Chapter Text
Ascension.
Was it always this unfeeling? He knows not anymore. Going about his day in different regions, scouring every nook and cranny, meeting old friends, new friends, old foes and new foes alike, eating what they say as terrible morsels and exquisite cuisines, there is no fulfillment, just a mundane end of the day and the start of tomorrow.
He mimics his old ways. The easy smile and his caring gestures and still doing trivial chores, anything to show that he is still Rover and not someone who could no longer understand his earthly emotions.
Warmth envelops his hand, a dissimilarity from the wet sand beneath his feet. The scent of Nova permeates gently in the air, sweet and cool.
“You shouldn’t be up.” He says, turning to her. He gives her hand a gentle squeeze. “You should be resting.”
“So should you, my Star.” She cups the side of his cheek. He instinctively nuzzles her hand, a long habit perhaps, no. This is different. Shorekeeper has always made his chest ache and stir. A forgotten feeling but familiar nonetheless. “You haven’t had any sleep since you came back.”
“I… I am fine.” How could he tell her that he does not require anything? Not rest nor sustenance. All of it are just to keep up appearances to show that he’s still among mortals, that he is one of them, even if he isn’t.
“Your vitals say you are. But this does not.” Her palm slide from his cheek, chin, neck until it stops directly on his chest.
Oh. How far has she gone from being the “Second Instance” and the Guardian of the Black Shores.
Unconsciously, he feels himself smile. He leans forward and gives her a kiss. One on the forehead and another one just an inch away from her lips. “I am truly well. Let’s get back inside. With you, I think I can finally sleep.”
A deep shade of red colors her cheeks, a fetching look on her, something he has never tire of seeing.
“Hey! Aren’t you going to answer that?” Abby pokes at his terminal. Taking note of the name, he adds, “Oooff… You really should answer that.”
He does not move from where he lays on a bed of grass and Pecok flowers. The flowers are never distinct from others; it only takes on the scent that surrounds it.
“Is it her?”
“Take a wild guess.”
He sits up, ignoring the blades of grass and petals of Pecok on his shirt and hair.
“You’ve been ignoring her for a month now. When she was trapped, you were all gung ho on getting her back. And now that she isn’t , you were happy for a while then it fizzed out.”
“I am happy. I just don’t want to get her… involved.”
“She’ll really get angry with you if you keep this up.” Abby perched on his shoulder, still eyeing the glowing terminal. “She doesn’t blame you, you know?”
“She should because that doesn’t make me blameless. She shouldn’t have suffered for the responsibility I held over this world.”
"I'd rather you keep yourself out of my business from now on, Aemeath."
"You don't mean that!" He has never hated himself more in that moment when he saw the swell of tears in her eyes.
"I do and this will be the last time you pilot the Exostrider. I've made sure of it."
You’ve done well, my little Savior.