Chapter Text
Six years.
Navy had been away from home - away from everything and everyone he loved - for six years.
'Tired' didn't even begin to capture the deep weariness that had settled into his entire being. It felt utterly surreal, standing there at the gate of his and his beloved's shared home. As the door opened, he pressed an open hand tightly to his chest, afraid his heart might leap out.
"Orchid..." the name fell from his lips automatically, and brought with it a rush of tears welling in his eyes. He was home. He was finally home.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the moment was interrupted by a high-pitched squeal from inside.
"Daddy!"
Navy was stunned for a moment. A child? Here? How could-
The child in question soon emerged, pushing past Orchid. They locked eyes for a second, before the boy beamed and raced toward him. Navy knelt to his level, and was almost bowled over by the sheer force of the child practically launching himself into his arms.
"Woah! Hey, kiddo!" Navy laughed, ruffling the boy's hair and pushing him back to get a better look at him. God, he looked so much like his mother. Speaking of his mother, Navy looked up to meet her eyes as she approached the pair. "Orchid," he muttered, "why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to see the look on your face when you found out."
Navy could hardly believe it, even as the proof stood staring him in the eyes with the biggest, warmest smile he'd ever seen, untouched by the pain and horror he'd fought through to get here. He was a father. As he lifted the child - his child - into his arms, it was decided.
He was going to be the best dad ever.
It took a few seconds for Navy's vision to return. He couldn't recall how or when it had started, but as the blinding green light faded, he found himself standing in the middle of a dirt road in a town he didn't recognize. His hold on the boy, Purple, tightened slightly. Bewildered, he turned to face Orchid, who looked equally surprised by this development.
"I- Where- How did-" Her stammering mirrored his own thoughts.
He'd made it home, had he not? His mind briefly flashed back to the previous times he'd been dropped into unfamiliar territory. Was this another assignment? No, of course not. Orchid and Purple were there. He was free. It was over. It had to be.
"Navy," Orchid's voice pulled him back to the present, one hand gently squeezing his arm while the other rubbed soothing circles into his back. "Breathe." Her brow creased with concern, the confusion and fear shoved aside in favor of comforting the man before her.
What a stupid concept, Navy thought, her being brave for his sake. That was his job. He was supposed to protect her, not the other way around. But he knew she'd hate him thinking that way, so he stamped down the pang of bitterness in his chest before it could go anywhere. With a deep breath, he nodded. "I'm good. I'm okay."
"Good." She withdrew her hands and watched as Navy carefully lowered Purple to the ground.
"Newcomers! Welcome!"
Navy jumped, quickly slotting himself between Orchid and the approaching stick. "Stay back!" he barked. "Who are you?"
The stranger, a pale blue woman in a straw hat, stopped just beyond arms reach and bowed her head in greeting. "Name's Sky! Me and my mama run the ranch back that a'way," she explained, gesturing over her shoulder with her thumb. "Boy, we don't get many new folks 'round here! Most end up in the city or down by the coast somewhere."
Orchid laid a hand on Navy's shoulder as she moved to stand at his side. "And... where is 'here', exactly?"
"You're in Lilliglade Village!" Sky announced, her voice brimming with infectious enthusiasm. "Oh I just know you're gonna love it here! C'mon, let me introduce you to everyone!" Sky turned and beckoned the family to follow her.
Purple started to run ahead, but Navy's hand shot out to stop him. "Wait, hold on! We're not staying here; we have a home! How did we even get here?!"
Sky's expression slowly settled into one of understanding. "Ah. I see. It's not uncommon for folks to arrive with... well, we call them pseudo-memories," she said calmly, as if that explained anything. "So I get the confusion. But don't worry! We've got a shelter nearby you can stay at until you get your bearings!"
Navy’s patience snapped. "What the hell are you talking about?! Didn't you hear me?! We're not-"
"Honey, please," Orchid interrupted. "She's trying to help. Just go along with it for now."
Navy wanted to say more, but he bit his lip and sighed in defeat. "Fine."
The shelter was admittedly nicer than Navy had expected, currently unused, but well maintained regardless. Clean blankets were stacked neatly in a closet and there was a small kitchenette stocked with easy, shelf-stable options - everything in date, Orchid had checked. Navy fought the urge to collapse into the nearest bed and sleep through the next year.
Instead, he found himself sitting on the front steps of the building, watching as Purple terrorized the local roly poly population with a stick. "So, uh... you in school yet, kiddo?"
"Preschool," Purple replied. "Mommy said next year I'm gonna get to go to k-" He paused, trying to recall the word she'd used. "Kidder garden?"
"Kindergarten," Navy clarified. "So it'll be your first year of big kid school, huh? You excited?"
Purple nodded. "And a little scared," he admitted, hugging the stick tight to his chest.
Navy sat up a little straighter. "Hey, you've got nothing to be nervous about. You're gonna do great. And if anyone gives you shit, you've got Dad here to beat 'em up for you. I'm not above hitting a six-year-old," he joked, then froze when he noticed Purple staring at him, eyes wide and mouth agape in shock. "What?"
Purple grinned wickedly and pointed a finger at Navy. "You said a bad word!"
Oh. Crap. Navy's mouth opened and closed a few times, torn between trying to argue or laugh it off. "Ah- Don't tell mom."
"Don't tell me what?"
Navy's heart lurched into his throat and his chest burned as all of the air was violently ripped from his lungs. His hand shot out to grab the railing next to him for support as he hacked up his soul and tried not to puke from the force. "God fucking damnit, Orchid!" he rasped between coughs.
"Daddy's saying bad words!" he heard Purple exclaim from somewhere behind him.
"Navy."
Navy huffed. "That one doesn't count!" He clutched his chest in an effort to steady his racing heart, only vaguely processing Orchid scolding him. He chose not to think about why that scared him so badly.
Orchid stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Of course. I'm fine." Obviously he was fine. It was just his fiancée. She was no threat. He didn't just jump out of his skin. How could she even suggest such a thing?
Orchid responded with a skeptical hum and leaned in to press a gentle kiss to Navy's cheek. "Well, I don't know about you, but Purple and I haven't eaten in six hours, so if you want a say in what we're having, you'd better come help me decide."
As she turned to head back inside, Navy nodded. He was pretty hungry. He motioned for Purple to go ahead of him. They eventually settled on a box of flavored instant rice and frozen peas, which Navy wasn't super thrilled about, but forced himself to eat it anyway to not set a bad example for Purple - albeit only after Orchid shut down his claims of abuse with a swat to the back of the head and a "quit being dramatic".
After plates had been cleared and rinsed, the family decided to call it a night. Purple insisted on being a big kid and getting his own bed, to which Orchid laughed but went along with it. She pulled the blanket back, expecting Purple to climb right in, but instead, the kid puffed out his chest and declared with all the authority of a four-star general, "I want Daddy to tuck me in!"
Orchid and Navy exchanged a brief look before Orchid shrugged and passed the blanket over to him. "You heard him."
Navy sighed. "Alright, kid, get comfy." He watched Purple climb into bed and pulled the blanket up to his chin. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart."
"Wait!" Purple called out as Navy turned to leave. "Mommy always gives me a goodnight kiss!"
Navy had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. "Ah, of course. How could I forget?" He leaned over the bed and gave an evil grin before peppering the boy's face with a barrage of kisses.
Purple squealed in mock horror, flailing his arms in a vain attempt to shove Navy away. "Noooo! Stop it!" he shrieked through helpless giggles.
Finally, Navy pulled away and ruffled Purple's hair. "Go to sleep, dork." He watched as Purple burrowed under the blanket in case of a potential round two before heading over to join Orchid on the other side of the room.
"Has the beast been pacified?" she whispered.
"For now." Navy laughed as he settled beside her and leaned in for a long overdue kiss. And suddenly all of the fear and uncertainty melted away as they lay wrapped in each other's arms, instead replaced with a faint flicker of hope. Maybe they could be happy here. Maybe everything will be okay.
For the first time that he could remember, Navy felt safe.