Trinity

The Start of Healing

Slim, yet toned, blue arms held his son. Spider had remained in her arms ever since they returned from outside, seeking whatever comfort she was willing to offer. When he'd finally fallen asleep within her supportive embrace, she quietly told the others what had happened. She didn't view it as betraying his trust; they needed to know what was going on.

Miles worries about the kid possibly hurting himself further but understands he wasn't actually trying to harm himself; it was based on a desperation to rid himself of the blue lines that he now associated with his guilt. Mansk looked at Miles' son in sorrow, a deep understanding of shit just becoming too much. Everyone vowed to keep a closer eye on him; it was obvious he needed more support than he let on, and they felt inadequate for failing him up to this point. Not realizing how much he was actually struggling. It didn't matter what was going on; they would be better, because he deserved better.

As Spider dozed within Ten's arms, Miles couldn't help the warmth that spread through him at the sight. They'd always acted closer to siblings than anything else, but right now? It looked like a mother comforting her child.

Did that make any sense? Not really. They weren't that far apart in age... technically. About 5 years spanned the difference after her body swap.

For now, he could keep that warmth-inducing tidbit to himself. He's sure if Mansk or Ten went searching, they'd find it, and that was fine. Miles couldn't deny how much he enjoyed seeing her like this either. Tenera couldn't have children, and as far as he knew, she never wanted any. He assumed her being sterile extended to this body as well, considering it was bound to her DNA.

That wasn't a conversation they'd had yet.

Actually, there were a lot of conversations they hadn't managed to have. Everything just kind of... happened in a whirlwind of instinct, need, and deep-seated emotions. In no way did he regret the claims, but he did wish he knew this version of her better. He knew Tenera; he didn't know Ten'etirey besides what she'd told him and the connections he'd made to who she used to be. Realistically, they had time for that now, and he was going to utilize it.

Especially after watching her get Prager's attention and ask for a datapad. She shifted Spider just enough that she could free one of her arms without releasing him from her hold, and she began searching for... something. There was a contemplative look on her face for half a second, and then a spark of irritation within the bond threw him a bit.

Ten placed the datapad on the ground next to her and typed in a few commands that forced everyone to look in her direction. The tablet now functioned as a holomap, split into many different stacking layers that she nonchalantly flicked away until only a few layers remained. All the while maintaining one arm wrapped around Spider as she worked.

He wasn't aware that she knew how to use tech like that. At least not well enough to type in fucking commands and make the datapad do shit he's never seen before. She'd told them that she grew up with the humans who stayed, so it made sense that she could use the datapad. Typing in commands? Yeah, he didn't expect that.

When she realized every pair of eyes was locked on her, Ten greeted them in kind. A special what the fuck is wrong with all of you look plastered on her face. With them just staring blankly or bewilderedly in her direction, her eyes rolled as her focus shifted back to the tablet. A few more typed commands, and the layers condensed back into a single image. One that was now actively changing.

Ten watched it for a few more moments, seemingly making sure it was doing whatever she told it to do. Seemingly satisfied, she let her eyes draw back to the gawking others.

"What?"

"How'd you do that?" Prager asked; he was the one most taken by her actions. Did he not know how to separate the layers?