Chương 4: David-I: Who's Ready For Tomorrow
— David —
Blood. Fire. A broken body. Lying there… Just lying there. So still. Too still. Why wouldn't she move…? Couldn't she hear him calling for her? Why wouldn't she wake up?! Why the fuck did those bastards just leave them THERE?!
"Mom? MOM! MOM, wake up! Shit- get off me! Why won't it-?! MOM!" David Martinez remembered crying out with everything he had — anger, fear, pain, so much pain as he struggled against the wreckage. Steel and glass warped around him, gripped by dark, unseen, desperate hands. It hadn't been enough.
Mom's earlier words echoed in his ears, even now — especially now… "Everything I do is for you, D'… Can't you see that?"
Her tears haunted him. He'd done that… done that to her… What kind of gonk makes his mom cry? Who the fuck was he to make her sad?! Anger and self-loathing twisted a tight knot in his chest. Hours later, the air around him felt like it was still burning. Something dark crept into his very fucking soul, lingering like a caged, corrupted animal. A hint of yellow flashed behind closed eyelids.
"You're breaking my heart…"
Was there glass in his lungs…? Or did it just feel like it? He'd been cleared by the docs, right…? Mom… Mom hadn't. David could do nothing but remember. Remember her words to him, for him. She was so proud, so hopeful. And for what…? All he did was cause her trouble.
"My baby boy — so smart, so talented… I just want to give you a fighting chance in this city! A good education! That's why I put in the hours I do! That's why I'm never home!"
It was all for him… He'd apologized then. David could remember that much. And she'd opened up. How could he ever think he was alone…? She went through so much worse. The universe looked down on her, a single mother who worked so hard every day to provide. All she did, she did for him. All she was, she gave him freely. All of her hopes and dreams, they were for him… And all David ever did was cause her trouble in return.
She tried so hard and put up with so much. David was a shit son. Selfish. He couldn't look past himself to see her struggles. Day after day, she put in thankless, soul-killing work. Grinding, always grinding in a city — on a moon — that wanted nothing more than to hold them down. Their situation was suffocating, and still, Mom had faith that David could rise above it. That he could make something of himself, make it out where she couldn't…
She kept a roof over his head. She kept food in his belly, even if it was only nutrient paste during the worst days. She put him through school, and though David hated Arasaka's Night City Corpo Academy branch, he knew it was an opportunity for greater things. It was a chance. A way out. Mom stopped at nothing to give him that glimmer of hope. And what did David give her in return? Debt. Debt, trouble, gray hairs, and now, he couldn't even get her the help she desperately needed.
David Martinez sat in the rundown clinic with his head in his hands, waiting for the bad news he knew would come. How the hell did everything go so wrong so quickly…? A heartfelt conversation… Tears were shed. But she loved him. That much had never been more clear. Maybe — just maybe — David could rise to meet her expectations, her hopes and dreams for him…
It all went to shit, went up in so much smoke. Past and present blurred. David couldn't tell if he'd fallen asleep at some point. His nightmares and reality were one and the same. No matter which, he saw those two repulsorcraft riding on either side of them. He remembered the dark premonition that set him on edge, wished he had listened to it… He saw that damned slugthrower loaded and racked. He saw that faceless goon take aim. He felt their dingy little wagon caught up in the crossfire.
They were shredded in the middle of it all. It was a damned miracle that neither of them were hit. But David had never felt terror like that. Not in any of his XBDs. It was real then. A hail of lead slugs tore through the wagon's steel chassis, only inches away from Mom's face. She kept them on course somehow. David wished she hadn't…
The rocket came next. 'Cause why shouldn't gangers have heavy iron? There was an explosion. A flipped craft. They must've crashed. The next thing David knew, he was staring at Mom as she lay motionless on the concrete. He tore his throat raw, calling out to her. She didn't answer. Not even a twitch. Trauma Team came, and David thought they were saved. The bastards left them there. Not even a second glance. They would PAY.
The fire danced behind David's eyelids. Mom was all too still, superimposed in front of it… Helplessness scorched him from the inside out. The seat below him had cracked under the weight of nothing and everything. He paid it no mind. He needed to help her! He couldn't move, trapped within the wreck… It took too many precious minutes for the meat wagons to arrive. When they did, David knew they'd be too late. Only the best care could save Mom. They were far from being able to afford that luxury.
"Surgery was a success. Your mother hasn't come to just yet, but she's stable. We need her to stay a few more nights."
The clinic doc's words felt like they went in one ear and out the other. They were hope. Were they…? David saw the world moving in slow-mo. He heard himself ask a question. The answer wasn't promising.
"Oh… Can I see her?"
"No can do, buddy. Visitation isn't part of your package."
"Right…"
"Anyway, I got paperwork to shuffle. I brought your mom's things, kid. Make sure to zip us those eddies, yeah? You've got three days."
David didn't know how much time passed. When he looked up again, he was home. How'd he get home…? Oh… he'd been locked out. Snuck in. It wasn't the first time. It wouldn't be the last. Shit… It might be the last… Nothing was set anymore. Not with Mom… His grip on Mom's things tightened as his heart clenched with the uncertainty of it all. That dark knot, twisting like tangled glass and tar in his chest, never disappeared.
The air left his lungs in a rush of defeat. David opened the bag of Mom's things. It was all he could think to do. He found her jacket first and foremost. The collar smelled like her. In another timeline, he might've opened it to put it on. Here, David found her secret another way. He clutched the jacket like a lifeline. As he did, something fell out of the pocket. Something nudged his mind. A… handheld PC…?
David picked it up and turned it over in his hand, trying to make sense of the device. Why would Mom have a handheld? Her comm-link was slotted in, just like his. Was-… Was it a burner…? Why the hell would Mom need a burner? David couldn't resist activating it. The system-sec was fingerprint-protected, but the override was simple for him to figure out. Mom always used him for her passwords. Not his birth date but the date of conception. She'd been weird about calculating that for a while, David remembered.
The PC opened to a chatlog. Mom and… M-EX…
G: Maine? It's Gloria.
M-EX: Gloria? Shit, girl, it's been a minute! You tryin' to catch up or something? I should let you know I'm goin' steady now lol.
G: I've got something for you. Good shit. Good chrome. You'll want to see it with your own eyes.
M-EX: Damn, you still know how to get my attention, Gloria. I can't tonight. Busy with the newbie's gig. I'll check in tomorrow. Keep it warm for me?
G: I can do that. But… I really need the eddies, Maine. You know I wouldn't admit that if it was anyone else. Are you gonna do right by me?
M-EX: When have I not? We ain't been together for a long time, but you'll always have a piece of my heart, girl.
G: … We should catch up too. There's something I should tell you in person.
M-EX: Some heavy shit? Alright, we'll grab a cup of caf after we take care of business. I won't short you. Just look out for yourself, yeah? These streets ain't kind to no one.
G: Always, Maine.
David stared at the chatlog, trying to unpack everything he just read. Mom… had an ex…? Logically, David knew that. But it was different to be confronted with it to his face. He… didn't know how to feel about it. Yet a hint of hope still bloomed in David's heart. This 'Maine' obviously cared about Mom. Even if they were… separated. Maybe he could help where David couldn't. Fuck, it would be more productive than anything else David could try.
Even with that determination, David's finger shook slightly as he hit the call icon, and the handheld rang. A gruff, half-asleep voice answered after only a few seconds.
"Shit, Gloria? Did I forget to check in? Last night ran longer than I thought it would. I swear, the newbie's worse than Becca… Alright, talk to me, girl. I'm awake now."
David swallowed around a lump in his throat, "… Yo."
He could hear Maine's voice get more aware in an instant, "The hell? Who is this? Where's Gloria?"
"I'm David. David Martinez. Gloria's… son," David replied.
"… Ah, shit. I didn't even know-…" Maine muttered. "Where's your mom, kid?"
"Mom's-…" David heard and felt his voice strain. "Some shit happened. Went wrong. We got caught up in a crash-out. Mom's-… She's hurt. The docs say she's stable, but I don't think she'll make it. I-… I need help."
David was well aware that his voice broke there at the end. Maine didn't mention it, his tone firm but… surprisingly comforting, "You've been put through it, huh, kid? I'm sorry about that. You straight? Health-wise, I mean? Frag, how old are you, anyway?"
"The docs gave me the green," David said, finding his footing again. "And 17, almost eight. Why?"
"Ah… Yeah, that would explain it…"
"Explain what?"
"Don't worry about it right now, kid. We'll talk about it later. Just hold tight. Help is coming. I'll bring the big guns, too. The newbie should be just right for the job. Your mom's gonna be okay. I promise."
"T-Thank-" David choked on the word, suddenly finding blurring tears in his eyes.
"Save your strength, son. Just ping me your address, and we'll be right over to set everything straight," Maine's conviction and easy strength was a buoy in stormy seas for David.
He did as instructed before collapsing back on the couch, staring at the ceiling with wide, barely believing eyes. Mom… She was gonna be okay. Maine promised. And for some reason, David couldn't help but trust him more than he'd ever trusted anyone else. Even without meeting him yet, David knew. He just knew. If Maine said it, he'd make it real. David could take his promise to the bank, and it'd cash for eddies. He knew, just as surely as if the Stars themselves had come down to say so.
David didn't know where his sudden faith in Maine was coming from. It was both his and somewhat — somehow — foreign. But it didn't matter. Hope — any hope — was good, a blessing of relief like water on Tatooine. The lingering knot in David's chest finally began to relax and slowly unwind. A metaphysical seesaw tilted back away from the dark, back toward balance. And David felt like he could breathe again.
He closed his eyes at some point. Didn't even realize he'd fallen asleep — wasn't even sure he had. Relief and hope set him at ease. David fell into a peace he couldn't easily describe. Mom was there, whole and healthy. Others were there as well. A dark-skinned giant of a man, sitting close to Mom but still set slightly apart. Separated… A woman to match the man's size sat beside him. All three of them gave David fond smiles. The scene felt like… family. Not a perfect one. But family nonetheless. So long as Mom was there, David was happy.
Murmurs through the door were followed by a pounding knock. Loud but not hostile. It pulled David from his rest. He felt lighter as he went to answer the door. David paused as he saw the man from his rest waiting with a grin on the other side. The woman was there too. It… didn't make sense to David's mind. Neither did the unconditional trust that he couldn't — didn't want to — shake.
"Maine…?" David asked.
"The one and only," That grin was more reassuring than David could say. "You gonna let me in, kid? We got important shit to get to, don't we?"
"Yeah, uh, sorry. Come on in," David stepped to the side to invite hope into his home. "I'm David, by the way. Nice to meet you."
'Hope' brought friends. Maine and the woman from David's rest came with two others. The first was a blond dude David's age, with a serious face and expression that seemed set in stone. The second was a stylish woman a few years older than both of them, with a guarded, coolly uninterested expression. She was pretty. Gorgeous, really. But with Mom's life in the balance, David couldn't bring himself to think about anything else. Maybe in another life…
"You already know I'm Maine," Maine introduced. "This is my girl, Dorio. Mr. Serious is Atom, and Ms. Serious is Lucy. We're here to help, kid."
Dorio gave David a tight, respectful smile and nod, "Yo. Sorry about what happened, David. Maine tells me Gloria was good people. The best of people. We'll bring her back to you."
"Noticed the eviction notice on the door," Lucy said. "Fuck landlords, right?"
David cracked a smile, "Yeah, fuck 'em."
"Let's hurry this shit up," Atom's voice was curt. "Where's my patient?"
"You're Maine's doc?" David asked.
Atom's stare pierced David to the core, "… Something like that. She isn't here, is she?"
"No, fuck, I didn't think of that," David groaned. "She's still stuck at the clinic. I already owe them 16 grand. The stay is gonna rack up another four. They wouldn't even let me see her…"
"No, it won't," Atom asserted, his words choppy and his tone firm. "They leave her to die without even letting you visit? Fuck. That. You're not gonna pay them a dime."
David's emotions were quicker to boil over than he expected, "Then what-?!"
"Chill, son," Maine laid a large hand on his shoulder. "We ain't gonna leave her there. You're not gonna pay them 'cause they aren't gonna be doing shit."
Lucy smirked, "I've never heisted an emergency clinic before. First for everything."
Dorio chuckled, "Piece of cake. The kid could probably do it himself. Those places don't give a single shit about the people they're supposed to be healing. Gloria will be better off in Atom's tender care."
"'Atom' and 'tender care' don't really go together well," Lucy snorted.
Atom completely ignored her, "Get your shit, David. You've got a mom to bust the fuck out of bullshit care."
The smile that spread across David's face must've been infectious because even Atom's lips twitched a bit.
IIIII
Stars, she looked so weak… David could barely believe his eyes. Mom… she was a constant pillar of strength in his life. Now, she lay on death's door. She shouldn't have been so pale. Something inside David raged like an inferno. Something else begged on its knees. He did his best to temper the darker emotions. They wouldn't help Mom. Not now.
The 'heist' was as easy as Dorio said it would be. The clinic's infirmary ward wasn't even guarded. Lucy sliced into the cameras and disabled the alarms. Then, they might as well have just walked in and out. No weapons were drawn. Simple. Easy. Now… came the hard part.
Mom seemed to relax and rest easier once they got her home. David thought so, at least. They laid her out on her bed and made her comfortable. David covered her with her jacket. But not before stashing the secret he'd found inside it. Why Mom had what looked to be heavy chrome, David didn't know. It seemed to call out to him, though. Like it was made for David and David alone… He was loathe to give it up easily.
"So, what now?" David asked Atom as they stood over Mom. The others had given them some space, lingering nearby but, thankfully, not saying anything. Small talk was just about the last thing on David's mind.
"Now, I heal her. Like I said I would."
"… How? You got bacta or something slotted in?"
"The Force," Atom grunted.
David blinked, "That shit's real, choom?"
"Real enough to heal your mom."
"Oh… yeah. Yeah, that's good enough for me."
Atom hovered his hands over Mom's body. Not touching her, never touching her. The Force… Jedi space magic… David couldn't have come up with a lie like that in his wildest dreams. Not in Night City. But as Atom's hands began to glow over Mom's body, David had faith that he was telling the truth. That faith kindled hope in his chest, a steadily growing flame that shed LIGHT.
Almost immediately, Mom began to fill out before their eyes. Her skin flushed with color, her breathing deepened, and the air around them seemed to warm by the second. David swore he felt something in Atom's glowing hands. Peace. Serenity. Health. And a fat fucking middle finger to what 'should've been'. The vibes were immaculate. David couldn't help but grin. He could certainly believe Atom was healing his mom with magic vibes. And spite. A lot of what Atom did seemed to be fueled by spite. David empathized. By the Stars, did he fucking get it…
"Besides," Atom muttered as he healed. "It's not like you're one to talk about the Force being real or not."
David's face scrunched up in confusion, "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
"Means you got it, too," Atom bluntly revealed.
That hopeful light flared within, but David just shook his head, "Bullshit. I'm not a Jedi."
Atom scoffed, "You think they come to this shithole? If they do, it's for business, not recruitment. And they obviously don't come often enough to find everyone. You slipped through the cracks. You're not alone there. We're better off without them."
"Really…?" David asked skeptically. "I mean, they're Jedi… Lightsabers and space magic — every kid's dream, right? I know I scoured the net for BDs and XBDs about them. I always thought it was a shame there weren't any from their POV."
Atom scowled, but his hands never stopped glowing over Mom, "They'd take you away from your mom. You'd never see her again. And that's if you're lucky enough to remember her in the first place. The 'Way of the Jedi Order' is fucking shit and stupid."
Just like that, old childish dreams crumbled to dust, "O-Oh… Yeah, that's pretty karked up, choom…"
"Good riddance," Atom grunted. "Theirs isn't the only way of the Force. I'm here, aren't I? And actually doing something for you instead of meditating on fucking Coruscant."
David couldn't help but grin, "Does that mean-…?"
"Done. She's good. Healing. She likely won't wake up until tomorrow, but she's more than stable now," Atom interrupted him, lifting glowing hands away from Mom. "Now, let's deal with you."
"I'm fine, choom. I heal quick," David waved him off.
"Not what I meant," Atom growled. "You're planning to install that chrome."
Atom said it as a statement, not a question, and David jumped slightly in shock, "W-What…?"
"That chrome you stashed," Atom said. "You're planning to install it."
"And what if I am?" David stuck out his chin in defiance. "You gonna help me with your space magic shit?"
"Fuck, no," Atom spat. "But I'm not gonna stop you, either. Just make sure you do it right. We'll find you someone good."
"I've got someone good-!" David protested.
"Bullshit," Atom cut him off. "Even if you do, we'll find you someone better. Someone who's used to working with heavy chrome. Maine, help me talk some sense into him."
"Who's your ripper, kid?" Maine asked, stepping up into the conversation.
"… I don't know his name. I just call him 'Doc'," David sheepishly admitted.
Maine barked a laugh. It wasn't a nice sound, "Yeah, Atom's right. We'll get you someone better. Knowing your ripper's name is basic shit, choom. It's the principle. Proof of trust. I'll take you to meet Vik. He'll do you right."
The chromed-out giant then stopped and stared into David's soul, "All that being said… what's this chrome you're thinking of slotting, son?"
Immediately, David felt like he was put on the defensive, "… It's mine. Mom's… But it was made for me! I can feel it!"
"Fucking 'not-magic', plot armor bullshit…" Atom grumbled under his breath. "The worst part is, he's probably not even wrong."
"More 'Forced-up', Jedi shit?" Maine asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Mn," Atom hummed a short, nonverbal agreement. "The Force can be… insistent. It pointed me at Sasha. Without it, I wouldn't have saved her ass."
"Shit, that's definitely something to keep in mind," Maine rumbled. "So if the kid says it's made for him, it probably is. Shame. Pretty sure Gloria was keeping it warm for me. But I don't need it. And I ain't gonna stand in the way of a boy and his first real chrome."
"I will," Atom grunted, turning to glare at David. "I've got conditions. If you get this shit put in your back, it's the only chrome you'll ever get. And I'm — I don't know — fucking training you or something."
"Sold, choom!" David grinned. "Frakkin' sold! A Sandie and Jedi reflexes? Say LESS!"
Lucy whistled, somewhere between impressed and mocking, "That'll be a sight to see. And a Sandie for your first real chrome? Are you sure about that one? I suppose if it's going to be your only one, go big, yeah?"
"I think so, yeah," David nodded. "No clue where Mom got it-…"
Atom seemed to lose his patience then, interrupting with a growl, "Too much yap, not enough action. We doin' this shit or not?"
"We're doing it," David said, his determination only marred by one consideration. "Mom's gonna be-…?"
"She's fine. Better than fine. She'll be up to chew your ass out by noon tomorrow," Atom snapped.
Even though he sounded hostile, David was quickly coming to learn that was his default tone, and he laughed, "That sounds about right. Stars, thank you, choom. I don't think I'll ever be able to say that enough."
Atom clicked his tongue and looked away, "Tsk, whatever."
Lucy shared a conspiratorial smirk with David, "Isn't he just a big sweetheart? I captured that, Atom~. I'm sending it to Sasha~…"
Atom glowered at her, looking about half a second from outright baring his teeth. Lucy just kept smirking and waved teasing fingers his way. Maine and Dorio chuckled. David turned to them with a question.
"Sasha? His input?"
"He'll deny it, but yeah," Dorio nodded.
Maine flashed David a grin, "His main one, at least."
David looked back at Atom with wide eyes, exclaiming in breathless awe that Maine would later identify as the beginnings of hero worship, "Nova…"
IIIII
The next day, David found himself entertaining visitors again. And recovering. Just Maine and Dorio, though. Which was good. David didn't know if he had the energy to keep up with Atom and Lucy, much less the other two chooms who Maine said had quickly taken to orbiting around them. He thought he'd like to meet Sasha and Becca. Just… not when he was healing and adjusting to the life-changing chrome attached to his spine.
"Hey, Maine? You, uh… Do you trust Atom?" David asked — curious, hopeful, and relying on his intuition that Maine would always point him straight.
Maine quirked an eyebrow at him, leaning back against the couch with his arm around Dorio, "What's bringing this on, kid?"
"Just…" David hesitated, trying to put his feelings into words. "I've got a good feeling about him. I wanna make sure I'm not seeing things or whatever…"
Maine hummed in consideration and acknowledgment, "I don't really know choom all that well. Met him a bit more than a week ago, and then really met him the day before yesterday. But Sasha trusts him with her life. He saved our girl there. That counts for something. At least enough for me to give him a shot. And once you're on the crew, you're with us, you know?"
"He's a certifiable gonk," Dorio snorted in good humor. "But we aren't strangers to whacked-out chooms. He gave us good info, and he fought with us. I think he's more loyal and sentimental than he lets on."
"Sentimental?" David's lips twitched at the idea of Atom with an uncharacteristic quivering lip.
"Oh, yeah," Dorio nodded seriously. "I think he gets attached to people quickly. And hard, too. From what I gathered, it's because he doesn't have anyone else. Any-thing else. Not even his memories. 'Member that little drop, Maine?"
"Yeah," Maine agreed, nodding as well. "His past is a mystery, and we ain't gonna pry. But he said he don't even remember his moms anymore. You forget it when you interact with him, but he ain't much older than you, David. Just a kid…"
"Ah, shit," David muttered. "I can't even imagine…"
"And I know he isn't a Nar Shaddaa native," Dorio said cannily. "No idea where he's from. Sasha said he was surviving on the undercity border between Maelstrom and Tyger Claws, though. That'll never be an easy feat. He's strong. Adaptable. Driven and determined as hell. He's got that hunger to 'im, ya know? That thirst for more."
"It helps that he's frakkin' good!" Maine laughed. "Even if he isn't native, he's a natural. And with his Force shit, he's fucking useful, too. He's the closest thing to a doc that the crew has now. One that knows damn well how to throw down. With him saying that he'll train you, too, it looks like our crew is on the rise."
"You mean-…?" David stared at Maine with wide eyes.
Maine smirked, "You thought you were gonna get away from us now, kid? Nah, not a chance. We're stakin' a claim. And I'm bringing Gloria back into the biz as well."
"Straight to the top, David," Dorio said, giving him a surprisingly soft smile for a woman her size.
"S-Straight to the top," David repeated, choking up slightly on the words.
The smile that pulled at the corners of his lips must've been blinding. And thankfully, Maine and Dorio didn't mention the tears that began to well up in his eyes. That reassurance, that statement of belonging… That was everything.
He took a breath to collect himself, still smiling, "So, Atom… Atom's solid. Cool. I knew it. I could feel it in my gut."
Dorio chuckled, "Yeah, he's cool. Crazy enough to cut open his chest while Maine watched, but cool."
A bark of surprised laughter escaped David, "Ha-! He what?!"
"You ain't the only one with experimental chrome installed," She smirked.
The reminder made David shift in his seat. He was sitting backward on the chair to avoid disturbing his back. It wasn't as sore and tender as he'd been expecting, though. Instead, it just felt… right. Like it was meant to be there, set into his spine. It took all of David's willpower to keep himself from activating it before his body was acclimated.
"I think Vik just about creamed his pants when he saw your new chrome piece, kid," Maine chuckled.
David winced, "I didn't know it was going to be so fucking preem… It's a big deal, isn't it? And someone's not going to be happy I'm the one that has it…"
"My money's on Arasaka," Dorio said. "'Preem' is understating it, David. That shit is beyond top-of-the-line. The kind of chrome made in a corpo black lab that people get killed for even thinking about. The chrome of shit that legends like Adam Smasher get."
A touch of guilt crept into his eyes as he glanced at Mom's still-sleeping form. How the hell had she gotten it…? Atom had said she was scheduled to wake up any moment now. David had questions for when she did — after hugging the stuffing out of her, of course. She… well, she wouldn't understand. But David would bring her around.
"I guess I found my excuse to not go back to the academy…" David muttered. "Mom and I are fucked if they come calling."
"Don't worry yourself to death, kid. You're with us now. You and Gloria, both. We'll look out for ya," Maine laughed.
David cracked a smile at that and then preened as Dorio's words caught up to him, "Smasher-tier chrome, huh?"
"Yeah, how you holdin' up to it, kid?" Maine asked.
"Feels like a dream," David admitted truthfully. "Vik… Holy shit, Vik does good work. Doc probably would've just strapped me down and given me something to bite on. Vik's got, like, a professional after-care program."
"And you're gonna fucking follow it, David," Dorio ordered, her stare pinning David in place for a moment. "Wait for that thing to settle, you hear me?"
David sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah, yeah, I hear you."
She continued staring at him for a moment before turning to her output with a frown, "Maine, I don't believe him. Knock some sense into your boy."
"His… huh…?" David blinked like a goddamn gonk.
"Way to break the news, baby," Maine smiled and shook his head.
"Your big-ass was just gonna keep dancing around it 'til the Hutts willingly give up power."
"At least until Gloria woke up. I'm not even positive about it yet, you know?"
"Nah, just pretty sure and hopeful. I know you, Maine. You ain't fooling jackshit."
"W-Wait, hold the fuck up… WHAT?!" David shook off his funk and demanded answers.
Maine blew out a heavy sigh, "Ha… You know who your father is, David?"
"I-I-…" That was the first time Maine had used his name. It, plus his sober tone, brought David up short. "… No. Mom never talks about him. It's always just been me and her."
"Well, just about 18 years ago, Gloria and I-…" Maine began, running a large hand over the back of his head.
He didn't get the chance to finish. A dazed voice spoke up behind them, "David, mijo…?"
David was up in an instant. He blurred his way to Mom's bedside in the blink of an eye. The rush of using his chrome for the first time was completely lost beneath another, more important rush. Using the Sandie was instinctive and empowering, but David didn't care. He clutched his mom's hand like a lifeline. Her fingers curled around his in return, and David sobbed like a bitch.
"M-Mom! I'm here, I'm here! Stars, fuck, I'm so sorry, Mom…! I love you! I love you so fucking much! You're safe, you're good, everything's gonna be okay…!"
"Language, mijo…" Mom said, cracking a small smile. Then her eyes opened, looking up at him with breathtaking love in them. And David's tears fell in earnest.
"Mom…!"
"I'm here, too, mijo… I'm here, too…"
Something slotted back into place in David's world with that reassurance. Worry, fear, and anger were blown away like dust in the wind. The only things left for David to feel were love and LIGHT.
"Oh, I had just the worst dream, mijo…" Mom murmured as David helped her sit up.
David sobbed and cursed, "It-! It wasn't a dream, Mom. It wasn't a fucking dream…!"
Large hands held a drink to Mom's lips, "Here, Gloria. Drink something. Slowly, girl."
Her brows furrowed as she drank with little sips, "… Maine? What… are you doing here? What happened…?"
Maine forced a bittersweet grin, "Not the way I wanted to catch back up, but I missed you, girl. Your boy needed help. You were in a bad shape. Me and my crew got you the care you needed."
"Oh… What- What do I owe you…?" Mom asked, wincing.
"Gloria, if you try to give me a single eddy, I'm gonna burn 'em," Maine said severely. "Corellian Hells, girl, fuck all of that noise. I'm straight-up adopting you and the kid. As I should."
"Maine, I can't-!" Mom protested.
David cut her off, taking a stern, chiding tone with her for the first time in his life, "Mom. For our sake, shut up and listen to your baby daddy."
She froze. Just completely froze. Then David heard a rare curse escape his mom's mouth, "… Fuck. I, uh, I see you two have met… We-… might have some things to talk about between the three of us."
"I'll leave you three to that," Dorio spoke up to excuse herself from the looming conversation, chuckling as she did. "I'm Dorio, by the way. Maine's current input. Don't worry about that, though. We're cool, Gloria. You raised a good kid. Maine, I'll see you back home, yeah? And David? Don't forget about the Sandie. It'll be best to rip that bacta-patch off quickly. Have fun."
She slipped away with a light smirk playing on her lips, and David groaned, "Oh, dammit, Step-mom…"
Mom seized on the distraction all too quickly, turning to David with a hard glint in her eyes, "David…? What did she mean by that?"
"Don't change the subject!" David shot back. "He's my dad, Mom! I didn't even know his name — know he was alive — until you were on death's door!"
Maine chuckled, "Looks like I gotta play the unbiased third party here. You both did some messed up shit. Let's just chill and talk this out, yeah?"
David and Mom shared a glance. They nodded to each other and instantly turned the heat onto the 'unbiased third party' in the room.
"I wonder who it was that enabled me and made getting my new chrome possible…"
"Oh? Could it be the same gonk who left me alone with a baby in my belly without even asking if I was pregnant?"
"Ahh, shii~iet… Me and my big fat fuckin' mouth…"
The sight of the mountain of muscle that was Maine suddenly paling was straight-up comical, something for David to remember fondly until the last of his days. The scene was… oddly idyllic already. Love and healing after the worst day of David's life. Family, falling into familiar roles as if they'd never been apart in the first place. And Stars, David already knew who he had to thank for all of it…
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