Actions

Work Header

Post-Date

Summary:

Trigger and a still-recovering Soldier 11 watch the waters.

Notes:

ever just vanish from writing for an entire year only to reappear and write something for a fandom you haven't touched before?
i vanished because of college and struggling to put my ideas down on paper. or, screen, i guess.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Trigger and Soldier 11 stood at the side of the water. This date, centered around reminding 11 who she was, was apparently of no real use. If Anby was correct, then 11 would be back to her normal self by the next day, save some dizziness and disorientation. However, Trigger didn't mind this. After all, it allowed her to see how 11 reacts to things, as if it was the first time. Of course, it is not worth the heartache of seeing 11 almost die, but there's still some joy to be found.

She could hear the very slight change in her voice upon trying the spiciest noodle type available, signaling her excitement and joy upon tasting such a food. She could now observe exactly how 11 converses and plays with cats, as apparently her communication with felines is an innate ability, not something she learned. She hid her smile and hoped her visor's pink wasn't too bright when 11 leaned on her as they watched the movie, quietly muttering her thoughts live as it played (which, due to Trigger's blindness, was likely more appreciated than it would be for most other people).

Finally, after a few more not-explicitly-11 related activities, they find themselves at the square’s edge, overseeing the water, silently taking in the environment. There are times when Trigger wishes that she had her sight back, and this is one of those moments. She wishes she could see the image of 11 (Harin, apparently, but 11 didn't like that name either, so she just calls her 11 out of principle) watching the sunset, the orange cascading across her silver hair, reflecting off her goggles. However, this is nice, too, listening to 11's steady foot tapping as the gentle waters ebb and flow. The tapping is, admittedly, not as rhythmic as it usually is. Perhaps she forgot the pattern, but innately remembers the habit? Maybe she can find a song at roughly the same speed for her-

“I have a question.” 11 asks, cutting through the comfortable silence.

“And it is?”

“Ambidextrous said that she is my sister.” That must mean ‘Anby’. “We do look alike, so I believe her. However, you do not look like me, so I find it harder to believe you're related to me. What are you to me?”

“... I am your squad mate.” Trigger answered carefully. “... You've even called me your comrade at times.”

That was the best answer she could give that aligns with 11’s views of her. Regardless of how close she felt she got with 11, it was evident in how she treated others that her ‘Soldier’ part of her title may as well have been her first name. Not once has she ever heard 11 call someone a friend, only calling people she liked comrades. While Trigger was happy that she was a part of 11's small group of comrades, she also really didn't like the title. It was too… clean. Too sanitized, too business related. She sees the Obol Squad as her closest still alive friends, and, admittedly, 11 as just a little more than that. After all, 11 takes her out to ramen shops, to talk with cats, and on rare occasions, to watch a movie. Sometimes, she swears she can pick up on hints that her growing fondness isn't unrequited, but whenever that title ‘comrade’ gets used, it feels as if she's been shot down.

“Comrade?” 11 asks, and Trigger just nods, now self-conscious. “... That doesn't seem right.”

“... What?”

“You took me out to all of these activities. You've explained to me how much these things mean to me, and you took me to activities which were not immediately relevant to me, but you knew I would enjoy. If we were only comrades, you would only know me from my work habits.”

“... Well, I mostly shaped this date off of previous dates…” Trigger replied, her pink-glowing visor facing away from the inquiring amnesiac.

“Previous dates? People who are merely comrades also wouldn't go on dates. Dates are reserved for either really close friends, or people in a romantic relationship.”

For a sword wielder, 11 really can be unapologetically blunt.

“... Is this topic sensitive?” 11 asked, finally noticing the newly shy Trigger.

“... If you know that… then why was it you who always proposed these dates?” Trigger muttered, now gripping onto the rail. She knows that there's just a chance that this 11 is coming up with these conclusions on her own, but she shares so much with the non-amnesiac 11 she knows, so maybe, if she says what she thinks she will, then that will be an indicator that… that she's reciprocated.

“... Perhaps I liked you more than I let on.”

And she gave the answer Trigger wanted. Her face is stone, as her training allowed her to be when she’s nervous, but her visor was more active than ever. Pinks and yellows to highlight her elation, oranges to highlight the slight surprise that someone said it, and occasional blues that it technically isn't ‘her’ 11 that said this to her.

“... Perhaps.” Was all Trigger could respond with, biting down against the fireworks and the rain such a conclusion came with. She wants to ask more; does 11 feel the same for Seed and Orpheus? What about the people at Random Play? Is it just her? Why hasn't 11 ever just told her? Is it out of fear of rejection, or is there another reason?

But she refuses to ask more. She feels as if she's already overstepped boundaries at the moment, so she lets it go, and the moment melts in with the silence. As the gentle waters became the loudest thing in the scene once more, 11 moved to be closer to Trigger.

“... I suggest you speak to me more about this when I ‘return to normal’.”

“I wish I could.”

“I'm sure you will manage.”

“Thank you.”

It feels weird for Trigger to be in this situation; being told by her romantic interest to ask her out later. But… It might just be the push she needs.

Notes:

i probably wouldn't have posted or spent more time touching up on this if it wasn't trigger's birthday. happy birthday sniper! can't wait to invest all my polychromes next time you come around to hopefully bump you up to a c3! (i'd only need to roll her twice, at least...)
honestly, might write more trigger when the obol squad missions are released.