Chapter Text
“Oh, Aeons,” Ratio cursed, finding Avana in a pool of blood. There was so much blood. His eyes widened and he ran to her side. ‘Oh, Nous, there was so much blood.’ He felt sick. “Come on, don’t fall asleep.”
Avana didn’t move. Ratio felt panic rising. “Get up, Avana.” He shook her body. Nothing happened.
“GET UP!”
Ratio shot up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. He ran a hand through his hair as his heart pounded in his chest. There was no blood, and Avana wasn’t dead. She was in the hospital, safe and sound. However, that didn’t quell the panic he was feeling.
“Why didn’t you save me?” Avana asked in a quiet voice, her bloodied body looking at him with cold dead eyes. “This is your fault.”
“Your fault.”
Ratio shook his head. “Shut up,” he growled, grabbing his hair to ground himself. Avana was fine. She was alive. Everything was fine.
“Veritas, what’s wrong?” Aventurine’s groggy voice asked. The Stoneheart groaned, waking up and looking at Ratio with worry. He was no stranger to nightmares. He sat up and frowned, taking in the sight of Ratio breathing heavily and shaking. “Talk to me.”
“I’m fine, Gambler,” Ratio grunted, getting out of bed. Since he was awake, there was no use in wasting the morning hours. He settled into his wake-up routine, despite feeling like he hadn’t slept much at all. He had classes, meetings, and needed to visit the hospital again to check on Avana. She would be discharged soon, and he promised he’d be there.
Aventurine frowned, eyes watching Ratio’s every move. He knew the signs when Ratio was actively pushing down his emotions to ignore them. Aventurine himself was guilty of doing the exact same thing.
Ratio kept his promise. When Avana was discharged, Ratio was there to pick her up. It would take an idiot to ignore how quiet she was or the tear tracks on her face. Ratio frowned and gently checked her over. “What happened?” he asked gently.
Chase was the one to answer him. “Layla visited.”
Ratio’s frown deepened. “That damn woman,” he grumbled and shook his head. “Never mind that, are you two okay?” He glanced over at Chase then back at Avana. Guilt ate away at him. He should have been there when that woman showed up. He made a promise and had an obligation to protect his kids. Biological or not, his students were his kids.
“Come on,” he murmured. “Let’s get home.” Ratio helped Avana and Chase into the car and he drove them to his house where Aventurine and the cake cats were waiting. Rivera and Jasper were attending their classes—classes that Chase should have been at. However, Ratio wasn’t going to give a lecture on attendance as it was Chase’s sister who got attacked and nearly killed.
The ride home was awkwardly quiet. Ratio didn’t know what to say to Avana or Chase. The strange feelings of guilt and anguish constricted his chest. When they got home, Avana was bombarded by the cake cats and the ‘Vericat’ that Ratio told her to get rid of. This time, Ratio didn’t say a word.
“Aww, I missed you guys, too,” Avana laughed, attempting to hug all four cake cats. She paid more attention to Vericat, but the other three critters didn’t seem to mind that much. Ratio was relieved that Avana was back home and laughing. His anxiety seemed to ease a little, but the guilt didn’t go away.
It was his overly obsessed fans that attacked her. Those psychotic bastards hurt his child. Ratio grit his teeth and took a deep breath to calm down. But he couldn’t calm down. Images of her laying in her own blood flooded his mind. Sometimes, the nightmares put Aventurine in her place. Each time he failed to save anyone. He clenched his fists.
“I’m okay,” Avana said, hugging him and shaking Ratio from his thoughts. Ratio awkwardly hugged her back, still drowning in guilt. Sometimes he hated how observant all of his children were. It was hard to hide things from them. At the same time, he was proud of them for being so observant.
“I know,” Ratio murmured quietly. “You’re home, but this shouldn’t have happened. I should’ve—”
“No,” Avana cut him off. “This isn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known those crazy people would have attacked me.” She glanced up at him and hugged tighter. “It’s not your fault.”
“I should have been at the hospital with you. Your mother—” Ratio grit his teeth as anger coursed through him. “That despicable woman…”
“Showed up when she knew I’d be alone,” Avana finished for him. “That’s always been her motto. I’m okay. She left again, and I still have my brother and my dads. Please, don’t feel guilty for things outside of your control.”
Ratio swallowed thickly. He wasn’t the best with emotions, but he tried. Sometimes he just couldn’t get out of his head and the dark thoughts that inhabited his mind. He didn’t understand certain emotions or how to deal with them. That’s why he preferred Aventurine to help with emotional struggles. Aventurine understood more than he did.
“I thought I lost you,” Ratio whispered hoarsely. “There was so much blood. I…I have nightmares where you didn’t make it.” He stared at her as he took a deep breath. “I don’t say this enough, but you all are like children to me and I don’t want to lose you. Any of you.”
Avana felt tears well in her eyes. “I know, but no one could have anticipated this. Please, stop blaming yourself,” she whispered pleadingly, reluctantly letting go of him. She put his hand over her heart. “My heart is still beating. That means I’m alive, and I’m still here.”
Ratio’s eyes softened. “Yeah,” he whispered, “you are.” His heart practically melted at her innocent explanation. He could feel her heart beating and he promised he’d do his best to keep it that way. “Come on, you’re probably hungry.”
“I could eat,” she smiled lopsidedly. Ratio cooked her some chicken broth, rice, and vegetables, wanting to be careful as she couldn’t eat anything too rich lest she upset her stomach. By the time the food was finished, Rivera, Chase, and Jasper were home. Aventurine got home shortly after. “Hi!” Avana waved, smiling brightly.
“Ave!” Rivera grinned, happily running over and hugging Avana, mindful of her injuries. “I’m so glad you’re okay! You scared us.” Chase came over and ruffled Avana’s hair fondly while Jasper gave her a thumbs up as he sat across from her.
“Took you long enough, dear Gambler” Ratio teased Aventurine.
Aventurine smiled and kissed Ratio on the cheek. The students made gagging noises in a teasing manner. “I had to help Rosie with some paperwork. He just got back from a mission and sent his regards.”
“Ah, I see,” Ratio nodded, smiling softly. “Good. There’s food on the table, and I would like it if you ate with us as you probably skipped lunch again, didn’t you?”
Aventurine sheepishly smiled. “Whoops.” He found himself situated between Ratio and Rivera at the table. Ratio took a deep breath and barely contained his smile. Finally things felt right. His partner and children were all at the table, finally back together again. Next time he’d make sure Shilou was there with them.
But for now, everything was going to be okay.