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[ She followed his lead and shifted, too, bringing her leg around to the other side of Black and scooting a bit closer. ]

One sec.

[ Before grabbing a hold of Shiro, she turned at the waist a little and pressed a button on a bracelet on her wrist to put her mech into standby mode. It whirred and beeped and the hatch at the back of it closed before its lights went dead. After that, she wrapped her arms around Shiro's waist and held onto him that way - more of a hug than the last time he'd taken her for a ride on the Black Lion. ]

Okay, I'm ready!

[Shiro waited patiently until she had turned round to face forward on the lion. He couldn't really help the faint smile as she wrapped her arms around him]

Great. Alright, Black. Let's go.

[The lion shifted around so he could get a running start then took to the air. This time it was definitely a longer flight as Black followed the length of the river. The wind rush passed them even though Black wasn't going that fast]

It's nice from here.

[ Her arms tightened around him as Black sprinted - being on a giant robotic lion when it did that was something she might not ever really get accustomed to, she thinks - and then they tightened even more as they ascended. Once the Lion began to cruise, though, she relaxed a bit. The hood on her head was inevitably pulled back by the wind, but she didn't mind - the feeling of it in her hair was especially refreshing and exhilarating after spending so much of the last few days cooped up.

Looking down, she saw the way that Black left a trail along the water's surface, parting it in sprays in its wake and then she looked up at the sky. This place was a lot like Earth in some ways but in many, like now - it was completely sublime and beautiful in such an otherworldly way that Hana would've never even dreamed of being able to see. She was practically breathless. ]

It's... really beautiful. This place can be so beautiful, don't you think?

[Yeah, even Shiro probably wasn't going to get used to that. The lions moved the way an animal would, jostling and all. Black seemed to prefer a running start when carrying someone so it was not the easiest start, Shiro having to grip onto the lion with his metal hand. Luckily for him - and anyone else riding with him - Black's wings helped for another point to grab onto if needed.

The ride smoothed out once they were airborne and Black found a cruising altitude. Granted he wasn't too far above the water so there was a fine mist in the air as he cruised along the river. Most of it was behind them so really no chance of getting wet.

The sun was starting to set now, not only slowly painting the sky with reds and oranges, but also changing the light reflecting through the water spraying up from the river.

He smiled, glancing back at Hana and noticing that her hood had blown back. Looked better that way. At least he didn't have to watch where he was going the whole time because Black wouldn't purposely run into something ~~hopefully~~]

Yeah. It's really amazing. This needs to be done more often.

[ The sun was setting and, in the distance, the Capital World loomed over, and that in itself was quite a sight; it reminded Hana of all the pictures of Earth taken from the Horizon Lunar Colony back home. She always wondered what it would be like to be on the moon looking back at Earth, what she would see, but she supposed it would have been somewhat similar to the sight she'd see now.

Shiro's smile was met with one of her own and she found herself staring at him a bit in spite of the incredible scenery around them. She was glad that they came out tonight. Just this simple of an act was already lifting their spirits, wasn't it? She moved her head, resting it against Shiro's back and she nodded. ]

Mmm. We should do this more often.

I could never see anything like this at home, you know. Not with the war...

[Shiro had seen a lot of things being in space and being with Voltron that the sight of the Capital World overhead might have been jaded somewhat, but it was still impressive. Even so it was still impressive and when someone else got excited about space, it was hard for him to not be as well.

Yes, definitely glad Black wasn't going to crash into anything because until she leaned forward to rest her head against his back]

Yeah, we should do this more often.

[He gave a faint sad smile when she spoke what he had seen of her memories]

Yeah, that must have been rough. Being drafted to fight against monsters like that.

[ Hana closed her eyes momentarily in spite of the incredible view around them; she focused on the feeling of the wind in her hair and trying to let the things she'd been bottling up fly away just like she and Shiro were. It— was hard. Part of her didn't want to let go. A large part of her. ]

I was happy that they chose me. I was at the top of my game around that time but... I was also finishing school and trying to figure out where to go for university and stuff like that too, you know?

[ Normal stuff. ]

I could tell my dad was disappointed even when he was being supportive. I think he had other things in mind for what I'd be devoting my life to. But I told him, "Dad, if they need me, how can I say no?"

[ Not that she had much of a choice, the choice to even say no. But it helped Hana deal with the fact that she didn't have much control over her own life, to think of it as her rising up to the occasion instead of being forced into it. ]

It's too bad, now I'm here.

[Shiro definitely feels that her statement is a bit of double-talk, trying to convince herself that this was what she wanted. Shiro had entered the Galaxy Garrison voluntarily and the cadets all applied to attend without coercion except from maybe their families, but he was aware not every military or military-resembling entity operated on freedom of choice]

Yeah... that is too bad. But I guess this is not all that bad either.

[He glanced back over his shoulder at her]

You get to hang out with friends. You could go to school again if you wanted to.

[A pause]

You can kick my butt at video games.

[ She could feel the shift in his body when he glanced back, so her eyes fluttered open and she moved her head just enough to be able to look up and meet his gaze. There was something like confusion in her eyes, conflict, like she just didn't know what to think. If she should realize that it really wasn't all that bad - or if she should feel helpless to the fact that she was here, not at home.

But... Shiro wasn't wrong...

She'd made so many friends here. Hell, even Genji - and he came from the same world as she did! In spite of that, Hana still doubted she would have ever even met him if no for this place... And she could go back to school.

And she could kick Shiro's butt at videogames.

She couldn't help the small smile on her face when he said that, along with the quiet little chuckle she gave before she looked away, back to the view below them. ]

You're right, I do get to do all that here. Especially since you just love getting your butt kicked at games, huh?

[Shiro smiled, hearing the chuckle glad that she was relaxing a little bit. He knew the inner struggle some people had. He'd thought some things that no longer made sense in his head to try and cope with the situation with the Galra. Never that he actually wanted to be there. There was no way he'd thought that]

Yeah, apparently I do. I keep coming back after all.

[He was quiet a moment before speaking again] I understand that its hard, having to do something that you weren't expecting and having to go along with it. But you do have the change to do what you want here. This places seems to be a good, get away from your problems for a while sort of a place.

[ Without her thinking or meaning to, her arms tightened around him and she turned her head, resting her forehead against his back almost like she was hiding.

It hurt so much, having people say that it was okay for her to simply exist and live her life here, and she didn't know if she could ever explain that. It wasn't any fault of theirs - she certainly didn't resent Shiro for what he'd said - but the fact of the matter was... she didn't want to get away.

Because as much as a part of her felt robbed after being drafted - she was no quitter. She didn't want to run away from what the lot she'd drawn in life. She wanted to face it head-on and win - then she could get away.

...But she couldn't bring herself to say any of that to Shiro. She would rather keep it to herself. Everything was just too raw at the moment. At the very least, she managed this: ]

... Yeah. I guess I'll have to think about it.

I just don't want to disappoint anyone because I'm here and not... doing my duty at home, you know?

[Ah ha... now he was starting to understand. It wasn't so much the fact that she had been drafted though that was part of it. The real issue here was the fact that she was here and not at home doing her job, whether it had been voluntary for her to do it or if it had been handed to her]

Yeah, I guess I understand that. I'm here away from Voltron and now Black is missing as well. Sometimes you wonder how things are going with you being there.

That's what you are worried about? Not being there to help them?

[ She knew he would understand. He always seemed to, somehow.

Hana simply nodded, head moving against his back, humming a noise that sounded like an agreement to what he'd said. ]

I don't want to let any of them down. They need me, Shiro.

[He just had the experience with things like this to understand that they were in fact in a similar situation to each other. He was here and Voltron could no longer be formed. She was here and not home to help her family.

He smiled sadly even though she couldn't see it. Yep, that was the reason]

You're not going to let any of them down. I know you aren't.

Edited 2017-12-22 02:09 (UTC)

[ She couldn't see his smile, but she could almost hear it in the tone of his voice when he says his reassurances. And - she felt bad, because she knew Shiro wasn't being anything but genuine. That's just how she thought of him. But the words felt empty. Not because of Shiro, but because of Hana. Because she didn't really believe in herself enough to believe his words.

But she didn't want to let Shiro down by being a mess like this. So she just nodded against his back. ]

Thanks, Shiro.

For calling me out today, too. I... needed this.

Edited 2017-12-22 03:06 (UTC)

You're welcome. I'm glad that you came out with me. I needed a chance to get out of the house.

Should we take you back to your apartment?

[Black gave a grumble at that. He had no problem taking her back to her house if they were going to be flying around]

[ Hana had to huff a little laugh, because— ]

Well, I can't just leave my mech in the middle of the forest, so probably not. But hey - maybe you can come pick me up at my apartment next time we do this?

[ So it wasn't a yes, but it wasn't a no, either - in fact, it was something like a promise that they would do this again. ]

[Oh yeah, she still had her mech. She would need to go get that]

No, you can't leave it there and you don't really want Black to try and carry it.

[Considering lion carried things with razor sharp claws]

Yeah, next time we can pick you up at your place.

[Yep, he was agreeing that they should do this again. There wasn't really comment on his part, but soon Black was circling back around to the clearing where they had met up and landing]

Good, it's a promise for next time, then.

[ She peered down at the view below as Black circled around, looking out for her mech and - despite knowing the odds of otherwise being low - hoping her mech was still there, all confirmed when she saw that characteristic flash of pink in the middle of everything else green.

Once they would land, Hana would carefully move to dismount, and spinning on her heel, she would turn to face Shiro with her hands behind her back. ]

Well, I guess I should be heading back.

Great.

[As she got off the lion, Shiro slid off as well for the moment, Black turning to stand by his side again. It was obvious that Shiro was his paladin and he was going to stay beside him]

Thanks again... for coming to talk with me.

[Shiro took a step closer, like was he debating something but he wasn't quite sure. After a moment though, he did close the distance and give her a hug. He really did appreciate that she had done that for him]

[ Oh. ]

Oh—

[ She hadn't been sure what was happening when he stepped closer to her, but when his arms came around her and enveloped her, she drew in a sharp breath and her body went tense - but only for a moment before she realized that he was hugging her. Soon enough, she exhaled and the tension in her body dissipated as she smiled to herself for being silly and returned his hug in kind, arms winding around him. ]

—You're welcome, Shiro. You can count on me any time if you need someone to talk to.

[Shiro wasn't exactly a hugging person normally, but he had felt the need to after she had listened to him. It was the one problem that he had at home. He was the leader; he was the one who was supposed tell others it was supposed to be okay. He didn't really ask anyone else to listen to him because they needed him to be strong.

Here Keith had offered to listen to him, but that was different. Keith was still a teammate.

Besides, she had shared something with him as well.

After a moment, he stepped back from the hug]

And I'll be here to listen if you need someone.

[Black looked up at Shiro, almost as if waiting for the Paladin to say something else, but when that was it, he looked back at Hana]

[ She just smiled up at him as he pulled away and she did her part, stepping away, too. ]

Okay. Thanks.

[ Then there seemed to be a thickness in the air like maybe something else was supposed to happen? Hana wasn't sure, but then she noticed Black looking at her and she realized oh. Maybe that was it. Turning a little, she kneeled and wrapped her arms around the Black Lion, too. ]

It was good to see you, Black. Thanks for the joyride.

[Shiro might have realized she was waiting for something else, but she quickly realized that what was missing was that Black needed a hug. Okay, that must have been it. Black had just given them a ride so it seemed weird to leave him out.

Yeah, that was it.

Black grumbled a little like he was responding her and he leaned a little closer to nudge her gently]

I think he was happy to see you too.

[ Yep, that was totally it. Hana had to chuckle when Black nudged her a little, because a little nudge from a big robotic lion actually almost had her losing her balance and toppling over. She caught herself and managed to stay upright, thankfully, but she pressed her cheek against his muzzle before she stood up and gave him a pat on his head. ]

I guess even ancient robotic lions can't resist the D.Va charm, huh?

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lionunchained - 2017-12-31 04:44 (UTC) - Expand