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

[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.

[getfeldsparred]

They had been taking their sweet time returning to the bedroom, but the second they hear Kent call out they’re running for the doorway. “Hey, hey! It’s okay! We’re here, we’re here. Lapis is fine.”

They know what Kent wants and quickly slip Lapis into his arms. “Here, it’s okay. They were crying so I went to feed and rock them.”

[videointhenoise]

Kent holds them close and reaches for Feldspar as well. "Jesus...I completely forgot. It's like...I've been in such a fog. I completely forgot you were back."

And he kisses them, pressing the little hatchling between them.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar breathes a sigh of relief and shakes their head, nudging their nose against his. “It’s okay, you’re exhausted. But we’re okay, so lie back down. Lapis can lie on top of you again if it makes you feel better.”

[videointhenoise]

He nods. "As long as you're right there, too."

Truthfully, Kent feels better with both of them there.

He sits on the bed and settles back down, placing Lapis on his chest so they can hear his breathing.

[getfeldsparred]

“Sure,” they laugh, “where else would I go? My ship’s being repaired.”

They help Kent settle with Lapis, endeared by the sight to the point they just sort of need a moment to take it in. The elders sometimes sleep with the hatchlings like that - but only the fussy ones, or when they’re ill. This isn’t like that at all.

Feldspar crawls into the bed after him and covers up their legs with the blanket, tucking themselves against Kent’s arm. Lapis is snoring quietly, clearly happy to be back in their Kent-bed.

[videointhenoise]

Lapis is so pleased with their accommodations that they don't wake until the morning, which is a very nice surprise. Kent sits up as they fuss and he reaches over to take Feldspar's hand. "Is is actually morning?" he mutters.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar, as is their habit after returning from a long expedition, is still fast asleep when Kent takes their hand. They rouse slowly, blinking their eyes as they try to adjust to that early-morning light.

“Yeesh,” they yawn, slowly pulling themselves upright. “Looks like it. Did Lapis not wake up again last night?”

[videointhenoise]

"Nope. Not until now." And they are making their hunger known. They might have slept, but now they are demanding food.

Loudly.

Kent hands them to Feldspar.

[getfeldsparred]

Feldspar takes Lapis with a quiet, albeit satisfied sigh. They get up with the hatchling, spinning their way to the kitchen to get them to stop crying for two seconds while they get their food.