"I could kill her," the young sky knight said with a frown as he lifted Piper's left arm, investigating the disfiguring burn.
"I'd rather that you didn't," Piper said, daring a nervous giggle.
Aerrow locked eyes with Piper, showcasing the brilliance of his strong emerald irides; she saw no humor within them.
Piper looked at the floor below the bed they sat upon. She knew the controlled sense of anger she heard within Aerrow's voice was less directed at Cyclonis and more directed at himself. She could see it in his eyes; he didn't understand. Piper knew that Aerrow saw her actions not only as irresponsible, but dangerous, life threatening.
Piper winced in pain and jerked away from Aerrow.
"You're going to have to stay still. I can't apply the bandages if you keep squirming around," he said in a consoling tone.
Piper sighed, relinquishing her arm to his care once more. The young man held Piper's arm in one hand, and carefully wrapped the clean linen bandages tight around the burned limb. Piper looked from the floor to Aerrow, watching him apply the bandages neatly. The dim light from her bedroom lamp shone upon his face, accenting his concerned and concentrated features well. Piper stared at him. He looked so handsome. She smiled a little. Looking up, Aerrow met her eyes once more. His look of stern concern melted into a warm, saddened smile.
"I told you, after the first week, that this wasn't going to work. And now, now you come back here wearing a scar like this. Piper, I know you don't ever turn your back on an assignment. Heaven knows you're the most responsible, dedicated and, well, stubborn, of us, but have you considered this might just be a lost battle?"
"Aerrow, she's finally talking!"
"And casting her evil magic as well," Aerrow retorted.
Piper's lips pursed together. She knew he was only trying to protect her, and so she sighed and calmed herself. "Cyclonis is… I don't know how to explain it. Behind the threats, beneath the cruelty, she's just… she's lonely. She's a sad, lonesome girl in desperate need of real companionship."
Aerrow listened intently as she spoke. She continued: "Truth is, even though I have you guys, I sometimes feel similar, you see? I'm really the only one on Atmos who - well, besides Cyclonis - who really cares about crystals. Sometimes this job gets lonely, ok? And I am the only girl around here! What I'm saying is, sometimes I understand what loneliness feels like… I really think I can do something good here."
Aerrow looked into Piper's deep hazel eyes. They were full of determination. "I had no idea you felt that way, Piper. I'm sorry. But we already gave her a second chance and look what she has done to you," he said, pointing to her bandaged arm. "She took that shot at redemption and threw it in our faces."
Piper listened to his words carefully and contemplated them for a while. Maybe Aerrow was right. Maybe it really was a fool's errand. But still. "Aerrow, I can't just abandon her. Not yet. She needs this."
Aerrow slowly released his breath. Piper sensed he was disagreeing with her and she felt torn. The squadron captain arose from her bed and began to exit the room. "I doubt this will end well. But I believe in you, Piper. If anyone can do this, it's you." Before leaving, he kissed her gently on the forehead.
Piper felt a little better after that, despite being left alone in her cabin. What had started out as a horrible assignment fobbed onto her by the Sky Knight Council had become something else entirely. A strange obsession. With the Cyclonian Empire's defeat, she needed a new goal to dedicate her mind to. And Piper truly did feel sorry for the broken girl, even if she didn't deserve her pity.
AN: In this story, Piper and Aerrow are sort of a couple. I feel like the show was building up to this and so I tried expanding upon this, as this story is supposed to take place after the events of the series. They are not necessarily in a relationship publicly but they do go on dates sometimes.