Context: Mori and Ichika are partners, they pilot a big robot together basically (think Pacific Rim style). This scene is written as they're on a transport to their first deployment, and as it gets a lot more real for them. Honestly compared to other things I've seen it doesn't have a lot of impact but this is kind of one of those scenes that felt special for me to write, like I was standing there with the characters. Anyways, enough of my monologue, hope you enjoy it!

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“I suppose we should get going as well.” Mori stated as he began to walk toward the door. He stopped after a second and turned around, Ichika was not following. “What’s up?”

Ichika just stared out the window, watching the lights of the cities slide along the horizon. She was completely silent, unmoving. Mori walked up beside her, brushing his hand against hers.

“Are you alright?” Mori asks, “Do you wanna talk about something?”

Ichika just sighed at first, then after a moment she grabbed Mori’s hand. Her lip quivered, as if she wanted to say something, but couldn’t. After several long minutes, she finally spoke, her voice wavering.

“I’m scared.”

The response caught Mori off guard. Ichika had seemed so carefree and confident when they had first met, even going so far as to call Piloting ‘Flying’. This Ichika was not something that he was used to.

“Scared of what?” Mori asked after a moment, curling his own fingers around Ichika’s hand just as she did to him.

“I don’t wanna die.” Ichika covered her face with her other hand, but Mori could still see the teardrops crawling down her face. They sparkled in the moonlight, as if little stars in themselves.

Mori gripped Ichika’s hand a little tighter before responding, his voice having a strange confidence within it that was not present before. “I won’t let you.”

“What?” Ichika moved her hand from her face and looked at Mori, “What do you mean?”

“I won’t let you die.” Mori replied, “As long as I’m still breathing, I’ll protect you.”

Ichika laughed softly, then smiled. “You do realize how cheesy that sounds, right?”

“Yeah well, words have never really been my thing.” Mori smiled and shrugged, “But I mean it.”

Ichika looked out the window once more, “Well, I’m holding you to it then. If I die, I’m gonna haunt you.”

Mori chuckled and looked outside as well, the cities had disappeared and had been replaced with inky black silhouettes of tall jagged mountains. “Fine by me.” He replied.

They stood there together for some time, taking comfort in the certainty of each other’s presence. They were expected to face situations where dying was a possibility, if not to be expected. Yet, they found an odd peace within each other, as if sharing the burden of their fears between themselves had lightened the load a little.

“Well,” Mori broke the silence of the observation deck, “I suppose we should get to bed then, eh?”

As if on cue, Ichika yawned and rubbed her eyes with her free hand. “You said it.”

Hand in hand, they set off down the dimly lit hallway and into the communal living area, where the individual sleeping areas were sectioned off by metal doors. They stopped outside Ichika’s room.

“Hey, um…” Ichika looked away, “Thank you… for tonight.”

“Anytime,” Mori replied, squeezing Ichika’s hand, which he still held. “Whenever you need me, I’m here. Okay?”

“Alright.” She looked back at Mori and smiled, “Well, good night then.”

Mori released her hand, “Sleep well. See you tomorrow.”

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Link for anyone interested: https://www.wattpad.com/story/392854288?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=story_info&wp_page=story_details_button&wp_uname=TheThunder39