The Shatterdome cafeteria was filled with sounds of plates clanging together, voices chatting on every table and Chuck's dog, Max, barking happily as passersby petted him and said "hello". Mako and Raleigh were sat at their usual table with Herc and Chuck, discussing the events of the past week. What with Kaiju activity at an all time low, there wasn't much to do around HQ except do training and helping out with preparations for the next attack if and when it happens.
Stacker Pentecost stood overlooking the crowd of soldiers and pilots. The American government embassy was coming today to check on the operation and to speak to the pilots. What it was they wanted to say was beyond Pentecost but it wasn't his place to question so he just agreed. He looked behind him and saw the President of the United States along with his security and advisors making their way to the balcony. Pentecost gave him a courteous nod and cleared his throat.
"Silence!" he bellowed and waited till the noise ceased. "We have a very important visitor today! And he wants a word with you! So please do us all the honour of keeping your mouths shut and ears focused!" he turned to the president and quietly said "All yours"
The president stood up to the edge of the balcony. "Ladies and gentlemen, I come before you to not only say how I appreciate what you do and have done but to show gratitude on behalf of the whole world! If it doesn't take an idiot to get into one of those machines, it takes a man! A man with courage and skill! These qualities which you all have are what make you so compatible!" he paused and searched the crowd.
"Is there a Raleigh Becket present?" he asked, confused.
Raleigh stood up, gulping slightly under the gaze of the powerful man. "Here, sir"
The president smiled. "You, my boy, are a great inspiration to us all! Even after having your brother cruelly taken away from you, you still come back. Back to fight the ones who terrorise the planet!" The president's smile grew bigger. "Speaking of which I have a surprise for you"
Raleigh frowned, curiosity growing in his mind. He tried to get a look at what the president was hiding but to no avail. Suddenly, a deep, manly voice came out from behind the president.
"Could never stop peaking at gifts, could ya, little brother?"
Yancy Becket came out with a big grin on his face. Raleigh choked back on his tears, already rushing up the stairs and pulling Yancy into a tight embrace. The tears finally poured out, making Yancy chuckle.
"Raleigh, don't cry. I'm here and safe" Yancy consoled his brother.
"I know but I thought I lost you. You were gone! I saw it!" Raleigh sobbed.
"Maybe I should explain" the president interrupted.
Raleigh wiped his face. "Yeah I think you should"
"Raleigh, stand down!" Pentecost snapped.
The president put his hand up. "No, it's fine. He should hear the truth". He sighed. "Your brother, Yancy was indeed ripped out of the cockpit but he landed in the water. Other than frost bite and concussion, he was unharmed. He washed up on the icy north shore and was found a week later by an excavation team digging into the glacier. We didn't tell you because we needed him with us for a while so he could get back on his feet"
Yancy looked to his younger brother. "It was for our best interest"
Raleigh sarcastically laughed. "Best interest? For years I thought you were dead! I went so long thinking I had no family left! Do you realise what that did to me?" he started tearing up again.
"I'm sorry, Raleigh. I really am. Is there any way we can make it up to you?" the president asked.
Raleigh just shook his head and left the cafeteria. Mako got up and followed him out wanting to make sure he did nothing stupid and to comfort her dearest friend.
Yancy looked to Pentecost. "I think that went well"
Pentecost sighed and looked to the staring observers. "Unless you want me to cut you all off at the knee caps so you are level enough so I can slap your faces, I suggest you get back to work!" he yelled, obviously annoyed.
The president shuffled where he stood. "I shall take my leave. But before I do, I'm giving you one more pilot. She's fast, tough and knows her way round a machine. But a bit of a warning, she loves to chat back so I wouldn't try to argue with her. Alessa, come here" he called.
In walked Alessa, he hair fallen past her shoulders. It was a chestnut brown colour. Her eyes were as green as the grass but as blue as the ocean. A very odd combination but it stunned Yancy. He couldn't take his eyes off her. Her combat trousers hung loosely on her hips and the ends were tucked into her boots. Her complexion was very pale but it just brought out her features more.
"Sup, boss?" she greeted.
Pentecost pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay. I don't normally allow this but we are short on space so you will have to bunk with Yancy. Any more questions? No? Good" and with that, he walked off, leading the president with him.
Alessa turned to Yancy. "Jeez! What was his problem?"
Yancy laughed slightly. "I think he hates loud people"
"Damn! I'm anything but loud!" she giggled.
"Something tells me that that is a lie" Yancy winked.
"Ooooh only know me for two minutes and already knows me so well"
"So allow me to try and find our quarters then" Yancy held out his hand.
Alessa took it and faked a posh accent. "Lead the way, Mr Darcy"
So they both left the cafeteria in search of where they will be sleeping, leaving the stunned people alone to try and process what just happened.
...
Raleigh slumped down on his bed while Mako followed in and closed the door. She looked at him sadly and sat on the end of the bed, taking his hand.
"They were kind of right, you know" she said quietly.
"I know" he said in a voice which was barely a whisper.
"He didn't want to hurt you"
"I know, Mako!" he snapped.
Mako took her hand away in shock and recoiled off the bed.
"If you hadn't noticed, Mako, they seemed perfectly fine lying to me. So why the hell would I not be angry?!"
Mako turned away. Raleigh sighed and cursed himself for taking his anger out on her and got up from the bed. He went up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, kissing her cheek.
"I'm sorry" he whispered.
Mako turned around. "You got to talk this out. I hate seeing you like this and I hate it more when you argue. Especially with family"
Raleigh gave her a peck on the lips which she happily returned. "I just need to know exactly why, Mako. I can't keep going on like this. Being lied to is the worst thing"
Mako rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "Just promise me you will try? Even if it is just being civil, I want you to be happy"
Raleigh cupped her face with his hands and looked deep into her eyes. "I promise I will sort this"
He then pulled her face to his and lightly brushed her lips with his before firmly placing his lips onto hers. Mako moaned slightly and wrapped her arms around her lover's neck and kissed him back with as much passion.
"I love you, Mako. And I will try anything if it makes you happy" he smiled.
"And I love you" she sighed happily.
...
Yancy and Alessa both leaned against the wall of the empty living quarters, finally relieved to have found it. They had been searching for half an hour and with each minute; they both got more and more annoyed with each other. This was mainly because they got too tired to talk but didn't want an awkward silence. However, this was not a good start.
Alessa glared up at Yancy and sighed angrily. "Are you even going to open the door?"
Yancy stared at her for a few seconds. "No"
"You're such an ass!" Alessa squeaked out.
"You're the ass! You wouldn't shut up!" he pretended to mock her voice. "'I want food now. Are we there yet? Can we go stop at the toilets?' Jesus Christ, you're annoying!"
"Screw you, blondie!"
"Okay, if that is what you want" Yancy winked.
Alessa growled and opened the door forcefully. When she opened the door, she cheered up as soon as she saw her stuff in there. But both were surprised to see only one bed. They looked at each other as if they were in Hell.
"I'm not sharing a bed with you" she grumbled.
"Want to sleep on the floor?" he glared.
"No!"
"Well me neither so suck it up and share the bed with me you wimp!"
Alessa sighed and lay down on the part closer to the wall, instinctively putting her back to the wall.
"Why do you sleep next to the wall?" Yancy asked.
"I don't know. Always have done and it ain't changing now" she snorted.
Yancy sighed. "I don't care as long as I get some of the blankets. Anyway" he yawned and stretched.
"Need a kip?" Alessa asked.
Yancy nodded, climbed into the bed and settled on his back. He closed his eyes and started to doze off when he heard and felt Alessa moving around. He looked at her to find her already sleeping but curled up into a ball. Yancy had to smile at that. It was... kind of cute. After he had done staring at the girl in the bed, he closed his eyes and instantly fell asleep.