Summary: Mulan, an Army woman comes home after two years of being in the battlefield. Throughout the two weeks, she befriends a local girl, Aurora. Loosely based off 'Dear John' MODERN AU: SLEEPING WARRIORS.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything!
Chapter 9: Still Friends
FAST FORWARD. TWO MONTHS LATER
It took Aurora two months to gather up her courage to finally talk to Mulan through letter. Aurora was sincere in her letter, proving that she was truly sorry for the way she had acted, she felt guilty of ruining Mulan's leave even more after Hua Zhou's death.
Mulan sat down in front of the fire reading Aurora's letter carefully, made sure to ask her about the small details she wanted to make sure of. On one lap, there was Aurora's letter, on the other, a clipboard with a few sheets of paper. Mulan tapped the pen thinking before she wrote.
"Hello, Mulan" Phillip sat down with Mulan on the log in front of the fire. "You should probably be the first one to know my decision" Phillip rubbed his palms together blowing into it for warmth.
Mulan placed down the letter first and looked at Phillip. "What?"
"Well, I finished my three year of serving in the military, I'm going to settle down now" Phillip avoided eye contact. He knew that this would hurt Mulan, after years of being partners. They traveled almost everywhere together.
"Only three years?" Mulan folded Aurora's letter back and slipped it inside the envelope. "Mine states four"
"Yes. That's what my contract states" Phillip said. "I'm sorry" Phillip took hold of her hand and gave a sincere smile.
Mulan watched the fire burn right in front of her, "What about us?" Mulan looked up at Phillip. "Did you ever consider our relationship?" Mulan squinted her eyes at Phillip who didn't know what to answer.
Mulan is a considerable person, she kept calm if she had to. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spatted at you." Mulan's hand pulled away from Phillip's, "We have an expiration date, don't we?"
"I love you, Mulan, but my love for you can't extend up to more than best friends" Phillip said, they both sat awkwardly next to each other giving a proper boundary against each others bodies.
"I've been pinning for you ever since I met you… I dropped out of college so I could follow you here. I know it sounds creepy but… now, I don't know. I guess we got too close being friends that, it's just weird being lovers"
"Do you ever look back and wished that you never dropped out of college?"
"No. I think I learned more out here rather than being stuck inside a school" Mulan smiled thinking what her life would be if she did finish West Point. Would she and Phillip be friends at all?
Phillip smiled at Mulan, "Friends?"
"Friends"
No hard feelings. A mutual decision. They just had an expiration date.
Another two months has passed and everything was back to normal, well, some of it.
For Mulan, her father was gone but being so far away, it didn't take that much effect on her usual daily life. Aurora was taking good care of Little Brother which relieved Mulan very much. The one thing that changed is that Phillip is gone.
Phillip is probably someone back in the States, home. With his mother and father to greet "Welcome home, son". Phillip would be running around looking for his "true love" who would be out there for him. There are billions of fishes out there, but there's only one for each person.
For Aurora on the other hand, life was still the same, she had already graduated a few years ago and currently working. Aurora took good care of Little Brother, sometimes Little Brother thinks that the old Hua house is still his home, it still is, but there's no one to take care of him there. Aurora misses Mister Hua, she misses his company and his authentic Chinese cooking. Their conversations were limited because of his poor English, but they have conversations and it kept them occupied.
Aurora still can't stop thinking about Mulan but it was clear that Mulan was not interested in a relationship with another woman. Mulan kissed her though. Mulan kissed her.
Neither of them talked about the kiss through letters, they both knew that it was something that they're both not ready to talk about. Not yet anyways.
"Oh, shit" Aurora cursed as a man spilled coffee all over her shirt, "First I'm running late to work and you just spilled coffee all over me" Aurora tried to wipe it off, it was coffee, it wasn't going to work.
"I'm so sorry" A man with an accent said wanting to help her out but he didn't want to touch her that might make her feel like he's invading her privacy. He tried to think, "Here, have my scarf. To cover it up at least"
Aurora took the scarf right in front of her and looked at the man's face. A handsome face indeed. "Thank you" Aurora muttered as she fixed it in place. "I have to go, I'll give this back to you…" Aurora started walking, "If I see you again" Aurora yelled as she walked backwards almost bumping into people.
"Wait, let me walk you" The man ran next to Aurora and help her with her bag. "I'm truly sorry"
"It's fine. I'm just not having the best day so far" Aurora mentioned almost reaching her destination. "I'm Aurora, by the way. Are you new here or are you a foreigner?"
"I'm new here, I just moved in recently and I'm looking around the city. My name is Phillip"
"Well, Phillip. I guess I'll see you around if you're new here" Aurora smiled as she entered the building leaving Phillip to mesmerize her beauty.
Mulan received their new commanding officer just a few weeks ago, a woman. Captain Emma Swan. She was definitely something, Mulan can sense it. The first time Mulan received a letter from Aurora under her new commanding officer was quite strict.
Captain Swan inspected the letter to make sure that it wasn't anything that could link them to the enemy. Emma gave Mulan a weird look after browsing through the letter, "Who is this from?" Emma gave Mulan her letter.
"A friend back home"
"Friend… Ok" Emma left Mulan alone to read the letter.
Dear Mulan,
I've met a new guy in the city, he walks with me everyday to work after spilling coffee on my shirt and he provides me company. It's nice to actually converse with someone outside work and from someone so far away.
I see that you got a new commanding officer. A woman. You're not the only badass chick there. Hope that's doing well.
I know we haven't brought up the topic of our kiss but… if you're ready to talk. I am too. I just wanted you to know that.
Love always, Aurora.
Captain Swan must've seen the kiss part that Aurora mentioned which got Mulan to blush madly.
Dear Aurora,
I'm glad to know that you're not lonely and depressed, I hope that guy gives you the company you deserve to have, I mean it. I feel bad to only be conversing with you through letters and sometimes five minute Skype or phone calls once in a while.
My commanding officer just saw what you wrote and I blushed madly. I think she saw the part where you wrote about the kiss and she gave me a weird look. She has a very intimidating aura around her.
We'll talk when I get home.
Love always, Mulan.
Love me or hate me, I still love you guys!
R&R
Tumblr : Sleeping-warrior (two dashes)
-SleepingWarriors
