Come on, Ade, meet the family! - Sincerely, Cas

[chellemrys]

As soon as Alecia retreated, Cas made a move towards his love to grab him, to steal him away, but found Sabe had discovered their secret all too quickly. He caught Sabe's narrow eyed glance; his father was staring him down now in wonder, searching his face as though Cas was a stranger.


Cas went to snatch his love away once more, but Alecia had hastily returned with the food. Adrian reached out and took the bowl, and Cas' eyes widened- knowing instantly it was all over. He pressed his palm up into his hair, rubbing his right temple as a red tone invaded his cheeks. The agent's eyes flicked from Alecia to Adrian, squinting at his love and mouthing darkly the word 'traitor', before starting at the bowl of stew Alecia had had shattering upon the wooden floor. Sabe consequently cursed, ducking down to clean the mess she instantly forgot.


Alecia rushed over to Cassidy, tugging his arm in close, as she stuck her nose down to the tattoo, examining the lettering- close enough to smell the fresh ink. "Cassidy Petar." The woman's mouth hung slightly open, dumbstruck.


"...Look, got a new tattoo." Nervous laughter rang behind every syllable. He held up his hand, Alecia diving to grab it. In the background Rozelyn appeared, rubbing her eyes. "Did something break?"

 

[Laine]

"Y-yes...we got...bound." Adrian smiled sheepishly, extending an arm around Cas’ waist almost defensively as Alecia regarded the two.


Rozalyn sleepily paced down the stairs, a shocked smile curving into her face as she spotted the ink covering the duo’s hands. “Ah…well…that explains the er…messy hair.” She sniggered, shuffling in beside Alecia. Sabe sighed and walked away, carring the shards of broken bowl between his fingers. Roza took Cassidy’s hand and stroked it gently, remembering the numb sensation of getting her own, years ago. “Mhmm…well, congratulations on such a brave decision. Veľa šťastia to you both.” She smiled in amusement.


Alecia remained silent, her face slowly crumpling in front of Ade and Cas. Rozalyn wrapped an arm around her shoulder, shaking the other gently with a smile, “Hey, at least they waited until we got to meet Aderiyaan…?” She murmured reassuringly, one hand rubbing the other’s shoulder, “Surely that is better than what we and Sabe did-”


“-But, Roza-!” Alecia suddenly stammered indignantly, “-Look at how they are dressed! They look – they look as though they have escaped from a prison, not taken a vow as partners!” Her eyes shined as though she was about to tear up, “My son – my baby boy – bound to his lover wearing those awful green cargo pants?!”

 

[chellemrys]

As Rozelyn padded down the stairs, Cas' face fell and he backed away a bit. Unsure exactly what her reaction would be- because, to be honest, he believed it could either way. Certainly the most laid back of the trio, in terms of what she thought was appropriate, she was the 'whatever' kind of parent, who let her child reign free. But this was a big deal to most people; Cas and Adrian just bound their existence's together in the books, as one entity.


Cas breathed in relief when Rozelyn congratulated them, and began defending their decision. Alecia looked about to cry, but Cas was not moved. "You sound like Adrian..." He muttered, poking his new drahy in the ribs. Cas' and Rozelyn's faces lit up, a wonderful opportunity arriving after the clothes commentary, Rozelyn beginning to snicker. Both at the same time loudly declared:


"Well, we looked better before the-"


"Well, I bet they looked better before the-"





Alecia gasped, throwing her arms up spinning away with a loud 'gah!', pouting as they both grinned and snickered, 'high-five-ing' behind her.

 

[Laine]

Adrian’s face was twisted with anxiety as the mother squealed in anguish. “Do not worry, Aderiyaan,” Roza smiled, patting her wife on the back. Alecia scowled at the three, snatching Ade’s bowl off him and muttering something about innocence in Gliesian, “She is just expressing her disapproval for your…choice in attire.”


Ade sighed and nodded in agreement, turning to face Alecia, “Oh, yeah, well, I told him we should’ve picked up some better clothes – although to be fair he did buy me some black pants on the way…” The mother nodded slightly, her scowl fading into confusion as she saw he was still wearing the shorts he had on that morning. “…Well, they, er…didn’t make it back from the hotel.” He said, cheeks flushing slightly. Alecia covered her ears, wailing in disgust at her obscene family.


Meanwhile, Sabe had reappeared from the kitchen, and was sweeping up the remainder of the mess left from the soup bowl. Punctuated by a loud sigh, he tapped Cassidy on the shoulder, gesturing for his son to follow him as he filed back into the kitchen. The two left Ade with the hysteric women, who were starting to peck the doctor’s head with questions about the binding already.


After he dumped the tiny pieces in the incinerator, Sabe slowly paced over the facuet, talking his time to wash his hands of the orangish sludge while Cassidy stood awkwardly at the countertop. He had a distinct frown carved into his head, possibly from thinking too long. Sabe suddenly turned to face Cas, leaning over the counter with his fingers interlaced. He narrowed his eyes, taking another quiet sigh to himself. “So, Cassidy.” He begun, his voice low and serious, “What do you have to say for yourself?”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas sniggered at Adrian's brave reference, and he felt compelled to add to his mother's reasons to feel squeamish, but Sabe interrupted his chance- taking Cas into the kitchen. Cas followed the grim father, eyes studying the tense back and lowered head. He stopped on the other end of the counter, watching as Sabe cleaned off the stew, and turned grim eyes on him.


"What do I have to say for myself?" He lifted his hand, letting Sabe get another look at the new tattoo, "What do you mean- you just heard all about that." Cas' brows marked his confusion, lifting far above his searching eyes. He, of all people, to be upset about this? Cassidy looked Sabe up and down, deducing whatever the matter was. No... Cas crossed his arms. You're upset about something else. He specifically remembered Sabe's gaunt face when they arrived- he had been in trouble from the moment he got home, not the moment Sabe found out about the binding ceremony. "I'm twenty-four, I can stay out all night if I please." Cas figured that was the source of the trouble. And since when has he ever cared about that sort of thing. Only mom cares...

 

[Laine]

Cas’ father eyed him impatiently. “I don’t care if you were out all night.” Sabe said. His voice was purposely hushed, as if he was trying hard not to raise his voice, “It’s what you’ve been up to that I’m really concerned about. Especially with him.” He rolled his eyes as Rozalyn sniggered in the back of his mind. “Not that. Before the binding.”


He sighed, rubbing his temples with his hands. Rozalyn had been pestering him all night what was wrong – he had been agitated, turning over in his mind and determined to confront his son finally. “Adrian told me where you met him.” He shot a look at Cassidy, satisfied as he saw the Lieutenant’s face twitch.


“It’s true, then? Cassidy-” Sabe stood up, staring hard into the dark eyes, “This is something we needed to know, Cassidy…! You disappear for months, years at a time and then reappear as if nothing has happened?! ” His voice was still quiet, but the anger behind them was obvious as his vocal chords strained, “How long has this been going on?!”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas' face fell into a heap, his eyes bulging, "He what-!" He yelled, stepping forward. He swung round, peering at the doorway and listening to Alecia and Rozelyn's squealing, before looking back over his shoulder at his father. "You didn't tell them yet..." He whispered, before stepping towards the counter, leaning over it and grabbing his dad. "Dad-" The agent pleaded, with huge eyes, "Don't tell them!" Cas' voice wavered in a low hush, panicky as his eyes. If they knew, they would be all over you by now about this.





Sabe shook his son's hands off, backing away with a stern cock of the head. Cas tried to advance around the counter, but Sabe backed further the other way. "I was trying to protect you guys, are you kidding me-"


"How long?" Sabe growled, irritation scrawled onto his face.


Cassidy froze, dropping his hands. "I've been involved for six years now." The agent grinned suddenly. "But- it's wonderful. I've seen things. Stuff that no one can see without that sort of help. Once I saw a water bird- born straight from the molecules. It lasted about ten seconds, that's all. But I felt like I was soaring. You would too."





Sabe turned away in disgust, throwing his arms up. He punched a silverware stand, scattering the utensils all over the counter.


Cas indignantly narrowed his eyes, fisting his hands. "What- you aren't even proud of me being a Lieutenant in the most renowned branch of military in the universe? The Time Agency? Have you not heard of that or something-"

 

[Laine]

Cassidy’s words halted Sabe in his tracks. He stared down at his son, forehead deepening as the words sank in. He cleared his throat, his swallowing audible as he took steps towards Cas – who was still rambling on, his passionate speech falling on awestruck ears. He said...Time Agency? But he’s just a…garbage worker? And how is that related to-


Sabe folded his arms, glowering as Cassidy finished. He let a few seconds of tense silence build up, before growling, “Lieutenant, hm?” He suddenly reached forwards for Cassidy’s shoulder, as if he was going to violently shove him.


Sure enough, Cassidy retaliated, reversing the potential attack and twisting his father’s arm in an almost unconscious move. Sabe grunted, turning his head toward Cas’ with narrowed eyes. So, it’s…true…? He pulled himself up, retorting flatly as he backed away, “Adrian told me you were a drug addict. He didn’t mention the Agency.”

 

[chellemrys]

After stepping away from his father, hands up in a surrender position, Cas narrowed his eyes at the admission, mouth slowly opening. "What?" He hissed, arms dropping. His gaze became unfocused; a fly could have landed on one of his eyes and he would not have noticed or moved. Cas' eyes shifted over to his father, wide and barely attentive now.


"Why would he say I was a drug ad-" He growled, pushing both hands into his hair. Shit, shit shit- no, Cas- You idiot! He groaned internally, pulling at his hair as he turned away and squeezed his eyes shut because of the stress. Cas turned back to his father. "Don't... Don't tell them." He begged, and Sabe narrowed his eyes further.


The father's eyes traced Cas' figure, and noticed for the first time the muscles and apparent top-notch level of fitness. He shook his head, "I can't believe this..." He stalked over to the sink. "So- you aren't a drug addict?" Cas shook his head; Sabe turned back to the sink, violently snatching up a dish and beginning to scrub at it. "Is Adrian?" Cas whispered a mousy 'no', and Sabe couldn't figure out whether he should sigh in relief, or stress. So he just sighed and shook his head, back turned to Cas.


In the doorway Amira appeared, scantily clad pajamas clinding to her body. She yawned, clicking her tongue. "What is all this commotion?"

 

[Laine]

Sabe didn’t turn towards Amira at first, scrubbing the plate hard enough to scrape off the first layer of porcelain. “Cassidy-” He began, grunting as it slipped out of his fingers.


Amie waited for a few seconds, leaning against the doorframe with folded arms. “Yeah – What about him?” She frowned at her father’s unusual tone, shooting a look to her younger brother as well. Sabe picked up another dish and started scrubbing it, his shoulders visably tense. What did you do?! She mouthed to Cassidy, narrowing her eyes further.


“Cassidy – your brother – has a deathwish.” Sabe growled. He slammed the piece of crockery on the drainer, silencing the protests from behind him. “I see no other reason for joining the Time Agency.” He growled bitterly. He stood, unable to look at Cas as he pushed past him to wipe his hands.


“Ah…shit.” Amie sighed, rubbing her temples tiredly, “You…found out about that, huh?”


Sabe scoffed, slowly turning towards the two siblings. He stared daggers at Amira, frown lines growing ever deeper as he advanced towards her. “You. Knew.” He huffed, before striding out the door, towards Alecia and Rozalyn still chattering in the hallway to Adrian.

 

[chellemrys]

Cas visibly twitched, hands shaking. "Dad- stop." He hissed, getting pushed aside. Cas stumbled towards him, watching him go out the doorway to the group in the next room. Cas looked at Amira with wide eyes, gulping, before dashing out the door, jumping over a stand in the short hall, to get in front of Sabe.


Sabe stumbled backwards, shocked by the agile interruption. But he narrowed his eyes and tried to bull past Cas, ducking out of a quick grab at his dad. Amira appeared behind them, and screamed 'Cas!', alerting the trio to the situation. The chattering stopped, and Alecia called out in confusion.


Amira's sharp cry made Cas peek over Sabe's shoulder to her, giving the man an opening. The agent did not want to actually hurt his father, but Amira had made it seem so. So Sabe just plowed through Cas, who was clinging to his waist, and Cas was knocked over and slid out into the open space with the three. Sabe stood there with a grim expression, his son clinging to his shirt and halfway on the ground.


Sabe cried before Cas could stop him, "SO WHO ELSE KNEW ABOUT CAS' DEATHWISH? DID YOU KNOW?" The man threw a pointed finger in Rozelyn's face, "DID THE CAT KNOW? DID EVERYONE BUT ME KNOW?" All of them stopped what they were doing, a silence descending over the room. Cas groaned, and Sabe stepped up to Adrian, crying in labored English with his finger pointed anew: "Liar!"


Alecia was frozen from the shock of the confrontation, shivering and blinking in scared confusion. Rozelyn tilted her head to the side, "...What are you talking about?" The shock of silent Sabe's outburst baffled them all. And Sabe replied by yelling:


"Our son is a Lieutenant in the time agency. And has been for six whole years."

 

[Laine]

“Oh…shit…” Ade murmured, his voice slightly shaken up by the father-in-law’s accusation. His eyes lowered down to his drahy, slumped on the ground and looking dejected. “Mr Petar-“ Ade blurted without thinking, and Sabe snapped his head towards the doctor, standing his ground firmly and folding his arms. He said nothing but exhaled heavily, his nostrils wide and flared as he stared down in utter disgust.


“Sabe?!” Rozalyn demanded, her voice hesitant as she approached him, “Don’t tell me you believe this? Cassidy may be capable - but he is not an Agent.”


Ade shook his head, “N-no, Rozalyn, he’s right.” He stammered, meeting Sabe’s eyes. The emotion behind them didn’t change, and merely burned brighter in his fury at Ade’s confirmation. “He is a Lieutenant. I - I met him during one of his missions.” He sidestepped closer as Cas picked himself up, biting his lip as the three parents stared at them. “He – he’s a good one, too. Y-you should be very proud of him.” He swallowed thickly, confidence suddenly evaporating as Sabe stared him down.


Alecia remained frozen, looking pale enough to pass out from the drama. Sabe opened his lips, revealing firmly gritted teeth behind them. “Get out.”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas stared warily over at Adrian as he spoke, closing his eyes at the confirmation, shaking his head. The Lieutenant let his head droop, black hair overtaking the view of his face. He let Adrian ramble, as if it would save him from his parent's wrath. No, he would just have to take it this time-


Get. Out.





Cas lifted his head, brows lifting with the motion to a surprised stare. His eyes hungrily searched Sabe's expression, like he would find some mercy. But the stern glare held. Alecia's wails filled the room; she had lunged at Sabe and began tugging on his sleeve. "No, Sabe, no! You can't make him go- I won't let you make my baby leave-" Sabe shoved her off, leaving her in shock. Her eyes flickered between Sabe and Cas, shaking her head. Rozelyn was glaring at Sabe, but occasionally Cas- for not telling them. Cas' eyes searched between Rozelyn and Sabe, and he finally smirked.


"Fine." The agent hissed, bitterness swallowing every feeling he had been experiencing nearly two minutes earlier. Cas pushed past Sabe with a rough shove, stomping up the stairs, and leaving Adrian behind. Alecia was halfway up the stairs, crying now and reaching out into the open air to find Cas. As he emerged from their room, carrying all their belongings on his back in fury, Alecia caught him. "Don't go, Cas.


Cas shrugged, giving her an apologetic twist of his twist, and pushed his way past his mourning mother. He stomped down the stairs, grabbing Adrian by the arm and heading towards the door. Rozelyn stepped in front of him, "Now- wait. We can talk about this Cas."


The dark agent stopped, looking down on the ground. Sabe was arguing with Alecia behind them, and exclaimed to her, "No! I don't care- he lied and I don't want to see him if he can't be honest with us."


With that Cas scoffed, picking up Rozelyn and going through the door anyway, towards the car.

 

[Laine]

“He is our son, Sabe!” Rozelyn yelled, “We haven’t seen him in months and you kick him out like he’s some-” Her voice was cut off as the door slammed hard, with Sabe frowning at the couple through the door’s tiny window.


“Get out of my way.” Roza’s voice came from behind him, and Sabe’s whole body stiffened, “I am saying goodbye to Cassidy whether you like it or not.” Sabe whispered something in a hushed voice, and they continued bickering like this behind the door, seemingly for hours. In the kitchen, Alecia dug through the drawers, biting her lip as she finally picked out a round, flattened-eggshaped device. She flicked it open, shaking her head in disbelief at the sounds of her drahys’ angry, distressed voices echoing from the hallway. Alecia shakily slipped out the back, wandering through the garden and out onto the street in front of their house.


Ade stood at the side of the road, biting his nails tensely as Cas violently hauled his bags into the trunk of the car. Several times he opened his mouth to say something, but paused, sighing instead and pushing a hand through his hair. He didn’t notice Alecia had sidled up to them until she appeared at Adrian’s side, her lip quivering. She wordlessly pushed the device into the doctor’s hand, clasping her hands around the tattoo and sighing gently. Without warning she wrapped her arms around Ade’s shoulders, stretching up and embracing him for a short time. “Look after my baby, Aderiyaan.” She sniffed in quiet English. Ade nodded and mumbled in agreement back.


Her voice alerted the Lieutenant to Alecia’s presence, and she let go of Ade, gradually letting her hands fall to her sides. She looked at him hard for a few seconds, eyes brimming with tears.

 

[chellemrys]

Cassidy ignored the yelling that could be heard even on the outside of the house. He shoved the packs into the trunk, save his precious backpack, and slammed the trunk with a 'boom'. He turned round to find Alecia had escaped, and was staring at him all teary eyed and pleading, like she could change his mind. It wouldn't matter if he stayed- he would be too upset to deal with Sabe for the rest of the stay.


"Oh Helmi, mom- what's one less day I'm here?" They were leaving soon anyway, and he couldn't see the difference in the end. Alecia's lip quivered, and she closed the space between them, clinging tightly to his waist. Cas put up his arms, letting the shorter one hug him and press her face into his chest.


"It's everything- I miss you so much. Why do you never visit? Is it because of the time agency?" Her voice was muffled, and she sniffed, lifting her face to search for an answer on the Lieutenant's face. Cas sighed, looking around for help from Adrian, who had retreated safely away from them both. The dark agent gave her a quick squeeze back, before pulling himself out of her arms. "I've been so busy, and I didn't have much to tell you."





Alecia pouted, smacking Cas gently in the arm. "I don't care. You need to get a comm. You know my code. Call me, please."





Cas backed away, and smiled briefly, putting up a hand as if to wave. He took a glance at the front door of the home, narrowing his eyes at the window, before sliding into the car.

 

[Laine]

There was a dead silence between the two as the Lieutenant reached over Ade, slamming his door shut and then pushing a button to start the engine. Adrian avoided Sabe’s razor-gaze from the window as they slid off the driveway, as if the father could burn a hole in his head if he looked for two long. They drifted onto some kind of floating highway, presumably back on their way to the space station.


“Ah. Helmi.” Ade sighed, leaning back in his seat. He put a hand to his neck and rubbed it, thinking twice about complaining about the whiplash he’d received earlier that evening. The other arm he lay on the armrest, playing with the communicator Alecia had given him. Even in the dim lights of the car – Cas’ face looked like thunder. Ade shuffled uncomfortably, unsure what to say to the dejected Time Agent. “I’m sorry, Cas.” He mumbled, biting his lip. He paused, resting the communicator on the dash so he could see it. “…At least they still want to stay in touch, right?”

 

[chellemrys]

Cas' eyes flashed a glare over to Adrian, partly blaming him for the situation. But after a moment he just sighed, shaking his head and turning back to the road. "It was bound to happen..." He whispered, shrugging, and pressing on the petal. He sped down the highway, away from the nightmare the visit had become.


"Yeah, I suppose they want to..." Cas glanced over at Adrian again as he inquired about where they were heading. The agent shrugged. "Let's go visit Lydia for the last few days." The agent grinned, looking over at his new drahy with a new sort of smile, "It's been a while, and I am supposed to check in often anyway. I can trade this thing in for a ship, and I'll drive us there. Same galaxy too. It's a short ride."


And with that the two headed towards the rental hub, a new mission on their hands, and the visit's drama behind them in the wind of their passing car.