Oath
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They started to painstakingly rebuilding Freedom from scratch, and when it's finally finished, Lacus received a confirmation email from the Morgenroete. The O.S. was not the same without its former pilot reprogramming it, they told her, but she smiled the usual smile she gave to the children, strangers, and her most beloved people, and told them it's all right. Extra caution was always necessary, as the world was too small for Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne to disappear completely.
The orphanage looked like any normal building across the coastline. What differentiated it was the unusual setup they have at the shelter, anti bomb defense, and a gate with dual key protection. She locked his wings and sword in there, her heart hammering in her chest, and held the key silently in her hand. She couldn't afford to lose Kira. Not now, after all they've been through, even though she realized he spent every day staring to the sea as soon as the debris of Junius-7 entered the atmosphere.
Murrue didn't say anything, and Andrew was beaming mysteriously at her over a cup of coffee when Lacus emerged from the basement.
Kira was at the beach again, spending most of his times wondering off at the waves. She embraced him from the back, and felt his arms encircling around hers. It was like she was burying her face to Kira's invisible wings, stopping him from flying away from her. The sound of waves overlapping their shoes filled the silence.
"What are you thinking, Kira?" She wasn't sure it was her own voice, quivering against his back.
"I thought... I heard somebody crying."
"The storm is coming."
"Lacus, even though I failed Fllay..." She felt his arms tightening around hers this time. "I promise I'll never fail you."
She remained inconsolable, but chose to hold on to his words. "So will I."