At First Sight - Part 1/2

Posted on 15 Jan 2018 @ 7:46am by Commander Scarlet Blake & Petty Officer 3rd Class Constantin Vansen
Edited on on 15 Jan 2018 @ 7:48am

2,989 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Earth: England - Vito Residence
Timeline: MD 43 - 12:30

ON:

Cadet Acer Vito frowned as the hatch to the shuttle opened for them, just watching it for a long moment. "You know, there's still time to change your mind..." he looked to Zoie with doubt. He couldn't imagine why she had wanted to visit his parents with him. And now he was starting to worry.

Zoie Herianto looked at him, her eyes warm as she put her bag over her shoulder. "Why would I want to?" she asked and nudged him with a grin. "I want to meet them. The people who read you bedtime stories..."

He sighed heavily at that, shaking his head slowly as he searched her eyes. "Okay," he finally said softly, leading the way out and down the garden that led to the back of the house.

"Acer..." a dark haired man was making his way down the garden to them, smiling warmly. There was a pepper of grey at his temples, but only a touch, the darkness of his hair a stark contrast with his blue eyes. James Vito was in his 40s, and his black jeans and shirt showed how fit he was. He was tall and his stride long and purposeful as he made his way to them.

James pulled Acer close by the shoulders to kiss his black hair, and Acer knew better than to try and stop him. "And you must be Zoie..."

Zoie smiled warmly and nodded, looking at James. "Yes, Mr Vito. Thank you for letting me come along."

"James," he corrected with a smile, leaning to her to kiss her cheek before taking a hold of her bag. "You should have been carrying this, Acer."

"Are you joking? She'd have knocked me flat," Acer gave a grunt of laughter, shaking his head firmly.

"I would have," Zoie said with a small smile. "Martian women are very...err...well. We like showing how good we are."

"James! Is it them?" a voice shouted from the backdoor, a sense of curiosity in it, yet the owner clearly did not just run out for anything.

"It's them, Stephen, come and meet Zoie!" James called back before shaking his head and looking to Zoie with a chuckle. "He's not been back long..."

She smiled warmly to James, nodding at the words. Curious.

The man came out of the house and walked quickly over, smiling as he looked at Acer. He reached out and pulled him close, hugging him as if he never wanted to let him go. "Missed you," he said softly. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay, Dad," Acer said with a small smile, even hugging him in return. He had to admit, he'd missed them too.

He nodded and smiled, pulling back and stroking his cheek with love. "You look good," he said before he looked to Zoie. "I'm Stephen."

"Zoie!" she offered her hand quickly, smiling. "I...thank you for letting me stay. I know this time is precious..."

"Nonsense, you're more than welcome," James said firmly, but with a small smile as he touched Stephen's arm. "Come on inside. There's coffee...and tea..." he glanced to Stephen, who had decided, not knowing which she preferred, to freshly brew both.

Zoie smiled as she looked at them go before she looked over at Acer. "You never told me you had two Dads," she whispered softly.

Acer looked to her with surprise before shrugging lightly with a chuckle. "I didn't think to," he admitted.

She nodded with a small smile, unable to stop herself from poking his side as she walked past him and into the house. She looked around with awe, taking it all in. "I...would love some coffee," she said, watching the two men.

James watched as Stephen moved to pour drinks, motioning for Zoie to get comfortable at one of the seats in the large kitchen. The home was old but with a modern, slick interior. There were a few antiques here and there, but nothing oppressive. "How was the trip?"

Zoie smiled as she sat down, nodding. "Good thanks. Good weather and a decent pilot always helps."

"Well if you're tired, you can go to your room for a lie down. We prepared the second guest room for you, if...that's alright?" there was clear question in James' voice, the curiosity of whether she had expected to share with Acer or not unhidden.

"It's perfect, thank you," Zoie said before she looked over at Acer and then back at the two men. "We're not a couple. He hasn't brought me here to surprise you."

Stephen looked at them both before sighing, reaching into his pocket before he handed the platinum to James. "Bastard."

James grinned, taking hold of the money quickly to slip into his pocket. "I'll buy you a martini with it..."

Acer shook his head and looked down, half covering his eyes. "Seriously?"

Stephen looked at him before he gave a small shrug, a smile curling his lips. "Well, it never hurts to gamble a bit."

Zoie laughed warmly, looking at Acer before she whistled. "I now know where you get your taste for a wager..."

Acer shook his head, a somewhat embarrassed smile on his features as he sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't give any indication that we're a couple..."

"That's what made your father suspicious," James pointed out with a soft chuckle.

Zoie smiled warmly, glancing at Acer for a moment before she shrugged. "But there's...nothing romantic. We're friends. Great friends."

Acer nodded firmly, reaching for the coffee that Stephen pushed towards him. "I met her Dad recently. You'd like him. A military man."

Stephen glanced over at James for a moment before he nodded, taking a deeper breath. "A decent man?" he asked, carefully. He was acutely aware how...cruel people could be to his son. And that’s what Acer was. His son.

Acer nodded with a small smile at that, holding his eyes reassuringly. "Very. He had a lot of advice. For the Academy." He didn't mention about his biological parents' records. He wasn't sure it would be something they'd want to hear.

Stephen visibly relaxed at the words and nodded, looking down. "Good. Good," he said softly before he looked over at James.

James smiled gently to him, knowing all too well what was going through Stephen’s head. He reached under the table, to take a hold of his hand. "I hope you assured him of your...honourable intentions," he teased.

Zoie chuckled warmly as she sipped her coffee, studying them with interest...to see their interactions. "I think he might wish to kidnap him and make sure his intentions aren't honourable."

James laughed warmly at that, shaking his head before sipping his coffee. "Like that, is it?" he said knowingly. "Are you sure he hasn't recruited this one to spy on you?"

"Potentially," Zoie said with a small smirk, tilting her head to hide her artificial eye behind her hair. "Never put anything past him. He is sneaky."

Acer arched a brow at that, watching her with eyes that shone with humour. “Do you mean me, or your father?”

"Both," she said softly, looking at him with a warm smile. "You are both sneaky. In very similar ways too...hm..."

"All good fathers need to be," James chuckled with a sly smile, arching an eyebrow.

"And all good cardassians?" Acer said softly, looking to him with a half smile.

Stephen smiled gently, watching him fondly for a long moment. "All good future Starfleet Intelligence Officers," he corrected.

Acer nodded, looking down with a soft breath. He did that too often to them. They never bit. He was lucky, he knew that. "Zoie's a great cook."

"Is she?" Stephen asked with surprise before he looked over at James. "You'll have some competition then by the sounds of it."

James chuckled, folding his arms as he leant back in his chair with an arched eyebrow. "Just as well I thrive on it."

Stephen nodded gently, his eyes warm before he touched his husband's arm. "Perhaps you can show Zoie her room?" he asked lightly.

James leant to steal a kiss from Stephen before getting up, taking a hold of Zoie's bag before she could argue about it. "Come on, up we go..."

Zoie smiled gently, giving Acer a look before she followed James.

Stephen reached out and took Acer's hand, squeezing it. "How are you, lad?" he asked softly, not letting go of the hand.

Acer held onto it with a fond smile, shaking his head gently. "I'm fine, Dad. You don't have to worry about me."

"I will always worry about you, because I love you," he said and smiled, shaking his head as if it were obvious. "Are you enjoying the Academy?"

"I....mostly," he chuckled, looking down with a heavy breath. "It's not easy. But you always told me that the best things never are."

"It is still true," Stephen said and reached out to gently pinch his chin. "I am proud of you. We both are."

Acer smiled weakly at that, shaking his head as he held his eyes with a strangely gentle look for the young cardassian. "I don't think you really wanted me to join Starfleet," he said softly.

"It wasn't about what I wanted," he said quietly to Acer. "It was about what you wanted. And I will always support you."

"I know," Acer said quietly, shifting his chair close to him as he squeezed his hand. "How are you and Dad?"

"We're good. It has been quiet without you though," Stephen said and smiled weakly, shrugging. "But we have adapted. We always adapt to things. Oh. I am going to do more in the garden. I have decided to anyway...Don't tell your Dad. I think he will say it is a project I will abandon half-way through."

Acer chuckled, biting his tongue...because that would probably be right. "I'd have thought it would be nice and peaceful for you now."

"A bit too peaceful at times," he said with a small smile as he watched Acer. "You look good though. And I see you still have not cut your hair..." he tutted, his eyes shining.

Acer looked to the long, black hair with a slight frown, reaching to touch it. "It's bad luck."

He smiled gently as he watched him, reaching out as well. He stroked it, moving closer before he hugged him. "You are a grown man...your choice."

Acer closed his eyes, holding onto him tightly, in the safety that it was just the two of them. "Do you ever regret not having a human child?" he whispered, unable to hold his curiosity back any longer. It wasn't something he'd ask James, but he knew that Stephen found it easier to talk about things.

Stephen smiled gently as he stroked his hair, closing his eyes. "No," he said softly. "You are our son. You. No one else could ever have that place in our hearts."

Acer smiled softly at that, letting out a long, tired breath, resting his hands on Stephen's back. "I'm pleased for it," he admitted quietly. "It...doesn't mean there...can't be another though," he whispered.

"What, you want a younger sibling?" he asked playfully, glad to just hold his boy close. He missed him so much when he wasn't there. "Or is that a hint I will be a grandfather soon?"

"No....no!" Acer laughed, shaking his head quickly at the last, his grey skin changing hue with embarrassment at the idea. "No...I just...you said it was quiet. You and Dad are still young. And...you're good at it...."

Stephen laughed warmly, his eyes gentle as he touched his cheek with love. "We are, aren't we? But an artist stops at perfection," he said, stroking his jawline with love. "She is pretty, that friend of yours. The mechanical eye takes some getting used to."

"You think so?" he asked softly with surprise. "I can't imagine her without it," he admitted, frowning as he shook his head.

He chuckled softly at the words, nodding. "Because you know her with it," he said before he smiled. "I am glad you brought a friend home." He hadn't when he had been a child.

“You really don't mind?" Acer asked doubtfully. "She wanted to meet you. I think she's curious. It's what makes her good at what she does," he chuckled.

"I do not mind," he said softly, touching Acer's cheek. "Anyone who is in your life should be in ours as well, my beautiful lad."

Acer gave a soft smile at that, watching him with affection. Stephen was too good for him really. "I tried to draw her. It went badly."

Stephen laughed warmly, his eyes shining. "Did she move too much or did your patience wear out?" he asked, stroking his shoulder just to feel him.

"I think I'm just terrible at it," he grinned, meeting his eyes, his own flashing.

"No, you are not," he said firmly, his eyes warm. He took his hand and led him to the study...and on the wall, framed, hung some of the paintings and drawings that Acer had done as a child.

Acer positively flushed at that, shaking his head as he covered his face with his hand, laughing softly. "Oh Dad, you don't have to keep that...they're silly...."

"They are beautiful," Stephen said with a warm smile, shaking his head. "And they belong here. Part of our history."

He watched him with a soft smile at that, searching his eyes for a long moment, shaking his head slowly. "Do you remember that first painting I did with you? Just...all black."

Stephen nodded, his eyes warm as he grinned. "And I asked you about it...you were such a stubborn boy back then, before you started to trust us."

"I'm not sure the stubbornness has gotten much better," he chuckled, but watched him with warmth as he shook his head. "You said there was red in the picture. I insisted it was black as well."

He laughed warmly, nodding as he looked down. "I thought briefly that the universal translator wasn't working...I spent that night learning the words of the colours in Cardassian."

Acer swallowed hard, watching him at the admission, holding his breath. "Why did you do it?" he asked quietly.

"Learn the words?" he asked with a small smile, watching Acer's eyes.

"Choose a cardassian," he whispered, shaking his head as he parted his lips. "You could have had anyone. A much, much easier anyone."

Stephen let out a soft breath, reaching for his hand and sitting on the desk. "Remember the first time we met? You, me and Dad?" he asked quietly.

Acer let him pull him with his hand, perching on the desk next to him as he nodded with a slight frown. "Yes. I remember it...very clearly."

Stephen nodded as he held his eyes, smiling gently. "The orphanage was within the boundaries of the council...and your file came across my desk by chance. We had talked about adopting for a couple of years. I...saw your serious little face. There might have been...easier children to adopt. But no one needed love as much as that serious boy. I wanted you. I wanted you so badly since I saw that file..." he reached out, cupping his cheek with love. "And when I met you, when you stood in front of us...I felt as if you were already mine."

Acer watched him with awe, swallowing hard past the emotion as he saw the truth of it. “I think you're the bravest man I've ever known."

Stephen shook his head, watching him. "No. Your Dad is," he said before he winked.

"Sounds like you were the one who wanted to risk your life on a kid like me," Acer whispered, shaking his head with a small smile.

"You needed love," he said softly, blushing as he looked down. "And we had so much to give."

Acer reached to hold his hand, watching him with serious but honest eyes. "Thank you."

"No...don't thank me," he said softly and leant close, hugging him. "You give us so much."

"I don't think so," he shook his head with a frown, holding onto him as he closed his eyes. "Not compared to what you gave me. I just gave you a hard time."

"You gave us so much more than that," he whispered and kissed his hair. "The first time you smiled. The first time you laughed. The first cuddle...the first time you said Dad..."

Acer smiled softly at the words, his mind briefly going back to those moments. "Some of those things took a lot of work," he chuckled softly.

"Worth it," he whispered and touched the cords on his forehead, stroking lovingly like he had used to when he had been little.

Acer was silent for a long moment, leaning into the hand as he let out a soft breath. "Yes," he finally admitted, shaking his head. "Yes, it was."

He smiled warmly, happily, letting out a soft breath. "My beautiful boy."

"I don't often get called that," he teased, grinning as he watched him with shining eyes.

"You are it though," he said before he smiled gently. "I think she sees that."

"Zoie? No..." he chuckled, shaking his head with a wry smile. "She teases me all the time."

"Hm..." Stephen did not look convinced as he watched him. But he decided to let it go. "I am glad you are here."

"Me too," Acer admitted, letting out a long, heavy breath before leaning to rest his head on his shoulder.

Stephen smiled gently, stroking his hair soothingly. "You can relax here, my boy. Just...relax and be yourself. I love you. Your Dad loves you."

TBC:

Cadet Zoie Herianto
Intelligence Cadet
[NPC Vansen]

Cadet Acer Vito
Intelligence Cadet
[NPC Blake]

RSS Feed