DISCLAIMER: I do not own Galactik Football.

This piece takes place in the Episode 21 of the Second Season.

Solid

She strode inside to the familiar sight of him taking notes on football. It was eerie how he could so easily go back to the one thing he had been doing right before she had convinced him to go out to the Genesis Forest –a date that shaped the following few weeks of nightmare in their lives. In a way, it was weirdly calming too; at least some things hadn't changed in him.

"Still watching Warren?" she put her hands into her pockets in a moment of self-consciousness, she wasn't quite certain how to reach out to him yet.

"Yeah, someone told me I had a lot of catching up to do," he grinned.

"Huh?" she looked up in surprise but he was already back to his notes. She sat down behind him on the bed, a sudden need to explain her meaning rising in her chest.

"We all believe in you Rocket," she said somewhat sheepishly as she fixed her eyes at the base of his neck, which was not covered with his thick dreads or that turtleneck shirt he usually wore. Not that she didn't like that v-neck shirt; still it was a change and Tia was cautious of changes these days.

"But I still can't believe you are really here," she moved a hand to his shoulder, needing to feel his presence. To make sure her hand wouldn't pass through him or he wouldn't flicker and disappear at any moment.

Tears were welling up in her eyes and she did not want him to see her cry, to think she was a weakling, she had to be strong now; she had to be his rock to stable him for once.

She settled for attempting a joke: "You sure you're not a hologram?"

She cursed inwardly, because it was lame and also because it made her heart ache even worse for putting her fear out in the open.

He chuckled nonetheless: "Yeah, I'm here."

But of course he didn't know how she hated holograms and clones and all things that superficially provided a three dimensional vision of a person right now –ever since that moment when she had turned around to find herself staring into his golden eyes on an otherwise turquoise copy of him.

It was a good thing Clamp had changed the clones in the holotrainer from exact copies of them to more generic clones, she didn't know what she would do if it was really identical to him. The idea of throwing herself at him to feel those arms cuddle her away from all her worries was so very tempting (and the feeling was stronger than ever right now, she realized as she gazed at his back, her hand drawing an unknown shape downward from his shoulder).

But the clone was very obviously that –a clone. So she had reserved to staring into those artificial eyes that she loved so much, wishing with all she had that he would become real, as he buzzed and stared back.

Then he had disappeared and she was denied even holding onto a vision of him. Photos and videos were not the same.

She never told him of course.

A tear escaped her eye and rolled down her face.

"I'm glad you are."

She rounded his torso with her arms and buried her face between his shoulder blades. He was solid and he was alive. He was there. He was hers.

Rocket paused for a moment and turned as if to say something.

He decided against it, pretending not feel her tears soaking his shirt and went back to work.

I have way too many stuff to do, but I'm procrastinating so much. I always loved this scene, and I went and watched it today and ta! this happened. It's a little foggy because I wrote it in hmm.. 20 minutes? So it's not the greatest ever but heh, had to take it out of my system.

I'm working on something with Mei and Rocket/Tia but it'll probably take a little while (at least until monday) till it's up.

Wish me luck!

EDIT: .net/s/3378565/1/Irreconcilable this awesome fic by xxpilyxx inspired the "be his rock for once" bit. everyone should read that fic it's beyon awesome!