Bruised 3

MAY
Bruised 3
17 May 2019
Hermann's tablet announces an incoming video call three times within seconds and he nearly trips over himself crossing his quarters in haste to answer the fourth.
"Hasi, what's wrong?"
""We found the last girl,"" Bastien says, voice breaking and tears streaking his face.
"Oh ... Hasi, I'm so sorry," Hermann says quietly. 
""She was a Jane Doe in Melbourne," Bastien chokes out. ""They found her two days before I left for Sydney, but her family didn't identify her until this morning."" He scrubs at his face with his hands. ""I should've been faster ... if I'd been faster maybe—""
"Bastien. Listen to me," Hermann commands using his most professorial tone.
Bastien nearly smiles.
"Sometimes we fail. We aren't enough, even at our best, even the best of us. I know it, Bastien, I know." Hermann takes a deep breath. "I still can't predict Kaiju attacks with more than minimal precision. Every time I'm wrong and the Jaegers are unprepared, thousands might die. Every time I wonder if I should stop trying or even die, but I get up and refine my models. I try again." "God, I don't think I'm that strong." Hermann continues with absolute conviction. "Bastien. You saved four girls and those men will never leave prison because of you. You're a hero." Bastien gives a sad little laugh. "It's sort of funny that a man who's saved millions with his giant robots is calling a guy who corrects messed up paperwork a hero." "I couldn't do what you do, Hasi. We're both needed. There are many more people in the world who need the help we can give."
""Well, I always did want to be more like my hero big brother." Bastien wipes a few last tears from his cheeks. "So if he thinks I am one, maybe I'm on the right track.""
Hermann smiles, expression gentle. "Maybe we both are."
Category:Ficlet
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Category:Bruised, Battered, but never Broken