by Alex Powell
"Here, hold these a second," Mari said, passing Kaede their plates.
She scrambled up a nearby ladder and started turning the hatch-release on a door on the ceiling. It made a popping noise as it released, and Mari pushed it up and out. She went back down the ladder and took the food again, balancing it in one arm and using the other to climb the ladder.
"Are we supposed to be doing this?" Kaede asked as she climbed up behind Mari.
"The hatch was left unlocked, which is good enough for me."
They emerged from the hatch, and the still-warm evening air flowed around them like a caress. They were standing on the very summit of Hakusan, and the view around them was endless. The forest was spread out far out below them, and off in the distance, a crimson line marked the horizon where the sun hadn't quite finished setting. Above them, the moon had already risen and hung above them, only a few nights away from fullness.
Mari shrugged off her leather jacket and spread it out on the metal surface so that the two of them could sit and eat their meal. Kaede's side was pressed up against her, warm in the cooling air. The two of them watched as the red line on the horizon disappeared. One spot remained a faint orange, marking the lights of the capital.
It was quiet as they finished eating and then passed a canteen of water back and forth between them, waiting for a chance to speak. Mari had been trying for days to find the right time to say something, and now, here they were. They were alone, and it was peaceful. The night sky was bright and clear, and the air was fresh, just the right balance between warm and cool. This was the best moment she could have hoped for, but instead of saying anything, she was fiddling with the canteen lid and stalling.
"Nice night," Mari said, not looking at Kaede.
"Yes."
"I'm glad we came up here."
"Me too."
Mari picked up the canteen and screwed the lid back on. Then she opened it again and took a quick swig before closing it again.
"Um, Kaede. I just wanted to say ..." She saw Kaede tilt her head to look at her from her periphery. "That is, I was thinking ... that, um ... we really are good partners. And so... well, you don't have to agree or anything. Just ..."
"Yes?"
Mari lost her nerve. "Ah ... it's not important."
"What's not?"
"Nothing."
"Mari ...?"
Mari turned toward Kaede and was surprised to find her much closer than anticipated. Her eyes widened a moment before Kaede's small hand cupped the back of her head, and suddenly she was being kissed. She made a small sound in the back of her throat, and Kaede drew away.
"That's what you wanted to say, right?" Kaede asked her.
"Well," Mari squeaked. Clearing her throat, she continued. "Yes, that was it. Yes. How did you know?"
Kaede laughed. "It was kind of obvious."
"So, it's okay with you ...?"
Kaede answered by pulling her back in, shifting to settle herself comfortably in Mari's lap. Mari wasn't entirely sure what to do with a sudden lapful of beautiful girl, but it seemed as if Kaede had a few ideas. Tentatively, she put her hands on Kaede's waist, and Kaede leaned forward, capturing Mari's mouth again. She tasted clean and pure, like rainwater.
Mari yelped as Kaede's hands unexpectedly found her bare skin, running delicate fingers up the length of her spine.
"You know, we're still on duty," she managed to say.
Kaede smiled and replied, "You were the one that taught me to break the rules."
Mari let herself get lost in kissing Kaede for a few long minutes, their hot breath mixing in between them. Kaede's legs were bare and smooth beneath her robe, silky to the touch.
"Kaede, you know I want this, I do. But I also wanted something more ... solid. Permanent. I don't know if that's what you want too ..."
"We already have that. We're partners. Our bond grows stronger every day we're together."
"This might not work," Mari said, gesturing between them. "What then? What would it mean for our partnership?"
"I think that if we can reconcile our differences as a source and a pilot, then anything is possible," Kaede said firmly. "It took a lot of talking out, but we managed alright in the end. I believe in us. We can do it, as long as we keep working together."
Mari's watch beeped.
"We have to go back. They're all counting on us to finish this," Mari sighed, climbing to her feet and pulling Kaede up after her. "Will this conversation still be waiting for us when we're done?"
"You can count on it."
Kaede leaned up to kiss her once more before climbing back down the ladder. Mari gathered their empty plates and followed. They were heading straight back on duty as soon as they were back on the bridge.
Mari thought that this was probably how it would always be. They would find moments like that in between their busy shifts, finding time to themselves when their comrades weren't around. That was how it had to be, but Mari didn't mind. She had Kaede, and when one could find the perfect moment in the couple of hours they had to rest, she knew they would always be able to find the time.
"Who would have thought this would happen, anyway?" Mari asked as they descended.
"We tried our hardest to hate each other and it didn't work, so I guess we're stuck with each other now," Kaede replied. "It was meant to be."
It didn't matter whether it was meant to be or not; they were together now. That was what really mattered, in the end.
Fin
About the Author
Alex Powell is an avid writer and reader of sci-fi and fantasy, but on occasion branches into other genres to keep things interesting. Alex is a genderqueer writer from the wilds of northern Canada who loves exploring other peoples and cultures. Alex is a recent graduate of UNBC with a BA in English, and as a result has an unhealthy obsession with Victorian Gothic literature. Alex has been writing from an early age, but is happy to keep learning to improve on their writing skills. Feedback and comments as well as any questions are appreciated! You can reach Alex at [email protected]