Chapter Text
“What do you know about love?” the woman spat with vitriol to the younger woman standing before her.
The girl’s heart began hammering inside her chest as she thought of the only thing she could compare it to. “Love is… love is the feeling of seeing the sunrise after a brisk jog on a cool morning. Love is… the smell of dirt and dew and grass as everything is lit up as you stand and catch your breath. Love… Love is closing your eyes and only seeing that person’s face, and something about the fact that they have that hold over you is scary. It makes your heart hammer hard in your chest and makes you feel weak in the knees. B-but you’re not scared! Because Love is knowing that that person will be there to catch you if your knees give out! Love is the hurt you feel when they’re not there… the pain that pricks at you like needles until suddenly they’re there in front of you and you know… you’re home.” The girl seemed breathless as her eyes began to sting, taking on a glassy sheen.
“Love…” She looked down as she paused, then looked up at the ceiling, trying to stop the tears from escaping her eyes. “Love is the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced. I know you’ve felt it too, Mom. So please.” She closed her eyes, breathing in deeply before leveling her now hardened gaze at the woman before her. “Killing her… won’t bring them back.” She breathed quietly. “Pulling that trigger… won’t make Dad suddenly appear again. It won’t make Ericht’s body materialize once more… Please Mom.” She held out her hand. “I know you.” She managed a small smile, trying to hide the tremor in her words and limbs. “I love you… I know you’ll do the right thing.” She swallowed thickly.
Cold blue eyes flit between the two girls before her, fingers gripping the handle of her pistol tight. Suddenly the woman’s brows furrowed as a tear managed to escape, trailing down the dark bags underneath her eyes and the sunken crevice of her cheeks. “What I do… I do for you.” The words were barely audible.
“Mom wai–!!” BANG!
A gunshot rang loudly, leaving her ears ringing; a freezing gust took hold of her heart, and suddenly she couldn’t feel her legs anymore.
“...No…!”
—
Beep… beep… beep… beep…
A droning beeping slowly shifted one Suletta Mercury into consciousness as she slowly began to take in the place she was currently laying. ‘ What happened? ’ she thought to herself as her world came into focus. Light was filtering through the window above her, causing the speckles of dust settling in the wake of her shifting to shine like particles of permit. “Suletta!” her name caused her to jump, turning over quickly to see who had called her. The voice was somewhat familiar, but much older sounding than the last time she’d heard it. “I thought you were excited to go to such a prestigious pilot school. And here you are sleeping in on the first day!”
Suletta sat up with some discomfort, as if she had run ten miles before bed, or had been standing for hours on end without a break, however it passed just as quickly as the girl who was in the house(?) with her poked her head into her room as she turned off her alarm. “E-er–”
“Don’t you ‘Suletta Forgetta’ me okay? You were bursting at the seams with excitement yesterday! I bet you didn’t even sleep a wink!” the girl laughed in a teasing manner. “Geez, sis. You sure coming to such a big school was a good idea?” Ericht Samaya smiled back with a toothy grin. Something inside of Suletta broke as the girl pushed into her room, standing strong and tall… probably just about as old as her– if not older.
‘ Wait… why is that important? ’ Suletta thought, not understanding the weight on her chest. Eri had been with her forever! They had planned to get into Asticassia together as well, her older sister joining a year or so before she had. Maybe that was why something inside of her decided it was important. It had been a while since she’d seen the girl. “I-It’s fine!” She huffed softly, kicking her feet from beneath the covers, sliding to the edge of her mattress before she pushed up and stood. “I mean… it will be fine, so long as you keep your commentary to yourself.” She huffed, crossing her arms before she was slapped across the face with heavy teal fabric.
“Come on Suletta, there’s not even any time to eat. Get dressed! We gotta run!” Eri smiled, having thrown the girl’s uniform at her and hurrying off through their house, rummaging around out of sight.
Suletta smiled, taking in a deep breath. Eri was right! She was going to start classes at Asticassia today! Not only was she going to do an amazing job to bring eyes back to Ochs Earth, and the Vanadis crew, but she was going to meet new people! Kids her age! People who weren’t just Ericht! Of course she loved her sister very much, but living in an echo chamber would never help her reach the heights she wanted to reach. And this was finally her chance to prove to her mother that she could do more than just be a rescue pilot. She could help pilot the Gund-Format Mobile Suits and show the world that Gundam could be used for more than just fighting in wars.
She slipped on her clothes quickly, kicking on her shoes before hurrying out of her room, finding Eri waiting for her by the door with her school bag. “Don’t wanna forget this.” She waved her student notebook at her before throwing the small device at her.
“A-ahh!” Suletta struggled a moment before catching it, and her breath. “You could, I dunno… n-not throw everything at me.” She pout, sliding the device into her pocket before her sister could roll her eyes at her.
“Ahh but I gotta keep you on your toes. Working on those reflexes.” She chuckled softly beckoning toward the door. “Come on, Sis. Let’s get this day started.”
Suletta grinned brightly, unable to stay mad at her sister for long before taking in a deep breath. “Right!” She said, hurrying out the door, trailing behind her sister, ready for her new life at Asticassia.