for striker_eureka

[driftcompatible]

Mako Mori has a secret.

Several, in fact, but this is one of the biggest secrets that she's had to deal with in quite some time, and she doesn't know what to do about it. Raleigh knows - of course he knows, he always knows even when they don't Drift -- it's that pilot to pilot thing, two minds, two hearts coming together as one in the body of that giant machine. It leaves residue, leaves her feeling like she's part of him and he's part of her. One soul, split into two bodies.

He knows. He hasn't said anything to anyone, but he knows.

She's so grateful that he keeps it to himself, but she knows that it won't - can't - stay that way for long. Herc is going to find out why she's not able to pilot right now, why she can't get in the Jaeger and why she's temporarily grounded. Right now, she's made a million excuses but it cannot go on any longer. Someone is gonna figure it out if she doesn't confess, soon.

A few weeks pass and she's put on some weight and she's throwing up every morning when no one is around and -- she can't do it any longer. She sends for him, requesting him to please come to her quarters immediately because there's something she needs to speak with him urgently about, and she waits.

It's the longest wait of her life.

Comments

[striker_eureka]

He clings to her, clearly scared but since when has being scared ever stopped him from doing the right thing? He's Hercules fucking Hansen, he's faced down world-destroying monsters, he can handle a pregnancy.

"We'll be okay." He kisses her again, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. "I promise."

[driftcompatible]

"We will."

She's starting to believe it now -- or at least, she really wants to believe it. She wants to talk to him later -- really talk to him about this, not just drop a bomb on him and then send him off to go cancel meetings with world politicians.

"Hurry back." She smiles lightly at him, and smoothes her hands down his shoulders to take his hands in hers. "I will be right here."

[striker_eureka]

"Okay."

He nods sharply, taking in a steadying breath, and squeezes her hands before pulling away so he can go back to his office and beg off this incredibly important meeting he shouldn't be missing.

[driftcompatible]

She feels bad about it. Really, she does -- but at the same time, she can't make herself feel too guilty because she's already using up most of her mental capability on feeling guilty about bigger, more important things.

Like, how this happened to begin with.

She's also consumed with how to handle it -- now that he knows, now that they're in this together, Mako isn't so sure about anything anymore. She doesn't want to let this go, it's right, it feels right even if it makes her throw up every morning. Her arms circle around her stomach and she rolls onto her side to try and catch a nap before he comes back.

[striker_eureka]

It takes him longer than he'd like to duck out of his meeting, and then he sits in his office and has a quiet panicked moment to himself, before he pushes out of his chair and makes his way back to Mako.

He lets himself quietly into her room, toeing out of his shoes and draping his vest over the back of her chair before slipping into bed behind her and curling around her.

Sliding his arm over her waist seems much more significant now, and he can't help pressing his hand to her belly, his fingers spread wide like he can feel their child somewhere beneath his palm. Oh god, their child.

[driftcompatible]

She's asleep when he comes back; the lights are off save one small paper lamp by the door that gives off just enough of a golden glow for him to see his way back over. His arm around her wakes her, and she stirs quietly, making a soft noise as she shifts to look over her shoulder at him.

It's a hesitant movement. She's still...not really sure what he's thinking.

"All finished?"

[striker_eureka]

Hercules just tucks his face into her hair and hums, holding her close against his chest.

"All finished," he finally replies, sighing a little.

"How are you holding up?"

[driftcompatible]

"I'm okay."

She hesitates, then snuggles in close against him and relaxes in his arms, breathing out a long held sigh.

"You?"

[striker_eureka]

He's quiet for a moment, then he lets out a sigh of his own.

"I'm pretty scared," he admits, because honesty is important. "No, I'm pretty close to pissing myself." Honesty is really important. "But I'm okay."

[driftcompatible]

She's silent for several beats.

"That does not sound okay." At all. She takes a long, deep breath. "But...I am too."

[striker_eureka]

"I was terrified with Chuck, too," he continues, not sure if this will reassure her at all or not.

"I think it's pretty normal."

[driftcompatible]

Not...really.

She rolls though, wanting to face him and see his expressions, even if the light is dim.

"Is...is this okay?" She takes his hand in hers, squeezes it, and slides it between them to rest on her still mostly flat belly. "I need to know, Hercules. Is this okay?"

[striker_eureka]

"Yes, love, of course it is."

At least there was no hesitation in his response.

"It was an accident, sure, but that doesn't mean I don't want it. And it certainly doesn't mean it's not okay."

He curls his fingers in her shirt, pressing his hand firmly to her stomach. "Mako, I love you. Whatever you decide to do, I'll be here for you. If you don't want to keep it, then...okay. I'll hold your hand and we'll get through it. And if you do...well. You're going to need a bigger room, won't you. Space for a crib and all that."

[driftcompatible]

The reassurance floods her with relief and she's suddenly very, very weary.

"A crib," she muses thoughtfully, spreading her fingers over his stomach. "Won't that be something."

She's silent for a little longer, then she looks down between them, lips pressing into a line.

"What are we going to tell people?"

[striker_eureka]

"There are still officer's quarters that are unfilled," he suggests quietly. They're less quarters and more small apartments for married officers with families, but since there are precious few of those on base, most of them stand empty. It'd be no trouble to assign Mako one of those, give her room for a nursery.

And maybe think about moving in with her.

"Well, after the first trimester, we can tell them whatever you want."

[driftcompatible]

"That would be nice," she responds back just as quietly. It sounds...nice. Bigger than this, certainly. It would be nice to have room, stretch her legs, allow for another person to wander around...

She can't believe this is happening, though something does occur to her to ask.

"...Hercules?"

[striker_eureka]

"You'd have space for more than just the baby." He may or may not be hinting about moving in with you, Mako.

He lifts his eyebrows at her, a small, fond smile on his face as he leans in to kiss her nose.

"Yeah, love, what is it?"

[driftcompatible]

The little kiss is sweet and sends warmth blooming through her body. What he's hinting at though...that's on par with her thoughts.

"You said once I could ask you for anything. Is that still true?"

[striker_eureka]

He's confused by where she's going with this, but he's trying to be encouraging, so.

"Of course."

[driftcompatible]

She pushes herself up to look at him, black hair falling in her face before it's impatiently pushed back.This is important, dammit, and she doesn't want her hair obstructing her view.

"Marry me."

[striker_eureka]

Hercules stares at her in shock for a minute, his brain trying to process this when he's not quite sure he heard what she said.

You know, it's cruel to drop two bombs on a man like this in such rapid succession.

However, he recovers quickly enough, because a smile starts to curl his lips and he huffs out a laugh through his nose.

"What, you don't have a ring for me?"

[driftcompatible]

She knows. It's selfish of her to ask right now, but he'd said she could ask him anything and she's asking him now.to marry her. Can't take it back.

"Will that change the answer?" She counters, hands squeezing his. "Or are you going to just tell me no?"

[striker_eureka]

"Mako..." He leans in and kisses her before just resting his forehead against hers. "I couldn't tell you no if I tried."

What the fuck is happening to his life.

"If you really want to hitch your wagon to mine, love, then yes. I will marry you."

[driftcompatible]

"Of course I do." She gives him a little smile.

"I worried I was going to grow old before you asked."

[striker_eureka]

"I wanted to get you a ring first," he protests. "This kind of bumped up my timeline a little."

Still, he's going to get her a ring. And it's going to be beautiful and ridiculous because he has all this hazard pay that he needs to do something with. It might as well go to spoiling his girlf— his fiancée.