It wasn't Hawthorn who gave them the bad news, but Goldhorn, who had connected to Cassio's visor set.
Cassio leapt onto his feet, responding back, "You have to keep him sedated. If he wakes, it could already be too late. We can't risk it. Not until we find Yngvir."
Goldhorn must have not been happy because Cassio cursed loudly and gripped the arm of the couch hard, "Then tranq him! Rowan must have something in that closet of his for situations like this."
Cassio stood and paced around the room, stalking from one side to the other, then into another room until he was practically pacing around the entrance to the meditation room. Hemlock attempted standing again, this time using the bedside table as a crutch to make sure he'd successfully stand.
He did.
With tentative first steps he gained his balance and approached Cassio. "What happened?"
Cassio ran fingers through his long bangs. "Blackthorn woke up."
Hemlock was familiar with the sort of destruction Blackthorn was capable of, but for Cassio to be equally afraid did not seem like a good sign. Someone who was from the planetary system they considered gods, being afraid of something did not bode well for his prey-like mentality. "Why's that important?"
Cassio paused momentarily in his pacing, looking at him, eyes darting between his dark eyes. Jumping like he was debating whether he should tell Hemlock or not. In the end he opened his mouth then closed it, turning away. "It's too complicated to explain. All you need to know is that Blackthorn is dangerous."
"I already knew that." He drew up his memories of being pinned in the hallway.
Cassio saw the images and shook his head. "You have no idea what he's capable of if…" Cassio stopped his sentence when the door opened.
Hawthorn looked no different than when he entered, but something about the way he looked between the two of them indicated he'd drawn a lot of energy and needed recharging. "He's on the move. It took longer than expected to find him."
"Where is he going? Blackthorn's woken up. Goldhorn went to neutralize him."
Hawthorn's eyes lit with a bright fire. One that made Hemlock uncomfortable in his chest again. Hawthorn said, "You mean hurt him again."
"Only to make sure he doesn't gain consciousness."
Hawthorn growled, his red eyes gaining a sinister edge as he lowered his chin. "I told you, there would be none of that."
Cassio cried out with a gasp and dropped to his knees, clutching at his head. "Please! It's only temporary. There will be no physical damage."
The pleading didn't work and Cassio collapsed onto the floor, back arching and writhing. His mouth was frozen in a silent scream. Hemlock grabbed Hawthorn by the arm. Hawthorn couldn't be like this. This was Blackthorn's way. Not the kind, gentle Hawthorn he knew.
Hawthorn stopped the moment he made contact and Cassio's body relaxed. Cassio was sobbing, but it was distant in comparison to the full attention Hawthorn trained on him. Like he was tearing through his entire body, looking for answers. It felt like knifes slicing through his mind, his body, every nerve he owned. Whatever he found, it made him regret his thorough scalping and Hemlock released his arm, choking on the air that had turned against him.
Hawthorn grimaced, raising his hand to touch Hemlock's face. Hemlock shook his head and stepped back. Whatever he'd just done, it was wrong. He felt violated. Even though he didn't own much in this life and hadn't been proud of many things, he never thought his own thoughts would ever been put in jeopardy like this. Of all the things people had done to make him feel less than them, this had to be the most effective.
This was no better than Blackthorn's way.
Hawthorn's brows twisted, "Hemlock…" grimacing.
He shook his head again, no. No, he wouldn't let himself fall for this trap again.
"I'm going to go find Yngvir."
The proud shoulders bent, and Hawthorn nodded. "He's headed to the storage sector. He's looking for a way in."
Hemlock wrapped an arm underneath Cassio's body and lifted him easily off the ground. Holding him in a cradle, he took a deep breath. "I don’t know what you're trying to do, but I've been fine without you before I met you and I'll be fine afterwards without you."
The doors opened and he left before Hawthorn could respond. The humming silence of the hallway gave him the chance to breathe and he shuddered out an exhale.
Cassio squinted open an eye, "You're braver than I thought. Telling Hawthorn of all people something like that."
"He doesn't need me anymore than I need him."
Cassio leveled him with a long stare. "Don't be so sure."
"Like you said, he's more powerful than anyone else on this ship. He doesn't need anyone."
"Doesn't mean he's probably crying himself to sleep right now."
Hemlock tried to imagine Hawthorn weeping because of him. It didn't work. The image was absurd. At least to him.
The storage units were located at the bottom of the ship, towards the back, nearest to the engines. In case the engines blew, the cold of the nitrogen would prevent the fires from spreading as quickly, and the sector was the least populated of areas. They were also just beyond his own living quarters, considering he lived in the sector designated for the least significant people.
A hefty reminder of where he stood in the hierarchy. That's where he belonged. Not in some luxurious high-level quarters with someone far beyond his reach.
"You can put me down now. I can walk." He'd forgotten he was still carrying Cassio. He was so light. He helped him stand in the holovater. Cassio readjusted the holster at his hip. Unclipping it and holding it armed in his hand. They weren't even closed to the storage sector yet. "You should also be prepared. There's a chance Yngvir's going to be hostile."
He found himself in a strange twilight zone where Cassio was actually caring about his wellbeing. Nodding absentmindedly, he stared at Cassio's face. Cassio side-eyed him, "What? It's more for my safety than yours."
"Sure." Hemlock said. The corner of his mouth quirked and Cassio rolled his eyes, but he caught it, the phantom smile.
"Alright. Let's go." The holovater blue perimeter flashed and disappeared, indicating they'd arrived on their designated level.
They stepped out together.
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