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]

"You rock, I hold," he suggests. "And - don't tell anyone yet, alright?"

It's one thing to be protective of the little one; it's quite another to be possessive.

[getfeldsparred]

"Don't tell anyone about what? You calling yourself that?" Feldspar cocks their head and starts rocking the crib rhythmically and gently. "Why not?"

[videointhenoise]

"I - tried to integrate the best I can," he explains. "But this is something I can't do."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar falls silent for a moment, clearly taking some time to think through their response. It's important that they get this right - Kent doesn't need to feel defensive about how he's caring for the little one.

"You don't need to always do things the Hearthian way, you know," they decide. "And it's not unheard of, Hearthians taking ownership of raising one or two of the hatchlings. Do you know what we care about? That the hatchling is loved and cared-for. That's it."

[videointhenoise]

Feldspar will see it. The way that his shoulders droop. The way that he calms. The way that he breathes out.

"I just don't want to - make life harder for them. But I love them, Felds. I love them and I want to give them the best life. And if that means a community, then so be it. But - if it means that I can do this more like how I was raised, how I'm familiar, then - I'm alright with that."

[getfeldsparred]

Oh. It was really weighing on him heavily. Feldspar inches closer, knocking their knees into his.

"You're more than alright with that, if what I'm seeing is right. You look really happy, Kent. I don't think anyone would deny that this suits you."

[videointhenoise]

"I am happy. I'm happy here with Lapis and with you." He reaches over and places his free hand on their wrist.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar leans forward to brush their head against Kent's. "And I think Lapis is asleep. Try to pull your hand back."

[videointhenoise]

He pulls his hand back from their little fingers and he places a hand in Feldspar's lap with a sigh. "This is the first night they've slept in their crib," he admits.

[getfeldsparred]

They’re not surprised to hear that at all. Lapis sleeps like they’ve been on someone’s stomach or lap for most of their little life. “You’ve spoiled them already, huh?”

[videointhenoise]

"That's my right," he laughs, standing up so he can just - plop right back into the bed.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar doesn’t follow Kent just yet, wanting to further strip down from their suit and into some comfortable trousers and a shirt. They choose one of Kent’s - it’s baggy, perfect for sleeping, and it smells like him.

“Yeah, yeah. Well, it’s on you when they won’t stand being put down.”

[videointhenoise]

"I'm not complaining about that," he murmurs, breathing out. He just woke up not half an hour before, but he's exhausted already.

Like he can never get enough sleep.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar flops into the bed beside Kent with a low sigh. Their bones are hurting a little - it’s a common occurrence these days, now that they’re no longer a hatchling.

They take a moment to pull the blanket up over Kent, anticipating that he’s going to start snoozing again. “Go to sleep. I’ll get Lapis if they wake.”

[videointhenoise]

"No you won't," he mutters, and he reaches over to take their hand in his. "You need to sleep. You just came from space."

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar laced their fingers together and sighs. “I slept in space. I’ll be fine. I’ve raised plenty of hatchlings before.”

[videointhenoise]

"You haven't raised Lapis," he points out and turns to wrap his arm around them. "I missed you."

[getfeldsparred]

“Raised Lapis? How long was I gone exactly?” they tease, laying their head against Kent’s chest. They melt against him, sore joints and all. “Missed you too.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent curls his arm around them. "It feels like five minutes and a thousand years, all at once," he murmurs, kissing their cheek and then finding their mouth with his lips.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar feels the same way; it’s all the time in the world and no time at all since they’ve been gone. They tilt their head to help Kent find their mouth and kiss him back, keeping it soft and as chaste as possible. Kent’s too tired for anything else.

[videointhenoise]

He's tired, but he loves them. He holds them tightly but rests against their shoulder and is out in moments.

Lapis sleeps a while but does cry in the middle of the night. Kent doesn't stir.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar, used to the cries of little hatchlings, wakes when they hear the quiet whimpering in the night. They rub their face and pull on their clothes, picking up Lapis and walking them into the kitchen for a feeding.

Lapis is a hungry little thing, and they quickly finish the hatchling paste and then cry to be rocked a bit. Feldspar brings them outside to sit under the stars a while, talking to them about the planets in their solar system.

[videointhenoise]

Kent wakes in the morning and stands slowly, rubbing his face. He reaches for the other side of the bed for Lapis but finds it empty. Panic clutches his heart and he starts to scramble for them.

[getfeldsparred]

When Lapis starts to close their eyes Feldspar stands back up and heads inside, humming a simple little tune as they walk through the sitting room and kitchen.

[videointhenoise]

Kent calls out their name, frightened enough to stand up and bang his knee on the side of the crib.