When among Dragons... Chapter 12 Family matters

When among Dragons... Chapter 12 Family matters

by Machara and Chryos Stormwing

Special thanks to
my love Chryos who creates this with me,
Gabe as my editor and friend

With a loud crack and a flash of light, a portal formed right next to the half-siblings. While this was totally unexpected to them, at least this time they knew what was likely happening. Someone walked through the opening that looked eerily like a hole in space.

As quickly as it had appeared it vanished, leaving their father behind who was looking down at Drew in concern as he noticed the two with him on top of Garrus.

Drew turned around quickly, adrenaline pushing his speed, only to see the last bit of the portal vanish and his dad standing there. At first, Drew looked at him in shock and fear, but finally, embarrassment crept in.

“I… thought you'd use the door, this time?“

After looking at Drew, Horst’s gaze turned to Garrus. He was remarkably silent as he walked closer on big brawny yet still elegant legs. His gaze remained fixed upon them as he handed Garrus a big letter that looked sealed.

“Read it… if you please. And you… Drew…. come with me. I would like to speak with you, in private. It is of some urgency.“

As opposed to last time Drew didn’t see Garrus turning aggressive, instead he rather looked concerned after having scanned the envelope.

“I think he's sincere, Drew… maybe you should … humor his request.“ Garrus said meekly.

Drew stood up, looking down at himself once more. The last minutes with Garrus were still very present in his mind and he wondered if he was dressed appropriately. He only noticed the sweater which he must have discarded somewhere during their ministrations and he put it back on quickly, and looked back to his da… father.

“Ok, where are we going?“

Horst merely took Drew outside the room and made sure the door was closed. Looking around for a brief moment he let out a sigh.

“Good to be back here… but I just needed a moment with you.“

His words came out fast enough for Drew not to be able to get in between, so all that was left to him, was to listen.

“Listen… I do realize there are feelings both of you are developing for each other, I’m not blind to that. However, I must urge you to caution. There are things at stake here that are bigger than the two of you, bigger than this family even. I don't want to divulge too much, partly because some of it is classified information, but…”

He paused but then resolved to come out with it.

“Well, I guess there's no helping being candid here, the two of you being together like this could lead to… side-effects when combined with your mutations.“

“Side effects? What side effects?“

Drew questioned.

Horst looked defeated… deflated even, for a moment but then pinched his nose in a manner that would look natural on a human face but here, with his draconic face and a broad nose that was part of his snout, it looked a bit more akin to a rude gesture of an alien culture. Drew was amused about that, also because he thought his father was likely not aware of the weirdness of it. Looking at Drew again, Horst had that frustrated 'why…' look that was desperate and sad in some way, but also driven by urgency.

“Please don’t ask me about stuff that I can't give you the answers to. I don't want to lie to you. I can not lie to you. So, I must tell you that I can not tell you more. For the most part, because I don't know myself, if that's any consolation.“

“Look, I'm trying to be helpful and I realize I may be overstepping my boundaries. At any rate, that's what I wanted to tell you specifically. You two getting close like that… might be dangerous. That's all I got. Sorry…“

“Ok.”

Drew said, rather emotionless, at first. Then he added, with some desperation.

“If you can't tell me why, then at least tell me how close we can get without danger, or rather, what to avoid?“

“Sex. Definitely sex.“ Horst replied.

He stared at Drew in a very deadpan way, blankly and as blunt as he could muster.

“Sorry, just wanted to be as clear as possible about that. Other than that, I suppose any… exchange of…. sorry, this is a bit difficult for me… well… liquids… might pose risks, but I cannot say for certain. Still… telling you to use your own discretion would be not to try to help you to the best of my knowledge.“

With a softer voice, he continued.

“Anyway… I didn't want to … pull you two apart, really. That's not my intention. Despite all the… awkwardness for me - which I brought upon me by myself after all - it's really encouraging and … beautiful to see you two like each other, so much.“

“Beautiful?“

Drew asked, quickly and out of instinct. Then confusion set in, but he pulled himself together and thought about the bigger picture.

“Um, anyway… uh…“

He blushed again, hard.

“Eww… really?“

Again, he tried to pull himself together.

“So, you already know how far I might go, huh?”

With more force, he continued.

“And that’s why you pulled me away, and not… both of us? Right?”

Half to himself, he added.

“I had not even thought about um…“ he reddened again. “… getting pregnant.“

He shook his head, exclaiming “No!“ as he tried to rid himself of the thought.

“Is it just that issue, or could just … mixing fluids … be a problem?“

Drew stared at Horst for a moment, watching him as he tried to formulate a response but struggled with it, partly due to awkwardness. So Drew continued after Horst did not respond, right away.

“You… You don't need to be so awkward… d… dad. I remember us talking about stuff like that. You always managed to make it feel … normal… to me. Even if it was just so… new, and … pressing at the time.

I'm glad I've not fully lost you. Even now, you are trying to be straight with me… care for, and accept me. Like the dad, I remember…“

Drew just stood there, looking up at him, into his eyes as tears rolled down his cheeks.

“I just wish you did not need to be so… secretive.“

He thumped a foot against the floor but remained looking at him, a bit forlornly.

Horst looked at his child, clearly saddened by the tears but he still had to pull himself together, obviously knowing the role he was required to play, very well.

“Oh dear… Drew. Please. I’m sorry for all the pain that I've caused your… mothers, and both of you. I'm glad that you still see me as your father. That much I can say.

As for … the two of you in terms of intimacy… no… I cannot say more. Yet.

That's to come though, but I cannot not say when.“

One awkward pause later he again looked at Drew’s face.

“What do you say about returning to your room again, to see what Garrus has been up to?“

“Uh, ok…“ Drew answered, meekly.

He turned around and returned to his room, sat on the bed and then directed his father to have a seat at his desk.

Horst looked at the seat and paused. Glancing at his tail he decided to remain standing. Garrus, on the other hand, was still sitting on the bed, watching as both entered.

“Hey…“ he greeted.

After a moment, he looked at Horst questioningly but as no response came he turned to Drew.

“I got this… 'letter'…“

Garrus handed it to him.

Drew took it and started reading, at first in confusion and then concern.

“Aren't you technically already committing treason by showing me this?“

He then turned to his dad.

“What’s this about?“

Horst chuckled.

“Technically, he is. Though given the circumstances, I won't tell, if you don't.“

Their father walked closer until he stood right next to them at the bed.

“This is part of the reason why I came here with a thunderous sound rather than the silent, gradual portal that you saw yesterday, as I felt more haste was needed. I work for these people… in some manner. You…“

He looked at Garrus.

“Should you choose to accept their offer, you would soon be doing so, as well, though I doubt we would get to see each other much during the course of our work there. As for you…“

He now turned to Drew.

“I didn't bring another letter because their interest is focused on Garrus. Personally, I’d like to see you two staying together and the CSIS seems to consider it as an option, but that’s off the records, for now. Maybe there's a way for you to get a job there, as well… I can't make any promises, though.“

Drew handed the document back to Garrus and looked at his father.

“What kind of work would we be doing there, anyway?”

Horst shrugged but gave Drew a humoring smile.

“You’ll find out if you come with Garrus…”

Frustrated, Drew probed further.

“Um… do they know of you, as a mutant? And what about us, when it comes to that, anyway?“

Horst let out a soft chuckle.

“My dear… me - us being mutants is precisely the reason they're offering this position.“

“Oh, ok. But… we tried to keep ourselves…“

Drew pointed at Garrus and himself.

“… secret. So how do they know?“

Sadness came back to his face, though this time a smile also remained.

“In this day and age, if a big enough corporation or a government wants to know things about you, they will find a way.

In this instance…

Garrus and his mother came by airplane. Standard security sweeps these days gather enough material for DNA samples. Linking him to me wasn't difficult and… as much as it pains me to admit it… your… awakening… might've been a government plot as well. Though not of this institution. The Kraken has many arms.“

His voice deepened to a growl as he tried to sound ominous at the last sentence.

“… pathos aside, it's true though.“

Drew hissed at that. Surprised by himself, he stopped and put a hand over his mouth, with big eyes. Relaxing after a moment, but looking confused, he look first at Garrus and then at his dad.

“You know... I had hoped this would be just a simple evening where you begin to teach us about… ourselves. Maybe to find a way to continue with our lives, mostly normal.“