Bonding Time (Hinuk & Thoran)

[HG]

At first D’seus had thought Emera was kidding but the look on her face had not changed. So the dragonrider went to find his spitting image of a son. In fact he was not hard to find. Seeing as the boys looked worn out physically as well as emotionally he was certain, he tried to speak in a gentler tone than he would a wingrider. He waited a moment looking at the cute little blonde on the table. Must be a friend of theirs? He hoped they weren’t interested in girls just yet being so young.

Putting a hand on his son’s shoulder he said, “Hinuk, you and Thoran here are coming home with me tonight.” And he would get to be the one to tell Thoran about his father. The poor boy had been through enough from the look of things. D’seus was unscathed completely. There wasn’t a scratch on him and it showed only that he was a good fighter and that he led good fighters.

“So umm, say goodnight to your friend here and we’ll go and get something at the Dining Hall to take up with us.” He really didn’t think he could look at all the sad families eating in the Hall. It would be better for him and the boys to eat in his weyr. Zorometh seemed pleased that D’seus wouldn’t be alone tonight although the Bronzerider had been hoping for just that. Or at least the company of a woman if he had to have company.

It was not that he disliked the boys. He saw great leadership potential in both of them. Something he couldn’t say of most Brats their age but he hated to be the bearer of bad news. Plus he had never been all that close to any of his children. Perhaps that was the purpose. Perhaps Emera was worried about him not being close to his own family. Well the Headwoman always had a reasoning behind what she did. He would trust her judgment here.

He waited patiently for the boys to say goodnight. Did they know every weyrbrat in the place? Wouldn't surprise him! This was going to be interesting. Even if Zorometh seemed quite excited to see one of D'seus' hatchlings.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

Hinuk && Thoran

The remaining of the attach had been spent in the Infirmary, Hinuk trying to keep Seirsha and Mirage from weeping any more, while Thoran had been with Bahari. The young boy had always been quite good at reading and caring for them, and after his initial pain from his wounds had washed off the lad had done a good job of perceiving Thoran didn’t felt like talking about today’s events. Instead they had both remained quite silent except for the odd small chit chat and a chuckle or two.

It was silence Thoran desperately needed.

When D’seus had come over Thoran had simply expected him to take Hinuk – the lad certain that his dad shouldn’t take long before arriving and picking him up as well. He’d walked over to his blond friend, with the intention of bidding him goodnight, though when the Bronzerider spoke he couldn’t help but tilt his head sideways in confusion. Hinuk himself found it odd, looking up at his father with quizzical eyes as he seemed to try and pry whatever the man was thinking out of his brain, before finally deciding to give it up.

He was still covered with faint traces of blood, shirtless, and smelling the strong iron scent if it filling his nostrils. Hinuk didn’t really felt like trying to one-up his dad tonight. Placing a hand on Thoran’s shoulder, and feeling the stiffness under it, the blond sighed, whispering to his friend.

”Hey come on, I’m sure T’rin’s just helping around the Weyr after the attack. Besides, it’ll be fun to have a sleep over, right?”
“Hmm? Oh, yeah… sure.”

Thoran still wasn’t up much for talking, the blond sighing as he looked at his third in co—no, his second in command now. A faint squeeze on his shoulder was giving for sympathy, before both boys finally moved to follow D’seus to the dinning hall. There each picked a few edible snacks – Hinuk making sure to sneak a bubbly pie or two more into Thoran’s rather empty plate, before the duo of usually troublesome weyrbrats followed D’seus as he led the way to his weyr.

[HG]

He met the gaze of his son but gave him nothing. All would be explained in good time. There was a time and place for everything. Now and here was not it. Someday Hinuk would learn that as well. If he still wanted to be a leader he would have to. D’seus wondered if this attack had an effect on the boy’s ambitions. He’d find out soon enough. The man loaded up his own plate with just enough to fill him and no pie. He was getting older, had to watch his weight carefully.

Zorometh was pleased to see them all as he waited lounging on his couch. That the boys were safe made him happy. The young ones were the future and though he didn’t dwell too much on forethought he did like the idea of his own children having D’seus’ offspring for riders. Addressing D’seus the Bronze said clearly. Thank Faranth you are safe and here. D’seus smiled at the dragon trying not to note the depressed looks on the boys faces.

He set his plate at the table and poured the boys some water from the pitcher left there. “Eat. It will help.” He said pointedly to Thoran who looked like he’d be sick before he ate anything. His gaze then met his son’s. He knew that a child had died, he knew that the boys were there, but he had no idea how close they were to the girl. It was apparent that this was a deep blow to them. D’seus considered waiting to tell Thoran.

“You guys feeling up to talking about anything?” He wondered if talking would help. Apparently it worked for some people. Kids were still kids, no matter what he did they would still be sad. He certainly wasn’t planning on having such a solemn night with them but it seemed unavoidable. Zorometh didn’t seem too concerned about either boy’s mental state. It was to be expected when traumatic events happened.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

”Hey Zoro, good to see ya buddy.”

Though the lad was usually more than excited to see his dad’s Bronze, and glad to see his side looked healed after that nasty accident in Aeriath’s last flight, his greeting lacked a bit of the usual excitement and energy Hinuk was known for possessing. Honestly, he found it hard to feel cheerful for anything, even the Holdless being driven off, and while he was glad D’seus and Zorometh were fine (along with all the other brat pack members) the death of Evelys was one hard to handle. Not just because of how much she had meant to him, but because he knew just how much more she had meant for Thoran.

Seeing his usual energetic friend so gloomy and thorn inside just ate away at Hinuk – and the only thing he could do was try to be strong enough for his sake, and just be there for him. He felt so powerless.

As D’seus indicated for them to eat, pouring some water for both boys to go along with their meal, Hinuk watched Thoran just grumble slightly, sipping some of the clear and refreshing liquid, before nitpicking at a piece of wherry in his plate. He simply wasn’t hungry, or rather Thoran just felt like he could not stomach anything in his plate right at the time. He seemed to turn to Hinuk for support, hoping the lad could somehow spare him from this – but those azure eyes staring sternly at him quickly got the message across.

”Thanks for the meal, dad.”
“Yeah… Thanks mister D’seus.”

He watched Hinuk down one of the meatrolls, though for all the front the lad was putting Thoran could notice his friend was in the same state (if not slightly worse in a different way) as he was. Mentally scolding himself for being such a pansy, when he knew Evelys had meant a great deal for Hinuk as well (eve if not as much as to him) the dark skinned lad finally seemed to start eating – though neither of them actually managed to put much food away in their bellies in the end.

Still, some food was better than no food, so surely D’seus wouldn’t be too harsh on them for it. At least that’s what they hoped.

”You guys feeling up to talking about anything?”
”No dad, not really.”

They had only barely finished eating, Thoran drinking some more of his water before the question seemed to choke him up just a bit inside. He managed to pass it off as the water simply going down the wrong end of his throat, though Hinuk knew better. His eyes were set once more on his father as he seemed to scowl lightly at the old man. Just because he didn’t bothered to know much of what his son was up and about doing, and who were his closest buddies in the weyr, did not excuse the Bronzerider for such a careless question. Had he bothered to know them, to know that Evelys was his first friend along with Thoran when he was six, to know how much they all meant to one another, he was sure the man would have had more tact to not even touch the subject.

Besides, wasn’t it painfully obvious neither really felt like talking much to begin with?

[HG]

He really could kill Emera right about now. The boys were sad and he knew that was how the entire Weyr was feeling. Nothing he could say would patch up the holes in their hearts from the people they had lost. He had no idea how he should be taking care of the situation. If they were adults it would be different. Children even mostly grown children were not his forte. Faranth forbid he should ever be given the position of Weyrlingmaster or Candidate Master.

Now if they were women this whole evening would be going a lot more smoothly. Nodding to the boys, “Don’t mention it.” He meant it. He was not to be thanked for the food at all. He saw the looks he was getting from them. They were angry, upset and hurt. He understood of course. He was an adult. Nothing either of them said or did to him right now would be normal for them. No need to talk, he was just offering the outlet should they want to.

“I’ll just make sure the bathing room is set for you then. Fresh bed clothes were sent up for you.” As a Wingleader he had one of the largest weyrs at Refuge which thankfully included a nice private bathing room. He made sure the bed clothes were set far enough away that the boys wouldn’t get them wet. Clean dry towels were within reach. The sandsoap was all prepared. Not for the first time he was glad that the drudges liked him. They really had thought of everything. Even the small couch had been made up for him to sleep in. The boys would obviously be getting the bed.

Another reason a woman would be better company. He’d get to sleep in his own bed. Stop complaining. You should be thankful Hinuk is alive. I could spawn another one just like him. And if he doesn’t drop the attitude I might just do that. Zorometh ignored the statement knowing his rider was stressed and upset from the losses of the day. He also knew that Raelwyn was not coming back to Refuge. It was a lot to take in. He lost family that day too but had to stay strong for the Weyr.

“Boys, its all yours. Take as long as you need. When you are done the bed is all set up for you.” D’seus’ voice was clear and controlled. He might not be pleased at the attitudes but he could be understanding enough to treat them like he would any other person. Course treating them like he would an adult was probably not the greatest thing in the world. Still he had a feeling it was better than having their foster mother’s fawning over them all night. Which may have been what was really behind Emera’s reasoning all along.

The Bronzerider waited for the boys to get up before clearing the plates and glasses from the table. He put them in the kitchen shaft to be sent to clean. When the boys were done, he needed a bath too. When he could tell Thoran about his father was troubling him now more than before. What could he say? When would be the right time to tell him? Tomorrow. He’d take the boys to the pyre where the dead were being burned. There they could pay their respects to those whom they loved and lost. It would be appropriate.

[♥Rizu-Chan♥]

Thoran had been the first to excuse himself from the meal, making his way to the foreign bath of the bronzerider's weyr. While similar to that of his father, T'rin, this one was much more spacious and well prepared. Still, while he was happy to be with Hinuk, and appreciated D'seus hospitality, Thoran couldn't help but still feel gloomed and depressed. So much had already happened uring this day, things had gone terribly and completely against what their plan had been: they were supposed to have been heroes, defending the hatching sands from being desecrated by those brutes. Instead, however, they had not only failed and placed lot of the young ones in danger, but they had even lost Evelys in the process.

It was all so much to take in, especially for a young boy his age still, and right now he simply felt he just wanted to be with his father and Remoth.

Losing himself to his mind the boy simply sunk into the warm water, letting the water level reach just an inch or so below his hose as he relaxed, his back against the side of the bath as he allowed his body to simply relax and soak up the calming effect of the bath and the scent of the soapsand scattered around -- as well as placed close by for the boys. Sinking fully Thoran remained below the water for a couple of breaths as he held his own, before finally resurfacing and relaxing once more.

"Move over."

The familiar voice was all too welcomed as Hinuk entered the bath as well, the blond boy soon dipping himself into the welcomed treatment besides his friend and contnuing all the way until he was under the water within seconds. He remained under a bit longer than Thoran had, at some point making the curly haired boy even worry slightly, but before his dark colored hands could reach over to make sure his friend wasn't drowning himself or something Hinuk had resurfaced once more, letting out a long sigh before grimacing as he noticed the faint red tint slowly drifting around and way from them as the bath's constantly circulated water carried the caked blood, sand and dirt away from their bodies.



WIP