Drabble for the prompt: "I still worry. I always worry."

One Moment More

Misa hovered in the background as the holographic map lit up the command room. She could see her husband on the far side, his skin awash with a blue green glow and his head bent forward listening intently as the Captain mapped out his plan. It made Misa anxious, the thought of Hikaru taking this mission on alone, but who was she to stand in the Captain's way.

Only Hikaru's wife.

A tiny shudder rippled through her frame, the fear creeping up and wrapping itself tightly around her chest until she couldn't breathe without wheezing. He was all she had left in the word, a man who had slipped under her skin and unwillingly charmed his way into her life with compassion and empathy and a love so deep she still expected to wake up every day and find it was all a dream. But she knew she shared him with a mistress. Another intangible lover that pulled him away and she had learned to accept long ago.

Some things were bigger than them. This mission was bigger than them.

The Captain stopped speaking and Hikaru straightened, a sharp nod towards the assembled officers and an earnest promise to succeed in his duty as he salutes. Then he was jogging back towards her, his blue flightsuit rustling softly as he approached and she struggled to swallow down her fear, fought against the bond that was trying to tighten around her chest.

"Misa," he said softly, coming to a standstill in front of her and taking her hand in his. It enveloped her in warmth, the callouses of his palm brushing against hers as their fingers twined together. She gripped him too tightly, too tightly to hide her fear even though her face as a mask of calmness. He frowned and used their joined hands to tug her closer to him, oblivious of the rest of the people milling around, going about their work. She loved that about him, loved that he was never afraid to show her affection even when he shouldn't. He was never ashamed of her and she basked in his acceptance.

"It will be simple, Misa. In and out. I'll be back before you know it."

Misa couldn't help the second shudder that rolled down her spine. Something tingled at the edges of her consciousness she didn't like, and for a heartbeat she felt dizzy, as though she was standing on the precipice of something momentous but then she blinked and the moment was gone and Hikaru was staring at her with his deep blue eyes full of concern and something that looked faintly like guilt. She let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding and tightened her grip on his.

"I still worry. I always worry," she said simply, dropping her eyes and fighting the roll of emotion churning inside her.

Beside her, he sighed softly. "I know. I know you do."

He opened his mouth to say more but she flicked her head up and rushed to fill the gap. "When do you leave?"

He paused, his lips parted on whatever words he had been about to say, eyeing her with concern. She could see the deliberation in his eyes. Was he trying to say more to reassure her, to tell her for the umpteenth time not to worry, or was he about to say something else? She couldn't tell.

"Not for a few hours yet. Pre-flight checks are happening-"

"I should-"

"No," he cut her off then, pulling her into his chest and curling his arms around her. "Let someone else take care of it. For now, let's just…"

He glanced around the bustling room then back at her. His lips twisted in a rueful smile. "Let's just go somewhere quiet for now." He leaned in to whisper and the warmth of his breath ghosted over the sensitive skin at her neck. "Just you and me."

"Yes," she answered softly. "Please."