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Chapter sixteen

A Fair Fight

After they’d gotten a good distance from Haneen, Niko and the others were caught up on everything—Khaathra tracking them down and trying to get revenge, Elliott taking the head of the Gheroun Empire on in hand-to… well, tentacle combat, and the flight of the Sonadora, from his perspective.

It had all rendered Niko, the Legend, and Death equal parts stunned, terrified, and deeply impressed.

Once they’d both showered on the ship, then met up again with Deleera’s fleet in an asteroid field, they exchanged the Legend back to her and finally returned to the facility, where Niko hooked the Sonadora up to recharge.

The ship’s power had apparently dipped down to sixteen percent due to staying stealthed for so long, something Elliott had monitored closely, but initially kept quiet about to avoid adding to everyone’s panic.

Niko gave the grand tour of the facility to his father and Loolae, remaining in the suit for now, just to get around quicker and help move any furniture or supplies they might need.

That they’d managed to get them back, mostly unscathed, was a blessing Niko would be grateful for until he took his last breath.

He both hated seeing the two of them here now—in these endless halls with their fluorescent, softly buzzing lights and gnawing emptiness—and loved it.

Niko had tried not to think of how he’d probably given up ever seeing his father again by choosing to save Elliott’s life.

Now, in an ironic twist of fate, Elliott had saved Oliver’s.

Niko had fallen into the role of caretaker for the older man as he’d sunk deeper into the mire of grief over the years. Maybe going forward, even here in this place, he could watch over him again.

Zann was here now, too. Stuck in the same facility with their father, the other man could no longer avoid him or push his own grief down somewhere in the dark anymore, like he’d slowly begun to as of late.

Maybe the two of them could finally reconnect.

Or maybe they already had been, in Niko’s absence.

After everyone had gotten settled in, Niko checked in again on his father in the bedroom he’d chosen.

He pulled Oliver into a tight embrace, and both men held each other.

It felt so unfathomably good to hug his father.

A cold, sickly chill ran through him at the thought that he’d come so close to losing him forever.

Especially after Honeybliss had gotten their tentacles on him.

“ Dad .”

“Niko. Niko, I’m so glad you’re alright. I didn’t think I’d get to talk to you again. I—I missed your birthday.”

Why? Of all details, why that one? It made Niko ache. He held his stepdad tighter, before finally letting go of the other man and taking a step back.

“We’ll be together for my next one. And yours. All the ones after. Okay?” Niko said.

Oliver nodded. “Alright.”

“Dad…” Niko started, scared to ask, but knowing he had to. He could feel his brow draw heavy with sorrow, with guilt. A bruise and shallow cut ran along Oliver’s left cheek, reminders of the sobering reality of what he and Loolae had been put through. “Are you really alright? Did they—”

“I’m alright,” Oliver said gently. “Really. Loolae too. They could have been a lot worse to us than they were. Mostly, they roughed us up a little, but otherwise we were just tied up and left alone. I think they wanted to use us as a negotiating piece, so we were spared worse treatment.” After a moment, he added, “Loolae and I did a lot of talking. To pass the time. She’s a very strong woman. She helped keep me in good spirits.”

“Yeah?” Niko asked. He needed to talk to her. “Well, I’m glad you guys had each other. Though I wish neither of you had ever had to be there. Dad, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry. For everything.”

“No.” Oliver shook his head. “Please don’t blame yourself for the cruelty of others. I don’t blame you for any of this, and neither does Loolae.”

You probably should , a bitter part of Niko thought. He tried to swallow it down. “I’m just glad you’re alright. I’m never going to let that happen again. To either of you. Okay?”

Oliver nodded. “Okay, Niko.”

Niko let out a long breath. “So, I guess I owe you a huge explanation of what’s been going on. I’m not sure how much Zann told you, before this.”

“He just said there was more to it than what the news was saying, and that he couldn’t talk about it yet, but that you weren’t just killing random people out of cruelty. The Imperator kept mentioning Honeybliss when we were there, though. Does that have to do with this?”

“Yeah.” Niko proceeded to tell him as much as he could—about Honeybliss, about Elliott.

About how Niko had been called back in by Zann to hunt him, only to find out nothing had really been what it’d originally seemed.

He told him about Lady Death and their broadcast, and about how Elliott and Zann had worked tirelessly together to find who’d taken them.

Niko tried to be sparse on the details of Honeybliss.

His father had been through enough and didn’t need that kind of horror stuck in his head.

The man had always been of a gentler make than himself or Zann.

There was no part of him that had ever even longed for vengeance toward his own family’s killers.

He didn’t have an aggressive bone in his body.

That both his sons had gone into risky law enforcement jobs had only ever stressed Oliver out.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call you, or text,” Niko finally added.

“I didn’t want to somehow make things worse for you. ”

“I had no idea,” Oliver said quietly, his gaze somewhere distant as he was lost in thought. He finally glanced up at Niko. “About, um, Kestrel.”

“Elliott, Dad. Please.”

“Elliott. Right, sorry. The news really did paint him as someone rather unhinged, didn’t they?”

“Yeah. That was all part of a smear campaign by Honeybliss. Their final attempt to discredit him.”

“The news had started being quite unkind to you as well.”

Niko nodded. He could only imagine.

“Is he, ah,” Oliver seemed to search for the words. “Is Elliott your ally, or is he… someone a little closer to you?”

“You mean like— Do I have a thing for him?” Niko asked, blinking.

“Yes.”

“...Yeah, Dad. I’m in love with Elliott.”

“Oh,” Oliver said. “Is it, ah, mutual?”

Niko couldn’t help the smile that found its way onto his lips. “Yeah, it is. We’re a thing.”

“Oh, good. I’m glad. I’m glad you’re not alone anymore, Niko. You deserve someone to keep you company. To keep you happy. Does he make you happy?”

Niko’s smile only widened to an affectionate grin.

Warmth spread through him, golden and luminous.

“He makes me really happy, Dad. I know it might be weird after everything you heard in the news, but I hope you and he can get to actually know each other.” He paused a moment, before adding, “He could really use a family, I think.”

“I’d be honored to talk to him,” Oliver said. “After all, he saved our lives. I won’t ever forget that.”

Niko smiled again, something softer this time. Elliott was incredible. It both hurt and warmed him to know he’d risked everything to go get his father and Loolae out by himself.

He needed to talk to Elliott about it.

His smile faded a bit as reality came crashing back down on him. “I’m sorry you’re stuck here with us, Dad. I know this place can be, uh,” he paused, searching for the right word, “oppressive. It’s just an abandoned Quwa-quay mining facility. It’s definitely not Kaapra-19.”

“Don’t worry about any of that, Niko. Really.”

“If you need anything at all, though. Or to talk to someone. If it’s getting to you. Please, please come talk to me or Zann, okay?”

“I will. Thank you, Niko. Honestly, I’m just glad to be here with my sons again. You two are my home, not Kaapra-19.”

Niko pulled him into another tight hug. “It’s gonna be okay, Dad.”

“Niko?” a familiar, handsome voice called from behind him. “Sorry to interrupt. I was just—”

“Hey, no, it’s okay,” Niko said. He turned to look at Elliott, who stood tentatively in the doorway. Niko held a hand out to him. “Come here.”

Elliott seemed to hesitate.

“Elliott, come on.” He finally acquiesced, crossing the room toward them. Niko wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him over against his side. He leaned in and planted a long kiss on Elliott’s cheek.

Elliott got a sheepish smile and glanced at Niko, then Oliver, his cheeks darkening. “What’s this about?” he murmured under his breath.

“I just wanted to formally introduce you two. You know, when we aren’t all trying to fight for our lives, or recover on the ride back here. Dad, this is Elliott. My boyfriend.”

Oliver extended a hand. “It’s my pleasure, Elliott. Thank you again for helping us.”

Elliott stared at his hand for a moment, seeming almost dumbfounded, before clasping it in his own and shaking it. “Likewise, Mr. Delamar.”

“Please, call me Oliver.”

“Right.”

“Hey, babe, what’d you need?” Niko asked.

“Oh, ah—” Elliott hesitated. “I just wanted to know if you’d like to come have a drink with me.”

“I’d love to. Dad, go ahead and get settled in. Let me know if you need anything, okay?”

“I will.” He smiled. “Enjoy your time, Niko.”

As they left the room together, Niko couldn’t help but think how different this place felt now. With each new person who walked its halls, it was a little less abandoned, a little less pressing in its silence.

They were building a community. Even if it was one born from situational necessity and desperation.

“So, he’s doing alright?” Elliott asked as they made their way to the far lounge that he’d told Niko he had drinks waiting in. Niko was surprised how well he’d taken to Oliver and Loolae being here. There were no growing pains to their addition the way there had originally been with Zann.

“Yeah. Khaathra and her goons didn’t hurt them much, after all. Apparently to keep Galapol happy.”

“I’m glad.”