Author: viorica

Summary: A little bit of fill-in-the-blanks between M1 and M2. Set right after the ending of the first movie. Spoilers for M1.

A/N: If you like this, there is a chapter length story I'm working on. :cough:

Contrition

It had been a long day.

What a stupid thing to say, that was. Days didn't vary in length because of what happened during them. And boring days could seem just as long as eventful ones.

You're responsible for the deaths of four people, and you're pondering semantics. Great, Neo. Really great.

Tank had died a little over an hour ago. Internal bleeding. The ship was silent now, except for the quiet hum of the engine. Morpheus was keeping watch tonight, and Neo sensed that he didn't want to be disturbed. Neo didn't especially feel like disturbing him. What was he supposed to say? "I'm sorry I got half your crew killed?"

He wandered aimlessly down the hall, pausing when he heard muffled sobs coming from Trinity's room. He paused by the door, remembering how she'd kissed him earlier. They hadn't spoken since, mainly because Tank had collapsed right after that, and they'd been too busy running around trying to help him for any further conversation to take place. He rapped his knuckles lightly against the door. "Trinity?"

A stifled sob, then a muffled, "Yeah?"

"Are you all right?"

There was the sound of footsteps scraping across the floor, then the door was pulled open. "Yeah, I'm fine."

She was lying through her teeth; anyone could see that. The skin around her eyes was swollen and red, and there were tearstains on her cheeks.

Neo shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "I- uh-"

"You wanna come in?" Without waiting for an answer, she turned around and went back inside, leaving the door open. Neo followed her in. She was sitting on the bed, one foot tucked under her. He sat down next to her, hands resting on his knees, and an awkward silence fell over the room.

"I'm sorry." he blurted out, knowing what he wanted to say, but afraid he'd lose the nerve to say it.

"For what?" Tired. She sounded so tired. He didn't have any right to be in here, dumping all this on her. So why was he still talking?

"For- for getting everyone killed."

"Getting-" She shook her head. "You didn't get anyone killed, Neo."

"Switch- and Apoc- and Mouse-"

"Neo, listen to me." Her voice was firmer now. "It's not your fault. He would've found some other reason, some other excuse. You were just an excuse." Her voice cracked. "We- we were all friends, you know? Living so close together, for so long, we had to be. But he never was. I wonder- maybe if he had been- maybe he wouldn't have done this-"She was crying again, and he couldn't think of anything to say besides, "Come here."

She leaned against him lightly, holding herself rigidly, making as little contact as possible. He put an arm around her. "Trin-"

She made a choked noise that might have been either a laugh or a sob. "Nobody ever calls me that."

"Oh." Did I do something wrong? He put his hand at the nape of her neck, feeling the plug there. "Trinity?"

She looked up at him. Her eyes had tears in them- the liquid was making them glisten. God, she had beautiful eyes. Whatever he had been going to say flew out of his brain. He didn't want to say anything. So he didn't. He kissed her.

It was different than the last time. Last time had been brief, almost chaste. This had desperation behind it on both sides, lips and tongue wrestling, seeking as much contact as could be gained. She was the one who broke it, wrapping her arms around his neck and tucking her head into the hollow between his neck and chin. She was crying in earnest now- so was he, though he'd never admit it- but these were releasing tears, healing tears. For both of them. Trinity snuffled a little, snuggling closer into his chest.

"I love you." she whispered.

"I know." He stroked her cheek with his thumb, swiping a tear away. "I love you too."