#beestrix

The bar in question was the kind of middle ground one could only find on a space station, somewhere the high class could slum it with the common while those from below could get a taste of the better life.

Sedj irregardless stood out.

There was something desperate about the teen sitting at the bar. He was dressed with flash, a golden top with a plunging neckline that framed his chest rather than covering it drawing more attention to his pierced nipples and practically pooled in his lap which was scantly covered by his barely there holographic shorts. In the few minutes Sarake’d had been watching he had witnessed several men approach only to be shot down.

That was the biggest difference, more than the desperation, there was a meanness to Sedj the Bygon hadn’t witnessed before.

His rejections had fangs and a bite that coupled with his look came off as far more dismissive than needed.

If the teen looked the part of a peacock he had the attitude of a feral dog, snapping at every hand to come near him.

Making a decision Sarake’d strode over to where his middle son sat and took the empty seat on his left side.

The half-empty glass in front of Sedj indicated he had clearly been drinking but wasn’t drunk yet, the fact he turned his head obviously to check who had sat down spoke volumes as to how far gone he really was.

“What are you doing there?”

The teen tried to sound sharp but ended up sulky instead a child who knows their playtime is over.

“I’m thinking of getting a drink.” “You don’t drink you’re no fun like that.”

“I’m not here to be fun. I’m here to keep you safe and bring you home. When you’re ready.”

“Well I’m not ready.”

“Then I’ll have one of those cherry temples your brother loves.”

Huffing the teen turned his head back to surveying the room but now everyone was keeping their distance. The was a moment of inner dispute during which Sedj looked ready to charge after the men that had previously pursued him instead he grabbed his own drink and finished it off quickly before attempting to stand, “Fuck it lets just go.”

Shrugging Sarake’d followed behind the most dramatic of his boys a bit relieved force would not actually be needed this time, as he knew Madje often employed the over shoulder method to bring his brother home.

Annoyance fueled Sedj’s pace for the first few halls but as the drink he had finished sunk in he slowed, starting to sway. He gradually came to a stop leaning against the nearest wall with a soft sigh. “Aren’t you going to ask?” “Ask what?” “Ask why I was there! Why I wasn’t just jumping the first dick to hit on me! Fuck the first five dicks!”

Sarake'd would be lying if he said he didn't want to ask. Of course he did. What Sedj had done, running off by himself without telling anyone, had been dangerous. Before the boys had come into his life, Sarake'd had never had to worry about anyone but himself; now he worried all the time. He wanted to shake Sedj and demand to know what he'd been thinking.

Right now, though, that wasn't what Sedj needed.  He needed someone to care. The anger was a test. It was pain. It was whatever Sedj had been trying to drown in alcohol back at that bar without success.

Sarake'd eased a little closer and spoke, gently: "Do you want me to ask?"

The teen made a soft sound still leaning against the wall, it was so small if the Bygon hadn’t been close he might have missed it “...Please.”

"Okay." Sarake'd kept his voice soft. He leaned in, but didn't move to touch Sedj. "Why were you there?" A pause, and then a second, more important question: "What's wrong, dano' nei'man?"

Sedj tensed a moment before straightening, reaching up he roughly pulled his hair away from his face revealing the scars that crossed his blinded eye, Sarake’d had caught glimpses of the old injury but it had never been presented so bluntly. Work had clearly been done to restore appearances as there were only three distinct lines crossing the socket but the sunken skin made it clear there was nothing behind the sealed lid.

“Because I’m damaged.”

Despite the air of finality with which the words were said they were in in fact the breaking of the dam.

“I’m just a pretty face with a huge fucking flaw that makes me worth less. As long as I hide my scars I can have my pick of fucks, rough trade or the polished elite they all want me. They offer me drinks, credits, money, even just a good time and they are all so crushed when I say no because they don’t know better. If they knew about this they wouldn’t say shit. They’ll expect me to be grateful because who else could possibly want to look at an ugly thing like me?”

The anger and desperation turned to resignation and bitterness as the poison continued to spill from the teen’s lips.

He was shaking arms moving to grip each other hard enough to bruise as if it were the only thing keeping him together.

“They don’t actually want me and tonight I didn’t want them, I wanted them to want, and to be humiliated when trash like me still told them no.”

Sarake’d let out a harsh breath through his nose. His body language was rigid, antennae curled back, tails fanned out and twitching. He didn’t like hearing anyone insult his boys, even when it was them. “You aren’t trash. Anyone who doesn’t see how wonderful you are doesn’t deserve you.”

He slowly relaxed when he realized how he must look. He lowered himself down until he was nearly Sedj’s height and let his tails curl in and around him protectively. He held his arms out, loose and wide in invitation. “For what it’s worth, your brothers and I want you. All of you, just the way you are... no matter how much trouble you cause or how much you make me worry.”

Sedj made another soft sound this one more of a whimper as he moved away from the wall only to fall against the bygon’s shoulder, he softened even more as Sarake’d hesitantly wrapped am arm around his waist. The shaking lessened as Sarake’d’s free hand came up to stroke his hair soothingly, combing the tossled locks back into order though he had to work around the teen’s face being pressed to his shoulder.

Pressing into the contact even as he turned his head Sedj burst into tears.

His boys didn’t cry, or rather on the rare occasion they did they, Matteudj mostly, did so silently making hardly a sound and the minimum of tears.

This was nothing like that.

It was loud and ugly, messy even as the boy keened against his skin.

Gradually as the tears slowed Sedj let his own arms go in favor of wrapping them around Sarake’d in a tight hold as his cries quieted to soft sniffles.

Waiting a little longer to be sure the boy was truly done, Sakare’d shifted just enough that the teen was tucked to his side instead of dependent on the wall, his head still resting on his shoulder.

Letting out a shaky sigh Sedj made no attempt to pull away, “Sorry. Can we just go home now?”

“Can you walk?”

“Uh...”

Sarake’d couldn’t see the teen’s face but he could hear the puzzlement in the sound and feel him shift as he tested his balance, it still took a minute to receive a verdict.

“Not well?”

“Would you like a do’orada ride? Like your brother?”

Sedj might not have known what a do’orada was but he certainly understood reference to his younger brother . He nodded slowly and was mindful of the bygon’s tails as he moved to the man’s back and climbed on carefully.

As they resumed their walk the silent was fragile, not entirely comfortable after Sedj’s outburst. Sarake’d didn’t want to make light of anything the boy had disclosed but he did hope to perhaps give him a little cheer.

“I like your new jewelry.”

Sedj tensed in surprise but Sarake’d could feel his smile as he buried his face into the back of his shoulder. The teen’s outfit may have been all about flash but the trio of gold bees hanging from each of his piercings was a personal homage to his family, one only someone close would recognize. “Thank you.”