Noel self consciously rubbed her arm. “Yeah… you’re right.” Her eyes shut when he head-patted her. As they walked inside, she wrapped her arms around her brother, who also put an arm around her. Alister looked down at her, though he had a fleeting thought that she was still recovering from the assault from earlier. The gesture was not because she was self-conscience or embarrassed, it was because she still felt unsafe in the building.
“Let’s talk when we get the chance,” he murmured to her. She nodded.
When they entered the med bay, August was the one who greeted them.
“Hey guys. We were just talking about you. Oh, Malcolm told me to give you this, Noel.” She handed her a roll of bread. Noel took it with one of her many hands, still clinging onto her brother.
Charlie returned the glare but said nothing. Her pride had been wounded enough already. Malachi sighed. “Let’s move on, d’accord? I just wanted to make it clear that she isn’t a threat to us. Now, I already gave August an account of my… abduction and escape, and would rather not repeat myself. But do you have any other questions?” He looked to Noel and Trent.
“Well, what are we going to do with her now?” Noel asked. “We could destroy the book so she doesn’t go crazy again, but will she fight for our cause?”
“If I may,” August offered, “you are Evan’s sister, are you not? He should be listening to this.”
Malachi nodded in agreement. “Noel, would you go get him? You can get your brother too.”
As she stood up to leave, Charlie glanced to the side. “Oh yeah… him. Should we talk about him, too?”
“Probably. A lot of sibling reunions around here,” Malachi said. He put a hand on his forehead. It was a lot.
“He did well during the mission to search for you,” August said. “He was originally with the aliens as well, but it seems he also has no where else to go.”
Malachi started rubbing his temple. ”Alors… Noel, you can update Evan on what has been said so far. For now, let’s discuss the two of them and then exchange stories.”
Kali thought back to Evan, it was possible…they could be siblings. Their numbers probably matched up and they had similar looks, especially with Evan having some black hair on him.
She waited for the girl, with a lot of arms.
Noel Malachi had said her name.
When they did eventually walk in she tried to observe Evans facial, and body structure
how long have you been here..?
She stared him down, which probably made Evan a lot more uncomfortable then she realized in the moment.
She stayed in malachis arms, not midning that he hadn't put her down yet though it wasn't exactly professional.
They already managed to throw professionalism out the window though, thanks to Charlie.
She let out a soft sigh.
Evan felt everyone's gaze on them as they walked in, but it felt as if one stare was more intense then the rest.
He looked over and saw the girl staring him down intensely, and he immediately looked away.
He wasn't sure why he was being stared down her and hoped he didn't already do something wrong. Maybe it was what he looked like?
His hair?
His clothes?
He didn't know what..
Wait- was his face still red.
He really really hoped it wasn't, that would be embarrassing for more then just him..he just took a deep breath.
"So what's the situation?'
August offered the three of them a friendly smile friendly smile before turning to Malachi, who looked up and nodded. Noel couldn’t help but notice the way Kali was sitting in Malachi’s lap, but remembered the boys’ words and looked away as she nibbled the roll of bread. Alister was also started feeling rather anxious with everyone’s eyes on them, and like Evan, his cheeks started to tint red a little.
“Arden, Storm,” Malachi greeted, then blinked. “Ah, I think I’ll have to use first names for this.” He chuckled, then continued. “So, now that everything has died down a little, we want to talk about Alister and Kali.” Here he glanced at Kali reassuringly, then turned back to everyone else. “It is a bit personal, so I’ll understand if you would like some privacy first.”
“I thought you said ‘we should talk about this,’ like everyone should be present,” Charlie pointed out.
“Charlie,” Malachi said, a little annoyed, “this is probably very pressuring for them, especially with everyone else around. I haven’t forgotten about the opinions of the rest of the rebellion, don’t worry.”
(i will try and respond to this lol)
(Lol no pressure my dude)
Evan moved to brush his hand against Alister's, he didn't hold it but the simple touch was meant for Alister to comfort him. Letting him know that he would be by his side, despite what might happen. he didn't think anything bad was going to necessarily happen, but it was more like a just-in-case scenario.
"Maybe we could just have a smaller group of people to explain, and then the news can spread more so from those people?" he suggested, hoping Malachi would take his words into account.
"I know people are wanting to hear, but they may not be ready, and this may be the best course of action. We need to figure out the stories before addressing them as a whole." he really hoped that his voice was steady, he didn't know if they would listen to him or if it was his place to speak. However he felt he had to say something, he couldn't just stand there.
Kali looked on as Evan spoke, almost taking charge but not forcefully.
she was kinda impressed with how he spoke.
Trent was just standing around, tense.
Alister glanced at Evan, and once he caught on to the purpose of the touch, he allowed himself to relax, taking a deep breath. He mimicked the gesture as a way to return the sentiment, that he would be by Evan’s side too. Noel still had her arms wrapped around him, and he moved to rub her head in reassurance.
Malachi, meanwhile, looked up to Evan, and nodded. “We can do that, if everyone else comfortable.” He looked around, seeing the Storm siblings nod, and looking to see that Kali also seemed alright with the arrangement. He then looked around to the others, and ended up having everyone except August and Malcom leave. The two tended to be the most level-headed, and Malcolm may be needed for his medical expertise. Noel waved to Trent as he walked past them.
When everyone had left, August smiled at the two sets of siblings. “So. How do we want to do this?”
“Well, we already discussed Kali’s background a little,” Malachi said, looking at her and silently asking with his eyes if she wanted to get out of his lap, just since she had been like that for a while. “Alister’s is the only person here who I am unfamiliar with.” Looking to the boy, he said, ”Tout va bien, you don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. Just enough so I know you better.”
Alister nodded, but he was beginning to feel anxious. He had already told his story to Arabelle Collins, and wasn’t sure if he could tell it again.
(Yeahhhh he doing his best)
Yeah no kali had no intention of getting out of his lap any time soon, it was comfortable, comforting and just no. She would prefer to stay in his lap for as long as she could, though she didn't say anything of that out loud.
She just gave him the look that was I'm fine sitting in your lap
Evan exhaled, glad that they had listened to his idea. He also thought the people malachi picked were good people.
He nodded to malachis question, putting a hand on his shoulder in comfort for when he spoke.
Malachi gave Kali a grin. ”Confortable, sommes-nous?” he whispered, then looked back to the others.
Noel tapped her brother’s shoulder and gave him an inquiring look. When he nodded, she stepped forward.
“Me and Alister were separated 3 years ago. We’d been looking for each other since. And… I finally found him here, in this prison, when we first invaded it.” She looked back at him and gave him a small smile. Alister returned it, then took a deep breath, taking in Evan’s touch.
Turning to Malachi, he said, “Yeah. I didn’t know how to find her, but I knew that she had been taken by the aliens, so I thought if I got close to them, I’d get close to her. That’s how I ended up working in the prison.” He paused, going back into his memories. “And then… Evan, Trent, and Talon got arrested. That’s how I met him.” He pointed to Evan awkwardly, remembering how he sent him to be tortured. What a way to find out he was his soulmate, though. “I was… with him when Noel found us.”
Evan nodded along with what he said,
"he's speaking the truth, I met with him as he wS patrolling the hallways of the prison area. He came to rescue me, from the aliens who were torturing me for Information on the rebellion." He spoke, making sure he remembered at least that bit.
Malachi nodded, a smile growing on his face. “Tortured? Forgive me if I’m being too personal, but is that how you discovered your connection to each other? Must be why you’re stuck together like glue.”
Alister flushed. “Um… well, I-“
“You don’t have to answer that,” Malachi laughed. “Since you were there, Evan, and since Noel is Alister’s brother, I will trust that you are not a threat to us.”
“There is a basic code of conduct that you should be aware of while you’re here,” August chimed in. “I would have let you know about it earlier, but we were… dealing with things.”
“I can tell him!” Noel shot her hand up. “I know it!”
August quirked an eyebrow up. “I’m sure you do, Noel, but it would be best to go over it now, with us telling it.”
Briefly, they went over the rebellion’s code of conduct, with August showing a holographic print of it projecting from the electronic ball. It basically boiled down to don’t cause anyone in the rebellion or other humans unnecessary harm, follow orders when they’re given to you except in situations where the orders are unethical, things like that. There was then a section covering punishments if these rules were broken, ranging from warnings to being cut off from the rebellion. Alister listened attentively, finding it interesting how the rules differed from the ones he followed while with the aliens.
“Got it?” August asked when she was finished. Alister nodded, and she put the hologram away.
“Now.” Malachi raised a finger. “Do you believe in our cause, Alister? Would you like to join the rebellion?”
Alister blinked. Flashbacks from the night before, with Evan, and Noel’s words rose in his mind. He looked at each of them, Noel giving an encouraging glance. He had no where else to go…
“I would… I would like some time to think about it, please.”
Suddenly a little dark brown hair boy runs into the room and dashes straight for alister and Evan
"WAAAA!" He hugs to the back of the both of them, burying his face into their backs.
Evan startles almost immediately before turning and giving the little boy a little hair ruffle. He crouches down and let's him hug onto him, smiling softly as he hugs him back.
Soon enough a little white haired boy comes in with cat ears and rushes over to malachi and kali. He clings onto malachi side,
"Daaadddaaa!" He sniffles, clinging to him as he cries.
Emery comes rushing in behind both boys breathing heavily.
"Boys! Be careful!" She shouts, taking in a deep breath.
Kali was shocked to see quin come running over to them, before just exhaling and giving him a little pet, he nuzzle into her.
(BABS but Emery is a they, ty)
Alister gasped at the sound, and grunted a little when he felt a small body crash into him. “Matteo?” He bent down and ruffled his hair too, surprised that he had completely forgotten about the boy. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re alright.”
”Chaton!” Malachi cries, wrapping an arm around Quinn. He took him up and set him with Kali, so that they were both in his lap. “It’s alright, we’re here now. Thank you for taking care of them,” he said, turning to Emery.
“I tried.” Emery smiled sheepishly, putting a hand on the back of their neck. “They got along well, for the most part, at least. They missed you guys a lot, though.”
Meanwhile, Noel, August, and Malcolm looked on, small smiles tugging at their lips.
As soon as Matteo feels alisters hand in his hair and hears his voice he immediately turns to hug onto him tightly, which makes Evan chuckle a little even though he was kinda sad Matteo wanted to hug alister and not him.
Quin snuggled into malachi and kali, though mostly Kali as she was stroking his hair gently.
He purred a little bit at the head scratches, they helped stop his tears.
"Momma.." He mumbled, moving to crawl into her lap and hug her.
Kali was a bit startled by the fact that she was called mom and malachi was called dad, and didn't really know what to say. She just mumbled something incoherent.
Just when Alister thought Matteo forgot about his obsession with him, the little boy turned and attacked him with his hug. Alister laughed though, and hugged him back. When he saw Evan looking a little sad, he pulled him into the hug too and they formed a little Matteo sandwich.
Just as Kali was stroking Quinn’s hair, Malachi was stroking Kali’s. He also didn’t know what to say, but watched them with a smile on his face. ”Chat noir… chaton blanc…” he cooed. After a moment he raised his head to look at Alister.
“Um, we can, of course, give you time before you decide, Alister,” he told him. “Just let me know when you’re ready to choose.”
Alister turned to look at him, and nodded.
