#pgr fluff

Weeks barely made sense after the events of the Tower. Everyone was swamped with the tasks that had to be done— from the rebuilding and fixing of some parts of Babylonia to the checkups every construct (Gray Raven included) had to go to. Initially, you thought you’d be spared— after all, Gray Raven narrowly avoided the potential death of humanity— but the backlog of reports and even more reports had piled up on your second day back, a funny thought that the former seemed more tempting.

Yet, time still proved to do something, with the fuss of the Tower and its remnants now an incident of before, and everyone was easing back into their own routine. Or, so you thought.

“Accompany you?” The question tumbled out of your mouth even before you could process it, “I mean, of course, I can. But can I ask what’s it about?”

Lee, in his Hyperreal frame, stood in front of your desk, the afternoon light shining over his small smile.

“Thank you, but…”

It’s not very sudden. After all, it was only a peaceful afternoon. Yet, it was the first time, after the years you’ve worked with Lee, had he asked you to accompany him for something— something that he hadn’t mentioned, unlike your past interactions.

Let alone during a visit to Asimov.

“I will tell you along the way. Just…please accompany me, during my visit to Asimov.”

Your thoughts echoed the same as you watched him walk in front of you on your way to the office. You tried to look away, but your eyes couldn’t. The glow of his spine catched your attention. His jacket, dyed in the shades of gray, had numerous symbols of your team name. Even his arms, mechanical and cold, were muscular. Ever since Lee had been in his new frame, you couldn’t understand your feelings. One part of you still sees him as the same Lee, the smart and aloof man whose sharp precision skills still baffled you. Yet at the same time, it seemed…new.

“...is it because of how I look, Commandant?”

Lee asked, looking over his shoulder. You quickly covered your mouth, unaware that you’ve must have spoken out loud.

“No,” Shaking your head, you smile at him. “Sorry, I was distracted.”

Lee stopped in his steps. Turning to face you, his eyebrows were knit together, lips pursed. “...are you sure you are feeling well?”

“Yes, Lee.” I nodded, “I’m sorry if I worried you. I think it was the work I’ve been doing lately, that’s why I’ve been so absentminded.”

He sighed. Swiftly, he walked closer to you, reaching out to you. And yet, he paused, halfway from meeting your cheek, before his hand touches your shoulder. For a moment, you faltered at his attempt.

“Commandant,” He slowly began, “I—”

“—and Rosa, please do write down the measurements, I need Wanshi— oh, you’re finally here.”

You and Lee looked over to see Asimov in his usual uniform, still draped with a few bandages over his body, with a stressed Rosa trailing behind him. The two scientists stopped by the door frame, before Asimov nodded at Lee.

“Yes,” Retreating to meet Asimov’s gaze, Lee returned his gesture. “I’m here.”

Asimov’s green eyes landed on you, an eyebrow quirked up. “Oh, was this your commandant’s idea?”

Your idea? You glanced at Lee, to which the man never looked back to you. “No. It was mine.”

The genius’ eyes never left yours, his expression turned amused. “Oh, alright, then. Come along.”

He waved his hand at the little Rosa, aptly shooing her, “Follow me.”

Asimov led you to his lab, and into a deeper part of it. You’ve never seen this part before— with all the clearances you had to get, and the area only permitted for scientists and constructs only. But still, you watch as he leads you wordlessly through the darkened halls, each step becoming unfamiliar to you.

Sensing your discomfort, Lee’s cold hands found themselves tangling with yours. You looked at your intertwined hands, before glancing at Lee. 

“Are you scared?” He asked, a squeeze of your hand.

A flash of a memory popped in your head, with Lee’s Entropy frame vividly crossing your mind. Yet, instead of a stoic face looking at you, a warm, concerned one was studying you. You’re no stranger to the physical touch of your construct, especially Lee. But in the darkened, unfamiliar halls and the glow of some parts of Lee only lighting the way, a part of your heart twinged.

“...What are we doing here?” You couldn’t help but ask quietly.

“I had to keep it here,” Asimov broke through the silence, his footsteps echoing, “The corruption levels reached an all-time high, so I had to keep it away before it could do anything to the other frames.”

You suddenly had an inkling of an idea. But Lee only squeezed your hand. His face was downcast.

“I’m sorry, Commandant.”

“You’d be surprised how well you’ve kept it, Lee” Asimov sighed, “I applaud your tenacity, but I sincerely hope that you won’t do something this reckless again, especially with no replacement yet.”

A few more steps, and we finally stopped at a door. Asimov had to input his ID, before the door opened. Behind the door, a blinding white colored room greeted us, with a single sleeping pod at the center.

“Well, here’s your Entropy.”

Lee’s Entropy frame was inside the sleeping pod. It stood in the middle of the room, with a few cords and wires beeping. For some reason, it looked more like a casket than a sleeping pod for constructs.

Lee released your hand, urging you to get closer.

“This is…Entropy?”

The three of you cautiously approached the pod. The frame, one that you had grown familiar with Lee using it, was truly inside. Entropy’s eyes were peacefully closed, face devoid of his signature scowl. Unlike the last time you’ve seen him, there were a few cuts on his face, his clothes even torn. But the one that stood out the most was the huge cut in the middle of his chest. Stifling a gasp, you reached out to touch the glass, as if you were touching the wound.

Asimov stared at the frame with his usual expression. “I’m surprised you hadn’t told her what happened, Lee.”

“The Commandant…didn’t have to know.” You heard Lee’s remorseful tone, yet you didn’t look back to him.

“What happened? Did you get hit?” You asked.

“Lee’s frame was locked and he needed authorization.” Asimov shrugged, looking away, “The code, made out of the frame, was his only option. So…”

“...I had to force it,” Lee finished the sentence, “Or else, we wouldn’t be here now.”

You’ve known Lee to be resourceful, smart enough to have things work his way. Yet, to know the events that truly happened, even before the incident—

“...Well, I’d say the frame is stable now.” Asimov revealed, “But it’s not fit to be used as of the moment. Lee may have better control over his Hyperreal frame, but I’d still advise you to be careful.”

Asimove looked at the frame, before looking back to Lee. “Like I said, no replacements yet.”

“I will, Asimov.” The man curtly replied.

“I hope I answered your request.” Asimov looked at you. “I’ll leave you both here for now. Just try not to go around elsewhere. Go back to where you first came if you want to go back.”

Like how he first arrived, Asimov quickly left. An unspoken silence, with heavy questions lingered in the air, as your hand never left the glass. The revelation was still hard to process— you’re not sure how to feel.

“...I’m sorry, Commandant.”

Lee broke the silence first. Turning to meet him, but he wasn’t looking at you. Arms on his side, body stiff as if he were in a drill, shoulders too straight. His usual stature, one that you’ve memorized all too well, became unfamiliar in your eyes.

“If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be able to cleanse the tower.” His voice cracked, breath hitched. “...I wouldn’t be able to save you.”

Entropy’s fate was a dead end. You saw it in the way the frame had ended. And suddenly, a horrible thought crossed your mind— the Lee you had today, Hyperreal. What if it was really him?

“Or what, you’ll end up like Entropy?” You bitterly spat out.

You never wanted anyone you knew to be dead. You never wanted to see Lee gone.

“...I was only doing it to keep you safe, Commandant.” You sensed Lee’s defensive tone, challenging yours.

“Oh, so you wanted yourself dead?”

Lee sighed. He still didn’t want to look at you. “I was doing everything I can to save you.”

“Lee, what you did was reckless!”

“I had to do it, Commandant. I knew what I was doing.”

“Oh, so if you failed then, did that mean I’d have to see you in a casket like this, Lee!”

“This is why I didn’t want to let you see me like this!” Lee shouted, “I didn’t want you to see what happened to Entropy, because I knew you’d react like this!”

The heat of your first proper argument. You’ve had a few misunderstandings here and there, but it was the first time your blood boiled like crazy, as Lee defended himself. But still, you crumbled— all your anger was never to be mad. You were concerned. You were prideful. And most of all, you were desperate.

“Because I don’t want you dead, Lee!” You raised your voice, ceasing any argument in the room. “Do you think I’d be happy to see the world be saved while you are in a casket?”

He froze. “I…”

“I’d rather let the world rot than to see you dead, Lee!”

A pin-drop silence. Pride doesn’t stand a chance in your standoff— for you were too desperate to be heard.

Drip. And somehow, fresh tears started to well in your eyes, a horrible, clawing emotion in your throat begging to be noticed. “...Does it hurt?”

Lee looked up, his face contorting into a pained one. “Commandant?”

With careful steps, you slowly approached Lee. “Did…does it hurt?”

All your hesitancy melted the moment you reached out to him, trembling hands touching the middle of his chest, where he had to shove the code into his Entropy frame. Lee flinched.

“It doesn’t…”

“You don’t have to lie to me.” I whispered, “You didn’t have to hide it from me.”

What did it feel like? What did Lee feel? What did Lee feel when he looked at his Hyperreal frame? What did he feel when he shoved— forcibly shoved— the core in his chest? To touch that, even as a construct, meant that one was meeting his own demise. You couldn’t image it, no, not when that immense pain was the only way to save the world, to save you?

“You could have told me that you had to hurt so you could save me.” You choked out the words, aching not to break down, “Lee, does it hurt?”

“Yes.” Lee, defenseless and true, held your hand so tight in his chest. “Commandant, it hurts. It hurts when I have to fight, it hurts when I have to use my weapon. It hurts too much.”

Lee finally looks at you, cerulean eyes vulnerable in your gaze, “But it stops when I see you.”

Your breath stutters. Lee holds both of his hands in yours, pressing it deep to his chest.

“I have suffered all my life. I know this kind of pain. But if this suffering is the only way, the only way to keep you alive and safe in this world, then I don’t mind. Commandant, you alone make the pain go away.”

When the first tear escapes your eye, Lee is there to wipe it away. “Commandant, Commandant. You’re worth every suffering I go through. You are worth everything I do.”

It doesn’t take long before you wrap your arms around Lee’s stiff figure, your embrace melting away all the pain and hidden truths— you touch the shell of his mechanical shoulder, you hear the way his own mechanical heart mirrors the rumbling of yours. You hold Lee like he is the most precious treasure in the world, like the feather of a raven that passed your night.

You don’t let go until Lee holds you the same.

“Thank you, Lee.” You whisper in his ear, “But…I want…to do the same.”

Hesitantly pulling away, you hold onto his hands, bringing them to your lips. “Lee, if I am what it takes so that you wouldn’t hurt any longer, then please.”

“I won’t let it go to waste. I’ll stay alive for you, for us.”

You realize it now— the reason why Lee was both familiar and unfamiliar. He’s still the same man you’ve remembered, the one you’ve loved all the same. But like his own battles, the ones that came to shape him, have changed. But it still echoed the same. 

Lee looked at you like you were the sun, eager to touch you with the same intensity. The same face that you’ve cradled in your hands, except Lee smiled more, even became more susceptible to your words. The words that you’ve hid, however, still linger on your tongue.

“I hope you come to keep your promise, Commandant.” He whispered, kissing the top of your head. “Or else, I will have to haunt you.”

You laugh, before it died into something serious. “It’s scary to think though…Entropy…”

The frame you’ve learned to love would have to stay here. Lee shook his head.

“I’m…sorry…”

You glanced at the sleeping frame. And an idea came to mind. 

“Lee, can you wait here for a bit?”

It didn’t take long, before you came back, a handful of flowers in your arms. Puzzled, Lee looked back at you. “Huh?”

“...They say,” you began, “To love someone is to attend a thousand deaths and burials of them.”

Carefully, you placed the flowers on top of the glass, hands lingering a moment where Entropy’s wound was. “Entropy…you were loved.”

With a light touch on Lee’s hand, you smiled at him. “But Lee, you are always loved. I am always here to witness your birth.”

Lee returned your sweet smile, reaching out, with a little hesitancy, to caress your cheek.

“Commandant…”

“Lee,” You muttered in his hand, “this was never your destruction. This is your birth.”

After all, it was a peaceful afternoon.

BONUS:

Before leaving the room, you insisted to open the pod just so you could place a flower inside.

“No,” Lee said, “Asimov will be mad.”

“Oh, whatever that old man says. It’ll be fine!”

But before you could pry it open (To which you failed), you noticed something strange.

“Oh…” You trailed off, to which Lee tried to follow what you were looking at.

“Is something…wrong?”

You hummed. “Is it just me…or is Entropy’s hand kinda…wonky?”

Lee looked at where you were looking at. “...huh? How did you…”

“You know, you could do something with it.” You nodded excitedly, “I mean, I did say that it is a new birth, right?”

Little did you know, that hand would literally mean the birth of something new indeed.

A.N. - HI YES IM ALIVE

I'm sorry for the sudden absence huhu I've been very pre-occupied with life lately and I've gone back here because I missed u all QwQ

I can't promise I'll be updating again BUT I will try HEUHEUE

You grunted with effort, levering yourself awkwardly from the comforts of your bed. It had been six weeks since the accident. Lucia and Liv continued to refer to it as ‘The Incident’ and adamantly dodged questions from other teams. Anyone talking to them would think you’d died. In fact, you were pretty sure Kamui thought you had.

Three weeks ago, it’d been amusing. You’d even encouraged it. But now, as the second month of your handicap loomed on the horizon, all you felt was angry. You were sick of being sick, tired of being tired. Those who had seen the planet, who’d borne witness to the ruinous beauty of a broken earth, could never be contented to stay. And while you were idling away in the sterile comforts of Babylonia, the Punishing advanced below. 

Frustrated, you shifted in the wheelchair, punching the cushion behind you into submission. The contraption was uncomfortable, no matter how many curses or how much violence you inflicted upon it. Liv liked to say that it was as stubborn as you, but even her gentility couldn’t ease your latest black mood. It was hard to sit still while your comrades fought and bled; hard to watch progress find Constructs in leaps and bounds while it found you in stumbling steps. There was no doubt that you were recovering, but it was slow. Every day a step farther. Every night a little easier. Now, more than ever, you were reminded of your mortal fragility. A brave heart did not equate to a strong mind. And a strong mind did not mean a strong body. 

It’s bad, Asimov had said. A wheelchair for now and well, maybe forever. You’ll have some time. Use it to come to terms.

Somehow, perhaps through sheer stubbornness, you’d managed to avoid that dire fate. You would walk again and one day return to the maws of the Punishing. To be crunched up and spat out again? Such dark thoughts permeated your mind often. You couldn’t help it. You were as much a soldier as anyone, but these last weeks had reminded you of just how hard it was. The hurt and aches, the tears and fractures that had never been given the chance to heal. And in the dead of night, away from prying eyes, the terrible, consuming pain. It was hard to forget the wreck of your body in the aftermath: the limp dangle of your legs in Lee’s arms, the blood that poured out of you like a swollen river, bones and flesh unmade into fragments of dust and meat.

But harder still was watching your Ravens grounded and flightless, as trapped on Babylonia as you. Harder still was noting the prolonged absence of Strike Hawk and the rising tensions between Vera and Lee. Every sympathetic eye in the hallways made you sick. 

That was what had driven you to explore Babylonia. For all that it wasn’t earth, it was something. A home for some, even if it would never be for you. Sighing, you swiped away the holographic puzzle you’d been working on. These wheels aren’t going to turn themselves…

“Maybe I can threaten Asimov again,” you muttered under your breath, hands already reaching for the spokes of your wheels. “Maybe if I commit to being a nuisance…”

“If that’s your plan, you’ll have to do better than pouting over puzzles.”

Lee stepped around the corner, pristine in his palette of black and blue. Your breath caught. He was vivid against the stark corridors, a bold stroke in the emptiness, so painfully beautiful that it hurt not to stare. Every line of him was sharp and calculated, placed just so by an artist’s loving hand. But there was no talent in the world that could capture the pale fire of his eyes. Those haunting, expressive eyes that bared his soul when words could not. 

A blond brow arched. “Is there something on my face?”

“No,” you muttered grumpily, feeling your mood lift despite yourself. “Go away. I’m contemplating going legless.”

“Then you’d better get to it. Once Asimov hears, you’ll lose more than just your legs.”

You shot him an unholy glare. “Are you here for a reason?”

“Yes,” Lee said, apparently content to leave it at that. He studied your furrowed brow and the purple shadows beneath your eyes. “Have you been sleeping?”

“No. I do nothing but sit around all day. It’s terribly restful.”

“I think that’s the point.”

“No need to rub it in.”

He sighed, “Only you would miss going to war. No wonder Vera likes you.”

“She likes me the way a cat likes a rat,” you countered. “I’m only interesting until she gets hungry. Or bored.” Lee was silent, but you could hear his reproach all the same. “What? Cynicism is healthy, you know.”

“And when did you become a pessimist, Commandant?”

“Since I started throwing a tantrum,” you said primly, meeting his unflinching gaze with solemnity. As you’d hoped, Lee’s lips quirked. It was only the slightest twitch, hardly more than a trick of the light, but your heart fluttered all the same. He was perfect as a Construct, the very pinnacle of human beauty, but when he smiled — when his cheeks dimpled on the left — you could see beyond that inhuman magnificence to the soul beneath: Morian. The boy you’d never truly known, but somehow always had. 

Buoyed by your success, you added, “Though I prefer the term venting.”

Lee was unconvinced. “You mean being unreasonable?”

“That’s never stopped you before.”

A soft exhale stirred the air above your head. You imagined the phantom brush of it against your skin. “You’re impossible,” Lee said, moving behind you to grab the handles of your wheelchair. “Watch your hands.” 

Without another word, he slid you forward, gliding through halls of recreational rooms. You craned your neck to peer into one. Swaths of blue light danced on the walls, pierced irregularly by spears of gold and white. Somewhere in the distance, close enough to be a dream, rumbled the soft, lonely call of whale song. 

Aching, you looked away. Babylonia may pretend at heaven, but there was some things that could never be captured. The thunder of waves breaking against your feet. The tug of wind against the anchors of your being. And the clouds, tender and bruised in a sky that stretched forever.

Still, you’d seen more in the past month than you had in all your years of service. Human kindnesses and human virtues; small hopes and big dreams. Love, that singular bastion of hope at the end of the world, gathered so strongly in a single place that you could feel it in the air. Against all odds, humanity had taken this empty husk and given it a soul, one filled with the very best of man. Was it the body or the soul that made a home? Every day you spent here had watered the seeds of doubt: that life could go on, and neither humans nor the Earth truly needed each other. So then what were you fighting for?

Perhaps, you thought as Lee wheeled you around an unfamiliar corner, it’s time to let go.

A frosted glass door appeared before you. Beyond lay a blurry landscape of greens and browns, like those abstract paintings Ayla had once shown you. Babylonia had gardens of course, but they were mostly fake — structures of steel and plastic that imitated life. Waging war left little time for tending plants. It was sensible, economical even, but part of you had always mourned the loss. 

But now... Your breaths were short as Lee swiped his access card.

The red eye blinked blue.

Bright notes of birdsong greeted you, carried on the wings of a warm summer wind. Jasmine and lavender perfumed the air. Above you was the percussive rustle of leaves, thin branches dancing in their places; beneath, vibrant and alive, was a verdant green sea, stretching as far as the eye could see. Pathways meandered into the sunscape like great snakes, arching gracefully through copses of bushes laden with berries like glistening jewels. Trees towered overhead. You recognised the statuesque trunks of oaks and redwood, but also the elegant silhouettes of aspens and birch, and far in the distance, the bowed boughs of weeping willow. “This is…”

Lee wheeled you forward. The door clicked shut, locking you in, away from the aseptic and cold, away from the hungry maw of space into a remembered world. He was quiet as gravel crunched underfoot. For a while, there was only the sound of wonder. Your silent breaths and roaming eyes. The thundering beat of your heart and the awakening song in your soul. Then came the comfort of companionship. His staccato steps and your legato tread. The murmur of young leaves. Birds, singing unseen in notes that dipped and weaved.

You basked in the sensations. Never had you experienced anything like this. Not even on Earth — a tranquility so complete it seemed a dream. Gravel gave way to the hush of soil. Somewhere in the distance, you heard the gurgle of water, falling and falling, splashing into a pool that would not dry. Sunlight kissed your skin and you were surprised at the sting. Ultraviolet light, you realised with a jolt. How much energy does that cost?

“What is this?” you asked quietly, tilting your head to find Lee looking at you. There was an unreadable expression in his eyes. “Is this… is this real?”

For a moment, he said nothing, his lambent gaze full of feelings you couldn’t follow. You watched him as you always did. You had always been able to parse him, to lean on a connection you shared not even with Liv or Lucia, but he had retreated from you. What was it about this garden that pained him so?

“Lee?”

You reached out, fingers soft against his mechanical palm. Though he didn’t look at you, his fingers found their way into the gaps between your own. Hands braided, threaded together as if it was always meant to be. He had never touched you so intimately before, but it didn’t feel strange.

“It’s real,” he said at last, blue eyes fixed on the spread of green before you. “All of this is real. In a few months, it’ll finally be ready.”

You gave his hand a squeeze. “Ready for what?”

His eyes cleared like the sky after rain. In them, you recognised what you’d always known: love. So much love carried by those tired blue eyes. Wherever he had gone, Lee had come back, and he’d come bearing a hidden part of his soul, ready to be shared with you at last. “For humans,” he said. “For the children who have never known this.” He gestured around, encompassing the world with a wave of his hand. “This will remind them. Connect them with their history. They should feel things, while they still can.”

His hands closed around yours. The tips of his fingers dug into your skin, but you didn’t move. His pain was your own; you would bear it with pride.

“How long has this been happening?” you asked. “How long... I mean, how did you even grow these trees?”

“I brought seeds from Earth. Whenever we were sent on a mission, I’d retrieve some. It took years, and it was started way before me, but Hassan wanted—”

“Yeah,” you said gently, turning from him to face the garden once more. “Something for us to leave behind.”

Lee said nothing, but you could feel his conviction in the press of his palm against yours. “I believe in us. In you. One day the war will end. When that time comes, a decade or a thousand years from now, I want people to remember that there was more. That living once meant tranquility and beauty, not just blood. Not just violence.”

You nodded. His words struck a chord within you, his ideas a skeletal echo of your own secret thoughts. Alone in the dark, you had wondered of your legacy. When the fight was won and fabled peace found at last, what would the people think? Would you be a hero who reclaimed the Earth or a villain who had destroyed the very thing it sought to possess? 

“Not just violence,” you echoed. Sometimes it feels like that’s all we are.

Lee knelt by your side. His eyes met your own. “Commandant, I—” 

Something wet plinked against your forehead. You glanced up. The light receded with alarming speed, leaving a trail of pregnant clouds in its wake. Wind whipped through the branches, threatening to rip the very leaves from their homes. Birds scattered to unseen havens. Within moments, the garden was a roiling landscape of adverse weather. Rain poured down in an endless torrent, stirred by vicious gales to tempestuous rage. 

“What’s happening?” You had to yell to be heard above the howling storm. Lee had risen and was moving for the handles of your wheelchair.

“It’s the weather program!” he explained. “It’s supposed to emulate real-world meteorological conditions. Probably needs a little work!” 

You laughed, a full-bellied thing—the first in a long, long time. “You think?”

“I told them to keep it on spring. This… isn’t quite what I had in mind.” Your wheels churned in the soil that had become mud. Lee grunted behind you, but the chair stubbornly refused to move. With a huff of frustration, he gave up and circled around to face you. “Let’s get out of here.”

Leaning in, he dipped one arm beneath your legs and wrapped the other around your back. Your cheeks warmed despite the lashing wind. “Wait, what—”

“Hold on, Commandant.” His breath was warm, his lips so close that they brushed against the shell of your ear. Lee lifted you from the chair like a treasure. You could feel the steady beat of his heart as he cradled you against his chest. Somehow, your arms had found their way around his neck. Water plastered his hair to his forehead and dripped into his eyes, but he didn’t let go. His eyes, when they met yours, were as clear as a summer sky. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Are you?”

“I will be,” he said grumpily. “Once we get out of this tempest.”

You chuckled; something about his aggrieved tone was just so Lee that you couldn’t help it. “I like this!” you said above the storm. The rising wind and rain, the biting cold against the warm press of Lee, the hint of him in every blade of grass and velvet petal—you loved all of it. This place was a wild heart in the carefully planned rhythm of Babylonia. A sliver of the Earth captured in a truer way than you had ever known possible. “I love this!”

You whooped like a child, laughing as you opened your mouth to the taste of fresh water on your tongue. Your joy was infectious and soon Lee was laughing too, his soft giggles calling to more of your own. With water sluicing down your faces, with wind-chilled skin and soft-centred hearts, Lee carried you across the mud and slick, his steps confident and sure. You held on as tightly as you could, your fingers making divots into the smooth skin of his neck, his arms. There was a feeling between you with no name. An understanding so deep that it needed no voice. 

You gazed out at the wonder before you. It truly was a miracle. Real trees and real grass. Real flowers that would wither and die and live again. Life and hope, you thought as the doors hissed open. A moment of peace.

They slid shut, sealing the wild beauty of the garden from you once more. You could still feel the rain slicking your skin, running down your face to pool like crystals on the pristine ground.  You looked up at Lee with liquid eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me?” you asked breathlessly. “Why did you labour alone?”

“Because,” he said. “It’s a gift.”

A gift. But you knew Lee, knew him like you knew your own soul, and you heard all the things he did not say. It was a gift, but it was also a dream. A promise, and a hope. It was all the things that existed in the quiet spaces between heartbeats, unseen and unheard, but known all the same.

And shared, sometimes, in the tender feelings between two soldiers wondering, and silently wishing for more.

“Come on,” Lee said after a moment. “You’ll catch a cold. I’ll come back for the chair later.”

You smiled as his footsteps rang out in the empty corridor. Swaying in his arms with the smell of petrichor still in your veins, you felt something ignite in your chest. It was small and fragile, easily buried amid the chaos of war, but you knew where to find it again. Tucked away behind a frosted glass door, there was a piece of Lee that would always be ready to remind you of what you were fighting for.

Not just violence.

For life. And for hope.

—

“Thanks for that. I owe you one.”

Murray watched happily as Morian cradled his Commandant close. He’d asked the technician to cut the audio, but there was no mistaking the depth of feeling between them. His brother was far too awkward for any declarations of love, but he hoped he’d at least given him a chance, an opportunity to express those feelings he so obviously harboured for his leader. Knowing Morian though, he’d probably squandered it, but well, a man could dream. 

The tech shot Murray a disgruntled glare. “Anything else? I have better things to do than meddle in Construct affairs.”

He sighed in mock sympathy. “More’s the pity. I love meddling in people’s lives.”

“This is why nobody likes you, Murray. Lee’s going to scold me enough as it is.” 

“I had enough of that as a kid. I’ve done my time.” With a casual wave of his hand, he left the scowling technician to his muttered insults and his bribe. Murray walked down the corridors feeling lighter than he had in weeks. Morian—Lee now—had sacrificed his life for Murray. Though he couldn’t quite do the same, he wasn’t helpless. He wasn’t the weak, younger brother that needed protecting anymore. 

The intel wasn't accurate. It's not like you haven't been on missions that went awry, but this is the first time it's resulted in this bad of a mission. You're trapped in a room with some cover, and you can hear the horde of Corrupted hissing from behind the door. Chrome has barricaded said door with whatever heavy objects he can find and is gripping onto his scythe tightly, blue eyes narrowed.

Vital fluid drips from the various wounds he has sustained so far, occasionally seeping into his eyes. He wipes it away with his sleeve, looking at you with concern.

"How are you holding up?" He asks softly.

"You're the one that looks like a corpse." You huff back, ignoring the sticky feeling on your hand when you wipe your forehead with it.

"You look like a corpse too." He frowns, glancing at the door worriedly when a particularly loud bang echoes in the room. "We don't have much time until they break through the door. I can buy you enough time to escape through the ventilation but —"

"No! I'm not leaving you behind! I don't want to watch yet another person sacrifice themselves for me!" You grip your pistol tightly. You know that escaping by yourself is the best possible solution, because you can at least bring information back to Babylonia and complete the mission, even at the cost of your entire squad, but your heart refuses to let you do so. You've grown attached to the members of Strike Hawk despite entering with the intention of not doing so, and you don't want to lose anyone anymore. Your heart can't take it.

"Commandant." Chrome's voice is firm. "This is the only way to complete the mission. If one of us manages to contact Babylonia, it will help humanity's fight against the Punishing virus. That is worth far more than three Constructs."

"You don't know if Wanshi and Kamui are dead! They could still be alive!" You snap, feeling the tears start to well up.

"We don't know, but I am assuming the worst case scenario. You can't let your emotions dictate your actions now, Babylonia needs you and that information."

"I need you too." You choke out, your vision starting to blur. Chrome smiles softly, reaching over with a vital fluid stained hand and strokes your cheek with his thumb, leaving behind a streak of blue.

"I —"

The door rattles before crashing to the ground, letting the Corrupted spill in.

"Go!" Chrome throws you into the ventilation system without missing a beat and turns to face the Corrupted. His scythe cleaves through five of them, but ten quickly take their place and block him from your view. Clenching your fists, you make your way through the ventilation system, forcing down the tears as your fingernails dig into the flesh of your palm. You try to block out the sound of vital fluids gushing from fresh wounds, focusing on your own breathing, and chant under your breath that if you contact Babylonia fast enough, you can save them all. Still, you can't shake the last image you have of Chrome — the only one who has ever managed to make your heart flutter, light up your entire world, and everything the books from the Golden Age describe between lovers.

You haven't had the chance to tell him how you feel. He can't die yet. You won't let him die.

There has never been a sweeter sound than the beep of your comm as Asimov finally shows up on the screen, lips forming words you can't hear. You connect your comm to the terminal in front of you, letting out a sigh of relief when Asimov's voice rings in your ears.

" —ear me? Can you hear me? What's the situation down there?"

"Immediate backup is needed. Don't know where Kamui and Wanshi are, but they should still be alive. Last saw them on the second floor in a room that looks like a manufacturing room. Chrome —" The words get stuck in your throat. "Chrome is alone in the warehouse in the basement. There's way too many Corrupted and —"

"Commandant Y/N. Calm down." A new voice joins the call. President Hassen steps into view, a troubled expression on his face. " Kamui and Wanshi's positions have just been confirmed. They are both alive and safely outside of the building. We will send reinforcements and supplies immediately, keep us updated with the situation on the ground. The entirety of Strike Hawk will be saved."

That's right. You're a Commandant. The Commandant of Strike Hawk, an elite squad. You should be behaving as such. You close your eyes, taking a shaky breath to calm down, and when you open your eyes, the Commandant of Strike Hawk Y/N L/N stands in front of the terminal. You and Strike Hawk will prevail, and in order for that to happen, you cannot panic.

"Apologies, President Hassen and Asimov. I will keep the both of you updated as requested and continue to find ways for Strike Hawk to regroup." You salute the figures and terminate the call. Your hands tremble as you count the number of bullets you have left, but you force them to remain steady. You can't shoot properly if your hands refuse to cooperate.

You make your way back to the basement and hear the sound of fighting. Good, it means your captain is still alive and you might just be able to save him.

"Chrome! The structural integrity of the building!" You shout into your comm, hoping that the captain can hear you.

"Countdown this time please." He huffs back and you grin.

"Of course."

You fire a few shots into the mass of Corrupted gathered at the door, taking some of them down but most importantly, getting their attention. They move towards you, screeching their eerie noises but you remain firmly in position. Two accurate tosses land well placed bombs on the pillars holding up the ceiling that the Corrupted are currently standing under and Chrome ensures that the Corrupted remain distracted. A few of them manage to injure you but you keep firing, corralling them. You dodge the attack of one and slap a bomb on the pillar on your side before signaling to Chrome that it's time.

He nods, and you dash towards him as he creates a split second path through the mass of Corrupted, pulling you into the room the moment you're within his scythe's reach and holding you tightly. You quickly slam the detonation button in your hand and press against him tightly as the bombs light the place up, taking down the entire place except for the room you and Chrome are in.

Dust clogs your nose, causing you to cough but at least you're alive. And so is Chrome. And so is Kamui. And so is Wanshi.

All of Strike Hawk is alive.

You sneeze, looking up into a pair of blue eyes filled with concern and shake your head.

"Kamui and Wanshi are alive. Babylonia is sending reinforcements and supplies." You gasp, letting go of your empty pistol. You've used every bullet you have, every weapon at your disposal and exhaustion finally hits you. You collapse into his arms, and feel him shift as he gently seats you on his lap when he sits down on the dusty floor.

"That was reckless." He says quietly, fingers interlacing with yours.

"We're alive." You grunt, lacking the energy to try justifying your actions.

"At least you signaled this time." You see the corners of his lips tug upwards ever so slightly.

"You're welcome." You mumble into his chest, ignoring all the vital fluids staining it.

"Stay awake, Y/N." He gives you a little poke, causing you to stir, irritated.

"Tired." You can feel blood trickling from your various wounds, painting Chrome's clothes crimson.

"That's exactly why you have to stay awake." There's urgency in his voice. "Stay awake for me, please, Y/N."

You let out a little snort, pushing yourself off him. He steadies you with his less injured arm when you sway from the exertion, alarm clear as day on his face.

"Let's be honest, it was kind of romantic, right?" You grin tiredly at him.

He stares at you in bewilderment. The adrenaline is truly making you delirious. "We almost died."

"In a romantic kind of way."

"None of that was romantic in the slightest." He deadpans.

"Really? Not the desperation to catch me, the holding tightly as the explosion went off, the shielding with one's body from the debris?"

"That…" His cheeks are dusted pink. "I'm a Construct, you're a human. You're more fragile than me so it's only right that I protect you, and you're my Commandant."

"Whatever you say, Romeo. Wait I take that back, Romeo and Juliet die at the end."

Chrome gives you yet another confused look, decides it's some reference from some artwork from the Golden Age that you've gotten into, and keeps you awake with questions about it until Babylonian reinforcements arrive to bring the both of you to a medical ward to get treated.

Knight's Longing - Sensabo

If you know my blog, this is not a surprise at all. I think I've talked about this fic like three times on here. It's gold if it were words. This is...not really angst or fluff, more of a character study if anything.

In This Moment - Sensabo

You like Noan? You like pain? Well do I have the fic for you! This is a slight canon divergence AU that takes place around CH26 / Cradle's Parade. If you know, you know.

|18+| 2023 Kinktober, Shameless - Starry

So, I did forget to mention (and was also self conscious about my writing so I lowkey didn't want to), but the Vonnegut segment is partly responsible for the existence of Forgive Me, My God. So...thank you for inadvertently enabling me?

Bloodbath - Starry

Yandere. Roland. Blood. My favorite things. Do I need to explain more? Like probably most people who are getting into the PGR fandom on tumblr, Starry's fics where one of, if not the first fanfics I read and this was absolutely the first Yandere PGR fic I read.

Am I The Only One? - Chronoshot

To be honest, these two fics by Chronos are a little special to me. Sprial of Chronos is one of my favorite patches and it's the one where I really got into PGR so it holds a special place in my heart

Luck Had Your Name - Chronoshot

This one I love a lot. The writing and use of color really emphasizes Lee's sincerity. On that note, this person is just a very good writer and you should read their stuff beyond this!

Regret - Les

a very cute little Chrome fluff fic that I read many, many moons ago but still warms my heart.

Marks & Claims - Les

A little Noctis fluff fic, one of the few that exist in English, I believe and I still remember being excited when I first saw it.

You Don't Have To Knock Next Time You Come In - Squishy

I still love this little yandere drabble from Squishy. They were the first one who really encouraged me on my blog and those asks and interactions I still hold dear to this day.

|18+| Twilight Falls (Bloodborne AU) - enupairdepartment

I, unfortunately, have yet to play Bloodborne, but I am obsessed with its aesthetic. Have you seen some of the scenery? Or the bosses? Terrifying, elegant, beautiful, and horrifying, are some of my favorite things. Hence why I had to read this AU. The ideas and potential this has definitely kept it in the back of my mind ever since I first read it.

Side Note: This author writes primarily Character X Character ships including Camu/Roland, Lee/Liv, Lee/Vera, Bianca/Watanabe so if that's something you've been looking for, consider checking them out!

Untitled Work - Shrimp Dumpling

Shrimp is one of the lovely people who participated in my PGR Writing Game, they have some lovely little fics that are honestly just a lot of fun to read.

Cherished Dreams - Eden

Do not be fooled by the author's ominous name, this is a fluff fic! With our one and only Wanshi written very beautifully.

|18+| Yandere Alpha - Rei

Look man, I have to include this okay. Ms. Lightning McQueen herself broke into my house and threatened me to do it, it's not my fault.

That's all that will be in this post, I will probably do this again at some point, but regardless I hope you found some new writers you'll enjoy. Remember to let them know that you appreciated their fics if you do!

mission after mission, kamui continued to become the sunshine of your team - you couldn't help but smile at him every time he starts talking and he couldn't help but continue to talk whenever you do, even if kamui was always talkative - he was more talkative now and that annoyed Lee to the metal but seeing you enjoying yourself with kamui's blabbers, he could not do anything.

it was like having a puppy around, kamui would look serious when you saw him afar but when his eyes lands on your figure, the shine in his eyes could be seen miles away and you would be lying if you didn't imagine a wagging tail behind him as he sprint towards you.

it was one of those days where you and your team had been given rest and kamui came looking for you, telling you about his morning and how strike hawk was also given a chance to rest after the continuous missions. he then talked about this new video game he saw, wanting to try it with you, you asked what game it was and he started avoiding your eyes.

"it's .. hm .. how do i say it? its a romance game .." you stared at kamui in disbelief, romance game with you? is he that comfortable with you or something else? kamui had bit lit lip and looked at you confidently, "i want to play romance games with you." he said and you continued to stare at him and due to your gaze was when he started blabbering and making up excuses with his face slowly beaming with a reddish hue, your eyes softened at him and kamui froze on his stop when he felt you held on his shoulders and lift yourself up slightly and he quickly closed his eyes and when he felt your lips on his, he was almost certain there was something wrong with his heat circulating system. when you pulled away, his eyes were still closed and you admired his features while waiting for him to open his eyes again. you smiled as you continued to admire him and somehow it felt illegal to do this in the middle of the corridor but the two of you were there with a lingering kiss. kamui slowly opened his eyelids and was now the one staring at you as if captivated by you but he was always been, then and now. the very short linger of your lips made a mark on his own and without yours lips on his felt like there was something missing. "I'll play the romance game with you. i'm free now, how about you?" you broke the silence and kamui tried to talk but to him, it was gibberish. what was he saying? before he could continue to go on and talk about nonsense nonstop, he press a hand on his mouth and slowly said, "I'm free now too, i'll wait for you at my room?" you smiled brightly, "sure! see you," and you started going to where your room was, kamui stayed there on his spot - the heat was not leaving his metal body.

lee

(nothing yet~)

═︎══︎═︎═︎═︎═︎

kamui

(nothing yet~)

═︎══︎═︎═︎═︎═︎

watanabe

(nothing yet~)

═︎══︎═︎═︎═︎═︎

chrome

(nothing yet~)

═︎══︎═︎═︎═︎═︎

camu

general nsfw headcanons - ✪︎

he's on his side, sleeping soundly, as one hand grasped yours, the other draped on your bare hips. both of your legs are tangled, your body nearly leaning onto him. his usual stoic face was relaxed, an expression you rarely see during the war. while the battlefield may have scorned his appearance, only moments like this would allow you to see Lee drop his guard down and show his human side.

propping a hand to support your head, you couldn't help but look at your sleeping lover. you've always known Lee has been so handsome; even when he had his Entropy frame, humans or constructs would approach him and ask for his number. but you couldn't help but laugh at that memory. this man is yours; unfortunate to them, but he's the one who is part of Gray Raven and the one who owns your heart.

was this the first time Lee was with you in bed? you usually see him after you wake up, preparing your morning coffee, the papers on your desk arranged accordingly. right now, he's actually beside you.

pride and love well up in your chest. although he may have given up his humanity years ago, you couldn't help but think about how you've learned to adore him. unclasping from his hand, you lightly touched his face.

tracing his face. from the blonde locks covering his closed eyes, to the shape of his jaw. from the chin, you drifted to the slope of his nose, the softness of his cheek. you tenderly traced the outline of his lips, which made you smile, as the events of last night replayed in your mind, the thought that made you blush and joyful. you may have studied all the lessons the F.O.S. taught you, but no one was there to write a book about Lee. and so, you couldn't help but want to touch every part of him that you could.

as you do, you couldn't help but think now; the war, the punishing virus, the ones you love. fear may be evident as it grows fondly like your endearment for Lee, but you solely believe in hope: in hope that one day, a world where you could roam with Lee and your team, and other people in Babylonia, without anything to destroy life anymore.

you leaned and kissed the corners of his mouth. one kiss turned into little kisses that littered across his jaw, up until the eyelids. your heart is heavy with endearment — you want to kiss Lee without hesitation, without a pause.

fortunately for you, Lee was already awake. the moment you started to touch him, he woke up from his slumber. but hearing you squeaking with joy, he let you have your moment. until you started kissing him anywhere but his lips.

jolting up, he took your wrist and flipped you over: you are under him, wrists lightly held above your head. “good morning, commandant.” said Lee, the raspy, morning voice making you smile with pleasure.

“good morning,” you replied, voice scratchy, “I think you made me lose my voice. how am I supposed to talk to the council now?”

“mm, that's not my fault.” he leaned down to nuzzle your exposed neck, breath tickling your shoulders, “I can tell them to reschedule. you need the rest after all.”

“still your fault. I still have so much to do.”

“why don't you do it then?”

you sighed, playfully rolling your eyes, “a certain someone made me lose the ability to walk.”

Lee lifted his head to reveal a smirk that made you want to wipe off of his face. “oh, really? that's unfortunate. would you tell me who it is?”

He let your hands go, still caging you in between him. deciding to play along with his game, you wrap your arms around his neck, laughing. “mm, well, he's good-looking. definitely an eye candy.”

“mhm, and?”

“he has blonde hair. a cute guy.”

“I think I get the image. what else?”

“a strange guy. he's also really shy but somehow switches personalities when there's no one else around.”

“really? that is a strange guy. I think you should stay away from him.”

“ah, I should, but that's a shame.” you mirrored his grin, “after all, he just told me that I should stay a little longer.”

a faint blush dusted his cheeks. he leaned down, lips closer to yours, that you could feel the thrumming of his heartbeat. “mm...if I told you to stay a little longer, would you?”

you pulled him closer, his body now touching on top of yours. two hearts now mirroring each other's beats. “I would,” you whispered, turning to kiss wherever your lips could reach, “I would stay with you.”

you wish you would. you wish it would stay forever like this: on a bed on a work morning, skipping whatever the hell was out for the both of you. for a split second, the image you had earlier reappeared in your thoughts: a white gown, a floral arc, an aisle, and the man in a suit waiting for you at the end of the aisle.

such thoughts shouldn't happen, but your heart, oh. you could never imagine the future without a Lee — Morian — in it.

“I love you, Lee.”

the three magic words that you've always wanted to tell him all the time. Lee didn't answer. instead, he nuzzles the warmth of your cheek. then the other. aiding him in his ministrations, your fingers tangle themselves in the softness of his hair. the shuffling of the blanket, the tangling of your legs. he moves downward now; kissing the edge of your jaw, to the crook of your neck, the dip of your clavicle. he looks at you, a twinkle in his eye as he kissed the back of your hand, to the inside of your palm.

he straddles you by the hips. you remember a construct's body may be different from that of a regular human, but to see the outlines of his torse, a transparent, glowing blue light from his spine, only made you look back at him with awe. you trace the outline, to which he holds your hand fondly.

“I've always seen you like a god.” Lee confesses. as he held your hand to his chest (his heart was beating erratically now), he spoke more of his feelings. “you have always been too kind to me, even though I can be brash and apathetic. you only show me mercy, and I don't even know how to repay you.”

“being alive and being here is enough for me.” you whispered, the pal of your hand flat against his erratic heart, “I can't imagine a life without Lee. without Morian.”

You felt his heart skip. He only chuckles, “I can't get enough of you saying my name. it feels...unusual.”

“I love you, Morian.”

He exhales. Taking your hand and kissing the palm of it once more, before looking at you with his tender cerulean irises, he whispers.

“I love you more, [Y/N].”

no one is alone here now. only two lovers, laughing under the sheets, incessant touches here and there, that only they can share with one another.

“w-wait!” you exclaimed, prying Lee away from you for a moment, “I forgot to give you something.”

Lee cocked his head, “what?”

you pecked his lips, grinning, “happy birthday, Lee.”

“really? that's it?” he laughs, holding your hips, “thank you, [Y/N].”

“I have a gift for you.”

“oh? what is it?”

excitingly rolling to your side of the bed, you pulled out a ribbon. looking at Lee, you carefully place the ribbon on top of your head. Lee's eyes darken with an expression you're now slowly getting used to.

“I'm your present.”

“...how am I supposed to open my present if they're already open?”

You wink, legs shyly opening. “there's more to come.”

and so, that was how your day goes, as the day bleeds into the nighttime. Lee doesn't know though, the real present that sits on your drawer, waiting for the right time to be opened.

It started as a saintly devotion. One that persisted until the end of time.

A small prayer. A soft whisper. An eager longing. For a world without worries, for a world where no one suffered. Once upon a time, there was an era where the gods died and man was left defenseless in the face of death—until they learned how to rebuild their empires to fight against them just for survival.

Once upon a time, it was an era of corrupted versus humankind. But now...

Gentle sunlight would kiss your skin. The smell of dandelions and bacon would wake your mornings. You have a soft bed, a comfortable and cozy room, and the light of day.

A blissful kind of reality—one akin to devotion.

❝[Name]?❞ a dawdled out voice called out nearby. Your feet, accustomed to the softness of the floor instead of a metal one, drag along the path and you started to make your way to the other side of the door.

As you open it, a brooding figure looms over the other end. You come face to face with the dog tag hung on his chest—a proud memorabilia of your victory.

❝[Name], why are you already out of bed?❞ You trail your eyes down to see him holding a tray of your breakfast, made for two.

❝You called my name,❞ sleepily, you answered, a yawn cutting you off midway, ❝I thought you need anything.❞

❝It's okay, I was wondering if you were awake.❞ The softness laced in his voice filled your heart with an unexplainable warmth. In kindness, you reached out to touch his hand, gently pulling him to the bed.

❝Lee,❞ you giggle as he carefully held your food in his hands, ❝come on, we should eat. I'm starving!❞

His laugh mirrored your own. Sitting at the other end of the bed, he laid out what he intended to serve: two plates of a sunny side-up egg and a scrambled one, three bacon strips on each plate, a toast of bread on each side, and a glass of milk and coffee. Lee had designed it simply the way you liked it; you didn't mind though, you liked whatever he made for you.

❝This sunny-side up egg is yours,❞ he said as he placed the plate with the mentioned type of egg, ❝cooked the way you told me.❞

❝Thank you, but why does yours look good,❞ you pouted, eyeing the delicious scrambled egg on his plate, ❝I want to taste.❞

❝They're still eggs,❞ Lee chuckled, ❝there's no difference to it.❞

Childishly, you opened your mouth and formed a letter "O", never breaking eye contact from the man. He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused with your actions.

❝[Name], what are you doing?❞

❝Ah,❞ you motioned to your open mouth and to his egg, ❝Ah-ah!❞

Lee shook his head. Carefully slicing out a piece using his spoon, he guided it to your mouth. But before it reached your lips, he swerved it to the direction of his own mouth. Bewildered, you let out a gasp of surprise before covering your mouth.

❝How dare you!❞

❝You were too slow.❞

You playfully shoved his shoulder as you laughed, your own mirroring him. After a few more spoonful, he decided to let you taste his other dish.

❝Open your mouth wider, [name]. This will go to waste if you don't.❞

❝What if I don't want to?❞

His thumb was holding your lip to open them, hand supporting your jaw. Warm radiates all over your face as he continued to look into your eyes, his other hand steadily guiding the spoonful of food to your mouth.

❝Then you won't taste it.❞ He smiled before placing the spoon on your tongue.

❝You're mean,❞ you say as you bunch on the food he had given you, the warmth that bubbled earlier in your chest bubbling once again.

❝I did let you taste mine, hm?❞ Wordlessly, he reached out again to cup your chin, thumb grazing the corner of your mouth ever so gently, ❝don't be too greedy and eat slowly.❞

Your nose crinkled at the contact. A part of you refrained to bite his thumb playfully, but your heart—it was beating too fast.

Lee handed you his glass of milk, silver gloves grasping the cup. ❝do you like your food?❞

A smile graced your lips unnoticed. Taking a sip from the glass, you nodded, aware of his goodness, ❝Of course.❞

The milk was warm.

It was a sunny day.

A vase full of dandelions. A lingering scent of cinnamon. An echo of laughter among the hallways.

The house was a home full of various scents. Two people that lived lush green and brimming with wildflowers. Under the sun, they had nothing to lose. Under the sun, all they had was each other.

You yawned as you swept the last dust outside. The morning barely started but the sun was already lulling you to sleep.

❝All done?❞ Lee's voice echoed from the other room. Turning your head, he emerged with a small robot in hand—a new handiwork.

❝Mhm, are you done tinkering your new work?❞

❝Barely. I've been asking parts from Karenina since last week, but she's still not responding.❞

You walked to his direction, attention already caught by the small toy. ❝It looks cute.❞

❝I try to make it look cute. So far, it's giving me problems here and there.❞

Lightly, you trace the outline of the toy, ❝mm...who commissioned you this time?❞

Lee went silent. You dragged your fingers to the outline of his hand, the silver rim cool in your touch. ❝another from Babylonia?❞

❝...would say something like that,❞ he chuckled nervously, ❝but at the same time, no.❞

Lee may be talented in making things work, but he was bad at lying. But still, you laughed and patted his hand, ❝okay, okay, I won't pry.❞

He breathed out a sigh of relief, but was caught off guard when you reached out to squeeze his cheeks. A loud cry escaped his lips and you bolted into a run around the hallway.

❝[Name]!!❞

Your laughter resonated along the hallway.

It was a cool afternoon.

A picnic. A shady tree. An afternoon of living.

The glare of the sun was unkind, but the wind granted you both a clear sky. Under the ruffles of your sundress, the wild playfully blew, but Lee was a gentleman—he didn't look down; only held you by your waist as you walked to the spot under the tree.

❝I guess your weather forecast has been accurate.❞ You said as you laid out the blanket, ❝it's too windy today though.❞

❝I've still yet to adjust it to Earth's new ecosystem.❞ He sighed, placing the basket down, ❝but I'm glad it's accurate still.❞

❝You sound really cute when you talk about that stuff.❞

A small blush crept its way to Lee's face, ❝it's the only thing I'm good at.❞

You propped yourself to the blanket, patting the empty space beside you. Without a word, he slipped to your side. You smiled at your comrade—gently patting his cheek. ❝You're good with a lot of things, Lee.❞

❝Yeah, you think?❞

Your mind wandered for a moment, before opening your mouth to speak. ❝You make all these robots for people. They love it.❞

❝That's my specialty—❞

❝—hold on, I'm not done.❞

Reaching out to the sky, the light of the afternoon spilled through the foliage of trees. In your hand danced the sun—the very heat that kissed your palms and skin when morning comes and when the afternoon sets. ❝Lee is...when I can't hold the sun, I can hold him instead.❞

Curiously, he mimicked your actions. You hadn't realized how close you were to his body when one side of yours had been leaning to him, his other free hand holding you by the waist. Without hesitation, you let your pinky brush his thumb, the small action making you breathe out a satisfied sigh.

❝I never would have thought we could live like this on Earth.❞ You confess as a whisper, heart drumming wild in your chest.

❝Mm...yes. So did I.❞ In kind, his thumb carefully wrapped your pinky.

The sunlight never burned in your hands but his touch felt like walking through the sun's core. Oh, how heavenly did it feel when he took your hand and enclosed it with his own. Taking it to his mouth, a small kiss on top of your own. Lee never broke eye contact as he continued to place the back of your hand to his lips.

❝Would you mind,❞ he whispered in your palm as the wind passed by, ❝would you mind if we can stay like this forever?❞

You did not need to answer. Your presence was already the response. But you smiled anyway.

❝Yes, Lee.❞

For a moment, you could hear the skip in his heart if it were a speaker. You basked in that moment.

❝I will stay with you forever.❞

He was warm.

It ended with an unwavering devotion.

A loud prayer. An honest confession. A promise for a lifetime.

You are in your bed, tangled with Lee as your breaths mingled in the air, the orange hues outside indicating the setting sun. The bed creaked with your movements, but you didn't care—all you could focus was how close he held you in his arms as you sat on his lap, how his breath seemed to send your thoughts into overdrive as he kissed your face, how his incessant hands ignited anywhere he touched.

You lived in the moment, the same way he did.

❝Lee,❞ you said his name like a prayer, and he only answered in soft breaths. He was a man starved for your affection, and you could not help but succumb to him.

No words spoke as he held you tightly in his arms, seemingly afraid to let go. You touched his shoulder, expecting the metal frame, but—

❝is something wrong?❞ his voice was laced with uncertainty, lips detached from your neck.

You held your hold over his shoulder, before squeezing it.

❝Do I seem different?❞ He spoke.

You shook your head, sighing. ❝I am just thinking.❞

Everything seemed to crash all over you at once; the war, the corrupted, Babylonia, and the other constructs under your care. You felt the threat of your tears spilling from your eyes, but Lee looked back. Using his thumb, he caressed cheek.

❝You seem upset.❞ He whispered. He shifted his hold to the nape of your neck, pulling to his direction until both of your foreheads touched.

❝[Name],❞ he closed his eyes, the tremble of his voice making it harder for you to hold your tears. ❝what are you thinking?❞

Unconsciously, you cupped his cheek, before reaching out to hold the dog tag he wore all this time. You brought it to your lips, muttering something like a prayer, before leaving a kiss.

❝All this time, you fought a war for humans, for me.❞ Your other hand slipped down to where his heart was—❝does it hurt?❞

Constructs were pawns and tools of humans; they would fight for them, bleed for them, and even die for them. The brains of the ones who created the concept was extraordinary yet far too selfish—all for man to do was to survive, no matter who they stepped along the way.

You witnessed how many times your constructs would die for you, yet all you could do was watch from the sidelines. You watched Lee save you countless of times—the memory of his sacrifice to keep you alive was still fresh.

❝Why think of that, [name]?❞ He whispered, a kiss on your cheekbone, ❝of course, it once hurt. But not anymore.❞

❝You were the one who's always there for me, but I could never give back to you.❞

Contructs died the day their body was on the operation table and they rebuilt themselves as another person. You knew that. Yet the amount of times Lee—your Lee—would willingly give his life for you was uncountable.

Lee didn't speak. Instead, he held you tighter. ❝Oh, [name],❞

Wordlessly, both of his hands were now on your cheeks. Your hand that was hovered over his chest was warm—the thrumming of his heartbeat was louder than you've ever heard, that you felt it resonate all over your body; from the tip of your ears to the curl of your toes.

❝You being here is enough for me.❞ He placed a kiss to your forehead, ❝the war is over, we can live the way you wanted.❞ a kiss on your eyelids, ❝a house that is never cold like Babylonia,❞ a kiss on your cheekbone, ❝a garden full of vegetables and flowers we love,❞ a kiss to your jaw, ❝a home where we could spend all the days of your life full of love.❞

As a final answer, he kissed you—full of honesty, full of love, that your tears started to pour.

❝I devoted myself to you the day I was in your care, commandant. No matter where you go, I'd always follow.❞

He whispered once more, ❝you make me feel human.❞

❝Morial,❞ you spoke his real name, and for once, you felt him shiver in your touch. ❝how...❞

Hell got lost inside the heaven you've made.

❝Say my name, [name].❞

A swell of pride and warmth filled your chest, his lips touching yours as you called him again, ❝Morial.❞

Again and again, you called his name. He called yours, too. In a flurry of warmth under the fading light of the sun, you found yourself in his embrace.

A saintly devotion. One that presisted even until the end of time.

A loud beep rung out.

A world without corrupted, a world that was finally happy.

Another beep.

How beautiful it must be.

Beep.

M.I.N.D. deviation interferred. Simulation complete.

In the middle of a dark room. A figure sitting on a chair took off his gear.

A dog tag chain grasped in his hand. A solemn prayer lulling at the back of his head.

A Construct named Lee was there. But his commandant was not. There was a house, but it was Babylonia.

There was world left for humans at all.