by C. W. Gray
Xaran looked much healthier now that Death and Wyatt had managed to create a treatment to help with the symptoms of Pleuli Feciose. A cure was still a long way off, but the symptoms were what killed the patient. Xaran’s light green skin and purple markings glowed with health, and he’d managed to put weight and muscle back on his tall frame.
“Who I allow in my office is no concern of yours,” Death said, voice abrupt. “What do you want?”
Xaran narrowed his eyes. “You should be glad of my call, hybrid. Fasi Juren may let you mouth off to him, but I will have your respect.”
“Earn it.” Death stood behind Morgan and braced his hands on his son-in-law’s shoulders. He liked Morgan, even when he was annoying. “What do you want?”
“Your progress report is late.”
“I sent it yesterday. Check with your assistant.” Death kept his face blank. This asshole had a way of setting his nerves on edge, but he knew it would be a political nightmare if Death were to take a little trip to Dramacus and kill the fucker. Probably would be worth it.
“Simply report to me now.” Xaran leaned back in his chair and beckoned with his hand. “I don’t have time to waste.”
“Neither do I.” Death leaned over Morgan’s shoulder and ended the call. “That man needs his soul harvested.”
“Agreed.” Morgan glared at the blank screen. “He treated Wyatt like your fucking assistant when we were on Dramacus. Wyatt’s the best doctor in the whole galaxy.”
Wyatt set the second empty container down and stood up, looking a little better than before his lunch. “You may be a teeny tiny bit biased, handsome.”
Morgan shrugged. “Possibly, but it’s still the truth.”
Wyatt gave Death a worried look. “The Lord Admiral won’t like that you were rude, Dad.”
“Well, I don’t like having to talk to the pompous shit face. We all have to make sacrifices.”
“Dad,” Wyatt said, voice full of surprise and humor. “Remember when you wouldn’t even ask your supervisor for a new office chair because you hate confrontation?”
Morgan grinned. “A single Crellic Element possesses the man, and the next thing you know, he’s telling a planetary leader to fuck off.”
Death shook his head. “Alright now, back to work. Morgan, go to wherever it is you go. Wyatt and I have to discuss the newest test results.”
Morgan jumped up and saluted. “Yes, sir!”
Wyatt leaned up and kissed his mate’s cheek. “But first, will you go get lunch for Dad since he gave me his?”
The look of pure adoration in Morgan’s eyes when he looked at Wyatt made Death smile. He had grown to care a great deal for his son-in-law because of looks like that.
He thought for a moment of a pair of green eyes that carried that same look. A sudden pang of melancholy filled him. Death wanted his own mate at his side. Val’s kisses were a thing of wonder, and he needed them. Now.
“I’ll grab him something, kitten,” Morgan said, grinning. “Anything for you.”
My Valentine would bring me lunch if I’d let him, Death thought grumpily. A light above his desk shattered as he froze then accelerated the currents running through the wiring.
Morgan gave him a knowing look. “Aww, did our kiss make you jealous, Verion? Do you need to make a call to maintenance now? Maybe a certain maintenance engineer can come change the light?”
Death gave him a flat look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll report the light, then we can get to work. Go away, Morgan.”
Morgan laughed as he left, and Death sent a message to maintenance.
A half hour later, Wyatt and he had managed to settle down and work through the results of the tests. Death smiled at the way Wyatt scrunched his nose when he concentrated and the lock of brown hair that always seemed to fall in his eyes.
He wished he could freeze this moment and save it for eternity. He had missed so much time with his son as Wyatt was growing up. Being able to spend time with him now was a dream come true.
He absently tapped his own flat abdomen. He wished he could have been the father Wyatt needed when he was younger, but he had begun to make his peace with being the father Wyatt needed now.
He sat up straight and smiled as he sensed the most beautiful soul he had ever met moving closer. His mate was a kind and sweet man that Death in no way deserved. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t cling to him as long as possible.
“Knock, knock.” Val opened the door and poked his head in, green eyes searching for Death. “Can I come in? I heard there was a light that needed changing.”
Wyatt grinned as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands on his belly. “Please come in, Val. Dad accidently busted a light. We’d appreciate your help changing it.”
Val slipped in, and Death lost his train of thought, as usual. Valentine Philbert was a large, fierce-looking Betonize man with sharp fangs and claws. His black hair was a little too long to be fashionable, and his brown skin was riddled with scars he’d picked up working in maintenance. He even had a few on his face from an electrical accident.
Death’s mate looked like he belonged in the soldier ranks, but his heart was too tender for that. As big as Val was, he was a gentle man who hated the thought of hurting any living thing. The aura of his soul was a calm, steady rain to Death’s senses.
Death stood, feeling his cheeks heat. “I know you’re working across the station. I’m sorry you had to come this whole way.”
“It’s just a tram ride. I’d walk the distance if you needed me to.” Val leaned down and nuzzled his nose against Death’s neck. “Did ya get agitated again?”
“Perhaps.” Death shrugged, feigning unconcern. The tension drained from him when Val hugged him, and Death snuggled closer. Maybe he had been a tiny bit agitated. It didn’t matter now. Val was here.
“You work too hard, Veri.” Val squeezed him tight and lifted him off his feet. “Everyone needs a break sometimes. Do I need to start checking on you during the day?”
Wyatt squeaked, hands covering his cheeks. “Please, please do that, Val. You could meet us for lunch. Morgan comes by most of the time too. Gods, you two are cuter than I remembered. I feel like I should be taking pictures and sending them to everyone, but that may be Morgan’s influence on me.”
Death kissed Val’s chin, then settled his feet back on the ground. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Wyatt, if you try recording Val and I, your personal communicator will somehow mysteriously break.”
Wyatt pouted and put his comm back in his pocket.
“I know you can take care of yourself,” Val said, kissing the top of Death’s head. “I just like knowing you’re eating well and taking breaks when you need to.”
Death leaned back into Val’s arms. “I’m trying.”
His words were simple, but Death knew Val understood him.
Val cupped his face and gave him a soft look. “That’s all I ask. Now, why isn’t your personal assistant at his desk? I just walked right in. That’s not good security, Veri.”
“Dad fired him.” Wyatt picked his tablet up again and started running a new simulation. “Dumbass took a bribe from King Dickhead and sent another call through to Dad.”
Val’s green eyes narrowed to slits. “I don’t like that man.”
Death patted his shoulder and moved out of Val’s arms. “Neither do I, but he’s a necessary evil.”
“I never understood that saying,” Val said, scowling. “Evil should never be necessary.”
Death thought over the many cycles of war he’d lived through when he belonged to the Crellic Queen. “Perhaps evil is only as necessary as we allow it to be.”
Wyatt watched them carefully. “So philosophical.”
Val flushed and ducked his head. “Well, Lorry has been doing well in the engineering offices. Do you want me to ask him to be your assistant until you find someone reliable?”
“Would he mind?” Death asked, not sure how he felt about
Lorry having to deal with people like Xaran.
Val’s son was much like his father and shouldn’t have to deal with cruel assholes all day long. He shouldn’t have to deal with me either. Death had managed to avoid Lorry for this long but knew he would have to face him at some point.
“I don’t think he’d mind.” Val moved to the light and set his toolbox on Death’s desk. “He hasn’t really found his spot yet, so changing offices shouldn’t be a problem. He could come over right after his morning class.”
Death knew Val’s son was finishing school this year and had specialized in administrative support. He didn’t plan on heading to a university, and the gods knew Charybdis Station needed all the administrative help it could get. The station was growing by leaps and bounds.
“If he agrees, I’d appreciate it,” Death said finally. He really would have to adjust to the young man eventually anyway. Even if it frightens me. At the moment, Val and Death still lived separately, though it was starting to make less and less sense for them to do so.
“I’ll let him know.” Val smiled, then turned his attention to the light. He fixed it quickly and kissed Death one more time before leaving.
Wyatt waited until the door shut, then stared at Death. “Why haven’t I seen you two together like that before? He comes over to visit you every day and you two lock yourselves away in your study. That right there, Dad? That was beautiful. You love him, and it’s so easy to see when you’re together like that. Plus, everyone knows you’re mates. Blabbermouth Fire tells everyone your business. What’s holding you back?”
Death winced. “It’s complicated.”
“Complicated?” Wyatt huffed. “You love him, and he clearly adores you. Make a life with him, Dad. You’re allowed to be happy.”
Death turned away, hiding his face. He closed his eyes and breathed out, fingers dancing on his abdomen again. I’m allowed to be happy.
3
Val waved at Morgan as he passed him at the entrance of the medical center. Wyatt’s mate had a bag of food, and Val hoped it was going to Verion. He would have been happy to bring him something, but Val had noticed his mate got distinctly prickly when he thought Val was coddling him.
The medical center was bustling with activity. The station was still processing the massive number of refugees it had taken in, many of whom were in need of medical attention, and it had kept all Charybdis Station’s medical staff busy for the past year.
Even Verion did shifts in the temporary clinics set up in the medical sector, and Val’s mate was not a people person. There was a reason Verion hadn’t become a medical doctor.
Val hopped on the tram. His own lunch break would be over in about fifteen minutes, so he pulled his lunch bag from his toolbox and worked his way through a peanut butter and piwiberry sandwich as the tram sped toward the edges of the station.
With so many new citizens, space was becoming an issue. Fortunately, the station didn’t have a finite amount of space. It could be added onto if needed, even though that meant a lot of work, money, and time.
Val pulled his second sandwich from his box, then paused. Across the tram was a big-eyed little Wello girl. She was too small for her age and stared at his sandwich hungrily.
Her mother’s head drooped as she tried to stay awake. Val recognized the look of physical and emotional exhaustion. Refugee.
He winked at the little girl and tossed her the sandwich.
She grinned and caught it with both hands, quickly opening the wrapping. After setting aside half, she dug into the rest with gusto. Val dug around in his lunch bag and handed over the Fallon orange and tiny box of cherry tomatoes too. I’m not hungry anyway.
He watched her carefully devour half the food and wrap the rest.
The tram pulled to a stop, and the girl’s mother jerked, coming awake. Her eyes instantly went to her daughter, checking that she was there.
The girl handed her the rest of the food and leaned against her side, eyes sleepy now that her belly was full.
“Missy, where did this food come from?”
Val stood and left the tram before the girl could answer, cheeks flushing.
The newest sector of Charybdis Station was focused on housing. The sheer number of engineers needed to help with construction meant Val spent his afternoons helping there instead of doing his usual maintenance work.
Movement behind one of the many dumpsters around the jobsite caught his eye. A small face with a pointed chin and big brown eyes peeked from behind it.
He dug out the extra bag of food he packed every day and set it on the ground. “Hey, brought you some ham sandwiches, little bit. If you feel like talking, come on inside. We’re on the third floor today.”
He backed away slowly and went inside. It had only been a week, but the little runaway was still pretty skittish. Val was afraid she’d run if he tried to approach her, and enforcement had not been successful in catching her when they came by.
Val only felt a little guilty for letting them think she’d moved on to a new spot on the station. They were doing their best to get her so she could be placed in a foster home. At least I can keep her fed if I know where she’s at.
He sighed and took the stairs to the third floor. Their current project was a new apartment building.
His friend, Poppy, was already back from the break. She worked on welding the frames of the second floor together, goggles obscuring her purple eyes. The Siren’s horns spiraled up from her messy bun of dark purple hair.
Clyde, another of Val’s friends, worked on the other end of the unit. His friend was an older Grell with soft, light blue fur. His left leg was twisted from an injury. Clyde had been offered a new one, but the man was a stubborn ass. He wanted to keep his body parts, even if they didn’t work quite right.
Val grabbed his goggles and got to work with his welding torch. With any luck, they would have this floor ready for plumbing and electrical by next week.
One thing he’d learned fast in maintenance was that he had to know at least a little bit about everything. He had spent most of his life on Union Station, maintaining a large factory that employed most of the folks in his neighborhood. Working on Charybdis Station was a whole new experience. The place was a work of art, and Val loved being a part of keeping it running.
A little while later, his arms were stiff and tired, but they had finished the room. He turned his torch off and set it on the floor before pushing his goggles to the top of his head.
Poppy stretched her arms over her head. “Damn, this is tedious. I’d rather be playing in the sewage mains.”
Clyde pushed his own goggles up and arched a brow. “Really?”
Poppy grinned. “Okay, not really. Still, I miss our normal work.”
Val thought of the tired mother and little girl on the tram. “Think about what it’s for. The refugees lost everything. We can give them a little something back, right?”
Poppy patted his cheek. “You’re such a sweetheart, big guy.”
Clyde yawned. “Where did you go for lunch anyway?”
“A friend needed a bulb changed.”
Poppy snorted. “Is that what afternoon quickies are called nowadays?”
Val flushed. “It really was a bulb.” He tilted his head in thought, then grinned. “Not that I wouldn’t have been happy to travel across the station for an afternoon quickie.”
Clyde laughed along politely but gave Val a nervous look.
Val shook his head. “Spit it out, old man. What’s worrying you?”
“Everyone knows you’re mated to that scientist,” Clyde said finally. “The one with the freaky eyes that can take your soul.”
Poppy tapped her chin. “Are you saying his eyes can take your soul or that he can take your soul? What would a pair of eyes even do with a bunch of souls?”
Clyde gave her an irritated look. “You heard what they said too.”
Poppy winced and smacked Val’s arm. “Okay. All joking aside, people really do talk a lot about hi
m. I was there when he did that thing to the fleet attacking the station. I had to help clean up the bodies. He’s a dangerous creature, Val. Are you sure you need to be spending so much time with him?”
Val shook his head, irritated. “Everyone sure loves Verion when they need something from him. When he killed those attackers, he saved the lives of thousands of Charybdis Station soldiers. He even went to that stupid planet, Dramacus, and helped their king, even though the man’s an asshole. I don’t understand why everyone’s all upset about Veri now. He’s just a person. A wonderous, sexy as hell, intelligent person.” Val picked up his torch. “Let’s get back to work.”
Poppy gave him a sympathetic look and went to the next room on the schedule.
Clyde shuffled his feet. “It’s not just that he’s dangerous, Val. He’s a fancy scientist that advises the Lord Admiral and the whole damn council. You’re…” Clyde winced. “You’re a maintenance man. Fated or not, do you really think you two can last?”
Val put his goggles back in place and turned his back on his friend. He went to the new room and started in his own corner. He focused on the twisting metal in front of him for a long while.
He was well aware that Verion and he came from different backgrounds. Veri’s family was moderately wealthy and well-educated. His mate was a damn genius with several degrees and accomplishments to his name even though he was only in his mid-forties. He had traveled all over the galaxy and had helped save the world.
Val, on the other hand, had never traveled away from Union Station until he’d come here with his son. He’d lived in the same neighborhood for most of his life and hadn’t even minded. He was a homebody. All he needed was his family and his friends.
Then there was Death. Verion had untold memories and powers from the Crellic Element that had melded with him. Clyde and Poppy had asked him all kinds of questions about Death and Verion, as if they were two people. They didn’t get that there wasn’t Death and Verion. They weren’t two fucking people floating around in one body. There was just Veri.
