The Star Man

[Deleted]

<sub>Andy shifted his position as Cepheid sat beside him and he just clung to his younger twin brother. He smiled when Ceph told him about the Dula guards. Hah, they were always so stupid! Thank god Ceph was able to slip out. He wouldn't be here right now if he didn't... or int he same situation as Andy is right now.

"I wish I could have met up with you again. I..." He choked again, trying to regain breath and not sob to actually give his brother a coherent sentence. "You're the only one I truly missed. Not my parents... Not anybody..."

He paused when he asked who she was. He then opened his eyes, clouded with distant and painful memories. "... Sine. She was my girlfriend at the time when... all that happened to me. We planned to escape together, but she couldn't leave in time. Hell knows where she is now, if she's even alive."</sub>

[Deleted]

"I wish we met up sooner as well." He replied. "But at least later is better than never." He then paused when Andy spoke up about who he missed. Should he tell him the truth? That their parents had sold the two of them to those people? That after busting his sibling out, he had visited those two and ended their miserable lives?

... Not now.

He looked at his brother as the other explained who Sine was. "I'm sorry. If I had known... I would have helped get her out." It wasn't his fault, there was no way he could have known, but still.

Wait...

That name...sounded...familiar...

"Sine...Nah, it couldn't be..." He muttered, lightly scratching his upper lip.

[Deleted]

<sub>Andromeda would likely be pissed if he found out about that from his parents. It would prove they were greedy and evil, just like how they did nothing when he was dragged off with his twin. He took a deep breath and just nuzzled his twin.

"Well either way, I'm glad you're with me." He grinned, trying to stay upbeat about everything. Man this was going to be amazing! HIs twin...

"it's fine... somehow, I get the feeling she's okay." He paused when he mentioned the name sounded familiar. "Really? She did work in Swire Headquarters... Not by choice though."</sub>

[Deleted]

They were, there was no doubt about it. He wouldn't be surprised if their parent's murder was passed off as a robbery due to the magpie like hoard of valuables they possessed. He had appropriated most of them not only to bribe dock officials, but to make the whole thing look like a rather fatal robbery. He smiled lightly as Andy nuzzled him, and he hugged back. Who'd have thought that one of the most feared pirates in the sky would be behaving like this?

"You and me both." As he was being clung too, Andy might notice that Cepheid was wearing an unusual amount of padding around his waist and ribs for some reason. He smiled back, also trying to be upbeat.

"Actually..." He started. "I met this girl on the ports, actually. Very shortly after I donned the mask of The Star Man when I was sixteen. A girl, about my age at the time and with child, came pleading for transit to Seria. She had black hair, a lot like Nerys's, put up in a high ponytail." He paused to think. "She said her name was Sine, and she seemed in an awful hurry to get out of Dula. I knew where she was coming from, so I consented, dropped her off in Seria before we parted ways."

[Deleted]

<sub>Andy did wonder why he would have to wear so much padding. He was his twin and would notice these things, and on top of that, his cheekbones seemed quite a bit more pronounced than they used to. He then let go to look at Cepheid when he explained about Sine. His expression got more and more pale when he further explained about it, until he choked when he mentioned he dropped her off in Seria.

"... Wait... She was pregnant?!" Andy had to swallow that hard. Oh god there was no way... No it couldn't be Reuben. There was no physical resemblance to Sine in him. He would have known that. After all, he was the one who looked into the woman's eyes so long...

Andy put his hand on his head, dizzy form the revelation that not only was she alive, but he had yet another son, and it was consented. But... would they still be alive today? Andromeda pulled his hand down and took the other one, rubbing his face.

"Oh my God..."</sub>

[Deleted]

Unaware of his twin's notice of the slight emaciation he possessed, he continued with his explanation until he saw Andy choke in surprise. "You're not telling me she's the one you were talking about." ....Oh hell no. It then struck him. "Yes, she was pregnant. Pretty late in, I'd say. Don't tell me it was you..." He trailed off. He heard the accusations, that Andromeda the pirate left his victims, living or dead, with no dignity when he was done with them. Still, he found this hard to completely grasp...

"A...Are you alright, Andy?" He asked, concerned. He wasn't sure what to say, clearly the news he just brought was a mixed bag. Yes, Sine made it out of Dula with little trouble, and yes, she was pregnant. "Ummm. Lets take this one step at a time?" He suggested nervously.

[Deleted]

<sub>Andromeda kept his hands over his face, just as he spoke up. This was complete shock to him, the fact was, he actually had a real son... with his real girlfriend... Okay so it was really early in age and he probably ruined her life, but still. He wanted to leave with her, and live a completely normal life, marry her, have a son...

"Yes!" He finally pulled his hands down, his face pale with shock. "It was me, but this was before I ran away, it was before I did all those things. I just wanted to be with her, is that so hard to grasp?"

Andy looked down, leaning his elbows on his knees and hanging his head. For a long time he was silent, before he spoke up, pulling his hand through his hair again.

"... I could hide it and say I'm fine, but I can't hide it. I'm not okay. I'm just... my head hurts from all these revelations happening to me lately." he then closed his eyes, leaned back and took a deep breath. Several deep breaths in fact.

"Too much is happening. I don't even know what to do anymore."</sub>

[Deleted]

Cepheid flinched lightly as he was snapped at, but gave a soft expression. "I believe you, Andy. Don't worry. I never suspected that you had...forced her. Just the way you spoke about her tells me that much."

When Andromeda hung his head, Ceph gently rubbed his brother's back in a soothing manner. "Why don't we all get some sleep?" He suggested. "I mean, it's been a big night. I know I'm pretty tired myself now." He tried to smile, though it was a little forced. Still, the intention was there.

"Why don't you think about it some?" He offered in reply as Andy did his breathing. "If you want to try and track her down... I can show you where I dropped her off. I think she went straight to the local church." He paused. "I know you won't be able to go in yourself, but... I may be able to get some information for you."

[Deleted]

<sub>Andy's eyes softened when his sibling spoke. Yeah, that sounded like a good idea, sleeping. He had a lot to think about, since it has been so long since he's seen Sine. She might he alive, married and with another man, but at the same time... He didn't want to know if she died, either.

"Thank you so much..." He looked up and smiled. "I'll think a about it and sleep it through. Thanks for letting me know" He then hugged his brother again before explaining.

"There's a spare room about three doors down from your left. You can rest in there for the night. Watch out for the girls; they seem to like you."</sub>

[Deleted]

Don't worry, Andromeda. Cepheid was going to be right there by your side through it all. No matter what happened now, he was going to be doing everything he could to remain a constant in your life.

"Think nothing of it." He said, smiling back at his sibling. "It seems tonight if completely full of revelations, isn't it?" He chuckled. A spare room? But... The Super Arrow was being towed, couldn't he just xip line over to it and sleep in his own bed? Well...best not argue, tonight at least. He didn't want to be very far from Andy either.

"You think so? I hadn't noticed." He joked with a smile, before he glanced at his clothes. "Umm, I hate to be a bother, but could I borrow some sleeping garbs? It'd be easier than hopping to the Super Arrow to fetch a set." Good thing about being twins. They were the same side. Aside from Ceph's unhealthy waistline.

[Deleted]

<sub>Andromeda nodded quietly when he spoke up. Yeah. For now he had to sleep off of this... if he could sleep, that is. It would be hard though. Maybe talking to Nerys would help, but right now he was glad the girls were giving him space even though they were all pressing their ears to his bedroom door all Scooby Doo style.

"Hm? Oh right..." Andromeda shedded his black trenchcoat, throwing it on the bed before he went to the cupboard and pulling out a white shirt and pants. They were genuinely simple and loose enough for Cepheid to sleep in them as well or wander around the place with them.

"I trust your still the same size as I?" Andy joked as he tossed them to Cepheid.</sub>

[Deleted]

Ah, perfect. Catching the articles, he laughed casually as he gave them a very brief once over. Looks comfy. "I'm pretty sure you're still at least half a centimeter taller than I." He joked back. "I hope you don't mind me changing in here. I don't think any other room on this ship is safe from your over-affectionate cohorts." You're just proving my point, girls.

With movements borne of practice, Ceph proceeded to strip himself of The Star Man's suit once he was given the go ahead, folding each article before setting it down on the table by the hat and mask.

By this point, though he wasn't thinking anything about it, and he removed his shirt to reveal that some padded cloth had been wrapped a few times around his waist and ribs to bulk his already thinned figure. Clearly, unlike Andy, this twin was a rather under-fed bean pole who had to stuff his suit to appear more healthy when in disguise.

[Deleted]

<sub>Andromeda chuckled at that. Well, it did seem true that his girls did really enjoy the fact that Andy has a twin and it's The Star Man. Selena and Godwine seemed especially happy about it, and Nerys? Well he wasn't sure. He was positive she was just acting before just to troll him. Maybe she wasn't, but she was lucky enough to sneak a cheek kiss on her own twin brother, which was... weird to him.

"Nah I don't mind. Better than the girls trying to find excuses to walk in on you." He added, before he pulled on his belt buckle to take it off where his pants proceeded to fall down because he always keeps his pants unbuttoned. Andromeda put up his belt before looking over his shoulder to see that... well, Cepheid looked way skinnier than he remembered.

"Damn, you are skinny as hell. I'm going to have to get some weight on you." He felt guilty. Ceph probably didn't make a lot of money anyway and so food wasn't on his high list anymore. He'd fix that!

Andromeda proceeded to take off his shirt to get a new one. Of course Andy wasn't any better, considering the scars that lined his back and shoulders gave any proof that he was abused during his life.

And then Nerys had to open the door and he just stared at her.

"Oops... I thought you were done." Nerys chuckled, slowly closing the door on them.

"... She did that on purpose, I know it."</sub>

[Deleted]

Giving a light star, Ceph glanced back to Andy and listened. Skinny...? Oh! It took him a moment to remember that he was rather underweight. He chuckled sheepishly as Andy voiced his intentions of getting some mass on him, and returned to changing out.

He gave pause and couldn't help but stare in surprise at all those scars that riddled his twin's figure as he pulled the shirt over his head, and couldn't help but feel guilty about having escaped such a fate. It made him wonder...how would things have turned out if he wasn't able to escape back then?

Trapped in his guilt and thoughts, he was half way through taking his pants off when the door suddenly burst open. Letting out a cry of surprise, he yanked the lower garments back up and stared in surprise at the female as she made her departure.

Once she left, he looked at Andromeda as he spoke. "I thought this room was secure." He said in a slightly higher octave.

[Deleted]

<sub>Andromeda was rather... unhappy as of right now when Nerys left and he grabbed a shirt, putting it over him before he opened the door again and motioned for Nerys to come over. he then glared at her and spoke up, his voice also cracked and jumped a few notes higher than normal.

"I tell you girls to stay away from my room for a reason, now don't do that again!" he then slammed the door and put his shirt on. Nerys, once the door was closed, let out a giggle that could be heard through the door.

"This room IS secure." Andy grumbled. "God... women."</sub>