Chapter Text
2 year time skip
~~Syn's POV~~
Syn was working on upgrades for the soldiers armor when someone came in. A knock rang across the workshop, causing Syn to drop his tools, almost dropping them on his toes. She turned and saw the Golden Spear at the entrance, “H-hi there, jesus... You need somethin'?” she greeted. Ugh, he's got the visor on again… I wanna see those eyes bro.
“Yes actually. The ship's control panel is acting up. It is just the screen, so it will not affect the ship. However, I still need the panel.” He explained.
“Did you punch it? It shouldn't be acting up.”
The warlord scoffed, “No, I did not punch it. And it is not my gloves either.”
“I was joking. You wouldn't've walked over here if you did.”
“That is not true.”
“Yes it is, and you know it.”
“I-” He was interrupted by a loud crash. “What now…” He groaned as he ran out of the workshop.
Syn waited a moment before hopping into the vents and following the running warlord. They listened into the control room, shifting into a lizard so they were harder to spot.
“Son of a- It's pirates…” The commander announced. Syn didn't wait for more information before running to the cargo bay through the vents. Somehow, it was quicker than the guards.
Ze got to the crash, observing the pirates from the vents. Syn dropped down, shifting into xer main form on the way down and started to try and close the cargo bay doors to lock the pirates in. Syn was too focused to see or hear one of the pirates sneaking up behind aer. The intruder shot at the control panel, the bullet grazing Syn's left shoulder. “Fuck me…” Syn groaned, holding onto the injured shoulder.
“Any last words, royal fuck?” The pirate grumbled, aiming their gun for the back of Syn's head.
“hmm.. oh yeah! Never fuck with a shapeshifter.” Syn answered, shifting into a venomous spider, running up the pirate's leg, and bit their neck, the venom quickly flooding their system. Ve shifted back into vis main form while wrapping vis legs around the pirate's neck. Ne leaned back and threw the pirate into the wall, snapping their neck in the process. Panting, Syn looked up and saw the Golden Spear looking directly at him. Syn panicked before running into battle with the Inquisitors. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck... he saw that entire thing didn't he… I'm so dead after this. Syn subtly shifter her strength to get a bit of an advantage, lock in, Syn, lock in...
They grabbed the final intruder and held them close to the oxygen barrier, the Inquisitors aiming their spears at the pirate while Syn spoke, "Anything you wanna tell us before I push you into the vast void of space?"
The pirate tried getting out of its grasp, afraid of the creature holding onto them. “What are you?” They trembled.
“A fucking bitch.” Syn answered, pushing the pirate into the vacuum of space. As soon as zer adrenaline was calming down, the pain from zer bullet wound was finally registering in zer mind. That bullet couldn't have been normal. It shouldn't be hurting this much. Syn thought while walking to the commander, who had just watched the fight from afar. As soon as xe got in arms reach, the pain became too much and xe fell unconscious.
~~Neptune's POV~~
Neptune was pulled out his flustered trance and caught Syn. "Okay… Alright… Let’s get you to the medical bay…" He muttered as he picked them up with ease. His eyes scanned the injury and it looked normal to him; red blood; red-tinted, irritated skin. That was normal for him and the plenty of races he's interacted with. He carried them the whole way, laying their unconscious body on the medical bed. The robotic doctor turned on and started working. When they took a blood sample from Syn's non-injured arm, purple blood came out. Syn doesn't have red blood? So that red injury isn't normal? What the fuck happened?. Neptune sat in the corner, letting his mind replay the best parts of the battle; Syn kicking ass
Time went on and his eyes just got heavier. So, he deactivated his visor for comfortability and drifted off to sleep.
-----
Neptune was on the training grounds back on Delnara. He had his sister, Saturn, and Syn to train with him. He wanted to believe it was real, but he knew it wasn't. "This is a dream... I haven't found you yet," Neptune pointed at Saturn, "and I don't have my mask on. I wish this was real.. god I truly do, but I just can't lie to myself."
"It can be. You just have to stay here with m- us, Nep." Dream Syn said, their voice distorted in such a way that made Neptune's heart stop. Dream Syn wrapped their arms around him. Not in a hug way... their arms were slowly constricting just like a snake around its prey.
Neptune clawed at Syn's arms, his eyes darting around the training area. Saturn wasn't helping, she was frozen in time the moment he realized this was a dream. "Syn! Let. me. GO!" He gasped as Syn continued to tighten their grip around his neck.
"You should've just let this dream be a dream, Neptune. But you just had to become lucid, huh?" Syn snarled.
Neptune tried screaming, but nothing came out. He tried waking up, but nothing was happening. Was he... stuck?
~~Syn's POV~~
Hours had gone by since Syn passed out. He groaned as he woke up, pain pulsing through his body. She looked around the room, her gaze falling onto the sleeping Makara Astralis in the corner of the room. It was the first time Syn had ever seen the upper half of his face in the 2 years they've known each other. Their gaze softened, he looks so peaceful... Like nothing bad has ever happened to him. It looked down at its newly patched shoulder. Ze sighed, "I'm going to be out of commission for a while…" Syn murmured
The Golden Spear's eyes shot open, looking scared. He looked around and saw that Syn was awake. "You're awake. Good…" he mumbled, looking at Syn with heavy eyes. Oh no he's hot... Syn thought as xe examined his dark and fiery eyes. Aer heart sped up, the heart monitor's beeps following lead. Neptune's eyebrows twitched, "Are you alright, Syn?"
"Oh, uh, yeah. It's just… um… my race has an unnaturally high heart rate... so…"
"The monitor is made to match every race's heart rate just by their blood. It would not say your heart was too fast unless it was actually faster than your actual base heart rate."
Well shit..... uhhhh, deir mind raced on trying to figure out a reason. "Oh well… um… it’s nothing then…"
"I won't push, but it is certainly not 'nothing'. Changing topics, how are you feeling injury wise? The medical machine said it was poisoned. The poison has been treated, so you will not die from it. However, I am curious since those pirates did not carry poisoned weaponry. How were you poisoned?"
"Poison or toxic metals."
The commander cocked his head, "What?"
"Metals that are toxic, or poisonous, for my race to interact with. It's because my planet has very few metals, so we sadly evolved to not being able to process metals that aren't on our home planet. But anyways, I’m fine. My arm feels stiff and sore, I’m exhausted and a bit dizzy, but I’m fine." Syn explained, moving vis shoulder a bit to try and release some tension in vis arm.
The warlord nodded, "Good," he activated his visor and started walking out. "I will be back. The machine should be activating soon." And as soon as the door closed behind him, the medical robot activated.
"Greetings. We are MK-1, the medical robot on this ship. You have blood our system does not entirely recognize. Please state your race to register it into our system." MK-1 introduced themselves.
"I-I..." Syn stuttered, "Is the Golden Spear able to see this system?"
"The medical staff are the only ones authorized access the medical system and data."
"And what or who all consists of the medical staff?"
"Any medical equipment in the medical bay."
"Well... alright… um..." Syn took a slow, deep breath, "I’m a... shapeshifter."
"Please wait..." Mk-1's eyes became spirals for a moment before returning to normal, their voice shifting to a higher pitch, "A shapeshifter? Goodness, what are you doing so far away from Iona-Alterra?"
Syn chuckled. "It’s a long story. I wouldn't wanna bore you."
Their voice shifted down, "As a machine, we cannot experience boredom." The medic floated to Syn's injured side, peeling off the stained bandage, "Talking while I work on your wound might help distract yourself from the pain."
"Alright, fine... So, it was almost 4 years ago now when my mother, the leader, sent our clan after me. We were experiencing a planet-wide famine, drought thing. A lot, if not all of the clans turned to cannibalism for nourishment. I was fine with it for most of my life, hating the taste of the flesh of my siblings and clanmates, but I was fine… Until it was my turn. I ran away and never looked back. I stopped at a mystery planet, stayed there for like a month, then left for Delnara. I stayed at a village close to The Grand Celestial, got a job as a mechanic for the Golden Spear and yeah... It sucks that I have to hide that I'm a shapeshifter. It feels like I'm constantly on the edge of sneezing, like... one wrong move and I'm done for because of a shift spaz attack in front of the commander. Though I wouldn’t mind dying to a- eh nevermind…" Syn paused, not trying to admit his feelings to this robot. She looked down at her shoulder and saw that it was repatched already. "Oh, you've already finished. Hm… I guess distracting myself did help."
"Fantastic! We just need to keep an eye on you for another 23 hours. After that, you will-" MK-1 was interrupted by the Golden Spear entering the room. "Oh, hello sir! We were just explaining that Syn here need 23 more hours of observation and then a month of healing before she can work at full capacity."
"She?" Syn and The Golden Spear exclaimed.
MK-1 turned to the injured shapeshifter, "Correct. Your DNA stated that you were born female. Was our observation incorrect?"
Syn winced. Shit yeah... forgot about that... "N-no… not incorrect. But I'm not a girl."
"We are confused, explanation required."
"I'm..." Syn glanced at the Makara Astralis standing in the corner, watching his reaction while picking at their skin, "I m genderfluid. And I use any pronouns. So... you weren't wrong, but you were right either."
"Updating... We will check on you in 4 hours." MK-1 went back to their corner and deactivated.
The Golden Spear sat back in his chair, his visor sinking into his mask. "I have never heard of that term. What is gender fluid"
"Oh. Um. It's a... what're the words I'm looking for..." Syn started murmuring words in many different languages before finally finding the word, "Ah! Non-fixed gender identity that shifts over time or depending on a situation. Could change daily, weekly, hell, even every minute. For me, my gender changes so often that it never stays solid. So, I gave up on changing my pronouns evertime. Now I just use any and all pronouns no matter what.... gender is the strongest in the moment." Xe explained.
"I... That makes sense I guess... Why did you not tell me sooner? Nothing would have changed, I would not have killed you or any of the sorts."
"You… wouldn’t have?"
"Why would I waste a mechanic like you?"
"I-I thought the Makara Astralis was against stuff like that..."
The commander shook his head. "That is my father's generation and older. The younger generations have become more accepting of many life styles. I personally am not too versed in the labels and pronouns, but I am open and willing to learn if you are willing to help me."
"Alright... sure, yeah.. Well.. now you know... Sorry for not telling you." Syn awkwardly chuckled, still picking at aer skin.
The masked man pulled his chair closer to Syn before lightly hitting deir hand. "Stop that. You do not need to give the robot more work."
Syn immediately separated vis hands. "Sorry…" The Golden Spear huffed as he relaxed in the chair. They both sat in silence, the quiet beeping of the heart monitor interrupting every few seconds. The man pulled something up to read on his cuff. Syn fidgeted with the blanket as boredom washed over nym. I would love to talk to him... but now he looks busy... fuck it."So… what's with the mask?"
"Can't breathe without it."
"Oh… then why the visor?"
"Hides my expressions... and makes me more intimidating."
"Then why have it on all the time? Why not keep it off unless we're in battle or something."
"I just did not want to. And you also did not need to know."
Syn weakly chuckled, "yeah, just like your name, huh, Mr. My-Name-Is-Classified."
The warlord snorted, "Correct." He kept reading as he mumbled, "You don't need to know everything about me, Syn."
"I don’t want to know everything, just the basic shit." Syn pushed up, trying to get a bit more comfortable. Pain shot through his body, forcing him to give up I must've used way too many muscles I'm not used to... Fuck... Everything hurts and I'm dying, holy "Fuck, nevermind…" she groaned.
The Golden Spear nearly snapped his neck looking over at Syn the moment that curse fell from their lips. "Don’t push yourself. You might open the wound, and that would mean longer time away from work. Which I know how much you just hate working." Syn rolled its eyes, smiling wide. The Golden Spear signed while he gave in, "Neptune. My name is Neptune."
“Neptune, huh? That’s... That's a pretty name” Syn softly smiled. Pretty name for a pretty man. “Alright... The meds are kickin' in and kickin' ass, so I'm gonna shut my eyes for a bit. G’night Nep.” Syn paused for a moment, "Hey, um.. before I go to sleep... Did you see any of my fight with the bitch who shot me?"
"I saw you throw them into the wall and snap their neck, but that's it."
"Alright... Alright..." Syn relaxed as xe slipped into a deep slumber.
~~~~~
The month of recovery was a bore for Syn. Dey still had a few days left of deir injury leave. Pain still surged, but that's normal for shapeshifters. It's the body just taking notes. Painful notes, but still just notes. Neptune made sure Syn didn't do any work, letting ae come to his room if ae ever needed it... which, inevitably just gave him more work.
After a particularly stressful day, everything just came toppling down after a call with the Grand Celestial. After nearly breaking the terminal, Neptune stormed off to his room, ordering no one to interrupt his time, and slamming a door that is not meant to be slammed. Syn stood outside of the door, concerned for vis friend. He won't know I actually didn't need any- well I need him but- ugh... fuck it. I'm going in. Syn went into Neptune's room without checking if the controlled oxygen was on or not. "Yo, Nep, I ne- oh shit," Syn lock nys eyes into the sobbing, maskless, armorless Makara Astralis on his bed. "What happened? What's goin' on? Why we freakin' out?" Syn asked as he got onto the foot of the vulnerable man's bed. Neptune shook his head, wiping his tears as he pushed himself back into his headboard. "No, no, Nep, talk to me. Please."
"You don’t need to know. You're not authorized to know…" He trembled, his nails digging into his skull.
Syn moved closer to him, "Then at least hold my hands so you don't hurt yourself. Squeeze them 'til they fall off, I don't care." She held out her definitely not soft hands. Syn finally realized that their lungs had shifted to accommodate to the oxygen levels. Fuck... I'm gonna need to explain that... I'm so dead... Its mind slowed the moment Neptune's blue hands wrapped around Syn's brown ones. "See? Doesn't that feel way better than digging into your skull?"
Neptune softly nodded, trying to steady his breath. "It's... all just too much for me... I have no one to help me…" he whispered
"Bitch, what am I? A roach?" Syn asked, trying to lighten Neptune's mood up a little bit. "I can't be doing anything too physical for another few days, but-"
"I can't, Syn. You don't have the authorization..."
Syn sighed, "Nep... you almost ripped your hair out. I think you get to bend a rule or 5 to help you out. Let me help, even if it's just the smallest things like cleaning or something." Neptune looked up at Syn. Scars scattered his face. Syn saw the exhaustion in his eyes, yes, but ze also saw a child. An exhausted, scared child in an adult's body. His fiery orange eyes were blurred by tears. They were puffy and heavy, all of that added up made Syn's heart shatter into a million pieces. "Oh stars... c'mere." Xe pulled the trembling commander close.
Neptune rested his head on Syn's non-hurt shoulder, his face in deir neck. He melted, letting out a soft whimper as tears started to fall quicker down his face and onto Syn's black turtleneck. "I'm... so... tired..."
Syn's fingers tangled in his pale cerulean hair, "I know... and I'm sorry you are... I'm so sorry..."
~~Neptune's POV~~
An hour had gone by before Neptune was just sniffles and headaches. He pulled back, looking into Syn's eyes for the first time in an hour. He was surprised he hadn't cried himself to sleep in Syn's arms which were now loosely wrapped around his waist. "I'm... sorry you had to deal with me... I know better than tha-" Neptune paused as he looked at the mechanic in front of him with suspicion, "How are you still breathing? The oxygen levels aren't normal, which could kill the normal person but helps me breath without the mask."
Syn looked panicked for a hot second. "You won't... kill me... right?"
Neptune looked offended, "Why the hell would I kill you?" I'd kill for you. "That would be so wasteful of such a good mechanic." and amazing company that actually talks to me like an equal.
"Even if I was... um... a sh-shape... sh-shifter?"
Neptune pause. I mean... he hasn't tried killing me... She actually does the opposite. "You don't plan on killing me?"
"Neptune, if I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already."
"Then I won't kill you." Neptune leaned back onto his bed's headboard. "Now... Because you were so nosy, now I'm going to be nosy. Tell me more about yourself that isn't just lies this time."
Syn nervously chuckled, "Well... My parents aren't dead, I'm not and only child, and I did not live on a low-budget farm."
"So your whole life's a lie?"
Syn shook their head, "Not all of it... Most of it, but not all of it... You know the shapeshifter clan, Clan Poisonstand?" Neptune nodded, "Well, my mom is Mother Poisonstand, the leader."
"So you're like me in a way?"
"More like the Moonfallen, but yes. They wanted to kill me, so I ran." Syn sighed, "Change of topic before I lore dump on you anymore... Are you gonna let me help you so you don’t stress yourself to death?"
Neptune nodded, giving in as he new it would just persist on trying to help, "I'll figure out a way..."
Syn pumped zer fist, "Yes! I would've found a way anyway!"
"Of course you would have, you rebel…"
"Oh? A new nickname? Let's go!"
Neptune softly smiled, "Just know, I will be taking you on more undercover missions now."
Syn groaned, "No, come on! I don't wanna!"
"You should've thought of that before telling me you have the perfect ability for undercover missions." Syn shifted into a small brown and black cat while moving to the foot of the bed. "Syn!" Neptune groaned.
~~Syn's POV~~
Syn hissed, flicking his fluffy tail in defiance. "Syn please. It will only be important missions, not all of them!" Neptune pleaded. He sighed while he grabbed the small cat and placing Syn in his lap. Syn looked up at the maskless commander, pupils blown wide and swallowing her irises. "I can and will man-handle yo- why are you looking at me like that?"
Syn hopped out of his lap and shifted back to their main form, the fluffy tail becoming a thin, long tail with a blade at the tip of it. "Like what?" it tried to play it off like nothing happened.
"All wide-eyed. I know, normally, that wide pupils mean that a cat is hunting and/or feeling playful. But I don't know if that's different for shapeshifters or not."
"Ah... well... It is different. It means that the shifter... cares about the person or thing they are looking at. Now, I'm gonna get out of here before you ask anymore questions!" Syn got off the bed and tried opening the door. Locked.... that bitch. "Keeping my hostage, huh?"
"You're leaving things out, and I know it. Tell me and I'll let you leave."
Syn sighed and turned around, Συμβολίζει την αγάπη και τη στοργή(Symvolízei tin agápi kai ti storgí(it symbolizes love and affection))."
"Pardon? I recognize the language, but I can't translate."
Syn took a deep breath before quickly translating, "itmeansloveandaffection!"
"All types love or just a specific kind?"
He's being to curious for his own good... fuck why does he have to look so cute like that... and how is he so calm about this... Does he not- of course he doesn't. Why would he feel the same?"All types. It just depends on the person"
"And what kind is it while looking at me?"
"It means… I hate you!" Syn said, hiding the blush creeping up on zer face.
"I just cried on your shoulder for an hour. I think I am allowed to know the truth."
"Fine! It means… אני אוהב אותך (ani ohev otech (I love you))."
"What?"
"Pull up a fucking translator, I'm trying my best." And that's exactly what Neptune did, nodding when he was ready. "Я тебя люблю (YA tebya lyublyu (I love you))"
Neptune looked at Syn, "Okay, that was an entirely sperate language. How many languages do you know?"
"All of them."
"That can't be true, a brain can’t handle a-" He finally looked down at the translation. "You... do? F-For how long?"
"First interaction." Syn was now frozen, too nervous to move closer.
"Why me?"
"I don't know... I fell... Even with the visor... even with our minor bickering matches... I just... love you. And I feel so stupid for it too, 'cause why would you, someone who's practically a prince, love me? A low-leveled, shapeshifter mechanic?!"
"Because that's not all you are. And what have I said about shit-talking yourself? Can't piss off my father if I don't have someone to help."
"H-Huh? So... you.. feel-"
"Yes" Neptune interrupted, sounding so relieved he was finally telling xem "And I have for the past year." He took a beat, letting the confession settle. "Listen. My father is very traditional; Rite of the Stars as soon as feelings a reciprocated, both parties being Makara Astralis, man and woman, etcetera... So.. Not only do I love you for who you are as a person and genuinely want us together, I also wanna piss off my father so badly."
"You've... lived me even before I told you I was genderfluid?"
Neptune chuckled, all of his emotions catching up to him, "I fell when you dropped into my arms while being reckless doing vent repairs. I feel weird finally saying all of this, and it's weird because I am a neat-freak and you're a reckless freak, but I genuinely love your dumbassary. I have never cared for what your gender was."
"Fuck, you've loved me even before I completely know I was genderfluid... Holy shit..." Syn's whole body felt light and fluffy. Syn finally went to sit at the foot of Neptune's bed again, deir legs dangling off the mattress. "So... Does this mean... I can come in here if I have a nightmare or insomnia is kicking my ass?"
"Yes." Neptune got closer, sitting next to aer while ae flapped aer hands. Syn didn't know what to do with all this joy ve was feeling. "Since I'm thinking about it. How's the shoulder?"
Syn shrugged, rocking side to side and softly flapping nys hands, not even caring what Neptune thought about it. "I mean. It's good. Still some pain randomly, but it's normal pain in the healing process for shapeshifters... so..."
"I think MK-1 would still know some good pain relievers if you'd ask them."
"Yeah, well, that'd be leaving a happy moment and I don't wanna do that."
Neptune scoffed with a small smile, hugging Syn loosely to give him room to stim, "Stubborn brat..." he muttered lovingly.
"Yes sir, I am!" Syn giggled, still rocking and flapping her hands, her tail wagging beside her as well. Everything felt so good right now. They had never felt these levels of joy in their entire life and they didn't want it to end.