A/N: Hello there lovely readers :) so I adore Pacific Rim so naturally I just had to write a story about it. The parts initalics are memories. I may continue this, but I'm not sure yet. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!

Hercules Hansen never really cared for a lot of things. He grew up with a drunken father and cheating mother, so he never had much "love". Instead he'd get the occasional beating and angry insults from his parents. So, he made himself immune to those emotions he deemed unnecessary. It didn't bother him that his mother never told him she loved him. Or that his father never did anything to show affection. He could deal with it. He's stronger than that. And when you never have something to begin with, you don't miss it. Due to his violent father, he learned to fight and defend himself against the people who angered him or did him wrong, but he also learned to keep his mouth shut when needed. Having a loud mouth that pisses off the wrong people won't get you anywhere in life. Those instincts become even more dominant when he joined the army. The army became his life. Until he met a woman named Angela.

He met Angela in 2002. He had never really known what if feels like to love, but when he saw Angela, he felt... Something. He didn't really know what that was, but it satisfied him and he called it love. Angela was beautiful, with curly blonde hair and soft blue eyes, the same as Chuck's. He remembered when she smiled, the way she'd tilt her head back and close her eyes, her hair would slip off her shoulders and she would cover her stomach with her forearm. He loved it when she did that. He remembers one particular time when she did it. It was December and Chuck, only five at the time, was helping her put ornaments on the Christmas tree. Herc had never been one for Christmas tree decorating, so he just leans against the door frame and watches them. Eventually, Chuck tries to reach for a branch that's just a little too far away from his reach. He stares at it, his little face screwing in frustration. Angela laughs, her head tilts back and her arm goes across her stomach. The moment is short because Chuck begins to whine and she has to pick him up so he can reach the branch. He loved the feeling he got when he was around those two. However, he should have known it wouldn't last. He should have known he would have lost one of them eventually. And it just so happened to be her.

Angela is long dead now. She died in 2014, when Chuck was eleven. Neither of them really talk about her, but Herc knows that Chuck has a picture of her in his room. And Chuck knows that Herc has her letters saved. They're wrapped up in one of her silky pink ribbons and hidden away in a drawer. Neither of them will forget her, but she's still an unapproachable subject that isn't talked about. But that subject brings him to Chuck. So, yes he definitely did care about one thing: Chuck. The kid may make him want to yank the hair out of his head, but he loved him none the less. After that... He didn't really know what he cared about. Protecting humanity against these monsters from the sea? Yeah, that's one. Ok, he has a list now.

1) Chuck.

2) Protecting the Earth.

Ok. A sad, little list but a list none the less.

He had thought about this list for some time now. It had begun to worry him that he generally could say he didn't have a lot of things to care about. But he has two things on it, that's a start, right? Sure it is.

Herc leans back in the cold metal chair, trying to keep Max from slobbering all over his boots. He shoves the fifty pounds of fat away from him, but the ridiculous dog only returns and with a snuffle, he flops down on Herc's toes.

"I think you broke something, ya mutt." Herc mumbles and tries to move the dog, who shows no interest of moving, instead rolls on his back and lets his stubby legs flop over his head. He snuffles again, clearly wanting a stomach rub. Herc rolls his eyes and before he can oblige to the dog, he hears a familiar voice.

"Ah, Max. You're the cutest thing ever." She says. The woman comes up and kneels, taking Max's flabby face and begins rubbing it. She kisses his head and then looks up at Herc.

"Hey there, kid." He says. The corners of her mouth twitch, almost allowing herself to smile but then stops herself at the last moment. She let's go of Max and stands up, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Did you hear about the new pilot that Stacker's bringing in?" she asks him.

Herc nods, but takes a moment to rub Max's forehead before answering. "I've seen him before. He's a good one." He responds, thinking back to his time with Raleigh Becket. The woman nods and then begins to walk away before Herc grabs her arm and pulls her back. She didn't answer him with some witty comeback or give him some order. That's unusual. And that means something's wrong with her.

"What's wrong, kid?" he asks her. She opens her mouth to answer, but then bites her lip and looks down.

"I can't tell you, Herc." She whispers.

"You can tell me anything. And you know that." He tells her. She sighs and nods, but doesn't make a move to leave like he expected her to. Instead she leans down and rests her head on his shoulder. He closes his eyes and breathes in her familiar scent, letting his cheek rest on the top of her head. But then she's gone. He opens his eyes and watches as her form disappears down the steely grey hallway.

Ok, he's got another thing to add to the list. And her name is Geneva Lucas. The woman is someone Herc wouldn't want on his bad side. She's the only one who would ever be able to yell at Stacker (Though she's only ever did that once and then she was sent away for a month until Stacker's blood pressure went down.) Geneva is a kind of glorified personal assistant for Stacker.

Herc had never had a lot of experience with women, besides Angela. The occasional one night stand was about it and when the war with the Kaiju's started, he didn't have time to focus on another relationship and truthfully, he didn't really want to after Angela died. But he had to admit, losing Angela had left a gap in his life. He missed not having someone there to talk to when the days were particularly hard. Or someone to hold in the small hours of the night when he needed comfort, which to him comes in just the feeling of skin against skin. Of course, he's far too embarrassed and proud to admit that he needs that.

Five years after Angela died, he met Geneva. That's when she started working for Stacker. Herc couldn't deny the physical attraction he'd felt towards her when she first arrived. She walked in with a straight back and her lips were set in a thin line. She stared at the men and woman before her, taking them in and studying them. While she did that, Herc studied her. Long dark hair, drawn back into a tight braid. Pale skin and eyes that look almost grey. She had a slim figure and was wearing a leather jacket and tight black pants with boots. But she was looking at the men and woman like she would kill someone if they even looked at her the wrong way. Herc cocked his eyebrow. This one will be interesting to watch.

At first, he thought she was one of the most demanding people he'd ever met. Even worse than Stacker. She had countless fights with Chuck. Though Herc couldn't deny that he had a lot of it coming to him. But she kept Chuck on his toes at least. He'd often had to pull his son away from the woman because he was turning red and Herc could swear there was steam coming out of his ears. But that's how she and Herc began talking. Over time, he began seeking Geneva's company. She never supplied him with fake hope that other's tried to do. She never said "It'll be alright, just wait and see." or "This will all end soon." He didn't need to hear that. He knew it wasn't true. So, instead, she would just talk to him normally, as if they were old friends going out for a drink and catching up. Eventually, they started spending nights together. He remembers the reason they started to do that...

It was a particularly bad day, when they had lost yet another Jaeger and two pilots who had been friends to them both. He went looking for her that night and then discovered she was looking for him too. She was different that night. Her hair wasn't up, it was down and hung in messy waves around her face. She wasn't crying, she hadn't cried in years. But she looked so... Defeated. The passionate fire that was always in her eyes was gone, extinguished like a flame that's been blown out. She was leaning against the wall, as if needing support from it. Herc felt his blood boil.

"Stop that." he snaps, his voice harsh.

"Stop what?" she asks, not looking him eyes.

"Don't you dare give up! Not now!" he shouts at her. She jumps back, staring with him with wide eyes.

"There's barely anyone left, Herc. What are we supposed to do?" she asks him.

"Fight. Until the last bloody man! Until then, you're not allowed to give up! Do you hear me?! Don't give up on them," he shouts at her again. Everyone else can lose hope and get that defeated look in their eyes, but she can't. She just can't. The fire she has radiates on to him. If she loses it, he might too. But when he's looking at her now, she doesn't look strong. She looks like a broken little girl. He sighs and takes a step closer to her, holding out his hand. She hesitantly put her hand in his and he closes his fingers around it. "I promised you that this would end. And it will eventually, whether it's because we defeated them or we died trying. But I promised you it would end. Will you trust me? Don't give up on me. Please, kid. Please don't give up on me." he says, his voice considerably softer and calmer. She breathes out and straightens up to her usual posture. She nods and gives him a swift kiss on the cheek as an answer. That was the first night they ever spent together. They went back to her room and fell asleep in each others arms...

Herc always marveled about how different Geneva is from Angela. Angela was kind and soft-spoken, sensitive and delicate. Geneva is of those "no bullshit" people. Angela used to smile all the time. Geneva rarely does. She does smile occasionally, but it's usually just for him. He savors those small smiles. Angela was beautiful, with tanned skin from so many years in the sun and her curly blonde hair and those bright blue eyes and her soft pink lips. Her beauty was the kind that drew you in and you couldn't look away from her. Geneva on the other hand is... Different. She's beautiful, but in a startlingly way. Her face is sharp and defined. Her eyes are cold, her lips are pale. Her hair only adds to her harsh appearance. When someone would look at Angela, they would get a feeling of warmth and comfort. When they look at Geneva, they get almost... frightened. But to Herc, she is beautiful, but in her own way. In a way that only he sees.

Ok, his list has three things on it.

1) Chuck.

2) Protecting the Earth.

3) Geneva.

o0o

Herc rolls on to his back, one arm tucked under his head. It's about 3:30am and he knows he should be getting some sleep, but he just couldn't find it tonight. But before he can try to sleep again, his door opens. He looks up, expecting to see Stacker or Chuck, but instead, there stands Geneva. Her hair is out of its usual braid and now hangs down her back in messy waves. She's wearing a simple grey tank top and black cloth pants.

"What are you doing here?" Herc asks. She's supposed to be in London, looking for some old Jaeger plans and wasn't due back till tomorrow.

"I couldn't find anything. Do you want me to leave?" she asks him. He quickly shakes his head. She walks over and positions herself around him, her legs intertwined with his and her head on his chest. He leans down and presses a kiss on her head. And a small smile spreads across her face.

He loved Angela. He really did. But he also knew that she wouldn't want him to dwell in the past and not move on. She told him that once, that if anything were to happen to her, he's not to close himself away and not allow himself to find someone else to love. So, he did what she said. Not that Geneva will ever replace Angela, but she fills in the gap Angela left behind, and she makes him smile again.

Geneva props herself up so she's staring at him with those beautiful eyes of hers, shaking him out of his thoughts.

"You're beautiful, kid." He says, almost absent-mindedly.

"You don't ever compliment me unless you're about to tell me something serious. Am I in trouble?" she asks and looks generally worried.

He snorts, brushing a piece of her hair behind her ear before continuing. "No. You're not. I just thought I should tell you if I don't get another chance."

"Don't say that."

"Geneva, you know what could happen-"

"Yes I do and that's why I refuse to allow you to say it. I don't care, Herc. You're not leaving me. I need you." She whispers. Before he can answer, her lips are on his, silencing any argument he had to make.

Once Geneva is settled on his chest, her eyes closed and her breathing steady, Herc goes over his list again.

1) Chuck.

2) Protecting the Earth.

3) Geneva.

Yup, he doesn't have a lot of things on that list of his. But perhaps, that makes him love those things so much more. Chuck is his son-who may deserve an ass kicking but he'll deal with that later-and he loves him dearly. He wants to keep the Earth, his home safe and he loves that too. And last is the woman who fights for her home, who doesn't love a lot of things either but who chooses to love him too. Sometimes when he feels the weight of his circumstances weighing down on him, he just repeats his list. Yes, he's lost things. But he has the things on his list and those things keep him alive and fighting.