Work Text:
Let me go with you.
The fall is silent, not even the rush of wind. His eyes are closed now, almost at peace with his decision. How could he be at peace? How could he leave his family? His brothers…his baby sister, she’s just a child. How many calculations had he done before coming to the same conclusion?
How could he leave you?
You can see him, almost touch him, as if two inches too far from grabbing him. You can feel your bones, your ligaments, your own blood stretch out to his hand. That familiar itch in your veins to touch him. Always too far. Just a fingertip out of reach.
Falling.
Falling.
“My love?”
Your eyes open, a torrent of air diving into your lungs as you sit up on your elbows. There was always something about sleeping on your back that gave you horrible dreams, left your chest heavy. Your eyes adjust to the dimmed light of the Marauder. The others were gathering intel about the planet you had recently landed on, no doubt having a nice frolic.
You had gone to lay your head down in Tech’s rack, allowing the worn pad beneath your back to carry your weight. Tech had been recalibrating the hyperdrive, something about the ticks being off as it oscillated, unused. Slowly your eyes moved to Tech himself, standing in the doorway to the small bunkroom.
A hand enters your vision, your own, reaching out instinctually as your eyes start to burn. You don’t have time to blink before he is already there, clutching your hands in his own. “My darling, what is it?”
“You…” The simple word catches in your throat. Your airway is still struggling to move. Had you been holding your breath? “you…” Your eyes begin to sting, tears starting to blur your vision. A dry swallow. “Tech, you were falling. You…” It is impossible to say it, your chest aching, only worsening as he presses his lips to your knuckles. “You…”
He searches your gaze, eyes like summer honey through his tinted lenses, lips parted in panic. The mere thought of telling him what he had done makes you viscerally ill.
Finally, you know exactly what to say.
“Plan 99.”
Tech’s gaze grows from panic to horror as he releases your hands, instead snatching you and pulling you up into his arms. Finally resting against his clavicle, you let your expression release and contort into one of agony, tears now flooding down your cheeks, releasing heavy sobs from your throat.
“Oh my sweet dove.” He manages to whisper, resting his cheek atop your head. “Shh…shh…” His hand moves up and down your back, barely tracing the skin. He knows how hypnotic it is to you. “I’m here, cyar’ika. I’m here.” Your sobs begin to ebb away, turning into more gentle and nearly silent sniffs Gently, he shifts his weight, sliding on to the edge of the thin pad that lined his bunk, leaning back with you. You follow with him until you find yourself on his chest, feet where your head had been.
He removes on hand from your back, gently guiding it down your arm, taking your hand. He holds your wrist to his lips before placing it on the side of his face. You finally look up to see him. He lifts his goggles and sets them atop his head. You realize now that his cheeks are shimmering in the dim lights that line the floor of the ship. He is crying too.
“Tech…” You whimper, “my Tech… Don’t leave me behind. Let me go with you.”
His same hand that once holds your hand to his cheek now guides your chin into a kiss. Sweet, long, a promise. Releasing your lips, his more familiar demeanor emerges, “I will do no such thing. I have no intention of dying, let alone taking you with me. Besides, the Tech in your dreams must be a fool.”
You look to him, intrigued.
“My eyes would never be closed, not if I can see your face, not when I can still reach for you.”
With that confession, you feel yourself sigh, Tech guiding your head back to his chest. His off hand, which has never left your back, begins to trace along your spine again.
“Go back to sleep, my darling.”