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The gentle pitter patter of soft rainfall echoed throughout the quiet corner of the headquarters that Zero had found to take a break in.
Zero had mixed feelings on the rain. The sound as it hit off the metal in his armour and sizzled on his blade reminded him too much of the battles he’d fought. Countless reploid corpses left in puddles, oil and water mixing together.
But the rain carried a peace with it. It was a liberating feeling, knowing that despite the loss, despite the hardship, rain would still fall. Clouds would still float overhead, a soothing softness in the otherwise bleak world Zero found himself living in.
A small puddle had formed on the ground near his feet, just out of the way of the small overhang that shielded him from the water. He looked into it, and saw naught but his own reflection. His crimson armour darkened by the puddle looked all too familiar, that same oil and water mix that he had come to detest.
“Oh, there you are.” Zero snapped out of his thought to look at the source of the speech, and was greeted with Alouette. She was carrying her cat doll, a prized possession that Zero had never seen her without.
“Hello, Alouette. What brings you out here?”
“It’s stuffy in there. I wanted to listen to the rain instead of a bunch of arguing.” Zero chuckled.
“I can’t blame you.” Zero looked back out at the rainfall. Alouette stared at his face.
“Are you okay, Zero?”
“Perfectly fine. Why do you ask?”
“Because you look sad.” Zero was taken aback. He tried not to let his emotions register on his face – a perfect soldier had to maintain a neutral expression. Emotions could get you killed.
“Just...a lot to think about. Nothing to concern yourself with.” Alouette looked away with a saddened expression.
“Are you pouting?”
“No!” Alouette said, embarrassed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Everyone looks sad, but no one will tell me why. I’m not a baby!” Zero let out a sigh, and looked Alouette in the eyes.
“Alouette, there are some things that we carry with us. Things we wish we could forget. But we keep them with us, and we keep moving forward. And sometimes, we think about the weight we carry, and we need to take a moment to pick it back up and start walking again.”
“Well maybe I can help you carry it! Ciel says I’m really big and strong!” Alouette grinned. Zero smiled back.
“This isn’t really a physical weight, I’m afraid. But I’ll keep you in mind for future.” Alouette kicked her legs back and forth. The pair sat in silence for a bit, just basking in the atmosphere. The rain wasn’t letting up anytime soon. Zero was about to head back when the door opened.
“There you are! Been looking all over for you. Got another mission for you,” said Ciel. Zero stood up. Ciel walked ahead of him. Before he left, Alouette grabbed his hand.
“Will you come back?” She asked. Zero looked confused.
“Of course.”
“Everyone says that, but they’re liars.” Zero wasn’t sure how much Alouette understood. He didn’t know if she was waiting on the same ghosts he saw in his memory. He had no idea how to comfort a child.
“I’ll be back, Alouette. I promise.”
“Pinky swear?” She asked, extending a pinky. Zero extended his own.
“Pinky swear. But I want you to promise me you’ll be brave. Don’t be worried, or frightened.”
“Promise.” Zero walked away after Ciel, and Alouette was left alone on the bench.
***************
Alouette paced around the headquarters, meandering to kill time as she waited anxiously for Zero to return.
She believed strongly in the promise he’d made – even if other adults had said they’d be back, not all of them did come back. But none of them had made a pinky swear. To Alouette, it was as ironclad in the laws of nature as gravity. And above all else, she believed that Zero would come back. He always came back.
She was walking by the door around the time he came back that day. Alouette looked at him and saw him getting helped in the door by other soldiers. He was filthy, stained with deep red oil that marred his otherwise shiny scarlet armour. His hair was also darker in places, and he appeared to be injured, limping along.
Alouette followed him and the soldiers as they headed to the medical bay. He laid down in a bed, and some medics started tending to his wounds. Alouette sat next to him and held his hand.
“Are you going to be okay?” She said, scared.
“This? Give me some credit. I’m fine, just a bit banged up. Nothing that can’t be fixed.” Alouette paused for a moment in thought, and gave Zero her cat doll.
“He’ll help you get better. Look after him for me.” Zero just smiled. Alouette left the room, but before she reached the door Zero shouted over to her.
“Alouette!” He yelled. She turned around. “I kept my promise. Make sure you keep yours.” Alouette smiled in response.
Alouette decided that she would make Zero promise to always come back. If it worked once, it could work again. She hoped so anyway. But she couldn’t be scared, or worried. She made a promise, and she would stick with it.
*************
Later that day, Alouette had a knock at her door. It slowly opened, and Zero walked in, looking no worse for wear after his ordeal.
“Here’s your doll back, Alouette. I had Ciel wash him.”
“Thank you Zero. For coming back.”
“I never break my promises. That’s a promise.”
“Pinky swear?”
“Pinky swear.”