#calixte | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

pigeonwhumps · 2 years ago

Text

Safety

BBU Community Days: Day 13

@bbu-on-the-side

Finding Safety masterlist

Taglist: @littlespacecastle @whumpymirages @flowersarefreetherapy @painful-pooch

Cass, Calixte, and their children reunite in Canada five years after Cass' initial kidnapping (with Aaliyah, Lea, Anita, and Sandy's help).

CWs: BBU, pet whump, box boy, box babe, past pet whump, mentions of collars and freedom/captivity, mentions of torture, recovery whump, reunion, past grief (kind of)

2.5k

Cass looks impatiently out the window as they pull into the airport's parking lot. As soon as Sandy's parked he opens the door, striding round to the boot and waiting there.

He doesn't remember the airport's name and today is apparently not a reading day so he can't read the signs, but that doesn't matter, because Calixte's going to be here soon, and Petre and Mathéo and Isabella, and Cass Jr who he hasn't even met yet, and he doesn't think he can wait much longer.

Sandy chuckles lightly as xie come over and unlock the boot. "Their plane isn't even here yet, you and Aaliyah tracked it the whole way. Go on inside and see if you can find international arrivals. I'll pay for parking and meet you there."

Cass nods, taking the wheelchair from Sandy as she sorts something out inside the car. At one time he would've worried that it was something awful she was fetching, and sometime before that it would've been some creative torture from Tyrone or a handler, but now he just feels a faint sense of curiosity. And excitement, of course, about seeing his family again.

He doesn't feel the need to beg for Aaliyah's safety now, like he did for so long.

Aaliyah taps the seat of the chair, and Cass sits down reluctantly. This chair isn't very comfortable, but it was the best fit of the donated ones, and his leg's locked up on the car ride. If he tries to walk now he won't be able to meet Calixte without being in horrendous pain.

They enter the airport together. God, it's so big. The last time he was at an airport... no. No, he's not going to think about that. He didn't see anything anyway, so he doesn't need to think about it, it's not relevant. But it still hurts, phantom shocks, phantom rope burns and restraints, metal biting into his face. Jostled and thrown as his box was boarded. He doesn't know what it looked like, but it felt like a coffin.

Does WRU ship internationally, anyway? He's never found out. God, what's he going to do if he sees someone in a box?

"Breathe, Cass," says Aaliyah, the voice sporting an electronic tinge. "Breathe."

Cass takes a deep breath, then another, then looks up at her.

"You're the best," he murmurs, taking her hand gently. She smiles, touching his cheek.

People are staring now, and Cass fingers the thick band of scarring around his neck nervously. Do they know? Can they see, what he and Aaliyah are? It's Canada, it's illegal, but WRU have agents everywhere and they've never cared about legality. His life is proof of that.

They're too close to the border, far too close. Hell, they could be on the moon and it would still be too close. He squeezes Aaliyah's hand tightly.

"People are staring."

Aaliyah's rabbit-quick eyes dart around, and she looks frightened before her mouth sets in a determined line, tapping out a message on her AAC tablet.

"Let's find Arrivals. Can you read?"

"Not today. But I think there is a symbol of a plane landing."

Aaliyah nods. Cass pushes himself along as they search, eventually finding the board. He'd like to go faster but then he'd bump into someone and maybe lose Aaliyah.

It's not far to Arrivals, and now they just have to wait. Cass just has to wait. He stares impatiently at the doors Calixte and his children will come through, drumming his fingers on the arms of his wheelchair, willing time to go faster.

Sandy arrives shortly after, carrying three drinks. "You found the right arrivals space, that's good. Here, Aaliyah, yours is as sweet as they could make it. Got you an iced coffee Cass. Decaf. Nothing hot, I've seen reunions before and you'll drop it as soon as you see your family."

"Thank you. Has the plane landed yet?"

"Yep, just now. But they've still got to go through immigration, you'll have to be patient."

Cass growls slightly. He's had years of being patient, hasn't he been patient enough?

"Not long," says Aaliyah, and Cass smiles weakly, nods. She still gets too scared to speak much with her natural voice, but he prefers this one. This one isn't associated with screams and sobs and begging at Tyrone's behest. It's just her.

He doesn't look round though. He continues to stare at the door, willing his family to walk through.

"Do– do any of you need– need the toilet before we– before we go?"

Lea's been left to wrangle the four younger Văduvas while Miss Calixte and Mistress Anita repack the documents. Mathéo and Petre are the easiest, because although they're just as impatient as the rest after four hours in immigration and customs they're older, more understanding of the situation. It probably comes from helping to raise their younger siblings, but at least they're a little more sensible.

Isabella and Cassander Jr, however... she really hopes her hair wrap is enough to catch the ice lolly drip from Cass.

There's a murmur of denials from everyone. Lea looks at Izzy, legs swinging where they dangle from the luggage, licking an ice lolly. She's ten but she looks younger right now, hair mussed from the long flight.

"Izzy. Are you– are you absolutely sure you won't– you won't want to go as soon as we– we get through those doors? We have– we have time now."

She pauses, head cocked as she looks up at Lea. Then she nods and jumps down.

Mathéo, with the long-suffering look of someone who knew exactly what she was about to do, catches her and lowers her before she can smack her head on the cream and grey vinyl.

"Careful, Iz, don't want to go to hospital before you've even seen dad again."

She nods and waits for Lea before heading over to the nearest toilets.

"I'll– I'll wait out here– out here for you."

"Okay." She hands Lea her ice lolly. "Don't let it melt."

Well. What's Lea supposed to do with a melting ice lolly? Years ago she'd have eaten it quickly, unsure when her next meal would be. Or she'd have panicked because she couldn't follow that order.

She's glad those days have passed. Mostly. They're not here today, anyway.

"Lea! I wanna go too!"

Lea groans quietly. Of course Cass does. He always wants to do what his sister does. Really, she should've anticipated this.

How's she supposed to deal with it?

Mathéo, seemingly having seen her dilemma, wanders over. "Need any help?"

She nods. "I– I– Cass needs the– the toilet too."

"Of course. I'll take him. Bend down."

She does so, and he lifts Cass Jr off her shoulders, handing her his ice lolly with a wink. "Eat them if you like. Once we get through those doors they'll only care for as long as it takes them to spot dad."

Lea licks at Cass' ice lolly gratefully. It's not like he's eaten much at all, most of it's melting slowly on her hair wrap. She knows she doesn't need to be grateful anymore, but she is. For all of this.

It feels weird, not having to wear anything marking her as a pet. She hasn't worn a collar in years, but this is really the first time out in public that she hasn't had to wear a harness and leash. Mistress Anita helped her take it off as soon as they boarded the flight at Heathrow and she hasn't seen it once since.

It makes her nervous. She barely remembers not having to wear something, and it feels like someone's going to tell her off, discipline her, take her away. Really, the officials could do anything to her, legally, since Mistress Anita isn't following the rules.

But then she looks around. Remembers where she is. The younger Văduvas who insist on her not giving them titles, and Miss Calixte who lets her because she can't help herself. Who treat her like a person, however weird and wrong that is. Even though, in this country, she might be.

She's still owned by Mistress Anita, but she doesn't mind that, she likes her, and she's never felt more free.

They've only just arrived, but she can can already feel that it will be a challenge going back home.

There's another thing nagging at her. She remembers the transport now, the whole, horrifying ordeal to be refurbished. It makes her go cold every time she thinks of it, but more importantly, there was a man named Cass there, who insisted he'd been kidnapped. She'd struggled to believe him then.

She definitely does now.

Is he the same Cass as the man here? Or would that be too much of a coincidence?

The two younger children exit the toilets, and Izzy climbs back on the luggage, Mathéo lifting Cass Jr onto her shoulders. Mistress Anita and Miss Calixte look ready too.

Well. It seems she's about to find out.

It's been four hours, by Sandy's reckoning, when the door opens. Most of the passengers have left, so many planes have been and gone, and his wife and children still aren't here yet.

"What if they are not coming?" he mutters, accent thick with worry. "What if they were arrested or decided not to bother, that I was not worth it?"

"It takes a long time to get through customs, Cass, I'm sure they're just..."

Cass stops hearing anything Sandy says, a faint buzzing filling his ears. A woman comes through, one he vaguely recognises (not Calixte, not dangerous even though his gut fills with dread, but... something), pushing a trolley piled high with luggage. A boy's bouncing on her shoulders, and a young girl in a panda hat is perched on the luggage. She's several years older than when he last saw her in person but he knows her.

"Isabella," he breathes.

She can't have heard him, she's too far away, but her eyes light up as they land on him.

"Tata!" she cries, leaping off the trolley. A young man charges through the door, grabbing his sister before she can fall and running towards them. He can't get up to meet them, his leg still locked, but that doesn't seem to matter as Izzy leaps onto his lap, throwing her arms around his neck. Mattie's next, trying to be grown up about it Cass can tell, but failing. He eventually gives up, hugging Cass close, tears in his eyes.

"You've grown," murmurs Cass into his ear. Mattie chokes out a wet laugh.

"I missed you, tata."

"I missed you too. Izzy, Mattie, both of you, so much."

"I was worried you might forget me."

"Only for about a day, near the start. I forgot everyone. Then I remembered. I've thought about you every night since."

Mathéo buries his head in Cass' chest, sobbing. Izzy's warm, sweet breath comes in his ear, and she whispers, "I love you tata."

"Love you too scuttlebug."

Cass can feel tears dripping down his cheeks. He looks up through watery eyes as a shadow falls over Mathéo.

His other son has clearly gone through most of puberty since Cass last saw him, and he's taller than he looked on-screen.

"Petriça," he murmurs. Petre smiles slightly. He's always felt so strongly, always noticed things, and Cass suspects he's taking note of what's changed.

"Hi dad."

"You have got tall. Come here, there is plenty of space by Izzy."

"Are you sure?"

"I always have space for you, Petriça."

Petre sniffles. "I didn't do as well as you hoped, dad, my grades aren't very good and I stopped basketball and–"

"I have not seen you for five years, your grades are not what I care about. You are here and I can talk to you and that is what matters."

"I missed you. You weren't there and I was so angry and– and– you were *gone*."

"I am here now. And I am not leaving again."

Cass leans down, gathering his children all together, feeling as much of them as possible as he hugs them. His knee's starting to hurt but he doesn't care. He has his children back.

"I wanna hug too!" comes a muffled cry. None of his children move.

"He– he likes to copy– copy his sister. Would you– you like to meet him first?"

There's a pause, and then Aaliyah says, "Hello little Cass."

Cass feels a small pang of jealousy at this stranger knowing his child better than him. But Aaliyah can get to know him first, she's joining the family after all, and Cass has his other children to take care of. After five years of hell, they're here.

Calixte watches as Aaliyah lifts Cass Jr from Lea's shoulders, smiling. She's shorter than Calixte thought from the video call, and somehow even more attractive. She can see why Cass fell in love.

That's a conversation for another time though. Her children are reuniting with their dad, and she's not sure she can wait much longer. Once you have children you have to put them first (not that she had much choice in the matter this time) but no-one ever told her it would be so hard.

Finally she can't wait any longer. She walks forward, getting faster with every stride until she's practically running, and Petre looks round, nudging Mathéo who stands, backing out the way, clutching Izzy's hand. They're all covered in tears and mess, but Calixte ignores that, almost crashing into her husband. He wraps his arms around her, kissing her hard. They kiss for a second, an hour, nowhere near long enough, before he has to pull away to breathe. She cups his face in her hands.

"Mon chéri. Let me look at you. Oh, I've missed your handsome face."

Cass closes his eyes, leaning into her hands. "You even smell the same," he rumbles. His voice is rougher than she remembers, hoarser too. Video calls are only so good. She doesn't want to imagine what he's been through to get here.

"So do you. Oh, Cass."

"I am sorry I left you. I do not look like you remember."

In response Calixte kisses him, all over his face, and then on the mouth. And they just keep kissing.

"I am sorry," murmurs Cass between kisses, "I am so sorry."

Calixte pulls away slightly, folding her hands over Cass'. In no way is she letting him apologise for anything. Certainly not after the torture he's been through. He's here and they're together again and that's what's important, not his self-blame getting even worse.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." She pauses. "Well, except for that time you assumed we'd be better off thinking you were dead, Cassander Anton Văduva. Never do anything like that to us again."

"Never again. Never again, I promise."

26 notes · View notes