Content warning for anti LGBTQ slurs. Please note, this does not reflect my opinion. I am out, loud, and proud. 🏳️‍🌈

***

"Mother, I need you!" Kanden wheezed, bursting into the family quarters in the midst of what appeared to be a heated argument. Red splotches stained Father's face as he clenched his fists by his sides while Mother squared her shoulders, unintimidated by his towering height.

His parents faced him—Mother deflating and Father's nostrils flaring. "What is your problem, son? You don't just burst into a room and interrupt people talking."

Talking? With their epic arguments, everyone within the Caverns could hear them.

Biting his tongue, Kanden forced his tone to remain even. "It's important."

"And our discussion isn't?"

Kanden fought the temptation to roll his eyes. Father's worries always took precedence over anything substantial. "Sorry. It's about Ryker. He's got the virus."

Exhaustion underlined Mother's features—dark circles rested beneath her eyes, and her posture slumped as if the Caverns weighed her down. "What are his symptoms?"

Sucking in a breath, Kanden did his best to recall every detail. "Uh, I went to him last night, and he seemed really tired. Like, fatigued," he added, gesturing his hands in a circular motion as he always did when he was distressed. "He started vomiting a few minutes ago, but he swore he was fine last night."

Father scoffed. "You're describing symptoms for a common cold and the flu. Everyone is so quick to blame the 'virus' when we don't even know if it's a thing," he snapped, emphasizing his words with his fingers.

Ignoring his sperm donor, Kanden cast a pleading gaze on Mother. "He's one of the only medics we have. If not for me, help him for the people."

Her sharp features softened, and she approached Kanden, cupping his cheek. Clouds swirled behind her steel-gray eyes like the storms he sometimes witnessed above the greenhouse dome. Whether she was hopeful or resigned remained hidden. "I will go to him now."

Kanden desperately wished to ask if Ryker had a chance, but thus far, any attempts to treat the illness had been ineffective. Mother was skilled and would do her best, but there was no guarantee she'd miraculously find a cure for a disease no one knew anything about.

Wrapping her in a tight hug, he murmured, "Thank you."

"Have faith," she whispered. "We've been on the verge of a breakthrough."

Really? Why hadn't Ryker told him? They saw each other every day.

Breaking apart, Kanden opened his mouth to ask more, but Mother silenced him with an infinitesimal shake of her head. Her eyes darted to her right, indicating Father behind her. "I will need any healing herbs you can find. Zephyr stopped by after his shift and said you'd gathered some at the conservatory."

Thank the gods for Mother's ability to brilliantly shift a conversation with tact. Unlike other members of the Council, she was kind and a master of diplomacy. People liked and respected her, clinging to her every hushed word in a crowded room, forcing them to listen without ever raising her voice.

Kanden patted the satchel still slung over his shoulder. "I have it all right here. I took them to Ryker's last night and must have grabbed the bag in my haste to see you."

Mother squeezed his hand. "Good. Bring it with you. I'll need any help you are willing to offer, and your shifts at the greenhouse will be excused."

"Best to let that fag rot," Father grumbled, storming past them toward the door, checking Kanden's shoulder.

Crimson rage blurred Kanden's vision, and he whirled faster than he could comprehend his movement. The words 'fuck you' were on the tip of his tongue, and his fists curled at his sides when Mother yanked him back.

"Kanden, don't." Her firm warning seemed more like a command, but also carried a note of frustration and distress.

Once the door closed, Kanden jerked his arm away. Moisture stubbornly gathered in his eyes, and he dragged his sleeve over his face to conceal his boiling emotions.

"I'm sorry," Mother breathed, pressing her fingertips to his shoulder.

Kanden blinked, struggling to control the tremors wracking his chest and legs. "I fucking hate him."

He'd nearly blurted his resentment for Mother for marrying an awful prick but stopped himself before he could say something unforgivable. She probably didn't have many appealing options when she'd been his age. At least she'd been open-minded about his sexuality and lack of desire to seek a woman's company.

Releasing a soft sigh, Mother grabbed her medical kit before looping her arm through his and led him toward the door. "Bastion is who he is," she lamented. "I hate the things he does and says, but you have to be smart. You need to be better."

She emphasized the last word as a gentle reminder that Father could easily beat the crap out of him at the slightest provocation. The men were so dissimilar in personality and build; Kanden had inherited his mother's willowy frame, gray eyes, and gentle personality. Father could best be described as an ugly ass troll with his giant build and harsh temper.

"I'm never having kids," he spat. "Subjecting them to this shitty underground existence is beyond cruel." Especially with Bastion as their grandfather.

"Take a breath," she instructed. "Focus on trying to help Ryker."

As they walked through the long corridor, Kanden's heart rate settled into a steady rhythm. Mother was right; Ryker was more important than a bigoted man.

Water somewhere overhead dripped nearby, echoing in the massive tunnel, joining the sound of their ragged shoes shuffling on the subterranean surface. The noise soothed Kanden, and he listened until he could speak without exploding. "Do you know what the illness is?"

Mother's features remained an emotionless mask in the flickering glow of lights. Her gait remained steady as she kept her gaze ahead of them. After a moment, she replied, "Ryker and I have been trying experimental treatment on patients with promising results. We aren't sure what caused the virus, but I have Marina working to isolate the source."

Kanden came to an abrupt halt, causing Mother to stumble as their linked elbows jerked from the sudden change in inertia. "What? I didn't know you enlisted Marina's help."

Unfazed, Mother blinked. "Who do you think instructed her to quietly investigate?"

Wait, did that mean she knew he was involved too? Kanden thought of the vial he'd hidden in the sack—the soil samples he'd meant to deliver later. Marina never indicated a collaboration. In fact, she'd urged Kanden to keep everything to himself, seeming to imply she had gone rogue when no explanations had been offered by the Council.

He opened his mouth, only to snap it closed when she lifted a salted brow. "I told you to be smart." Without elaborating, she tugged him forward.

Tripping over a pebble, Kanden lurched and nearly face-planted. He caught his bearings and hastened to keep up. "Does Father know?"

Mother shot him a sour glare as if someone had shoved fecal matter at her.

Alright then.

"Do you think he's involved?"

This time, Mother stopped, and Kanden had to grab her shoulders so they didn't topple to the ground. "Questions will get you killed," she snapped in a whisper. "Take my cue, shut your trap, and be aware of your surroundings. Do you understand?"

Kanden nodded and retreated two steps. Even at nineteen, his mother had a way of terrifying him to the core of his soul in a way Father couldn't even achieve. "Yes, ma'am."

Exhaling through her flaring nostrils, she narrowed her eyes. "I ain't an old lady yet, so stop with that ma'am shit."

When her lip twitched, Kanden grinned. Mother rarely stayed angry long. She said her piece and moved on without holding grudges.

They continued the rest of the way in silence, and Kanden turned everything over in his mind. Something didn't add up between the Council's silence, Mother and Marina's secrecy, and Ryker's omission. For one reason or another, Father wasn't in on this, making Kanden suspect it had more to do with him being an abusive man.

Mother entered the quarters first, where Ryker's mom spun from the small kitchenette. Brushing tears from her cheeks, she ran to Mother and clasped her hands. "Ivarra, thank the gods! I was preparing to see you, but I wanted to get some broth into Ryker first. He can't keep anything down, and I don't know what to do."

Her fast speech mixed with sobs made her words difficult to follow, but Mother took it in stride, calm as ever. "I know, Rumi. Kanden came the moment he awoke."

"Is he going to die?" she rasped through a loud sniff. "He doesn't tell me anything, but everyone I speak to says no one leaves that infirmary alive."

Rubbing Rumi's back, Mother said, "Try not to heed rumors. I'm going to do everything I can to help, okay?"

"But everyone—"

Mother gave Rumi's hands a gentle shake. "Listen to me," she said in a firm tone. "Panic only creates chaos. The medics and I are doing everything we can—"

"It's not enough!" Tearing herself away, Rumi buried her face and wept, producing a wail that could only come from a grieving mother.

Kanden wrapped an arm around her frail shoulders and drew her into his chest. "Have faith," he said, echoing Mother's earlier words. "Don't give up, and I won't either, all right?"

Her small body trembled against his, giving way at her knees. Catching her, Kanden escorted her to a chipped bench against the wall closest to the door. Whispering soothing words he wasn't sure he believed, he caught Mother's gaze, silently begging her to save Ryker.

She didn't reply, but she didn't need to; Kanden knew she'd move Heaven and Earth or fight the Devil to find a cure.

While she tended to Ryker, Kanden busied himself between sorting herbs from his bag to helping Rumi cook both from the family's rations. Taking care to ensure no one caught him, he approached the wash station between the bedrooms and lifted the faucet, sending a steam of cold water into the basin. Then he slipped the vial with the soil sample around his neck before washing his hands and the herbs.

He then brought the plants to the kitchen where he steeped them into a tin cup of boiled water. The broth now sat on the tiny stove, sending a spicy aroma in the air. Using a ladle, Kanden scooped a healthy portion into a bowl before taking the herbal remedy in his other hand.

"Rumi, can you help me with the door, please?"

With a nod, she scurried to Ryker's bedroom. "I should be doing this. You've done enough."

"I don't mind," he assured her, giving her a soft smile. "You and Ryker are family to me; I only wish I could do more."

On his way to the threshold, Rumi patted his shoulder. "If my son survives, I expect you to get off your butt and marry him already, you hear?"

Warmed by her affection, Kanden chuckled. "I have no intentions of putting that off any longer." He paused for a moment and hung his head, considering his words. Then he faced her and added, "Thank you for allowing me into your family."

"Thank you for loving my boy."

A lump formed in the back of Kanden's throat. Rumi could have easily pushed Ryker into a tryst with another woman for the sake of having grandchildren, but had allowed him the freedom to choose for himself instead. If all parents could be so kind, the world—even underground, would be a better place.

Entering the room, he placed the food and tea on a small end table before sitting on the edge of the bed. Sweat glistened on Ryker's pale forehead as he shivered, sapping the rich tawny gold from his complexion.

"I gave him a mild sedative with something to calm his stomach," Mother said, closing the door behind him. Taking the stool, she leaned close as if she didn't want to risk being overheard. "I want you to send Rumi inside so I can speak to her. Once she's out of sight, I need you to take a sample of the food and bring it to Marina. I want to test a theory."

Heart threatening to leap from his chest, he gasped. "You think it's the food? But why isn't everyone sick? What does this mean?"

"Shh!"  She glanced over her shoulder at the door before pinning him with a glare. "I said no questions. Just do as I ask and don't draw attention to yourself. We can't do anything but rule out possibilities and narrow our search."

Was she out of her mind? How did she expect him not to ask questions? Curious by nature and compelled by urgent circumstances, Kanden wanted to know how and why she'd come to this hypothesis. What did she know that she wasn't sharing with anyone else?

Biting his lip, he swept Ryker's soaked hair from his face. "Stay strong for me. I love you."

Ryker replied with a whimper, but the lines in his face relaxed for a brief moment. "Kand— ernn..."

"I'll be back soon," Kanden promised, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Just rest."

He sucked in a deep, cleansing breath before retrieving Rumi. Then he did as he was told, packing samples of food rations into his bag and headed into the Caverns on a new mission, determined to find answers.