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]

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.

[driftcompatible]

Mako is completely fine with him spoiling her, actually. Right now, she could do with a little bit of spoiling, because this is a crazy, weird, and a not so great situation to be in, and she thinks she fucking deserves it, okay.

"Your timeline?" Mako quirks a brow, amused but intrigued. "You had one?"

[striker_eureka]

"Well, I was still ironing out the details, but yeah. My plan to get you to marry me was great."

It had involved waiting a little longer until he was sure she was sure about this relationship. He doesn't mean to impugn her honor or anything, but this is kind of a huge deal and she's still really young. He didn't want to push her into anything.

"Mostly it involved getting down on one knee and asking you, but there was other stuff too."

[driftcompatible]

He just thinks she's 'young'.

"Other 'stuff'?" Her lips curve up. "Can I ask what this 'great plan' was? I am very curious."

[striker_eureka]

He's silent for a long moment, his expression getting more and more sheepish as it draws out.

"...I was still working on that."

As in, he had no fucking clue. This is hard for him, okay.

[driftcompatible]

Her smile starts to widen, but she doesn't openly tease. She's still too emotionally raw to do that at the moment, but later, she might make a quirk or two about poor planning and her having to do all the work.

"Soon. I would like to do it soon."

[striker_eureka]

"Okay."

He tilts his head and nuzzles her a little, wanting her to feel like he's totally, completely, one hundred percent on board, even though he is scared and guilty. She's not alone in this.

"Do you want to do it before the baby, then? Before you're showing?"

So that people think the baby happened after the wedding?