Work Text:
"Hey, Norea, do you want to become family with me?"
Family. Sophie, like Norea, lost hers at the very young age, so it's of no surprise that she wanted one. She liked calling herself "big sister" to the young children from the camp, and even began referring to her plushies as "mom", "dad", "sis", and so on and so forth. But this was all play, so Norea didn't really mind it. Starting a real family – this, however, was a luxury witches are not allowed. And so, Norea had no choice but to tell Sophie this:
"No. Of course not. We're not going to live long anyway, so there's no point."
"Oh, come on, stop being so gloom. Do you want to die without enjoying anything even a little?" – Sophie retorted.
"Yes."
"Huh?"
"Our lives were practically over the moment we became witches. We shouldn't get attached to them. This way, we don't have fear weighing us down when we risk our lives in Gundams."
Yes. Sophie was too carefree, always going on and on about things she wants to do, making friendships, trying to find a family. This would only hinder her in fulfilling her duty, Norea thought. If she has dreams of her own, wouldn't she be afraid of dying when they are not yet achieved? Moreover, wouldn't her friends and family be sad when she dies? Both of them have experienced loss many times, and Norea was astonished that Sophie was ready to willingly inflict it on those she loved.
Norea understood where she came from, of cource. But those were naive fantasies, ones they should discard. Norea has discarded hers long ago. She was no longer afraid of dying, of being alone. She was a witch from Earth, one who would liberate their home from those Spacian bastards who intend of sucking it dry until nothing is left.
"You're boring, you know this?" – Sophie said with a sigh. She had her usual smile but her eyes were different, somewhat. Norea could see a glint of sadness in them.
*************
Yesterday, Sophie died.
Norea knew it would happen, sooner or later. Sophie knew this too. She was a witch, one who rides a Gundam, a cursed mobile suit that kills its pilot, and a member of the Dawn of Fold, an organization opposing the powers that govern the world. It was inevitable that she would claimed by either Data Storm or an enemy pilot. Moreover, Sophie refused to retreat when the mission was completed, and recklessly engaged a Gundam superior to hers, or to any mobile suit Norea have ever seen for that matter. It was simply logical this would happen. Norea didn't need to be sad about it. And yet...
And yet she remembered what Sophie talked about before she died. She talked what she wanted in life, what she fought for. She talked about good food, fluffy beds, warm showers, about reading comics, playing video-games – al of the things Earthian war orphan like her rarely had. That Spacians took from her.
And she talked about a family that would love her.
No. Norea does not need to think about it. Sophie was stupid for wanting any of this. She was a witch, it was her destiny do die to pave a road into the better future for all of Earth. She should've known she would never get to see the dawn they were talking about for herself.
But it was so unfair.
Norea remembered how happy Sophie looked at the academy, when she was able to simply enjoy life for once, without needing to think about war or starvation. It was something every child on Earth deserved, something Sophie and Norea pledged their lives to bring to them at any cost. But... but why can't they themselves live in that future?
And why was Sophie so obsessed with that Mercurian witch? Why was she so happy ot spend time with her?
No. Noread doesn't need to think about it. It's all just childish nonsense. She should clear her mind so she can go and fight with nothing holding her back. She...
"Norea, we have brought Sophie's belongings. I think you might want to look at them." – said the voice belonging to one of the Grassley girls.
"Thanks."
When the girl left, Norea saw what she was talking about. The first thing that caught her eye was a pile of plushies that Sophie called her family.
"Hey, Norea, do you want to become family with me?"
Tears appeared in Norea's eyes.
She wanted Sophie to know that she already had a family that cared about her. Norea just failed to make it clear to her.