after a chuckle, he's glad things are no longer tense between them.

and yeah, they probably should have that conversation. maybe they will later today after he's slept. or maybe they'll do it before he sleeps. who knows.

what he does know, however, is that they're soon approaching her house.

and in they go.

@sol // [x]

☉

uri shakes his head.

"it's not your fault. it's mine for not waking you up."

he still feels guilty about it which is why he's hesitant to accept her offer. but there's no denying how much he needs to sleep.

"but okay. lead the way, sol."

not cap nor captain, but sol, as they're officially off the clock.

@sol // [x]

☉

yeah, he's really tired, and it's obvious by the way his blinks are slower and heavier than usual, and how his posture's practically all but slumped over.

the offer surprises him, however, and he isn't too sure how to feel about it.

"i dunno. the moss view motel sounds like it'd be really lovely."

he chuckles, joking, and after a moment, he nods.

"only if you don't mind."

@sol // [x]

☉

"captain. right."

he yawns, enjoying the gentle breeze that flows past them for as short as it lasts. then, he turns, meeting her gaze.

his head shakes.

"nah, i don't think i can make it back safely. i'll probably just crash at some motel here first."

@sol // [x]

☉

he's equally exhausted, perhaps more considering how he hasn't slept in...a while. he can't even remember anymore. but one thing's certain: he's definitely going to pass the fuck out once he gets home.

but, man, slateport is so fucking far away.

some shitty mossdeep motel it is.

"good job out there, cap."

@sol // [x]

☉

after a moment of standing on his own, he sighs, then follows after, holding what remains of the can of charja-cola in his hand as he catches up to her.

it's a silent walk, and this time, he minds it.

occasional sips break the quiet between them but he eventually runs out of his delicious soda, but thankfully, it doesn't take them that long to arrive back at the base.

and now comes the mission debrief.

@sol // [x]

☉

as much as this sucks, he knows there's nothing he could do about it because she's right: this is work, and work has to come first.

not the time or the place, but when would it be?

"...yeah."

he picks up his backpack, swinging it over his shoulder before kicking sand onto what remains of the fire pit.

"ready."

@sol // [x]

☉

i forgive you.

he's not sure what he was expecting besides that but it still feels the same: awkward and uncomfortable, as if there's still too much that's unsaid between them, at least from her end.

but what if he doesn't like what she has to say?

"then that's fine. i'm still your friend, sol."

the smile he offers is genuine.

@sol // [x]

☉

if he doesn't push, who will? what will? will they just be stagnant, never to move forward?

"just that you forgive me, i guess."

everything is stored back into his magical backpack that he zips up. he places it off to the side for now as he focuses on her.

"...but i'd also like to you how you feel."

@sol // [x]

☉

this feels awkward and awful and he hates it. a bitter taste lingers in his mouth and it's definitely not from the shitty food he just devoured, though that certainly doesn't help.

so, with a sigh, he stands up after her, helping clean up as well.

"i'm sorry for pushing."

his voice is soft, gentle.

"i said i'd be patient and i wasn't."

@sol // [x]

☉

her question is complicated as is and his answer would only further complicate it, and so he decides not to answer it, assuming it to be rhetorical.

it seems nothing can come from him pushing. he decides to drop it, nodding as he finishes the rest of his beef.

"okay."

@sol // [x]

☉

even when he's distracted by shoveling food into his mouth, he still notices how she looks away. he looks at her when she does, barely noticing the soft shades of pink.

there's still something she refuses to admit. or perhaps she doesn't realize it in the first place. either way, he decides to prod, searching for an answer he's longed to hear.

"why do you care about me, sol?"

@sol // [x]

☉