To the Moon and Back

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It had been a long time since Viral had laid eyes on his ex-nemesis and he wasn't sure how the recollection of the sight had made him feel. He'd worn a forlorn knot in his brow as he'd stared up into the face of the audacious man who had dared to dream of a life on the surface, a man he'd been meant to suppress. Yet, even after his death, they hadn't managed to suppress even his ideals. Instead, humanity had risen, conquered and flourished. That was a reality that even he could commend.

"Fancy seeing you here, Commander."

Viral had startled from his thoughts, jerking his gaze around to where Neirah had slowly approached from behind him. She had been watching the birds chirp on the statue's head as she'd stepped toward him but he had yet to remove his gaze from her whimsical expression. "You persist with that title after all these years," he announced impatiently. "I don't command you anymore. I'm not even sure that I did back then."

Neirah had paused by his side and turned to smile brightly back. "You sound bitter," she instigated casually. "Bold for a man reminiscing at the feet of one he helped to remove from this world."

He'd flinched to the impact of her light-hearted statement, immediately proceeding on the defensive. "I was just-"

"It doesn't matter much nowadays," she assured him gently. "The past is in the past, and because it's there, it means we've moved forward." She'd returned her gaze to the mighty sight before her with a casual smile, grateful that the monument had been returned to its former glory in the town centre. "Maybe we both did some terrible things, but somewhere along the line, we learned that they were terrible. Personally, I believe we're better for it."

Viral had diverted his gaze nervously towards the ground. "You humans are a little too forgiving for my liking..."

"Well if we weren't, neither of us would be standing here having this conversation," she teased. "Don't forget, that first night I spent on the surface carried every intention on ending the life that started a war. I think we've both come a long way since then."

Viral had snorted his impatience. "Speak for yourself."

"How modest of you, Commander," she sang. "The fact that you haven't made a single attempt on any of us since you were released from prison says enough on its own." Her gaze had humbled with regret as she'd lowered it and tried to keep a trace of positivity on her face. "The fact that you will stand next to me at all says even more."

He'd slowly rolled his gaze towards where she'd lingered by his side, his expression softening to recall other lives lost over the duration of their battles. "That day you came to me, the day I thought you'd come to take my life, you never told me."

She'd given her head a gentle shake. "What good would it have done?" she murmured quietly. "Hating you for it wouldn't have brought him back. I should know. I hated myself enough for both of us."

Viral had surrendered a soft chortle of amusement when he'd returned his meandering gaze to where the Kamina City monument had stood proudly before them. "Well this is a cheery conversation," he mused. "So we've determined that we're both horrible creatures undeserving of forgiveness. Now what?"

"We accept that we have it." She'd let him swing around to face her audacious insinuation with a bemused expression on his face. "Whether we feel like we deserve it or not is irrelevant. You've met these people. Nothing about them ever seems to make any sense."

He'd let his scowl soften until he'd been smirking his agreement. "Isn't that the truth? Although, I don't know if that's very comforting."

"Have you thought about it?"

Viral had turned his curious expression back towards her. "About?"

"About what Simon said. He asked you to be Gurren's pilot. I assume that's why you're here now."

He'd redirected his attention to the statue before them, feeling the weight of guilt return to his breast.

"Simon was the one affected most by Kamina's death. He was closer to that man than anyone else," she justified. "That he's forgiven us at all should say all you need to hear."

"I don't think it's about forgiveness," Viral admitted humbly. "It's something else. I'm just... not sure what it is. But standing here and thinking about it makes me feel like... maybe we had it all wrong from the start." He'd redirected his gaze around the park, taking note of the diversity around him. "We'd raged war like it would be one or the other with no questions asked. No one had ever considered coexistence."

"To be fair, I don't think that was even part of Kamina's endgame," she mused fondly. "That was all Simon."

"Is there a difference?" Neirah had flinched at his side as he'd looked back up at the statue beneath his furrowed brow. "Maybe it's because all you humans look alike to me, but there's something about him..."

Neirah had sighed the moment Viral had clammed up, his sharpening amber leer shifting into his peripherals over his shoulder. "It really makes you wonder, doesn't it?" she teased. She'd straightened by his side and redirected her own gaze to where they'd been joined by an unexpected visitor. "You're trying to sneak up on a pair of trained soldiers, one possessing the senses of a feline. Humour me with your expectations."

Kittan had wrinkled his venomous grimace and continued to glower at the chummy pair wrathfully, his flexing fingers buried deep in his pockets. "Who said I was sneaking?" he growled. "I ain't scared of him."

"Kittan, I have personally knocked you into submission. You should be terrified of the man responsible for teaching me everything I know."

"Hey! I let you win 'cause yer a chick!"

"Chivalry is no excuse for failure."

"Don't turn this around! It ain't you I'm after!"

"Myself or my commander, a fool is a fool."

"What, you think I can't win?!"

Neirah had turned to face him squarely, her gaze sharp and her once kind expression becoming crooked with warning. "That is equally as immaterial if I don't let you pose a threat."

Kittan had removed his hands from his pockets when he'd lurched forward on the offensive. "You're seriously gonna defend him!? After all he's done!?"

Neirah had taken a steady step towards him in defence of her leader. "Simon has approved his release from prison, and after willingly aiding our cause yesterday, he hasn't done any of us-"

"It's fine," Viral interrupted evenly. "I did surrender to whatever judgment he passed upon our return. I destroyed his village, after all." His gaze had tapered conceitedly as he'd stared his opponent down with a hostile scowl. "I singlehandedly stripped him of his friends and family in cold blood; a crime not easily forgotten." He'd approached Kittan with the hard expression on his features, his strides casual and confident. "It seems that not all of you humans are as forgiving as yourself and your fearless leader. Perhaps this should be reassuring."

Neirah had heaved a heavy sigh as she'd watched Kittan's expression darken with malice. "Speaking from experience, Commander, chastising him isn't the best approach."

"You think yer so tough!" Kittan raged. He'd tossed his arm wide to one side in a swift sweep as he'd prepared for combat. "But I've taken out hundreds of you creeps over the years!"

"And yet here you stand patronizing me for my own sins," Viral growled impatiently. He'd tipped his exhausted expression to one side with an aggravated scoff. "Typical."

"Typical?!" Kittan roared. "Listen here you-"

Viral had narrowed his unenthused gaze by Neirah's side, listening to his subordinate sigh her exhaustion. "He's a rather angry fellow, isn't he?"

Neirah had dropped her hand from where it had been massaging her brow with a defeated groan. "Kittan, you're being grumpy again," Neirah reminded him casually. "What happened to 'if Neirah says he's alright that's good enough for me'?"

"But just listen to 'im!" Kittan defended energetically. "He doesn't even give a crap about what he's done!"

"And you think fighting him is going to change that?" Neirah had sighed her surrender as she'd watched Kittan begin to humble. "Do you remember what you told me back on Dai-Gurren after you interrupted my meditation?"

"I bet that went well," Viral chirped.

"Butt out!" Kittan barked anxiously. "What about it?!"

Neirah had stood by her commander's side faithfully with a calm smile on her face. "I made you bleed that day to try and prove a point and you looked me straight in the eye and mocked my efforts. With more determination than I had ever seen, you assured me that you would continue to bleed before you gave up the fight." She hadn't removed her gaze from Kittan's even as she'd felt her commander redirect his consideration her way. "That is what a warrior does. They hold onto their ideals until the very end."

Kittan had recoiled hesitantly in consideration of her sentiment. "Well... it'd make me feel a hell of a lot better..."

"That's why the commander gave you permission to take out your frustrations on him," she mused kindly. "He's immortal, after all. He has no need to fear a human. If he'd wanted to fight back, we would have more than one war on our hands."

Kittan had thrown his head back and stomped his bitter defiance. "Awhn crap why you gotta go sidin' with him anyways?! You're supposed to be on my side! You swore your sword and all that!"

Neirah had chuckled fondly. "I did. And I'd rather not use it in a futile effort against my own commander. I just finished praising humanity as a whole for their ability to forgive and move forward. Please don't be the anomaly."

Viral had snickered triumphantly, folding his arms over his chest to leer back at the man in challenge. "Silenced by a woman. I see you haven't changed one bit."

"Commander," Neirah scolded swiftly. "It wouldn't hurt you to embrace comradery either." She'd watched triumphantly as he'd shivered with guilt. "You can start by being honest."

Viral had redirected his humbly displeased groan in her direction as she'd turned the lecture around on him. He'd grumbled miserably as Neirah had nodded towards Kittan, gently shooing the apprehensive beastman towards the livid blonde.

The two had diverted their gazes, both miserable to be put on the spot by the moderating beauty in their company. As he had earlier, Viral had proven that he was the bigger man, thrusting out his hand towards the venting Kittan.

Kittan had looked down towards the beastman's offering before glaring back at him beneath one cocked brow with the utmost scepticism. "The hell is this? Some kinda joke or somethin'?"

Viral had looked down at his hand before raising his hard gaze back towards the man he'd made his best effort to sympathize with. "I'm..." He'd tipped his inquisitive gaze towards Neirah before making direct eye contact with the eldest black sibling. "I'm sorry..."

Kittan's bemused expression had faltered in disbelief. "You're what?"

"I was given an order to exterminate humans, and I did," Viral muttered bleakly. "It's why I was created and I never questioned my purpose." He'd rolled his peripherals towards the woman at his back. "Perhaps if I had of, we would have seen this future become reality a lot sooner."

Kittan had looked down into the blushing beastman's open palm before redirecting his bemused expression Neirah's way. He'd taken her subliminal hand gestures as encouragement as slowly reached out to take the man's hand. "I'm... I'm sorry too, I guess..." he grumbled in surrender. "Dunno what for but-" He'd yelped to the feeling of Neirah casually cuffing him upside the head with lightning fast movements. "Ow! Damn it, crazy lady!"

"Try again, cowboy."

He'd groaned shrilly and returned his attention towards Viral. "Okay, okay! Sorry for bein' a jerk. Nobody's perfect, I guess..."

"Delightful!" Neirah almost cheered. She'd wrapped both of her hands around theirs with a blissful smile before turning and hastening away. "I'm glad we got that all sorted out. Now, you boys play nice. I was supposed to meet Kidd an hour ago for a lunch date."

The two had still had their hands locked as their wide and uncertain gazes had watched her retreat. "Wait," Kittan muttered darkly. "D'she just say; 'meet Kidd'?"

"That is the name of her mate, is it not?"

Kittan had released the uninformed beastman's hand, fleeing backwards in panic. "By mate, you mean like her pal, right?!"

Viral's expression had remained even despite Kittan's raving. "Not quite."

Kittan had ripped his hands back through his hair with a furiously panicked bark. "How d'you figure?! Did she say that!?"

"I just assumed-"

"Don't do that!" he raged. "Human rule number one! The battle's not over 'til it's over!"

Viral had raised a single claw with a vacant look on his face but before he could speak, Kittan had been storming away with a bitter snarl.

"Forget it!" he called back edgily. "I got bigger fish to fry so you're off the hook for now!"

"You value her then?"

Kittan had paused, halting his exit when he'd heard the quiet man interrupt his rampage. He'd continued to stare after her, the blunt insinuation of her ex-commander causing his expression to soften. "Maybe," he challenged. He'd swung around to face Viral impatiently. "What's it to you?"

"She thinks very highly of you." He'd watched Kittan's expression moderate with his surprise for a moment before he'd diverted his own. "She respects you. That's why she follows you..."

It was the first time that Kittan had seen a genuine look of regret on the man's face and he'd been staggered by the weight of his words. They'd lingered for a long moment in silence before Kittan had broken it. "Y'know, it's really chewed the kid up over the years." He'd waited for Viral to redirect his gaze before continuing with a small and reassuring smile on his face. "Even after the war and all... she talked about you a lot. She says that yer part of the reason she made it this far, and I believe her. But we're part of it too." His grin had grown broader as Viral's humbled expression had grown enlightened with his sentiment. "You see, that's what happens when a lone wolf joins a pack n' we're pretty good at lookin' out for our own so I don't blame ya if you wanna get behind us."

"You think I need your protection?" Viral instigated dryly.

"Neirah didn't," Kittan hummed casually. "But if you end up figurin' that this's yer fight too, I'll put in a good word for ya with the boys."

"Really?" he added sardonically. "After all of your raving-"

"I won't lie, it hurt. Losin' everything I knew and loved cut me real deep," he assured him sternly. "After what happened at Tetsai, she asked me when it'd stop hurtin' and I told 'er that I didn't think it ever did." He'd raised his gentle smile back to where Viral had caught his underlying message. "Guess I was wrong."

Viral had bowed his head solemnly and considered the impact of his forgiveness. "You people are durable, I'll give you that."

"We bleed. Just like everythin' else," Kittan assured him confidently. "But we keep fightin' and, someday, we'll heal."

Viral had slowly raised his gaze to face him directly. "I can respect that."

Kittan's grin had grown broad and wicked as he'd tipped his fingers to his brow in a swift salute. "Glad ta have you on our side," he announced positively. "Simon was askin' for you earlier so if yer done mopin' around, you should sync up with him. What with you piloting Gurren n' all, you two should probably be on the same page."

"I didn't-!"

"Later!"

Viral had relaxed before he could get his defence out and he'd immediately felt some of the guilty weight on his chest lift. Like the day he'd first taken Gurren's controls to aid Simon, another relief had flooded his tired body. Forgiving hadn't been easy, but as he'd done so, he'd begun to feel progressively more positive. A fond smile had spread across his features as he'd watched Kittan chase after the woman to leave them behind. He had an eternity of life ahead of him; a span far too long to hold onto a grudge.

It had become obvious to her after a rather thorough search for her missing comrade where he'd been. After their first confrontation with the enemy, nobody had returned to their daily grind. It would be the last place anyone would look for him.

Her footsteps were gentle as she'd slipped through the quiet building and even though his office had been darkened, she could still hear the rustling of papers from down the hall in the gravely silent room ahead. Sure enough, when she'd rounded the doorway, she'd seen him hunched over his desk by the afternoon light spilling through his office window. "Back to work already?" she teased spiritedly.

He hadn't seemed surprised by the fact that she'd joined him. "Ch'yeah right..." he grumbled. "Sorry, Nei... Guess I forgot about lunch."

She'd taken his acknowledgement as his invitation to join him despite him not rising from his diligent efforts. "You could have fooled me." She'd joined him by his desk, leaning over his slouching posture until her breasts were resisting her effort to see what he'd been up to. The act had made the bashful man take pause to consider her nearness, his face igniting outside her comprehension. "So if you're not working, why are you here?"

Her innocent inquiry had made him flinch, his attention shooting towards the paper in front of him. His gaze had faltered in consideration of her insinuation but he'd soon returned to his self-proclaimed assignment. "I'm... I'm writin' yer letter."

Neirah had been the one to startle next the moment she'd eased away from his concentration. "Is it that time of the month already?"

Kidd had slowly leaned onto his desk, one arm folded around the lined sheet so that he could rest his head in it as he scribed. "Not really," he calmly justified. "I just..." His pen strokes had started to slow again as his vexed expression had watched his words fail to form. "Didn't wanna miss one, y'know...? With all that's happenin'... We do this every month; have been since you started teachin' me how to write."

Neirah's expression had grown vacant with worry as she'd watched him fight to accomplish his purpose. "Kidd... You're..." She'd slowly reached out and felt for the chair behind her before capturing it and drawing it underneath her. She'd sat by his side, watching nervously as he'd sniffled and rubbed his face on his sleeve before pressing forward. "Are you... nervous about the anti-spirals?"

He'd tossed his pen down, flopping impatiently against the back of his chair. "I'm scared as hell, Nei," he admitted bleakly. "Have been ever since we got back."

She'd stared back at him in shock and disbelief. "But... How did I not..."

"Notice? Don't sweat it," he muttered despondently. "I learned my lesson the first time. If I crack, the guys won't take me seriously. It was the same thing back when we lost Kamina. Zee chewed me out and I've just been dealin' ever since." He'd shifted his sheepish gaze towards her with a meek smile. "I guess in a way, they really toughened me up. But it's just like I told ya the day we met... And now I can't shake the feelin' that this one's bigger than us."

"I don't like this," she murmured apprehensively. "Kidd, you can't talk like that. Fear leads to hesitation. Hesitation leads to-"

"Relax, Nei," he reassured her softly. "It won't be so bad once we get at it, but it's all this waitin' around... I just get thinkin' and..."

She'd quietly returned to where she stood behind him, draping her arms around his shoulders and resting her chin on the top of his head. The act had been meant to offer him comfort, but she'd also shared the benefits. "You're right, I'm sorry," she whispered. "It's easy to be brave when you're surrounded by your friends; surrounded by their courage. We make each other stronger."

"Yeah..." he muttered distantly. He'd continued to stare into the words on his page as he'd reached up and taken her folded hands beneath his. "We do, huh?"

She'd nodded gently before laying her cheek against the top of his head. "I mean, just think. When we first met, I was too afraid to speak to you." She'd smiled lovingly and slipped away just far enough that he could catch the sight of her flashing him a smile. "And now you're my best friend in the entire world."

He'd jerked back to look at her squarely. "Really? Even more than Yoko?"

She'd given him a wry smirk. "Kidd, she abandoned me for years, not to mention the time she almost shot me."

"Hey, technically that was Kittan's fault; she said so herself," he corrected. "Trust me, if she wanted you shot, you'd be shot. She ain't far off you in that sense."

Neirah had giggled lightly at the thought. "Well actually-"

"I know..." he whispered sombrely. He'd felt her grip around him falter to his announcement but his hand had only tightened around her pressure. "I knew it that day back then when I tried to save you girls from the beastmen... I saw it... in yer eyes..."

Her smile had grown tender the moment she'd considered his keen insight. "It was in my eyes..."

He'd stared vacantly forwards, his thoughts rampant. "Yeah... yer eyes... Everythin's right there, y'know? Like this bright, wide open space full of life. It's peaceful there... I mean, just one look and nothin'... nothin' else matters anymore..."

Neirah's expression had faltered as she'd lingered against him, too affected by the power of his statement to connect their gazes. "Kind of like... that woman you told me about," she whispered frailly.

"Yeah..." he muttered evenly. "Just like 'er..."

Her throat had worked nervously as she'd slipped away from him. "Did you... ever tell her? How you really felt?"

He hadn't redirected his gaze as he'd given his head a slow shake. "Nah," he breathed out hoarsely. "She knows. She always knew..." Her expression had knotted with disdain as she'd watched his meek surrender force a brave smile to light up his expression. "Besides, she's into someone else."

Neirah's gaze had grown wide and apprehensive as she'd stared back at him in shock and alarm, her tattooed cheeks flushing hot with guilt. "She... you think so?"

He'd smiled back at her knowingly for a moment before his confidence had faded, leaving him to divert his bashful smirk. "I know it," he teased. "She's been crazy about 'im for a while now and he's just too dense to see it. But when he finally figures it out, I know he's gonna treat 'er good... He... he told me himself."

"Kidd..."

"I do love 'er... I love her to the moon and back, Nei. I do..." His smile had faltered miserably when his tears had touched his trembling lips. "And I'm gonna keep 'er safe out there... 'Cause she's my girl." He'd sniffed back his emotion and wiped his running nose. "And my world'd just be empty if she weren't in it."

She'd draped herself tightly around him as he'd snivelled miserably in the fading sunlight. "Please stop," she whispered miserably. "I can't listen to this anymore." She'd buried her face in his nape and chuckled weakly as she'd fought the wrenching of her gut. "You're making me... jealous, because... I'm your number one girl... remember?"

His lips had trembled around his forced smile. "Sure are," he announced weakly. "And when we're done with those freaks, they're not gonna know what hit 'em." His gaze had flashed wide with bewilderment when he'd felt the warmth of her lips press lightly against one of his cheeks, and after a moment of consideration, he'd tipped his astonished expression towards her endearing smile. "W-what was that for...?"

"For staying by my side," she whispered tenderly. "Just knowing you're there makes me feel safe..."

His blushing expression had dropped with bashful pride as he'd stared back at her. "R-really? I do?"

She'd bobbed her head in a gentle nod. "Mhm. It's been that way since the day you first convinced me to come down from Kamina's gunmen. So, it doesn't matter if you're scared, or if I'm scared because I know that as long as we're in this together, we'll find the courage we need."

His softening expression had grown wicked as he'd closed his eyes and bowed his head. "Yeah, you're right," he gently conceded. "We got this..."

"Of course we do," she murmured proudly. "Just who the hell do you think we are?"

Kittan's hands were buried deep in his pockets as he'd meandered through the empty streets. He could feel the weight of his tiny ring beneath his clammy palm but there wasn't a whole lot he'd felt that he could do about it. Just when he'd thought he might be getting close to figuring out how he would make his feelings known, someone had decided to go and try to destroy the world. That was just his luck.

"Sly bastard," he growled. "That little rat's probably puttin' the moves on 'er right now too." He'd growled lowly and kicked out at a pebble, watching it bounce right into a large postal box in front of him. When it had, his brow had been furrowing to the sight of his arch-rival in love closing the hatch on the large canister. Kittan had raised his gaze, cocking his head to one side as he'd watched Kidd ship out a letter by mail. "What the hell?" he murmured in bemusement. "Did you just... put somethin' in there?"

Kidd had turned to face his inquiry modestly. "Yeah, I did," he retorted dryly. "S'where letters go, ain't it?"

"Well I guess but..."

"But nothin'," he muttered evenly. "Some things are just meant to go together..." He hadn't addressed him any further as he'd begun to walk away.

"Whoa, hold up!" Kittan hollered impatiently. "What the hell's with the attitude?! I just asked a damn question." He'd sprinted forward to catch up with the man who'd been hastening away. "No need to get all defensive!"

Kidd had stopped in his tracks with an impatient growl. "It was a stupid question so don't waste my time!"

"The hell's that supposed to mean!?" Kittan barked defensively.

"It means that you never ask the right ones!" Kidd raged bitterly. "If you weren't twice as big as me, I'd deck you!"

Kittan had recoiled as Kidd had invaded his personal space like he had been ready to throw down. "Why are you so damn pissed off all of a sudden!?"

"Why are you so stupid?!" Kidd had shuddered as he'd watched his comrade flinch, still utterly confused about the attack. "A couple years back, you said you were gonna marry the girl of yer dreams and just the other day, some freaky space dwellers almost dropped the damn moon on 'er head and all you can do is ask me why I'm mailin' some stupid letter!? What even goes on in yer head?!"

Kittan's brow had knotted with his vexation. "Hey, watch it, pal!"

"Screw you," Kidd sneered impatiently. "I'm done, y'hear? If you don't tell 'er what she wants to hear when we're done, I'm gonna do it for you."

Kittan had stilled, bewildered by the other man's sudden shift in conversational direction. "Wait... that wasn't what was on the letter, was it?"

Kidd had diverted his gaze in the crimson glow of the sun setting. "Not this one but don't test me, partner."

"Man, yer pretty serious right now," he muttered nervously. "Did somethin' happen? I haven't seen you like this since that time she took off on us without tellin'-" He'd fled backwards in terror. "Awh crap! She isn't runnin' is she?!"

"Get real," Kidd mocked exasperatedly. "She's gonna be right there with the rest of us when we kick the crap outta those bastards and take Nia back. They took somethin' that don't belong to them and that don't sit well with her." He'd turned to face the sight of the stars starting to dot the sky as the fading colours of the sunset had started to blend together into the night. "Sometimes, I think she's tougher than all of us. S'been seven years and I don't think I've ever seen 'er cry once."

Kittan had joined him in looking up into a moonless sky. "Ya got that right," he swiftly concurred. "With her and Yoko back in action, I'd hate ta be the other guys." His expression had faltered as he'd caught the sight of the Cathedral Terra orbiting the earth in place of their bight moon. It had reminded him that their fight wasn't over. "Hey, speakin' of that, there's somethin' that I wanted to talk about."

Kidd had lowered his gaze, turning to face where Kittan's vexed expression had continued to stare up into the sky. "N' what's that? You make it sound kinda big. I'm usually the last guy you come to with stuff like that."

Kittan had recoiled, dropping his expression in line with his companion's. "Harsh," he grumbled. "You and I are pals."

Kidd had shrugged off Kittan's justification. "Sure, when Yoko and Simon aren't around."

Kittan had immediately lurched onto the offensive. "Oh yeah?! Well, I just don't think they got what it takes to get the job done this time so I ain't gonna ask them, alright?!"

Kidd had nervously flinched in alarm. "Say what...?"

"You heard me!" Kittan barked. "It's just..." His tone had softened less lethally as he'd focussed on clearing his thoughts. "It's just gotta be you..." He'd heaved a sigh of defeat and pulled his hand out of his pocket, carrying with it the ring he'd yet to place on the finger of his most treasured teammate. "You gotta promise me somethin'," he started meekly. "If somethin' happens out there and I don't make it back-" He hadn't had the time he'd needed to complete his sentence.

"Idiot!" Kidd barked fervently in denial. "Don't say stuff like that! If you start spoutin' crap like that, things are gonna fall apart real quick!"

"Look, it's not like my feet are cold or nothin', I'm just worried, that's all," he assured his comrade nervously. "I've never had ta think about stuff like this before. At least if I told my sisters to run they'd do it."

"Yeah? Well get not-worried!" Kidd ordered fervently. "Yer the one guy that the rest of us look up to when things get tough! That's why we followed you out here!"

"That so...?" He'd smiled fondly in reminiscence. "So even from his grave, the bastard does it again."

"Huh?"

"Nothin'." Kittan had dismissed his prying by stuffing Neirah's future ring into his pocket. "Y'know what I just realised? Everybody who's big's got someone behind 'em. I can talk tough 'cause I got you guys at my back." He'd turned and smiled back at his friend sincerely. "Guess we all make each other a lot stronger."

"Man, yer freakin' me out," he admitted quietly. "This ain't like you."

"Maybe you're right," he casually dismissed. He'd reached back behind his head and gave his nape a sheepish scratch. "This whole bein' in love thing's got me all messed up. I'm thinkin' about things that I usually wouldn't like... who's gonna look after her if it isn't me."

"See? Stupid questions!" Kidd argued impatiently. "It can't be anyone but you!"

"Hey, you saw what she was like out there," he cautioned sternly. "She's gone and thrown her lot in with the rest of us so she's just as reckless. She doesn't listen to a damn thing I say anymore."

"Cut her some slack!" Kidd defended. "She's just tryin' to do what's right by her!"

"She's gonna end up gettin' herself hurt or somethin' worse!" he argued passionately. "It's just like when we were fightin' the beastmen for the surface! Lookin' after your sorry ass almost got 'er killed! She went through the rest of the fight with one arm!"

"Don't put that on me!" Kidd defended fervently.

"If Zorthy wasn't watchin' her back, she might notta made it out of there alive!"

"I didn't ask 'er to save me!"

"But she did because-!" Kittan had hesitated the moment Kidd's expression had weakened with the sentiment. "Because... she loves you." He'd diverted his gaze sheepishly to admit the indisputable truth. "In her own way, I mean... She's always cared. And it's only gonna get worse from here on out. If any of us get into trouble, she won't think twice about stickin' her neck out."

"You're not gonna leave 'er behind," Kidd cautioned sternly. "I reckon she'd kick both our asses and go without us before she'd let that happen."

"You're right about that," he agreed. "That's why I'm gonna make sure that she's not the one doin' the savin'. If someone's got to, it'll be me... so-" He'd flinched with the sudden surge of fury overcoming Kidd's once calm expression.

"I'll kick yer ass myself," he growled. "If you go breakin' her heart, things're gonna get messy real quick n' that's my promise."

"Just listen-"

"No, you listen to me, partner," he derided. "It's always been you." His throat had worked dryly as he'd diverted his disappointed gaze from Kittan's scrutiny. "It's... It always was..."

Kittan had cocked a brow, his expression sceptical as he'd absorbed the weight of Kidd's reluctant confession. "It has?"

Kidd had closed his eyes and puffed out a frustrated breath. "Yeah..."

Kittan had looked down at his feet for a moment in an attempt to comprehend the admittance. "But... how do you know that-?"

"Look, I just know, okay? Nobody knows my girl like I do and if you don't wanna believe me then don't; see if I care. I got nothin' to gain by tellin' you, that's for damn sure," he muttered bitterly. "But she's scared. She doesn't show it much, but I know she is. She watched 'er ma come apart when her dad died and now she's got scars." He'd shifted his sharp leer towards the man in warning. "And if you go an' do the same damn thing to 'er, you won't just be worryin' about what's comin' from the front 'cause I'll be comin' at you from all sides."

Kidd had scoffed his indifference and tossed his arms back behind his diverted gaze. "But you're right, you are my pal... And I know yer gonna do right by her. That's all that really matters." He'd rolled his sheepish peripherals Kittan's way, absorbing the powerful sentiment of his humbling expression filling with admiration. "So, I ain't makin' the promise you want me to, y'hear? We're gonna go about this the same way we always have and when we're done, you're gonna look her square in the eye and tell her exactly how it's gonna be."

Kittan had raised his finger, his gaze tapering in confusion. "Wait... how did you...?"

Kidd had flown forwards waving his arms in defence at his sides. "I ain't stupid, that's how!" he snarled. "You can't keep her tied down. She's gonna be out there with us so we just gotta trust her like we've always done. Our girls are tough. They got every right to be out there protectin' what they care about as we do."

Kittan had diverted his nervous gaze with an exhausted sigh. "So in other words, you're gonna play hardball."

"I'm not playin'," Kidd argued callously. "Not with my girl..." He'd diverted his miserable gaze out towards the final breath of the sun before it had disappeared for another night. "She means more than the world to me... I just want her to be happy. If that's gotta be with you, I'm just gonna have to deal."

Kittan's brow had furrowed with his consideration. "Back when I told you guys that I was gonna ask her to be my wife, you came down on me pretty hard." He'd waited until Kidd had looked his way before continuing. "Now yer sayin' all this?"

Kidd hadn't wavered as he'd spoken. "I said she's crazy about you, I didn't say she'd marry you."

"Isn't that-"

"It's not the same!" Kidd argued impatiently. "But if you go out there and get yourself killed, it's not gonna matter either way. Let's just do this the Team Gurren way and get the job done."

Kittan had blinked back at him distantly. "Man, my head hurts. I think this talk actually made things more confusing..."

Kidd had heaved a heavy sigh before turning and starting away. "Dumbass," he growled. "I really don't know what she sees in you."

Kittan had shuddered and started to chase after him. "But she sees somethin' right?!"

"I ain't sayin' nothin' else."

"Oh come on! What'd she say!?"

"She didn't say anything! I already told you I just know these things!"

"So you lied."

"She doesn't tell me everythin', y'know! Sometimes I just have ta figure it out for myself!"

"... so, you lied."