Warning: spoiler if you haven't seen at least season 4
Why
Setting: after season 4
Rating: K+
POV: Normal POV
"Has anyone seen Aelita?" Jeremy asked as he sat down for breakfast. Odd, Ulrich, and Yumi shook their heads. "I'll call her," Yumi offered, pulling out her phone and dialing the number. "Thanks," Jeremy said. He started eating while Yumi momentarily stood and went to a corner of the room.
She came back shortly, reporting that she had only got voicemail.
Jeremy sighed. "Hey Jeremy, relax," Ulrich said. "She could have overslept or something," Odd pointed out. "I know…" Jeremy said. After one of his best friends had repeatedly gotten kidnapped and hurt by an evil AI, you couldn't really blame him for being worried. He was always on edge when it came to Aelita.
"I'm going to go check her room," Jeremy said, standing up and pushing his tray to Odd. He dug in while Ulrich and Yumi watched Jeremy leave.
A minute later he was in front of her dorm, stomach churning with nervousness. Jeremy gently rapped his knuckles three times against the door. "Aelita…? It's me, Jeremy; are you there?" he called hesitantly. "Come in," came her quiet voice.
Jeremy sighed with relief until he realized her voice sounded different. He opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind him. Aelita was dressed in her normal dark pink dress with light pink knee-high tights. She was barefoot with her legs folded neatly underneath herself, sitting on the bed.
The pink haired girl had a picture in her hand.
She looked upset, and Jeremy saw her quickly raise her hand to her eyes. Why would she be doing that? He wondered. Aelita could be crying, but she hardly ever cried. That was actually impressive for a girl with her amount of stress.
"Aelita, are you all right?" Jeremy asked, walking over to her bed. "Yes, I'm just…" she didn't finish her sentence. The picture she was holding was her father, none other than Franz Hopper.
Aelita felt tears pushing their way out of her eyes, despite her valiant efforts to stop them. So as not to get her bed dirty, Jeremy kicked off his shoes and sat next to her. Aelita tried to take a deep breath to calm herself, but all it did was give her the needed air to start crying.
Hot, salty, tears full of loss, sorrow, grief, and loneliness streamed down her face, splashing on the photo. Up until now, Jeremy had been studying the photo, but he looked up when the tears fell. Aelita made eye contact and quickly turned her head away, not wanting Jeremy to see her tears.
Of course the boy had already seen them, and he put a hand on her shoulder. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. "Is anyone there?" it was Yumi. "Yes," Aelita replied before Jeremy could say anything.
"Aelita; can we come in?" it was Odd's voice this time. Aelita didn't answer, so the door opened a crack. The group witnessed the small scene on her bed.
Aelita quickly turned away and put a hand on the side of her face. It was bad enough she was crying in front of Jeremy; she didn't want to be seen crying in front of all her friends. Unseen by Aelita, Jeremy shook his head slightly and cocked it, hinting that they should go.
They nodded and started to close the door, but Yumi kept it open a crack and popped her head in.
"There's no shame in crying Aelita," she said softly. Only then did she have the courage to make eye contact with Yumi. Aelita blinked and more tears streamed down her cheeks. She nodded her thanks. Yumi dipped her head back, gazing at her solemnly before closing it.
Once she was gone, Jeremy had the courage to slip her hand into his. Aelita looked at him and just continued crying. "I miss him Jeremy," she cried in a broken voice. "I know you do Aelita," he said softly.
Now she was sobbing, not just crying. Aelita looked absolutely miserable.
The blond boy murmured some comforting words to her, but they didn't seem to do anything but make her cry harder. Overcoming his shyness, Jeremy wrapped an arm around Aelita and pulled her closer. Nonetheless, he couldn't help but blush a little. She collapsed sobbing into his embrace.
Jeremy held her trembling form and she complied, wrapping her arms around him. "It's ok," he murmured. She cried into his shoulder.
Aelita cried, and cried, and cried all the tears she had held in since her father's death. To Jeremy's infinite surprise, she lifted her head, brushed a gentle kiss against his cheek, and blushed.
Aelita then laid her head back on her shoulder, seeming content. Jeremy flushed a deep crimson. "Wh-What was that for?" Jeremy stammered, a little light headed. "I think you know," Aelita murmured, flushing the same color as Jeremy. Indeed, Jeremy was pretty sure he knew why.