Title: Protector
Fandom: Soukyuu no Fafner
Pairing: Soushi/Kazuki
Theme: 1. look over here
Notes: 'mamoru' means 'to protect'. There aren't really any spoilers in this, though there is a line at the very end taken from episode 22, not that that line even has spoilers...

Protector

"Hey Mamoru," Kenji called suddenly in a quiet yet urgent voice, beckoning him over frantically while still keeping his eyes locked on whatever he had found of interest around the edge of the wall surrounding the front of the school. "Look over here!"

Mamoru looked over at him from where he was using a broom to sweep the school yard. "What? You're supposed to be helping me clean, Kenji-kun," he complained, even as he leaned the broom up against the low brick wall and walked over to where Kenji was standing.

"Believe me, this is worth having to take a little longer to finish our classroom chores," Kenji assured him, wearing a wide grin as he continued to watch whatever it was that was so 'worth' it.

"What is--" Mamoru started asking as he reached Kenji and joined him in discretely peeping around the corner, only to suddenly trail off and have his little brown eyes widen as he took in the scene before them.

Soushi and Kazuki. Standing together. Standing very close together.

They weren't standing together at all, they were kissing!

As Mamoru continued to stare, jaw slack and expression full of shock, Kenji whispered, "I can't believe this! Wait 'till I tell Sakura!" With that said, he turned and ran off back into the school before Mamoru had a chance to stop him.

Letting out an inaudible sigh, Mamoru turned his face back towards the two from where he had turned to watch Kenji go. It was already too late to stop Kenji from spreading it around, and plus, they never kept anything from Sakura.

Soushi and Kazuki had separated now, though they were still standing close together, talking about something in low voices, causing Mamoru to be unable to catch any of their words.

Then they turned away, beginning to walk off down the road together. Mamoru's gaze dropped slightly and he took note of their hands clasped together as they walked.

As the two disappeared from view, Mamoru relaxed a little, stepping back before turning around to sit on the ground with his back up against the wall. Soushi and Kazuki were together, probably in love. That was fine with him; he had no problem with anything so long as they were happy. He doubted anyone on the island would mind either, although Maya would be sad, though she'd no doubt try her best to hide it. He wasn't as dense as people tended to think he was, and her affections for Kazuki hadn't gone unnoticed.

Soushi and Kazuki were together, Maya was in love with Kazuki, and Sakura and Kenji were... Their growing feelings for each other hadn't gone unnoticed by him either, and he figured it was only a matter of time before they confronted each other about them.

And where did that leave him? The third wheel in a close friendship, the only one with no one to even think about.

Shutting his eyes, he recalled the image he had just been witness to, of Soushi and Kazuki looking into each other's eyes as they stood there, a look of happiness and peace on each face. Both of them constantly faced such hard times, all of his friends did, and yet if they could still find some joy...

And in that moment, he decided where it left him. He would be their protector, as his name testified, protecting the wishes of his friends and family, of everyone.

"I won't let anyone be sad anymore. I will protect you all!"