(   rebelsouled   //   cassian andor   )

     the fights were getting HARDER – there was no secret to this, and everyone at the shatterdome knew this. they knew that it was only a matter of time before the kaiju became almost unstoppable. that destroying each kaiju that dropped itself to rain down upon the world its terror was no longer going to be sufficient. there had to be a way to end it all once and for all ; had to be. or else humankind would not survive clawing its way to the surface each time. especially with the time limit set on the jaeger program. it was a ticking time bomb, and cassian wasn’t sure which would go off first. he was scared to even consider it.

   he felt the lash of pain from the other – jolting into each nerve in his body with a phantom ache that made him momentarily choke and forget how to breathe. he felt it dull, he felt her pull away from him. and, with that, he felt concern. he felt a fear that he wasn’t certain on how to deal with beginning to eat at his core until it threatened to swallow him whole. 

     he tried to keep to himself as calm as possible, despite the prickling feeling in the back of the mind that made him realize that she was hurt – that he was helpless to assist her currently, and that he didn’t even know how badly she was injured. he tried to taper down on that panic, on that fear that threatened to choke him ; because it wouldn’t help them – it would do nothing but choke out their connection at the throat and leave them stranded. 
 
   however, he felt her straining … – he felt her distance. “ mako –” he breathed moments before she was disengaging and her knees sent her crumbling to the floor of the jaeger. he was moving before tendo’s voice even filtered into his senses – untethering himself and jerking his helmet off before he was crouching down next to mako ; dark eyes widened and breath rattling in his throat as he allowed his otherwise level gaze to card over her. the observations halted when they found the source of the dark crimson – nostrils flaring.

   he didn’t give himself too much time to think on it, “ i’ve got her – “ he hissed back to tendo, shifting the way he was crouched so that he could gather his arms under her and hoist her upwards ; casting her weight back on his chest. mako , stay with me – i’ve got you, alright? he repeated over and over against his skull until it pounded at the back of his skull, shouldering his way back into the jaeger bay and towards the med bay – voice booming as he shouted for the curious j-techs to get out of his way.

       HER SURROUNDINGS WOULD SOON BECOME a distant blur, the loss of blood quickly depleting any energy that remained within her small body. hazel eyes gently rocked back as she attempted to remain awake, the gentle lull of cassian’s voice helping to keep her grounded. “   ——   ca … s … sian …   “ voice is hoarse as his name tumbles from paling lips, wanting so DESPERATELY to say more. frigid hands attempt reach his face, longing for some semblance of warmth   ;   longing to be near him. fingertips would gently brush against the stubble of his jawline, trembling slightly before the weight of her arm forced it back down   ——   weakened muscles causing her arms to swing like a ragdoll. i’m … s … o … sorry … thoughts were slowly becoming less coherent, body limp as her drift partner carried her down the hallways of the shatterdome.

       “   WHAT HAPPENED TO MISS MORI ?   “ the sudden booming voice of stacker pentecost is enough to make even the weak mako mori stir from her dizzy state, eyes casting a fleeting glance at the man who saved her life as a young child. “   marshal ?   “ came her distant tone, unable to show any emotion as the pain from her leg began to sear once more. eyes would flutter shut as she buries her head into cassian’s chest, weak screams leaving her as inner thigh burned flesh   &   shook her body to her very core. “   miss mori   ——   mako. you’re going to be alright. hang on.   “ stacker was a born leader, able to convince many people to follow   &  believe his word with his assertive tone, grandiose language   &   speeches. but the words he utters to the warrior were said in a tone she did not associated with him. there was no confidence laced along that sentence whatsoever, instead replaced with FEAR   &   uncertainty. for the first time in a long time, stacker said these words not to comfort her, but to comfort himself. 

       THEY ARRIVE IN THE MED BAY,   &   the doctors   &   nurses practically scramble over to them in a sea of panic. the voices of the medical team were muffled echoes in her mind, unaffected by the constant moving that was done when nurses removed her from cassian’s grasp. the reminder of the pain returns the minute she is placed gently on a bed, too weak now to even scream out in agony other than a choked up sob. as two nurses began to start an IV, stop the bleeding   &   hook her up to a heart monitor, another pair would begin peeling off her drivesuit   ;   the pieces of metal flung onto the floor as every bit begins to relieve her now sweat drenched skin. as her form is slowly revealed, it was noted that her skin was pale white   ——   inner thigh DRENCHED in crimson. the warrior practically was shivering from the chill she feels as the air hits her bare flesh, legs trembling as the blood didn’t seem to want to stop. “   don’t just stand there, heal her !   “ stacker hissed as the doctor, who jumped back at his booming command. “   sir   ——   she’s losing a lot of blood at a rapid rate. i’m afraid we’re going to need an emergency blood transfusion.   “ the marshal would nod in response, eyes burning with wild fury as if INSULTED in the lack of effort made on the doctor’s part. “   so ? go do it !   “ the doctor would simply sigh. “   it’s not that simple marshal. funding cut down on our supplies, so we are limited on donors. miss mori’s chart says she is type o negative   ——   she can only receive from another type o neg   &   unfortunately, it is rare.   “

       BEFORE STACKER HAS A CHANCE TO SAY ANYTHING, the kaiju alarm would blare all throughout the room like an unwanted guest, followed by the booming voice of tendo. “   stacker pentecost, you are needed on deck. category 3. repeat, category 3 at 100 miles south of the main land.   “ a muttered curse would leave his lips, knowing well that he needed to leave   &   help to lead the jaeger pilots who’d need to take the kaiju down. as a leader, it was his duty, but as a FATHER   ——  he couldn’t bare to leave mako behind. “   you.   “ he would turn to face to the experienced pilot, stern tone contrasting with the soft expression his eyes would allow hime to see. rather than give the pilot an order as his superior, he would instead speak to him as a concerned father, who’d do anything for his daughter to see another day. “   ——   you take charge mister andor. please   ——   assure that she get well. look after her for me.   “ 

       IT WAS NO SECRET TO HIM how the pilot felt toward his pride   &   joy   ——   the fleeting glances they exchanged on a frequent basis never once going unnoticed by him. it was not something he hadn’t thought about as she grew older, but he never thought mako of all people would actually FALL for someone in the shatterdome as they were amidst a war. especially not with someone like cassian andor. truthfully, he was unsure of their relationship, afraid that the emotional attachment would bring pain to the warrior should something go wrong. stacker was also unsure how cassian could go about caring for someone as special as her, knowing well that if he broke her heart, she would never be the same   ——   love would forever be ruined for her,   &   he’d be left without two pilots. it was SELFISHfor him to think that way, but the war left him no choice. however, seeing cassian carry her to the med bay   &   treat the only FAMILY he had left with such care ? it admittedly moved his stern   &   admittedly fragile heart. perhaps he could instill his trust in cassian   &   allow him a chance to pursue this relationship with her. this moment would be the ultimate test   ——   just how far would he go to keep mako mori safe   &   alive ? with a gruff nod, he would then force himself out of the room, heart aching as he hoped   &   prayed that mako mori would live to fight another day. “   do NOT make me regret this, mister andor.   “   &   with that final word, he was gone.

       “   MISTER ANDOR ?   “ the doctor’s small voice would perk up, clipboard in hand as he observed his paperwork once more through large spectacles. eyes would brighten briefly as he observes its contents, as if he had found the answer. “   you are type o negative. perhaps if we drew blood from you, would could transfer it to miss mori ? we would need your permission of c   ——   “ but the doctor doesn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. the gentle beep of the heart monitor escalates to high rate, the warrior shaking as the lack of blood in her system began to force her into shock. nurses scramble over to begin their procedures, mako hardly conscience to it all as oxygen is provided in an attempt to keep her tissues   &   heart alive. as heavy eyelids begin to shut through it all, the small tether that was her connection to cassian was the only thing she could feel. cassian … i’m sorry. i failed you.

       AS THE HEART MONITOR begins to ring out one consistent note, all she feels is darkness. the warrior felt so alone in her new quiet surroundings, save for the small string of light that kept her connection to this world   &   away from the next.