Kent/Feldspar

[videointhenoise]

"Just once more," they had said when Ellie's team petitioned for it. She was busy with Palmer, falling in love with science while he fell in love with God, and Kent was left to pick up the pieces. He wanted another damn go at it. The Machine had a pricetag in the billions; it was begging to be used again.

But they wouldn't let Ellie go. They wouldn't let just anyone go. They wanted someone who knew how it worked, who had been there from the beginning, but someone who isn't completely taken in by Ellie's words.

That leads them to a dozen people and they end up with Kent. He's blind, but that's not what decides it. They claim that he wouldn't hallucinate the way Ellie did. That he has a unique perspective.

And, he's already proven himself steady and loyal.

He experiences it all the way that Ellie does, but something goes wrong on the other end. Maybe another terrorist attack. Maybe not. All he knows is that he's in the sphere and then, suddenly, he's floating, unable to find his footing until a great crash and he slams into the bottom of the machine.

He groans, pulling his helmet on with a grunt and a wince.

"Fuck this," he mutters, finding the edge of the sphere with his hands. There was a door there somewhere. He just - has to find it.

Comments

[videointhenoise]

Riebeck takes it upon themselves to walk with Kent back to the cabin. Kent wishes them well and disappears inside.

And there he stays. He doesn't come to the radio, and he doesn't come out. He sleeps with little Lapis right next to him and he sings soft songs to them, encouraging and gentle. He feeds them like clockwork, gives them kisses when they squirm.

He holds them against his chest one afternoon and decides that it's time to take them outside to see the sunshine. He fashions a sling out of shirts and sets them in it, against his chest.

[getfeldsparred]

The slingshot maneuver works perfectly. Feldspar’s still chasing that high as they bring the ship down onto the launchpad, even as Slate comes up looking downright red in the face at the sight of the sun-blackened exterior.

“Ship held up great, don’t you think?” Feldspar calls out, hopping down from the hatch. “Interior is practically pristine. The stick came off of the steering but I shoved it back on.”

Slate is still grumbling something in response, looking like they’re seeing only the weeks of repair work ahead instead of their friend. Feldspar pays them no mind; they’re looking for Kent.

“He should have met me here. Where is he?”

Slate, mask already down and blowtorch at the ready, jerks their thumb towards the village proper. “Hatchlings were born the other night. He’s probably back in his cabin.”

The hatchlings were born? The hatchlings were born! Feldspar doesn’t bother to ask another question and takes off in the direction of the village, awkwardly unclamping their helmet as they run.

[videointhenoise]

Kent is exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, but he hasn't asked for anything in days. They have come to help and he's accepted, but he won't let anyone else take little Lapis from him.

He's claimed them in a way that only a human can, bonding with them in a deep, parental way rather than the community way. He knows it's not done like this, but he can't help it.

The thought of letting the little creature he's nurtured go is unfathomable.

He doesn't anticipate Feldspar back for another day, so he isn't expecting him as he walks down the path, whistling and singing to the delight of the wide-eyed tiny creature in the sling.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar bounds through the woods and cuts through well-used shortcuts when they were still just a hatchling themselves, hurrying to find Kent and any of the little hatchlings that await.

They didn’t expect to come across Kent directly on the path, but there he is, and there slung across their chest -

“What’s their name?” they blurt out before they can stop themselves.

[videointhenoise]

Kent startles quickly, but recovers, breathless with excitement to hear their stupid voice.

"Lapis," he says, taking them from the sling and holding them out.

[getfeldsparred]

“Lapis.”

What a beautiful name.

Feldspar reaches for the little hatchling, their shoulder brushing against Kent as they bring them up to their chest for the first of many cuddles.

“Oh, they’re so small, Kent. But they’re perfect - they’ve got little spots all over their face. Orange eyes, like a sunset. Pretty, pretty little Lapis. Hi there, I’m Feldspar.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent swallows back a lump in his throat. "That's the first time someone told me what they look like," he tells them softly. He steps closer, his hand on Feldspar's shoulder.

"They're perfect. They've been so sick..."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar looks at little Lapis firmly, then shakes their head. “They’re strong though,” they decide. “Real strong. They’re going to be just fine, I can tell these things.”

Kent though -

“You look exhausted, Kent. C’mon, let me take Lapis for a bit and make you dinner. I’m itching to make a stew.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent waves a hand. "I'm fine," he assures him. "The others have been helping, of course."

As much as Kent will allow.

[getfeldsparred]

“I know you’re fine,” they grin, elbowing Kent softly in the stomach. “I’m saying you’re exhausted. C’mon, let’s go home.”

Feldspar brings Lapis up to their face and coos at them sweetly, listening to their little snorts and breaths with a look of absolute adoration. “When you’re a little bigger I’ll take you to my ship. You’re gonna love it.”

They put Lapis back into Kent’s sling and takes his hand. “Tell me everything about them.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent accepts their small weight and something in him twists at the mention of the ship.

He's going to make sure they go as soon as they can.

"They're very - curious, right now. Hornfels tells me they're always watching and Gneiss said they're very alert now that they're stronger. They love to hear songs and music. I play the record for them a lot and I sing."

[getfeldsparred]

“I’ll have to play the harmonica for them. Would you like that, Lapis? Huh?” Feldspar smiles and looks down at the big-eyed hatchling, who is looking at Kent with big-eyed adoration. They love him.

“They’re taking it all in. It’s a big ol’ world out there, pebble, and you’re gonna see it all, aren’t ya? Yeah, I can tell.”

[videointhenoise]

"Big ol' solar system," he coos softly, stopping at the door and opening it for them. "They're probably hungry."

[getfeldsparred]

“They probably are,” Feldspar nods, “and so am I actually. Go sit and I’ll get Lapis their food and make us something.”

Feldspar gives a little tickle under Lapis’ chin and then slips inside the cabin, taking off their boots and pieces of their flight suit to get more comfortable.

[videointhenoise]

Kent takes the little one and sits down with them in a chair. "Tell me about the slingshot," he tells them softly, making himself comfortable as he gently rocks the resting baby.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar moves into the adjoining bathroom to wipe themselves down, keeping the door open of course so they can talk to Kent and listen to the little one.

“Went great! Better than expected. The sun shot me right back out - speed didn’t even register on the instruments.”

They chuckle to themselves and step back into the kitchen, looking through the pantry for various things to put into a stew. The jar of paste for the hatchling is out, so they take that to Kent with a spoon.

“Slate’s pissed because the exterior is charred black, but it’s all fine.” They pause and press a kiss to Kent’s forehead.

They’ve missed him, and this entire look for him is…well. It suits him.

[videointhenoise]

Kent dips the spoon into the paste and feeds little Lapis who is more than happy to chew on the paste and the spoon.

"Of course it is. Slate will be alright."

He closes his eyes and leans back, intending on taking just a moment to breathe, but then the spoon and the now-empty jar clatters to the floor as he sleeps.

[getfeldsparred]

The clattering of the jar and spoon startles Feldspar a little, and they quickly look between Lapis, also starting to snooze from their full belly, and Kent leaning back in his chair softly snoring. They grin lopsidedly and pick up the things from the floor, tiding up the kitchen and pantry a bit and then taking Lapis carefully out of the sling.

“Kent,” they mutter, shaking him gently by the shoulder. “Kent, babe, wake up. You need to sleep in your bed, come on.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent starts a little when Lapis is pulled away, but he relaxes when he hears Feldspar's voice.

"Babe?" he murmurs with a quiet chuckle. "Who taught you that?"

[getfeldsparred]

“You did, babe,” they laugh, leaning down to help him to his feet. “Go lie down and I’ll put Lapis on top of you. They’re already getting wiggly without their Kent.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent grumbles a little and stands up, finding his way to the bed and settling on it. "Whatever you made smells good," he says as he closes his eyes again.

[getfeldsparred]

They sit down next to Kent on the bed, kissing Lapis on their little head and rock-bouncing them back to sleep.

“Yeah? You can have some after you nap a bit. When was the last time you slept?”

[videointhenoise]

He breathes out, letting the world spin under him.

"I've gotten a few hours here and there."

[getfeldsparred]

Once Kent’s on his back Feldspar lays little Lapis down on his chest, pausing to smooth Kent’s hair from his face.

“I’m here now, you can rest properly. If Lapis wakes I’ll take care of them.”

[videointhenoise]

"Okay."

He breathes in, on arm around Lapis to hold them close, and it takes two seconds before he's snoring.

He sleeps for hours and hours, only waking when his stomach protests.