The captain's office was quiet, the closed door offering a moment of rare solitude from what was happening on the bridge and beyond. Murrue sat slumped forward, head on her desk, deep in thought. In this room, where no-one could see her, she was able to indulge in this moment of weakness.
I know we have to stop ZAFT attacking Orb. But I don't want to fight them. Especially Minerva...
But they had come this far, and they couldn't just give up and leave, otherwise they wouldn't have a home to go back to...
"Hey Captain, you okay?"
Looking up, Murrue could see the familiar blonde-haired figure of Neo Lorrnoke peeking around the now-open door.
"Oh, Colonel. Yes, I'm okay, thank you." She wasn't, not really, but she didn't see any point in telling him that.
He didn't leave, though. Instead he walked inside a little way.
"Are you sure? Because you look kinda down. I thought maybe you'd like to talk for a while." He gestured to the two cups he held. "Over coffee?"
Murrue smiled in spite of herself. "That sounds nice. But we're almost at the battlefield. And don't you have to be on launch standby?"
He waved aside her concerns, coming to sit in the chair across from her. "We're not there yet, are we? And Akatsuki will still be there in a little while."
The pair sat together for a while, sipping their drinks and talking to each other. Their conversation wasn't about the upcoming battle, or anything to do with the war, and she was glad about that. She was also glad that he had come to talk to her, and not left her alone with her thoughts like anyone else would have.
It's like he has some sort of sixth sense. Knowing precisely when I need company, and when I need to be left alone. Mwu was like that, too...
Even though it had been only a few weeks since the Colonel became part of her crew, she had come to depend on him so much. He was always there for her, offering coffee and advice, to act as a sounding board for her ideas and questions, or just to sit there in comforting silence when she didn't feel like talking.
When she felt sad or worried, he would give her that irresistible smile, so like Mwu's, that would always cheer her up and make her smile back.
It's getting so I don't know what I'd do without him. And it scares me...
Murrue had spent the last two years since Jachin Due rebuilding the wall around her heart, hiding herself away, so that no-one would ever be able to get close. But in just a few weeks, with nothing more than unwavering kindness and a smile that took her breath away, the wall had crumbled.
I'm falling in love with him. Even though he isn't Mwu, even though I don't want it to happen, I can't stop it.
Neo studied his captain for a few moments. She seemed more worried now that when he had entered the room.
"Are you all right, Captain?"
She looked up, startled, as if she had forgotten he was there. Her auburn hair fell across her face as she looked down again. "Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking is all."
"About what?" If she was still worried, he wanted to know why. He didn't want her to be sad.
She glanced up at him, and smiled a little. The expression didn't quite reach her eyes, but it was a start.
"About how you always seem to be smiling these days, much more so than when you first joined this crew."
Neo blinked. Then laughed. "Do I really?" When I was on my old ship, even if I had smiled, no-one would have taken any notice. But here, she notices, and so it's all worth it.
She nodded, finally smiling back properly.
"Well, I smile a lot more for several reasons. Firstly, because I'm happy." Because I get to be by your side all the time.
"Secondly, because it makes you smile back." And your smile lights up the room like sunshine.
"And thirdly," he said, reaching out across the desk and taking her hand, his blue eyes gazing deeply into her marigold ones. "because you're beautiful."
The captain flushed scarlet, trying to pull her hand away. "I - I...Colonel, I..." She looked down, not able to meet his eyes. Neo was concerned. Did I go too far?
Letting go of her hand, he stood up. "I'm sorry, Captain, I shouldn't have said that. I have to go now, anyway, before the guys in the hangar think I've gotten lost."
He turned to leave, but she called out to him. "Colonel, wait!"
She stood up and walked around the desk to join him as he turned back to her. Her cheeks were still flushed, but she was smiling again. "Thank you."
"For what?"
Her smile widened. "For making me feel better." Raising up on her tip-toes, she lightly brushed her lips against his cheek. "Good luck, and please be careful."
Neo felt slightly giddy with happiness. Leaning forward, he gently enfolded her in his arms, bringing her close to him. "I will," he whispered. "I have something important I want to tell you, so I will come back.."
Letting her go, he gave her one last smile and left the office.
Murrue stood alone in the room for several minutes after he had gone, her eyes closed, offering a silent prayer.
Please, keep him safe. Let him come back to me, please don't let history repeat itself...
Neo floated down the corridors on his way to the hangar bay, the events of a few minutes ago running through his mind. He smiled again, this time to himself.
I will come back. And when I do, maybe I'll be able to tell her how much I love her...
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( Nothing but cheesy fluff XD. I got this idea from seeing phase 49 of GSD, where she thinks Neo-san's dead, and she looks like she's going to cry. I thought 'hey, is she in love with him?' I mean, you can tell from phase 46 that Neo-san loves Murrue-san, but I always wondered how she felt.
Plus, I remembered a conversation on the forums from October, where people were wondering if she'd come down to the hangar and see him off. I didn't make that happen though, as I doubt Murrue-san would tempt fate like that again...
Please read and review! )
