03 THE JOKE
There is just something about the weather today that irritated her. It's blue, calm, breezy, cheerfully cloudy. Also, too perfect. The only hint of agitation it offered was the absence of flying creatures; except them, the machines of war.
She leaned her body forward and rested it over the railings. She looked around. Almost all of Atmos is present, and the sky seemed to suffocate under the collection of emotions that pulsed through every warship.
Warship. The foreign word tingled the back of her head with a slight disgust. She had always believed that with civilization, inventions were meant to make people's lives better. Instead, some would always find ways to abuse its convenience. Then again, she reasoned to herself, it falls on the purpose of these destructive machinery. Freedom has a price after all, and today is the day it should prove its worth.
"Hey." A familiar voice sliced through the thick air.
Piper turned her head at the approaching figure. "Hey there." She returned with a smile.
Aerrow joined his navigator on the deck, and they both returned to observing the occupants of every Sky Knight's ship. Each face has a story. Some looked scared. Some looked determined. And for those who are ready to embrace death, looked enviously calm. Through some windows, they can make out silhouettes of lovers sharing their last kiss, parents and children embracing each other for strength, and friends sharing their possibly last joke and laughter. And yet, they can make out certain faces that seek revenge on this final battle. Do they really believe they can achieve enclosure through this?
"The weather's perfect." The Sky Knight broke the silence.
Piper nodded. "Yeah." She tilted her head slightly so she can get a good look at him.
Aerrow had grown taller over the years, and his face had shaped into the wisdom and maturity he carried in his young body. She admired his emerald eyes. It's so full of strength, and although naïve, she loved how it shines with a strong will and belief. Those are the eyes that will always seek out the good worth fighting for. The eyes of a hero. He then smiled. "It would be perfect to go for a vacation at Terra Tropica when this is over."
It's Piper's turn to smile. "I'd like that." She patted his hand. And then, she did not expect his hand to close around hers.
They stayed like that for a while longer. Sometimes, when you've spent years with a person, you might think that you've shared a bond so strong, you don't even need to exchange words that much. The other would think that he or she can read your mind, or feel how you feel. All you need is the other's presence to complete you, and hold on to the trust you've built together.
And at that moment, they decided that they never regretted leaving their youth. Something in the back of their minds felt, or somehow, knew that there's no telling if tomorrow will ever come. Years of unspoken emotions uncoiled within them, allowing his lips to touch hers tenderly… and they realized that they never did need wings to fly.
On that day, they had become each other's strength.
Who knew it would be the last day anyone ever heard her laugh.
--
The ceiling slowly blurred into existence. Blinking the tears away, the captain of the Condor slowly sat up. The long forgotten memory had snuck its way to torture her again, the kind that always make her insides twist a painful knot, and craving for a wish that can never be realized. It was a dream that left her feeling that life has a sick sense of humor, laughing at one's misfortune like it was another joke. It wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare.
Piper picked up her time pulse. "2 more hours to sunrise." She murmured. Yet, she decided to stay awake for now. After pulling on a pair of track bottom over her undergarments, she carefully made her way to their training room. Maybe she will find solace there.
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Sorry for the short chapter. I'm being kept busy nowadays, juggling between work and freelance. I will try to update as soon as I can anyway.
Again, thanks for your time, readers.