A Quiet Conversation
rosabelle
"Hey, Andros."
"Ashley?"
"That's me."
"You're up late."
"... So are you."
"I know."
"You want some company?"
"I guess."
"What are you doing sitting in here, anyway?"
"Nothing."
"There are more comfortable places to do nothing."
"Thinking."
"Thinking?"
"Yeah."
"What about?"
"Things."
"What kind of things?"
"Just, you know."
"Things?"
"Yeah."
"Hey, Andros?"
"Yeah?"
"Is this working for you? Having us here?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well... you're kind of... sometimes... um."
"Quiet?"
"Yes. You're quiet, and you don't... you don't always seem to want us around."
"That's just how I am. It doesn't mean I don't... like you. All of you, I mean."
"It doesn't?"
"No. I was... alone, for awhile. I forgot what it was like."
"Having people around?"
"Yeah. I'm not used to it. But... it's better than being alone."
"How long were you here alone, anyway?"
"... Two years."
"Two years?"
"Yes."
"... Wow. That's a long time."
"It felt longer."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm all right."
"Still."
"But—I won't say that I'm not... glad for your company, sometimes."
"Like now?"
"Yes. Like now."
"I'm glad."
"Why are you up, Ashley?"
"I... well, don't laugh, okay?"
"Okay."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"I had a bad dream."
"I'm sorry."
"It was stupid, really."
"What was it about?"
"Sometimes I dream about our last battle with Divatox."
"She was the one who destroyed your base?"
"Yeah. It was the reason we went into space."
"That's not stupid."
"You don't think?"
"No. I—I have nightmares too. Sometimes."
"About KO-35?"
"And other things."
"I'm sorry, Andros."
"So I... I understand. If you want to talk about it."
"You wouldn't mind?"
"No."
"Well... come get some hot chocolate with me and I'll tell you about it."
"If you want me to."
"I do."
"Ashley?"
"Yeah?"
"What's hot chocolate?"
"You'll see."