#THEY DO CURE TIM i wouldn't do that to you guys not really but | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

lostonehero · 5 months ago

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What remains after eternity

Plot boys

Ok, maybe this was a stupid idea. He could have taken Tink, but ne he wanted to just leave. He wasn't mad at what they were doing, cured a virus fixed a planet... ok, not fix by any standards for normal species, but these were Xeon, and well, they didn't excatly follow proper rules of life. It was nice for the first couple hundred years, but they died before they even started. He knows they would be fine, but he still missed them.... mostly him.

Now, he was barely ten years out, and he greatly miscalculated how much fuel he had. He ran out of food too, but it's not like he hasn't starved before that wasn't an issue. He sent out a signal to any passing ships, but this part of space wasn't exactly well traveled. He was bored, and he really hated being alone. He wouldn't be here for forever, but he didn't look forward to how long he would have to wait. It's funny that he can remember a time he used to isolate on purpose. Another lifetime another time.

The coms came to life due to running on solar energy because Izzy insisted it was important. "This is the pilot of the spaceship Aurora, Drumbot Brian. Do you need assistance?"

He opens his mouth to speak, but a rasp comes out. When was the last time he drank something? He normally helps remind him to be human. He settles on tapping out a sos hoping whoever this guy is knows it.

"Right, our mechanic, Nastya, will be bringing you on." Brian pauses. "Will you need assistance leaving?"

He tapped out a probably, and the feed cut.

.......

"Since when do we pick up strays?" Ashes sighs as the gate is closed, and it is safe to return to the hanger.

"Lost a bet against one of Jonny's brats." Nastya sighs. "Besides, it's something new while we travel, Marius's planet isn't excatly on a map that has been updated in eons."

"Fair point, but why are we going to get this guy out?" Ashes pulls the latch to this ship open.

"You were free, and Valerie and Trevor are still hunting that fucked creature. Brian is trying to get Thomas from taking control because he claims he knows the way Aurora thinks it's hilarious. Jonny is playing along with Mae's game, which is frankly terrifying he seemingly has eyes on the back of his head. Raphaella and Carmillia are taking notes on that. Lyf is well... he hasn't left the nest Byron built, and Byron is still standing guard, but he is building little machines that TS helps with. Ivy, Alex, and Janet are in a three-way chess match. Finally, Tim is in the gardens, taking a nap in the dirt."

"Ah." Ashes sighs. "Well fuck it let's get this guy."

Nastya nods and heads inside. The ship was small and barren. It looked like whoever was inside hasn't moved around in a long time. There was an eerie calm in the ship as they approached the captain quarters. "Oh fuck!"

There's a man lying in the captain chair. He was thin, too thin. His eyes were empty sockets as a black fluid lazily leaked from the sockets. His hair was spiked up and pitch black. His skin was incredibly pale, nearly white. He was tall, and his clothes hung off of him. His ears were pointed. He wheezed out a greeting.

Ashes curses. "He's fucking alive?"

"Just grab him and take him to the infirmary!" Nastys groans. "Fucking Jonny knows enough first aid to at least get him talking."

Ashes slings the man over their shoulder. "I'll start heating up, broth."

......

He opened his eyes again now in a cot. His head was tilted up as he was made to drink a broth. He grimaced and pushed away the soup. "I-i I'm fine." His voice was rough and quiet, barely a whisper.

"No, you ain't." A man responded, putting the bowl aside. The man looked familair.

"Do I... do I know you?" He grimaced and sat himself up. Staring at him, he could tell immediately he was New Texan. He looked like... he looked like him.

"I think I would remember a man with eyes that constantly leaked black fluid even when closed." He sighs. "The names Jonny, you're in Aurora in the infirmary."

"Lazarus." Laz sighs and lays back down. "I'm Lazarus, you can just call me Laz."

"Are you going to finish this broth, or am I going to have to force you?" Jonny scowls.

"I'll finish it." Laz sighs and lets Jonny feed him till it's finished. "Happy?"

Jonny sighs. "What did you do?"

"Not one of your kids." Ashes raised a brow.

"Oh, I know, there would have been more effort to pretend they were injured to see the stray." Jonny smiles. "What do you want, Ashes?"

Ashes snickers. "They are a bunch of yous. Nah, I just wanted to check in it is a part of my job, yaknow."

Jonny waves. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." He shakes his head. "What do you actually want?"

Ashes smirks. "We've got a bit of wager going on about the stray."

Jonny sighs. "I don't bet."

"I ain't asking you that." Ashes smirks. "What's his species?"

"I can answer myself." Laz huffs. "I'm human."

"Fuck!" Ashes huffs. "Tim won the fucking pot and he doesn't even know what that fucking means."

Jonny snickers. "Pretty fucked up for a human."

"Your comments are noted, and I don't care." Laz frowns.

Ashes smirks. "He'll fit in well."

"Who will fit in well?" Trevor walks in slightly singed.

"Who set you on fire?" Jonny sighs.

"I wasn't set on fire. That confectionery creature can set itself on fire. I just happened to be holding it before it escaped." Trevor rolls his eyes. "Totally different."

"Sure." Jonny shakes his head. "Sit."

Trevor huffs and heads to the empty cot. "It's not even that bad."

"Not that bad, you're still smoking." Jonny begins to clean the burns. "I told you to relax."

"Just because I'm aging doesn't mean I can't help." Trevor frowns. "Dad, I'm fine it's just the process. It's slowed, but it's been two and a half centuries it catches up with us, and then we revert and start all over again." He lightly headbutts his father.

"Just let me adjust to this, you little shit." Jonny sighs. "I know how this works. Each of you explained it in great detail multiple times. I'm allowed to fucking worry."

"Fine, fine." Trevor smiles.

Ashes raised a brow, looking at Laz.

"You're letting that guy baby you?" Laz snickers.

"You're the fucking stray!" Trevor huffs. "Dad shoot him."

"Wait.... wait." Laz sits up. "You're Jonny D'ville?"

Jonny raised a brow, turning to face Laz. "Yeah and?"

"I take back my previous statement." Laz pauses. "I also would like to apologize for my previous comment."

"Who is he?" Jonny looks back to Trevor.

"Lazarus, he's part of our crew, and by the looks of it, he went on his own and forgot to bring food and / or fuel, probably both. Unfortunately, he has the habit of forgetting what he needs to function properly in depressed hazes." Trevor sighs. "How long have you been floating?"

"Decade, probably." Laz sighs. "The others are busy, wanted to find you guys. They would have collected me when they were done."

"He's lying it's been more than a decade." Trevor frowns. "But the others would have picked him up, Izzy always has trackers on the small ships. He obviously didn't take the one Aiden packed for this situation."

"He's done this before?" Ashes raised a brow.

"Yeah, when he thinks the others are taking too long to pick us up. It's really fucking stupid." Trevor sighs.

"I miss you guys." Laz huffs.

"Which isn't a lie per say, but he mostly means Thomas." Trevor frowns again. "Did you give him something? I can make some more broth."

Jonny ruffles Trevor's hair. "Yes, I gave him some broth. You can stay and chat. I'll tell your siblings."

Trevor shifted and frowns. "Actually, could you stay a bit? Laz never heard you tell a story that isn't a recording."

"You brat if you want me to tell you a story you could just ask." Jonny hops up on the cot next to Trevor. "You both better listen."

Laz smiled, but he was already drifting off to sleep.

Ashes smiles softly and quietly slips out of the infirmary. Maybe they were getting attached to this softer, Jonny. His kids were a great bonus, too.

.......

"Hey, kid." Ashes raised a brow at Thomas, who was nodding off in the pilot seat, and Brian was napping curled up under his feet.

Thomas has silver through his dark brown hair. His horns were freshly cut to halfway, nowhere near as short as Jonny used to keep them. He was in a similar outfit to what Jonny used to wear except with no belts. Age was showing on his features, but he was happy. "Yes?" He cracks open one eye. "Thought you were going to annoy dad and the stray."

"You lost the bet." Ashes hums.

"A shame." Thomas tosses a golden tooth at them who catches it. "What? You didn't come all the way here to tell me that. Is dad freaking out again?"

"You all have his intuition." Ashes chuckles. "No, but your brother got himself set on fire and got him in a worry."

Thomas snorts. "I warned him that creature can catch fire." He hops off the seat and pets Brian. "Ooo, how much hair did he lose?"

"That's for you to see." Ashes smiles. However smart, his kids were leaving out some part of the truth was enough to get them going along. They were happy to see that they didn't have Jonny's paranoia and distrust. Fuck Jonny was a good dad and they never saw that coming. They were proud of him.

Thomas picked up his cane, keeping it to his side. He doesn't use it much yet, but he will. "I'll be back for my seat, Brian."

Brian lets out a soft growl and curls up tighter.

Ashes watches him go and walks next to Brian. "Did you give up your job to be a lap dog?"

Brian glares at them and shifts back. "No, but he unfortunately does know where to find Byron's planet. That's where his old crew was heading before they were taken back to New Texas. They normally don't get sent back there when it happens, but they were looking for a break." He sighs. "He's also a better navigator than I realized."

Ashes shakes their head. "All of you are getting soft."

"I think it comes from age. I can say the same about you." Brian smiles.

"I suppose you can." Ashes smiles. "However, I will never admit that."

Brian nods. "However, Jonny said we should be doing a show soon, and by show, he means causing complete chaos on a random planet after we spend time on Byron's planet."

Ashes grins. "That sounds amazing."

........

"I heard some idiot got set on fire." Thomas snickers.

"I didn't get set on fire asshole." Trevor huffs.

"Boys, you're arguing semantics at this point." Jonny sighs. "How's your leg, Thomas?"

Thomas steps in. "Fine so far, but it's still early. So, who's the stray?"

"It's Laz." Trevor sighs. "He's asleep, though."

"Lazarus?" Thomas slowly walks in by his bed. "How long this time?"

"He claims a decade." Trevor pulls up his blanket. "I don't think he's being honest. You know how much he keeps in his little portals."

Thomas frowns.

Jonny puts a hand on his son's shoulder. "Relax, he's just asleep. I'm sure you can chew him out once he wakes up."

Thomas sighs out a laugh. "Thanks, dad."

"He's also not allowed to meet Tim, not until he can walk. Trust me, he's being a bit off the rails still figuring out his forms. We still haven't seen all of them, and he's grown attached to his cactus one." Jonny pauses in the doorway. "Can't wait to actually have a proper talk to your partner."

Thomas covers his face as he blushes. "Daddddd." Thomas whines.

Trevor laughs.

"Have fun, boys." Jonny snickers leaving.

.......

"Human?" Tim points.

Trevor and Thomas scream in shock.

"How the fuck do you even do that?!" Trevor holds his chest.

Laz furrows his brows and wakes up from the screaming. "What?"

"Human." Tim points quite close to Lazarus's face.

"Yes?" Laz rubs his eyes, making a mess of the black substance.

Tim nods and stands next to Laz on the bed. He tilts his head, seemingly studying Laz.

"Who are you?" Laz sits himself up.

Tim points at Laz again. "Priest." He starts to whistle and walk away.

"I keep telling dad to put a bell on him." Thomas covers his face and groans.

"I think he tried." Trevor sighs. "You ok, Laz?"

"Seriously who the fuck was that? How the fuck... how." Laz swallows.

"How what?" Thomas raised his brow.

"I..." Laz frowns. "He knew what I was before this."

"A priest?" Trevor looked confused. "Never took you for the type."

"Human priests are extremely different to whatever you have on New Texas." Laz narrows his gaze.

"He didn't say they were the same." Thomas sighs. "How are you feeling?"

"Hungry." Laz sighs. "And really weirded out, neither of you answered my question."

"That is Gunpowder Tim, currently just Tim as his mind is still recovering." Thomas frowns. "Careful around him. He's very hard to predict."

"It's really depressing." Trevor hums. "Humans are quite cruel creatures."

"I'm well aware of that." Laz sighs. "Where did your dad go?"

Thomas and Trevor shrug.

Laz frowns. "Who else is here?"

"The mechanisms, and us oh and our grandmother Valerie." Trevor pauses. "And the ship Aurora of course."

Aurora chirps. "There is broth in cabinet in a thermos, Jonny left in there."

Thomas nods and grabs it. "Thank you."

"Does she turn off the air like Hal?" Lazarus takes the thermos. "Thank you."

"I can not due to the garden and Tim's plants." Aurora hums. "Alex and Janet asked me the same questions. Dies Hal enjoy turning off the air?"

"No, but he does it every fight he has with Izzy." Thomas sighs. "It's annoying, but ultimately harmless since Izzy built us masks to let us continue to breathe."

"Thomas, come here." Lazarus makes grabby hands. "Help me eat."

"And that's my cue to leave." Trevor sighs and gets out of his cot. "Want me to tell everyone else?"

Laz huffs. "Thomas!"

Thomas sits next to Laz on his cot. "Might as well. He's still out of it. Just let them know he's still in starvation mind."

Laz wraps his arms around Thomas. "You know you're very warm."

Trevor nods. "Of course, I'll let dad know to make more broth."

"Thanks." Thomas holds up the thermos. "Time to eat old one."

Laz smiles and rests against Thomas.

........

The bright green liquid is plunged into Byron's arm. "Ok, that should kick in soon. Let me know if you feel wrong." Raphaella smiles

Byron was speaking broken common. His language did not translate well. "Last one?" He rubs his arm.

"For now, the virus is tricky it adapts and changes. You're healing just nice excatly linearly." Raphaella frowns. "Have you been keeping that journal?"

"Ah yes!" Byron nods. "I do not know when I will change like you have described. I hope my journals will help."

Raphealla smiles softly. "Come on, I'm sure the stray wants some company. Heard it's one of the kids' crew. You need a safe place to rest as this starts to take effect."

Byron nods and sways on his feet as he hits the ground. Raphaella quickly helps Byron up. "Thank thank you."

"Come on, this is much faster than I realized." Raphaella had a look of concern Byron couldn't see as he continued to stumble. She picked him up as he collapsed. "Fuck, Lyf is going to kill me."

......

Lyf barely has time to put the journals down next to Byron's sleeping form before he was throwing up in a trashcan.

Janet was rubbing his back. "I told you I can handle this. I can explain his questions."

Lyf rubs his mouth. "It's fine, just some nausea. I'll probably enter another period of nothing happening soon enough." He groans. "Second thought I'm going to the bathroom." He runs out of the infirmary.

Raphealla frowns. "Can't fix it, you know how that went."

Janet shudders. "I would really rather not."

A soft groan from the bed alerted the two. Marius takes a breath and rubs his face. He blinks and looks around, confused. "When did..." He stares at Raphaella. "When did we get back on Aurora? Did I miss the train?"

Raphealla takes a moment. "Marius, what do you mean?"

"The train, Yog Sogoth, we're supposed to be in the prison cell. There's a new..." Marius furrows his brows as his hand goes through his hair, and he feels the small horns. "Now that can't be right." Hd sticks his fingers in his mouth, and his features pale a bit more. He quickly touches his shoulders, feeling the bone spurs. He does a double take staring at his arm, seeing the mechanism spread above his elbow like an infection he could see his flesh between the metal. "...what happened?"

Raphealla frowns, motioning to Janet to warn Lyf. She takes a breath. "The journals next to you will help, but you're not going to like it."

"What happened, Raph? Just tell me." Marius hugs his chest. "What happened to me?"

Raphealla sighs and sits next to Marius. "Short explanation a bioweapon virus made to effect your species and planet. You got infected, and we've been trying to cure it. Each stage of healing you either forget or just play violin till you get a form of lucidity. Thankfully, this time, we skipped the violin." She frowns. "Aurora, the timeline, please."

"Of course." Aurora displays a timeline.

"See, starting here, Nastya found you on your homeworld. We're actually traveling there now to figure out a better way for the cure. The virus is adapting to my attacks. You were in the violin mode for a long time with shirt bursts of lucidity. Next, you were lucid for 200 years, although still missing a lot of time. Then, in New Texas, you went back to violin mode, until Tim had his meltdown and you reformed with the rest of us and went back to before your mechanism or Byron era for the last 275 years. Currently, you're back, but before the bifrost incident, before.... well, do you know who Lyfrassir Edda is?"

Marius frowns, trying to take that all in. "That's the new inspector, we were supposed to meet him today..."

Raphealla thins her lips. "Oh..."

Lyf steps out, sipping on some water. "What is it you wanted to tell me."

"Um...." Janet pauses. "Yeah, this is bad."

"You didn't tell him?" Raphaella rubs her face.

Lyf raised a brow as he walked past the two to Marius's side. "Byron?"

Marius tilted his head. "You're my mate?"

Lyf takes a deep breath. "Do you know who I am?"

"I should. We're bonded." Marius rubs his temples. "Who are you?"

"Former second class inspector Lyfrassir Edda." Lyf smiles softly. "You can call me Lyf."

"I mated with a mortal?" Marius looks scared.

Lyf shakes his head. "Unfortunately, Yog Sogoth decided otherwise, and I'm not allowed to age or die. You're going to be stuck with me till the end of time."

Marius seems to relax if only slightly. "How?"

"You blamed the heat on your hair." Lyf chuckles watching Marius's hair curl into little hearts. "I think it was getting annoyed with you."

"I..." Marius swallows. "I don't... you're not a xeon."

"No, I'm not. I'm an asguardian, maybe a little jouton in my blood, but I don't really care about that. it just makes my skin blue and gives me my tail." Lyf burps and grimaces. "However, this adapting process is awful, and I will blame you for every hurdle."

Marius shyly smiles. "You're not dead."

"I am not. You're a doctor. You should know how to tell that." Lyf smirks.

"Then I should do a full examination." Marius reaches out and tilts Lyf's head. "Although we shouldn't have a through exam out in the open. I should memorize my mates body."

Lyf lights up in a rainbow static blush. "I almost forgot how insufferable you were, you flirt." He bites his lip. "I suppose I could make room in my schedule, Doctor Byron."

Marius swallows. "Say that again."

"Doctor Byron Marius Von Raum." Lyf smiles.

"How about you both get a fucking room?" Ashes pinches their brow. "Fuck this shit where the fuck did the stray go?"

Janet blinks. "Oh Thomas's room."

"Fuck thank you." Ashes groans leaving the infirmary.

Lyf groans, covering his face. "Forgot we had an audience."

"Awww, the inspector is shy." Marius chuckles.

"You know what I lied, go fuck yourself Von Raum." Lyf huffs and walks out.

Marius chuckles softly.

Raphealla smiles. "Go read your journals."

"As you wish." Marius lays back down and pulls one of the journals. "Never thought I would ever share my heat. I'm actually more surprised I didn't kill him."

Raphealla pauses, looking at Janet. "So if it's not consensual, they really fight to the death?"

"Mmh yeah and eat the loser." Janet shrugs. "But obviously, his body knew better."

"I have so many questions." Raphaella rubs her face.

........

To Marius, it's been ages since he has even seen his native language written, let alone heard it be spoken. He knew Lyf wasn't truly speaking it, but because of the heat bond, that's what he will forever hear from his partner. These journals were his he knew his own handwriting. He knew the language which was written, and he knew nobody else on the ship could write, let alone speak his tongue.

He waited for Raphaella and that woman, Janet, he thinks that was her name to leave before he actually started to read. It was odd that he didn't recall any of this. He wanted to hear his language again on his lips, and he took a breath and began to reas aloud.

"I was told to start journaling since I and they don't know how long I will be lucid for. Lyfrassir has been wonderful, I am still shaking from our heat together. He's been quite patient with me, I know I am not the same man he fell in love with, but that doesn't deter him at all. I learn new things every day. I still don't understand everyone, but I'm trying to learn this common. It doesn't really translate well."

"I haven't told Lyf about my changes yet. I don't need him worrying about me. He has his own changes to get through. He's been enjoying the nest I made for him, Janet got me the supplies. I still can't believe the immortal claims, but he is insistent. He tells me all these lovely tales from his home. He asks if I play an instrument, and I do. He likes my playing even if it's not great. He asks me to sing, but I can't. He still asks, though."

"Today Lyf was -" Marius stops as someone clears their throat. "Inspector?"

Lyf smiles. "Sorry to interrupt, but I brought some sweet breads. You once told me these are your favorites."

"They are." Marius shuts the journal and places it back on the pile. "How long has this been us?"

"The heat bond or us together?" Lyf cuts Marius a slice than himself a slice as he sits next to Marius. "Us? I can't remember. The heat bond I am uncomfortably aware of it down to the second is that normal?"

Marius chuckles. "Yes, that is normal." He holds the plate and frowns. "How long have I been sick?"

"I don't know." Lyf frowns. "None of us know how long you were stranded on a dead planet. I can tell you how long it was for the others er no Tim isn't all there so we can't get a straight answer from him. I.... wait, you don't know what happened." He pauses poking at his sweet bread. "Do you want to know?"

"Yes." Marius takes a breath. "Just tell me, please."

Lyf nods and takes away his plate and puts it aside. "You won't want to eat during this."

"I've been though a lot that is quite a high bar." Marius raised a brow.

"Trust me." Lyf sighs as he begins.

Marius swallows as he refuses the plate. "You can tell me about Jonny later. You're right." He hugs his knees. "How do I go back to being not lucid or to another me with memories. I don't... I can't just play along."

"Nobody is asking you to." Lyf leans on Marius. "At most, you have to let Tim hold your tail. Also, don't play with his dial even if he tries to get you to. No, that isn't a sex thing it's an actual dial around his neck. Oh shit wait the other people here. Jonny's kids are here. The gods won't let them die, and they are all little shits just like Jonny. Janet is one of them. Jonny's mother is also here she is terrifying and don't fuck with her or try to fuck her. Seriously, there is a line."

"Oh the god killer Valerie, I am familair with her." Marius frowns. "Who let Jonny reproduce?"

"Wait, stop shut up." Lyf grabs Marius's shoulders. "What the fuck do you mean the god killer? I know she exists, but Valerie can not be the god killer."

"There was a wanted poster in the jail we were kept in. Did you not see it? I also met her a few times traveling on my own. We never talked she always killed me. She's probably a god herself on account of the fact she can't die." Marius raised a brow. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"First, no, she has a mechanism like Jonny. Both have a mechanized heart. Second how the fuck did you know she was Jonny's mother?" Lyf blinks stunned.

"They smell like each other. I'm sorry she's a mechanism?" Marius looks confused.

"Yeah and Carmillia is trying to fuck her. Not important, you can smell that they are related?" Lyf rubs his face.

"Yes, and now that you mention it, Janet does smell like Jonny, so that makes sense on Jonny having kids." Marius crossed his arms. "New Texans are hermaphroditic species. Did Jonny have them himself, or did he have a partner?"

"He had them himself." Lyf raised a brow. "If you ask me if Jonny had a consistent partner, the answer is no, they all have different sperms donors. Tim is not the father of any of them."

"Well, I know that she didn't smell like Tim." Marius huffs. "I'm not an idiot."

Lyf pinches his brow. "Fine, Mr. I know everything but his own memories" why the fuck am I craving teeth?"

"Your body is changing, and I can give you mine they will grow back." Madius smiles. "I wouldn't want you to go hungry, my mate."

"You're fucking impossible." Lyf crawls into Marius's lap. "I hate you and your romance, Von Raum."

"And what would you have me say? Go ask TS for its collection of teeth? I rather you be safe and take mine." Marius smirks. "I would let you eat me whole until you're satisfied if it pleased you."

Lyf hides his face in Marius's chest. "Stop you manic. I'm literally going to have to fuck to if you keep this up."

"I suppose that can be arranged." Marius kissed the top of Lyf's head. He crossed his legs as his face lights up a mix of red and purple. "I seem to have underestimated how powerful my instincts are influencing my hormones. I know we shared my heat, and we are mates, but I really don't know you."

"Well..." Lyf looks Marius in the eyes. "I'm Lyfrassir Edda, and I'm from Asguard. I enjoy mead and baking. I'm not that good of a shot with a gun, I have powers of Yog Sogoth, which I'm still trying to learn how to control. I'm absolutely awful at cards, and I like to write poetry."

Marius sighs but smiles. "That isn't what I meant."

"Well, I guess I just have to keep being by your side till I can figure out what you meant. You're not going to scare me off." Lyf hugs Marius tight. "Is this too much?"

Marius shakes his head. "N-no, just go slow. I don't know what happened or how to handle a post heat. Can I trust you not to take advantage? My instincts and hormones are fighting against my lucid mind."

"I will go at whatever speed you need. Is the light system good? Green for good, yellow slow down and red is a hard stop." Lyf smiles when Marius nods. "How are you now with me in your lap?"

"Green." Marius takes a breath. "Green, just don't grind or kiss me."

Lyf smiles and nods. "Of course, but I need to leave."

Marius raised a brow.

"Marius, if I don't make it to a trash, can I am going to empty my stomach all over you." Lyf was growing pale.

Marius nodded and helped push Lyf off his lap to vomit in the nearby trash can. "Are you ok?"

Lyf coughs and groans. "Not really, your heat infected me and my body is still fucking changing."

"It tends to take a long time to adjust. For myself and you, since we are different species." Marius gives a nervous smile. "Shall I help you to our nest?"

"You don't want a separate room?" Lyf raised a brow as he stood back up.

"That really wouldn't be wise." Marius grimaced and didn't elaborate. He collects the journals. "Show me to our nest."

Lyf nods. "Ok, I will." He says, collecting the baked good.

.......

"Thomas?" Laz's voice was stronger, and he was getting dressed with the clothes laid out.

"Yes?" Thomas hums softly. He was dusting off the excess sand before he got dressed.

"We're on Aurora." Laz gets up and cracks his back.

"Are you finally out of starvation mode?" Thomas pokes his head in pulling on underwear.

Laz huffs. "I would roll my eyes, but I don't have them to roll, but we are on your father's ship."

"That we are." Thomas walks out in just his underwear. "Do you have a problem?"

"No, I just the way you guys talked about everything." Laz crossed his arms. "I don't know." He sighs. "Did you tell them I wouldn't remember because of the state I was in?"

"Yes, I did." Thomas pauses, grabbing a pair of pants. "Actually, I have to ask about something."

"Ask me about what?" Laz raised a brow looking at Thomas.

"Tim came by because I brought you to my room, er Gunpowder Tim, but he isn't all there mentally as he is recovering, but I'm getting off track. He called you a priest." Thomas turns to face Laz, who looks a mixed of concerned and shock.

Laz blinks. "How did he know?"

Thomas shrugs. "None of us really know how his mind works or how it's healing. He is kind, but I don't think he can remember how to be violent. Well, not on purpose." He finishes getting dressed pulling a shirt over his horns. "Tell me what you find when you look in his head."

"I will." Laz smiles softly. "Well, I'm looking forward to properly meeting your father and his crew." He takes Thomas's hand. "Shall we head out?"

"We shall." Thomas pulls him along.

......

"Oh gods, fuck." Lyf nearly bites his tongue.

Laz frowns. "Sorry."

Lyf spins to face Laz. "Oh not you, him." He points to Tim, who Laz just notices.

"Fuck!" Laz grabs his chest. "How do you just appear? Are you an acolyte? Which god?"

Tim tilts his head. "Human!" He points at Laz.

"Right, yeah, I am human. Didn't answer my question." Laz raised a brow.

"The gods abandoned me." Tim smiles.

"Um...." Laz pauses as Jonny comes into the room.

"Tim, stop scaring the newbie." Jonny doesn't even flinch when Tim grabs his tail. "I got us breakfast come on."

"Jonny." Tim kisses Jonny's forehead.

Jonny smiles, then huffs. "No hugs I'm going to drop the fucking food you brat." He quickly puts the plates down as Tim pushed him to the floor to cuddle. "We are not fucking napping. I want my breakfast."

Thomas sighs. "Good morning."

Tim gets back up with prodding and sits next to Jonny, who shoves a plate in front of him, which he makes no move to eat.

"Is he not eating again?" Mae frowns from an opposite table. "Oh, welcome back to sanity, Laz."

"Right." Laz raised a brow. "Are you sure he's ok?" He groans as Thomas elbows him.

"That's Tim. He's recovering." Thomas huffs.

"He would recover faster if he fucking ate." Jonny growls.

"Maybe it has to do with whatever setting he's on." Alex pokes her head between the two.

"No fucking around in the mess hall!" Ashes growls from their spot.

Laz smiles softly, sitting next to Lyf. "So your Yog Sogoth acolyte." He pauses. "Why are you eating teeth in um milk?"

Lyf narrows his gaze. "Ask that fucker."

Marius is unaware sitting at a different table.

"Right, so it's not because of Yog Sogoth?" Laz smiles as Thomas hands him a plate of food. "Thank you."

"No?" Lyf pauses, raising a brow at Laz. "Does your god make you eat teeth?"

"No." Laz hums. "Wait, does cannibalism count?"

"Yes." Jonny says, trying to feed Tim, who keeps pushing his hands away. "You need to eat."

Thomas sighs, swallowing his bite. "I forget you're a cannibal dad."

Laz chokes on his drink. "Excuse me?"

"Both of you finish your food." Jonny sighs. "Fuck it, come on Tim were changing that fucking dial to get you to eat something." He gets up after finishing inhaling his food and drags Tim to the training room.

"I'm sorry a cannibal?" Laz blinks.

"Did you like not listen to any of the tales we told you?" Thomas rolls his eyes. "Also, who's teeth are those?"

Lyf swallows. "Marius's, but I think TS put some of its collection in here as well."

"Ah." Thomas hums. "Honestly, I didn't think you would have an answer."

"Still more sane than Tink." Laz frowns. "I think I might pay Tim a visit later."

Lyf raised a brow.

Laz smirks. "You'll figure it out."

.......

"Alone today?" Jonny crossed his arms.

"Laz is trying to corner Tim to talk. It's not exactly going well, and I don't want to watch him get impaled again."

Jonny snorts and puts his book down. "Come here, come sit by your no good father."

Thomas shakes his head and sits next to his dad. "I think you're pretty great."

"What do you want, brat?" Jonny smiles as Thomas leans on him.

"Do you like Lazarus?" Thomas sighs.

Jonny crossed his arms. "Thomas, it doesn't matter if I like him." He rolls his eyes. "He's interesting, but I don't know him well enough to truly judge him. However he's a fucking idiot for trying to corner Tim."

"Why? Tim doesn't mind it when we corner him." Thomas frowns and furrows his brows.

"Because Tim views you as his children even if you aren't. He's in there, but he can't make proper sense of his surroundings or what he's told yet. Laz is a stranger and human." Jonny sighs. "He hasn't excatly been around any humans expect the ones who hurt him."

"I guess." Thomas sits upright. "I want to help him more, but that's Izzy's thing. She is the one who just wants to help and has the mind to do just that. I want you to meet the rest of the crew, but I don't even know if they would still be at the Xeon planet by the time we get there."

"Why were you heading there anyway?" Jonny gently headbutts his son.

Thomas chuckles. "Janet won our little hat trick, so she got to pick our next adventure. She wanted to go there and help the planet recover to xeon standard of living, which meant figuring out what went so wrong. Now we know about the virus, but we didn't know back then. Izzy was excited she never got to work with xeon before, and Aiden was relieved we weren't doing anything stupid. Tink was annoyed, but she always is when she doesn't win."

"You guys never made it." Jonny frowns.

Thomas shrugs. "We're going now. I just hope they're still there."

"Well, I'm sure they will be." Jonny gets up and holds out his hand. "Come on, we have to find your man before Tim rips him apart."

Thomas takes his father's hand. "Yeah, yeah."

.......

"This isn't the worst mind I've been in." Laz hums. He looks around the lab that seems to have gray rock in the walls. There was a faint scent of dust and bleach. "Now, where are you?"

The cell lie empty save for a few bloodstained and a worn mat. "You shouldn't be here." A small boy with bright blue eyes and shirt brown hair stares up at Laz.

"Has your mind split? Let me guess you're his childhood self." Laz curses when a knife goes through his thigh. "Fuck."

"You are wrong." The boy scowls, pulling his knife back.

"You didn't have to fucking stab me." Laz grimaced as the wound closes. "Then what are you?"

"I...." The boy frowns. "I don't know. This is my mind, and I woke up in there." He points to the cage. "I don't think I'm supposed to be small."

Laz hasn't encountered something like this before. It was concerning. "Do you know what happened?"

The kid frowns. "A lot of bad things."

"What's your name?" Laz crouched down by the child.

"Gunpowder Tim. I'm supposed to be him. I don't know how I'm supposed to fix that." Tim frowns. "I'm really hurt. I want to get better. I don't know how."

"Time and rest, unfortunately, for these types of injuries. However, this is a first never seen a mind revert this far back to recover." Laz picks up Tim. "Come on, let's find a nice soft bed to recover in."

Tim blinks and holds on tight. "I don't think there is one. What's your name? You aren't Scratch."

"I am not, but you can call me Lazarus." Laz smiles.

"That's not your name." Tim frowns.

"And why do you know that?" Laz raised a brow as he meandered down the halls.

"You wear a cross. You picked Lazarus on purpose. It's worn and reforged, so you've had it for a long time, probably as long as you've been around or infected as you put it." Tim's blue eyes stare deep into Lazarus's pits of eyes.

"And you've also lost your faith." Laz frowns as they make it to a makeshift cot. It's military grade, but it's the closest thing he has for a bed besides the bloody cot.

Tim curls up when placed on the cot. "What's the use in faith when the gods abandoned you no matter how hard to pray." He pulls the blanket over him.

Laz sits on the floor. "I used to be a priest. That didn't save me."

"Faith never saved anyone." Tim says before his breathing evens out, and he's asleep.

"Maybe we would have been friends once upon a time, kid." Laz smiles and vanishes.

.......

Tim is curled up tightly around Laz.

Laz sighs. "Do you know how to get him off? I clearly underestimated how strong the man is."

Thomas snickers.

Jonny sighs. "Tim, come on, we have a bed to nap in."

Tim is quiet his breathing is slow and steady.

"Yeah, that isn't going to work." Laz huffs. "Thomas stop fucking laughing or I'm going to break your cane."

Thomas giggles and takes a breath. "Kind of hard to do that when you're pinned to the floor. Enjoy bonding to your father in law."

"Go fuck yourself." Laz growls.

"Fuck me yourself coward." Thomas smirks.

"Your father is literally right there." Laz shimmies his arm out to just point.

"And I'm a slut why would that bother me?" Jonny snickers. "You got a shy one."

"He's human. What do you expect?" Thomas smiles, leaning on his cane.

Laz huffs. "My species has nothing to do with this!"

#the mechanisms #the mechs

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