Chapter Text
The ship from Narn to Babylon 5 was stuffed to the brim. Refugees, couriers, and merchants were all crammed shoulder to shoulder.
The noise and the smell were just like the old shelters G’Kar had grown up in. He was used to making himself smaller so that other people had more room, and the prayers that had contented him as a child, as an adult, as a prisoner of Cartagia had not worn out their welcome yet. The meager servings of food were still better than what he’d scavenged in his youth and what the Centauri had given him, and he gave what portions he didn’t need to those who did.
His eye no longer saw the emptiness in hearts. It had faded after he had walked in on Narns celebrating in the broken palace and saw light scattered through them, some glowing and some dark and hollow as the Centauri. Now it just itched terribly, and he had to be careful when he scratched at his eye not to irritate the scabs on his back by stretching out or he’d end up wincing into the woman next to him.
His injuries were just annoying. The real torture at this point was all the people who kept on chasing after him with questions.
“Why did you refuse to lead our people?”
“What happened when you faced Cartagia in the execution chamber?”
“What happened to your eye?”
By the third day, G’Kar hid with the nursing parents. On the fifth day, he was in the engine room. At the end of the week, G’Kar had taken to the cargo bay, and he waited until everyone else had spilled into customs to follow behind.
Most of the Narns had gravitated to the Narn officers at customs, so G’Kar chose one of the humans. He didn’t want to be recognized. He wanted to go through customs quickly, pick up some fresh spoo in the Zocalo, and then fall asleep in his own bed. It would be easy.
Or, at least, it should have been.
“Where is your identicard?”
“It should be here somewhere.” G’Kar reached for his wallet instinctively before remembering that he didn’t have it. It had been taken off of him by the Centauri. “Damn.”
“What?”
“It was stolen.” G’Kar put his hands together. “There’s people on Babylon 5 who can ID me. I’ll wait in the containment booth until they can show up.”
“Stay out here. You’re injured, aren’t you?” The guard pointed to a spot on the ground. “I’ll have someone from medbay come and see you.”
G’Kar scowled down at him. “I don’t need to sit down. Let me send a message to G’Dan in security and this will be cleared up in five minutes. I don’t need to see a doctor today.”
“Most of the Narns on-station are over there, greeting family, or out partying. If you’re not over there, you must not have family here.”
G’Kar’s teeth ground. “Just send a message to G’Dan. It’s not that hard.”
“Are you giving me orders?” the guard growled.
“I just want to eat and go back to my quarters!” G’Kar snapped. He stepped forward and the guard stepped back, hand going to their waist. G’Kar grabbed the guard’s hand before he could go for a weapon. “It’s not that difficult!”
A third set of hands separated G’Kar and the guard; G’Kar braced his feet instinctively as the newcomer spoke: “Hey, what’s going on here?”
G’Kar blinked. “Mr. Allan?”
“Who else would end up in charge while there was a big party going on?” Zack said. He was out of uniform, wearing a bright green turtleneck and a very in-uniform expression. “Dorchet, stand down. G’Kar’s got a temper but he’s also the guy who helped arrange the Narn half of the security detail. I don’t think you’ve met him yet.” He turned to G’Kar. “He’s new.”
“Oh! My apologies,” said G’Kar, and bowed his head. “I’m sorry for grabbing you. I’ve been on edge for the past few days. It’s been a long journey.”
“Um,” the guard said, “It’s alright, I guess.” He looked to Zack for confirmation.
“It’s fine. I don’t think there’s anyone else coming in for another ten minutes, so how about you go take a break?” Zack said.
The guard nodded and fled. Zack shrugged and looked up at G’Kar. “Where have you been? And where’s your identicard?”
“I had a run in with some Centauri. It went about as well as it sounds like it did,” G’Kar said. “I only managed to get out of it recently.”
“I’m glad you’re back. It’s thanks to you that we’ve got Garibaldi back,” Zack said, and he clapped G’Kar on the back. G’Kar stiffened as his whip wounds sent a shock up his back but didn’t make a sound. “I owe you a drink for finding him! The entire station is celebrating, so I can get you whatever you want!”
“I’m afraid I must pass,” G’Kar said. “I’m tired enough that I was planning on getting take-out and falling into bed.”
“Then let me spring for take out,” Zack said. “The Centauri stole all your stuff, right? You can’t pay, so I’ll pay. I’m off duty, so we can take as long as you need. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
G’Kar smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Allan.”
They made small talk about the station as they took a lift to the Zocalo: new recruits, the latest relationship drama, Mr. Garibaldi’s recovery. As they headed into the Zocalo, a partying human in a spangled dress handed G’Kar a party hat. G’Kar put it on at what he figured was a rakish angle and turned to Zack.
“I’m amazed the celebrations are still going on, what with the Shadows,” G’Kar said. Zack gave him an incredulous look. “What?”
“We’re celebrating the defeat of the Shadows, G’Kar! They all fled the galaxy three days ago! Sheridan and Delenn chased them out!”
G’Kar stopped in his tracks and stared at Zack. “They’re gone?” Zack nodded. “All of them?”
“Both Shadows and Vorlons! They’re all gone and they won’t hurt anyone again,” Zack said.
“This is great news,” G’Kar said. “This is wonderful! The great enemy is gone at last!” He grabbed Zack’s hands and kissed his cheeks joyfully. “We did it!”
“We did!” Zack said. He smiled back sheepishly. “How’d you know about the Vorlons? That wasn’t common knowledge when you left.”
“I heard they were going to blow up Centauri Prime. As much as the Centauri are too obnoxious to live, killing them all is too much,” G’Kar said.
Now Zack stopped. “Did you get replaced with a pod person, G’Kar?” He waved his hand in front of G'Kar’s face, and G’Kar leaned back. “I thought you hated the Centauri.”
“I did,” G’Kar said. He looked away from Zack and into the crowd. Narns, humans, Centauri, pak’ma’ra, Drazi, Brakiri, and many others were all celebrating together. Even now, though, the Centauri avoided the Narns as if the mere sight of them would burn them. “Now I pity them. How can I be angry at empty husks?”
“I don’t get it,” said Zack.
“You don’t have to,” said G’Kar.
“Nope,” said Zack. “Most of the other Narns seem to have forgotten about it to celebrate Narn being freed. I haven’t heard a lot about it because they’ve been so busy partying.”
“And I imagine the Centauri aren’t keen to have them remember.” G’Kar turned back to Zack. “I may take you up on that offer of a drink after all. There’s a lot to celebrate tonight, and I may not get this chance again.”
“Sounds good.” Zack grinned. “Where do you want to go? All the Narn places are going wild.”
G’Kar shook his head quickly. “I don’t feel like Narn tonight.” Too many Narns who had undoubtedly heard about what happened with Cartagia. He didn’t need more questions when all he wanted was a quiet night. “Take me to one of your Earther restaurants. Surprise me.”
“I know just the place,” Zack said. “Remember when the security team went out for dim sum? The owner’s been doing some really cool things with spoo lately and I know you’re into that.”
G’Kar patted his empty stomach. “You had me at ‘remember’. Let’s eat!”
They weaved through the crowds. G’Kar plucked a free martini off a nearby tray and sipped; some of it slopped out of the glass and onto his hand when people bumped into him, but he didn’t care at this point. He was back on Babylon 5, no one was asking him about his eye and he was going to eat.
“G’Kar!”
He turned before he could think and saw Ta’Lon waving at him through the crowd. Ta’Lon was his friend but G’Kar didn’t think he’d be on station here and now, and he probably had so many questions - G’Kar ducked behind Zack and walked fast.
“G’Kar, get back here this instant!” G’Kar heard Ta’Lon start to run and quickly looked for a place to hide. Somewhere, anywhere -
And Ta’Lon ran into him. “There you are!”
“Ta’Lon, now is really not the time,” G’Kar said with his best ambassador voice. “I’m going to dinner.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone you were coming back from Narn?”
Zack said, “What?”
G’Kar shrugged at Zack, a silent apology, before replying. “There was no interstellar communications back up when I left! I took the first shuttle to Babylon 5 that I could so I could continue doing my duties here. I was going to call you when Mr. Allan found me and offered dinner because I just got off the ship and I’m starving. Whatever it is, can it wait until after I’ve eaten and had a good night’s rest?”
“No, it can’t,” said Ta’Lon, arms crossed.
“What is it?” G’Kar asked. “Did something explode while I was away? Did some illegitimate child I don’t know about show up? I’m hungry!”
“What happened to your eye?” Ta’Lon demanded.
G’Kar stiffened. “My eye is fine.”
“What are you two talking about?” G’Kar heard Zack ask, but he ignored him.
“There’s not a lot of information from Narn yet, but what I have heard says that you came to Narn as a prisoner of the Centauri Emperor and that he took your eye!” Ta’Lon’s voice took on a pleading note. “Show me that I have nothing to worry about and I’ll let you go back to your dinner, but I have to know.”
“Show you,” G’Kar repeated.
“Show me,” Ta’Lon said back.
“What do you mean, captured by the Centauri Emperor? I thought you were looking for Garibaldi!” asked Zack.
G’Kar rubbed his forehead over his missing eye. “I told you I had a bad run in with the Centauri. They caught me after I found where Mr. Garibaldi was, and things escalated.”
“Escalated how?” asked Zack.
G’Kar sighed. “You two won’t let me go, will you?”
“No,” Ta’Lon.
G’Kar pulled the strip of leather off his eye and onto his forehead. The cool rush of air into his empty socket tingled, but that was nothing compared to the sinking feeling he got as Ta’Lon gasped and Zack’s jaw dropped.
“It’s not that bad,” G’Kar said.
“Your eye is gone!” said Zack.
G’Kar shrugged. “It’s been gone for a week and a half and I haven’t had any major problems with it.”
“A week and - “ Ta’Lon sputtered, then grabbed G’Kar’s arm. “You’re coming to medbay.”
“I got it treated! I’m sure the Centauri looked at it so I wouldn’t die,” G’Kar protested as Ta’Lon tugged on his arm.
“You’re sure,” said Ta’Lon, incredulous.
“I was rather heavily drugged at the time,” G’Kar admitted.
“I hate to be a spoilsport,” Zack said, “but he’s right. You need to see a doctor. I’m no medical expert, but I’m pretty sure that losing your eye is a bad enough injury that you need something for it. What the hell happened?”
“The emperor didn’t like how I was looking at him, and no one had the good sense to tell him that plucking an eye out wouldn’t stop me.” G’Kar pulled the leather back down over his eye socket with his martini-laden hand. “Can I at least eat first? I haven’t been home for five minutes!”
There was a sudden silence.
G’Kar said, “We’re right in front of the breen on a stick stand, aren’t we.”
“Yes,” said Ta’Lon.
“Half the Narns on the station just heard that I’m home, didn’t they.”
“Yes.”
G’Kar handed his martini to Zack. “I’d like to take you up on dinner at a later time because I’m afraid I have to run now.”
Zack looked at Ta’Lon, then back at G’Kar. “Why?"
“Because everyone thinks I killed the emperor with spiritual powers and I’m about to be mobbed by admirers.” With that, G’Kar turned on the ball of his foot and ran with Ta’Lon close behind and a mob of Narns of all eligible genders in hot pursuit.