Late Night P3 | draft | PAUSED

🔞 Freaks Stick Together | 1

You shift a bit as you sit up from your bed of blankets and pillows, finally moving for the first time since your children got up to help Mo'at for the morning.

At least they all had something to focus on rather than sit in bed all day.
Unlike you.
After nearly losing them, and then dealing with the loss of the two people you've grown closest with — it was ... well, rough was a huge understatement.

Kiri had taken to staying in Lia's tent with her the past couple of days.
The kids hadn't spoken much to her lately; probably dealing with losing more family in their own way.

You turn over for the first time fully, your eyes still a bit blurry.
Someone is sitting beside you, and all you can make out is the shaved side that sits next to you along with the thicker eyebrows.

"Jake?" You hesitate to even ask as it leans in and presses a hand to your side.

You blink a few times, expecting the image to fade - but it stays a few seconds longer.
It's his face, wrinkles and scars and all.

Something your heart melts at.

"Momma."
Is what breaks the illusion, and lo'ak's face comes fully into view now as he gently shakes you awake fully.

It was a wonder how much he's grown this past year and a half, somewhere between Niikeym and Jake with how heavy he filled out these days - and towering the other kids as his growth spurt was hitting in full force.

It hurts to think about how Niikeym might look.
Forever fifteen as his siblings will one by one pass him up.

"What is it, Lo'ak?" You ask him, sincerely. Reaching a hand out and motioning for him to join you.

Your cheeks and eyes still stained with dried tears.

You hated letting them see you like this, but there was little way to keep the tears coming.

Da'mik was mostly a mess of anger, using it to power him through his mornings and help you with daily things. Taking over where he knew you could not.

Tuk was the hardest, as always. Usually finding herself attached either to the girls, snuggled up in lo'ak's lap, or helping Mo'at with her teachings.

Tsireya and Aonung had their own tent temporarily, and of course Lo'ak was happy to show them around.
Gave him a distraction when it came to Norm and Jake, anyway..

The Metkayina kids be back home before sundown tonight. It was Tonowaris plan to keep them there for a few days, let things clear out before bringing them in.

If only their visit here had been for happier reasons. Something you wish you hadn't said before as well.

You lean in to kiss his forehead, and bring him in closer as he scoots forward a bit.

"There's.. something I've been meaning to tell you, but I didn't know.. how, exactly."

You brush your palm against the back of his head, and as he looks up you notice the dried tears staining his face as well.

"What do you mean?"

"When.. we were with them.." He starts, looking at the floor nervously. "Quaritch said something about having a tracker on Spiders mask.. that's how he found us."

He sees the way your face starts to shift, but knows he can't hold back the rest despite wanting so badly to do so.
"—-And.. Mom... when Dad came to rescue us.." and he swallows thickly; for neither of you truly know if he or norm were even alive.
"...Spider confessed something. It's.. why he ran away in the first place, why I had to chase after him."