…Right. So a few words to say. This story is inspired by the fanfic Project Wyvern by Echo_1608. This is based on a scene at Chapter 11, and it's just my interpretation of what would have happened if the roles were reversed and if there were a bit more of feelings involved. I strongly suggest reading Project Wyvern to understand the context of the story.

This fic should be read in conjunction with the song 'In the stars by Benson Boone.' It reflects well on the character's feelings, especially Trigger.

I do not own Project Wingman or Ace Combat. All belong to their respective owners and publishers.

This is NOT an attempt in ANY way, to copy or reproduce ANY idea from Echo_1608's Project Wyvern story. I just needed to write something for my sanity, and frankly, there has to be more Trigger and Prez in this world. This is only a ''What if'' interpretation and should NOT be considered as part of the main story. That belongs only to Echo_1608.

And lastly. Echo_1608 if you get to read this, Thank you. Your story is amazing and frankly with the big, fat and sad mess my life has been lately, you made it a little better. I hope things get better for you and you can eventually find the motivation to continue the story.

Peace. I will try to sleep. It's 5 AM.

Ovidio De La Oz (WanderStar)

Prez awoke with a start.

She must have fallen asleep without noticing.

Looking around she found herself in the backseat of the X-02. She remembered working on the FCS but dammit to hell she was fucking tired. That fight with Mister X left her organs upside down.

''Good night sleeping beauty, did you enjoy your rest?''

Prez sighed, she was not in the mood to talk with Avril. Especially about the fucking terrible nightmate she just had. Or more like the nightmares that follow her every night.

''Leave me alone. I was tired,'' she whispered weakly, extending her arms and slowly exiting the cockpit.

Avril laughed, popping her head out from under the plane, a wrench in her hand. ''Tired? More like, dead. I called you a few times. Fuck, I think the whole fucking base alarm could go off and you wouldn't move a finger.'' She snapped her head to the near wall. ''It's Trigger.''

Her heart clenched suddenly. ''What's wrong with Trigger?''

''Well, take a look yourself,'' Avril whispered.

She was scared of what she was about to see, but at the same time she couldn't help herself. Slowly, she hugged herself to bring some needed comfort and started walking towards him.

She saw him.

She wanted to cry. Actually, she held a sob in her throat.

There, resting against the wall, was Trigger. His hair was completely soaked and his face, oh god his face. It was as if she was looking at something unrecognizable. It was twisted in pain and sorrow. His hands were white and shaking. Whatever was tormenting him in his dreams was eating him alive.

Prez could not stop her eyes from watering. Her heart couldn't take it. Since she first spoke with Trigger back in that transport plane she knew there was something special about him. A connection. Something intimate. She was not sure if it was love, but she would do everything she could to stay with him as long as this bullshit lasted.

She needed him to keep herself together. And he needed her too.

She suddenly remembered their fight with Mister X. When she briefly lost her consciousness due to the maneuvers Trigger had to pull off. She remembered his eyes, full of absolute terror, followed by relief when she came back.

Fucking idiot. You worry so much about me, and yet you suffer by yourself, silly.

Her body was still shaking a little bit. She didn't tell Avril how much she was suffering as well.

She just had another nightmare herself.

Crimson.

Being abandoned and then captured.

Alone with no hope.

And then, when she was starting to move on, they came back for her, as if everything was just part of a cruel and silly joke.

And how Trigger, this pilot she barely started to trust back then, fought for her.

She felt that in his flying. He was not letting them take her away from him. Not after what they both lost. The sheer determination she saw in his eyes as despair overtook her being and she was about to eject herself.

And now seeing him like this, her chest hurt. Every fiber of her being wanted to just hold him. To whisper words of comfort and play with his hair, to do everything she could to calm him down. To wrap her arms around him and guide his head to her chest and let him unleash his sorrows.

And nothing was stopping her.

Slowly, she shrugged off the top of her flight suit, only leaving the sleeveless black shirt she liked and sat next to him, holding his hand. She felt her heart cry at how much he was shaking.

''He's been like that for a while,'' she heard Avril from afar. ''Whatever he's dreaming? I don't blame him. All of this is just fucking bullshit for everybody. Fuck Osea, I really hope they burn to the ground and fuck every single person that put us all into this hell.''

It was hard for Prez to admit, but she couldn't agree more with Avril's words.

She didn't want to wake him, but she couldn't bear it anymore. She needed to let him know she was here, with him. That he was not alone.

Slowly, she crossed her legs and used her hand, guiding his head to her lap, hoping to serve as a pillow. Then with her other hand, she started playing with his hair. Small but steady circles, and using her nails against his scalp every once in a while.

''You're okay Trigger. Everything is alright. You're with me. I'm here,'' she whispered, doing her best to soothe him.

She could feel Trigger coming back slowly. His shaking stopped, his breath became less erratic. Eventually his eyes opened, taking a bit of time to focus.

''...Prez?'' he whispered, his voice weak. She couldn't help but squeeze his hand gently at how fragile he sounded.

''I'm here, sleepy head.''

''Not that I have any problem with it, but I don't recall falling asleep on your legs.'' He whispered jokingly.

She couldn't stop her smile. ''Well, consider yourself lucky,'' she joked before her voice became serious. ''I…saw you sleeping. It did not look great.''

Trigger kept silent for a moment.

''Champ…his death. I mean I know we were all affected by it but for me…some memories came back. I had a nightmare. Suddenly, I was there again…when everything went to shit…fucking hell Robin…It happened again and I cound't stop him. Like with Brown-''

''Trigger. Look at me,'' she begged.

Trigger obliged.

Prez squeezed his hand. ''I…always felt like an outcast back in Sicario. I felt like…I wasn't enough. Sometimes…our minds like to play dirty games on us.''

She took a moment to glance at his face. His expression was calm, and he was at peace. This made her heart happy and warm.

Nothing that a good pair of legs can't wash away. Heh.

''There are always things…we wish we did differently. But what really matters is what you give your all. That we give our all.''

Trigger sighed softly, squeezing her hand back. Then, he brought his hand to her face, looking up at her and caressing her cheek. Prez couldn't help but close her eyes and lean into his touch, her loose hair tickling his skin.

''Prez..thank you. I've got your back.''

Prez responded by holding his hand on her cheek with both of her hands. She could feel the anxiety going away.

''Me too Trigger…no matter what.''

There, on that little corner of the hangar, with Prez resting against the wall and Trigger on her lap, they felt as peace.

''Prez…''

''Robin. It's fine...I don't mind as long as you're the only one saying it.''

She also discovered how absolutely amazing it felt to hear him say her name. But it was not something he needed to know.

He laughed.

''Just for tonight…let's stay here.''

Prez thought about it. If they spent the night, they would probably get reprimanded, or in the worst case scenario, thrown into solitary. But at the same time Avril always used to pull all-nighters to fix their planes, so they could just say they spent the night helping her. She was sure Avril wouldn't mind as long as she allowed her to tease her about it.

And to be honest with herself, she didn't want to be alone either. She wanted to feel his warmth.

''I…don't want to be alone either.'' Trigger whispered softly.

Prez squeezed his arm in response. She couldn't stop herself from laughing a little bit, moving her hand back to his hair, rubbing more circles. ''So we're switching roles now? I stay quiet and you guess?''

Trigger laughed, a sincere and honest laugh. ''Let's say…we understand each other pretty well,'' he finished, closing his eyes.

Sleep was catching up to them. Prez normally avoided sleep to save herself from the nightmares. But at that moment, she knew she would be okay.

''Good night Robin…and thank you.''

Prez kept her hand busy in his hair, until she was overtaken by sleep with Trigger following shortly after.

For the first time in a long time, they both slept soundly that night.