💗
it started out with a pleasant conversation , something light easy to deal with . the two of them have bonded much like any brother and sister would , and over time ... rachel’s gotten accustomed to life in ooo compared to that of home . her technological dependencies were oftentimes hard to break but her knack for adaptation reigned supreme . for now , she is serene , outlooking the treehouse on the hill . it was nice , not having to do any paperwork or have any kids attack her for not doing her job . it was nice ... not having her life or her home threatened .
of course those memories had to fade eventually , but even still they replayed vividly against the back of her eyelids on the worst days . chad going traitor , sector v being wrongfully decommissioned , father becoming supreme leader , her entire organization turning to literal animals not even a couple months into her supremacy . every little crack against her previously spotless record shattered her being to the very core . even now her guilt and shame overtook her , wracking her shoulders and dragging tears from her eyes . but ... she had to be strong .
since the day rachel mckenzie was born , she had to care for her brother , for her organization , for the house she didn’t grow up in , for the moonbase she inherited ... and even for the boy who ruined her life --- leaving her with nothing but questions and bitterness .
it rode in and crashed like waves , eroding her consciousness , her strength until she was nothing more than a hull of her former enthusiastic self . finn didn’t understand , but in a way she knew they shared somewhat similar fates . and due to that , they were in tune , in sync for the moments doubt settled in the crevasses of their once solid frames . firm arms locking around her ever - trembling shoulders caused the girl to thrash , and if he were any less experienced , he’d be launched a good several yards from her person .
“ let go of me --- --- stupid teenager !! let me go !! ” almost immediately the girl is blinded by her memories , of days as a leader and an asset . someone to be poisoned , tricked , decommissioned . eyes were blind to who was really there ; a friend to ease the chaos brewing in heaving chest . rachel struggles with the ferocity of nearly an adult , adrenaline taking over and blinding her further . tears dampening her cheeks and parts of finn’s arms . “ i don’t want to forget !! ”
despite everything , a very common fear lay in her mind . forgetting who she is , who she was , and the many people who surrounded her . it was terrifying to lose the very being in which she was ... but with a few words and a very strong pair of arms , she clung . for the first time in awhile , the blonde allowed herself the childishness to bury her face in the familiarity of a blue shirt , fingers digging into the back . even still . rachel refused to sob .
but they hugged for a great long while , and that was good enough .
[ please hug rachel | @cometbirth . ]
