Chapter Text
Juno was blindfolded when they pulled him from the hover hauler.
A thick canvas bag that covered his head and face in its entirety. From his position by Buddy’s side, Nureyev’s jaw clenched. Fingers twitching for the familiar weight of the knife hidden within his jacket as Juno was dragged forward.
They had tied Juno’s hands behind his back, ruthlessly tight. Leaving him helpless to steady himself on the frost cracked earth of the Dione wastes. He managed a few stumbling steps before his ankle rolled out from under him. He staggered and would have fallen, if not for the tight grip of the syndicate thugs flanking him. All but dragging him to where Nureyev and Buddy waited to pay his ransom.
“Patience, Darling,” Buddy murmured without so much a glance in Nureyev’s direction. But her hand was a steady weight on his arm, lowering it away from his weapon. “It would hardly do to show our hand. Not until Vespa gives the signal.”
“Yes, of course.” Nureyev relented, stress wearing the polish from his voice. Leaving only a flimsy mask to contain the molten anger that seemed to spark hotter with every breath. He had agreed, after many arguments, to follow her lead on this. Even if every instinct he had screamed against indulging in the games of some petty crime lord. Not when Juno’s life was the bargaining chip.
It had been over two weeks since Juno had gone missing.
They were in the middle of a heist. What they had thought would be a low-stakes job on a forgotten moon. Stealing fuel cells from a crime family who had managed to monopolize the resource on Dione. The actual theft had been spectacularly simple, almost laughably so. They had managed to take enough fuel to keep the Carte Blanching running for months, with a tidy profit on the side. A job so clean that not even Vespa had been able to find a fault.
But they had underestimated their mark. A fact the so-called Gemini Syndicate had been far too quick to exploit. And Juno, on watch that night to ensure they weren’t followed, never made it back to the ship.
The door to the hover hauler opened once more. A Spidery man stepped out, adjusting the lines of his sleek wool coat as he surveyed the scene. A too-wide smile splitting his features as he caught sight of Buddy and Nureyev. As if surprised they had made the trip.
“So you’re the one’s who stole our fuel cells.” He said jovially, tipping the brim of his hat in Buddy’s direction. “I must say, it's wonderful to meet you at last.”
“Pollux, I assume?” Buddy answered, looking him up and down with a calculatedly unimpressed air. “Your brother said to expect you.”
“Of course he did! I had to meet the persons responsible for besting our security.” Pollux said, hands slipping to the pockets of his coat as he rocked back on his heels. “Castor and I were assured such a feat was impossible. Yet here you stand!”
“Indeed,” Buddy said. And for the first time since Nureyev had made her acquaintance, her immaculate facade barely concealed the razor's edge that lay beneath. Juno’s disappearance had hit the Aurinko Crime family far harder than their wayward detective would ever believe. “Well darling, I do believe you have someone of mine. Shall we negotiate terms?”
“Straight to the point, I see. I can appreciate that.” Pollux said with an appreciative nod, waving a lazy hand in the direction of his thugs. “However, I think you’ll find our conditions for your associates return have already been made quite clear.”
Juno grunted as the bag was ripped unceremoniously from his head. Nureyev’s breath caught in his throat, Buddy’s hand making a sharp return to his elbow. His detective's face was bruised and swollen. His lip split down the middle; deep enough that blood trickled into the thick layer of scruff that had taken over Juno’s chin and cheeks.
Even then smiled as he saw Nureyev. A flickering, lopsided thing that did little to mask the new gap in his teeth. Or how brightly he shone, despite it all.
“Heya Handsome,” He said, voice cracked and ragged. “It’s been a while.”
“That’s my line, I do believe,” Nureyev said, with a levity that tasted like bile. “Looks like you’ve made some friends.”
“What can I say, it's a part of my charm.” Juno laughed, Only to cut himself off with a gasp as one of the thugs pulled a knife. The plasma digging ruthlessly into his side. “Okay! I get it, no talking in class. Sheesh.”
“Azalea,” Buddy interjected sharply with Juno’s Alias from that night. The only thing that Pollux knew him by. “Perhaps now would be the time for some quiet, hmmm?”
And despite having chosen the name himself, Nureyev realized that he never wanted to hear it again. Not after shouting it for hours when he realized Juno wasn’t behind them. Running through the streets of Dione’s capital, frantically searching. The long walk back to the Carte Blanche as the cold reality of what had happened finally sunk in.
“Yeah, not exactly my strong suit.” Juno cried out, sharp and sudden as his captor’s knife arm flexed. This time the blade sunk deeper, the glowing tip dipped in red as it pulled back. And with it the last tethers of Nureyev’s restraint.
He grabbed his knife. Hand curled around the handle before he was even aware of the action. Ready to carve the price of Juno’s blood from each of them in turn. But Buddy’s hand tightened on his elbow, an iron vice pinning him in place.
Nureyev whirled on her. A snarl on his lips as he tried to pull his arm free. But Buddy wouldn’t be moved as she shot him a warning look. Her fingers tapped out a steady rhythm on the inside of his arm. An ancient earth code that Jet had painstakingly taught them all. Soon.
“Hey, watch where you’re sticking that thing!” Juno snapped. His petulance seemingly none the worse for wear. If not a dash performative as he caught Nureyev’s gaze, staring with a naked concern. Seemingly oblivious, as always, as to who was truly the one at risk.
“I hope you understand when I say there really isn’t much room for negotiation here," Pollux said with a showman’s shrug; apologetic and hollow. “You and my brother have already discussed terms. 3 million creds; The price of what you stole, plus interest, in return for the Lady unharmed.” Pollux paused, chuckling at his own joke. “Well, mostly unharmed.”
“Shots lined up, Bud.” Distance made Vespa’s voice crackle loudly in Nureyev’s comm piece. The signal they had been waiting for. He didn’t dare look over his shoulder. But in the corner of his eye, he could just make out the metallic glint of her rifle in the distance. Balanced on the roof of one of the abandoned buildings that lined the wastes. The last remains of a town long since left to ruin. “Just waiting on you.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s fair. “ Buddy said seamlessly in response to both conversations. She reached into her pocket, holding a cred chip between two fingers. “The money, as promised.”
At first glance, the slim rectangular piece of plastic appeared to be nothing more than a regulation cred chip. The kind issued at every registered solar bank. It would take a keen eye to spot Rita and Jet’s modifications. A modified short-range EMP, perfectly hidden within the chips white geometric design.
Between Jet’s engineering and Rita’s code work, it was a miraculous piece of tech. One that, until yesterday, Nureyev wouldn’t have believed possible. Too weak to knock out a ship’s engines, but capable of destroying any communication devices and weapons within range; blasters and plasma knives alike.
Such a thing shouldn’t have been possible. But if Nureyev had learned anything in the last year, it was to not underestimate Rita. Especially not when there was something between her and her best friend.
“Excellent, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear.” Pollux's smile widened, threatening to split his face in two. “Ziv,” he said to the thug not digging the knife into Juno’s side. An absolute brute of a man with a tattoo sprawled across his shaved scalp. “would you be so kind as to grab our money from our friends”
“The hacker’s EMP has a range of 5 feet.” Vespa reminded them sharply. “Bud, you can’t be anywhere near it when it goes off.”
“One moment, darling.” Buddy took a step back, holding the cred chip away as Ziv lumbered towards her. “I think you can appreciate my reservations about just handing this over. Not without at least some security.”
“Oh?” Pollux asked. “You’re not getting cold feet are you?”
“Why ever would you think that?” Buddy answered easily. “No, I’m simply suggesting that my assistant will be the one to pass over the cred chip, and you will hand him our Azalea.”
“I suppose I can understand your hesitation.” Pollux said, with a bow “By all means.”
“Lovely.” Buddy held the slim white rectangle out for Nureyev to take. “Ransom, if you would be so kind.”
“Ransom?” Pollux laughed, sharp and mocking. His head tilting back with the force of it. “I never did catch your name, but you have to admit it's fitting! Given the circumstances.”
“Indeed,” Nureyev said without even a passing attempt at cordiality. He took the cred chip from Buddy, raising his hands to his shoulders as he approached. A show of peaceful compliance.
Not that it mattered. Nureyev had barely taken a step forward before Ziv pulled a blaster. Pointed solidly at Nureyev’s skull as the weapon charged with an angry whine.
“What the hell!” Juno protested. He reared back; struggling for the first time since he’d been dragged from the hauler. “He’s not going to try anything, alright? You bastard!”
“Azalea!”
“Uh-uh, None of that now, Sweets.” His captor teased. They didn’t try to overpower him. Instead, they shifted their knife. And Juno froze as the blade was pressed against his throat. Forcing him to crane his neck to avoid the burn of the plasma. ‘Would be a shame if my hand slipped.”
It took every ounce of restraint Nureyev had to walk past them. So close that he could hear the hum of the weapon held against his love’s carotid. His fist clenched. Nails digging deep into the meat of his palm.
He just wanted this to be over. Wanted to be home, with Juno in his arms, warm and safe. But Buddy’s promise echoed in the back of his head. A mantra that made him keep walking. Soon,
“Hand it over,” Ziv said as he levelled the blaster with Nureyev’s skull. The steady stance of someone well trained in handling their weapon. Military perhaps. Solar without a doubt. “No funny business.”
“How droll,” Nureyev sneered as he flipped the cred chip across his knuckles. A flashy trick he had mastered during one too many shuttle trips. One designed to dazzle the eye and frustrate the watcher.
He was ready when Ziv’s patience ran out. The thug's weapon lowered as he made a grab for the cred chip. It was the opening that Nureyev needed. He caught the card between his finger and thumb, before snapping it in half.
The shards vibrated in his palm, growing warm. Uncomfortably so. Hot enough that Nureyev dropped them with a grunt. As soon as it struck the ground, the pieces began to glow. A pulse of blue light shooting out in a five-foot ring.
The effect was immediate.
Ziv’s blaster charged down with a series of beeps. Each one quieter than the last as the LED strip on the cartridge went dim. The knife at Juno’s throat faired no better. The plasma flickered. Spluttering pathetically before it disappeared back into the hilt. Rendering the weapon little more than a blunt instrument.
“What the hell.” The thug exclaimed, slapping it against their palm. Only to throw it to the ground with a startled cry as it began to spark violently. They swore, fumbling for another weapon.
But Nureyev was faster. And his own knife- plain old-fashioned metal- buried itself in their gut. They grunted. Staggering as Nureyev ripped his knife free without mercy.
This fair away from the nearest town, such a wound was a death sentence. But Nureyev didn’t waste time waiting for them to fall. He pivoted, grabbing Juno’s shoulders as he shoved them both to the ground.
“Vespa!” He barked, curling himself overtop of Juno’s exposed back. “Now!”
Vespa’s rifle answered with a thunderous clap. Flashes of blue light streaking across the horizon. Pollux collapsed bonelessly to the frozen earth, a bolt embedded between his eyes. Dead before he even had the chance to cry out.
Her next shot missed, catching Ziv high in the shoulder. A deep graze that dropped him to his knees. His dead blaster clattered to the ground beside him. But he made no attempt to reach for it as he clutched at his shoulder; staring at Pollux with wide eyes.
Ziv took off at a run. Abandoning his weapon as he bolted for the still idling hauler. An easy target for Vespa. But she didn’t fire. And Nureyev didn’t need to question why.
A warning. To Castor, and anyone moving in the same circles. That the Aurinko crime family wasn’t to be trifled with.
“Uh…. What just happened?” Juno asked as Nureyev heaved him to his feet. He looked around, deliberately skirting over the dead bodies that surrounded them. “Is someone going to explain what’s going on?”
“Not yet, my dear.” Nureyev grabbed him by the shoulders, leading him away from the carnage. He wanted to check Juno over, to make sure he was alright. But Nureyev knew that could wait. He had no intention of being here when Ziv returned with reinforcements in tow. He rubbed a thumb along Juno’s collar as he urged him towards the Ruby 7. “Let's get you somewhere warm, hmmm?”
Buddy had beaten them back to the car. “Let's not dally, Darlings.” She called from the driver's side as the back door flew open. “I rather think it's time for us to pick up Vespa.”
“Agreed.”
Nureyev scrambled inside, heaving Juno in after him. He had barely closed the door behind them before Buddy threw the car in gear. the tire’s skidding against the frozen ground.
“Jet, Darling,” Buddy called as the Ruby 7’s comm connected to the Carte Blanche. “We have Juno with us; safe and sound.”
Nureyev heard Jet respond. His calm, familiar rumble filled the car as they raced to Vespa’s last location. And Nureyev knew he should have at least made an attempt to follow the conversation. But instead he tuned them out. In the relative safety of the Ruby 7’s backseat, he allowed himself the luxury of focusing on Juno, and Juno alone.
“Here, Love,” He murmured, picking at the knots keeping Juno’s hands behind his back. It would have been easier to use his knife to cut the ropes. But the thought of the blood-stained metal touching Juno’s skin seemed sacrilegious. “Let's get you loose.”
After far too long the knot unravelled. The ropes slithering into a puddle on the floor. Juno gasped as his arms were finally freed. And Nureyev winced in sympathy. Knowing all to well the pins and needles that surely matched the deep welts on Juno’s wrists. Nureyev reached for him, thinking only of trying to rub some feeling back into Juno’s fingers.
“Don’t!” Juno yanked his hands away, cradling them protectively against his chest.
“Juno?” Nureyev reeled back. Moving as far away as he could manage given the confines of the cramped backseat. His own hands hovered awkwardly between them. Unsure of where he could touch without causing any more damage. “What did I do? Are you alright?”
“It's fine. Not your fault.” Juno said. He smiled sheepishly, barely more than a flicker against his bruised face. Slowly, he uncurled his hands. Holding them out for Nureyev to examine. “just a bit sensitive.”
Nureyev bit back a curse at the sight of broken fingers and mangled nails. “A bit sensitive“ he parroted in breathless disbelief. As gently as he could manage, Nureyev took Juno’s hands in his own. Cradling them with reverent care as he inspected the damage. “Oh love, what did they do to you...”
“They wanted information. To see if they could get more money out of you.” Juno hissed as Nureyev veered too close to the damage. But he didn’t pull away, huffing out a laugh. “But hey, at least I’ll be off the chore roster for a bit.”
A bolt of anger pulsed through Nureyev. Unexpected in its intensity, leaving him shaking in its wake. The message they had left for Castor and the remains of his syndicate no longer seemed enough. Nureyev wanted to hunt them down. To tear down the entire pathetic organization for what they had done. For daring to take Juno from him. For thinking they could touch something so precious.
Nureyev could feel Buddy watching them from the rear review mirror. And when he caught her eye, he wasn’t surprised that she was angrier than he had ever seen. Lips a bloodless line that matched her white knuckle grip on the steering wheel. And Nureyev knew his feelings were far from unreciprocated.
But as quickly as the anger came, it faded away. Lost to the warmth of Juno beside him, so tired and worn down. And in the mirror, Buddy nodded, a single incline of her head before she turned back to the road. Revenge could wait. Right now they only had one priority: taking care of their own.
Nureyev shrugged off his coat. Draping the heavy synth-fur lined material over Juno's shoulders. Managing a weak smile of his own as Juno burrowed into it; subtly turning his nose into the collar and breathing deep. Leaving Nureyev unbearably grateful that he had remembered to reapply his cologne that morning.
“I’m so sorry, Love.” Nureyev said, fastening the button of his coat beneath Juno’s chin with fingers that refused to stop trembling “I should have noticed you weren’t there. Should have done something.”
“Don’t be an idiot.” Juno scoffed. “You got me back, that’s all that matters.” He pressed their foreheads together. And he smiled as Nureyev’s hand curled around the back of his neck, holding them together. “Just bring me home?”