Chapter 25
Tavryn
There’s something wrong with Banjo. It’s been a few days since our visit to the underground hot springs.
We’ve been lazily enjoying our time in Eczok and fully taking advantage of all the amenities Mary and her misfit band of helpers have to offer.
It should be relaxing, especially now that I’ve been completely honest with Banjo about my past
Well, maybe I haven’t told him everything, like the multitudes of crimes I’ve committed since leaving Vocarie, but those things aren’t important. I’ve told him all the things that actually matter, and he’s still here.
At least, for now.
I push that thought deep, deep down where it belongs, focusing on something much more important: figuring out what’s wrong with my human.
The behavior change is so subtle, I might have missed it if we hadn’t spent the last few months sharing tight quarters.
He’s still as talkative and bubbly as ever, towards me and everyone else.
He’s also still got that dumb grin plastered across his face.
All signs point to him being his normal, sunshiney self. Except for one very small thing.
Banjo isn’t singing.
It’s not just that he hasn’t been singing. He hasn’t hummed. He hasn’t made those weird, tsking noises with his mouth. He hasn’t even drummed on the table once during any of our meals here. He just sits there calmly.
Banjo. Sits there calmly. And quietly.
My concern skyrockets the longer it goes on. Was I too rough with him? Is he hurt and he doesn’t want me to know? Guilt eats away at my stomach. I can’t be the reason Banjo loses his zest for life. I won’t be. I refuse.
My patience finally breaks when Banjo gets in the shower before bed.
I perch on the edge of the bed, ears twitching madly as I try to pick up any sound over the running water.
By this point, I’ll be satisfied with literally any music-related noise.
It’s difficult to believe something I’d once found so annoying is now something I’m desperate to hear.
Nothing comes. Banjo is quiet as he bathes, and it’s more than I can stand.
Before I give myself a chance to overthink—or think at all—about what I’m doing, I launch off the bed and throw open the bathroom door. Half the room is reserved for the shower, so there’s no curtains or glass. Banjo starts when the door hits the wall, gripping his chest.
“Land sakes alive, Tav! I about had a heart attack!” Banjo exclaims, his hand dropping from his chest. I don’t even let my eyes roam over his flushed, wet body. Enjoying him will be my reward once I sort all this out.
“What’s wrong?” I demand. I stand in the doorway, body rigid. Banjo needs to know there’s no escaping this conversation. I want things to return to normal. Now.
Banjo blinks at me slowly. “Nothing’s wrong, babe,” he says. “Well, besides you nearly scarin’ the life outta me just now.” His eyes dart down as my tail thwaps aggressively against the door. “Who put bees in your bonnet?”
I have no idea what that means, so I ignore it as usual. “Something is wrong with you,” I insist. “And I don’t understand why you’re not telling me.”
Banjo frowns, tilting his head ever so slightly.
A drop of water slowly trickles down his neck.
I won’t let it distract me. “Babe.” Now he’s the one that sounds concerned.
It throws me off. Am I the one that’s acting abnormal?
No, that’s not right. I know what I heard, or what I haven’t heard.
“Why are you so sure there’s somethin’ wrong? ”
“You’ve been too quiet.” Heat rises in my cheeks. If Banjo didn’t realize how familiar I am with his habits, he certainly will now. “You haven’t…you haven’t been singing. Or humming. Or making any of those other atrocious noises you inflict on me all day.”
The frown on Banjo’s face morphs into a soft, affectionate smile. “Tav.” My name is so warm coming from him, like it’s his favorite word. “I…I guess you’re right. I’ve just been kinda down.”
“About what?” I try to calm my voice, but it’s nearly impossible. Banjo should not be down. Whatever is causing him to feel this way will be dealt with immediately and harshly.
Banjo laughs. “Can we talk about this when I’m done showerin’? And have some clothes on?”
My foot taps as I consider his offer. I suppose I can wait a few more minutes, now that he’s agreed to talk to me.
I nod. “That’s acceptable.” I head back into the main part of the hut, leaving the door open this time.
Banjo’s laughter echoes behind me, and some of the tension eases from my shoulders. He’s okay. This is going to be okay.
Once Banjo has bathed, dried off, and dressed in a loose pair of shorts, we sit cross legged on the bed, so close our knees touch. I need the contact right now. He seems to feel the same.
“So,” he begins, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry for worryin’ you. I guess I didn’t realize how much everythin’ was affectin’ me.”
I frown. I already don’t like where this is going. “Everything?” Banjo nods.
“I feel guilty,” he admits, staring down at his lap. I want to ask him more, to push for answers. But I clench my jaw and I force myself to give him time to think. He’ll tell me when he’s ready.
It doesn’t take long. He lets out a shaky breath, as if to steel himself, before looking up at me. “I was thinkin’ about…what it would be like to stay.”
My breath catches in my throat as hope bubbles up inside me. “Y-you were?” I ask, barely able to stammer through the words. Banjo nods, his gaze darting away again.
“Yeah. And then I remembered the roof on the double-wide is leakin’ again, and neither of them can get up there and check the patches. And now that I’m not bringin’ in a paycheck, Viola is gon’ have to get a job when she should be focusin’ on school and gettin’ good grades.”
His voice cracks when he talks about his family.
When I offer my hand in a small showing of comfort, he eagerly takes it.
“I’m havin’ a great time up here with you, while Mamaw and Viola are strugglin’ back home.
I can’t just up and leave ‘em high and dry.
Not if I have the choice to make things better for ‘em.”
“Oh.” It takes me a moment to process everything he’s said.
I keep coming back to the fact that Banjo was thinking about staying.
In space. With me. If there’s something I can do to make that happen, I will.
I’ll do anything to keep him here with me.
“So, you’re returning to Earth because your family needs money.
And you’ll receive a large sum once you return and complete your contractual obligations, yes? ”
Banjo nods, his eyes wide and pleading as he looks over at me again. “Do you think that maybe, once I’m done with the album, you could…come get me?” he asks. His voice is so filled with hope I almost want to lie to him. It would be easier, but Banjo deserves better than easy.
“No,” I tell him honestly. “The UFO has a complete monopoly on how and when humans can leave Earth. I can smuggle humans in, and I can pick up some goods from Earth, but even doing that is risky.” I give his hand a squeeze. “I could try, darling, but the odds wouldn’t be in our favor.”
Banjo’s shoulders slump forward. “Are the odds really that bad?
I let out a breath. It’s not just the risk that’s stopping me.
I’d take any chance if it meant Banjo could be mine forever.
What I’m really afraid of is him not wanting to come back once he’s reunited with his family.
I know how important they are to him. The logistics would be difficult too, with the way the UFO is constantly monitoring any communications coming from Earth.
“They’re not good. If there wasn’t a risk to start an interplanetary war that would likely lead to the destruction of Earth, I might consider it.”
Banjo stares at me wide-eyed and swallows, “Uh, yeah, that don’t sound good.”
I consider the situation, my tail twitching in displeasure.
Banjo needs money. I have money. Hundreds of thousands of credits that I’ve been hoarding, just in case.
The problem is, they’re nearly impossible to turn into U.S.
dollars. Turning U.S. dollars to credits is hard enough, but the UFO does allow some interplanetary trade.
As long as they get a cut. But…if the money is already in U.S. dollars…
A plan slowly forms in my head, and I can’t help but smile as it does.
The half still pending for my current bounty is far more than that silly contract Banjo is holding out for.
When I return Remington to Earth, I’ll have my client transfer the money to Banjo’s Mamaw and sister instead of me.
They’ll be set for life, or at least for a while, and Banjo can stay here with me.
Forever.
“Why’re you lookin’ so happy all the sudden?” Banjo asks, shooting me a nervous grin. “What’re you up to?” He already knows me far too well. But I don’t want to tell him. No, it’ll be much better if it’s a surprise.
“I’m thinking it’s about time for me to show you Dhamoirs,” I reply, grinning back at him. “We leave first thing tomorrow.”
Things feel more normal once we’re back aboard my ship. I’m not sure if it’s because Banjo feels more at home here or because he’s relieved after talking to me, but he’s back to being his normal, loud self. I’m happier too, now that I’ve devised my master plan.
Banjo is going to be mine forever, and I spend every moment I can reminding him exactly what that’ll be like. All I have to do is kidnap one measly little human. It’s something I’ve done a dozen times by now, each time without any issues. What could possibly go wrong?
I find out a couple weeks later as we’re finally nearing Dhamoirs. The trip so far has been smooth sailing. As usual, I’m lounging in the cockpit eating Doritos while Banjo works on his music in the living room. Everything is going entirely to plan.
And then it isn’t.