"Mornin', Koto."

Blue eyes shone their way through the fog of sleep, brimming with all the beauty of the morning sun. It was one of those uncommon occasions where he rose before her, and like the occasions before it, she abandoned the thought of a verbal greeting in favor of curling closer to him, where he'd wrap his arms around her in a comforting embrace. She didn't want it to be morning, for him to be awake. She wanted to lay here with him longer.

The only time she enjoyed the quiet was with him.

—.—

It hadn't been the first time she was recognized on an outing — but this time, she had him with her. Her fan was anything but subtle, once making a grab at her tail while she stood in the checkout line, practically sending her jumping into the air.

It was only a moment later that the man lay flat on his back, Jin glaring down at him with a raised fist.

She ushered him out of the store quickly, but she found herself thanking him afterward, which he promptly brushed off.

She couldn't help but feel safe.

—.—

"You're full of crap!"

"Am not, ya crazy fox!"

At some point she started laughing, but he was pouting exaggeratedly; she nuzzled into his chest, and he started chuckling, too. She loved arguing with him, and laughing with him when all was said and done. It relieved tension somehow, keeping everything between them entertaining. They both had enjoyed the challenge from the beginning, but neither of them took it too seriously.

He just made her so happy.

—.—

"I'm sorry," she breathed.

Koto couldn't stand to cry, but this was much too important — it mattered too much to ignore. They had broken each other yet again, and she simply couldn't bear to stay fractured. She didn't want to limp along, to abandon her only chance to cling to something worthwhile in a life where most people weren't worth fighting for.

He was, and it killed her, but she would accept the pain if only to find the joy with him again.