#.. :)

[You've been sitting in silence for a while. No sign of Colon. Is he still over there?]

[..]

>"Phew.. I don't want another person haunting me."

[Lyra happily hugs him]

Truthfully, there was next to nothing Power could do that would bother her in the slightest.  Denji was already too wound up in this little pack of his that Power, regardless of whether she dies before Makima had planned, would have an unspeakable effect on his psyche.  So Makima was willing to turn a blind eye to a blatant lie to her superior - she was, above all else, merciful.

Power was unlucky to have met her.

❝ Is that so?  Could it be that living with Denji and Aki has... domesticated you, Power? ❞ Taming a wild thing was quite the feat for someone who was not her.  But it wasn’t enough.  More than domestication, Power needed fear.  Fear that Makima was happy to provide.

he could make a joke,  tell her he knew that she would come around eventually  ----   that of course,  she would find comfort in HIM,  her best friend despite not ever wanting to call him that out loud.  he could easily tease her for coming to him,  yet that’s the farthest thing on his mind.  he doesn’t want that.  if he’s learned anything about trini,  it’s that she risks a lot to be vulnerable in front of others,  and when that happens in front of zack,  he has to make her feel safe enough to keep doing that  (  because she does it for him.  )   it’s just like the way they were before they knew each other,  how they respected each other’s boundaries and never spoke,  never came near the other,  because they knew the other was coming out to these mines alone for a reason  ----  for solace.  and as much as zack wanted to get to know her back then,  he kept his distance because of that. 

now,  getting to share this abandoned train car with her is even better.  just like her,  he’s sure,  he avoids saying that out loud:  that he needs someone,  that he doesn’t want to be alone,  that he’s hurting.  this is his space,  all to himself  -----  but he will never mind getting to share that with trini. 

he’s sitting on top of the train car,  duffel bag full of snacks for the night and a speaker behind him playing music softly.   without saying anything,  he taps the space next to him,  telling her to come up and sit with him.  part of him feels like he shouldn’t say anything at all  let the silence do the talking instead.  they’re good at that.  and yet,  he needs her to hear this validation that coming here was a good idea.  ❝  you don’t have to be.  ❞   she never has to be.  not with him around,  not with the others around.  that’s the best part of belonging somewhere.  

he holds the food out to her,  and it’s clear he brought more than plenty for himself.  he was prepared,  just in case something like this happened  -----  in case anyone needed an escape.  he always is.   he won’t ask just yet;  he’ll only test the waters,  see if there’s something she needs to talk about first.