Calm After The Storm

[Will]

He liked her laugh. It was one of her best features. It never ceased to brighten his mood, no matter how dark.

''I was sixty percent sure he wasn't going to be there.'' he replied, mock hurt in his voice. He blushed as Val mentioned the poison Ivy.

''Yes... we all remember... Very funny.''

He was halfway through a sip as she grabbed him. He coughed, almost spilling his wine.

He walked in silence for a while with her along the shoreline, simply being together. His eyes absorbed the scene, the setting sun acting as a backdrop to Val, the light haloing her, emphasising her beauty.

He turned to her as she spoke.

''Please, falling for you was natural. After that whole you wanting me dead part.''

He chuckled slightly.

''I'm amazed you fell in love with an emotionless shell like I was back then. I was hardly the most welcoming Master.''

He pulled his hand away, tilting her chin up, fixing her with a stare before kissing her, soft yet passionate.

He took her hand again as they walked.

He looked down as Val asked about his family. He had found out about them. His parents at least. He wasn't ready for the extended family right now.

''My parents...were extradited for their crimes to here. Combinations of drugs, murder, and abuse. They're in there for life. They can't hurt us. Can't hurt Raziel or Emi... I have to confront them.''

He paused, whole head tilting to the ground.

''I will find the rest of my family after I have...dealt with them.''

 

[Sreeya]

Val welcomed the kiss, pulling him down towards her as she often had to given his height. She gazed at him fondly as he pulled away. The glow of the sun behind them was mirrored in his eyes, making them burn with intensity. Val reached up and gently brushed her hand against his cheek.

"You were exactly what I needed. I was almost childish..always governed by unruly impulses. You really taught me to grow up, to know when to follow my mind and ultimately see things clearly without being blinded by a plethora of emotions."

She had to chuckle, taking his hand again.

"I think you've saved me in many ways. I was going down a path I couldn't come back from, and I'm eternally grateful for that. Though I hadn't expected it to turn into something so beautiful...to have children with you, and for us to be a family."

Val looked up at him again.

"And to be your wife. I love waking up every morning knowing that you are mine. I always want you to be mine. I want this feeling forever. For as long as I..live.."

She stopped there, her smile fading slightly. Though they had been married for years, neither had really talked about facing the harsh realities of how different they were. Val dreaded the prospect of growing old and dying while Huang remained as he was now, fated to live far beyond her years. The thought had often bothered her, paining her greatly. However, she never brought it up with him. Val cleared her throat, abruptly veering the topic away once again.

"As for your parents.."

She hadn't missed the negative emotions emanating from him when he dwelled on the thoughts of his parents.

"..Many long years have passed, my love. Time can change individuals. They may not be as awful as you remember. Regardless, though, I'd like to go with you to see them, if you wouldn't mind."

 

[Will]

He noted a wave of sadness pass through Val after she said the simple word 'Life'. Such a small word, and yet so emotionally charged. He dwelled on the fact that he would likely outlive her. Maybe, as pureblooded Sephi, outlive even his children, if he played his cards right. He hoped he did not play his cards right. To be left to live alone after his family died around him. After loving someone as deeply as he loved Val, it was not a concept he could stomach.

He looked back to the ground as she mentioned his family. The possibility his parents had changed... Ones capable of such cruelty were always twisted. They could never truly become whole again.

''I hope so. But, I feel they have not. They're incarcerated in separate prisons. I shall see them tomorrow.''

He kept a hold of her hand. He knew he would not relish it.

''I would rather spend my time with you. But it must be done.''

 

[Sreeya]

---​

"Why can't we go?!"

Raziel and Emi were both furious. Val was terrible at lying to her children about where she was going, and her half baked attempt at coming up with a cover story for going to the prison only made it sound like some sort of top secret adventure. Now both children were even more on her case about not getting to go. Val rubbed her temples, the constant yelling and shouting driving her nuts. She attempted to talk over them.

"It's a grown up business! I'm telling you, we'll talk about grown up stuff and you'll be incredibly bored."

"But it's far away!"

"I WANNA GO MOMMY!"

"No, you're not going. Neither of you. That's final."

Raziel simply let out a frustrated cry but Emi glared at Val. A second later, several glasses spontaneously shattered. Val, completely used to her tantrums by now, simply sighed. She looked over at Huang.

"Are you ready? Let's drop them off and go."

That comment alone made the two kids explode into even more protests, complete with threats to run away and declarations of hatred and many other types of whining and complaining.

 

[Will]

''Children.''

Huang only had to speak quietly to make them stop. He walked into the room where Raziel and Emi were having their tantrum, pulling on his robe. He wore the new Kama underneath, the mark of his family emblazoned on the back, coincidentally, a raven framed by a new moon.

''We shan't be long, I'm sure. I'll see you both this afternoon.''

He hid apprehension very well. He was going to face those who had been the biggest influence on his life. Their abuse had been the start of his training to hide emotion. Facing them after all this time could cause him many problems.

He picked up his children, putting them in the car.

''Let's go.''

 

[Sreeya]

There was another giant tantrum as the kids were dropped off, though as soon as they saw the beach again, they forgot all about the secret adventure their parents were going on. As the speeder pulled away from the resort, Val remained silent for a while. She glanced over at Huang, and could almost feel the raging storm inside his mind. On the outside, his face betrayed nothing, but having been his wife for several years had taught her to read him well. She reached over and gently placed her hand over his.

"Are you all right?"

He had been quiet since the topic of his parents had come up. The thought was alien to her, never having known any true parents. For him to hold so much hatred for those that gave birth to him sounded odd to her. Val had never asked him about his past, mainly because she knew how much it bothered him. She had come close, but had always suppressed the questions. However, they were going directly to them now, something she never thought he'd do. Val thought for a long moment before speaking.

"What..what happened on Corellia?"

 

[Will]

''I'll be fine.''

He paused, his words already quiet. He whispered, mainly to himself.

''I hope.''

He gripped the wheel tightly, staring forward.

''What they did... They were my first scars. They would cut me, sometimes. They were the better days. They kept saying I'd ruined their life. They would burn me with iho sticks. I'd often 'fall' or 'bump into things.' They tried to sell me to one of their other junkie friends, once. Fortunately they didn't buy me. They'd just spent their last credits on some very fine grain spice. It was a good night when they went to someone else's house. They'd leave me, of course, but they wouldn't come back for days. Days without pain.''

He stayed quiet, staring at the road. The prison reared out of flat grassland, a colossus of plascrete and durasteel. They passed through the checkpoint. Huang stopped the car, opening the door.

He opened the door for Val, letting her out, towards the visitor centre.

* * *

There they sat. His father, pale skinned, red hair and grey eyes staring out, a sly grin on his face. Beside him was his mother. She had his eyes, he realised. They looked him over, uncaring.

''This is what we produced, Oriel. He's tall, at least.''

''But weak. A Jedi? Such wastes of space.'' His father replied, red stubble stark against his cheeks.

They wore green bodygloves, collars around their necks.

''Why?''

''Look Zanna, he has a woman with him. A human woman. Son, I am disappointed. At least keep the blood pure.'' He kept his smirk.

''What's your whore's name, boy? What name did they give you in the end?''

''She's none of your business. I go by Huang Karasu now. Why.''

''Huang? What a stupid name. A weak name. We should have killed you. It was too fun to bring you back for more though.''

''WHY''

The final why shook with telepathic force along with the quiet word, cold as iron. They both scrunched up their faces, feeling the word.

''You'd best sit, boy.''


​

 

[Sreeya]

Val hadn't said anything since Huang revealed exactly how awful his parents had been. In her mind, not knowing her parents had been a blessing compared to how monstrous his had been. She found it difficult to picture them, having only known Sephi to be kind, graceful beings. She remained silent as they entered the prison, glancing around herself. She had never been inside one, only around the holding cells within Jedi facilities. This place almost made her nauseous from the amount of malice she could sense all around herself.

As Huang was led to his parents, Val spotted them immediately. They looked like Huang, but at the same time, nothing like him. His mother had Huang's eyes, but instead of the warm glow his had, she looked more animalistic. Val said nothing, up until the woman practically spat the words at her. Val simply grinned, shaking her head.

"Ahh..visiting the in-laws. Always a pleasure."

She held the gaze, breaking away only when Huang caught her attention again. Val was curious now, stepping away. In her mind, there was no excuse for how they treated their son. Having children of her own made it all the more impossible to fathom exactly what could have warranted such disgusting behavior.

 

[Will]

''In laws? Oh, my son. How far you have fallen from the Jedi tenants. And for a human?!''

Huang shot a glance at Val. Sometimes, her words made situations worse, normally in small ways.

''You've brought shame on our house son, muddying your pure blood with one of them.'' His mother's face had twisted into a mask of disgust, eyes fixed on Val, a mirror of Huang's piercing gaze.

Not here.

''She is of no importance. Why did you put me through all that pain? Why did you beat me, burn me, strangle me? What possible reason did you have for it?''

''It was fun.'' His father leant back in the seat, regarding him through hooded eyes.

Huang suppressed his rage, his wish to smash down this flimsy barrier, and strike them both down. He remained a still pool, unflinching. Seeing that he did not get a rise, Oriel continued.

''We were not rich to begin with. Taking on a baseborn wife whom I had gotten pregnant out of wedlock caused me to be cut off from my house. I had to leave Thustra. We had to leave Thustra, and get a low-grade job paying pittance to support ourselves. You caused our fall, Huang. You ruined our lives. We suffered because of you. You would suffer because of us. Simple eye for eye philosophy. Besides, as I said. It was fun to hear you scream.''

Oriel remained silent for a moment.

''You were a mistake. A mistake that destroyed us.''

''You are more twisted than I thought. My family were right to remove you. I simply want to know if there are others. I want to find the rest.''

''You aren't part of house Karasu, bastard. That kama you wear under your robe is a lie. They removed me, along with you.'' Again, he smirked.

''I don't care. I just want to find them. To know them. They are obviously alive. I would rather my family consisted of more than you.''

''Fine. They shall turn you away though. You may be a hero to the common people, but they will turn you away for the bastard you are. They have an estate, out in the country. My father lives there. My Brother lives in the city, the new CEO of royal haulage, and my sweet sister lives in the city again, she runs a law firm. Look for that pretentious Raven.''

''Sir, visiting time is almost up. You must leave.''

Huang waved the guard away, nodding.

''I shall never forgive you. You seek not to repent, you revel in your sickness, causing pain to others to pleasure yourselves. You may have birthed me, but you are not my parents. The order were my parents, my family. You are nothing to me. And will never be anything to me.''

His parents remained silent, his father smirking, his mother glaring disgustedly at Val.

''I don't want them in my sight any more. Let's go.''

 

[Sreeya]

"I would have murdered them."

They were out of the prison, but Val was fuming. She slammed the door as she sat back into the transport, scowling. She glanced over at Huang.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? What if the rest of your family is just like that?"

This was one of those instances where her fiery personality came out. Huang kept his anger in check, but Val often lashed out. It was obvious she was deeply irritated by how Huang's parents treated him. She looked away, regretting not spewing out more insults at the pair of Sephi that didn't even deserve to live.

"It's better to not know who your family is than to face that. I don't know if I can go through another setting where they treat you like that. I will lash out."

Val closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Her Force energy had turned dark for a moment before she managed to control it.

 

[Will]

He turned to her as they got into the car.

''I'm not like you, Val. I can't just kill them. They are paying for their crimes now. I've heard about that prison. It's hell. That will have been the first time they've seen another person in their entire sentence. They will live and die alone in there.''

''I can imagine no worse punishment.''

He drove away from the prison, happily putting it all behind him.

''May as well speak to the head of the Karasu household first. It seems I'll need to beg my way back in, If we want to keep our surnames. My parents were the anomoly, I hope. If they all turn out to be like my parents, well. We shall never see them again. And I shall still wear my house's symbol, as an offence to them.''

* * *

The house was grand. To say the least. It rose out of the well tended gardens around it, white walls almost glowing in the sunlight. They pulled up, the car gliding smoothly.

''Right, remember, he's the head of my family. Even if he is rude, do not provoke him. If he has as much wealth as this... he's going to have connections to places we don't want to be involved with.''
​