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K I N D R E D

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The night was cold

But then again, it always seemed cold to Zack when he was the only one awake.

Sometimes after everyone was snoring softly in their regulation military beds with their thin sheets tucked in precisely over their shoulders he got up silently leaving them unaware in their beds and went to the high place to think about the day they had just left behind.

Up here there was a hint of colour. Like he could think traitorous thoughts about Manticore without worrying if it showed on his face. He wondered if he was doing an adequate job of looking after them, his group, sometimes it didn't feel like it. Max was acting up, started to cry once in the bathroom for no apparent reason, he thought maybe it had something to do with when she snuck out of the barracks the other night, what had she seen?

Sometimes he thought about running and leaving his duty behind, coming back when he was stronger to get them but he knew he couldn't leave them, couldn't leave Max. Or Eva. They were special to him. All of the unit was special to him but there was something about those two, Max with her overly shown compassion, her little smiles. Eva with her brutal honestly, her sharp observations and her well hidden caring nature towards her-- what were they? He knew what they were supposed to be, soldiers.

"We're siblings." Eva's voice crept towards him like the mist hovering about the high place.

"You should be in bed."

As she sat down Eva shot him a look, "So should you, you need more rest than us."

"I know."

"You can't sleep can you?"

"No."

"You know, Max and Jondy never do. They told me about you coming up here, they said they didn't dare follow you and tried to stop me just now."

Zack frowned to himself. "They couldn't stop you?"

"I'm second in command. Besides, they only really want to know what's wrong. Just didn't want to do their own dirty work." Eva brought her knees up to her chest, she wasn't cold, the cold didn't bother her like it would a norm.

"Nothing's wrong. I just like to think up here--alone."

Eva ignored his pointed comment and sighed; staring out at the night sky. "Today was easy."

"You're lungs nearly burst."

"Compared."

"Oh"

"So you won't go jumping off here? I can go get some sleep?"

"I wouldn't jump off. The fall probably wouldn't even hurt that much." Zack replied and Eva nodded.

"Just make sure you wake up before inspection." Her footsteps faded as she walked back towards the route between their barrack and the High Place, for a moment everything was silent, even the conflicting voices in Zack's mind. "You're doing okay, Zack."

"Am I?"

"Of course. You're the best--and that's a good thing." Eva blessed him with one of her rare genuine smiles and retreated; after a few moments Zack smiled to himself and followed.

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R E V I E W

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