Where There Is Peace

[praiseofblood]

"I'm glad I've earned your favor, but if you'd like to continue molesting my brother I would be happy to tell you on a later date," Rykan smirked, happy his brother had found a mate. The boy was genuinely happy, and his mate loved him. He didn't need eyes to see that. Rykan only wished he could find the same.

Rykan chuckled at the glare he knew he was receiving. "But I learned by being in the house all day, Mother would let me help him cook, and I eventually picked up the art. I work for an unmated battalion captain on the other side of town as a housekeeper, so that helps as well." Rykan said.

Jikan smiled at his boys, Jonas included. They got along well, it seemed. Jikan's heart cried out for Rykan though, his son was so lonely. When he saw the sad look pass behind his child's eyes, he wanted to cry, cursing his illness. He wanted to get up and hug his baby.

Rykan looked up sharply, staring unseeingly at his mother. "Stop that." he said, almost as if he was reading his mother's thoughts. "I am fine. You need to eat and worry about keeping your strength up," he said sternly to his mother.

Xero shook his head, looking at his mother and brother. Jikan always worried over Rykan, and their bond was much stronger than Xero's with his mother. Rykan knew exactly what their mother was thinking, and he didn't even have to be in the room with him.

[clementine]

Jonas laughed at Rykan and shook his head at the Zercan's comment. "I plan to continue it." He replied, eyes sparkling lustily.

Xero's family was nice. Even Rykan, after a body got over the whole blind but seeing thing. Everyone seemed really open and it was rather touching that they had accepted and forgiven him so easily. He cleared his throat a little, wanting to finally ask the question that had been preying on his mind.

"What are you exactly sick with, Jikan?" Jonas asked as gently as he could. He didn't want to upset people by bringing it up, but he had to know.

[praiseofblood]

Jikan's smile fell a little. "We don't know. It's a strange, mysterious disease that has even the Shodan's pysicians baffled. It seems to only occur in Majikadai, though. I've seen only a few of our men with the disease, but it never lasted this long." Jikan fell silent.

"We think the Majikadai have the cure." Rykan said.

"Yeah, but how the hell can we find them? They move around so much." Xero interjected.

"I've already said I will go. You are newly mated and are bearing, and Father cannot bear the separation from Mother--" Rykan began.

"NO! I forbid it." Jikan said finally. "Your place is here, I will not allow you to go to Jeskara alone. It's a dark place, not fit for you," Jikan said softly, his eyes saying what his words wouldn't.

Rykan frowned, standing. "With all do respect, Mother. I love you, and I've lived in darkness all my life, the cold to match the sightlessness will do me no harm." he said, before leaving the room.

Jikan gasped. He was on the very verge of tears. He hated that he was the cause of his son's blindness, and he would gladly give up his own sight, if he only could. Never had Rykan talked about his condition that way, and it hurt his mother's heart.

Xero cursed under his breath, going after Rykan. Why the hell did he have to say that?!

[clementine]

Jonas blinked in shocked, surprised at what his simple question had seemingly caused. He watched in silence. Not knowing what to do. He didn't know these people. Hell, he barely knew Xero. He wanted to help though. Depserately.

Sighing as Xero chased after Rykan, Jonas pulled up a chair closer to Jikan so he could put an arm around the man's shoulders to comfort him. "Everyone seems to have forgotten that I'm half a vampire." He murmured in a soothing voice, running his fingers through silky brown hair. "I know some people who'd be able to help Rykan. So...he wouldn't be alone. I'm sure Darren would go with him too. Please don't worry Jikan."

Jonas didn't know why he wanted to comfort the male. Probably because he seemed so motherly and didn't deserve to cry.

[praiseofblood]

Jikan smiled, taking Jonas' hand and patting it. The boy's presence calmed him."Thank you Jonas, and I know that, but he's my son. I just--I don't mean to make him feel handicapped, but you know Jeskara's no place for him. It's too dangerous. He's a warrior, true. Yet the predators there kill silently, swiftly. A mother can't help but worry." Jikan sighed.

Xero followed his brother out to the front of the house. "What the hell is your problem, Ry?!" he demanded.

Rykan spun on him, eyes blazing. "You want to know what the problem is, little brother? The problem is that while we're sitting here on our asses, our Mother is dying. He. Is. Dying, Xero. There is no grey area, no way to pussy foot about the issue. He's dying, and we can't stop it. Our only hope is on Jeskara, and I'm the only one who can do it. Yet he acts like I am some kind of--breakable, poor handicapped, thing to just be sat on a shelf! I am a warrior. I can handle my own. I taught you how to engage in combat, and my skills rival even our Father's! What is there to doubt?" Rykan asked, his voice raised in anger as hot tears rolled down his handsome face.

"I don't understand it. I am not helpless. I can do this, if given the chance. Even if he forbids it, I am not going to dawdle on Zerca for the rest of his life, not even giving it a try. I'll pave my own way, if it comes to it." Rykan said with finality.

Xero could only stare at his brother in shock, before nodding."I'll help in anyway I can." he said quietly, pulling his big brother into a hug.

[clementine]

Jonas merely sat with Jikan, holding the man's hand and rubbing his thumb in circles for the back of it. Wherever Xero and Rykan had gone, he hoped that they would come back soon. He wanted to go after Xero but knew that whatever he had to say to his brother had to be said.

The vampire didn't mean to contradict the man next to him, but he couldn't help but say, "Not all the predators are silent. And you know, Rykan's blindness couldn't ever be handicap here. He couldn't be put off by the darkness that surrounded the plant and I'm sure he hears better than anyone else there too. Not to mention you said he's an amazing fighter. See?" He was trying to be helpful. He didn't want Jikan to worry but wasn't sure what to do at this point.

[praiseofblood]

Jikan was slowly crying, his sharp ears having heard most of his eldest son's speach. He looked down at the strong, tanned hand in his own and sniffed. "What am I to do? Do I allow him to go, never knowing if he'll return, or keep him here; only to have him resent me?" he asked no one, staring off into space as he battled within himself.

Rykan and Xero returned some time later, and Rykan bent to kiss his bother's cheek before telling him that he'd be heading home and that he was sorry for his outburst at dinner. He patted Jonas' shoulder before taking his leave of the house.

Xero fumped down next to Jonas, sighing. "He's really rattled, Ma. He loves you more than the air he breathes, he just wants to see you healthy again. So do I. Under different circumstances, you know I'd be the one to go, but Rykan's as good as any ten men." he said, looking at his mother.

Jikan sighed. He knew this. He knew it in his head, but his heart couldn't bring his mouth to say that he was fine with it. He just wasn't.

Xero sighed, standing and kissing his mom's brow. "C'mon, let's get you off to bed before Dad comes home and starts yelling about how you need your rest." Xero said scooping his tired Bearer up and taking him to his and his mate's room.

Laying Jikan on the bed, he squeezed his mother's hand affectionately, whispering "It'll be alright, Mom," before standing and leaving, going to sit on the lap of his no doubt very overwhelmed mate.

"Trust me, it's not usually this dramatic around here." Xero reassured.

[clementine]

Jonas cuddled Xero to him, hiding his face against the boy's neck, searching for comfort. "Why don't I believe you?" Came his muffled reply. "I want to help Xero. Can't we go with him?" He wanted this even though Xero was pregnant with their unborn child. The birth was still a long way off. It wouldn't be that bad, would it?

"I know things too Xero. And people on the that planet who could surely help find that tribe you need."

[praiseofblood]

"Rykan won't even consider it." Xero sighed. "We would have to go after him, if we did. I have feeling that he's packing up to go as we speak. I just know my brother."

Xero smiled at his mate's care for his family. His love for Jonas grew even more in that moment. "We'll see. If he's still here tomorrow, then we wait. We'll set out after him." Xero nodded. He wanted to go too, and god only knows what would happen to Rykan on Jeskara.

[clementine]

"Alright." Jonas replied with a heavy sigh. "Do you want to stay here with your mother tonight?" He didn't know when the scary old man was coming back and didn't know if Xero wanted to leave his mother.

He continued to cuddled his mate, glad to have found the boy, but not glad for the turmoil in his family. He didn't like seeing Xero upset. "I hope Rykan will be here in the morning." He added wistfully, knowing that it probably wouldn't happen.

[praiseofblood]

"He will be..." Xero said reassuringly, "And no, Dad's gonna be back right about--" the door in the front of the house banged open. "now." Xero smiled.

"Dad'll take care of him," Xero said standing and pulling his mate up from the chair by the hand. Leading him to the front door, Xero called upstairs. "Dad, Jonas and I are leaving. Call us in the morning."

Soren appeared at the top of the stairs, shirtless. The man had a long, vicious scar down his chest, along with some other various battle scars. He seemed tired, yet he walked downstairs to hug his son and his son-in law.

"Thank you for staying with him today," he said, looking at both of the boys. "Go home, I'll take care of your mother," he said, smiling.

Xero patted his father's arm. "Alright dad, we'll be back tomorrow." he smiled.

[clementine]

Jonas tried not to twitch when the older man hugged him. It was a reflex, honestly. Soren was a still a little intimidating. The vampire managed to hug him back though while wondering where that nasty scar had come from. Definitely a dinner story he was going to have to hear.

Squeezing Xero's hand, he said goodnight to Soren as well, smiling a little. "C'mon, let's go before it gets any later." Now Jonas was the one tugging on Xero, leading the boy out the door and into the night.

[praiseofblood]

Xero sighed, leaning into his mate's side as they walked back to his apartment. Xero opened the door before going to his kitchen drawer, taking out a new door lock. Installing it, he handed Jonas one of the two key cards.

"This is yours. No one needs to be able to get in my apartment anymore besides me and you, these interruptions are quite annoying." Xero said, a soft smile on his face.

[clementine]

"I agree wholeheartedly." Jonas grinned, taking the key. "Sorry about busting your lock." He added sheepishly.

Jonas tugged Xero to him, not kissing, but merely holding the boy and reveling in his scent and warmth. He breath deeply, burring his face in that silver hair, just touching to touch.

[praiseofblood]

"No worries," Xero said, his voice muffled by Jonas' shirt. His ran his long fingers through the man's hair on the back of his neck. "It's cool," he smiled.

He sighed, relaxing into his mates arm. He loved this man, and just being in his arms made him feel as safe as he could ever feel.

"I think it's time for bed; it's been a long day," Xero said, arms still wrapped around his mate.