Crumble walls
At the outpost, it was almost impossible not to notice Drake’s relentless pursuit of Mira’s attention. Every rider and flier in the vicinity had grown used to the sound of his voice calling out across the grounds, his tone insistent yet playful, a thread of warmth in every word.
“Mira! Mira! Mira!” he’d call until she inevitably looked his way, brow raised in impatience.
“What?” she’d ask, fully expecting him to say something absurd.
Drake would just grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Hi. I just wanted your attention,” he’d say, or sometimes, “Eyes on me, beautiful,” a nickname that somehow always got under her skin, yet she never corrected him.
Despite her grumbles and eye rolls, Mira knew that Drake was serious. Especially whenever she was the one heading out on a mission. Without fail, he’d appear, trying to pry the destination from her. “Where are you headed, Mira?” he’d ask, brow furrowed with the barest hint of worry, as if knowing would somehow make him worry less.
When she refused to answer, he’d let out a soft sigh, stepping closer to kiss the top of her head. “Come back to me,” he’d whisper, his voice just for her, leaving her heart pounding as she mounted her Teine.
And when the tables were turned and Drake was the one about to leave, he would always find her, his tone casual “I’m going on patrol, boarder near Athebyne. I’ll be back in three days.” though his eyes held a seriousness that contradicted it. She’d give him her usual dismissive response, “Why should I care?” but he’d just smile as if she’d said the opposite, and he’d press a kiss to her hair.
“You’d better be here when I get back,” he’d say with a warmth that made it hard for her to mask her worry. And as he walked away, she would watch him go, silently willing him to return, the words she truly wanted to say unspoken You’d better come back.
