Title/theme: LEAN ON ME
Genre: fluff
Approx time line: Phase 45-47 GS
Summary: "You don't have to stand by yourself."

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"Mwu? Are you in there?" Murrue peered into the dim cockpit of the Strike and called.

She received no answer, just sounds of a keyboard clacking. She sighed.

"Mwu I know you're in there. Why don't you come out and take a break?"

A moment of silence, before she heard him sigh. "Sorry, not right now. I'm busy."

"Too busy even for me?" she asked, pretending to be hurt.

The tapping paused. He poked his head out and pouted. "Cap'n, that's not fair."

She laughed. "I know, but I got your attention, didn't I? Besides, I learned from the best."

Mwu laughed too. "Yes, yes you did." He climbed out of the cockpit and kissed her. "And you're a good student, Murrue."

She blushed at the kiss and the use of her name. "Uh, I was on my break and thought you could use some company."

He stretched loudly and sat down on the shoulder of the mobile suit. "Well, thanks for coming," he grinned at her, and patted to the spot beside him, motioning for her to sit down.

"So how are things going for you?" she asked as she sat down.

He shrugged and grabbed a clipboard lying around. "Okay I guess. I'm still getting used to some of the functions of the Strike, and then there's the maintenance that takes forever."

"So I guess being a mobile suit pilot is harder than you thought eh?" she commented, hiding her spreading smile.

"I never said that," he narrowed his eyes at her. "Besides, even if it is harder, it's my job now, and I'll do my best."

She smiled. "Thanks for your enthusiasm Mwu."

"Sure," he agreed, flipping through the pages on his clipboard. "What about you? How's things on the bridge."

She shrugged. "Okay I guess. We don't have to worry about supplies too much, and we're doing okay on the repairs."

"Mmm," he made the sound of agreement absentmindedly, obviously distracted as he kept his eyes on the clipboard, brows furrowed in concentration.

Murrue sighed. He wasn't even paying attention to what she was saying. She waited for him to finish reading the page, but when he was done, he went to the next page. She exhaled again. The whole reason she called him out of the cockpit was so that he could stop working and relax.

Narrowing her eyes, she reached over and took the clipboard from him. That got his attention all right. He stared at her blankly, as if he just woke up from a nap.

"W-What," he looked at her, confused, before trying to reach for the clipboard, "Give it back Murrue."

She shook her head and held it out of his reach. "You need a break Mwu."

He sighed, but didn't look relaxed. In fact, he looked distraught.

"Give it back," he repeated, "I need to finish checking…"

He was interrupted by a yawn that he barely managed to stifle.

Murrue giggled, but turned serious as she studied his face carefully. She noted that there were dark circles under his eyes.

"What you need is more sleep."

He merely nodded as he stifled another yawn.

She sighed and looked down at the clipboard. They'd silently agreed to lean on each other from the beginning. But was she depending on him too much? Was she taking more than her share?

She glanced at him again, slightly worried, because he looked stressed and tired.

He had changed. Ever since the Mendel incident, he had changed. He had taken a much more serious attitude, joking less and making a lot less sarcastic comments. Her heart went out to him. She struggled to understand him, to understand the stress and responsibility that he shouldered from the knowledge he had been given at Mendel, as he prepared endlessly for the inevitable battle ahead.

"You know Mwu," she started softly, holding the clipboard away from him as he tried to grab it again, "You don't have to stand by yourself." She looked at him earnestly, and he stopped reaching for the clipboard to listen.

"You don't have to stand alone," she repeated. "If it gets too hard, too tiring, you know that you can lean on me, right?"

He paused as her words sank in, before smiling softly, gratefully, and nodded. "Yeah, I know."

She smiled and looked at the head of the Strike. There was still a lot of work to do, a lot of preparations. But for now, she just wanted them both to take a break.

"Don't work too hard, okay Mwu," she whispered softly.

"Mwu?" she asked again when there was no answer. Then she suddenly felt a weight on her left shoulder.

She looked, and had to stifle a laugh.

He was already asleep, using her shoulder as a pillow.

She had to smile at his gentle, sleeping face, so much like a child. His hand still clutching the screwdriver. She gently ruffled his blond curls, drawing a happy murmur from him.

She laughed, before wrapping her arm around his shoulders. She shifted closer and rested her head on his, closing her eyes contently.

"When I said to lean on me, I didn't mean literally…"

AN: this one came from the idea of Mwu falling asleep while leaning on Murrue, it was just such a cute mental picture :)

Anyway, I actually started out drawing a picture of that idea, and thought why not write it too :)

btw, the picture can be found here (remove the spaces) www. geocities. com/ mwurrue/ artMM14.html or go to my profile for the link.