Chapter Text
Six system days later
Report on the Proceedings of the CURSED SEX BREEDING Meeting
Date: DAY, MONTH, YEAR Amber Era
Authors: Director Aventurine of Stratagems, Asset Liquidation Specialist, Strategic Investment Department, IPC; Dr. Veritas Ratio, M.D., Ph.D., Scholar King, Mundanite, Comment from Dr. Ratio: Tell me which student disclosed this information to you. Comment from Director Aventurine: A good gambler never reveals his cards ;) Director Aventurine resolved the comment. Intelligentsia Guild
On DAY, MONTH, Director Aventurine of Stratagems and Dr. Veritas Ratio descended to the surface of PLANET, an IPC sanctioned outskirt planet, to conduct negotiations with a subgroup of the Family. Pursuant of § 402.5.1 of the IPC’s Negotiations Procedures, Director Aventurine ordered staff to stay on the ship upon realizing hostile groups on ground.
Upon entering the facility, Director Aventurine and Dr. Ratio were greeted by a Family representative other than Jonathan, the intended liaison. Negotiations continued when Dr. Ratio verified the Family crest in the name of Charlot Virago. Negotiations went smoothly, and the signed agreement will culminate in a 150% increase in profit for the Strategic Investment Department.
After negotiations, Charlot invited Director Aventurine and Dr. Ratio to view a private collection of tomes, which she claimed to contain original songs from Ena the Order. Apprehensively, they agreed to view the tomes. Dr. Ratio confirmed these were authentic pieces and continued to study them. Then, Charlot began to sing, and he started to show signs of coercion. This is when Director Aventurine realized foul play. Director Aventurine managed to protect Dr. Ratio but was affected by a curse sung by Charlot. Thankfully, after Dr. Ratio so kindly fucked the life and curse out of Director Aventurine’s body, he was left with no permanent effects from the curse. Director Aventurine was not permanently affected by the curse and fully recovered after treatment. Comment from Dr. Ratio: Damned gambler. Comment from Director Aventurine: ;) Comment from Dr. Ratio: -_- Director Aventurine resolved the comment.
The IPC-crew initiated raid protocol when Director Aventurine failed to meet his check-in and apprehended 15 suspects and Charlot Virago. No one, IPC staff and suspects alike, sustained serious injury. Comment from Dr. Ratio: Charlot was not seriously injured? Response from Director Aventurine: No, she wasn’t. She was found cowering near a bullet hole in the wall. She had a minor flesh wound on her arm. Likely from a stray bullet during the raid. Dr. Ratio resolved the comment. Charlot and the suspects were detained and brought back to Pier Point for further questioning and sentencing.
Director Aventurine interrogated initiated further discussion with Charlot and discovered that this subgroup of the Family went rogue and was running various underground, illegal operations on this outskirt planet. One of which was a breeding farm in which Charlot cursed famous and influential men to donate their sperm, which they would insert into surrogates to either produce future members of their new faction or to sell to buyers interested in specific characteristics from the chosen sperm, such as intelligence.
According to statements given by the other apprehended suspects, Jonathan never existed. He was a character played by various men so that Charlot could remain an anonymous figure. However, when she discovered that Director Aventurine was accompanying Dr. Ratio, she took over the mission. Apparently, their intention was to lure Dr. Ratio onto a low-profile mission — where he would be accompanied by low-ranking IPC members — with rumors about original tomes from Ena the Order. The intention was to inflict the curse onto Dr. Ratio while he was alone observing the books. Comment from Dr. Ratio: This is why I do not engage with imbeciles. Why did they expect such a poorly thought-out plan to work? Director Aventurine resolved the comment.
Further coercive interrogation questioning revealed that the curse was produced by Ena the Order when THEY realized certain populations needed “encouragement” to reproduce. The curse affects people differently depending on their reproductive biology, and the intensity of the curse is determined by how much contact the target had with the person inflicting the curse. Had Dr. Ratio been affected by the curse, he would have entered a deep stupor and lost control of his body. During this time, the captors would have used a machine to collect Dr. Ratio’s sperm, preserving it so that it could be sold at auction to the highest bidder. Once the procedure is complete, Dr. Ratio would have been brought out of his stupor, unaware of what occurred to him. Currently, it is unclear how many people have been victim to this operation, but it is currently assumed to be in the hundreds at least. Comment from Dr. Ratio: I… hm. Dr. Ratio marked the comment as resolved. Comment re-opened by Director Aventurine: Don’t worry doc, I’ll be the only one you’re breeding moving forward. Comment deleted by Dr. Ratio.
The IPC’s justice department will be investigating these underground operations; Charlot has been transferred to their jurisdiction. The justice department has already dismantled the birthing ring on the planet and is rehabilitating the surrogates. The Family also met with Director Aventurine for negotiations, the contract Charlot signed will be honored, even if done so begrudgingly, and the Family has signed an additional agreement to ensure the IPC disposes of brings to justice Charlot and the rest of the rogue members, increasing the Strategic Investment Department’s profits by an additional 50% for their ongoing projects with the Family.
The operation had unforeseen risks that could not have been predicted by known intelligence. Given the positive results of the operation — including the increased profit from projects with the Family, acquisition of original tomes containing songs by Ena the Order, and new intelligence about enemy operations — this project overall was a success.
P.S. Director Aventurine may require extended medical leave in approximately nine months. Comment from Dr. Ratio: ??? This is not the place nor time to inform your superiors about this. At the very least have a conclusive result first. We shall discuss this later. Director Aventurine deleted the comment.
Comment from Dr. Ratio: After my edits are accepted, I approve this report for distribution. This is a well summarized document, however, -10 points for intentionally adding information to make me fluster in my office. Dr. Veritas Ratio. Comment from Director Aventurine: ;) See you at dinner, doc. Comment deleted by Dr. Ratio.
♤♥︎◇♣︎
Right as Aventurine finishes reading through Ratio’s proposed notes, he gets a call from the very man. With a mischievous smile on his face, he answers and immediately says, “Awww, doc, you didn’t like me calling you the Scholar King? I was just trying to add some more titles to your name, it looked so bare next to mine.”
Aventurine doesn’t have to see him to know that Ratio is rolling his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. “I hardly need as many titles as you to prove my status. Let alone some absurd name that has plagued me since my university days. How you even found out about it is still beyond me.”
“Oh, that’s easy. I stalked you when we first met. Anyway, if you don’t want a long list of fancy titles, then why have eight Ph.D.’s?” Aventurine retorts.
“For the pursuit of knowledge, you damned gambler,” Ratio grits out.
Aventurine laughs, pleased with himself at getting to irritate Ratio so easily. Certainly not his record, but a worthwhile attempt regardless. “Alright, alright. I accepted your edits. I’m grateful that Topaz has read that stupid manual and gave me that section to cite. However, now I’m in her debt, maybe I should have just gotten demoted… I love a good gamble though. I’m going to submit it upwards before I head out for the day. Are we still going to dinner tonight?”
“Yes, I’ve been looking forward to it all week.” Aventurine blushes at Ratio’s candid response.
“Doc… you’re not planning on going back on what you said right? When we were still trapped? I’d rather know now than be forced to learn it at dinner.”
“I meant what I said, and that has not changed. What about you?”
“Well, you didn’t actually let me say anything but… no, nothing has changed.”
“Good, then I will see you in three system hours and 37 system minutes at the place you indicated. Please do not be late. I… need to see you as soon as I can, being apart from you these past six days has been taxing.”
A deep blush forms on Aventurine’s face. He’s always known Ratio to be a very passionate man but being on the receiving end of it in this way… well, it’s certainly going to take some time to get used to. “I’ll see you tonight, Veritas.”
“See you then, anima mea.”
Even though Ratio has already confessed his love for Aventurine and confirmed it mere seconds ago, Aventurine is still nauseous with nerves. He realized during this whole ordeal that he’s waited for Ratio long enough, and that he’s ready to move on with his life — their life. This may be his biggest gamble yet, and if Ratio rejects him… well, at least he knows how to rile up Acheron enough to get her to send him back to the Nihility.
He didn’t want their dinner to be so late, but changing reservations for a private room at the last minute after he missed his initial reservation wasn’t an easy task. If Ratio doesn’t want to take this next step with Aventurine, then this will be his most costly failure and most devastating.
He can’t help but laugh when he sees Ratio waiting for him outside of the restaurant. It seems they had the same idea for attire this evening: both wearing the suits they wore during their first meeting, when Aventurine put a gun in Ratio’s hand and held it to his own chest.
“It seems I am incapable of an original idea,” Aventurine says as he beams at Ratio.
Ratio returns his smile. It’s a shy, slightly flustered one. Oh, Aventurine would destroy the universe, create another one, and destroy it again just to see that smile on Ratio’s face. “I was feeling particularly sentimental this evening,” Ratio replies, “and I happen to know how alluring you find me in this outfit.”
“Oh? Does that mean you’re trying to woo me, doctor? Are you hoping to get lucky tonight?”
“Yes,” Ratio says immediately, “but not in the way you’re thinking, you filthy gambler.” The name is said in a teasing tone, followed by a blinding smile. Aventurine’s face blotches red, he’s not used to Ratio being so openly flirtatious with him.
This is really happening then, Aventurine thinks to himself. He takes in a shaky breath before latching onto Ratio’s arm, guiding them to their reservation. Both are unusually quiet as they check in with the host and walk back toward their private room. Ratio quirks his eyebrow at Aventurine as they sit down, giving him a knowing look. Aventurine wonders what Ratio would have thought about their private dining room before the events of the earlier week. Would it be so obvious what his intentions for the dinner were? Or would Ratio’s heart be pounding in his chest as countless theories crossed his mind?
The waitress takes them through the pre-set meal. Aventurine accounted for everything. He chose Ratio’s favorite wine and each of the eight dishes are inspired by the missions that they’ve completed together over the years. There are two desserts to end their meal. Not many know that Dr. Veritas Ratio has a massive sweet-tooth, and it’s a secret that Aventurine has fervently — bordering on possessively — kept to himself.
When the waitress brings out the wine, Aventurine expects to see Ratio beam in delight. It’s a difficult wine to come by; the good doctor has expensive taste (even if he denies this). However, the look that crosses Ratio’s face is confusion followed by realization, then resignation. Aventurine’s stomach flips, did he do something wrong? Ratio patiently waits for the waitress to close their door before he outstretches his hand, a solemn frown resting on his features. Aventurine takes his hand instinctively, and he tries to keep it from shaking, but he’s not good at maintaining his facades around Ratio, he never has been.
Ratio strokes the back of his hand with his thumb, then says, “I’m not upset at you.” Oh, how he hates how well the doctor knows him. “I just… I assume that you’ve made a decision then?” Ratio says as he looks at the wine in front of Aventurine.
Oh… oh. Honestly, he had completely forgotten about that part of the week’s events. While wrapping up the week’s events and trying to salvage their dinner, that certain thing potentially living within his body, parasitizing his precious resources, escaped his mind. He chuckles nervously, his hand shaking even more in Ratio’s hand. “I’m sorry, Veritas. Honestly, I completely forgot about that little detail. I just wanted to spoil you with your favorite wine, I certainly wouldn’t have told you like that.”
Ratio visibly relaxes. He continues to stroke Aventurine’s hand as he says, “So, there’s no news then?”
“No,” Aventurine says as he looks down at his stomach, anywhere but those beautiful eyes that can see right through him. It’s still flat, and a part of him still can’t believe he was begging Ratio to make him round. His designer clothes are tailored and not intended for any kind of weight gain. “Unfortunately, even with all the advancements modern medicine has made, we still have to wait two weeks before I can take a pregnancy test.”
Ratio hums, offering no indication of how the news makes him feel. “You haven’t thought about it more, then? Whether it’s something you want?”
“It just doesn’t feel real yet. I guess I’m just waiting for whether I truly need to think about it. I have thought about… about having kids with you though, before all of this,” he says putting his hand on his stomach. Ratio watches his movement, his eyes lingering on what could be. “I thought we’d get a surrogate or adopt; this possibility didn’t really cross my mind. Now that it could be a reality… I don’t know how I feel. The few times I tried to think about it, I would think about whether I’d be a good dad and… the fantasy would fall apart. I’m- I’m sorry. I don’t have an answer for you, Veritas, but I was hoping you’d be willing to be there with me when I find out.”
A hand strokes Aventurine’s face as it guides his jaw, forcing their eyes to meet. Ratio is wearing a sweet smile with just a hint of somber resignation. Aventurine knows the feeling, he’s so grateful to finally be here with Ratio, but he does wish it could be under different circumstances.
“Of course I will be there, anima mea. I must admit, I have been thinking about it,” Ratio says, his eyes burning with intensity. Aventurine gulps. He can feel his old trauma responses resurfacing: he’s going to force you to have the child, he’s going to leave you, he regrets ever having to know you. He takes a deep breath. He knows Ratio. Those aren’t his thoughts. “I stand by what I said. No matter your choice, I will stay with you, and I will still love you.”
Aventurine gasps. It’s the first time Ratio has said those words outside that closet. A small part of him felt that it was still a dream, a really fucked up dream. He was waiting for the illusion to shatter and for Ratio to say he only said it because he was partially under the influence of the Order. This Ratio, though, the one sitting across from him with the most serene and assured look on his face, this one is sober and is telling his truth.
“I love you too,” Aventurine blurts out. His eyes widen in shock as he slaps his hands over his mouth. “Fuck,” he breathes out, hiding his face in his palms.
“Did you not mean to say that?” Ratio asks in an apprehensive tone.
“No!” Aventurine squeaks. Oh, Gaiathra, please kill him now before he makes a further fool of himself. He groans into his hands as Ratio pries them away from his face. His cheeks are burning as he meets Ratio’s confused and inquisitive gaze. Aeons, even when he’s hurt, he still looks beautiful, Aventurine thinks to himself. “I— I had a plan for how I was going to tell you. It was meant to be more romantic, not said during a conversation on whether I’m going to keep our child that we potentially conceived in very dubious circumstances.”
“But you do love me?” Ratio asks softly.
“Yes,” Aventurine breathes out. “I am so horrendously and desperately in love with you that it has made me a joke of a person.”
Ratio laughs, his face flushing the most beautiful red as he beams at Aventurine. He hasn’t done anything to deserve such affection, but he will cherish it with his entire being. “It’s nice to know I am not alone in my foolishness.”
Aventurine takes in a deep breath, preparing to fully expose himself to the man who has held his heart in his hand since the day Aventurine put a gun in it. “I was going to tell you this later too, but a gambler always learns how to adapt.” He looks into Ratio’s eyes again, this time with far more confidence than he’d previously had. “Kakavasha. My name is Kakavasha. It’s the one my mother gave me, and the one I had to give up when I became a Stoneheart. It’s… it’s not something you can call me in public, but I don’t want to just be the IPC’s notorious gambler when I’m with you. I want to be a person, someone that you can really love.”
“Kaka-vasha,” Ratio tries, his brows knitting together as he sounds out a name so foreign in the universal language. Aventurine almost doesn’t want to correct him; he’s addicted to this look of deep thought plaguing his favorite doctor’s features.
He giggles as his cheeks light up. “Almost, my dawn. Try it again but emphasize the ‘kava’ and let the ‘sha’ fall out of your mouth right after.” Aventurine certainly is no linguist, and it’s been so long since he’s heard his own name, he almost doubts his own pronunciation.
He wasn’t prepared to hear the love of his life, in that infuriatingly deep and haughty tone say, “Ka-kava-sha.” It’s still not perfect, but tears stream down his face upon hearing it leave his mouth. He hasn’t heard that name since Jade told him such pretty things weren’t meant for this world. Since his sister said goodbye.
He doesn’t register it until he’s in the air, but Ratio had come over and scooped him up, sitting back down in his chair, holding Aventurine in his lap. Aventurine buries his face in Ratio’s chest, muffling his tears and protecting himself from the world deep inside Ratio’s broad and muscular pecs. Ratio humors him, letting him bury himself in hopes of being forgotten. Ratio just unearthed a being that long since existed in this world, and now Aventurine must come to terms with being a real person again.
“Kakavasha…” Ratio says so sweetly and quietly. “Kava…” hearing that nickname causes the tears to stream down his face faster. That’s what his sister used to call him. Her little Kava.
He lifts himself up, placing his arms on Ratio’s chest before looking up past the ceiling and toward the sky, toward wherever his sister is. “Is it okay for me to be ‘little Kava’ again, if I can no longer be with you?”
Aventurine continues to stare up at the ceiling, closing his eyes, looking for any sign that his sister may have heard him. It’s not his sister’s voice that calls out to him though. No, ghosts are no more than the past’s claws gripping into one’s soul as they try to drown them in the Nihility’s River. This voice came from his present, from his future. “Who are you talking to?” Ratio asks as he places a soft kiss on Aventurine’s temple.
Aventurine wipes his eyes before giving Ratio a small smile. “Kava was the name my sister would call me.”
Ratio’s eyes widen in realization. Aventurine doesn’t really talk about his family, or his life before becoming a Stoneheart. If he really wants to begin this new chapter with Ratio, then he supposes he’ll have to start telling him about these things. All of it. Even the stuff he really would rather keep secret. “Would you prefer I not use that name?” Ratio asks hesitantly.
“No, I think she’d like that I have someone in my life calling me that again. She would like you. I don’t think she’d get all those big fancy words you say, but she was always really good at knowing when someone was being genuine and passionate. I’d like to tell you about her one day, if you’re interested.”
“I would be honored,” Ratio says as he brushes Aventurine’s hair behind his ear.
Aventurine leans in hesitantly, gently placing his lips on Ratio’s. Their lips barely touch before he pulls away, looking to see how Ratio reacted. There are no words to describe how beautiful infatuation looks on Dr. Veritas Ratio. The flush of his cheeks, his dilated pupils, the way his lips have remained slightly parted. Aventurine leans back in, kissing Ratio again, this time with more confidence and passion. Ratio curls his fingers into Aventurine’s perfectly styled hair, tousling it. Aventurine couldn't care less. Their tongues intertwine and needy moans exchange mouths. If Aventurine could sustain himself solely on Ratio’s kisses, he would.
When Aventurine pulls away for a breath, he’s greeted with Ratio’s kiss-swollen and glistening lips. “I’m so hopelessly in love with you,” Aventurine says without thought. He would be embarrassed if it weren’t for the bright smile and flushed cheeks that adorn Ratio’s usually sharp and stoic features.
Ratio bundles Aventurine into another hug before sighing deeply, looking up at the ceiling and saying, “Thank you for protecting little Kava all those years. I only know the surface of your hardships, but it is easy to determine that you must have a strong will and devotion to have made it as far as you did. I cannot replace the love you gave him, but I will make sure he has to endure those hardships no more.”
Aventurine looks up at Ratio with teary eyes. “When did you become such a sap?” Aventurine tries to tease, but the words come out garbled and choked.
“It started when a damned gambler put a gun in my hand and held it to his chest,” Ratio teases back.
They stay tangled in each other’s embrace for a while longer, resting their foreheads against the other’s. Eventually, Aventurine unravels himself from Ratio, much to the taller man’s annoyance, and sits back in his seat. Shortly after, the waitress knocks on their door and brings their first course. Throughout each meal, Aventurine’s left hand always remains entwined with Ratio’s right, and for the first time in a long time, Aventurine’s hand never shakes.
As the dinner concludes, their waitress tells them they can stay as long as they’d like and that she’ll only return if they request it. Once she leaves, Ratio turns back to Aventurine, giving him a knowing look. Aventurine takes a deep breath. Of course someone as smart as Ratio would know that this dinner was not only meant for Aventurine to finally confess his feelings.
This is his grand gamble. Aventurine’s life motto has always been “all or nothing.” That doesn’t change how nauseous he feels right now. He almost wishes the nausea was related to the other thing he really doesn’t want to think about right now, but he knows it’s all because of the man sitting across from him. (Well, technically, the other thing is also the fault of said man, but that’s just semantics.)
Dr. Hope, Aventurine thinks to himself. If he rejects me, I will be burning down your entire establishment with no remorse.
He digs into his pocket, feeling around for the item that is going to change the trajectory of his future. He pulls it out, gripping it tightly in his hand. Standing up, he moves toward Ratio’s side of the table and takes Ratio’s hand. Ratio gasps, a look of surprise, hope, and excitement dancing around his features. Aventurine’s legs are jelly as he clenches the item in his hand harder, preparing to change their lives forever.
Opening Ratio’s hand, Aventurine gently places the item in his palm. “Veritas. We’ve known each other for a long time, and you’ve seen me through some of my toughest moments as a Stoneheart. I’m in love with you and I’m ready to move forward with you. I don’t want to just date you. I want to be with you.”
The flush on Ratio’s face deepens throughout Aventurine’s confession, but there’s a slight hint of confusion behind it. His eyebrows crease together as he opens his hand, revealing the gift Aventurine gave to him. Immediately his face drops and he glowers at Aventurine in the way he looks at his students who try to turn in half-assed assignments.
“Kakavasha,” Ratio says in a stern tone. Aventurine was not prepared to hear his name said like that. It stirs something deep within him, and he definitely wants to hear it said like that in a far different situation than he’s in now. “Did you give me your key to your house?” Ratio looks scandalized, exasperated, and annoyed all at the same time, a combination of emotions reserved specifically for Aventurine.
Aventurine’s face turns molten red, but he doesn’t respond. Noticing this, Ratio continues, “I’ve watched you fidget with your pocket this entire night. I can’t even begin to imagine the exorbitant amount of money you spent on this dinner. You did not intend to ask me something as trivial as moving in with you, and this is not the gift you intended to give me, you damned gambler.” Aventurine looks down at his feet, usually he likes when Ratio scolds him, but right now, he desperately wishes he could just disappear. Why must the good doctor be so infuriatingly perceptive?!
“Shall I guide you through the question you really meant to ask?” Ratio says like a professor trying to help a hopeless student answer a question. Aventurine is mortified, and in his mortification, he’s unable to respond. Ratio takes this as a yes, apparently, and continues once again. “Kakavasha, get down on one knee.”
Aventurine does as he’s told. “Good. Now, take out the actual gift in your pocket.” With a shaky hand, Aventurine takes out the blue, velvet box in his pocket, holding it up for Ratio to see. Ratio stumbles at the sight of it. It’s obvious the good doctor knew what Aventurine meant to do but seeing it must have ignited something within him. His face flushes and he clears his throat. “Now,” Ratio says with a soft and hesitant voice, “ask me the question you really meant to ask me.”
Aventurine looks into Ratio’s hopeful eyes and the air is taken from his lungs. He really gets to be with this annoying, demanding, beautiful, and enamoring man. He opens the box, revealing two custom designed wedding rings. Ratio gasps at the sight. Aventurine really didn’t take him as someone who would care about something as materialistic as rings, but maybe it's not the ring itself that enraptures him but the meaning and promise it holds.
“Veritas,” Aventurine says with a clarity and confidence he didn’t know he had within him, “will you marry me?”
“Yes,” Ratio breathes out. “Yes, I will, you foolish, foolish man.”
Aventurine breaks out into a bright smile; he doesn’t know how to process everything he’s feeling. He doesn’t know if he’s ever truly been this happy. Taking Ratio’s ring out of the box, he gently slides it on the good doctor’s ring finger, before offering the other ring to Ratio to put on his finger.
“It fits perfectly,” Ratio says quietly. “When did you figure out my ring size?”
“Back when I put that gun in your hand,” Aventurine replies.
Ratio looks shocked, almost disturbed. “Seriously?”
“No,” Aventurine laughs. It’s a lie. He did learn Ratio’s ring size during that first fateful meeting. He never thought he’d actually get to this point, but he certainly hoped he would. “Call it a lucky guess,” he says with his brilliant and mischievous smile that never fools the good doctor. If Ratio sees through his lie, he doesn’t say anything about it.
Ratio grabs Aventurine off the floor, pulling him back into his lap and a kiss. All the while he’s grumbling something about a foolish, foolish gambler trying to irritate him into an early death. Aventurine doesn’t truly know whether he deserves this fate. He worries he’ll fuck up this happiness. He doesn’t know what will become of the thing that may be growing inside him. He doesn’t know whether he’ll keep it, if it is. He doesn’t know if he’ll be a good dad, or if he’ll pass burdens onto an innocent life. Right now, though, he feels capable of taking on every challenge the universe wants to throw at him. As long as Ratio is here with him, he knows that he’ll be okay and that he’ll be happy.
“I love you, my little Kava,” Ratio says into Aventurine’s lips.
“I love you too, anima mea,” Aventurine replies.
“Do you even know what that means?” Ratio asks as he presses another kiss into Aventurine’s lips.
“Nope!” A mischievous and elated smile blinds Ratio’s vision. Aventurine kisses his fiancé again then breathes into his mouth, “but I’m willing to make a bet.”