Chapter 27
Tavryn
It’s been fifteen days since I’ve seen Banjo. With each passing day, I grow more concerned that I’ll never see him again. Our last moments together keep repeating in my head. I promised I’d find him wherever they take him, and I plan to keep that promise.
But what if they take Banjo back to Earth?
It’s what he’s wanted this entire time. I wouldn’t even blame him if he went home.
It would kill me, yes, but I wouldn’t blame him.
I know how important his family is to him.
More importantly, I know I’ll never be as important. I thought I was okay with that.
Apparently, I’m not.
Day sixteen is different. The movement of the ship tells me we’re docking. My daily meal doesn’t come at its usual time, though calling it a meal is a stretch. It provides the basic nutrients I need to not starve, and that’s it.
For the millionth time, I wonder what Banjo is doing. Hopefully wherever he is, they’re treating him better than they are me. He’s not a prisoner, after all. According to Rouverace’s fabricated story, he’s the victim.
My tail thrashes wildly at the thought of Rourverace.
I should have known he wouldn’t give me up so easily.
I’m a pawn for him to use and nothing more.
I can’t believe I ever thought what we had together was real.
I’d given so much of myself to him without even thinking twice.
He was the first being who’d ever treated me with any kind of love or compassion, and I’d believed it was real. I’d been an idiot.
Maybe I’m still one now. I’m still grasping for the same things, after all. Love. Acceptance. Kindness. All things I’ve found, and will inevitably lose, with Banjo.
I might have already lost them. It’s the not knowing that has me pacing back and forth across my tiny room when I should be conserving energy. I’d thought it would exhaust me enough to sleep. It hasn’t.
Before my thoughts completely spiral, the door to my cell opens.
I pause in my pacing, eyes narrowing as a new guard comes in.
She’s a copper toned Aelgeah, and her uniform jacket is littered with a variety of medals.
I take a small step back. If they’re sending someone like this to collect me, it can’t be good.
“Tavryn,” she says, offering me a small smile. I scowl at her. “Commander L’eana has considered your case and has found the evidence against you lacking.”
My eyes widen. That sounds like good news. I don’t let myself get my hopes up. Not yet. “I’m here to escort you back to your ship.” She turns, heading down the hallway without looking back to see if I’m following her.
“Wait!” I hurry after her, the metal floor cold against my bare feet. They took everything from me besides my undershirt and pants. That’s not what I’m concerned about. “What about—”
“Tavryn!” I barely register what’s happening before the full force of Banjo collides with me. I let out a little oof as he scoops me up and spins me around. I cling to him just to hold on. “You’re okay!”
Banjo places me back on my feet, cupping my face in both hands as he studies me. Based on his worried expression, I don’t look great. That’s not a surprise. I haven’t showered or eaten much in over two weeks. I’m surprised Banjo can even stand to be so close to me. I can certainly smell myself.
But I don't linger on any of that. All I can focus on is that he’s here. Banjo is here.
“Wait…are you okay, babe?” Banjo asks, his voice much softer now. He skims his thumb over my chapped lips, the furrow in his brow deepening. “You look like you ain’t been eatin’. Or showerin’. Or sleepin’.”
I wince, glancing away. Even though it wasn’t my fault, I can’t help but feel ashamed that I let myself get in this state. When I meet Banjo’s gaze again, he’s furious.
“I can’t believe they treated you like that,” he growls. “When they knew you ain’t done nothin’ wrong.”
I tighten my grip on his shirt. Oh. I had no idea Banjo could sound like that.
I like it far more than I’m willing to admit.
“I’m alright,” I promise him. My voice is raw after not being used for so long.
I clear my throat, wishing I had a drink.
They were as stingy with the water as they’d been with everything else. “Let’s get out of here.”
Banjo nods, dipping his head to catch my lips in a soft little kiss. I kiss him back for a brief moment before making myself pull away. He smiles down at me, so close I can feel his breath fanning across my lips. Apparently, he doesn’t care at all about how badly mine smells.
“Yeah,” he whispers, his smile spreading into a grin. “Let’s.”
I don’t fully relax until we’re out of the launch bay of the Triumph and back out in the vastness of space.
Since Stells is technically an illegal AI system, she’s still booted down from our original capture.
I need to restart her eventually, but right now, I’m enjoying being truly alone with Banjo.
He hasn’t left my side since we got on my ship.
There are plenty of other things for him to do—including putting away the generous amount of provisions the UFO gifted us—besides sit on the floor next to me, but I don’t have the heart to tell him to go.
Now that we’re in the safety of my ship, the shock of the ordeal seems to be setting in for Banjo. He hasn’t stopped clinging to my leg, and his body is tense until I wrap my tail around his shoulders.
The worst thing is how quiet he’s being. It’s concerning. Maybe Banjo had a rougher time aboard the Vanquishing than I thought. It makes me want to turn my ship around, find the Triumph, and blast it until it’s nothing but a fiery heap of rubble.
The fantasy has my shoulders loosening a bit, even though I know it’s just a fantasy. There are far more important things on my mind than revenge. Like showering.
Before I can do any of that, I need Stells back online. I flip through options on the console until a keyboard appears and type in her launch code. S-T-3-1-1-5. There’s a ping that has Banjo’s head jerking up from where it’s been resting against my knee.
“What was that?” he asks, blinking dazedly up at me. I wonder if he dozed off. It wouldn’t surprise me after the emotional day he’s had.
“Just Stells,” I say, giving him a little squeeze with my tail.
He melts into the contact. His fingers curl into the fabric of my pants like he just can’t get close enough to me.
I feel the same. “She went into hibernation when we were taken into custody, since having a UFO-grade AI system in a ship like this is…frowned upon.”
“They’re only upset they discarded me before I became far superior to their existing systems,” Stells quips. Her familiar voice makes me smile. As much as I hate to admit it, I missed her. “You two look terrible. Can’t even make it two weeks without my guidance? I’m not surprised.”
I snort, and Banjo laughs. “We’ll make sure to catch you up on everything you missed,” I promise her. She huffs like she doesn’t believe me. “But for now, initiate autopilot and set our destination to Dhamoirs. I’m in desperate need of a shower.”
“Even I can smell you,” Stells confirms. “And I lack olfactory input.”
Banjo wrinkles his nose. For a moment, I’m concerned the smell is starting to get to him. He speaks before I can untangle myself enough to stand.
“It ain’t that bad,” he protests, glaring at the console. I tilt his head up with the tip of my tail so he’s looking at one of the cameras. “You should be nicer to him after the way they been treatin’ ‘im.”
My sweet boy. Always jumping to my defense. I dip down to press a kiss to the top of his head. “It may not be that bad, but I’d still like to clean up.” I attempt to stand, but Banjo doesn’t let go of my leg. “Darling, let me up.”
“No.” Banjo’s voice is soft and needy. It immediately breaks through any of my remaining resolve. Not that there was much left by this point. “Don’t go.”
“Banjo,” I chuckle. “I have to shower. I’m disgusting. You may be able to stand the smell, but I can’t.”
Banjo pouts up at me, his eyes big and pleading. “Can I shower with you?” he asks. “I’ll be real good, Tav. I swear I will.”
It’s not Banjo’s behavior that has me hesitating. It’s the miniscule size of the shower. We may be able to squeeze both of us in there, but it’ll be tight.
One more look at Banjo’s imploring face makes my decision for me. “Fine,” I sigh, shaking my head affectionately at him. “But only if you promise to be good and do exactly as I say.”
“Yes, sir,” Banjo replies as he leaps to his feet. It’s nice to see some of his normal excitement returning. I hope the rest won’t stay gone for long.
He takes my hand, tugging me out of the chair and across my ship to the bathroom. I follow him willingly. He may have agreed to do whatever I say, but I know who's really calling the shots at this moment. And it’s definitely not me.
As soon as we make it to the small bathroom, we’re all over each other.
I’m not sure who initiates it, and I really don’t care.
Our mouths move in a well-practiced dance, tongues tangling in a fight for dominance we both know I’m going to win.
Banjo fumbles with my shirt while we kiss, eventually undoing the last button so he can push it off my shoulders.
I shrug out of it, my own hands busy tugging his shirt over his head. We both groan as our bare chests meet.
“I missed you somethin’ fierce,” Banjo whispers as I break away to breathe.
“I thought about you every day. Every hour. Shoot, maybe even every minute.” My head tilts as he peppers kisses along the curve of my neck, my fingers digging into his back.
The feeling of his skin on mine is absolutely heady.
It’s scratching an itch I hadn’t realized I had until now.