cultural preservation, or something to that effect. Either way, they came to this part of the dustbowl of a planet, with the girls staying aboard the ship, ready to swoop in and retrieve them once they secured the package.
It was going smoothly so far. The item turned out to be some kind of ancient drinking horn from an era Axton didn’t recognize, but their employer said it belonged to his family, and he was incensed that it was on display in a museum against his wishes. So here they were, stealing the horn and securing it to their jeep in the very early morning. Axton had managed to sneak in and avoid all the security, albeit with a few close calls.
Meanwhile, Troy’s task was to create a distraction. Not enough to get arrested for it, but enough to annoy and occupy the security guards and give Axton an opening to swipe the thing before making an exit.
Now, all that was left was to contact Amanda and let her know the boys were about to head out. Axton held off on that for a moment, taking time to lean against their four-wheeled, grey-coated, roof-less vehicle and relax.
He stared up at the sky, seeing the stars in the dark blue void. It reminded him of home, where the night sky always twinkled with radiant stars high above. When things got bad, or when he simply felt contemplative, Axton took the time to sit on the roof of the house and do some stargazing. Sometimes that was all the elder Jakobson brother needed to clear his head.
He wondered how Mom was doing with Zane. A lot of people looked at her as the poor, put upon housewife who couldn’t do anything against her increasingly tyrannical husband, which did have a degree of truth, but Axton knew who she was at heart – a keen mind who was putting together an exit strategy as things kept getting worse and worse. In secret, she had been preparing a way to get herself and her boys away from Dad and someplace safer, without him ever catching up. It would have ensured the family’s safety and allowed the brothers a safe place to regroup and take shelter in while trying to move on with their lives.
Alas, that plan fell through on the night of Dad’s death. Axton still couldn’t recall all the details, apart from Dad getting horribly drunk and yelling really cruel things at both Zane and Mom. Axton would have intervened, but alas, he couldn’t remember what kept him from the scene. Until he somehow unblocked that memory, it would forever be a mystery.
He’d have to figure it out somehow. Even if it hurt, it was a missing piece in the puzzle that was that fateful night. If nothing else, he’d be able to put it to bed.
“All secure, Cap,” Troy announced, shutting the back of the jeep and coming around the side. “We should probably get goin’.”
“In a minute. Join me?”
“...sure.”
Troy strode up and took his spot beside his captain, leaning against the side of the jeep, following his gaze. Meathead he was, Axton knew Troy could still appreciate a chance to contemplate the world around them, and he knew the man had a heart of gold behind his “reckless bruiser” persona.
The two men stood in silence. Troy folded his arms, while Axton’s were kept at his sides.
Axton had learned a fair amount about Troy since he was hired for the crew. For one thing, while Troy projected the air of a dimwitted AWOL soldier who just wants to shoot or punch things, he was in actuality a very insightful and intelligent man… he just had a front that was near impossible to let down.
Troy had let slip a while back about how he was scared of everything going on outside of the Hyperion’s domain. The Accord clashing with the Affini, and losing so much ground at a rapid pace, scared the hell out of him. But whereas Axton kept it under control and remained composed, Troy’s aggression and sometimes stupid decisions were a desperate attempt at having control of his life.
Axton understood. Some people weren’t assholes out of pure malice, but rather, they had no control over anything, and so their foul behaviors were done to try to claw at any scrap of stability and safety, even if it meant alienating others.
Thankfully, Troy was the type to recognize when he was wrong, and most of the time he apologized for his actions and admitted fault.
Most of the time.
“Shame we have to leave this place,” Troy said softly, breaking the comfortable quiet. “I actually kinda like it here.”
“You like crappy dustbowls?” Axton asked, glancing over at him.
Troy scoffed. “Nah. I could do without the dust and sand and shit. But what I like most is that it’s… peaceful. Calm. Almost makes me want to retire here.”
“What’s stopping you?”
“I’m an ex-soldier, but I still got my training, Cap,” Troy said simply. “I’ll probably keep runnin’ and gunnin’ all over the place after we find your brother. Dunno if I’ll stick with you after, or go my own way. For what it’s worth, you guys have been the best crew I’ve been with in a long time.”
Axton felt a small smile tug at his lips. It was the quiet moments like these, where his friends and allies showed different sides of themselves, that made him happy to have hired a colorful arrangement of individuals in this quest. It meant his decisions were paying off with people he could count on.
“You don’t have to be a merc forever,” Axton offered. “You can, Iunno… settle down and retire, like you said. Guy like you? Maybe the quiet life’s best.”
“Maybe.” Troy shrugged, running a hand over his bald head. “Just, feels like my calling is for-”
“Hey, you two!”
Both men froze as a voice neither of them recognized rang out, and they were jolted out of their comfortable conversation. Axton turned his head, and saw the speaker.
A police officer. Fuck. This was going to be a huge issue if he didn’t deal with it.
He turned to Troy, whispering, “No sudden movements, let me handle it.” Getting a nod, he turned back to the officer.
The uniformed man was stocky, clad in the dark blues associated with the Accord-aligned law enforcement here. He was an angry-looking man whose hand was held on his holstered pistol, and Axton knew right away that he was spoiling for an excuse to shoot.
Typical. Supposed “protect and serve” types that really just got into the job so they could flex power over people.
“Morning, officer,” Axton said politely, standing up straight. “Something wrong?”
“Yeah, you bet there’s something wrong. You’re on private property! No civvies allowed back here!”
Axton glanced around. He saw the building the lot was attached to, and realized it was some sort of office building. Ah. He should have seen that.
“Crap, is that so? Apologies, officer, we’ll be on our-”
The man held up a hand, and Axton paused, letting him speak.
“No, you’re going nowhere. I’m gonna have to check your vehicle for any contraband, and if I find anything that isn’t meant to be there, both of your asses are going behind bars.”
Axton maintained a poker face. Inside, he was nervous. If he objected, they’d be arrested for sure, but if he let this guy check their jeep, they’d be found out.
“I say let him,” Troy whispered. Luckily, the guy didn’t notice. “Got an idea.”
Axton nodded without turning away. He didn’t know what Troy was planning, but he knew him well enough that he hoped it was a good plan. Or at least, good enough that it gave them time to get out of here.
“Alright, go ahead, officer,” Axton said.
The snarly oaf smirked. “Finally, some civvies that actually cooperate. Can’t tell you how often I have to deal with punks that want to fight instead of just doing what they’re fucking told.”
That’s it, asshole. Lower your guard.
Axton and Troy stepped out of the way, and they allowed the officer to search their vehicle. Luckily, nothing incriminating was in there. There was only an empty bottle of water in the cupholder, and Troy’s sunglasses left hanging on the rearview mirror.
The cop gave a satisfied snort. “Mm, typical. But I ain’t done yet. What’s in the trunk?” he said, slamming the doors shut.
“Package for a friend,” Axton replied. “It’s really heavy and we just finished getting it strapped down.”
“Uh huh. Show it to me.”
“T, do the honors?” Axton said. Troy nodded, and he saw a glint in his gunner’s eye.
Axton waited by the passenger door as Troy led the officer to the back of the jeep, and opened it up. He did his best to remain still, hoping Troy knew what he was doing.
“Well, I’ll be,” he heard the cop say. “This is a big box you got here, boy. Did you- GACK!”
A heavy thunking noise filled the air, followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground. Axton dashed around, and saw that the officer was now in a heap, a bloody gash on his face. Troy pilfered the downed officer’s gun and whatever ammo he had, then tossed it into Axton’s hands before slamming the trunk shut again.
“We better go, now,” Troy said firmly.
“You drive, I’ll ping Amanda.”
“Got it.”
The pair quickly hopped in, with Axton in the passenger side. He quickly started loading the officer’s sidearm, pleased that it was a gun with a good weight to it. Though, it reminded him of how places like these had law enforcement who were armed to the teeth, out of the assumption they’d be facing all manner of gangs and supervillains… and not, you know, regular civilians, which were a much larger chunk of the local population. Another Accord-ism.
Nonetheless, he was armed. The jeep shook slightly as Troy climbed into the driver’s seat, keying the ignition. The engine roared to life, and Troy slammed his foot on the gas. Then they were off, racing away from the parking lot and away from the fallen cop.
Axton saw that the officer was getting up in the rearview mirror, and quickly made sure his new gun was loaded. He tapped his communicator and spoke aloud so he could be heard over the engine. “Amanda, come in!”
“Read you loud and clear, Cap, what’s the sitch?” his pilot answered.
“Need immediate exfil, we’re about to have the police on our ass any second. ETA?”
“Five minutes, tops. I’ll have Maya prep the loading ramp.”
“Good, head to these coordinates. Then get ready to jump outta here.”
“Letting Maya know. See you in a bit, Cap.”
Troy gunned it, speeding through the streets of the city. Axton was forced back in his seat from the sudden burst of inertia, but managed to straighten himself. He sat up, glancing at the side mirror…
And saw several white and blue vehicles with the local police’s insignia on them. And at least one hovercraft above them, shining a spotlight on the pair.
“Attention, unidentified driver! You are under arrest for assaulting an officer! Pull over and come quietly!” came a voice over loudspeaker. He figured that was the hovercraft pilot.
“Fuck that. Troy?”
“Hope they choke on our dust! Hang on!”
Axton gripped a handle above him tightly as Troy made a hard turn to the left, taking a detour to a different street. The cops behind them followed, the hovercraft close behind.
In these cramped streets, Axton knew they wouldn’t be overtaken. But they only had limited fuel, and even with a full tank, they couldn’t outrun their pursuers forever.
“Troy, we need to get to the outskirts,” Axton called out, flicking the safety off on his sidearm. “We can lose’em in the dunes and rocks.”
“Hell yeah! Been wanting to see how this baby performed on rough terrain!” Troy cheered. “Brace yourself, Cap!”
Axton braced as Troy focused on getting them the hell out of there. He took them through several twists and turns, doing everything he could to keep ahead. Axton had known him to have good driving skills, but to be able to stay ahead of police at a breakneck pace, in a vehicle like this, was something else.
If he had medals to spare, he’d give Troy like ten of them.
Up ahead, Axton could see they were reaching the part of the city where it led into the open, barren desert. The sun was just barely starting to crest over the horizon, illuminating the land more and more.
How fitting for it to come out at this time.
The jeep’s tires left paved asphalt and met sand and dirt, carrying the pair out into the much more uneven landscape of the desert. Sand flew as their vehicle rushed into the dunes, while behind them, the police continued their hot pursuit.
Axton could see in the mirror that, with the much more open ground, their pursuers had changed tactics. Instead of following single-file, the cars were spreading out and gaining speed, closing in. One was already approaching on Axton’s right… with its driver lowering his window to point a gun at him.
“Watch your head, Troy!”
He wouldn’t let that bastard land a hit. Axton reacted fast, taking aim and firing at their attacker. Harsh cracks filled the air as the two exchanged gunfire, and though both of them kept missing, eventually Axton managed to land a good shot on the cop’s shoulder. The leaden slug meeting flesh caused the driver to cry out in pain and lose control, careening away and out of sight.
Another one was coming up on the left. Axton quickly stood up out of the roof, and took aim, this time at that car’s tires. Even vehicles like that didn’t take well to hot metal puncturing the tires.
Sure enough, after a few shots, that wheel suddenly popped. The car it was attached to lost control and spun out, disappearing from view. Some more were about to approach.
Axton sat back down, quickly ejecting the spent magazine and loading a fresh one in. Ten bullets per mag, with three magazines left. Decent enough, though he’d have preferred more, obviously.
“Hold on, Cap, got a jump ahead!” Troy announced.
That prompted him to look up, and see that before them, a rocky outcropping of a ramp was visible. They were about to get some air, he realized.
Quickly flicking the safety back on, Axton used his free hand to grab a handle again and held on firmly. The jeep’s wheels met the rock, sharply moving upward, and then…
They were airborne. Troy hollered in joy, having the time of his life, while Axton gasped and hoped this thing could withstand the impact when it came down. His stomach dropped as they stopped ascending and began coasting down…
With a hard crash, throwing sand everywhere, the jeep bounced before getting back on all four wheels. Axton grunted harshly as he was rattled around from the impact, while Troy continued to hoot and whoop.
“Yeahhh! I got this, bitches!” Troy called out with a manic grin.
Ignoring him, Axton keyed his communicator again. “Amanda, how much longer?”
“One minute, we’re catching up. Be ready to drive in and get secured.”
“Okay!”
He looked up, and saw that the hovercraft was gaining on them. He didn’t know what armaments it had, but he was certain they’d destroy the jeep in short order if allowed to land.
“Dammit, their leader’s on our ass!”
Troy glanced at him and smirked. “Check the backseat, got a rocket back there! Take that fucker out with it!”
Axton wanted to stare at him in confusion, but knew better. Nodding, he pushed the back of his seat down and twisted around, rummaging in the back. To his pleasant surprise, he found a truly powerful weapon – a portable RPG launcher, one that folded up into a compact box, then unfolded for rapid deployment and destruction.
Somehow he wasn’t surprised – Troy always had a knack for smuggling weaponry into places and hiding it without anyone finding out. The man thought ahead, it seemed. He quickly pulled it out and fiddled with some buttons and latches, and soon enough it was starting to elongate and telescope out.
“Priming launcher!” he called. He stood up in his seat and perched the boxy, long range cannon on his shoulder, peering through the square scope along the side. A powerful explosive head jutted out of the barrel. As soon as the hovercraft was in sight, the launcher began to lock on.
His stance wobbled as Troy continued to drive, and he almost thought he’d never get a lock. But thankfully, after only two seconds, he saw a light on the scope turn green.
“Firing!”
He pulled the trigger. A cloud of exhaust gushed out the back of the weapon, while the destructive payload was sent on its way, careening through the air.
He saw the pilot try to pull out of the way, but the rocket was too fast. It slammed into him and detonated with a powerful explosion. Fire engulfed the craft, and Axton witnessed it start to lose altitude. It quickly descended and crashed down towards the ground, causing another explosion on impact.
He tossed the spent launcher aside, watching it tumble behind the jeep. He couldn’t stop himself from grinning as it slammed into another cop car, piercing through its windshield and making the driver lose control and crash into another.
Dropping himself back in the seat, Axton reached over and held his hand out. Troy saw it, and used his free hand to clap it against Axton’s in a high-five.
“Got his ass!”
“That you did, Cap! You rock!”
There were still several cars hot on their tail, but Axton wasn’t focused on them now. A loud sound filled the air, and he looked over to his right. There, closing in quickly, was the Hyperion, loading ramp extended behind it. It quickly flew overhead and forward, moving in front of the two men’s vehicle.
“Hey, it’s your pilot, I’m outside!” Amanda announced, and Axton swore she was grinning.
“Troy, hit it!”
Another surge of momentum carried the jeep forward as Troy did all he could to make it go faster. Faster, faster, approaching that deployed ramp…
Closer… closer…
Almost there…
“Come on…!”
The front wheels finally found purchase, and pulled the back wheels onboard shortly after. The jeep rapidly dashed in, entering the Hyperion proper, and the ramp began to close up.
Troy kept going until they were all the way in, and then finally let his foot off the gas, slamming the brakes instead. They screeched to a halt, and the two men quickly jumped out. The ramp had finally shut tight, their cargo secured.
“We’re aboard! Maya, get ready to jump!” Axton barked. He scrambled to cling to a nearby wall, with Troy following him. The two men soon found themselves suddenly SLAMMED against that wall, and Axton knew he was going to bruise from the impact.
“Jumping in three… two… one!”
And then the Hyperion left atmosphere, before disappearing from existence, completely escaping pursuit.
Time to deliver.
Troy was chuckling and laughing as he and the captain finished the story together, and Axton found himself joining him. It was quite a wild ride, and he was thankful to have his muscle be there when he needed him.
He had good memories with his crew. He hoped that he and they would retain them after all this. Memories made them what they were, and if they lost them, then…
He felt a rumbling in his pocket. Pulling his pad out, he discovered it was an alarm notification.
›NOTICE: Mental Health Counseling Session with Kabr Clipse in 30 Minutes
Aw, damn it. He had to leave. He sighed and looked up, and jumped when he saw Mithrax had suddenly gotten closer, hovering behind Troy. The big mushroom was tickling Troy’s chin with a vine, causing the guy to laugh some more.
“Hehehe! Hey, Mithrax, knock it off!” Troy protested playfully, batting that vine away.
“Mmm, you sure? I think you like it, cutie,” Mithrax teased with a grin.
Axton wanted to make a witty comment… but didn’t. Troy looked happy. And safe. Maybe Mithrax was alright for him. Maybe he could relax a bit. That did make him feel kind of better.
“Hate to cut this short,” Axton said, standing up out of his seat, “but I gotta run. Got my next… uh, therapy sesh in a short while.”
Troy pouted, before returning to a pleased smile. “Ah, that’s fine, Cap. Maybe later I can come over and see how the rest of the gang are doing. Bet they’ll be surprised by me!”
“Yeah, they will.”
Mithrax turned his head to address Axton now. “Do you need help getting there, little one?”
He flinched slightly at the pet name, but otherwise didn’t comment. He wasn’t sure, but they were… starting to feel nicer the more they were used. Which kind of upset him, but he couldn’t do anything about it.
“I know the way, I’ll be alright,” he answered. “Just make sure to take care of Troy while I’m out, yeah?”
“Oh, absolutely! He’s a darling~”
This shit is so saccharine. I hope they have a good dentist here.
Sighing, he turned to leave, stuffing his pad back in his pocket. As he left through the front door, he was thinking hard about his situation.
Troy was safe, and so were the girls…
This had to work. It had to.
He needed it to.
Chapter 19: Abuse
Summary:
Frustration and fury – more destructive than a million cannons.
Enduring pain is nothing new to Axton. But now he’s forced to question WHY he endures it.
Content warnings: Familial abuse, bigotry and slurs, violence
Notes:
We get to see Hammond's abuse firsthand here. And naturally, he's an utter hate sink of a man who deserved worse than what he got. Maybe I should have written him suffering more, lmao
Don't ignore the content warnings, by the way, those are there for a reason. This is my first time writing a character who's at hateful and bigoted as they come, and so readers are advised to have caution. Alas, in a future where the Affini exist, mankind still succumbs to useless hatred... but luckily your local plarents are here to help!
Axton will get better, I promise. He WILL be better when he reunites with Zane, that's a guarantee!
Chapter Text
Another bad night.
Dad had apparently gotten upset (putting it mildly) about both boys falling behind in their grades lately. 17-year-old Axton knew exactly why, and he figured 10-year-old Zane knew it too. But Dad? He either was oblivious to the reason, or didn’t care. Something told Axton it was the latter.
The boys were in the living room, sitting on the couch. Zane was shaking, quivering, absolutely scared out of his wits. Axton did his best to look neutral, even as he also dreaded what might be in store. Dad had his back turned to them, arms folded.
The house had been steadily deteriorating for the past five years. Where it was once a pleasant home, kept neat and tidy, now it was starting to come apart. Once-flawless wallpaper was peeling bit by bit, dust had collected in places, lovingly-maintained furniture was now left to rot with accumulated damage. Even the couch, the most durable thing Axton knew, was suffering more wear and tear as time passed, the cushions starting to sport holes and the frame creaking more often.
The clock above the fireplace broke at some point, eternally stuck at 12:13 PM. Axton had tried to fix it a while back, but Dad forbade him on threat of breaking his hands, so he abstained and could only watch as the previously reliable timekeeping device was now eternally frozen in time, all thanks to Dad’s growing refusal to fix problems.
It was after school ended for both of them, so no way they could evade Dad now. And Axton knew which of the pair would be receiving the most ire from the monster that their father had become. This could only end one way.
“So,” Dad said. “I heard you two have been really shitting the bed with your grades.”
He had been getting more blunt and harsh over the years. Whatever goodness Dad still possessed, it was becoming more and more buried under agitation and punishment. Pain disguised as discipline.
“Y… yeah,” Axton’s little brother squeaked. Poor kid was trembling like a leaf. It made Axton want to hold him and tell him that everything would be okay...
“And why is that?” Dad asked sternly. He still kept his back towards them, so the boys wouldn’t be able to face him. “I raised you two to be smart, capable men, not complete dimwits.”
Liar. Mom was raising us while you’re choosing to be a bully. Axton felt really tempted to vocalize that thought, and bit it back. That would make Dad combust on them both. He needed to lessen the damage and protect his brother from the man’s wrath as best he could.
“We’ve been trying-”
“Shut it, Zane. I already know the answer. It’s because you two are failures of men. Failures. Understand?”
Axton struggled to keep his voice even. “We understand…”
“And you know what failures of men end up becoming? Weak men. Sissy men. Dead men. Men who are too pitiful to take on the challenges of today’s world.”
Oh, here we go again. Another bigoted, hateful rant towards anyone that dared to exist as anything but a white, straight, heterosexual man. Axton thought that terrans abandoned that line of thinking ages ago, but nope, it was alive and well in the 2500s.
This isn’t how he spoke to us…
“The fags and the trannies and the non-whites. They’re infecting you with their rhetoric. That’s why. You two are getting distracted with their bullshit about ‘tolerance’ and ‘diversity’ and throwing our legacy in the gutter.”
“That’s not-”
“Shut the fuck up, boy.”
Zane flinched. Axton heard the barest of sniffles. Right away he knew what was going to happen.
Zane was a real bleeding heart and a sensitive soul. Dad’s venom always hurt, but to someone like Zane, it was like a knife to the heart. He didn’t deserve such cruelty. No one did. Especially not him.
By that time, Dad finally turned around, facing the boys properly. He was a tall, strongly built man. Taller than both of them, with huge muscles and a big, thick mustache. Even with the beer gut he had been developing as of late, Axton knew that when he wanted to, he could break someone in half without any problems.
A buttoned-up, collared, flannel shirt, tan slacks, and a thick belt around his waist. If you took out the belly, he was the image of the perfect man by modern terran standards.
In Axton’s eyes, he was everything wrong with what a man ought to be.
“I’m getting real tired of having to get my hands dirty with you two,” Dad snarled. “But so long as you continue to fail, I can’t deny my duty. You WILL become proper men. Strong like me. Because if you don’t… then you die like the pathetic weaklings you’ve let yourself turn into.”
He gazed at Axton for a moment. Scorn was in his eyes. Disappointment, too. That look told Axton everything he knew about their father – he was letting irrational hatred consume him, and he was clinging to outdated ideals in a desperate attempt to deal with the failing farm. Unfortunately, it came prepackaged with a blast radius, one where the rest of the family couldn’t escape, and the writing was on the wall.
The Jakobson farm was on borrowed time. And if Mom didn’t finish her exit strategy, they’d all go under, with Dad taking them screaming with him.
Dad’s gaze then shifted to Zane, who outright jumped as their eyes met. Axton could withstand that glare to a degree, but Zane, he automatically wilted under it. The poor kid was already having tears well up in his eyes. He was quickly realizing what was in store.
“Zane,” Dad barked. “You’re falling behind the most. So you get to take all the punishment this time.”
He lifted his fists up and put them together. The sounds of knuckles being cracked split the air. Pain was imminent. Pain delivered by hands that were better used for farming, not brutalizing young kids.
“D-dad, no, wait, I, I’ll be better, I promise! Please don’t hurt me!” Zane cried. He was already scooting backward on the couch, arms around his head, trying to make himself smaller. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”
“’Sorry’ doesn’t cut it, you little shit.”
Axton’s already strained heart broke just a little more as he heard Zane continue to beg for mercy. He couldn’t bear to witness the only sibling he had be put through further torment. And so he made a decision.
Dad began to approach, one fist raised in preparation to make his own progeny suffer…
But then he was stopped in place.
Axton stood up in front of the towering man, glaring at him with mutual disgust. He was directly between him and Zane, making himself into a roadblock who could not be moved.
“Axton. Move your ass. Now.”
“Fuck no,” Axton spat. “You wanna beat somebody up? Pick me. I can take it.”
Dad barked a mirthless laugh in response. “You? Defending your brother again? I thought I taught you better.”
“You didn’t teach us shit. And I’m not gonna let you inflict your useless, backwards bullshit on him again. So, I say again: if you want to beat someone up, then-”
The fist to his face vaporized the rest of that sentence from existence and made him stagger backward. Axton barely avoided falling over, and grunted as pain shot through the side of his face. Behind him, Zane began to outright sob again. Axton wanted to comfort him, but his decision was already made.
He would take this pain for him. A sacrifice. Because he was the older brother. And if Dad chose to be a brutal tyrant, then it was only fitting that a rebellious hero stood up to him.
Dad unclenched the hand he used to punch his son with, staring at him with pure fury. Axton returned it…
And grinned.
“That can’t be all you’ve got, you doddering old fart,” he taunted. “I thought you were a tough guy. But picking a fight with a kid? Ha! Fucking loser.”
If there was one weakness Dad had, it was that insinuating his own failure was a sure fire way to draw his ire and make him laser-focus on you in particular. He had an ego that was rather fragile and easy to bruise, like any typical bully. And so Axton would use it against him, forcing him to ignore his brother.
Another punch. Same spot. Axton was about to fall down this time, but the collar of his shirt was snatched and he was lifted up into the air.
“Killing you would be easy,” Dad growled. “Could always make another. But that’d take too long. For now… you’ll wish you were dead.”
Axton yelped as he was thrown to the floor, the wind being knocked out of him on impact.
Dad descended upon him with roars of rage and indignation, and once again, Axton felt those once-kind hands crashing down on his body, pounding the daylights out of him. Ruining him. Hurting him. Destroying him.
He tasted blood in his mouth. He was sure he’d be getting a black eye from this, along with countless bruises and aches.
But it didn’t matter.
Dad’s rage was squarely focused on Axton, and he could take solace in his brother’s safety.
The blows didn’t stop coming…
Pain was an old friend. And unfortunately, it was a friend that he hated.
But he was willing to endure that pain for Zane’s safety.
Dad had gone to bed by this point, all his anger now spent. Zane had gone to bed too, crying his eyes out over another day of torment, purely from watching his sibling being abused. In his current state, Axton couldn’t comfort him properly, which didn’t help. Luckily, the kid understood when he said to lock his door, so that there was a chance to intervene in case that bastard decided to follow up.
In the dining room, he winced as Mom held a bag of ice, wrapped in paper towels, against his face where Dad’s fist collided with him initially. Bandages were placed on the other side of his face, where small cuts had formed during the beating. His whole body ached, and merely breathing hurt, but he would walk it off. He had to.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” Mom said quietly, anguish on her face. “I wish I had come home earlier and stopped it.”
“It’s, ugh, it’s fine. I chose to take it. Zane’s okay and that’s what matters.”
“You shouldn’t have had to,” she countered. Her free hand was stroking his hair, and he found himself relaxing while he looked at her.
Even with all this trauma going on, she still made an effort to look pretty. In his eyes, nothing could ever taint the radiance she gave off, not even Dad’s increasing insanity. How she was able to keep herself from falling to pieces was a mystery. Luckily, while he was related to Dad by blood, his and Zane’s features came solely from Mom. Axton got her hair color, while Zane had her eyes.
He sighed quietly, averting his gaze. “I… I’m sorry, Mom. I couldn’t think of anything else to do. I had to protect him.”
Mom said nothing, merely letting him hold the ice bag as she sat next to him in the chair she pulled up. For a time, she remained silent, choosing to be a comforting presence to her eldest son.
At this point, Axton’s composure weakened. It served him well against Dad, but with no enemy in sight, it cracked quickly. He could feel himself quivering, eyes burning with tears.
“I… fuck, I’m sorry… I hate this, Mom, I fucking hate it. Dad just keeps hurting us and betraying us!” he hissed, trying to keep his voice low so as not to wake the sleeping giant, even through his tears. “He’s never gonna stop, is he…?”
“I know, honey, I know.” Mom put an arm around her son, pulling him close and letting his head rest against her chest. “I’m still trying to get what I need to get us out of here. It hasn’t been… easy.”
Of course it wasn’t. With Dad draining the bank account on booze, toys, and that other lady that seemed all too happy to be a homewrecker, funding was tight. Axton was running himself ragged trying to get a job that could support himself, Mom, and Zane, while she was gathering resources in order to secure as smooth an exit as possible.
Zane, alas, could not help. He was too young, and too much of a depressed wreck, both at home and at school, to contribute. All Axton and Mom could do was try to divert Dad’s wrath as best they can and prevent Zane from collapsing entirely.
It was a hard task for both of them. But they had to, because to abandon a loved one to pain and abuse was unthinkable. Axton knew he’d choose death over leaving Zane alone. And he knew Mom was the same.
Axton once thought that maybe Dad would snap out of it in the years after the cow died. But the loss of Bessy meant a fundamental pillar of the farm had been shattered. Without a dependable supply of dairy, the only thing the Jakobsons had left to offer were wheat and eggs. And the chickens were starting to fall ill as well, due to Dad not caring for them as well as he once did. It was not helped by sightings of coyotes that the local pest control seemed to not want to do anything with...
This was a downward spiral with no escape, and all Axton could see was darkness, even with Mom showing her light. Was the family cursed?
Axton sobbed quietly. He wasn’t meant to break like this. He wasn’t even a full adult yet. But here he was, forced to collapse under the brutality of the one he thought of as his father. At this rate, he’d probably die young from sheer stress.
Who would be left to take care of Zane, then?
Mom held him as he sat there, crying into the front of her dress. When it finally left his system, he looked up at her with an expression of misery.
“H-how are we gonna get out of this…?”
“The same way we always do, my son,” Mom said. “With patience. With love. That’s what I’ve tried my best to instill in both of you.”
“B-but… it’s gotten us nothing but pain.”
“I know, sweetie. But you have to remember, love eventually wins in the end. Right now, that’s all we can do. Just keep loving each other while we work through this.”
Nodding, Axton looked her in the eye, sniffling. He appreciated that even when he cracked like Zane often did under the pressure and the abuse, Mom never once judged or punished him for it. He understood that she’d rather perish than ever hurt her boys like her husband was doing.
It was a small comfort in a world filled with suffering.
“Okay… okay. I… I’ll keep trying my best through this. Just, just promise us we’ll still be together.”
Mom gave him a warm smile and lightly kissed his forehead. “You know I’ll never, ever leave you behind. Not you, not your brother. You two are my pride and joy in this world.”
Axton and his mother hugged each other for a long while after that. When he was finally able to go to bed that night, he was still unsure of the future, but he was certain that things would work out.
Mom would never betray them like Dad did. For that, he was grateful.
Axton whimpered while held in Kabr’s lap, finishing the retelling of that memory.
Once again, he was in her hab unit, attending his mandated therapy. Once again, he was brought to tears as he eventually was forced to recount the abuse he suffered in his youth, and the absolutely nauseating guilt that was eating him alive.
And once again, Kabr did not make any judgment. She simply allowed him to speak, and held him in her arms, encouraging him to let loose his emotions. Being held was working on him, as strange as he found it to be. It made him feel safe and secure, despite Kabr still being a stranger.
Axton swallowed, having calmed down enough to get his thoughts in order and speak again. “That… that was awful.”
“Abuse always is,” Kabr murmured, running a hand over his arm. “No one should have to endure it for any reason.”
“But… but I did,” Axton spat, wiping his eyes. “I had to help Zane, I had to be there for him. I… I…”
“Axton… you keep saying you have to protect others. Why is that?”
He stared up at her, and like before, she had no expression he could parse. Her glasses masked her eyes, and her lack of any other facial features made it impossible to determine what she was feeling or thinking outside of what she said aloud.
“What kind of question is that?” he snapped. “Of course I have to protect others. There’s evil people that want to hurt innocents like my brother. Even the Accord's full of it. I have to protect my crew from them too. I can’t let them down.”
Kabr tilted her head at him, while one of her fingers rubbed his face in an affectionate manner. He wanted to jerk away, but right now his mental state demanded the affection.
Or was it the xenodrug he knew she secretly dosed him with again that made him think that? He could never tell.
“I have noticed there’s a recurring ‘have to’ fragment in your sentences. You ‘have to’ protect others, you ‘have to’ be strong, you ‘have to’ be a dependable leader.”
“What are you insinuating?”
“Is it really necessary like you claim? Or is it a result of internalizing your father’s lessons and trying to apply it in a more heroic context?”
He had nothing to say. She got him in one.
Once again, he realized far too late that he had taken part of Dad’s “teachings” to heart and unwittingly embraced them, to his own detriment. If Dad was still alive, he was certain he’d be laughing smugly at Axton.
Another pitiful whimper.
“Y… yes. Fuck. You’re right. That’s it. I’m still using his shitty lessons… fuck...”
He expected her to tell him off about the profanity. Kabr didn’t do that. She chose to move her hand down to his chest, centering on his heart.
“Learning from your predecessor’s failures and using them to be better is an admirable trait,” Kabr said. “But it can all too easily lead to self-detriment. Self-inflicted pain.”
Axton looked down at her hand on his chest in confusion as she continued. “This pain runs deep in your heart. And its scars are even deeper. But that’s what sophonts like me are here for. To help you with this pain and free you from the self-inflicted hell you find yourself in.”
He frowned, but said nothing as he looked up at her. He still couldn’t make heads or tails of the ostensibly unending benevolence and kindness of the Affini, especially as it was forced upon him. He couldn’t lie, though – it was working. Bit by bit, he was feeling more centered, more free, more relaxed. Trauma like this had a powerful hold on him, and Kabr was helping it slacken.
The hugs kind of helped too.
Kabr spoke again. “I’m pleased with your progress today, Axton. You’re doing very well. It is my hope that when your brother is found, your reunion will be a good one.”
“I… I hope so too. Um… t-thanks, I guess.”
The session concluded shortly after that. Axton left Kabr’s hab unit, this time with one last quick hug. On his way out, she gave him what looked like a wrapped-up lollipop that was colored blue, the wrapping simply having a big “F” written on it.
As he walked back to… home, the lollipop was in his mouth, and he was already starting to feel more relaxed.
The Compact’s goal of eliminating pain and trauma was something he was starting to resonate with. He was starting to hope that if Zane had been found already, it was the Affini who found him. No one else.
I’ll find you, brother. I will. I promise.
Chapter 20: Father's Care
Summary:
The mark of a man is not his capacity for dominance, but his ability to love, and accept love in return.
A veterinarian’s job is never done. It can get overwhelming at times, but for Fernis, every life he heals makes it worth it. Especially with his beloved floret at his side.
Content warnings: Description of surgical procedures, daddy kink and fauxcest, xenodrug usage, oral sex, orgasm delay, mild cum inflation
Notes:
Alright, enough of the sad crap. Time for HOT PLAMPT SEX AGAIN. But this time... it's with a pladdy. Yep, the spotlight goes to Fernis, the vet friend of Chloros from the very start! He's deserving of a chance to shine while I tried my hand at writing a proper daddy kink scene along with orgasm delay!
I'm sure y'all will appreciate a focus on the hunky plampt vet, as he and Mithrax are Affini I've been wanting to play around with, instead of making them just background characters. Also, Fernis' floret gets to shine! And she was quite a treat~
Next chapter will get a bit comical since Mithrax will be the focus, and after that, it's back to Zane and Chloros. This is a breather before more emotional shit, so hope you enjoy the ride!
Chapter Text
Fernis Paradiso, Third Bloom, he/they, was an Affini who played his part as the doting, sweet, fatherly vet. He used his vast expertise in all things medical to ensure every sophont that came through the doors of his office were treated well and given the absolute best care. He never wavered from this, not once. He became a vet for a reason, and though he might have regretted it ages ago, now he was certain that this was the right choice.
And he enjoyed it nonetheless. Every case brought to his attention was a new problem to solve, a new puzzle to put the pieces together on. He always enjoyed challenges, even the small ones. If it meant he could make someone’s life just a little better, then he would do it. And he’d do it happily.
His patients were canvasses, marred with imperfections. His tools were scalpels and vines, xenodrugs and anesthetic. He was an artist, applying his craft, honed over hundreds of years, to these masterpieces-in-waiting. Not a single one would leave until they were perfect.
Cut through the flesh. Delve into the mind. Remove sickness in the organs. Relieve trauma in the memories.
Make them happy and healthy.
His current patient was sedated, kept unconscious, while Fernis worked. From what Antris said, this man was a feralist who had been isolating himself in a mountainous region on a colder planet. A survivalist who was deteriorating from his solitude and a tumor that was consuming his guts from the inside-out.
A terran doctor would be sweating bullets (if he remembered the phrase right) over possibly making a mistake that would cost the patient’s life. Even their brightest minds were susceptible to errors with grievous consequences. Fernis read the stories. All of them.
Their healthcare was but a speck in comparison to that of the Affini.
Fernis hummed as he navigated through the man’s insides, finding the tumor immediately. A rancid blight upon his patient’s body, threatening to eat him alive if left alone. Well, that just wouldn’t do. With his vines and tools, he neatly plucked it free from the patient, cleaning and sterilizing the space it once occupied as he went. It was an ugly thing, the tumor. It had no place in a healthy terran’s guts.
It was quickly disposed of, and the man’s body sewn back up with ease. There would only be a faint scar left behind, and when that faded, there would be no trace of the malignancy that lurked under his flesh.
Fernis made sure to funnel some Class-Z into his body, specifically the variant that would induce vivid, comfortable dreams in his mind. A man like this deserved something nice to dream about, and he’d be sleeping for a while before he was given to a prospecting warden. When he woke up, Fernis was confident that this terran would find a happy home in someone’s vines.
The day passed by. Several more sophonts, wards and florets filed into his office with all manner of problems he could solve – an upset stomach, persistent night terrors, dental complications. Fernis was equipped to deal with all of them.
And yet, as happy as he was to care for them, he had to admit, it was exhausting. There were countless sophonts aboard a scouting vessel like the Excellence, and while he wasn’t the only veterinarian available, he regularly had his vines full with everyone. He could keep up, but he yearned for when things slowed down.
Thankfully, he was able to get a break. Allowing one of his assistants to take over for the night, Fernis lumbered out of his office, and made his way home.
Night aboard the Excellence was pleasant. The bright blue “sky” up above had darkened, and lights around the place had been dimmed, to recreate a calm night. Most everyone had turned in for the evening, so Fernis was alone.
He caught sight of a few Affini and their wards and/or florets milling about. Either they forgot it was night time, or preferred being out here. It was good to see them, nonetheless. He made sure to wave at them, offering a pleasant smile on his mask as they passed by. Having the gesture returned made his core feel nice.
Soon, he saw his hab unit up ahead. Compared to his office, it was styled after a large house one might find at a forest’s lakeside. Large, built on a deck that dug into the side of a hill. Designed with a minimalistic construction, with many glass windows showing the inside, curtains drawn to keep light out. And with an Affini touch in the form of natural moss, vines, and overgrowth all over, including the front door.
Robin was waiting for him.
He quickened his pace.
“Daddy! You’re home~!”
The instant the door shut behind Fernis, his adorable floret catapulted herself towards him, wrapping her arms around his leg in a tight hug. He peered down at her, and gave a rumbling chuckle, one that he knew would make her melt. Indeed, as soon as the sound waves of his voice reached her body, he could feel her gave a rather intense quake in reply.
Smiling faintly, the towering father figure of Robin Paradiso, First Floret, she/her, crouched down to pet her head with one hand and scratch under her chin. She was a beauty, this daughter of his – a woman with an oaken hue to her form, rich and deep. Her bright eyes matched his own, solid gold and brimming with joy. She wore a soft, silken, white dress with golden flowers adorning it, which clung to her frame, accentuating her womanly curves and drawing attention to them, especially her hips and midriff. Her dark blonde hair with glimmering gold highlights was done up in two large pigtails, adding to her look of a carefree, happy girl.
He remembered when he first found her. Once, Robin was an Accord marine, a high strung and vicious soldier with a penchant for violence. In her previous life, she used anything and everything to kill whatever wasn’t like her. She had fought to the bitter end, refusing to bow, until exhaustion and her wounds finally made her fall into his waiting arms.
Now, years later, with his haustoric having settled comfortably inside of her body, Robin grew into something else that was far better. The Robin that was once a hyperviolent monster had become a Robin that was sweet, demure, and compassionate. And in the process, she shed her skin of trauma and pain to be reborn as something new.
Something both of them loved.
“Hello, my darling daughter,” Fernis purred. “Were you a good chick while I was out?”
Robin swayed for a moment, temporarily disoriented by the surge of pleasure from being pet, before snapping back to reality and giving a nod. “Oh, yes! I talked with Jacob and Nero all day long and cuddled my plushies and had a big sandwich for dinner! It was super nice~”
Ah, yes, Jacob and Nero.
The former being the floret of Roltan Lokk, Second Bloom, he/they. Jacob, he/him, was the sort who didn’t say much, but what he did say had impact, and he was a quiet man who was still quite affectionate with his owner and friends. He fit perfectly with Roltan’s equally reserved, patient demeanor.
The latter, Nero, she/they, belonging to Hydros Calix, First Bloom, he/it. A bombastic performer with a penchant for dramatic displays, she and Hydros often got together for elaborate shows and performances to entertain others aboard the Excellence, combining Nero’s skills with sleight of hand and misdirection with Hydros’ ability to adapt on the fly. They were very impressive together.
He growled in approval. He knew Robin would never disobey orders to be her best self, but he still asked the question anyway, because hearing her excitement made his core surge.
“That’s wonderful, dear.” He ruffled her hair with his hand. “There’s still some time before bed, and Daddy is feeling worn out from today. Do me a favor and wait for me in the bedroom? I have a need for my songbird.”
He was accurate with this pet name. Since becoming his daughter, Robin gained a passion for singing and karaoke, and so she regularly made visits to the nightclub known as Serif’s Sinkhole to entertain patrons with her alluring, powerful voice. Augments to her vocal cords had allowed it to have a mild hypnotic effect as well, making xenosophonts liable to feel more relaxed, possibly even sleepy.
Robin nodded her head excitedly, and chirped. “Yes! Oh yes! I’d love to! How long should I wait?”
“Ten minutes. I need to do something before we can play.”
“Absolutely, Daddy! Love youuuu!~”
She stood up on her tippy toes and smooched him on his mask’s chin, giggling, before scampering off towards the bedroom they shared. Watching her go, Fernis slowly stood up, pulling his pad out of his chest.
One last bit of work before he could play with his songbird.
He strode into the massive living room, the lights having dimmed with it being night time. He moved past the couch that was perfectly sized for him, but colossal for xenosophonts, and went to draw the curtains back so he could observe the night outside.
He stared over the calm blue lakeside that his home bordered. Robin loved to go swimming here, and he regularly joined her in the calm blue water, wrapping his vines around her face to supply her with oxygen so she didn’t have to wear a snorkel… and also push xenodrug-laced gas into her sinuses whenever he felt like it. Despite doing it countless times, Robin always acted pleasantly surprised when it happened, and he cherished her adorable flails in every instance.
He glanced at his reflection in the window while he did another check on his records for patients he was overseeing, as well as checking in with his assistants. Three Blooms in, and he still had youthful energy to spare. His body had everything Robin liked most in masculine sophonts – massive height, broad shoulders, rippling musculature formed from thick, coal-black vines that completed the picture of power. Strong, dominant, and what the terrans would call “a manly man”.
Golden flowers adorned his chest and arms, while thorns and needles lay flat on his shoulders and neck. Vines around his head coiled together in the style of dreadlocks that collected on the sides of his chest. His legs and arms were thicker towards the ends, with his hands and feet being even larger. Robin used the descriptor “bell-bottomed” in reference to them, and it was nice to hear.
His mask bore a prominent square chin, a jawline that was solid like rock. Four golden, gleaming orbs peered out at him from time to time, one pair arranged above the other on his face. Moss was grown around his cheeks, lips, and chin, emulating facial hair that Robin loved to nuzzle against.
He was strong. And he was gentle. He treated all who came before him with love and grace, as Affini were wont to do. Of course, Robin adored that too.
She adored everything about him. And Fernis adored her right back.
He finished his check-ins, reminding Chloros about a party that was coming up next week, and letting Roltan know that Jacob was due for a check-up tomorrow. Stowing his pad, he let out a deep, exhausted sigh… then raised his voice.
“Oh, Robin… here comes Daddy.”
Her delighted squeal from the other room told him everything.
Affini and floret were joined together on the massive bed they shared for the last few years.
Robin was pressed firmly against Fernis’ pelvis, his erect shaft draped over her face. She breathed hotly, drinking in his aroma, laying kisses along the soft orbs beneath his cock.
Fernis peered at her with interest, a lurid smirk on his mask. His hand found her head, and held her with a firm grip, not enough to hurt, but enough to keep her in place. She wouldn’t escape, and he knew she didn’t want to. Robin knew what her position was in this dynamic.
Her Daddy’s engorged length pulsed against her face and head, radiating strength and virility. Composed of vines and other material, it mimicked the flesh of what terran phalluses had, but with a greater degree of size and potency, being much thicker and longer, with. The pointed head dribbled gold, honey-like fluid from the end, running down the underside and onto her face. Under her chin, his sack brushed against her, a reminder of what would be inevitably unleashed once he got to that point.
She lapped it up eagerly. Of course she did. Because she was his songbird, and she loved tasting her Daddy. She didn’t need words to sing her love to him. Her moans and pants and whimpers were the perfect music.
“Mmm, such a good girl for Daddy,” his cavernous voice boomed. “My precious songbird...~”
He could detect everything she felt, and even some of her thoughts. Obviously she was needy and submissive, and giving herself over to her Daddy with eagerness, allowing herself to drink in his virility all over again…
There was another element.
Peace.
She was peaceful.
In her previous life, she experienced so much pain and fear and rage. Now, all that had been washed away, replaced with unadulterated love and want for the plant she called her father.
And he returned that love fiercely. Doting on her whenever they were together, embracing her, filling her dreams with peace…
And submission.
He was a humble plant, and yet, he felt a smug kind of satisfaction in doing so. Mayhaps some greed, too.
Fernis focused his gaze upon Robin, seeing the desperate yearning in her expression. Her focus, meanwhile, was slackening. Whatever thought processes she had earlier were overridden by the overwhelming desire to service her beloved Daddy. And he was thrilled by her following along so obediently.
Her tongue extended to lick all over his member, eliciting a quiet groan of contentment. His length twitched firmly against her face, sending a pleasurable wave through her, and making her moan in such a way as to make his core thrum. Her hands rubbed around him, fondling his balls with her right, and stroking him with her left.
He had his pelvis coated with the Class-A she loved, so that while she focused on giving him pleasure, she was getting some of her own. It was working very well on her, making her grind on his leg in a feverish, pitiful manner. He could feel her wetness against his knee, staining the vines there with her dire need. She craved him, wanted him, needed him on a level that there were no words she could use to describe…
Exactly how he liked it.
“My songbird,” he crooned after a long while, the concert of his voice and his biorhythm echoing through her very soul. The grasp of an antediluvian man around her entire existence, where everything she ever dreamed of and enjoyed began and ended with Fernis.
Robin paused in her fervent worship, both eyes locked onto his quartet of golden lights. She was waiting with bated breath for a command from her Daddy.
His strong hand slipped over the side of her face, earning a shudder as her sensitive form reacted ten times more strongly to the gesture of affection. For the briefest of moments, their gazes remain locked on each other, an eager daddy’s girl consumed by her father’s passion.
Then…
“Take it.”
She knew exactly how to interpret that command.
Robin’s face slowly moved upwards, her tongue dragging along the underside of his length. When she reached the very tip, she drew that oral appendage back in, and planted a smooch on his head there, a firm, deep smooch, followed by sucking upon it.
A bass-filled groan left Fernis in reply. His beloved daughter’s lips, gracing his spire with their touch… it caused pleasure to swim through every inch of his body. Especially between his legs.
He continued to speak, grinning down at her. “You’re doing so well, my sweet. Keep it up.~”
Robin’s eyes turned to look at him with glee, before focusing on his shaft again. She sucked and slurped on him for a few moments longer, and then, she began to descend.
Down, down, down. Bobbing her head with an expert pace, one that heightened their bond. He remembered the first few times they did this, with her struggling to go any further beyond the first few inches. Now, though, with some modifications to her gag reflex and throat, she could take all of him without any problems whatsoever. A fact both of them cherished during playtime.
A moan, muffled by the vine-meat filling her mouth, escaped Robin. Others might have had to strain to hear, but for Fernis, it was very distinct and clear, and he couldn’t ignore it. Or rather, he wouldn’t.
Fernis approximated quiet puffs of air from his mouth to simulate how hot and bothered he was becoming. It wasn’t necessary, but he knew that Robin liked hearing the noises he made outside of speech, and he couldn’t say no to her… while she could only say yes to him.
She had taken three fourths of him by now, and was settling into a comfortable rhythm. Lifting her head back, leaving just the tip in, then bringing herself back down all over again. His girth pushed into her gullet, making her throat bulge with his size, a sensation that increased the warmth both literal and metaphorical. Noisy slurps and suckles punctuated the lewd display.
Vines stiffening. Tension building. Arousal rising.
The hand upon Robin’s head encouraged her to move with intensity. She was doing her job well, sinking her Daddy into her perfect mouth with ease, filling her throat with his warmth. His chest rose and fell as he panted.
A crescendo was imminent.
And while she might have cum prematurely before getting this far, he had dosed her with Class-N beforehand via a perfectly planted needle to her thigh, so that no matter how much she ground on him and whined for him and begged for him, she would not climax. In fact, if he wanted to, he could permanently take that away from her, making her feel unbearable pressure and pleasure while incapable of releasing it.
Fernis was many things. A dutiful vet. A private grouch. An intimidating titan. A compassionate soul.
But he was not cruel.
When he ordered it, he would let her climax. But only on his command. Not a second before.
Speaking of…
He grunted hotly as he felt himself get close to bursting. His sack tightened under his cock, which twitched firmly in Robin’s mouth. Only moments remained before the inevitable.
“Daddy’s close, sweetie.” He said it with authority. She got the message. She would get him to cum and drink down his sweet, sweet release, taking his essence into her. The ultimate form of submission in his eyes.
He’d be an awful liar if he said he wasn’t inspired by her overnet search history.
“Here… I… cum.~”
Fernis forced her down all the way, so that she would have her nose squished firmly upon his groin, blasting her sinuses with the scent she regularly got high off of. A guttural, throaty moan left Fernis as he finally reached orgasm, shuddering and surging into Robin’s mouth and throat.
Golden sap exploded into her belly, dousing her insides with his heated release. He could feel her hands grabbing his hips for support as he forced her to take every drop. He could see her eyes rolling up, pleasure at max, but unable to cum herself.
Every spurt, every dollop, every splatter of Fernis’ pleasure-laced sap found its way into her, an unstoppable tidal wave. He gave her so much, he was making her stomach bulge. Enough to make her look like she had eaten more than her fair share at a grand feast. Which, in a way, was accurate!
Moments passed, until he had nothing left. Fernis uttered a growl of contentment, waiting a few seconds longer, before gingerly pulling his daughter up and off of his cock.
She squirmed, gasping, his sap still in her mouth. She seemed to be struggling to get it down as she looked at him pleadingly.
“If you swallow, I’ll be nice enough to let you cum. Understand?”
She couldn’t nod her head or speak in the affirmative, but her eyes told him all he needed to know.
“Then you better get it all down...~”
Robin tilted her head up, evidently willing his cum to trickle down her throat. Seconds passed before she finally achieved what she sought to do, a loud swallow announcing her success. She gasped, her faced flushed pink, while looking at her Daddy with silent pleading.
She said no words, but he knew what she wanted. And so…
“Good girl. You did Daddy proud. Here you go.~”
Another injector to her thigh, counteragent immediately working to undo the Class-N in her system.
Robin’s screams of ecstasy reverberated through the bedroom as she finally, finally was allowed to release. Her body jerked and twitched, shaking rapidly, as she orgasmed, pleasure finally allowed to rocket through her and release. It was so powerful, in fact, that for a fraction of a second, Fernis worried he might have denied her for a little too long.
His songbird’s body continued to shake, caught in the throes of climax, before suddenly collapsing on top of him. Whimpering and moaning, the words and air knocked out of her, Robin was left unable to move, her brain completely overloaded from the cork being forced off of the bottle that had been shaken previously.
Fernis allowed her to settle for some time, before his vines went to retrieve her. Carefully lifting her up, he brought her closer to him, allowing her to rest her head upon the moss of his chest that served as “hair”. Even while in post-orgasm catatonia, Robin reacted appropriately, her hands shakily grabbing onto him while she clung to her Daddy.
Fernis’ hands and vines worked to stroke and soothe her, while he delivered the counteragent for the A that was still inside of her. He didn’t want to leave her so sensitive for too long. That would spoil their intimacy. She flinched from the stab, but that was all.
“Good girl,” Fernis said with a smile. “Thank you so much for taking care of me. Daddy appreciates it.”
A cute mumble and grunt escaped Robin as she snuggled against him, unable to think straight after all that. That was fine. She deserved a chance to rest.
He softly whispered a command for the lights to go out, and then, the two were plunged into comfortable darkness. Wrapped up in each other, Fernis took pleasure in cradling his darling daughter, his songbird, his pet…
His Robin.
Forever.
Chapter 21: Gone to Pla(i)d
Summary:
LUDICROUS SPEED!
Mithrax, for all his eccentricities and quirks, can still be caught off-guard sometimes. Troy manages to do that to him.
Content warnings: Mention of xenodrugs and affini hypnosis
Notes:
Mithrax gets to be the star of his chapter, with Khubo and Troy being co-stars! This kooky old mushroom man deserves a chance in the spotlight, and so, here it is!
Mithrax is another favorite that I want to give more time to, and I figured hosting a race between his pet and pet-to-be would be perfect. After all, why not have the Affini equivalent of gymnasiums and the Olympics? Gotta get some exercise somehow!
Next chapter, your favorite little man and his darling warden will return... and oh boy it's gonna be a tearjerker. Hope you got tissues!
Chapter Text
Mithrax Mardum, 18th Bloom, he/they, had seen plenty of things over the course of his double digit Bloom count. For one thing, all the sophonts he’s come to care for had a variety of personalities and quirks that made them unique in their own way. From ultra cuddly ones to bad-tempered ones, he took it all in stride. It wasn’t like they could really do anything to upset him.
Oh, he’d be offended if they cursed at him, certainly. Like with that cutie terran captain who was very concerned for his crewmate. He understood why Axton had a potty mouth, but it still made his core hurt to be sworn at. He forgave him, still. He forgave everyone for their miss-steps and screwups, partly because that was just how Affini operated… and partly because he was just a particularly easygoing, forgiving plant at core.
Really, it was impossible to offend Mithrax for any longer than a few seconds. He was otherwise perfectly happy and content with anything that happened to and around him, going with the flow. When you’re an oldbloom like him, you don’t necessarily worry about anything too much.
Still, some things caught him entirely by surprise. Even an ancient, wise man like him could be totally blindsided and left sputtering by the unexpected. He was Affini, but he wasn’t completely all-knowing.
And today was quite a surprise.
“You want to do what, Troy?” Mithrax said, staring at the bald man before him while they were in his fungal hab unit.
“I want to race Khubo!” his ward said excitedly, squeezing his mushroom plushie. “I’m getting stir-crazy in here and want to just run around. Need to feel my legs burnin’!”
While crouched to a kneeling position, Mithrax looked at him, then at the cute rinan perched on his shoulder. Khubo stared back, looking just as perplexed as its owner. Troy, for his part, just gave an energetic smile, oblivious to how this came across.
Mithrax knew Troy’s problems intimately and did his best to accommodate them in the week and a half he’s had him for. Aggressive temperament, one that could be held in check by E. Some D as well so he could get Troy’s thoughts and opinions unfiltered instead of having to work around useless armor borne of aggression. And, discounting the xenodrugs, the tried and true method of simply gazing at him with the full force of Mithrax’s six-eyed stare, compelling the man to calm himself. All of these broke through Troy’s defenses and revealed how he was really a scared, nervous animal desperate for control over his life. And Mithrax had been all too happy to give it.
There was also the fact that, in spite of being the most aggressive and violent of the Hyperion crew with a fascination for guns and violence… Troy was surprisingly frail. If he overexerted himself too much, he’d collapse into unconsciousness. While Mithrax had helped him get into an exercise regimen to help strengthen his body, the big mushroom still worried over potentially making his ward fall and hurt himself.
So to hear this request was akin to someone asking if they can get crushed by a boulder.
“You absolutely sure, lil’ shroom?” Mithrax said cautiously. “Your body’s still kind of…”
Troy interrupted him, “Yeah, I know, but I still wanna race! I’ve been pushin’ my limits and I know I can do it! Even with how fast Khubo there is!”
Khubo squinted its eyes at the terran man. “Khubo fast. Khubo really fast. Khubo will leave ward in Khubo dust.”
Undeterred, Troy gave a smug smirk. “I’m really fast too. You don’t get to be the muscle if you’re not fast on top of strong. And I’m gettin’ stronger every day! Please, Mithrax, please?”
Another surprise followed when Troy punctuated his pleas with peering up at Mithrax with what terrans would call “puppy dog eyes”.
Troy was no Affini. He could not possibly be able to replicate a biorhythm, or the compelling gaze Mithrax’s people could give, or the xenodrugs that would be able to alter and rewire a sophont’s mind to make them more docile and pacified. He was just a normal terran man with no modifications whatsoever.
And yet it worked on Mithrax, whose core was melting at the sight.
How can I ever say no to my lil’ shroom?
“Alright, but only because you look so very cute begging for it,” Mithrax chortled. Some vines elongated themselves to pet and pat his ward, who laughed charmingly.
“Woohoo!” Troy cheered in between laughs. Then he dropped his plushie - a vine catching it so it didn’t hit the floor - and went to hug his warden tightly. Troy’s head pressed against the sizable belly Mithrax was now sporting.
Ordinarily, Mithrax wouldn’t have it, but having looked through Troy’s overnet history and seeing how he looked up a lot of florn starring heavier-sized florets, the warden figured it wouldn’t hurt to play into those fantasies. And so, Mithrax had chosen to adjust his vines, formulating a very large, soft mound of “fat” on his midriff. Apparently Troy was the type to like “dad bods”, and so Mithrax was all too happy to lean into it.
Much like how Troy was leaning into his squeezable pillow of a belly.
“I know the perfect place for this race you’re wanting. Let me take you there, darling.” Mithrax’s vines found their mark, wrapping around Troy and lifting him up into his warden’s arms. More delighted laughter ensued, and now, with both of his charges in tow, Mithrax made his way out.
This was going to be an interesting day.
The Fortitude had a large stadium known as the Blossoming Tracks, where sophonts of all flavors could engage in both gymnastic exercise regimens and compete in spectator sports for recreation and entertainment. Though there were no events scheduled for the Tracks this week, everyone was allowed to enter and partake in any activities they were interested in.
The stadium was only partially packed, so Mithrax, his floret, and his ward were able to set up along an unused set of starting blocks without issue. Khubo still kept its jacket around its torso, but Troy opted for a black tank top, shorts, a sweatband around his forehead, and reinforced running shoes on his feet, so he could effectively run at maximum performance. All designed for maximum comfort without sacrificing durability.
A few sophonts, including terrans, beeple, and khetari gathered around to watch, flanked by other Affini. Mithrax smiled at them all, while holding a pop-gun in one vine. Not an actual gun, no bullets or anything, but a device mimicking such, designed to produce a satisfying bang noise to start the race, but calibrated so that it wouldn’t damage any poor cuties’ ears.
Small drones hovered around the two racers as they got into position, both on all fours. They would let Mithrax watch the pair up close while staying where he stood, transmitting to his pad.
He was admittedly worried about Troy collapsing, still. Terrans had a tendency to push themselves past their limits for longer than was healthy, destroying themselves bit by bit. He hoped Troy could handle it like he said…
Making an “ahem” noise to get everyone’s attention, he spoke up. “Ladies and gentlephonts and all other adorable configurations! Today’s gonna be a great time! This race is between my adorable, delightful Khubo Mardum, First Floret, it/its, and my newest ward, the charming Troy Carver, he/him! This is gonna be quite a sight to see, as my darling Khubo’s never lost a race before, but maybe Troy here can catch it by surprise!”
He grinned widely at the duo. Both of them returned it, putting him at ease. Mithrax could hear the crowd around them alternating between cheering in excitement and fawning over the two contestants.
“Now, before we begin…” Mithrax shambled over to the pair, crouching down and holding up a tightly wound ball of vine matter, in the vein of a news reporter he had seen on terran television. “Khubo! My super sweet rinan. How do you feel about this race?”
The tiny rodent he adored so much chittered. “Khubo excited! Khubo gonna go super fast and make Troy work for the win!”
Mithrax belted out a rumbling laugh, the sound causing Khubo to purr in response. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.” He moved the “microphone” over to Troy. “Now, Troy, my lil’ shroom. What do you have to say?”
The terran sported a cocky smirk as he looked up at his warden. “I’m in it to win it! Ain’t no way I’ll lose.” The camera drone hovered closely, and he looked at it and waved, smiling. “Look, ma, I’m on TV!”
Snorting in amusement, Mithrax stood back up, and held the mock pistol in the air. “Alright! The rules of the race are as follows – complete a lap around the track without stopping. First to reach the finish line wins and proves they’re the fastest… and gets all-night cuddles with yours truly!”
Both the terran and rinan’s eyes lit up in wonder at that statement. They looked at each other, and Mithrax imagined, for a moment, a beam of energy crackling between the two, a manifestation of their mutual desire to win this race.
“Alright! The race begins in five! Four! Three! Two! … ONE!”
Bang!
The pop-gun’s trigger was depressed, and a satisfying crack of a harmless gush of confetti followed, floating through the air.
“GO!”
Mithrax watched as Khubo and Troy bolted away, blazing down the track at rapid speeds. The camera drones zipped after them, keeping up easily, leaving Mithrax and the crowd in their collective dust.
Holding his pad up, Mithrax observed the duo as they ran. The camera feeds showed that they were currently neck and neck with each other, with Troy being able to keep up surprisingly well with the much more agile and speedy rinan. The warden was impressed, but part of him hoped that this wouldn’t make Troy hurt himself.
“Is that guy your new floret?” one slightly short Affini next to him asked, gesturing to Troy as he was visible on screen.
Mithrax shook his head. “Oh, no, he’s my ward. Not certain if he’ll be my second floret yet. But he’s quite a cutie, isn’t he? Look at him go!”
“Oh, he’s going alright!”
Indeed, when Mithrax glanced back at the screen, he saw that… Troy was keeping up. In fact, he was threatening to overtake his speedy floret. And as far as he knew, Troy was an unaugmented terran, so this was pure, baseline strength for a man of his age.
This was getting truly exciting now. Khubo could beat anyone in terms of speed, so to have someone be able to go toe to toe with it was thrilling.
He watched Troy’s running shoes impact the dirt with every footfall, the man’s legs carrying him at a rapid stride. The collar around Troy’s neck was equipped with readouts indicating his stress levels, body strain, and other factors, transmitted to his pad, so Mithrax could react appropriately should his adorable ward get close to collapsing.
Surprisingly, Troy’s readouts were high, but didn’t go any further. He didn’t seem to be at risk of falling. Still, Mithrax knew that he’d reach his limit, it was only a matter of when. The question remained – would he push himself to the point of complete breakdown? Or would he acknowledge his limits and forfeit?
Khubo’s four limbs helped it rocket forward, running beside Troy without any signs of slowing. Mithrax knew it would be able to run multiple laps around Troy, easily. But only one lap mattered. All Troy had to do was make it to the end himself. Even if he ended up collapsing after crossing the finish line…
Behind him, someone else spoke, and he recognized them immediately. “I see your ward is having a grand old time.”
Mithrax peered over his foliage-clad shoulder to see it was none other than the captain of the Fortitude behind him, and he quickly turned around and bowed before them. “Captain Rift! Pleasure to see you, what brings you here?”
Dynine was in their “work uniform” again, shrouded in a cloak of leaves and plant matter that obscured most of their body so they looked like a massive, walking bush with a bird mask perched on top. The cloak was parted, revealing their body underneath, and tangled in the vines of their torso was what turned out to be a golden-hued khetari, who was evidently asleep, snoring quietly while in Dynine’s embrace. Cross Rift, Second Floret, she/they, Mithrax remembered. A perpetually sleepy feline who loafed everywhere, which was cute in its own way.
One of Mithrax’s vines went out to gently stroke the sleeping cat’s head, resulting in a little purr as she shifted in Dynine’s grasp. Dynine smiled calmly, talon-clad hands clasped together.
“Just making the rounds and found there was commotion here at the Tracks,” Dynine answered. “My curiosity compelled me to see what was happening. Is your floret racing with Troy?”
Mithrax nodded, holding his pad up again to let them see. By this point, Khubo had gotten ahead of Troy by a sizable amount, and though the terran was starting to get soaked in perspiration, he was still running at full tilt. He seemed undaunted, putting all his effort into catching up.
“Hm… is he aware of what he risks happening to him?” Dynine asked, brow furrowed.
“Oh, yeah, I was worried about that too. But he says he knows, and he still wanted to race. Should have seen the face he made at me, I just couldn’t deny him!”
Dynine looked unconvinced. They joined Mithrax in idly stroking their pet during the conversation. Cross mewled in her sleep, clearly cognitive of being patted, but not by whom. The two Affini tangled one vine together each, letting their rhythms mingle – Dynine’s authoritative, awe-inspiring presence met Mithrax’s warm and friendly aura, a sign of their companionship.
“I see. I trust you will catch him in the event he overtaxes himself.”
Mithrax grinned. “Aw, c’mon, Captain. You know me. If I didn’t do what Affini do best, I’d be the cordycepstion to the rule!”
Some onlookers overheard and dissolved into giggles right away, pleased by his humor. Dynine took a moment to stare at him blankly, before they, too, indulged him with a light laugh. Mithrax sagged slightly in relief, thankful that the good Captain graced him with the laughter he was looking for.
“Eighteen Blooms, and you’ve held onto your sense of humor through all of them,” Dynine noted. “You’re an inspiration, Mithrax.”
The grin on Mithrax’s face grew wider. “I just try my best, Captain!” He paused, realizing something. “Say, where’s Harken and Nico? I thought they’d be with you too.”
“Oh, they’re still in my hab.” Dynine scritched behind Cross’ ear, earning a purr, before they continued. “Harken has a stomach bug from something she ate recently. Nico’s keeping his watchful eyes on her while I’m out, bless his helpful heart.”
The fungus-clad Affini’s face softened. While having a sophont be sick was an occasional occurrence, it still hurt his core to hear. “Aw, I’m sorry to hear that. Nico’s such a dear. I hope she gets better soon!”
“She should be just fine, she just needs water and rest. Your concern is appreciated.” A light squeeze of their vine over his own helped put him at ease after that.
Taking another glance at his pad, Mithrax’s eyes suddenly widened as he saw something peculiar.
Khubo was slowing down. It was still running, but it seemed to be growing tired at the last leg of the race. Troy’s readouts were still high, and got a bit higher, but he was still running at full speed. He was close to overtaking Khubo as they drew near the finish line.
“Who do you think will win?” Dynine commented. “Your darling floret, or your ward?”
He shrugged his mossy shoulders. Honestly, Mithrax didn’t know. Khubo starting to lag meant that it was an even chance of either racer winning, instead of being heavily one-sided in the rinan’s favor. Still, there was a chance of Troy crashing out…
At this point, he didn’t care who won, so long as he was able to catch the cuties coming his way.
Sophonts around him were alternating between cheering for Khubo, and cheering for Troy, giving encouragement to both. Mithrax ignored them, though, focusing on the duo approaching.
They were about to reach the finish line shortly. It was still a very close game, so it was a tossup on who would make it. He wasn’t sure who to root for…
...heh. Root for. Just the thought of that joke made him chortle quietly.
He looked up as Troy and Khubo approached, and braced himself to catch either of them. He stood up straight while positioned a little past the finish line, arms and vines outstretched and held low. Dynine opted to disentangle themself from him, standing aside to give him room.
He could see, even from here, how both sophonts were regularly trading positions with each other. Troy, even with how he was sweating profusely and breathing hard, was pushing himself to keep going, and the readings on Mithrax’s pad were getting higher, reaching the limit. He could tell, behind him, Dynine was growing increasingly worried, but Mithrax wouldn’t let it show on himself. He simply waited.
Closer… closer… it was a close race. Very close.
“You can do it!” Mithrax called out. “I believe in you!” He purposely avoided using either of their names, just so both can be hyped up and possibly eke out a burst of energy to bring them finish, all to get the grand prize of fungal father snuggles. The crowd around him did the opposite, some cheering for Troy, and some for Khubo.
The cheering grew louder as his two sophonts drew near, and then… both leaped into the air with a shared yell of exertion.
Mithrax stood back a bit, and held his vines out. He managed to catch both his darling pet Khubo, wrapping it against his chest, while snaring Troy against his belly. Troy’s face squished against the soft material there, and he clung to Mithrax tightly, breathing heavily and shaking.
“Well! Seems like we have a tie, everyone!” Mithrax announced. “But what do the cameras say, hm?”
Keying a command to bring the drones near, he held up his pad to review the footage. Video playback from right above them showed that, miraculously… it actually was a tie. Both had crossed the finish line in midair at exactly the same time. Incredible.
“Ah… looks like both of these darlings won!” Mithrax announced. Cheers rang out, while he rewarded both floret and ward with scritches and pats. Khubo chittered tiredly, but Troy seemed close to passing out from how much he exerted himself.
“Well, I can’t go back on my word. Seems like both of these fine fellows have earned their prize. Especially little Troy here.” He stroked the exhausted terran’s head with a vine. “It’s okay, lil’ shroom, you can relax now. I’ll be taking you home shortly, okay?”
Troy only grunted against him, apparently trying to recover his strength after such an intense run. Meanwhile, Dynine had come close again, peering at Mithrax’s charges, grinning.
“That was a sight to see,” they noted. “Khubo is as entertaining to watch as always. And Troy? Well, he’s a champion himself, I can tell.”
Troy’s warden nodded his head, returning the grin. “Oh yeah, he’s doing so well! But now he’s gotta rest, so I better head on out. Catch you later, captain!”
“Have a good one, Mithrax.”
Mithrax was quick to leave the Tracks and head on back to his hab unit, moving at a brisk pace. He made sure to shove a mushroom cap against Troy’s face to blast him with xenodrug-laced spores, so as to help him relax and wind down more easily. Sure enough, Troy began to settle, no longer quivering, his body relaxing.
That afternoon, Mithrax made absolutely certain both of his darlings nestled comfortably against him in their home. Khubo took up space in his chest, nestled comfortably against his core, while Troy was left to cuddle against his sizable tummy, the part he knew Troy loved most.
Today was definitely exciting, and he was happy to oblige his darlings with this venture.
Chapter 22: Wash Away
Summary:
Holding onto dreams, but still haunted by a ghost.
Chloros has been a caretaker for much of her life, like any Affini before her. To flip the script on her is a shocker, and so, ancient memories begin to stir… whether she wants them or not.
Content warnings: Mild fauxcest, emotional breakdown for affini
Notes:
Pladdy moments are over. Now it's time for emotions. Emotions from a plommy. And holy STARS did it make me feel sad doing it.
It's not just the Jakobsons I make hurt, Zane's beloved plommy also gets a chance to show her pain, and I have a hunch y'all will be left sobbing wrecks over the next few chapters. Don't worry, I'm in the same boat... even though I'm the author. Dealing emotional damage to myself is nothing new, I realize.
Bring some tissues, this is gonna get rough.
Chapter Text
There once was a prince of a far away monarchy, the heir to the queen, the most beautiful and gracious in all the land. Throughout the ages, he was by her side through thick and thin, whether it be protecting her land from evil, or assisting her when disaster struck unexpectedly. As her only child, he was all she had in a world that seemed cold and lonely.
From birth, to toddlerhood, to adolescence, to adulthood, the prince grew and learned all there was to know about manhood. He was strong, intelligent… and kind. So very kind and generous. He took after the queen, inheriting her heart of gold. Both of them knew that when she would no longer remain on this mortal plane, he would continue her work, being the king the people needed.
Years passed. The prince grew older. So did the queen. Despite her power, she was not immune to the ravages of time. It was getting harder to continue ruling as monarch, her body slowly but surely succumbing to age.
With his mother declared infirm, her prince was crowned as the king, taking her place as ruler, while she served an advisory role. He proved to be an adept leader, managing the kingdom fairly and ushering in a new era of prosperity.
Even with his responsibilities that took up much of his life, the queen’s little boy never forgot her. He made sure to set aside time for his beloved mother, caring for her in her later years, repaying her for all her efforts in giving him a life worth living.
The two were so very close. Their love was boundless. A mother and her son who adored each other fiercely, and the kingdom reflected this love, enjoying peace and prosperity in a once-uncertain world.
A mother’s love united the land.
And a son’s love protected it.
Their combined love ensured paradise for all of time.
Chloros stared at the document displayed on the pad held in her hands, blinking her eyes several times.
Her precious Zane had taken her by surprise this morning. He had been apparently writing something for her since their tryst the other day, and did his best to hide it from her until it was done. She was painfully curious, but abided by his request to wait and let him continue. The story being meant for her told Chloros that she ought to wait for a pleasant surprise.
And it was indeed a surprise. Zane’s writing was incredibly good, and it resonated with her on a deep level. She could imagine herself as the queen in the story, raising Zane as her darling prince to be kind and wise just like herself…
Although…
She lowered the pad as she stared at him from across the kitchen island. He was seated on the opposite end, a big smile on his face. Despite delighting in his joy, something was nagging at her.
She was about to speak, but Zane beat her to it.
“I can tell you like it,” he said kindly. “And it’s kinda what I want to do for you today, if that’s okay.”
A confused expression was on her mask. “I don’t think I understand, petal.”
Zane climbed into the island and crawled toward her, coming to a stop past the compiler. She observed him silently as he stood up, clad in a long-sleeved navy blue shirt, jeans, and textured socks. “You’ve been my warden for… how long has it been?”
“Two and a half weeks,” she answered. For a terran, it might have been long. For Chloros, it was incredibly short, even though she cherished every second with him. An oldbloom’s perception of time tended to be skewed with age, and she was no different.
“Right. And you’ve been doing everything to help me feel better. Feeding me, clothing me, helping me make new friends… all that stuff. But has anyone taken care of you?”
The question surprised her. Affini like her were so used to caring for other sophonts that it was practically unthinkable to imagine being cared for in turn. That wasn’t how the Compact usually worked. Her people were literally born to love and embrace others, not the other way around.
Not once had she ever expected to be asked that question. And so, she did not know how to answer it. The way her body reacted gave her away – by this point, Zane had picked up on her tendency to stiffen up in response to stress or emotion. A subtle gesture others might miss, but to her ward, it was a sign that she was feeling something.
“I’ll take that as a no.” Zane reached for one of her hands, cradling it in both of his. The very same hands he had arrived with, bloodied and torn up, now perfectly healthy and soft. Just like the man before her. “But that’s okay. Today, I think you deserve to relax. Let me make it up to you. Alright?”
Him. Caring for me. Like he did.
The thought arose in her mind without warning. She thought she had buried it. Why was it coming up now? She let out a sigh, tightening her grasp on Zane’s hands.
“I… I don’t know, Zane,” she said quietly. “This hab isn’t designed for a ward to live by themself without supervision.”
“So I’ll use the compiler for whatever I need,” he replied happily. “I can figure it out. All I ask is you trust me to do right by you.”
Trust him. Like I trusted him.
Chloros hesitated. Her expression shifted, brow scrunched, worry evident on her visage. She could not stop herself. “Zane… you’re asking a lot from me. I’m supposed to be the one who makes life comfortable for you. I don’t…”
A flicker of disappointment showed in his beautiful baby blue eyes, but he resumed his relaxed expression quickly. “It doesn’t have to be a permanent thing. It’s just for today. If I need your help, I’ll ask, but otherwise, I’d like for you to relax and enjoy yourself. You work so hard to help me, it’s only fair.”
Helping me. Helping me. Helping me…
Everything screamed at her to say no, to say Zane should not concern himself with her well-being. She was his warden, and that was final. Nothing would change that. Their roles were set in stone…
Were they though? Other Affini were different. Some let their florets take charge instead, some had an equal relationship. Some allowed power to change hands for fun. All relationships were different, but there was the unifying core element – that of florets being owned by their Affini. At the end of the day, even the most dominant sophont had to give up some power to live a good life in the Compact.
Before anything else, Chloros was a selfless woman. Her one goal in life was to give her affections to all sophonts in her path, and help them on the road to peace and joy. She never gave thought to her own desires, beyond eventually wanting a floret of her own. And here was Zane, for once, telling her to not be a caretaker, to let him have some power over her, even if only for a day.
It was so tempting to just… say no. Say no to her darling ward, deny him this desire. But she struggled. She loved him too much to object, at least right away.
“Momma,” Zane added. Her core throbbed in response to that word. She didn’t expect him to address her like that outside of that one instance of playtime, and so, it made her trepidation lessen. “Please? Just for today? Let yourself be selfish, while I be selfless for you?”
Just like him.
Chloros’ body sagged. She really, really, really didn’t want to. And yet, such earnest desire to help her, from the one she was starting to see as a son, was overpowering her resistance. Especially with how he called her something other than her real name.
By the Everbloom, how could she say no?
“...Okay,” she murmured. “Okay. Just for today. I will let you take care of me. But after that, it’s back to normal. Understand?”
Zane brought her hand up to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss upon her knuckles. The flowers on her body became a more vivid shade of blue in response. Lacking blood meant she had other ways of showing how flustered she was. And Zane picked up on it.
“You’re cute when you do that, you know?” he chuckled, before releasing her hand. “Right, now that that’s settled… why don’t you go ahead and watch some TV or something? I’ll make you some lunch and bring it on over.”
Chloros didn’t move immediately. She was still trying to process what she just agreed to. Zane noticed, for he reached over to pat the side of her face. “Momma, I got this, don’t worry.”
She blinked, snapping herself back to reality. “A… alright. Just, please let me know if you need me the instant you have trouble.”
Seeing him nod, Chloros slowly stood up out of her seat, and trudged over to the living room. Her otherwise relaxed stride was now a little more sluggish and slow, her mind in an uncertain daze. She vaguely heard Zane request some kind of stepladder from the compiler behind her as she went to sit herself on the couch at the end of the bed.
She was quickly feeling her mind swim with thoughts. Thoughts that were a mishmash of not believing she was doing this, hoping Zane would be careful, wanting desperately to rush over and make lunch for him instead, wondering if it was really so bad to let go…
Dirt, she needed to distract herself.
Acquiring the remote and turning on the display, she did her best to relax like Zane wanted her to. She flicked through channels, before settling on something that would definitely keep her mind off of things.
An Affini-made documentary focusing on the habits and characteristics of khetari, particularly those in the care of their owners. This would suffice. Yes. Yes it would. She forced herself to relax, her legs and dress unraveling while leaning back on the couch.
“And here we have a darling specimen of the khetari species,” observed the narrator, speaking in a smooth, calming voice. Chloros recognized the accent, which she knew to be from a male terran of British descent. “This one, a charming critter by the name of Raska, is proving how she fares under the influence of her owner’s xenodrugs. Let’s see what she does when… ah, look at that.”
Raska, the light purple-hued khetari on screen, was clearly looking very sluggish and sporting a big smile on her feline face. A toy on a wand, resembling some kind of avian xeno, was brought into view, dangling in front of Raska’s face. She reached to bat at it in a lazy fashion, pupils dilated. Off-screen, her owner was heard chuckling in their low baritone.
Chloros found herself smiling. Khetari were one of her favorite xenosophont species, and she regularly made trips to one cafe on the ship that had an abundance of them to interact with. They were all already owned, so she couldn’t just take one for herself, but she still appreciated spending time with them all.
“Hohoho, isn’t she adorable? Intoxicated by her owner, and as joyful and happy as ever. Such delightful creatures, khetari are,” the narrator remarked. “All the power and weight they have in such a small body, combined with boundless affection and zest for life. Truly, a wonderful species.”
She watched intently for several minutes, listening to the narrator as he went on to describe the history of khetari, their durability and weight, and their origins before the Compact arrived. She knew all of this already, but it was still nice to have a refresher, especially when narrated by a pleasant voice like this.
She knew some sophonts used this to help fall asleep in the absence of Class-Z’s. She could understand. Sometimes, all you needed was someone’s voice to help you relax and drift away. She did plenty of that for Zane, helping him rest and relax at night, or when another of his panic attacks threatened to strike.
That was still a recurring problem. Even with how his mental health had improved, he was still susceptible to his mind getting close to shutting down and rooting him to the spot, crippled by pent-up stress and anxiety. Of course, Chloros was always there to save him from them, either using her hypnotic gaze and melodic voice to force the buildup to halt, or pushing a flower into his face to make him breathe in sedatives.
She hoped that, eventually, they would stop. A breakdown like that was awful to go through, and she knew that if she hadn’t been there to stop the first one she witnessed, he might have cracked completely and things would be different.
She turned her head towards the kitchen. Zane was apparently hard at work, cooking something she couldn’t see on the stove. He was perched on a stepladder tall enough for him to reach the stove and cookware with, and he was humming to himself. Some of her worries faded as she recognized that he wasn’t in danger of hurting himself, and she suppressed the urge to get up and take over.
He valued his autonomy, even as her ward. She would live up to her promise that he would keep as much of it as possible in her care.
Turning back to the screen, she saw that Raska was now being held against her owner’s chest, curled up in a ball and nuzzling into the Affini’s vines. The narrator said something about Raska having a tendency to do this, and offhandedly mentioned how it was similar to another xenosophont species, the rangda.
Rangda.
Her core shivered. Roots. This was supposed to distract her, and it wasn’t working. She couldn’t spiral, she just couldn’t. She had moved on, she had been telling herself that for several Blooms now.
And yet, the thoughts continued to fill her mind. Of the event that happened in her youth. Of the one she used to have. Of that fateful day where she lost her first love.
Failure. Failure. I failed him. Failed. I miss him. Miss him. My son. My son…
She lost track of how long she was sitting there. For once, she was in a haze, unable to comprehend the outside world as once long-forgotten emotions started to surge.
Lost him lost him lost him lost him please forgive me please forgive me
She could remember his face clearly. That adorable pointed snout, the glowing blue eyes, the reflective gold dome upon his head. She remembered him clear as day. She would never forget. She could never forget. She must never forget.
Gone gone gone gone gone gone
My son
I couldn’t save him I lost him
lost
lost
lost
lost
he
I
failed
him
In the distance, she heard Zane saying something. But it did not register. It couldn’t. She was elsewhere.
A downward spiral of self-loathing and regret that had infested her being and was making her decay and devouring her from within and forcing her to
to
to
admit
fault
pain
so much pain
it hurts
guilty
guilty
guilty
guilty
guilty
“Chloros! Are you okay?!”
Zane’s voice pierced through the fog of torment and brought her back to reality, and it was only then that she realized what had happened.
Chloros was now aware that her terranoid form had completely dissolved, with only her mask being identifiable. Her body became a huge mess of vines and wood, leaves scattered around the couch and floor. Speaking of the floor, she was now completely spread out over it, gazing up at the ceiling, with a very worried Zane looking at her.
“Chloros, what happened? Talk to me!” he asked frantically. He climbed onto the pile that was his warden and reached to hold her mask, lifting her up so they could look each other in the eye.
Even though she forgot to hide her eyes with her leaves, having fallen apart like this meant her hypnotic gaze was temporarily disabled. She couldn’t enthrall him even if she tried. Embarrassment rushed through her, and she quivered, knowing how pathetic she looked.
“Z… Zane,” she murmured, so quietly she almost didn’t hear herself. “I… I don’t…”
Seeing her terran like this made her core ache. She had been his warm, gentle, and unflappable guardian from the start. Now, she was just a mossy mess, her structural integrity dropped so low it was literally on the floor with the rest of her. There wasn’t a protector anywhere currently, just a failure in the shape of Chloros.
“Chloros, it’s me, I’m here, talk to me,” Zane said rapidly. “Are you hurt? Do, do we need to-”
She managed to retain enough strength to lift a vine up and touch his face, and the sentence evaporated. Even so, she knew she had to respond to him. “I… I am not hurt, no. I am simply… having… a moment.”
“A moment?” he parroted incredulously. “You wouldn’t respond to me when I brought lunch over. I tried to poke you, hug you, anything to get your attention, but you didn’t recognize me at all. And then you just fell apart on the floor here. This isn’t a moment, this is… this is…”
He trailed off. She knew exactly what word he was going to use.
Trauma.
“I am… not… in the best state,” Chloros struggled to say. “It’s… nothing…”
His panicked expression shifted to look doubtful. “This isn’t ‘nothing’. Something’s wrong, I can tell. What happened? Did I screw up? Was I not meant to swap roles, or, or, or…”
Her face softened. He was blaming himself for her status already, and she just wouldn’t have that. Chloros lightly stroked his cheek, looking at him with pain in her eyes. “You have done… nothing wrong at all. I am… reliving… memories. It has been… so long since...”
“Chloros… what happened exactly? I need to know. Please.”
She winced, and turned her mask away. She loved him, but she could not bear to inflict her wounds upon him. It was not her place to share it. She had to be strong.
But she wasn’t strong. She was a pile of leaves on the floor, having succumbed to a breakdown of her own. Only Zane’s presence kept her from straying deeper into the murk of her regrets. It compounded to make her feel so weak and useless…
His hand roughly pulled her back around to face him now, and he was looking agitated. “Chloros. Please don’t blow me off. You’ve been there for me since I was brought into your arms, and I know you need someone to do the same for you. I can’t just stand aside while you’re falling to pieces. So, please… tell me what’s the matter.”
She said nothing. She felt nothing. She was nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing…
“Momma.”
The word jolted her out of her funk. She jumped, and found herself doing something she never expected to do again.
Small, faint streaks of translucent blue sap began to ooze from the eyeholes of her mask, falling down her cheeks. Her body vibrated, imitating that of a xenosophont trembling in grief.
Chloros was crying.
Zane’s anger faded, and he softened. She knew he was no stranger to tears of remorse being shed. This time, she was the one expressing her regret, and he was there to help her. He leaned forward and rested his forehead on hers, dropping his voice to a whisper. “Momma… it’s okay. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, okay? I’m right here. You can tell me anything and I’ll listen. Please…”
Her core was durable and could withstand all manner of damage. But hearing him say that made her feel like it was going to melt away.
She whimpered quietly, and gave a slow, measured nod. Inching herself backward, she began to steadily recompile herself into the body shape Zane was familiar with. It took a minute before she was finally back to normal, assuming a kneeling stance before him. She looked at her ward, eyes hidden behind leaves once more.
“I am… slightly better now. But… are you certain you’re willing to hear this? It is a burden that I do not share lightly.”
Zane nodded, reaching to grab one of her hands again and squeezing it in both of his own. “Then I can help you shoulder it. Just like you’re helping me shoulder mine.”
“...alright. I trust you.”
And so, she told him her story.
The story of the first son she’s ever had… and lost.
Chapter 23: Sweet Sorrow
Summary:
It’s what parting is.
Zane is not the first sophont Chloros has come to love. In ages past, she had a floret of her own. This is the tale of that floret, a tale of happiness, companionship… and loss.
Content warnings: Death of a floret
Notes:
I've actually had this chapter in the backlog for a bit, waiting for a good point in the story to insert it. And here it is!
Much like the last chapter, this was really tugging at my heartstrings to write. Even someone like Chloros has emotional scars, and now you get to bear witness to where she got them. If your heart hasn't shattered for her last chapter, it likely will in this one.
Also, introducing my own xenosophont species for the setting, the rangda! Rolly polly armadillo constructors! Super cute, yeah? I plan on introducing more later on, just you wait!
Keep those tissues handy, this is still gonna be rough.
Chapter Text
Over the course of her long existence, Chloros had come to know countless sophonts in the Compact’s quest to unify and protect the universe at large. Many came into her care, and either earned their independence, or were delivered into the waiting arms of their future owners, embracing happier, healthier, safer lives. Though she gave her love freely to those she had wardship over, vanishingly few of them became close enough for her to consider domesticating them.
She still remembered all their names. Grax, a xenra who faked the image of a tough, unbreakable fox, hiding the pain in his eyes. Calibur, a mothtaur with a passion for armorsmithing, and eagerly jumped into her care before finding his owner eventually. Yarda, a khetari who never seemed to be able to stand still, but had boundless optimism in his heart.
And countless more. Even as she approached her 30th Bloom, she still managed to retain the identities and personalities of the sophonts she lifted into her arms. She adored each and every last one, and though she was disappointed when they all eventually left her, in her core, she understood that it was only a matter of time before she found a soul to tangle with hers.
And in her earliest Blooms, where the memories were most clear, she had found one such individual. A young soul who came into her life with a creative spirit, a tender heart, and a yearning for stability and safety in a vast, unclear universe.
She treasured the memory. It was the one recollection that never faded from her mind, even as she grew older and changed into something else entirely as the ages went on.
It all started shortly after she left the core world she grew up on...
Midus was his name.
He was a member of a species known as the rangda. A people that were rather small, like the beeple, but instead of resembling insects, they were creatures with large, durable shells on their backs and heads, and massive claws on their feet. Their shells were so tough that seemingly nothing could hurt them, acting as impenetrable armor. Nothing short of extreme trauma would be able to make the shell crack, and even then, the rangda would be able to endure it long enough for the shell to regenerate. So long as the shell wasn’t completely destroyed, the average rangda would live for a very long time. Unfortunately, their front sides were a different story, as they were completely exposed to damage and danger. Curling up into an armored ball fixed this, but there was always a risk.
The rangda did not have a home world, allegedly. They were a starfaring people who spent much of their lives in the void of space, on heavily fortified starships that could take immense punishment. Even the smallest rangda vessel could withstand heavy fire for an extended period before showing any signs of damage.
They were a culture who valued construction and creation. Their buildings focused on massive fortifications that still looked aesthetically pleasing, with any angles and sharp points minimized, focusing on curves and circles. The average rangda house could withstand a gigantic bomb being dropped on it and only suffer a few cracks and dents on the outside. Inside, the house would be untouched.
It was only fitting that the rangda would get along swimmingly with the Affini Compact.
Midus had an eagerness to please the Affini around him, and it seemed impossible to make him upset. When Chloros first met him, he was already putting together a home for a different Affini and their pets. He wore his heart on his shell, broadcasting his emotions and never hiding anything. A rangda with unending zest for life.
They started as friends. Midus shared a younger Chloros’ enthusiasm for creation and adventure, and together, they joined hands as he took his first step into life as a ward in her care. The relationship steadily grew and grew, and eventually, for lack of a better word, blossomed into intense love between two young creatures.
Chloros’ passion spoke to Midus’ desire to create. She provided the materials, and he was quick to work, crafting all manner of items and structures. His energy was infectious, and he almost was a little too energetic for her, but they soon came to a shared pace that fit both of them.
She remembered the taste of his mouth upon her own when they shared their first kiss under a starlit sky. Sweet and gentle and soft, just like the rangda himself. It was in that moment, both of them knew they were destined for each other.
He had colors associated with him. Golds, and reds, and blues. Bright, eye-catching, resonating with her soul. A rainbow of hues that was unique to Midus alone. Especially the blues.
The day before he was officially declared her first floret, she offered to draw him into her chest cavity and embrace her core. If she was to claim him, she wanted to ensure he would want no one else but her. Midus was all too happy to come in.
“If I’m to be yours,” he said, “then I want to feel you. All of you. Inside and out. Please take me, Mother.”
So she drew him in, tangled her vines around his body, letting him wrap himself around her bright blue core. Her biorhythm was strongest there, and it flowed into him, penetrating him and deepening his yearning for her. In that long, long period of time, Midus’ mind was rewired and altered so that he loved her fiercely, to a degree greater than before.
The following night, his implant was officially inserted.
Midus Gleras, First Floret, entwined himself with his owner for the first time.
Chloros loved her darling floret with every cell in her body, and continued to love him over the years. They became closer than ever, sometimes rather literally, as Midus developed a fascination with core cuddles. She regularly allowed him to rest inside of her torso, her body enveloping him and entrancing him with her innermost rhythms.
They spent many years together, Chloros and Midus. Frolicking on the world of life and light they first met each other on, basking in the benevolence of the Compact. Every day, both had the other in their thoughts. Their love was constant, their affection unceasing. The cosmos was theirs, and they would explore it with all the joy and curiosity they could muster.
Time passed. Chloros had rebloomed more than once as the years went. Her memory became fuzzy at times, and her demeanor changed to some degree. But no matter what, her love for her floret remained eternal. She recognized him, and embraced him again with every Bloom, ensuring she would always be at his side, and he at hers.
He joined her on an expedition to a harsh desert world, where the sun burned hot over the sands during the day, and extreme cold took over at night. There was a species living here that were perfect candidates for domestication, though she didn’t recall what they were. Though Chloros didn’t like the weather there much, Midus adored it, as it reminded him of the planet he had grown up on as a hatchling.
Midus said to her, “If we can deal with the whole ‘scorching day and freezing night’ thing, this would be a perfect home for you and me!”
She admired his enthusiasm. He was able to see potential in a world that was extremely hazardous, and the danger, to him, was merely an incentive to make it habitable for sophonts like him and his owner. It was inspiring to witness. It also made her smile that he cared enough to want to make a home for the two of them, instead of simply having a hab unit be constructed by other Affini. He was truly dedicated to her.
Eventually, the Compact were able to alter the atmosphere of this world in the process of domesticating the dominant life form there. Enough for that species to still be comfortable on the planet, but allowing the rangda and the Affini to join them on it without issue.
Midus didn’t hesitate to start building a home, and although Chloros wasn’t certain if she wanted to set roots down on this world, she let him build whatever he wanted. If it made him happy, then it made her happy.
She hoped she would see that house one day.
But it was not to be.
Suddenly, a massive quake struck the mountainous region where the incomplete house was. It was violent, chaotic, tearing the ground to pieces and causing massive fissures to form. The land was seemingly ripping itself in half.
While Chloros was able to steady herself with her vines, the same could not be said for Midus. All he could do was curl into a ball and wait until it finally stopped. Chloros tried to draw him into her torso to ensure he’d stay safe, but the nonstop shaking made it difficult.
The quake didn’t stop. If anything, it was growing in intensity. It made Chloros feel genuine fear for her life, and for her precious floret.
A nearby cliff collapsed, and a rain of rocks and stone began to fall. Chloros saw it first, and knew she had to react.
Midus kept rolling and bouncing around while Chloros scrambled to grab him, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t catch up. The rocks were falling quickly and approaching them both.
She made one last desperate grab for him, and snared him against her chest while racing to get away. The downpour of stone finally arrived, and crashed down on top of the pair, burying them under dust and boulders.
Her vine-made body meant that even if some of the rocks pierced her, she’d be fine. She just needed to protect her darling from the stoneborne wrath descending upon them.
Finally, finally, it all came to an end. The dust settled, and she was able to push the biggest rocks off of herself and Midus and get out. Once she was completely free, she cheered and went to pull her pet up…
What she saw would be burned into her memories for eternity.
A pointed stone had punched clean through her chest, narrowly avoiding her core. The end of it was buried in Midus’ stomach, his dark blue lifeblood oozing out from the wound. He must have accidentally unrolled during the chaos, and this ended up sealing his fate.
Chloros couldn’t believe it. She panicked, unable to process that her beloved had been hurt at first. Midus was still alive, but his life was rapidly dwindling.
He coughed up ichor as he looked at her one final time. Their eyes met in that instant. His final words seared themselves into her memory of that day.
“I’m… s-sorry… Mother.”
And then he faded away, his spark of life finally extinguished.
Chloros shrieked.
The mourning after felt longer than it really was. Her first floret, love of her life, a young sophont with dreams of domestic peace… gone. Forever. Even the brilliance of the Affini could not undo grievous trauma to the body like this, especially for a species that were so vulnerable on the entire front part of their bodies.
When a floret was bound to an Affini, there was great joy.
When a floret was lost, there was great sorrow.
Chloros wept. And wailed. And cried. And despaired. She had done everything right as a prospecting owner, and then the universe repaid her by cruelly stealing her beloved away. It made her sink into a deep well of depression that she didn’t know she’d ever come back from.
It took ages for Chloros to move on after Midus’ passing. She had a close-knit community of friends to help her through her pain, and eventually, she was able to heal. In time, she was deemed fit for wardship, and so she could journey into the cosmos once again.
She became a warden for several other sophonts over the ages. Numerous faces and identities, all with a variety of personalities. Yet, even with the love she gave them, she did not feel she was ready to claim another. No. The hole in her chest, where Midus used to reside, could not be filled. All she could do was try to move forward and do her duty in the Compact to bring other souls aboard and prepare them for domestication.
On and on, through the years, Bloom upon Bloom. Chloros found and guided sophonts into the loving arms of her people, slowly but surely spreading peace all over the universe. She had resolved to honor Midus’ memory by lifting others into the Affini’s arms, like she lifted him up into her own.
A part of her still felt shame over her failure.
She wondered if there might be any purpose to be had without Midus by her side. His absence felt pronounced, and she sometimes caught herself addressing the space the little man used to occupy, finding empty air. Realizing it always gave her a pang of regret.
For a time, Chloros questioned if she’d ever take another floret…
And then one day, Antris found a certain someone on Neith.
Chloros sighed quietly as she finished her story, looking at Zane with an expression that perfectly displayed how much regret she’s been carrying in the ages since then.
Her second surrogate son stared at her, eyes wide. All she could say to him were two words.
“I’m sorry.”
Chapter 24: A Queen and Her Prince
Summary:
They may not be united by blood… but they are united by love.
Zane lost his mother. Chloros lost her first son. But somehow, the universe brought them together. And now… they can help each other move on.
Content warnings: Discussion of death, consensual affini hypnosis, fauxcest
Notes:
So now y'all know the origin of Chloros' first floret. What a sad, terrible tale... thankfully, Zane is here to keep loving Momma Chloros no matter what! He can't replace Midus, but he can still be a wonderful son for her <3
This one's another favorite for being a new emotional milestone for the pair, plus we get a much nicer hab unit for them to have. Can't go wrong with a big, fancy castle! Especially one that has the usual Affini accommodations!
And of course, my first consensual hypnosis scene! One that's very intimate, instead of just to keep Zane centered. I certainly enjoyed it~
Hope y'all like it too!
Chapter Text
“I’m sorry,” Chloros said as she finished her recollection.
Zane was left standing in open-mouthed shock.
Chloros stared back at him, exhaustion written on her mask. Blue streams continued to trail down the sides of her face. She didn’t say anything else for a time, staying silent as her anguish rained downward via gravity. Just as she was awash in thoughts and feelings, Zane’s mind was swimming with emotions and revelations.
Chloros used to have a floret for a large portion of her youth. She loved that man, treating him like her own son, until unforeseen tragedy struck. In the blink of an eye, Midus was ripped away from her…
He could see the parallels between Chloros and Midus and himself and Mom. Losing a beloved family member to factors outside of your control, watching the life fade from their eyes, feeling crushing despair as the universe steals the one good thing you had in life away from you…
A horrible thing to witness. Something no one should ever have to go through. And yet, both he and Chloros did. If there was evidence of an honest-to-stars deity in the universe, he’d ask it the simple question of...
Why?
Why, in an infinite universe, would such a deity allow pain and suffering to happen? Why did good souls like himself and Chloros have to experience grievous trauma? If he were a religious man, his faith would have been shattered the moment Mom finally left this plane of existence.
No wonder the Compact were doing everything they could to domesticate any sapient species they came across. Chloros likely wasn’t the first Affini to have lost someone they loved so dearly. Even if not everyone wanted it… their goal of bringing the entirety of existence into a new era of peace and safety was something he was starting to understand more and more.
Midus sounded so charming from what Chloros said of him. If he were still alive, Zane figured he’d have been fast friends with the little guy. Alas, he could only imagine what could have been.
Zane’s voice returned to him, and it was small as he looked at his warden. “I… I don’t know what to say,” he admitted. “Except that… I’m sorry, too.”
“About…?”
“About making you remember Midus. He didn’t deserve to go out like that…” Zane paused, before reaching up to rest his hands on Chloros’ mask again. She remained still, her pained expression not changing as he held the sides of her face.
“No. He did not.” Chloros’ voice was flat. Emotionless. Empty. Completely bereft of the calming vibe she once had. “I did everything I could for my son. And it wasn’t enough. It… it should have been me. Not him.”
“Chloros, you don’t mean that.”
Her arms rose, bringing her hands to his forearms. Her much larger digits and palms wrapped around them, and something told him it was meant to steady herself in this emotionally fragile state she was in. Her mouth moved, but nothing came out. She was struggling to say something, but words were clearly failing her.
Her once comforting aura was muted now. As if she couldn’t muster the strength to radiate pure love while grieving again. That just hurt Zane’s heart even more. Maybe trading places with her today was a bad idea if it caused her to have a bad meltdown like this…
Her hands squeezed his arms, and for a few moments, both Zane and Chloros stood there, silent. Speechless. Trying and failing to say anything more. Zane realized he wasn’t all that good at comforting sophonts, to his displeasure. He was always the one being comforted. The most he was able to do was just sit close by and exist, and it never felt like it was enough.
But he had to try. Chloros mattered to him. He had to help her escape this pit she was stuck in.
He moved his hands to gently, and awkwardly, brush the blue sap off of her mask. No reaction, but her ramrod-stiff form loosened by a subtle amount. She approved of that, which relieved him.
“You told me before how much I’ve been weighed down by my hate and anger,” Zane said to her. “And you were right. It carried me for a while, but eventually it ran dry and it just left me empty inside. Like I had nothing left.”
Chloros nodded slowly. “I did. I remember.”
“And you’ve been weighed down by the grief of losing Midus since you were young,” Zane continued. “You held yourself together better than I did, but it’s still got a firm hold on you.”
“That is… correct, also.” Her morose visage started to look more perplexed as he went on. She was searching him for whatever meaning he had behind his words, he gathered. Trying to determine the purpose of his speech.
Zane stammered, “L-look, don’t Affini have access to therapists and mental health counseling too?”
A long sigh escaped her, and she turned her mask away, glancing at the display screen. The documentary was no longer playing, as the screen had been shut off during the retelling. Now it was just Zane and Chloros, breaking the silence with their voices, nothing else.
“Yes. We do. I had to attend it myself after Midus passed. I healed… at least, I thought I did.” Her voice took on a bitter inflection. Frustration at not being able to move on, even after centuries. For as mindbendingly ancient and eldritch Affini could be, Chloros, at least, had incredibly relatable emotions and mannerisms.
“I know,” Zane said, wiping away another blue sap trail. “There’s a terran saying for this. ‘The first cut is the deepest’.”
“Yes, I know this. Where the fallout of a previous relationship makes it difficult for a new one to function.”
“That just means you still care about hi-”
Chloros scoffed, interrupting him. “Of course I cared about him. That’s the entire point. I cared enough that I’m still not finished mourning him. And now… I don’t know if I can be your warden any longer if today has left me this compromised.”
Zane’s heart leapt. She couldn’t seriously be suggesting that. She said she loved him, she can’t be taking it back now. He reciprocated her love! Wasn’t that worth anything?
“Chloros,” Zane murmured disbelievingly. “You can’t...”
She ignored his protests. “If… you wish to see another warden, I can…”
He raised his voice. “Chloros, come on, don’t do this.” Again, he was ignored.
“I can file for a transfer. They can probably… do better than a frail oldbloom like-”
Enough was enough. “Momma, listen to me, for stars’ sake!”
Invoking the title he gave her worked, because she jumped and stiffened again, facing him once more. Her hands lost their grip on him, falling downward, but he still kept a hold of her mask. He frowned at her while he had her attention.
“I don’t want anyone else as my warden, okay? I want you. Look, I’m still learning how the whole wardship and domestication stuff works…”
His stern frown lessened. “But I know in my heart that you’re the best one for me. You said you wouldn’t abandon me, even in my darkest hour. And now I’m here, refusing to leave you in yours. You are not alone in this, you hear me? You’re not. I’m staying right here because I love you, Momma. And I want to help you like you’ve helped me.”
For a long time, Chloros sat there, weeping mutely. Zane wondered if his impromptu speech might have upset her further, or… or…
Wait. Did she just… sob?
“Oh, Zane…”
In a flash, he was scooped up and held against her, head resting comfortably against her shoulder. She held him tightly, arms and vines coiled around him and preventing him from disconnecting. All the while, her previously quiet remorse had escalated to full-on sobbing, her whole body shaking…
But Zane knew it was for a different reason. The guilt, while still present, wasn’t nearly as strong. Instead, a different emotion was pouring forth.
Relief.
Relief that she finally had someone she could truly depend on in her lowest moments. Someone who would be there for her as more than just a ward. Someone who could tend to her needs in turn, instead of it being a purely one-sided affair. As a friend, as a confidant, as a companion…
As a second son.
Zane hugged her tightly, and realized he was starting to cry again as well. That was okay. He was shedding tears for her, someone he had come to love with all his heart. Both of them shared in their relief that neither would be leaving the other, not as long as they lived.
This bond would not break.
It would not.
Two days later…
Zane and Chloros gazed upon the entrance to their new home aboard the Excellence. To say it was a massive contrast to the last one was an understatement.
Chloros had evidently been inspired by the short story Zane surprised her with the other day, and requested a hab unit be built with it in mind. The designer, an elderly Affini with a draconic body shape and three florets tethered to his hip, had been very excited to do the job, and didn’t let Chloros get further beyond “big fancy castle” and “needs Simon’s input”, shooing her out before she could finish. She had been lightly miffed at that, and Zane found that kind of cute.
And now, they were looking upon the fruits of the builder’s labor.
A gargantuan castle standing before them, reaching far higher than Chloros’ original, tiny hab. Four corners of the structure were dominated by huge stone-like pillars, with blue flags waving from the very tips of the spires above. Constructed from smooth, unbreakable stone that still had an aged, weathered look to it, as if it were ripped straight out of Scotland back on Terra. The “front door”, as it were, was large drawbridge, designed to be lifted and raised via a command from either of their pads. The drawbridge extended over a vast, rolling moat of clear, cool water, with what seemed to be fish lapping about within.
In front of the extended drawbridge, a wooden signpost was erected. Attached to it was a message:
Welcome to your royal sanctuary
Please, make yourselves at home <3
For Zane Jakobson and Chloros Gleras, 27th Bloom
Courtesy of Hariks Uldra, 10th Bloom
With assistance from Simon Thrane, First Floret; Laran Uldra, First Floret; Matthew Uldra, Second Floret; and Callie Uldra, Third Floret
“Somehow I knew Simon would be involved,” Zane observed with a smile. He gently squeezed Chloros’ hand, looking up at her. He adjusted the backpack he wore, making sure to bring along everything of sentimental value that Chloros let him keep, which he was eternally thankful for.
His warden returned the gesture, setting her eyes on him with a warm, affectionate gaze. “You saw how excited he was when we told him the news. Even Antris was surprised.”
“I’ll bet. What do you think?”
“Well, the outside looks good, but the inside needs to be seen first,” Chloros answered. “But I have confidence that it will be perfect. Shall we?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Don’t you mean… yes, Momma?”
Zane blushed intensely, feeling his body shake. “Uh, um, uh… y-yes, Momma.”
The delighted giggle escaping her told Zane that everything was going to be alright. He knew things would be okay again, now that he had reaffirmed his dedication to her the other day. Both could count on the other and prove they still matter to each other.
Was this the point where he’d be considered as more than just a ward? He wasn’t sure yet.
In any case, as they ventured inside the new castle, he was certain that, even if his wardship was deemed to be complete and his independence was secured, he didn’t want to leave Chloros’ side. They needed each other far too much to be separated.
Hand in hand, the pair entered the castle…
Over the course of a few hours, Zane and Chloros discovered some interesting facts.
The castle was just as big on the inside as it was on the outside, if not bigger. A massive foyer dominated the entrance, with a huge staircase on either side leading up to the second floor. Zane noticed that there were terminals on the ends of the railings, with buttons attached that indicated they were operating the stairs like escalators. He could already tell this would be perfect in the event he didn’t want to use the stairs normally for whatever reason.
The general aesthetic seemed to be a hybrid of what was at Saint’s Library and design elements taking after ye olden castles from classic fantasy. Immaculately carved wooden furniture, flawless stone walls, torches imitating fire, although that last one was just for show since standard lights illuminated every room. There was also a massive, intricately designed chandelier high above, radiating gentle light that was a sight to behold.
From here, all rooms were accessible. The foyer led to the massive living room, which was evidently combined with a library. Here, on top of the countless couches, chairs, beanbag seats, and other places to sit while enjoying the sound and sight of a simulated hearth, Zane and Chloros could engage in reading the numerous books on the shelves. They discovered that these were copies given to them from Saint’s Library, courtesy of Frey chipping in. That was so very sweet of them…
Most of the main rooms of interest were on the ground floor. The western wing had an enormous kitchen, with two large islands in the middle, several cabinets and shelves, and multiple sinks and stoves, alongside a much larger compiler unit taking up the space where a fridge would reside. There was also the study, a smaller, but still cozy room, where Zane and/or Chloros could retreat for solitude, and for Zane in particular, he could get some peace and quiet in order to spark new ideas for writing.
The eastern wing was taken up by a massive media room which was kitted out for quality. A humongous video screen dominated one wall, with multiple rows of seats in front, designed like a movie theater. Though he couldn’t see any video game consoles, he could see numerous controllers available in the chairs, including headsets for augmented and virtual reality, and headphones for if he wanted to keep the sound to himself. And of course, a large compiler in here if he ever needed anything.
The second floor was what he expected. Three quarters of this floor were dominated by the master bedroom, which was large enough that he gathered it was really two bedrooms mashed into one. A gigantic bed, bigger than both himself and Chloros combined, took up one wall with countless pillows and plushies – he liked those! – laying upon it. He had expressed desires for plush toys before, and he saw they were all his favorite animals – red pandas, sharks, even some rinan. And… wait, one of them looked like Chloros herself. That was interesting. The bed had four thick, wooden posts leading up to the ceiling, with a large, open canopy around it. Perfect for privacy for whatever reason. There was also a compiler in here. Wow, they were everywhere! He left his backpack in a corner beside the bed, so it would stay somewhere that was safe and easily accessed.
Attached to the master bedroom was a fancy, blue-tinted master bathroom, of course. It blew the old hab’s bathroom out of the water – the bathtub was built into the floor, and dominated a huge section of it, seeming like more of a swimming pool. Several bottles of cleansing agents were visible, all in scents and textures he wanted to try. A door in the wall led to a dedicated shower unit, big enough for both ward and warden, naturally. And the bathroom counter, though far too tall for him to access normally, came with a stepladder so he could climb up all the way if Chloros wasn’t present for any reason.
The remaining quarter of this floor was dedicated to an observatory. It was darker than the rest, lit up by devices resembling candles. Here, an advanced telescope was placed, where Zane and Chloros could peer into the viewport and see from outside the Excellence, observing all the stars in whatever system they were currently in. There were notebooks to record observations, along with star charts, books about the history of the universe, and other things related to observing the cosmos. Taking a quick peek in the telescope, he got confirmation that they were indeed nowhere near Neith now, which slightly saddened him, but he expected it.
From here, an elevator led up to the roof. There were chairs here as well, and from up here they could see outside of the castle to observe the rest of the Excellence, both high above, and on the ground below. Perfect for stargazing.
“Well,” Zane said, ending the self-guided tour in the master bedroom. “What do you think, Momma?”
Chloros took another look around, a hand stroking the chin of her mask. Then she turned back around, and smiled brightly at her ward. A smile that he relished seeing every day, especially with their renewed bond.
“It’s perfect. Hariks and company outdid themselves here. Much better than the old one, I’ll say.”
“Then it’s perfect for both of us!”
“That it is.”
Two vines came forth and snaked under his armpits suddenly, and he found himself laughing as she lifted him up into the air. Bringing him close, she nuzzled against the side of his face with her mask, chuckling, and laying the kisses he loved so much against his nose.
“Thank you, Zane. I’m happy to have gotten to know you.”
Smiling in return, Zane’s hands went to hold his warden’s mask again. She looked at him through shrouded eyes, happy as a clam.
“And I’m thankful that you’re with me,” he said warmly. “I meant it when I said you were the one for me.”
“And the sentiment is reciprocated.~”
Another kiss, this time right on his lips. His face turned pink once more, and he stammered a little while she laughed the most delightful laugh he’s ever heard.
“Why don’t we rest a while before dinner? If you like… I can treat you to your Momma’s loving gaze.~”
His heart thumped in anticipation at that. He found himself nodding, knowing that she meant she would let him peer into her eyes without obstruction. He definitely liked that. “Y-yeah, that’d be… that’d be nice. I wanna cuddle and look at you, Momma.”
“Then let’s.”
Soon, the two had climbed into the impossibly cozy bed, with Zane having stripped to his boxers. Chloros sat upright, while he lay comfortably in her lap. He was looking up at her again while she ran her fingers through his hair, her vines lightly touching him all over. Her free hand found his, their fingers tangling together.
Silence. Comfortable, blissful silence. Then…
“Are you ready?” Chloros asked.
Zane nodded slowly, squeezing her hand. “I’m ready, Momma.”
“Then, by all means… set your gaze upon mine, my sweet prince.~”
The leaves retreated into her hair, and then, the endless ocean blue of Chloros’ gaze found him.
Beautiful.
So beautiful.
A radiant expanse of peace and calm descended upon him as Zane made eye contact with her. His pulse slowed, his thoughts dissipated. Conscious thought was becoming harder and harder to do, but that was okay. He wanted this, and this time, it was done for intimacy, not to negate imminent panic.
“Momma,” he heard himself saying. He wanted to say more, but the energy wasn’t there, nor were any other words. That, too, was perfectly fine.
“That’s it, my love. Momma’s here.~”
With her warm, matronly visage taking up all of his sight, he instantly became aware of several things.
Chloros loved him. Completely. She enthralled him in more than just one way. Everything about her, her compassion, her boundless love, her desire to see him succeed, her willingness to grant him peace and safety in her arms… it was a kind of serenity he never thought he’d have before meeting her.
She was large. So large. Bigger than the tallest terran he knew back home. And though he initially was afraid of her size, now, he loved it. She was a titan, but she used her power responsibly, focusing on gentleness instead of dominance. For a man who was already shorter than average, the great size difference was very comforting now.
She forgave him for all his faults, both the minor and the major. She never judged him in any way. Even during his worst moments in her care, all she was focused on was his health and safety. That spoke to him more than anything else. She truly cared about him as more than just another ward…
He loved her. He loved her so much. He needed and wanted her. He couldn’t live without her.
He loved Chloros Momma.
Chloros Momma was there for him.
Chloros Momma would help him no matter what. And he would love her to the ends of the earth.
“Momma loves you so, so much,” he heard her croon. The nails on her fingers gently scritched and scratched over his scalp, making him sigh pleasurably. Her other hand went to rub a thumb on the side of his face. “Momma’s so happy you’re here. My prince, my son, my darling child… I love you. I love you with every cell in my body. I don’t ever want to stop loving you. You’re my pride and joy...~”
Her pride and joy. Her prince. Her son. Her child.
It was all falling into place. He wanted this. He wanted to be her son. He couldn’t envision a future without her at his side, adoring him, caring for him, making him laugh and smile and feel a kind of love that went beyond bone-deep.
“Yours…” he murmured. Though he blinked a few times to keep his eyes moistened, it was not enough to break the connection between their souls. Until she looked away, he was content to simply gaze into the holiest of holy lights.
“Mine. All mine.~”
It went on like this for quite some time. It might have been minutes. It might have been hours. It might have been days. Hell, it might have been for eternity. Somehow he didn’t mind that.
“My sweet boy… are you getting tired?”
Yes. He was getting tired. And that made him feel sad. He didn’t want to sleep, he wanted to keep looking, stay in Chloros’ Momma’s loving embrace…
“Tired… momma…”
“That’s okay. It will end shortly. You’re doing so, so well for me. Such a good boy.~”
Seconds. Minutes. Hours. Seconds. Minutes. Hours. Seconds. Minutes. Hours.
Time didn’t have any meaning anymore. Did it ever?
“Momma’s going to put you to bed in just a minute, baby. Alright?”
Naps. Naps were good. He’d like one. He nodded his head in response. “...’m… sleepy…”
“Close your eyes for me, my prince. You can rest now. I have you, and I’ll never, ever let you go. I promise.”
His eyelids were growing heavy. Everything felt slow. Heavy. Sluggish.
Chloros
Momma loves me.
Chloros
Momma loves me.
Chloros
Momma loves me.
I love Chloros Momma.
I love Chloros Momma.
I love Chloros Momma.
Momma’s echoing, motherly laugh filled his entire being as he felt himself drift off, unable to keep himself awake any longer…
And then…
…
…
…
Slumber.
Chapter 25: Oxytocin
Summary:
A mother’s child should never go hungry.
The new hab unit is a perfect fit for Zane and Chloros. And with their relationship having reached another major step, Chloros decides to indulge another of Zane’s fantasies...
Content warnings: Age regression, breastfeeding, xenodrugs
Notes:
I've been wanting to put this chapter together for a long time. Much like Zane, I enjoy what breasts are designed for, and so, here's some plommy ploobies! Alongside Zane getting little'd.
Another first try at something in my story, this time involving age regression! Won't lie, this also made me kinda emotional, but in a different way than usual. Imagine that, getting choked up over a kink scene. Couldn't be me lmao
Next chapter, we'll still hang with Chloros and Zane, then we get to see what Axton's up to! He should be okay... I think.
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter Text
›ChloroFeel: Fernis, are you available?
›FernoutParadise: Apologies, Robin needed to be tucked in for the night.
›ChloroFeel: Ah, I understand. I just got into bed with Zane after dinner. He’s so cute, snoring against my chest.
›FernoutParadise: That sounds very good. How is he coming along?
›ChloroFeel: Very nicely, actually. We’re quite close now. He may reach a point where he officially wants to be my floret.
›FernoutParadise: That’s wonderful, Chloros. Do you wish to implant him when he gets there?
›ChloroFeel: I think I will wait. I would prefer to have him give an enthusiastic ‘yes’ before I finally claim him. Plus, you know, he still needs to work through some of the memories he’s suppressed before he’s ready.
›FernoutParadise: Understood. We can see about extending his wardship for a little longer in that case.
›ChloroFeel: Perfect, thank you. And can you do me a favor?
›FernoutParadise: What is it?
›ChloroFeel: I’d like some Class-Y to do something special for him tomorrow. He accepts me as his mother figure, and I’d like to play into that more. I also need to synthesize more Class-E, my stock is running low.
›FernoutParadise: Absolutely, just come by my office tomorrow morning and I can get you set up.
›ChloroFeel: Thanks, Fernis, you’re a true friend. :)
›FernoutParadise: As are you, Chloros. Good night. ::)
›ChloroFeel: Good night. <3
“Brownies are ready, baby,” Chloros called out over the castle intercom.
Zane blushed as he was addressed. “Okay, Momma, be right there,” he replied. He paused and saved his playthrough of End of the Universe, double checking that it did so, before pulling off the virtual reality headset. His blue-streaked hair was mussed up after being stuck inside of it for so long, but it quickly settled into its usual style after he ran his hands through it.
Putting away the equipment, he took a moment to drink some water from the compiler, realizing he was a little parched. He sat in his chair, a smile on his face.
He was feeling good. He had reached another step in his relationship with Chloros, one where he was growing attached to her as a proper son. And while he kind of wondered if that tarnished his memory of Mom… he found that it didn’t really disturb him.
Chloros made it clear he would keep his most cherished memories, including of his Mom. And even though he was starting to regard Chloros as Momma, at times he wondered if it was right of him to do so. He never wanted to let Mom go, he cared far too much about her to ever consider her anything else but his beacon of hope… yet Chloros was proving to be a beacon of hope too, in her own way. She was giving him hope again. Something he hadn’t felt ever since Mom passed.
Maybe before it came time to confront his traumas, he’d have to ask for her help in squaring his relationship between Mom and Momma. He had a feeling she’d have an answer to this enigma. She always did. Right? She hadn't let him down so far.
Although, he was starting to notice that, at some points, when he tried to think of Chloros’ name, he just… could not. Instead, every single time, it was replaced by Momma. As if something had been done to him to force him to think of her as Momma, instead of who she really was. There was also the fact that she was addressing him with titles like “baby”, and he was wondering what that signified. Either way, he was feeling like his mind was seemingly deifying her as the ultimate mother figure in his life, instead of simply being a good friend, caretaker, and… lover.
Weeks ago, he’d have been repulsed by the idea. Now, he was embracing it.
He’d have to bring that up to her at some stage.
For now, he made his way over to the kitchen, adjusting his pajamas. Today was another lazy day after they moved in, and so, the pair had been content to stay in. Zane had compiled a nice set of pajama shirt and pants, colored navy blue with patterns of cartoony rabbits all over it. He was still amazed at how every piece of clothing for him fit perfectly and felt very comfortable. Compared to the ratty clothes he had been stuck with, the difference was night and day.
Life was nice in the Compact. That was becoming clearer over time.
Striding into the kitchen, he looked up to see Chloros there, having finished baking the sweet treats she announced earlier. She was already cutting them in the pan and setting them out on plates that were on one of the kitchen islands, humming to herself. Though her lower body was obscured, he could see that her torso was clad in a big, dark blue apron. And… huh. Was he seeing things, or was she looking larger in the bust department? Or maybe it was a trick of the light.
“Hey, Chloros,” he said aloud, waving at her. His warden turned her head to face him, and a pleased smile formed on her face.
“Ah, there you are.” Some of her vines extended to approach and pat him on the head, and like usual, a small shiver ran through him. The mere act of being touched like this always made him feel a mild jolt of pleasure. “Just give me a moment to finish cutting these up and they’ll be all yours.”
He lifted a hand up to gently grab and stroke one of her vines, giving her some affection in turn. “All mine? You’re not going to have any?”
“These are special, remember? It’s something that I think you’ll highly enjoy.”
He tilted his head at her. “You put something in them?”
“Yes. But it’s a surprise. I’d hate to spoil it for you.”
“You sure you can’t tell me?”
That earned a playful laugh from her, before her vines coiled around him and brought him closer. “It’d be far better for you to experience it blind, so to speak,” she said as she deposited him on the counter.
He was about to say something as he was sat down, but now that he was right in front of her, he found his eyes drawn to her chest. No doubt about it, she had become significantly bustier. He hadn’t noticed at first, because she had gone to see the vet after breakfast, and when she returned, he was still playing games. She had told him she was making brownies once she came back, and now, here he was, with the treats ready to be consumed.
Certain thoughts swam through his head for a moment. He could feel himself grow warmer as he imagined how her breasts looked under the apron… goodness. Had she always been this gifted in the chest department? If so, how had he never noticed? Was he just distracted by all the florn he had been consuming recently? The focus had been on large-breasted women holding sophonts against their chests and… having them suckle. He didn’t know where that particular fetish came from, but it had been getting stronger as of late...
“Something got your attention?~” Another giggle left her, and he blushed, managing to tear his eyes off of her chest to see her amused expression.
“Uh, um, uh… little bit,” he babbled, which just made her laugh more. Once she finished cutting the brownies into good sized bites, she held a piece inside a vine and brought it to his mouth. At a glance, it looked like how he expected, a square chunk of delicious, fluffy chocolate. Triple chunk, she had said.
“You don’t mind if I feed you, right?” Chloros asked. Once again, he expected her to just shove it in his mouth, and yet, she was still asking for permission.
She still cared enough to get his input first before doing something unless absolutely necessary. That did a lot to build trust in his warden. He smiled, heart fluttering.
“Today’s a lazy day, isn’t it? So I think I’ll stay lazy. Go ahead.”
“That’s wonderful, baby. Now, open wide~”
Zane obeyed, jaw hanging slack. In went that brownie, half of it entering his mouth. He brought his teeth together, and bit off that half. Oh, it was triple chunk chocolate alright… and stars, it was delicious. He chewed it in his mouth, finding himself moaning at how good it was, before swallowing it down. He licked his lips and giggled, smiling at her. “Holy crap, that’s yummy. More please!”
“Absolutely~”
Another bite, another moment of chewing, then swallowing. Whatever she put in these, they were great! He always did like brownies, and the fact she went out of her way to make them by hand instead of simply compiling them made them all the better.
Before long, Zane was allowing her to feed him one brownie after another, filling his stomach with sticky, chocolatey goodness. Eventually, half of the brownies remained. She held another out to him, but he put up a hand after swallowing the last one, and she pulled it away.
“Mmph, that’s enough for now,” he said, smiling. “Thanks, C… c…”
He trailed off as an unknown feeling started to take over in his brain. Suddenly, everything felt… fuzzy. Strange. He was feeling very satisfied, but in a different way, one that was… altering things.
He blinked his eyes. He felt… bad. As if whatever was in the brownie was unlocking something dormant within him. Something that wasn’t able to be let free until Chloros Momma treated him to chocolate.
He sniffled. Why did he feel sad out of nowhere? It didn’t make sense, and it scared him. Already he could feel his tear ducts start to well up.
“Zane?” he heard Chloros Momma say, looking at him with concern. He didn’t answer, because he felt an overwhelming urge to sob.
Chloros’ Momma’s child couldn’t stop himself as a fresh wave of tears boiled over and trailed down his face. His hands, balled-up, went to his eyes as he began to sob in earnest, unable to process these strange feelings. It made no sense and it was scaring and depressing him, and all he could do was wail like the baby he was at heart.
Why did he feel so bad?
Chloros Momma’s hands and vines flew to him, already working to soothe and pet him while she spoke to him. “Oh, Zee, baby, it’s okay, shhh…”
Zee. That was his name. Whoever ‘Zane’ was, he wasn’t here. Zee was here, and right now, Chloros Momma was here for him. He continued to bawl his eyes out for several minutes, unable to do anything else until it finally passed.
When it did, he sat on the counter, whimpering, sniffling, looking at Chloros Momma. She was murmuring sweet nothings as she wiped his face and kissed his forehead, which combined to help him calm down more quickly than normal. He couldn’t discern how or why, but she felt much larger than she looked, and she was radiating such a calming, peaceful aura...
“M, muh, Momma,” Zee barely managed to say. “I-I feel… sad.”
“Talk to me, Zee,” Momma replied. “Why are you sad?”
“I-I-I’m… scared, I-I feel like, people hate… hate me for… being a bad boy,” Zee babbled. “L-Like, like, I’m in trouble, and, and…”
Momma shushed him, her hands rubbing the sides of his face while a vine ruffled his hair. “Oh, I know, honey. You had to deal with so many bad people hurting you, but it’s okay. Momma’s here to make the pain go away.”
He swallowed, looking at her. “Momma won’t leave me…?”
His Momma nodded, nuzzling him. “Of course not. You’re my baby boy, I could never abandon you. I’m not going anywhere.”
Zee hiccuped. “O-okay… I… I love you, Momma…”
“And I love you, Zee. So, so much.” Another smooch, this time on his nose. In his peripheral vision, he saw her apron being untied and set aside…
And out dropped two large, squishy, soft-looking breasts on her chest. They were mostly green like the rest of her, but inside, bright teal-blue liquid sloshed around audibly, glowing through the skin. Big, dark green nipples were visible on the ends… and that fluid was already dribbling out of them.
“M-Momma? Your… your…”
Momma turned her face downward, registering that she was topless. “Oh, honey… are you hungry, still?” she asked sweetly as she turned back to her son.
Zee found his mouth watering all of a sudden. Despite being partially full from the brownies, his stomach gave an abrupt grumble. He nodded his head in response. “Momma… Momma’s milk…”
Momma purred. “I’ve got plenty for you, darling. You want some? It’s fresh for you.~”
He replied quickly, “I want, I want… want…!”
Her vines snaked under his arms and lifted him again, bringing him closer to Momma. She held him comfortably against her chest, guiding his face towards her left teat.
“Shhh, just relax and drink up, baby. Momma’s got you.~”
Instinct took over for Zee. He clung to her, his lips wrapping around her nipple, and at once that glowing blue liquid was dribbling into his mouth and on his tongue. The taste was impossibly good, perfectly sweet, perfectly creamy. Just all around perfect. He let out a quiet whimper, muffled against her soft chest, as he quickly settled into nursing from her.
“There we go,” he heard Momma say above him. “There’s a good boy. Just stay close and enjoy yourself, okay? Momma’s right here.”
With his mouth full of teat, he couldn’t say anything in reply, but that didn’t matter. Her breast fit perfectly in his mouth, his teeth nibbling it gently as he did all he could to get the life-giving milk he wanted. He needed it. He was a growing boy, wasn’t he? He had to get his fill from Momma if he wanted to be big and strong.
She had begun to move, he realized. He couldn’t see with her chest taking up all of his vision, so all he had to go by was the inertia of her body as it went somewhere else in their home. Despite all the motion, he didn’t feel like he was being jostled at all. Zee didn’t care where they went, all he knew was that Momma held him close and fed him the rich, nutritious milk he craved so much. That was fine for him.
They had entered a different room now. The lighting felt different. He heard a faint crackling of firewood nearby. The living room? That made sense, the fireplace was there. She must have set it up before he arrived.
Momma soon sat herself down on one of the myriad chairs in the room, large enough to support the combined weight of herself and her baby boy. She crooned quietly, and then, she began to slowly rock back and forth in her seat. It creaked gently with every movement. Momma spoke to someone Zee couldn’t see, and then, soft, gentle music began to fill the room.
This atmosphere was so much more comfortable. All his worries and doubts were melting away as he continued to nurse, held snugly against Momma’s bosom. His belly was steadily filling with her milk, and still he drank from her, desiring the most wonderful part of his Momma in all of existence.
Time passed as Momma held him. She shifted him between each breast, letting him get his fill from either teat. Zee had no objections to this. Why would he? He was right where he wanted to be, in the arms of his eternally loving Momma. He was safe in her care. This was a truth that could not be denied.
“Good boy,” he heard her say. Her fingers went to lightly scritch Zee’s scalp, making him shudder against her. Oh, he loved this. The praise, the affection, the feeding. It was all perfect for him. “So sweet...~”
She continued to speak, but… it wasn’t in a language he knew. It was something completely unlike any other. It was impossible to discern the exact words, but her tone of voice and demeanor assured him it was more of the praise and love that he had come to enjoy. It was… actually nicer to hear her speak in that language, instead of the one he was familiar with.
When she finished, she transitioned to wordless singing. Quiet and relaxed, filling his ears with pure serenity. Hers was a voice that instantly erased whatever bad thoughts he might have, replacing it with unadulterated joy.
It went on like this for quite some time. Her breasts grew smaller, and eventually, both had run totally dry, while his belly was now totally full. Yet, Zee continued to suck, not wanting to be detached from her. He didn’t feel safe lest he was snuggled against his perfect Momma…
Time passed still. Eventually Momma finished her song. She peered at her child, smiling, and gently nudged his mouth off of her. Zee groaned, giving a little burp of contentment, causing his parent to laugh adoringly.
“You really were hungry, huh?” she cooed, rubbing his cheek with her hand. “I’ll have to make more, you know…”
“S’okay,” Zee mumbled. “Feels… feels nice…”
“I’ll bet. You tired again, sweetie?”
Zee nodded slowly. Tired didn’t quite cut it. He was lethargic, sleepy, and mildly disoriented. All he wanted to do was just sleep now, but he didn’t want Momma to leave him.
“I… I don’t wanna sleep…”
A quiet rumble emanated from her, and a flower shifted into view. The petals were closed up, before slowly beginning to open, unveiling the core held within. “I know, baby,” Momma murmured. “But naps are good. This will give you some good dreams, I promise.”
He weakly reached up to grab the vine the flower was attached to, squeezing it. A small blue cloud of spores puffed out, and he wrinkled his nose before suddenly sneezing. He heard another short laugh from Momma.
“Can I… dream about you?”
“Oh, of course. Be a good boy and take a deep breath for Momma, okay?”
“O-okay…”
The flower found its way to his face, enveloping his mouth and nose. He breathed in, and immediately, whatever was in it flooded his system. He was feeling so much heavier all of a sudden. So heavy. So… sleepy… tired… good….
His eyes fluttered close and then…
Into dreams…
Momma was with him. They were sitting on the beach he liked to visit, with the moon shining over the both of them like always.
He laid next to her, gazing up at the sky. It was tranquil and calm, like usual, but Momma’s presence made it better. They were together, and that mattered most to him.
Her form was shadowy, indistinct, save for the comforting ocean blue of her eyes that marked her as his beloved parental figure. As long as she had those eyes, he knew it’d be her, and everything was perfectly fine.
They held hands and laid together, simply enjoying the stargazing. The waves of the ocean lapped against the shore in front of them, providing calming ambiance while they took pleasure in each other’s company.
Momma turned toward him, saying something he couldn’t hear quite right, but he understood the meaning anyway. He nodded, and then, he was lifted up by her vines to lay on top of her now, head resting upon her chest.
Even though her appearance was mostly obscured, simply feeling her body against his own was enough to put him at ease. He muttered something in turn, and he wasn’t aware of what he said, but Momma’s purring told him she approved.
For the rest of their time together in the sanctuary he often retreated to, he was content to have her with him.
She had earned her place in his heart, and his dreams.
She was worth it.
Chapter 26: Maternity
Summary:
You can’t replace people. But you can take up the mantle they once held.
Zane’s relationship with Chloros is progressing fast. And though Chloros is changing to be the perfect caretaker, there’s still something nagging at him...
Content warnings: Affini body reshaping, fauxcest, nudity, offscreen sex scene
Notes:
Emotions? Check. Honest discussion between ward and warden? Check. Super hot plampt doing plampt things? Check-a-roo!
After all this time, it's finally truly 100% official - Zane accepts his place as Chloros' son, and she his mother. A boy and his plampt are truly together! All that's left is to truly flort him, but that will come later... for now, y'all get to see Chloros get quite the glowup as his Momma!
I've seen renditions of Affini with hats and shadowed faces, and adore traits like those, so I figured I'd stick that onto Chloros' new form. And not gonna lie... I flustered myself during this, eheh.
If y'all end up swooning harder for Chloros now, that means I did something right! It's very good to know~
Chapter Text
One calm evening, both Chloros and Zane were spending time together in the castle observatory, taking turns peering through the telescope and observing the countless stars and planets in the system. Chloros was telling him all about the various points of light in the vast void, informing him of their names, their histories, and how the Affini had changed them for the better when they arrived. He made sure to take plenty of notes.
One example she brought up was a planet that was close to becoming a nuclear wasteland after a devastating war between members of the dominant xenosophont species there. They had resisted, of course, but the Affini won in the end, and now, that planet was starting to recover from what would have been an apocalyptic end. Zane imagined Chloros and other Affini flying out from the dark clouds above that planet, as saviors from beyond. It was a good mental image.
Another planet, one that was mostly water and full of countless aquatic species. Some years before the Affini came, that planet suddenly had its water contaminated from an unknown source, and it was so toxic that it was rapidly making all life there begin to die out. Only the intervention of the Affini prevented their complete extinction, and now, it was a pleasant world to visit even for non-natives.
And still a third, one that was just a ball of rock, a barren moon, where no organic life was found, but there were plenty of synthetic beings there. Apparently left behind by a long-forgotten civilization, these drones were left to carry out the last orders they were ever given, which consisted of just scanning the moon they were on for any anomalies… of which none remained. This one was the easiest to deal with, as, while the drones were quick to activate security countermeasures, the Affini were just as quick to override them and help free them from their otherwise eternal orders. Now, those drones had found a new home in the Compact, serving their new owners and embracing new identities after toiling for so long.
Everywhere, in ruin.
Everywhere, in need.
Everywhere… saved by the Affini.
Well, almost everywhere. He had read about the times the Affini were too late to prevent a world or civilization from succumbing to destruction, and all they could do was keep searching for those who were still out there, and intervene before apocalypse claimed them.
If they had come faster, Mom might still be alive.
His otherwise happy mood took a turn for the depressed. Chloros’ energetic lecture on stars became deafened to him as he found himself ruminating.
Mom was gone. She couldn’t come back. The Compact could cure illness, but bringing someone back from the dead seemed beyond their abilities. Reversing mortality was simply not on the table.
There was still a hole in Zane’s heart. He wondered if it would ever be filled again. And despite loving Chloros fiercely, a part of him felt agitation at her trying to replace Mom. She said she didn’t want to replace her… but… but…
He let out a deep sigh and leaned against the telescope. He didn’t notice Chloros had stopped her speech, and so, he remained oblivious to her as dark thoughts crept in.
Would Mom be angry that she was being replaced? Would she feel like she was abandoned by her own progeny, even though Zane tried his best? Would she… would she…
Would…
…
…
...
He twigged to the fact that Chloros was hovering near him now, a hand stroking his back tenderly, while one of her vines touched his chin. “Zane, honey? Is something wrong?”
Zane turned towards her, knowing he couldn’t hide how his previously pleased expression had become more morose. “I…”
He struggled to speak, realizing he might possibly offend her. Even though he logically knew that wasn’t the case, a part of him liked to catastrophize and think of the worst.
She thankfully understood, because she said, “It’s okay, just say what’s on your mind. I will listen. I always will.”
A small weight had slid off his shoulders now. He could talk to her plainly, he knew it.
“Just… thinking about Mom,” Zane admitted, arms folded. “I know she’s gone, and that can’t be undone. And… I can’t help but think about how… how… if you had come earlier, she might still be with me.”
Chloros was quiet. She was looking at him, mask shifting as she was thinking of how to respond to this.
“It is an understandable thought process to have. For all that we can do, we are still beholden to the laws of time and distance. And, regrettably, some civilizations and species have been lost to history. All we can do is record what we can and do what we must to save those still in need of saving.”
Zane looked down. Even if she knew what it was like for him, it didn’t change how it felt… bad. “Y-you did your best, I know… and… and…”
Behind his closed mouth, he grit his teeth. That was what he always did whenever he got the sense he was going to shed tears again, just to stave it off. Even if it sometimes didn’t work, it was a reflex that had been drilled into him in response to even the most mildly emotional situations he found himself in. And he was still fragile inside despite all that Chloros had done to strengthen him.
The vine against his chin pressed against him, tilting his head up so he can look her in the leaf-shrouded eye. “Hey,” Chloros said. “Talk to me, baby. I’m here.”
“You said you wouldn’t replace Mom,” Zane replied. “You promised. But I can’t help but think about how she’d feel if she saw her son with some other woman being a mother in her place. She, she loved me deeply and raised hell to make sure I stayed safe. And… and…”
He closed his eyes. He made no sound, but small tears began to flow anyway. Zane knew he had been doing that a lot lately, still. Even with how he knew it was because of his trauma that was slowly being healed, it always made him feel weak and useless, like a man who could be taken down by a mildly stiff breeze, and he was never able to find strength on his own until Chloros came.
He expected himself to start having a fit, but just then, the peaceful aura of Chloros’ form – vines shifting subtly, a smell that put him at ease, almost imperceptible noises that took root in his brain to negate the worst of his emotions – washed over him. Made him stay mostly centered and steady. Her biorhythm, she had said. The physical characteristics of an Affini that all came together to gradually hypnotize and enthrall sophonts like him, making them more susceptible to their whims.
He knew Chloros’ biorhythm was working on him, but he didn’t care. To him, it was her pure love, her motherly aura, that was a manifestation of her desire to protect and care for him. He knew that without it, he’d completely fall to pieces. In spite of their mutual desire for him to maintain autonomy, he found himself increasingly dependent on her mere existence...
“I cannot replace your mother, that is objective fact,” Chloros said. “And I cannot return her from the dead either. But…”
Both hands moved to cup his chin, and he opened his tear-streaming eyes to look at her as she set her loving gaze upon him. Even with her eyes hidden, he could still feel her affection.
“I can continue where she left off. You still need a mother figure, Zane. I have never known her, but I can confidently say that she would prefer you had someone there to care for you and be your rock in this universe.”
Zane stared at her, staying silent, as she continued. “I still think about your words the other day, how you said you wouldn’t abandon me in my moment of weakness. And it inspires me to remain at your side in turn. Whether it be as Chloros, or as Momma, I still wish to give you the peaceful life I know you need.”
His head swam, and his heart fluttered. Chloros’ words were having an effect. He reached up to gently rest his hands on the backs of her own, while giving her a little smile.
“I’m… I’m not going to replace Midus, am I? Because I don’t want to do that to you too.”
Chloros’ warm, loving expression said it for him before she even vocalized it. “I still mourn for Midus, but having you with me… it’s helping me heal as well. You’re my greatest second chance, Zane. I have a feeling he’d want me to have you, so I can embrace this life once more.”
It was understood, then. Neither would replace each other’s loved ones. Instead, the work their lost loves had done would be continued in their own ways. The cognitive dissonance could finally be assuaged.
Zane imagined both Mom and Midus around them, their spirits looking at the pair. Mom was delighted, while Midus was nodding his head in approval. It was a comforting thing to imagine.
“Then… what does that make us now?” Zane asked quietly. “Does that mean we’d… we’d officially be…”
“Mother and son?” Chloros finished for him. “Do you want that?”
The question carried a heavy weight. It was a simple yes/no question, but whatever answer he gave, it would not be able to be taken back. A huge decision that he wasn’t sure he was ready for…
Unless…
“W-would that make me your… your floret?” he asked with hesitation.
Chloros shook her mask slowly. “No. Not yet at least. I am saving that, and your implantation, for when you feel ready to confront your suppressed memories. Until then, we can simply extend your wardship for as long as needed. Otherwise, there’s nothing stopping us from being mother and son. I enjoy having you in my life, Zane. And I would be honored to be your new mother. Would you be honored to be my new son, too?”
“Would I still have to call you Chloros, or…”
“You can call me whatever you like, sweetie.”
With this information in mind, Zane’s answer was fast. Automatic. Reflexive. Coming out of his mouth with no hesitation whatsoever.
“Yes, yes, yes, I want to be your son, Momma, I want this. I want you. I need you.”
“That’s exactly the answer I wanted to hear, my child.~”
She pulled him against her, catching him in a firm smooch. Tongue delving into his mouth. Vines ensnaring him and pulling him against her body.
Zane knew tonight was going to be incredibly passionate now that their relationship was solidified. And it was only going to get better from there…
The next day, shortly after lunch...
“I think it’s time for a change,” Chloros announced while looking at herself in the newly-installed massive mirror in their shared bedroom.
Zane glanced up from his pad while on the bed, having been watching a video while hugging his shark plushie in his pajamas again. He had been so engrossed in what he was watching – a tutorial from a floret who specialized in caring for plush toys on how to stitch them back up if they took any damage – that he was oblivious to what she was up to.
“Come again?” he asked.
Chloros turned her head to address him, some of her vines waving around. “If I’m going to be your new Momma,” she answered, “then I think it’s only right that I adapt myself to you better.”
That made Zane infinitely curious. Giving his plush a squeeze, he paused his video before sitting up on the bed, observing her properly now. “Adapt how, exactly?”
She turned around, and there was… quite a devilish smirk on her mask. One that made his heart jump. In a good way, at that. “I will be honest, honey. I’ve been looking at your overnet history. Specifically, all your florn searches.”
Chloros’ son blushed bright pink at such a statement. He had kind of known about that already, how he didn’t have much privacy from his warden, but to hear her blatantly state it to his face made him exceptionally flustered. He blinked his eyes, stammering, “Y-y-you were?”
“Of course. You remember what I said earlier? About how I know what you crave?”
Zane blushed deeper. Oh, he couldn’t forget that. It felt so long ago, and yet, he remembered it very clearly. Chloros’ tongue delving into his mouth, her vines around him, squeezing and groping him, her lurid voice compelling him to climax…
It had happened again last night. Chloros had been all too eager to bring him to a blissful orgasm after he officially accepted her as Momma. It was just as good as before, if not moreso…
“I… I remember,” Zane said shakily. “I-I guess I… forgot?”
Chloros chuckled darkly, the sound sending a little jolt up his spine and through his nerves. “Easy to forget when Momma’s loving you so intensely.~”
She straightened her posture. “Now, as a warning… some sophonts become distressed upon witnessing an Affini drop their form and become amorphous. I’d rather not scare you while I adjust myself, so if you want…”
Zane shook his head and beat her to the end of that sentence. “No, I won’t look away. If you’re gonna be my perfect match… I want to see you, Momma. All of you.”
What came next was a sound that could only be described as guttural. Primal. Hungry. It was a sharp contrast from the soothing sounds she usually made, so when it crashed against his ears, it instantly told him the following:
You’re not getting away from Momma.
“Such a brave baby boy you are. Then, by all means… enjoy the show.~”
What happened next was a sight to behold.
Chloros’ terranoid shape completely disappeared. In her place, a storm of vines, roots, greenery, and other plant life manifested. Twisting, contorting, tumbling over itself. There were no discernible features that made it clear it was his Momma. She was gone, and the truth was revealed.
Affini assumed body shapes mimicking those of their charges to better accommodate them. Should the need arise, they would discard these forms to unveil their true natures. Chloros was doing this before him, exposing who she was without having to maintain her previous form.
On some level, Zane recognized it was terrifying to see. If Chloros were some kind of mammal, this would look more like a prime example of transformation horror, blood and flesh and organs ripping themselves apart and putting themselves back together. But her being Affini meant all he saw was oddly alluring plant life. It meant he saw only her.
The vines and wood of Chloros’ body, wildly darting around, a flurry of green and blue, made him momentarily wonder if she would lose control. But he knew she wouldn’t. She was doing this purposefully. She was totally in control and would never lose it.
As she continued to transform, he caught glimpses of a strange shape in the middle of it all. It was long, large, and had the silhouette of a kidney bean, both ends slightly bent toward each other. Glowing bright-blue teal, almost too brightly to look at dead-on, but her vines whipping around prevented him from being able to do so. It made him think of a body pillow for some reason.
And in spite of how chaotic it all looked… it was controlled. Nothing smacked against the walls or accidentally extended towards him while in the process of transformation. Chloros, even while embracing change, still had resolve and restraint.
After a full thirty seconds of wild, intense flailing and shifting, Chloros finally settled on her new, improved form. And Zane had to do a double take when she stood up all the way, peering at him.
She was gorgeous.
She stood at around the same height as before, and her overall color palette of green, blue, and teal remained. Everything else, though? It was different.
Atop her head, a large sun hat-like structure had formed, with a very wide brim that reached far enough to meet her shoulders. Her antennae sprouted from above the brim, colorful and vivid, and longer than before. The pauldrons on her shoulders were gone, and in fact, all of the wooden portions of her body had been removed. Did she store them inside of her, or were they absorbed and turned into something else? Either way, what constituted more solid, armored parts were gone, making her completely composed of vines.
Her face… was not there. Or rather, it was, but somehow completely obscured. Even though her new sun hat provided some shadow, it was if she somehow purposely hid her face, leaving just a blank, dark space where it was. The only features remaining were her eyes, the ones he recognized, that seemed to shine brighter. Of course, leaf-like shapes kept them hidden so she wouldn’t accidentally hypnotize him. Come to think of it, she had more than two now… there were at least three more, all centered on her forehead. Two were at diagonal angles, leading up to one that was horizontal, like the typical “third eye” he had seen elsewhere. Except she had five. These were smaller, and not as bright, so he could look at her without risking random hypnosis.
Speaking of eyes, Zane moved his own downward, and… oh gosh. Chloros seriously thickened up, both up top, and down below. The modest bust she had shown the other day had grown several cup sizes, each one bigger than his head, and still holding faintly glowing fluid inside. Large, thick nipples, sporting a vibrant teal hue to them, were visible for a brief moment, before being hidden as two thick coverings formed around them, looking similar to a bikini top. They held her chest in place, even with its massive size. Her midriff had been padded out significantly, both in front and on the sides, giving her a much softer, larger tummy, and more obvious love-handles. He felt the distinct urge to grab and squeeze...
Her legs were thicker, sporting thighs that looked deliciously plump and soft. They were so large that her thigh gap was completely gone, and her hips were so wide as to go past her shoulders. And… between her legs… was there a…
He couldn’t confirm what her genitals looked like (if she even had any), because a leafy skirt, like a sarong, began to grow from her waist and slide around her lower body. Layers upon layers of foliage spread downward, obfuscating her nether region, and continuing south before reaching her ankles. When it was finished, it left one large thigh exposed, letting her “show some leg” as it were.
And when it was finally complete, the flowers associated with her started to sprout all over. More variety, more of it all over her. They were fashioned like rings, one around her neck, another around her hips. Several more wrapped around her wrists and ankles, and on her fingers, glimmering nails rested on the tips.
Chloros… no. Momma had changed. She was fuller, bigger, warmer… prettier. More womanly. More motherly.
More Momma.
“That… feels… much better,” Momma said finally. She did a rather terran-like gesture of lifting her arms and stretching them along with her shoulders and back. Doing so caused her heaving chest to bounce and jiggle, and Zane swore he heard it sloshing from the motions. “Ooh… I haven’t changed myself this radically since my seventh Bloom! Feels good.~”
She wasn’t using her eyes on Zane, but he was still hypnotized in a way regardless. The way her body jiggled with every movement, how horizontally large she had become, her softness increasing by a factor of 1,000…
Needless to say, Zane’s blood was up. And his heart was racing. His face was warm, too.
Momma’s shadowed face was focused on him now, and though he could no longer see her mouth, she still possessed her tongue. He knew this, because he saw it snake out of the bottom half of her face, extending all the way down to her chest… and drooling clear blue fluid. And even with her hidden mouth open, Momma continued to speak, in the voice he had come to love, but with a more powerful, dominant, sweet edge.
“Enamored, are we?”
“Y-y-y-y-y-yes, oh stars…”
“Then I’m keeping this.”
He realized too late that he was squeezing his shark plushie very tightly. Momma noticed, and when she continued, he swore she was smirking. “Do you want to feel Momma’s new body, honey?”
“Yes!” Zane’s mouth blurted out before his brain could catch up.
She moved quickly, then, setting herself upon him without hesitation. The bed did not creak under her weight as she promptly pinned him in place, her size and girth ensuring he could not escape. Two vines grabbed his wrists and forced them onto the bed, while his plushie was pushed to the side.
Her newly-formed trio of eyes, having a striking gleam in them, pierced through his very being as she loomed over him. A dark, satisfied chuckle left her unseen lips, and her tongue slithered over to brush against his cheek, while her massive chest effectively buried his entire torso.
“You and I are going to get very acquainted, my child...~”
For a while, Zane held on tight as Momma gave him the deep loving only a newly transformed Affini mother could give to her son.
And his moans and screams of ecstasy cemented their relationship going forward.
Chapter 27: Broken
Summary:
Only you can make a difference, darlin’, but always...
Axton’s tormented past still has its hooks deep in his psyche. Tonight, it threatens to eat him alive.
Content warnings: Intense nightmare and gruesome imagery, severe self-loathing
Notes:
Time to be sad again! And also SCARY! Because what better way to make your blorbos' trauma be felt properly than a good old-fashioned nightmare sequence?
While Zane's having the time of his life with Chloros, Axton is completely FUCKED in the head. And he gets a very painful lesson in why you have to keep taking your meds instead of forgetting them. Lucky it's not real... even if it feels like it is.
Remember Zane's nightmare in Chapter 9? Yeah, this is basically like that, but more vivid and terrifying. Read the content warnings, please!
Chapter Text
Axton was back home.
But it wasn’t home. It couldn’t be. It looked the same as he left it, as worn down and decrepit as ever, ever since Dad lost his mind. Something was off, though. It was… indistinct. Dark. Shadowy. All the color was gone. Like he had entered a blurry, greyscale photograph. Everything had a fuzzy edge to it.
There was only the sound of his breathing as he stood there, alongside distant creaking of the house around him. He was in the kitchen, he realized. It was a battered mess, just like on the night of Dad’s death. Fragments of dishes and cups lay on the counter and floor, and nearby, a puddle of crimson fluid… the only source of color in this realm. It collected around where Dad’s body fell, but the man himself wasn’t there.
Instead, Axton looked up, and saw… Dad. At the kitchen sink. Whistling to himself as he was washing something. At least, he thought it was Dad – his form was wreathed in black, with many details about him completely hidden. At first, Axton didn’t recognize him, but the way he stood, and his overall silhouette, helped clue him in.
“Dad?”
Axton blinked as heard his own voice. It sounded younger now. Like how he was when he was 15. But that wasn’t right, Dad was still obviously alive back then. How was…
The specter that was Dad stopped whistling. It turned around… and Axton wished it hadn’t.
He looked how he did shortly after his demise. Even with his body hidden in shadow, the kitchen knife that had pierced his heart was still there, buried in his chest. It gleamed, with his blood dripping off the blade, adding a macabre edge to an already sinister appearance. Axton saw that the only facial feature this entity had left were a pair of eyes, which were bright, piercing white. Otherwise, the man’s face was hidden.
“Ah. There’s my weakling of a son.”
Oh, stars, it had his voice. And it was substantially more menacing. Louder, echoing, ethereal. Dread welled in Axton’s stomach, and he reflexively took a step back.
“This… this isn’t right,” Axton said. “You’re dead.”
“Yes, I am. Thank you for the observation, Captain Simpleton.”
Axton growled, his hands balling into fists. Whoever this phantom wearing Dad’s form was, it had his mannerisms down pat.
“You’re dead! I saw your corpse!” Axton snapped, trying to put on a defiant front. “How are you-”
“Does it really matter?” Dad was as sardonic and biting as usual, and the way the sides of his face widened made Axton imagine he was grinning. “I’m still here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Axton couldn’t stop himself from trembling. This was bad. Dad was here and likely to try and kill him, and he had nowhere to run, nothing to defend himself with. His heart slammed in his chest as fear made his blood run cold.
Dad followed up with a low, mocking laugh. “Oh, Axton… here’s the thing.” Axton’s father took a step towards him, beginning to move past the counter. “Just because I’m dead doesn’t mean you can get away from me. I put you into this world, and one day, I’ll take you out of it.”
Axton backpedaled another step. Dad came forward another. Back for Axton. Forward for Dad. Back. Forward. Back. Forward.
“You’re not real, this isn’t real! This… is a dream! Yeah, a dream! I just gotta wake up!”
“Then do it already. Or are you too weak to even free yourself from a nightmare? Stars, you’re a complete waste.”
“Fuck you.” Axton quickly realized he was about to bump into a wall behind him, and another jolt of panic followed. “You can’t hurt me. You’re-”
“Shut up.”
Axton swore his heart almost leapt out of his throat at that command. He felt so cold… so cold… why was he freezing? It never got too cold on Thypso, it only got mildly cool in the months outside of summer. Yet, the kitchen might as well have been the heart of a glacier.
Dad lifted a shadow-clad arm, wrapping a hand around the handle of the knife in his chest. He pulled, making no sound, as it slid free of the stab wound…
And a geyser of blood, red and visceral, gushed from the space the knife once occupied. Dad’s specter bled just like the man did in life, and it got everywhere, dribbling over Dad’s chest and stomach…
And splattering over Axton. He yelled in disgust, hands held up to try and divert the mess, to no avail. Dad’s boiling, sizzling blood painted him with its gory spray, causing his stomach to roil in disgust and terror. He swore it was burning his exposed flesh.
“You know, neither of us still know who killed me,” Dad said casually, as if he hadn’t just taken a blade out of his own chest. “And frankly, it doesn’t matter. I should have done this a long time ago.”
The kitchen knife, still drenched in crimson, gleamed as it reflected an unseen light. Axton went rigid as he recognized what was imminent.
“You… you wouldn’t,” Axton said weakly.
“I would. And I will. I’m gonna enjoy this…”
A flash of bright, needle-like teeth in Dad’s mouth was all Axton had to warn him of what was to come, before an ear-splitting roar assaulted him. And then Dad raised the knife, charging at him with murderous intent.
Axton shrieked as the knife plunged into his heart and agony sliced through his soul and
He was elsewhere. 23, now. Older, again.
Dad wasn’t here anymore. Instead, he was in the attic. Still depressingly dark and grey, with an unearthly atmosphere. Axton grabbed at himself, and sagged in relief, finding that there was no knife in his own chest, but the pain had been very real...
He remembered waking up here after Dad’s murder, seeing strangers crowd around him, helping him to his feet. He had been severely disoriented then, and it took effort on both his part and theirs to finally become conscious enough to take notice of the aftermath.
But he was alone. And there, in the spot where he woke up in…
Was Mom. Slumped against the wall, a shadowy figure in her shape, blank white eyes that glowed. Her mouth open in a silent scream, light flowing from it.
What was she doing here? She and Zane had already left. Did she come back for him? Was she hurt? Did Dad hurt her again? He went to approach her.
Then her head jerked up with a sickening cracking noise, facing him directly, piercing light shining through her eyes and mouth. Right away, he knew something was wrong. Especially with how her face didn’t move as she spoke.
“WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?”
Loud. Ear-piercing. Soul-breaking. It nearly made his heart stop. Terror was rising, laying claim to his mind. Overwhelming shame had found its mark, its talons digging into his brain.
He swallowed, trembling, shaking like a leaf. “M… Mom, I… I didn’t…”
“YES YOU DID. YOU LEFT ME. YOU LEFT YOUR BROTHER. YOU LEFT US.”
This wasn’t right. She… she wasn’t this accusatory. It was so wrong, to hear her hit him with words that cut clean through him. If words could break bones, his skeleton would have shattered.
Axton’s breath hitched as he struggled to respond. “I couldn’t… I didn’t know where you went, I… I…”
The voice leaving her gaping mouth continued. “YOU KNEW. BUT YOU STAYED BEHIND. YOU COULD HAVE FOLLOWED BUT YOU DIDN’T. WHY?”
Shaking. Shaking so much. Struggling to not fall down. His fortitude was wilting under her verbal assault, and it was so loud. Please make it stop…
“I-I-”
He fell to his knees, legs giving out. Mom was instantly upon him, that horrible parody of her bringing her face close to his. The lights from her eyes and mouth were so bright, so blinding, so searing. Clawed hands clamped onto his shoulders, the sharp edges digging into his flesh, sending agony through him. He gasped.
“Mom, please-”
“YOU. LEFT. US.”
Every word was like an invisible blade rammed into him, sapping him of strength. Making him bleed under the guilt. He whimpered, reflexively inching away.
Everything still felt so cold. Frigid. Any warmth the house still had was completely gone, replaced by the deepest, darkest chill that threatened to turn him into solid ice. This wasn’t a home anymore. It was just a grave.
And Mom was close to burying him in it.
“Mom, I, I tried, please-”
“YOU LEFT ME TO DIE!!!”
She screamed at him. And screamed. And SCREAMED. Everything shook and shuddered as she just never stopped screaming, louder and louder and ear piercingly loud, and under it all, Axton just barely registered he was screaming too.
Her mouth opened wider, revealing blood-soaked fangs, countless rows of them inside. Her jaw unhinged like a snake. She lurched towards him
And then he was somewhere else again. Somewhere… outside of the house. But still shrouded in darkness. But just enough to make it all out…
The park. Near the school that they both went to. He recalled the slides, the swings, the merry-go-round wheel, they were all here. But nobody was present. It was empty and bereft of life. Even the nearby trees and grass looked dead, as if nobody had been maintaining it.
So quiet, now. Axton stood up, wrapping his arms around himself as a cold wind blew over him. Stars, it was still so fucking freezing. And now he was certain that the whole of Thypso was cold, not just the house.
He looked over himself, and familiarity came to him. He was 32 again. He reached to touch his face, and felt the dark blonde facial hair that defined his chin and mouth. He was an adult again… and yet…
The shrill creaking of metal made him jump, and he scrambled to his feet. He looked around, antsy over not being able to pin the source of the sound down.
And then he saw him.
Zane.
In the swing set.
Slowly moving forward and back. Once more, his figure was hidden in black, with only twin spheres of searing light on his face. Yet Axton knew it was him. It was unmistakable.
Zane stared at him with eyes that burned. Axton stared back, quaking where he stood. His little brother, the one he’s been searching for, was here… and Zane was radiating anger. Rage. Fury.
And at the center of it.
Disappointment.
“You hurt me, Ax.” Zane’s voice, distorted and echoing, filled the air. It was him, but it wasn’t. The dissonance was immense and Axton feared it. “Why are you still looking for me? You know how much I fucking hate you.”
“Z-Zane, wait,” Axton pleaded, looking at the manifestation of his brother. “I didn’t mean to-”
“Fuck you.”
Those two words sent a tremor through Axton’s body, and his legs began to shake, as Zane said, “Your intent means jack shit. You hurt me, and you were the catalyst for me leaving. And now, without you, Mom’s dead. You could have helped her, helped us. But now she’s gone, and I likely am too. This quest of yours is all for nothing.”
“That’s… that’s not true!” Axton cried. “You’re out there, I know you are! I just gotta keep looking!”
“And you’re turning to the weeds for help? The weeds that want to make you a mindless toy?”
As Zane continued to taunt him, something slithered around Axton’s legs. He looked down, and saw… dark tendrils. Murky, pitch black, coiling around him. Yelling in surprise, Axton tried to free himself, grabbing the tentacles. He managed to pull them off, but his efforts were negated when more suddenly manifested and wrapped tightly around him. Tight enough to hurt. He snarled in pain, especially as the ones he was grabbing at burned his hands.
“I knew it. I wasn’t the weakest one. You were. You were the weakest.” Zane continued to deliver biting commentary as he slowly got off of the swing set, and… his legs melted into amorphous shadow as he approached. “Dad was right. You’re a weakling. Just like me.”
“No! Stop it! STOP IT!” Axton screamed. The shadows encroached, and the world around him began to twist. Distort. It was… falling apart. The whole world coming down. “PLEASE! I’M SORRY!”
Zane barked a laugh, uncaring about his brother’s plight. “Ha! No way. This time, I’m gonna make sure you feel my pain.”
Zane’s left arm was raised, and Axton saw, in place of a hand… was some sort of massive blade. One that shimmered in the gloom. One that was shaking from barely restrained bloodlust. The right arm, meanwhile, terminated in enormous, shining claws. Built to eviscerate and mangle.
Axton’s struggling continued, even as more and more of him was held in place by shadows. His arms were snared, and forced apart, leaving his torso bare to Zane.
“Suffer.”
The claws rammed themselves into Axton’s stomach, and agony bloomed outward. He roared in painful anguish, Zane’s claws piercing through his flesh and into his guts. Blood gushed out around the wound, spilling freely as Zane articulated his digits, shredding Axton’s intestines.
It hurt. It hurt so much.
Especially when Zane’s blade hand moved to press under his chin, almost like the barrel of a gun. Axton writhed in torment, his life ebbing away, as Zane’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Zane’s face was split by a massive, sharp grin that reached all the way up to his temples.
“DIE.”
The blade shot upward. Impaling Axton through the jaw, spearing through the roof of his mouth, gouging out his left eye. Stabbing right into his brain.
An explosion
combustion
agony
fading
pain
im sorry
sorry
sorry
deserve
this
pain
…
…
…
where
where was he
is he alive
is he dead
too bright too many voices
he failed he failed he failed
not safe not safe not safe
and
…
…
…
Suddenly everything stabilized and he was able to return to the waking world properly. Axton realized he was flailing his limbs, or trying to, before they drooped, as if someone attached lead weights to his arms and legs.
He was in the corner of his bedroom. At night. People were here.
Amanda. Maya. Kendra.
And…
Mithrax. Even the mushroom man.
Axton couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think. He only whimpered as he slowly twigged to the fact that they were speaking to him, all of them looking worried.
Everything in color. No more dark, depressing shadows.
Safe.
Axton couldn’t help but sob. He knew he looked so pathetic, so weak before them. He tried to tell them to go away, but his voice refused to work as liquid sorrow trailed down his cheeks.
Finally, he was able to register their words.
“He’s coming around,” he heard Mithrax say. The mushroom man was closest, crouched in front of him, and Axton saw a vine withdraw from him, cluing him into the fact that Mithrax had dosed him with something. He didn’t even feel it… though he did feel some vines wiping his tears away. “Mister Jakobson, you’re okay now. It’s over.”
Axton blinked his eyes, his breath coming out in short, sharp spurts, though it was winding down along with his heart. He looked up at Mithrax, and found himself giving the most pitiful whimper.
“I… I’m… here,” he said, straining to speak. “Okay…”
“That’s very good, little one. Just relax. Nothing can hurt you now.” He saw Mithrax turn his head to address his crewmates. “Do any of you know what brought this on?”
Amanda behind him spoke up, “I think he forgot to take his Z before bed. I came in when he started screaming, and saw that the Z pill next to his water glass was still there.”
Axton trembled slightly. Stars, missing just one pill was enough to bring the terror back…
“Has he usually missed a dose so far?” Mithrax asked of his crew.
“Don’t think so,” Kendra said. “He’s been keeping up with it ever since he got here.”
“Hm.” The fungal father returned to Axton, looking at him with concern in his green, six-eyed gaze. “This is concerning. I will have to discuss with Miss Clipse about what to do.”
“N-no, I’m… it’s only… the one time,” Axton protested, shaking his head. “Just… shit…”
“Language, petal,” Mithrax chided lightly. One mushroom-clad hand went to gently stroke the Hyperion captain’s hair, and instead of inching back, Axton discovered he was leaning into it. For stability? Because it felt good? Some combination. “You seem fine for now, but I will still have to bring this up to your therapist. For tonight, I suggest you share a bed with one of your crewmates, and take your Z like normal.”
Axton wanted to object, to tell him to fuck off, he was a big boy. But after having such crushing guilt over his own failures manifest like that, he genuinely feared what would happen if allowed to sleep alone. He just stared mutely at the Affini…
“I’ll share his bed for the night,” Amanda said. His pilot came closer now, kneeling next to Mithrax. She must have been sleeping herself when it started, because he saw she was wearing her night clothes, a simple tank top and shorts. “Don’t worry, Ax, I’m not letting you go it alone. We’re in this together, remember?”
Her soft hand was on his shoulder now. Axton looked at her through grief-stricken eyes, and nodded, afraid of saying anything else.
Mithrax began to withdraw, standing up to his full height and towering over the both of them. “That’s very good, Amanda. You have my overnet handle, so let me know when he gets back to sleep, alright?”
“You got it, Mithrax.”
“Excellent.” Mithrax gave Axton a smile and another pat on the head with a vine. “I will be heading back to my hab now and let Miss Clipse know what happened. Your crew should take good care of you, as will the rest of the Fortitude.”
“F… fine…”
An approving growl left Mithrax’s chest, and he nodded at Amanda. Then he began to make his exit, striding out of the room… ducking under the terran-sized doorway on his way out.
The next half hour was a blur. The girls were fussing over him, making sure he was okay, and only when Maya and Kendra left for their own rooms did Axton finally feel himself start to calm down. He was back in bed, this time with Amanda joining him.
“Here,” she said, holding the Z pill for him, and the glass of water. Axton said nothing, only putting the pill into his mouth and sipping his drink, then setting the cup back down. “That should do it.”
“...yeah,” Axton murmured, looking away.
He felt her arms around him, and her head on his shoulder. He expected her to ask about that horrid nightmare, but no, she just stayed there, offering her comfort and her warmth.
The two of them sunk under the covers, with Axton’s face nuzzled into her chest. The Z kicked in quickly, and he was out like a light.
This time, no dreams, and no pain.
Just Amanda.
Safe again.
Chapter 28: Wherever We Are Now
Summary:
Floating somewhere, without any aim, but at least we’re together.
Axton’s crew know how much pain he’s going through. This time, they’re eager to make it subside, at least for a while.
Content warnings: Foreplay, offscreen foursome near end
Notes:
Axxy deserves good things! And here, he gets them. Three good things, specifically. Turns out, when you've been running a space-faring crew for several years, things are certain to develop. And the Compact allows them to bloom! ... somewhat literally.
This was a good breather from last chapter, as Axton finally gets some measure of a break, while the girls get some characterization. I've been meaning to delve into them more, and next chapter will give them more of a focus, with Maya taking the spotlight. I hope y'all enjoy them as much as I do!
I know Troy will have to get some focus again, but that's for later. For now, have some Captain lovin'!
Chapter Text
Amanda Smith, pilot of the Hyperion, held her captain’s hand gently as she sipped her tea.
The two of them were in the living room of their hab unit, relaxing in each other’s presence. He had returned from his therapy session for the day, and though he was irritated about it, Amanda knew it was only because he was still frazzled from not only his recent nightmare, but having to recount to it to his therapist too. She knew she’d be in a similar state if she was the one needing therapy, not him. Right now, the two were just sitting together on the couch, enjoying a quiet moment, and she could tell it was just what he needed as he leaned against her while staring at the blank display screen before them.
She was well aware that the mission to find Zane was getting stalled. She shared in his frustration over not having information about the captain’s brother yet, even with the awesome might of the Compact that was overseeing them now. She wondered if the Affini were delaying finding him, or even lying about not having found him yet. No matter what the answer was, it was out of their hands. All the Hyperion crew could do was stick together and ride it out until the end.
It was much easier to do that now. They had a guaranteed source of food, a very nice place to stay, and though the Affini around them were rather pushy about taking care of them, Amanda got the sense that it wasn’t out of malice.
She knew about the propaganda the Accord tried to use to convince terrans across the galaxy to stand together. And it was laughably bad, in her opinion. It always was. At least, for someone like her who knew better than to take fascist ad copy at face value.
Still, she had her fears about the Affini. Aliens that had come to take over and would not take no for an answer tended to tap into the primal fear of losing yourself under their regime. And though she was aware of their ostensible desire to protect and heal those in their care, she was still on guard in case it all turned out to be a trick.
Not too on guard, though. Just enough to remain wary, while accepting help as needed. And thankfully, of the Affini she knew so far, Mithrax at least was one who did his best to help ease them into the Compact as smoothly as possible. It helped that he was a nice guy too.
Axton was nice in his own way. Sometimes gruff, sometimes aggressive. But he was a born leader who did everything he could to take care of his crew and see their needs were met, even in the terrible hellhole that was the Accord. And he was willing to be vulnerable around her to some degree, given she was the first person he hired for this job.
She remembered when they first met. She had been dealing with some blowhard client who was refusing to pay her for a shipment, supposedly because it had been damaged on arrival, but she knew it was perfectly intact. Yet the idiot kept refusing to pay, and it wasn’t until a stranger arrived and spoke to the idiot out of earshot that the guy left with his package… and the stranger approached her with money in hand for her. She had expected violence to happen, but no, nothing, just one man convincing another to pay with no fuss at all.
He had introduced himself as a captain in need of a pilot, and from there, the two joined arms in this quest to find his brother. Their engineer, Maya McHearth, was next. The pair found her working hard on a ship engine that looked battered and wrecked, and yet, it was working perfectly fine once she was done. Right then and there, Axton brought her onboard, realizing her skills in making even complete wrecks work like they were fresh off the assembly line. She was all too happy to join up, wanting some purpose in her life beyond the horizon of Thypso.
Kendra Wong came afterward. Every good star-faring crew needed a medic, and Kendra was one such individual. They had bumped into her at a field hospital on some other planet, with Axton having been injured after a fight with some Accord law enforcement. The crew managed to get away, but though Amanda and Maya only got minimal injuries, Axton had been severely beaten up to the point that he needed help. They came to Kendra, and she had him fixed up and back on his feet in record time. Axton was so impressed that he offered her to join the crew, and they’ve been together ever since.
Finally, Troy Carver. Their muscle and weapons expert. He had been encountered in a bar elsewhere when the crew went out for drinks. Both he and Axton had gotten rather intoxicated, and for some reason – Amanda vaguely remembered it having to do with Axton saying Troy’s shirt looked dumb – the two got into a massive brawl, beating the stuffing out of each other. They had been kicked out for it, with Troy having been banned for doing this so often… but after sobering up, Axton saw potential in his ability to fight, and he turned out to be pretty good with securing weapons and smuggling them into places. So he had joined the team.
A good-sized crew that had been together for several years. Over the course of this journey, they went from simply allies, to friends, to fire-forged companions who’d take a bullet for each other, and get back up to take another. And though they occasionally grated against each other, particularly with Troy, in the end their bonds were too ingrained to break easily. Nothing could separate this crew for long.
Amanda was thankful to have met someone like Axton. And even more thankful he was willing to open his heart to her as more than just her Captain, her friend…
Something more, maybe. If he wanted to progress that far.
She heard Axton let out a calm sigh, and she glanced at him. “Hey, Ax,” she said softly. “Doing okay?”
“Mm.” His eyes were half-lidded. “Kinda better. But still shitty. You know?”
She set her cup of tea down on the coffee table in front of them, having drained most of it. The compiler provided her with the necessary ingredients to brew tea for both of them to enjoy, and he had already consumed his first. A peppery blend that her father liked to make when he was still on this mortal plane, and it was a recipe she kept with her all these years. It was something she held onto, just to make sure his memory wouldn’t fade. And replicating it here kept it alive. Sharing it with Axton was even better.
“Yeah, I do.” Another light squeeze of his hand. Their fingers were locked together, and it had made her turn pink-faced, but she hadn’t rejected him. She had been wanting this herself, and frankly, if he desired it, then she would allow it. “Just gotta stay on your meds and it’ll be okay. I can remind you so you don’t miss’em.”
“Yeah… hey, when did you say Maya and Kendra would be coming back?”
Ah, right. Those two had decided to go out grocery shopping, since apparently there were places for that on the Fortitude. It confused her, since the compiler could create pretty much anything they wanted, but Maya had insisted on getting only the freshest, best tasting stuff over there. Kendra volunteered to go with her, if only so she wasn’t alone while the crew were still getting their bearings. And of course, they had Mithrax on call if something came up. That walking mushroom blanket was so very helpful.
“Let me check,” Amanda said, and pulled her pad onto her lap. Typing one handed was difficult, but she was willing to do it so she could keep holding her Captain.
›AceDefiant: hey guys, hows it going over there?
›WenchOfWrenches: amanda oms you should see this place!!! its got so much good stuff I could die!!!!
›WongNumber: what she means is, it’s going alright
›WongNumber: we should be back in about half an hour… if I can get maya to stop fangirling over the pasta
›WenchOfWrenches: cant wait to add them to dinner, it’s gonna be great!!!! <3333
›WongNumber: anyway, how’s the captain?
Amanda turned to look at him. His eyes were closed now, and though he hadn’t fallen asleep, she didn’t want to disturb him by making him move. She kept her voice low as she said, “Half an hour.”
“Good. More time for us.”
Oh. He liked her, didn’t he? That made her feel nice. Amanda wanted to kiss him on the cheek, and only just held herself back. No need to do something dumb and ruin the vibe. Right now, just sitting here was something both of them could use.
She turned back to her pad.
›AceDefiant: hes doing just fine, we’re just hanging out. hes still a bit rattled from last night and today. tea is helping. :tea:
›WongNumber: yeah, figured
›WongNumber: we’ll let you know when we’re on our way back
›WenchOfWrenches: no way! oms so many potatoes my heart
›WongNumber: maya please wait for me before you pull everything into your basket :weary:
›AceDefiant: lmro alright, take your time, we still got a while before dinner!
Oh, there was that profanity filter again. She had written “lmao”, but got something else the instant she sent it through. Did it mean “laughing my roots off”? She had heard “roots” being used as a substitute for “ass”, which made some sort of sense… even if it made her feel very silly. She’d have to ask Mithrax if that was really required.
For the next half hour, she simply sat there, content to chill out with her Captain. She was silent. So was he. It was… refreshingly domestic. Her life after joining the crew had been one adventure after another, and though being forced to slow down for longer than a few days wasn’t something she was used to, it did bring a sense of stability in her life.
Maybe that was all the crew needed in the end. Stability. The universe was a really screwed-up place, and the Terran Accord was a violent, chaotic mess that was doomed to peter out under its own top-heavy weight at some stage. The Affini promised stability and safety, at the cost of liberty.
At least they were relatively nice about it. If nothing else, the damage to her heart was being undone, and she was feeling a lot better. Kendra could walk more easily now, and Maya was recovering from her alcoholism. And from what Mithrax had been sharing with them, Troy’s risk of exhausting himself was becoming less and less frequent over time.
The Affini really could help them. She couldn’t deny that.
“Hey,” Axton murmured, eyes still closed. “What did Maya say she wanted to make again…?”
Amanda turned to him, smiling. “Ah, I think it was ribs with mac n’ cheese, grilled asparagus, and coleslaw. Her mom’s recipe, again. She felt like making a big feast.”
“Sounds pretty good.” Axton gave another sigh. “And, uh, I think Kendra wanted to do a movie afterward?”
“That’s right. She wanted to queue up something called, uh… The Long Walk?” A more laid-back flick about a dragon going on a fantasy-style road trip with their companions to a molten mountain. “Yeah, think that’s it.”
“I’m down for it.”
More comfortable silence. For about ten minutes, they remained together, as they waited for Maya and Kendra to return.
It was nice.
Dinner was had, and Amanda was left incredibly satisfied.
Maya was an excellent cook, and it showed. She made enough food to satisfy everyone, and the gang had gotten their fill. And it was so delicious that Amanda had almost requested her to make seconds, but she knew her stomach could only handle so much.
She made sure to praise Maya for it, and their engineer was absolutely delighted by all the positive feedback. She had also come to find some attraction to Maya, especially when she smiled. Such a gorgeous, radiant smile…
“Hey, Fortitude to Amanda,” the glasses-wearing medic said, gently nudging their pilot. “Movie’s about to start.”
Oh, right. She shook her head, chuckling, and adjusted to scoot closer to Axton while on the folded-out couch bed. “Sorry, bit distracted.”
“Obviously,” Kendra snarked, smirking at her.
With it being a relaxing night, everyone had opted to wear their nightwear. Amanda had her tank and her sweatpants on, while Kendra had a purple robe that hugged her figure. And Maya? She had the cutest pajamas ever, colored pink with black sheep designs all over. Axton opted for something more plain, just a black t-shirt and boxers.
Despite it having been crammed inside of a piece of furniture, the mattress unfolded to be very large and soft to lay on, enough that if it hadn’t been attached to the couch, Amanda wouldn’t have known the difference. Along with the numerous pillows and blankets available, they could all rest comfortably together and not have to fight over space.
Though, a lot of that space was about to go unused.
When Axton had left to use the bathroom earlier, she had brought the girls up to speed on her plan to help their captain feel better during the movie. When Maya heard it, she could barely contain her flustered excitement, while Kendra only chuckled and remarked that she should have expected something like this to be in the works. As it turned out, all three of them had been feeling things for their captain over the past few years. And whether it was something in all the food they had, or just being here on the Fortitude, one thing was clear.
They all wanted to get closer with him. Amanda especially.
And so, during a quiet moment in the movie, they all put their plan into action. Axton had returned, and was resting with his back against several pillows, sitting up. Amanda moved first, positioning herslf so she could sit on his left. She gently wrapped her arms around him, nuzzling her cheek against his. Axton glanced at her, but didn’t comment.
Kendra followed up. She took up Axton’s right, taking hold of his arm there and resting her head on his shoulder. Axton was becoming more aware now, and though he didn’t object, he was very clearly confused. “Uh, guys? What’s up?” he asked, turning his gaze upon all of them.
Maya was the last to join them. She took up space between his legs, resting her arms over his thighs while she laid against his stomach. She looked up at him with a giddy smile, her amber eyes sparkling with affection.
“You’ve just been through a lot lately,” Amanda murmured. “Especially yesterday. We were thinking we could help with that, if that’s okay.”
“Yeah,” Kendra chimed in. “We like you a lot, Captain. You’ve been really good to us these past few years.”
“Mhm!” Maya grinned up at him. “You’re a great guy and we like being with you!”
All three of them observed the man, and he looked supremely baffled. For a moment, he said nothing…
Then…
“Um… uh… you… you like me?” he stammered. A round of giggles ensued. Amanda in particular found it adorable, with how he acted like a schoolboy being told a cute girl was crushing on him.
“Sure do, especially me,” Amanda answered. Then, she decided to take a risk while she was there, and puckered her lips to plant a soft smooch on his cheek.
His face turned the most adorable shade of pink. Previously, he had been acting morose and quiet. Now, that melted away in favor of bashful embarrassment. He tilted his head back to look at the ceiling, muttering something incoherent.
“Nuh uh,” Kendra chuckled. She reached up to grab his chin and pull his face back down, so he could kiss his other cheek. His blush deepened. “You’re not getting away from our affection, Cap.”
“Hey, we doing captain kissing now?” Maya giggled. She started to sit up, turning her body around so she was facing him now. Her bangs framed her face as she came very close. “Because I call dibs on first liplock.”
“Um, uh, uh… Maya?” Axton’s words were failing him as he had his very gorgeous engineer in kissing distance, literally.
“Well, Ax? Feel like kissing her?” Amanda teased, reaching to grab his hand and grip it gently.
“Hey, I thought you wanted dibs,” Kendra said in mock complaint.
“Eh, I’ll let Maya have it.”
Their captain continued to mumble adorably, before going silent. Then…
“Um… alright. I… I guess I do want this, if, if you’ll have me?”
“And there it is. Get him, Maya!”
She got him, alright. Maya’s lips planted themselves upon Axton’s, her hands reaching to hold the sides of his face. Amanda heard Axton gasp against her lips, and it caused the pilot to giggle.
She could feel Axton shake a little as the deep kiss progressed. This was different from his usual shaking of rage or fear. It was… excitement. Arousal.
Very good signs.
Amanda and Kendra backed up Maya by focusing on the other parts of his body. Kendra moved her hand reach under his shirt and rub over his chest, running her fingers upon his well-built torso. He was very warm, especially there, Amanda could tell. His pilot took a different approach, stroking over his stomach, and progressing lower… and lower… and lower…
Till she found a certain bulge in his shorts. She pressed her soft digits upon it, and that got an immediate reaction in the form of a moan from Axton. Maya disconnected from him, huffing against his lips as she grinned.
“Someone’s excited,” she whispered, sporting a big smile. “Something tells me we won’t be finishing the movie…”
“I bet he doesn’t mind,” Kendra said, planting a small kiss along Axton’s jawline. All three of them felt and heard him start to pant, his body reacting appropriately to the growing sexual energy between the quartet.
“N… not at all,” Axton murmured. “Just… holy shit…”
“Can always finish it later.” Amanda didn’t relent, putting her focus on encouraging him to rise between his legs. “You could use a different kind of feature, I say.”
“Can I top?” Maya said bluntly, her smile never wavering. “I wanna feel him under me!”
“I want to ride his face.” Kendra was equally blunt, and behind her glasses, here was a glint of predatory hunger in her eyes. She licked her lips, and Amanda felt him shiver again.
“Just so long as I get a turn,” the pilot remarked, before looking at the man they were all getting increasingly excited over. “Well, Ax? Whaddya say?”
She could see his eyes darting around, and he was very clearly struggling to not melt under the three-pronged onslaught of affection and desire. For a moment, she wondered if they all were coming on too strong…
But her fears were unfounded when he nodded and grinned a little.
“Just as long as you all go easy on my ass.”
“You ought to go hard in mine,” Maya countered, batting her eyelashes.
It was settled. All three of them deepened their intense affections for him, and the room filled with more and more noise as things escalated…
Several hours later, the group had concluded their tryst. Four naked bodies were tangled up in each other, a pile of perspiration-soaked flesh, fluids having been traded between them and staining the insides of their thighs.
Amanda managed to retain the most energy, while Kendra and Maya had collapsed in exhaustion, succumbing to post-coital tiredness. They were all snuggled up with Axton now, who was looking very dazed…
And very cute, with the numerous kiss marks plastered all over him. Three colors belonging to each crew member – Kendra’s purple, Maya’s pink, and Amanda’s gold. They all left their intimate marks on him, with Amanda having compiled some lipstick for them to use while he was occupied with the other two.
Axton blinked his eyes, his hair all mussed up. He slowly turned to address his pilot, taking time to gather his faculties before speaking.
“...fuck me,” he muttered.
“I would, but I’m all fucked out,” Amanda snarked.
“You know what I mean.”
“I do,” she laughed, giving him another kiss on the cheek. “Sooo… you feeling better?”
“...yeah. A lot.” A pause. “So, uh, what’s this make us?”
“We’re still your crew, Ax. But we can be more than that. Do you want it?”
“...I think so. I think it’d be nice.”
“That’s exactly what I’ve been wanting to hear.~”
She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes with a satisfied smirk.
They had become something more, finally. And she was all too happy to embrace it, especially with the girls.
Though, she wondered if there was a space for Troy...
Chapter 29: Bang Bang, Boom Boom
Summary:
I want your love, I want your poison in my cup.
The girls of Axton’s crew take a night on the town. Though, being independent doesn’t stop the Affini from taking interest, especially one very warmhearted and imposing serpent...
Content warnings: Onscreen sex scene, xenodrug usage, biting, daddy kink
Notes:
I love me the sexy slither of a dude snake, oh baby /ref
As it turns out, I was compelled to write a third pladdy here! And here's Veltroc, your local Australian snekfinni! And he's certain to slither into your hearts... just, uh, mind those fangs! Or don't. Maya certainly won't.
After this, Zane's next chapter is coming up... and there'll be an interesting bit at the start. It'll be a crossover with another writer I've come to enjoy, but I ain't spoiling! You'll only know when it's up, so stay tuned <3
Chapter Text
Maya McHearth twirled around the living room and filled it with her delighted, youthful laughter.
The last few days were a major mood lifter. She and the girls had entered a relationship with each other and Axton, and by the stars, did her heart sing about it. Ever since he had brought her onboard, she had grown infatuated with him, but never quite got the gumption to approach him about a relationship upgrade for several years. Luckily, Amanda had given all of them a chance to take it, and now they were all together.
It was another level of freedom she was enjoying on top of what being in the Compact gave her. For one thing, she was feeling a lot more energized with her liver healed and back to normal. She wasn’t going to hit the bottle again any time soon, she had made a solemn vow against it. Though, something told her that if she did, the Affini would be right there to fix it up again. But she knew she shouldn’t push her luck.
And as it turned out, these plants had something she had been desiring for ages. A better version of the HRT that she had been struggling to keep up with while in Axton’s employ. Though her captain tried his best to get as much of those meds for her as possible while searching for Zane, there were times where he had come up dry, to his frustration. Of course, she never faulted him for it. He was doing his best to provide for everyone, and that resonated with her.
The Class-G’s were doing wonders for her figure. While she had been developing some womanly curves and breasts over the years, doing an “on again off again” routine with terran HRT meant it was a struggle to maintain her developing body. Class-G’s being readily available meant she could quickly accelerate her changes and become the woman she had always wanted to be.
Plus, they had the cutest clothes available, and she was taking advantage of that.
As she spun and pirouetted her way around the living room, she took pleasure in her new outfit for the night. A hot pink sweater, sporting long sleeves that regularly covered her hands unless she pulled them back, while exposing her shoulders and newly developed cleavage, and having cute heart patterns all over, and reaching down to her hips. On her legs, black leggings that reached up to her thighs, accentuating her plush thighs and expanded backside, while the foot portions were designed to emulate cat paws. The way it was set up left a noticeable portion of her upper thighs and bottom exposed, though she wore lacy black panties to provide herself some modesty. Coupled with her earthen umber skin tone that made her stand out compared to the paler Amanda and Kendra, her soft lips adorned with the pink lipstick she loved, and her curly black hair that framed the sides of her face, and she knew she was a head-turning beauty.
Although, there was one part of her that gave her some doubt. While she was proud of her ass and her breasts, she had always been self conscious about the last remnant of her previous identity that was nestled between her thighs. She kept waffling over whether to get rid of it or keep it, though the crew’s approval of it the other day convinced her to do the latter. Still, Maya always wondered what potential paramours might think should they discover it…
Regardless, she was enjoying life a lot more now, and she was glad that Axton had found her and everyone else years ago. She knew that whatever awaited them, it was going to be amazing.
“You trying to give us ladyboners, Maya?” she heard Kendra comment. “Because, not gonna lie, it’s kinda working.”
Maya paused mid-stride, one leg still in the air while balanced on her foot. She turned her head, seeing her crewmates in their own outfits for the evening.
Theirs were more suited for the night out clubbing they had planned to do. Kendra had a dark purple minidress that showed off her long legs and wide hips, with see-through, flowery material covering her cleavage and arms up to her wrists, alongside pointed amethyst earrings. Amanda, on the other hand, opted for a black crop top with golden star patterns, covering her torso but leaving her navel exposed, and hip-hugging jeans that would also catch some eyes. The pair were seated in the kitchen, with Amanda checking her pad, talking to Axton, while Kendra was sipping a glass of what she assumed to be red wine.
“That you or the wine talking, Kendra?” Maya retorted with a grin, ceasing her dancing so she was on both feet now. “Besides, this didn’t come outta nowhere. I’ve been practicing whenever I wasn’t maintaining the engines.”
“Better than me, at any rate.” Kendra leaned back in her chair, taking another sip. “I have two left feet when it comes to dancing. Gimme my med tools though? I’m a stars-damned legend.”
Maya giggled, raising her sleeve-hidden hands up to her chest. “Oh yeah. I remember all the times you fixed our asses whenever we got hurt. You’re still a lifesaver, hon.”
“And you’re a good engie with a good ass.”
Maya’s face darkened while heat rushed south of her body. “H-hey, we’re not even at the club yet!”
“Maya, I know what your ass looks like after the other day, and I’m trying very hard to not come over there and grab it. So allow me a bit of flirting to keep myself in check.”
Before their mutual desire could really be turned up, Amanda cleared her throat, forcing the two to halt and look at her. “Hey, Axton’s telling me he’s doing okay with Kabr. He says it might be a longer session, so we won’t need to worry about waiting to catch up to him.”
“Oh, that’s good!” Maya said happily. “So are we ready to go?”
“Should be,” Kendra said. “What was it called again? Angel’s Abode or something?”
“Yeah, that’s it.” Amanda tapped her pad a few more times, before placing it in her pocket. Her pants had been specifically compiled with deep pockets so she could carry things without being forced to use a purse, which the girls certainly related to. “We all set?”
“Yep!”
“Sure am. Lead the way, gorgeous?”
Now it was Amanda’s turn to blush, before grinning. “Alright, but you two have to hold my hands the whole way.”
Kendra and Maya gasped together. “Whoa! That’s taking it a step too far!” Kendra balked… before snorting and laughing. “Just kidding. Yeah, we’ll do that.”
“Just holding hands?” Maya skipped on over, draping herself over the kitchen counter while looking at her friends… no, her girlfriends with clear adoration. “Or…?”
“We’ll figure it out when we get there,” Amanda answered. “Come on. Time’s a-wastin’.”
Shortly after, the trio stepped out of the hab unit… with Amanda having both hands occupied with her girlfriends’ hands.
Maya just couldn’t stop giggling the whole way.
Angel’s Abode turned out to be a great place to be. Apparently it was themed after an older art style known as “art deco”, blending it with the typical depictions of angels in Christian mythology. Soft yellows, whites, and browns dominated the scenery, making for a pleasantly warm background. The environment and décor was gilded in gold and bronze, with polished metal struts everywhere, and numerous sophonts, mostly of terran origin, clad in dresses and suits with honest-to-stars angelic wings jutting from their backs. Apparently these were the staff, waiters and waitresses who brought around drinks and food to patrons both Affini and not.
Maya realized that her outfit, compared to her girlfriends, was awfully out of place… but nobody really objected. In fact, she had gotten more than a few interested glances and stares, mostly from the ones that looked masculine, but several other women seemed to like what they saw as well. And this time, she was loving being looked at.
Whether it be from lust, or just general admiration, she didn’t care. Maya was getting good attention and she didn’t want it to stop.
She spent her evening dancing with her girlfriends, teasing patrons who were very clearly eye-fucking her, and getting her fill of food and drink. Hers were non-alcoholic, of course, and thankfully there was no stigma around that. Though, she did happen to notice a menu option describing “Class-J”, whatever that was…
Stars, they had tons of drugs to make everyone perfect. And they were handing them out, whether in actual medication form, or delivering it straight into a sophont’s body via needle, flower, or some other Affini body part.
That was hot, in a way.
Currently, Maya had separated from the girls, taking a break at the bar. She requested a fizzy strawberry flavored drink, and was now sipping it with a smile on her face. She parked her rounded butt on one of the stools, bopping her head to the energetic blues rock music that was playing. She always did enjoy that genre, and this artist had such an amazing voice…
Though, even with the hustle and bustle around her, and the noise, she felt an odd feeling in her gut. Someone was… behind her. Boring holes into her.
She turned around, and felt a spike of anxiety (and arousal) at the plant looming over her.
Like many Affini, they were towering and imposing. A huge, strong-looking plant of a tan hue, sporting expertly chiseled muscles on their torso (even though they were made of plants), and powerful arms packing a lot of strength. Their head resembled a cobra’s, with a large hood affixed to their neck and head, and three glimmering eyes of solid white on their face. And, in place of legs, their lower body was very obviously serpentine, ending in a very long and thick tail.
This was an Affini styling themselves after a snake. And Maya found herself intimidated… in a good way. She inhaled sharply, staring up at the stranger. “Uh… how ya doin’?” she said, trying her best to be cool and show she wasn’t affected. And failing. Very badly.
“Well well, aren’t you a pretty one,” the stranger’s cavernous, thickly accented voice rang out. She recognized it as… Australian? Yeah, that sounded right. “What’s your name, flower?”
They leaned forward, putting an arm past her and on the counter behind her. She was cornered, with no way to quickly extract herself. Something told her she didn’t want to.
“Uh… M-Maya McHearth, she/her,” she stuttered, her cheeks flushing. “A-and, you are?”
“Veltroc Nargos, Third Bloom, he/him,” the Affini replied. A forked tongue pushed out of his mouth, flicking towards her, and another jolt of arousal shot through her. And yet another when his free hand went to brush a thick finger against her bare neck. “You seem to be all by your lonesome... tell me, darlin’. You got an owner?”
Fuck. Merely being touched made her shiver. She shook her head slowly. “N-no, I’m, uh, independent. I’m out with my friends.” She happened to look past Veltroc’s beefy (planty?) shoulder, and gestured at Amanda and Kendra in the distance, who were currently occupied with two other Affini… and also having their necks touched, looking flustered. Oh. She wasn’t sure what to think of that.
Veltroc glanced behind him briefly, then turned back to her. “Mm. I see.” Veltroc’s snout curled into a smile. “Y’see, lassie, ‘round these parts, if you’re not somebody’s responsibility… then you’re everyone’s responsibility. And y’know, gents like me? Can’t let anyone fall through the cracks. Just ain’t right.”
“I… I see…”
The snake moved his face closer to hers. Right then, Maya became aware of a wonderful aroma radiating from him, going all the way up into her mind. And the way his body seemed to ripple and undulate subtly, it compounded the effect. She blinked her eyes, finding she was struggling to think. “Ah… oh gosh…”
“Mhm… lemme tell you, with how absurdly pretty you are? Surprised nobody’s snatched you up yet.~” His three-eyed gaze bored into her own, and somehow, the world around her was deafened, while he became louder. “Your friends won’t mind if I borrow you for a bit, will they?”
Any possible objections Maya might have given ended up dying in her throat before they could ever be voiced. She just shook her head again, maintaining eye contact. “N-not at all. They should be just… just fine, Sir.”
“Mm, I’m ‘Sir’, huh? You’re off to a great start already.”
A part of her was telling her to get away, but another, more dominant part said something different.
Let this hunk have you.
“Let’s get to know each other better, shall we, Miss McHearth?” Veltroc didn’t wait for a reply. He was already scooping her up into his well-built arms, holding her against his chest, which felt incredibly warm. She babbled something incoherent, grabbing onto his chest with both hands, eliciting a chuckle that she felt through his torso. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head, gorgeous, you’re perfectly safe with me.~”
As he carried her away, Maya realized on some level she probably should have said no…
But the raging inferno that was her sex drive told her that she was making a good choice.
Maya was burning. And it was a glorious wildfire she was engulfed in.
All she knew about her current location was that it was away from the other sophonts in the club. They had privacy to do whatever Veltroc had in mind for her. And with how he easily wrapped her around his finger, she was completely at his mercy.
His loving, affectionate, dominant mercy.
Her clothes were still on, but her panties had been pulled off, allowing access to to her underside. Her bared skin was alight with overwhelming sensations that were scrambling her brain, conscious thought unable to be done. Veltroc’s lower body had coiled around her, binding her arms to her sides, while her legs were hooked on the snake plant’s hips.
Four holes along the side of her neck were present. Marks left behind when his massive fangs sunk into her and injected something that made even the most mildly pleasurable feelings crash upon her with the force of a train. It was surging in her veins, making her so massively warm, covering her in a sheen of sweat.
Maya could only whimper and moan for him as he squeezed and caressed her, smaller vines reaching under her remaining clothes to get at her soft flesh, especially her hips and her breasts. Her sensitivity was through the roof, and she writhed and trembled in his grasp, moaning in a voice that made him growl so possessively.
And… gosh. He was deep inside of her ass. His thick, throbbing length was buried to the hilt inside of her, stretching her and stirring up her insides as their hips ground together. He was so big. She had a feeling that she’d have a hard time sitting down by the time they were done!
Maya felt him rumble and shudder, the sound penetrating her flesh and into her core. He was grunting with her, showing his exertion as he focused on ravaging her bouncing, bountiful bottom.
“Nngh… Everbloom, you’re lovely,” Veltroc said. His fangs were extended, and he was nuzzling her, brushing those pointy injectors against the skin of her cheek. Maya could only let out hot breaths in response, lust dominating her brain waves. “One gorgeous lass I have here.~”
Maya couldn’t keep that needy whine from leaving her mouth. Being complimented like this was always her weakness, and it brought her such joy to have her womanliness confirmed for her by another. Especially by such a hunky plant snake. Stars, he had such pretty eyes…
Another thrust into her ass. Another deep push into her body. Another surge of ecstasy. And another. And another. And another.
It was making her leak messily between her legs, clear fluid dribbling onto the part of his tail that was snug between her thighs. He took notice of that, apparently, because a small vine rubbed against that appendage of hers, making her gasp again.
“Such a beautiful young lady,” Veltroc purred. “Every last part of you… perfect. Exquisite. Including that.”
Her voice, having taken some time off when they initially started, returned to her in that moment, spurred on by his praise. “S… Sir… oh…. Oh fuck...~”
“Language, beautiful.” A needle-fanged grin formed on his muzzle. Ordinarily it would have terrified her, but Maya was quickly discovering how much it made her hot under the collar. “But it’s okay. Daddy forgives your slip of the tongue.”
Daddy.
That alone nearly brought her to orgasm itself. He commanded such a powerful presence, and was using it expertly to weaken her resolve, compel her to give in to his charms. His power. His grace.
How long had they been doing this? The drugs in her system, delivered by those giant fangs, made it very difficult to keep track of time. For all she knew, this was how her life began, and it would end the same way. Being the pleasure pet of the handsome snake who was squeezing and tightening around her while laying claim to her body.
Time was passing. She had orgasmed several times at this point, and didn’t know how much longer she could keep up until her body finally gave out and forced her into unconsciousness for her own safety. And yet, everything Veltroc did to her – fondling every inch of her, keeping her tightly wrapped up, pleasuring both the front and back sides of her – seemed perfectly designed to stop her from ever succumbing to exhaustion. As if he had gone inside of her and switched off her internal protections.
Which was technically accurate.
“Daddy!” Maya gasped. “P-please!”
In between the deep grunts and groans he was making while pushing in and out of her, he was still able to respond to her in that voice that was close to melting her.
“Please, what?”
She didn’t know what she really wanted, actually. To cum? She had done that plenty of times. To take her as his pet? Even amidst the lustful haze, she didn’t know if she was ready to be anyone’s floret, even with how sweet Veltroc was being to her.
To cum in her?
…
Yes!
“Please… please… I… I want… I want your cum!” Maya begged, looking up at him. Her eyes were tearing up from pure need, alongside being overloaded by all the pleasure boiling her from within.
He slowed his pace after she said that, and once he came to a halt, Maya suddenly grew worried. Did she mess up? Did she say the wrong thing and kill his mood? She looked at him imploringly, heart racing in her chest.
She-
“Good girl. You’ve earned it.~”
His head darted forward, his fangs piercing the flesh on the space between her shoulder and neck. Maya yelped, the pain igniting for an instant, before quickly melting away into pure bliss sending her whole being ablaze…
And then she felt it. Veltroc, pulsing firmly within, a tidal wave of his sticky essence filling every last bit of space inside of her. Every twitch and throb brought a new surge of his cum into her, painting her walls a color she couldn’t see. Little did she know, that color was bright white, glowing faintly through the skin. All the while, Veltroc’s fangs were buried in her shoulder, pumping whatever other xenodrugs he wanted into her bloodstream...
With how scrambled her whole existence was, it impossible to tell how long this lasted, and it was only when he finally pulled off of her and let his coils loosen did she become dimly aware that it was over. Even so, she was barely conscious, and could only give a weak groan before consciousness faded from her.
“Good girl, Maya~,” she heard Veltroc purr as everything dissipated. “Just rest now...”
She awakened to the sounds of her girlfriends talking to Veltroc in hushed tones.
“...a hair on her head, I’m gonna be very upset!” Kendra complained.
“You seen the marks on her? I say she likes a bit of pain with her pleasure,” Veltroc chortled.
“But she’s not like… actually hurt, is she?” Amanda chimed in, sounding worried.
Oh, they had come for her. Even with her senses dulled and tiredness still gripping her cum-drooling body, she still yearned for them. The engineer attempted to speak, but all that came out was a slurred, indistinct string of babble, followed by a giggle. She was feeling very good, even while worn out and barely awake.
“Everbloom, no. She’ll be just fine, she just needs time for those marks to heal. It’s cute how you’re so concerned for her, though.”
“That’s good, stars… we ought to take her home.”
“Lemme help ya with that.”
Those coils she adored were now around her body again, sending tingles through her flesh. But instead of further mind-breaking sex, she was just held against Veltroc’s chest. His big, warm, sturdy chest.
Maya clung to him weakly, laughing to herself. She heard Kendra and Amanda talking to her, but again, all that came out was some nonsense as Veltroc carried her out of Angel’s Abode and towards home.
This snake… was nice.
She hoped he’d play with her more often.
Chapter 30: Growth
Summary:
With age comes wisdom, maturity, and acceptance. And above all, happiness.
This year, Zane gets a birthday… without his family. Chloros and his friends come together to make it a good one.
Content warnings: Xenodrug usage, age regression and breastfeeding, fauxcest
Notes:
30TH CHAPTER WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
One hell of a milestone! And fittingly enough, it's a chapter focused on Zane's birthday! He may not have his birth family this year, but he's got an amazing found family, and that's what matters!
Plus, several new characters introduced all at once! I admittedly had trouble with doing so, but I had to introduce people at some point! Especially Juso and Walter, they're some new favorites!
This chapter was significantly longer, but I decided to split it up because it was getting a bit top-heavy. Next chapter will be the rest of the party, I promise!
Also, the intro has a crossover with a writer I've come to enjoy: @Pr1nceAndromeda, who wrote A Prince and His Lilies! I fell in love with his story and the protagonists, and was delighted to have a chance to reference it in my own <3
Hope y'all love it!
Chapter Text
›ChloroFeel: Hello Dalbergia, it’s Chloros. Sorry I haven’t been keeping in touch, this ward of mine has been taking up a lot of my time.
›QuietGold: Hello Chloros! It’s good to hear from you!
›QuietGold: And don’t worry, I completely understand. Osiris here’s been keeping me busy as well. How have you been?
›ChloroFeel: Pretty great, actually! My bond with my ward has deepened significantly as of late. Now, he’s my darling son, and he’s absolutely adorable.
›ChloroFeel: Here’s some proof. <3
›ChloroFeel sent a file: DarlingFlowerBoy.png
›QuietGold: Oh my… Is that Zane? He is cute. :)
›ChloroFeel: Oh yes. He’s like Osiris in this regard – he has a little personality of his own, Zee, which I’ve unlocked with Class-Y brownies. Now, I spend at least one hour every day treating him to some and having him nurse from me.
›QuietGold: I hear milk does a terran body good.
›ChloroFeel sent a file: ZeeNursing.png
›ChloroFeel: It does him good, at least. I will be honest, it’s been quite… euphoric, to indulge in this with him.
›QuietGold: Oh, I can tell. Say, did you change your form lately?
›ChloroFeel: I did, actually. Part of playing into his desires of having an attractive mother figure. Here.
›ChloroFeel sent a file: ChlorosNewForm.png
›QuietGold: Well now! That’s quite the glow up. Am I using the phrase right?
›ChloroFeel: Haha, yes, you are. Thank you. It’s been quite liberating.
›ChloroFeel: How’s Osiris doing, by the way?
›QuietGold: He’s still struggling with his trauma, but I’m helping him through it with some Class-L. Two days in, and he’s been very affectionate.
›QuietGold sent a file: OsirisBliss.png
›ChloroFeel: ...goodness, I’m in love.
›QuietGold: I’m showing him plenty of mine while he’s under. <3
›ChloroFeel: I say you’re doing a wonderful job so far, Dalbergia. Just remember what I taught you, and he’ll be yours before long.
›QuietGold: The praise is very appreciated, Chloros. I’m doing my best, and I’m enjoying how Osiris is developing.
›ChloroFeel: That’s good!
›ChloroFeel: Oh, I need to get going, I have to prepare things for my son’s birthday in a few days. Can you let Prunella know I said hi?
›QuietGold: Absolutely. Maybe when the Excellence and the Magnoliophyta are in the same system again, we can all get together with our loves. You, me, Fernis, and Prunella.
›ChloroFeel: I would be delighted. <3
›ChloroFeel: I will speak to you later, have a good day!
›QuietGold: Take care, and do keep me appraised of your son’s progress, please. <3
Sitting in the living room, nestled comfortably on the side of one of the couches, Zane observed the cane he’s had since the beginning of his time with Chloros.
Like the man himself, it had started as something unassuming, and became something far more over time. Once, it was just a simple stick with a curved hook on top, with Zane having focused on practicality over substance. Now, it had become different. The bright wooden hue it had was now much darker, and the otherwise totally smooth wood had gotten some alterations to signify it belonging to him.
A rounded, stylized heart, with the letters “C + Z” inside, was on one side. An engraving of a rose was etched so expertly into the wood on the other side. Several blue flowers of varying species were found along the handle, while small vines, taken directly from Chloros’ body, were entangled around the shaft. Touching them sent a mild surge of pleasurable sensations through his hands, though not enough to completely daze him and ruin the cane’s purpose. Even being detached from Chloros, her touch could be felt whenever he wanted.
This far into his wardship, he realized he could walk without any issues, so the cane wasn’t necessary anymore. But he held onto it. Like with the family photo, Mom’s gun, Mom’s money, and his journal, the cane had become a treasured item that he didn’t want to lose. Whereas his backpack symbolized his past, the cane symbolized something else.
His future. A way into a better, brighter life, with Chloros at his side. And though his eventual domestication meant he’d give up his freedom to her in its entirety, it did promise safety and stability. Much like the plant herself.
It was still a big decision to make. And though Chloros said it wouldn’t take place until after he had undergone something called a ‘psyche map’, which he could theoretically put off indefinitely, it wasn’t something he could avoid forever. The question was not if he will be domesticated, but when. Chloros, thankfully, was letting him set the terms, instead of just forcing him into it. That helped negate a lot of the fear and anxiety.
She truly was a great Momma.
Speaking of…
He heard distant footsteps, which grew louder and closer. Looking up, Zane saw Chloros entering the room, and… oh.
Ever since she first transformed into this new body, he realized that sometimes when she drew near, she effectively dominated his entire perception. He could resist with some effort, but inevitably she would overpower him and make him think of nothing else but Chloros Momma. And though she didn’t do it all the time, it always made him stand at attention and focus on her when she did.
He felt his cheeks flush as his eyes tracked her movements. She was humming as she strode into the living room, and even with her shadowed face, he could tell she was smiling brightly at him while her glimmering, blue eyes passed over him.
“Hello, sweetie,” Chloros Momma purred. Her voice resonated through him, and somehow it stimulated all of his senses, not just his hearing. He tasted her, touched her, heard her, smelled her… saw her. All of her. So radiant. So elegant.
So hot.
She sat her wide, cushy bottom down next to him, and he realized she was carrying her pad in her vines, typing something on it. Her hands were free, and she used her left hand to rest it on his head and ruffle his azure-accented hair. Zane groaned, the contact causing a surge of good brain chemicals to flow. “Have you been good while I was out? Did you eat?”
“H-hi, Momma,” he sputtered. “Yeah, I was… I was good. Was just looking at my cane here.” He held up the object in question for her to see. “I had the, the meat loaf recipe that Simon suggested. It was really good.”
“Good boy.” An involuntary shudder ran through him at that. “Can’t have my darling baby go hungry.”
“Y-yes, Momma…”
Her echoing laughter filled his mind, and he momentarily went blank. Just hearing her voice was enough to disrupt his focus, and all Zane could do was sit there for a minute, a moan of pure need escaping him. He knew her influence was strong right now, and he welcomed it. It felt nice, so nice…
“Your birthday is tomorrow,” Chloros Momma said, continuing to pet him with her amazingly soft hand over his head. “I’ve taken the liberty of putting together a guest list for everyone who’s coming.”
He managed to get his focus back after that statement. “E… everyone?” Zane stuttered. Even in the haze Chloros Momma had him under, a twinge of anxiety shot through him. He was still having problems with large gatherings, which Chloros Momma was helping him with, but was she…
“Don’t worry, I’ve restricted it to the ones we know personally. Here.” She brought her pad over, and nudged his head around with her hand so he can get a better look.
Guest List for Zane’s 26th Birthday Party:
Antris Thrane, Ninth Bloom, with Simon Thrane, First Floret
Juso Jeng, Third Bloom, with Walter Jeng, First Floret, and Amy Jeng, Second Floret
Kamina Samur, Fifth Bloom, with Frey Samur, First Floret
Kaiga Corta, Third Bloom, with Isaac Corta, First Floret
“That’s… that’s a good list,” Zane remarked. He couldn’t hide the apprehension in his voice in regards to the names he didn’t recognize. While he was happy that Simon, Frey, Amy, Kaiga, and Isaac would be there, he had no idea what to expect from Antris, Juso, Walter, or Kamina. Already his head was starting to spin…
Chloros’ Momma’s hand trailed down the back of his head, moving to stroke and rub over his shoulder now. Another soothing wave of contentment flooded his body, putting him more at ease. “It sounds like a lot, I know. Especially with the ones you haven’t met yet. But I promise you, they’re all aware of how to conduct themselves during the party. No loud noises, announcing when they’re approaching, and the new ones asking permission before touching you.”
He blinked his eyes. She had him more or less totally enthralled, and could possibly just do what she wanted. And yet, she was going out of her way to accommodate him, and instruct the guests to abide by his preferences.
She held so much power over him, and he couldn’t do anything about it. And she was using this power responsibly.
That made her so much more attractive in his point of view.
“Th-that’s, that’s good. Thank you, Momma.”
“Anything for my baby.~”
The pad was pulled away, stowed in a part of her body that Zane didn’t see. A vine appeared in front of him, and he recognized what it held: a brownie. A very yummy looking one.
“I think Zee needs to come out now,” Chloros Momma purred. “You agree, don’t you?”
He nodded wordlessly. The brownie was brought closer, the vine fitting the treat he loved into his mouth. Several chews and swallows later, Zane was finally able to drift away…
And Zee appeared. Like the first time he manifested, Momma’s little boy cried, but it was subdued and quiet, not a full-on sob. The sadness had been dealt with, with the tears just being a side effect of “crying out his big”, as he once overheard Momma say.
“H-hi Momma,” Zee said once he was able to finish, punctuating it with a pleased giggle. Momma said nothing, merely kissing his nose, sending a shudder through his drugged body.
He belatedly realized that he had a stick in his hands – where’d he get that? – and it slipped out of his fingers, but the lack of a clatter told him Momma caught it before it fell.
He felt her hands and vines wrap around him and lift him up, setting him down on her lap. Instinctively, he clung to her, nuzzling his head against her massive mammaries. He was already drooling in anticipation of a meal.
Without a word, Momma pulled off the part of her leafy bra that contained her left nipple. Zee stared, heart skipping a beat as saw the light blue liquid already leaking from it.He felt her guiding him to place his lips upon it, and like the good boy that he was, he caught it between his teeth and sealed his mouth over it. Soft, warm, a perfect fit for his mouth, especially with how much bigger her chest had gotten. She had more room to store her milk in, and more to feed her baby boy with...
Zee closed his eyes and settled into her embrace, suckling Momma’s teat while she rocked him. Held in both arms, stroked and touched by her vines, Zee was in a perfect paradise of Momma’s making.
The next few hours ticked by as Momma fed him intimately…
Twenty-six years.
That was how old Zane was becoming today. And this time, he had none of his blood relations with him.
No Dad. No Mom.
No Axton.
Just Zane.
It was a sobering thought process. Even if it turned out Axton was still alive somewhere, that still meant he’d miss his little brother turning older this year. More and more, Zane found himself missing his elder sibling, even if he still wasn’t certain if he wanted the man in his life again. Could he forgive Axton for what he did, decades later? And even if he did, would they be able to rekindle their relationship, or would they have to stay separated to ensure the health of both men?
He pondered all this while jotting it down in a new notebook while in the study. He was seated at an oaken desk at waist-height for him, perched upon a cushioned chair. Apart from quiet piano music being fed into the room via a speaker system to make up for the dead silence, there was nothing else in there with him. It was calm. He liked that.
One part of managing his stress and emotions was to write it down on paper with an ink-dipped quill, and that did help to some degree. If nothing else, it helped him recognize these feelings were real and valid, and he was allowed to feel them, instead of being told to suppress them because he dared to be anything more than a mindless automaton. Another aspect of Chloros helping him heal from the wounds he’s suffered in his journey.
Zane was about to write something else on the paper, when the castle AI spoke over the intercom. “Master Zane, the birthday guests are here. Your mother wishes for you to come to the foyer to greet them.”
Compared to the last Hab AI, which had a young, feminine voice, the castle’s AI had a personality themed after the classic English butler, a refined, gentlemanly voice who spoke with calm stoicism. He had been designated as Gerald, which helped reinforce the presentation.
“Thanks, Gerald, I’ll be right over,” Zane replied, marking his place in the notebook and setting the quill aside. He stood up, adjusting his clothes – a light blue sweater with white flower patterns all over and very long sleeves that hid his hands, and leggings that once again emphasized his widened hips and bottom, along with comfortable slippers that had maximum grip so he didn’t fall – before taking his cane with him. He held it under his arm, helping him achieve a somewhat regal look as he went to the foyer. His hair, having grown much longer in the back over the past few weeks, had been tied up in a short ponytail, something Chloros said he looked very handsome with.
There, waiting for the birthday boy, were several sophonts, both Affini and otherwise. Right away, he noticed Kaiga, the big man who was emulating a tree with all the wooden armor on his body, and a set of four dark red eyes on his mask. He was towering over Isaac as usual, one wooden hand upon the old terran’s shoulder. Isaac was wearing a buttoned-up dress shirt and slacks, the former’s left breast pocket having a large tree graphic over it.
Kaiga caught sight of Zane first, and announced in a marginally loud voice, “Hey, there’s the man of the hour.”
Several sets of eyes turned to look at him, and numerous smiles greeted him. Chloros was there, of course, waving at her son. Judging by the fact that he was able to look at her and still think clearly, she was keeping her biorythm suppressed so he could remain lucid. That’s nice of her.
Simon was there, in a pink and white shirt and shorts like usual, a charming grin on that beard-clad mug of his. Behind him was who Zane assumed to be Antris, a large and imposing Affini with a frame evocative of hidden power, and pink and red petals and flowers covering their otherwise dark green form, a cape of some kind trailing behind them. Their eyes shifted between orange and red, arranged in two pairs, one on top of the other.
Frey was there too. It wore a dress that was primarily black with blue, angular shapes criss crossing over the top and bottom, and the rose over its left eye was still a pretty blue as ever, as were the streaks in its waist-length hair, while its good eye had a violet hue. Frey smiled warmly at its friend, and crouched beside it was another Affini who had a slender, feminine body shape. Kamina, Zane figured. Like Chloros, Kamina’s head bore headwear of some sort, though instead of a sun hat, it was styled after that of a classic witch’s hat, with a tall, zig-zagged spire on the top, and a short brim around the sides. Her body was a mixture of azure and purple tones, with a cloak around her to sell the image of some kind of magic wielder. Curiously, though she had three eyes of blue, two of them were tiny, and the third was massive, almost making her look like a cyclops at first glance.
And finally… Amy. The boisterous Texan woman Zane also liked. She wore a dress as well, pure white with gold jewelry, reaching down to her ankles. She had fancy, crescent earrings dangling from her lobes, and a golden bracelet on her right wrist. Her red hair had glimmering golden highlights in it, along with a rose perched on the right side of her head. There were two other individuals flanking her – an Affini who was shorter than the others, but still large, a pot-bellied, masculine fellow with crimson vines and green flowers making up his form, and a single pair of white eyes adorning his grinning, mask-less face; and, curiously, a very small, robotic entity, shorter than everyone else, his chassis a bright white with black accents, a rounded, boxy head with large rabbit ear-like antennae on the sides, a black screen where his face should be to mimic facial expressions highlighted in green, and stubby, thick arms and legs, his thighs and bottom being even thicker than his top half. These two must have been Juso and Walter.
Everyone was here, and greeting him happily.
For a moment, Zane was speechless, unable to comprehend so many had come for his birthday. He saw Chloros look at him with warmth in her gaze, before beckoning him to approach. He did so slowly, feeling a touch of anxiety creep up at being surrounded by all these sophonts…
Then…
“Hey, handsome,” Frey greeted. It strode over to him, and leaned in to plant a soft kiss on his cheek, earning some “awwww”’s from everyone else while he flushed pink. Its hand went to take hold of his own. “When Chloros sent us the invitations, I just knew we had to come.”
Behind it, Kamina loomed, peering at Zane with interest. Her voice was light, casual, friendly. “My my, he’s quite the cutie.” She turned to address his warden. “You sure know how to pick them, Chloros.”
“Actually, he picked me,” Chloros replied, chuckling, then putting her hands together. “Right, now that everyone’s here… let me just say that I am honored to have such lovely individuals attending my baby boy’s birthday. It’s a blessing to have such wonderful companions come for this celebration, and I intend it to be an amazing one.”
Simon piped up, “Heck yeah! I’m glad to be here for my favorite little guy.” The Scotsman grinned over at Zane, who returned it while squeezing Frey’s hand.
“I’m uh… I’m also honored you’re all here,” Zane said. “I didn’t expect my life to turn around when I came into Chloros’ care.”
Amy looked at him with glee. “That’s just how it goes in the Compact! We love you, Zane!~”
Frey punctuated her statement by giving him another smooch, this time right on his lips. For a moment his brain short circuited and he stuttered, eliciting a round of giggles from everyone.
“So sweet,” Chloros purred. “Okay! I’m going to need help preparing the feast.” She turned to address the group. “Simon, Isaac, Kaiga, join me?”
The name-dropped sophonts all accepted their tasks, and before long, the group had been split up – Chloros entered the kitchen with the ones she called out. The sounds of cookware clattering, eggs being cracked, and meat being cooked, echoed from that direction, along with the associated good smells that made Zane wonder what was in store.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Zane was on the couch again, but he wasn’t alone. He was joined by Frey, who was parked on his lap, one arm wrapped around him and pushing its sizable bust in his face. That kept him quite flustered, even while Frey remained rather casual. Amy was close by, holding his free hand and occasionally petting his head.
Around him, all the other Affini – Kamina, Juso, and Antris – were present, lounging on seats designed for their massive sizes. Walter, the only inorganic sophont among them, was standing on the big coffee table, hands on his hips with his face displaying a “:)” emoji.
Though Zane knew he was safe, and that he could simply call for Chloros to help if he needed her, he was still a little nervous around other Affini, especially these three he hadn’t gotten to meet yet. Thankfully, the trepidation lessened when Juso was the first to speak.
“Hey, man,” the crimson plant said, beaming. His voice reminded Zane of a character in a cartoon he watched years ago, about a group of friends who solved mysteries with their dog, and the character in question being a lovable coward with a penchant for using slang and being a big eater. “Like, I’m so stoked to finally meet you! Amy’s been talking her head off about you.”
“She, she has?” Zane asked, while the floret in question chuckled next to him.
“Yeah, dude! And lemme tell you, if my flowers speak highly of someone, then that makes them A-okay in my book!” His right hand extended from his arm to approach Zane, and with how it was closed up, Zane surmised it was a fist bump being offered. He pressed his own knuckles against Juso’s, eliciting a delighted cheer as it was withdrawn. “Right on, brother!”
Walter, the synthetic floret, had his own input to share. “Yeah,” the tiny fellow said in his electronically-filtered voice, while his screen showed the mouth on display moving in sync with his words, “if my big sis loves you? Me and Juso love you too.”
Zane tilted his head at Walter. “Are you, uh, actually related, or…”
“Nah,” Walter said, shaking his boxy head. “Not by blood. But I see her as my sis anyway. I love her to bits and she loves me right back. Right, Amy?”
“Mhm! Walter’s a guy I adore as much as I do Juso!” the taller terran woman answered. Then she suddenly took hold of Zane’s chin, pulling him in for a kiss on the lips. Zane couldn’t stop himself from moaning slightly into her mouth.
“Hey, leave some for me,” Frey fake-complained, grinning. “I’m his first pinnate in the Compact after all.”
Zane blinked at it once Amy disconnected. “My… my first what?”
Antris, Simon’s owner, was the first to react, sitting up in their seat. The flowers on their body turned a brighter shade of red and pink as they smiled warmly. Their voice was deep and gravelly, in a way that was very nice to listen to. Did every Affini have this? “’Pinnate’ around here describes two or more participants in a deep emotional relationship that cannot be ethically separated. While it’s commonly used to describe romantic and sexual relationships, it still applies for those who are blood relatives, or simply very close friends. Sounds like your relationship with Frey here fits the bill, sweetheart.”
Pinnate… it sounded nice. It sounded like a step above “partner”, and he didn’t know how else to describe his relationship with Frey. But…
“Would, um, that make… Amy my pinnate too?” he asked, looking at the floret in question.
“D’ya want me to be, darlin’? I’d love to be that for you!”
He paused for a moment, before nodding his head. “Yeah, you two have been… really good to me. I like having you in my life. Having you as my pinnates would be really nice.”
A mix of “ooh”’s and “awww”’s sounded, as Zane’s two partners rewarded him with more kisses on his cheeks, causing him to stutter again.
“Well, isn’t that just adorable,” Kamina remarked, a blue vine held over her mouth as she laughed. “My darling Frey also knows how to pick them, it seems.”
“Told you I had good taste, Mistress.~”
“Man, if I had teeth, they’d be rotting out of my face from how saccharine all this is!” Juso laughed.
Walter’s screen displayed a smirking face. “If I still had my teeth, they’d be falling out too.” He looked at Zane for a moment. “I think you’re a right fit for Amy, bud. Treat her nicely, yeah?”
“Oh, I will,” Chloros’ son said with a nod.
The conversation from there progressed to different topics, with everyone remaining very relaxed and easygoing. Zane received plenty of affection from his pinnates in the meantime, and found himself laughing along with everyone, particularly with Juso and Walter getting together to do some improv comedy.
Having a birthday in the Compact wasn’t so bad, Zane realized. Especially with such wonderful guests, including his pinnates.
Chapter 31: Mastication
Summary:
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Hope he has room.
Zane’s birthday party continues. And very quickly, he’s introduced to the concept of a(n almost) bottomless stomach.
Content warnings: Feeding, weight gain, belly play, mild petplay
Notes:
The birthday continues, and it ends on a really nice note! Your favorite little man gets plenty of loving not just from his Momma, but other plants too. And they all enjoy him heavily <3
He's got quite a roster of friends, doesn't he? Not just fellow terrans, but even some lovely plants! Ain't that swell?
Now that this milestone has concluded, the next few chapters will get a bit spicier again. I know I'm gonna have fun focusing on the local shortstack robot boy and his stoner/surfer dude plampt <3
I hope y'all love it too!
Chapter Text
Time for the birthday feast.
As it turned out, the kitchen doubled as a dining room, with a humongous table rising out of the floor, chairs included. There was plenty of space for everyone to sit at, though all the chairs being rather tall meant the florets and the birthday boy had to be lifted up and placed down to have a seat at the table. Zane certainly didn’t mind, as he was able to get a smooch from Chloros along the way… and a grope of his bottom too, making him blush heavily. He got comfortable at the far end, while everyone else got the sides.
The table was set with the standard arrangement of forks, knives, and spoons around large plates for everyone, including the plants. Zane didn’t expect other Affini to be like Chloros, where they could consume food and drink like their charges. Then again, she had mentioned how biomodification was something Affini could have done to themselves, in her case being a graft that let the subject engage in eating and drinking, instead of only absorbing vitamin water. That they went the extra mile to endear themselves to their loved ones was a touching gesture.
Decorations lined the room, with countless blue and green balloons all around, held down by weights so they wouldn’t go too high. Banners were strung around, with messages like “Happy 26th!” and “Best Boy Zane!” being visible. Chloros had even arranged for a playlist of Zane’s favorite music to be playing, adding to the relaxed vibes.
And the dinner table was absolutely covered in food. The other members of the party had been working hard to cook all of this, and it had paid off very well. They were all borne of recipes provided by all the guests, including Simon’s tender meat loaf, Frey’s crunchy coconut shrimp, Amy’s hearty biscuits and gravy, and so much more. There was even a good-sized stuffed turkey! Apparently that was Walter’s idea, too. So many good smells and sights filled Zane’s senses… he was tempted to start eating right away, and he figured being the birthday boy would give him the all-clear, but he waited.
Once everyone except Chloros and Kaiga were seated, Zane’s Momma stood next to him and clapped her hands to get their attention. “Alright, everyone. Before we dig in, I’d like to say something.”
Zane looked at her with curiosity. He said nothing, letting her go on, while seeing the tree-based Affini hovering over something at the kitchen islands with his back turned to everyone else. “It has been several Blooms since I’ve been able to celebrate something like this with a loved one. I never thought I’d have someone like Zane fall into my lap…” She looked at him pointedly for a moment. “...but here he is. And since then, I feel blessed to have him with me every day.”
Zane found his smile growing wider as his Momma went on, “And today is a day that I’m honored to have both with him, and all his friends and loved ones. It is my hope that his life continues to be a joyous one in the Compact, for many years to come.”
Zane could see everyone smiling and laughing, just as happy as Chloros was. Then, after another moment, she turned towards him. “And before we get started, I think the birthday boy needs to blow out the candles and make a wish. Kaiga?”
“Right on it,” the tree man announced. Kaiga turned around shortly after, and in his bark-clad arms, he held a humongous cake. It was colored blue and white, covered in sugary frosting, with numerous candles along with a “26” decoration in the middle. He brought it over and placed it in front of Zane, and almost immediately, the candles lit up on their own with blue flames, while Kaiga took a seat next to Isaac.
The birthday boy’s eyes widened at that. He thought that fire wasn’t allowed here… were these candles special ones? They must be, given how the flames being blue implied they were especially hot, but he didn’t feel any heat from them.
Chloros strode over, leaning down and smooching the top of her boy’s head, another shudder running through him. “Happy birthday, Zane. Go ahead, make a wish.”
For a few seconds, Zane stared at the candles, wondering what he could possibly wish for. His thoughts drifted to Axton, and while thinking about him made him sad… it also gave him comfort this time.
Maybe he could compel the universe to throw him a bone.
He took a breath, and then expelled it. The candles went out instantly.
I wish for Axton to find me.
He relaxed, leaning back, as everyone cheered, “Happy birthday, Zane!”
Shortly after, the feast began in earnest. Chloros had taken a seat next to Zane, and sat very close to him. The room was soon filled with both verbal chatter and clinking of cutlery on plates as everyone began to eat.
Zane was all set to put some food on his plate. Chloros, however, had a different idea in mind for her son. Her vines moved to stop his hands, and he glanced up at her with a raised eyebrow.
“It’s your special day, baby,” Chloros said to him. “Let me handle feeding you this time. Okay?”
He studied her for a moment. Previously, he would have balked at this removal of his autonomy… but he trusted Chloros now. He knew she wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, at least intentionally.
He nodded, smiling. “Okay, I’m all yours.”
“Good boy.”
Oh, stars, she caught him off-guard with that. He shivered, eyes closed as pure euphoria emanated over him. He knew his place, as usual. He was Chloros’ Momma’s baby boy, and she would take care of him on this special day…
“Ready, dear?”
“Yes, Momma...”
While everyone else was merrily eating up, Chloros’ vines were working. He could hear her using Zane’s cutlery, and her own, to cut off portions of food and bring it to his plate. There was so much, that Zane worried that even with how big the plates were, it would still be too much. Thankfully these compiled dishes could take a lot of food.
Around him, he heard the guests talking, and he noticed that they were all arranged so all the florets were sat next to their owners. Some were chatting about things outside of the birthday, others were commenting on how cute he looked. Mostly from Frey and Kamina, who were both looking at him with intent. Thus far, he had a good feeling about Frey’s owner. If she wanted to invite him over, he’d be okay with it. The two of them would be nice…
Simon, of course, was the loudest, but not to a degree that hurt Zane. He was laughing happily alongside Antris, alternating between letting them feed him, and returning the gesture by feeding them. That alone made Zane wonder about the power dynamics between floret and Affini… and if there was a possibility of Affini being domesticated themselves, instead of it solely being for xenosophonts.
He caught sight of Walter. He didn’t expect the little robot guy would be able to eat, but then he saw Juso opening a panel on the side of Walter’s head, and depositing food into a tray that was extended, before sealing it closed. Judging by how Walter’s face screen displayed several heart icons, Zane assumed that was how Juso’s first floret consumed food. He didn’t know if it was still necessary as a synthetic being, or if it was just for pleasure.
Still, it was fascinating. He certainly wanted to interact with Walter more. He wanted to learn all he could about life in the Compact…
A fork suddenly entered his vision. He glanced at it, seeing it was held in Chloros’ fingers. Impaled on the three points was a thick slice of turkey meat, covered in delicious juices from being cooked so expertly. His eyes went up to meet Chloros’ extra ones.
“Open wide.~”
Zane allowed his mouth to hang open, and Chloros gently fit the fork inside. The turkey was amazing. Juicy, flavorful, practically melting in his mouth. He eagerly caught the meat in his teeth and tugged it off the fork, and began to chew. Even though he was pretty sure there weren’t any Class-A in this, it still caused him to groan at how good it was. He swallowed it down, and Chloros was quick to grab another forkful.
Once more, Zane took a grateful bite of that amazing food, gulping it down after using his teeth to rend it apart and make it easier to get down his gullet. More followed. And more. And more.
Chloros switched it up after some time. She rotated through all the various offerings of food, giving him the fluffy biscuits, the hearty gravy, the tender meat loaf, the coconut shrimp… Her vines were working to bring pieces of food over to him, without getting in the way of everyone else.
As Zane continued to enjoy her taking care of him, his thoughts drifted back to the first time she did this for him. He was an emotional wreck back then, grappling with his severe guilt over Mom, and the trauma and paranoia of running for so long. Now, he was much happier, and all too willing to allow his amazingly attractive parent directly fill his belly.
Time blurred together for Zane as he let Chloros continue…
Eventually, all the food was consumed, with only little scraps left behind. Even the birthday cake was gone, with only the number and the candles left on its platter indicating it existed.
Zane was stuffed. He wasn’t sure how or why, but he swore all that food immediately went to his waistline. His pants were feeling tighter down there, and he was quite sleepy. He was tempted to ask for a nap, and didn’t realize he was drifting off where he sat, until Chloros woke him back up with a light stroke of his cheek.
“Doing okay, birthday boy?” Chloros asked pleasantly. Zane’s eyes fluttered as he nodded, forcing himself to perk up a little.
“Y...yeah, really full,” he slurred. “Pants… tight.”
“Mm, you ate quite a bit, more than everyone else,” she noted. Zane was dimly aware of everyone still talking around him, though the conversations were quieter now. Was everyone else sleepy and tired from the food? He let his eyes wander, seeing Simon, Amy, Isaac, and Frey were leaning against their owners. They must have been about to fall into their own food comas. The exception was Walter, who was still quite energized and talkative, apparently saying something quite hilarious to Juso and getting small chuckles from him.
“Is it… nap time?” Zane looked at Chloros, now aware of her aura having returned. It was kept to a mild level, making him feel more relaxed and a little fuzzy, but still mostly lucid. Chloros’ vines were over him, giving him gentle rubs and strokes over his body. One of them reached to undo the button of his leggings, causing his very full, very soft belly to plop out and brush against the table edge. He blushed brightly at that, and even more at what she said next.
“Almost, sweetie. The florets here look all tired… but if you’re okay with it, maybe their owners can play with you.”
As soon as Chloros finished, Zane’s tired eyes darted over to the other Affini. While part of him wasn’t sure about them touching him intimately, he had gotten to know them well enough by now that he figured he could trust them to be gentle. And, of course, he could always call Chloros if there was an emergency.
Come to think of it, ever since that incident with Torn a while back, both Chloros and his friends and loved ones gave him outs if he ever decided he didn’t like what was going on. They all seemed to agree that he needed that. Even Chloros, whose dominion over him was growing by the day.
Zane gave a small smile at his massive Momma, a grateful sigh leaving him. “Yeah, I’d like that… just, um… maybe drag me to the living room and let’em hold me.”
“You are so cute.” Another of the kisses he adored, on his mouth again. She held it this time, and for an instant, he wondered if she was going to make out with him right then and there. He wouldn’t have said no…
But it only lasted a moment before she retracted herself. A small whine was heard coming from him. “Oh, baby, I know,” Chloros cooed, both hands holding his face. “But I think the birthday boy deserves other plants doting on him today. Right?”
“Y-yeah, you’re right.”
“Of course I am.~”
The next few minutes blurred as he lost some focus. All he knew was that he was being carried by someone and brought back into the living room, with everyone else following. All the florets, besides Walter, were tired enough that they were about to sleep right there. Zane kind of tuned everyone out as he was held by what he assumed to be Chloros, who deposited him on the comfiest couch in the room. Meanwhile, small beds – shaped like… dog beds? They were round and large enough for adult terrans – were brought out from somewhere and laid out on the floor.
Simon, Amy, Frey, and Isaac had quickly laid down on their respective beds, color coded to match their outfits, with fluffy blankets draped over them. Walter, by contrast, just sat next to Amy’s bed, his screen face displaying three “Z” symbols across it with an ellipsis. Was that his sleep mode? It must have been. Zane could not help but feel that the concept of florets being pets was reinforced just by that image alone.
The music was turned off, the lights dimmed, and the display screen in the room displayed a message from Gerald:
It is currently nap time in this room.
Please remain quiet and do not disturb the adorable guests.
Please inform Gerald or Madam Gleras if assistance is required.
Zane’s safe word is “Exodus”.
“Okay everyone,” Chloros whispered, getting the other Affinis’ attention. “Zane’s going to stay awake, and I’ll be in the study if you need me. Otherwise, you are free to play with him as you wish. Just be gentle and he’ll love it.~”
One final kiss on Zane’s forehead. “They’ll take good care of you, I promise. See you later.~” And with that, she departed for the study.
No sooner did she leave than Zane find himself being the target of four Affini at once. Kaiga, Juso, Antris, and Kamina were upon him. Several pairs of eyes looking down at the food-stuffed son of Chloros, all of them bearing big, friendly smiles.
Antris sat themself down near him, and he felt vines wrap around his body. Slowly, he was pulled into their lap, and soft noises left him as he felt little tingles of goodness from Antris’ touch. Kamina joined them, and then, Zane found he was placed on both their laps. His upper body was resting on Antris, while his lower half was comfortable on Kamina’s thighs.
“Everbloom, he’s a looker,” Juso murmured. He was crouched in front of the trio, while Kaiga loomed over all of them, leaning in close. “So soft and pudgy…”
“Almost like holding Simon,” Antris laughed. “He’s only a little less big than Zane here. But just as cute.”
“Does Chloros plan to domesticate him yet?” Kaiga said above them all.
“I’m surprised he isn’t already,” Kamina commented. Her vines joined Antris’, and very soon, Zane was experiencing several feelers running along his body. Both of the Affini holding him, and the ones that weren’t.
They all had different auras and sensations that matched them. Antris was a little rough, but in a pleasing way, like scratching an itch that he just couldn’t reach. Kamina was softer, silken, and her appendages glided over his body without any apparent friction. Kaiga was more stiff, more inflexible, with solid weight to him. And Juso’s fuzzy, tickle-inducing vines reminded Zane of a soft teddy bear he used to have as a child.
The boy they were all doting on made soft noises of contentment and shifted where he lay, sporting a tired smile. His pants were undone, and his shirt lifted up, exposing his entire torso to them, including his food-stuffed tummy. He blushed in embarrassment, but made no effort to hide himself. Modesty around Affini was starting to become less relevant to Zane over time...
“Dibs,” Juso said quietly, and quickly coiled some vines over his tummy and squeezed. Zane rewarded him with a low moan of pleasure, back arching slightly. “So damn cute, I feel like I’m gonna rebloom on the spot, man~!”
Zane couldn’t stop himself from giggling. He would have been louder, but he was aware of the low noise rule, and so he did his best to stay quiet.
He could feel them all converge on his exposed belly. All four of them were rubbing, squeezing, massaging, and groping, doing everything they can to get a feel for his soft midriff. It made him wiggle a fair bit, alongside more laughter. He was effectively putty in their grasp, and he was loving every second.
“Ooh, goodness, Frey was right,” Kamina said, “his laugh is so cute. He should be doing it all the time.~”
“I’d barrage him with jokes, but I feel like that’ll just make him howl like a hyena instead of just giggle,” Juso replied.
“...what’s a hyena?” Kaiga inquired with a very confused expression.
“Not a horse, that’s for sure.”
“I still have no idea what that is either.”
“Nobody knows, my dude. I don’t think anyone will.”
“That’s a shame…”
The idle chatter continued in this vein as Zane felt himself drifting off…
He awakened and found himself surrounded by softness. And also stark naked.
No longer was he being held by several other Affini. Instead, he discovered that he was in a soft bed again. The softest one so far. The master bedroom. The only explanation.
Zane opened his tired eyes and went to stretch, and found that he couldn’t. Something was holding him tightly, with his face pressed upon what felt like two large pillows that were oddly familiar…
Wait. He recognized the smell. And the rhythm washing over him. It was none other than-
“Hey, baby,” Chloros Momma growled quietly. “Don’t worry, we’re in bed now. Everyone’s left for the day. It’s just you and me here.”
He peered up from the valley that he discovered to be her immense cleavage. Oh, stars, she had sandwiched him between her enormous breasts, his upper chest totally stuck in them. He didn’t expect to fit in there, yet here he was, held captive!
And loving it, of course.
Shuddering, Zane looked up into her glimmering blue eyes, and he was tempted to fall back asleep. He did his best to stay awake, just so he can ask one question. Just one question that he wanted to hear Chloros Momma answer.
“M-Momma,” Zane said tiredly, hands reaching up to gently grab the chest pillows that squished around him. “Was… was I a good boy today?”
Chloros’ Momma kept her gaze upon him, making his heart flutter. What she said next made it outright skip a beat.
“You were the best boy, sweetie. I’m glad today went so well for you.” Her hands and vines were already touching over his nude frame, and exhaustion was starting to creep back up on him again, even with the jolt of pleasure those words gave him.
“I’ll never stop loving you, my sweet… I’m yours, and you are mine. Understand?”
“I’m… I’m yours, and you’re mine… Momma.~”
“Good boy.~”
It didn’t take long for Zane to fall back asleep after that, held in place by softness from all directions while he was in a blissful haze of pure love. A mother’s love for her son.
His future with her was looking so bright, and he was eager to face it head-on.
Today was a good day.
Chapter 32: Tactile
Summary:
Touching is good.
Zane gets to hang out with a certain digitized floret and his super laidback owner. And to his pleasure, he discovers that being synthetic allows for more than one kind of play.
Content warnings: Onscreen sex scene, bite marks
Notes:
A NEW CHALLENGER APPEARS! It's Walter the beeper! And holy hell was he a pleasure to write in his spotlight chapter. I know Zane is enamored, heh~
After the birthday chapters, I fell in love with Walter in particular. Shortstack robot gamerboys speak to my heart, especially ones with rabbit ears.
Juso's a fun dude to write too. Everyone could use a super chill stoner affini... or is he a ploner? Iunno, but I like him regardless.
Enjoy!
Chapter Text
Zane barely got out a “hi” before the short robot fellow known as Walter ran out the door and immediately hugged his pants-clad leg.
“Yay! You’re here!” Walter said excitedly. Zane, for a moment, didn’t know how to react, but Walter seemed to recognize the invasion of space and quickly backed up. “Oh, sorry, I got so psyched up I forgot to ask if I could do that.” He looked up at the much bigger terran, electronic eyes on his screen widened. “Can I?”
Zane paused, before smiling. “Yeah, sure.”
And then Walter, one of the cutest little robots he’s ever seen so far, went back to hugging him, both arms wrapped around Zane’s left leg. Chloros’ son, for his part, chuckled and gently patted his new friend’s square-shaped head. Despite being made of synthetic material, Walter still felt soft and nice to touch, almost as if he wasn’t digitized. He could feel Walter’s body vibrate, which he took to be a good sign, before the little robot grabbed Zane’s hand and began to pull on him. Shortly after, they were past the door and in Juso’s abode.
As it turned out, Juso was inspired by an island country back on Terra known as Japan. And thus, his hab unit was styled after the archetypal Japanese temple: tall with a curved roof covered in black tiles and extending far past the building itself, crimson oaken wood paneling and thin white walls and sliding doors, while paper talismans and lanterns were hanging all over. It carried a spiritual vibe to it, making Zane imagine he was crossing the threshold into a place of worship…
And though the inside matched the outside, it had a vibe that felt more akin to Juso in his own way. Though a lot of the furniture was still fairly large and therefore required assistance to climb onto, it was lower to the ground than the norm. Especially the table in the living room, with large cushions placed on all four sides for sophonts to sit, with a large couch on one wall, and a display screen on the opposite. Decorations similar to outside were present, and there was a smell of… spices? … in the air. Light, peppery, stimulative. It made Zane’s focus sharpen to some degree. Lantern-shaped lights hung from the ceiling, providing ample illumination.
Connected to this room was the kitchen, looking similar to the one in Chloros’ old hab, somewhat small for an Affini-made kitchen, with stoves, a sink, a central island, and a large compiler where a fridge would be. Other doors, resembling sliding wooden panels instead of mechanical shutters, led to what Zane assumed was the bedroom, and a backyard with a large garden outside, growing around a grand pagoda structure, where countless flowers, vegetables, and other recognizable and alien plants resided.
Sitting at a desk in the living room, apparently working on something on his pad was Juso, who, strangely, was not baring his entire form. He was clad in what looked like a large, silken robe of some sort that clung to his frame, colored similarly to his crimson body. It was called a kimono, Zane was sure. It was slightly parted to show some of his chest, and several of his vines were out. Glimmering, glass-like eyes looked up to address Zane and Walter, and he lowered his pad while offering a big grin. “Hey, hey, dude! Glad you could make it!”
Zane gave a friendly wave with his free hand while watching the towering red plant stand up and approach him. “Yeah, me too.” As Juso drew near, some of those red, fuzzy vines went to pet his head, making him giggle. He didn’t mind. Now that he knew Juso, he was comfortable being touched by him, and he was confident Walter’s owner would respect his boundaries if he wanted to put any up.
Walter disconnected from him, waddling off towards the kitchen. Zane couldn’t help but glance at him as he moved, and his eyes locked onto Walter’s decidedly round, wide bottom and thighs. Hearing his voice kept Zane from getting lost in fantasy. “Be right back, getting some drinks. You like soda?”
“Oh, yeah, get me a root beer, please?”
“Can do!”
While Walter was fiddling with the compiler, Juso took that moment to crouch before Zane, looking him up and down. “You’re just as cute as I saw you the other day, little guy.” More pets followed, this time with one of those robe-clad hands. Zane found himself leaning into his touch with a smile. “How’ve you been?”
Zane reached to hold onto Juso’s arm with both hands as he replied, “I’ve been okay. Just been lounging around with Chloros mostly.” He glanced past the red man and saw that there was a conspicuous absence of Juso’s other floret. “Hey, where’s Amy?”
“Oh, she’s with Kamina and Frey for a sleepover. So it’s just you, me, and Walter. That cool?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
Before long, Walter returned, holding two opened cans of soft drink… but not in his hands. Instead, a panel on his chest had opened, revealing a tray extending from his torso, leaving his hands free. Of the two cans, one was red with a black stripe, while another was brown with gold detailing. Zane graciously accepted the root beer, while Walter took the red can, the tray retracting into his chest, the panel resealing without any visible seams.
Juso’s vines started to coil around the pair, and Zane wiggled in surprise before they were deposited on the couch. Luckily they didn’t spill their drinks. Zane got comfortable in his seat, while Walter shuffled closer, brushing against the much larger man.
“So!” Juso announced, standing up straight, hands clasped together. “Walter here’s told me you’re an avid gamer and writer, yeah?” When Zane nodded, he continued, “Tubular! My flower’s a gamer too. You know he’s got the high score over me in Jaxtris?”
Oh, Zane recognized that game. One of those puzzle games where the goal was to rotate descending blocks and arrange them in lines to clear them out, with the speed of the game increasing over time. Either you keep up, or end up failing due to the screen filling up with too many blocks. Apparently it was based on a game series of a similar nature several centuries in the past.
“Nothing but raw skill,” Walter boasted. Once again, a panel on the side of his head opened, and he tilted his soda can into it. Zane went wide-eyed as Walter was outright pouring soda into his head, and wanted to stop him, but he noticed that Juso didn’t seem to react. When Walter was finished, he closed his head up again, and let out a pleased sigh as he was apparently consuming the soda directly.
“...though I think he cheated a little,” Juso said, looking at his floret with an accusatory expression.
“Sounds like a skill issue, Juso.” Walter was returning the look, sporting a smug grin graphic on his screen face.
Juso scoffed. “You’re lucky I love you, flower.”
Zane snorted in amusement. “Yeah, I was like that with Chloros, too. I beat her at chess during my first week. I thought she’d steamroll me, but as it turns out, I steamrolled her.”
“You serious?” Walter asked, turning to look at Zane with a set of question marks on his screen. “Wow, you must be a real champ.”
“Yeah, but here’s the thing, I haven’t been able to practice it in years. I managed to best her several times!”
Ward and floret continued to talk to each other in an animated fashion, delving into conversation about the games they loved and wanted to play. They traded their favorite achievements, the levels and stages they found the hardest, their favorite music in them… they could have spent hours doing it. Indeed, the next hour was spent with the two indulging in their shared interests, while Juso had left to enter the bedroom, leaving them to their devices.
When he returned, Zane had just finished telling Walter about a game he had been wanting to put together himself, before noticing the red plant was holding something in a pair of vines. That something was… a long robe similar to what Juso was wearing, made of blue, silken material with black accents and highlights.
“Hey!” Juso greeted happily. “Since you’re gonna be here for a bit, I figured I’d treat you to something me and my flowers like to wear. That okay?”
Zane paused, looking at the robe. It looked so impossibly fancy… he had a feeling it was compiled, but even so, it looked like it was hand-made and very expensive. Once again, he was reminded of how the Compact being post-scarcity meant that all sophonts under their authority could have just about anything they wanted from a compiler. It was truly heartwarming.
“You know what, yeah. I’d love that.”
Walter hopped off the couch, taking aim with his empty soda can and flinging it at the compiler in the kitchen. It landed inside and was instantly vaporized, and he cheered while playing a victory fanfare soundbite from his internal speakers. “Heck yeah! Score!”
“Nice throw, dude,” Juso said happily, giving his floret a fistbump, before turning back to Zane. “Say, why don’t you two go hang out in the back? I got some work that needs doing, and I figure you deserve some quality time with my little beeper boy.”
Zane’s expression brightened. “Sounds good!”
“I’ll go on ahead, you can change and catch up,” Walter announced, already walking away off in the direction of the garden.
Zane watched him go, again with his eyes focused on the floret’s hefty rear, and swallowed. For such a small guy, he was very heavy down there…
Shortly after Walter left for the garden, Juso reached over and lightly patted the side of Zane’s face. “Yo, Excellence to Zane. You good?”
Zane blinked, shaking his head. “Y-yeah, sorry, just, um, distracted.”
Juso sported a knowing smirk. “Oh, trust me, you’re not the first to be caught staring at Walter’s butt like that. Just so you know, you two are free to get together if you want. I think he likes you too.~”
Heat rose on Zane’s face, and he stammered, “Uh, um, w-was it that obvious?”
“I could see it even if I was all the way back on the core worlds, dude.~” The red plant ruffled Zane’s hair with a fuzzy vine, making him blush brighter. “And frankly, it makes you even cuter. Now, why don’t you go ahead and change? Don’t wanna keep my little man waiting, you feel me?”
Zane could only nod hastily as he took the offered robe, before a thought crossed his mind. “Um, can I use your bathroom to change, first?”
“Go right ahead, my man. My home is your home.”
He didn’t hesitate to head in that direction, animated by excitement… and arousal.
The garden behind Juso’s hab unit was absolutely gorgeous. It was a huge square walled off by massive hedgerows, with paved stone walkways circling the good-sized pagoda in the middle. Plots and trays of different plant species lined the area, and they seemed to react to the presence of sophonts, as when Zane went to look at a large, blue sunflower-like plant, it leaned towards him and gushed pollen in his face. He recoiled and sneezed loudly, shaking his head, while Walter laughed behind him.
He adjusted the sleeves of his kimono as he turned away and approached the digitized floret. He never got to wear nice, comfortable robes like these, especially ones that went all the way down to his feet. Speaking of, Juso compiled a pair of sandals – known as geta apparently - to wear in place of his shoes, and they were somewhat awkward to walk in at first, mostly because of them being raised on three rows of solid wood, instead of being flat. But he managed to adapt quickly, and found himself enjoying his time in the garden.
In the pagoda, there were large booth seats circling the sides, and the center was dominated by a round table made of thin black metal and red wood. In the dead center was, yes, another small compiler unit. Zane was still surprised to see these things all over the place. Even though he knew that the Affini eliminated scarcity, it kept surprising him how common compilers were.
“Hey, over here,” Walter called out. Zane made his way over, sandals clacking quietly over the pagoda’s floor. The robot was sitting casually on the seats, both arms resting behind his head. Zane joined him before long, sitting to Walter’s left. The height difference between the two was very pronounced again, and for once, Zane didn’t feel so dwarfed by everyone around him.
He noticed how there was music playing in this area. It came from a source he didn’t see. Fittingly enough, it was composed of string instruments to make for a relaxing atmsophere.
Man, Juso really went all out here.
“Pretty cool, eh?” Walter said, displaying a grin on his screen. “I like to come out here sometimes and just set myself to low power mode. You know, just chill and conserve battery power in the flowers.”
“Oh, yeah, I can get that. Like taking a little nap,” Zane replied. The booth seat was big enough that he could shift his hips forward a little and lean back comfortably.
“Yeah!”
Then, Walter did something that caught Zane by surprise. He stood up, and crawled over to Zane… and planted his immense bottom right on his lap. Right away, Zane went from relaxed to flustered, heat rising inside as he stared mutely at the suddenly very forward sophont in his lap, those small hands resting on Zane’s shoulders. Stars, he was soft… and heavy. Walter had him anchored down, and Zane had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to move unless this beeper got off of him first.
“Hey~” Walter greeted with a giggle. “You know, I don’t just play games. I let other people play me too.” There was that smug smirk emoji on his screen again.
“Uh, uh, um… how so?”
Walter gave his reply in the form of his chest paneling sliding open, and out jutted a familiar video game controller attached to him. Four face buttons, two triggers, two bumpers, a start and select button, and a home button, colored white with the buttons and triggers being black with green letters. Walter’s screen changed to display a list of video game titles that seemed to go on forever.
“You can play with me, handsome,” Walter said. His voice seemed to work still while displaying something other than a face. “Just pick a title and it’ll be just like playing on the display inside.”
Zane attempted to say something, but all that came out was incoherent babbling. For a moment, the list disappeared, replaced by Walter’s smiling face again. “Aw, it’s okay, I don’t bite. Lemme prove it to you.”
He leaned forward, pressing the part of his screen where his mouth was against Zane’s mouth. Despite knowing it was a display screen on his face, when Zane’s lips made contact, it felt just like he was kissing someone on the lips for real. And it… tingled. It felt good. Almost like little jolts of electricity surging into him.
By now, with how much Zane had come to love kissing, it was a weakness of his. He moaned against Walter, shuddering. Alas, he couldn’t enjoy it for long, because the very flirtatious sophont in his lap disconnected, making a sighing noise. He displayed a green heart icon for a moment.
“See? I’m a lover and a player. Shall we?”
Zane could only nod, and moved his hands to gently grab the controller affixed to Walter’s torso. The list of games returned. He spent a minute trying to find one he enjoyed, before noticing that one of them, a first person platformer called Shattered Air, was available.
When he selected that, Walter laughed softly. “Somehow I knew you’d pick that, babe. Good choice. Enjoy!”
His new friend leaned back to grant Zane some space to hold the controller with, while his short, stubby arms extended to stay on Zane’s shoulders. “Oh, and I’ll take care of you too while I’m here.” As he finished his sentence, mild vibrations began to emanate from Walter’s hands while he pressed down with them.
As the game started up and Zane played, he was quickly starting to melt under Walter’s touch. The contact felt really nice, especially with the impromptu shoulder massage that melted away what little tension was there. He thought it might be distracting, but no, it actually helped him stay focused. He definitely needed that, considering this game demanded good reflexes and precision platforming above bottomless pits.
For a while, Zane enjoyed himself, with Walter serving as his game console slash massage partner. He had settled comfortably into his chair, slouching, while completing level after level. He was adept at this kind of game, and Walter’s occasional compliments of his progress made it that much better.
As time passed, Zane’s focus was wholly on the game. He didn’t pay attention to Walter sliding a hand under his collar, until it was already there, and he felt his wonderful digits upon his bare skin… though, it made him flinch when he passed over a certain spot.
“Oh? Something wrong?” Walter said. “Wait a minute, scanning… is that… a bite mark?”
Zane had to pause the game, because he instantly became too flustered to engage in any more high speed jumping. He looked away in embarrassment, face quite red. He had managed to hide marks like those quite well, but Walter had managed to find that one. And Zane couldn’t stop him until it was too late.
“Mm… lemme guess. Chloros?”
Zane stuttered while his brain glitched out, unable to process being bluntly teased like this. He couldn’t deny it – ever since Chloros’ transformation, she had become quite hungry and possessive of him, in very carnal ways. While there was the usual intense kisses and makeouts, there was also the application of her new fangs upon his flesh. They weren’t deep enough to cause issues, and his skin healed relatively quickly from them, but last night had her in quite the biting frenzy. His whole body was covered in them, and his clothes covered them up well, so nobody suspected… but Walter had found out.
“Heh, you’re quite the chew toy. And… whoa. Is that…”
Zane swore he couldn’t get redder than this as he belatedly realized that in all the excitement… he had become erect. And he was tenting very noticeably, pressing against Walter’s backside.
Walter made a noise that sounded like purring, which sounded so much hotter when combined with the electronic filter on his voice. “Oh, seems like you’re all wound up, handsome. Maybe we can pause the game for later, and… see about helping you.~”
Zane kept looking away, only for Walter’s free hand to grab his chin with two digits and tug him back to look at the bot. This time, the game was dismissed, bringing Walter’s face back… but the green lights on his body turned a pink color. The controller left Zane’s hands, disappearing into Walter’s chest once more.
“Uh, um, uh…”
“Zane, sweetheart.” Those massive hips pressed downward on Zane’s lap, forcing his imprisoned length to get sandwiched against Walter’s rear. A low, needy moan left the boy while Walter just leaned in, staring into his eyes. “Let me help you feel good, alright? Call it, mm… a late birthday gift.”
Zane could only nod. This short, stacked robot had him so enamored and flustered that it was all he could do to not completely melt right where he sat.
“Good boy.~”
Another firm smooch from Walter followed, while his hands were moving. One was deftly working to open and part the front of Zane’s kimono, exposing his bare torso, and revealing several more bite marks doled out by Chloros. Not just on his shoulders, but on his chest, and his stomach. They were in sets of four, due to Chloros having developed huge fangs on both jaws. The other hand was undoing the folds around Zane’s pelvis, so that the prize within could be revealed.
Zane set his own hands upon Walter’s hips and squeezed, on reflex. His fingers sunk into the softness, feeling just like skin and flesh in his grasp. Now it was Walter’s turn to moan, breaking the kiss. He looked at Zane with his eyes half-lidded, a smug smile visible.
The top of his robe was loosened to reveal one shoulder and part of his torso. And something else was exposed to the cooler air, throbbing, pulsing, aching for a warm hole to be in. When it touched Walter’s skin unobstructed, Zane could only grunt hotly.
“Gosh, you feel so warm,” Walter whispered. “You’re gonna be warmer in a second.”
Zane so badly wanted to ask what that meant. Walter beat him to it in a way that nearly made him cum on the spot.
His length was enveloped by an orifice that was absolutely amazing to be inside of. Snug, warm, and stimulating his pleasure center by huge magnitude. Walter’s hips descended upon him, fitting Zane’s length deeper, until he bottomed out with a grunt. The sounds of breathing, real on Zane’s part and simulated on Walter’s, filled the air, as the latter sat still, keeping Zane buried inside of him.
“Mmmm… perfect fit.~” Walter gave him another soft kiss, this time on his shoulder, right over that bite mark Chloros left behind. So tender, so intimate, so exciting, it made Zane’s nerves light up while he kept a firm hold on those doughy hips.
“I hope you got a big load for me, handsome. Because I’m gonna milk you dry.~”
Wait, what did that mean-?
Ohhhhhhhh starrrrrrssss
The walls around Zane’s member came alive. Undulating, squeezing, clenching. Every inch, from the base to the tip, was given thorough attention, while a low buzzing noise came from behind Walter… and he wasn’t even moving. No, he was just sitting in Zane’s lap, while his insides were hard at work, applying such amazing stimulation. All while Walter busied himself with applying more kisses to what marks he could find, his synthetic hands and digits stroking and rubbing the immensely flustered and aroused boy.
“W-W-Walt-Walter-!” Zane gasped out, panting. He only got a low, teasing chuckle as his reply. He didn’t know if Walter somehow could apply xenodrugs with a touch, but even if he wasn’t doing that right now, he still had Zane quivering and aching for more. If he was a thermometer, he was pretty sure he was close to breaking the glass on the end already.
Walter was relentless. He didn’t hold back, kissing, stroking, groping, and… licking? Zane couldn’t see a tongue, but it felt like Walter was using it on him, especially on the bites. Zane’s body was electrified from all the pleasure, quaking and shuddering, while unable to do anything but grope Walter’s hips and thighs like he was holding on for dear life. He wanted to move his hips, but Walter’s weight prevented it.
Walter seemed to pick up on that, though. He shifted his lower body back and forth, grinding Zane around inside of him, while his insides continued the unending milking. Every squish, every clench, every rub, it was doing a number on Zane. So much, that he felt like he was about to burst already.
Walter paused in his affection to glance up at Zane, with several heart emojis displayed on his face. “Oh? You getting close?” he said.
“Y-y-y-yes, f-fuck, guh, W-Walter, I, oh gosh!”
Walter moved to hold Zane’s face with both hands now, making him look at the beeper that was about to make him burst. “Then do me a favor and cum for me.~”
The command could not be ignored. Zane let out a moan that was quickly muffled by the application of Walter’s screen on his lips, forcing him into silence with a firm smooch. All the while, Zane’s back arched, lightning surging through his spine. He pulsed inside of Walter, every firm twitch and throb bringing big, messy spurts to paint the digitized sophont’s insides white. Zane absolutely couldn’t move, and could only sit there, made to kiss and climax at the hands of Walter Jeng, First Floret.
His sack was tensed up, his body fulfilling the biological urge to put out as much seed as possible into this warm, willing hole that wrapped around him. And Zane swore he was seeing stars as his vision swam, unable to think, brain completely blanked out by the tidal wave of ecstasy.
All good things came to an end, however. Zane’s orgasm was no different. It faded eventually, Walter’s backside still rippling over him to ensure every last bit of it was spent inside. When he was certain Zane had no more to spare, the milking ceased, leaving just soft flesh that was still around Zane’s manhood.
Zane groaned in post-climax exhaustion, staring at Walter’s pink-hued screen as he pulled off of the kiss. He was left gasping, winded, and absolutely spent. Yet Walter didn’t release him, not yet.
“There we go… see what I mean?” Walter murmured, his eyes and mouth returning. “That felt good, didn’t it?”
“Y… yeah… fuck…”
“Mm, you’re lucky Juso’s busy, otherwise he’d have told you off for the swearing,” Zane’s partner said. He lightly poked Zane’s nose with a grin. “But I forgive you. You’re excellent, babe. We should do this again sometime.”
The only thing Zane could respond with was a weak, pleased smile.
›DarlingFlowerBoy: hey walter
›MiniMenace: yo zane! ^.^
›MiniMenace: I meant what I said yesterday, you’re excellent :3
›MiniMenace: next time I’ll let you take the lead, maybe put me face down :WalterPeach:
›DarlingFlowerBoy: oahfaolhgalokugbhapwoiubgp9obp91b12b102
›MiniMenace: hey don’t hurt your keyboard lol ;3c
›DarlingFlowerBoy: I um
›DarlingFlowerBoy: okay
›DarlingFlowerBoy: still thinking abt your butt…
›MiniMenace: always welcome to get a taste, just say when <3 :BeepHeart:
›DarlingFlowerBoy: ill let you know huff >.>
›MiniMenace: that’s the spirit, cutie~!
Chapter 33: Plasticity
Summary:
Learning to let go is its own kind of freedom.
Sometimes, the pressure can be far too much. Luckily, Chloros has a solution for Zane’s worries… a week-long solution, specifically.
Content warnings: Panic attack in intro, self-loathing, Class-L usage, biting, breast-sucking… many lewd tags here lmao
Notes:
This is my longest chapter yet, and HOLY BALLS was it fun. And also tiring. But still fun!
Fellas like Zane, they go through so much crap. They deserve to take a load off. And that includes being totally blissed out for an entire week. Good thing Chloros is there to get him rolling!
Something sweet, something lewd, something sad, something happy. It's the... quadfecta? Is that a word? Well, it is now.
Anyway! Enjoy the little man going on a big trip :3
Chapter Text
Zane couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t be. Everything had fallen away and he was just in the void now. The void of absolute, unending emptiness as all his trauma enveloped him. It was holding onto him with a death grip, an enormous, shadowy hand crushing his body.
Displaced. Distorted. Disjointed.
He was nowhere. He was everywhere.
Undeserving.
He deserved nothing.
Nothing but pain.
He knew they all secretly hated him. Frey. Simon. Amy. Walter. Isaac.
Chloros.
She saw him as a burden, surely. What else could he be? He was dead weight in the shape of a man. Her love was fake. It had to be.
She didn’t care. He wasn’t her son. He couldn’t be. He was just a toy. A useless sack of meat who was only good for being manipulated and twisted into something else. No matter what she promised, no matter how much she told him otherwise… she lied.
She lied.
SHE LIED.
LIED LIED LIED LIED LIED
ALL OF IT WAS LIES
WHY DID THEY LIE
IT’S ALL A LIE IT ALWAYS WAS A LIE
THEIR LOVE IS A LIE
AND
“Zane.”
Over now. Darkness receding. Self-loathing diminishing. Chaos fading away.
Sanctuary had a name, and it was Chloros Momma. All around him, he saw glittering, shifting blue hues, forcing the demons in his mind to go back to their holes, where they belonged. They could not last long under her powerful gaze. Nothing could.
“You’re alright. Just breathe, I’m here.”
Vibrating through him. Anchoring him in this plane. Compelling his lungs and mouth to work, drawing in fresh air, and taking the oxygen he needed, while expelling carbon dioxide.
“Slow and steady. Easy now. You’re okay. Just breathe for me, baby.”
Had he been shaking this whole time? If so, he was winding down from it, his body becoming still under her gaze. He was in a sitting position, on a couch of some sort.
“There we go. Come back to me, sweetie. Momma’s got you.”
Dragged back from the brink. Back to this world, back in…
The living room of the castle. On one of the couches. Clad in his pajamas and slippers, his cane having fallen to the ground.
And in front of him.
Chloros. Momma.
Everything was fine again.
When her gaze broke, he let out a gasp, then a quiet sob. She was quick to move close, holding his face in her hands. She closed her eyes while resting her head on his own, and for a while, that was all she did. Let him work through the remnants of that breakdown, prevent it from making him collapse.
Time passed slowly as Zane leaned against Chloros. his sobs reduced to mute little gasps. He tried to speak, but nothing came out. Damn it, he couldn’t articulate what was wrong. He thought it had been dealt with already…
Chloros moved to sit on the couch with him, and draw him into her lap. He felt her vines and upon him, easing his stress and worries away with the pets and touches that he loved. It did a lot to remind him of their bond and how she wouldn’t leave.
“Can you speak, baby?”
He shook his head no. Around him, she retrieved the pad that belonged to him, setting it in his hands. A word processing program was opened on the screen, with the onscreen keyboard ready and waiting for his input.
“Use this for now, okay? Just write what’s on your mind.”
This avenue of conversation would work. He obeyed, starting to write in the word processor.
Had a panic attack. Thought I was doing okay. Then got overwhelmed by thoughts of
He paused, fingers hovering over the keys. He glanced at Chloros for a moment, unsure, and she helped that dissipate with a light ruffling of his hair.
Then got overwhelmed by thoughts of loathing. Didn’t think I deserved anything. Thought everything was a lie. Think part of me still can’t believe any of this is real.
Chloros made a “hm” sound while she read what he put in. “How often do you have these thoughts, sweetie?”
Often. They come and go. They stay mostly in check. But I think it got to be too much today. Sorry.
One of her vines occupied itself with rubbing his cheek. “I understand. It can’t be comfortable, dealing with them all the time.”
No. They’re not. Don’t know what causes them. They just happen.
Chloros was quiet, apparently taking time to think. That was fine, it let Zane rest against her pillow-like body and enjoy the way her existence drove away the darkness that was determined to swallow him whole. He needed her, and she was there for him, every time.
He knew that she would never abandon him, no matter what his subconscious traumas said. The problem, then, lay in doing something about those traumas. He couldn’t do it alone. No terran was an island, especially not in the Compact.
He typed something else.
Want it to stop. Please.
Her gaze was on him again, and her extra eyes sparkled as they made contact with his own. Leaves obscured her regular pair. “If you like, I have a solution to that. It’s something we call Class-L.”
What is it?
“A special xenodrug, a more low-key version of Class-O. It’s designed to temporarily blot out conscious thought, leaving the recipient in a blissful haze. You will not be able to consciously think, but it will protect you from your anxiety and doubts, at least for a while.”
Is it safe?
“Of course. A friend of mine on another ship put his ward under Class-L some time ago. It does wonders for dealing with persistent trauma.”
Do you already have some?
“I do not. But we can go to a cafe that specializes in it.”
A cafe?
“Yes. Would you like that?”
He hesitated, before typing again.
You won’t let anything bad happen to me while I’m out?
“Of course not. You will be perfectly safe, I promise. You may not remember everything for the duration, but it will feel very good. Think of it like… mm, letting your spirit fly around unrestrained, while your body’s still back here with me. When I help you down from it, I will call you back, and you’ll be functional again.”
He still had some doubts. Doubts that would likely get erased and shut out if he went through with this. Did he still trust her? Or… or…
Crap. There go those intrusive thoughts again. He had his answer.
Let’s do it then. Just take care of me while I’m gone.
“Absolutely, darling. Would you like me to carry you there?”
Please.
And so, with the decision made, Zane could only cling to his warden, held comfortably against her bust, as she moved to leave the hab unit. He heard her say something to Gerald, who wished her and Zane well, before they vacated the castle proper.
Zane hoped this would work.
Brandy’s Cuddle Club was nothing like the cafes that Zane had been to previously. For one thing, it was a big place, with a huge chandelier illuminating the whole area, and browns, golds and blacks making up the color scheme of the furniture and décor. Speaking of, there was furniture all over the place that looked more like it was meant for cats and dogs, but immensely super-sized. Pillows, cushions, and blankets were everywhere, providing lots of soft places to rest on. Zane was tempted to ask for Chloros to simply deposit him on one, but he decided against it.
And… wow. So many terrans. And a few Affini, too. The terrans were all just lounging around, draped over furniture and cushions, eyes glazed over. None of them seemed to be capable of thinking, or even speaking, as the only time they reacted to someone’s presence was if they physically drew near. Indeed, as Chloros walked him through the place with him against her chest, he could see that several blissed-out terrans pawed at her legs, almost like cats. Hell, some were even making noises like cats, mostly purring and the occasional “miao”. Her vines had gone to give them little pats on her way, but she didn’t stop moving.
Chloros explained to him that this place was a J-cafe, where on top of offering a set of Class-L drinks to ramp him up towards complete blissful heaven, there were several sophonts sitting around, available for cuddling, petting, and all kinds of affection while doped up on Class-J. It struck him as strange, but… also calming. The idea of being just a brainless cuddle pet was enticing…
“Hey, hey!” he heard a voice call out. He turned his head, and saw that Chloros had brought him to the ordering counter. Stationed at it was a particularly large Affini, who stood out by looking very robotic. Though it had the silhouette of an Affini, it had all the trademarks of them made synthetic. Vines made out of cables and wires, large ear-like body parts dangling from the sides of its head, and over its face, a visor shaped vaguely like a mammal’s snout was present, with bright, glowing purple eyes on the sides. Its body was silver with facsimiles of purple flowers on its thin frame. “Good to see you, Chloros! Been a while, how goes things?”
“They’re going just fine, Brandy,” Chloros said kindly. Her hand went to lightly scritch Zane’s scalp, making him sigh softly.
Brandy leaned forward, planting two large paw-like hands upon the counter, observing Chloros’ son for a moment. “Oh, is this your boy you’ve told me about? He looks like such a sweetie.”
“He sure is. Zane, this is Brandy Trusk, Fifth Bloom, it/its. It’s the Affini running this place.”
Zane still couldn’t find his voice, and could only look up at Brandy, giving a little wave. It regarded him with a kind expression on its face. “Good to meet you, little guy.” It turned its head up to regard Chloros now. “What do you fancy today? The usual mineral water?”
“Actually,” Chloros said above him, “I’m wanting to treat him to your… what was it called again? The Class-L package…”
“Ah! The ‘Lots of Loving’ package!” Brandy formed a grin on its visor. “Wanting him to go to party planet, are we?”
“You could say that.~”
An adoring laugh left the synthetic plant. Right away, Zane felt some of his tension slipping, but it was still there. He saw Brandy lift its paws up and adjust its digits to point one index finger each at them, thumbs extended as well. Finger guns. Okay, that got Zane to laugh in reply.
“I’ll have that right out in a jiffy for ya! You just go ahead and get yourself settled in, mkay?”
“Thanks, Brandy.~”
Shortly after, Chloros and Zane were seated on a large couch in front of a huge window, letting light from above creep in, with a table in front of them. He was seated next to his warden, and attempted to speak. It was in a quiet whisper, but he was able to use his voice again.
“Um, Chloros?” he murmured, holding his hand in hers. “What should I expect with this Class-L thing?”
He leaned into the touch of her vines on his head while she answered, “It’s a set of three drinks, one after the other. It’s meant to prime your body and get yourself nice and relaxed. You’ll have difficulty speaking, then thinking, as it progresses, while your body becomes more and more sensitive.”
“More than… more than the Class-A?”
Chloros nodded. “Yes. When all the drinks are consumed, I will seal the deal and give you an injection so you can, as Brandy put it, ‘go to party planet’.”
“And, um…” He paused, squeezing a vine in his free hand. “That’s when I’ll be totally out of it.”
“Right. From there, it will be impossible to think or pay attention to anything for any length of time. You will effectively be putty in everyone’s vines and hands for the next week. And I will make sure you’re safe and sound during it.”
That sounded a touch scary. Especially the part with the injection. He still didn’t like needles all that much. And a week sounded like so long…
But Chloros knew what she was doing. All the Affini knew what they were doing. If they had this down to a literal science, then the only obstacle was allowing them to take over.
He trusted Chloros. He trusted her to do right by him and keep him safe while he got to embrace a period of bliss.
He was about to say something else, when Brandy came striding over on two double-jointed, digitigrade, hydraulic legs. It made pleasant beeping noises as it deposited a tray upon the table, and on that tray, three clear glasses filled with fizzy, colorful liquid in three colors – blue, pink, and purple. There was also some kind of small syringe, loaded with a glowing pink fluid inside, and a cap upon the needle.
“Alright, here you are!” Brandy announced. It stood up, and gently patted Zane on the head with a synthetic vine, making the man sag, before looking at Chloros. “You know the procedure, right?”
Chloros nodded. “Yes, I was just explaining it to Zane here.”
“Perfect! You should be all good.” It addressed him now. “Bet you’re gonna look super cute soon. Have a good trip, petal~”
And then Brandy was gone, off to attend to other patrons. Zane turned his gaze away from it, and focused on the drinks now. For something meant to scramble and suppress his mind for a week, they didn’t look all that threatening. Fun and colorful, yes, but not implying anything to do with the mind.
He swallowed. He had come this far. He might as well cross the threshold now before he got second thoughts.
“Are you ready, my love?” Chloros observed him, her shadowed visage looking down on him with delight in her eyes.
“...yeah. Um, bottom’s up, I guess.” A pause, followed by a blush. “And, uh, just so you know… you have my express permission to, um… use your teeth on me while I’m gone.”
“Liking being a chew toy, eh? Cute.”
A tendril from Chloros found the first drink, the pink one, and brought it to his lips. Accepting it in his hands, Zane placed his lips upon the edge of the glass, and took a big swig.
And holy crap it was sweet. Almost too much so, but he was able to down it relatively quickly. It had a very pleasant strawberry flavor, too! Already, he was feeling the effects – his tongue tingled as it was slightly numbed, while sweet flavors danced over his tastebuds. When it was all the way down his gullet, he let Chloros take the glass back, and waited a moment.
“Um, h-how long in between drinks?” he asked.
“Five minutes, minimum. Just so each stage has a chance to properly kick in and warm you up. How’s it feel now?”
“It’s… it’s… nice,” he slurred, blinking his eyes. “Tongue feels… bit heavy.” A sudden giggle out of nowhere. “Hehe, feelsssss… feels great.”
“That’s the first primer. Doing good so far.”
Just to test its effectiveness, he attempted to think long and hard about… something. Something difficult, something that would require a lot of brainpower. His brow furrowed, and at first, he was succeeding at trying to calculate some mathematical equations in his head. Let’s see, carry the 1, divide by 5… multiply… multiply… wait, do what? He lost track. Something about an equation, or… what?
Oh, he didn’t expect it to do that. He looked up at Chloros, who had already grabbed the other two drinks and the syringe in her vines, while scooping him up into her arms. “I’ll keep track of the time, don’t worry. Let’s go see what the pets are up to, hm?”
Zane nodded, a hiccup leaving him, almost like he was already tipsy. He kind of was, all things considered. But, you know, more.
Wait, that was the answer to his equation! 53!
...what equation? Ah, who gave a damn. Chloros was carrying him away and that was more important.
In the outside dining area, surrounded by trees, bushes, and more drugged-up pets, Zane made a discovery.
He stared at the blissed-out man before him, perched cross-legged on a soft cushion on the ground. He recognized him right away, even after several years.
Maurice, one of his best friends that he got along with quite well in school. Zane remembered he was quite a scrawny kid who was a frequent target of bullies, and eventually he had disappeared. Zane had wondered what his fate was… and it turned out, he was part of the J-cafe now. Sprawled out on a large pillow, clad in pink and white pajamas, the tiny boy of years past was now a fully grown man, with his hair having grown out into several long, braided locks tipped with shiny pink metal on the ends.
The Maurice of now was a far cry from the Maurice of then. He used to be easily spooked and nervous, and had trouble speaking around strangers. Zane was one of his few friends, bonding with him over a musician they both liked. Now, he was completely happy, totally high and rolling around with a comical grin on his face.
Zane sat in front of the man, squinting. This was how Maurice ended up after all these years? He didn’t know what to think of it. Especially with how Maurice didn’t seem to register his childhood friend existed in front of him. Though, Zane himself had changed a lot ever since Chloros became his warden, so it was only natural…
Maurice turned his head up, and locked eyes with Zane. Zane stared back. For a moment, they were in a staring contest, with Maurice’s face shifting a little in seeming recognition…
Then it faded, returning to that dopey grin of his. He muttered something incoherent, before crawling over to Zane. Zane’s eyes widened and he sat still, before… Maurice promptly flopped onto his lap, nuzzling his face against Zane’s stomach with a giggle.
This was such a far cry from how Maurice was like before. Was this still the same boy he knew years ago?
“Making friends?” Chloros teased from behind, peering over Zane’s shoulder. “Seems like this one enjoys you.”
“Uh… um, yeah. I actually knew him as a kid,” Zane said. “He disappeared one day and I never got to see him again. And… stars, I swear it’s him I’m looking at.”
“Mm.” Chloros reached down to pat Maurice on the head, a delighted mewl leaving the very high man. Zane followed suit, hesitantly, and was rewarded with more nuzzles into his hand. “Well, whatever he’s been through, he’s in a much better spot now, I’d say.”
Zane wanted to reply, but for a fraction of a second, his brain got stuck. His mouth refused to work properly, making him say a bit of gibberish instead. Wait, what did he want to say?
“Oh, that reminds me,” Chloros laughed, while bringing the blue-colored drink into his line of sight. “Five minutes are up. Next stage is here. Ready?”
“Y… yeah,” Zane managed, albeit with difficulty. “Can, um… can you help?”
“Of course, dear.~”
This time, Zane could only hold the glass with one hand as Chloros brought it to him. Up it tipped, sending the cerulean fizz past his lips and into his mouth. Though not as sweet as the pink, and having a blue raspberry taste to it, the texture was very different. The pink drink was more liquidy, like a soda. The blue, in contrast, was more creamy, almost like a milkshake. So weird… so tasty.
This glass was now emptied, and right away Zane felt its effects take hold. He had a light buzz before, and everything stayed mostly grounded in reality then. Now, it was becoming more distorted. Colors warped and diffracted slightly, and everything seemed to shimmer and wiggle.
He felt lighter. Less heavy. No weight. Hold on, what was weight again? It had a definition, but it was escaping him now. Well, that didn’t matter. Definitions were stupid anyway.
He blinked his eyes, and when he spoke, it came out slurred and hesitant. “C… Chlorossss...~”
“Yes, dear?”
“I… feeeeeeel it… gooooood.~”
“Mhm, that’s expected. Another five minutes, then we get the third. Why don’t we explore a bit before the next stage?”
“Okay…”
Zane felt his hands slipping off of Maurice, and though he heard a whine from his former schoolmate, he saw Maurice quickly get distracted by what looked like a butterfly passing by. Somehow he didn’t feel bad about that.
Once more, he was scooped into Chloros’ embrace, and brought back inside.
Chloros was talking to… someone. Zane wasn’t sure. They looked familiar though. Must be a friend.
Wait, his vision was clearing for a second. Suddenly he recognized them! It was… it was…
“J-Juuuso?”
“Hey, little dude,” the owner of Amy and Walter replied kindly. “Approximately how high are you?”
“Ummm… five foot seven?”
He heard laughter around him, while Chloros held him against her… her breasts. Right! He knew what breasts were. They were soft, squishy, full of… stuff. Milk. Yeah. Very nice.
He shook his head a little, managing to focus some more. The haze felt good, but he wanted to talk to Juso face to face.
They were back inside. They were at a different table now, with Juso being bare again. And Amy was accompanying him at this time. She looked pretty… so pretty… was she high too?
“H-hiii Amy,” Zane slurred, giggling. “I’m… I’m high.”
“Y-yeah, you are,” Amy chortled in turn, her face flushed pink. “I am too. Feels super good.~”
Suddenly he didn’t care about Juso anymore in that moment. Even in the second stage of bliss, Zane was able to keep his attention on Amy. He tuned out Chloros and Juso’s conversation, focusing on Amy’s lovely features. Pretty, pretty, pretty… she had such lovely hair. He felt an urge to pet it, but resisted. Would that be weird? He didn’t know.
“You been… good?”
“Mhm! Really… wiggly. Nice. Real nice. Juso takin’ care of me. S’nice.”
“Oh, yeah. Chloros… caring for me too, hehe.”
Speaking of his Affini.
A vine that he immediately knew belonged to her touched his face. When it did, the usual nice sensations felt so much more. Like being caressed by the hand of an angel. Zane tried to say more, but all that came out was a little spurt of nonsense. He blushed in embarrassment, but Amy laughed anyway. She had such a cute laugh. He wanted to hear it more.
He inhaled quietly, grabbing one of Chloros’ vines and rubbing it in his hands. He needed to distract his fingers with something, and Chloros was right there.
Chloros was nice.
Real nice.
She said something, he was sure, but he didn’t know what. It sounded kind of muffled. Meh. Amy was more important…
Something grabbed his chin with a gentle hand and tilted his head up, and now his focus was on Chloros only. He blinked his eyes, laughing.
“H-hi, Momma,” he babbled.
“Hi, you.” Chloros was smiling at him, he could tell. “Five minutes are up again. Ready for the next stage?”
“Mm… mhm. Yeah. Do it. Put more stuff in the… the thing more stuff goes in.~”
A glass with purple liquid this time. This one had a straw, and looked more like some kind of slushie.
“Sluuuushie,” Zane drawled out. “Want it.”
“Go right ahead, baby.”
He eagerly caught the straw in his lips and began to suck it down. A steady stream of sweetness, the slushie melting in his mouth and filling him with… stuff. Yeah. Stuff. Good stuff! He liked that.
A minute passed as Chloros helped him finish off that third drink, and… and…
Wow, was it already taking effect? He couldn’t think. Or rather, he couldn’t think for longer than a few seconds. He kept flitting between thoughts like a kid in a candy store, easily distracted by the next shiny or sweet thing. Which, again, was rather accurate.
“Alright, all drinks gone,” Chloros said to him. She sounded so… sweet. Lovely. She always was. He loved that. He loved her. A lot.
“N… neeeext?” Zane wiggled in her embrace, every touch to his body feeling like utter euphoria. Even through his clothing, as if it wasn’t even there.
Wait, what were clothes again? Meh, something dumb, probably.
“Another five minutes,” he heard Chloros say. “Then… that’s when you take off.”
“Okayyyy...~”
He was lifted again and taken somewhere else.
On a pillow. A big one. A nice one.
Amy and Maurice. Cuddled against him. All three of them high like a kite. What was a kite again? Damn it, he really needed to keep definitions in his head.
Zane groaned quietly while having two delightful sophonts snuggled against him. The air was filled with soft coos, purrs, and chuckles. While Maurice was completely out of it, Amy and Zane still had some semblance of conscious thought left.
They were… kissing him. Maurice and Amy. Kissing him a lot. Maurice was sluggish and delayed, mostly just kissing along Zane’s cheek and jawline, but Amy was focused on his mouth. When their lips touched, it made so many sensations bloom and blossom within his brain as pleasure was transmitted through his body. Stars, he loved it...
In the distance, he saw three Affini standing together. Chloros, his beloved Momma. Juso, the cool, laidback fellow. And… Brandy. The one who set Zane onto the path to party planet.
Party planet. It sounded super cool.
What was time again? Whatever it was, he lost track. And though he was mildly worried about the inability to… to… think…
What was he thinking about again?
Oh, more of Amy’s kisses. He liked those. Especially with how her lips and tongue tasted like cherry. He loved cherries!
He was all set to get into a complete makeout session with her, but then, a familiar floral giant approached. One who was green, blue, and motherly. And she had such lovely breasts and thighs...
Amy rolled off of him, giggling her head off, letting Zane stare up at his delightful Momma. He gave her a big smile, heart fluttering.
“It’s about time, Zane,” Momma said sweetly. “Are you ready for the plunge?”
The haze was thick. It was becoming increasingly difficult to string together the brain cells in his head to form anything resembling a thought. Somehow he didn’t care.
And yet, he managed to focus, just long enough to look at Momma. His smile faded slightly, and he put all his willpower into speaking.
“Am… am… am I gonna… go to… party?”
Momma drew near and gave him the kisses he loved so much on his cute little nose, the syringe held up in front of him. It looked scary. But he wasn’t scared. It was just a thing. Just… a thing. Yeah.
“You’ll party so much, my love. And you deserve to have a good time.” Another kiss, on his lips, sending liquid flame through his veins and making him squirm, the whole world spinning around him. “I love you, my sweet boy.”
“Love… love you too, Momma.~”
“I’ll see you in a week, my sweet prince. Have fun.~”
He felt a prick in his neck.
And
it all
started to
twist
change
haha
funny shapes
funny feelings
funny…
funny…
…
…
…
...gone…
Day one of Zane’s L bender.
“...now, make sure to support his head,” Chloros advised, looking at Frey. “You’re smaller than me, so you have to make sure his posture is good.” They nodded, holding her son up as instructed, letting their wiggly, giggly, smiley pinnate cling to them with his face nuzzling against their chest. Zane babbled something nonsensical, eyes completely unfocused.
“Like this?” Frey asked, shifting Zane up so his head was higher, with one hand on the back of his head.
“Yes, exactly. Now, he’s a biter and a nibbler when it comes to nursing, and he gets carried away sometimes. Give him a little touch on his ear and he’ll know to settle, at least for a few moments.”
“Sounds good.” Kamina’s rose pulled part of their top aside, revealing their dark areola. Zane didn’t notice right away, momentarily staring off into space and laughing at nothing. It took Frey guiding him to that bare nipple for him to cotton on to its existence, and even in his fogged-up state, his instincts kicked in. His mouth sealed over Frey’s nipple, and he was already starting to suck and nibble and bite.
“Oh! Oh, my… that’s… a feeling,” Frey gasped. “I mean, he’s sucked my nipples before, but not like… this.”
“Do you like it, though?”
“Oh, absolutely...~”
Chloros had a knowing look in her eyes.
She had invited Frey and Kamina over to hang out in the castle while Zane was off in paradise. The pair were all too happy to come over, with Frey wanting to be the first of his pinnates to check him out once he was completely under. They were in the media room, with the trio enjoying some snacks as they watched a lighthearted romantic comedy that Kamina had recommended.
Chloros relaxed in her huge seat, alternating her attention between the movie and Zane in Frey’s lap. Kamina was seated to her left, her vines tangled with Chloros’ to let their rhythms join together as good friends, a smile on her faux-cyclopic visage.
Ever since her darling boy went all the way under, it was a marked change. Before, he was lucid, and susceptible to the darkness of his mind overtaking him. Now, he was free. Free to just laze around, barely cognizant of anything, and reacting with glee and joy to the lightest of touches.
And he sounded so adorable whenever he tried to speak. So far, he didn’t say any proper words, though he got very close to getting out “mom-” before he collapsed into giggles.
In her core, Chloros knew that this was exactly what her son needed. Just one good week of nothing but heaven. And she would be with him every step of the way.
“Chloros, hey, you’re missing it,” Kamina said, squeezing the oldbloom’s vine. Chloros’ head snapped up, just in time for a particularly good bit of slapstick in the movie to be shown.
A round of laughs and giggles from all three parties rang out, though Frey’s were cut off by a moan. Zane was ignorant of everything going on, his attention all on Frey’s chest.
When there was a break in the comedy and everyone settled down, Chloros turned back to Frey again. “Remind me, didn't you say you wanted to try out lactating as well?”
Frey shrugged. “Occasionally. Still waffling on it a bit.” They nudged Zane off of their nipple, and though he gave a disappointed whine, he was guided to their other breast that was exposed to him. He quickly settled down, groaning in delight in their embrace. “Mmf… but if Zane here likes it so much, I might pull the trigger on it soon.”
“Fernis can hook you up,” Kamina chimed in. “He’s great at that. In fact, maybe we’ll do that at your next checkup, flower.”
“Think we can put it off until Zane’s lucid again? Because, mm…” Their fingers were running through Zane’s hair, earning a shudder and a moan, partially muffled by their bust. “I want him to know it’s me he’s tasting.”
“Trying to steal my thunder, Frey?” Chloros said in mock-envy, chuckling.
“Oh, frost no, I can’t be a mother like you. Don’t have the mindset for it. But holding my boyfriend against my boobs like this? I’m all for it.”
“Sounds lovely.~”
Chloros settled into watching the movie again, thankful that she had two lovely sophonts among the circles she and Zane shared.
It was truly a blessing.
Day two of Zane’s L bender.
“Alright, let’s have a look-see,” Fernis said as he helped Zane sit up on the chair. Chloros’ son grunted and huffed, muttering something, but he let Fernis do as he wished. He went still for a moment, staring off at nothing again, a lazy smirk on his face.
Chloros stood nearby, watching her good friend check on him in the vet’s examination room. How fitting that the place she met Zane in was the same one he was spending his second day on his trip inside of. She knew what she was doing, but she brought her son to Fernis for a checkup just in case, so that she could be absolutely sure that she was doing things correctly. Fernis was all too happy to oblige, as it had been quite some time since he got to see Zane up close.
She watched as Fernis carefully observed Zane, moving his limbs to gauge responses, watching his eyes, testing his reaction speed, the works. As expected, Zane’s reactions were either muted or severely delayed, all while he continued to laugh. It made Chloros’ core flutter.
“Everything seems to be in order,” the coal-black Affini vet remarked. “He’s completely under. No signs of stress or agitation whatsoever. How long ago did you say he started?”
“Two days back,” Chloros answered, one hand on her hip. “He’s taking very well to it. He’s been so much happier since it started.”
“That much is apparent,” Fernis mused. His dark vines ran over Zane’s form to give him affectionate touches, delighting in his cheerful, sluggish responses. “And how much longer do you intend for him to stay like this?”
Chloros pulled her pad out and double checked her calendar. “Mm… a full week. So after today, five more days.”
“That’s about average for Class-L. Good. You know what to do by the final day?” He turned his head to regard her, gold eyes making contact with gleaming blue.
“Oh, yes.” She had some of her vines manifest, several of them sporting needles. They weren’t loaded yet, but when the time came, they would be. “Help him wind down with a deactivator injection every few hours, let him gradually return to a lucid state of mind. He likely won’t remember anything, but he’ll be back to normal when it wears off all the way.”
Fernis’ mouth curled in a delighted smile, the thorns on his body rippling. “Perfect. Unless there’s anything else, you’re free to take him home and keep him like this for the rest of the week.” His vines retracted, and he stepped aside. Chloros came over and scooped her precious boy into her arms again, and he let out a flustered “mahhhh” before burying his face in her bust.
“Sounds wonderful. Oh, before I go,” she said, turning to her friend, “when’s the next karaoke night at Serif’s Sinkhole? I want to hear Robin sing again.”
“It’s tomorrow night.” Fernis stood up straight, taking his pad out and writing something. “She’s been practicing a new song lately. Want to hear a preview?”
Chloros shook her head. “I’d prefer to wait for her live performance, if that’s alright.”
“Absolutely.” One of his vines went over to her, and she instinctively reached her own out, tangling their rhythms together. A relaxed sigh escaped Chloros while Fernis continued, “Your work is paying off with this man, Chloros. I remember when he first arrived. He looked so awful…”
“Oh, I know.” Chloros adjusted Zane’s position in her arms while he grunted, his hands moving to grab at her breasts and squish them. She laughed, petting his head affectionately. “But now he’s so much better. I’m honored to have him.”
“You two are a good match. Hold on to him.”
Oh, she absolutely would.
Day three of Zane’s L bender.
Strung up in the bedroom, arms and legs snared by her vines, Zane could only moan from the stimulation as he was completely bound by his warden. And Chloros delighted in how he looked.
Naked as the day he was born, completely exposed to her. His tanned, chubby body was on display, all his soft, huggable features just begging to be grabbed. And of course, she was grabbing him. Touching him. Groping him. Making him writhe and huff under her affections.
“Everbloom, you’re a novelty,” she whispered. It was at a low volume, but she knew that to her son, it would reverberate through his entire being. She didn’t even need to put her biorhythm on full blast, he’d react as if it was anyway. “So soft, so sweet, so…”
She trailed off. Behind the shadows under her hat, Chloros’ mouth opened. Four fangs, two on the top and bottom, were bared, made of hardened plant matter. She had been inspired by some kind of mystical creature the terrans called “vampires”, and so, she had decided to play into that as well. It matched her newfound hunger for this gorgeous boy of hers.
She drew close, growling in desire. Some of the bite marks from last week had already faded, while others were still there, albeit faint against his skin. That wouldn’t do. She had to add more. She would add more. She needed to add more.
Zane’s head lolled to the side, exposing his neck to her. Good timing. She held him, her hands stroking along his form, loving the way his hairless, squishy body felt. He had become so much cuter in her care. It was a reversal of his life before he was found, and she would make sure it would continue.
“So…”
She puffed a pollen-filled breath in his face, making him gasp. “Maaaah….?”
“So delicious.”
She leaned in, pressing her fangs upon the space between his neck and his shoulder. Points dug into his vulnerable flesh, and then sunk in. He flinched, and for an instant she wanted to pull off and soothe him, apologizing for hurting him, but he slouched again. His hips moved in a jerky fashion, his manhood throbbing from the overwhelming pleasure.
She purred over him, several more vines finding his pelvis and backside. She stroked firmly, and teased against the soft ring nestled between his cheeks back there. All the while, he bled for her… and she tasted his blood. Rich. Warm. Sweet. Frost, it was almost as intoxicating as actual drugs…
She spent hours marking him like this. Feeding, pleasuring, leaving him pock marked with her fangs. And when the time came for him to orgasm, she allowed him, moaning alongside him. She angled herself so he came all over her breasts, remembering that was also one of his florn searches. She made sure to capture the image on her pad, so she could tease him about it later...
And eventually, once she had her fill, she released him, all her vines retreating into her body. She took the time to dress his wounds and give him nutrients to restore the blood he lost, help him get dressed again, and tuck him into bed for a nap. She gave him plenty of kisses and praise, too. Later that evening, she’d take him out to see Robin perform.
Seeing a songbird do what she did best was a good way to relax after all that.
Day four of Zane’s L bender.
While Zane was spinning in one of the spare chairs at Corta’s Clips, making adorable “weee!” sounds, Chloros took the time to chat with Kaiga Corta himself. She and Isaac’s owner were seated at a table a ways away from the main area, while Isaac himself was keeping an eye on him, just to keep him safe.
“So,” Kaiga started, his bark-clad body at ease while he absorbed some vitamin water from a glass. One of his hands found Chloros’, and he held her tenderly as they sat together. “What’s it like, being his warden?”
He was referring to Zane, of course. And she knew exactly how to answer it.
“It’s a lot like being an actual mother,” Chloros answered. “Which is probably cliché, I know. But I’ve been wanting something like this for several Blooms now, and I never thought I’d find the one for me.”
“Mm.” Kaiga’s body creaked quietly as he adjusted his posture. Hammered rubies locked with azure as they conversed. “I was like that before I met Isaac. Even though I’m a youngbloom, I still felt like something was missing, no matter how many wards I’ve cared for.”
Behind them, Chloros heard Zane yell in excitement, and she turned to see Isaac was holding him above his head. Her son had his arms spread, imitating some kind of aerial vessel. She laughed, while Kaiga raised his voice. “Isaac, honey, make sure you don’t drop him!”
“Don’t worry, we’re good!” Isaac called back.
Kaiga leaned back in his seat and sighed. “Sometimes I wonder if I worry too much.”
“Oh, believe me, I think that of myself as well. But apart from that time with Torn, there’s been no issues at all.”
Kaiga grunted in disapproval. She knew why. While she thought of Torn as just an arrogant nuisance, Kaiga seemed to be particularly upset by that Affini’s antics. For a youngbloom like him, who styled himself after a wizened tree, it was surprising, but Chloros could understand.
“I just hope that they cool off when they finally get a floret of their own,” he said. “I feel like I’m one of the few youngblooms that actually wants to take it slow, instead of just blitzing the poor cuties like they like to do.”
“Well, hey, just remember,” Chloros offered, “you helped Isaac before he could fade out, and at a pace that worked for him. Give yourself some credit, dear. You've proven it can work.”
“Yes, you’re right… I appreciate these talks, Chloros. You’re a delight.”
Her core surged.
Day five of Zane’s L bender.
“He is so out of it,” Walter said as he observed Zane in Juso's hab. He waved a mechanical hand in front of Zane’s face, and nothing happened at first… before suddenly Zane leaned forward in an attempt to bite Walter’s hand. He was about to fall, but a vine from Chloros caught him before pushing him back onto the couch, while Walter stepped back in surprise.
“Yeesh! I thought you were the biter, not him!” Juso’s first floret said, showing a “DX” expression on his screen.
Zane’s warden rolled her eyes, chuckling. “What can I say? He’s got a bit of an oral fixation.”
“Speaking of!” Juso called out, carrying an equally dazed, disoriented, and happy-looking Amy into the room. When she was brought near Zane, she instinctively reached for him. Zane reciprocated the gesture. Soon, both pinnates were tangled up in each other, rubbing, nuzzling, kissing…
The two Affini and the other floret watched this happen, and Walter was the first to chime in. “Man, maybe I should have gotten that Class-L myself, so I can get into that.”
“I mean, it’s not too late, Walter~” Juso teased, lightly smacking the bot’s bottom. Walter jumped, displaying “>///<” on his screen before looking up at his owner with a pouty expression now.
“Well, uh, not right now, but maybe next time you better invite me! That way I can get high with these two from the start!”
Juso just laughed and wrapped some vines around the tangled up couple. “I think these two deserve some privacy, so I’ll let’em chill in the bedroom for a bit.” And then he was off, leaving his synthetic floret alone with Chloros.
She peered at Walter, relaxing in her seat. He looked back at her, showing a smiling face emoji.
“You know, you’re a pretty awesome mom, Chloros,” he said. “If Juso hadn’t gotten me first, I know I’d have picked you if I could.”
“I would have been honored,” she said, petting his head with her vines. Hearts filled his screen and he moaned softly in appreciation. “But your place is with Juso, not me. I’m still happy to show you love, of course.”
“Oh, ah, absolutely, eheheh, wow...~”
Juso had such a cute beeper...
Day six of Zane’s L bender.
That evening, back at the castle, Chloros simply laid in bed, holding her son in her arms. There was nothing special she wanted to do, so ending the night with cuddles was left. It was always a good option.
And Zane, still in the depths of his heaven, was all too eager. He cooed and huffed while in her arms and vines, laying kisses on whatever part of her body he could get. Mostly her chest, which he was still enamored with, but she was perfectly fine with it.
Tomorrow, she knew that it would be the end of this entire trip. And while she’d need to wait some time before doing it again, she accepted that. That was the standard procedure, and she would follow it to the letter, to ensure Zane’s safety and health.
Her thoughts idly drifted to compiling something for him to keep in his mouth. A pacifier, maybe…
Oh, wait, she still needed to do something important. Taking her pad out, she went to speak to someone she knew would help with her precious son in some way.
›ChloroFeel: Roltan, are you still up?
›RockinRoltan: I've just put Jacob to bed, yes. Do you need something, Chloros?
›ChloroFeel: Yes, I need a favor. Can you look into the whereabouts of one Axton Jakobson, he/him?
›RockinRoltan: Absolutely! I'll search the records and see what I can find. Soon as I get something about him, I will do what I can to facilitate his reunion with Zane.
›ChloroFeel: Ah, beat me to it. Thank you, Roltan. Have a good night.
›RockinRoltan: Likewise. Tell your son I said hi. <3
She stowed her pad and relaxed, stroking her baby boy affectionately as the night continued.
Day seven of Zane’s L bender.
Within the study, the day passed slowly as Chloros used her loaded injectors to help Zane finally come down from the high. She made sure to do it in three stages, the same as the drinks at the start of the week, before giving him a fourth one to completely bring him down.
With every stage, Zane’s focus was starting to return. He was becoming more coordinated again. He had started to write on his pad once more, and though it started as cute keysmashes, it gave way to proper sentences as he remembered how to use the keys.
That glazed-over, hazy look in his eyes was fading. He was sharpening. She imagined his spirit, having flown all over the Excellence, answering the call to return to his body, gradually taking up space inside of him where it belonged.
Eventually, when the time came to give him the last injection to completely clear his system, she knew it would be all over. She was somewhat sad, but she accepted it.
Held in her arms, Zane finally blinked his eyes, clarity having returned to that charming face of his. He sputtered a little, seeming tired.
“Welcome back, dear. Had fun?” Chloros asked casually.
“M… muh… mo… mmm...”
What he said next was something that blindsided her and made her mind swim.
“Mommy?”
Chapter 34: It Doesn't Matter
Summary:
I just only have a steadfast heart of gold!
Axton was never the best older sibling. But he was there when it counted. That has to mean something.
Content warnings: Mention of bullying, smoking, mention of bigotry
Notes:
Back to Axton now! And he's in therapy once again... but here, he's making significant progress, yay! Plus we get a look at the brothers' dynamic back then before it all went to hell.
I originally wanted to have Axton jump in to personally defend Zane from bullies, but decided it'd be more fitting to have this happen instead. Pain is temporary, but love can help it fade, and even back then, Axton was determined to make things kind of better. He did his best, and that's what counts!
Also, beeple cuddles are good for therapy :3
Enjoy!
Chapter Text
Another day, another crappy addition to the tapestry that was 19-year-old Axton’s life. But having Marcus in his presence made it better, at least.
Axton and his 18-year-old boyfriend were relaxing in the ramshackle treehouse they had put together some years ago, shortly after they first started dating. Summer was approaching, and though the time they had together had gotten limited because of school, it was going to change in about a few weeks. They both needed to make up for lost time then.
It was creaky and unstable at times, but elbow grease from both boys helped it stay together, no matter how many pieces fell off. Much like Axton’s life, it was patched up over and over, enduring all sorts of damage, in the hopes that things would get better. It had been filled up over time with furniture that, while definitely not easy on the eyes, was still fairly sturdy and served its purpose well. Among them were several lawn chairs, a slightly stained but still-sturdy spring mattress with a ratty blanket and two pillows, and a wooden desk and shelf to store things like Marcus’ tools and a framed photo of the two boyfriends eating ice cream together out in the woods.
Axton sat on one of the chairs in here, holding his head in his right hand. His left was resting on his leg while he leaned forward, doing his best to relax. He wasn’t in the best mood, considering he had just gotten another earful from his hateful garbage dump of a father. Once more, it was all about “being a stronger man” and “defending the legacy”, when Axton knew what it really was – insanity just barely masked under good-natured values. It made him physically sick sometimes… why did he have to be related to such a stars-awful man?
And of course he had been blathering about anyone who dared to not be straight again. It tied into his rants about legacy, with Dad having become obsessed with both brothers finding wives to give him grandchildren with. The more he heard it, the more Axton resolved to do the opposite. And he did everything he could to hide his relationship with Marcus from Dad. Risky, sure, but he knew that right now, Marcus was the one for him, and it was worth the risk if he could feel safe and happy around someone who resonated with him, instead of someone forced upon him for the sake of another.
“Babe?” Marcus’ voice pierced through the fog and brought him clarity. He lifted his head up, seeing his beloved romantic partner. He was in a similar outfit as Axton – plain white t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. It contrasted with his body, bringing attention to his short afro and thin mustache, both dark brown. His facial hair had been coming in slightly faster than Axton’s. Apparently he was in a similar boat of it taking forever for his body to start producing hair up there. He wore it well, while Axton was only able to get barely noticeable peach fuzz on his lighter face.
“Ah, hey,” the elder Jakobson brother said, offering his partner a smile. An opened can of cola was given to him, along with a full pack of his favorite cigarettes. “Shit, you got me the cool ones?”
“Yeah, sure did. Just barely had enough money to buy one, but I got it, just for you.” Marcus was smiling brightly, and planted a kiss on his boyfriend’s cheek, before pulling up a chair to sit beside him. A small wooden table was erected in front of them, with an ash tray available so they didn’t spread it everywhere.
“You’re awesome, honey. I mean that.”
“Anything for you.”
Axton’s lighter was located, and one cigarette was lit. The cool, refreshing taste of his favorite cigarette flowed into Axton’s mouth and lungs, sending a wave of relaxation through him. Exhaling the smoke, he reached over and lit the one Marcus was holding out, and now, both boys were lit up and kicking back. Marcus’ non-smoking hand found Axton’s, and their fingers laced together, putting the latter at ease.
Comfortable quiet. He preferred it that way. Marcus was a kindred spirit – dealing with loudmouths, jerks, and terrible family members meant he wanted to get away from all the noise and drama. Marcus didn’t like talking about it much, beyond mentioning similar frustrations over not being the man his family expected him to be. Perhaps it was fitting that the two of them got together, then – if both of their families failed them, then they ought to avoid failing each other. Their relationship was key to that.
The treehouse lightly creaked, and rustling of nearby trees filled the air. Bird calls were heard, along with small critters rushing along the forest floor, doing what critters did. Apart from the smoke wafting through the air, there was also the smell of tree sap. Neither of them liked it at first, but over time, it went from aggravating to tolerable to mildly enjoyable.
All in all… it wasn’t perfect. But it was theirs. And that was enough.
“Hey,” Marcus said quietly, so as not to disturb the atmosphere too much. Axton lazily glanced in his direction, taking his cigarette and dumping some ash into the tray before putting it back in his mouth. “You know Jessica’s hosting a going-away party next week?”
Oh, yeah. Jessica was one of their classmates who had recently graduated, and was announced to be leaving Thypso to continue her studies. Axton smiled faintly. He didn’t know her all that well, but she seemed nice enough. He had spoken to her enough times that they were sort-of friends by now. “Yeah, I heard. She inviting the whole class?”
“Actually, she’s only wanting a few people to come by,” Marcus answered. “She showed me the guest list. It has you, me, and people like Andre, Mary, and Bella on it.”
Now those were folks Axton actually knew. They were all part of the boys’ friend group, with Andre being the lovable big guy, Mary the excitable nerd, and Bella the reserved yet strikingly witty one. A varied circle that Axton hoped to keep for years once he finally left school.
“Why all of us?” Axton asked casually, blowing a puff of smoke out.
“She just likes us, I guess?” Marcus chuckled. “Either way, I figured you’d appreciate a break from… you know.”
Axton sighed, nodding his head. He knew what Marcus meant. He made it no secret to his boyfriend about how much Dad was gradually tearing the family down, and how it was taking so much effort on his and Mom’s parts to keep it together and help his 12-year-old brother Zane avoid the worst of it. Axton was still determined to prevent Dad’s abuse from breaking the guy entirely. Even with Zane having shown wariness and distrust of Axton too, he still resolved to be the protector he needed. Someone needed to hold Dad at bay. Might as well be Axton.
Being a thankless task didn’t stop him from wanting to do something right by his loved ones.
“Ah, sorry for bringing it up.” Marcus looked at him apologetically, squeezing his hand.
“No, it’s okay. Just the nature of the beast when you got a shithead like my Dad around.”
Marcus’ cigarette had shortened significantly, and he deposited it in the ash tray, followed by Axton’s as well. “Well, hey, we got a bit of time today still. You wanna take the edge off a bit?”
Certain thoughts manifested in his mind, and he smiled. “Yeah. Dunno if we’ll get very far, but… fuck, I could use you while we got the time.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Now, come here, you.~”
Soon after, the two were on the bed, holding each other closer. Axton sat with Marcus in his lap, their lips mashing together while both had their hands all over each other. Snaking through shirts, reaching into pants. Axton’s fit, strong farmer’s body contrasted slightly with Marcus’ softer, more curvy form, especially on the love handles he adored.
Already his worries were starting to slip. They’d come back, no doubt, but Marcus loving him like this helped alleviate the pressure that was all-encompassing otherwise.
Marcus had a spicy, fiery taste. The kind that made Axton’s blood flow better, and his heart race. He wanted Marcus so much. Already, both of them were starting to pant, with their shirts having been discarded. The treehouse was soon growing louder as their makeout session heated up, and neither could keep their hands off of each other. And Axton swore he nearly made Marcus burst on the spot when he grabbed onto his boyfriend’s ass with a strong grip.
As the minutes ticked by, Axton was-
His phone rang. The passion came to an abrupt halt as Axton’s attention was dragged way from his handsome boyfriend, to the rumbling phone in his pocket. Axton wanted to ignore it, but he knew that it only rang if one of his family members called, and he never wanted to miss it in case it was important.
He resisted the urge to swear, not wanting to scare Marcus, and looked at him sympathetically. “Sorry…”
Marcus merely smiled, kissing his nose. “No, go ahead.”
Quickly pulling his phone out and pressing the onscreen button, he brought it to his ear. It was… Zane. Who sounded upset and tired. That didn’t bode well.
“Hey, um… Axton?” his little brother said.
“Hey, buddy.” Axton tried to maintain a cheery demeanor, just so his brother would have a guaranteed friendly voice on the line. “What’s up? You okay?”
“Y-yeah, um… school’s out for the day. Can you come pick me up? Dad’s… not answering.”
Ah, shit. He forgot that school for Zane ended later than it did for himself. He really needed to keep track of the time.
And hearing Dad was refusing to get Zane made his blood boil for a moment. Their father should be doing this, instead of forcing his eldest son to pick up his slack. Bastard.
“Gimme one second.” He put a hand over his phone’s speaker, whispering to Marcus, “Zane needs me to pick him up after school, because of course Dad’s fucked off again.”
“Aw man… well, gotta do what you gotta do.”
“Yeah.”
He resumed talking to Zane. “Yeah, I’ll be right over. Make sure to stay by the fountain out front, yeah?”
“O-okay.” Axton swore he heard a quiet sniffling sound there. If Zane was crying… oh, there’d be hell to pay for whoever made him suffer. He held it in check, focusing on his brother’s well-being.
“I’ll be over there in like five or ten minutes, just sit tight. Love you.” He hung up, and looked at his boyfriend with a sigh. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Babe.” Marcus reached to hold Axton’s face in his soft hands. “I’m just glad I got to see you at all and brighten your day, even if only a little. Whatever happens, remember I love you, and I’m sticking with you for a reason.”
Axton could feel his heart melting. Marcus always forgave him for having to cut things short, while inspiring him to be his best self. If he could afford a marriage ring, he’d marry this man on the spot, purely for this.
“I’m lucky to have you,” Axton whispered, leaning in for a quick kiss, which Marcus happily reciprocated. “Do you need me to drop you off at your place on the way?”
“Nah, I’ll call Andre to pick me up. I’ll be okay. You go get your brother.”
“Alright…”
A few minutes later, Axton was fully dressed and on his way, taking the battered, somewhat rusty but still-functioning muscle car he owned and driving to Zane’s location. As he drove through the streets, leaning back in the worn leather seat, he got an idea.
Dad doesn’t want to do what he should as a parent? Well, fuck him. Axton was going to treat Zane to something nice. It was the least he could do, especially with how Zane sounded really upset over the phone.
He deserved better. Both brothers did.
It was late in the afternoon now. Having picked Zane up from school, Axton knew right away something was wrong. The poor kid once again looked like he was struggling to not cry, and kept his responses short and to the point. That only hardened Axton’s resolve to make things better.
So instead of going straight home, Axton took a detour and went to a place he knew both of them would enjoy.
Thypso may have been an agriculture world with farmland everywhere, but it still had nice places to relax away from the farms. The place they had gone to was a small, but still very pretty coastline, with a gorgeous view of the ocean, especially at this time of day. Only a few people went here on a regular basis, and right now, it was just the brothers, so it was perfect.
With towels set up on the sandy shore, a cooler full of soda, and some ice cream cones picked up along the way, Axton endeavored to make this outing help Zane destress. And it worked, to some degree. He was happy with the flavor, rocky road, which Axton made damn sure to get, even with how expensive it was. He only had enough for a few cold sodas, but it was enough.
The pair sat together, enjoying their frosty treats. Zane was wearing a t-shirt with the logo of his favorite rock band, the Smashed 30, on it, a broken and fragmented number 30, along with his usual jeans and sneakers. Though, the sleeves of that shirt looked dark and stained, making Axton wonder what happened this time.
As the sun began to set, Axton took a moment to address his kid brother. “Zane,” he said. “How you doing?”
Zane sighed and looked away, folding his arms. “Not… not great.”
Yep, that told him something definitely happened. Hopefully it wasn’t too bad.
“You can-”
“I don’t wanna talk about it.”
Axton stared at him. With everything going on, he had an inkling of what might be affecting Zane like this. And while he was still in a phase where he didn’t like Axton that much, Axton knew he still had to try and help him through this. It was only right.
“I’m not gonna judge you, or hit you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Axton said, sipping his soda. “I can just say nothing and listen. There’s nobody else here, I promise. Just you and me.”
Zane didn’t respond. Axton wondered if maybe he should back off…
Then his little brother turned back around, his bottom lip quivering, eyes looking red.
“Harry… Harry and his goons beat me up earlier.”
Right away, protective anger flared inside of Axton. Oh, how he HATED Harry. That brutal bully of a kid, and his cronies, were parasites. They were a specific kind Axton hated most:
Opportunists.
It was no secret how badly Dad’s antics were affecting the brothers. Axton kept himself fairly composed, but it was really making Zane suffer at school. And, unfortunately, kids like Harry and his cronies took pleasure in cornering and hurting someone who was already in pain. They singled him out, apparently wanting to make his life even shittier than it already was.
Already, Axton was formulating ideas on how to make that little shit pay. Put the fear of whatever gods he believed in into him. Make him regret ever hurting his little brother. And if he had to potentially break some bones? Well, that would definitely convince him to leave Zane alone, even if Axton got arrested for it. It’d be a sacrifice worth making.
A sniffle. Then a hiccup. Zane was about to break.
Axton dismissed the thoughts of vengeance and switched gears. He needed to be a friend, not a guardian. Zane needed a friend.
“Harry will get his eventually,” Axton said. “But that’s neither here nor there.” He turned to face his brother properly now.
“A-Ax,” Zane whispered. Even with how tumultuous their brotherhood became, Axton knew that when it came down to it, Zane needed the presence of his older brother when he was especially vulnerable and depressed. “I… d-dammit!”
The tears started in earnest, then. Axton watched his face screw up in preparation for an emotional meltdown. He reacted quickly, drawing his arms around his brother and pulling him close. Poor Zane began to sob and wail into Axton’s chest, unable to function until he rode out this tide of pain.
Axton said nothing. He simply held his brother close, letting him cry his heart out for some time.
Zane didn’t deseve any of this, he knew. He was growing up in a world that seemed designed to break him down. Between Dad’s growing madness, the bullies being assholes, and Zane having few friends, to say the kid was having a rough time of it was an understatement.
And though he had become more fidgety and apprehensive about being touched over the years, especially at Axton’s hands… Zane still let him touch him. Still let him hug him. Still let him comfort him.
That, Axton knew, meant there was a possibility that they would still be together. Somehow. They had to stick together. He just hoped Mom’s escape plan came to fruition sooner than later.
Night was starting to fall, but Axton didn’t leave him. He made sure to send Mom a text, letting her know where they were, and though she was worried at first, she relented once he told her Zane was having a bad day and needed someone to turn to. She just told them to be back before 8 PM. And the drive back home was only half an hour away. They had plenty of time.
Just then, Axton remembered – Zane’s thirteenth birthday was coming up soon. He had to get the kid a gift he knew he liked. Money was tight as ever, but he had to do something.
Or maybe… ah, there’s an idea.
When Zane finally calmed down and stopped crying, Axton loosened his grip on his brother and finally spoke, “Hey, so… that arcade you like is open next week.”
Zane looked up at him, eyes red. He moved his mouth to speak, but nothing came. Oh. He had gone nonverbal again. He grunted in frustration at his own voice failing him. Axton understood, he was used to this by now.
“If you want, we can go there and just, you know, hang out. Play some games. Hell, could get you that Hyper Shark plush you’ve been wanting. You like that?”
Zane’s eyes silently lit up, and he started to look much happier. He nodded excitedly.
“I know it’s kinda noisy, but I can try and find something to help dampen the sound so it’ll be better for you. That cool?”
For the first time in a long while, Zane smiled. A genuine, hopeful smile, even through the tears.
“Awesome.” Axton returned it, stroking his brother’s back. “It’s gonna be okay, Zane. I’m here, and I’m not gonna leave you. Alright?”
Zane let out a shaky breath, and nodded his head again.
When they went back home that night, they both got snarked at by Dad again, who was predictably drunk. But this time the stupid old fart was the sort of drunk where he was tired instead of actively enraged. So it was easy to ignore him and focus on the goodness to come.
Axton knew both of them needed it. Especially now.
Axton did cry a little during the retelling, of course. But instead of completely collapsing into anguish, he kept himself together. Whether it was the E that prevented a meltdown, or the memory not being as horrible as the other ones, that was still a huge step forward in his therapy.
He looked up at Kabr. She was accompanied by her floret this time. Apparently a ‘berson’, a bee-like alien with a body structure like Axton’s, by the name of Baz Clipse, First Floret, they/them. A very cuddly sort, as beeple tended to be, it seemed.
Right now, Baz was in Axton’s lap, the admittedly very cute bee having their head nuzzling under Axton’s chin while clinging to him in turn. It was surprisingly calming to hold the little critter, who was very fuzzy and soft, with small insect wings fluttering and thick antennae brushing against the sides of his face. Almost like a living plush toy. Axton managed to stay focused with Baz in his arms, realizing that maybe Kabr’s floret was helping the most. She did say Baz also assisted in therapy from time to time…
“So Zane still wanted you in his life, even with how shaky your relationship was at the time,” Kabr observed. Some of her vines had reached over to pat Baz while they were in Axton’s grasp, making them wiggle and buzz some more. He liked the buzzing... “He may have expressed hatred for you, but in his heart… he still desired your presence.”
“I… I think so too,” Axton answered. “It was a serious pain, having to make up for Dad’s willful failings. Always felt like my life was getting stolen from me because of him deciding to shi… uh, ash the bed.”
He had decided to dial the swearing back a bit. At least, using terran swearing was frowned on. Affini-style obscenities were A-okay, though.
“But I didn’t want to leave my little brother like that. The world around him was dark and horrible. If I could make it brighter somehow… I knew it’d be worth it.”
Kabr wrote something on her pad, saying nothing for a time. He wondered if she’d finally judge him negatively for his failures…
But instead, she looked at him, and one of her vines worked to brush over his scalp as she asked, “In the event that we find him, and he says he wants you back in his life, would you accept?”
The answer left his mouth fast. “Yes. Yes I would. Stars, I want to see him so badly…”
“I understand. This bond between the two of you has been strained for a long time… but it hasn’t broken.”
That got Axton to smile and chuckle. “Yeah. Now that I think about it… if he’s been picked up by the Compact… then I think he’s just fine. All that’s left is to find out where he is and then gear up to see him again.”
“Yes, exactly.” More pets followed for both sophonts in the chair, making Baz buzz in a way that sounded like laughter. “While we have not found him yet, I will make sure to speak to Captain Rift shortly about Zane’s whereabouts. For now…”
She looked at him dead-on, removing her glasses. She really was faceless, lacking any facial features on the vines comprising her head. Gaps in the vines where her eyes should be radiated soft purple light as she continued, “Once again, I am very proud of your progress today. It would appear you truly are healing over the course of our sessions together.”
“I guess so,” Axton said with a shrug. “But… I’m still kinda nervous about seeing him again.”
“That’s alright. You don’t need to think about that for now. All that matters is that today, you have reached another milestone.”
There was a pause as she glanced at her pad. “On another note… you mentioned Marcus as an ‘ex-boyfriend’.”
“Oh, yeah. We dated for a few more years, but then he had to move to another planet for… something. I forget. We put our relationship on hold since then. I’m sure he’s out there too… maybe I’ll see him again on top of finding Zane.”
“I can look into that, if you wish,” Kabr offered.
“Nah, it’s okay. I need to decompress after today.” He gave Baz a squeeze, earning a delighted chitter.
When he left Kabr’s abode again, it was with a little spring in his step. Therapy was becoming easier to do, and his confidence in the Compact was rising.
He had a good feeling that they would deliver on their promises.
Chapter 35: Star-Crossed
Summary:
Points of light in a vast universe, waiting for their final alignment.
Kabr’s patience and compassion have made some headway with Axton. And she discovers an even greater step forward has been made, courtesy of the illustrious Captain Rift.
No content warnings
Notes:
And now we're hanging out with Kabr and Dynine! The therapist and the captain get some time together, while away from the men of the hour. Felt really good to see Dynine again!
Also, yes, this is it, readers. Things are gonna be moving forward VERY quickly from here on out. Still 20 chapters left, but the pace will speed up from here! I'm as eager to see the brothers reunite as you are :3
Please enjoy!
Chapter Text
“Stay close to Mommy, Baz,” Kabr said. Her cute floret waddled over, clinging to a bundle of vines she held out for them, and buzzed appreciatively. “Good bug.~”
The black-and-yellow bodied Baz looked up at her with the most adoring gleam in their eyes, the flower of their haustoric implant slowly shifting through all colors of the visible spectrum on the side of their head. Shortly after, the pair were joined by Kabr’s second floret, a blue-shelled rangda with white toe claws and one arm replaced by a vine-clad phytotech prosthetic. Halica Clipse, Second Floret, she/her, rolled their way, and Kabr’s vines eagerly caught her before scooping her up into the Affini’s arms. Halica had her own implant-grown flower, perched on her right shoulder, and went through all the colors of the rainbow just like Baz.
“Hey Mommy!” Halica greeted brightly as she unrolled in her owner’s arm. “Hope I’m not late!”
“You’re just in time, sweetie,” Kabr purred, rewarding her other pet with a little scritch under the snout and getting giggles in turn. “Alright, come along you two. Captain’s waiting for me.”
Kabr was on her way to the meeting site Dynine told her to speak to them in. Ordinarily, she’d have insisted on simply talking to them on video call, but Dynine emphasized wanting to speak to her face to face. Well, the captain was in charge. Who was she to object to them?
She made her way through the Fortitude, using the ultra-quiet, rapid-transit system that connected all areas of the ship to each other. During the ride, she caught sight of some other sophonts she recognized. Some were her patients, who had been progressing well in their therapy with her. Some were strangers that she only barely knew. Some were ones she was quite familiar with, like a certain mushroom-clad fellow. He had his cute rinan floret on his shoulder, and… a bald, dark-skinned terran held in his arms. The terran looked nervous, even while his warden was petting him and chatting with him affectionately.
He was in good vines, Kabr was certain of it. Maybe he was just nervous about going to the vet? She understood that kind of trepidation, especially for sophonts who suffered from anxiety or healthcare-related phobias. Those could be addressed, for certain. Speaking of, she made a note for later on having her florets get a checkup. Always good to stay on top of one’s health… plus she wanted reasons to talk to Texica more. She liked that one.
The train slowed to a stop with only a very faint shift in inertia, and passengers began to file out. Kabr followed them, keeping her vines wrapped around Baz so they didn’t stray away, while having Halica nuzzle against her chest.
Traversing the halls, she passed by many other Affini with their pets at their sides. They started to diminish in number as she approached the space where Dynine wanted her to meet them in. As it happened, she was going down one of the corridors leading towards the outermost part of the Fortitude.
She had been here before, so she had a feeling she was going to do some stargazing. But that couldn’t be the only thing Dynine wanted from her. Eccentric as they were, even among Affini, Captain Rift still had duties to take care of and an entire scout vessel to run. And while they had a propensity for whimsy, even while working, Kabr knew them well enough that they always did things for a reason. Even if that reason was as simple as “it amused me”.
Like with a certain Axton Jakobson, for instance. As Kabr walked along, the heels on the ends of her legs clacking against the flawless metal paneling of the floor, she remembered what he had confessed to her in his sessions with her so far. When he wasn’t recounting his past, he was complaining about how Dynine intimidated him and made him feel helpless…
It was a common refrain among the more dominant personalities she worked with. Their need to control the situation, to move forward on their terms, never lasted long under the Compact. Her job was to help guide the more reasonable ones away from this line of thinking, so that they would become more accepting of the ideals of the Compact, while still healing from whatever traumas they may have had. While it would be easier to just drug and domesticate them and be done with it, it was also more conducive to their long-term health to have a comforting, friendly soul to work through their pain and help them see the light.
Kabr was one such soul. And she took immense pride in her work. Plus, it gave her a rush of euphoria to see her patients succeed in embracing the future, instead of being chained by their pasts. It told her she was doing good work, in the service of her people’s ideals.
“Mommy?” Halica said, having climbed onto Kabr’s shoulder and nuzzling into her hair.
Kabr moved some of her vines up to give her darling floret some pets, while Baz toddled along behind them still, buzzing and chirping the whole way. “Yes, dear?”
“That, um, that terran guy you talk to a lot.” Oh, she was referring to Axton. Kabr had let her attend some of the sessions with him, to provide some company while assisting in unpacking the emotional baggage he lugged everywhere. Between Halica and Baz, Axton’s mental state was improving, faster than simply talking to him terran-to-Affini. “Is he gonna be okay?”
Kabr tuned her cadence upwards, sending a wave of calm through her worried floret’s form. At once, Halica’s anxiety subsided, though she still bore an expression of concern.
“He’ll be just fine, my love.”
“You promise?”
“Of course.” Her tendrils went to stroke over her pet’s head, while she nuzzled the rangda affectionately, earning a purr. “Mommy’s making sure of it.”
“Okay!”
Kabr glanced to her right, looking through the transparent window that dominated that side of the hall. Through it, she saw the vast void of space, where countless stars and worlds drifted in the black. Worlds touched by the Affini, and worlds that were yet to be blessed by her people’s influence.
It was only a matter of time before all of existence came into the care of the Compact. From there… she didn’t know if anything big would happen. All she knew was the goal to bring the universe into an era of everlasting peace was one that would take a long time to complete. In the meantime, there was work to do. Good work, at that.
Minutes passed, before Kabr finally reached her destination. A circular room, which wasn’t usually accessed except by the Captain and those they invited. Having her credentials cleared beforehand, the square door detected her presence and shunted aside to let her and her florets through.
The room was very comfortable. As was usual with Affini principles, the room was designed like it was in the middle of a forest, with the ceiling panels above presenting a simulated orange sky on a planet during sunset. The walls displayed trees on one end, and a distant mountain range on the other. The wall opposite of the door Kabr just came through was taken up by a huge window, giving another view of space, this time with this system’s sun lurking behind a planet known for its swampy atmosphere.
There were numerous cushions and beanbag chairs dotted around, along with plush toys of various sophont species scattered. Kabr realized right away that Dynine was here, but not by the avian plant themself – no, it was because she recognized their florets.
Harken, their humongous, black-pelted First Floret, squeezing a… a large plushie that looked much like Axton. Huh. They had told Kabr that Harken had developed an attraction to the man. She wondered how far that would go. Harken glanced up at her and gave a loud snort of approval, grinning and showing her fangs.
And Nico, their Third Floret, he/him, who had been modified to look similar to the beeple, with thick antennae on his head, wings that fluttered on his back, and yellow fuzz around his body. He was wearing his usual violet-accented dress, allowing easy access to his form without having to strip him. Sure enough, Kabr saw some vines snaking into Nico’s dress and rubbing him all over, making him laugh and smile.
And then, Cross, Dynine’s Second Floret. The gold khetari with a penchant for napping everywhere, and it took immense effort to rouse her without the aid of xenodrugs. She was resting on Dynine, wrapped around their shoulders and neck and snoring. Given how heavy khetari were, Kabr was mildly impressed that Dynine could handle her weight.
And then, the Captain themselves.
“Kabr, my beloved!” Dynine called out cheerfully with a grin splitting their mask, hands clapping. “You’re here! Oh, what a joy it is that we’ve gotten together!”
Ah. They were in their ‘off-duty’ persona now, their mossy cloak traded in for a classy business suit, inspired by the kind terrans used for some of their higher ranking members of society. While that was being steadily dismantled, Dynine had apparently taken a liking to the aesthetic, and so there they were, relaxing on a large chair sized up for them, sipping what looked like a large glass of clear vitamin water with Cross wrapped around their neck.
So this was a social get together, instead of just an important meeting.
“Hello, Dynine,” Kabr greeted warmly. They had allowed her to use their first name casually when not working, which felt like a huge honor for Kabr. She hadn’t expected to earn her Captain’s favor, and so she wouldn’t waste it. “Am I on time?”
“You absolutely are, darling,” Dynine replied, before their eyes darted over to Kabr’s florets. “Oh, you brought your cuties too! How lovely!~”
Halica and Baz looked at their Affini for a moment, and she nodded at them, releasing her grip on her berson. “Why don’t you two play with Dynine’s pets while they and I talk about important matters, hm?”
“Okay, Mommy!” Halica said happily, while Baz gave a delighted buzz. Soon, berson and rangda toddled off, engaging with the Captain’s florets. Dynine stood up, still having Cross slumbering on their shoulders, and beckoned for Kabr to join them before striding over to the huge window in the room.
Kabr glanced behind her to see Baz already attaching themself to Nico, who chuckled and gave them the cuddles they wanted, while Halica was rolling around Harken. The xenra was still holding her Axton-shaped plushie tightly, though she was watching the rangda move in circles around her, transfixed.
She always did like the little rolly cuties, Kabr observed.
Kabr joined her Captain at the window soon after, standing to their right. She adjusted her glasses, pushing them up a little more, while Dynine lifted an arm and draped it over her shoulder, vines tangling with her own. An affectionate gesture she had come to enjoy, one that helped her relax. Even therapists like her needed some attention every now and then.
“You’re looking gorgeous today, Kabr,” Dynine purred. “Did you lengthen your vines recently?”
“No. But I am considering adjusting my moss-style at some stage.” She lifted a hand to rest it on Dynine’s, holding it and keeping it in place. “Halica keeps telling me I should make it longer and more colorful.”
Dynine gasped in fake shock. “But it’s very colorful as it is! That’s like asking if a loaf of bread can have more bread flavor!”
“We can make that possible, Dynine.”
“Yes, yes, but let a plant enjoy the bit, as they say, would you? Having whimsy is key to life, as you know.”
Kabr chuckled. She certainly agreed. Whimsy was one of the cornerstones of Affini society, along with love, benevolence, and compassion. It was a good one, since it ensured that on top of making sure all sophonts in their care were safe, healthy, and happy, they could also experience fun and cuteness without bounds. Instead of being held back by utterly awful social standards of maturity, they could enjoy being adorable without shame.
She wondered if Axton would eventually reach a point where he would embrace it himself. Though he had progressed enough to accept hugging Baz, and he had admitted how he was in a polycule with his feminine crewmates (and a very happy polycule at that), he hadn’t expressed interest in dropping his maturity for any reason.
Maybe that would change when he and Zane were reunited.
The tip of Dynine’s cane tapped against her chest to get her attention, before they used it to gesture to all the stars they saw in the void. “Look at at this beautiful, beautiful space, my dear… so vast, so pretty, so full of light! And we’re making it all so much brighter.~”
“Yes, we are…” Kabr pondered where they were going with it. Nothing came, though. She got the sense that Dynine got sidetracked by the view and forgot what they wanted to say. Classic Dynine.
She made an “ahem” noise and drew out her pad, bringing up Axton’s case file. “Anyway… while I’m here, I would like to discuss one Axton Jakobson’s progress with you.”
Dynine stared off into space, literally, for a moment longer, before remembering they were still talking to Kabr. Their three eyes blinked, and they turned toward her, grinning. “Oh! Yes, yes, do tell me how he’s coming along.”
She showed them the notes she had written down about Axton so far. Apart from what she had discovered about his triggers, traumas, what he liked most, what he hated… there was a constant through all his sessions with her.
Devotion.
Devotion to his mission of finding his brother. It was something he expressed putting all his focus on for several years, putting his future aside in favor of trying to secure the future of his sibling. Even with the friends he’s made and the bonds he’s forged, that self-assigned mission of his was something he likely would never give up until he either finished it or finally passed away.
Devotion to his crew, expressing his fierce protectiveness towards them and his upset about Troy, Mithrax’s ward, not being under his care. Even now, with him showing he trusted Mithrax to a degree, and Kabr as well, he was displaying wariness of other Affini around him.
But most importantly…
Devotion to his brother. The only other Jakobson family member that remained. Specifically, devotion to righting the wrongs he’s committed, in the desperate hope that he could finally redeem the family name, after it was dragged through the mud by their now-dead father.
It was a devotion that Kabr found admirable. But what did Dynine think?
Her avian-themed Captain scrolled through Axton’s file some more, making occasional noises of approval or acknowledgment. When they reached the end, where Kabr left a note about speaking to Dynine about Zane’s whereabouts, that was when Dynine turned to her and chuckled. “Funny you wrote that, dear, because, as it would turn out… Axxy’s darling younger sibling has been found today.”
Kabr couldn’t widen her nonexistent eyes like a terran might in response to such a statement. She showed her surprise and elation in other ways – the gaps of light in her face shifting multiple colors, the flowers on her body closing and opening one after the other, her vines standing up behind her.
“Furthermore,” Dynine continued, giving Kabr’s shoulder a squeeze with their hand, “he is in the care of an Affini who I haven’t seen since my second Bloom. And she seems like just the right fit for him! Though I haven’t the foggiest why she hasn’t domesticated the cute man yet.”
“Do you have information about her and him?” Kabr inquired.
“As a matter of fact, I do!”
Now it was Dynine’s turn to unveil their pad and bring it into her line of sight, and on the screen were two files.
One described an Affini by the name of Chloros Gleras, 27th Bloom, she/they. It listed her as one of the oldest oldblooms aboard another scouting vessel named the Excellence, and described all the wards she’s cared for over the years, including her current one. It also had a section describing her unusual approach to caring for xenospohonts. Whereas the genuine consent of independent sophonts, wards, and florets was just incapable of being achieved under the Compact, Chloros seemed to strive to give those under her care as much autonomy and personal space as possible, only forcing herself upon them when absolutely necessary.
Most curiously, while Chloros had countless wards she’s cared for… she’s only had one confirmed floret. Midus Gleras, First Floret, he/him, an individual of the rangda species, like Kabr’s darling Halica. Midus had been with Chloros for several of her younger Blooms, only to be abruptly extinguished one day, and Chloros, who had seen him as her own son, was devastated by the loss. So much so, it was theorized she might never have another floret ever again…
But then Zane entered the picture. Zane Jakobson, he/him, a male terran of 26 years. Characterized as a young man gripped with terror, paranoia, and pain, having lost both his parents in recent memory, and separated from his brother Axton. He was described to be under so much stress upon retrieval, in fact, that there was a risk of him expiring from it all without intervention. Luckily they had an expert veterinarian aboard by the name of Fernis Paradiso, Third Bloom, he/they, and he was able to bring Zane to a stable enough state for him to come into Chloros’ care.
His file described how he was becoming more and more comfortable having Chloros caring for him, with her approach to his care being instrumental to his prosperity. It had experienced a minor setback with one Affini known as Torn trying to take him for themselves, but Chloros had intervened and made sure Torn was reprimanded for trying to claim a sophont that was already in an Affini’s care. So far, Torn hadn’t been seen in Chloros’ part of the ship since…
Currently, while Zane was not listed as a floret – Kabr also was curious why he wasn’t domesticated already – he was now being described as Chloros’ son. That was interesting. Had their relationship progressed to a point where they considered each other family? If so, then…
“Axton may not like this,” Kabr noted.
“Why ever not?” Dynine’s smile didn’t waver.
“He is still protective over his brother. Part of me fears that he may have a negative reaction to the discovery that Zane sees Chloros as his new mother. It may damage their relationship, even with Zane being in a much better space than before.”
Dynine chortled. “Oh, Kabr, I think you missed a note.”
Before she checked it, she glanced behind her shoulder, checking to see how their florets were getting along. Nico had fallen asleep holding Baz, while Harken had discarded her Axton plushie to hold Halica in her arms. The rangda wriggled, laughing, while plenty of snorts, chuffs, and grunts escaped the xenra as she spent time tossing Kabr’s floret up and down, when she wasn’t holding the hard-shelled xenosophont against her big body.
Satisfied that her pets were enjoying themselves, Kabr returned to the pad, seeing the note Dynine highlighted for her.
There, at the end of Zane’s file, an addendum was visible. It went over Zane’s family history, and mentioned how he still values his deceased mother, Minerva, and carries his memories of her in his heart, even with accepting Chloros as his new parental figure. Chloros had been described as letting Zane keep the things he cherished most about his past, including not only his memories, but objects embodying it, such as a disarmed handgun belonging to Minerva and a family photo of all the Jakobsons from years past. He had also been expressing curiosity over Axton’s fate from time to time.
Dynine didn’t need to say anything else to confirm what Kabr realized.
Zane still loved his family. At the very least, he was still mourning his birth mother, and he still cared about his older sibling to some degree. There was a very real possibility of them rekindling their relationship, should they reunite.
“Axton should see his brother,” Kabr said.
“Oh, I agree completely!” Dynine released their grip on her, taking their pad back and moving to stand in the center of the room. Nico and Harken glanced up at them curiously. “These two delightful boys need to be together. But there’s a teeny, tiny, itsy-bitsy little problem.”
“And that is…?” Kabr faced them now, one hand on her hip.
“The Excellence is so far away. Even at our fastest, it’d still take days for us to get there! So they can’t see each other immediately, which hurts my core something awful!”
Even in Dynine’s more whimsical, charming persona, Kabr could tell they were being genuine. They truly wished to bring the brothers together, and to have any delays made them upset, even if they hid it behind charm and charisma.
“Then what shall we do in the meantime? I imagine you’re preparing to jump us towards the Excellence as soon as possible.”
A loud, amused, echoing laugh filled the room. Immediately, all the florets not named Cross began to laugh in turn, with Baz and Harken buzzing and snorting in their own ways to simulate it.
“Absolutely, darling!” Dynine announced, arms spread wide with their cane in their left hand. “In fact, once I get back to my post, I will have us start jumping in that direction. But first, we need to stop by Neith again.”
Kabr’s face radiated orange light while she tilted her head curiously. “What for?”
“Need to pick up something for dear old Axxy. I won’t spoil, but let’s just say he’s going to love it!”
Kabr realized something. Dynine seemed particularly invested in Axton’s health, and they had expressed wanting him for themself, and yet…
Something didn’t add up.
“I thought you desired Axton as your floret.”
Another laugh, quieter, while Dynine’s head, supported by vines in their body, elongated to reach forward and bring itself closer to Kabr’s face. She didn’t move, though she did display a rainbow of colors upon her visage, to show her surprise.
“Oh, beloved Kabr, I absolutely do! I want to make him mine and break him into Axton Rift, Fourth Floret instead! But…” They affected a sighing sound. “His place is not with me. It is with Chloros and her son, Zane. He deserves to be in her care, not mine. He and Zane must be together again.”
Kabr’s core warmed. For all of Dynine’s eccentricities and behavior, especially towards the man they had grown attached to, even they recognized he would have a better future if he was brought to the Excellence instead of kept aboard the Fortitude. They had their priorities straight.
“And that’s why you’re the Captain here,” Kabr said affectionately, some of the vines on her head reaching to slither towards Dynine and coil around them again. A purring noise followed, and they nuzzled her face with glee.
“Among many other reasons, yes,” they said happily. “And I am glad to know you’re assisting me with dear old Axxy. He needs us, even if he won’t admit it.”
“He certainly does. I am honored that you brought him to me.”
“And I am honored that you’re giving him the care he needs. You, and Mithrax, as well.”
“Speaking of…”
The rest of their gathering was spent talking about Mithrax and Troy, about how the latter was likely to be domesticated today, before drifting to other topics. It was a comfortable, pleasant chat, one that Kabr absolutely adored.
And she knew that the Compact would never fail in its campaign to unite the universe. Her faith never wavered.
Axton had to have faith too.
Chapter 36: Pharmacy
Summary:
Tonics, tinctures, and remedies. The science of hope.
Kendra Wong understands many things about terran biology. Yet, it pales in comparison to that of the Affini. Luckily, she gets a mentor… one that blurs the line between teacher and predator.
Content warnings: Xenodrug mentions, implant fuckery, blatant flirting from affini, drugged kissing, references to biting and bleeding, offscreen sex scene
Notes:
Spiderfinni, spiderfinni, does whatever a spiderfinni does...
So after the bombshell of last chapter, we're taking a little break again! This time, it's focused on your favorite medical officer, Kendra! And she gets to tangle with a seductive spider lady, hoo boy! I hope y'all enjoy my efforts to make her as mind-meltingly hot as possible <3
Next chapter, Axton returns, and then things get movin' for real! Buckle your seatbelts, folks!
Chapter Text
Kendra thought about how her boyfriend, Axton, was doing while she was waiting in one of the veterinarian’s offices. She adjusted the dark violet blouse with a blue gradient she wore before pushing her glasses back up, having noticed they were sliding down. They were much better than her old pair.
She hadn’t expected to become so passionately enamored with him. Oh, sure, she admired his fortitude and leadership, and how he made sure to look out for everyone in the crew on this years-long journey. There was something about him that set him apart from the other men and women she had been involved with before, however. Something that made her desire him beyond merely being his friend and his medical officer.
He was honest. That was it.
From the very beginning, he was upfront about what the mission to find his brother would entail, and gave her multiple chances to back out and leave if she ever wanted to. And though there were times where supplies got strained, and things looked bleak, he didn’t lie about them either, but he still tried to keep everyone’s morale up.
Most importantly, he was honest with his praise of everyone he had hired. From Amanda’s wizardry at steering the ship, to Maya keeping the engine running, to Troy keeping everyone armed and armored for the task ahead, to Kendra herself getting everyone back on their feet from any and all scrapes…
Every bit of praise and adoration from the man was genuine. It was so very refreshing to know he acknowledged everyone’s contributions, no matter how small. That had kindled a fire in her heart for him. And when Amanda had suggested her plan to take care of him that one afternoon… well, suffice to say, she was on board with it. Of course she wasn’t surprised Amanda and Maya had the hots for him, too.
They all loved him. And it was clear he loved them back.
She hoped this relationship, especially with her new girlfriends, would last for a while.
“Miss Kendra Wong?” someone called out.
Kendra lifted her head up, taking a step off of her train of thought and arriving at the next stop that was the vet aboard the Fortitude. Currently, she was in the lobby, surrounded by other sophonts in the room. As was usual with Affini, it was very large and roomy, with plenty of chairs for both Affini and otherwise. She was sat next to a plant person who had helped her pass the time with talking about various plant species around the universe, including several kinds Kendra didn’t even know existed. She’d have to look them up later, for certain…
Having heard her name be called, she laid eyes on the receptionist, a short, blonde-haired terran man wearing some kind of mask on his face, made of… webbing? She wasn’t sure. But he seemed nice enough. Kendra stood up, approaching the counter. “Yes, that’s me.”
“Ah! Mistress Shrenib wishes to see you now. Please don’t delay, or else she gets, um… hungry.” He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper on the last few words.
Kendra wondered what the hell he was talking about. He made it sound like this Shrenib, whoever she was, would do something bad if Kendra was late. Nonetheless, she didn’t want to test that. “Don’t worry, just show me where to go.”
“Right, um, this way, please!” He gestured to a door to the right, and Kendra went on ahead inside.
The man joined her shortly after, revealing he was a head shorter than her. He walked with her, and at this range, she could see there was more strange, silken webbing around his body, covering his chest and pelvis. It was a mixture of purples and reds, fitting nicely with his umbral skin tone.
Kendra just couldn’t ignore her burning curiosity. “What’s with the threads?”
The man faced her as they walked through a hall lined with doors and covered in moss and… more webbing? How strange. “Oh! That’s my Mistress’ thing. She says I look better wearing her phyto-silk instead of actual clothes.”
Kendra raised an eyebrow at that. “That’s… a decision.”
“Sure is, especially when- ough~” He bent over for a moment, moaning without warning, and Kendra’s eyes widened in alarm. The man panted, the silk around his body seeming to… writhe. Rippling, shifting, undulating over his otherwise bare body. As if it were actively alive, and even sapient. Something told her the man was aroused, but… how was that possible? They were just walking and talking, and…
Hold on, she suspected something. “Was, uh… was that your Mistress’ doing?”
The man finally stood up, adjusting his mask after it had gotten lopsided, before turning back to her, like nothing happened. “Um, yeah. She likes to make these clothes, uh… touch me sometimes.”
Kendra wasn’t sure what to think of that. Although it did sound kind of… hot. She could already feel a slight burning in her core at the idea. That said, she maintained her poker face, preventing this man from realizing how she felt. “I see…”
“Um, uh… anyway! Mistress is right over here!” he said, directing her to a very large door. By this point, she was used to Affini architecture being sized for the plants, not for sophonts they cared for, more or less forcing non-Affini to rely on their owners and guardians to do much of anything. On its face, it felt rather degrading, but also… comforting, to some degree. To have someone help you do things you couldn’t do yourself.
She especially appreciated what they did to help her out with her own body. A different ‘vet’ had taken care of her, and dealt with the remnants of that disease that left her with weakness in her legs from time to time. Now, instead of being forced to be bedridden when it decided to resurface, she could be confident in her own ability to walk for long stretches. It didn’t hurt that the treatment also gave her a bit more freedom of motion with her hip joints, which was quite a boon.
She did like what the Affini had to offer, even if it felt like it had a huge price tag attached, in the form of her autonomy.
“Thanks…” she trailed off, looking at the man. “I don’t think I got your name.”
“Oh!” The man bowed before her. “Harris Shrenib, First Floret, he/him!”
This must have been Shrenib’s floret, then. One of those terrans who got bound to an Affini and turned into a pet of some sort. When she had first heard of the concept from Mithrax, it gave her immense anxiety.
Yet, the longer she spent time on the Fortitude, and the more florets she spoke to (particularly the ones who were more sober instead of drugged out of their skulls), she was starting to come around to the idea. If nothing else, she could see the benefits of such a dynamic, and how it signified a great degree of trust between floret and Affini.
In the event she wanted to be a floret herself, she hoped it was with someone she trusted. Like Mithrax, perhaps. He sounded like a fairly good plant to be around.
Kendra extended her hand when Harris stood back up, and he graciously accepted it, giving it a solid shake. “I’d introduce myself, but you know me already.”
“That I do!” he said brightly. “I gotta get back to my desk, but I do hope you enjoy Mistress’ teachings! She’s a great mentor!”
“That your unbiased opinion?” Kendra smirked.
“If I didn’t have bias, I wouldn’t be her floret, would I?” Harris laughed. “Um, okay, gotta go!”
He quickly scampered away, and Kendra watched him go, eyes centered on his hips. They swayed with his steps… damn. She ought to get a piece of that. Later, though.
She looked at the threshold before her, reaching to knock it, and let out a yelp as she was dragged inside by a monster.
“Ah, there we are!” the huge arachnid-themed Affini chuckled as she placed Kendra on a very comfortable chair in the room. Kendra had flailed the whole way, only to settle once she was seated. “Good girl, you’re right on time.”
Even with that ‘good girl’ comment making her head briefly stutter, Kendra couldn’t hide her indignation. “There’s this thing called ‘personal space,’ lady!” she protested. “Ever heard of it?”
“Yes, I have,” the spider said, chuckling. “And it doesn’t exist around me, so sorry.”
Kendra grumbled, before taking a moment to really look at this creature that had roughly yanked her into the room.
This must have been Harris’ Mistress. She was massive, like many other Affini Kendra had encountered previously. The first thing Kendra noticed was that her body shape was very interesting – instead of emulating a terran’s shape in its entirety, only her torso, arms, and head did so. That portion of her body had a form that Kendra could not describe in any other way than “devilishly alluring”.
Black-purple vines composing the entity’s body, with a crimson oaken corset-like structure around her torso to prop up a pair of generously-sized breasts – Kendra had a feeling they were only slightly smaller than her own head. A curtain of moss, of the same color, hung around the entity’s pelvis, dangling between where terran legs might be.
A face made of vines instead of a mask, marked by several pairs of gleaming, blood red shards of material that Kendra tried not to look at directly, with two sharp, small horns jutting from under the hairline. A face framed by a full head of hair-like moss, a brighter crimson shade, with long bangs along the sides, and… wow, those lips. Full, soft, a bright red. With the spider’s face parted slightly, she caught sight of fangs that made a part of Kendra squirm. It did so again when she noticed that the Affini’s arms had hands tipped with sharp, gleaming claws on the fingers.
The entity’s lower body looked like someone replaced the head of a spider with the Affini’s torso. A humongous, bulbous abdomen, shifting and wriggling gently with black vines on the surface, and what looked like blood-colored, hourglass-like markings on the top and side. Eight spindly, thin limbs, ending in points, ones that Kendra was certain could punch a hole through even the sturdiest armor.
Right away, she understood why Harris called this spider ‘Mistress’. This Affini made Kendra imagine she was a black widow, a spider known for its lethal, deadly venom, on top of the hourglass markings on its abdomen. This was a creature who could possibly slay her on the spot if Kendra didn’t prepare herself. Maybe she should have abstained from coming here today…
She was tempted to address her the same way, but fought against that urge. She was here to learn Affini healthcare, and she would get it. She was a terran, not a lawnchair. She needed to avoid folding so easily. She needed to stay focused.
“Um… Miss… Miss Shrenib, I presume?” Kendra stuttered.
“That’s me, darling!” the arachnid laughed. A laugh that seemed to penetrate into Kendra’s mind and instill her with desire. Her poker face remained. It had to remain. She had to not show that this plant-spider was already affecting her. She couldn’t wilt… “Full name, Texica Shrenib, 4th Bloom, she/her. Mommy if you’re a good hatchling.~”
She said that in a voice that was utterly drenched in hunger. From what Kendra read, Affini only needed vitamin and mineral-enriched water and solar light for sustenance, though some had grafts to allow for consumption of regular food. Yet, right here, right now, Kendra swore that Texica was itching for an opportunity to open her jaws and descend upon the medical officer of the Hyperion and devour her on the spot, body and soul. If she wasn’t careful, nothing of Kendra would remain...
Fuck.
Are you trying to kill me, woman?
Doing her best to ignore the growing fire in her loins, Kendra shifted in her seat. “Right… Kendra Wong, she/her. I’m here for the healthcare training you mentioned.”
“Ah, so you did see my messages,” Texica said. “When you didn’t reply, I thought I had scared you off. Nice to know I didn’t. I’d hate to make such an adorable morsel like yourself get spooked away.”
“Yeah, sorry, I sometimes forget to answer. I’ve been, ah, preoccupied.”
“All is forgiven, dear.~”
Stars, Kendra was so small compared to her.
Wait, stop fantasizing about the spider. She was here for a good reason! Ugh.
Kendra sat up straighter in her chair while glancing around. This room felt more like a spooky cave, yet also comforting in a way. Dark paneling lit up by lights that cast shadows all over, barely distinguishable from the surroundings. Apparatuses and machines she didn’t know the purpose of, hovering over what looked like beds for sophonts like herself to rest upon. Gaps in the walls, showing glimpses of various pharmaceuticals that Kendra was certain were those ‘xenodrugs’ Mithrax had mentioned previously. Countertops and drawers, where smaller, more esoteric machines waited to be used.
It looked more like a cave crossed with a mad scientist’s lab than a doctor’s office.
That was cool.
“So, you’ve come here to learn, have you?” Texica said in a sing-song voice while retreating from her. She was already rooting around in a cabinet with her arms, while several dark tendrils shot out of her body to retrieve other materials that were needed. “You’re in luck, I am one of the best vets aboard this vessel! Just ask my darling floret Harris~”
Kendra slowly stood up out of her seat, smoothing out her blouse. It had gotten a little mussed up when Texica grabbed her earlier. “Yeah, I met him earlier…”
“He’s quite the charming pet,” Texica continued, setting several unidentified objects upon the counter in front of her. “And the perfect bloodbag.”
Texica didn’t touch her that time, but that last statement might as well have grabbed Kendra by the throat and squeezed. “E-excuse me?”
“I don’t believe I stuttered, hatchling,” Texica said dismissively, “but you, however, did. It’s cute.~”
Oh stars, she was letting her composure slip. She forced herself to remain calm, swallowing. “Right. Um. You said he’s a bloodbag?”
Texica looked past her shoulder to give a grin full of razors and knives. Intimidating...ly hot. “Quite. When I’m not working, I like to take a load off and, mm… have a taste. He has such a savory flavor, you see.”
Already Kendra imagined those fangs sinking into her and draining her dry. Her life force, ebbing from her veins and filling Texica with Kendra’s essence… while shooting a cocktail of xenodrugs into her bloodstream to reshape her into an eager pet. Stars. Was Texica fucking with her brain like this, or did she always have these desires? It scared her, but also excited her…
Wait. She was quickly losing control, and she had to fight back to keep herself in play. “Yes, well… he seems to be a good match for you. Anyway… what kinds of lessons are we going to do? I mean, I know quite a bit about the terran body and how to address various wounds and ills, but you likely blow my knowledge out of the water.”
Texica finished setting up materials she needed for the lessons, skittering aside to let Kendra see. Bottles in rainbows of colors, devices for manipulating parts of the body, jars and beakers containing fluids and other substances she couldn’t recognize… she had a lot of learning to do, she knew. She just hoped Texica would have mercy on her.
“Lucky for you, I have the perfect lesson plan,” the not-a-spider-but-looked-like-one said. “One that’s perfect for a new student of mine.”
“Already?” Kendra asked. “Well, you came prepared.”
“I hope you’re prepared too, my dear. Because it’s going to be some vines-on training.”
Kendra knew right then and there that her fortitude was going to be tested.
Hopefully she didn’t break before it did.
Texica was a teacher who thought everything out. She taught Kendra as much as possible during their time together, and though Kendra’s knowledge of the terran body was minuscule compared to her mentor’s, it was a good starting point nonetheless.
She even got to learn some things about her own species from Texica’s point of view. Namely, the fact that, among the various xenosophont species in the Compact, terrans had inherently high bonding responses, meaning that the usage of the Class-C xenodrug, which increased such a thing, had to be used with caution. Similarly, they had a suite of xenodrugs under the Class-O banner, which were designed to suppress and erase thoughts and identities. This one, though, was only used as a last, desperate Hail Mary on cases where a sophont absolutely had no other option of enjoying a safe, healthy existence, and even then, the effects would be permanent if not handled correctly. Its mere existence made Kendra afraid, but it being reserved as a final resort did calm her down some.
They had seemingly boundless knowledge on how to handle illness, disease, mental health, injury, and so many other things that Kendra feared her head would fall off while trying to comprehend it. For herself in particular, she had thought her legs would be forever damned to temporary weakness, hobbling her potential for healing… yet here were the Affini, fixing her right up with minimal issues. She was starting to forget to brace herself against nearby walls in case the weakness returned, having gotten used to walking normally again.
They were angels.
And, in Texica’s case, particularly hungry, domineering angels, at that.
Texica wasn’t kidding when she said this would be ‘vines-on’. She had been showing Kendra how to operate the various machines that a vet like herself used for surgery, including one that prepped a floret-to-be for their haustoric implant to be attached. If I get domesticated, I’m asking to be sedated the whole way, Kendra thought to herself.
Texica was touching Kendra constantly. Guiding her hands, turning her head for her, grabbing her shoulders to turn her around. It was a blatant invasion of her personal space, and she continued to object, even bluntly asking why this was really necessary for someone already trained in healthcare.
“Because, darling Kendra,” Texica told her, “you’re working with stuff far beyond your understanding. I’m ensuring your safety, is all.”
She said that, while looming behind Kendra, hands on both of the medic’s shoulders. Kendra was inspecting some sort of device meant for… something. They hadn’t covered this yet. And Texica didn’t seem to feel like explaining it.
Instead, the arachnid behind her had gotten close, gripping Kendra’s shoulders with a firm grasp. Her head was next to Kendra’s, her voice having dropped to a whisper that sounded frightfully unnerving.
“You’re so studious, my dear,” Texica cooed into Kendra’s right ear. “So eager to expand your mind and learn all there is to know.”
Kendra could feel herself start to sweat. She swallowed, doing her best to not show she was affected. “It’s, ah… it’s part of the job description. I needed to be open to learning all I can to care for my crewmates.”
“Including your captain, right?”
“Y-yes…”
Laughter. Light, quiet, friendly. But tinged with something sinister.
Kendra straightened as something slithered over her body. She quickly caught on that it was a vine, and there was only one Affini in the room with her, its source being obvious. It slid over her right arm, and with every micron of bare skin it touched, indescribable euphoria shot through her. She willed herself to stay unmoving, lest Texica recognize that her tactics were working.
“Doesn’t it get tiring, though?” Texica murmured. “To be responsible for so many lives, with your limited knowledge and skills?”
Her first thought was to say yes, but she squelched it. It was a trap, one that was all too easy to fall into, and Kendra knew better. She took a shuddering breath as she replied, “It’s a worthy position to be in.”
“But…” That dark appendage coiled around Kendra’s arm, tightly, but not uncomfortably so. Just then, another vine, going for her left arm, doing the same thing. Now the building pleasure was doubled, and it took even more willpower to not gasp in reply. “What if you didn’t need to do it anymore, hm? What if… you let Mistress take over?”
“I… I can’t.” Kendra shuddered. “They… they need me, still.”
A small, red cloud of something appeared in Kendra’s peripheral vision. She shut her mouth, lips pursed, and didn’t breathe until she was certain it was far away from her. Two more vines found their way to her body now, this time one coiling a leg each. And… the right one… snaking up towards her pelvis…
Oh no.
“Your skills are admirable, Kendra, darling. But I think you’d be better served in a different position.”
“And… and what position… would that be?”
“I think you know. Don’t you?~”
Kendra’s heart pounded. Sweat collected on her brow. She didn’t dare look at Texica, lest she regret it.
The huge spider’s presence was immense. Overwhelming. She was physically behind Kendra, but something about her made Kendra feel like she was all around her. Wrapped around her. Engulfing her. A curtain drawn over her existence.
“I asked you a question, sweetie.” Texica’s volume didn’t raise, but it still felt like her speech had significantly more impact. Kendra couldn’t ignore it no matter how much she tried to. Her whole body started to shake against her will. “Will you answer?”
Fantasies ran through her head. Of Texica. Of herself. Of the vet… binding her. Catching her in a massive web. Holding her tight, keeping her from ever being able to use her limbs.
“I… I… I can’t…”
“Yes you can...~”
That vine creeped further up towards her groin, and when it reached under to press against- oh stars
She fucking whimpered at Texica touching her so intimately. She wanted to get away, escape the grasp of this alluring creature, this… this…
Fuck. She couldn’t think properly. It was like her mind was in a dark fog that made it difficult to put together coherent thoughts.
“What’s a better position for you to be in?” Texica boomed again. “I’ll give you a hint – it involves me.”
Kendra stared ahead, the only thing she could have control over now. The rest of her was operating without her conscious input.
She knew the answer. But she did not want to vocalize it. To do so was to give in, give into this stranger… this… this intoxicatingly alluring stranger that was weakening her will. Breaking through her defenses with little to no effort.
This must have been what Harris felt like when he was selected for domestication. And while part of her was demanding this wasn’t supposed to happen, demanding she run… she couldn’t.
She was a fly in Texica’s web. How did she not see it sooner?
“In… in… y-your… your… hands?”
“Hmmmm… Close enough.” What felt like a pair of lips pressed against Kendra’s ear, and immediately after, a bolt of sheer goodness exploded through her body.
Kendra couldn’t silence the utterly slutty moan that left her mouth just then. And right away, she knew she lost. She had completely lost against this obscenely hot Affini. Texica’s dark laughter only emphasized it.
“It’s okay, sweet morsel… I won’t hurt you too much. But I will borrow you for a time. You’ll enjoy yourself, I promise.”
Something pressed firmly against Kendra’s folds down below, making her jump and moan again. Her head was abruptly turned, so she could lock eyes with… with…
Texica. The dark webspinner who finally smashed through her resilience and laid bare what she really was at heart. Gleaming, crimson shards peering into her very soul, dominating her entire existence.
I’m a good girl.
“Right you are, Kendra.”
Oh fuck, did she actually say that out loud?
She didn’t get a chance to dwell on that, because a chittering noise was the only warning she got before Texica caught her in a deep kiss. One that nearly made the highly-stimulated woman collapse in an orgasmic heap, especially with those fangs nibbling her lips.
Everything grew darker as she lost control of her body, sinking deeper, deeper, deeper into Mistress’ devilish web…
Kendra woke with a start. She gasped and ran her hands over her body, looking around frantically, and sagged once she discovered she was back at the gang’s hab unit, dressed in her purple pajamas. She was in… wait, what room she was in?
A mild snoring sound filled the air, and she turned in that direction. There, sleeping like a log, was Maya. It must have been night time, since the room was dark. Why wasn’t she in her own room, though? Kendra liked snuggling with her girlfriend, but she didn’t recall going here of her own volition…
Wait. Something was stuck to the front of Kendra’s shirt. It was… a sticky note?
She peeled it off, and briefly turned on the bedside table’s light to read it. There, in small, but still legible and fancy handwriting, was a note from… Texica?
Dear Kendra,
I had a lot of fun with you! You’re so cute with how you submit to my love, I was tempted to domesticate you right away. Alas, I know I cannot be too selfish. So I simply enjoyed making you writhe in my embrace before bringing you back home.
I would love to see you again for more lessons, if you’re interested. My overnet handle is below. You know where to find me. Also, take care with the marks I’ve left.
For a brighter tomorrow,
Texica Shrenib, 4th Bloom
At the end of the note was a lipstick mark, along with Texica’s username. Naturally, it was written as TwilightSpinnerette. She quietly sent the spider a friend request and mentioned how she was going back to bed, before feeling an itch on her shoulder. She went to scratch it… and found a large bandage under her top. Right away, she realized that not only did Texica temporarily enthrall her…
She had marked Kendra with those fangs that could possibly drain all of her life essence in one go.
She couldn’t suppress the small whimper leaving her lips as she realized how she had let herself fall into someone else’s web.
At least she’s nice, kind of...
Chapter 37: Live Life
Summary:
Hold on… hold tight… don’t let go, don’t lose sight!
It’s tough being the Captain everyone depends on. Axton knows this well. Today, though, he’s allowed to relinquish this role, while making a discovery that rocks his world.
Content warnings: Brief affini hypnosis and vine constriction
Notes:
OH FRICK IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING AAAAAA
This chapter has been coming for a long time! Are y'all ready? I know I am!
Axxy gets some genuine good news for once, and oh boy, is it a relief. Finally, after all these years... his quest is nearly over. You know what that means!
Hold on tight, it's gonna be very emotional from here!
Chapter Text
“Holy shit, it’s here?!” Axton blurted out while in the docking bays of the Fortitude.
Mithrax’s vine draped over his shoulder, the big fungus frowning. “Mister Jakobson, remember what we said about language?”
Axton groaned in embarrassment, a hand running over his face. “Right, sorry, it’s just…” He gestured at the thing that both of them were staring at, while dozens of other ships of Affini make flitted in and out of the bays, and countless other Affini milled about. They were either gearing up to deploy for retrieval of other sophonts (he was still unsure of what to think of that), or coming back in from a successful pickup, dropping off both plant and xenosophont to be processed.
There, in all its rusty, battered, weathered glory, was none other than the Hyperion. It was just like how he had left it back on Neith, with no alterations, beyond maybe another part having fallen off in transport. It was far smaller than most other terran-made vessels, only big enough for the five man crew Axton had put together, and even then it was rather cramped for its size. A large thruster engine took up much of the body in the back, and in the center was where the various rooms and crew quarters were found, held within a boxy, angled frame. One wing on each side, tipped with thrusters, were visible, designed to assist in maneuverability. The cockpit and bridge extended out in front, like a bird’s beak, the dirty, dark windows of it being very clear from here.
It was a junk heap, held together with faith and duct tape. Nothing could change that. But like the treehouse he used to have with Marcus… it was good enough.
Axton held another vine belonging to Mithrax in his hand, clenching it in his fingers. Mithrax had earned enough of his trust by now that he was comfortable having his… friend? Yes, his friend… be affectionate like this. Of course, Mithrax was thrilled, delighting in Axton being willing to do this. It helped that Mithrax had kept him in the loop about Troy, letting him know that his muscle was improving more and more in Mithrax’s care. Though, the last few days had passed without any updates, and Axton had expressed worry.
Mithrax had assured him that Troy was perfectly fine, though Troy had been preparing a surprise for the Hyperion captain, one that would take some time to make perfect. Mithrax wouldn’t budge when pressed, apparently wanting to respect Troy’s wishes of keeping it under wraps. Axton had been irritated, naturally, but by this point, he had a feeling that it was nothing serious, so he relented. He just hoped that Troy would remain safe, while Axton kept an eye on his…
His crew? No, his… his girlfriends. All three of them. It was still dizzying to think about, how they all came together to profess their love and attraction to him. It was definitely a huge boost to his mood, even with everything going on. If nothing else, it reminded him that he was attractive and lovable, and that they wouldn’t leave him behind when his “indomitable leader” persona cracked apart. He sincerely appreciated that… and wondered when Troy might join up too.
“Ah, is this your Hyperion?” Mithrax looked at Axton, their sextet of emeralds centered on the man with warmth radiating out. “I must admit, it looks rather…”
“Ugly? Yeah, but that’s part of its charm.”
“Not quite what I would have used, but yes. I can see the charm in it.”
Axton nodded. “Yeah…”
Looking at the ship now, despite it seeming very familiar, it also looked… foreign. Alien. Unknown. He objectively knew it was the same ship, dings and dents and all, but it was like he was seeing it again for the first time. Living in the Compact, where everything was efficient, streamlined, shiny, and pretty, the Hyperion stuck out like a festering wart on the smooth, flawless skin of the Fortitude.
Come to think of it, ever since he got settled in on the Fortitude, he hadn’t questioned what happened to it, or ever thought to ask if it could be retrieved. Surely something as near and dear to his heart should have been picked up post-haste…
Then again, he remembered how he was laser-focused on ensuring his crew’s safety in the Compact. The Hyperion, even with its memories, was just another ship. It took a backseat to the well-being of the band of misfits he had come to love over the years. Plus, it wasn’t like he could have gone to Dynine and said, “Hey, can we do a u-turn and pick up my crappy old ship?”
He wondered if everything was still there while it was parked on Neith. He turned to Mithrax now. “Hey, so… did you guys do anything to the ship when you brought it up?”
Mithrax ran a vine-clad hand through their flowing beard, the fungus caps rippling and vibrating gently. “Actually, no. I’m told that it was to be taken aboard with absolutely no changes whatsoever. The most that was done was keeping some plating from falling off, I imagine. It does look quite fragile…”
It sure did. And that was the beauty of it. It may have shuddered and complained with all the abuse it had been through, but the Hyperion was tough. Especially with Maya’s handiwork, keeping it afloat when it should have broken down only a year after its acquisition.
Axton sighed, releasing Mithrax’s vine. He saw the loading ramp for the Hyperion was deployed, allowing entry into the vessel proper. “Alright, well… I think I’m gonna take a look around. See if the inside’s still good.”
Mithrax crouched down, so that Affini and terran could look at each other at something resembling eye-level. “Would you like me to accompany you, lil’ shroom?”
Axton expected to twitch angrily from that. It didn’t come. Huh. Was he actually getting used to the pet names now? At least, from Mithrax, it felt alright. It was starting to feel like a genuine expression of affection, instead of sounding demeaning and condescending.
He was learning a lot of things about the Affini. Every day, new lessons were being taught. Might as well internalize some knowledge during his stay.
“Actually,” Axton said, turning towards Mithrax again, “I think I’d like to be alone. There’s… there’s a lot of memories in there that might get…”
He wanted to finish with “get muddled with an Affini’s presence”, but he feared it would upset the fungus. He looked at Mithrax, scanning their face, waiting for it to contort in disappointment. No such thing. There was only a comforting smile.
“I completely understand, dear,” Mithrax said kindly. “In that case, I will allow you some private time. But if you ever need me…”
“Yeah, just an overnet message away,” Axton finished, giving a smile of his own. “Um… Mithrax?”
“Yes, Mister Jakobson?”
He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around them, squeezing what vines he could get. A very comforting vibration ran through Mithrax’s body and into Axton’s, as they returned the hug, holding Axton against their body. Mithrax had a nice scent to them… he never liked mushrooms, but something about Mithrax helped him feel calmer, more relaxed. He liked that.
“Thanks. You know, for… helping me. Helping us.”
Another appreciative rumble, causing some of Axton’s tension to fade. “Oh, but of course. That’s what we Affini are here for, darling~”
Axton found himself reluctantly disconnecting, and shortly after, he took his first steps back aboard the Hyperion. Back on the ship he spent several years commanding, the ship that carried him through the universe to find his brother…
The ship he called a home away from home.
He expected the entire ship to be stripped clean on the inside. All the gear removed, all the furniture taken out, all the decorations discarded, leaving it barren and bereft of character…
Instead, it was almost exactly like how it looked before it got picked up. Worn, lived in, aged, much like its crew over the years…
All throughout the ship, the hallways and doors still looked ravaged by time. Paint had flaked and peeled off, rust had collected, and the doors, made of solid metal, groaned from moving aside to let him through. They must have hooked the Hyperion up to some kind of external power source so it could function and allow entry without taxing the rust bucket’s stores. It was the only explanation he could think of. If true, then that was good, since he didn’t know how many years the ship’s batteries had left.
The cargo bay, big enough to fit a small vehicle and other equipment, was untouched. There was still their jeep inside, weathered, battered, but still trucking along. It even had the other pair of sunglasses Troy liked to wear, hidden in the glove compartment. There were crates locked up in here, mostly supplies that had yet to be processed for use aboard the ship.
The armory was also intact. It carried most of the weapons Troy liked to collect for the crew to use, including rifles, pistols, shotguns, and grenades. They were all still here, which was strange. Interestingly, they left the incendiary weaponry here too. But there was no ammo or fuel for any of them, and any parts of them that would make them lethal, like their firing pins and triggers, had been removed or disabled. So they left all the gear here, but ensured none of it could actually work. Weird. Why not just go the whole way and get rid of it all? He’d have to question Dynine or Mithrax about that later.
The mess hall was the biggest room here. Enough space for someone to cook at the stove, with a large table so everyone could eat together, a fridge to store leftovers, and cabinets for all the cookware. Maya always loved this room in particular, wowing her crewmates with occasional special dishes once they were able to secure the ingredients she needed. It wasn’t a regular occurrence, but when it happened, it was lovely.
The bridge, where Axton, Maya, and Amanda frequented, showed signs of being well-used and well-loved. He could see the imprint he left behind on the captain’s chair, where he usually sat. The numerous buttons, levers, and sticks at the console in the pilot’s seat, where Amanda frequently manipulated them to steer the ship. The keyboard at Maya’s station, with some of the letters on the keys having been rubbed off over the years, and the screen showing the ship’s status having developed small spiderwebbed cracks. Along with the other screens, of course.
The crew quarters, where everyone else slept, was cramped, with two bunks on each wall, only big enough for one member each, and shelves for everyone’s personal effects. He saw Amanda’s stopwatch that her father gave her, Maya’s small grizzly bear plushie that he sometimes saw her holding, Kendra’s notebook and fountain pen, and Troy’s wooden cube with dials, buttons, and other things to fiddle with. Small items that showed their character and made them all unique in their own way. He made a note on his pad to let them know their stuff was here and could be retrieved.
The medbay, Kendra’s territory. It was also kind of cramped, with an exam table, rickety and flimsy, sat in the middle of the room, along with cabinets storing all of Kendra’s equipment for first aid and surface-level surgery. He had been here more than once before, constantly getting injured and even shot up, and it was only with Kendra’s wizardry that he was able to stay standing even with all the dings and dents his body got marked with. He always thanked her for stitching his dumb ass up, and she always replied with something to the effect of, “Just part of the job, Cap”.
And finally, the captain’s quarters. Bigger than the crew quarters, but still small. It was just like he left it. Bed was still unmade, chair was at his desk, the lamp on his desk was present but turned off. And on his desk was… his wooden box of cigars. Sitting right where he left it. With his small, scratched-to-shit, silver-plated lighter leaning against it.
He felt the urge to grab one and light up, but it was only a minor reflex, easily ignored. By this point, the plant cigars Mithrax set him up with had completely healed his lungs and helped him break the tobacco addiction that he had developed over several years. Now, while he still used the artificial cigars, they were more of a sometimes thing, instead of him using at least two per day just to get his fix.
Still, as he lifted the wooden case full of rolled up tobacco, inspecting it, he wondered. Would it hurt to take one of these old smoke sticks and ignite it, just for nostalgia’s sake? To feel some comfort with something made by terran hands, not made by a compiler or produced from an Affini’s body?
A moment later Axton held his lighter in his right hand. His left held a rolled-up tube of tobacco, with a single thumb flick away from igniting it.
A choice between embracing the past once again, and potentially be dragged down by it… and putting it away, moving forward with his life.
It was so simple. Or was it?
A full minute passed as he continued to glance between the cigar and the lighter. He was so very tempted to give in. Then his thoughts drifted to his crew.
Amanda. Maya. Kendra. Troy. The Affini left their marks on them, and in the second and third’s cases, it was literal. He had been upset when he discovered their trysts with Veltroc and Texica, but their glowing appraisal of the snake and the spider, and them assuring him that they were still safe and lucid and did want to see them of their own free will did temper his protective tendencies.
Hell, being in the Hyperion here was a testament to how much the Affini cared to accommodate and care for him and his loved ones.
They were all in safe vines, as the Affini liked to say. All he had to do was trust them.
Moments later, the cigar and lighter were replaced.
He was back in the mess hall now. He took a seat again, and had to brace himself against the table as the metal chair creaked under his weight. He was so used to seats in the Compact being sturdy and well built, that having this much weaker seat nearly break from being sat in alarmed him. Was it always that fragile? Or did he become too strong for it during his stay on the alien scout ship?
Or… did he… gain some weight?
Axton pinched the bridge of his nose. That was a safe bet. The Affini handed out food almost as often as they did the xenodrugs. And of all the sophonts he interacted with, nearly all of them were heavier-set than the average terran. They all ate well.
He was mildly upset. He liked his muscular form. Would the Affini let him keep it?
He contemplated this for a bit further, before hearing a loud thud noise. He jumped, nearly breaking the chair from the motion, and he snapped his gaze to the door leading out of the mess hall and towards the cargo bay. It was shut tight. Another thud rang out, followed by a third one. Smaller ones came after, and Axton realized it was the classic “shave and a haircut” style knock – da, da-da-da-da, da, da.
Someone was here. Who the fuck was it? “Uh, Mithrax?” he called out. He only got silence in return, making his stomach sink. Dread began to well inside. If it wasn’t the goofy mushroom man… then who was it?
He slowly, hesitantly approached the door, that knocking pattern splitting the air again. It repeated at least three times as he drew near the door, and he stared at the console to the left that could open and close it.
He knew he was trembling by that point. Fuck, okay, okay… time… time to show some bravery, then.
He pressed a button, and the door slid aside.
In the hallway designed for terrans, there was a massive colossus of vines, flowers, and a bird mask, all scrunched up on itself to fit inside. Their beaked, wooden mask’s eyeholes were closed, and in its sharp, lethal talons, it clutched a large cane with an amethyst-like jewel stuck to the top.
At first, the creature remained still, unmoving. Then their eyes flashed open, three gleaming orbs that radiated power. The bird-like mask was split open by a ravenous, hungry grin full of flesh-tearing needles, stretching all the way up to the top on each side.
Dynine Rift, 19th Bloom, gazed down upon Axton with clear glee and excitement on their visage.
“Hel-!”
Axton closed the door immediately, slamming it shut with a heavy thunk. Dynine was silenced, and for a moment Axton thought that was it. He glanced to the side, brow furrowed. Was he hallucinating, or…?
He opened the door, and there was Dynine, still in the middle of talking.
“-lo!”
Thunk. Shut tight again. Yep, that was the stars-damned bird plant, sneaking up on Axton once more. Son of a bitch.
Okay, he needed help. Backing away, he yanked his pad out and quickly pinged the one Affini he knew he could trust.
›WaywardSun: Hey Mithrax, got a problem here! Please respond!
›FunGuyAmongI: Yes, I’m here, is everything alright, Mister Jakobson?
›WaywardSun: Frosting Dynine is here! Why are they here? I wanted to be alone!
Fucking profanity filter. He hated that stupid thing the day he discovered it. A waste of code that seemed designed solely to infantilize and emasculate him, even if it was good-intentioned. If he had it his way, he’d delete it off the face of the universe.
›FunGuyAmongI: Ah, looks like Captain Rift wanted to talk to you face to face. I wanted to warn you, but they insisted I leave it as a surprise.
›WaywardSun: You’re mulching me.
›FunGuyAmongI: Nope! But I can tell you’re scared of them.
›WaywardSun: No roots I’m scared! They’re gonna do some weird rot to me if I let them in!
›FunGuyAmongI: Oh, Mister Jakobson, I don’t think they’d ever dream of harming you! You’re perfectly safe.
›FunGuyAmongI: Also, please, do dial back the profanity, dear.
Axton shook. He didn’t know what else to think, or even do. His relaxed trip down memory lane was cut short by the motherfucking demon bird just outside, waiting to be let in and probably do things to him.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
He couldn’t think. He couldn’t breathe. He needed some catharsis just so he wouldn’t explode.
All he could do was scream.
And so he screamed for a few minutes.
Axton slid the door back open. And of course, Dynine was still there.
“...are you quite finished?” Dynine said with an amused smirk on their mask. Axton could see that, given how they had to compact themself to fit in here, their legs and midriff were just a mess of vines and moss, but their upper body and arms were fully formed. It looked like their torso was perched on a mobile shrub full of greenery, flowers, roots, and other things related to plants. Such a strangely comical visage...
“Just get in here,” Axton snapped, stepping aside to let the massive plant through. Dynine shuffled in, grinning the whole way. He didn’t bother objecting to their entry, knowing the question was just a formality.
“And I thought I was the one in charge here,” Dynine snarked with that smug laughter he hated. Axton could only growl in annoyance.
He saw Dynine move their head around, surveying the mess hall. Given the Affini’s size, they filled up a full third of the room alone! Axton made sure to stand back, leaning against a wall.
“Hmmm… rather stuffy in here,” Dynine said casually. Axton noticed that familiar coat tail-like body parts dangled off their back. They must be in ‘off-duty’ mode again, which meant hamminess tinged with scares. Terrific. “I know terran vessels tend to be compact and tiny, but this is something else, dear! How did any of you live comfortably, I wonder?”
“We made it work,” Axton grunted irritably, staring daggers at them. “Now what the hell do you want? This obviously isn’t just a friendly visit.”
Dynine didn’t turn his way. They seemed to be occupied with looking at the fridge and the stove, vines slithering over the place to inspect them. They were still talking, however. “Axton, darling, every encounter with me is a friendly visit. Surely you know this by now.”
He rolled his eyes. Dynine was really annoying when they weren’t scaring the daylights out of him. Once again he was bitter that he couldn’t just punch them in the jaw for their behavior. Ugh…
“Whatever.”
“Egad, no compiler?!” Dynine babbled, oblivious to Axton’s discontent. “You had to… store food for days?!”
“Weeks, actually.”
“How dreadful. That will be fixed, I promise you!”
He clenched one shaking fist held at his hip. “That isn’t necessary, trust me.”
Dynine froze. They slowly moved their head to look at him, and the piercing gaze they brought upon him sent a tremor up his spine. They didn’t even fire up their almighty gaze of submission, and yet here he was, already feeling cowed under their glare. Had he really reached a point where they could just glance at him and he’d wilt?
I hate this asshole.
“Axxy, dear. When it comes to improvement and wellness, everything is necessary.”
“Uh huh…”
They finally backed off, returning to moving all over the mess hall. Several minutes passed, punctuated with the occasional “hm” and “goodness” being uttered by the Fortitude’s captain. Axton was growing more and more incensed as Dynine was blatantly criticizing and deconstructing the vessel he had grown attached to.
He couldn’t take it any longer.
“Dynine,” he said firmly, eyes narrowed. “You’re here for a reason. I know it, you know it. And making fun of my ship isn’t it. Why are you here? And don’t give me more of that ‘friendly visit’ nonsense, we both know that’s not true.”
The mossy avian had finished their unwanted, unneeded, unbearable critique of his ship by now. They turned toward him in that moment, head rotated at a 45 degree angle. Axton refused to show fear, adopting the most scorching glare he’s ever had. It probably wouldn’t intimidate them, but it hopefully got across how he was pissed off by their antics.
A moment of dead silence.
Before it was split by Dynine’s features softening. That manic, smug, vicious predator’s grin became more of a genuine smile, and they shuffled a little closer, pressing the end of their cane on the mess hall’s metal floor.
“Axxy, feather,” they said. “I will be honest, yes, I do have a reason for coming to see you. And it’s a very good reason.”
“Then out with it already.” He raised his voice, he realized. He couldn’t help it, Dynine was really angering him. His patience was completely spent on this bird. “This is my ship. The Hyperion belongs to me, not you, even if you brought it aboard. I-”
A flurry of leaves and moss came at him, and he was slammed against the wall behind him. He gasped, the roughness making him fear he was going to bruise, before he clocked onto the fact that Dynine had pounced on him and pinned him in place. Several vines coiled around his body, while their taloned hands had grabbed his upper arms. Their face was really close to his now, three points of ancient, unknowable, eldritch power having found his soul and snaring it in their grasp.
Only then did Axton discover that actively antagonizing Dynine was probably a horrible idea.
“Do not take that tone of voice with me, Axton.” Dynine’s voice was uncharacteristically serious and grave. Their affable demeanor vanished, replaced with a fury that was only just held in check. “You know as well as I do that nothing belongs to you in the Compact anymore. Not your ship, not your rights, and definitely not yourself.”
A massive portion of Axton’s willpower died off right then. But some still remained. He squirmed, trying to escape, even while under that all-encompassing, hungry glare. “You’re… supposed to be… helping us.”
“Correct. We are benevolent. But we are not to be trifled with.” The vines on his body tightened, and he winced from how uncomfortable it was. “Because we are friends, I shall let you off with a single warning. Just one. Take it to heart, and never, ever do this again. Nod your head if you understand.”
He tried to speak. But his voice was disabled. Locked down. Incapable of functioning.
Right then, Axton discovered that, for all the wonders the Affini Compact was capable of… they existed on a level beyond that of humanity. A level that not even every single soldier in the universe could hope to compete with.
If every bullet ever made in the history of mankind was fired at an Affini, and they all hit the target without missing, it might do some damage. Might. The most likely scenario was the average Affini, even a youngbloom, just shrugging it off and proceeding to capture and domesticate all the souls that had the nerve to even consider firing upon a being of unimaginable power.
Terrans were just a speck to the Affini. A very cute and delightful speck, but a speck all the same. And their only options when dealing with these plants was either voluntary submission, or non-consenting domination.
They were all objectively, insanely, unbelievably fucked.
He nodded his head in terrified muteness.
A break came in the form of Dynine’s enthralling glare dissipating. They adopted a smile again, brushing their sharp, flesh-rending claws against the side of his face. A gesture of affection, but one that did nothing to quell the terror in his heart.
“I apologize for being so rough with you, feather,” Dynine murmured. “I simply could not abide such blatant feralist rhetoric. I had to ‘lay down the law’ as you cuties put it. You understand.”
“I-I think… I think I do.”
“Good boy. I’m happy that we could come to an agreement.” One talon made its way to his chin, stroking under it just as affectionately. “But you are correct. I did come here for a reason. And that reason is to let you know… your brother has been found at last.”
Axton was certain that if Dynine wasn’t holding him up with their vines, his legs would have evaporated right then, making him crash onto the floor.
“W-what?” was all he could say in reply.
“Yes. Your younger brother, Zane Jakobson, he/him, is alive and well.” They withdrew, keeping him stuck in their vines so he wouldn’t fall, but releasing his arms. “He is on another scouting vessel, the Excellence. He is safe and sound, in the care of another Affini. She has been ensuring his health and safety for the past month.”
Axton’s fear dissolved. In its place was an emotion he never thought he’d feel again.
Blissful relief.
And that relief came bubbling out in two streams of tears falling down his face. His breath hitched, his body shook.
They found him. He’s alive. He’s safe.
“I… I… oh, stars. He’s…”
Dynine nodded, using their free hand to scritch Axton’s scalp as they continued. He could only whimper in response. “Shhh, I know, feather. I know how much he means to you. You’ve been looking for him for so long, sacrificing so much of yourself to be the leader and the provider others looked up to. All in this noble quest to find what’s left of your family.”
The petting continued, and so did they. “But you don’t have to do any of that anymore. You can just be yourself, Axxy. Your delightful, charming, handsome self. Because we, the Affini, are here to help, and you will have it. We follow through on our promises. This is me following through on mine.”
Axton wanted to speak. He wanted to say something. Anything. Anything at all to express his gratitude and thanks.
Alas, all his strength and willpower was gone. All he could do was sit there, held in their grasp, and just… sob. He couldn’t maintain that dam holding his emotions in check. They broke through, a tidal wave of raw, unfettered feelings, of what, he wasn’t sure. He just felt a lot, and it was falling out before he could stop himself.
Zane’s alive Zane’s alive he’s safe he’s safe he’s safe I didn’t fail fail fail fail I’m okay he’s okay
“Oh, Axton, I know… come here.”
Tendrils and limbs snaked in his direction, binding him once more and pulling him forward. It wasn’t a hold designed to force him to stay rooted, preventing movement.
No.
It was a hug.
One he discovered he was desperate for.
Axton held onto Dynine and cried into their torso for several long minutes. He blubbered and wailed, clinging to the big bird and releasing so much pent-up emotion into them. He didn’t care that he hated this stars-damned bird, they made good on their promise and relieved the weight on his shoulders. The weight he had been carrying for so long, the weight that he feared would probably end up getting him killed or making him go insane.
Speech was impossible. But he felt that Dynine understood. And that was okay.
His inelegant sobbing soon settled into quiet whimpers. He was feeling tired now. So tired. And yet, energized, too. Dynine began to speak again, their voice low as their limbs were giving him touches and pets that made him melt and go limp.
“I will forward you the files for both Zane and his warden shortly, dear. And I’ve already charted a course for the system the Excellence is currently in.”
Axton sluggishly tugged his head free of their vines, staring up at them, his crimson eyes puffy and red from that outburst of raw emotion. Dynine gazed at him with an adoring smile in turn.
“However, it will be a few days before we get there. They’re quite far away. In the meantime, you may contact your brother and speak to him via text and video call, so you can prepare for your reunion.”
Axton was stunned. They had it all planned out for him. They had the answers, they had the resources, they had the gumption.
They had it all.
He was thankful for that.
“It will be alright, Axton,” Dynine crooned. “You’ve been strong and brave for so long. Once you two are together… you don’t need to be that anymore. We will be strong and brave for you. Okay?”
“O… okay,” Axton croaked.
Later that night, when Axton went to bed after informing his girlfriends of what happened, and seeing their delighted reactions, he was sure of one thing, and one thing only.
Home was just a week away.
The Affini were bringing the boys home.
They finally made it.
Chapter 38: Dear My Friend
Summary:
You will be here, if I need you, I will never have to guess... 'cause we are very special friends.
Zane and Axton have been separated for so long. Though they cannot physically reunite yet… they are still able to see each other. And until then, that’s enough.
Content warnings: Age regression and references to breastfeeding in intro
Notes:
After all this time... they get to talk to each other again. And soon, they will be reunited for real. The stars have aligned, and now, these boys are on the way to redemption.
This was another long one, but it was necessary! And once again, I got pretty emotional putting it together. Enough that I actually wrote half of it alongside the previous chapter, then finishing it today. I'm just as eager to see these boys get back together as you, my readers, likely are!
Y'all better cry happy tears or I will be UPSET /j
Chapter Text
“Mommy, Mommy, look look look!” Zee said excitedly. Chloros looked up from her pad while sitting in the living room, having been reading one of the stories her son had been writing over the past few days. Once more, he was in his blue, rabbit-themed pajamas, which he had been wearing more often as of late.
Her little boy had been indulging in a pastime he remembered recently, which happened to be sewing. Curiously, it only manifested when Zane traded places with Zee, as the adult persona never really expressed interest in doing so in the present day, but the little one had wanted to engage in it. Chloros made sure that Zee could do it safely, and so, her vines were close around him, ready to react in case he was in danger of pricking himself with the needle. He still had the hand-eye coordination for it, luckily, but she wanted to be cautious all the same.
He held up what he had been working on while sitting on the floor. It was the beginning of a small quilt, made with white, blue, and green thread. A quarter of it was finished, showing an immaculate replication of a set of blueberries and leaves on a white square with green trim.
Chloros’ core nearly melted at the sight. “Oh, darling, it looks lovely!” she purred. “You’re doing so wonderfully~”
“Thanks, Mommy~!” Zee giggled. “I wanna finish it and lay it on the t… t...”
“Table?” she suggested helpfully.
“Yeah, that!”
“That’s absolutely doable, dear.~”
Ever since the day Zane addressed her as ‘Mommy’, instead of simply ‘Momma’ or her real name, Chloros knew their dynamic shifted. Whether he intended it or not, he had made it clear she was more than just a mother figure and a caregiver… she was a Mommy. A Mommy who knew her son deserved to be little more often.
Therefore, the frequency of Zee’s appearances increased, with plenty more brownies having disappeared in his gullet to bring the little one into being. She sometimes wondered if she was doing it too often, risking Zee taking over permanently, but Fernis assured her that as long as she gave Zane at least twenty-four hours to be in control and exist without Class-Y in his system, it was perfectly safe to have Zee out on a more frequent basis. Of course, that meant that being little all the time meant Zee needed help feeding himself…
And Fernis had given her a solution to use. In her new, heavy breasts, she had sacs inside filled with fluid containing all the calories, vitamins, minerals, and other things necessary to keep her precious boy healthy. The time she spent having him be little and nurse from her had increased from just one hour per day, to at least two or three. Not only did it ensure she could keep him well fed and give him good nutrition, it also helped their bond deepen as mother and son. Just as it was relaxing for Zee, so too was it relaxing for Chloros, where she could lay back and hold her precious baby boy against her chest, allowing him to suckle from her leaking mammaries…
She did have to regularly top herself off, of course, but Fernis gave her supplies to kickstart production of phyto-milk in her chest, reaching a point where her body produced it naturally. And of course, whenever Zane was in play, she let him eat solid food, so that he wasn’t restricted to an all-liquid diet. Much as she wanted to just make him drink her milk all day long, she knew better than to do that. His body was still fully grown and needed proper food, not just milk.
“I’mma sew a bit longer,” Zee said. “Wanna finish.”
“Go right ahead, baby,” Chloros said. She shifted in her seat, continuing to fiddle with her pad, wondering what else might be in store for her today.
›(1) NEW MESSAGE REQUEST FROM: WaywardSun
Chloros stared at her pad. That username was not familiar to her. Who was it? It certainly wasn’t Hydros, his performance with Nero was not for a while. And Dalbergia hadn’t mentioned what Osiris’ overnet handle was yet, so it likely wasn’t either of them. The fact that the profile of this user indicated they were from a different scouting ship, the Fortitude, told her this was a total stranger.
She glanced at Zee for a moment, who was occupied with his sewing. Keeping her vines near him, she looked back at her pad, and decided she could at least entertain whoever this sophont was.
›WaywardSun has entered the room
›WaywardSun: Hi there. Is this Chloros Gleras, 27th Bloom I’m speaking to?
›ChloroFeel: Yes, this is her. Who might you be? I’m afraid I don’t recognize you.
›WaywardSun: Yeah, you probably don’t. I’ll cut to the chase. I’m Axton Jakobson, he/him. I’m told you’re the warden of my younger brother, Zane Jakobson, he/him. Is this correct?
Chloros nearly dropped her pad on the floor.
No... Is it really him? Axton, the man that Zane had such a complicated relationship with?
She was lucky that Zee was with her right now, because she had a feeling that she wouldn’t be able to hide her responses to what amounted to a bomb dropped in her lap if Zane was around. Did Roltan come through for her? Did Axton finally discover the Excellence? And… was he safe in that other ship’s care, too? He likely was, but she couldn’t help but worry anyway.
›WaywardSun: Hello? You there?
Dirt, she got distracted. Right, if this was his brother, then that meant only one thing.
›ChloroFeel: Yes, sorry. You are correct, I am Zane’s warden. I have been taking care of him for the past month.
›WaywardSun: Thank frost. I’ve been looking for him for years and I only just got told about who picked him up. I want to speak with him as soon as possible. Is he there with you right now?
›ChloroFeel: Yes, he is. Are you willing to wait at least half an hour? I need to get him in a better state of mind before he’s willing to speak to you.
›WaywardSun: Ordinarily, I’d say fire no, let me talk to him now. But I’ve been around you plants long enough to realize a few things.
›WaywardSun: So if he needs to get in a good spot, then do it. Just keep me posted and let me know when we can call. I got the entire day to spend.
›ChloroFeel: Very well. Your patience is appreciated, Axton.
No reply. Alright, that meant the timer was already counting down.
She did some quick digging just to make sure this WaywardSun was who he said he was, and sure enough, she found a file on Axton. She gave it a read, and discovered that a lot of it lined up with what Zane had said about him. Their family histories matched, and Axton was described as still being focused on seeing his brother again. Even with having accepted the Compact was taking care of Zane, Axton was still adamant about reuniting with his long-lost sibling. He was also listed as being on another vessel, known as the Fortitude.
So, the day had finally come.
She needed to work quickly then.
“Zee, baby?” she said aloud. “Are you finished?”
Zee nodded his head, and stood up shakily. Chloros was faster, not only wrapping her vines around him to help him steady himself, but also take his unfinished quilt, needle, and thread. Her baby boy adopted a confused expression. “Mommy? What’s wrong? Am I in trouble?”
“Oh, no, not at all, baby,” she cooed kindly. Her vines coiled around her son, lifting him up into the air. He laughed that adorable laugh she loved as he was brought closer, so he was sitting in her lap now. With his head near her breasts, he reflexively opened his mouth and went to lean in for a suckle, but she stopped him with a finger against his lips.
“Sorry, dear, no time for milk. Zane needs to come out now.”
Zee blinked, his confused face shifting into a frustrated pout while folding his arms. “Aww… but I want Mommy’s milk…”
“You’ll get it later, I promise. This is important.”
The pout remained, but he eventually nodded in acknowledgment. “Okay… I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you too, Zee. Rest well, little prince.”
She punctuated it with a forehead kiss, before manifesting a flower and pressing it into his face. Pollen surged into Zee’s mouth and sinuses, and he groaned as her counteragent flooded his body. A few moments passed as Zee’s eyes glazed over, his body becoming limp while the flower retracted…
Only for his gaze to sharpen, and a grunt to escape him, as Zane returned. He blinked his eyes repeatedly, glancing around to get his bearings, before looking up at his warden. “Agh… hey, Chloros. What’s up? Did Zee want to sleep early?”
Her hands held his face, while her vines automatically went to petting and touching him to help him relax. “Zane, something important’s come up. Your brother, Axton, has contacted me and asked about you.”
Zane’s lazy, laidback expression abruptly morphed into an alert state of wide-eyed panic. “Wait, what? He’s alive? He’s talking to you?!”
She nodded. “Yes, he’s out there, and he wants to speak to you. He’s given me time to put Zee away, but I imagine he’ll be concerned if you two don’t get together soon.”
She could see, and feel, him growing more anxious and unsettled. He sat up in her lap, glancing at her pad, then back up at her. “Shit, I… I dunno if I’m ready for him yet, Chloros! I, I haven’t seen him in years, what if he doesn’t recognize me? What if it backfires? What if… if… fuck...”
Chloros understood his trepidation. And she knew exactly what to say to help him come around to it.
“It’s okay,” she said, looking at him with her uncovered eyes. “I looked up his file, and I can confirm that he’s been searching for you for many years. He’s been focused on finding you and trying to make up for what he’s done.”
Her son looked at her skeptically. “I… I find that hard to believe, honestly.”
“I know, but consider – he could have simply forgotten about you and left you alone for good. The fact that he’s finally reaching out, and directly asking about you, means he still cares a great deal for you. He’s still your older brother, Zane. He still wants to be in your life, if you’ll let him.”
He looked downward. He was clearly thinking hard about this. After years of being abandoned by his family, and feeling like he had lost everything, Chloros knew that the news of Axton seeking him out was quite the shock.
“You’re absolutely sure it’s him?” he asked warily, looking up at her again.
“I have high confidence that it is.”
Zane’s face bore apprehension and anxiety. “I… fuck. This is so sudden, I…”
“What’s the matter?”
He turned his head away. “I don’t think I’m strong enough to face him.”
Chloros wanted to assuage his worries right away with a simple pulse of her biorhythm, but she ignored that desire. At least, for a moment. She opted to use her vines and hands on him, her touch working to lessen the worst of his anxiety. Of course, that wouldn’t be the only thing her son needed now.
He needed guidance. Her guidance.
“What makes you say that?” she asked quietly.
“I… Chloros, I haven’t seen him ever since Dad died. We’re practically strangers by this point. Even if he turns out to be the same Axton from before… I’m just… I’m scared.” He sniffed. “I’m scared of opening myself up to him again. I want to see him, but I’m so terrified that it’ll just ruin all my progress here. What if he ends up hurting me again? What if… what if...”
Chloros let him speak further, knowing that the best thing for him was to get his thoughts out, before she had her opening.
“What if I end up hurting him?”
Ah. That must have been the crux of the issue, then. Already, she could see what Zane was feeling – when he first arrived in her care, he was wasting and terrified. Now, he was happier, healthier, and looked much different. Axton was probably working on the mental image of Zane he still had back then, of a small, frail, paranoid wreck of a little brother. There was a very real possibility, Chloros concluded, of Axton feeling all his effort was for nothing if Zane was not what he thought he was.
Zane said so much in so little. He held affection for his brother, even after all these years. It was very core-warming. And she could work with that.
“I understand your fears, my love. I cannot guarantee what will happen, but I can suggest what to do.”
“Please.”
“You still have all your memories, aside from the ones that have been suppressed, as I have promised. And what I have read of his file indicates that he treasures his memories and relationships like you do your own. So, to prove that you’re still his little brother at heart… confirm the memories you two share, if he asks. Especially of-”
“Of Mom,” Zane finished. “It’s… it’s gonna hurt.”
“I suspect it will. But I know you’re strong enough to face it.”
She took that moment to amp her aura up, vines shifting and scents growing a touch stronger, enough to make Zane focus more on her and her words. A melody unique to Chloros, her whole body an instrument, playing a practiced tune that compelled the storm in Zane’s mind to fade.
“Just like how you were strong enough to hold on in time for Antris to find you,” she added. “You do have strength, Zane. You always did. And you don’t have to do this alone. I will be with you the whole way, like I always have.”
She said he was strong on purpose. Whereas other Affini may have loved to emphasize how mankind never stood a chance against them, and that they were much weaker compared to the Compact, Chloros thought such a thing would only hurt Zane, not help him. Instead, she knew that he had a kind of strength of his own, one that kept him going no matter how much pain he went through.
All he needed to do was accept her aid. And Chloros knew he would. That, alone, was a kind of strength he possessed.
Zane sagged in her arms. He said nothing for a while. She wanted to ask if he was alright, but she knew it was just his way of showing he was thinking hard again. She took a moment to glance at her pad.
›WaywardSun is typing…
›WaywardSun is typing…
›WaywardSun is typing…
Axton was repeatedly typing, then stopping, then typing again, then stopping. She suspected it was because he was grappling with wanting to talk to his brother, and trying to not impose upon his warden. An understandable thought process, for certain.
“How… how long do we have?” Zane said slowly.
She looked back at her son. “Fifteen minutes, at the least. He was insistent on seeing you.”
“Okay, uh… in that case… can you help me get presentable? Just in, um, plain clothes, so he’s not blindsided.”
Chloros smiled behind the shadows of her hat. “Of course, my love.”
In the master bedroom, seated cross-legged on the bed he shared with his warden, Zane stared at the display of his pad, seeing the message request coming from WaywardSun. AKA, Axton, the man whose relationship with him had become fractured during their youth. The man who, up until this point, Zane thought had disappeared into the void, never to be seen again…
And here he was. On another ship. Having spent his life searching for Zane, becoming increasingly desperate as the years went on, most likely. Enough to turn to the Affini for help. Though Zane had gotten used to the Compact’s benevolence, he could understand just how much of a risky gambit it may have been. Axton must have been quite lucky to still be himself with whatever Compact vessel he got tangled up in.
In his arms was the plush toy shaped like Chloros’ previous form. He gave it a squeeze. Holding a facsimile of Chloros’ original body, as a cute, huggable toy did a lot to keep him from spiraling.
Clad in a black t-shirt and shorts, he felt somewhat sad that he gave up some style just for this. It would be worth it.
He hoped.
Chloros was nearby, sitting behind him on the bed. She was on her own pad, writing something down for later. Zane didn’t really focus on it much. He was still trying to work up the gumption to go through with this.
I’m strong. I’m strong. I can do this. I AM strong. I CAN do this.
“I’m… okay. I’m ready,” he said aloud. It was more for his own benefit. If he didn’t vocalize it, crossing this threshold would be far more difficult.
“I’m ready to see my brother.”
Chloros’ hand found his head, giving him a reassuring little pat before drawing it back. “I know you are, baby. Go ahead. I’m here if you need me.”
No time like the present, then.
Zane reached to press the button to accept his brother’s message request, opening a new chat window.
›DarlingFlowerBoy: Axton?
›WaywardSun: Zane? Is that you?
Stars, he still typed like he did all those years ago. That made Zane more confident that it really was Axton over there.
›DarlingFlowerBoy: yeah its me
›DarlingFlowerBoy: warning you now, I’ve changed a lot in chloros’ care, so you may not recognize me
No reply at first. Zane’s face fell. Did he make a mistake already? Did… oh, wait. Axton finally said something.
›WaywardSun: That’s fine. I just want to see you again. Can we do a video call?
›DarlingFlowerBoy: yes just a second
His pointer finger hovered over the button that would initiate a live video chat with his sibling. Once more, hesitation prevented him from doing it immediately. It was so simple, but it was as if his brain was screaming at him silently, screaming for him to stop and never let Axton into his life again…
A defense mechanism corrupted by grief. One that was only trying to protect him, when there wasn’t any real threat at that moment. If he could speak to it plainly, he’d tell it that its job was done, and it deserved to rest.
Zane lowered his guard. He set the Chloros plushie aside. He pressed his fingertip on the button and waited for the call to connect. The kickstand on his pad ensured Zane’s upper body was framed nicely in the shot, so Axton would have a pretty good view of him.
The call began. On Zane’s pad, the chat application replaced the text channel with a video feed…
And there, sitting at what he presumed to be a desk, steepling his hands together, was Axton Jakobson, his older brother. Wearing a similar all-black outfit, crimson eyes staring into the camera with worry. He must have been in his own bedroom, which looked somewhat similar to their rooms back at the house on Thypso, with tan walls and star-shaped decorations.
He looked… good. A neck-length mullet of dark blonde hair, a full, neatly-trimmed mustache, and rugged, thin facial hair along his chin and jawline. Zane swore he looked paler years ago as well, but he was bearing a tan on his face and arms. Said arms still looked quite strong with the muscles visible to him, and Zane could see faint scars on those calloused body parts of his.
This was it. He was staring right at his brother. Live. And Axton was staring back at him, wordlessly.
Neither man said anything at first. He didn’t know what kept Axton silent, but Zane himself was thrown back by merely seeing his brother for the first time in several years. It had been so, so, so long, he had almost forgotten what Axton looked like…
But it all came flooding back. He knew this was his older brother. There was no mistaking it.
Axton in the flesh.
Zane swallowed. The uncomfortable, deafening silence, dark and heavy over the two of them, lasted for eternity… and then finally broke on his word.
“Um… hi, Axton,” Zane said quietly.
“Hey, buddy,” Axton replied, a small smile visible on his face. “Stars, I thought I’d never hear your voice again…”
“I… I thought the same for a while. Are you… are you okay?”
“As best as I can be in the Compact.” Axton’s eyes shifted to drink in what he could see of his sibling. With Zane’s own changes in terms of skin tone, hair color, and health, he understood his brother was only taking a moment to survey it was really him over there. He didn’t fault him for that. “Which, if I’m honest… really blows the Accord out of the water.”
“You’re telling me.” Zane found himself smiling in turn. “It’s really nice, there’s a lot to do and see.”
“Mhm. One of the Affini who’s hanging with us, Mithrax, introduced me to a comedy club that he likes to frequent. Of course he’s the type for that. And this snake-y guy one of my girlfriends is seeing has mentioned a big damn water park. A water park, on a space ship! Can you believe that, man?”
One of his girlfriends, huh? If he was able to get into a relationship out there, multiple ones at that, then Zane had a feeling his sibling was in a good place.
Soft chuckles left Axton’s lips, and Zane reciprocated, his smile growing wider. A lot of the anxiety had faded now, chased away by their brotherhood. Zane expected it to start out sad and stressful, and was very pleased that Axton went for something more lighthearted. That made it so much easier to talk with him.
“There’s a library here my book club frequents. It’s really nice, all clockpunk-y.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Nope, it exists. And there’s a whole lot of books. Like, think of the biggest library you know… and Saint’s Library is a hundred times bigger than that.”
“See, now I’m even more miffed that the Fortitude is so far away.”
“Is that the ship you’re on? How far out are you, exactly?”
“About five days. The captain told me that scouting ships like this go all over the place on a regular basis.”
That made sense. He still hadn’t seen Neith or Thypso again ever since he was first picked up. While he still felt a little homesick for his planet of origin, spending time in the castle was assuaging it, bit by bit. He was seeing it as a better home, at least by virtue of being away from the awful memories associated with their old house.
“So I guess it’ll be a bit before we meet for real,” Zane observed.
“Yeah. I’m told that we’re on the fastest speed possible for this thing, but it’ll still take time to get to you.”
So they wouldn’t reunite immediately. There would be time to gradually get used to each other again. The one thing Affini can’t conquer is physical distance, at least where two points in the universe are concerned, he thought.
“Say, your hair’s looking a lot better, man.”
Zane reached up with his hand, running it through his black, blue-streaked hairdo. “Oh, yeah. Chloros gave me stuff to give me a full head of hair and even grow it out into a ponytail. And I got it done up at this beauty salon called Corta’s Clips. It’s really cool, my friend’s Affini owns it.”
He would have said “my friend’s owner”, but he had a feeling Axton might still harbor fears over terran domestication. Thankfully, it worked, because Axton’s expression became a lot brighter.
“No fooling? Well, guess I should get mine done up over there too. Might go for some red. You know, to go with my eyes, same as you with the blue.”
“We’d match!”
“We sure would, Zane.”
The conversation drifted to other topics from there. Zane soon forgot about the time, because he had rapidly become engrossed in just… talking with Axton. Like a friend. Like a very good, cherished friend.
Stars. Maybe their relationship really could be rekindled if they were chatting amicably like this. Like nothing had happened all those years ago.
Axton was bringing him up to speed on what he had been getting up to while on the Fortitude. As it turned out, the man was dating someone new again. Several someones, actually. At least three women he had hired on his quest to find Zane, all who adored their captain from head to toe. It reminded Zane of how he ended up falling for Frey and Amy, and potentially Simon, too.
Zane shared his own achievements in finding new love, and Axton looked genuinely delighted, praising him for being able to win the hearts of others just by being himself. With everything Zane had been through, hearing that praise from his own blood sibling was incredibly nice.
They moved on to Zane having taken up writing again, with him sharing a sample for Axton to read live. Once again, eager praise and feedback came through, with Axton showing excitement for one passage in particular. Axton finished by saying he hopes he gets to see the full novel eventually. Another little surge of warmth in Zane’s heart followed.
Both men had been able to recover to some degree from their tragedies, and find new loves and friends to show them compassion and care. Yet again, the Compact’s everlasting benevolence had come through, for both of them.
He hoped it’d last.
Hours ticked by. He didn’t want to stop talking to Axton, not wanting to lose this time with him…
Axton could see that even with Zane still being energetic with their talk, the younger man was growing tired. He was yawning, eyes watering, and apologizing over and over for it. Axton couldn’t help but feel concerned.
“Agh… stars, I dunno why I’m so tired,” Zane admitted, rubbing his eyes. Behind him, Axton could see his… warden, leaning over and showing herself in the camera.
For a fraction of an instant, the wick of indignation-shaped dynamite was lit. He had read what Dynine gave him about Chloros and Zane’s files, and while he was eternally grateful that Chloros had saved his brother’s life and gave him a home, part of Axton wanted to scream at her for what she was doing. To rage at her, tell her she couldn’t replace Mom no matter what she said, that he’d die before ever accepting her as a new parent…
The wick was extinguished just as quickly as it ignited. No explosion would happen here. He remembered that Chloros had been doing all she can to give Zane room to grow in an environment where trauma could be healed instead of amplified. She was helping him recover from his pain, guiding him to a better life, while respecting his boundaries and desires as much as possible. The fact that it was noted to be somewhat unusual for the Excellence did inspire confidence.
She was trying her best with someone so fragile. He admired that.
He saw Chloros gently touching Zane’s shoulder, speaking to him calmly about putting him to bed for a nap, as he had had a long day. Zane didn’t protest, merely smiling, before turning back to his brother.
“Are you gonna be available later?” he asked.
“Yeah, of course, just ping me when you’re up and we can talk more,” Axton said.
“I’d really like that. Sincerely.”
Axton smiled. It was bittersweet. Mostly sweet, since talking to Zane at all was what he wanted, but a little bitter, since he had to go. He only had Zane’s promise for further communication to go on. But he was fine with that.
Shortly after, Zane was taken offscreen, wishing him a good day, and Chloros asked if he’d be willing to call her now instead. Curiosity burned in Axton, and so he accepted. The call with DarlingFlowerBoy came to an end…
Minutes later, he got a call request from ChloroFeel. He accepted after a moment, and found himself staring at the woman responsible for Zane’s health as she stood in what looked like some huge living room with a simulated fireplace.
He had a better view of her now. She was… surprisingly gorgeous. In spite of her face being shadowed under her large hat, he could still see her radiant eyes, of which two were covered in leafy extensions. His body warmed as he realized part of her bust was in the shot, and she was very busty indeed. If she were terran, he imagined she’d have had a spine of the toughest stuff in the universe to support that heaving chest without pain.
She was hot.
He didn’t expect to think or feel that.
“You must have many questions, Axton,” Chloros said. “I will do my best to answer them. Your well-being is just as important to me as Zane’s is.”
Axton wanted to believe that. He really did. Something told him she wasn’t being entirely truthful, though. And so, he was compelled to drop his friendly demeanor, opting to be bluntly direct with her.
“I know you’ve got my brother wrapped around your finger,” he accused. “You’re keeping him safe and happy, yeah. But I know for a fact that he’d never truly consent to being brought into your care.”
Chloros’ hidden face made it difficult to discern any expressions she may have made. And even with some of her eyes being visible, Axton couldn’t tell what she was thinking just by looking into them. Was that on purpose?
He continued, “All I want to know is… is that really him at heart? Is that truly the Zane I love over there? Or is it just… just…” He grit his teeth for a second to steady himself. “Is it some other guy you created out of my brother’s body?”
Chloros didn’t answer, at least right away. The skin of her body subtly shifted and rippled, with some of her vines waving around that he could see past her shoulders. Antennae drooped into view over the brim of her hat. Did that upset her?
“You may not believe me when I say that Zane is completely intact. But it’s the truth, dear. I have done nothing at all to change who he is inside. I’ve healed his traumas and pain to some degree, yes, but Zane’s identity remains unaltered.”
It sounded truthful. The Affini knew what they were doing, he was coming around to that. Dynine had come through with getting him to this point, after all. And yet… part of him was seriously wondering if their axioms for peace and safety were in any way accurate. He only had Chloros’ file to go off of. Who knew if it was actually up to date?
“What has he told you about himself, then?” Axton continued to probe. He didn’t want to make Zane upset, so he had abstained from interrogating his brother earlier. But Chloros had the answers, and he knew she would provide them. Even if he didn’t believe her completely.
Chloros had taken a moment to sit down in some chair he couldn’t see. Behind her, he saw huge bookshelves, stuffed with all sorts of titles in languages he both knew and didn’t know.
“He’s told me much.” He swore she was smiling when she said that. “His love for video games, his passion with writing and poetry, his appreciation for music…” She paused, her voice taking on a much sweeter edge filled with pride. “He’s even revealed how much stock he puts into his hands. And he loves holding mine.”
That all tracked, certainly. He remembered catching glimpses of some of Zane’s writing, mostly non-fiction pieces for school, and Axton was extremely impressed by it. The kid had a way with words, and on some nights, Axton opened his pad to look at excerpts of it from what he could retrieve from the servers at school and college per his request. Merely seeing the way his brother weaved words together brought joy to his soul…
Joy that he had been sorely lacking for years since this entire quest began.
The hand holding was new, though.
“I’m pretty sure he’s not the hand holding type,” Axton admitted. “At least, that’s what I remember.”
“He didn’t start that way, no. His hands were quite scarred and damaged by the time he was brought on-board. But they’ve healed completely by now, and they’re much softer. He seems to enjoy my touch with little influence on my part.”
Interesting. Perhaps this was always a part of Zane, left dormant, before Chloros brought it out. The Affini seemed to have that as their specialty, peeling away layers of scabbing and trauma to unveil whatever might be hiding under it all. It sounded so invasive, and yet… it had an appeal.
Although, one thought crossed his mind. One thought that he knew was important to both men, one that he was sure Chloros’ answer would help him decide whether she was the right fit, or if she deserved his eternal scorn.
But asking this question would hurt. It absolutely would. He knew it would be a stab in the heart for both of them. He was certain it would hurt Zane most, because Mom had been with him ever since that night. That horrible, horrible night. A night etched into both of their minds for eternity.
He pulled the trigger. He needed to know.
“Does he talk about our mother at all?”
“Yes. It’s a somewhat recurring topic, actually.”
Axton froze. He didn’t know what answer to expect, but it certainly wasn’t that. He stared at Chloros on his screen. Chloros stared back.
“He still values her highly. Enough that he occasionally has nightmares over failing to protect her and keep her alive. He has expressed how much guilt and regret he’s been carrying over everything that has befallen your family, especially in regards to Minerva.”
Axton’s voice lowered, and his breath became shaky. “He… he still remembers.”
Chloros nodded. “He does. He’s made an effort to remember as much as he can. And I have endeavored to help him keep those memories no matter how much he changes on the outside.”
She leaned in slightly, so her obscured face took up more of the feed. “Know this, Axton. Zane is how you remember him. He’s become more confident and outspoken, yes, but he is the same young man you have spent years searching for. And you will be able to reunite with him. This is my promise.”
Axton’s body slumped in his chair. He was the only sophont in his room, having requested privacy from his girlfriends, which they all gladly gave. And until he was finished, they would not interrupt him. Which meant plenty of time between him and Chloros.
He didn’t know what to think. Part of him expected Chloros to be a monster, a fiend that broke and mangled Zane into something else entirely, going against what her file had said. Even with the overall goal of unity and prosperity the Affini professed, he still felt apprehension at the idea of anyone, particularly himself, his brother, and his crewmates, being owned by these plants.
Domestication was a concept he was still struggling with. To throw away your soul and your liberty, ensuring you get the best care and the most love… it was a wonderful goal with a steep price. And he knew that sooner or later, all of humanity would be domesticated in some way.
“You’re quiet,” Chloros remarked. “Is everything alright, dear?”
Axton sat up in his seat, and looked at her while trying to not give away just how anxious he felt. Something told him she picked up on it anyway, but he couldn’t stop himself regardless.
“Has Zane been domesticated by anyone yet?”
“No.”
He blinked. “What?”
“Zane has not been domesticated. There are plans to do so, but we have agreed to put it off indefinitely until he feels ready.”
He instantly noticed the ‘we’ in her sentence. That was extremely telling.
“And… when will he feel ready?” he asked haltingly.
“When his trauma is fully healed and you two are together again. The vet and I...” Axton frowned at the usage of ‘vet’ over ‘doctor’, he still didn’t like how that sounded. “...have agreed that when the time comes, he will undergo what’s known as a psyche map.”
“You gonna reach into his brain or something?”
“That is a crude way of putting it, but yes. He will be sedated, and from there, he will be assisted in delving through his painful memories and unlocking the ones that have been suppressed. Specifically, his memories of the night your father was killed, and what led to Minerva’s passing.”
Anger and indignation flared again. Axton’s clenched fist slammed on the desk suddenly, a loud thunking noise following, and he couldn’t hide the snarl in his voice.
“Stars-dammit, Chloros! Those are his memories, our memories, for fuck’s sake!” he raged. “They’re not yours to fuck with!”
Chloros actually recoiled from that outburst, leaning back. He didn’t need to see her face to know he upset her. Damn it…
In an instant, his white-hot fire fizzled out, and he slouched. Already, his eyes were starting to sting while his fortitude was crumbling. He was used to getting angry at people that wronged him, but with the Affini? It either left him trembling in panic, or absolutely drained. Snapping at Chloros did the latter.
“I’m sorry,” he gasped, holding his face in his hands. “I don’t… I just don’t want to lose my brother. I’ve come this far and I don’t, I can’t, I can’t lose him, Chloros. I don’t want to say goodbye to him forever, I, I…”
Once again, he was starting to sob. He hated feeling like this. It was something both he and Zane shared – crying for any reason, even just a little, was absolutely horrible. Even if it was the only way to express their emotions, they both still hated the act. It always left Axton, at least, feeling miserably small afterward, like a frail little gnat waiting to be squished. And he hated how he had been doing that on a more frequent basis since entering the Compact.
He braced for Chloros to squish him. To crush his hopes. To say that yes, he would lose Zane. He would fail in his quest, after all that time and effort to save what remained of their family…
What he got instead was something that made things just a little brighter.
“Axton,” Chloros said gently. He got the sense that she wanted to reach out and hold him, and if that was true, he knew he wouldn’t say no. He liked being held… “I understand how you feel. I know what that kind of loss is like. And I am doing everything in my power to ensure neither of you will experience it ever again.”
“How… how, Chloros? How can I trust what you say?” He knew he sounded so horribly bitter and paranoid. His real feelings were on display, and he couldn’t hide them. Not from the Affini. Especially not her, the woman in charge of caring for his lost sibling.
“I know you likely cannot trust me by words alone. All I ask is that you try to have some faith.”
“Like… like… like I had faith in… Dynine?”
“Exactly. Just like how I have faith that your reunion with Zane is what you both need. Because when it comes time to face those memories… he will not be able to do it alone.”
He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and sniffed. “What, what do you mean?”
“He accepts me as his mother figure,” Chloros said, “without having forgotten Minerva. While I’ve gained his trust and affection, and can guide him through the psyche map… I cannot guarantee he will be able to break through the locks he’s imposed on his memories.”
Something clicked. “So you’re saying… he needs me.”
“He absolutely does. He needs you, Axton. He’s always needed you. Now, more than ever. Just like he needed you when you were children.”
Zane needed him. Wanted him. Had to have him.
If all that was true, then… that meant…
They could be together again. They could both heal, and finally move on, after all the devastation wrought by their monster of a father. They could finally live, instead of slowly dying as they were torn apart by anguish and hatred day by day.
He was struggling to not break down into a real crying fit right there. He knew it was obvious to Chloros, because she followed up with, “It’s okay, Axton, I know… it’s alright. I will ensure both of you get the best care. I will give you both the best care. Because you need it. And you deserve it. This I swear.”
That finally broke Axton. He could barely get out a “thank you” before waves of tears came forth and reduced him to sobs. He looked anything but glamorous, he was sure of that.
But above all else…
He could take solace in the fact that Chloros would save Zane. Save Axton. Save both of them.
The Jakobson family could finally be saved.
When Chloros finished her call with Axton, she found herself with the distinct urge to reach over and pull him into her vines, soothe him like she soothed Zane. Comfort him, care for him, take all his hurt and pain away. It was impossible, of course. She couldn’t simply reach through her screen and drag Axton through.
Still… as she conversed with him, she realized that as much as she yearned to have Zane in her life, so too did she yearn for Axton. She had only known him for a few hours, yet she felt the same desire to give him love and stability as she did Zane. She couldn’t quite understand it herself.
She had returned to the master bedroom, where Zane was still napping. She reflexively scooped her slumbering son into her arms, and for a moment, he stirred. Then he resumed his peaceful rest, unconsciously aware that it was Chloros who was holding him now. He felt so safe around her now that he didn’t object when she drew near, even while asleep.
Climbing into the bed, she murmured to herself while holding her beloved child against her bust, letting him nuzzle against the pillows mounted on her chest. She ran her fingers through his soft, luxurious hair, her mind wandering.
She wondered. Axton didn’t seem like the type for physical affection, but she could not shake the mental image of holding him in her arms alongside Zane. Holding him, loving him, doting on him…
Zane was not the only one who desperately needed a mother. Axton needed her. He needed her, even if he didn’t know it yet.
When the time came for Zane’s domestication, and his soul’s union with her own… perhaps Axton could unite his soul with hers as well.
She could already imagine how they would turn out. Zane Gleras, Second Floret. Axton Gleras, Third Floret.
She would have two sons for the price of one.
It was a dream that could be made real. For now, she simply contented herself with knowing that her precious boy, her darling second son, would be joined by the brother he thought had hated him.
The Zane-shaped hole in her body was joined by an Axton-shaped one. And she was eager to fill both when the fated moment arrived.
It would be wonderful. She just knew it.
Chapter 39: Heart
Summary:
It’s in our blood.
Axton is on his way. Zane can only hope for the best. In the meantime, he centers himself by spending time with a delightful group of sophonts he knows he can trusts intimately, in both senses of the word.
Content warnings: Sexual activity, nudity
Notes:
We now return to your regularly scheduled boyliker content! Apologies for the delay, I struggled with this chapter, alongside trying to do more for Oh Floret Mine and The Man, The Machine, And The Moss. I feel like I've got my mojo back, so there's that!
A pool party turned hot, what's not to love? Plus, some focus on Antris and Simon, who were instrumental in helping Zane love this new life in the Compact. Those two are wonderful, especially Antris, the one who helped kickstart this story all the way the first chapter. They're pretty great!
Next chapter will stick with Zane, before the two after focus on Axton... and from there? It's gonna be WILD. Brace up!
Chapter Text
›DarlingFlowerBoy: hey axton
›WaywardSun: Hey bud. How are you today? :)
›DarlingFlowerBoy: im pretty good
›DarlingFlowerBoy: been getting more writing done lately
›WaywardSun: Yeah? You know how I’m eager to see your work, man. You’re an awesome writer. Always have been!
›DarlingFlowerBoy: that means a lot, honestly <3
›DarlingFlowerBoy sent a file: WhatTheHeartWantsCh5WIP.pdf
›DarlingFlowerBoy: been kinda stuck on this chapter because I can’t figure out how to progress the scene with Vergil and Valerie
›WaywardSun: ...gonna be honest, I didn’t expect that to come up here. Then again, not surprised, given you’re with Chloros over there.
›DarlingFlowerBoy: oh dirt im sorry I forgot to warn you im so sorry
›WaywardSun: Hey, it’s what you like, so I’m not yucking your yum. You’re awesome and creative and that’s what matters. Keep at it. <3
›DarlingFlowerBoy: ...excuse me while I explode from the good feedback :nuke:
›WaywardSun: And there’ll be more where that came from, I promise! :)
›DarlingFlowerBoy: gosh um
›DarlingFlowerBoy: thank you
›DarlingFlowerBoy: Oh frick I forgot I gotta meet up with my pinnates and their affini in half an hour, can we talk later?
›WaywardSun: Absolutely. Go on and have fun kid. I’m just a message away if you need me. I love you!
›DarlingFlowerBoy: Love you too <3
“CANNON BALLLLLLL!!!!” Simon called out before leaping off the diving board and performing a belly flop, then careening down into the pool with a humongous splash. Zane braced to get doused in water, moving his arms to shield himself, laughing aloud. Waves of water came forth at him and Frey, whose laughter joined his.
Simon disappeared under the water for a few seconds, before rushing back up through the surface, casting a lesser spray of clear blue-white. He shook his head, his fluffy hair and beard soaking wet and matted… and his face bearing a huge grin.
“Haha! Heck yeah!” Simon called out happily. Zane and Frey clapped for him, and off to the side, Zane heard Antris and Kamina do the same. “Thank you, thank you, I’m here all week!”
Today was a pretty good day. Zane had been invited over to Antris’ hab unit for a get together with them and Simon, and Frey and Kamina had come along, too. Of course, Zane was happy to have all four of them together, trusting them to treat him well, and so far they were living up to the trust and faith he had in them.
The pool was gargantuan and extravagant, as usual. Almost like a public pool at a gymnasium, but for a single home. And it was at the perfect temperature, not too cold, not too hot. The water itself was perfectly clear, and even with all the plants around (both sapient and not), Zane didn’t see any cast-off leaves or other bad stuff land in the water to disrupt the beauty. It was a pretty blue color too, thanks to the vibrant blue tiling at the bottom. Perfectly comfortable!
Set behind Antris’ hab unit, which looked similar to a Scottish castle, but a little smaller than Zane and Chloros’ home, the pool had several ladders on each edge, leading to the textured stone walkways that ensured nobody would slip when getting out. Even then, with at least two Affini in here, Zane doubted anyone would get hurt.
The pool was surrounded by large walls of shrubbery, but where the usual green was expected, there was crimson, pink, and orange, along with massive trees all around. And of course, being outside meant plenty of warm sunshine for everyone present.
While the two Affini were naked as usual, striding through the water with their lower bodies disentangled to better swim with, the terrans opted for appropriate swimwear. Frey wore a delightfully eye-catching bikini, adorned with flowers that shimmered between blues, pinks, and purples depending on the angle you looked at it. Naturally, the parts where its thick nipples pushed against the fabric had one flower on each breast, positioned just so. And of course, similar plants adorned its hips and groin, while the one over its eye was a calming blue color. Frey was attached to Zane, of course, holding hands with him and never straying too far.
Simon had something similar, clad in a pair of swim shorts that matched the pink of the flower on his head. With his pelvis being the only thing covered, Zane could see vibrant pink lines traced all over Simon’s body, swirling around his arms, legs, and chest. And the man was, of course, quite a fuzzy one, his chest, stomach, arms and legs coated in a carpet of virility that was brilliantly orange, like the hair on his head and face.
And Zane? Well, he was clad in swim shorts too, black with dark blue flower patterns. And mercifully, Chloros had eased off on the biting she loved to do over the past few days, so the last few marks she made on him had faded enough to be barely visible against his skin. Nobody noticed, apart from Frey, who had been made aware of the marks already and didn’t bring attention to them. It did drift closer to Zane from time to time and rub its super-soft hands upon his body, especially on those parts, making him writhe and moan every time.
Stars, it was a tease. But he loved that about it, of course. Along with everything else.
Some laidback rock music was playing. Zane had come to like this song in particular, it was one of his favorites. Another classic from one of his favorite bands, actually, about making the most of life with what you have… something he liked a lot.
Waves of water lapped against Zane’s body as he floated in the pool, idly kicking his legs. He hadn’t learned to swim before entering the Compact, but some training with Antris had helped him reach a level where he could easily tread water without assistance. Though, of course, there was always at least one sophont nearby.
Antris brushed against him, and he could feel their vines greedily slide up his thighs under the water, making him blush and moan softly. Did they have A in their vines too? He heard them chuckle along the way. “Don’t mind me, just making sure you’re all good, sweetie,” Antris purred.
“You, uh, you know that’s just an excuse, right?” Zane said with a knowing grin. Even though it flustered him, he knew Antris was doing it to show affection. By this point, he was used to Affini other than Chloros randomly touching him, as long as they were ones he knew.
“...yeah, it is, guilty as charged.” Antris stuck their tongue out of their mouth, laughing, before both he and they looked over at Kamina. Frey’s Affini was occupied with Simon, petting his head and shoulders a-plenty, and Kamina’s floret disconnected itself from Zane, giving him another kiss on the cheek before going over to be with Simon and Kamina now.
Zane glanced up at Antris for a moment. They looked down at him in return, sporting a friendly smile. The flowers on their body were as colorful as ever, shifting between pink and crimson, while their eyes shimmered with appreciation.
“You know, I don’t think we’ve been able to speak sophont-to-sophont before,” they said. “Is that okay?”
For an instant, Zane’s mind’s eye conjured a flash of how Antris looked when they first found him on Neith. His traumatized mental state at the time rendered them as a horrible, towering monster that would tear him apart… and it contrasted heavily with the beautiful, sweet-cored guardian of Simon here. The guardian who, while being friendly, also was very clearly worried about the younger man’s mental state, and Zane couldn’t fathom them having any malice at their core.
Trauma really did color one’s perceptions and memories, he had found.
“I’m okay with that,” he said, returning the smile. “You know, Antris, I’m glad you picked me up back then. I don’t think I’d have met Simon, or Frey, or anyone else here. Hell, I probably wouldn’t be having Chloros as my…” He paused, glancing around to make absolutely sure Chloros wasn’t lurking nearby – she had dropped him off here and left, so she was back at the castle, but he never could be sure – before he continued, “my Mommy now.”
Antris chuckled in a deep, hearty fashion, several dark green roots and vines finding their way to him and coiling around him. Once more, their unique texture, pleasantly scratchy against his smooth skin, made him wiggle in order to get more of it.
“That’s wonderful, hon. I just hope I didn’t scare you too badly back then,” Antris said, and their face adopted a more apologetic look. “I sometimes forget that I can look really rotting scary in circumstances like that.”
“Well, even if you did…” Zane found the end of a tendril, and gave it an affectionate clench of his fingers. “I forgive you. I know now that it wasn’t on purpose. I, um, hope I didn’t make you upset when I tried to shoot you.”
Antris waved a dismissive dark green hand. “Oh, it’s no big deal. You wouldn’t be able to hurt me anyway, and I already forgave you for whatever you were gonna do. I’m just happy you’re in a better state now.” They ruffled his hair, earning a little laugh. “It’s sweet that you care so much about my feelings, though.”
More of Antris’ vines were enveloping him, and he gave a relieved sigh. He had become very acquainted with other sophonts touching his body like this, and he was starting to add other Affini to that list too. Fittingly, Antris, the first plant to have found him, was on that list.
“Hugs are okay, right?” Antris asked kindly.
“More than okay, actually. I trust you.”
Bundled up in the green-and-pink-red colossus’ warm embrace, Zane rested his head against their torso and breathed in their scent – warm, with some kind of spice. Cinnamon? That was the closest analogue to it. It was a contrast to Chloros, who had something resembling vanilla, but with the sweetness dialed up in a way that was fittingly hers.
“Still soft as ever,” Antris remarked. Zane let out an “eep” as they grabbed a handful of his bottom, making him look up at them with a blush. “Sorry, couldn’t resist, handsome.~”
“W-well… I don’t mind, I guess. Just be gentle?”
“Absolutely.~”
And for a while, as Antris held him in their vines, that was all they did. Light, soft gropes and touches, making him moan against them. He could already feel himself heating up all over, and he had a suspicion that Antris wanted to do more than simply grab him like this.
He was about to ask for more, when a thought crossed his mind.
Would Axton like this?
He found himself distracted with thoughts of his brother, even while in the embrace of a very pretty plant. Axton was on his way, and while both he and Chloros knew… Zane was aware that nobody else did. He wondered – would they welcome his brother? Would they accept him, like they all accepted Zane?
Axton had mentioned the names “Mithrax” and “Veltroc”, and he had said that Mithrax was one of his polycule’s friends, while Veltroc was someone one of his girlfriends had become enamored with. So he was on good terms with at least one Affini… there was a chance of him being at least open to the idea of having friends with their plant-like caretakers. But even so...
Antris’ touches ceased while he was lost in thought. One of their hands reached to rub his cheek and get his attention, and he looked to see Antris gazing upon him with mild concern. “Something wrong, sweetie? I hope I didn’t cross a boundary or anything.”
Oh, Antris… they cared. They cared so much about him. Many Affini did. Not just for Zane, but for all of their charges that were brought into the Compact. Though their methods sometimes didn’t make sense, Zane knew that at the end of the day, the Affini could help, would help, and must help.
Having a vast support network waiting to be dropped into his lap was nice.
He shifted a little in Antris’ arms, keeping his voice low so the others wouldn’t hear. “Um, no you’re good, just been thinking about someone…”
“May I ask who this someone is?”
Zane hesitated. Antris took notice. They softened, patting his head. “It’s okay if you don’t want to say, cutie.”
“No, it’s… it’s… it’s my brother, Axton. The man who I thought hated me and disappeared. He’s on his way here in a few days.”
To say Antris’ eyes widened was an understatement. They became massive, taking up almost the entire upper half of their face somehow. The revelation of Axton approaching seemed to have made their face contort in an exaggerated display of surprise.
“Oh wow,” Antris gasped, one hand on their chin. He saw them get ready to say something else, when someone else interrupted. That someone being Kamina.
“Everything alright?” the witch-themed Affini inquired, with Frey and Simon having swum closer with her. All of them were looking at Zane with worry, especially Frey.
Antris glanced at their friend’s son for a second, then back at the group. “Ah, yes, Zane was just telling me something pretty wild.” Back to him now. “Do you feel like sharing, hon?”
Zane saw all their faces, and for a micro-second, he didn’t know if he wanted to. And then that hesitation faded.
These were his friends. And Frey his lover. Simon, too, possibly. They trusted him, and he trusted them. They could be counted on to understand, especially what he’s shared with them so far.
“Well, um… yesterday, I got news that my estranged brother, Axton… he’s on his way here. He’s coming to the Excellence in a few days’ time. And I’m not gonna lie, I’m excited, but I’ve been kinda nervous too.”
He saw Simon get ready to cheer, only to stop midway when Zane finished, a sheepish expression on his face. Still, he, Frey, and Kamina all looked quite excited.
What followed next was everyone asking questions about their imminent reunion, how Zane felt, what he expects from Axton’s arrival, and more. Zane found himself opening up about his relationship with his brother to them, telling them about the more positive aspects he’s come to enjoy about Axton, including his courage and determination to be as good a man as possible. The man was an inspiration, and as it went on, Zane was also thinking that maybe all his preconceived notions of Axton’s behavior towards him was… misplaced. Misremembered.
Did Axton truly hurt him as Zane believed? Or was the trauma from everything else in their youth responsible for warping the genuinely good parts of his brother?
And…
And…
Okay, this was making his head spin. Even in the presence of his trusted friends and lover, he was realizing that his emotional bandwidth was becoming strained. And everyone’s curiosity, while appreciated, was starting to burn him out…
Frey took notice, thankfully, because it was the first to hold up a hand and signal for everyone to focus on it. “Hey, I think he’s getting overwhelmed from all this,” it said. A round of apologies followed, with Frey following up, “Sorry about all that, sweetie, we didn’t mean to make you tired from all that.”
Zane tried to speak, but to his annoyance, his voice refused to work. He gave an irritated huff, embarrassed at being unable to speak for himself. He was grateful, then, when Frey swam over, gently tugging him free of Antris’ vines and pulling him into its embrace, hugging him and stroking his hair.
For a time, he was allowed to sit there, hugging his pinnate and winding down from the talk of his brother. Still, such an emotionally-draining subject left him incapable of doing much else outside of letting Frey hold him…
Seconds passed, and then he noticed Simon had drawn near. The big, lovable Scotsman joined in on the hug, his burly arms wrapped around the pair, with Zane’s back pressed against Simon’s fuzzy chest and stomach. He blinked his eyes, turning his head away from Frey to observe the ginger-haired man, who offered a warm look.
And then Antris joined, their vines encircling the pair. Kamina followed shortly after, and before he knew it, Zane was in the center of a big group hug between four sophonts.
All of them hugging him. Holding him. Caring for him.
Loving him so deeply.
Even with his voice temporarily muted, he had another avenue of showing his appreciation while emotions welled up. An avenue that made it clear how he felt, one that he was starting to appreciate instead of feel shame or anxiety over.
Streams of joyful, happy tears were running down his face by this point, and he hiccuped, burying his face in Frey’s bust. No words were said for a time, as the quartet around him opted to embrace him for several minutes. Several minutes of warmth, of grace, of love…
Of home.
This was home.
The Excellence was home. A home that he knew would never fall down or become corrupted by dark forces, a home that could be trusted to remain standing through the trials ahead…
A lighthouse in the dark.
One of many in the Affini Compact. With every xenosophont species drifting through a sea of stars, before being drawn to the lighthouses waiting patiently to call them to safer shores. In time, all of the universe would be safe. Protected. United.
He was glad for the Compact’s existence.
When he was finally able to settle, with several vines clearing the tears off his face, he looked straight at Frey. His hands went up to hold its face, and it regarded him with silent affection in its eye.
Stars, they all showed him so much love. He needed to return the gesture.
He leaned forward and pressed his lips upon Frey’s, catching it in a needy, hungry kiss. Frey gasped against his mouth in surprise, before eagerly kissing him in return, its sweet taste stoking the embers in his form all over again. Simon seemed to get the hint, because Zane could feel his hands wandering over the smaller man’s form… and… Simon… grinding on his backside.
That made Zane moan into Frey’s mouth, but he didn’t break off. It only made him deepen the kiss between him and his pinnate, and he wriggled against it as it indulged in his sudden passion for his rose.
Around him, he heard Antris and Kamina converse in a different language. It must have been their native tongue, because he recognized some words, mostly some vocabulary, from what Chloros taught him. He only had a shaky grasp on this one, of which seemingly millions were spoken by the Affini, but it was one he was doing his best to internalize.
Then he felt their combined touch. Antris’ vines on his hips and thighs. Kamina’s on his nipples and stomach.
Oh, he knew exactly where this was going.
He reluctantly pulled off of Frey, leaving the two of them breathless for a second, and turned his head to regard the Affini who owned his pinnates. Though he couldn’t verbalize anything yet, he did give them a confirming nod. Telling them he wanted this. He needed this.
The pool water began to splash and ripple more intensely…
Sex with terrans was fun. Sex with Affini just as much. Sex with both? Absolutely mindblowing.
Zane was left drained and satisfied while laying in a heap composed of Simon, Frey, Antris, and Kamina, laid out on the side of the pool. They had all gone multiple rounds, with fluids traded between all five of them. Several positions had been tried, with Zane alternating between the bottom and the top. Though he still submitted to all of them…
He could still taste some of Simon’s cum in his mouth. The man came quite a bit, and was very heavy and powerful, using it to Zane’s benefit, making the smaller ward feel protected and loved instead of intimidated. And stars, he had a heady aroma that had almost resulted in Zane cumming on the spot from it. Especially between his strong thighs.
Frey, of course, didn’t go ignored. Zane had given it lots of love, groping its breasts, fondling its butt, and rutting it with the characteristic feverish need to fulfill his biological urges to mate. The other three watched from afar that time, giving the lovers space to indulge in their passion. Kamina was the most vocal with her praise, encouraging Zane to show his love for her floret and calling him a “good boy” more than once, in a tone that made Zane cum harder than expected.
The Affini were something else. While Frey and Simon got to focus on each other that time, their owners put their affectionate attention on Zane, and holy stars was it intense. All their vines coiling around him, making every nerve ending ignite with warmth and need. Theirs was a two-pronged attack, where one kissed him and delved their tongue into his mouth, before letting the other have their turn. Antris had a cinnamon-y taste to their mouth and tongue, and practically oozed warmth, while Kamina bore the flavors of various fruits, analogous to blueberry and cherry. He had orgasmed several times in their combined embrace, and his refractory period seemed to have been temporarily disabled, so he made a big mess on both of them….
Now, it was all over. Affini and terrans cuddled together, with Zane sandwiched between Frey and Simon again… and of course, Simon holding him in a tired bear hug, groaning in exhaustion. Frey was still awake, as were the Affini, but the plants opted to speak quietly in their own language again… leaving Zane with his pinnate.
Zane locked eyes with Frey, whose body was coated in water, sweat, and other fluids, of course. It stared back, and Zane swore he saw a heart shape in its pupil.
“We all love you, Zane,” Frey cooed. “And that won’t change.” It reached a shaky hand up to touch the side of his face.
Zane’s voice was back, and he didn’t hesitate to use it. He murmured a bit of nothing in reply, nuzzling Frey’s face. “I… I love you all too. Every last one of you has been so good to me… I’m glad to have you all in my life, honestly.”
“Mm.” A little kiss, just a short one, on his mouth. “I’m glad to brighten your life, sweetie. I know what it’s like to be in a dark place, and then be reborn in the Compact…”
“Y-yeah… and… I feel like that rebirth… is gonna be soon,” Zane said slowly. “Thank you, Frey. Thank you…”
Frey’s lips on his mouth, a tender, romantic kiss of love, said everything for him. And he understood its message loud and clear.
Chapter 40: Scarred
Summary:
Digging leaves a mark.
As the date of Axton’s arrival approaches, Zane’s anxiety reaches a self-destructive pitch. And a face from the past rears its head, bearing not malice, but remorse… sort of.
Content warnings: Self-harm, minor blood and injury, skin/nail picking, self-loathing and anxiety, references to biting, fauxcest, xenodrug usage, partial nudity, offscreen sex
Notes:
Hey, remember that one Affini all the way back in Chapter 5? Well they're back! And Zane gets to show more of his development :3
This chapter was partially inspired by my own habits of picking at my nails and harming myself, which unfortunately, I still deal with today. Alas, I can't just ask a plommy to deal with it for me... but Zane can!
Plus, boys in skirts. That's still hot. :3
Next chapter is Axton's turn in the spotlight! Prepare yourselves!
Chapter Text
The evening was peaceful, even while Zane winced and hissed as he occupied himself with harming his own body.
His nails dug into each other, tearing off layers of keratin and skin. Little bits, but enough to shorten his nails and steadily ruin them. He was using his teeth, too, to get better leverage, even if it made them hurt a little from biting too hard.
Tearing at his flesh, undoing all the hard work Chloros had done to make his hands better. His feet weren’t safe either, they too were subjected to similar self-harm. Slowly but surely getting ripped open, scarring his now healed body. Both finger nails and toe nails were being steadily destroyed.
Because he was scared.
So incredibly scared, with no immediate explanation for it.
The only solution to it was to self-mutilate. It wasn’t an answer, but stars, he couldn’t think of anything else. It provided a release, painful as it was.
Bleeding from his finger and toe tips, he was left trembling, staring at the damage he had done to himself. His hands and feet ached from the pain of being ripped open, crimson life fluid flowing from all he had done. His hands, his tools he cherished most… Blighted. Ruined. All over again. Damning the gifts he was given.
Scared. So scared. Scared enough to self-destruct.
Why was he like this?
He could already feel himself spiraling. Descending into a void of death, all primed to swallow him whole and obliterate his entire existence…
But he didn’t go too far. Already, familiar appendages, emerald-green and blue-streaked, manifested around him. They coiled around his wrists and ankles, pulling them far away from each other, and gripping just tight enough so he couldn’t freely move them, but not enough to interfere with circulation. He could not harm himself now, because Chloros had arrived.
He looked up at her, remembering that he was in the master bedroom again. He only had a blue, floral-patterned tank top and boxers on, and around him were the bitten and torn off bits of nail and skin on the sheets.
Chloros, meanwhile, had her whole body covered up with a soft, silky robe of ocean blue, patterned with dark emerald splotches. The collar was covered in white, fluffy faux-fur, as were the ends of her sleeves. And it was designed in a way to prop her breasts up and emphasize her cleavage.
She looked radiantly gorgeous and refined in it… and it made him feel bad that she had to find him like this while she wore that.
She observed him with a worried look in her visible eyes. Immediately, embarrassment and shame arose, and he turned his head away.
“Zane…” Chloros’ voice was low and gentle as she swept up the bits with a vine, depositing them in a dustpan of some sort. Her other vines held bandages, gauze, and other material to treat these wounds he had inflicted on himself. “Are you alright? I haven’t seen you do this before.”
“I’m… no, I’m not alright,” he admitted with a sigh. “I’m just… r-really anxious and scared right now.”
“Tell me what’s on your mind, sweetie.” She climbed onto the bed, and then he found himself placed into her lap, with his back to her and his head against her massive chest. With his limbs still kept apart, she was already starting to work on dressing his self-inflicted damage. Cleaning the blood off, sterilizing the wounds so they wouldn’t get infected, wrapping them up in bandages so they could be allowed to heal.
“It’s… about Axton,” Zane replied. “I guess I just… feel really wound up by the fact he’s on his way.”
Chloros worked on his right hand first, and though he winced as pain shot through his fingers, it faded as she rubbed some kind of healing ointment to numb it and kickstart his healing processes. He grunted during it, mostly from discomfort, but he let her continue. He didn’t want her to stop, either. It felt quite intimate to be healed like this… but the intimacy was dampened by the fact that it was to fix something he did on himself.
Zane went on, “I did a lot of this while on the run with Mom, you know, tearing my nails and body apart. Sometimes because I was super anxious like now. Sometimes because I got so numb that I wanted to feel something, anything. Even though I was just hurting myself.”
“Hm.” That hand was all bandaged up, and she moved onto the left one. “Do you usually do this when under extreme stress?”
“Yeah… with the whole ‘running for my life’ thing, that was a major stressor. And I know I’m perfectly safe here, but the thought of Axton coming into my life again… I don’t know why it’s affecting me so badly, but it is.”
More bandages around his damaged fingers. That hand was all fixed, and now, his left foot was focused, without altering his position. “You’re still very scared of what to expect when you meet in person,” Chloros said. “This must be how your anxiety is manifesting.”
Zane nodded slowly. That made sense. Even so, there was that awful voice in the back of his mind, the voice that was telling him, you’re not worth anyone’s love, especially not hers. It was a nasty little imp, living rent free in his head, and he wished he could reach inside his own skull, grab the fucker, and crush it in his fingers. Maybe he’d finally get some real peace.
His hands and feet were soon all bandaged up again. “There. They should heal and regrow in a day or so.” She held his hands for a moment longer, while some of her vines entered his vision… and these ones had large leaves on them. “I believe these will help alleviate the habit.”
“Uh, what’s that?”
“I will attach these to your fingers and toes. While they are healing, should you feel the urge to to pick at them, the leaves will be there for you instead. You can pick at and bite them in their place.”
As she spoke, she manifested thin, sharpened edges on her fingertips, clipping the leaves off of her vines, before sticking them onto his bandage-wrapped digits. They attached easily, covering the entirety of his fingers and toes. They didn’t look all that unique, but… “Are they loaded with anything?”
Chloros nodded above him, while affixing leaves to him, one digit at a time. “Yes. A mild combination of Class-A and E, both to ensure it feels good instead of painful, and to keep your anxiety to a minimum. It will let you satisfy the need to pick while you heal.”
They really did have a xenodrug for every sort of situation… it still amazed him to discover that. Though he found they looked a little weird. It was a solution at least. Soon, she was done, all ten of his fingers, and all ten of his toes, tipped with unassuming leaves, ones that were likely to give him shots of bliss when the habit struck again.
“That, um, that sounds great, thanks.” He paused, slowly shifting around in her lap, so he could face her now. He felt himself relax under her affectionate gaze, and he smiled at her for a moment, before it faded. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my brother since we first talked.”
“What are your thoughts?” Chloros’ touch was upon him, two vines in his hands now. He wanted to squeeze them, but he didn’t want to loosen the bandages by clenching his fingers. Luckily, Chloros took care of that, wrapping those vines around his palms and doing the squeezing for him. It was like holding her real hands… “This is clearly very important to you.”
“Just… it’s just kind of surreal. To know he’s coming for me. And that he still wants me in his life. I…” A loud sigh. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I keep getting all upset like this and making you worry your head off, I, I-”
Chloros silenced him, her arms lifting him up as he spoke and giving him a quick smooch, on his lips. His words devolved into babble for a moment, the man caught off-guard by his mother’s affection, and he stared at her.
“Zane. You are my son. I am your mother. You never, ever, ever have to apologize for anything you do or say. I love you all the same, and that will never change. All I ask is you keep being your best self while in my embrace.”
That mounting spiral had been negated again, just by a kiss and a show of love. He sagged, smiling, feeling relieved, but he knew these thoughts would persist while he was stuck in here. He had to get a change of scenery, just to clear his head.
“I… o-okay, thank you… Mommy,” he said, blushing intensely. A wave of pure love rolled through him, and he gasped as warmth surged through him, the worst of his thoughts being forced out of his mind. Did Chloros do that on reflex now? Every time he addressed her like that, it always made her presence intensify in some way. He could see the leaves over her normal eyes shudder, and he braced himself for her enthralling gaze.
Which never came. He looked at her extra eyes, heart pounding before it settled down. “Careful with that title, baby,” Chloros chuckled. “You know how hungry I get whenever you say it, and when Zee isn’t in play.~”
“Um, yeah, I do… so uh…” He placed his dressed hands upon her arms. “Can we, um… do something together? O-outside? My head’s still kinda screwed up right now.”
“As a matter of fact, I was about to suggest we go out for an evening walk together,” Chloros said. “Just you and me, taking in the night time sights.”
He nodded his head quickly. “Y-yeah, that’d be, that’d be cool, actually. And…” His face remained pink as he remembered something. “You, uh, you know that outfit I was wanting to try?”
An amused chuckle left his mother at that. “Think that will help take your mind off things?”
“I-it’ll distract me at least.”
“Then let’s get you changed, sweetie.~”
Another wave, one that made him moan in a desperately needy fashion. He went limp in her arms as she held him against her breasts, and soon, they were at the compiler, selecting his outfit for this night walk…
A dark blue sweater with long sleeves, long enough to hide his hands, but cut low enough to expose his shoulders and part of his chest. His wardship collar snugly fastened around his neck, feeling very soft and comfortable, like it was meant to be there, the blue gem dangling on his front. A crown of flowers around his head, in blues and greens to match Chloros. Open-toed sandals to leave space for his healing feet. And, around his hips… a short skirt, also dark blue, laying bare his grabbable thighs and hefty ass. Only some black panties, fitting snugly over his crotch, emphasizing his bulge between his lap-filling thighs, and showing a lot of cheek back there, gave him anything resembling modesty. Chloros’ vines were around his pelvis, too, of course.
This felt nice. Very nice. Very freeing. Even with the breeze against his exposed skin. There was the usual embarrassment from being exposed like this. But it was also quite… riveting, too. Another thing he never got to have back home, but in the Compact, he just had to say the word and he’d be allowed with no objections whatsoever. He liked that.
Zane held one of Chloros’ outstretched hands with his own. His other hand was brought up to his mouth, and the urge to bite and nibble on his hands compelled him to do so. With the leaves on his fingers, however, no harm would come to him. His teeth found the wafer-thin layers of blue-green instead, and when he bit down, he nearly stumbled from the surge of pure good flowing into his body. Whatever anxiety he had was already slipping off, and the taste was one of his favorites – blue raspberry. Like the hard candy he used to enjoy in his youth.
Lucky Chloros had a good hold on him with both hand and vine. He might have fallen over otherwise. He quickly grew focused on these leaves, nibbling and tugging on them. And despite looking rather thin, when he tried to bite off a piece, nothing gave. It remained whole, unblemished, impervious to what his incisors and canines were attempting. No matter what he did to tear through it, it wouldn’t yield. All while it delivered little jolts of pleasure and warmth, enough to be distracting, at least where his legs were concerned.
He let his gaze wander over his surroundings as he and Chloros walked together. With it being night time, there weren’t that many other sophonts around while they walked along the paved stone path, surrounded by large flowers, trees, and tall overhead lights. He caught sight of a few Affini and their florets as they passed by, and they waved at him in a friendly fashion. He caught sight of two in particular, one that seemed to style himself after a werewolf with moss replicating the pelt of a large dog and his floret riding on his back, and a second one who looked more like an orb-shaped bush with roots for legs and its floret sitting atop it. He wondered who those were.
“Hm, Roltan isn’t usually out this late,” Zane heard Chloros say. He looked up at her as the werewolf-themed Affini strode past. Roltan’s floret, he assumed, was clad in a large, crimson cloak with a hood, and waved at Zane along the way, offering a charming smile.
“I think I heard you mention him a few times,” he said, pausing his leaf-nibbling for a moment. “What does he do?”
Chloros looked at him as they walked. “He’s a clerk. A very highly respected position in our culture. He works hard to process the sometimes literal mountains of paperwork that the Compact lives and breathes on. He files forms, makes sure they’re all correct and up to date, keeps track of data and files on every sophont in our care… Roltan is just one of many who keeps the Compact functioning.”
“Sounds like… a lot.”
“It is. But it’s very good work he’s doing.”
Zane took another nibble of the leaves on his fingers, a groan escaping his mouth. He got ready to ask something else, when a different voice, one neither of them recognized, struck his ears and got his attention. A deep, masculine voice that sounded oddly… familiar. “Excuse me, miss! Can I talk to your floret for a sec?”
Chloros stopped. So did Zane. They turned, and saw someone Zane didn’t expect to see again since his youth.
Marcus, the once-boyfriend of his older brother. Tall, athletic, toned, a full mustache and goatee on his face, and a big, frizzy afro on his head. He was clad in a jogging outfit, a black shirt and shorts patterned with white and green flowers, and sneakers, too, and a collar resembling white wood around his neck, with an orange gem on the front. He was briskly running over, and as he drew near, Zane saw a green flower sticking out of the side of Marcus’ neck.
Zane stared at the man, while Chloros spoke above him. “I’m sorry, you’ll have to forgive me and my son, I don’t think we recognize you.” He clocked onto the fact that she didn’t object to him being called a floret, which made him blush.
“Yeah, I figured you won’t, but I think your boy does.” Marcus stood up straight, stretching his arms for a second, before putting his hands on his hips. “You’re Zane, right? Axton Jakobson’s little bro? All the way back on Thypso?”
Zane continued to stare while revelation crashed upon him. It had been many years since he had seen Marcus, and here he was, apparently healthy and happy… and presumably owned by someone. Already he was imagining Axton’s potential reaction to his ex-boyfriend being alive and well on the Excellence. A good reaction, hopefully.
Chloros’ grip on his hand tightened, and he realized she was about to get protective. He squeezed her hand in return and finally said something while looking up at her. “Chloros, it’s okay. I can handle this.” She relaxed, nodding at him.
He turned to Marcus, who was evidently trying not to look at the smaller man’s exposed thighs… he didn’t mind. He was getting used to sophonts eye-fucking him from afar, as long as they were respectful about it. Even so, he had a feeling Marcus wasn’t here for intimacy.
“Um… yeah, I’m Zane. Are you, um… Marcus? His ex-boyfriend?”
The man nodded. “The very same. Heard talk of you being here, and when my owner mentioned how they hurt you a while back, I knew I had to help set them straight.”
“Your owner?”
“Yeah. They’re here, just… hiding.” Marcus sighed, before raising his voice. “Hey! Torn! Come on out! You got a sophont to say sorry to!”
“...wait. Did you say ‘Torn’?” Chloros sounded appropriately flabbergasted, while Zane could only stare past Marcus as an Affini trundled into view from behind a large bush.
There, in their thin, lanky entirety, was none other than Torn Pahanin, Third Bloom. The vines of their body were a mixture of whites and greys, with a curtain of moss around their head resembling shaggy, unkempt hair. Pieces of bark, resembling rock, were present on their arms, hands, legs, and chest. Their face had a mask that looked like it was made of solid stone, with two piercing orange eyes gazing out from the holes, and no visible mouth. They looked… intimidating. But their demeanor as they approached – shuffling nervously, false eyebrows scrunched up, vine-clad hands held together – was anything but.
Zane didn’t know what to think or say. He expected Torn to disappear from his life after that fateful encounter weeks ago, and seeing them again was already making him feel mounting dread. Chloros reacted faster than him, stepping in front of him and adopting a stern look.
“Torn. Why are you showing your face here again?” His mother said with the kind of protective anger only a bear protecting her cubs could conjure in the face of imminent danger. “You know you were prohibited from coming to this part of the ship after you tried to take Zane.”
Torn straightened, offering a nervous laugh. “Yeah, um… well, here’s the thing. You know Marcus here?” They gestured a gnarled hand at the floret in question. “He’s actually why I’m back.”
Zane stayed hidden behind his mother, peeking out from behind her leg, while she continued to glare at Torn. “Explain. Now.”
“Right, um, short version… I got banned from this part of the Excellence for a while and told not to go after other Affini’s wards and florets. I was pretty rotting angry over the whole thing, but that’s when I happened upon Marcus, who got picked up about a week after all that happened. One thing led to another, and he’s my First Floret now, so they let me off early for good behavior, and… and…”
They trailed off, looking uncertain of themself. Zane squinted. This couldn’t be the same Affini that tried to take him earlier… could it?
Marcus cleared his throat. “And I helped Torn here simmer down and learn a thing or two about respecting other folks’ boundaries and dialing the arrogance back. It took a lot of work, but now they know better.” He turned to address his owner. “Torn?”
“Right, right, uh… um…” Torn continued to fiddle with their hands, rubbing them together, vines waving around behind them. Marcus must have gotten impatient, because he strode over and elbowed Torn in the thigh, making them grunt and look more sheepish. For someone who owned another terran, Torn’s behavior was rather comical to witness, and Zane couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“Come on, Torn, we don’t have all night.”
Torn held their hands up. “Alright, alright! Jeez… okay, so, what I came here to say is…” They crouched down, and locked eyes with Zane. Chloros’ son poked his head out further, studying Torn’s expression.
“I’m… I’m… sorry. Sorry for… for trying to take you back then. It… it wasn’t right.”
Marcus’ arms were folded, and he was looking pointedly at his owner. “Aaaand?”
“I should have looked closer, waited to see if you were actually available, actually asked you if you wanted to be domesticated. I was selfish, greedy, and impulsive. And…”
“Keep going.”
“And I nearly ruined the happy life you needed after whatever you’ve been through. For that… I’m… I’m very sorry. I’m not asking for forgiveness or acceptance, I just… wanted to clear the air.”
Nothing else was said. Neither Zane nor Chloros could believe it. That arrogant, smarmy, self-centered jerk was… apologizing? Genuinely? It sounded as likely as the moon over Terra growing a face. Still, Zane could sense how honest this plant was being, even if they were struggling to word it right, and needed prompting from their floret.
And by this point, Zane had come to learn that holding grievances, however justifiable, would only lead to ruin if he hyper-focused on them. Even if the memories could be blotted out, that didn’t change the fact that those things happened, and they had to be addressed sooner or later.
Zane looked up at Chloros, who was gazing down at him questioningly. She didn’t say anything, but the way her eyes shifted made it clear what she was communicating: I’ll let you decide how to handle this, because I trust your judgment.
He smiled, then stepped all the way out from behind her. He came closer, now standing beside Marcus, but halfway between the two Affini now. He looked up at Torn, who remained silent, while shifting back slightly, as if suddenly afraid of him. Another sign of how much Torn had changed since meeting Marcus.
“Um… I don’t know if I really forgive you, or if I can accept your apology… but… I at least want to say… thank you for being willing to admit fault. That’s all I really care about, I think.”
For a moment, nothing else was said. Torn still looked very uncertain as they glanced between him, Marcus, and Chloros, the latter of whom had folded her arms against her bust.
Marcus broke the silence first. “Well, Torn?”
“I…” Torn let out a sigh, hanging their head. “I understand. I appreciate you hearing me out, at least. Thank you.”
“Good.” Marcus’ stern expression turned into a more relaxed smile. “I’m glad we got to do this.” He turned to Zane. “And I’m glad you’re in a much better spot with your Affini here. You’ll be just fine.”
“Yeah, uh… thanks, Marcus.”
“Any time. Come on, Torn, let’s head home.”
Torn wordlessly stood back up, and the pair moved to leave. Before they got too far, Zane remembered something important, both to himself, and to Marcus. Something that involved the older Jakobson sibling.
“Marcus, wait!” he called out.
The darker man paused, glancing over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Axton’s still out there! He’s actually gonna be here in a few days!”
Marcus’ eyes went wide, then he grinned. “Say no more, kid! I’ll ping your overnet handle so you can get me his own! Catch you later!”
And then both he and his Affini were gone, leaving Zane and Chloros alone on the walkway. Zane watched them leave, his shoulders slumping once it was all over. Footsteps behind him alerted him to Chloros’ approach, and he turned, just in time for her hand to reach down and rest on his shoulder.
“I did not expect that to happen,” she admitted. “And I certainly didn’t expect you to handle that so calmly.”
“Me either.” Zane smiled up at her. “Torn still kinda scares me, but… I think Marcus is helping them change for the better.” He moved to rest one bandage-clad hand upon hers. “Like how you helped me change and be better than what I used to be.”
Chloros’ eyes shimmered and sparkled under the brim of her hat. As if spurred on by his praise, her presence grew larger, washing over him in an instant. He gasped, and nearly fell over, but several vines caught him and scooped him up into her arms, so they could be eye level with each other.
Chloros spoke with absolute warmth in her voice. “I am so proud of you, my son. You’ve grown so much since we met. You truly are my good boy.~”
The praise made his face flush, and he chuckled. “Eheh… I’m proud to have you as my mother. You’re awesome too, helping me be a better man.”
She brought him close, and once more, her lips pressed firmly upon his own. He let out a gasp, muffled, and moaned before she disconnected from him. Her eyes were gleaming with lust now, pure, unadulterated desire and want.
He was intimidated by that. In a good way.
“I think you deserve a reward when we get back,” she purred. “Some loving from Mommy is in order, I think.~”
“O-oh… oh… um… yeah, sounds great, Mommy,” Zane said, shivering while she chuckled darkly.
When they returned to the castle that night, Zane made sure to moan and cry out for his Mommy plenty as she indulged in play time with him. He had earned this, he knew. Her passion, her lust… her love. Her undying love, the kind only a mother could give to her son.
He never wanted it to stop.
Chapter 41: Maybe If...
Summary:
If you trust your colors, there could be another future, waiting for you...
While Axton braces for his reunion with Zane, one of two bombshells is delivered straight to his lap by Mithrax. And it’s quite the positive explosion.
Content warnings: Xenodrug usage, onscreen five-way
Notes:
Slowly getting there! We're back to Axxy now, for this chapter and the next, and then... it's gonna get AWESOME. And also emotional. As usual :3
Y'all could see this coming miles away with Troy and Mithrax's dynamic, right? I figured it was obvious, but it doesn't change the fact that it's sweet all the same. Plus, Mithrax proves to be a good buddy for the crew! He's the absolute best pladdy you could ask for <3
Next chapter gets spicier, hang on to your butts!
Chapter Text
›HeartyHomesteader: Hey, Axton! You there?
›WaywardSun: Sorry, who is this?
›HeartyHomesteader: It’s Marcus, remember? Your ex from Thypso? I’m here all the way on the Excellence. I got my file right here if you wanna look.
›HeartyHomesteader: I know it’s kind of a shock, but… I missed you a lot, hon. I’m glad to know you’re alive and well.
›HeartyHomesteader: You there, Ax?
›WaywardSun: Right, sorry. It’s just been a hectic week for me. I’ve been looking for my brother for years, and now I know he’s alive, and I get to meet up with him in a few days.
›WaywardSun: And now I’ve got my ex-boyfriend talking to me. So my head’s kinda swimming.
›HeartyHomesteader: Ack, I’m sorry, I can leave you alone if you want.
›WaywardSun: No, no, it’s okay, not your fault. I just want to ask one thing.
›HeartyHomesteader: Go ahead.
›WaywardSun: Can I see you? Like, a picture, or something?
›HeartyHomesteader sent a file: MarcusReal.png
›HeartyHomesteader: It’s me. <3
›WaywardSun: Roots, it really is you. Stars I want to kiss you right now.
›HeartyHomesteader: Well hey, I wouldn’t mind that at all. Just gotta get your butt to the Excellence.
›WaywardSun: Going as fast as the Fortitude can. Wish it was faster.
›HeartyHomesteader: We got plenty of time, Ax. In fact, if you like… could we call?
›WaywardSun: You know what… yeah. I’d like that. I want to see and hear you for real again.
›HeartyHomesteader: Waiting on you, babe. <3
In the Hyperion crew’s hab unit...
“You guys ever have any pets when you were younger?” Maya asked. She and Kendra were snuggled up on the couch, sporting casual lounge wear, while Axton was sat in a nearby chair with Amanda parked on his lap, still in pajamas, and one arm around him.
“I had a dog once,” Amanda said, leaning against their shared boyfriend. “Little guy named Francis. He was so tiny, but had a big heart. And… a bigger bark. But no bite.”
“Ah, so he was a chihuahua,” Kendra said with a smirk.
“Corgi, actually.”
Maya shifted while in Kendra’s lap, holding her girlfriend’s hand in her own. “See, it’d be hilarious if he met my dad’s great dane, Timmy.”
“...Timmy,” Kendra said slowly, raising an eyebrow behind her glasses.
“No, I’m serious, that was his name! You’d never know it from how he had a resting mean face, but he was the sweetest big boy you ever did see. Never got upset at anything. He was more likely to just stare at you before flopping over.”
“Ah,” Amanda said, “so Timmy just didn’t really care.”
“Oh, he cared! He was just super chill about everything. The most he’d do was just look at you for a second and then snort before relaxing again.”
“I love him already.”
All the while, Axton was quiet. He didn’t really have much to say, he was content to let his girlfriends talk at length about whatever. He liked listening to them, and he loved the way their voices were so unique – Amanda having a kind of laidback drawl that fit her perfectly, Maya an energetic and youthful vibe, and Kendra possessing dry, analytical wit.
Their voices had become so much… nicer since they all got together. They were pleasant before, sure, but the addition of genuine romantic affection and desire amplified it to a significant degree. It was so very nice.
Though he was distracted by thoughts of a pet of his own. A cute little critter that he had lost years ago, one he cherished with all his heart… but he didn’t recall the circumstances. All he knew was that that critter existed and was loved fiercely by him…
“Ax, you okay, hon?” Amanda asked quietly, patting the side of Axton’s face.
Axton blinked, sighing as he returned to the conversation. “Oh, yeah, yeah, sorry, just thinking about the pet I used to have…”
“He was a cat, right?” Kendra asked.
Axton nodded. “Yeah. Little orange guy I called Moxx. Found him wandering around the farm as a lost kitten one day when I was a kid. Dad didn’t want him, but Mom and I convinced him to keep Moxx around. He was wonderful, very friendly and sweet… though he never liked my dad for some reason.”
Kendra snorted. “Yeah, that tracks. You know how it goes – control freaks hating when they can’t control a cat compared to dogs.”
Axton could only smirk in reply. “That sums up Moxx’s relationship with Dad to a T.”
Amanda laughed, reaching to take her boyfriend’s hand and lock their fingers together. “I wish I got to meet Moxx, honestly… I like cats just as much as dogs.”
“I’m sure he’d have loved you.”
As he said that, he let his thoughts drift again. Honestly, what did happen to Moxx back then? He remembered owning and caring for the orange hued companion of his for all his life, up until that fateful night of Dad’s demise. But… he just couldn’t recall what became of Moxx. Did he run off during the chaos? Did he hide somewhere and was never found? Did somebody take him when Axton wasn’t paying attention?
He didn’t like the implications of any of them. And even if it turned out Moxx was still alive… they were far away from Thypso. Right now, heading straight for Zane was the priority. As sad as that made him, he knew that his brother was the focus. If Moxx was still out there, all Axton could really hope for was for his beloved feline friend to be in the care of someone else...
He tuned back in, having heard Kendra address him, when the doorbell chimed. And behind the front door, a familiar mushroom’s voice. “Yoohoo! It’s your favorite plandfather!”
“And your favorite muscle!” a voice belonging to a crewmate of theirs added.
“I’ll get it,” Amanda said, slipping off of Axton’s lap and striding over to the door. Axton swiveled his chair around, having pressed a button to initiate rotation, and turned…
Mithrax was there, of course. They were just as jovial and friendly as ever, striding inside and petting Amanda on the head with some of his vines, making her giggle, and waving at Axton.
And behind Mithrax…
Troy. His muscle, his reckless fighter. Looking so much different now.
Gone was his usual attire of a t-shirt or tank top and regular pants. He was clad in something truly unique.
The man was almost totally naked. Chest and legs totally bare, with not an iota of hair visible on his skin, making it very apparent just how dark he was outside of his head and neck. Smooth and flawless, too. On his bared, muscular chest, an overshirt that seemed a size or two too big for him, colored a dark green with patterns of roots and fungi on the shoulders and midriff, was hanging loosely on him. Axton easily discovered the reason for it, as several of Mithrax’s vines were coiled under the shirt and around Troy’s form, snaking through the gaps in his sleeves.
He wore nothing on his legs. There was only something resembling a loincloth on his pelvis, fitting snugly to emphasize his… admittedly impressive package. Axton felt heat rush through him, and realized it quickly, forcing himself to tear his eyes off of Troy’s crotch to discover the man was barefoot, too. That was odd.
And around his head, a radiant flower crown, sporting petals and buds of brilliant colors, mostly in shades of green. Coupled with his charming, relaxed expression, it painted Troy as quite the flower boy...
This was on top of the fact that, while the man was still bald, not a hint of hair growing out of that dome… there was something that marked him as belonging to Mithrax. Something that could not be ignored at all.
A mushroom. A white stem and rim, and a green cap, dotted with white spots. Jutting out of the back of his neck, pointed upward, twitching occasionally with a life of its own, it seemed like. It stood out, even with the thick green-white collar fastened around his throat, the emerald gemstone now dangling on the bare flesh of his chest.
What Axton had read previously about florets, about how their implants tended to form growths from where the haustoric was placed, informed him of what had happened to Troy. It told him right away that this was the surprise he had been keeping hush-hush and wouldn’t tell him anything about.
Troy had been domesticated by Mithrax. Now, and forever, the man was bound to the first Affini who was their friend.
Axton and the girls all bore expressions of shock, while Troy’s delighted expression didn’t falter. He regarded them warmly, his eyes centering on Axton. “Hey, Cap! It’s been a while, sorry I’ve been hiding this from you!”
Axton was truly speechless. He really didn’t know how to react, and his thoughts were scattered. This discovery made him grapple with feelings he really couldn’t parse, and he couldn’t…
Hold on. He glanced at Mithrax, who was alternating between feeling up Troy and making him writhe and pant (with the girls looking flustered at the sight), and talking amicably, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. Axton knew he had to get an answer, but he didn’t want to interrogate and scare his muscle… so the next best thing would have to do.
“Uh, Mithrax?” he piped up.
“Oh, yes, lil’ shroom?” Mithrax looked at him with all six kind, glimmering lights on his mask.
“Can we talk in private for a minute?”
Mithrax’s face faltered slightly, but only just. He freed his vines from Troy’s frame, and glanced at his floret. “Troy, darling, you don’t mind if Cap and I talk in private, do you?”
Troy looked up, having been engrossed in conversation with the girls, and sadness was evident on his face, eyes big and lip quivering. “But, but, but, Daddy…”
Daddy? You’re calling him Daddy now? Axton thought, revulsion and protectiveness rising for a second, only to fade when he remembered it was Mithrax who was his owner now. Someone they all trusted… but it still upset him to some degree.
“Oh, sweetling, it won’t be long, Daddy just needs to discuss something important with Axton here.” Mithrax’s hand, clad in rippling caps around the back and the wrist, found Troy’s head, giving him a gentle pat and making the man sigh happily.
“Alright, Daddy…”
Stars, Axton really hoped Mithrax would explain all this to him, in a way that didn’t make him explode.
Soon, both Axton and Mithrax were in the former’s bedroom, the door locked shut. Mithrax double checked that it was, before turning to face Axton now, with a neutral expression on his mask.
“So you domesticated Troy,” Axton said bluntly, without waiting for the Affini to speak. He was impatient, plus it was a humongous elephant in the room. Might as well get it out of the way.
All six of Mithrax’s eyes blinked, one after the other, as they looked upon Axton. He knew that the gemstone-like objects in an Affini’s mask couldn’t be the same as that of a terran’s, and yet, he saw a lot of Mtihrax’s character in them. Mithrax was up there in quirkiness, second to Dynine so far, and Axton thought he’d never make any progress with the man.
Mithrax proved to him otherwise. He stuck close to the crew, kept them company and checked on them regularly, and acted as more than a caregiver randomly assigned to the group by the powers that be.
He acted like a friend. A companion. One Axton felt he could trust.
Would Mithrax lose it?
“It’s that obvious, isn’t it?” Mithrax admitted, laughter leaving him. “Yes, Troy has been domesticated. He is now officially Troy Mardum, Second Floret, he/him.”
“He’s yours now,” Axton said, straining to not let the hurt show in his voice. Mithrax noticed, though, because the giant lumbered closer, inching themself down so they could speak at eye level, and resting a mossy, mushroom-y hand upon his shoulder.
“Yes, he is. And I can tell it upsets you.”
“I…” Axton sighed, holding his head in his hands. “Mithrax, he’s… he’s my crewmate. He’s one of my friends. I’m already dreading potentially losing my brother forever, I can’t lose Troy too. You know this.”
“I do.” Mithrax’s voice was soft, gentle, comforting. Their hand gently squeezed Axton’s shoulder. “But it wasn’t my idea. It was actually Troy’s.”
Axton pulled his head up, staring at Mithrax questioningly. “Explain.”
“Of course. Would you like to sit on my lap while we talk?”
For a moment, Axton instinctively wanted to decline. Then that instinct was silenced. Mithrax hadn’t betrayed his trust yet, and far as he could tell, this fungus had a heart… er, a core of solid gold. They were sweet, friendly, and cared deeply about the crew.
Without them, Axton and company wouldn’t be on the road to reuniting with Zane.
Mithrax could be trusted.
“Yeah.”
“Excellent~!”
Soon, they were on Axton’s bed now. The Hyperion captain was settled comfortably in Mithrax’s embrace, perched on those mossy legs, bundled up to support his weight, while his upper body rested against Mithrax’s torso. One large arm wrapped comfortably around Axton, while a few vines were brushing over his body affectionately, and he was surprised that he didn’t inch away at all. This close up, Mithrax smelled… like petrichor. It was a surprisingly good scent, he realized.
Being touched by Dynine was one thing. That bird was invasive, forcing their way into his space, and though they had good intentions and were delivering on their promises, he still couldn’t quite trust them. And their smug, condescending antics drove him nuts.
Mithrax was the opposite. His was the touch of a beloved companion, one that would guide him to safety while awash in turmoil. Axton had a good feeling that Mithrax would lay his life down for the crew, and so far, they had acted in the gang’s best interests. He was very patient and doing his best to make everyone feel safe and cared for…
“So, it was Troy’s idea, you said?” Axton said quietly.
Mithrax nodded their head. “Oh yeah! See, when he first came into my care as a ward, he was a typical spicy stray – angry, scared, trying desperately to get control over his situation.”
Calling Troy a ‘stray’ should have bothered Axton… but it didn’t. Why?
“But shortly into his wardship, with my help, he came to understand that his facade of reckless aggression was just that. A facade. Underneath it was someone who craved stability and safety…”
Axton could see that. He remembered how Troy previously expressed some interest in settling down, but when or where, that wasn’t certain. Who could have known that Mithrax would provide answers to both those questions?
“And shortly before Dynine brought the Hyperion aboard, that was when Troy asked for me to make him into my floret. He had come to love having me in his life, and didn’t want to let me go, even with having completed his wardship.”
Axton turned his head up to look at the fungus now, frowning. “So he earned independence, but didn’t want to leave you?”
“Yes. Of course, he never stopped talking about you and the girls. He wants to be with you four still. And he told me that being my floret would ensure both his safety and keep us all together.”
“Why did he hide this from us? From me?”
“He said while he understood your fears, he still wanted it to be his choice alone. He was adamant about it, really.”
Axton sat still, thoughts rushing through his head at a million miles a second. Troy not only wanted to be domesticated, but still highly valued everyone in the crew? That was… wow. That was really turning his world upside down.
It all sounded plausible and nice, but…
“He lost something along the way,” Axton remarked bitterly.
Mithrax shook their mask. “Not at all. In fact, he won.”
“Against who, exactly?”
“Himself. His traumas, his pains, everything that was preventing him from living a life that was good, safe, and full of love and happiness… domestication isn’t a defeat as you might understand it, Axton. It’s a victory. Both for Affini, and floret.”
Victory. Honest-to-stars victory. Not against the Compact, no way that would happen.
Victory against one’s inner demons, the things that kept someone up at night, the painful past that defined you and came ever closer to devouring you until nothing was left…
Could the Jakobsons finally have a win, then?
Mithrax’s vines were touching his face, and he belatedly realized he was crying again. Not a full-on fit, thankfully, but enough to make some small tears flow. Shame flickered in Axton’s mind, shame over being overwhelmed like this all over again… and it faded as fast as it came.
Dad always said that if a man ever cried for any reason, he was a weak loser who deserved to be bullied and punished. In the end, he was proven wrong, about this, and everything else he tried and failed to make his sons internalize.
Men like Axton not only were allowed to cry, but were in fact encouraged to do so. It meant they could feel, they were alive, they could express themselves when all else failed them. They would not be shamed or punished for showing their true emotions to the Compact.
Because the Compact understood these emotions keenly. The Compact would assuage all the pain that filled the cosmos and replace it with warmth and hope. In a way, humanity wasn’t losing… they were winning.
Everyone would win, if they just understood what the Compact had to offer. Axton was understanding it now. He could have his girlfriends, he could have Troy, he could have Marcus again… and above all, he could have Zane. His little brother, the man he’d lay his life on the line for. The brothers could have each other.
He shuddered, belatedly catching onto a little prick in his neck from something, and realized too late it was Mithrax’s doing. What felt like an imminent breakdown was stopped cold, and though emotion was still falling from his eyes, he was prevented from spiraling and collapsing. He wanted to object to the abrupt drugging, and again remembered that Mithrax wasn’t doing it to hurt him.
They did it because they wanted to ease his pain. He recognized it.
“I… I… Mithrax,” Axton gasped.
“Shhh, I understand, Axton. It’s a lot to take in.”
“I… can we just… sit like this for a bit?”
“Of course. Take all the time you need. I’m sure Troy won’t mind at all.”
“Okay…”
They sat together for an hour, then. Axton clung to Mithrax, a new feeling washing over him in that moment.
A feeling of safety.
Axton certainly didn’t expect to happen upon the scene in the living room when he and Mithrax finally came back out.
Troy was still with the girls, and enjoying himself. Though, instead of calm, laidback chatter, something else was taking place. On the arm of the couch, Maya sat with legs spread, one foot on the floor, underwear removed… and Troy’s face wedged between her thighs. His hands were grabbing her hips while he licked and slurped and kissed over her cock, filling the air with her loud, lewd moaning.
And behind Troy, Kendra was there. Naked from the waist down, some harness around her hips, as she was rolling them to penetrate Mithrax’s floret from behind with a strap-on Axton couldn’t see. Meanwhile, Amanda was sat in the seat Axton previously occupied, her pants lowered and shirt lifted so she could rub between her legs and fondle her own breast.
It was an orgy. One that kept everyone distracted. Enough that they all didn’t notice him at first.
Axton blushed hotly, clinging to Mithrax’s arm. He could feel himself growing hotter, hotter, ever so hotter, boiling from within. The sight of his girlfriends being like this with Troy… oh, he wanted to join them. But he was so unsure. He didn’t want to bring up unnecessary drama, especially when they were all having a good time, and he felt a little awkward after engaging in emotional talk with Mithrax...
He glanced up at Troy’s… owner. His owner. The fungus looked down at him silently, with all the caps on their body wriggling, glowing with strange light.
“If you like,” Mithrax offered, “I can help you all get acquainted. My lil’ shroom is enjoying himself, and I figure he deserves to have a taste of you, too.”
Axton’s answer left him instantly. “Do it. We all need this.”
“Then take a deep breath.~”
At once, Mithrax stood up, the mushrooms on his body vibrating more before ejecting huge puffs of spores and pollen into the room. The living room was absolutely swimming in xenodrug-laced air, and it affected everyone except Mithrax. Thick, heady, foggy...
Axton breathed it in, and the inferno in his loins roared. Conscious thought, what little he had, was rapidly fading, overcome by an overwhelming desire to sate the biological instinct to mate. With men, with women, with all other sorts, he didn’t care. All he wanted were holes and poles. And his pole was quickly rising up.
He vaguely heard Mithrax say something about standing back and enjoying the show, but Axton didn’t acknowledge it. Shortly after, his moans joined the girls and Troy as he scrambled to join them, his clothes discarded and his shaft exposed to the air. Merely being nude like this caused his sex drive to become a sex overdrive, and right now, his focus was on Troy.
Stars, that man. That delicious man. He needed Troy against his body.
Kendra sluggishly slipped free of Troy, nearly falling before a vine from Mithrax caught her and moved her to where Amanda was. Medic and pilot were quick to sate each other’s cravings, mashing lips and tongues together, grabbing what flesh they could find amidst the heat.
Troy lifted his head, some of Maya’s cum oozing from his lips, as he glanced up to see Axton. A big, wide, happy grin was on the muscle’s face as he and Maya shifted together, with the engineer laying herself flat on the couch beneath him. The pulsing length between Troy’s legs, laid bare by his lack of loincloth, swung for a moment before it plunged into Maya’s rear with lustful cries splitting the air.
Axton didn’t hesitate. He was clambering onto the couch, mounting Troy and spreading those defined glutes of his. His shaft disappeared within the gunner’s entrance in turn, and the captain’s voice joined everyone else’s in a orgasmic symphony of lust, of desire, of want…
Of love.
Love between all five of them, love that could only blossom inside of the Affini Compact.
A love that was sure to last for eons.
Hours passed between all of them, with many climaxes following, and fluids exchanged, and body parts tangled up in each other. Everyone satisfied everyone, in their own ways, and Axton got to taste them all.
This was their collective victory.
Chapter 42: Regolith
Summary:
Shed your brittle facade. Embrace a new identity.
The brothers’ reunion is imminent. And before it comes, a certain avian plant helps Axton realize that the role he plays can finally be cast aside...
Content warnings: Three-way sex, vine constriction, blindfold play, xenra scent play, metaphorical identity death
Notes:
This may be another fave chapter of mine! Both Dynine and Harken get to play with Axton here, and help him finally, FINALLY move forward instead of being held back by own his own pride... and be absurdly hot while doing it :3
This chapter in particular takes some cues from No Gods, No Masters by @Kanagen, one of the first stories I've read in the setting, and what became the biggest inspiration for my work here. Certain themes in the latter portions of No Gods, No Masters apply here too, and I figure y'all will appreciate them!
Also wanted to give a quick shoutout to @Dame Harmony, who provided a unique way to approach identity death beyond the traditional definition of it. It certainly helped! Ae was very inspirational <3
Now, from here on out... it's GAME TIME. Hope y'all are ready!
Chapter Text
Shortly after being told of Zane’s imminent reunion with Axton…
“Now,” Dynine said, while they and Axton were still aboard the Hyperion, the bird plant holding the man in their vines. “For being such a good boy and maintaining faith in me and the Compact… there is something I require from you.”
Axton glared up at them, hiccuping, before he replied, “What do you want from me? If, if you’re wanting to domesticate me… not happening, no way.”
“Oh, darling Axxy…” Tendrils brushed against the top of his head. “I do want to make you mine, yes. And I very well could do it right now. But even I understand how that would be something that isn’t in your best interests.”
Axton’s relief vanished and became doubt, wariness, dread. If Dynine wasn’t going to make him into a floret, then… what did they intend for him?
“So right now, all I ask is for you to come visit my hab unit. Harken’s been yearning for you particularly hard as of late.”
He could already feel himself sweating bullets. Stars, the smelly fox wanted him still? He had an inkling of affection for her, sure, but she was Dynine’s floret. And that certainly meant he’d have to tangle (pun not intended) with Dynine too. A fact that was filled with warning signs yelling “STAY AWAY STAY AWAY STAY AWAY”.
And even if he said no… he had a feeling Dynine would just “encourage” him to come along anyway. This bird was still unpredictable. Wildly so. If Axton wasn’t careful, they’d eat him alive.
Hopefully not literally.
“And… what does she want from me, then?” Axton said, hesitantly.
“To show you some love, simply. And, if you’re a nice enough boy…”
They didn’t finish, but Axton knew that they meant by that. His head went up, then down, a nod that made his understanding clear.
“Gooood boy,” Dynine purred. Their eyes flashed again, and for the briefest of moments, Axton swore they were going to enthrall him right there.
But they didn’t.
Instead, their vines disentangled themselves from him, and they proceeded towards the door leading out of the mess hall.
“I will let you know when playtime comes,” Dynine laughed. “I do hope you have the strength for both of us, Axxy.~”
And then they were gone.
Axton stabilized himself against a wall, clutching his chest, as the door before him slammed shut. He was alone again… and feeling so very tiny.
What the fuck did he just agree to?
He woke up to darkness.
The kind of darkness that seemed to be layered right over his face. There was something… thick, around his eyes. His first thought was that it was a blindfold, but it didn’t feel like cloth around his face. No, it was something thick. Something warm. Something… alive.
It rippled.
Axton gasped, and with it, drew in a breath that was filled with heat.
Sweet, tantalizing, libido-igniting heat. Pheromones, strong ones, flooding the air both outside and in his body. The kind that forced your conscious mind to step away, while baser instincts parked themselves in the driver’s seat. He knew right away who it belonged to.
It stank.
It stank good.
And Axton wanted more.
He inhaled again, and on top of that intense aroma, there was a different scent. One that he could suss out from the overwhelming haze of stink fox musk, a scent that seemed to be dominant over that one. It was incredible, a mix of sweet and spicy, invading his sinuses and rooting itself inside of his mind.
There wasn’t just a xenra in the room with him. There was another individual. One he couldn’t identify, at least not yet.
He tried to speak, and could only muster a weak, “W-what’s… going…?”
Low, gravelly, hungry laughter resonated through Axton’s form, echoing into him and making him stiffen like a rock. He tried to move and sit up, and it was only then that he clocked onto the fact that he couldn’t.
Both wrists and both ankles were tightly coiled up by strange tendrils, with his arms held over his head. His legs were spread, and when it felt like someone’s heated breaths passed over his bare flesh, Axton realizeed that on top of being strung up like meat on a hook…
He was naked.
And so very exposed.
His fight-or-flight instinct quickly fired up, ready to make him respond to danger! … until it was promptly muted. The part of him that demanded he stand up and fight, or run for his life, had been told by an outside factor to take a break, and now, all he could do was sit there and wait for…
A kiss upon his mouth. Not from a fellow terran, though – it belonged to a muzzle he recognized intimately. One that had been very eager to do this to him, some weeks ago. Especially with that thick, wet tongue brushing against his lips, then retreating with its owner. Axton couldn’t stop the whine that left his throat.
Thin, warm, stimulating appendages found their way to his body, circling around several places. His pectorals, rubbing on his nipples. His abdominals and sides, stroking over the strong, trained muscles found there. And though he had been doing his best to keep up his strength with frequent visits to the Blossoming Tracks, he found himself having grown a little thicker down there. Not enough to completely dominate his muscle, but enough to soften him.
His thighs, strong and toned… and his backside, firm and rounded. He gasped, wriggling in his bindings, hot, heavy breaths slipping out of his lips. Axton expected revulsion at being touched like this, but instead, there was the unending want for more more more. It scared him… and also excited him.
Another round of laughter filled the air, and it was only then that its source spoke to him, in a voice so full of hunger and greed that he half expected it to drip all over the floor.
“Axxxxyyyyyy~” Dynine’s voice filled his head, coming from all directions, somehow. They were joined by the characteristic snorting and grunting of Harken, the xenra that was madly enamored with him. “It’s soooo good that you’re awake… we’re going to have lots of fun with you, darling.~”
“D-Dynine?” Axton panted. He tried to move his arms, and the bindings around his wrists tugged back, forcing a grunt out of him. “I… I… fuck…”
“Oh dear, so foul-mouthed,” Dynine said, following up with a “tsk tsk” noise. “Don’t worry, I already forgive you.”
Axton swallowed, the humidity and musk in the air making his thoughts scatter and his head swim. He never expected himself to get turned on by smells like this, and (un?)fortunately, both Dynine and Harken were gleefully taking advantage of such a thing. He was at their mercy, and all he could do was hold on tight until they both had their fill. He had had an inkling this might happen… he just didn’t expect it to take this form.
“When you first arrived on the Fortitude,” Dynine started, their voice seeming to intensify right behind him, “I wanted you. Needed you. Desired you. Only Mithrax’s intervention prevented your domestication right then and there.”
A pair of huge, strong paws, armed with sharp claws, located his legs. They ran over his hips and thighs, groping and squeezing, and earning sharp gasps. It made him horribly embarrassed and mortified, especially with how he reacted by trying to push against those paws, to no avail. Something wet pressed against Axton’s backside, causing him to jump. Was… was that Harken’s nose?
Even if it was, though, it couldn’t stop the fear in his rapid-fire heart beat. On some level, he recognized Dynine’s unending hunger for him. And it was only by sheer dumb luck that they chose to abstain back then. Something told him that nothing would stop them here. Not Mithrax, not Axton's crew, and definitely not Axton himself. He trembled, reduced to a scared animal that knew they were cornered under the carnivorous gaze of a predator.
“And on some level… I still do.” Dynine’s voice was right against his ear. How was he not completely evaporating from it all? “I yearn to make you my floret, dear Axxy… do you know why I chose not to?”
That snout belonging to Harken kept pressing around on his ass, and when he tried to reply, her big paws grabbed his cheeks and gently pried them apart. A little rush of cool air washed over the ring of muscle nestled down there, and he pulsed down below, especially when… oh fuck… something different brushed against it. He arched his back, thrashing against his bindings, caught off-guard by the sudden lance of pleasure spearing through him.
“Because… I know that is not who you are destined to be.” Dynine’s voice grew louder, and seemed to be coming from in front of him now. “Your destiny is to be something else. Something new. Something more free.”
“Wh… what… what do you…” Axton struggled to speak coherently, before a yelp was forced out of him when something gushed over his exposed hole. Slick, wet, and… then something thin pushed into him. Oh stars that felt different, and yet, impossibly good. It was thin enough to reach in without trouble, and whatever that fluid was, it made it vastly easier to reach into his rectum, push in deep, and brush over his insides. He rarely did anything back there, and so, he expected a lot of pain… and while there was some discomfort, it was overriden by the maelstrom of pleasure that was growing more wild inside of him.
“You put a lot of stock in… mm, your desire to shepherd and protect others.” As Dynine spoke, Axton heard some shuffling noises as Harken seemed to be moving around. Then he was feeling her nose, and her mouth, upon his body. Kissing, licking, and even nibbling his exposed flesh. Starting on his chest, making him twitch as the sharp points of her mouth… and… two other appendages, apparently? … dug into his flesh. They didn’t dig that deep, but they were sure to leave bruises and hickies later on.
And holy fuck her fangs were putting something in him. Something that made every sensation a thousand times more powerful. Writhing and moaning with unrestrained need, Axton’s mind struggled to work properly under the assault. Sweat soaked his body as time passed, and he could taste the mounting eroticism right on his tongue.
Dynine continued, while whatever was in his ass continued to probe and push, swirling around inside. Harken’s paws didn’t stop either, grasping at whatever flesh she wasn’t busy marking with her teeth. Axton was certain he was going to look pockmarked when this was all over.
“You hold onto it, even while it has proven to be a liability.” A thrust into his backside, a sharp gasp. “That can’t be everything you are, Axxy… can it?~”
“It’s… it’s… what… what I am,” Axton protested. Even though he knew they were right… he had been doing this for so long. It was part of him. It was Axton, from head to toe. Ages ago, he had made that decision to be the bold leader that would guide others and be an inspiration, and defend those he loved from danger. A large part of him refused to let it go, even though he acknowledged the Affini would be better at the job than he. “I’m… I’m nothing… without it…”
“What if you were something without it?” Dynine challenged. “What if you were… something more?”
The question rattled around in his skull. He wanted to refuse. He couldn’t be something more. That was all he had. That was all he’d ever have. That was all he’d ever be. It was like asking if he was comfortable without any blood in his veins.
The thing in his ass pushed in further, and it was growing thicker as it did. His hips bucked, his erection brushing against the fluffy pelt attached to Harken. Further shocks of delight arced through his cock and into him, and he heard her growl in a shiver-inducing fashion. He was so small, so weak before them…
“I’m… not… strong…” he whispered.
“You are, Axxy,” Dynine countered. Their voice had lowered some now, and he swore their face was right in front of his own. That damn blindfold prevented him from getting any idea as to what the world outside of it looked like. “You are strong. And brave. And very soon, you don’t have to be either of those anymore.”
Axton could feel Harken’s teeth moving lower, and lower, trailing hickies downward as she went. His chest and stomach would be covered in them, he knew. And…
Oh stars her tongue was over his dick now. It was thick and slimy and warm and holy shit it riled him to no end as she took to tasting him. He throbbed, shuddered, shook under her affections, breaths coming out in sharp spurts.
All the while, he wanted to protest. To object. To say he wanted to keep being strong. It was… it was…
Fuck.
Why did he have to resist so much? Why couldn’t he just let go? Why couldn’t he just accept the Compact’s benevolence? Was his pride really that fucking determined to maintain itself against objective fact?
Even with everything happening to him – the brain-fogging stench, the vine in his ass, the snout and tongue over his shaft – he couldn’t help himself. He could feel his eyes burn behind the blindfold, emotions running high under all the lust and arousal.
“I’m… I’m scared, D-Dynine,” he admitted in between gasps. His voice was shaky, wobbly, especially as Harken surprised him by… pushing him into a wet, hot, slick orifice of hers. He knew it was her mouth, with how he felt her tongue along the underside. Fuck… she felt so good. Even with the emotional hurricane he was in the dead center of.
“S-scared… I’ll… f-f-f-f-fade…”
“It’s okay to be scared, Axxy.~” Dynine, for once, lost a lot of their condescension, and he could tell they were being genuine for once, instead of smug and rude. “Everyone is scared sometimes… and admitting it is the first step.”
“F-first… step… t-t-towards…?” Axton struggled as mounting pleasure scrambled his brain even further.
“Accepting your true self.” Their voice was firm. Matter-of-fact. And yet, hopeful. “You can be just Axton, my sweet… Axton, the charming man I enjoy. Not Axton the guardian… Axton, the beloved.”
Beloved.
Beloved by all.
He wanted that. And at the same time he didn’t. All his strength, the strength that kept him going for years, was dwindling…
But…
Somehow he didn’t feel upset by that. Even with his pride still at the forefront.
“The Affini love you, Axxy. I love you. What you are, what you were, and what you will become.”
Harken kept bobbing her head during all this, and with all of this happening – the vines around his body, the attention to his front and back, and Dynine’s encouraging praise and guidance – he could feel himself… weakening.
Starting to let go.
It was so terrifying. To release the vice grip on his destiny like this, let others dictate it for him, instead of making his own fate. He alone was the master of his fate…
Or was he?
The Affini could give him a good future. They would. They will. They must. This was their end goal, wasn’t it? To protect all life in the universe and eliminate any and all suffering…
Something finally clicked.
He was suffering in a way.
Holding onto this damnable pride, even if it was useful to him for a large portion of his life. It kept his morale up, reminded him he was doing a good thing, kept him going even with everything looking like it was about to crumble.
But it hurt. It hurt so fucking much. To deny genuine aid, all because the spirit that kept him from breaking was, in a way, poison, slowly ebbing his sanity away and sending him on a one-way trip to damnation.
Survival of the body meant nothing if the mind decayed. In this war between what was right and what was necessary, it was often an expected casualty.
The Affini did what was right and necessary. They had their cake and could eat it, too. And terrans like him were allowed to have a bite. All he needed to do… was let go.
Let it all go.
Was it finally making sense now? It felt like it did.
“I… I… I want… to… live,” Axton gasped suddenly. “I want… life…!”
Laughter filled the air. Not the dark, intimidating kind, nor the mocking, arrogant sort.
Playful, friendly, loving.
Dynine laughed with him, not at him.
“We can give you the life you need, Axxy,” Dynine cooed. While they spoke, Harken suddenly pulled off of his shaft, and he grunted, his length exposed to the somewhat cooler, but still impressively heady and humid air. “When you reunite with your brother… you will have it.”
Axton’s heart surged. Meanwhile, more shuffling noises followed. Was Harken moving again?
“I… t-thank… thank you… Dynine…” Axton’s voice cracked in the middle of Dynine’s name, earning another playful laugh.
“Good boy, Axxy… I’m so happy you finally understand. Now…”
His manhood was plunged into a different dark, wet, tight crevice. One he was very familiar with. Harken’s… oh fuck.
Harken’s pussy.
“Cum for me and Harken, darling.~”
What felt like Dynine’s wooden mask pressed against his face as facsimiles of lips were crushed against his own. A thick tendril pushed past his teeth and into his throat, and the one in his backside shook. It was a three-pronged attack, one that would have made him scream in pleasure if his mouth wasn’t currently occupied by a horny bird plant.
Axton’s blindfolded vision was filled with stars as he climaxed, emotions and arousal making him explode. The fractured dam that was Axton had finally cracked apart in its entirety, and now, all the water that was his thoughts and feelings came pouring forth into rivers and lakes of blissful relief. He spasmed, his sack tensing between his legs as he unloaded into Harken’s folds, and he barely heard a satisfied snarl as she clenched over him to get every last drop…
And something else surged into his bottom. Something sticky, gooey, coating his insides and gushing into his guts. His eyes rolled up into his head, and then…
It all really went black as his consciousness faded.
Axton let out a weak groan as his eyes fluttered open. He tried to sit up, and winced as he felt a bit of pain shoot through his chest and stomach, and his wrists and ankles. He spared a glance at his surroundings, discovering he was back in his room at the hab unit he shared with the crew. Okay, he was safe...
Ugh, what happened earlier? He didn’t… remember…
Hold on, his pad was lit up on his nightstand. Slowly, carefully, he reached over, pulling it up and seeing there was a message from… Captain Rift?
›YourIllustriousCaptain: Hello, Axxy. This message is for you to read when you finally wake up after our tryst. Don’t worry, you’ll be back in your hab unit, safe and sound.
›YourIllustriousCaptain: Harken and I had a wonderful time with you today. Both of us are happy you allowed us to finally aid you in discarding what has been hurting you most and keeping you from blossoming into something I know fits you far better than what you started as.
›YourIllustriousCaptain: You now understand how it feels to finally let go, and accept our aid. The Affini will never let you down. All we ask is that you trust us, and I can confidently say your trust has been rewarded.
›YourIllustriousCaptain: For now, I implore you to rest. Tomorrow is going to be a big day, for both you and your brother, Zane.
›YourIllustriousCaptain: Take care, and remember: together, we can build the future. – Captain Dynine Rift, 19th Bloom
What would have been revulsion and hatred and spite… didn’t come. Instead, Axton allowed himself a smile as comfort washed over him. And now he could think clearly about what the Affini were about.
When an Affini wanted you, they would get you. Didn’t matter when. Didn’t matter how. Didn’t matter why. What mattered was their wants and desires trumped yours, even if their intentions were perfectly good. And when you’re up against an empire of imperialist, immortal alien plants that saw your species as just a source of pets begging to be collared… well, you didn’t have a lot of options in that scenario.
You could run. You’d only delay the inevitable.
You could give in. It’d be over and done with, and they’d probably be very forgiving and amicable. Probably.
You could fight them. And you’d get your ass handed to you so quickly you’d barely have enough time to even think “death before domestication”, let alone say it, before you become one of countless drugged up, mindless pets and toys.
When it came to the Compact, you’d lose. Every time.
What if that was a victory, though?
What if, by embracing their honest offer of aid… you could finally win for once in your life? Win, and be rewarded for your strength, for holding on just long enough for them to come into your life?
And what if it was cemented in your mind at the hands and vines of a smelly fox and a whimsical plant?
Axton understood that now. And instead of hating that bird plant for what they were doing to him…
He appreciated them. He knew they were trying to help, in their own way. And now he realized it.
Dynine guided him on this road to victory and redemption.
He just needed to walk it with joy in his heart. And he was already all set to do it.
Victory was sweet.
Chapter 43: Blood
Summary:
The ties that bind us.
On the day of Axton’s arrival, Zane prepares himself for a moment that will change both brothers’ lives forever. And with Chloros by his side, he can face it without fear.
Content warnings: Brief sexual activity mention
Notes:
IT'S FINALLY HERE IT'S FINALLY HERE AAAAAA
The boys are getting together again AND I'M SO EXCITED OH HOLY FU-*explodes*
Okay but seriously, their reunion is coming here! And it's something I'm SUPER excited for, as you can plainly tell!
I had a lot of fun with Midus' part of the chapter. That little guy still plays a part in the story, long after he passed, and I wanted to give the rangda more background too. Yes, I did reference Sonic quite a bit with their stardust speedways and rolling :3
Next chapter is Axton's perspective leading up to here, and then... the moment of judgment. I hope y'all are ready!
Chapter Text
On the living room table, a chess board with white and black pieces was set up, in preparation for another game of strategy, forethought, and anticipation. A game that, while ostensibly relaxed, required significant amounts of focus and brainpower, especially if you’re intent on getting a win. And when your opponent was an Affini… well.
Zane wanted to prove he could still win, even if her chess skills were starting to get better than his own. Chloros, naturally, was all too happy to test her mettle against her son. It was more than a contest of wits between a normal terran and an ancient being from beyond the veil.
It was an expression of love between the two.
Zane took the black side this go around, while Chloros accepted the white side. They had been at this for several minutes, sitting quietly, enjoying each other’s presence while showing their skills.
Pieces had been captured, obtained, taken off the board. They were head to head, neck and neck, both gradually running out of soldiers in this simulated war between the pair. A war that could only have one outcome, with one side achieving glorious victory, and the other suffering crushing defeat. The prize being proof that one competitor had better skills than their opponent.
Frankly, if this was what being Chloros’ floret would be like, Zane didn’t mind that at all.
As he took one of her pawns with a knight, and left himself open to that knight being overtaken by her bishop, he smirked. “Ah, damn, should have seen that coming.”
“I am getting better, as expected,” Chloros boasted, and he could hear the proud grin she was surely wearing just by her tone.
“Don’t get too cocky now, Chloros.”
“You’re right… I still have yet to win.~”
Zane laughed, moving one of his remaining pawns into position. “You know, I wonder if you did any of this with Midus. Do the rangda have any games like this?”
He knew he was safe to ask it, since by this point, she had finally been able to let go of the grief surrounding her first son. She could speak of him and the rangda calmly now, instead of getting tripped up by the pain of the past.
Chloros hummed a little as she moved her remaining rook to block off what would have been an attack upon her king. “Oh yes. Though, theirs are more… unique, compared to this one.”
Zane perked an eyebrow, while continuing to move pieces and keep up with her strategy. Another pawn sacrificed, but he was able to get a bishop to take one of her last pawns, so that the only pieces she had left with her queen, king, and other pieces remaining. It looked like he had the advantage, at least, so far…
“Can’t be more unique than that one game Amy showed me,” Zane remarked. “You know, the one that involved wearing a hat that brings you close to orgasm, but doesn’t let you cum, unless you say ‘Thank you Master/Mistress’ when you place cards down.”
Chloros giggled. “No, nothing like that. I’m moreso meaning that their games tend to involve showing your vulnerability to trusted friends and loved ones, and your relationships growing deeper as a result. Midus had me play one with his friends and his sisters, called ‘Vulnaris’.
“Sounds interesting. What’s it about?”
A little clink as another piece was knocked over, with Chloros claiming it. Zane still had the advantage, but now he had to actively think about his next move, instead of just relying on muscle memory being invoked by whatever was in front of him. “The premise is that you are tasked by the deities of the core rangda religious belief system – the embodiments of love, acceptance, and unity – to grow closer with those around you, by lowering your guard and revealing something near and dear to yourself, and trusting them to understand.”
Another piece claimed. Zane took that one that time. Something told him Chloros was leading him into a trap… but he wasn’t all that certain. Still, he was sharp enough to maintain his focus while still understanding what she was explaining.
“You have a deck of cards of three categories in Vulnaris, ranked by ‘shell hardness’. Hard shelled cards are more lighthearted, best for friends and acquaintances, and tend to be sillier. Soft shelled cards are for those who have deeper relationships and may want to grow closer. And no-shelled ones are for those who have relationships far beyond that of very close friends, like romantic or sexual partners.”
Oh, so it was more than just a game of recreation… it was a game of love. That sounded very enticing… albeit a little scary, too. Then again, being in the Compact did require you to be vulnerable to some degree, whether you wanted it or not. Chloros helped him understand that vulnerability was not weakness, and so, he could see the appeal in such a game.
“To play the game, you take seats in a circle around the deck. Then, you take turns drawing a card from the deck, rotating through each player. Based on the card you have, you are to follow the instructions given on it, whether it’s describing what you like most about the player you’re closest to, to stating what’s currently troubling you, to recounting a treasured memory you have to the other players.”
Zane glanced at his mother for a moment. “And what do the other players do?”
“They are to respond appropriately based on what the speaker says. When everyone has given their responses, the player to the speaker’s right will get their turn.”
“Can the drawing player skip a card if it makes them uncomfortable?”
“Oh, yes. The card can be passed onto the next player in that case. If none of the players like it, it can be safely discarded so the game can continue.”
So it had a mechanic that resembled a safe word that could be invoked at any time, without disrupting the game. That sounded perfect. In case he ever played it, he’d still have a chance to skip his turn so he wasn’t forced to be vulnerable in a way he disliked. Once again, he wished he got to know Midus for real...
“Is there a way to win?” he asked. He frowned slightly, realizing that, although he kept making good plays, Chloros continued to take pieces away from him. His king was becoming more and more exposed over time. Was he getting sloppy, or was the talk about Vulnaris distracting him? He swore he was focused…
Eh, no matter. He was having fun regardless.
“For one player? No,” Chloros said, continuing to move pieces around with a practiced hand. “Although the game does end when the entire deck has been discarded. From there, all participants are to pray to whatever deities they believe in and determine if their performance in the game was exemplary. Regardless of the answer, the main appeal of the game is not to win over the others, but to simply share in each other’s comfort, appreciation, and other emotions. You could say that the real victory is letting yourself be vulnerable around those you trust, and having that trust rewarded.”
She emphasized that last word for a reason, as it turned out. While Zane was listening to her, she had been taking down more and more of his side, until, eventually, only his queen remained… and it got swept off the board too. Only when it became his turn did he discover that he was in a scenario where he couldn’t possibly win, with his king caught in a pincer position between her queen and her rook.
Zane could only stare at the chess board for a moment, bafflement on his wide-eyed face. He blinked his eyes a few times, then looked up at his mother, seeing her tilt her head and bat her simulated eyelashes at him.
“...you distracted me,” he accused playfully, chuckling.
“Maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t. Who’s to say? In any case, I appear to have won this match, dear.~”
“Yeah, you did. I had a good time, I hope you did too.”
Some of her vines reached over to ruffle his hair, earning another laugh. “With you? I always do, sweetie.”
He reached with one hand – his finger tips still had her leaves wrapped around them, just so he can satisfy his need to pick and bite, although his fingers and toes had healed by now – to lightly hold her vines, squeezing them in turn and earning a charming laugh from her. He always endeavored to return any affection she gave him, especially now.
Stars, he was so happy to have her as his new mother. She was perfect. He never wanted to give her up. She was one of the best things to come into his life, and he was certain that the remainder of said life would be beautifully peaceful in her care.
Peace was all he ever wanted. And Chloros would give it to him. She promised so much, and asked so little…
His pad vibrated beside him, snapping both son and mother out of their shared affection. He glanced down at it, and pulled it up…
›WaywardSun: Hey, Zane, giving you a heads up. We’ll be there in like two hours from now.
Zane’s eyes widened again, and when he showed it to Chloros, she gave a little gasp of surprise.
“He’s so close,” Zane said softly. “Stars, I…”
“I know.” More of her vines surrounded him, giving him a hug from a distance while she looked at him. “It’s happening at last. How do you feel about it?”
Zane stared at his pad for a second, momentarily uncertain. Then, after running the past few weeks over in his head – Chloros seeing him wake up for the first time, the bath that kickstarted their closeness, him having gained Amy and Frey as his pinnates, Chloros’ transformation, the Class-L bender he had undergone – he looked up at her…
And gave her a calm, measured smile.
“I’m ready. I’m ready to see Axton again, I think.”
There was pride and warmth in Chloros’ voice as she answered with, “That’s wonderful, Zane. You’ve come so far…”
“And you helped me get this far.” The smile grew wider. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you, Momma.”
She must have intensified her biorhythm then, because an invisible wave of delight washed over him and compelled him to slouch and lean against her vines. That opened him up for being scooped up into her arms, and pressed comfortably against her generous bust. In the back of his mind, a part of him – Zee, he imagined – begged him to ask for a brownie, but he decided against it.
Not the time, nor the place.
Axton was more important.
“You make me smile every day, baby,” Chloros cooed, giving him plenty of pets, scritches, and a kiss or two on his cheeks. “Shall we get you an appropriate outfit for your brother’s arrival?”
Zane blushed and wiggled in her embrace. “Y-yeah, um, something kinda floral, but still leaves me recognizable, y’know?”
“I have the perfect outfit in mind, then.”
As she carried him out of the living room and into the master bedroom to properly dress him, Zane made sure to respond to Axton along the way.
›DarlingFlowerBoy: oh heck okay, sorry for late reply, was just finishing up a game with Chloros
›DarlingFlowerBoy: you know where to find us, right?
›WaywardSun: I do. Chloros forwarded the details to me. I’ll see you soon.
›DarlingFlowerBoy: looking forward to it <3
The Floral Retreat was as gorgeous as ever. Huge trees and bushes, spaced out for plenty of room to move on the paved, smooth walkways, with seemingly endless amounts of plants all over the place in colors shifting from shades of green to shades of pink, blue, purple… it was honestly a massive rainbow that should have made Zane’s eyes experience strain from how vivid it all was. Thankfully, he was able to observe his surroundings without any issues, instead of being handicapped by his plain terran senses compared to that of the Affini.
He remembered what it was like to be here for the first time. Back when he was still so unsure of everything, back when he thought Chloros was still a monster to some degree, back when he thought the concept of domesticating sophonts like him was the cruelest thing to ever do…
He had changed so much since then. Now, domestication sounded fairly alright. The ultimate gesture of trust between caregiver and charge, a permanent exchange of power that nonetheless made it clear just how devoted both parties were to each other…
In some ways, it felt like adoption and marriage rolled into one, as weird as it sounded.
He wondered how Axton might feel about it when the time came.
Speaking of, he double checked his pad to see what he had to say.
›WaywardSun: Will be there in half an hour. Floral Retreat, right?
›DarlingFlowerBoy: yeah Chloros and I are taking a stroll while we wait
›WaywardSun: That’s cool. Just a heads up, I’ll be accompanied by two other folks I trust.
›DarlingFlowerBoy: I don’t mind, if they’re your friends, they’re my friends
›WaywardSun: That means a lot.
That earned a relaxed smile.
Zane held onto Chloros’ hand with his left one, the cane he treasured being tucked under his right arm. He was wearing an outfit that was in his trademark blue and black colors, a collared, black dress shirt with teal flower and vine patterns on the shoulders and bottom, with his actual collar snugly fastened around his neck, flowing dark blue pants on his legs, and open toed sandals.
He had really come to love the sandals in particular, as he could easily slip his feet into them and be ready to go, instead of having to waste time tying shoelaces. Plus, he could wear them without needing socks, and they were very comfortable and sturdy. The weather being regulated in the Excellence meant he was free to wear sandals everywhere without issue, much to his delight.
He looked up at Chloros as they walked together. She had been instrumental in helping him recover from his pain, and embrace this comfortable life that was seemingly tailor made for him. And though he had initially mistrusted her… in the end, she lived up to her promises of securing a good home in the Compact.
He wished he met her much earlier.
As they walked, enjoying each other’s company, he saw something glint in his peripheral vision. Chloros must have noticed it too, because she suddenly stopped, and turned in that direction. She said something that he didn’t catch.
“Is something wrong, Chloros?” he asked, peering up at her. Though she remained composed, he could tell whatever she was looking at was affecting her.
“It’s… a memory,” she murmured. He followed her gaze…
And there, nestled within the plant life, was a structure about as big as Chloros herself. It resembled some sort of overgrown, mossy tree stump, vines coiled all over the wood, with branches from nearby trees circling a large object.
That object turned out to be a large, rotating crystal, angular and pointed. Inside, text in Affini script flowed by, which Zane still had a hard time reading and internalizing – he always had issues with learning new languages, but Chloros assured him he’d get it all in time. What he did understand right away, though, was what came between the blurbs of text.
Images of a rangda, a bulky-looking one with a gold-hued shell on his back and head, flecked with streaks of crimson. His eyes were like Zane’s, brilliant baby blues that endeared him to whoever he was facing. And, held in the rangda’s hands…
A teal-colored lotus in full bloom. The rangda was smiling brightly as his image presented the flower to those who looked at this monument.
“...is… is that… Midus?” Zane asked quietly.
Chloros slowly nodded. “Yes. This… it’s a memorial I had set up for him since he passed.” Her voice wavered, and he squeezed her hand in reply. “It’s to commemorate his role in my life…”
Chloros’ body sagged where she stood. Zane could already tell how it was affecting her, to see her first son again, immortalized through this grand, touching gesture of love. But that also came with getting caught up in old, painful memories. Memories that were making her aura falter.
“Momma,” he said aloud. Whatever downward spiral she was about to enter, she was redirected from it, putting her attention on her current son now.
“I’m sorry, dear, I didn’t expect to see this, I should have, should have…”
“It’s okay.” Both hands held her own, a gesture of stability, understanding, safety. “It just means you still care and hold him close. It’s rather touching, honestly.”
Her biorhythm resumed its normal cadence shortly after, a nonverbal way of showing her appreciation. Her voice was warm as she replied, “You’re so good to me, Zane. You make every day a blessing.”
“Just trying my best for my Momma.”
“And your best is all I ask for.~”
For the next half hour, the two opted to sit in front of the monument to Midus, with Chloros telling him so much more about the rangda she once cared for. Held comfortably in her vines, nestled against her bosom, Zane settled into her warm, soft embrace while he listened to her extol everything about Midus that she hadn’t already said before.
Midus, on top of the trademark rangda affinity for creating heavily fortified and good looking buildings, was one who valued all sorts of play. From board games, to video games, to just running around like an energetic, living pinball. The man truly lived for play when he wasn’t focused on building a home. In fact, some of the concepts of pinball applied to something else the rangda were known for.
Huge, majestic hybrids of theme parks and race tracks, where tunnels, ramps, loop-de-loops, springs, flippers, bumpers, and countless more dotted these recreational places, christened as “stardust speedways”. Here, rangda could run around, and roll around, the various platforms and passages, zooming through at high speed and flying through the air with death-defying acrobatic maneuvers. And despite the apparent lack of safety measures, this was only because of the rangda’s impervious shells letting them handle falls from any height without issue, and weather impacts that would have snapped the spines of those without protection.
Of course, since joining the Compact, the speedways had been modified to accommodate non-rangda. They were allowed to pilot specially crafted orb-shaped vehicles, called “spinballs”, which, despite looking like giant hamster balls, were made with reinforced, highly durable material and shock absorption to protect against impacts. On top of this, occupants were safely secured inside their spinballs with harnesses and gyroscopes to ensure they’d stay upright and could get their bearings, instead of being jostled and disoriented. And with them being transparent, occupants could see everything around them and react accordingly, ensuring maximum fun.
Chloros told him one of such speedway, here on the Excellence. One that had also been constructed in Midus’ memory. It was characterized by being covered in glittering, gleaming gold and metal, looking like everything was made out of precious metals and ores. It was known as the Golden Gateway… rather fitting for someone whose name was very similar to the one known as King Midas.
Chloros’ Midus had a more metaphorical golden touch, thankfully. And it was clear that his golden touch was just like his heart – precious, warm, had to be protected.
The fact that she was able to reminisce about him in such a way, without collapsing in anguish, was a very good sign. Just as she was an important part in Zane’s healing, Zane was a major factor in helping her heal too.
This was the ideal Affini-xenosophont relationship, in Zane’s opinion. She may have had all the power at the end of the day, but in terms of emotional stability, she desperately needed someone who could provide it for her.
Good thing he was a Momma’s boy, then.
During this time, Zane was quiet. He allowed her hands to hold his own, their fingers locking together. Soft flesh meeting soft vines, comfortably warm, stable and steady…
Chloros’ vines found him, then, snaking around his body and touching what they could find. Even with her hands occupied, she could still feel him with an endless amount of appendages, ensuring not a single inch of him would escape her embrace.
“Momma,” Zane said after some time. His eyes were half-lidded, and though he wasn’t tired yet, he was lacking in motivation to do anything except sit in his mother’s lap. “I love you…”
“I love you too, baby,” Chloros cooed, keeping his head nice and comfortable against her chest. Her big, squishy, milk-filled chest. One of the best parts of her ever since she transformed, in his not-so-humble opinion. He could never say no to large breasts, and Chloros’ were certainly lovely.
“Don’t ever let me go… okay?” Zane peered up at her with the most adoring gleam in his eye. Chloros returned it, the cerulean gaze that was her trademark bearing down on him and radiating pure adoration.
He felt her love in so many ways.
In his heart.
In his mind.
Even in the very pores of his skin.
Chloros’ love was all around him, enveloping him, a shield against all the slings and arrows the universe tried to tear him down with. Even if the Accord, in all its endless horror, developed a super weapon to destroy all of existence in a blink…
It wouldn’t work at all. It would be deflected, stymied, completely stonewalled by Chloros’ endless, boundless affection for her precious son. Sure, that could be said for the entirety of the Compact…
But Zane knew Chloros’ love was the best defense of all. And that was enough.
“I’ll always hold you, my love. Always.”
“Always and forever.”
“Kiss me, my child.~”
Zane did so. Their lips danced together in a calm, but still passionate waltz, a testament to their attraction and devotion to each other.
For the moment, he forgot why they were here. Chloros took up all of his focus now. Nothing else mattered. Nothing but Chloros, his wonderful, perfect mother…
Sweet. Soft. Hot. Her flavor was immaculate and he couldn’t get enough. Even discounting the xenodrugs she used, her lips alone were a drug that he had formed an addiction to. A healthy addiction, at that.
His arms wrapped around her shoulders, while her hands slipped free to cradle his face. Thumbs brushing against his cheeks, vines stroking all over him, especially his hips and thighs.
Stars, it was just like the first night they ever kissed. Back when he was still uncertain of everything, including wanting Axton in his life again. She had an answer for everything and guided him to peace, so that he’d never falter in this second chance given to him.
He loved her so much, he never wanted to let her go…
And right then, as if to kill the moment, his pad buzzed. He ignored it at first, but the buzzing continued, and he reluctantly disconnected, sporting a pouting expression on his face.
Chloros, luckily, wasn’t offended. She just purred and nodded at him, and he obeyed, taking his pad out and reading.
›WaywardSun: Hey, we’re here. Where are you?
›DarlingFlowerBoy: follow my pad’s coordinates, just a minute or two away from the entrance
›WaywardSun: Got it. Be right there.
Zane sighed, turning to his mother. “I guess it’s time.”
“It is. And I know you’re ready, my sweet Zane.”
“Stay with me?”
“You know I always will.”
And so, finally pulling free of her, Zane was placed back on the ground. He adjusted his clothes and hair so that Axton wouldn’t immediately notice his brother had been in the middle of making out with the Affini he called his mother.
They waited.
And waited.
And waited.
“Where is-” Zane started.
“There!” Chloros said, gesturing with her hand.
Coming into view was a trio that surprised him. A large Affini, taller than Chloros, clad in a large cloak of moss and sporting an avian mask for a face. On their left was Marcus, looking very happy in his jogging outfit, and...
Holding the hand of his older brother. Axton Jakobson.
“Holy shit… Axton?” Zane called out.
Axton looked up, and his eyes widened upon seeing his brother standing there.
“Zane?”
Chapter 44: Never Turn Back
Summary:
It’s been a long, rough road, and I’m finally here!
The reunion is only hours away. All Axton has is the promise that everything will be alright. And with a new outlook on life, he has trust in that promise.
No content warnings
Notes:
Now we get Axxy's take on the leadup to the reunion! And oh boy it has left me quite jittery even after I finished it~!
While I wanted to show Axton progressing more in his becoming more understanding of the Compact's values and shedding his old beliefs, I also wanted to give Veltroc time to shine beyond just being a hunky snek pladdy! So here you go, him being a very nice fella, and wearing a nice hat. :3
Next chapter is where it finally happens... I hope y'all are READY!!!
Chapter Text
›WaywardSun: Hey, Zane, giving you a heads up. We’ll be there in like two hours from now.
›DarlingFlowerBoy: oh heck okay, sorry for late reply, was just finishing up a game with Chloros
›DarlingFlowerBoy: you know where to find us, right?
›WaywardSun: I do. Chloros forwarded the details to me. I’ll see you soon.
›DarlingFlowerBoy: looking forward to it <3
Axton lowered his pad and sighed, resting on the couch in the gang’s hab unit. Troy was with him, in the same outfit as when he first arrived, but in a darker green coloration. Mithrax’s second floret had his head in Axton’s lap, making soft noises of contentment. While the older Jakobson brother scrolled through his pad, he occasionally doled out little pets and scritches on Troy’s head, delighted mewls leaving the man’s mouth.
It was surreal. Troy was a gung-ho, foolhardy, gun-loving man who’d likely have given you the stink-eye and tell you to go fuck yourself for suggesting he’d make a good floret, at best. At least, that was the impression he always gave off. The reality was… he actually did make a great floret. A happy, friendly, cuddly one that clearly adored his captain on top of his new owner.
The Troy of then was strong, but also clearly unhappy with his lot in life. Without intervention, he’d have probably gotten himself killed in a ditch somewhere, with no one remembering him. By contrast, the Troy of now lacked much of his aggression and power… yet he was happy as can be, all smiles and eager to be around others. And while he still had a potty mouth, the most foul of all the crew… he had taken to replacing his terran-style cursing with that of the Affini.
Dirt. Rot. Roots. Fire. Frost.
It was an unusual development, one that Axton found himself surprisingly comfortable with.
The Axton of now, that is. The Axton of before, the one who struggled to accept the Affini were all totally honest about wanting to help, and hated how he was losing control over everything regarding himself and his crew, was no longer here. Bit by bit, that Axton had been losing what dignity he had…
At least until Dynine showed him that to be a citizen of the Compact meant that he could finally rest. He could finally disengage the desperate survival mode he didn’t know he had been using for several years until Dynine forced it off for him.
He still didn’t like that damn bird. But they helped him anyway. Helped him flourish into something better.
Maybe this was what Zane experienced ever since Chloros became his warden.
The Axton of the past had carried him this far. Now it was time for the Axton of the present to take over and finish this journey, and put a period on the last sentence of this storybook of grief, trauma, and pain.
He would have said that part of him died, if not for the fact that without him, the current Axton wouldn’t have… wouldn’t have...
“Oy, you alright, mate?” a deep, rumbly voice said, shattering the stillness he was in while pondering everything. Axton looked up while he was petting Troy still, and recalled where he was.
Mithrax had come to visit again, to hang out with the gang before it came time to board the Excellence. He wasn’t the only Affini present, though. Veltroc, that serpentine plant Maya had become enamored with as of late, had joined the group. While Mithrax was helping Maya make fantastic-smelling food in the kitchen, and Kendra and Amanda were occupied with watching a movie in front of the display screen, Veltroc had decided to talk to the gang’s shared boyfriend.
...stars, he still was coming to terms with dating Troy, on top of the girls. He didn’t know what compelled him, he just felt it was right. And Mithrax ensured that they would never be apart.
Hopefully Marcus would be okay with this too. Then again, he was okay with getting back with Axton like nothing had happened...
Axton stared up at the snake, noting how this time, he was… wearing a hat of some sort? It wasn’t a part of Veltroc’s body, at least, he didn’t think it was. It resembled a cowboy hat, with dark brown felt-like material and a lighter band around the crown. Though he was in front of Axton right now, Axton could see vines extending from him towards Maya over in the kitchen, coiled around her waist in an affectionate manner.
Despite his reservations about Veltroc previously, the man looked genuinely concerned about Axton’s health, with how his false eyebrows were scrunched up and those three white eyes were looking at him with worry. Far from being just another invasive plant, Veltroc was someone who had depth of his own.
Axton blinked. “Uh… yeah. Just, you know, thinking a lot.”
“About your brother, I reckon,” Veltroc remarked. He “sat” upon his own coils, one hand on his hip.
“Among other things.”
“Y’feel like sharing? Sounds like a lot y’need to get offa your chest, mate.”
Axton let his gaze wander over to Maya for a moment. She seemed to be having a good time making food with Mithrax. Veltroc followed where he was looking, and smirked. “I can tell you’re worried about your girlfriend over there too.”
“A bit,” Axton admitted. “Just… everything feels so surreal. I used to think being owned by Affini was a death sentence, that the Compact would destroy us and annihilate all that makes us… makes us unique.”
“Aye.” Veltroc faced him again, arms folded. “We hear that all the time. And I figure by now you’re aware there’s nothing you can really do to stop us from domesticating you lot.”
Axton nodded slowly. “Still feels kinda scary, even if Troy here proves it helps.” He lightly rubbed the ear of the man in question, earning a laugh. “I’ve made peace with it I guess. But…”
“It still scares you,” Veltroc finished.
“On some level, yeah.” He spared a pointed look over at Maya again. “You’re gonna have Maya, I imagine.”
“Plannin’ on it.” Veltroc wasn’t the sort to mince words, it appeared. “And she likes me enough to want me back. So…”
“Will I still get to see her?” Axton asked.
Veltroc peered at him, adjusting the hat perched upon his head. His cobra hood wiggled, while all three bright eyes observed the Hyperion captain. “You know… I’ll do ya one better, mate. I’m thinkin’ of moving onto the Excellence with her and the rest of ya.”
That gave Axton pause. He expected Veltroc to essentially keep Maya all for himself, with only occasional visits. Here, though, the Australian-sounding serpent wanted to come with the rest of the crew…
“Can I ask why?”
“I just like all of you, is all.” Lighthearted, friendly laughter left the snake man. “You’re a good bunch. And I can tell my future floret over there still wants the four of you in her life. So if I’m gonna be her owner…”
Axton understood, even though Veltroc didn’t finish. While Axton couldn’t do anything about Maya being made into a floret too… her future owner was a kind one. One who recognized how she still wanted and needed her crew, even if she became completely unrecognizable when she was properly domesticated.
Much like Troy, he gathered.
And… perhaps Zane, as well?
He realized that the thought of Zane being domesticated no longer filled him with dread. He had a feeling that it would be Zane’s choice to be domesticated in the end, and also his choice for who owned him. And Chloros was the only candidate that Axton figured would be perfect for him.
If he himself was effectively collared and leashed by a plant, one that would dominate his entire life and ensure it was filled with wonder, delight, and joy… then he wanted Chloros to be his owner. No one else. Just so he would be with Zane in the end.
Once again, he knew his old protector persona would have been screaming in anguish over this. Screaming how it was a betrayal of everything Axton stood for, how it was handing over his soul to them on a silver platter…
Just a wounded, desperate animal unable to rest after everything that tore the family apart, Axton knew. It could rest now. It deserved it.
“I understand,” Axton said. “Um, is it okay if we moved onto something else? Like say… the Excellence itself?”
Veltroc nodded, grinning and showing big fangs in his muzzle. Somehow Axton wasn’t intimidated by that, but he was… excited? He didn’t understand.
“Absolutely, mate. Cap’n Rift forwarded me the ship’s file earlier.” He reached into his torso, plucking out a pad of his own, colored tan like his body and sporting leaves on the corners. He tapped the screen a few times, before holding it perpendicular with the floor. A holographic projection manifested, showing the Excellence.
Its overall shape was like an oval, one end wider than the other. Sort of like a chicken’s egg. The wider end had large, flowing flower petals on it, surrounding a large, glowing core that shimmered and rippled with different hues of light. The petals had eye-like growths that closed and opened on a regular basis, too. Countless vine-like appendages snaked out from there, waving through the void. That must have been the front end, for when they descended upon a planet, to enthrall the inhabitants en masse. The back end, by contrast, had what seemed to be its biggest thruster engine, a large, vine-wrapped section with smaller thrusters for maneuverability in space.
The appearance was rather fitting for an Affini scout ship, Axton figured. While it had the usual Affini styling, the fact that it was egg-shaped brought to mind the idea of new lives and identities breaking free of their shells and being able to thrive, instead of getting dragged down by self-hatred, abuse, and torture.
Everything about the Affini was an endeavor to free all life from a cold, uncaring universe, including their ships. He could understand that quite easily. Especially now.
“So when we arrive,” Axton said, “what’s the boarding process gonna look like? Will we have to take small shuttles, or…”
Veltroc shook his head. “Nah. See those big vines there?” He gestured to them with a thick pointer finger. “Once the Excellence is close enough, it’ll latch onto the Fortitude and form high-speed passageways for trains to come through. The gang here’ll take one of those trains, and it’ll be a straight shot to the Excellence proper.”
Wow. Another pleasant surprise from the Compact. And another reminder how they really thought everything out for the species they came to care for.
Maybe the Accord really did deserve to fall at the vines of the Compact.
Axton leaned back, nodding. “Sounds good, then. All I have to do is play the waiting game.”
“Aye. On that note…” Veltroc’s gaze softened as he dismissed the hologram and put his pad back in his chest. “Maya’s told me the reason you’re here. For the bloke you call Zane.”
A sigh escaped Axton’s lips. No real point in hiding what he was here for. And he couldn’t necessarily control what his crewmates did or said. He wasn’t an Affini who could just shoot them up full of drugs to lock away whatever words they had to say. Even so, he didn’t feel all that upset that Veltroc knew. Veltroc was someone Axton was starting to trust more and more…
Like with Mithrax.
“She told you the whole story?”
“Yep. How you’ve been searchin’ for him for years after your family collapsed. Must admit, it’s a devotion that I can admire.”
A glimmer of gratitude formed in Axton’s heart. “I… I appreciate that, Veltroc. I just hope that in the end, it’s not all for nothing.”
Veltroc reached out with one large, thick hand, placing it upon Axton’s shoulder. A friendly, gentle squeeze followed, while Veltroc’s muzzle curled into a comforting smile.
“Axton, mate, I’m positive it’ll all turn out just fine. The Compact’ll make it so. I can’t speak for your little brother, or his warden, but I got a right good feeling that it will all be worth it.”
Axton could feel his heart surging. In that moment, he understood – Veltroc was a man who truly cared about others. Not just Maya, the one he wanted to domesticate, but the captain she answered to.
He sagged under Veltroc’s touch, reciprocating the expression on his face. “You know, now that you said that… I think you’ll be a good owner for Maya. You’re a good man, Veltroc.”
Veltroc laughed. “Just tryin’ my best.”
Axton certainly resonated with that. Even seemingly omnipotent entities like the Affini were just doing what they thought was the right call to make the universe a safer place in the end.
And thankfully, for him and his loved ones, such effort was exactly what everyone needed.
“Now arriving at: The Excellence! Welcome aboard, cuties! Stay close to your owner if you have one, and remember: you are the most adorable little critters we ever did see~!”
Axton rolled his eyes as the automated announcer declared their arrival.
The train came to a stop, so smoothly that Axton didn’t even feel it. Within the train car, everyone Axton knew personally – his boyfriend and girlfriends, and Mithrax, Dynine, and Veltroc – were around him. Kendra and Amanda were occupied with watching a video on Kendra’s pad, Mithrax and Veltroc were doting on their floret and floret-to-be, and Dynine…
Dynine stood next to Axton, resting a vine upon his shoulder. They were shrouded in their leafy mantle that completely hid their body outside of their head. On-duty once more, the Captain in charge. He hadn’t seen them adopt that persona in a while, so it came as a mild shock.
There were many other Affini and xenosophonts in the train car with the gang, all from the Fortitude. Friends, lovers, pets. All having come along to check out the Excellence for a variety of reasons.
In the past, he’d have been utterly terrified by all of them, seeing them as just monsters waiting for their turn to get a taste of his body and soul, and leaving nothing but scraps left. Now he saw differently.
Was this a form of domestication in itself?
He looked up at Dynine as passengers other than the gang began to file out. Dynine looked back at him, a refreshingly friendly look on their mask.
“Well, we have arrived, Captain Jakobson,” Dynine said warmly. “Shall we get going?”
“Um… yeah. I want to get to the Floral Retreat as soon as possible.”
“Perfectly possible, my dear.” Dynine turned their head up to address the rest of Axton’s group. “Alright, everyone, this is our stop! Let’s see what awaits us, shall we?”
Everyone soon stepped on out, and Axton followed Dynine, to discover a world of wonder that awaited him.
They were in a floral, moss-covered hybrid of train station and docking bays, with all sorts of shuttles and smaller ships dotted around the area, alongside the trains that were coming in. There were so many sophonts here that Axton thought they’d all get lost, and frankly, he had no idea where to go. Especially with how he saw what amounted to a city on a ship in the distance…
Stars, maybe he should have asked for a map.
“Mithrax,” Dynine said aloud while Axton continued to survey the surroundings. “Why don’t you and Veltroc and everyone else go on ahead and enjoy yourselves? Captain Jakobson and I could use some alone time.”
This bird… well, not like he could say no. At the very least he knew they wouldn’t hurt him while everyone else was away.
“Can do, Captain!" Mithrax replied giddily. "Come on, everyone, let’s see what’s in store for us!”
And just like that, his crew, led by the kooky mushroom man, was gone, disappearing into the crowds. Now it was just him and the weird bird plant.
Chatter was audible all around Axton, but he mentally deafened himself to it, instead focusing on Dynine. “So… we’re finally here,” he said hesitantly.
“Yes we are.” Dynine’s tone was still pleasant. “As I have promised. How does it to feel, to be on the ship your brother resides in?”
Axton was about to answer, when suddenly, a different voice pierced the air. A voice he recognized keenly, even after so long…
“Axton! Babe! Stay right there!”
Rushing through the crowd, getting patted by vines and hands along the way, was none other than… Marcus? Marcus Pahanin, First Floret? Owned by Torn Pahanin?
Axton’s stared in surprise as Marcus rushed over, wearing a jogging outfit, comprised of a tank top, shorts, and running shoes. He looked more or less the same as he did back when Axton last saw him, afro and facial hair included, although the former had grown to be much larger. And around his neck, a collar… along with a flower perched on the side of his neck too.
“M-Marcus? Is that you?” Axton called out, heart fluttering.
Marcus’ answer to that was to stride on over, grab Axton by the face, and plant a passionate kiss upon the older Jakobson brother’s lips. Axton grunted in surprise, not knowing how to react at first, before aggressively smooching back, arms wrapping about his ex… no, his boyfriend. Several years of going without Marcus’ hot, peppery flavor meant the hunger was easily ignited as soon as those lips graced his own.
There was no mistaking it, this was the very same Marcus he knew. He may have changed, gotten an owner, but he was still the same inspiration for Axton from before. And now, he desperately craved him again. He was already wrapping his arms around the man, compelled by a desperate yearning to love him deeply. Marcus groaned against his mouth, and was already grinding on his leg, panting with feverish lust.
Alas, the lovebirds couldn’t get far. A different bird gently fit their vines between the duo, prying them apart. Axton frowned at Dynine, raising an eyebrow. “You mind?”
“Oh, not at all. In fact, I’d love to watch you two indulge in each other right here, but for one thing, you’ll be in everyone’s path, and for another, your brother’s still waiting.”
Oh. Right. He was here for a reason, of course. Axton turned his gaze to Marcus now, who gave him a sympathetic smile, even with his flushed face.
“D-don’t worry, honey, we can make up for lost time before long, I promise,” Marcus said breathlessly. “Your Affini-”
“Alas, I am not his owner,” Dynine corrected gently. “I am simply facilitating his reunion with Zane.”
Now it was Marcus’ turn to show shock. “Oh, dirt, you and him are finally getting together again?”
Axton nodded. “Y-yeah, it’s… it’s been so very long. I didn’t think I would ever get this far…”
Marcus’ smile became a grin, a knowing one. “I can tell! Where were you gonna meet up?”
“Some place called the Floral Retreat.”
“Oh, I’ve been there tons of times, I can take you there right away.”
“Stars, that would be wonderful.”
“Then let’s get going, the sooner the better!”
They were on their way before long. Dynine had two of their vines circling the pair, the two men holding each other’s hands and talking each other’s heads off the entire time. Marcus was ecstatic to tell him all about what he had been up to ever since he left Thypso years ago, and Axton listened with the utmost attention.
Marcus’ domestication turned out to be relatively recent. He had been found on some other planet, having gone there to continue his studies, only to be met with serious money troubles, which resulted in him losing his scholarship when he couldn’t pay up. He had been left in a deep well of depression, up until the Excellence arrived, and he ended up meeting Torn.
Torn was described to be an arrogant sort, the kind who refused to take responsibility for their screwups. Marcus had been drawn to them in spite of it, out of a desire to prove he could ‘tame’ an Affini. It had paid off, because Torn had undergone quite the 180 in terms of personality – now they were meek and quiet, at the beck and call of Marcus, their floret. That definitely shocked Axton – far as he knew, florets were all submissive to their owners. Was Marcus an outlier, somehow?
He knew he’d be learning so much more while on the Excellence. And now, with his boyfriend coming back into his life, whatever anxiety he had ended up fading.
The Compact really were full of miracle workers if they could reunite Axton and Marcus. This, alone, proved to him that he and Zane could reunite, too.
No sophont left behind.
The Floral Retreat was a massive, sprawling forest environment, trees and plants of shifting kaleidoscopes of colors filling the place. Axton seriously expected to have an epileptic seizure from the way it all looked like a colorful fever dream. Hell, there were colors he was pretty sure there weren’t words for, at least in terran languages.
He could see, smell, and hear clearly. This was a place of tranquility, of comfort, of peace. One that he was quickly appreciating as he and Marcus walked along the paved paths, with Dynine staying close behind.
Stars, he wanted to stay here forever. Did Zane feel the same way?
He dug out his pad to throw his brother a message.
›WaywardSun: Hey, we’re here. Where are you?
›DarlingFlowerBoy: follow my pad’s coordinates, just a minute or two away from the entrance
›WaywardSun: Got it. Be right there.
Sure enough, he saw a button on his screen that, when tapped, tracked the location of Zane’s pad. It was only a minute or two away…
So close. So close…
“You nervous?” Marcus asked as they walked.
“Yeah. It’s… stars, I dunno if he’s told you what happened between us, but it’s been so long since we ever got together. We got a lot of shi-”
He paused, realizing Dynine might be looking at him pointedly from behind. He cleared his throat. “Er, dirt to unpack after all that’s happened. I dunno if…”
Marcus squeezed his boyfriend’s hand affectionately. “Axton, sweetie, it’s gonna be okay, I promise. Last time I saw him and his warden, he was doing just fine. Heck, probably far better than when he first came aboard. And he’s grown a lot, trust me.”
“Do you think he’ll… he’ll forgive me?”
Marcus looked thoughtful for a second. “Honestly, I can’t answer that. But even if he doesn’t… just take solace in the fact that he’s safe, and he’s in a good place. Just like how I know you’re in a good place now. Okay?”
Axton nodded. He was about to say something else-
“There!” the voice of Chloros called out.
Axton, Marcus, and Dynine walked further, and there, in front of some rotating diamond-like object on a stump…
Chloros. Holding the hand of Zane.
Zane Jakobson, his younger brother, the man he never thought he’d ever see again. Lacking anything resembling distress or pain on his face.
“Axton?” Zane called out, staring at his sibling.
Axton’s stared back in surprise. “Zane?”
It’s him… it’s really him. Oh stars, it’s him!
The long wait was over.
Chapter 45: Fair Judgment
Summary:
The chair. The blindfold. The scales. The sword.
The brothers are no longer alone.
Content warnings: Consensual affini hypnosis at end
Notes:
Hey look, a chapter that's longer than the norm, because it's a pretty pivotal moment!
So, the boys are back together, for realsies! And it's all thanks to the plants that are in charge now. Everyone wins in the Compact! Sure, mankind didn't stand a chance... but that's not really a loss, is it? :3
The burn has been quite slow, but now, it's paid off. And while there's still 10 more chapters to go... at the very least, the boys will face what lies ahead, with your favorite plommy at their side. <3
I hope y'all enjoy!
Chapter Text
“Axton?”
“Zane?”
Holy fuck, it’s him!
Zane would have sworn this was an instance of xenodrug-induced hallucinations if not for the fact that Chloros made sure to leave him lucid the whole way. A courtesy from her, so that when the moment of truth finally arrived, he would be able to think clearly and fully embrace it.
There, standing across from him, holding Marcus’ hand… was Axton. His brother, older than him by seven years. Clad in all black, looking more plain compared to Zane’s outfit. And, to Zane’s relief, lacking a collar. So he wasn’t anyone’s ward or floret, then. He managed to stay independent…
Both men stared at each other. No words were exchanged. At least, not verbally. But mentally? It was a conversation that only they could understand.
You’re here.
Yeah. I made it.
After all this time…
It’s me.
We’re together.
Axton glanced at Marcus, then at the strange avian plant accompanying them. He slipped free of his boyfriend’s grasp, and approached his brother cautiously. His demeanor gave the impression he was trying not to scare Zane, to not make him deathly afraid of the sibling that had been working tirelessly to find him after it all fell apart. Like he was entering a minefield, where one false step would cause an explosion that would not only end his life, but end the lives of those around him.
Axton was alternating between looking at his brother and at his warden, his apprehension impossible to miss. Was he intimidated by the floral giant that had cared for Zane for the past month or so? If so, Zane couldn’t blame him. Even with Chloros’ immensely attractive form now, she was still a humongous plant who held thick needles, sharp thorns, and strong vines in her body. If she ever felt the urge to attack someone, Zane felt like she could easily kill them, with about as much effort as closing your fist around an ant. That would never happen, of course, but Axton couldn’t know that.
Zane looked up at his warden, communicating a silent desire. She nodded, releasing her hold on his hand. Letting her take his cane, Zane slowly approached as well, sandal-clad feet pressing down upon the soft vegetation of the ground.
Both brothers were now right in front of each other. Looking each other up and down. Observing. Determining if they were both real, and not just trauma-induced figments of the imagination. Axton was still taller than him by a head, and had a more muscular frame, compared to Zane’s decidedly bottom-heavy body. And his hairstyle and facial hair were as he remembered. Same fiery crimson eyes, too. The kind that burned with passion when they weren’t alight with justified rage.
No words.
Zane lifted his hand up, and Axton did the same. Zane’s hand was soft, completely healed, albeit bearing small leaves from Chloros. Axton’s hand was much rougher, worn, years having left their mark. When their hands touched together, Zane understood right away it couldn’t be anyone other than his brother right there.
Zane, the soft one. Axton, the rough one.
No mistaking it.
Zane spoke in a hushed tone, “It’s… it’s you. Axton. You’re… you’re finally here.”
Axton slowly nodded. Zane saw him swallow, an attempt at keeping himself steady, most likely. “Z… Zane. Do… do you remember…?”
Zane returned the nod. “I do. Everything.”
“B… Bessy.”
“Dad going crazy.”
“Harry and the other bullies hurting you.”
“Our bond falling apart.”
“Dad… dying.”
“Mom and I fleeing.”
“And… Mom.”
“She’s gone.”
“I… I know.”
Zane stared into his brother’s eyes. Axton returned it. For the moment, all was still. Motionless. The world brought to a halt as the two of them were locked together, questioning the other of their intentions and motivations. They were now at the final threshold of brotherhood, all the pain and sorrow having led to this.
In that singular moment in time, Zane knew what Axton was asking without him having to say it.
Am I still worthy of your love?
Axton was awaiting his judgment. He could be declared guilty, and punished for his failures, punishment in the form of being rejected, cast back out into the void…
Or be declared innocent. Absolved of his sins. Given the grace to shrug off the chains of regret that made existence a slog for him. Welcomed home.
An invisible gavel was slammed down. Judgment was decided.
Zane’s uncertainty finally released its grip upon him, giving way to the answer.
You are worthy.
“Ax!” Zane cried, and he rushed forward. His arms wrapped around his brother’s body as he clung to him tightly, with all the mad desperation of someone lost at sea and holding onto any driftwood to keep himself afloat. His eyes began to burn as a familiar wave of tears, full of relief and joy, welled up, his tear ducts stimulated by the rush of emotion.
Axton stumbled as Zane nearly pushed him off his feet, but very quickly, his brother’s arms were holding Zane. The way his chest moved, and Axton’s gasps and whimpers, told Zane that Axton was starting to cry too.
“Stars, it’s really you!” both brothers sobbed. The two of them sunk to the ground, holding each other in a firm grip, refusing to let each other escape. It was a tight hug, the kind that would keep the brothers from ever losing each other, even if the entire universe chose to destroy itself in that moment. If that was to be their final fate, then so be it. One last moment of togetherness before oblivion was acceptable.
The universe, thankfully, remained intact. Allowing them to sit there, holding on, sobbing and wailing, emotions at the forefront. Zane tried to say something coherent, but all that came out was babble in between his cries and gasps. Axton was struggling with forming any sort of dialogue himself, only able to give raw, unfettered crying.
It went on like that for a long time. And neither of them cared. Because, after all the agony, the torture, the unbearable anguish of their past…
They were finally here. Hand in hand. No longer left adrift in a cold universe. No longer left questioning if they’d see each other again, if they’d reunite, if they’d accept each other after everything their father had done to reduce the family name to dust...
They finally made it.
Chloros watched her son melt down in a way that evoked relief, not despair. Relief that the Compact came through and brought these two lost souls together, refusing to let them wallow in their tragedies and lose each other in the darkness.
The Compact had never let anyone down, to her knowledge. Once again, she was reminded that the goal of universal domestication was the right thing for all sophonts in existence. And she was satisfied in playing her part, especially for her son and his sibling.
She watched Marcus hover close by, and Dynine with him. The avian Affini tore their eyes off of the brothers to observe her now, and a friendly grin was on their mask.
“Chloros, my dear, I almost didn’t recognize you,” the Fortitude captain remarked.
Chloros chuckled. “Dalbergia said something similar when I showed him this form.”
“Did he? I wonder how he and Osiris are doing.” Dynine shambled over to her, vines extending. Chloros didn’t hesitate, her own vines, and her hands, reaching out to touch Dynine’s. Tendrils and fingers joined together, allowing Chloros to remember exactly how her old acquaintance felt. Graceful, calculating, and powerful.
She hadn’t seen Dynine since her youngbloom days, but just like they knew it was her, she knew it was Dynine standing before her. The eccentric, duty-bound bird that had led Axton here. The universe had aligned once again.
Dynine’s playful, yet also authoritative aura melded with Chloros’ matronly presence, both parties sighing pleasantly. “It has been so long,” they said. “I think we deserve to catch up, just like these boys do, don’t you agree?”
“Yes,” Chloros said immediately. She peered past Dynine, spotting Marcus. “Marcus, honey, do us a favor?”
Axton’s boyfriend nodded happily. “Watch over these two? Don’t worry, I can handle it. They’ll be just fine. I’ll ping you if needed.”
“Good boy,” Dynine cooed, before they and Chloros were on their way, confident that Marcus would take care of the pair.
Chloros did hesitate to follow, but she reminded herself that Axton would never dream of hurting her son now that he was in the company of Marcus and everyone else on the Excellence. She had to give the brothers space to acclimate and accept each other…
Plus, she was so terribly curious about what Dynine wished to converse with her about.
The oldblooms strolled through the Floral Retreat, holding hands and vines as they went. Birds called, bugs buzzed, and leaves rustled, all in an effort to cultivate a tranquil forest for those who simply wanted to get away. She knew back then it was the perfect place for Midus to be memorialized, and she was never told otherwise. How fitting that this would also be the place she helped Zane understand domestication, and then, finally have his brother returned to him…
Dynine was looking at her with an inviting expression, three hammered gems glimmering. “Chloros, let me just say, it is an honor to finally see you again. I trust you have been well?”
Chloros locked eyes with them, her three glimmering crystals connecting with them, while her lower pair were hidden. The flowers around her body rotated and wiggled, showing her appreciation. “For the most part, yes. Much better ever since my son came into my care.”
“Yes, I’ve read his file. Zane, was it?” She nodded. “He’s quite the charming little man. A shame he lost everything…”
“But you brought his brother to him,” Chloros countered. “To me.”
“That I did. I could not have done it without Roltan, you know.”
Ah, yes. Roltan, her clerk friend. When she informed him that Axton was on his way, she recalled how ecstatic he was about the matter. Even though he wasn’t personally involved with the Jakobsons, he was still very invested in their health. Even with the literal mountains of paperwork and archiving Roltan did, Chloros knew he was the one she could count on to guide Axton here. And that trust had paid off, to her delight.
Maybe she ought to pay him and Jacob a visit.
“And, in a way,” Dynine added, “Axxy brought me to you.”
“You seem attached to him.”
“I contemplated domesticating him the whole time he was on the Fortitude.” Dynine’s voice was filled with longing. Desire. A need to fulfill a primal urge of theirs. “And I came close to doing so at least once.”
Chloros’ body stiffened, though her stride did not cease. Dynine mentioning such a thing reminded her very clearly of Torn’s initial attempt to steal Zane from her, and although she had made peace with Torn no longer being a threat, Dynine’s admittance of wanting Axton for themself made her mind and body react without her input.
Dynine caught on to it immediately. Their face softened, and they squeezed her gently with their hands and vines. “Chloros... for the record, he is not my floret. And he won’t be. No, if he is to be someone’s darling pet, you are the best candidate. No one else. That is why I abstained in the end. You understand.”
And just like that, Chloros’ reflexive protectiveness took that as a cue to fade into the background, having misjudged what it saw as a call to action. A twinge of shame took its place, and a puff of air left her shadowed mouth. “I apologize, Dynine… I am…”
A vine shot to her mouth, shushing her. “I know. The incident with Torn still weighs heavy on you. As does what happened to Midus.”
That was correct. While Dynine had only come into her life well after Midus’ demise, they had been her support during those Blooms of hers where she was particularly wracked by the trauma associated with it. They, among others, had been instrumental in helping her from spiraling enough to be domesticated herself. Though she wouldn’t have objected to such a thing (she had considered becoming Dynine’s floret in that instance), she never quite reached a point of crisis like that.
They had only been in her life for a brief time, during the first few Blooms after Midus' passing. But the impact they left on her was immense, like a physical imprint on her soul. And so she was all too happy to see them again.
“I still think about both of those from time to time,” Chloros said as their vine retracted from her face. “Especially… Midus.” She trailed off for a moment. Dynine nodding at her and tightening their hold on her vines a little prompted her to continue. “But… having Zane… I think he’s been the catalyst for me being able to move on properly.”
They came to a stop at the large river that flowed through the whole of the Retreat. Cool, clear water rippled and reflected light into the air, and Chloros felt like she could stare into it forever.
She continued, “He helped me realize that while my grief over Midus was valid… I was trapped in it. Trapped in a vice grip of guilt. It was making me fragile and delicate inside, no matter what I did. It nearly made me break my promise of being there for him... but then he told me that no matter how dark things looked, he’d never abandon me. He wanted to be there for me. Not to take Midus’ place, but to guide me through life… like how I’m guiding him, and helping him move on from his birth mother’s passing.”
Dynine had a knowing look in their three eyes as she went on, “And I want to do the same for Axton. His grief needs to be healed, too. He needs someone like me to guide him to the light. Consider me a lighthouse for both of these boys.”
“You always did have a certain brightness about you,” they observed kindly.
“And that is why I stay devoted to him. Him, and his brother. I don’t just want them. I need them. Just like how they need each other.”
“Well, it seems like he’s exactly what you’ve been needing in a long time. And I have a good feeling Axton will be right for you as well.”
Chloros straightened her posture, staring out at the river. No matter what happened, life just kept going. An endless forward path through existence, where it could not be paused or undone, only delayed or redirected. History just didn’t stop at all. It stopped for no one, not even the Affini, even with their incredible might. Much like the flow of water here.
Chloros was in the river of life, not just with her second son… but her eventual third son, too. It brought a smile to her face.
“I think so too,” she replied. “All that’s left is to help Axton settle in, along with whoever else he’s brought aboard.”
“I actually have an idea of how to make that happen.” Their pad was brought in front of her, displaying an image of a beaten, rusty terran jumpship.
“What’s this?” she inquired.
“The idea in question, darling.”
Zane and Axton didn’t notice Chloros and Dynine stepping away until both of them had finally got all of their emotions out. They apologized to each other endlessly, and accepted each other’s apologies endlessly. It was a nonstop back-and-forth of raw, unfettered emotion, where it all just tumbled out unendingly with next to no prompting.
Axton apologizing for ever hurting Zane and making him feel unloved and unwanted. Zane apologizing for having come to hate his brother, seeing him as just another tormentor. Over and over, repeated invocations of “I’m sorry” and “you didn’t deserve that” and “I forgive you” to each other.
Zane eventually realized he was reaching a point where he didn’t know what he was apologizing for, only that he was. In all honesty, he didn’t care. Axton was here, Axton, his brother who spent the last decade looking for him. Axton, who never gave up on him, when the entire universe seemed to have given up on him until Chloros claimed him as her ward. Once, Zane believed that Axton would be just a footnote in his life when he grew older… but he wasn’t a footnote.
He was an entire set of pages in the scrapbook labeled The History of Zane. And he deserved that section now. He had earned it. Just by being here.
He never wanted to let him go.
Both brothers were left red-faced, red-eyed, and just plain red, after their mutual outburst for the past few minutes. Zane stared up at his brother, glistening blues locked onto glimmering crimsons.
It was a while before either of them said anything. Axton looked like he was gearing up to do it, but Zane beat him there. “We’re not, we’re not leaving e-each other, you hear me? We’re not.”
“Not… not ever, man,” Axton whispered. “Not again. Never again.”
“Never.” Zane put as much determination and willpower into that word as he could.
Axton could only nod silently.
It was about that time that Marcus approached, placing a hand on each sibling’s shoulder. The pair turned towards him, hiccuping and coughing, as he regarded the duo with a warm look on his face. “I knew that things would look up for you guys in the end. And I’m glad that the Compact made it happen.”
“N-not… not just the Compact,” Zane said, struggling to keep his voice even. “Chloros, Fernis, Antris…”
“D-Dynine,” Axton added shakily, “and Mithrax, and, and…”
“I know,” Marcus said. “I understand all of that, trust me.”
“M-Marcus, you… I don’t-” Axton started, only to be shushed when his boyfriend leaned in to kiss his forehead.
“I know, babe, I know. We’re all here now. That’s not gonna change, I promise.”
Zane just nodded, showing his understanding. Then, past Marcus’ shoulder, he saw a distinct lack of two terranoid plant creatures. He blinked his tearful eyes.
“Wh… where’d Chloros and, and the other Affini go?” he asked.
“They left to talk for a bit, give you two some space.” Marcus pulled his own pad out of his pocket, and smiled. “Ah, Chloros tells me they’re gonna be back any second.”
Sure enough, when Marcus finished his sentence, Chloros and the other Affini came back, striding into view on one of the paths leading to Midus’ memorial site here. Zane’s eyes lit up upon seeing his Momma, and when she came close enough, several vines shot out from her and coiled around him…
And Axton. A surprised gasp left the teary-eyed older brother of Zane as the pair of them were lifted up, then brought into Chloros’ waiting arms, held comfortably against her sizable bosom.
“Hello, my sweets,” Chloros cooed. She doled out gentle headpats to them, causing the pair to slouch in her grasp. Zane’s head rested against her right breast, while Axton’s placed itself against her left. “Today’s been quite emotional for you both, hasn’t it?”
“Y-yeah,” Zane sighed. He glanced up at her, with Axton following his gaze. “I… I cried a lot, Momma.”
For a second, fearful panic surged through him as he realized he addressed Chloros by her title, not her name, in earshot of Axton. That fear melted off when Axton just chimed in with, “I-I did too… just… thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping my brother s-safe and happy and, and, and…”
Axton trailed off, exhaustion written on his face. Chloros held them up a little higher, so she could lean her head down and plant soft kisses on the tops of their heads. That, coupled with the sensation of Chloros’ aura of love descending upon Zane, helped him relax, and he sagged against her chest.
The fact that Axton was letting this happen, instead of objecting to Chloros’ touch, sparked joy in Zane’s heart, too. Much like Zane himself, Axton likely changed a lot since he entered the Compact. Gone was the rage-filled, determined protector, driven by his guilty conscience, desperate to make up for his failings nearly a decade ago. There was a different Axton now, one who could finally, finally accept that everything would be alright, and that their past was about to be put behind them. He deserved that much. Just like how Zane deserved Chloros.
Chloros’ loving, compassionate gaze was upon them. “Don’t worry, dears… I’m here for you both, and I will never, ever let you drift apart again. Okay?”
The brothers nodded in understanding. Her visible eyes twinkled under the shadows of her hat. “Wonderful. Let’s get you home.”
Home… home… home…
The word repeated in Zane’s mind like a broken record. It was a broken record he didn’t want to fix. He had a feeling that Axton had similar thoughts.
They were finally coming home. Together.
The week after their reunion passed by at a brisk pace. As it turned out, Dynine, the captain of the Fortitude and Chloros’ old friend, suggested she renovate the castle to accommodate not just Axton, but the polycule that was his crewmates, along with two other Affini. Chloros was happy to oblige, and requested the services of the massive dragon-shaped Affini that had put the castle together to begin with. Hariks, in turn, was ecstatic to make some additions to the project he completed for her with his florets.
And so, the castle had been expanded significantly. Several more rooms were added, including a shared bedroom for both of the Jakobson siblings, as well as another one for the crew of the Hyperion, the ship Axton commanded for years. And of course, rooms for the other two Affini Axton had accompanying him, a large, mushroom-clad fellow by the name of Mithrax, and a charming serpent who answered to the name of Veltroc. Apparently Mithrax had claimed one crewmate, Troy, as his floret, and Veltroc had his sights set on another, Maya.
The biggest addition was the Hyperion itself. Dynine had suggested that the ship, rather than being scrapped and dismissed, be added to the castle as well. It had been brought aboard and placed in the middle of the roof, with elevators added for easy access from places other than the observatory. It had been given a thorough cleaning, wiping away all the accumulated dirt and rust so its shiny, silvery paint job was unveiled. Given how it vaguely resembled a bird of prey or a dragon, it had been given a makeover once the cleanup was done, in the form of painting it over so it now resembled a draconic creature with crimson, blue-striped scales. Inside, it was refurbished, the mess hall updated with a compiler, the crew quarters turned into a lounge, the captain’s quarters made larger and turned into another study, and the medbay and armory remade into guest bedrooms, with all equipment being disposed of. The bridge was turned into a game room, the screens and consoles in there repurposed for entertainment.
Behind the castle, a massive pool, inspired by that behind Antris’ hab, was added. Given how there were ten sophonts living here now, including three Affini, it had to be quite big to accommodate everyone. Of course, it was surrounded by humongous hedges for privacy and aesthetic, but instead of being simple leaves and shrubbery, they had many mushrooms and fungi on and inside too. Apparently that was Mithrax’s request.
Speaking of, Mithrax also requested a gym be added, so that he and his florets – Troy and Khubo, two very charming individuals – can enjoy some physical exercise when they weren’t constantly cuddled up with each other. Said gym contained all sorts of equipment, including stair steppers, treadmills, indoor race tracks for running, weights, and just about everything else that contributed to fitness. Even a chubby boy like Zane enjoyed chances to burn some calories!
Over the course of the week, Zane got to know everyone that Axton brought along. He had become fast friends with the girls and Troy, taking a liking to Maya in particular, and bonding with her over the cuter bits of sophont fashion, including sweaters and skirts. Much like Zane, Maya loved to show off her legs if given the chance to, and she was such a sweetie.
Amanda and Kendra were quite lovely too. The two of them told him all about the adventures the crew had gotten up to, including their run-ins with the Terran Accord, all the jobs they pulled off while looking for him, and miscellaneous adventures in between. Amanda loved to talk about the daring maneuvers she made the Hyperion pull off, while Kendra shared what she learned of both terran medical care and the lessons she was being taught by an Affini vet named Texica back on the Fortitude.
They were all unique individuals… and they had all turned out to love cuddling ever since getting together. Zane found himself in regular cuddle piles with the girls, Troy, Khubo, and occasionally Mithrax and Veltroc, relaxing in everyone’s arms and embracing them all. He didn’t expect to become enamored with them so quickly, but he wasn’t complaining.
Finally, there was Axton. The man himself. The older brother who made it his life goal to find his sole remaining relative in this otherwise bleak universe… and he finally got his wish.
One afternoon, Zane was occupying himself with playing a game on his pad in the brothers’ newly constructed shared bedroom. It was Jaxtris again, and he wanted to beat Walter’s high score. Juso’s floret had challenged him to it, and Zane didn’t take that lying down.
Sprawled out on the huge bed they shared (though still smaller than the bed in the master bedroom), he was feeling so very calm, even while focused on his game. The room around him was very large, arranged to look like a combination of the bed chambers of royalty and a garden environment with Chloros’ influence. Shades of blue and red filled the room, with bookshelves and dressers for both men, and doors that led to an attached bathroom and shower. Oaken wood furniture, draped in moss and vines resembling Chloros’ body, was all over the place, including the bed the boys now shared again. It, too, was erected with four large posts and a canopy over it, and it had several blankets and pillows, so they could either share or take what they needed without having to fight over any of it.
Zane himself was clad in just his blue, rabbit-patterned pajamas, enjoying his private time with his game. He expected it to stay like that for at least another hour… until he heard Gerald over the intercom.
“Master Zane,” the hab AI announced. “Master Axton wishes to come into your room. Shall I let him in?”
Zane gave a bright smile as he looked at the door. “Go ahead, Gerald.”
“Absolutely. Oh, and your mother wishes to remind you, dinner time is in an hour.”
“Got it, thanks.”
The door slid aside, revealing his older brother as he came through. Axton was wearing some casual clothes again, though instead of being all black like he preferred, his shirt was a bright red, with the left side and shoulder taken up by a pitch black section. His pants were black as well, and he had dark slippers on. He looked at Zane, giving his younger sibling a friendly, albeit awkward smile.
“Ah… hey, buddy,” Axton said. “Mind if I sit with you?”
Zane sat up, pausing his game. “Not at all, come on over.”
Axton hesitated for a moment, before he made his approach. He climbed onto the bed and took a seat next to his sibling, letting out a sigh. His legs dangled over the edge of the bed while he looked around the room, surveying his surroundings.
Zane watched him, and set his pad to the side. Stars, he was still a handsome man, even after everything that happened. That mullet, that facial hair, those striking red eyes… it was all Axton, alright. And he had gotten a new addition the other day, in the form of his dark blonde hairdo being adorned with bright streaks of crimson. He hadn’t forgotten about matching Zane with his blue-striped black hair, and now, the duo contrasted in a way that highlighted how they were two peas in the same pod.
Zane liked that a lot.
“Stars, I still can’t believe this,” Axton admitted.
“This?” Zane parroted, looking at him.
“Just… the fact that we’re together again. And Chloros having the castle renovated not just for me, but for my partners, and their Affini too.” He folded his hands in his lap, a contemplative look on his face. “And it only took like a day or so to get it all done. Get terrans to do it, it’d take fu… uh, frosting weeks to get done, if not months.”
Zane couldn’t stop himself from giggling as Axton substituted his profanity with Affini cursing. “They got you with the swearing too, didn’t they?”
“Yeah.” Axton rolled his eyes. “I blame the stupid profanity filters in their chat system.”
“Well, you’re free to swear around me,” Zane offered. “Chloros lets me swear around her.”
Axton glanced at him, expression unreadable. Then, his mouth spread into a grin.
“Ass, tits, dick, cock, cunt, twat, piss, shit, fuck-”
Zane’s giggling escalated into a full-on laughing fit, and he fell backward, unable to stop the tears in his eyes from forming. Axton kept trying to belt out obscenities, before he eventually joined his brother in laughing like a hyena, falling back with him.
Both of them laid together like that, alternating between quiet chuckles and howling laughter, for several minutes. When it finally ended, Zane’s cheeks hurt from it all, and he kept having to rub his eyes to clear his vision…
But he didn’t mind that at all. He was having fun with Axton. Fun that wasn’t possible for so long. And Chloros made it possible. He was so, so grateful to her…
Both boys were quiet now as they stared up at the ceiling. It had been set up so that it looked like a starry night sky, lighting up so that the boys could feel like they were stargazing while at night. Of course, the observatory was there for actual stargazing, but it was still a nice gesture.
Silence followed as Zane laid next to Axton, keeping his eyes on the ceiling. After a minute, he felt a hand against his own, and turned his eyes towards his brother. Axton gently grabbed onto Zane’s hand, holding it in a slightly firm grasp, while looking upon his sibling warmly.
“Zane,” Axton murmured. “I know I’ve said it like a billion times, but… thank you.”
“For?”
“For… letting me back into your life. That kept me up on so many nights, that doubt that you’ll just reject me if I finally managed to find you, after everything that happened, after… after what I did…”
Zane sighed softly, squeezing Axton’s hand. “I forgive you, Ax. I forgave you long before our first call together. Chloros… she helped me understand I couldn’t carry my spite and hate forever.”
“It’d just… drag you down,” Axton observed.
“Yeah. And I didn’t know if I’d actually ever forgive you, but once I learned to let it go… I knew that you were just trying your hardest to help me back then.”
“Against Dad.”
“It was…” Zane paused, letting out a sigh. “It was a shit hand you were dealt. Having to be the provider and defender when Dad chose to lose his mind.”
“Yeah… it fucking sucked. But I couldn’t just abandon you.”
“I know.” Zane gave him a warm smile. “Axton… thank you. Thank you for never giving up on me.”
Axton sniffed, his free hand moving to wipe away a small tear that had manifested on his face.
“I’m glad to hear that, man.”
Zane’s smile widened slightly. “Me too.”
Axton sighed in a relaxed fashion. “Right, so… um… what’s the plan from here? We’re back together, yeah, but… Chloros told me about…” He trailed off, looking unsure all of a sudden.
Zane quickly deduced what he was talking about. “My… my psyche map,” he finished. “And me being domesticated. The psyche map is coming first.”
“That’s, uh, that’s where they’re gonna… look into your memories and try to figure out…”
“Yeah. Figure out what happened when Dad died, and how Mom died, too.”
Axton looked him in the eye. His smile faded, his lips pursed, before he continued, “You absolutely sure you wanna go through with it? I mean, this is a huge decision to make, and it’s gonna hurt to…”
“I know. And I still want to do it. Because Chloros saved me, and I want to be with her. And both of us… both of us deserve to know what happened back then.” He lifted his free hand to tap the side of his head. “The answers are all in here, but I can’t get to them by myself. I need Chloros… and I need you. I need both of you to bust open the locks I put there, and finally put it all to rest. Then I’ll be her floret.”
Axton stared at him for a long time. During it, Zane briefly wondered if he made Axton upset about wanting to delve into their past instead of just forgetting it, and moving on…
Then Axton’s smile returned. “Zane… I always knew you were strong in your own way. What you just told me… that proves it. That no matter what Dad said…”
“I am strong,” Zane finished. “I just… needed help. To see it.”
“And I needed help to… to, to know it’s okay to let others take over for me. To handle everything, that I don’t need to be the strong leader for everyone.”
Zane laughed brightly. “The Compact does that to everyone, Ax. They really do want to help. You just have to accept it when they give it to you.”
“Yeah… Zane?”
“What’s up?”
“I love you, man. Always have. Always will.”
Zane’s heart soared. To hear Axton say that, it filled him with absolute euphoria. Axton loved him, and never stopped loving him. It was something that would ensure that, if he died any time soon, it would be with joy in his heart, not anguish or despair.
“I love you too, Axton. Always have. Always will.”
Zane was certain Axton’s heart was surging too.
A moment of silence followed. Comfortable silence. Like a blanket, Zane knew. In a way, their brotherly love was like that, as well. Comfortable, quiet… and strong.
So strong, not even everything that befell them could break it. Cannon fire, guns, swords, up to and including the forces of entropy… none of it would ever keep them apart for much longer. Because, in the end, Zane understood…
They were stronger together.
Late one evening, after everyone had gone to bed...
Axton stood on the roof of the castle, having taken one of the elevators up. He gazed upon the “night sky” of the Excellence, the artificial sun having dimmed significantly and the sky turning a dark blue, with simulated stars in the distance. Beside him, many chairs sat, with more having been added since he, his partners, and Mithrax and Veltroc joined Chloros and Zane in the castle.
He had taken to wearing pajamas, much like his sibling. A shirt and pants, colored dark red, adorned with patterns of cute dog faces on them. Ages ago, he’d have seriously hesitated, but Zane wearing stuff like this convinced him it was perfectly okay. They were comfy and fit just right, too, much to his delight.
With his arms folded, he alternated between looking up at the sky, and surveying all the other habs around this area of the Excellence. Far away, he saw one that looked like a Japanese temple, one perched on the side of a large lake, another that resembled a smaller version of the castle he was in right now, one that looked like a large clock tower, and another that looked like a massive stone spire for a witch-themed Affini and her floret.
Zane had introduced him to them all. Juso, with Amy and Walter. Antris, with Simon. Fernis, with Robin. Kaiga, with Isaac. Kamina, with Frey.
Zane mentioned how the florets had all become his ‘pinnates’, that was to say, those he forged deep emotional bonds with. Isaac and Robin were good friends, while the rest were his romantic and sexual partners. In particular, Frey and Amy were the ones he adored most.
Much like Axton had found love and friendship with his crew, Zane found affection and companionship with residents of the Excellence. They all adored his little brother with the utmost passion, and to say it made Axton’s heart flutter was an understatement.
The kid not only survived the nightmares of his past, but managed to find a good life here, in the Compact, where a support network was seemingly tailor made for him. All he had to do was come into Chloros’ care, and it was there for him…
This really was utopian.
Axton was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the elevator ding quietly behind him, and he turned his head. There, he saw it was none other than…
Chloros Gleras. The woman that saved Zane’s life, and acted not only as a warden… but as a mother figure.
Axton wasn’t deaf. He had heard Zane refer to her as “Momma” more than once, and though part of him still felt anger at the idea, he accepted it. Still…
“Axton, sweetie,” Chloros said as she strode over. “Are you having trouble sleeping?”
She had traded her sarong and her thin bra for a very luxurious robe. It covered her whole body, though it left her cleavage and shoulders exposed, and she still had her face obscured under her large sun hat.
He didn’t expect to find her so attractive. Or find any Affini attractive, really. He couldn’t explain it. They were massive aliens who should have scared the shit out of him, and on some level they still did. But Veltroc and Mithrax showed him they weren’t scary… and neither was Chloros.
She was hot. That helped, too.
“Kinda,” Axton admitted. “Just got a lot of thoughts rattling in my head. Needed to get some air.”
“I see.” She walked closer, coming to a stop beside him. Even with how he got used to Affini being so much bigger than him, especially Chloros, it still always made him feel smaller than he really was by comparison. But it was in a way that made him feel… good. Not like a tiny bug that they could easily crush.
But as a sophont to be cherished and held by someone who would move planets to give him a good life.
“May I ask what your thoughts are, dear?” Chloros asked after some time.
Axton let out a quiet sigh. “It’s… a lot. Just been thinking about how I’ve spent years, fighting, losing sleep, going hungry, and feeling like I’d go crazy, before I’d ever find my brother. And then, the Affini come in and scoop him up, and save him from a shitty fate. Save… save me from a shitty fate too.”
“And unite the both of you,” Chloros added. “Dynine told me of how you couldn’t settle on the Fortitude at first.”
Axton grunted. “Yeah, that’s accurate. Still not sure I like them. Speaking of… are they still here?”
Chloros shook her head. “No. They only stayed long enough to bring the Hyperion over. They’re on the Fortitude again, fulfilling their duties. They say the Fortitude will stay docked with the Excellence for a few more days before it jumps out to go elsewhere.”
Axton stared ahead. He wasn’t sure why, but… he was missing Dynine? Why? That damn bird was someone he wanted to throw off a cliff, even with how they made sure he got to this point. Did he really like them, or…
He held his head in his hand. “As long as I don’t have to deal with them randomly brain-jacking my ass again, I don’t care where they go. I think I’ve had enough of them.”
“I understand they liked to invade your personal space often. And hypnotize you to prove a point.”
“Yeah. Fucking hated it. Hated their version of it, anyway.”
He could feel something creeping on his shoulder. He looked, and it turned out to be a vine extending from Chloros’ body. Her hand hovered over his head for a moment, before settling upon it, a little ruffle of his hair following. He gave a pleased groan at that.
Chloros had earned touching him unprompted. He was okay with her affection now. Zane loved it, and now that Axton had made it… he didn’t see the harm in letting her touch him, too. It felt much better than Dynine’s, certainly. Softer, more gentle, more… more loving.
“Well,” Chloros said sweetly, “I do not blame you for disliking it. They were always a forceful type. That said…”
Axton let his gaze wander up towards Chloros, who was peering down at him with eyes that shimmered with affection. Comfort. Love.
“If you are willing to try it,” Chloros continued, “I can show you how it feels to be enthralled by someone who wants to help you relax. Instead of forcing you into compliance.”
Axton expected her to do it to him right there. Nothing happened. All he saw were her radiant gemstones, with a different pair underneath, hidden under shadowed leaves.
He hesitated. His only experience with an Affini’s enthralling gaze was with Dynine, and it was forced upon him every time. It always felt awful, leaving him terrified of what would happen next time, even if he was starting to like not thinking for a while…
He kept his eyes on her, brow furrowed. “You’re not gonna make me do anything I don’t want?”
“Not at all.” He got the sense she was smiling in a friendly fashion under the dark veil. “I will not harm you in any way. I can simply… ease your stress. Help you drift off. Help your mind quiet down, so you can rest properly.”
Axton inhaled quietly. He recalled that Zane said something similar about Chloros’ gaze, how it always left him feeling safe and secure. Especially whenever she used it to cut his panic attacks short. With but a glance, she could entrance and temporarily blot out her target’s higher thinking, and bring them to a state of tranquility…
He exhaled. “You do this for Zane too,” Axton noted.
“I do. And it helps him every time. It can help you, too. If you’ll let me.”
It was a tall order. Somewhat literally, given Chloros’ massive height. And even so… he saw the appeal in it. To let a trusted friend take the edge off, quiet the howling hurricane of your mind, so that you aren’t burdened by the pain of consciousness, at least for a time.
Well, he got this far. Why not go for it? It worked for Zane. It would work for him, too.
“Okay… I trust you,” Axton said.
“Wonderful.~”
Soon, he was scooped into her arms again as she took a seat in one of the chairs designed for Affini. She held him against her chest, and it embarrassed him to admit how it made him flustered, to be held so closely to her immense bust like this. They were soft, and squishy… Zane often talked about such a thing, and now, he understood what the man was talking about.
Two large, soft pillows that were made for hugging and resting your head upon.
Stars, she was perfect.
“Are you comfortable, Axton?” Chloros asked gently.
Axton’s hands found themselves on… her breasts. He paused, looking at them. “Don’t worry, you can touch them. Zane does it all the time.~”
He gave a tentative squeeze, and his face grew hot as he realized how good it felt to grab them. So very squishy…
He lifted his head back up, and swallowed. One more threshold. One more bridge to cross. One more act of letting go.
He nodded. “I’m ready.”
“Then please,” Chloros boomed, in a way that seemed to permeate his entire body and latch onto his soul, “embrace serenity with me.~”
The leaves moved aside. Twin projections of light ensnared his entire being, and…
Peace. Safety. Harmony. Comfort. Chloros’ gaze promised all these things.
He was now in a world of blues and teals, shimmering all around him. Chloros’ powerful influence caught him, enveloped him, and rooted him in place.
He expected to go blank in a way that promised nothing but dread and pain. The Affini before him gave him neither. It was… like a blanket. A soft, warm blanket, around his whole body.
The chaos and disquiet in his mind faded away, replaced by a singular feeling of peace. No worries. No pain. No fear.
“Axton.” Chloros’ voice washed over him, reached in deep, and filled him with longing. Want. Desire. Passion. “You are safe. You are comfortable. You are loved.”
“Safe… comfortable… loved…” Axton murmured, on automatic.
“You are loved. You are wanted. You are needed.”
“Loved… wanted… needed…”
“You…” Chloros paused. Did she hesitate?
“I…”
“You are mine.”
A chord was struck. He exhaled, and found himself uttering words he didn’t expect to say.
“Yours… Mother…”
“That’s right. I’m Mother. Your Mother. And I will not let you go. I love you, sweet Axton.”
“M… m… Mother… I… I love… you…”
“Sleep, my love… you deserve to rest. To dream.”
Axton couldn’t object. He wasn’t allowed to. And that was perfectly fine.
“S… sleep…”
“Dream for me, my love.~”
And then…
Axton fell into slumber. Safe, peaceful, beautiful slumber.
He dreamed of Chloros. Of Zane. Of all of them together. As one.
He wanted it to be real.
Chapter 46: Family
Summary:
It’s who you love, and who loves you.
With the brothers reunited, Axton makes a decision that guarantees he’ll be in both Zane and Chloros’ lives… while discovering just how much influence she has over the both of them.
Content warnings: Age regression, breastfeeding
Notes:
This was originally going to be much longer, but it was messing with my flow, so I'm splitting this up into multiple chapters. Sometimes you just gotta break things up to move forward!
Now, with that out of the way... the bros are together for real, and Axxy gets to enjoy breakfast with the rest of his found family. And also, Zee making an appearance, because that's nice :3
I've recently taken to imagining how the boys would sound if they had voice actors, and figured Steven Yeun (Mark Grayson, Invincible) for Zane, and Ian Hanlin (Shadow, Sonic Prime) for Axton, would be perfect fits!
I hope y'all like <3
Chapter Text
“Axton… do you trust me?”
“I… I do, but…”
“You’re worried I will replace your birth mother.”
“...yes.”
“I understand, but I am not replacing her. Like I told Zane, I am taking up her mantle, but not her identity, for the both of you, because it’s what you need. She guided you in this world, and I endeavor to continue her work.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“...okay. I… thank you. Um… go ahead, then.”
Click.
The collar slipped around Axton’s throat easily, with Chloros’ large, yet delicate fingers guiding it into place. He shivered, the sensation of the black band sending surprisingly tender bolts of pleasure down his spine. It was plush, soft, and ignited a kind of yearning he never expected to have before.
If you told Axton he’d have come to enjoy being collared, he’d have politely told you he’s not interested, at best. Now, though… the prospect of having such a thing attached to him, marking him as… not property, but still being owned, without being domesticated… stars, it shouldn’t excite him like this. But it did. Chloros didn’t even inject him with anything, and the collar was just one that was designed to monitor his health and track his position so Chloros could keep an eye on him wherever he was. Zane’s had been upgraded to have the same capabilities some time ago, so he wasn’t alone in this.
And yet, merely latching the collar onto him was enough to make him feel… feel…
Oh, he didn’t know what he felt. But it was nice.
Chloros cooed quietly as she finished, moving her left hand back to lift the sparkling, jagged, blood red crystal attached to his collar. She eyed it for a second, letting it slip to rest over his chest, then turned her gaze back up towards him, her… her presence washing over him. Her wonderfully warm, compassionate presence. It elicited a soft groan of contentment from him.
“There we are,” Chloros said, an adoring tone to her voice. “It’s a perfect fit for my newest ward. How’s it feel?”
He didn’t answer at first, momentarily distracted by her immense cleavage being right in his face. He swallowed, blood flowing south of his body and pooling between his loins. Stars, Chloros’ chest was huge, and soft, and, and…
“Axton, sweetie.~” Something pushed against his chin, gently turning his head up so he could look her in the eye again. “I know, my breasts are impressive, but I believe I asked you a question.”
“Uh, uh, um… it feels… nice,” Axton stammered. “Fits… snugly, and…”
“Go on.~” Laughter, the most charming and pleasant he’s ever heard, radiated from her and into him, making him sag underneath her presence.
“Um… makes me feel… free?”
Chloros nodded. “Exactly. I may be your warden now, but you have my word – you will have the same freedoms that your brother has. And I will protect you, and love you, with everything I have.”
Axton remembered she had said something similar during their first call together, weeks ago. How she vowed to safeguard him from future torment. Something told him that she would never betray his trust. The collar, then, was a sign of that trust – him trusting her to care for him and ensure he’d never be hurt again.
Just like with Zane.
“I… I understand, Chloros,” Axton said softly.
“It’s ‘Mother’, now, darling.~”
He couldn’t suppress the gasping moan that left his lips. Her exerting pressure on him was like being abruptly swaddled in soft sheets of love. Sheets that gently wrapped around his throat, his wrists, and his ankles. Sheets that were designed to not only make him accept her, but to submit to her…
Submit to her endless grace.
He squirmed in his seat, nodding his head. “Y-yes, Mother…”
“Goooood boy.~”
Oh, fuck… that really made his head swim. Chloros Mother really wasn’t kidding when she said he was hers after the other night. Stars, he had been thinking about it all morning…
She had caught him by surprise with that. Especially when he discovered… he liked addressing her that way. He’d have thought that it would anger him, but her establishing she was not replacing Mom, only continuing where she left off, did a lot to make him accept it. So here he was… taking to calling a massive plant woman Mother…
And finding himself quivering in arousal at the idea. This must have been how Zane felt when he began to call her Momma instead of her real name. He had no idea where this attraction came from. He wondered if Affini had a knack for instilling it in their charges...
Chloros’ Mother’s aura subsided, and his higher thinking was finally able to flourish again as she held his face with her hands. “Thank you for trusting me, sweetie,” she said. “You’re showing a lot of bravery and strength, accepting being my ward. I will make sure to reward it, because good boys deserve rewards.~”
Axton nodded, looking at her with a small smile. Chloros leaned in and planted a soft kiss on the top of his head, and ran her hand through his hair with a little giggle before she stepped away to go get his sibling, since Axton had woken up before he did. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw some dark brown square being carried in one of her vines on her way out.
He sighed and leaned back in his seat at the kitchen table. Everyone else in the castle was slowly filing in, having been called in for breakfast. Mithrax and Veltroc came in first, the former carrying Troy and Khubo in his arms before placing Troy in his seat on the left side of the table, Khubo staying perched on Mithrax’s shoulder, and the latter holding Maya’s hand as they entered… with Maya having been given a pretty pink collar of her own. Amanda and Kendra came in shortly after, and at this point, Axton realized those two were the only terrans in here whose necks were bare. Everyone was in a mixture of pajamas and colorful shirts and shorts, and slippers, too. All the while, cozy, peaceful piano music filtered into the room, so that there was some ambiance instead of silence.
“Hey, Ax-” Amanda started, before eyeballing Axton’s throat. “Whoa, is that…?”
“A wardship collar? Yeah,” Axton finished. He ran his fingers over the band. “Chloros kinda… insisted. But I’m okay with it. I’m… okay with letting her take over.”
Both women stared at him for a second. Kendra chimed in, “Well, it looks good on you, honestly. I dig dudes who can rock collars.”
Axton felt heat rushing over his cheeks, and could only hide his face in his hands. He heard the girls, Maya included, laughing in response, which didn’t help.
Mithrax assisted the girls into their seats, with Kendra and Amanda taking up his left side on the end of the table. When he did, he noticed Axton’s collar as well, and grinned. “Well, isn’t that adorable,” the big mushroom laughed.
“Mithrax.”
“What? It is~!”
Ughhh. Maybe he should have abstained…
“Oy,” Veltroc said as he slithered past, giving Axton a little pat on the shoulder. “Much as I love teasin’ newly collared cuties, let’s keep it to a minimum on his first day with it, alright? Or at least, let Chloros do it, she’s his warden now, after all.”
Everyone else nodded and settled down, and Axton slumped in his seat while looking at the snake. “Thanks, Veltroc…”
Maya’s future owner gave him a friendly grin, before he wandered off towards the kitchen. “You lot like pancakes, right?”
“Yeah!” everyone called out.
“Delightful.~”
Everyone began to talk amongst themselves while waiting for breakfast, conversation interspersed with the sounds of cookware clanging and pancake batter sizzling. Axton let his gaze wander all over the group, before he locked onto Troy.
Troy Mardum, Second Floret. The first of the crew to be domesticated so far… and Axton’s second boyfriend. Stars, he didn’t expect to fall hard for the muscle of the crew, but the Compact had managed to achieve that. He didn’t know why, but Troy somehow looked more handsome, more attractive, with Mithrax’s influence. Was it because Troy had been going more bare-chested as of late? Or did he seem to inherit part of Mithrax’s aura, tuned to make him feel more desirable?
In any case… he loved it. He loved the man. Just as much as he loved Marcus. Stars, he wondered if Marcus could move in as well...
Maya was certain to be next on the domestication list. She had only just gotten her collar, and her domestication was likely to be fast tracked, so he couldn’t get any info about it from her… but Troy had gone through a wardship. Perhaps he could give Axton some insight?
While Veltroc was cooking, and Mithrax was distracted by Khubo, Axton saw his opening and took it. “Troy,” he called out. Mithrax’s second floret turned in his direction, still bearing a flower crown on his head and the mushroom of his haustoric jutting out of his neck.
“Hey, Ax,” Axton’s second boyfriend greeted kindly, holding one of Mithrax’s vines in his hands. “You sleep okay, hon?”
Axton nodded. “Yeah. Gotta say, the beds in this hab feel a lot comfier than what we had on the Fortitude. Dunno why, they just do.”
“It can be like that sometimes,” Troy giggled, then he sniffed. The scent of Veltroc’s cooking wafted in the air, and it made the man moan in appreciation. “Oh, mulch, I’m so hungry for Veltroc’s cooking!”
“Me too, hon,” Axton said. “Anyway… can I poke your brain a bit?”
Troy smiled at him, leaning towards him while everyone else was occupied. “Sure! Unless you mean it literally, in which case, sorry man, Mithrax beat you to it.”
If Axton rolled his eyes any harder, they’d have tumbled out of their sockets. Still, it did compel him to smirk. “That’s actually kind of related to what I wanted to ask. You were Mithrax’s ward for a while before he domesticated you, right?”
Troy nodded. “Yeah. Like, for a few weeks, before I decided I wanted him to have me.”
“What was it like? Can you recall how it felt to just…” Axton’s hand went to his own collar again, fiddling with the red crystal dangling off of it. “To just have the wardship collar and be in his care?”
Troy rubbed his chin thoughtfully, before he replied, “I remember hating it at first. Hating being collared, treated like we would a dog or something like that. Felt really humiliating. Especially since I was still in my Affini-hating phase and just wanted to shoot and punch things. It made me so mad, because I was trying really hard to have any form of dignity and control over my rot-y life.”
His tone became warmer. Full of love. Full of acceptance. “But Mithrax somehow managed to break through the walls I put up to protect myself. The walls that weren’t necessary anymore. He showed me I didn’t need to be an aggressive, reckless jerk. He showed me I could just… be.”
“Be…?”
Troy looked him square in the eyes. “Be me. Be myself. Be a guy who can appreciate someone being there for me, helping me be my best self, and refusing to leave me behind, no matter how much I complained or objected.”
That was a sentiment he recognized. Zane mentioned something similar over the past week, how Chloros caring for him as her ward helped him finally start breaking out of his trauma-clad shell and begin the process of healing, instead of forever spiraling into a black hole of despair. Between her, his pinnates, and Axton’s return, Zane was finally able to be himself…
“And now,” Troy finished, “I’m grateful he took me as his floret. I’m a whole lot better than what I used to be. It’s amazing, Ax. It’s just… amazing~!”
Revelation struck.
Could Axton experience that as well? The collar that marked him as a ward might just turn out to be a key to a door he never thought he’d open. A door that, until now, would have remained shut tight, impervious to any and all attempts to smash through it. Only a key, specific to that door alone, would be able to move it aside…
The collar was such a key. A key specially made by Chloros, able to undo any and all locks Axton made… especially the one on his heart. Good thing she was the type who crafted that key with every ounce of love she could pour into it.
Like how she poured her love into Zane. And currently, Axton himself.
Speaking of his little brother…
Axton glanced away from Troy, and turned his head, recognizing movement at the entrance to the kitchen. There, striding in, was Chloros… with a pajamas-clad Zane in her arms. Wait, not Zane, Zee. How did he know that?
Well, there was the fact that Zee was held comfortably against Chloros’ chest, his mouth sealed over her right nipple and very obviously suckling from her. He had come to recognize whenever Zee shoved Zane out of the driver’s seat of the body they shared by several telltale signs – cuddled up and nursing from Chloros’ chest a lot of the time, and when he wasn’t, he was toddling around, giggling like a five-year-old and playing with small toys. And, apparently he had a fascination with sewing, which struck Axton as strange…
It was even stranger to know that his little brother was now… well, more little, at times. At first he disliked it, but seeing his sibling be happy and carefree… it reminded him of the better times. And frankly, if this was what made him happy, then who was Axton to deny him?
And as much as he wanted to object… he did like that he got to see more of Chloros’ breasts while she indulged in Zee’s tastes. Especially whichever large, thick, leaky nipple that wasn’t occupied by a terran’s mouth…
He swallowed and forced himself to straighten as Chloros drew near, taking a seat right next to Axton. She cooed quietly, rocking Zee in her arms and petting his head, while the little boy offered muffled little huffs in return.
“Sorry for the delay, everyone,” Chloros said aloud. “Zee was a little fussy when I woke him up, but he’s all settled now.”
A mixture of surprise gasps and adoring swooning followed from the girls and Troy, all of whom had become very enamored with Zee. Maya in particular. He often caught her holding a napping Zane or Zee against her chest, both of them looking so very relaxed… he wondered if discovering Zee’s existence sparked something inside of Maya that was dormant until now. A more maternal side of her, it sounded like. Once again, the Compact came through in unveiling sides of sophonts that wouldn’t be able to flourish on their own…
Axton himself was still on the fence about it… but he had to admit. Baby-brained Zane was cute. He wondered what it’d be like to hold him like that. Chloros had the advantage with the size difference between the two, so she could do it easily, compared to Axton, who was only a head taller than his brother…
Stars, it was so weird to see this being so normal.
“Oy, you’re just in time, Chloros!” Veltroc called out happily. “Pancakes are nearly ready. You lot’re sure to love’em!”
“Oh, Veltroc, darling, you’re so sweet.~”
Shortly after, plates were set out, with cutlery included. The plates were loaded with large stacks of fluffy, soft, warm discs of buttermilk batter, adorned with whipped cream, chocolate chips, and two cherries. All arranged to form smiley faces, the fruit being the eyes and the cream forming the “nose” and mouth. There was more fruit, sliced into small chunks, arranged on the side of the plate, and a big, refreshing glass of fruit juice. Orange, he guessed. His favorite.
Axton stared at his plate for a moment. He expected to feel revulsion over a rather… childish presentation. Instead, there was delight. Uncharacteristic delight.
He sniffed, and he needed a minute to process just how wonderful it smelled. A beguiling array of aromas and smells that lit a fire in Axton’s belly, turning what was normal hunger into an abrupt ignition of the desire to consume. And he so badly wanted to consume these pancakes.
“Hope you all enjoy’em, it’s Maya’s recipe, darlin’ little lady she is,” Veltroc said, slipping over to the terran in question. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her from behind, planting a little kiss on her head.
“Oh, Daddy~!” Maya replied with a supremely charming giggle.
Axton watched Maya enjoy her future owner’s affection… and he relaxed.
Maya was in good vines. So was everyone else.
That was nice.
Soon, breakfast proper began. Axton tore into his pancakes alongside everyone else, and shuddered as the rich chocolate flavors greeted his taste buds. It sent his hunger into overdrive. He was all set to start wolfing down his food-
Two vines wrapped around his wrists, forcing him to stop. He chewed and swallowed, turning his head, and saw it was Chloros who had caught his wrists. She was looking at him, head tilted slightly, while adjusting how she held Zane… er, Zee in her arms.
“Axton, sweetie, if you inhale it all, you won’t be able to properly enjoy it,” she chided.
He blushed, and nodded. When her vines retracted, he took a sip of orange juice, that ravenous desire for consumption having mostly faded. “R-right, sorry Chl… uh… Mother.”
He could tell she was smiling. A smile filled with joy… and greed. “Good boy.”
Wait. She didn’t even have her biorhythm tuned up that high, but he was calling her by that title he gave her, not her real name. Almost like a reflex. It felt… good? Oh, man…
He dutifully slowed down his consumption of the pancakes, realizing it was much easier to enjoy them when he took his time with them. Savoring the sweetness of the chocolate, the softness of the batter…
While everyone else chattered away, discussing things he only paid like a quarter of his attention to, Chloros’ voice was substantially more distinct as she addressed him. “So, Axton,” she said, running her fingers through Zee’s hair. “I have something planned for you and your brother today.”
Another chew. Another swallow. Another gulp of juice. He lowered his fork, looking at her. “Um, yeah? What’s on the agenda?”
“You remember what I said about the Golden Gateway, yes?”
Oh, he remembered. Some kind of massive theme park, dedicated to the first ever floret she ever had. Evidently, Zane had been instrumental in helping her finally move on from his passing, instead of forever being bogged down by the multiple-ton weight of her grief.
Much like how both of the brothers still mourned for Mom in some way. And he had a feeling that, in time, would pass… he just didn’t know when.
In any case… all that, for one rangda. The Affini never did anything by halves, for certain.
“Yeah, I remember. You wanting us to go there?”
“Precisely. I was thinking some time before lunch, since I’ll be finished with feeding little Zee here.”
Seemingly on cue, Zee pulled himself free of Chloros’ teat, muttering, “Mommy...~”
Chloros giggled, petting Axton’s little brother some more. “Want more, sweetie? Mommy has plenty for you, always.~”
Zee nodded, a little belch escaping him, before Chloros reoriented him so his head was against her other breast now. And without a word, he latched on, eyes closing while suckling from her once more.
Axton’s heart thudded as he watched. Why did he feel sudden jealousy just then? He absolutely adored boobs, and loved to play with them, for certain. The Zee side of Zane, though, appeared to desire them for their designated functions, instead of having purely sexual desires. Lucky for him, then, that Chloros enjoyed indulging such desires.
Axton tore his eyes off of the pair, focused on his pancakes again. “Yeah, uh, I’m cool with that. Haven’t been to a theme park in like… ever, actually. I think it’d be nice for me and him.”
“I agree.” One vine found its way to Axton’s head, brushing over his hair affectionately. “You and Zane are certain to have a wonderful time.”
“Sounds, um… sounds nice.”
As breakfast continued, Axton found he was getting distracted by the way Chloros was feeding his brother. Cradling him like he was her own child, holding him tenderly, cooing and stroking him while her milk flowed…
He was able to finish his food and get ready for the day. But the idea of Chloros’ hefty, milk-filled breasts continued to dominate his thoughts for quite a while…
Zane’s really gonna have to explain this shit when he comes back.
Chapter 47: Stardust
Summary:
Turn it up! Get down!
The Golden Gateway calls to the Jakobsons. It’s time for them to go on an adrenaline-fueled bounce party!
No content warnings
Notes:
Not gonna lie, this chapter was kind of a pain in the butt to do, and it's why NMNL got delayed for a while... but I finally finished it! And I had a hell of a time, just like the boys did <3
Ever wanted to know what a Sonic the Hedgehog stage would look like in the Affini Compact? Well, here's the Golden Gateway for you! It takes cues from stages like Superstars' Golden Capital, Adventure's Speed Highway, and of course... CD's Stardust Speedway. And I just had to include a Metal Sonic Kai analogue!
Now with this, things should be picking up speed (heh) again! Hope y'all love it :3
Chapter Text
“You good to go, Zane?” Axton said through the earpiece Zane wore.
“Yeah,” Zane replied, tugging on his bound limbs. Around his chest, and his legs, and arms, thick, an ultra-durable harness kept his body comfortably, yet firmly rooted in his seat, unable to get free… and unable to be accidentally flung off. Even so, he wore protective padding on his form under the straps, a slim yet tough blue-black suit that conformed to his frame, alongside a helmet that completely covered his head. A one-way visor let him see everything from within, but prevented anyone else from looking into it.
Around him, a thick layer of completely unbreakable, translucent glass-like material protected him from any and all outside threats. He was in the driver’s seat of a massive orb, one that was designed so that non-rangda sophonts could partake in the adrenaline rush of the stardust speedways like the Golden Gateway. Zane was so very thankful for that.
He shifted to get comfortable, all while the spinball he was in was slowly pushed backward in the barrel it was inside of. He tightened his grip on the handles of his spinball, biting his lip. Though Chloros told him it was all perfectly safe and he wouldn’t get hurt, he couldn’t help but worry a little…
But when had she ever let him down? He couldn’t recall her having ever done so. And so his faith in his Momma remained strong. Soon, his spinball came to a stop, now all the way down the barrel and awaiting launch.
“Aaaaaalright, cuties!” he heard some sort of masculine-sounding announcer say through his earpiece. “The fun will start in five minutes! It’s almost time to go on a high-flying, exhilarating adventure! Before it begins, let’s quickly go over the basics of this course again so everyone’s on the same page.”
Zane listened intently, while on the visor of his helmet, text slowly scrolled into view for him to read. It was a set of bullet points describing everything that he and other players in the Golden Gateway had to keep in mind.
“Your goal is simple – get to the end of the course before time runs out! Along the way, you’ll be piloting your spinballs through ramps, loop-de-loops, steep jumps, and tons of wild obstacles before the finish line! The course will shift and change between here and the goal, so make sure your reflexes are up to snuff!”
Oh, he had reflexes alright. Although he was still nervous about piloting a spinball, immersing himself in virtual reality back in the castle helped him get familiar with such a thing. Specifically, playing a game just like this. All those hours rolling around in Hyperspace Vector… it was muscle memory now.
“There’ll be lots of action, but no chance of any of you cuties getting hurt! The course will shift and adapt in case a collision is imminent, or if you get stuck, so you can’t get hurt or trapped! And if, by some stroke of bad luck that you do get trapped, we have a delightful crew of Affini who are all set to rush in and help you free.”
Thank stars for that. The Affini really did account for every scenario, even the unlikely ones. Once more, he was ever so grateful Chloros brought him into the Compact…
The announcer rattled off other things about the course, before concluding with, “And that’s it! Now, the adventure will begin in one minute! Double check you’re fully secure, and have a wonderful time, you delightful darlings~!”
“That took forever,” Axton grumbled.
Zane smirked. “Honestly, I don’t mind. Gives me time to make sure I’m all strapped in and brace myself.”
“Fair point. Anyway… this kinda reminds me of those games we played a lot as kids. Can’t remember the name of the franchise for the life of me, though.”
“I can’t remember either… didn’t it have like a blue hedgehog or something as the main protagonist?”
“I think so. And one of the later entries had another hedgehog, but he was black with red streaks. He became a hit with the fans for a while.”
“Oh, I remember that,” Zane replied. “He got to star in his own game, I think.”
“Yeah, he sure did. I think it did really poorly at launch… but some years later, and it’s gotten a lot more praise.”
“I liked it from the start, though!”
“Heh, I know you did. He was my favorite too.”
Zane couldn’t help but think about how the dynamic between the blue and black hedgehogs seemed to correlate with his and Axton’s relationship. Zane was the blue, the more fun-loving one who tried to stay heroic in his heart. Axton resonated with the black one more, being more aloof, aggressive, and… he didn’t like to say “edgy”, but it was kind of fitting for him. Though, much like his favorite speedster, Axton had genuine pain of his own that he grappled with, just like Zane did.
That pain would fade. Eventually. Chloros was definitely helping…
“Okay, bouncers!” the announcer chimed in suddenly. “The adventure will begin in exactly TEN SECONDS! Brace yourselves, it’s going to be an adrenaline-fueled race to the finish!”
Zane counted the seconds down. So did the announcer. Every downward tick of the clock brought him closer and closer to launch…
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
…
One.
“BLAST OFF!”
Zane’s entire world rocketed forward with his body inside the spinball, and he couldn’t suppress the whoop of both joy and panic as he was catapulted out of the cannon and into the air. Very quickly, he was sent hurtling into the sky above a dazzling display of glittering, golden highways, where he could see numerous pathways, twists, turns, loops, and ramps, all promising spectacular displays of speed and excitement. Brilliant spotlights illuminated the simulated night sky above the speedway, and once again Zane was reminded of that video game series he and Axton adored. It felt like he was in one of his favorite stages!
All around him, shimmering blue light coalesced the surface of his spinball. Behind him, the seat pushed into his back, but with only the barest amount of force. Yet, he knew how fast he was moving, considering he had been shot out of a cannon.
To his left, he saw another spinball closeby, but it was cloaked in red-hued energy instead of blue. He could hear Axton letting out a “WOOOO!!!” over his earpiece as he, too, was slingshotted into the air, alongside countless other spinball riders around the duo, and rangda, curled up into their armored shells…
Gravity took hold of them and brought them down eventually. Zane barely felt the thunk underneath him as his spinball crashed down, and already, he was on his way. He gripped the handles, thumbs on the ends, the right handle having a button that sent the spinball flying forward so he could race with fellow sophonts. Forward momentum sent him surging forward, rolling across the path he had landed on, with Axton’s spinball catching up to him quickly and racing alongside him.
“Hell yeah! This is awesome!” Axton called out.
“Yeah!” Zane replied in kind. “Try to keep up!”
“If I don’t get run off!” Axton laughed.
On the visor of Zane’s helmet, he saw a readout in the upper left corner of his vision.
›TIME: 4:46
Five minutes to get to the goal. Okay, he could work with that.
He pressed his left thumb on the other handle’s button. He could feel the spinball around him move faster suddenly. Okay, don’t want to go too fast, lest he lose control… he kept his right thumb pressed down, while moving the handles to steer.
All around him, he saw other spinball racers and rangda rolling around, bobbing and weaving through each other’s paths. Zane himself started towards one of the more straightforward paths, descending down into the glitzy cityscape before him.
He rolled past tall, gleaming buildings that blurred from the speed he was going. There were countless signs all around him too, advertising… things? He couldn’t really get a good look at them with how fast he was moving, but it was still really cool.
He expected the path to stay unchanging… then, as if to challenge that thinking as soon as it came into being, the path began to ripple and shift. As if it were alive. It rose and split into two different passages entirely, too fast for Zane and Axton to react. Before either of them knew it, Zane found himself going right, while Axton boosted to the left, and away from each other.
“Aw, crap,” Zane called out.
“It’s okay, just focus on getting to the end!” Axton said.
He sounded so confident… Zane hoped to match it.
Zane put the pedal to the metal – er, thumb to the handle, as it were – and continued on his way. The golden path he was on rose up, and then started to turn. Very quickly, it formed into a corkscrew, and for a split second, Zane wondered if he’d fall off. Nope, his spinball was firmly adhered to the path, even as he was quickly turning upside-down, then right-side up, then upside-down again.
Oh, stars, this might have made him dizzy if not for the cocktail in his system that was designed to negate vertigo and nausea…
His trajectory brought him to the end of the corkscrew, sending him on a brief trip through the air again. In the distance, he saw the goal – what looked like a vast cul-de-sac, where, between two signposts with gold-shelled randga emblazoned on them, a hologram of a shiny ring with a red star in the center that was rotating slowly.
That was it! He had to get there!
Would he beat Axton there? He kind of hoped he did…
His train of thought was cut short when he landed upon a large spring of some sort, which depressed down from the force, only to send him back into the sky when the spring shot back up. He hollered the whole way, and grunted as he finally descended far enough to land on a highway held high in the air.
Several other rangda were with him by now. They were much smaller compared to his spinball, and Zane momentarily worried if he might run them over. Those worries were assuaged when one of them just bounced off his vehicle without any issue. Was it the blue energy field around him that kept them back?
“Sorry!” the rangda he bumped into said over his earpiece. Whoa, other racers could talk to him? He wondered how… this one was nice at least.
“It’s okay!” Zane called back happily. The race resumed, and Zane focused…
Inside one of the large, rounded, vine-clad pods that hovered over the Golden Gateway, Chloros was joined by two other Affini, and one floret, among the audience. Mithrax and Kamina were by her side, the latter’s floret accompanying her today. It, like usual, wore a lovely companion dress, this time adorned in silver and gold filigree, accentuating its cleavage and hips.
Frey’s eye was tracking Zane’s position in particular, as displayed on the live camera feed of several drones following the participants. Each sophont in the race, whether they be rangda, or a different species piloting a spinball, got their own live feed, all along the walls of the pod.
Chloros found herself smirking behind her dark veil. She crouched down, peering over Frey’s shoulder. “Wanting your pinnate to win?” she commented.
Frey turned towards her, chuckling, the flower over their eye socket having taken a golden hue today. “Chloros, come on, you know me by now, that’s a rhetorical question,” they said with a smile. “But even if he doesn’t win… I’m just happy to watch him have fun. Especially now that his brother’s here.”
“Has he told you about Axton?”
Frey nodded. “Yeah, he let all of his pinnates and their Affini know a few days before Axton arrived. I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to him in person yet, but from what Zane tells me, he seems like a decent guy.”
“And they’re quite inseparable now.” Chloros’ core warmed at the mere thought. “They’re getting along quite well, which I’m ever so thankful for.”
“I hear Axton came from the Fortitude?” Frey asked. They turned their head back to the display, observing Zane again.
Chloros nodded. “That’s right. He didn’t like it very much… but he seems to be liking the Excellence far more. Which is very good, all things considered.”
Frey didn’t reply to her that time, because they were transfixed by Zane passing through several loop-de-loops in succession, followed by landing on what looked like a pinball flipper and getting flung through multiple rings in the air. The rings flashed as he came through, then disappeared.
The camera zoomed in, and provided a visual-audio feed of Zane yelling in excitement as he came back down into a tunnel. “Stars,” Frey murmured. “He’s so cute…”
“Bet you’d like to be in that spinball with him,” Kamina teased. Chloros saw Frey turn their head to regard their owner.
“Obviously, Mistress, but I know that’d just make it harder for him to play.”
“You’d do it anyway, wouldn’t you?”
“...maybe.~”
Mithrax chimed in with a hearty laugh of his own. “Sounds like you’re on a roll with your relationship with him!” he remarked.
Chloros blinked… then, while Kamina and Frey groaned at the pun, Zane – and Axton’s – mother giggled profusely in return. Everbloom, she was quickly becoming enamored with Mithrax and his sense of humor… maybe she ought to teach Zane to indulge in wordplay like that. He was a wordsmith with a keen mind, she was sure he could come up with serious gutbusters.
She let her gaze wander over one of the displays focusing on Axton, wondering how he and his brother would fare against Metalliks...
Axton glanced at the timer on his visor.
›TIME: 1:20
Cutting it close...
Axton knew both he and Zane were approaching the finish line, with only over a minute left on the clock. It felt like they had been zipping all over the place, going in circles, yet, somehow, they drew closer and closer…
And though the two got separated, they had managed to reunite quickly enough. Sure enough, when Axton rolled onto a new lane in the sky, Zane reappeared beside him, having landed to the left of him after having been catapulted by a flipper earlier.
“Stars, my heart’s pounding!” Zane called out, laughing uproariously.
“Mine too!” Axton called back. “We’re almost there, keep up!”
“You know it!”
›TIME: 1:10
“Oh my! Nearing the one minute mark, everyone!” the announcer chimed in. “Nearly boss time!”
Boss? What did they mean by-
“Oh, heck,” Zane said with worry in his voice. Axton was about to ask what was wrong, then the timer ticked down to 1 minute… and then a small camera feed was shown on his visor.
Behind the racers, something emerged from the environment. Something huge, metallic, and blue and gold. Something that resembled a rangda, but made of countless appendages that glittered. On its face were two large gemstone eyes made of rubies, and a pointed nose…
“Hello, cuties!” a deep, booming voice rang out into Axton’s earpiece. “Metalliks Kai, 95th Bloom, he/they is here! Better not slow down, or I’m gonna getcha!”
Something that titanic had no business sounding like someone’s bumbling dad. And yet, there was Metalliks, casually announcing he would snatch the racers up, should he get to them. Axton should have felt fear…
But in its place, there was determination to outrun the colossus and make it to the end.
“This guy’s gonna have to eat our dust,” he told Zane. “Floor it, buddy!”
“Okay!”
Axton didn’t know if spinballs used nitro, but both brothers surged forward regardless. They stayed close, overtaking other sophonts. The live feed showed that of the racers behind them, some lagged behind just enough for Metalliks to launch vines at them and snatch them into his body, disqualifying them from the mad dash to the finish.
Ordinarily, that’d have been a horrific sight, straight out of a typical giant monster movie. But Axton knew Metalliks would rather die than ever hurt the sophonts he caught. He had a feeling that the ones Metalliks yanked into him were tangled up in his vines to be deposited somewhere safe.
Even so, the Jakobsons kept going. They had to get to the finish line, quickly. Coming this far, only to have victory pulled out from under him by a massive Affini, would be something he’d never, ever live down.
›TIME: 0:30
“Time’s almost up!” the announcer called out. “Keep going!”
“You can do it!” Metalliks boomed again, Axton’s feed showing him with a very wide grin on his shiny face. “I believe in you all!”
A giant monster encouraging me to run, for the hell of it. Certainly a Compact moment of all time.
More and more sophonts, rangda and otherwise, were eliminated. It was down to a handful by that point, Zane and Axton included.
The finish line, with the rotating gold ring, called to them with a silent plea for them to win. It was only a short distance away. Could they make it in time?
›TIME: 0:15
“Don’t stop, Ax!”
“Wouldn’t dream of it!”
Going fast. So fast. Very fast. Axton had a feeling that if spinballs were made by anyone other than Affini or rangda, he’d have gotten whiplash from all the twists and turns he and his brother got up to here.
›TIME: 0:10
“Come on!”
Axton silently prayed for Lady Luck to smile on the brothers as Metalliks gained on them, loud laughs from the giant rangda-finni echoing in the air.
›TIME: 0:05
“Almost!”
And…
›TIME: 0:02
Zane and Axton’s spinballs suddenly came to a stop, and Axton was thankful he wasn’t jerked around by the sudden loss of momentum. He’d have snapped his neck from it otherwise!
He belatedly realized he had screwed his eyes shut. He opened them slowly…
The spinning ring hologram was gone. The signposts on either side of the finish line were spinning quickly, before finally slowing down and stopping… and the images shifted to show the faces of Zane on one side, and Axton on the other.
Axton and Zane’s spinballs were hovering in the air, caught in some kind of energy tether. Behind him, Metalliks loomed, and that grin of his was so wide it almost looked like he was splitting his face open.
“By the Everbloom! Looks like Zane and Axton Jakobson have won! Everyone give a round of applause!”
Congratulatory fanfare and cheering sophonts filled Axton’s earpiece. Right then, his bones suddenly seemed to take on the attributes of jelly, because he slouched in his seat, all the energy and adrenaline finally leaving him and making him feel like a puddle inside.
“WE DID IT! YAAAAY!” Zane cheered happily. Axton could only grin tiredly at that.
That… was amazing.
They had to do it again sometime.
Had they been at the Golden Gateway the whole day? Zane totally lost track of the time during that wild race, and it was only when he stirred awake did he realize that evening was approaching. The otherwise clear blue sky was now a radiant orange as a simulated sunset was on the horizon...
The familiar, comforting aura of Chloros, alongside her vines and arms wrapped around him, informed him that they were being carried home, back towards the castle. He instinctively nuzzled against Chloros’ bust, sighing happily. In his peripheral vision, he saw that Axton was doing the same thing on the other side.
He didn’t expect his brother to be into Chloros like this. The Compact changed him somehow… for the better.
Zane smiled and let himself drift away again. He heard Chloros humming a comforting tune, lulling him back into his dreams… of her. Of the brothers. Together.
He was glad to be home.
Chapter 48: Adoption
Summary:
To have a forever home is to be truly blessed.
Chloros now has the Jakobson brothers in her grasp. But the memory of Midus continues to haunt her. Luckily, her newest friend of the fungal persuasion helps her see the light.
No content warnings
Notes:
Surprise chapter so shortly after the last one!
I had this in the backlog while struggling with 47, but now that that's out of the way, this one can go live too!
Yes, another major step forward is made here. A step that Chloros had to make eventually. And she's got Mithrax to help out!
This is a fairly somber chapter, admittedly, but now, you get to see Chloros being more... let's say ravenous, shortly. Hold onto your hats~
Btw, I broke 200K words in this chapter! FUCK YEAH!
Chapter Text
Later that evening in the castle study, after everyone had gone to bed…
Clad in her night gown, Chloros stared at the two documents displayed on her pad on the desk before her. She sat still, eyes unmoving as she scrolled through the contents of each file. Each file that she never thought she’d ever have to bring up and look at for more than a second. Each file that, should she send them to Roltan to process, would be a point of no return…
It had been far, far too long since she ever looked at this kind of document. And though she knew what the content inside meant, simply reading it again was like it was the very first time she ever laid eyes upon it. Ever since she… lost…
Chloros sighed, propping her head up in her left hand. She didn’t know if she’d ever stop mourning her first son, even with Zane, and now Axton, helping her recover from the gaping wound in her core. The wound she had been carrying for many Blooms. She had a feeling that it’d be a long time before she finally moved past the grief…
All she could do was keep loving these boys like she loved Midus. In time, this pain would go away. All she had to do was wait. And she was very good at waiting.
She eyed the first document, starting over from the top. Her vines shifted and shuddered as she read the text, animated by anxious energy.
Notice of Intent to Domesticate
I, Chloros Gleras, 27th Bloom, she/they, officially declare my intent to domesticate and own the xenosophont known as Zane Jakobson, he/him.
I acknowledge the responsibilities and duties for caring for this xenosophont, should I decide to domesticate him.
I acknowledge my emotional attachment for this xenosophont and my desire to claim him as my future floret.
I acknowledge that I am prepared to devote my existence to giving this xenosophont the best life possible in the Affini Compact.
I acknowledge that I will not falter in this Everbloom-given duty.
Sign Your Name Below
If this were a physical document, she’d have found a quill, dipped it in ink, and written her signature with a dramatic flourish. She’d have gotten it done and over with, instead of waffling over it like the indecisive plant she was being now. Alas, something inside her prevented her from just compiling it. She had absolutely no idea why.
She stared at the section to place her signature. All it would take was a quick swish of her fingers on the touch screen, and then, she could move onto…
Axton’s Notice of Intent.
If she had a throat, she’d swallow.
She had already come this far, with collaring both of the boys and doting on them as their new parental figure. Why the frost was she hesitating, then? Why couldn’t she just… just…
She lowered the pad on the desk and closed her eyes. She needed to do this, she had to. She needed to claim the brothers as her florets and ensure they would never hurt again. Life had scarred them heavily before they came into her arms. She had a responsibility to take those scars, heal the horrific trauma, and grant these boys a second chance at life. She had to give them this chance. She… she…
Rotting dirt.
Something wet rolled down from her top-most eye. She let out a soft gasp, and shuddered. And then came the shame. The guilt. The anxiety.
Even now, with Zane cementing himself as her son, and Axton seeming reciprocal to being one for her as well… she struggled to do it. Struggled to embrace her nature as Affini, out of fear that it would backfire and hurt them. She cared. She cared so much. So much that it it was starting to physically hurt.
Once more, her honest desire to care for the boys was simultaneously preventing her from moving forward. They were all hers to have, and nothing stopped her… nothing except her own rotting emotions.
Terrans could live much longer when a haustoric implant was inserted and coiled around their existence. But they would still pass away from old age eventually. For all the Compact’s wonders, they still couldn’t hold off what the terrans called the “Grim Reaper” when it came time to collect.
For so long, Chloros had to live with one floret’s death on her conscience. She was already dreading the prospect of two more, several millenia later…
Not even oldblooms like her were immune to this kind of maelstrom of emotions. A maelstrom that kicked into high gear in the lead-up to finally claiming a xenosophont as a pet.
She didn’t know if her core could take it.
And… and…
Everbloom, this was making her head start to hurt.
Maybe she ought to just give up and not bother…
And yet, she couldn’t. She had gotten this far, so all that effort would be for nothing. She couldn’t betray Zane, or Axton. They needed her like she needed them.
This was a precipice she found herself standing upon, where one false step would see her tumbling down into an abyss full of never-ending pain. Pain that just might make her wilt away into nothingness.
How could she climb out of this mire, with no footholds for her to latch onto?
A low hum filled the room, a presage to the voice of Gerald calling to her. “Madam Gleras, there is someone just outside the door who wishes to speak with you.”
Chloros straightened, wiping her face. Even with it being veiled by shadows, she didn’t want to look like a wreck in front of whoever decided to visit her. “Who is it, Gerald?”
“It is Master Mardum. Shall I let him in?”
Mithrax? ...oh, Troy and Khubo’s owner. Yes. She remembered. The fungal father figure of Axton’s second boyfriend. He helped guide Zane’s brother to him, and without him, Chloros knew none of this would have come to fruition.
Though she only knew him for a short while… something told her she needed him in that moment.
She swiveled her chair around to face the door, hands in her lap. “Yes, Gerald, send him through.”
“Absolutely, Madam.”
The door to the study shunted open. There stood Mithrax Mardum, 18th Bloom, a warm expression on his mask as he looked upon Chloros with all six of his emeralds. At his full height, he stood only a single foot shorter than her, so he’d have to tilt his head up to look her in the eye when both were standing.
“Evening, Miss Gleras,” Mithrax said politely. “May I come in?”
Chloros hesitated, uncertainty having its hooks in her mind. Then...
“...yes, I think I could use some company.”
Mithrax stepped through, the door quietly slipping back into place behind him. Right away, Chloros took note of the presence he exuded from his physical body – friendly, paternal, loving. It mirrored Chloros’ warm, kind, motherly aura, although right now hers was muted. Grappling with her own feelings tended to do that.
Mithrax’s vines shot out to wrap around a chair and pull it over, so he could have a seat next to Zane and Axton’s warden. He sat there for a time, saying nothing, observing her. Chloros was quiet, too. She didn’t know why Mithrax was silent, but for her, it was her fear of saying something she might regret. An irrational fear, and yet…
Mithrax’s inviting expression didn’t falter as he looked her in the eye. His hands moved towards her, reaching for her own. She let him. His cap-clad palms found her smooth, silken ones, and he lightly squeezed them, a sign of assurance.
“You seem troubled, Miss Gleras,” he said to her. “Would you like to discuss it?”
Chloros glanced over at the pad on her desk, with Zane’s Notice of Intent still on display. It wasn’t signed yet…
Mithrax followed her gaze, and just like that, he understood what she was struggling so hard with. His voice was low, quiet, as he said, “Ah, so you’re finally filing a Notice for Axton’s sibling.”
“I… yes. And… and Axton himself.”
Her hesitation did not go unnoticed. “You’re interested in Axton as well.”
She nodded. “I… I do want them both, Mithrax. I do. I need them. But…”
The caps on Mithrax’s body idly shifted and rippled as he sat there, waiting for her to continue. Her voice wavered slightly as she said, “I know it’s the right thing for me. For both of them. But I’m… I’m…”
“Chloros… it’s okay. Just tell me.”
She looked at him, seeing understanding in those glittering green gems. Her core lurched as she finally said the words that she knew were true:
“I’m scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Scared that… that… I’m going to repeat history. I know I’m doing everything right, but…”
False eyelids closed over her topazes. Azure grief was threatening to burst through the dam, unveiling the deep, deep pain just under the surface. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop it, especially with Mithrax being the audience to it.
“After… after Midus,” she said shakily, “I never thought I’d have another floret again. And now, I yearn to have these two as my florets. I need them, Mithrax, I need them so badly. But, but if I go through with this… I know I will lose them later. Just like how I lost Midus. I don’t know if, if I can bear that kind of pain again...”
Mithrax lifted both her hands up in his own. He held them together, looking at her over his fingers. His biorhythm rose, comfort and peace emanating into her. Just like that, the worst of the emotions were being dulled, though they were still there.
Some of his vines reached out toward her face, helping to clean off the waterfalls that were falling from her eyes now. His was an expression of understanding, acceptance, and encouragement.
“Chloros,” he said softly. “Do you still love Midus?”
“Yes… he was my first floret. My first son.”
“Yes, I remember. And do you love Zane? Love Axton?”
“Y-yes… I do…”
His right hand left hers, and planted itself on the side of her face. He stroked her gently, her body sagging under the affection.
“Every Affini knows that our time with our florets is limited. Even with the boons we give them. What matters is that we forge new memories with them, and give them a utopia they need.”
His voice took on a warmer inflection. “We can’t undo death yet… but until we do… this is our sacred duty, Chloros. To give every xenosophont a chance at prosperity. And I know you can give that for your boys.”
Chloros’ vines rippled, while she gingerly rested her face against his hand. “I… I can’t… do it alone…”
“Then let me help you. I, too, wish for Axton to have a good home. And I know you can provide it for him.”
At once, the anxiety and dread melted away. She knew, logically, that she wasn’t alone in this, that the entire Compact was behind her. Alas, logic tended to falter under the titanic power of one’s emotions. Not even an oldbloom like Chloros was immune.
And here was another oldbloom who saw her distress, and wanted to help her. Her core shuddered in her torso, her vines vibrated, her eyes glimmered.
“I… Mithrax,” Chloros whispered, ever so quietly.
“You can do this, Miss Gleras. I know you can. You know, there’s a saying someone once shared with me…”
“What is it?”
Mithrax beamed, bright, friendly, compassionate. “’You can’t save everyone. But that shouldn’t stop you from trying.’”
It all finally clicked now. Of course. The mourning had been keeping her from seeing it.
Just like Zane was trying his best for her… she had to try her best for him. Him, and Axton. It was okay to backslide occasionally, as long as she avoided being consumed by her regrets. And just like how Zane had a support network including herself and his pinnates, Chloros had her own support network…
Her son, and her future Second Floret, was her support. Soon, her future Third Floret would be the same. In her mind’s eye, she saw Midus, and she recalled what he had said all those Blooms ago:
I’m not a guest in your life, Mother. You’re not a guest in mine, either.
Oh, Midus… even beyond the grave, he still was so very helpful. She could tell that he would be perfectly fine having his Mother bring more sons into the fold for her to dote on and care for.
So long as she kept trying, it would be worth it.
“Thank you, Mithrax,” she said kindly. “I think… I would like your help, then.”
“Good.” He looked at her pad for a second, gently lifting it up with a vine and inspecting the screen. “Do you still want to do it electronically, or…”
“Actually… could you compile physical copies for me? I… I know it doesn’t matter either way, but… I think it’d be better if I physically signed it.”
“Of course, darling. I will be right back.”
Mithrax set her pad down and trundled out of the room for only a minute. He returned, holding two pieces of paper in his left hand, while his right carried two bottles of ink, one navy blue, the other dark red, with quills already dipped into them.
Chloros stared at the ink bottles. “How did you know…?”
Mithrax grinned. “Lucky guess? Anyway… these are ready for you, Chloros.” He placed the Notices down on the desk in front of her, the bottles joining them. She turned her chair around, and stared at the documents.
All she had to do was write Zane and Axton’s names, and her own, and then… and then…
Mulch, she was hesitating again. Mithrax noticed, certainly. She felt his hand upon her shoulder, and she slouched.
“This is your moment, Chloros,” Mithrax whispered. “Your moment to give them a forever home. It’s what you want. And it’s what they want, too, I’m sure of it. All you need to do…”
“...is sign,” Chloros said. “I… okay.”
Gathering her courage, steeling herself, Chloros grabbed the quills and made rapid strokes of both her name and the boys’ names. If she hesitated now, she’d never get this chance again. She knew she had to act.
Zane’s was out of the way. Now… she had to do Axton’s. The dark crimson fluid of his ink flowed onto his Notice as readily as Zane’s navy blue was settling in.
Notice of Intent to Domesticate
I, Chloros Gleras, 27th Bloom, she/they, officially declare my intent to domesticate and own the xenosophont known as Axton Jakobson, he/him.
I acknowledge the responsibilities and duties for caring for this xenosophont, should I decide to domesticate him.
I acknowledge my emotional attachment for this xenosophont and my desire to claim him as my future floret.
I acknowledge that I am prepared to devote my existence to giving this xenosophont the best life possible in the Affini Compact.
I acknowledge that I will not falter in this Everbloom-given duty.
Sign Your Name Below
With one last quick stroke, her name was signed. The ink dried quickly on both documents, permanently etching itself onto the lines provided. The deed was finally done…
The Notices of Intent for Zane and Axton Jakobson were ready to be filed.
“There we go,” Mithrax purred. “I knew you could do it, Chloros. You just had to take a big step forward.”
He was right. A massive weight had been lifted off of her, and she could finally relax…
Wait a minute. Something didn’t sit right. She wracked her mind for a moment, until the answer nearly made her recoil like it had come and physically slapped her.
“I… I think I should tell them,” she said.
Mithrax looked at her, quirking a false brow. “Tell them what?”
“That I have Notices on them.”
“Do they already know you plan to domesticate them?”
“Zane, yes. Axton… I suspect he does because he accepted being my ward. But…”
Mithrax peered at her searchingly. She went on, “I… I’ve been honest with them since the very beginning, because I can’t bear to hurt them if they discover I hid anything from them. If they find out I did this behind their backs, or, or…”
Mithrax’s hands went to her shoulders. He locked eyes with her, a warm smile on his face. “You’re afraid that embracing the ideals of the Compact all the way will be bad for them.”
Chloros said nothing. And in a way, she knew it said everything. His smile didn’t waver.
“Chloros… you deserve to have these boys. And you deserve to be a little selfish. Because, in the end… we all know what’s right for all of these sophonts in our care. You can stand to focus on your own desires some, because, at the end of the day… it is also a form of selflessness.”
And just like that, her trepidation, her insecurities, her doubts, they all vanished. Maybe… maybe she could indulge in being selfish. A little more than before. And indulge herself with the boys she would soon claim forever. In the end, what did one little omission matter, when she was certain both of them wanted to be hers for the rest of their lives?
Ideas were already percolating in her head. One of which involved Axton… and she grinned under her dark veil. Axton would have absolutely no clue what awaited him soon...
“I appreciate your counsel, Mithrax,” she said, her voice taking on the characteristic hungry tone that Affini like the two of them recognized. “Do you think you could, ah… send those Notices to Roltan? I need to consult with my vet friend for something I intend to do with Axton…”
Mithrax grinned in turn, chuckling. “Absolutely, my dear. Sounds like you’re going to be just fine… especially with that handsome young man you just claimed.”
She nodded, and so, shortly after, Mithrax left the room, leaving her alone again.
Hunger coursed through her vines as she envisioned Axton beneath her body, between her legs… a form of submission that went beyond simply making him her ward. Submission that would nudge Axton closer and closer to embracing her from head to toe, and never letting him escape from her.
She wasn’t domesticating them right away, no. That would still wait until both boys unlocked Zane’s memories and discovered what happened to their family.
But she was going to have so much more fun now that she was preparing to join their souls with hers.
She afforded herself a low, dark chuckle.
Oh, Axton… I know exactly what to do with you.~
Chapter 49: Youth
Summary:
We all have an inner child, waiting for a chance to be let free.
After the thrill ride at the Golden Gateway, things are settling back down again for Zane and Axton. Today, they and Marcus get to know each other… and something comes to life within Zane’s consciousness. Something that can’t hide any longer.
Content warnings: Little sprout, pacifier usage
Notes:
So sorry for the delay! Been having a bit of an emotionally trying time lately, which got in the way of writing, but it's settled now, and I'm good again!
This chapter was nice to write, it let me delve further into littleness and also explore the dynamic between Zane and Zee while both are away from Chloros. I intend to do that more after this one, along with more focus on Marcus! He should be a good influence <3
You know, as I write this, I still find it funny how I gave CG/L the side-eye for a long while... and it was only a few months before I joined HDG that I started liking it more and more. Then HDG ensured it was cemented as something I adored. Those plants are something else, eh?
Please enjoy <3
Chapter Text
Jackie’s, a burger joint back near Chloros’ old hab, was open for business. Chloros had recommended it to the boys a while back, so Zane, Axton, and the latter’s boyfriend Marcus had come together to enjoy what the eponymous head chef and their quirky, warm-cored owner Xur Riness, 8th Bloom, fae/faer, served up for their patrons.
Much like Corta’s Clips, Jackie’s seemed to harken back to the 1950’s era of terran history. It took tons of cues from diners and sit-down restaurants from that period, with red faux-leather seating, black-white checkerboard patterned floors, abstract art all over the place, and white walls. On the inside, that is. The outside was similar, with neon lights lining the edges of the building, and a massive, luminescent sign up top, displaying the name of the diner in brilliant reds. The smell of sizzling meat, fried potatoes, potent spices, and more filled the air, guaranteed to make a sophont salivate.
Today, the boys were seated in the outside dining area. It was only ten minutes after lunch time, so the trio were right on time.
Zane had on a big, comfy grey hoodie, covered in blue and teal lotus patterns, and long sleeves to hide his hands with, while a pair of shorts hung on his hips and his feet were sandal-clad as usual. Axton opted for another black outfit, but this time, his tank top had bright red roses trailing down the front and back, while his muscular, strong arms were on display, and he had cargo shorts with a similar design, while sporting black-red high-top sneakers. Marcus, meanwhile, was in all white, a collared t-shirt with orange and green vines on it, and tan khaki pants and white sneakers.
All three of them bore their respective collars, Zane’s white leather sporting a blue gem, and Axton’s black with a crimson crystal, while Marcus’ pale wood and orange-lined one was on display. Their collars confirmed to others that they were under another Affini’s jurisdiction with but a glance, which Zane appreciated. No need to repeat what happened with Torn…
“Man, I haven’t seen one of these in… forever,” Axton said as he slid into the outdoor booth seat, with Marcus joining him on that side shortly after.
“I know, right?” Marcus chirped, scooting closer and leaning against his boyfriend. “Apparently Xur and Jackie are big fans of the past like this.”
“Kinda like Corta’s Clips,” Zane said, seated on the opposite side. He saw Axton smirk at that.
“Oh yeah, that place was nice. Isaac’s a wonderful guy. Funny, so far I’ve mostly seen folks around our ages, with only the rare older person, both here and on the Fortitude,” Zane’s sibling replied.
Zane smiled. “Just means absolutely nobody gets left behind, Ax. Everyone deserves to be in the Compact.”
Axton observed his sibling with an expression of confusion, which transitioned into understanding before long. “You really have embraced the Compact’s ideals, haven’t you?”
Zane pressed himself against the immensely comfortable backrest of his side of the booth. “It took a bit, but yeah. I have. It’s nice. Much better than the Accord.”
“Yeah,” Marcus added. “Fuck the Accord, man.”
Axton snorted and nodded, clearly amused and also agreeing with their assessments.
Jackie’s was lively today, like Chloros told him. He expected to hate it, but it seemed to be a quieter day than usual this time, which was definitely a boon. That meant he, his brother, and Marcus could enjoy quality food and socialize outside of the castle, without being distracted by sensory overload. Even if he was starting to acclimate better to noise and big gatherings, it was still a concern, one that, thankfully, Axton had expressed worry over when Zane suggested they go here today.
Axton still cared about the things Zane grappled with since youth. His aversion to touch, his tanked self-esteem, his mistrust towards others… Chloros undid a lot of the damage that had wracked him since then, but Axton’s return ensured it would heal even faster. Unlike Dad, who tried to force his version of the boys into reality and only achieved unnecessary agony, Axton saw Zane as he was at heart and did his best to help him thrive, while respecting his limits and thoughts at the same time.
The monument that was their brotherhood had cracked and fractured over the years. But it never truly collapsed. It just needed to weather the damage and then be reinforced to withstand what came next. In this regard, Zane and Axton were architectural artisans, using the tools given to them to build, and rebuild, their own path through life, together. Brick by brick, girder by girder. It was a project that would take significant time and elbow grease to finish… but it was one both men knew was worth the trouble.
“Anyway,” Axton said, clearing his throat. “Why don’t we order?” He raised his free hand to flag down a waitress, a terran who looked particularly cute with her shimmering blue-white hair. She took their orders, smiling the whole time, and merrily raced off… while blowing a kiss to Zane along the way.
Chloros’ son couldn’t stop the rush of heat over his face at that. He stuttered, while hearing Axton laugh. “You gonna add another girlfriend to your harem, buddy?” Axton asked with a grin.
“Uh, um, ah,” Zane babbled lamely. “I-I dunno..”
“Don’t worry, I’m just teasing you, man. Like I said before, it’s nice that you got sophonts around here who think you’re attractive.”
“And,” Marcus said, “you don’t have to worry too much about making social blunders. The only thing folks really care about is if you’re making an honest effort to be your best self.”
At once, Zane settled, appreciating the honest praise. He looked upon Marcus with a delighted expression. “You know, I’ve been on the ship longer than you, but you’re like the best tour guide anyone can ask for.”
A light, friendly giggle left the darker man’s lips. “Did everything I could to get the lay of the land before I became Torn’s floret.”
At the mention of Torn’s name, Zane saw his brother’s brow furrow slightly. Then it relaxed. By this point, Axton had already been informed of Torn having attempted to forcibly domesticate Zane, only to be scared off by Chloros, and then, ironically, being tamed by Marcus. Zane wasn’t sure if Axton would control himself if Torn decided to show their face again… on the other hand, that muted reaction implied Axton had a handle on it. Tempering that, well, temper surely took effort. Commendable effort.
Marcus was either oblivious to his boyfriend’s brief flare of protective anger, or understood that it was just that, a brief flare. He went on, “If I was to be a floret, I had to know exactly what my new home was gonna be like and what the points of interest were. And there are lots of those on a scout ship. Probably billions more on the bigger ships.”
Before Zane could hop onto that train of thought, a new face forced it to switch tracks with faer appearance. A face belonging to a slender Affini that seemingly lacked legs, faer lower body obfuscated by massive leaves imitating the lower portion of a robe, with long, equally leafy sleeves concealing faer arms, only leaving faer hands exposed. Said hands carried one plate each, with dark vines holding a third, as the Affini approached. Faer head was clad in a dark hood, with no apparent facial features under the darkness within. Only four gleaming, golden eyes peered out, with small tendrils rippling and wiggling out of faer face. Compared to the other Affini Zane had seen so far, Xur looked particularly otherworldly...
The three plates gently clinked on the table between Zane, Marcus, and Axton, while the massive, black-blue Affini known as Xur eyed them all. Zane could feel an invisible, distinct presence around faer, one that could only be described as standing before a cosmic entity from beyond the void. The Affini all fit that description, but with Xur, it felt more accurate, making Zane imagine fae was far older than faer Bloom count suggested. Like an ancient soul inhabiting the form of an Affini, borne of stardust and cosmic radiation, not soil, water, and phyto-matter.
“The lost Jakobsons are reunited,” fae said in a cavernous, rumbling voice, hands clasped together while fae stood up straight. Faer arms moved up, untangling faer hands, as did faer vines, as if calling to an unseen power high above. “The stars, in their vastness, have aligned and brought you towards each other. A wondrous joining. Exquisite.”
The boys stared in slight bafflement. All the other Affini they’ve met so far had their quirks, but Xur bested them all with faer seeming reverence for the universe. And this was an Affini who was serving burgers, yet fae seemed more like a high priest performing a sermon to faer followers.
Fae’s super weird.
Zane certainly agreed.
...wait a minute. That wasn’t his own voice. Well, it was, but it sounded so much younger. And it came unconsciously, As if it were a stranger in his own head. A stranger who had snuck in somehow. And yet, one that was familiar, like an old friend. Could it be…? No, that’s not possible...
Nobody noticed him shaking his head, thankfully. Maybe he just imagined hearing… a younger version of himself piping up. Yeah, he imagined it. Had to be his imagination. There was only one individual in the driver’s seat of this body at a time, the brownies being the only thing that let them switch, and it would stay that way...
Introductions followed, with Xur animatedly moving faer hands and arms in wide, sweeping motions while fae spoke. It seemed impossible for faer to not sit still. “Two souls united. All is well. Peace in the universe.”
“Uhhh… yeah, that’s nice?” Zane said dumbly.
Thankfully, Marcus cut in, saving the brothers from further awkwardness. “Oh yeah, it’s real good they’re together now,” he said, smiling while leaning over so Xur could focus on him. “Chloros is taking good care of them.”
“Ah, the Lotus Mother.” Xur’s presence shifted slightly. Zane felt faer radiate… understanding? Somehow? “Where once she wilted, now she blooms. Her garden grows. Her core thrives. Exquisite.” Fae turned faer head to address the brothers now. “Two flowers, waiting to blossom. The time will come.”
“That’s, uh, nice of you to say,” Axton said, glancing between faer and his boyfriend. “I’m just happy things are stable again...”
“Stable, and centered, till the end of time,” fae said, bowing faer hood-clad head, before Xur stepped away to attend to other patrons.
A silent pause. Then…
“Weird plant,” Axton said once fae was out of earshot. “And I’ve seen several weird Affini. Dynine being the weirdest.”
Zane chuckled, pulling his plate closer to himself, eyeing the hearty mushroom bacon swiss burger he had ordered, the melted cheese drooling onto the plate. Axton had gotten a rather large, double patty barbecue cheeseburger with fried onions and a four-cheese blend. Marcus, by comparison, opted for fish over beef in his burger, and he was staring pointedly at his meal, the seafood smothered in dijon mustard and enhanced with a touch of Worcestershire sauce (Zane always hated how much of a tongue twister that was) and crushed red pepper. All of them got sizable piles of crisp, thick-cut fries to go with it. Three drinks, one for each man – green for Zane, red for Axton, orange for Marcus – were sat next to their plates as well, alongside small bowls full of sauces of varying kinds. On top of looking fantastic, it smelled fantastic too, stimulating the senses in ways that Zane never got tired of.
Zane tuned back in, realizing he was getting carried away with mentally drooling over the food. “Yeah, trust me, I know,” he replied. “Hope I never see them myself.”
“Me too. Anyway, burger time, boys.”
The instant Axton finished his sentence, Zane zeroed in on his own food. He grabbed hold of that swiss burger with both hands, pulled it up to his mouth, and sank his teeth into it. He was rewarded with an onslaught of flavor – the savory meat, the crisp bacon, the earthy mushroom, and the richness of the cheese, all combining to make him shudder in appreciation. Whether it was compiled, or hand-made, he didn’t care – it was so fucking good.
The conversation halted as the trio indulged in their food. Good, that let Zane focus entirely on how amazing it was. He was very tempted to wolf it down and inhale it like a vacuum cleaner, but he remembered what Chloros taught him about taking his time and enjoying it. To do otherwise was a bitter reminder of how badly the Terran Accord afflicted its people, sucking out all the interest in food and focusing solely on being ‘productive’… when ‘productivity’ was really code for ‘breaking yourself in service of a regime that just sees you as a tool’.
Good thing the Accord was no more, then. Empires like that deserved to rot.
Zane lost track of the time, his attention squarely on the food. Bite after bite of juicy burger, followed by crispy fries dipped in sauce, and washed down with the green apple-flavored Italian soda he was given. He loved the bubbliness of the drink, paired with the crisp tartness of apples. It was a wonderful way to refresh himself.
Green apple very yummy! That other voice chimed in. Again, Zane froze, and with mounting anxiety, it dawned at him that it wasn’t a fluke. Hell no.
That was a different voice in his head. One he recognized…
(Zee?) he thought to himself, thankful that Axton was occupied with being romantic with Marcus, sharing his fries with Torn’s floret. Marcus’ laughter could be heard as Zane focused on the new guest in his head.
Hiiii! I’m hereeee! Zee replied in a giddy voice. But… where’s Mommy? I want Mommy.
Oh, crap. Zee was infatuated with Chloros much like Zane was, but in a decidedly more child-like way. Being the literal “inner child” of Zane made manifest, it also came with the downside of being more impulsive. Damn it, he thought he could catch a break during this get-together with his brother!
(Listen, Zee,) Zane replied, doing his best to look relaxed as he focused on his food again. (Mommy’s always around, okay? She’s just a message away. She told us she was going to see the vet about… a surprise?)
But… but I want Mommy now! Zee pouted. Mommy’s so nice… I want her, I want her, I want her!
He couldn’t stop himself from wincing slightly. Was this how Zane himself acted years ago, when things were better? He thought he had grown out of it… but no. The behavior remained, held on tight by what would eventually become Zee…
(She’ll be waiting for us when we get home, I promise,) Zane offered. (But we’re with my brother and his boyfriend right now. Can you wait a while longer?)
Zee, however, didn’t seem pleased by that. Nooo… I wanna see Mommy. Can we go?
(I just said-)
Wanna go nowwwww!
Damn it. Zee was really being a handful. A handful that would be found out sooner rather than later. And unfortunately, “sooner” came first, because while Zane was trying to keep Zee from getting too rowdy, the men who joined him on this outing caught on to how he was acting.
“Zane? You okay, man?” Axton asked, eyeing him with concern.
Zane’s heart leapt in surprise. He didn’t know if Axton knew of Zee’s existence, and if he found out… what would he think? He stared back at his brother, trying to speak, but between trying to stay calm and also keep Zee from spiraling, he was… stuck. Stuck.
Stuck looking like a kid who was about to cry in public, and ruin everything because he couldn’t understand himself. There was that characteristic buildup in his tear ducts, and it was becoming too much to contain. Another intense whirlwind of emotions that he hated was rising and about to unleash itself upon the ones he loved...
Mommyyyyy!
(Just… wait… please…)
Wanna goooo!
(I… I need to…)
“Zane,” Marcus said suddenly, setting his seafood burger down. “Focus on me, okay? Focus on Marcus. Can you do that?”
He… he could. He had to. He willed himself to stay still, turning his head to look upon Marcus, who, instead of showing worry, was giving him a friendly smile.
“Good. Now, just relax and listen to me. You’re safe, and among sophonts who understand you, no matter what.”
Zane, with Zee behind his own eyes, looked at Marcus, staying silent. He feared collapsing in a puddle if he said anything. His heart pounded, and he felt hot all over, the kind of hot that was uncomfortable. Literally burning with shame.
“I’ll ask you things, and you can nod your head for yes, and shake it for no. Okay?”
He nodded. Zee, thankfully, was silent, too, much to Zane’s relief, but it still took great effort to keep the roiling volcano of his feelings from erupting on the duo before him.
“Good,” Marcus said. “Now… what’s got you upset? Is it the food?”
He shook his head no. The food was great! He’d subsist on stuff like this for eternity if he could.
“Alright.” Marcus spared a glance at Axton, who was still looking deeply worried, but the older Jakobson sibling said nothing. He was letting his boyfriend take the lead here. He didn’t know if he wanted Axton to be the one doing this, or for him to stay out of the way. His thoughts and emotions were still scrambled and scattered.
“Did someone upset you earlier?” Marcus inquired again. Zane wanted to nod, because it was true, Zee was upsetting him… but to do so was to insult himself and the youthful side of him that didn’t know better. Evidently, Zane’s hesitation and indecision tipped Marcus off, because he leaned forward, looking at Zane with that smile of his still present. Comforting, friendly, compassionate. Non-judgmental.
“I think someone did, then. Is it someone that’s here? Can you point at them?”
Still frozen. Still stuck. Still unable to proceed. Then… shaking, trembling, one arm slowly lifted itself into the air. His hand was closed, his pointer finger extended. And that finger… was pressed against his own temple.
Axton looked baffled, but still said nothing. Marcus went on, “I see. So, would it be accurate to say you’re upset at yourself? Or rather… upset at a headmate of yours?”
Headmate… he had no idea what that meant, but it sounded accurate. He nodded slowly, sniffing.
“Wait a minute,” Axton piped up. “Headmate? You mean, like, when someone’s plural?”
Marcus nodded. “Yeah. And I think… your brother here is plural too.”
“Do you think… Zee is his headmate?”
“They may just be.” Marcus addressed Zane again, while the younger man rattled that term around in his head. Plural… plural… what did that mean?
“I have a hunch that’s what’s going on here. Whoever Zee is, they-”
“H… he,” Zane corrected, straining to not break. “He’s… he uses he/him.”
“He, then.” Marcus’ smile never faltered. “Can you describe Zee for me, man?”
“Marcus, I don’t think-” Axton started, only to be shushed when his boyfriend’s finger was put to his lips.
“It’s okay, he’s in a safe space. Plus I got experience helping systems discover themselves.”
Systems… systems… whatever those were, he had a feeling he was one of them. He waited for Marcus to give him a chance to speak, and when he did, his voice was shaky as he struggled to stay composed. “Zee… is… l-little me,” he managed.
Silence followed. Before Marcus reached into his pocket, rummaging for something. “Got an idea, hang on.”
What was he reaching for? Whatever it was, both Zane and Zee couldn’t see, and it scared both of them. In his own head, Zee was bawling, sobbing, unable to comprehend anything, melting down and flooding Zane’s head with echoing wails of frustration and overstimulation. He was on that tipping point himself, and it was taking all his effort to not-
He felt a hand upon his mouth, parting his lips and teeth open, before something was put between his teeth. It was… it was… soft. Warm. Something compelled him to suck. When he did, nearly all the tension and anxiety fell away, and he could finally relax. Zee stopped crying in their shared mind, babbling something incoherent, but much more positive. He slouched in his seat, sighing as he sucked on whatever was in his mouth. He didn’t know how or why, but it was so very calming and centering. Though it meant he couldn’t speak with it in his mouth, he didn’t care. It felt so nice…
Feels like… Mommy’s nipple, Zee remarked. Mommy’s here, yay~
“Is… is that a pacifier?” he heard Axton say. Zane expected himself to flush with embarrassment, but he didn’t. Why would he? It felt… natural to have it.
“Yeah,” Marcus answered, leaning back in his seat. “I also have experience caring for littles, especially brand new ones who have to share space with their older headmates.”
Axton looked between the pair of them, while Zane kept sucking on the pacifier. Then Axton sighed. “Stars, does that mean I have, like… a little brother inside my little brother?”
“Sounds about right,” Marcus laughed. “That pacifier seems to be working. Isn’t that right, Zane? Zee?”
Yeah!
Zane could only nod, wiping his face with his hoodie sleeves. “Good. We should probably head home early, I think today’s been a bit overwhelming for the both of them.”
Axton looked at Zane for a second, his worried face settling to look more relaxed. “Alright… as long as he’s feeling okay, that’s all that matters. We can take this home for later, right?”
“Oh yeah.”
Zane kind of got lost in the feeling of how good it was to have the pacifier in his mouth, the next few minutes a blur. It definitely lived up to its name, keeping him… pacified. Calm. Docile.
Both Zane and Zee were docile. At least for now. He was thankful for that. Later… he’d have to try and figure out how to not only manage himself, but the embodiment of his youth now coming to life on his own, without external influence.
He was thankful Marcus cared enough to help him like that. In the days to come, he’d probably need Marcus’ help in navigating this strange new step in his life. If he could subvert what would have been an emotional collapse like that, then surely he knew how to help Zee find harmony inside of Zane…
It was a kind of duality Zane didn’t expect to face. A duality that sounded scary on the surface. But… it was a duality that was also comforting.
If, by some cruel twist of fate, everyone else disappeared… he’d still have Zee, at least. Zee would be there for him. He just had to be there for Zee.
He hoped he was up to the task.
Chapter 50: Mother's Love
Summary:
The ceaseless affection of a mother is awe inspiring… and thick. And weighty.
The discovery of Zee becoming his own entity has thrown Axton for a serious loop. He takes some time to recenter himself and prepare… and Chloros gives him a taste of something she’s cooked up to really take the edge off.
Content warnings: Cunnilingus, vine bondage, affini hypnosis, discussion of little space
Notes:
50TH CHAPTER WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I swear I nearly burnt the whole apartment building down with how hard I cooked /silly
Hey y'all! While Zane's busy grappling with Zee's emergence, Axton gets a taste for Chloros in a certain way. And... good golly, I'm still kinda shaking a bit as I write this blurb. I've been wanting to do this for a while, and now it's finally here. Call Chloros an oven with how she cooks Axton here lol
When I mentioned Chloros going into overdrive, this is what I meant. Expect more of this in the future! <3
Also, giving a shoutout to one of my favorite authors and my dedicated beta reader: @Victorinya of The Valentines! They've been instrumental to my work flourishing here, being an awesome beta reader and just all around lovely system to talk to! I swear, without The Valentines, I don't think I'd have gotten this far since joining the community back in February 2025. Y'all should check out their work, it's real good!
Also, just gonna recommend My Funny Valentine, which they did too, for... reasons. :3
Anywho, enjoy!
Chapter Text
›VisionsOfConfluence: Hello, this is Kabr Clipse, 3rd Bloom, she/it. Is this the current username for Axton Jakobson, he/him?
›WearyHeadAtRest: Oh hey Kabr, yeah, this is Axton. Didn’t expect to be contacted by you again.
›VisionsOfConfluence: Yes, it has been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve been busy with other patients, but I wished to speak to you to see how you’ve been doing since you became Chloros’ ward.
›WearyHeadAtRest: Well, I will say, I appreciate you reaching out. It’s nice to know someone over there still cares.
›WearyHeadAtRest: Still not going back any time soon, though.
›VisionsOfConfluence: Of course, dear. Now that you’re reunited with your sibling, I can’t imagine you going anywhere else, at least for now.
›VisionsOfConfluence: How are you finding the Excellence?
›WearyHeadAtRest: It’s… better than the Fortitude. Comfier. Cozier. Just feels nicer. Safer, too.
›VisionsOfConfluence: All Compact vessels are perfectly safe, dear. I’m sure you remember.
›WearyHeadAtRest: Kabr, you know what I’m referring to.
›VisionsOfConfluence: Ah, right. Well, rest assured that Captain Rift will give you and your brother the space you need now that you’re together. They understand that much.
›WearyHeadAtRest: That’s actually something I’ve been thinking about lately. Zane, I mean. Something’s come up with him, and I can’t help but worry.
›VisionsOfConfluence: I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have, dear. I’m still invested in your health, even if you’re no longer my patient. The same applies to your brother.
›WearyHeadAtRest: That’s appreciated, Kabr.
›WearyHeadAtRest: So, as of late, I’ve been informed that Zane has… a different personality in him. Called Zee. And both of them are aware of each other. But Zee only comes out whenever Chloros feeds Zane brownies laced with… some kind of xenodrug?
›VisionsOfConfluence: Sounds like Class-Y. It’s a xenodrug banner designed to regress the subject into a more child-like state of mind. A common way to bring a xenosophont into little space.
›WearyHeadAtRest: ...putting aside the fact you have drugs to make someone infantile, you’ll have to explain ‘little space’ to me. It better not be harmful to my brother.
›VisionsOfConfluence: Of course. The long and short of it is that it’s a mental state some sophonts enter when feeling emotionally overwhelmed, to submit to another and let themselves be cared for. It can either be done naturally, as a coping mechanism against emotional stress, or enforced externally by an outside factor, often a caregiver.
›WearyHeadAtRest: Like the Affini.
›VisionsOfConfluence: Exactly. For some sophonts, they’re particularly susceptible to entering little space on their own, often with minimal prompting. For others, they need help getting there. Hence, the Class-Y that I imagine Chloros is using on Zane.
›WearyHeadAtRest: And it’s not harmful in any way?
›VisionsOfConfluence: Not at all. The subject’s mind remains fully intact, it is simply allowed to shift into a different state for a period of time. Consider it a variation of the concept of a ‘happy place’, where a sophont may mentally retreat to a self-constructed sanctuary to cope with the world around them.
›WearyHeadAtRest: I see. Then that would mean… Zee’s been with Zane all this time.
›VisionsOfConfluence: A possibility. Zane may not have been aware Zee existed until Chloros gave him those brownies.
›WearyHeadAtRest: Yeah. She feeds those to him to bring his ‘little’ side out. Ordinarily, Zee stays dormant, but… the last few hours were a surprise.
›VisionsOfConfluence: What happened?
›WearyHeadAtRest: I think Zee manifested all on his own, without needing the brownies. And it really made Zane upset, almost to the point of a public breakdown. At least, until my boyfriend Marcus stuck a pacifier in his mouth.
›VisionsOfConfluence: And that allowed both of them to calm down?
›WearyHeadAtRest: Yeah. Like flipping a switch. Zane and Zee seemed to go from being close to having a crying fit, to being totally calm once they had the pacifier. I don’t know how to feel about that.
›VisionsOfConfluence: Many sophonts in little space display a reaction just like that to a pacifier. It induces a sense of calm, to have it in their mouth, and suckle on it. From what you’ve told me of Zane so far, it sounds like it’s a positive for both him and Zee.
›WearyHeadAtRest: This… frost, I still don’t know what to think. Feels like I’m getting struck with bombshell after bombshell every day I’m here.
›VisionsOfConfluence: I understand how dizzying it must be for you. If you like, I can forward you some articles and books on the subject. It should be very enlightening and assist in understanding all the nuances of little space, especially in the Compact.
›WearyHeadAtRest: Yeah, that’d be helpful, thank you. Maybe I can get Marcus to go over it with me. He said he’s experienced with ‘caring for littles’, apparently.
›VisionsOfConfluence: That sounds like a wonderful idea, Axton. And of course, if you have any other questions, I’m always here. The Compact is here for you, to help you and your loved ones in any and all ways.
›WearyHeadAtRest: I appreciate that, Kabr, I mean it. I just hope that I don’t screw up what I have with my brother… or, brothers, more accurately, I guess.
›VisionsOfConfluence: You’re doing very well already, I just know it. Trust me on this.
›WearyHeadAtRest: Thank you. I’ll speak to you later, I think I need to clear my head in the gym.
›VisionsOfConfluence: Of course, Axton. Oh, and please let Chloros know I said hello. 88)
›WearyHeadAtRest: Yeah, I will, catch you later.
Axton’s sneaker-clad feet thumped on the treadmill as he ran, huffing and puffing with his stride. A loose tank top hung on his torso, and shorts fit comfortably around his hips, keeping his skin underneath breathable while wicking off most of the sweat. The conveyor belt under his feet spun at a brisk pace, matching his running jog, as he focused on getting some cardio in. Beside him on his left, the rinan belonging to Mithrax, Khubo, was also running on all fours on its treadmill, while off in the corner, Troy was occupied with laying on a bench and lifting a metal bar, adorned with two weights on each end, up and down.
The castle gym was about as large as the standard gymnasium built for terrans under the Accord. And with an Affini touch, it was of far higher quality. Several pieces of equipment for exercise, from treadmills, to squat machines, to stair steppers, to exercise bikes, dotted the massive room, along with tracks circling the area for those who wanted to run laps. Really, despite being a single room in one building, it felt more like someone took a regular gym and glued it to the castle, while adding Chloros’ personal touch.
On top of the gear, the whole place had Chloros’ influence to show who was really the master of the domain here. The walls, floor, and ceiling were an array of green and blue hues, and large, thick vines and greenery, resembling Chloros’ body, were all around, as if the woman herself was in the gym with them. It even wrapped around the equipment, but not in ways that made it difficult to handle it. And despite the floor being covered in vines, Axton never felt like he would trip over them. Whether it was because those vines always moved out of the way or deformed in a fashion that prevented him from tripping, it didn’t matter. Chloros, even when she was elsewhere, was a part of the gym, like how she had become a part of the castle in general.
In some ways, it felt like he could never truly escape her. And, to his surprise, he didn’t feel like he wanted to. Why would he? Chloros was safety. Peace. Home.
Chloros was home. Hell, he had a feeling if her name was in the dictionary, it’d be listed as a synonym for that word. And she had earned that spot, just like how she earned her place in his heart.
Stars, he really was falling for her… and yet, he couldn’t help but feel like it was… a little wrong. Taboos were no longer a thing in the Compact, and yet, to be attracted to a mother figure like Chloros, in a carnal, primal way, was… was…
Ugh, he needed to abandon that line of thought and focus on his exercise.
Perspiration ran down Axton’s forehead, and formed under his black top, as he kept running. Come on, few more minutes to go, then break time…
“Axton man!” Khubo called out in its automatically translated, synthesized voice, running as fast as its little legs could carry it on its own treadmill. “Run fast, run good! Run like Troy shroom!”
Axton couldn’t help but laugh while mid-stride. “Yeah, I am a bit of a runner.”
“Can… confirm!” Troy called out, grunting while hoisting the barbell above him all the way, then lowering it back down. “He’s got… nngh, speed and strength!”
Axton couldn’t help but imagine putting the aforementioned speed and strength to use against Troy later. Both in a friendly bout of boxing, and… in the other way. The kind that left them gasping and soaked in sweat, both their own and each other’s, once it was over. Maybe the two of them could indulge once he had his break and Troy was free.
Seconds ticked by. The vine-wrapped console on his treadmill showed he had about a minute left on the timer, while displaying how many calories he’s burned and the distance he’s run so far. A decent amount, much to his delight. So long as he kept himself active, he’d keep his strong frame. He took particular pride in his muscles, and was eternally thankful for Mithrax requesting the gym. Zane could be as wide and soft as he liked, but Axton? Maintaining this well-built form of his was something he knew he could keep working on no matter what.
It did a lot to distract him, too. A good sweat always managed to reset his brain and temporarily ward off the worries, plus the post-exercise burn was a signal that he was doing good work in staying fit. Even if he didn’t necessarily need to in the world of the Compact, he didn’t want to slack off. It took time to develop this body of his, and he had to keep at it. Plus, the burn just felt good in general. Yes, it wore him out, but it was the good kind...
And it occurred to him, as he ran, that he hadn’t had anything remotely resembling a cigar in his mouth for weeks. He could breathe far more easily and had more energy for everything after kicking that tobacco habit. His lungs and mouth were thanking him for sure. Though he did wonder if maybe he can have Mithrax make more of the phyto-tech cigars… or rather, have Chloros make them from her own body.
...damn, there go those intrusive thoughts again. Maybe he needed a break before he got distracted enough to faceplant on the treadmill.
Luckily, it seemed the machine read his mind, sort of. The timer on its display ran out, hitting 0:00, before being replaced by a message reading “Take a break, darling!”. Axton pushed a button on the console to stop everything, and the treadmill slowed to a halt. He braced himself against the treadmill for a moment, hot, worn-out breaths escaping his lips. So far, he had managed to cover a good length of distance, and work up a decent sweat. A sweat that now had his shirt feeling slightly damp.
Minutes later, he had stepped off, taking a seat on a nearby bench. His shirt was discarded, baring his frame to the world. Though he had started to put on a touch of weight on his stomach and hips, making his abdominal muscles lose a bit of definition, the rest of him was still strong, toned, trained over several years to pack strength and power in his chest and arms. Spending years on a farmstead, and several more in search of your sibling in the cosmos, tended to do that.
He just needed to keep this exercise regimen up, and he’d stay golden…
Chitters and squeaks preceded the synthetic voice of Khubo greeting him with “Friend Axton! Water for you!” before it hopped onto the bench with him, two square-ish water bottles held in its arms. The bottles had large handles attached, making it easy to hold on and keep a good grip on them without risking them slipping out of one’s fingers. Khubo held one out to him, and he gave a grateful smile to it, accepting it and taking a swig.
Gulping that cool refreshment down, he sighed, before addressing Mithrax’s first floret. “Thanks, buddy. You came just in time.”
“Of course! Khubo likes friend Axton lots!” the small, adorable critter replied. It was already uncapping its bottle and downing some of that clear fluid itself, and sagging in relief. Axton saw that it wore something similar to his tank, but colored dark green, much like Troy’s outfit while he was still doing his bench press routine.
A minute passed as Axton sat, cooling down and sipping his water. In his time around Mithrax and his florets, Axton realized he didn’t know much about the little squirrel-like xeno belonging to the mushroom man. In fact, neither he nor it had interacted much ever since they first met.
He looked over at the rinan, who looked quite happy as it gulped down its water. When it lowered its bottle and let out a pleased chitter, Axton saw his opening and took it.
“Hey, Khubo,” he said. The squirrel-like floret turned his way, big red eyes peering up at him with clear interest. “You know, I’m kinda curious. How’d you and Mithrax meet?”
Small beeps and boops were heard from Khubo’s collar, alongside a squeaking noise, before Khubo gave its reply. “Khubo was once part of a test of a new jump drive with friends,” it said. “Khubo thought the jump drive would be super efficient and powerful! But Khubo missed a step and the drive misfired. Khubo got sent hurtling through space and got stuck on a big rock.”
Axton stared in amazement. “Holy crap. That must have been scary.”
“Yeah!” Khubo chittered again. “Had lots of food and toys to tinker with, so Khubo got by for a while. But Khubo started running out and getting bored and lonely. Went hungry a lot.” Its eyes were cast downward for a second, and Axton already feared he offended it somehow. Before he could apologize, it looked back up at him and followed up with, “Khubo thought it would die… but Fortitude appeared to save Khubo! Master Mithrax found Khubo and personally nursed Khubo back to health, and took Khubo as his floret. Khubo very grateful~”
“Did you link up with your friends again?” Axton asked.
Khubo nodded its head excitedly. “Yeah! Fortitude found Khubo friends and got them owners too! Khubo still talks to friends and their owners and loves them all. Mithrax saved Khubo, and saved all of them~!”
Axton was impressed that such a story didn’t give him ten cavities on the spot. A tale like Khubo’s would have ended in just pure bitterness, were it not for the Affini’s intervention, which made it into pure sweetness instead. Sweetness that Axton realized was a constant fixture in the Compact.
Good thing he still liked sugar, then.
The conversation continued from there, drifting onto milder topics, like some of Khubo’s workout routine, and what it liked to do with Mithrax. Khubo was apparently an avid gamer, with a particular love for open world survival simulators with crafting elements. It got really excited about describing one such game with a heavy focus on robots and spacecraft. Axton had a feeling Zane might enjoy it too, especially since the kid loved slower-paced, atmospheric games like that…
Maybe he ought to play that one game his brother was loving recently with him. Star-something or other. The name escaped him at the moment. But he knew that his brother would love Axton playing co-op with him. Just like the good old days…
Stars, there was still so much to catch up on with him. He hoped that-
Snared.
Axton went still as a peculiar melody filled the air. Something told him to listen intently, and so he did, straining his ears to listen. Somehow, the song deafened Khubo’s speech, and all other sounds. He could still hear the rinan, and Troy if he really focused, but otherwise that song wormed its way into his perception and took nearly all of his attention.
It was a song of… love. Love. So much love. Love and peace and safety and desire and want. Axton had no choice but to listen. To do otherwise was to reject something holy, pure, sacred. It was a woman’s voice, a voice he had come to recognize intimately over the past week and a half. A voice that sounded perfectly crafted for the task of gently prying open his defenses, slipping into the core of his mind, promising comfort and warmth if he allowed himself to give in...
He vaguely heard Khubo say his name, but Axton didn’t reply. Instead, his head slowly turned, beckoned by a wordless command, towards the door of the gym…
There, striding through the door, was none other than Chloros Mother herself. Tall, gorgeous, curvy all over, with the vines of the gym shuddering and undulating in anticipation of her approach. Of course they did. It was only natural for the castle to come alive whenever she was present. And Chloros Mother was delighted to see him. He could feel it in the very air around him. There was also a wonderful smell that seemed to target his sinuses, and it smelled like… vanilla. Very vanilla. With a hint of lavender. Sweet, and enticing, just like the Affini herself.
“There you are, my darling,” Chloros Mother purred. She was in her normal outfit again, heaving breasts held up by a leafy top, sun hat casting shadow over her face, sarong hanging on her childbearing hips and just barely hiding what lay nestled between her generously shaped thighs. Her antennae bobbed above her head, wobbling gently as she moved.
She… she was so pretty. So gorgeous. So radiant. It was as if she commanded reality itself to make her the center of attention, purely for Axton. The laws of existence had become mere suggestions, bending to her will, making her so much more.
Especially… did she put on weight? She seemed to have gained an extra few pounds since the last time he saw her. Her stomach had become much softer and fattier, jutting out from her abdomen a bit more, while her plush thighs were even thicker. Whatever thigh gap she had before, it was nonexistent. And he swore, as she drew closer, that he could see what seemed like faint teal stretch marks along her thighs, hips, and stomach… especially the underside of the last one.
Axton couldn’t tear his eyes away at all…
With every step Chloros Mother took towards him, with a gait that was perfectly elegant and graceful, she brightened. Sharpened. Somehow, she came more into focus, even as the rest of the world around her blurred and distorted.
Her approach was only a few seconds long, but it felt more like days. So much time spent admiring her movements, her… her…
She was in front of him now. Bending down, peering at him with her three gleaming sapphires up top, hands on her knees. They were so captivating on their own, he almost forgot that her real hypnotic eyes were still hidden under leaves in the veil she wore.
“Hello, Axton, sweetie~.” His pulse slowed a little as she addressed him in a voice that rooted itself in his mind and made him focus purely on her. “You’ve been working out, I see.”
“Y… yeah, I was,” Axton said slowly. Not because he was hesitant, but because it took effort to speak when he was held captive in her presence, especially as that song of hers permeated the air and filled his ears. Was she able to sing while speaking, somehow? It didn’t matter, it sounded so nice… so perfect… “I was, uh, on the treadmill...”
“Good boy.~” He gasped, and found himself doing something he didn’t expect.
He moaned. A moan of pure, unrestrained lust.
He vaguely heard Troy wolf whistle off to the side, and Khubo chittering and giggling too. If he wasn’t so deeply enthralled by Chloros Mother, he’d have told them off for teasing him. As it was, all he could do was sit there and… and…
Wait, where did that thought process go? He swore he was going somewhere with it, but it disappeared like it was never there. Eh, didn’t matter. Chloros Mother was here, and he didn’t want her to leave.
“You two don’t mind if I borrow my son for a time, right?” Chloros Mother asked, without turning away from him. He gasped, another moan leaving his throat. He was… he was… he was her son…
Mother’s son… Mother’s son… Mother’s son...
“I, uh, did have plans, but they can wait,” Troy said from outside of Axton’s line of sight.
“Khubo don’t mind!” Khubo chimed in.
“Splendid.” Mother’s hands were upon him, holding the sides of his face. Her touch was electrifying, little jolts of delight arcing through his nerves and causing him to quiver. “I have a hunger that only this handsome young man can satisfy.”
“Oh, Ax, you are so florted for sure,” Troy called out with a laugh.
Again, he wanted to tell his boyfriend off for that pot shot directed at him, and again, that urge disappeared the instant it arrived. Nothing else mattered but Mother. And… and…
Another gasp left him as several soft, silken appendages found his body and coiled around him, holding him in a firm, loving grasp. If he had any intent to resist, it was swiftly cast aside, squeezed and milked out of him in her affectionate embrace.
Mother leaned in and planted a little smooch on his nose. Blissful warmth blossomed into him, radiating from the point her lips made contact. It was like being kissed by a queen, a blessing from the highest member of royalty. Mother was his queen, and he her prince…
“Come with Mother, Axton. I have something delightful to show you.~”
“O-okay…”
More of her vines found him, coiling around his body, and lifted him up into her arms. The most adoring coo graced his ears as she held him against her immense bosom, and she turned around, already making her way out. He couldn’t stop himself from clinging to her, panting, huffing, pressing his half-dressed body against hers, grinding on her newly fattened tummy in a desperate yearning for her touch…
There was no escape from Mother. And there never would be. He was content with being the deer in her headlights, but instead of being run over… he’d be caught, taken, and doted on by her fiercely. And he had no complaints at all.
They were in the living room, near one of the couches. It was warm and comfortable as ever, the hearth lit, and the fixtures overhead casting the room in relaxing light. Shelves full of books surrounded the pair, filled to the brim with tomes full of knowledge that he could spend literal days reading. He could hear the gentle crackling of wood from the hearth, and smell some kind of calming aroma coming from it. In any other context, he’d have been totally relaxed…
But Mother’s embrace overrode everything else.
Mother’s mouth was firmly adhered to Axton’s. Her plump, delicious lips pressed against his own. He was used to kissing women and men, but with Mother… it was as if her lips were carefully crafted to ignite a primal yearning within his soul. And not just her lips, but her tongue, too. It easily pushed past his teeth and settled into his mouth, rubbing against his own and sending further shocks of delight through him. His taste buds were lit up by her intoxicating flavor, and… was her tongue oozing something into his mouth?
Whatever it was, it made Axton jerk and twitch in arousal, his fists grabbing what they could. Mother may have been made of vines and greenery, but she was the softest thing he had ever gotten a hold of. He couldn’t tell what parts of her he was grabbing, all he knew was that he was grabbing something. All the while, she probed and swabbed his mouth with her tongue, flooding him with pure, raw euphoria. And whatever was in her tongue, it must have been on her body too, because stimulating bolts of delight found the circuit that was closed between her vines and the skin on his bare hands.
Axton writhed. Axton squirmed. Axton moaned. Axton… yearned for her. Wanted her. Needed her so, so much. For a fraction of a second, he wondered if he might collapse if she ever left...
It was enough that when she suddenly pulled back, that thick, drooling appendage leaving his mouth and leaving a faintly blue-colored spit trail behind, a pathetic-sounding whimper escaped him. Her upper trio of eyes peered at him, glittering and shining as she observed him with clear attraction for the man in her grasp.
“I know, I am addicting,” Mother giggled. “Don’t worry, sweet pea… Mother’s got something even better for that delicious mouth of yours.”
“W… w-what… what is it?” he asked breathily.
“Something a certain vet friend of mine gave me...~”
She sat him down on the large, comfortable, incredibly soft sofa, cushions deforming perfectly underneath him. Right then, he realized that she was still standing, with her sarong drawn a little over her groin to hide whatever was there. What could she be meaning?
“I do hope you’re hungry, my sweet boy.~”
That sarong was parted to reveal the prize nestled between her thighs and by the stars was it hot to look at.
Between her legs and beneath the sizable belly she had gotten as of late, was a plump, puffy-looking set of labia, with a very faint patch of moss right above, shaped like a cartoony heart and colored teal, like her flowers. Mother’s otherwise dark-green “skin” faded into a darker, deeper gradient of blue on the ends of her outer lips, and a thin, small and blue-hued flap covered something at the top. It all looked… thick. Meaty. Like the rest of her, now.
Axton’s heart jumped as Mother’s hand went down to spread herself open. Those lips of hers spread, revealing what was nestled within. Glowing teal folds, and a thick, round, button-like portion that was exposed under that hood up above. When she spread herself further, he could see the inside was glowing, too… and wet. So wet. In fact, she was drooling sticky fluid from her depths now that she was exposing herself to him.
Axton gulped. There was no doubt about it. Mother was showing him her… her… her pussy. Full, plump, oozing juices that gave him a yearning to lick up and swallow down.
“Because… this is my hole. And it was made just for you. It’s about time you dig in.~”
He was all set to give in and beg for her to smother him under it. At least until one thought pattern broke through the lustful haze.
Wait, this is wrong…
Immediately, he started to burn up. Well, he was burning already, but not with lust. Instead, it was… shame. Nervousness. Anxiety. He turned his head away, overcome with dread over… over…
Suddenly Mother drew near, but not to immediately bury him in her folds. She brought her face close, one hand gently holding his chin to make him look at her. “Something the matter, my darling?”
Axton stared up at her, shivering. “I… M-Mother, this… this isn’t something we should be doing, I think,” he whispered, afraid of anyone else hearing. “E-Especially not… with someone caring for my brother…”
He braced for her to chastise him over his useless anxiety. What he got was another kiss on his mouth, just a quick one, and he moaned for her.
“Mmmh, but that’s the fun part, isn’t it?” Mother cooed. “Zane doesn’t need to know about this at all, honey. It can be our little secret.~”
“Our… s-secret?”
“Absolutely. It will be safe with me. You trust your Mother, don’t you?”
Of… of course he did. He trusted her to care for him, to love him, to protect him… to… to…
To make him bend the knee and submit to her everlasting passion.
“I… I trust you, Mother.”
“Of course you do, sweet Axton. Mother knows best.~”
She did know best… she always knew best…. Of course she did…
“Now… where were we? Ah, yes…”
She stood up straight again, and several vines coiled around his body, so he could feel her touch and caress him still. And with his torso being bare, that meant she was caressing his pectorals, his abdominals, his sides, his shoulders, his arms, his back… all of it. While she drew her hips closer, and closer, and closer…
There was an intoxicating aroma drifting out of her folds. That vanilla and lavender scent from before, but so much more intense. He had a feeling he’d get high off of it if he finally gave in…
And giving in sounded like the right call anyway.
“Time to eat, sweetie-pie.~”
And then she utterly buried him.
Her thick, silken folds found his face, and his world became dark. Heavy. Moist.
He gasped into Mother’s folds, the humid, vanilla-laced air already shooting into his sinuses and putting his brain into a deep fog. His higher thoughts were blotted out almost immediately. Even so, he reflexively went to grab at her thighs, but those tendrils around his arms stopped him cold, and he heard her chuckle above him. Before he knew it, his arms were raised up over his head, wrists snugly bound with several vines. No way he can touch her, except with his face.
“No, no, no. No touching, dear. You’re going to sit there and take it like the good boy you are. Now… start eating.~”
Whatever objections he may have had were extinguished. He was given a command, and he would obey.
He leaned in, nuzzling his face more firmly against her wet, drooling hole. Immediately, her insides twitched, and her hips pushed forward, forcing his nose right against her passage. He reflexively inhaled and oh by the stars
The moans he gave for her were muffled by the floral walls she was pinning him under. His mouth worked on automatic, kissing and licking what he could. Every press of his lips and lash of his tongue was met with what felt like a pulse of love right through his very being. And the flavor… goodness, the flavor. Axton tasted her slick, almost overwhelmingly sweet juices upon his lips, and his tongue. A taste that was quickly spiking his arousal to heights he hadn’t dreamed of before.
“Gooood boy, just like that,” Mother cooed. Merely hearing it was another jolt up down his spine. “So eager to obey your Mother...~”
Axton couldn’t silence the absolutely slutty moan he gave in response. But Mother’s folds did that for him, at least partially. He twitched, and already, heat was flowing down his body, steadily pooling between his loins…
Mother’s slit… no, her flower was impossibly delicious. The petals graced his nose, mouth, and chin as he did his best to get his fill, huffing hotly over her. Already, he was feeling fluid ooze over his forehead and his chest – was that more of her juices, which seemed to flow unendingly? Or was that his own sweat as the heat got turned up? It didn’t matter. There was so much, and he wanted to be drenched in it, have his skin submerged in it all...
Movement, suddenly. Slow, careful. Guiding him to lay down upon the very large couch he was perched on, now placed on his back, arms still cuffed above his head. For a brief moment, her hips retracted, and he gasped, her slick fluids running over his face and neck. He was getting a little dizzy, admittedly, but frankly, he liked that. Mother herself was dizzying in a good way.
Once more, the reflex to grab her hips and thighs was there. And once more, his bound arms were locked in place, not allowed to break their bonds. He almost felt ashamed for having that urge. Almost. But that thought flitted away on an invisible breeze as soon as it came.
“You look so good like this, Axton,” he heard her purr. Such a statement graced his eardrums and made his already fogged mind become even more clouded. Thoughts were scattered, distorted, twisted. The honest praise was so wonderful, he wanted… wanted more… “I almost want to keep you like this for eternity.~”
“M-Motherrrr…”
“I know… but we aren’t done yet.” And her hips went back down, this time pinning his entire head on the soft cushion he was laying on. Now, he had softness against the back of his skull, and sweltering sweetness smothering the front of it. And she was grinding her flower upon him, rocking her wide hips, smearing her juices all over him, as if determined to make it seep into the skin of his face. So intoxicating…
It was then, in the haze of his mind, that Axton realized his shorts had gotten tight. Rather painfully so. Specifically, around his aching, throbbing manhood that was protesting the prison of sweat-resistant… whatever material his shorts were made of. He couldn’t help but whimper while trapped under the furnace that was her radiant folds.
Wait, was she reading his thoughts? He could feel those shorts of his being pulled open and then tugged off of his waist. He was completely naked before her now, with his needy shaft exposed to the cooler air, shuddering and in dire need of a hole to plunge into. He… he so badly wanted to...
A muted groan left his throat as something wrapped around his member. Several somethings. Vines? Whatever they were, they were coiling around him, enveloping every inch, from the head to the base. And… several more feelers were brushing over his sack, too. He arched his back, the entirety of Axton’s body alight with sinful flames of passion.
With Axton trapped in those vines, it didn’t take long before- merciful stars
“Did you think it was purely for my pleasure? Oh, no no no… I’m taking care of you too.~”
She was milking him. Stroking, rubbing, undulating over his engorged spire. He throbbed, pulsed, quivered in her grasp, and he couldn’t keep himself from bucking his hips from the overwhelming pleasure. She was dominating him on two fronts – her royal flower was melting his mind and scattering mental processes to the wind, while her vines were exploiting the biological imperative to mate. And…
Oh, how he wanted to mate with her. He was well past caring about whatever taboos about sons being intimate with their mothers still existed, if any. None of that mattered in the Compact. Not anymore.
He wanted to mate with her.
To fill her.
To breed her.
He wondered if he might get his wish.
“Mmmmmf…!” was all Axton could muster, while struggling to pleasure her and get all her fluids down his gullet. Filling his stomach with her heat, the wildfire of his body intensifying into an all-out inferno.
“That’s right… you are mine, Axton. You… and this delicious cock of yours~,” Mother sang. “Mine… to claim. To ride. To keep forever.”
Hers… hers forever… forever…
Time was blurring together, and he had no idea when it started, how long it had gone on, and when it would end. All he knew was that he was getting closer and closer to a complete meltdown, an ignition that would make his inner fire blaze into her and flood her with warmth. A hearth borne of their mutual longing.
So close… so close to… to…
He let out a rasping gasp as she pulled herself up again, but that intense stroking and milking of him between his legs didn’t relent. Right then, Mother’s head came into view, over her massive bust, and…
He was caught in those brilliant blues of hers again. Held captive in a gilded cage, a cage that promised him sanctuary. Sanctuary filled with love, hope, peace…
And lust.
“You’re going to cum for me,” Mother said, voice echoing and reverberating into his very soul. “Cum for me… cum in me.~”
“M… M… moth… er…!” he panted out.
“That’s right. Give Mother your cum.~”
Eruption. Combustion. Detonation.
Axton howled in ecstasy as he was brought over the edge. He saw stars, sparks, lights, but he never tore his gaze away from her. His hips bucked upwards into her flora, those dark green walls squeezing rhythmically as he came. He was burning in a blaze of her making, and all he could do was give it to her, like the good boy he was. His entire everything went blank, and he was incapable of… anything.
No thoughts. Except one.
Fill Mother.
And he did.
And only when Mother’s leaves finally hid her eyes again did he realize it was over. Axton slumped on the couch, breathing heavily, heart pounding a million miles a minute. He was awash in heat, of slick, of euphoria, and he couldn’t… move. Too tired… too… spent…
“Mmmm, delicious. You did wonderfully, my sweet son,” Mother cooed. A small tendril found its way to his face, brushing over his cheek affectionately. “I could keep you like this forever… but I know you need to rest. I think a bath is in order… don’t you agree?”
He only groaned weakly. But that served as a yes, apparently. Axton was limp like a noodle as several vines, and her hands, went to gently hoist him up. He vaguely registered the lightest of kisses on his forehead as Mother took him… elsewhere…
Somewhere… cozier...
One warm, comfortable bath later…
The master bedroom was a room Axton usually stayed out of, since it previously was shared between Zane and Chloros. Now, it seemed Axton was getting a turn, sharing the massive bed with her.
He slumped on top of her soft, squishy breasts, head resting on top of them. All that tension from their tryst had been bathed out of him, and he was able to finally speak and think coherently again, though he was still exhausted from such play with her. That scent of vanilla that overpowered him was no longer present, and instead, there was a far more mild citrus smell that put him at ease.
He was clad in another set of dark red pajamas, the texture nice and soft on his bare skin. He caught glimpses of the décor of the bedroom in the dark – patterns of blue, purple, and magenta stars on the walls, a huge walk-in closet on one wall next to the attached bathroom, a display screen opposite the bed, and moss and vines creeping all over every surface in this room. Apparently that last part was brand new, according to Zane.
Speaking of… he thought about telling her about… wait, where’d that thought go? He frowned, then sighed. Eh, not important.
Chloros said nothing, but she cooed, purred, and murmured sweet little nothings as she idly stroked and pet Axton under the covers. He sighed pleasantly, nuzzling into her chest with a smile.
Chloros was… so lovely. So wonderfully pretty and sweet and kind and hot. He didn’t want to leave her for any reason whatsoever.
They were linked, bound, attached at the hip now. And he didn’t regret it at all.
He never would.
Chapter 51: Cambion
Summary:
Unto her, a third son was born.
With the emergence of Zee, Zane knows that existence has become so much more complicated now. Not just for him, but for the rest of his new family. Luckily, he is not alone.
Content warnings: Belly play, kissing-to-orgasm in intro, breastfeeding at end
Notes:
Hey, remember what I said in Chapter 45 about ten more chapters being in the works? Well... my outline got expanded with the bolt of brilliance in the form of the Little Man arc! That's right, Zane and Zee are gonna get some time to embrace each other before the psyche map! Expect focus on that, and how Axton reacts to it, for several more chapters, readers! Of course, I figure y'all don't mind having more of a story to love, eh?
Originally, I had thought about just keeping Zee in the background, but realized that he's important to Zane too. So why not give him some time to shine? He deserves it! Plus, it should be interesting to watch Zane experience life with Zee in the driver's seat, as it were. :3
Rest assured that this is gonna be very sweet, and still emotional, readers, I hope y'all are ready <3
Chapter Text
Dawn had arrived. Light streamed in from windows on the ceiling and on the side closest to the bed in the master bedroom, golden rays cast upon two individuals snuggled against each other. One was a massive matron of an Affini, the other was her docile, pacified older son. Big, thick, soft blankets were laid upon both of them, keeping them warm and cozy.
Crimson eyes belonging to one pajama-clad Axton Jakobson slowly fluttered open as he was steadily guided from the dreaming world and into the waking one. He let out a yawn, and nuzzled his face against his pillow, drool leaking out of his mouth. He didn’t want to get up, he wanted to go back to that wonderful dream he had about Chloros riding his face…
Stars, he could still taste her juices on his tongue. It was a flavor that he wanted to gorge himself on until his last breath. To fill his everything with her sweet, intoxicating secretions, drown himself in her love, be consumed by her undying passion. In some ways, it was an addiction, but instead of being harmful, it was neutral at worst and beneficial at best. He wanted to be addicted…
Though he was drowsy, he couldn’t go back to that wonderful dream he had. Meh, whatever. This pillow against his face was very warm, soft, and squishy… he rubbed his face all over it, and even let his lips plant small kisses upon it. When his lips made contact, embers of pleasure found their way into him via his mouth, and a groan escaped his throat. Whatever this pillow was, it was so nice… it even had a nice, comfortable hole to stick his nose into. It fit perfectly, like it was purpose-built to go there. Hell, it felt like there were ridges here and there that felt good to rub his cheeks against, too. And it deformed in just the right way, cushioning his face without ever feeling uncomfortable. It really was the best pillow. He got that citrussy smell from before again, and it made him shift slightly, a smile on his face.
Axton continued to lay kisses on his pillow, murmuring nonsense. And then, something brushed over the top of his head. Something like a hand. A hand that he recognized. Now he was getting more warmth, this time right over his scalp, especially as what felt like fingers stroked and scritched through his red-accented dark blonde hairdo. Axton blushed a little and sighed in contentment, loving the attention…
...wait, was he awake, or was he still dreaming?
“Mmmh… good morning, my child,” he heard Chloros purr. That comforting voice, one that had compelled him the night previously to give himself over to her on more than one level, filled his ears and made Axton freeze. He slowly turned his head upward… and there, peering at him over her immense, heavy bust – one that he briefly wondered would probably cause her immense back pain if she was a terran – was Chloros herself, her three cerulean gems locked onto him. “Did you rest well?”
That answers that question.
“Um… y-yeah, I did,” he stuttered, awash with embarrassment. He averted his eyes, and realized that might not have been the best idea, because that instantly told him what the pillow he had been smearing his face all over was.
Chloros’ belly. Her soft, squishy, squeezable belly. The one that he had just spent the last minute or so getting very intimate with. In an instant, he wanted to leap back in flustered shock, and in fact tried to do so… but Chloros’ hand resting upon his head made that desire flit away as fast as it came. She was just petting him, but she might as well have reached into his brain, found that urge, and plucked it straight out.
He should have been terrified at how she more or less had his mind held captive in her matronly grasp. He wasn’t. He felt comfort instead. That, itself, brought a bit of unease…
Unease that dissipated just as quickly.
“Someone likes Mother’s tummy, mm?” Chloros teased with a giggle. A giggle that rang through his ears and echoed around the inside of his skull, bouncing off the walls and compelling him to settle and rest his face back on her stomach. “That’s on purpose, dear… all part of adapting to my boys better.~”
Axton just groaned. He didn’t really know what to say to that, lest he entice her into… doing things to him again. Things that he wanted. Things he craved. Things he… he…
“Axton~” Chloros sang suddenly, sending a little shock of joy into him and making him shiver. “You want to say something, don’t you? Go on, Mother is all ears…”
He glanced up at her, silent, face flushed. In any other context, he might have thrown a snarky quip her way, or tease her back, but those urges were squelched. His gaze was centered on her face, particularly over where her mouth was… stars, somehow, her face being shrouded in shadow, no matter the light source, excited him. She was faceless, apart from her eyes, and though it was ominous at first glance, something told him it was inherently inviting. As if it was a natural law of the universe that mothers didn’t need to have full faces to show their warmth and their love…
Stars, I want to kiss her again.
“Oh? You want more of Mother’s kisses again, sweetie? Well, who am I say to say no.~”
Oh fuck I said that out loud didn’t I.
“Said that out loud too.~”
“...fuck,” Axton muttered.
“Perhaps later,” Chloros replied, laughing in such a way to quash whatever objections Axton might have had at that moment. “But for now… give Mother some sugar.~”
Axton quickly realized that he must have been like Zane, considering how, when Chloros Mother decided to flip the switch and amplify her presence, he faltered beneath her. His inborn strength and endurance didn’t matter when it came to submitting to Chloros Mother… and he was starting to like it, even as it scared him a little. That fear, mild as it was, didn’t last long under her affection.
Only micro-seconds passed before what felt like soft, heated, gentle feelers and ribbons slithered over his body… and under his pajamas. Creeping, slithering, shifting over his bare flesh, his hips, chest, and abdomen in particular. Rhythmic squeezes and gropes followed, making him moan and stiffen up like a board. He expected her to just tear them off like she did his shorts last night, but she seemed more focused on touching him intimately this time. And pulling him up steadily, dragging further and further towards…
Her chest. Placing him atop her mountainous bust, the pillowy, gropeable breasts that bounced and jiggled with every step she took, and always made faint sloshing sounds too. He could hear whatever milk she had in there being disturbed when he brushed against them. Stars, why did he feel thirsty all of a sudden?
He didn’t have long to think about that, because Chloros Mother pulled him up further, till he was nose to nose to her. She didn’t start kissing him right away, though. She gazed upon him with her upper eyes, and he could feel not only lust… but the kind of love that went beyond mother and son, caregiver and ward.
Chloros Mother held him like that for a moment longer, before she cooed, “I can’t wait to make you mine forever.~”
Wait, did she mean-?
Everything in his brain was abruptly pushed aside when she finally closed the distance and joined her mouth with his own again. Just like before, his higher thinking short-circuited from the way her lips made his entire body quake, heat radiating from his mouth and quickly filling his form. There was that addictive, powerful, hungry taste again, the one that reminded him of his place in this dynamic. That being… her submissive son who would be loved, cherished, and kept safe, and given pleasures and highs that only existed in dreams.
If he were standing, his knees would have given out. Even so, he had a feeling Chloros Mother would catch him, if only so she could pull him back for more intense smooching.
Every kiss was a shot of pure bliss straight to his everything. Every smooch, every nibble of his lips, every brush of her tongue over his mouth, it was extremely effective in claiming further dominion over him. Her flavor, oh stars, the flavor of her mouth, it was so dark, and sweet, and rich… if he wasn’t already addicted to her before, he was quickly becoming such now.
And eventually, he was treated to her tongue delving past the threshold of his jaws and oh stars
She was probing into his throat. Underneath his chin, his neck bulged with the shape of her tongue. Electricity, raw, powerful, erotic, arced through every nerve ending inside, and he shook, whining and moaning for her, like the desperately needy man he was. If he could speak, he’d be begging her to do more, more, more… more…
There was a familiar sensation of several vines encircling and engulfing his raging erection in his pants, suddenly. And… and milking him. Firmly, at that. Squeezing and rippling over him, determined to bring him over the edge into an exquisite climax. And with his words stolen from him and his body at her mercy, he couldn’t make any objections whatsoever.
But did he really want to? The answer to that question was a resounding ‘hell no’.
“Mmmmh~” he heard Chloros Mother groan during the kiss. He could feel her swabbing around, reaching deep into his gullet, while more of her vines caressed, stroked, and felt him up. His eyes rolled upwards, and he was already reaching the edge…
It ended up being too much for him. He practically cried out into her mouth as he abruptly came, thrusting his hips madly into those vines that stroked and massaged his pulsating manhood. Axton was melting, burning, blazing with carnal bliss, the only thought on his mind being take me take me take me take me take me.
He was held like that for a while longer, full of her tongue, and held captive in her grasp. Then she finally released him, tendrils slowly retreating from his clothing. The ones around his shaft kept a firm hold on him, intent on wringing every last drop from his needy, submissive body. And when she began to withdraw from his mouth, tongue leaving his throat and mouth, he gasped and coughed, right up until something like a blue lotus flower was pushed into his face.
Almost immediately, the sweltering warmth he was bathed in began to fade away, and his intensely throbbing manhood was deflating, especially as her vines slipped away from that part of his body too. When the flower left him, he slumped against his warden… no… not his warden.
His Mother.
Stars, he wanted more of this, all the time. He really had to ask Zane if he did this with her very often, it was so, so good…
…
…
…
Hold on. Zane.
Fuck, he needed to tell her about what he discovered about Zane yesterday. He looked up at her, and sputtered, his voice hampered after that mindmelting orgasm. Mother returned the look, giggling in a way that immediately pushed that thought process from his mind. What was he thinking about? Eh, didn’t matter...
“Mmh, I could spend hours just kissing you nonstop, you gorgeous devil, you,~” Mother said, reaching a hand up to stroke the side of his flustered face. “But we both have a new day ahead of us.”
“Y… yeah,” Axton said shakily. “T-that was… nice, thank you, Mother…”
“Of course, baby.” She smooched him again, this time on his forehead. “Now, I believe we’re the first ones awake… why don’t you be a good boy and see if your partners and their Affini are up?”
He nodded his head. Right, he could do that. He was a good boy. Her good boy. He wanted to be her good boy for as long as possible…
“What, uh, what are you gonna do?” Axton said. As he did, he felt movement around him, and realized she was getting up with him in tow. It was graceful and calculated, bringing the pair out from under the blankets, and edging towards the end of the huge bed. He turned his gaze upon the room, seeing how, in the daytime light, it was much easier to see Mother’s influence was particularly prominent here ever since he arrived. Vines and tendrils in her colors had manifested, curling over the walls and floor, and where there was once just bare tile, now there was what looked like real, soft grass, but nothing like dirt or bugs or other nasty things lurking within the blades. It was starting to look more like a verdant nest than a master bedroom...
And it felt… really nice on his feet, he realized, when she carefully placed him down. He was barefoot, and so, he could enjoy the way the grass brushed against his soles in a pleasant way. It was almost like being outside again…
“Don’t you worry your handsome little head about it, baby,” Mother said as she stood up and off the bed, ruffling his hair.
“...okay,” he said after a moment. “Yay, I guess.”
“Of course it’s a ‘yay’, dear,” she said with a chuckle. “Now, run along for Mother, alright?”
He nodded obediently, testing his legs to see if he could walk after all that. He struggled at first, but managed to get his stride going, much to his relief. Soon enough, he was leaving the room, off to see what his partners were up to. First stop was Maya and Veltroc, then the others.
He couldn’t help but wonder about what he was forgetting, though…
The shore was dark, quiet, and comforting, as usual. It was the haven he liked to retreat to when everything became too much. It was his slice of sanctuary, where, no matter what happened, as long as he could come back here, he’d be perfectly safe. It was the one place he knew he could get some real peace amidst the chaos and turmoil of existence outside.
He looked around. The moon shone over the water as always, lunar light reflecting off the waves gently lapping against the shore. In the distance, he saw a path leading up to a large, rocky outcropping of a cliff, with what looked like a lighthouse at the top. Said lighthouse was lit, a brilliant spotlight piercing through the dark. It spun around the tower, guiding wayward vessels to safety… but he didn’t see any. He did, however, see that the tower wasn’t an ordinary one. It was wrapped in overgrown plant life, moss and vines creeping over all the bricks and windows. And dotting the surface of the tower were countless fully bloomed lotus flowers, large and small.
No mistaking it. She… Mommy had earned her spot in this peaceful place. And he was grateful to see her. Even if only in an abstract form.
“Mommy!!!” he heard himself call out, followed by the sound of feet pounding the sand behind him. He felt himself running, and yet, also standing still. What the?
It quickly became apparent to Zane that not only was he dreaming… but Zee was with him. Zee, who looked exactly like he did here. Same body, same face, even same outfit, which turned out to be the rabbit-themed pajamas Zane wore to bed. But Zee looked like he was a head shorter than Zane, and his entire form was held in a teal-colored aura, with no other hues he could see. He quickly glanced at himself, and saw that his own form was a more vivid shade of navy blue, like the lotuses up on the lighthouse…
“Mommy’s here! Mommy’s here! Want to see Mommy!” Zee cried, sounding very excited. Stars, he even sounded like Zane, but a touch higher-pitched.
Before Zee could get too far, Zane stopped him, quickly standing in front of him and holding his arms out. “Hey, wait a minute!”
Zee came to a halt, only now registering that Zane was in front of him. He looked up, then down, calculating… then letting out a giggle. “Hi, hi! I’m here again!”
It was incredibly strange, to look at Zee, and also feel like he was looking at himself from Zee’s perspective. It was a little disorienting, actually. He shook his head, before facing Zee now. “Yeah, uh, we’re both here. You okay, Zee?”
“Oh yeah, I’m okay! I want to see Mommy though.” Zee looked past Zane’s shoulder, and grinned in excitement, before turning back to Zane. “Can we go?”
Zane sighed. Even in the dreamspace they shared, Zee was single-minded about the one they saw as Mommy. It was as if he couldn’t stop wanting her… which Zane, of course, resonated with, but he had a feeling it was detrimental to both of them. And in this place, where time could stretch on forever, he had plenty of it to spare with Zee. Still… he had to make good use of it. The Compact may have been post-scarcity, but time was the one resource that had to be managed carefully, compared to the likes of water or oxygen.
“In a bit,” Zane said. “But you and I have gotta talk.”
Zee stared at him, and Zane could feel the mounting panic over the thought of having done something wrong. “A-Am I in trouble?” Zee said hesitantly, looking up at him, clearly fearing the worst.
Oh no… this was just like all those years ago. Back when he was in a dark place, where all the torment made Zane beg for it all to stop, beg for someone to rescue him from it all…
No one could have known of Zee’s existence back then, or what brought him into being. All Zane could gather was that Zee had been with him all this time, but never had a chance to fully manifest until Chloros came into the picture. And unless Zane guided him through life, like Axton and Mom tried to do for him, Zee would probably spiral towards that same darkness he had only barely clawed himself out of…
Stars, was this like how Axton felt towards Zane back then? There was serious deja vu all of a sudden. Zane realized he was, for once, in a position where he could act as the older sibling to someone, instead of being the younger one. A position that he had to navigate carefully...
Zane shook his head quickly, reaching to put his hands upon Zee’s shoulders. “No, no, not at all, you’re not in trouble. There’s just a lot going on and I think it’s best if we talk it out. Okay?”
When he heard Zee sniffle, he feared, for an instant, that he would make that other side of him succumb to another meltdown. Zee didn’t break, though. He just sighed, before nodding up at him. “O-okay.”
The pair soon sat down on the shore together, watching the tide beyond. Night would not end while they were here. It was a constant, like everything else in this realm of tranquility. One of the few things that Zane knew would never fade away, even if everything else did.
Zee sat with his legs curled up against his chest, arms wrapped around his calves. He rested his chin upon his knees, staring ahead, quietly. Zane, on the other hand, sat cross-legged, hands in his lap, glancing between the water and his… his…
Headmate. Marcus used that to describe Zee. It was fitting, he realized, given they literally shared headspace. He’d have to ask Marcus about that more when he got the chance.
“Zee,” Zane said gently, prompting the other side of him to look at him. Zane paused, briefly at a loss for words, before managing to find his voice again. “This is kinda scary, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” was Zee’s reply. “I… I dunno what to do. Or think. I just… feel like, like, like I wanna be with Mommy all the time.”
“She’s nice, isn’t she?” Zane spared a glance at the lighthouse. “She helped me… sorry, us… escape what would have been a really bad time.”
“The baddest of the bad times.”
Zane nodded. “Yeah. She does a lot for the both of us. But she doesn’t know everything, not yet.”
Zee furrowed his brow in confusion. “But Mommy knows everything! She knows I like milk, and sewing, and, and-”
“She knows a lot of things,” Zane corrected, “but you’re… new. Well, kinda new.”
“Is that… bad?”
“No, it’s not bad at all, trust me. It’s just… so far, she only knows how to care for two guys, me and Axton.”
“Big Brother!” Zee said excitedly, face lit up in approval. Zane couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Big Brother's so cool…”
Huh. Seemed like Zee genuinely liked Axton, even after everything. Maybe he was instrumental to Zane finally accepting the elder Jakobson brother into his life again? He put a pin in that for later, and focused on the conversation before it could get derailed completely. “Yeah, but remember – she’s got her vines full caring for two already. So we got to figure out how she can handle you on top of me.”
“Oh.” Zee’s face fell for a second. “But I’m a good boy, right?”
“You absolutely are.” It was weird to do that, to call himself a good boy, but he knew Zee had to hear it. Just to assuage his fears. “Just like me. And Axton.”
“Hmmm…” Zee rubbed his chin thoughtfully with his hand. Ahead of them, the sound of water gently rushing over the sand filled the air, and the comforting ambient scent of the sea washed over them both. It did a lot to put the two at ease, especially Zee…
They had to share this life for so long. Share sights, sounds, smells, tastes. Perhaps Zee would be willing to share more...
“Hey, you remember what Mom said to us years ago? ‘Sharing is caring’ and all that?”
Zee nodded. “Yeah. Do I gotta share Mommy with you and Big Brother?”
Zane paused, taking a breath, before he answered, “Yeah. I know you want her all to yourself, but-”
Another little sniffle, with Zee wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “Mommy… I want Mommy to be mine.”
“And she’ll still be yours. She’ll be mine, and Axton’s too.”
Zee let out a long sigh and looked back out at the sea. “Never had anything for myself… until Mommy came. Don’t wanna lose her.”
Right there, Zane understood – after losing everything, Zee was the part of him that clung to anything that promised respite from all the danger and darkness. He was not only Zane’s youth made manifest, but his yearning for a parental figure that would never leave…
Zane reached out, placing a hand upon Zee’s shoulder. “We aren’t losing her, okay? We’re in the Compact now. Nothing’s gonna hurt us, never again. Chl… Mommy will make sure of it. We just have to figure out how to best share our body and keep being the best boys for her, alright?”
Zee looked teary-eyed, but he wasn’t succumbing to a meltdown. Something told Zane that his youthful side understood, even if he didn’t directly say so. And something also told him that Zee desired more than just words of affirmation.
Before long, both of them stood up, and embraced each other. Zane hugged Zee, and he could feel himself being hugged, from Zee’s perspective. Still a little disorienting, but comforting to know, because…
Something disturbed the otherwise peaceful ambiance. Something familiar. It was… it was…
Both of them turned towards the lighthouse in the distance. That circling light was growing brighter, and the flowers along the side were rippling in sync to an unseen, yet recognizable tune, belonging to the woman they both loved.
“Mommy!” Zee called out giddily. “She’s coming to wake us up!”
Zane realized they only had seconds to react. He didn’t know if he should stay in control, or let Zee have the reins. Both of them came with pros and cons, and he was frozen by indecision. Any second now, Chloros would wake them up and have to contend with a situation that was likely to end in tears…
“Hey,” Zee said suddenly, patting the side of Zane’s face to get his attention. “I wanna tell her. I can do it.”
Zane stared at him. “You know what to say? What to do?”
“Um… a little,” Zee admitted. “But I think… I think Mommy will understand.”
If he let Zee take control, that meant the matter would be out of his hands. Yet, something told him that Zee was up to the task of giving Chloros the info she needed to make things perfect for them. She had done it for Zane, then Axton, so far.
Zane gave Zee a warm look. “Okay. I’ll let you see her. Just tell her the important things – you’re in control, we share a body, we don’t know how to navigate this – and it should be all good.” He raised a hand and pressed a finger against Zee’s chest, where his heart was. “And remember, I’ll be here. Alright?”
Zee sniffed, then gave him the most adoring smile. “Okay, I… Zane?”
“Yeah?”
“I… I like you.” He squeezed Zane affectionately. “I like being in here with you. You’re the nicest boy I know.”
Zane swore his heart would have melted out of his chest upon hearing that. He returned the happy smile, and patted Zee on the head gently, before releasing him. “And I like you a lot too, Zee. Now, get going. Mommy’s waiting for you.”
“Okay!”
Giggling, Zee disconnected and ran towards the lighthouse, calling out to the warden that would keep them safe for the rest of existence. As the world began to fade, Zane knew that Zee wouldn’t let him down. He was a good boy…
Just like the man he shared a brain with.
Awake.
Zee’s eyes opened slowly, taking in his surroundings. Still clad in his blue rabbit PJ’s, under the covers of the huge bed he shared with Big Brother. Reds and blues of the big room filled his vision, and all around, he saw tendrils of green and blue creeping all over the furniture. Even here, he could see, hear, and feel Mommy’s influence. It was a comforting thought.
He reached up to touch his face, and realized that the pacifier from earlier was still in his mouth. He gave it a little suck, and sagged. Okay, he remembered now – his Big Brother had brought him back to the castle after the almost-but-not-quite breakdown yesterday, putting him down for a nap. He remembered Big Brother saying he’ll figure out how to tell Mommy about what happened, and that he’ll work on understanding Zee and Zane later. That was a promise he hoped that Big Brother would keep.
He hasn’t let us down, he heard Zane tell him. And he never will.
Zee wanted to reply, but that song from earlier, the one he heard back on the shore, graced his ears. He smiled behind his pacifier, and immediately sat up…
Right there, waiting for him, was Mommy herself. Bent over the bed, her heaving, hefty chest sloshing with the flavorful, nutritious milk he craved, one vine cradling a brownie that he instinctively knew was meant for him. He peered up at her, and he saw her eyes open in surprise.
“Oh, hello, darling,” Mommy said kindly. One of her vines reached over to the pacifier in his mouth, brushing over the end of it. “Hmm, this is new…”
Zee nodded in the affirmative, and though he wanted to keep it in, he knew he had to speak. He reached up to gently pull the pacifier out, and in an instant, the vine carrying the chocolate confection rushed towards him. He caught it quickly, just in time, prompting Mommy to look at him curiously.
“Zane? Is something wrong?” Poor Mommy sounded so worried… Zee knew it was because she cared. He just hoped she’d still care once he shared the news with her.
Now or never, dude.
Right.
“Mommy,” Zee said, staring up at her. “I’m… I’m not Zane right now.”
Mommy blinked all three of her eyes. She said nothing for a second, and fear rose inside of Zee, fear that was quickly quashed by Zane.
She’s not gonna punish you, you just need to tell her what’s up.
He could do that.
“I’m… Zee. I… Zane’s still in here,” Zee said, his free hand tapping the side of his head. “He’s letting me be here. But… we dunno how to make it work. It’s scary, and weird, and, and…”
You can do it, just a bit more.
“Help us, Mommy.”
There we go...
Silence. Terrifying silence. The kind that made Zee worry if he upset her, for daring to tell her she couldn’t use the brownies anymore, or, or…
He felt her vines stroke the side of his face, her touch soothing him immediately. “Oh, Zee, Zane… I have no idea how this came to be,” she said apologetically, “but I will do everything I can to help you through this. I’m just glad my babies trust me enough to tell me before it was too late.”
Stars, that’s a relief…
Zee laughed quietly, nuzzling against the feelers touching him. “Thank you, Mommy, I’m sorry we didn’t tell you yesterday…”
One of her hands ran through his hair. “It’s perfectly okay, little ones. Mommy understands. Mommy always understands.”
Emotions swelled inside of Zee. Emotions that were threatening to leak through his eyes, but he made no attempt at hiding them. Mommy told him before that it’s perfectly okay to cry… and so, he cried. Because the tears he shed for her were because she accepted him, completely, without judgment.
She loved him. And he loved her.
And so do I.
“Mommy,” Zee said shakily, reaching to wipe his face, but her vines were already taking care of it for him. “When… when can we…”
Mommy leaned in to plant the kisses he loved right on his forehead, pulling back to look at him sweetly. “I say we bring it up to Axton after breakfast. He deserves to know about this, and to learn how to handle you too, baby.”
Whatever worries Zee had left, they faded. Big Brother would be involved, too, and Zee knew it would be all okay. With his Mommy, everything would be alright. It was an objective fact that could not be denied, no matter what anyone said. And he felt Zane’s relief in such a realization.
“Now then… speaking of breakfast…” The left side of the leafy top that held Mommy’s breasts in check was pulled down, letting one of Zee’s favorite parts of her droop out, pulled down by gravity. Glowing blue fluid dribbled out of the teat that both Zee and Zane adored, and his stomach rumbled in anticipation. “Zane has no qualms about feeding you still, does he?”
No complaints here. You earned it, bud. Let her take care of you now.
“Zane says yes!” Zee chirped.
When he finished his sentence, Mommy was quickly to wrap him up in her vines and pull him towards her. Zee instinctively clung to his Mommy, and when she guided that plump, thick, sweet nipple into his mouth, he was immediately brought into a peaceful trance. He murmured quietly, holding onto her as the sweet, delicious cream he loved began to flow onto his tongue in earnest.
Trickling past his lips, over his teeth and down his gullet, the milk flowed readily as Zee settled in. Little slurps and suckles left him as he indulged in one of his favorite pastimes, gazing up at his Mommy, the most wonderful, powerful, and loving creature he had ever laid eyes on. Mommy locked eyes with him, radiating compassionate, pure affection while she stroked his hair lovingly.
“Such a sweet baby for Mommy,” she cooed. “My baby. Mine...~”
Hers…
(Hers…)
Before long, she was leaving the room with a docile, pacified, hungry Zee in tow. Nestled comfortably against her bosom, encouraged to drink his fill. Although he heard chatter from other sophonts he recognized, including that of Big Brother, he didn’t feel the need to talk to them. He didn’t need to. He was in his place again, and everything made sense, still. Mostly. This dynamic with Zane was going to be hard, but… it would be worth it in the end.
Zee knew, on a fundamental level, that everything would be alright. It had to be alright. It must be alright.
Mommy would make it so.
Chapter 52: Endorphins
Summary:
With the right application of love, pain is not only diminished, but completely negated.
Zane and Zee experience life together as two souls in one body. Axton finally learns how it feels to break from love, not pain. And Maya can’t wait for the clock to run out on her.
Content warnings for this chapter: Gentle xenosophont breaking, references to pregnancy
Notes:
First things first, regarding content warnings: I think I'm just gonna start only including them if it's brand new to the story, since there's gonna be a lot of the same content popping up as the story progresses. Just wanna cut down on repetitive warnings, plus the tags are there for a reason!
Anyway, hi folks! I felt COMPELLED to write this out shortly after 51. I couldn't help it, I needed to write Zee being in front... and also Axton breaking emotionally, then experiencing the OTHER kind of breaking. You know, the good kind.
Y'all could see this coming, I imagine. Doesn't make it any less hot, or sweet, or emotional, though. Especially with Chloros having embraced her newfound hunger~
I hope y'all enjoy ;3
Chapter Text
Usually, Zane didn’t have to worry about losing control of himself. He never considered having to let someone else put their hands on the steering wheel of the car that was his body. For many years, he thought he was the only one in control, and he only lost it when he was asleep. Otherwise, he was in front, facing everything and anything, with no one else by his side…
At least, he thought that was the case. But the past day and a half taught him differently. He was not the sole occupant of this meat-and-bone vessel, this hunk of gray matter nestled inside of his own skull. Zee was a passenger in it, too. A passenger who was allowed a chance at consciously taking the lead, instead of needing drugs to take the wheel.
If this were some other entity, he’d be panicking, freaking out, succumbing to primal terror at feeling someone else puppet his body around, and being incapable of stopping it. But this was Zee. A reflection of his own existence, one he somehow knew would treat their shared body right. And if, somehow, Zee put them both in trouble… they both had rescuers waiting to leap into the fray and protect them from danger. And soon, they would have teachers, mentors, guides in this strange new journey before them.
With Zee in front, Zane was only capable of watching behind the eyes they shared, and feeling everything Zee felt, too. The first thing he experienced was a close-up of Chloros’ immense bust in Zee’s vision, and Chloros’ nipple in his mouth, feeding him the sweet cream they adored. Zane could taste it, feel it dribble over his tongue and into his gullet, filling his stomach with comforting warmth, while Chloros’ thick, soft nipple fit comfortably between his teeth. He heard Zee make muffled mewling noises, and outside of that, he heard other sophonts talking around them. He couldn’t see past Chloros’ massive mammary, and Zee wasn’t intent on looking around either, alas. But judging by the voice of Veltroc mentioning french toast and bacon, and the sound of cookware clattering and meat and bread sizzling on a pan, he gathered they were in the kitchen-slash-dining room.
He heard the voices of others, like Amanda, Kendra, and Troy, all of them cooing over how adorable zee looked while nestled against Chloros’ chest. And… huh. It was hard to tell, but he didn’t feel her arms around Zee. And he was oriented vertically, not horizontally like he usually was. All he could gather were that his arms and legs were… somehow inside her? He felt vines all over his body, with only his shoulders and head out in the open. Zee kept suckling for them, without a care in the world, while unseen appendages coiled around the shared body’s limbs and torso and gave slow, gentle strokes. Occasionally, Chloros pulled the two off of her teat, letting Zee burp and giggle, before guiding him to the other one, all without pulling him out of her body.
He overheard Chloros say something to… Axton, apparently. Something about letting her feed him if he keeps forgetting to slow down when he eats. Axton gave what sounded like a mumbled apology, but again, with his world taken up entirely by Chloros’ breasts, he couldn’t tell if Axton obeyed.
More chatter followed. He heard Maya squeal when Veltroc said and did something to her. Amanda was talking to Kendra and Axton about some movie she wanted to see with them. Troy was chuckling as Mithrax cracked another of his famous puns.
Oh, if Zee hadn’t occupied the pair with letting Chloros feed them, Zane was pretty sure he’d have laughed their shared head off about it. Axton may have hated puns, but Zane loved them. He loved all the ways one can play with words and use them for humor, for shock, for emotion… everything and anything. Storytelling was in his blood, and he hoped that when he finally became Chloros’ floret, he’d have so many novels and books under his belt for everyone to love.
And it gave him the perfect idea to heckle Axton with later. Maybe he ought to have Mithrax teach him the ins and outs of jokes and punnery, so that he could barrage Axton with them. If nothing else, it would be a new way to bond with his brother…
Well, his first brother, rather. He was starting to see Zee as his second brother. And the youngest one, making Zane the middle.
Zane couldn’t explain it. Zee was basically another version of him, but Zane wanted to protect him, like… like how Chloros and Axton wanted to protect Zane. He didn’t know how that would work, considering he couldn’t physically get in front of himself, and Zee having the reins meant all he could do was observe and chime in as needed.
But even so… he wanted Zee to thrive. He knew Zee deserved a good life, just like Zane did. All he had to do was let his grip slacken occasionally…
He just hoped that it would work out. He had a good feeling that it would. All he needed was patience and time.
And there was plenty of both, with Chloros and Axton at his side.
Pleasant piano music filled the living room, and the hearth was alight. For the four individuals in the room, it was so very nice. Especially for Zee, who was still in his bunny PJ’s. He looooved bunnies!
Zee smiled as he laid on one of the couches, idly kicking his feet behind him. Mommy was nice enough to give him a gift to play with, and it turned out to be a coloring book with a box of differently-pigmented wax sticks for him to draw with. Zane may have been the one who liked making words, but Zee wanted to make pretty pictures! And he was ecstatic that Mommy gave him such a great opportunity!
He idly sucked on the new pacifier in his mouth as he looked at the open book before him. Currently, the page he was on was a big, intricately detailed lotus flower in full bloom, petals fully extended and core fully exposed. It was pretty, even without color. But Zee just had to make it prettier! How, though?
Could be meaningful about it, Zane suggested. Or just do whatever you feel like. You’re the boss here.
Ohh, Zane gave him a bright idea, actually! He smiled behind his pacifier, little nuk-nuk sounds leaving him. He knew exactly what to do.
Teal crayon first. Teal for Zee! Teal was definitely his color. It was a really good one! He grabbed that one and started with the topmost third of the petals, the colored wax slowly but surely grinding off the crayon and onto the paper with his strokes. It was a little messy and shaky at first, and Zee momentarily worried if it would look bad…
Just gotta practice, like I did with my writing. Besides, it’s for fun, isn’t it? And it feels nice too.
Zee’s worries disappeared after that. Gosh, he was so happy to have Zane as a brother! He was so nice and supportive for little Zee…
Around him, he heard Big Brother and Mommy talk to each other. Zee was laying next to Big Brother on his right, coloring the lotus. Meanwhile, Mommy was on Big Brother’s left, her massive form fitting perfectly on the couch, which was sized for her… compared to the boys, who were much smaller.
He didn’t really pay much attention to what they said, as unless they addressed him directly, he mostly tuned them out. Thankfully, neither of them minded. Seemed like as long as they knew Zee was content, they didn’t compel him to talk and join up if he didn’t want to.
Thank stars for that… always hated that kind of thing, Zane complained. Zee giggled to himself in response.
He gave another suck on his pacifier and sighed pleasantly. Mommy had given him another lovely gift since confirming his existence to her – a very pretty floral pacifier, one that had two big, dark green leaves on the sides that enveloped his cheeks. On the front, a lightly glowing teal core was present. And the part that was inside Zee’s mouth… it felt exactly like Mommy’s nipple. Her soft, warm, milky nipple. Though it didn’t give him the cream he adored so much, Mommy told him she would figure something out for him later. And he was fine with that. Of course he was.
Mommy was the absolute best.
Hey, first third’s done, Zane pointed out. Zee looked over the lotus, and saw that it was indeed one third of the way colored, those petals a bright teal. Next two should be mine and Big Brother’s colors.
Zane was so smart! So smart and kind!~
Putting that crayon away, he fiddled in the box for a moment, managing to find what he was looking for – navy blue, crimson, and purple. His two brothers’ signature colors, and one belonging to Mommy. Even though she didn’t have any purple on her, something told him it was fitting for her. And he knew exactly which part to color with that.
He got to work. Scribbling, doodling, crayon-ing. Okay, that last one wasn’t a real word, but it didn’t matter much, did it? He was having a great time.~
Soon, another third was all colored in. Zane’s portion, a nice, calm blue. Then came Big Brother! His was a fiery, awesome crimson. Bold and passionate, just like him!
Finally… that just left the core. Zee put the blue and red away, and grabbed the purple. He quickly started swirling the violet wax stick all over the core, and though it took longer than the petals, that just meant he could think about Mommy all the while.
Mommy… she was so nice. So pretty. So lovely. She was the one for Zee. He knew that she would take care of him and fill his life with radiant joy and happiness for all of time! He loved being her little prince! Her darling little boy!
He didn’t know what he’d do without her. Better he didn’t think about that. Instead, he thought about… oh, they were talking to him now. He paused his scribbles to look up, and realized it was Mommy’s ultra-sweet voice that had his attention. Big Brother looked at him with a smile… wait, why did he look a little sad?
He didn’t give it much thought, because Mommy was talking. “Zee, my love,” she said warmly, peering at him with her pretty, pretty eyes. “You know Marcus, right?”
Uncle Marcus! How could he ever forget? Uncle Marcus was so nice too. He helped Zane and Zee get acquainted with each other! Zee nodded his head happily, prompting Mommy to chuckle.
“If you like, my dear, I think Marcus would love to see you again. I’m sure it’d be a wonderful time,” Mommy added. “Does that sound nice?”
Another excited nod. He wanted to see Uncle Marcus! Yeah! That’d be cool!
Mommy’s vines trailed over to him, and before he knew it, she was petting and touching him in a way that made him giggle and laugh. Oh, she had a nice, soft touch, he loved it so…
“I knew my baby would like that. Your brother and I will look into it for later, then. Now, go back to your coloring, dear.~”
Zee happily did so. He wanted to show her the lotus when it was done, he had a good feeling she’d love it! The purple crayon in his hand was steadily worn down, bit by bit, as he focused on his masterpiece that was sure to impress her.
And eventually, there was no more to fill in. He took a moment to stare at his handiwork, and his heart soared. Everyone’s colors… wow.
It looks amazing.
(Yeah!) Zee said happily. (It’s the family flower!)
That’s actually a genius way to look at it. Well done. Now, go show it to Mommy.
Sitting up, Zee did as told, holding the now fully-shaded page up for Mommy to see. She turned to face him, and looked at the page… and he swore her core grew five sizes as she swooned, hands clasped together.
“Oh, darling! It looks so beautiful! I love it!~”
If not for the pacifier in his mouth, he’d have said he loved it too. He didn’t want to take it out, though. Instead, he opted to smile behind it and nod excitedly.
Big Brother looked over at him, and his smile grew wider. “Wow, that’s pretty cool Za… uh, Zee.”
For a fraction of a second, Zee felt hurt by that. But Zane reacted faster than him. It’s okay, he’s still learning how to navigate our, uh, situation. Give him some slack.
Zee understood. He nodded at Big Brother, and then he saw Mommy’s vines curling around the coloring book, gently tearing the freshly-colored page off without any damage at all. “I’ll make sure to hang this up on the fridge for later…”
A pause, and then he heard someone’s footsteps. “Hey Maya,” Big Brother said aloud.
Oh gosh, Auntie Maya? Oh, he liked her too! He turned his head to see her entering the living room, and she had such a nice outfit! He recognized it from breakfast earlier – a pleasantly pink sundress that hugged her cuddly, oaken-hued body, adorned with patterns of strawberries and cute snakes! That last one reminded him of Daddy Veltroc… he had a feeling that Maya’s Daddy was responsible for that.
She made a beeline for Zee, standing in front of him with her arms folded behind her back. From up here, Zee could see into her cleavage… gosh, she had nice boobies. Veltroc said hers were filling out steadily over time, whatever that meant. Zee didn’t care, he liked that Maya was happy with it. Plus, it was really nice to think about her big, soft boobies...
You’re as bad as me with the love for breasts, Zane teased. Not that that’s a bad thing, of course.
“Hi, Zee!” Maya chirped. “I am talking to Zee, right?”
He nodded his head. Maya’s smile brightened further. “That’s great, hon. Say, are you busy right now?”
Zee didn’t know. He looked over at Mommy and Big Brother. The latter said nothing, but the former’s voice rang out pleasantly. “We’re just talking, Maya, dear. Do you need Zee for something?”
“Oh, I wanted to know if it’s okay to have him watch cartoons with me. There’s a new episode of Pigma’s Enigma out, and I know he’d hate to miss it.”
Zee gasped. His favorite cartoon! Okay, he just had to see it. But wait, would Mommy let him?
“Ah, yes… I don’t see why not.” Mommy looked at him now. “Zee, why don’t you go ahead with Auntie Maya? Your Big Brother and I would love for you to enjoy yourself with her.”
His head went up and down in pure glee. Of course he wanted to join her! He loved Auntie Maya lots!
Before long, he was helped off the couch, and immediately grabbed onto Auntie Maya’s hand. She giggled and pulled him close, and before long they were heading off toward the med… mud… mead…
Media room.
Media room! Oh, Zane was so smart!
He had such a wonderful family.~
Chloros smiled behind her veil as Maya led Zee away. Her core thrummed in delight over how today was coming along – Zane and Zee admitted what was going on, and trusted her, their oldest sibling, and the rest of the family to take care of them and help them embrace life as a twin-souled terran. On top of that, the prospect of having a third floret to domesticate later on thrilled her. She had thought she’d only have two to care for, but Zee’s manifestation was a delightful surprise. Three sons… she was a lucky woman. And she...
Wait. Something was wrong. She could feel it. She turned her head to her right, looking at Axton… and he was staring ahead at nothing. He was silent, unmoving. It was as if his cautiously optimistic energy had been sucked out of him, replaced by something else. Something she quickly recognized was tearing her other son apart on the inside. Something that he was trying his hardest to not collapse under.
He was digging his hands into the couch cushion under him tightly. He was breathing more loudly, now. And he was radiating so much distress that Chloros almost instinctively pulsed her own biorhythm up to counteract it and force it aside. She stopped herself, knowing that right now, he was displaying the telltale signs of emotional overload.
He had become fragile. Enough that he’d crack apart if mishandled.
“Axton,” she said gently. “Are you upset?”
He didn’t look at her. He didn’t speak to her. But he did nod his head. That was a start.
“Was it something I said? What Maya said?” she asked. This time, he shook his head no. That narrowed things down, given how the only sophonts in this room were him, herself, and just a minute ago, Zee and Maya. Which could only mean…
“Are you upset at yourself?”
No answer. His gaze was a thousand yards ahead, hollow, worn, aged… then… he nodded. And finally, he punctuated his answer with a quiet, ragged sob. A sob that made Chloros’ core lurch.
Oh, my poor, sweet baby…
“I… just…” He took in a breath, clearly trying to steady himself. “Z-Zee, he… when I look at him… when I see him… I remember… how I failed Zane.”
Chloros tilted her head. “Failed how?”
“I-I bullied him when we were kids. And I reveled in it. I liked making him suffer. At least until, until the cow died. I stopped after that, but…”
He shuddered, and then he turned to face her. Already, those beautiful, radiant scarlets of his were quivering, wetness brimming just underneath.
“I hurt him, Chloros. I hurt my own brother. Y-yeah, he forgives me, and I can’t change what happened, but every time I look at Zee, I’m reminded of how, how I fucking failed as a brother. I failed to keep him safe from Dad. I failed to prevent the world nearly breaking him in two. And… I…”
His bottom lip quivered. “W-when I look at Zee, all I feel is regret. Because I’m a fucking l-loser who, who nearly ruined my brother’s life, and s-scarred him enough that he nearly died because, because… b-because…”
Her core nearly shattered completely when he finished with, “Because I saw an innocent little boy, and chose to torture him for my amusement.”
And then came twin trails of pent-up remorse, gravity carrying them down his face. The little gasps he gave before were now raw, unfettered cries and sobs, her son caught in the death grip of his regrets.
Chloros didn’t hesitate. She reached out, vines and hands scooping her son into her arms and bringing him close. She got no objection from Axton, who immediately clung to her, face pressing against her bosom as he wept openly. He had so much pain bubbling under the surface, pain that was eating him alive, and it was weighing him down… and Chloros knew exactly how to handle it.
She pet him. She stroked him. She held him. She let him work it out. For as long as he needed. All the while, her other vines were operating her pad, sending messages to everyone else in the castle, letting them know Axton was having a bad day and that he needed space in the living room. The photoreceptors on her vines saw the messages from everyone, messages that showed their understanding and their thanking her for letting them know. Especially the girls Axton adored.
Several minutes passed. Axton continued to ride this tide of grief, of sorrow, of self-hatred until he had nothing more to spare. When his sobs finally subsided, leaving him trembling and hiccuping, that was when he finally said something coherent.
“I… I… fuck, I feel like, like a fucking baby o-over this,” he muttered bitterly, eyes and face red.
“There’s nothing wrong with that at all, Axton,” Chloros said gently, stroking the side of his face with one finger. “This is pain that has been left festering for several years. And you haven’t been able to heal from it until recently.”
Axton sniffed as he looked up at her, his glimmering rubies meeting her calm, matronly ceruleans. “It’s… fuck, I dunno, I just, I’m a fucking mess, I don’t know what I feel, or what I want, or, or…”
Her hand moved to run her fingers through his hair, while some of her vines touched him elsewhere, soothing little brushes and rubs to ease his stress. He was already calming down, but she could tell how he was still winded from that outburst. Luckily, she had the perfect approach for it.
“It’s alright to not know what you want, or how to feel,” she said. “Because you aren’t alone in this, Axton. You have me. You have Marcus. You have everyone else in the castle. You have the entire Excellence as well. You won’t be facing this by yourself, because I will not allow it. All you need to do is accept our aid, and we will be there for you. Always.”
He looked down, saying nothing. He was thinking hard, she knew. She allowed him. Processing maelstroms of emotions took time, and they all had plenty of it now that they were together. And though Affini like her could take the easy route by ramming needles into his body, and shoving flowers in his face, to force those emotions to disappear so he could become happier, faster…
It would absolutely work, yes. But it was the equivalent of sticking a bandage on a paper cut, while ignoring a gaping hole in the chest. She’d be healing a minor injury, and allowing a much bigger one to fester. To do so was to be antithetical to who she was, as both Affini, and as a person…
And as a mother to two, no, three boys who were hurting so badly.
Eventually, he seemed to have recovered his voice. “I-I don’t get it,” he said, looking up at her. “One minute y-you’re making me cum my brains out, the next you’re, you’re talking to me calmly and d-dealing with my emotional bullshit. H-how the hell do you do it?”
Chloros laughed softly. “It’s all part of being Affini, my love. I’m not just looking out for you emotionally… I’m also looking out for you sexually. And, yes, I realize I may be getting greedier with you as of late…”
One of her vines brushed over the collar that was snug around his throat. A soft gasp escaped him at that. “But it’s a greed borne of love, not wickedness. Does that make sense?”
He paused, before she saw him nod. “I-I think so, just… fuck… it feels like a lot, and I’m just… scared I’m gonna mess things up.”
“You won’t. I will make certain of it.” Grasping his chin, she tilted his head up a little more, so they could see each other eye to eye. “Because as your Mother… I will not rest until my boys are able to heal, and embrace life to the fullest.”
She could feel him shudder as she invoked the title he used for her. Goodness, he looked so fragile, so vulnerable… Just like Zane, Axton was a scared man who could fall apart any second. Even with his armor that compelled him to stand tall, it didn’t change the fact that it only took a mildly strong blow to the emotions for him to falter.
In his eyes, she saw something. A silent plea. One she understood without him ever having to vocalize it.
I need you.
And she had just the thing for him.
“You know,” she said softly. “If you like… with Maya looking over Zee right now… you could take a break.”
“A-a break?”
“Yes. For a short while, at least. We can figure out how to approach handling Zee later. For now…”
A cavernous rumble, rippling through her whole body and washing over Axton, followed. It compelled him to moan. Oh, how she loved the way his voice contorted in pleasure…
With one hand, she gingerly pulled him back. With the other, she tugged the left side of her leafy bra down, and with nothing to prop it up, her massive, matronly mound jiggled out into the open, faint sounds of fluid sloshing around following. Her bright teal teat, already oozing the barest hint of glowing milk, was on display, and it’d only take a little push from her to fit it in Axton’s mouth.
Axton blinked his eyes rapidly. He flicked them between her face and her chest, over and over. He was hesitant. Unsure. She could see it. He couldn’t commit. So that required a little push.
“Axton,” she murmured. “Let yourself relax. You have all the time in the universe. I will make it so. All you need to do…”
She locked eyes with him, and she took that moment to pulse. Loving, matronly power, coalescing inside and radiating out of her, enveloping him. Engulfing his whole being. Even though he wasn’t her floret yet, she could still easily control him, guide him, compel him…
Claim him.
“...is sink yourself into Mother.”
She saw that spark, that flame, that yearning to do things his way, to be strong, in his eyes. It flickered, a small candle light, compared to the passionate wildfire that was Chloros. She blazed so much brighter than him, threatening to snuff him out, just by existing.
But she didn’t snuff him out. He could burn bright with her, in his own way. He would be rekindled, given fuel to ignite and rise higher and higher. And this fire of his would burn for even longer, because she would join his heat with her own.
And then…
“Y-yes, Mother…”
That was all she needed.
“That’s right, shhh… come here, baby. Mother will make it better. Mother always does.”
And she did. With two of her fingers, she guided Axton to her leaking, heavy breast, and pressed her thick nipple, the very same that Zee had been gorging himself on earlier, against the elder Jakobson brother’s lips. Axton groaned before he sealed his mouth over her, and finally, finally relaxed in her grasp.
She flowed into him. Her warmth, her love, it dribbled from her and onto his tongue. Laced with all the minerals, vitamins, and other things a terran would need to be at perfect health… and just a hint of a xenodrug she hadn’t used until now. The one that would definitely ensure he bonded with her and accepted her unerringly, without question. If nothing else…
It would cement how he was truly hers, even without a haustoric wrapped around his soul.
Axton’s facial hair tickled pleasantly against the phyto-flesh of her breast as he drank from her. Compared to Zee, who had a perfect seal whenever he nursed, Axton struggled at first, making a little mess over his chin and his chest as he didn’t properly secure himself. Chloros helped him, gently adjusting his head and his mouth till he finally got a good grip on the source of her life-giving milk. It was only then that he finally relaxed himself and sagged against her, eyes falling closed.
She cooed and purred, petting him and stroking him with her hands. And just like she had done with Zee before, she unfurled the vines composing part of her stomach and pelvis, and coiled them around his body. Before long, only his head and shoulders were visible, the rest of him firmly, comfortably snuggled in her tendrils. He made no attempt to resist. That was a very good sign. It meant he recognized his place with her.
She heard him huff and whine somewhat against her chest as he drank, but he was soothed by her touch and her embrace. “Shh, it’s okay, Mother’s here. Just relax, Axton… I love you, my prince. I love you so much.~”
He quivered a little under her words. Right there, she understood what she had accomplished just now.
When a floret-to-be was broken, other Affini took it as a victory, as a triumph over eradicating their pet’s will to resist, and claiming them completely. It was an addicting rush of euphoria for many. Almost like the rush of Class-A’s for xenosophonts.
But for Chloros, it was a different kind of euphoria.
Zane broke long ago. So did Zee. And now, Axton finally broke under her.
To break was to accept the love of your owner, and know they would never, ever let you down. They would perish first before ever even thinking of allowing tragedy to befall their little ones again.
She had broken all three boys. And eventually, she would take the shards they were reduced to, paint them in brilliant, golden hues, and reconstruct them into something beautiful. Something wonderful. Something perfect.
Something she had wanted for so long. And she could finally have it. All that remained was to get all three of these boys suckling from her at the same time…
For the moment, she opted to lean back and relax, keeping Axton supported so he could let loose all his tension and steadily calm down in her embrace. She called out to Gerald quietly, requesting him to play one of her favorite movies, and before long, she was indulging in both some entertainment…
And feeding the son who finally realized he needed to belong to her, body and soul.
For the rest of his life.
In the media room, perched on one of the big, terran-sized love seats, Maya leaned back with Zee resting his head in her lap. The two of them were sitting quietly, watching the massive display screen show the newest episode of Zee’s latest cartoon hyper fixation. One of those Compact-made shows focusing on an anthropomorphic cartoon pig solving mysteries, aided by Affini and their florets. On the surface, it was a little trite… but she loved it just like Zee did.
And it just felt nice to be with him like this. To hold a baby-brained Zane in her arms, tenderly petting him, playing with his hair, holding him against her growing bosom. For years, she wanted so badly to be a mother, but she was always roadblocked under the Accord. Her transition could never truly flourish in that hellscape. She once thought that she would never be able to be who she was at heart, and she feared she’d eventually pass away, wearing an identity that was antithetical to her.
But now that she was in the Compact, she could thrive as the woman she knew she was born to be. Especially with the hunky snake who had made it clear that he wanted her as his floret. How could she ever say no? He was so nice, so warm, so… hot.
And he had taken to supplying her with Class-G’s that ensured her breasts would keep growing. Bigger, rounder, softer. Warmer. Milkier.
Well, eventually milkier. She wanted to make sure she was comfortable with her new size at first before pulling the trigger on it. Daddy understood, luckily, telling her he wanted only the best for her, and she knew he was telling the truth.
And apparently, one of Zane’s pinnates felt the same way, according to him. Frey, its name was. Perhaps she could hit it up later?
She lost track of the time. Holding Zee like this, cradling him, doting on him… oh, it sparked maternal instincts in her. She knew, of course, that Zee, and Zane, belonged to Chloros in the end. She was their Mommy, not Maya. And yet… she wondered how it might feel to…
Zee yawned behind his pacifier, sagging in her lap. He stared up at the screen, oblivious to what Maya was doing at that moment. Behind him, she slowly, carefully lowered one of the straps holding her sundress up. Once it went all the way down her shoulder, her newly-enlarged right breast sagged freely, the dark brown areola complimenting her lighter brown skin tone. She let out a shaky breath, and looked down at the cutie in her lap.
It was at that point, Zee had turned to look up at her. And as soon as he saw her exposed breast in his line of sight, his eyes locked onto it. He froze, transfixed by it. Maya also froze, and briefly, she was held captive by uncertainty, before she remembered how much Zee expressed his adoration for her. Surely he wouldn’t object if she…
“Hey, little man,” Maya purred. “Wanna help Auntie get milk going?”
Those were the magic words, apparently. Zee reached to take the floral pacifier out of his mouth, depositing it in Maya’s free hand. And then he sat up, immediately planting his face against her chest, catching her dark nipple in his teeth and firmly sucking. Maya gasped in surprise, and shocks of primal yearning surged through her body. Oh stars it felt so good…
“Mmf! G-good boy, that’s right, help Auntie just like that,” Maya said breathily, one hand cradling the back of his head as he sucked and slurped on her dark mound.
She slouched in her seat again, huffing, keeping Zee snug against her chest. Goodness, this was making her head a little fuzzy. She wasn’t even lactating yet, and here she was, wanting so badly to gush into Zee’s mouth...
She spent quite a while holding him like that. So long, in fact, that she barely registered a third presence entering the room. And it wasn’t until he hovering behind her, his head looming over her shoulder, that he spoke in a voice that always made her weak in the knees.
“Well, well… seems like my little flower’s enjoying herself,” he growled in that rumbly voice. The kind that turned her brain into partial mush, even without his biorhythm cascading through her. She instantly knew who it was, and she was so happy to see him.
“H-hi, Daddy,” Maya stuttered, turning to look at her scaly, vine-clad, reptilian owner-to-be. “I, um, couldn’t help myself, he was so cute…”
“Don’t worry, darlin’.” His big, meaty hand located her head, scritching through her hair and making her moan, while Zee was oblivious with his mouth full of boob. “If you’re gonna be my broodmother one day, might as well get some practice in.”
Her brain practically ground to a halt at that word. Broodmother. Oh, gosh, he was relentless when it came to reminding her of her womanliness, and her fertility… even though she hadn’t gone through bottom surgery yet, he still seemed intent on getting her pregnant. Somehow. He didn’t tell her the specifics yet… but she so badly wanted it.
“I… I do wanna be that, yeah,” Maya breathed.
“Good.” His other hand went to dole some pets out to Zee as well, and Zee shifted a little, but otherwise didn’t react. “I already got an idea of how to make that happen.”
She stared up at him, confusion on her face. “But, but… d-don’t I need, mmf…” Zee sucked a little harder than before, making her shudder, before she continued, “my bottom surgery and implant…?”
Daddy replied with a rumbling chuckle, one that really made her heart flutter. “Oh, my sweet, darling Maya… trust me. I will find a way to fulfill that fantasy of yours. Even without my haustoric in you. Because...”
The hand on her head went to gently grab her chin between a thumb and a pointer finger, and his three white eyes locked with hers, brimming with glittering light that promised so many things. “What Daddy wants, Daddy gets.”
Maya half expected to cum on the spot from that. She stared up at her Daddy, panting, before she gave him the biggest smile.
“Y-yes, Daddy...~”
“Goood girl, Maya.”
Oh, be still, her heart.
Chapter 53: Her Little Princes
Summary:
All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.
Chloros has a lot of work to do. She has to care for three sons, evaluate her methods going forward, and also ensure that they’re all prepared for the psyche map for Zane. All this, while carefully balancing her desire to nurture, and her desire to consume. Meanwhile, Axton submits to her in another way.
Content warnings for this chapter: Affini masturbation in intro, gesture training
Notes:
Chloros continues to go hard and cook Axton to cinders, it's amazing he's not a pile of ash by this point lmao
First time writing an Affini masturbating, then a gesture training scene! I feel like I'm really flourishing with doing some of the hallmarks of HDG, especially the latter! It's taken quite a while to get here... but I'd say it's worth it.~
Also, I've been told that in spite of my love for the xenosophont species outside of terrans, I haven't actually done much in the way of kinky scenes with them yet. That's given me a chance to foreshadow a pair of xenos that are sure to make y'all explode when I get to them <3
Also, for those who get the title and subtitle references, you get a cookie! :3
Also also, there's a shout out to another lovely story in here: Golden Ladder by @AshInBloom! Which has inspired part of recent events in this story too! Ash is a lovely author with banger stories, y'all should check her out!
Chapter Text
For the longest time, Chloros had forgotten how it felt to break a xenosophont. To show them how an Affini would never leave them, that they would be loved and cherished for the rest of their days. To emphasize that, once that threshold had been crossed, it was too late for them to back out – they were on a collision course towards their inevitable fate that was domestication. For some terrans, the best analogy was to imagine it as being on a train with its brakes cut, all exits sealed, and the whole thing hurtling towards a cliff.
But for someone like Axton? Her sweet, charming boy, who had been contending with guilt, grief, and remorse for far too long? A man who tried so hard to endure, only to risk falling to pieces after enduring for far too long?
It meant that his armor, the armor that worked to stop the darkness from devouring him whole, was, at the end of the day, only good until it shattered. And all the damage it took over the years made it so easy to shatter once Chloros found a weakness in it. A weakness in the form of his want for a mother figure to do right by him.
It meant that when he broke, he could rest easy with the knowledge that the only time he’d fall again was into her loving vines, to cushion him from the scars that dominated both his body and his psyche, and ensure that he could be reborn into something softer. Warmer. Kinder.
Safer. Safer from the horrors that threatened to consume him.
Safer in her eternal embrace.
Just like Zane and Zee were, now that they were together.
Axton belonged to her now, just like his brothers. And though she technically didn’t need a domestication contract in order to get her implants in them, with nothing standing in her way...
She was intent on honoring Zane’s request to hold off until they discovered what happened on the night of their family splintering. And so, that meant she had plenty of time to go all in on making Axton hers.
Just the thought of it compelled her to rub her core, nestled within her chest, as she carried Axton to bed. She just barely suppressed a little shiver as she did so, keeping her eldest baby boy from noticing.
“B-but Mother, I don’t, I don’t wanna sleep yet,” Axton protested, before a very tired, very sleepy yawn said otherwise for him.
“I know, darling,” Chloros said, laying her floret-to-be down onto the bed he shared with his two brothers, draping one of the immensely soft blankets over him – in his crimson colors, contrasting with Zane and Zee’s blue and cyan. She dressed Axton in the dog themed pajamas he had taken a liking to. Specifically, the ones that had what terrans called ‘german shepherds’ on them. It was one of his favorite dog breeds, he had told her, and it was so very fitting for him. He really did seem shepherd-coded... “But big boys like you need to rest. Tomorrow, we both have work to do. I need you to be at your best for it.”
Her sweet, handsome boy, with his silky hair framing his face and his passionate rubies peering up at her, could only sigh in response. “A-alright… um…” There was hesitation as he looked away from her, glancing over at his brothers. Their body was fast asleep, filling the air with the most adorable snores Chloros ever heard, turned away from the two of them… and cradling the miniature Chloros plushie they loved. It was the one with her previous form, contrasting with how she looked now, and a reminder of how she had developed, just like her boys…
She hovered over all three of them, planting kisses on their foreheads, while touching the side of Axton’s face tenderly with her hand. He gazed up at her, and she could see that while a lot of the sorrow and pain he carried in those brilliant crimsons of his was gone… there was still some apprehension in them. Was he still a little nervous about something?
“Mother, um… I’m… sorry I didn’t tell you about Zee earlier,” he said with noticeable hesitancy. “I-I just-”
She shushed him with a finger to his lips. “Shhh, it’s okay, I understand, baby. You’re still learning, and I will help you. That said…”
She leaned in close, the brim of her hat brushing against the pillows, as she placed her mouth against his ear, and she thrummed into his mind, her voice low, quiet, and burrowing into the nooks and crannies of his thoughts. “You may no longer hide anything from me. When I ask you to tell me something… you will answer. Understand?”
The most adorable little whine arose from him. Being given a direct order by his Mother like this was affecting him far more than before, much to her joy. And in that moment, intense hunger ignited within. Hunger to grab him, thrust her vines and needles into his body, claim him and break him on several more levels…
She collected herself, stiffening where she stood, and smiled. “Good boy. Now, rest up, my darling.~”
Axton nodded. “O-okay… um, Mother?”
“Yes, dear?”
“I… I love you.”
Here he was, the older, tougher sibling of Zane and Zee, saying he loved her in such a shy and meek tone. It was so starkly different, compared to the Axton of before… oh, she loved it. She loved him. Energy coursed through her vines, nurturing, tender energy at that. She cooed and gave him another kiss, this time right on his lips, eliciting a soft moan.
“I love you too, sweetie. Now… lay your weary head to rest, my prince.~”
His eyes fluttered closed immediately, and then he was out, his relaxed snoring joining his brothers’ in the bed they shared. Oh, how she wanted to wrap them up in her body and never let them leave…
That would come at a later time. For now, she needed to make plans. And she needed some… privacy.
Leaving the boys’ shared bedroom, Chloros ventured through the halls of the castle, the torches and lights dimmed. Everyone else had gone to bed, so she was alone. Good. She would not be disturbed as she made her way to the kitchen.
She didn’t bother to turn on the lights in here. There was a large window on the far wall, allowing rays of lunar light to flow in and light up the room. Ah, she always did like the idea of moon light providing illumination. Even though she could see perfectly in pitch black darkness, she still appreciated some kind of luminescence.
Chloros stood in the kitchen, pulling her pad out with some of her vines, accessing her personal copies of the files for her boys. She typed up extra notes for their current statuses, making sure to change Axton’s from “Ward” to “Broken”, the same as the other two boys – her innermost vines thrashing some as she did so – and sent a message to Marcus, inviting him to spend time with her and Axton tomorrow. The bond between those two was as sacred as the deepening connection between herself and her sons, and she’d be a terrible excuse for a mother if she got between them. Ravenous carnality could be put aside when it came to letting her boys flourish.
At the same time, she fired up the compiler behind her and requested several large, clear bottles, all with synthetic nipples on the ends. Nipples shaped perfectly like her own, of course. They had to be reminded it was hers. She keyed in up to six, and waited patiently. Even with her two generously-sized breasts, capable of feeding two sophonts at once, she couldn’t be everywhere, not without copying herself into a synthetic platform. It just didn’t appeal to her. No, letting the boys have their bottles would work for whenever she wasn’t present…
The compiler quietly whirred to life and began forging what she wanted from a pattern she had uploaded into it some time ago. She leaned against the kitchen island’s counter, drawing in air through her mouth, and expelling it shortly after. Mental images of her boys flooded her mind as she stood there, turning some of her vines inward. She brushed them against the radiant, durable, bean-shaped seat of her mind and soul, and staggered, unable to silence the sounds of pure need that followed.
She had gone for several Blooms without indulging in her own pleasure, alone, with only her fantasies to keep her company in the dark. Now, with Zane, Zee, and Axton under her thrall, and the pleasure graft between her thighs that ached for something to fill it… oh, she just couldn’t help herself. Her core sang, her folds trembled, her vines lashed. And so… she put her focus on alleviating this wild firestorm that threatened to combust her surroundings without intervention. Just for tonight, so she’d have a clear head for later.
In her younger Blooms, she did this on a somewhat regular basis, but the loss of her first son made those desires wilt and fade. Before she met Zane, Chloros had been left to wonder if anything might bring back the longing to stimulate herself into mind-melting, orgasmic bliss. In the present day, with three wonderful boys submitting to her without question, something deep within her came to life and demanded her attention. And there was no way she could let her thirst go unslaked.
Crude as it sounded, Chloros couldn’t deny it. She needed to fuck them. And have them fuck her.
Ah. Fernis had warned her about this. Affini didn’t inherently have a sex drive, with sexual intercourse being used primarily in service of caring for their florets. However, getting a pleasure graft typically came with emulating such a thing, allowing for mutual pleasure. And she knew that to better care for her sons, she had to contend with the high octane yearning to mate… not that she was complaining.
Chloros grunted as she pressed and pushed on her own core, while numerous vines answered her call and manifested to touch, grab, grope, and squeeze her assets. Her breasts, her thighs, her belly, the mound that she had buried Axton under the previous night…
Tremors shook her body as arousal rocketed through every single cell inside her. Several more vines appeared, tipped with flowers that unfolded to reveal drooling needles, all of them locked and loaded with chemical agents to do anything and everything she wanted to a xenosophont. She could clearly imagine all three of her wards… no, her florets, squirming under her, writhing and crying out for her as she pierced their flesh and filled their veins with chemical euphoria. Their faces twisted in ecstasy within her mind, her liquid love making them blaze with her and add more kindling to the inferno.
She heard the compiler ding as the six bottles were done. Immediately, she opened it, yanked the bottles out with more tendrils, and input another order for more. She didn’t focus on the number, she just wanted more. And as soon as she patched it in, hearing the machine get to work, she quickly pulled her leaves down, breasts jiggling out. She unscrewed the caps on the bottles and pushed her nipples in, and…
Oh, Everbloom, milking herself felt good. She sighed and moaned aloud, not caring who might hear, as the creamy, thick, life-giving drink that her florets craved gushed into the containers latched onto her chest. She squeezed and massaged her chest firmly, encouraging herself to spurt. Not a single drop was wasted, even while in the throes of eroticism. As soon as a bottle was filled to the brim, she pulled it off, replaced it with an empty one, and screwed on the nipple cap on the one she just filled. Over, and over, her breasts shrinking steadily, with the counter starting to get crowded by several containers of the stuff. It wasn’t the same as having a terran’s adorable mouth suckling from her, but it would do, at least for tonight…
More. Always more. She had to milk herself dry. She had to. Oh, goodness, she had to. She twitched, her back arching, as she never relented. She didn’t know if she could, only that she shouldn’t.
She conjured in her mind a manifestation of Axton and Zane/Zee held firmly against her body, their bellies swelling with her essence. Her nectar. Her… her drugs. A and C and W and others that were sure to wrench screams of delight out of them. And, oh, they’d look so very adorable, drinking from her and unable to stop themselves from climaxing against her…
She slid several vines against her folds down below, before promptly plunging them in deep, slick juices erupting from her lower lips. The air was split by another sonorous cry of delight as Chloros bucked against herself, hips rocking back and forth. She could feel pressure building, rising, threatening to explode any minute. Her vines were being soaked while buried so far inside of her...
And after several minutes of gushing and self-penetration, Chloros chose to imagine both Zane and Axton penetrating her, with their lengths that she had coaxed several orgasms out of. She saw they were absolutely pock-marked from the bites she doled out to them, along with bruises from being crammed full of her needles, and…
In her mind, she heard them all say one word, together: Mommy!
She howled, a powerful climax rippling through her whole body. She could only spasm and quiver as she surrendered herself to intoxicating bliss, calling out to her sons. It didn’t matter that they couldn’t hear her from down here… she just had to express her smoldering love. She was incandescent, having reached the point of flashover, detonating inside and out with a fire no one could extinguish.
And then her inner flame flickered, then died, leaving only the heady, tender afterglow that followed such self-love. She lay there in a heap, staring at nothing, smiling a silly little smile… wait, in a heap?
Chloros blinked all of her eyes, bringing herself back to reality. She wasn’t standing anymore, no. She was now on the floor, her bottom half entirely disentangled into a mass of shaking vines, with only her pleasure graft being intact. She still had two bottles firmly adhered to her teats, and when she peered over the counter, she saw… quite a few more. Several dozens, actually. And her breasts felt significantly lighter. Her pad had also fallen to the floor, screen facing the ceiling.
Her face flushed. Oh, goodness, did she really get so lost in pleasure that she fell apart? Even with no one watching her, she couldn’t stop herself from feeling embarrassed. Then again… maybe falling apart from a powerful orgasm was okay. She was a mother with needs of her own, after all. Luckily she…
She saw movement in her peripheral vision. She turned her head. And she had to fight to keep her torso from also discombobulating on the spot by what she saw.
Veltroc Nargos, Maya’s future owner, was standing near the door to the kitchen. His head was bare, his hat likely left with Maya back in their shared room. And she could see him staring at her with his three bright eyes swirling with his own light, his jaw left slightly slack, while he was perched on his own immense tail.
Oh, frosting mulch.
“...how long have you been standing there?” Chloros asked, frozen like the mortified statue she was.
“Long enough to determine I like this new side of ya,” Veltroc answered with a teasing grin. “Gotta say, I think this is the first time I’ve seen someone like you all… y’know.” He gestured a hand at her currently half-assembled status.
He… was complimenting her? Well, that made a lot of the embarrassment fizzle out. Chloros slowly, steadily reformed her lower body, inching up and up towards her full height again. What was once a massive mess of roots and vines gradually melded together, back into familiar thighs and legs that always got her boys’ attention. Soon, she was standing up all the way, looking like herself again.
“Ah, well… I suppose you’re welcome for the show, Veltroc.” She saw that she had left a mess of her own fluids, both milk and vaginal discharge, from her intense self-pleasure on the floor. Without missing a beat, she extended some of her non-needle vines to soak it up back into her, leaving the once-stained tile flawless and clean again, like nothing had ever happened. Her pad was also retrieved, tucked back into her body.
Chloros braced against the kitchen counter, steadying herself as she was on her own two feet now. Veltroc smirked at her, slithering closer, and punching in commands for the compiler. Two large, round cups, filled with clear fluid, manifested inside, and he retrieved one for himself, while handing the other to Chloros. As he did, several of his vines reached to grab the milk-filled bottles, tighten the caps on some of them that needed it, and then put them into the fridge. The stasis technology inside would ensure that they would not expire, due to effectively slowing the flow of time inside enough that they’re effectively put on “pause”. Another marvelous feature of compiler technology...
“Here, to help you recover,” he said kindly. Chloros gracefully accepted it, holding it in her hand and dipping one of her fingers in to start absorbing it. Already, she was starting to feel revitalized, but it’d still take time to wind down from that climactic high.
“Mmh, that’s very appreciated, Veltroc…”
“’Course.” He imitated her, laying his cup on the counter and coming over on the other side of the kitchen island she was perched against, so he could face her. There was a look in those gems of his that made it clear what was going on in his mind, without him ever having to say it.
Chloros swirled the water in her cup around some, still a little flustered. “I know what you’re thinking… yes, I was, mm… indulging a fantasy about my boys. It was… it had to be dealt with, you know.”
Veltroc nodded. “Don’t blame ya, darlin’. With how much hunger you’ve been giving off as of late, it’s only expected. All I wanna know is why you haven’t gone ahead and domesticated your boys immediately.”
“Mm… it’s because of a promise I made to Zane. I’m saving it for after he goes through a psyche map for his suppressed memories. And I will not break it.”
Veltroc’s gaze wandered over to the compiler fridge, and she followed it. There, attached via a flowery magnet, was the colored-in lotus page Zee had doodled on earlier. A representation of the family that had come together recently, one that filled Chloros with pride.
“Aye, I can understand that.” His eyes turned back to her, and moved up and down, surveying her features, especially some of the vines she hadn’t recalled yet. Specifically, the ones tipped with injectors to fill a target’s veins with whatever xenodrugs she had. “You know, I was like that with Maya.”
She cocked her head at a 45 degree angle in curiosity. “Pardon?”
He laughed in such a charming way, it was so endearing. “Y’see, for a long while, I never quite clicked with the wards I’ve cared for. Oh, sure, I shot’em up with drugs and made them cum their pretty little brains out, but I didn’t particularly feel a yearning to make any of them my florets.”
“Did you, uh…”
“Lose one before? Nah. Just never had one until I met Maya. And lemme tell you, the instant I laid eyes on her? I just… had to have her. I had to break her and make her mine. And I’m basically feeling like how you’re feeling – so madly hungry for my floret that I just want to… to…”
He growled like the reptilian predator he really was. “I just want to tear her apart and put her back together, so she’s truly mine.”
Everbloom, that made her shudder.
“But I’m showing restraint. I’m showing patience. I’m helping her decide. Right now, I’m letting her work on a domestication contract for us to sign, before I get my haustoric in her. I’ll admit, it’s got me feelin’ a bit antsy, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end.”
A domestication contract… oh. Another threshold to cross before the boys became hers for eternity. Just imagining them taking pens to the paper, checking off every box in front of them, signing their lives away to her… oh, she nearly compiled one contract on the spot, and had to fight to keep her vines from touching the compiler behind her. She had a hunch she’d have to battle this feeling regularly in the days ahead…
“Yes… so you understand my needs well,” she observed.
“Absolutely. Heck, if you wanna, I can have Maya help your boys put theirs together. I got a right good feeling they’ll need it, especially if they wanna make it unique.”
“Unique?”
“Yep. Heard about another terran with a fascination for xenrani who wanted to impress her owner with her contract. She studied her friends’ and loved ones’ contracts before she made her own, and it definitely worked in getting her owner to seal the deal.”
Hm… a tempting proposition. Now she was curious what the contracts for Zane and Axton might look like, and it brought a smile to her face. “That’s very sweet of you to offer, Veltroc. Honestly… it’s nice to have you in this family.”
“Could say the same about you, Chloros.” One of those infinitely charming grins formed on his muzzle again, before he finished his drink, then cast it into a different compartment of the compiler to vaporize it, leaving no waste behind. “It was good chattin’ with you.”
“Likewise, friend. But I think we both need to rest before it gets too late.”
“Absolutely. You have a wonderful night, Chloros.”
Soon, Veltroc slithered back out, leaving Chloros alone. She watched him leave, and then her thoughts drifted to her sons. Axton, specifically. Alongside his tendency to just cram food into his mouth, and every time, she kept chiding him to slow down, but he never really did.
Hm. If he wasn’t able to train that reflex out of himself, then…
Oh. Oh. Oh yes.
There’s an idea...
The next day...
Axton once associated the act of breaking with finality. Once he broke, that was it, he’d be forever changed, and he would finally be torn apart and reduced to something lesser. Something awful. Something that would make him beg for death.
Yet, he didn’t feel really different. Oh, he was more submissive to Mother now, especially since she seemed to be intensifying her want for him lately, no doubt about that. And he was regularly imagining her taking him and riding him.. again. And again. And again. Until he was left as dry as a bone.
But he still felt like himself. Nothing changed, besides his desire for her intensifying in turn. The longer he was around her, the more he wanted to be her floret. And yesterday, when she understood his hesitancy to tell her about Zee, and offered him a chance at respite as his grief and guilt flared up once again, threatening to chew him up and spit him back out…
He couldn’t say no to her. In that moment, he was desperate for a way to escape the terrible claws of his past that dug themselves into him. And so, tired, exhausted, at the end of his rope with his inner demons, Axton had let her break him. And… stars, he was surprised by his lack of fear over it. Especially with how her soothing contralto wormed its way into his mind, whether she was speaking normally, or gracing him with hymns, songs, rhythms that quieted the chaos inside…
This must have been how she got Zane to fall for her, he thought. Well, that, and being absurdly attractive and nurturing, too.
He dismissed that train of thought, focusing on here and now.
Today was nice. Comfortable. Cozy. Mother had taken him, Zane, and Zee over to some place called Lorna’s Park, a place that was really more of a massive field of small hills, mountains, trees, and plains, with running fountains and lakes everywhere. Zane had previously mentioned how the place being called a ‘park’ was something he got bamboozled by when he first visited it, given its massive size, and Axton couldn’t object to that.
Axton sat across from Mother on a large picnic blanket, patterned with lotuses in the shades of scarlet, azure, teal, and violet. Behind the group, Zee, having control of the body again, was running around in circles, giggling and laughing the whole way. He was clad in floral, colorful overalls in his and Zane’s palette of blue and teal, while Axton was given his signature black and red patterns on his shirt and shorts. One of Mother’s vines was wrapped securely around Zee’s chest, the end hooking into his wardship collar, all to ensure he couldn’t slip away. He was still given plenty of length on that vine, though, so he could have room to run. Two birds with one stone, as the saying went.
Right next to Axton on his left was Marcus, his beloved boyfriend. He had traded his typical solid white garb for something warmer and more floral, an open shirt that hung loosely over his bare chest, colored light green with orange-gold flowers all over, and there was also a pair of shorts of similar make hugging his hips.
Between them on the picnic blanket was a large basket full of the food that Mother had brought along for this get-together, and all the plates and cutlery required to consume it. Hot dogs with mustard and relish, crisp spring rolls, ham and cheese pinwheels, and lemon shortbread cookies, topped off with Italian sodas in the boys’ colors – cherry red for Axton, orange for Marcus. There was also a stack of books and everyone’s pads sitting close by, all containing material about little space.
Understanding Littleness.
How To Care For Your Delightful Little Sprout In The Compact.
The First Little Sprout: Picture Book Edition!
Bedtime Stories For Your Little Sprout <3.
Tips For A New Plarent!
And countless more. Along with the myriad articles opened on everyone’s pads that Axton was studying. Marcus sat next to him, one of the books open on his lap, conversing with his boyfriend while they studied the text and enjoyed each other’s presence. Across from them was Chloros, who was calmly reading one of the books herself, one vine dipped in a cup of clear fluid… vitamin water, Axton figured.
“You know,” Axton said in between bites of perfectly-cooked ham and cheese, “how do you know so much about all this ‘little’ stuff? You haven’t been here as long as Zane has.”
Marcus smirked, squeezing his boyfriend’s hand. He took a bite from the spring roll held between his chopsticks, chewing, then gulping it down before he answered. “Torn introduced me to the concept of little space shortly after they took me as their floret. As it turned out, they liked being little sometimes too, and they were ecstatic to learn I can play into that.”
Axton quirked a brow at that. “That Torn? Your owner? Kinda hard to believe.”
“Affini come in all shapes and sizes, Ax,” Marcus replied, laughing. “Plus, before I got picked up, I had been dating a guy for a bit who liked being treated like he was a kid sometimes. It was awkward for me at first, but I ended up being awesome at it, and it turned out to be a natural fit for Torn. And…” That smirk grew wider. “I suppose that’s kinda why they submitted to me despite owning me on paper.”
“Even Affini like to be submissive sometimes,” Mother commented. “It all depends on what makes them feel fulfilled in life. Even master caregivers like us enjoy being cared for occasionally.”
Axton tried to imagine Mother being made little. And he found that he couldn’t. He didn’t know how or why… all he knew was that it just wasn’t fitting for her. She was Mother, not Daughter.
He briefly wondered if he, too, would make a good little… then dismissed that thought. It didn’t really appeal to him…
“Didn’t take long before I found this place called the Blueberry Corral,” Marcus continued, while finishing his spring roll and acquiring another. “It’s a little sprout daycare that I regularly volunteer at.”
“Little sprout?” Axton parroted, finishing his pinwheel and sipping his soda to wash it down.
Marcus nodded. “It’s what the Compact uses to refer to sophonts who regularly enter little space, either part or full time. Sometimes, part of caring for a little sprout involves having them hang around other little sprouts, both to get acquainted with it when away from their caregiver, and experience childhood they may not have had before they came into the Compact.”
Axton picked up a hot dog and bit into it, chewing thoughtfully. That made a certain amount of sense. He could definitely see why Zane accepted Zee’s existence – with how much of a dumpster fire his own childhood and most of his life was, he could understand how freeing it must feel to finally get a better one, with a parental figure who would always be there for him no matter what. Though, he did wonder…
He finished his hot dog and continued, “Is it only a child-like state of mind that you’re brought into, or…”
Marcus flipped the page of his book, swallowing his bite, before reaching for one of the cookies. “Not always. Sometimes you can be brought into ‘middle space’, where you’re more like a teenager. So more mature, but only by a small amount.”
Axton was about to reply, before he saw motion on the edge of his vision. He glanced up at Mother, who was occupied with holding Zee and chatting with him. He overheard Zee say something about playing with someone named Simon, and Mother rumbled before agreeing to it. And then, Zee was off, dashing away towards an orange-haired, heavyset man wearing light pink. Axton saw the man, Simon, he presumed, turn to face Zee, and they briefly chatted before Simon put his hands under Zee’s arms and lifted him up into the air, spinning him around. Delighted laughs left Zee’s lips, and Axton found himself laughing, too.
That definitely filled him with joy. Simon was not only a wonderful friend and lover to Zane, but he was a fine playmate for Zee. Life in the Compact really was so much better, he knew...
Marcus must have been reading his thoughts. “You don’t have to worry about little Zee going without supervision. He’s always got someone caring for him. In fact, maybe he should come by the Corral some time, I think it’ll be perfect for him to make some friends outside of your family here.”
“You’re positive it’ll be good for him?” Axton inquired.
“One hundred percent, babe. I think it’d be wonderful for Zee to have some friends of his own outside of Zane’s circles. You know.” There was that smirk again. “For enrichment.”
Axton snorted. “Seems like everything the Compact offers is for ‘enrichment.’”
“You betcha,” Marcus said, before leaning in to kiss his boyfriend on the cheek. That prompted Axton to blush again. “And I’d say you are my enrichment. Ax.~”
“Goodness, you two are adorable,” Mother said adoringly, clapping her hands together.
“’m not,” Axton protested, trying to hide his face in his hands.
“Babe, like it or not, you are adorable. It’s better if you just admit it right away, save everyone some time,” Marcus said with a chuckle.
“Nooo…”
Mother sounded unconvinced, judging by her scoff. “Axton, darling, do I need to prove it to you?”
He straightened, staring at her, and shook his head. “Uh, no, no you don’t-”
“I think you do, Chloros,” Marcus cut in, grinning. “Maybe remind him that you broke him for a reason.”
“Marcus!” Axton protested, turning to regard his boyfriend with narrowed eyes. Marcus just looked back at him with the biggest shit-eating grin Axton had ever seen.
“You do have a point, Marcus,” Mother said suddenly. He didn’t get a chance to ask what she meant, because several appendages belonging to his Mother shot out in his direction. He yelped in surprise, hands automatically darting up to protect himself, before they all coiled around his body in a tight grip, but not uncomfortably so.
Mother’s vines snared his legs, arms, and torso as he was lifted up into the air, his book falling onto the picnic blanket, and then deposited on her lap… with his head nestled comfortably against her chest. The very same chest he had spent good part of yesterday attached to, and he felt the strong urge to latch on again, while she perched him upon her thighs. She… she was safe. Mother was safe. She would keep him safe, safe, safe...
“Something on your mind, sweetie?” his Mother cooed, rubbing his jawline while he was parked in her lap. A warm feeling percolated through his body, radiating outward from where she touched him. It was a gesture that was mildly affectionate, but achieved the intended result of making him slouch submissively while looking up at her.
He was ready to sling a cocksure quip at her. But all he could was stare, blushing bright pink, prompting her to laugh with pure, angelic radiance in her voice. “Oh, what am I saying, of course there’s something on your mind. It’s me.~”
He’d be a huge liar if he disagreed with her.
“Wow, I didn’t think you’d get any cuter, and here we are.” That grin was still plastered on Marcus’ face. Axton wanted to crawl back over and kiss it off of him. A lot of the time, that worked to shut down the teasing… and make his boyfriend explode like a horny grenade under him. One of his favorite pastimes, really.
“He’ll be even cuter in a moment.~”
Axton’s attention was drawn away from Marcus to something Mother was holding in front of her son’s face, held in one of her vines. That something was one of the hot dogs. A thick, meaty tube of sausage, perfectly cooked with grill marks scored onto the top, with a yellow squiggle of mustard on top of the meat, accompanied by bits of yellow-green relish on the sides inside of the bun. It looked and smelled delicious…
He instinctively leaned forward to take a bite. And it was only after a second passed that he realized he wasn’t able to. Two floral feelers had found him, one wrapped around his collar-clad throat and pulling him back until his head pressed against Mother’s breasts again, while another pressed under his chin to push his mouth closed for him. Right then, Axton felt a pulse of… something.
It wasn’t negative. It wasn’t positive, either. It was… it was…
Commanding.
Mother was about to command him.
“Since you clearly have trouble pacing yourself,” Mother growled in a way that compelled a more primitive part of Axton’s mind to back down and submit, “I’ll do the pacing for you.”
Knowing his place as her son did nothing to stop a tide of indignation from rising inside of him, especially since Marcus was watching. “But, Mother, I-”
“None of that, sweetie. Now, open.”
Then she did something that he knew would reinforce his place in this new dynamic, a dynamic that took what little autonomy and power he had left away. Something that inspired acceptance from him, not resistance. Something that forced him to forget about his lack of dignity in this moment.
She tapped his left cheek with her right index finger.
Immediately, what felt like a long-dormant reflex came to life, making his jaw hang slack for her. Only then did she move the hot dog closer, fitting the first eighth of it between his teeth. He wanted to close his mouth and bite into it, but the affectionate, dominant creeper of a vine under his chin reacted faster than him. It grabbed on and forced his mouth to stay open, denying him a chance at mastication.
“Mm, still resisting… but no objections, either. Good boy.~”
A pathetic whine escaped his open mouth at that. His eyes darted forward to see Marcus watching this happen with his hands clasped together. His expression was full of glee at Axton’s expense… but also, somehow, hope. Hope to see Axton break further, somehow?
Mother forced that train of thought off the rails by stroking his jaw with the vine she was holding his mouth open with. Her grip slackened some. He obeyed right away, catching the hot dog between his incisors, tearing meat, bread, and condiments off and depositing it on his tongue. Something told him he shouldn’t chew yet, and so he stayed still.
“So obedient… you have no idea how good this feels, baby,” Mother cooed, lowering her voice as she spoke right into his ear. “To hold you just like this, to train you… to compel you… to claim you...~”
Axton made another noise. Of what, he didn’t want to say. He was aglow with embarrassment, and… excitement, somehow. A paradox that just made his submission that much more intense in his broken mind.
“Now, chew.” A stroke of his chin now. He obeyed. His canines found purchase in that portion he had bitten off. An explosion of flavor graced his taste buds – the meat, savory and juicy. The mustard, tart, tangy, with a hint of spice. The relish, sweet, complimentary, a valuable asset to the full package. Lucky his mouth was full of food, otherwise he’d have moaned.
When he chewed enough, he felt Mother’s touch against his throat next. “Now, swallow.~”
He swallowed. He gulped that chunk of finely chopped and diced food down his gullet, sending it down towards his stomach. And then… she tapped his cheek again. Once more, his mouth opened. She rubbed his jaw, and once more, he bit off another chunk of hot dog. She felt his chin, and once more, he mashed that next bite into tasty mush. She slithered over his throat, and once more, he brought that chunk into his stomach with a good swallow.
Over and over, the process repeating over the course of a minute, until that hot dog was finally gone, tucked away into his gut. Axton’s heart thumped, his skin tingled, his manhood twitched. Somehow, against all reason, he was… actually getting aroused by this. Aroused by Mother forcing him to pace himself, feeding him like he was a child in her grasp…
“Now, let’s wash that down with some milk.” He heard the distinct rustle of her top being opened, and whatever thoughts he had at that point suddenly glitched out.
“W-wait, I-”
His words were silenced, because his head was turned and then firmly pressed against the glimmering turquoise rose bud that he had spent yesterday loving on. Axton huffed hotly as he was made to nurse from her all over again. But, instead of a perfect seal around that nub, and him settling in for a long while, she used her free hand to grab onto her mound, squeeze it a bit, and gush the milk he had come to love into his mouth before pulling him off again.
The flavor… oh, he wanted more. Did her milk get sweeter, somehow? Or had he reached such depths of obedience that he perceived it to be sweeter than it really was? In any case, he needed to have her exquisite life-giving milk filling his belly. Something told him to keep it in his mouth, though, and so, he sat still, peering up at her expectantly.
Mother returned the stare for a moment, her gaze full of loving dominance, before she touched his throat for the briefest of moments. He accepted the command, gulping that mouthful of milk down. Axton breathed shakily, heart pounding thunderously behind his ribs.
“You’re adapting so well to my training,” Mother said. She sounded so triumphant. Powerful. Basking in this victory over him… no, not over him. With him.
It was a victory for the two of them. He was sure of it.
“Marcus,” Mother added without taking her eyes off of her son. “Do you agree I should do this more often? With Axton and Zane?”
Axton didn’t dare look, but Marcus’ answer told him all he needed to know. “I mean, you got this far, Chloros. They're as good as yours already. Just, uh, remember Axton's bond with me, yeah?”
“Of course, dear. Pinnates deserve to flourish together, after all.”
“Awesome.”
Axton could only sit there in quiet subservience as Mother taught him the proper way to eat in her care. Steady, practiced bites of food, with gushes of milk to wash it down, again and again.
In the back of his mind, Axton waited for that protector persona of his to rise and demand he fight back. It didn’t. In fact, it seemed to be entirely gone. Now there was just Axton. Axton, older brother to Zane and Zee. Axton, eldest son of Mother.
Axton. Mother’s floret in the making.
Such clarity was liberating.
A long while later, Axton was allowed to climb off of Mother’s lap, and be seated next to Marcus again. He was… rather lazy all of a sudden. Even if he wanted to move, he couldn’t really make himself actually do it. He just leaned against his boyfriend, unable to speak, awash with embarrassment and arousal. A duo of emotions that were really fucking with his head.
Marcus, thankfully, didn’t push him too much. He chose to wrap an arm around his boyfriend, pulling Axton close and letting him rest his head upon Marcus’s shoulder. Meanwhile, that overwhelmingly powerful radiance Mother exhibited had faded, replaced by a more comfortable, gentle aura as she looked upon the two with glee.
“My, he really is cute like that,” Mother chuckled as she put her top back together, the leaf secured over her heaving breast. “I appear to have put him into… what’s the phrase?”
“A food coma,” Marcus said helpfully. He gave Axton a tender stroke over his arm, smiling. “Or something like it.”
Mercifully, Axton was allowed to sit there and rest, staring off into space. He was allowed to just… exist, after that tender, yet also incredibly hot sequence he had just been put through. A sequence that should have melted his brain out of his ears. He was still surprised that he was alive and conscious after that, instead of reduced to a pile of horny goop.
His eyes were unfocused as he let his gaze wander. Zee was still playing behind Mother, though he was sitting on the ground with Simon beside him. And then, he saw movement. Two big, furry entities approaching the pair, both of them rather portly. One had a navy blue pelt and appeared to be masculine, sporting a bare chest with some kind of necklace dangling from his throat, and grey-black shorts around his pelvis. The other seemed more feminine, with a rust-hued hide, wide hips that swayed with her motions, and a pair of breasts only a little smaller than Zee’s head, held up by a black sports bra. Both of them looked like foxes…
...wait, foxes?
He blinked, trying to focus, seeing that they were chatting amicably with Zee and Simon. He vaguely heard laughter from that range, and saw the red one pet Zee on the head. And shortly after, the pair left, disappearing to somewhere…
Were they… like Harken, somehow?
“...hey, Axton, honey,” Marcus said, squeezing Axton’s shoulder. Axton blinked his eyes again, forcing himself to sharpen.
“Huh, what?” he said dumbly.
“I was saying, I think it’d be a good idea to have Zee visit the Blueberry Corral. He’ll get to be around other littles and experience what it’s like outside of the castle and the Park here.”
Oh. Right. That made sense. Yeah, it definitely made sense. Axton nodded, muttering, “Yeah, yeah, sounds like a plan. When can he, um… enroll?”
“I’d say give him like two or three more days before we bring it up to him. And let Zane and Zee decide, together.”
“I concur,” Mother said. “Both of them need time to adapt before we get them to the next stage of life as a system.”
All Axton could do was nod in agreement.
The picnic concluded shortly after that. When they went home later that day, Axton didn’t know what to think about the events of today, except for one thing.
He liked being trained like that. And he wanted, no, needed more of it in his life. He needed it like he needed air in his lungs, blood in his veins, marrow in his bones.
He needed Mother. And… he liked that he needed her.
Being needy was so good.
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