#trepper

"He attacked me," Black pants, one hand over the bleeding wound at his side, the other still shakily holding his gun. The others might have argued, might have considered Black the murderer - if not for Trep's quickly cooling, clearly inhuman body on the ground in front of them. As the others clamor amongst themselves, Addison can't quite get himself to join in. Has eyes only for the body in front of him. 

It is…right. Better this way. Because Addison knows damn well that Black's story is true. Trep had aimed at Black and - well. Black had been armed, and they'd fought back. Play stupid games, so on and so forth. Addison has felt uneasy about Trep's job from the start - has known all along, really, that he'd not gotten through to the Impostor. What would Addison have done if Trep's attack had succeeded? Ignored it? 

No. He couldn't have. He couldn't have trusted the Impostor after that, couldn't have just let Trep get away with it. Addison has to believe he is a better person than that. 

No matter what…strange feelings he'd had for the Impostor. 

It's better this way. 

It doesn't make it any easier, though, for Addison. It sure doesn't make it any easier later, either, when he has to sit down with Trepper and try to explain to the hatchling what has happened. Harder to do, still, when Trep's body had been ejected and Addison can't even show Trepper what he means. 

Trepper doesn't get it - Addison can see it clear as day. Trepper is confused, and upset, and he - 

He wants Trep. He cries for Trep, calls for him - would wander the ship in search, if Addison let him. 

It takes Addison a lot of effort to keep himself from crying at the sight. 

It helps a little when the others start to debate about Trepper - because then, Addison has to fight for the hatchling. And he does fight - tells each and every one of them exactly what he'd think of anyone callous enough to eject a child. Shames them, something he's always been good at, until the subject is dropped. None of them want to be around Trepper - they're afraid of him, nervous - but they don't bother him. Or Addison. 

And, eventually, Trepper seems to understand that Trep is not coming back. 

He stops crying for his father - but for a time, he becomes quiet and despondent and Addison goes through desperate measures just to make sure that this kid, who usually eats everything in sight, eats enough to keep him nourished. 

He becomes clingy, next. He refuses to let Addison out of his sight, and demands to be always in the Captain's arms. It makes work difficult, near impossible - but Addison can't dredge up anything but apologies and sorrow for the small Impostor. He obliges, as much as he can, and when he can't he always does his best to keep a hand on Trepper's head, or a leg within grabbing distance. 

Then, one night, there is a late emergency. Addison is there before he can think of it, spends an hour or more stabilizing and then fixing the Oxygen system. It leaves him irritated and tired, but all that fades when he returns to his quarters only to hear Trepper all but wailing at the closed door. Addison is quick to hurry in and scoop the tiny Impostor up - and the way Trepper clings to him very nearly shatters him all over again. 

"It's okay, it's okay," Addison hushes as he crosses over to sit on the edge of his bed. Trepper sobs, and Addison feels the pinch of teeth at the suit of his shoulder. "I've got you, you're alright," Addison murmurs as he pats at Trepper's back - the child's wails quiet, but he continues to sniffle and whine. 

"Gone," Trepper whimpers after a moment, and with a grimace, Addison closes his eyes. 

"I know kiddo," Addison responds, "but it was only for a little bit, wasn't it? I came right back."

Treppers answer is another, almost high-pitched whine. Addison bounces him softly against his shoulder, hums softly under his breath - it takes time to get through to the baby, but eventually Trepper settles down a little once more. 

"I know it's scary, when you can't see me," Addison says softly a bit later, once Trepper's soft cries have faded again. "I'll always come right back, though. I'm never going to leave you, okay? I promise."