Revelations

[runmakitarun]

The light of the rising sun barely kisses the broken buildings of the city of Bahamut as Proto and Makita walk across the snow-covered streets. They pick their way across broken rubble, broken vehicles, and broken bodies in silence.

The station isn't far now and Makita glances over at Proto and jerks her head to suggest they approach from the east to keep the brightening dawn at their backs.

Comments

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

Proto shrugs as he drops another missile into his gun and locks it in place.

"You tell me. You're the one who keeps necessitating my use of them."

Smirking, he stands and lifts his gun so the barrel rests against his shoulder.

"Besides, I think it's the right of every guy to use spectacular force when he's saving his girlfriend's buns. It's impressively macho, and earns him more smooches of gratitude."

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

As he's speaking Makita moves out of cover and walks over to Proto. "You and your dirty mind," she teases, "Is that all you ever think of?"

Then she leans forward to kiss him.

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

When she pulls back Proto is still smirking.

"You know it, pretty girl."

He strokes a crooked finger down her cheek.

"Maybe one day you'll save my ass. Then you'll be able to hit me with your own corny lines."

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

She grabs his hand and tugs, "Come on. The firefight might have drawn attention. Let's find somewhere to hole up for a bit while we wait to see if anyone's coming to investigate."

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

"Good idea."

Proto nods his agreement and lets her lead the way to a nearby building—once a majestic corporate office tower, but now little more than a four story parking garage. The couple hunker down inside, out of sight from the street, but where they can keep an eye on the battlefield.

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

They settle into silence as they look out over the ruined street. Makita's attention is focused on watching for anyone coming to investigate their less-than-silent firefight. Even with her mind focused on potential threats, there's a part of Makita that is simply grateful for Proto's presence.

The Reds have taken much from her, but not everything.

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

While they wait, Proto pulls out a sorry-looking energy bar from a jacket pocket. Once the wrapper has been torn, he automatically offers the first bite to Makita. She needs it more than he does. Or she used to...

He's noticed that she doesn't looked quite as under-nourished anymore. And, as inexplicable as the change is, it's a very good thing.

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

Makita is absorbed in her study of the terrain so the wave of polite refusal she offers is absent. Still, food would be good. She reaches into her own pocket and pulls out the first thing that comes to hand.

The wrapper on the chocolate bar is fairly easy to peel back and she takes a bite with a soft smile of pleasure before offering the bar to Proto.

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

Proto's eyes widen in surprise. Chocolate is a pretty rare substance in Bahamut these days, and the brand looks like nothing he's ever seen before.

"Hey. Where did you get that?" he inquires.

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

There's a sudden moment of stillness as Makita's hand freezes in midair and she turns to look at what she just offered. That... had been left in her pocket from her last chocolate party with Steph.

Milliways.

"Um..." her lip twists up in concentration as she tries to figure out how to answer that. "It's sort of a long story." Now that Proto's seen it of course, she knows she's going to have to tell him, and she doesn't expect the temporization to buy her more than a few seconds.

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

An intrigued eyebrow arches.

"Good job we've got a long time right now then."

He leans back against a crumbling concrete stanchion, hands interlacing behind his head. This promises to be good, whatever the details are.

"Let's hear it then."

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

She offers a small nod and takes a moment to organize her thoughts.

"A few months ago, in the middle of a firefight in the park, the one where we lost Timosha, Rita, and Old Katarina, something weird happened." Deaths are, sadly, the most reliable way to mark time in this war-torn city.

"I was diving for cover and instead of ending up in a ruined building I was... somewhere else (http://community.livejournal.com/milliways_bar/15349627.html). Like one of the Red gates, but... not."

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

Furrows of bewilderment start to form across Proto's forehead.

"Okay," he says, trustingly.

"So... what was this other place?"

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

"It was a bar. The people there call it 'Milliways'."

Makita tried her best to explain an utterly alien place to someone who had never seen it. She talked about food and friends and people who had no experience with war. She told Proto about the people who had taught her and challenged her, and in some ways healed her.

Steph, Mel, Goldie, Alex, Rapunzel, Plourr, Cait, Rachel.

It never crossed her mind that Proto might doubt her. He knew her well enough to know that she was perfectly serious and that no matter how odd her story might be, that it was true.

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

It's an incredible report, and it leaves Proto dumbfounded for the most part. He does believe it, every single word of it. That's why he's so speechless. What can you say in the wake of a tale like that?

"Wow, Maki. Just... wow. No wonder you kept it quiet."

Eventually he manages a more intelligent reply:

"These friends of yours. Have some of them been here once or twice, fighting with you?"

There have been a few unreported and unexplained Red kills recently, most notably a whole unit of Sorceress Special Ops and their bodyguards. And there have been a few other Red corpses found, slain by unorthodox methods and weaponry.

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Makita's tone is soft and her nod is small. "A few times. When things were bad."

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

Proto has no problem with outsiders helping their cause at all. He nods back quietly, still trying to digest some of the other things she's revealed to him over the past little while.

After another lengthy pause, he asks:

"Can you take me to see this amazing place and meet these people?"

"I... I'd like to go there with you. To see it for myself. Not that I don't trust your word, but it sounds really neat."

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

Makita's smile is soft as she nods. Her voice is quiet, "I'd like that. You should meet some of the people and... it'd be nice to have some time to ourselves with no interruptions."

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

"It would," Proto agrees, smiling back at her.

"If, as you say, time stops here when the door closes behind you."

He reaches out and takes one of Makita's hands in his own.

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

Her fingers tighten around his and she draws his hand up to hold it against her cheek. "It's a promise then. Next time the door opens I'm going to find you so I can show you around."

"And so we can have some time together. I'll show you the bathtub."

[theredstars.livejournal.com]

"...You have a bathtub there. Really?"

Proto's eyes close wistfully. He can't remember the last time he washed in hot water, let alone bathed. And the prospect of relaxing in a tub without having to worry about the situation here is a divine one. Add his love into the mix, and it's beyond heavenly.

"Okay. You've got yourself a deal."

He leans forward and seals the agreement with a passionate kiss.

[runmakitarun.livejournal.com]

Makita leans into the kiss, which goes on for a while. Eventually, reluctantly, she pulls back. Her voice is warm as she turns to look back out at the street, "I guess we better do what we came here to do, huh?"

She slowly pushes herself to her feet and checks her weapon.

There'll be time to spend with Proto once she finds another door to Milliways.