-Sweet Sorrow-
When you spot the name of the event quest, you're filled with determination. You know this isn't the same beast that had knocked you unconscious with one strike in the Coral Highlands because that's the beast you're currently wearing. You'd still like a second chance to hunt an Odogaron—the Baan parts are just a bonus.
Part of you also wants to see how you measure up against your...
What is the Third Fleet Master to you anyway? One thing is for certain: she's yours.
Your Handler frowns when she sees the quest details. "Are you sure about this, Partner? Those monsters are dangerous on their own, but together..."
You wave away her concern and order lunch. You need to "get your pre-hunt on" as the Meowscular Chef says.
...
The cheers of the other hunters are deafening. The Arena sidelines are bursting with faces that you vaguely remember seeing around Astera as well as new ones. One face in particular catches you off guard and you flush when the Third Fleet Master stands in your path, her arms crossed.
"So let me get this straight... You want to get in between Fido and his bone?" The sharpness of her tone isn't her usual quipping, but actual concern.
After a brief glance around, you embrace her and you feel the tension in her stance melt away in your arms. Her concern is heartwarming and you're charmed by her reticence to show it openly. She's trying to be strong, but beneath that facade is a woman who is worried.
"Just be careful." It's an order and you salute smartly as you jog past, your stomach in knots. You haven't told her yet that the Commander had announced a full-blown assault on Zorah Magdaros and part of you wonders how she'll react to the much more serious fight that looms on the horizon.
Not well, apparently. Despite your handy victory that afternoon and the two monster corpses the Astera research team had dragged away for study, the Third Fleet Master doesn't seem as confident as you are that you're ready to face the Zorah Magdaros.
You can't help but question what she had expected would happen after all the time you'd spent tracking the beast. She doesn't comment right away, though her expression darkens, and you can sense the irritation roll off of her as she turns her back to you. When you place a hand on her shoulder, she shrugs you off and you're surprised by how much that makes your chest hurt.
"I suppose it didn't matter very much to me before, if I'm being brutally honest," she says at last, haltingly. As if in this rare instance, she's not sure how to say what she needs to say. "You were just some snot-nosed hunter."
That hurt, too, but you don't let the ache reflect on your face. And now? What had changed?
She laughs, mirthlessly. "I've gotten soft because of you."
You can't tell if that's bitterness or exasperation you hear in her tone, so you stay quiet and wait for her to explain herself.
"I suppose... I care about you."
All at once, it's like there's a swarm of Omen Flies trapped beneath your breast. This isn't the first relationship you've had; back home, you'd shared a happy three years with a young woman who hadn't been able to cope with the fact that you were running off to join the Commission. This was the first time you had ever felt quite like this, however.
She moves, faster than you can anticipate, and pins you with her larger frame. The way she eyes you, impassively, makes you hold your breath, a shiver of excitement going through you despite yourself. "You'd better come back here alive, you hear?"
You smooth the furrow in her brow with a kiss. And then another and another until she releases a soft sound and wraps her arms around you. You don't remember finding your way to your bed, but you both fall into it in a tangle of limbs.
You will return here, safe and sound. You'd promised her you'd see the fireworks together and you're a woman of your word.