Sync

Note: The second of three pieces of the former "Double Date"; between "Safe" and "Cake"
Date/Timing: 8 January 2019
Setting: Jaeger simulator, The Shed; Vaucluse, NSW, Australia
.
Chuck stomps around the last turn to the sim.
Vos the Unbreakable rocks on his toes in front of the door.
She aims her eyes at the floor, hugs herself more tightly.
Vos arranges himself in her path. 
Chuck stutters to a stop. 
Vos twists into view. 
Chuck huffs, wraps herself in her jacket anew, raises her eyes, and tries to project 'move it'. 
Vos straightens with a smile, doesn't budge. 
Chuck takes a deep breath, shuffles. "You understood all of that, didn't you."
He cringes and nods.
"Whatever." She brushes by—
Vos taps her shoulder.
She stops. Turns on her heel. "What."
He flutters. >::If anything happens, I'll keep you safe. I won't let you get hurt.::<
"You might as well be tossing leaves around for all the sense that makes to me."
He huffs, rallies and approaches—
Chuck hunches. 
—gathers her close in his arms.
Chuck clenches her teeth.
Vos holds her gently, cradles her head; lets her go after a moment, presses his forehead against hers.
Chuck still huddles. 
Vos's watching her, watching her eyes.
Chuck pointedly ignores him, staring at his arm, her throat locked and her neck quivering.
Vos presses a quick kiss to her forehead.
She shoves him away, scowls, scrubs at her hairline, flings open the lab door. "Let's get this over with already." Hugs herself again, trumps inside.
Vos follows.
Lightcap rolls her eyes. "You'll be perfectly fine, Chuck."
"Fuck you, Doc." Jams on the squid cap.
Vos gives her a quick smile and straps himself in.
""You two ready?""
Vos offers a 'thumbs up'. 
"Sure, let's murder the intern." 
""Chuck, we've been over this: you're a code monkey, not an intern."" 
"And have we been over how little I give a shit?" 
Sergio nudges Lightcap aside. ""Cadet Hansen, if you would give a countdown, please?"" 
.::Ten.::
.::Five.::
.::One.::
Deep breath, eyes closed.
.
Too dark too hot too loud you can barely breathe Wirriri's card group chatting holding you, her hand against your head tucked against her neck don't watch can't not watch fairies bright leap want to drag you into the black
of your fort—too lonely, can barely breathe dig your way free into moonlight pouring through the window and cool
drafts everywhere too cold hell's usually frozen over have your desk behind the servers you can pretend the lab's empty when busybody Rangers
have excellent technique as a rule and correcting /Nova Hyperion's dropped shoulder led to a Kaiju kill
Tang Min dashed her to pieces and a nurse has you keep up the pressure but no matter how hard you press her blood's pumping out between your fingers soaking your shirt so much dripping through your
underpants on your head making faces Pappa's laughing while the medic sews his foot eases off his
shoes and lab gear every morning for spiders just to pretend there's something like familiar in this
ridiculously huge building and you've got work and your map says up
three stairs in three hours. Caitlin says you should be proud, says at this rate, you'll be up four by next week. You want to
burst apart from the happiness when Griet starts using words you don't know (yet)
.
Lightcap smirks, flashes double thumbs up, mouths, 'Told you so'.
Pietr turns to Chuck and grins.
She grins back, eyes wide and shining. "How in hell did y' do that?"
Pietr shrugs.
"You're fucking amazing."
Pietr blushes a sweet pink and is suddenly interested in his boots.
Chuck tugs his attention and he flows with her into the first combat form. 
Perfectly synced.
Go, Team DriftSci! arc: (Hypothetical) | Pons Made of Garbage | A Distinct Lack of Caffeine | Highest | Grooming | Plushie | Interface | Safe | Sync | Cake | Aye, Aye, AGNIS | Exclusion | Jockeying | Sleepytime | Go, Team DriftSci! | Go! | Up | Rubber and Glue | (Go Over) 
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