#kay x rain

[space-blue]

More Happy Family meme stuff... Uncle Andy not getting involved in that one.

Version without the text

The OG:

[k-nayee]

Morning After Alien Romulus i

wc: 4k a/n: Song Inspiration: Morning After by DVSN; recommend you listen while reading!!

Traveler M.List

| Next

ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙.·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ

It all began with a call that changed everything.

You were still relatively new to your position at Jackson's Star when you first met him.

Just 19—still figuring out the ropes of task assignments and managing shift schedules; and yet there you were: delivering the worst news someone could receive.

He was 20 when he walked into the room—scruffy eyes heavy from exhaustion, but had a quiet determined strength to him.

His mother had been overseeing a section of the mines when part of it collapsed during a solo manual checkup.

Only one casualty, but that didn’t soften the blow. Protocol dictated that a family member was called to meetings like this.

His father and sister was bedridden, recovering from whatever sickness had been going around.

That left him to face the news alone.

You sat across from him in the dimly lit room, unsure how to begin. His name stood out on the data tablet you clutched too tightly in your hands: Tyler Harrison.

You watched as he sat, hands folded in his lap, waiting for you to speak.

But how could you? Words felt too small, too fragile for the weight of the situation.

"There was an accident," you finally managed to say, your voice barely above a whisper. "The section your mother was overseeing in… it collapsed during her check. There weren’t any other casualties but…"

The rest of your words had faded into the air as Tyler he stared at you. His expression didn’t change immediately.

It was as if the words didn’t land, as if some part of him was still waiting for you to take it back and say something different.

When he did react it was with the smallest nod, his jaw tightening as he processed the reality.

No tears. No outward display of grief. Just a quiet acceptance that made your chest ache for him.

For a while neither of you spoke. You felt completely out of your depth, helpless in the face of such loss.

What were you supposed to say to make this better? Could you even?

Instead you had offered him the standard protocol—paperwork, procedures, grief counseling if he wanted it.

He refused the offer with a shake of his head. "It’s...just no life here isn’t it?" you could hear the pain he was trying so hard to keep inside.

"...I'm sorry," you whispered, meaning it in ways that went beyond just doing your job.

He said nothing. Just simply got up and left.

After that day you couldn’t stop thinking about him. Maybe it was because you understood loss, having losing your parents when you were seventeen.

Maybe it was because Tyler reminded you of yourself—alone, trying to carry a weight too heavy for one person.

Or maybe, somewhere in the quiet spaces between your brief meeting, you began to notice how his presence stirred something inside you.

You reached out to him in the days that followed.

At first it was professional; checking in to make sure he was managing with the loss. But those conversations quickly became more.

Tyler had a way of looking at you, of really seeing you, that made it impossible not to want to be around him.

He wasn’t just some grieving son; he was kind, resilient—strong in ways you didn’t expect.

Weeks passed and with each interaction the distance between you shrank.

Sometimes you'd find yourselves talking after work, just the two of you walking through the dimly lit corridors of the colony, shoulders brushing every now and then.

It felt easy with him.

He made you laugh in those rare moments when you’d let yourself forget where you were or what life had taken from you both.

Yeah you found him attractive, but it was more than that. Tyler had a quiet charm, a steadiness that drew you in.

He didn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve, but when he smiled—really smiled—it was like the room brightened a little.

And as the weeks turned into months you realized your feelings for him weren’t just out of sympathy. They had grown into something real.

It wasn’t long before he felt the same.

One night, after a particularly long shift, you sat together in one of the colony’s communal areas sharing stories of the people you once were before the weight of loss settled into your lives.

He listened with a soft gaze as you spoke, and when it was his turn he opened up in a way that surprised you.

"I’ve never been good at this," he admitted as his fingers absently traced the rim of his cup. "Talking I mean. About things that matter. But you...you make it easy."

You smiled at that, feeling the warmth of his words settle into your chest. "You make it easy too."

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable. A natural pause that led to Tyler reaching for your hand across the table.

His fingers slid across your palm warm and tentative, as if he was waiting for you to pull away.

You didn’t. You never would.

From then on your relationship with Tyler changed.

You found yourselves seeking each other out more—lingering together in the hidden corners of the colony where you could talk, kiss, and be.

It wasn’t long before you officially started dating, falling into a routine of stolen moments amidst the shift changes and other responsibilities.

Tyler became your constant—a presence you leaned on, someone you could be vulnerable with.

It wasn’t just about comforting each other anymore.

You had both found something more even in the middle of all that darkness.

It was love.

════════════════*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═════════════════

Your mind often lingered on those early days with Tyler.

The bond you’d built felt so natural, so inevitable—two people finding each other in the chaos of life on Jackson's Star.

But as the memories swirled, reality crept back in, pulling you from the haze of nostalgia.

A faint headache throbbed at your temples, the familiar sensation of fatigue weighing you down.

"Still not feeling well huh?"

You blinked, startled by the familiar voice breaking through the quiet.

Looking up you saw your supervisor Mary-Anne standing at your desk, her brows knitted in concern.

The older woman had been watching over you since you first started working here—almost like a mother figure always checking in and making sure you weren’t overworking yourself.

You offered her a weak smile and brush it off with a shrug. "It’s nothing. You know I always get sick this time of year. I’ll be fine."

Mary-Anne didn’t seem convinced. She crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing slightly as she studied you.

"It’s been nearly a month now," she pointed out with a gentle firm voice. "And you’re looking worse, not better."

You opened your mouth to protest to offer another excuse, but the words faltered under her knowing gaze.

She wasn’t buying it. And truth be told neither were you.

The exhaustion, lightheadedness, the constant dull headache—they hadn’t gone away.

They lingered, gnawing at you day after day, but you didn’t have the luxury of slowing down.

Not with everything going on. Not with your brother to look after.

"Look," she softened her tone as she uncrossed her arms, "at least think about going to the colony infirmary. Have them run a few tests, maybe even take a few days off. You’re no good to anyone if you push yourself too hard."

You let out a sigh knowing she wouldn’t let this go until you agreed. "Yeah...okay. M-maybe you’re right. I’ll think about it."

Mary-Anne gives you a pointed look. "Matter of fact you should take the rest of the shift off. Start your break early. I’ll handle everything."

A teasing grin tugged at your lips. "You’ve got to stop babying me Mary-Anne. I’ve been working here for what, four years years now?"

Her eyes twinkled with a hint of playfulness despite the undercurrent of concern. "Four years or not, I’m still your supervisor. Now do you want to go home or do you want me to keep you here until you drop?"

You couldn’t help but laugh. "Okay okay. I’ll go."

"Good." As you stood from your desk gathering a few things, Mary-Anne gave you a fond but stern look. "And make sure to actually rest this time."

With a playful salute you waved her off, murmuring quick goodbyes to the few coworkers still nearby.

Stepping out into the corridor, the cool air of the colony brush against your skin.

Even when the low hum of the machinery and distant echoes of workers filled the background, your mind was elsewhere, drifting into the memories that tugged at your heart with every step you took.

Tyler.

It had been a little over a year since you two had broken up, but the weight of it still lingered like a bruise that refused to fade.

You hadn’t meant for things to end the way they did.

In fact when you’d first met you never imagined you’d get to a point where you couldn’t even look at each other.

But life on Jackson’s Star had a way of weighing people down until there was no energy left to give.

Your thoughts circled back to February of 2141—the month everything fell apart. You had recently turned 22, Tyler nearing his 23rd birthday.

For two years you’d been together, navigating the colony’s harsh environment as best you could. But it was never easy.

How could it be with the constant grind, the pressure of survival, and the burden of responsibility weighing on both of your shoulders?

Tyler had been slowly drowning under the weight of his family’s expectations.

His father grew weaker by the day, forcing him to step up as the head of the house to care for both himself and his younger sister Kay.

And you? You had your own responsibilities.

Your younger brother, who was just 16 at the time, depended on you since the day you’d both lost your parents.

You were only 17 when it happened after all. Having been placed into the role of caretaker at such a young age forced you to grow up faster than you wanted to.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault, not really.

The stress, the exhaustion—it chipped away at your relationship bit by bit.

Neither of you had the time, energy, or the space to take care of each other the way you used to.

Tyler had been overwhelmed with his responsibilities at home and you had been too wrapped up in your own struggles.

Somewhere along the way you both drifted apart, like two ships in a dark endless sea.

You still loved Tyler—of course you did. But love didn’t change the fact that Jackson’s Star was slowly tearing you apart.

You could still remember the night you broke up.

It wasn’t a decision you’d made lightly, but at the time it felt like the only way to survive.

You couldn’t keep pretending that everything was fine when deep down you both knew this was coming for a long time.

And so, you called it off.

Tyler had been quiet. He didn’t argue. He just simply nodded, eyes dull.

After that there had been silence. Weeks passed without a word between you two. That was until...

Your steps slowed, breath catching as the memory washed over you.

Two months after the breakup Tyler had shown up at your doorstep in the middle of the night.

You’d been surprised, standing there in the doorway staring at him.

He looked different—older, more broken than before. He barely managed to speak before the words tumbled out.

His father died.

You’d let him in without a second thought. He was shaking, barely holding it together as you led him inside.

That night you didn’t need words. He didn’t need to explain anything. He simply fell into your arms and you held him close, comforting him the way you used to.

The pain, the grief, the love you still held for each other—it all blurred together.

It was so easy to fall back into the intimacy you’d shared. Before you knew it you were kissing, the heat of it familiar, pulling you both under.

Didn’t take long before you ended up in bed tangled in each other, the lines between comfort and passion mixing until they were one of the same.

But the morning after reality settled back in. You didn’t speak of it. He left your apartment quietly and you let him go.

No words were exchanged, no promises made. You hadn’t spoken since.

And now as you walked through the dim corridors of the colony, the weight of that night pressed on you.

Three months. Three months since you’d seen Tyler and part of you wondered if you ever would again.

The guilt gnawed at you—had you made the right choice? Should you have fought harder for him and the relationship you’d built together?

Or had you both done the best you could in a place that seemed designed to break you?

Your heart ached at the thought. There were no easy answers nor clean resolutions.

Turning the corner toward your living quarters you froze.

Standing outside your door, looking as nervous as you’d ever seen him, was Tyler.

Your breath caught in your throat.

The world around you faded—the hum of the colony, the distant chatter of workers—leaving only the sight of him standing there.

His hair was a little longer and there was a weariness in his posture that hadn’t been there before. But he was still the same Tyler you’d fallen for all those years ago.

When he saw you his eyes softened.

"Hey," his voice was barely audible over the hum of the corridor.

"Tyler..." You try to keep the surprise from your voice but it was there and you both knew it.

The air between you was thick with everything left unsaid. You weren’t sure what to expect.

Was he here to talk about that night? To explain why he’d disappeared afterward?

You swallow down the flood of emotions rising up and force yourself to stay calm. "What are you doing here?"

He scratched the back of his neck, eyes darting around before finally settling on you again.

"Can we talk?" He sounded unsure like he half-expected you to say no. "I uh...I didn’t mean to just show up like this."

Not trusting your voice you simply nod. Stepping past him to unlock the door, it slides open with a soft hiss before you enter.

Tyler follow behind all the way to your bedroom, his presence filling the small space with an odd tension.

“I just need to check on my brother,” you muttered. You needed a second to breathe, to collect yourself.

He watch as you disappear down the narrow hallway.

The familiar hum of the colony’s systems thrummed beneath your feet as you knocked lightly on your brother’s door.

“Everything good?” you asked softly when he opened it. He nod, already dressed in his uniform ready for his shift.

“Yeah just heading out now,” he offer you a small smile. Giving you a farewell kiss on the cheek, he brushes past you and make his way out the house.

You let out a breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding and make your way back to your bedroom.

When you returned Tyler was looking at pictures taped on the wall.

He looked up as you re-entered, and the two of you just stared at each other, neither of you knowing how to begin.

"I...I know it’s been a while and I...I'm sorry. I’m sorry I disappeared after that...night. I should have reached out I know that. I just—” He paused, searching for the right words, his eyes flicking to yours. “I didn’t know what to say.”

The rawness in his voice cuts you deep. You hadn’t expected an apology, not like this.

For months you had told yourself it was just the way things had to be; two people who couldn’t make it work even though they tried.

But hearing the regret in his voice made it all feel real again, like a wound being reopened.

"It's fine. Plus it's partially my fault," you admit quietly. "I shouldn't have assumed that night would...I don’t know fix things?" Your eyes lower as you avoid his gaze. "But then you left and I realized how foolish it was."

Tyler fiercely shook his head. "No. No it's not fine. I never should have left. Not like that."

He took a breath to steady himself before continuing, his words coming faster as if he was afraid he might lose the nerve if he didn’t say it all at once. "I was a coward. I should have told you then but I couldn’t. I couldn’t admit that I never stopped loving you."

Your heart stuttered in your chest. The weight of his words hit you harder than you expected, and suddenly it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room.

Tyler’s eyes were searching yours now, desperate—almost pleading.

“I was an idiot for letting you go. I thought I was doing the right thing but all I did was make everything worse. It’s been hell without you and I didn’t realize how much I needed you until it was too late. I just—” His voice cracked slightly as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t know how to fix this, but I need you to know that I love you; always have and always will..”

Your breath hitched. You didn’t realize you were crying until you felt the tear slide down your face.

Everything you buried—the emotions you had pushed down after your breakup, rose to the surface.

Without thinking you closed the distance. Your hands reached for him before you could stop yourself and pulled him into a kiss.

The kiss was hungry, desperate as if the months of silence had all been leading up to this.

His lips crashed into yours with the same intensity and you could feel the pent-up emotion behind every movement.

It wasn’t soft or gentle; it was years of love, loss, and longing that you couldn’t put into words.

Tyler’s hands found your waist, pulling you closer as you tangled your fingers in his hair.

You kissed him harder, trying to pour every unspoken feeling into that moment, your breaths mingling as you both lost yourselves to the kiss.

Tyler suddenly pulled away, his breathing heavy as he rested his forehead against yours. Hands still gripping your waist, his body trembled slightly.

“I—” He swallowed. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

Your heart is still pounding in your chest as you look up at him. “What is it?”

His gaze drop to the floor for a second before he look back at you. "We found a way to leave Jackson’s Star. And I want you to come with me."

You blinked. "What?" your voice was barely above a whisper.

You weren’t sure if you heard him right or if your mind was still reeling from the intensity of the kiss you just had.

"There’s an old Weyland-Yutani station me and the others found. Bjorn, Navarro, and I...we’ve been working on fixing up a hauler, Corbelan IV. We’re planning to leave for Yvaga.” Tyler's eyes searched yours, watching the realization wash over you.

It took a moment for the gravity of what he was saying to fully hit you. Leave? You had spent years on Jackson’s Star.

The idea of leaving—of escaping to somewhere else, somewhere better—was almost too overwhelming to grasp.

You shook your head slowly as disbelief settled in.

“I—what?” Your voice cracked, barely able to keep up with your thoughts. “Tyler. H-how...how is this even possible?”

“We’ve been working on it for a while now,” his hands moved to gently cup your face. “Kay just needs to convince Rain to use Andy to access the ship-mother's systems so we can get to the hyper-sleep chambers. Once that’s done: You, me...we don’t have to stay in this place anymore.”

The way he said it so full of hope made your heart flutter.

For the first time in a long while you saw a future outside of Jackson’s Star, a way out of the endless cycle that had worn both of you down.

But then reality came crashing back.

Your brother.

He was still too young, barely begun working.

The colony had strict rules about who could leave and when—everyone had to meet their quota of hours to even be eligible for a transfer.

It could take years before he would be able to leave and you couldn’t abandon him. You and he were all each other had left.

"My brother. He doesn't have enough hours to transfer yet. It could be years before he's able to leave." You step back slightly, pulling yourself out of his grasp as your thoughts raced. "I can't just...leave him here."

Tyler’s face fell, but he wasn’t giving up that easily.

"We’ll figure it out," he pleaded. "Andy. H-he's a synthetic! Yeah—he can stay behind and watch over him. You know he’s capable of it. Once we’re safe, once we’ve settled on Yvaga we’ll come back for him."

You could hear the desperation in his voice and it tugged at your heart.

You wanted to believe him, to trust that things would somehow work out, but the uncertainty was gnawing at you.

Your brother was all you had left after everything.

Could you trust that it would work out? Could you really leave him behind even for the chance of a new life?

The hesitation clawed at you making it hard to breathe.

Seeing that you weren’t convinced, Tyler stepped closer again, his hands finding yours as he pulled you gently toward the bed. “Please just...think about it.”

He sat down, eyes locked onto yours as he spoke. “If I wake up tomorrow and you’re not beside me, I’ll know you’re not coming. But if you are...” He let the rest of the sentence linger in the air.

A small smile tugged at your lips despite the turmoil inside you.

“Is this how you trick your way into my bed?” you teased softly, the tension easing just a bit. “You didn’t even ask to spend the night.”

Tyler’s lips twitched into a small grin. “Can I stay the night?”

You pretend to consider it. “Hmm I don’t know. Maybe you’ll have to work for it first.”

His grin widened, and before you could tease anymore, he leaned in capturing you in a kiss.

Tension melted away as his arms wrapped around to pull you closer.

It was both tender and longing—full of everything you both had been holding back for months.

Tyler’s touch was familiar; his lips soft but filled with the desperation of someone trying to hold on to something in fear it might slip away.

Your fingers tangled in his hair, body responding to his in ways that felt like fire burning within your veins.

His hands slid down your waist, fingers gently brushing against your skin as he began to pull at the fabric of your shirt.

Kissing back with equal fervor, your hands move to his shirt, pulling it off in one fluid motion.

Clothes fell to the floor, forgotten in the heat of the moment and as you sank into the bed together.

For now the decision could wait.

════════════════*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*═════════════════

Tyler woke slowly the next morning, the faint hum of the colony's machines working in the background as he stretched beneath the covers.

Eyes still closed, for a brief blissful moment he thought about last night, the memory still fresh in his mind.

But as he reached out for you his hand met only cold air.

His eyes snapped open, panic flooding his chest as he realized the bed beside him was empty.

You weren’t there.

His heart raced as he sat up to scan the room. Empty.

The space next to him where you had been was cold and untouched. For a long moment he sat in silence, staring at the space beside him.

The weight of your absence pressed down on him like a heavy stone in his chest. You were gone.

He didn’t move. He couldn’t. The hope he had held onto so tightly the night before was slipping through his fingers.

All that remained now was a empty space, silence—the painful reality that you had made your choice:

You weren’t coming with him.

[fandomnerd9602]

Y/N and Andy pilot the small ship to their new destination…

Andy: you sure they’ll w-welcome me?

Y/N: it’s a safe harbor, bud. I’ve been here many times.

Kay and Rain hug Y/N…

Y/n: hey loves

Rain; so this is it?

Kay: our new life

Y/N: welcome home

The ship makes its way to a lush forest planet…

[patchodraws]

kay should have survived tbh

[rainbowwonderlandsblog]

Rain: Damn, there are no seats available

Kay: My face is right here

Rain: ..What?

Kay: What?

[darthmatthewtwihard]

Alien: Romulus was so great that I have already seen it twice and will probably see it at least one more time in the theater.

[sersh]

ALIEN: ROMULUS (2024) dir. Fede Álvarez | every rainkay scene (3/?)

[luvscarlyle]

best cast EVERRRR

[rainkays]

“in another life.”

“why not this one?”

[rainandandy]

could you pls do some rainxfem!reader pls?? There is a serious lack of rain fics on this app and I need more😭😭 just some HC’s, fluff, angst, nsfw, love it all. Take it and bby😘

(btw LOVE your work, ur keeping me alive rn)

Thank you for the ask!😘 I will have more Rain Carradine X FemReader coming! Hope you like this

Pairings: Rain Carradine X Fem!Reader

Warnings: Jealous Reader

Word Count: 1027

Life on Jackson's Star was a gritty mix of endless work and fleeting moments of reprieve, where the dusty, metallic corridors echoed with the clanking of machinery and the chatter of miners. Amidst this stark backdrop, your relationship with Rain Carradine blossomed into something that felt almost out of place with its warmth and genuineness.

Rain was strong, capable, and fiercely protective, not just of her synthetic brother Andy but of you as well. Her friendship with Tyler, her former partner and a prominent figure in the mining crew, had initially seemed unremarkable to you. However, as time went on, their easy camaraderie began to gnaw at you, the seeds of jealousy sprouting unchecked.

You'd watch them during breaks, sharing jokes and reminiscing about past missions, their laughter a stark contrast to the usual din of the miners’ mess hall. The more you observed, the more your imagination painted pictures of a past perhaps better left behind, stirring a restlessness within you that you couldn't shake off.

One evening, compelled by a mix of curiosity and unsettling thoughts, you approached Andy. Despite his challenges with speech and the obvious difficulties his synthetic nature sometimes posed in social settings, Andy had a way of understanding human emotions, perhaps better than most humans themselves.

"Andy," you started, hesitating as you chose your words carefully, "did Rain and Tyler... were they together? Like, before?"

Andy's eyes, always so expressive despite the rest of his face remaining eerily impassive, flickered with something that might have been discomfort. "Yes," he stuttered, his voice mechanical yet tinged with a hint of warmth. "But it was a long time ago. Things change."

His confirmation hit harder than expected. You tried to laugh it off, to dismiss the tightening in your chest as just a silly overreaction. "Thanks, Andy. Just curious, you know?"

But curiosity wasn't easily sated. At the next community gathering in the recreation hall—a rare moment of leisure on the harsh mining planet—you spotted Kay, Tyler's vivacious sister, and decided on a reckless course of action. Flirting with Kay, you hoped, might just give you the answers you needed, or at least draw some kind of reaction out of Rain.

Kay, with her easy smile and flirtatious demeanor, was a willing participant in your charade. You laughed at her jokes, touched her arm lightly, and played the part of someone smitten. From the corner of your eye, you could see Rain watching, her expression unreadable.

Later, as you and Rain walked back to your quarters along the dimly lit paths of the colony, she broke the silence. "Seems like you and Kay were getting along well tonight," she said, her tone light but with an undercurrent of something else—was it amusement? Concern?

You bristled, defensive and still wound up from your own concocted drama. "What about you and Tyler? Seems like old times, huh?"

Rain stopped walking, turning to face you under the faint glow of the overhead lamps. Her laugh, when it came, was genuine and full of warmth. "Are you jealous?" she asked, stepping closer, her eyes searching yours.

As Rain's question hung in the air between you, a cool breeze whistled through the narrow passages of Jackson's Star, stirring the dust around your feet. "Are you jealous?" she repeated, her voice a gentle tease that echoed slightly off the metal walls surrounding you.

Caught off guard by her directness and the earnest look in her eyes, your initial reaction was to deflect, but the sincerity in her gaze held you in place. Before you could respond, Rain stepped closer, closing the small gap that the conversation had widened between you. Her hands reached up, resting lightly on your cheeks, her touch sending a familiar warmth through you that contrasted sharply with the chill of the evening.

With a tenderness that always seemed at odds with the harsh environment of the mining colony, Rain leaned in. Her lips met yours in a kiss that was soft at first, hesitant, as if giving you room to pull away. But you didn’t. Instead, you found yourself leaning into the kiss, deepening it, your hands moving to encircle her waist and pull her closer.

Rain responded in kind, her movements confident, her lips pressing more firmly against yours. The kiss grew from tender to fervent, a mingling of relief and passion. It was the kind of kiss that spoke of deep connections and unspoken promises, a reassurance of her feelings amid the whirlwind of doubts that had clouded your mind.

The world around you seemed to quiet, the usual hum of the colony fading into a distant backdrop to the intensity of the moment. Rain's kiss chased away the shadows of jealousy, filling the spaces with an affirming warmth that seeped deep into your bones.

When you finally broke apart, breathless and a little dazed, Rain’s smile was radiant under the sparse light of the colony’s lamps. "I mean it," she said, her forehead resting against yours as she caught her breath. "It’s always been you."

In that moment, with Rain’s affirmation still tingling on your lips, the earlier tension dissolved, leaving a clarity that brightened the dark paths of Jackson's Star. Her laughter, light and freeing, bubbled up between you, and you couldn't help but laugh with her, the sound mingling with the night air.

The path back to your quarters was filled with a comfortable silence, the type that comes when no words are necessary to fill the space between two people. Rain’s hand in yours felt like a vow, a silent promise that no misunderstanding could break the bond you shared.

As Andy turned to give you both a subtle thumbs up before heading off to give you some privacy, you realized how deeply integrated into your life Rain had become. Her presence was a constant source of strength and comfort, just as you hoped to be for her.

Your journey together on Jackson's Star might be filled with challenges, but moments like these, stolen under the artificial stars of the colony, reminded you that as long as you were together, there was nothing you couldn’t face.

[rainedreams]

A story in two parts

[ihatethebrits]

hawkmetri shippers rn

[k-nayee]

Morning After Alien Romulus ii

wc: 3.9k a/n: Song Inspiration: Morning After by DVSN; recommend you listen while reading!!

Traveler M.List

Previous | Next

ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙.·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ

The quiet hum of the ventilation system was the only sound in the room as you awakened.

Your bare skin prickled slightly as the cool air traced along your spine. The sheets were slightly tangled around your legs, a faint reminder of the way Tyler had held onto you as if afraid you’d slip away.

For a moment you stayed there, caught between the comfort of the present and the weight of the future pressing on your chest.

You took in the sight of Tyler sleeping beside you—his dark lashes casting shadows on his cheekbones, lips slightly parted, breaths even and untroubled as his arm draped loosely over your waist,

You felt an undeniable tug in your chest.

It wasn’t fair. None of this was.

You reached out without thinking; brushing your fingers gently through his hair, smoothing back a few strands that had fallen over his forehead. He barely stirred with a soft exhale.

You wanted nothing more than to stay, to sink back under the covers and pretend, even for a little while longer, that the outside world didn’t exist. That Jackson’s Star wasn’t a crumbling graveyard in the making.

But reality was impatient and duty whispered in the back of your mind.

Leaning in, you pressed a light kiss to his forehead, lingering just enough to let the moment settle. "Soon," you murmured against his skin, the promise hanging between you. "We’ll get there soon."

Though you weren’t sure who it was really meant for. Him or yourself?

With careful movements you slip out from under the sheets, mindful not to wake him. The floor was cool beneath your feet as you padded across the room, a wince pulling at your face as you bend down to dress quickly—the soreness a not-so-subtle reminder of last night.

You had picked something simple. Practical. Didn’t want to give anyone a reason to notice you more than necessary today.

The facility was quieter than usual when you arrived. Most workers hadn’t clocked in yet, leaving only a few scattered employees moving through the lit corridors, lost in their own routines.

Good. Fewer eyes meant fewer questions.

Settling at your workstation, you booted up the terminal, fingers moving automatically over the keyboard. Years of navigating these systems had made you efficient—too efficient.

You knew the system inside and out; knew its weak spots, its loopholes. Every firewall, every security gap, every blind spot left unattended that management either didn’t care to fix or simply hadn’t noticed.

Maybe it was arrogance. Maybe it was neglect. Either way it worked in your favor.

Hacking in was second nature by now. Your eyes scanned the lines of code flashing across the screen as you navigated through, slipping past security protocols with the kind of precision that only came from experience.

A click here, a minor override there—nothing too aggressive, nothing that would trip an alarm. Just a careful dance between what was allowed and what wasn’t.

Then you saw it.

QUOTA MET: TRANSFER ELIGIBLE

The confirmation glowed in green across your account file, staring back at you like a silent invitation.

You had met your quota weeks ago. The option had been sitting there waiting. You hadn’t acted. Not until now.

Not until Tyler.

Your heartbeat picked up, thudding against your ribs as you pulled up your brother’s data. His file flickered onto the screen—his name, his hours, his status, all laid out in sterile formatting.

For a brief second doubt gnawed at the edges of your resolve. What if this didn’t work? What if someone noticed? What if—

No. You couldn't think like that. Taking a deep breath, you began typing.

It wasn’t just a matter of inputting numbers. The system wouldn’t allow a direct transfer under normal circumstances. There were fail-safes in place, redundancies meant to prevent exactly this kind of manipulation.

Luckily you knew the cracks in the armor.

Instead of a direct transfer you rerouted the hours through a dormant worker ID—a name that no longer had a body attached to it, a ghost in the system. From there the hours flowed cleanly into your brother’s account, looking like nothing more than a clerical correction.

The moment you hit Enter your status blinked red.

QUOTA UNMET: TRANSFER UNELIGIBLE

And then—your brother’s turned green.

QUOTA MET: TRANSFER ELIGIBLE

A sharp breath hitched in your throat, your hands were still trembling slightly as they hovered over the keys. 'It's done.'

The thought echoed in your head but it didn’t bring you the relief you expected. Instead your stomach twisted with unease.

With a shaky exhale you forced yourself to focus. You couldn’t afford to sit here in shock. You quickly began to erase every trace of your interference.

You became hyper-aware of the faint hum of machinery and the distant murmur of workers beginning to filter into the station as your fingers moved automatically.

Delete logs, clear access history, reroute tracking pings.

Every file you touched, every lingering breadcrumb that could be traced back to you, wiped clean. It was meticulous work but you had no room for error.

A few more keystrokes... A final scan... Gone.

With a final click you shut off your terminal. You sat there for a moment, staring at the dark reflection of your own face on the screen’s surface.

It was done. No going back.

Your lungs deflated as you leaned back in the chair, shoulders slumping as the tension coiled in your muscles finally unwound—just a fraction.

Because this was only the first step.

Pushing away from your desk, you forced your legs to move through the near-empty halls. The artificial lighting above flickered slightly, casting sharp shadows along the walls, but you barely noticed.

You needed to look the part.

Reaching the nearest restroom, you slipped inside and locked the door behind you. The mirror reflected back a face that didn’t look nearly as weary as you felt.

That wouldn’t do.

Digging into your bag, you pulled out your small kit of waterproof makeup, your hands steady as you selected the palest shade you had. You apply it strategically to make your skin appear almost ghostly: dabbing it under your cheekbones, around your eyes—anywhere that would make you look sickly.

Then came the red liner, a precise application around the rims of your eyes to mimic irritation and exhaustion. You blinked a few times to let the moisture build naturally.

The effect was haunting—you looked drained, on the verge of collapse.

Perfect.

Satisfied, you straightened, adjusted your shirt to appear slightly rumpled, and took one last breath before leaving the restroom.

Now came the hard part.

The walk to Mary-Anne's office felt much longer than usual. Your hands felt clammy, your breathing slightly uneven, but you forced yourself to stay calm. This has to work.

Reaching her door, you raised a trembling hand and knocked softly.

A rustle of papers. A chair shifting. Then—

"Come in."

You pushed the door open and stepped inside.

She was at her desk (as usual), glasses perched on the bridge of her nose as she worked through a thick stack of paperwork. The soft glow of her monitor illuminated the wrinkles in her forehead as she worked, but as soon as she saw you she paused.

Her face brightened upon seeing you, her lips parting in the start of a warm greeting—until she saw you up close. The warmth drained from her expression and was replaced by deep immediate concern.

"____...sweetheart, I—" Mary-Anne's brows knit together as she stood up slightly, leaning forward. "What’s wrong? What happened?"

You lowered yourself into the chair across from her, your hands clenching together in your lap, curling into yourself just a little as you gave a shaky sigh.

“I—I listened to you,” you murmured. “I went to the infirmary. I...I just thought maybe I was run down, you know?" A weak humorless laugh escaped you before you inhaled sharply as if bracing yourself. "But after some tests, they—" Your voice caught.

Mary-Anne was already on the edge of her seat. "Tests?" she echoed. Her own hands pressed against the desk, her knuckles white.

You lifted your gaze to hers, your eyes wet, the red lining enhancing the illusion of someone who had cried too much already. "They found something growing in my brain. They don't know what...but the tumor's developing fast."

Mary-Anne's face went slack. For a moment she just stared, uncomprehending—like her mind refused to process what you had just said. Then the color drained from her face.

"Oh honey…" Her voice broke, eyes glassy with unshed tears. "No...no that can’t—"

You let out a shaky breath, blinking rapidly as if you were trying to keep yourself together. It wasn’t hard—because underneath the act real emotions swirled, tangled with the lie.

You could feel the weight of it pressing on your concious.

She reached forward, grasping your hands in hers, squeezing them tightly as if that alone could will reality into something kinder.

You let your head dip slightly, eyes burning as you let out a trembling breath. "I—I don’t have much time."

Her grip on your hand tightened. "No no don’t say that. There—there has to be something they can do. Treatments—"

You shook your head. "It’s too late for that."

The first tear slipped down her cheek and it nearly shattered you.

She saw you like family. A daughter, a niece—someone she had taken under her wing long ago. And now? Now she was losing you.

You hesitated before speaking again, letting the tension stretch just enough. Then you carefully squeezed her hand. "I...I need you to do something for me."

She sniffed, blinking rapidly. "Anything."

You took a breath. "I need you to approve my brother’s transfer to Yvaga III."

Her brows knit together, confusion flickering across her grief-stricken face. "...What?"

"I gave him all my hours," you admitted lowly. "He has everything he needs to leave. But if anyone checks the records, they’ll see the numbers don’t add up and they’ll start asking questions."

Silence.

Mary-Anne's entire body tensed as her hands pulled away. "You—what?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, almost like she was afraid of the walls listening in. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done?! If they find out—"

You cut her off with a hollow laugh. "I’m already a dead woman."

That stopped her cold.

The room fell silent except for the faint hum of machinery beyond the walls. Her lips parted but no words came out. She just stared at you, at the emptiness behind your eyes, at the acceptance.

The truth (at least the truth you had crafted) settled between you both like a lead weight..

“There’s always one final screening before transfer off Jackson Star.” You spoke again, voice softer now, raw with the emotion you needed her to see. “If you approve it no one will think to look deeper. No one will question it."

Tears spilled freely from your eyes now, your breath coming out uneven. "I...I can’t leave him alone. I'm all he has. After the death of our parent's I can’t—" Your breath hitched and the dam broke.

Your body shook as sobs wracked your frame. The grief, the fear, the desperation—it all poured out in a way that felt real. Maybe because some of it was.

Maybe because you knew, deep down, you weren’t just crying for your brother. You were crying for everything.

For the life you never got to have... For the choices forced upon you.... For the lies you had to tell to ensure the only family you had left would be safe....

Through your blurred vision you saw her; you saw the war waging in her expression, the way her hands curled into fists, the way she fought against the rules, against logic, against everything she was supposed to do.

Then, with a heavy shaky sigh, she shook her head. "You…" She let out a choked sound, somewhere between frustration and heartbreak. "You absolute fool."

And then she nodded. "Okay."

Your breath caught.

She sniffled, wiping her face. "I’ll do it. I’ll make it official."

A broken sob tore through you as you surged forward, wrapping your arms around her. She let out a strangled sound of her own before hugging you back tightly, squeezing you like she was trying to hold you together.

You had done it.

Your brother was safe.

And nothing else mattered.

*.·:·.☽✧✧☾.·:·.*

You sat in the dimly lit living lounge, your knee bouncing uncontrollably as nerves twisted like a knot in your stomach. The faint hum of the ventilation system filled the silence but it did nothing to settle the unease gripping your chest.

The clock on the wall ticked louder than usual—or maybe it was just your heartbeat roaring in your ears.

Your fingers tangled together in your lap, gripping tighter than they needed to as every so often you'd glanced toward the front door.

'He should be home soon...'

You had gone over this conversation in your head over and over. What you would say...how you would say it.

But now? Now you weren’t even sure how to start.

Then—

The front door slides open with a soft hiss, the faint shuffling of boots against the metal floor signaling his return. Anticipation and dread coiled inside you as you shot up instantly like a tightly wound spring.

Your brother stepped inside, his uniform slightly wrinkled from another long shift. A tired but genuine smile formed on his lips as he shrugged off his jacket. "Hey! You won't believe the kind of day I had—"

The easy smile falters the second he sees your face. "What’s wrong?" The usual warmth in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a cautious edge.

You hadn’t realized how serious you must have seemed—hands clenched, eyes trained on him like you were bracing for impact.

You didn’t answer.

Instead you closed the distance between you in a few quick strides and pulled him into a hug.

His body tensed at first, caught off guard by the abruptness of it, his arms hovering uncertainly before finally settling around you. He was taller than you now, but the way you clutched him and forced his head down to rest against your shoulder said otherwise.

"Okay...?" His voice was muffled as he let out a confused chuckle. "Now I know something’s up."

He shifted slightly, trying to pull back, but you only tightened your hold for a moment longer, now cradling his head under your chin.

His breath hitched. "Hey...what’s going on?" His voice was softer now. More careful.

You could feel his unease, the way he hunched slightly, letting you hold onto him like you used to when you were both younger—when the world had been scarier and he had needed you to shield him from it.

Taking one last shaky breath, you finally pull back. His hands lingered on your arms as you reached up to gently cup his face between your palms.

His skin was warm beneath your touch, [eye color] eyes searching yours for answers as his brow scrunched deeper. "Seriously. What’s going on?"

You met his gaze. "You’re leaving, [Brother's Name]."

He blinks. “What?”

"You’re getting out of here." Your voice became firmer. “You’re leaving Jackson Star.”

His expression remained frozen for a second, like his brain was still catching up to the words you had just said. Then his eyes slowly widened.

A beat of silence.

"...What?" His voice was barely a whisper this time.

You didn’t waver. You repeated yourself as you give a steady and reassuring nod. "You’re going to Yvaga."

For a moment his lips parted but no sound came out. He just stood there blinking at you, the reality of your words sinking in.

Then—a grin.

It started small, creeping onto his face. Then it grew bright and full of disbelief.

"Wait. Wait are you serious?" His voice pitched higher, excitement bleeding into every syllable. "You’re not messing with me? This isn’t some kind of cruel prank right?"

You didn’t need to answer. The look in your eyes was enough.

"Holy shit—are you serious?! No wait—" He spun around, running a hand through his hair as a sudden burst of energy rushed through him. "I— I’m actually leaving?! I can finally—?!"

He turned back to you as he started rambling, his words coming out in breathless waves.

"I’ll actually get to see the sun?! And real trees?! And—actual grass?! Like real growing grass? And the air—God bet the air doesn’t even smell like metal and recycled filth over there—"

But then he stopped.

His words cut off mid-sentence as he looked back at you. And just like that, the boyish wonder vanished, replaced by something raw as the light in his eyes dimmed.

“Wha....what about you?”

You had been waiting for this. You forced a reassuring smile, shaking your head as if his worry was misplaced. "I’ll be there too."

He didn’t respond right away. His eyes searched yours as if trying to find the lie beneath your words. When he found nothing to doubt, his shoulders eased. "Okay...yeah. Good that's good."

Relief softened his features, and just like that the light returned. He grinned again, bubbling back up as he started pacing, hands gesturing as he talked.

"God I don’t even know where to start! Do I need to pack everything? What should I bring? What’s the first thing I should do when I get there? Do you think they have real food? Like not this rehydrated crap?"

His energy was infectious and you couldn’t help but let out a laugh as he spin in circles like a kid on their birthday. “Relax. The transport doesn’t leave for another week. You have time."

"Yeah but still—!" He waved his arms, his mind clearly filled with preparations. "I gotta be ready!"

Still grinning, you reached out and ruffled his hair, messing it up just to hear him groan in protest. He batted your hand away with a playful scowl.

You hesitated for half a second before adding, "You’re gonna be staying with Mary-Anne for the time being."

His excitement dimmed again, his lips pressed together. "...Why do I have to stay with her? Aren't we just going together?"

There it was—that little sliver of doubt creeping back in.

"Because I need to handle some things here first. But I’ll be there right after." you said, pinching his cheek exaggeratedly in an attempt to lighten the mood. "Besides, you like her. She makes those weird cookies you love."

The teen scrunched his nose but didn’t argue. He still looked uncertain.

"You promise?"

You smiled, lifting your hand and holding out your pinky; a silent vow.

He stared at it for a moment before huffing, a grin tugging at his lips as he looped his pinky around yours. "You better not make me wait too long," he muttered.

"Do I ever?"

"Yes. Constantly."

You laughed, bumping your forehead against his before pulling back.

For now the moment was safe. For now he was happy. And for now that was enough.

*.·:·.☽✧✧☾.·:·.*

The low hum of Corbelan IV ’s engines vibrated through the metal walls, a subtle but constant reminder that they were really leaving. The air inside the ship was thick with tension—excitement, unease, the weight of the unknown.

Navarro was already in the cockpit; flipping switches, checking dials, her voice crisp and efficient as she called out checkpoints.

In the main cabin Rain and Andy moved around, taking in the ship’s interior with quiet awe while others moved frantically, checking cargo, double-checking straps, ensuring everything was in place.

And then there was Tyler.

He sat in the co-pilot’s seat barely registering the checklist Navarro was rattling off. The faint hum of the ship, the occasional flicker of a dashboard light....it all blurred into the background.

His fingers tapped restlessly against his knee, shoulders slightly slumped as his entire body carried the kind of tension that only came with waiting for something that wasn’t going to happen.

He should be happy. They were finally leaving this cursed place. They were finally free.

But you weren’t here.

"You alright mate?"

Tyler blinked, turning to see Bjorn staring at him from where he stood near the console. The scavenger's arms were crossed, his expression unreadable but sharp with observation.

Tyler forced a grin with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Yeah. Yeah—I will be."

Bjorn made a noise in the back of his throat, half scoff, half knowing grunt. He smacked his lips and muttered, “Women. Can’t live with ‘em...can’t live without ‘em.”

Tyler let out a breathy laugh, though it held no real humor. But before he could respond—

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A loud pounding rattled against the metal door causing everyone to jump.

"Shit!" Bjorn hissed, his entire body going rigid.

Kay sucked in a sharp breath, eyes going wide as hands instinctively move to her stomach. "Think we got caught?" she whispered as panic crept into her voice.

Navarro whipped around in her seat. "No fucking way, I cleared us. There’s no—"

Tyler’s pulse spiked as he turned toward the console. With a quick press of a button, the external camera feed flickered onto the screen.

And then—

All the tension in his body evaporated.

A slow disbelieving smile stretched across his face.

He shot up from his seat, barely giving the others a second glance before bolting for the door. His heart was hammering, his throat tight as he slammed his hand against the release button.

The door hissed open.

And there you were. Standing just beyond the threshold, a bag slung over your shoulder with a warm smile tinged with nervous energy. "Got room for one more?"

For a split second Tyler just stared.

His breath stuttered, eyes scanning over you as if he needed to make sure you were real—that you weren’t some cruel hallucination conjured by wishful thinking.

In an instant his arms were around you.

You barely had time to react before you were engulfed in his warmth, your feet nearly lifting off the ground as he held you tight against his chest. His breathing was uneven, almost ragged, like he was forcing himself to believe this was happening.

"You here," he muttered against your shoulder.

You let out a soft laugh, muffling the way your throat tightened. "Didn’t actually think I’d let you have all the fun did you?"

Tyler pulled back just enough to look at you, his hands still gripping your arms like he was scared you’d disappear if he let go.

His eyes searched yours.

You could tell—he wanted to say something else. Something bigger. But instead he just huffed a breath and shook his head. "Get inside idiot."

Grinning, you stepped past him, dropping your bag onto the floor as you took your first steps onto the ship.

The others were staring.

Bjorn let out a low whistle. "Well look at that. Drama’s over folks. Guess we can all breathe now."

Kay let out a choked laugh, one hand clutching her chest as if trying to slow her racing heart. "Almost gave me a damn heart attack that's for sure"

You just shot her a wink.

Navarro’s voice came through the intercom, cutting through the moment. "Last call. We’re clear for launch in two minutes. Strap in or get left behind."

This was it.

Tyler exhaled, running a hand through his hair before glancing back at you, a different kind of smile on his face now. "Come on," he said, nodding toward the seats. "Let’s get the hell out of here."

You grinned.

"Gladly.

[nyaskitten]

Call me insane because I've only seen s7 once, but genuinely I feel like it would've made more sense for Kai to be the one hesitant to think his parents are traitors, and Nya is the one fully willing to believe that, no? The thing is, Kai KNEW his parents, if even only for like 6 years, if only even having vague memories of them, but Nya? She probably barely remembered them, or didn't remember them at all! What reason would She have to care about them? She doesn't seem to care all that much in Seabound after all...

[patchodraws]

do y’all want some alien: romulus kay survives fic besties? 👀

[rainbowwonderlandsblog]

Kay: Let's play truth or dare. You start

Rain: Okay. Truth or dare?

Kay: Truth

Rain: What's your favorite color?

Kay: Triangles. Okay, my turn. Do you like girls?