Work Text:
Today was a shit show, and I don’t use that term lightly. Adira had their first away mission with Tilly today. Hugh and I were so proud of them. Proud for them, and then it all went sideways. God, the look on their face. Hugh told me they were just in shock, and that they would be fine with time and understanding. Time and understanding. They shouldn’t need time. They’ve already suffered enough loss and enough shock in their life. They shouldn’t have to be going through this and Tilly, I’ve seen her grow so much over the past year. Past few months even, but this kind of blow? I’m not good with comforting people. That’s more of Hugh’s thing, and he’s the caretaker, but when I managed to make my way down to sickbay and saw the look on Tilly’s face, I wanted nothing more than to hold her and Adira and never let go. Maybe I am going soft.
Adira and Tilly don’t want to be alone right now, and Hugh agrees that they shouldn’t be, so we came back to our quarters. Tilly is camped out in front of the coffee table. She’d fallen asleep sometime during the holo novel we had started. Adira had started the movie just sitting between us, but now they were curled up with their head resting on Hugh’s shoulder. We tried to get Adira to eat but they weren't hungry. Hugh said to just give them time. Time. Time it just feels like it is in short supply now. I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t think this is over.