fateandfortune | Just two vampires, traveling the galaxy... [For Todd the Wraith]

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Just two vampires, traveling the galaxy... [For Todd the Wraith]

[continued from here]

It was a pleasant surprise to glance over and see Todd asleep on the bed, relaxed and peaceful. He can't have gotten much quality rest the night before propped up in the chair as he had been, certainly not when he'd been woken by her nightmare. She hoped that didn't happen again tonight, he had important things to take care of tomorrow; she didn't know all of the details, but with a civil war going on between his people, he needed his wits about him.

To that end, Rogue forced herself to stay awake for hours into the night, eating the dinner he'd brought for her and looking through one of the books from the collection he'd shown her before their sparring session. She didn't recognize anything on the pages, but it gave her a topic for conversation with the voices in her head, providing ample entertainment to pass the time. Eventually she fell asleep herself, the book held carefully to her chest as she curled up in the armchair, her boots set on the floor beside it. It was a fairly deep sleep, and she didn't dream for one of the first times in many weeks, something she was eternally grateful for when she awoke.

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"Depends on what you mean by protective" he answered. "Do we ensure their safety in the event of a crisis? Yes, they are among the first, should the hive become unstable, to be evacuated. Do we carry them about and coddle them? No."

When Cody first came to the hive, Todd suspected he might be his sire, he was just old enough to be after all. But that was quickly dispelled when he found out Cody-who'd transferred from another more populated hive in the alliance-had lived his whole life on that hive, and the one Todd's queen had been on had been destroyed some years ago.

In the end, while it was a nice boost to the ego to know your offspring had grown successful and all that, finding out who was related to who on board a hive was only necessary when it came to the queen to avoid inbreeding.

Wraith children were protected but not doted upon. It fit with everything she knew about the species, and it was... reassuring, in a way. A much better arrangement in some ways than how humans could be with children, that was for certain.

"I'm sorry to ask such out of the blue questions like this," she apologized, fiddling with her gloves instead of looking at him. "It's just, being around Teyla and Torren the past few days, it got me thinking about things."

Todd chuckled, "You used to ask questions all the time." he stated. Not a week ago, but it felt like months now.

"McKay's pestering also get you thinking?" he asked, remembering the conversation he'd broken up between the pair.

He was quite sure that if Rogue could have kids, she would have, but with Remy. She had no wish to get that close to anyone it seemed ever again.

That was true. They used to pass their time by sharing information like this, though her list of questions had held out much longer than his. Now they read and trained.

"Maybe a little," she admitted quietly. "After my mutation manifested, I never even considered having children of my own. I was too wrapped up in trying to figure out who I was among all the other people in my head to think about things like that. And then by the time Remy and I were that close, the war was starting and there just wasn't time."

She sighed and looked toward the window. "Humans can be very cruel to their children. When I became a teacher, the most important thing to me was making sure those kids had the best lives possible, and that they were happy. Because most of the rest of didn't get to have much of that ourselves."

Well, if she remained on board and the new queen accepted her, perhaps she'd get the chance to teach wraith offspring next. Or, if not, be transferred to the worshiper village and live there. Undoubtedly there would be many children for her to spend time with.

Todd returned his gaze out the window, by now most of the city-at least that which could be seen-had gone dark as people stopped working for the night and went to bed.

"He thought I was a wraith," she says suddenly, her thoughts having taken another sharp turn down a different path. "The marine, Tony Adams. When I touched him, that was the last thought in his head."

She looks down at her lap then, turning her right hand up as if she could see through the glove to the feeding slit that wasn't there. "He was so scared, it was the only thing that made sense for why it hurt so much." She wasn't a wraith. She wasn't. She didn't feed on people like that. But his fear and that single thought had still torn through her heart like a knife.

He looked to her again at her sudden blurt of information.

"Makes logical sense, he's likely seen what we can do up close, perhaps even come within inches of being fed upon." he said, getting up and returning to sit beside her.

"We may be changing our diet but the fear will undoubtedly remain for years to come. He most likely associated with you as being a wraith because that's what they primarily fear here."

She glanced up when he sat beside her again, and as much as she hated it, her expression was likely akin to that of a lost child. A little bit frightened, and very lonely.

"They're always going to be afraid of me, even if I can learn to fully control my power," she told him. "Maybe not all of them, but enough. They'll be afraid of what I could do, because I'm like all of you."

It was one of her main fears about being back among humans. That she would become attached, that she would lose people, that they would be frightened of her. She'd lived like that once, she didn't know that she could do that again.

"You can't win everyone over." he stated "I'm quite sure there will be many in the Pegasus Galaxy that won't like Wraith, even the new offspring who will never feed upon humans at all, we'll still be hated for what we are, what we can do, and what we did. You just have to take the small victories as they come and enjoy the company that do like you."

He wondered if any of her added personalities also added their anxieties to her own as well.

"Don't dwell on it, you'll be back among wraith and away from humans-and marines-before you know it." he got up again. "Besides, I like you, does that count for nothing?" he chuffed, teasingly.

He got her to smile with that one, which was a feat in itself because he was right. There were a few people in her head who were churning things up and making her anxiety worse, and her earlier failed attempts at meditation had done nothing to help.

"It counts for a hell of a lot, actually." If she had no one else, at least she had Todd on her side. That there were a handful of others who were determined to stand by her didn't lessen the gratitude and general affection she felt for him in the slightest. "More than anything else."

Because he meant the absolute world to her. For everything he'd done for her, the kindness he'd shown her, and simply for who he was underneath it all.

Edited 2015-12-15 04:21 (UTC)

Wraith might feed on people, but those that they got close to, they considered looking out for, kin or not.

He smiled at that, "Good to know. Now, get some rest, I will come by tomorrow morning so that we can have one last breakfast here before leaving" he said and headed for the door. "You can think about which sickeningly sweet desserts you'd like to try on me next to help you sleep better" he added.

And that one had her laughing, an actual laugh that felt good. How did he do that? How did he know just what to say to make her feel better? Maybe it hadn't been intentional, but that was certainly the end result.

"Goodnight, Commander," she said between giggles, settling down into her pillows and blankets once he'd gone. She did ponder new sugary creations that he would undoubtedly hate, but most of her time spent before finally falling asleep was devoted to trying to come up with something that he would like. Because it was something she could do to help show her gratitude toward him.

Todd hadn't meant that to be quite so hilarious, but he'd take such wins as they came.

He returned to his room, exhausted from the very long day and fell asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.

The following morning he indulged in a final shower-definitely something needed on the hive-and headed down to her room, excusing the marine to go elsewhere so that he and Rogue could walk unescorted, first down to the hospital, and then accompanied by seven other wraith and a pair of tired marines to take the new dieters down to the cafeteria.

Breakfast this morning was just the usual picks of bacon, eggs and hash, nothing special, but it was hot and delicious regardless.

Rogue also took the opportunity for one last shower before Todd arrived in the morning - she'd be elated if the hive upgraded to showers. There was nothing wrong with a nice relaxing bath now and then, but showers were much more economical, and they could be solitary activities.

She sat with the wraith at breakfast, doing her best to focus on her table companions rather than the curious and occasionally frightened glances from the Atlantis residents who were also in the cafeteria. Remembering the other meals she'd shared with Todd's crew while in the city, she took the initiative to dig into her plate of food, demonstrating how to hold a fork and the method for eating each item without actually voicing what she was doing. She couldn't imagine how awkward it must be for all of them, having to learn how to eat in a new and probably strange way. She also paid attention to the expressions around the table as they tried things, trying to gauge reactions so she could begin understanding what each of them might like.

Todd was glad for the silent help, and each wraith quickly learned from watching their commander, and Rogue.

They each seemed partial to something different on the plate, though the bacon, understandably, was the first to go. One was trying to figure out if ketchup went with scrambled eggs, another was testing whether a fork or spoon to pick up hash was better to use. Todd was eating about as "normal" as one could.

Midway through the meal, Rogue paused in her eating to address Todd with something that had occurred to her the night before. "Commander, will everyone be eating at the same time on the ship?"

The 'dining room' wasn't that large, having been designed for the humans previously found on the ship, and she didn't think there'd be an easy way to accommodate everyone. But she hadn't seen the entire ship, so maybe there was another space that would be more suitable.

"Unlikely" he replied "After all, can't just have everyone abandon their posts. We'll set up some sort of shift change system like that here on Atlantis" he said.

Todd left Rogue and his crew to check with Keller about the drones they were leaving behind, as well as tie up any loose ends needed with Woolsey. While he was gone, his crewmates got to know the strange human-not-human better.

"What are you to one another?" asked one curiously. Then elaborated, "Are you his pet? Mate? Are you teaching the commander something?"

Rogue may have choked on her coffee when the question was posed. Just a little. From the sheer surprise of what they were asking, and the fact that she wasn't entirely sure how to answer.

For one thing, she didn't know how to define what they were to each other. Their relationship had changed quite a bit over the weeks they'd known each other, and she was sure it would continue to change with her permanent position on the ship. But this was also his crew, so she wanted to be careful of what she said and the light it would put their commander in.

Clearing her throat, she slowly began, "Well, I'm not his 'pet', that's for certain." She didn't think so, anyway. She wasn't being 'kept' in any way, since she'd now have an official job aboard the hive. "And mate? Well, I wouldn't be opposed to that, but that's not possible with my ability." Which she knew they were aware of to at least some extent.

She had taught Todd things, but he had done the same with her, it had reciprocal and not the basis of their connection. "I guess the simplest answer is that we're... friends." Of course, she didn't know if that was a something they would understand. She'd never asked if wraith had friendships in the way humans did. But it was the only good explanation she could come up with.

There seemed to be a bit of disappointment when she told them she was not his pet, perhaps they thought that if their commander could have one, they could again too. Mate, not too surprising there as she did have that ability of hers that made touching let alone...anything else, impossible.

"Friends" repeated one with a nod, "Like with Colonel Sheppard?"

"No, that cannot be, the commander and colonel saved one another's lives." said another.

"So did she and the commander." the first pointed out.

"Yes..." he looked to Rogue "He fed from you when he was injured in the crash."

"But I thought you cannot touch anyone without hurting them?"

They did like asking the hard questions, didn't they? Just like their commander had in the early days, when they'd been getting to know each other. Innate curiosity then, which made sense since wraith enjoyed learning new things.

"It's... a little different with the commander," she carefully explained. "With Wraith in general, I assume. When I touch humans, the transfer of energy is fast and almost heavy, I get a lot in a very short time. But with the commander, the transfer is naturally slower. When he fed on me, I guess it overpowered what I was getting from him, so he wasn't hurt."

They continued to question her about her on and off as they ate, some questions were simple like food-related, others were more complicated.

Todd returned soon enough and the marines escorted the newly inoculated wraith to the pier.

"Ready to leave?" he asked Rogue. "I'm sure the others would like to say good bye." he said, and, sure enough, Sheppard was making his way over, along with the rest of his team. Todd stepped away so that she could have a moment with them.

The question and answer session had been a little awkward at times, but she was glad it happened. She'd be living and working with them, so it was good that they were starting to get to know each other.

Saying goodbye was a bittersweet experience. Rodney shook her hand, Ronon offered her a grin and a nod, Teyla clasped her arm, and Sheppard... He gave her an actual hug, strong and warm, and it nearly broke her with everything it meant.

Stepping back from the hug, he signaled to a nearby marine who brought over a backpack of all things. Handing it to Rogue, he prefaced the exchange with, "It was Teyla's idea."

The Athosian gave Sheppard a slightly exasperated look. "You mentioned you have no other clothing than what you brought with you. Colonel Sheppard and I thought you would appreciate this." Because Sheppard had taken part in the planning and execution, and she wasn't letting him go without credit.

Rogue took the bag and peeked inside, smiling at the small collection of items. It wasn't much, but it would be better than wearing her combat uniform everyday. "Thank you both," she told them. "It means a lot."

And then she turned to Todd, ready to finally leave the city.

"Until next time, Sheppard." Todd nodded to the colonel and led the way to the transporter. After Rogue followed him inside, he touched the map and a moment later the doors opened and the salty sea air greeted them, along with Major Lorne and his team to see them off.

They boarded the scout ship, laden already with the other wraith and after they were settled, they took off to the hive.

After they disembarked in the dart bay, Todd led the way to his chambers for Rogue to get settled. "I'll see about finding you your own quarters at some point" he said. "Until then, we will be sharing again"

Rogue nodded her understanding. "Thank you," she said with sincerity. "I can sleep on the floor instead of taking the bed until then."

He deserved to be able to sleep in his own bed, especially if they continued training. It was nice to hear that she'd have her space eventually, though it would be a bit strange after only having shared with Todd during her time on the ship.

He said nothing to that, not quite sure if he should let her have the floor or let her have the bed. They could figure that out later.

After dropping her off at his chambers, Todd went about his duties, checking up on things before they went into hyper space. The supplies were neatly organized in the pantry, the serum set safely in the laboratory, and so on.

Soon the hive turned and jumped into subspace, the view above the bed going from black and stars to blue haze once more.

Todd returned after he was satisfied with how things were.

"What were you given?" He asked Rogue, indicating the bag.

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I laughed so hard, nosy wraith <3

lol

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