Disclaimer: Kross ate Eva, and everyone else died… somehow. I think by now I've probably established that I don't own Oban, because if I did, I would hurry up and finish 'Bonds'.

Author's Note: I was struck by a wave of muse, and had to write this down. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about 'Bonds', and with luck, I should finish it soon.


The Irony of Her Life

She didn't want to admit it, but jealousy had quickly built up in her veins. Everyone who surrounded her seemed to have met their significant other. She had seen Stan and Koji exchange kisses in the shadows of the hanger, and heard her the sigh in her father's voice as her told her stories about her mother. She had even met a few of Rick's girlfriends. He seemed to always be switching between girls, and Eva definitely wasn't jealous of that, but still… he always seemed to have someone.

She knew that love wasn't all about roses and kisses. She had friends who were still suffering from the cruel break-up of a girlfriend or boyfriend, but she could distinctly remember the sparkle in their eyes when they were held by the very person who later hurt them. But wasn't it all worth it? Even if you ended up wounded in the end, didn't the feelings and words exchanged make up for it all?

Eva thought so.

But mostly, she just wanted someone to cuddle with. She wasn't sure if it was loneliness, or just hormones, nevertheless she wanted a significant other. The more thought she gave to it, the more sure she became that the desire wasn't her problem, it was the finding of someone she actually wanted to spend time with. Despite what all her friends seemed to think, Eva had no luck what-so-ever with guys. It wasn't that they didn't like her – it was just as if none of them were right for her. She just didn't feel true attraction toward them. She didn't feel attracted to any one.

Okay, so there had been a case or two, but that was all long ago.

If she hadn't known it then, she knew it now: she was destined to never end up with either one. There was no way the fates would ever allow such unlikely couplings: The Guardian and the Universe, and the future king of an entire race. Yah, like little racing girl would end up with either of them. What a laugh.

And even if one of them fell out of the sky and proclaimed their undying love for her (not that that would ever happen) she knew she wouldn't be able to go with them. She wouldn't be able to leave her father behind on Earth to go live with either man on some far-away planet. Eva wasn't about to abandon him the same way he had abandoned her all those years ago.

The more she thought about it the more depressed she became. Maybe she was doomed to be loveless until she was an old granny. When asked, Rick had told her that a perfect guy would show up sooner or later. Stan and Koji assured her that good people appeared in the least likely of places. Her dad… well, she didn't even ask him for fear of how he'd respond.

She needed something to keep her busy.

If her mind was significantly consumed by important thoughts, it would never leave her to muddle in thoughts such as these. Take the Race of Oban for example: she had been so worried about her mother that she hadn't realized love was fresh for the picking until it had been far too late. Hm… there weren't any big tournaments coming up in the near future, perhaps she would have to get a hobby. Maybe talking to old people in nursing homes, or walking dogs for the local animal shelter. Y'know, that stuff for people who were into the whole 'helping the community' thing? Yah, Eva'd have to do something like that.

She fell asleep in mid-planning, unaware of the two stars that twinkled in the night sky – both with a promise they were planning on keeping.

End