Title/theme: FORGIVEN
Approx time line: Phase 46-47 of GS
Summary: "His eyes widened at her remark. Before she could react, he pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly."

-----

"So this is where you've been hiding," a voice came from behind as she entered the little space at the back of the ship.

"Hmm?" the man standing before the window turned and smiled at the newcomer. "I'm not exactly hiding Captain."

The captain giggled, "Then what are you doing?"

"Thinking," he answered, turning back to staring out the window at the endless vacuum of space.

"About what?" she asked as she floated up to join him at the window.

A pause.

"Murrue," he turned to her, and she was surprised by the intenseness in his blue eyes.

"Y-Yes?"

"Why did you join the military?"

"E-Eh?" she was taken aback by the sudden question. But before she could formulate an answer, he went on, as if talking to himself.

"Ever since I was little, people kept on telling me how I'm useless, how I can never become anything great," he told her softly, "Because I was 'that woman's child'". He was not looking at her, but she could tell by the troubled look in his eyes that this was not something easy for him to talk about. So she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I was told that I was unfit to inherit my father's fortunes, and if my father had his way, I wouldn't even be living in his house." Mwu placed a hand on the cool glass and swallowed, but went on, "At first, I was dejected, but then I felt angry, who were they to tell me what I can and cannot do? So when I heard some people comment that I had some special abilities that could be useful to the military, I joined right away. I joined because I felt that I needed to put my abilities to good use, or that's what I told everyone what my reason was." He looked down and lowered his voice, "But the real reason I joined was because I wanted, no, I needed, to prove to everyone that I could make something out of myself, but mostly, I needed to prove to myself that I'm not useless."

He turned his gaze to her, and again, she was taken aback by the intenseness in them. "Isn't that a selfish reason to fight?" he said softly, chuckling almost nervously.

She placed a hand on his and turned her gaze to the window. "Everyone has different reasons to fight, and no one reason is better than another. And we all have our selfish reasons." She looked down and added softly, "But you know Mwu, you have nothing to prove, I like you the way you are."

His eyes widened at her remark. Before she could react, he pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly.

"Mwu!" she exclaimed softly in surprise. She was about to ask what he was doing, but stayed quiet when she felt him shaking slightly. Instead, she hugged him in return, gently patting his back.

They stayed like that for a while, before he finally released her and turned towards the window again.

"Mwu, are you crying?" she noted softly, startled at the realisation.

He didn't answer, just stared out into space, his face half hidden in the shadows. She was about to lean closer to see if he was all right, when he turned to face her.

No, he wasn't crying, she realised. His eyes were dry, but the look on his face reminded her of that of a lost little boy, as if he was trying to hold something back.

"You know Mwu," she told him softly, "Despite what they say, it's okay to show your weaknesses, no one will think less of you if you do."

She floated up to him and gently caressed his cheek, smiling softly. He was grateful for the kindness and understand in her eyes.

"Murrue, I…" he embraced her again, and buried his head on her shoulder. She held him and patted his shaking shoulders.

"It's okay Mwu…"

And when he looked at her again, the look on his face was that of relief, like he was forgiven.

AN: a scene expanded from what she told him in Ch 24: Answers. Many people (including me) wrote about circumstances where he told her it's okay to cry, and I just wanted to do the reverse. I know we never do see Mwu show his weaknesses or cry (unlike the younger boys), but I don't think he could be like that all the time... and no, we don't quite see his tears here either :)