cassian didn’t imagine that the transfusion would take so much out of him – but coupled with his own minor injuries that he sustained, the moment that they had mako stabilized, cassian was fading. one of the nurses – a softer one who seemed to be the least upset about his actions, tried to urge him to get a room of his own. the pilot had refused, holing himself up in the plastic chair and eventually allowing himself to drift to a dreamless sleep.
at the present, the fighter did not look comfortable by any means. his back was against one arm of the chair, long knees hoisted up against the other. arms folded over his chest and head drooping ; dark locks curtains against his closed eyes as his chest rose and fell with calm and well deserved movements. he did not stir when stacker came in and initially spoke with the still unconscious mako – cassian at the least sated by the connection that had more spark to it than before, something more than a worrisome and breakable thread when she had flatlined.
he does, however, stir at the sudden noise from the chair – jerking with a startled rattle in his throat ; brown darting around the dimly lit room before falling on stacker when the older male’s hand shook at him. he sucked in a hard and sharp breath and allowed himself to focus on the other. he expected that the other would come back – and he was prepared for the other to chew him out. even if he was stripped of his pilot status, mako was alive. he did what mattered. ( besides, he wouldn’t be fighting again if it hadn’t been for mako. )
“ i was less than pleased by the doctor’s efforts – or lack thereof – earlier, “ was his slow and admittedly tired response, shifting himself slightly so that he was sitting up and could better address the superior. as the other continued, his own counter argument lingered on the tip of his tongue to the point that cassian could nearly taste it and hear it against his own ears – but, he listened as stacker continued and, at the least, resolved to only defend himself when the other was done. while the other spoke, he realized he had grown tense around the edges, as if ready for a metaphorical fight – he only knew this because his own injuries began to ache. albeit, when stacker deflated, so did cassian ; eyes growing slightly softer as his own gaze rose to mako.
however, when his hand was raising to his shoulder, he grew more curious – eyes raising to he hand before settling back on the other’s features. it was not lost upon him what stacker meant to mako, and vise versa. and he respected the parental relationship between the two. after the very recent wound of the loss of his mother, he more than understood.
brow furrows in deeply as stacker speaks, and his own gaze now goes back to mako and watches her instead of him ; as if to divert the attention from the elephant that stacker was unveiling. he swallows compulsively, a low breath seeping from his lips. the way she looks at you. the way you look at her.
“ my connection with my father was strong, “ cassian starts slowly, as if trying to carefully weigh his words with the WEIGHT of the word love in the air. as if trying to discern it for himself, as well as explain himself to who was – for all intents and purposes – mako’s father. “ i never thought i could have that kind of connection with someone else ; which is why i stopped piloting. and i was right, but not in the way i thought i would be. mako is different – i knew it from the start, and it scared me. i wasn’t ready to accept being a pilot again ; i was afraid. not of the kaiju and the possible death. but because i was scared that opening myself up to the drift with another pilot – a stranger – would take the only tether i had left of the drift with my father.” he wasn’t sure why he was explaining this. maybe he just needed stacker to understand.
or maybe he needed himself to truly understand.
“it changed when the kaiju her and i fought attacked ; i knew i was being selfish. that my father wouldn’t want me to do what i was doing. that i was being stubborn. and – “ he trailed off with a light shake of his head. “if not for mako, i wouldn’t be fighting. if not for mako, i wouldn’t have found the fire my father left behind for me to use. and the drift … with her … was different. i felt her, even after leaving the jaeger. the ghost drift – more often than usual.” i can feel her now, he wanted to say. he didn’t. “she–” a pause and a beat of hesitation before finally bringing his eyes back to stacker. in return of the other man’s rare warmness, cassian had dropped his own mask. “she is definitely something – someone – special. and i know you know that. after losing my father, and knowing i was going to lose my mother – i thought i was going to be alone. and i had come to peace with that. now, i think, if i were to be alone, it would hurt more. if i lost her — “
he laces his hands in front of him, once more choosing his words carefully, “please understand, sir. i was never interested in a relationship. not before all of this. it’s never been… a priority of mine. especially after i started losing family.” it can’t hurt if you don’t grow attached.
“but her. i can’t – “ he struggled for the right words before shaking his head, “i don’t think i could lose her and be okay.” lips thin and he takes a breath, assessing all that he himself had just said and calling upon the tether between himself and mako, reminding himself of the comfort he found in that warmth.
and, almost as if admitting it to himself just as much as stacker, his response was a much more quiet, “ … yes,i do.”
THE MARSHAL LISTENS INTENTLY TO HIS WORDS, never once realizing the journey he & miss mori had endured in only the past few months. after cassian’s recruitment into the hong kong shatterdome, he remembers well how he wanted to appoint him as a jaeger pilot, knowing that it would be difficult due to the loss of his first drift compatible partner, his father. mako, who had a much better hand at persuasion in the form of patience & understanding, would be then sent in his place, hoping her softer approach would instill a desire deep within him to want to fight once more. never did he realize such a connection would build between the two young pilots, their drift the strongest bond he had ever seen in all his years at the PPDC. it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that they would soon slowly descend down the path into LOVE, especially with their similar backstories. at first, stacker refused to acknowledge the blossoming relationship that grew between them, unwilling to believe that the young woman he raised would ever open herself up to such heartache. but now, as the pilot bared his soul before him hours after just saving her life, how could he ignore this ? if mako mori was going to grow up & fall in love, he should count his lucky stars that it was with someone as self-less & brave as cassian andor. why should he stand in her way ?
WARM SMILE SLOWLY GROWS WIDEacross his cheeks at cassian’s reveal, allowing a large hand to come & comfort him with a gentle shake & squeeze. “ whatever it is that is transpiring between you & miss mori, it works. “ dark eyes would cast downwards for a brief moment, collecting the muddled mess of thoughts that began to pile in the deep confines of his brain. it was always difficult to get his own points across in a simple manner, so he would do so in the best way how —— in the form of a speech. “ war takes many things away, “ his voice drawls, looking up to meet the younger man’s gaze. “ it can take your home. your friends. family —— leaving you broken & hollow with nothing left to live for ; the drive to fight dwindles & you merely wait for the sweet embrace of death. i know i do not appear as the sort of man to carry such connections, but i’ve lost my fair share of people. i lost my sister the first day the kaiju arrived. i lost my closest friend & first drift partner due to the affects of radiation poisoning. i —— “ he hesitated for a moment, unsure if this next bit of information was something he really wanted to share. a puff of air escapes his lips, reminding himself that in this moment, he was NOT the pilot’s superior, but a concerned father who had just witnessed this man bare all his emotions without question. if cassian would entrust such thoughts to him, then why shouldn’t he do the same ? “ —— i lost the woman i loved due to my focus on the war effort, & in some respects, i lost my son as well. i realize you have lost your fair share of people as well mister andor, so i know you will take heart in these next few words: hold onto those you hold dear for as long as you can. “ fleeting glance is cast towards mako for just a moment, unable to hide the small smile that formed upon his lips. “ mako came into my life at a time when i thought i had no one. she saved me in ways i could never repay. it would be SELFISH of me to barr her a chance at happiness —— a chance to provide that amount of love & comfort to another. “
EARS PERKED UP FOR A MOMENT to realize that the slow beep of the heart monitor has escalated to a certain degree, turning to see the warrior awake & propped up on the bed. confusion spread across visage, cheeks flushed as she had overheard their conversation. “ —— marshal ? cassian ? “ eyes blink rapidly for a moment, bewildered by what seemed to be the sudden bonding of the two men she had high respect for. as she shifted in place, the dull sensation of her leg would radiate softly —— soft hisses escaping pink lips. “ where am i ? “ without hesitation, the fearless leader would remove himself from the plastic chair, quickly rushing over to meet the rookie pilot’s side. kindness flooded his eyes, taking hold of her still cold hand. “ mako, “ he muttered breathlessly, expression verging on emotional. “ my dear —— you were severely injured in the kaju attack. we almost lost you. we did lose you. you FLAT-LINED. “ stacker would then turn toward where cassian sat, hand raised to beckon him to approach. “ mistor andor took charge of the situation, assuring that you received the best care. had he not done this, you would no longer be alive. he even donated the blood for your transfusion. “
HAZEL EYES SLOWLY WIDEN like dinner plates as stacker revealed what had transpired after she lost consciousness. she briefly recalls feeling a moment of darkness encroach her vision —— losing sight of the world around her. it never once occurred to her in that moment of solitude that she was on the brink of death. gaze focuses on cassian for a moment, shocked that he would go to such lengths just for her. the warrior’s heart beat would rise, the monitor escalating in sound as she feels the tether of their connection envelop her in a deep emotion that magnified her current thoughts tenfold. speechless, she would transmit a message to her fellow drift partner, knowing well he would be able to hear it. you did that for me ? why ?
“ IT SEEMS AS THOUGH —— you two need your privacy. “ the hand that currently held mako’s would gently squeeze it, making the motion to move until he noticed something —— a splash of crimson making contacting with his skin. hand would instinctively come up to touch his upper lip, mentally cursing himself as the effects of his own exposure to the radiation from years of piloting came to fruition before the two pilots. it was something that he did not like to show to others, especially to mako. having left his daily dose of metarocin back in his quarters, he knew it would be best if he made his leave, despite knowing well that now he had instilled a small amount of stress into the warrior’s already fragile mind. guilt would eat him whole later this evening.
WIPING THE REMNANTS OF THE OFFENDING CRIMSONfrom his features, he would make his way to leave the room, offering cassian one last nod before speaking once more. “
you have my blessing, mister andor. “ there was no need for him to specify, offering mako one last brief smile before leaving the two to sort out their own emotions together.
“ CASSIAN ? “ mako’s tone is quiet, concern etched across tired features. not just for her father, but for her fellow jaeger pilot too. he had undergone so much over the past few hours that she cannot help but feel a tinge of remorse for blocking him from her mind after their kaiju battle. she didn’t do it out of any malice, but only to prevent the panic she knew it would have instilled in him. but —— he already knew that, didn’t he ? hand would gently beckon for him to come closer, desperate for his physical touch. his warmth. they had a alot to talk about, but in this moment, she only wanted to feel.
his heart clenches painfully, as he did not miss her reaching for him ; shivering only slightly as her fingertips dance over his jawline – feeling the strength beginning to waver more and more as her hand fell away. mako – don’t — ! he hisses, feeling it rumble in the back of his head and unsure if he was speaking to himself, or her.
he knew it was only a matter of time before stacker caught up with them, holding mako close to his chest ; as if somehow it would help. as if somehow, his own rapidly pulsing heart against his ribcage would be enough to keep her alive. to keep her breathing – to keep the blood from staining both of their flight suits. eyes snap over to the older man for just a fleeting moment; long enough to show that he heard him. to acknowledge him. when cassian spoke, his voice was strained. not from carrying mako’s weight, as he could do so even without the adrenaline that was surging through his veins and nerves, but from the fear of feeling her dwindling in her arms. he tried to mask it the best that he could when speaking to stacker – but he knew that the older male knew better. “the kaiju pierced the hull of the fulcrum,” was his breath of explanation. the rest could be explained in better detail later ; once his mind pieced it all back together as it had happened so fast. he flinches, his own minor injuries a shadow in the back of his head, when she cries out in pain. and his grip on her tightens, even though he knows that she couldn’t feel it past the metal of her suit.
he’s gingerly ( as possible ) relinquishing her onto the med bay bed – stepping back as laces his hands behind his back. ( it was habit, from when he was young. as a child, it forced away anxious fiddling he was no longer prone to. ) he can still feel his heart racing – his finger tips shaking as he held to both hands tighter to try and get them to halt.
his jaw tightens when the doctor goes on about her blood type, his knuckles paling as his nails embed themselves into the tender soft skin of his palm. before he could speak, stacker was drawing his attention — a sense of urgency and helplessness in his own chest at the announcement about the new kaiju. the fire in his head was still burning from the previous battle ; his brain not quite flipped off from the fight. breathing catches and his eyes darken ; it was not lost upon him the weight of what stacker was asking him. and he wished there was the time, and the words, to explain to the older gentleman that he understood such. “ yes, sir, “ cassian responds sharply, attempting to keep the waver out of his tone as he cants his gaze back to mako.
without looking at himself, he knew the white of his flight suit was stained shades of crimson – smeared crudely across the metal. but he couldn’t take the time to care; it could be cleaned later. or replaced. mako was the priority ; even without stacker’s words. his words, however, merely increased the jaeger-sized weight on his chest. he would’ve spoken again, but stacker was moving to leave and the doctor was gaining his attention.
he would do so without hesitation – but before he could answer, the alarms in both his hand and the monitor were beginning to form an angry cadence in the room. and the panic in his chest merely inflated to proportions that made the fragile rubber band of his self control threaten to snap.
mako , no ! he shoves at her – as if trying to force her back to awareness, but his repeated and stern command does nothing. the continued wail of the machine did not cease, and the panic began to swell like an ingrown fear. “do something now –” he bit at the doctor, shoving the shocked professional back with a forearm on his chest before gesturing to his drift partner on the bed.
he could still feel her, but barely. clinging to the sliver of her that was left as if it was his last lifeline – white knuckling the small thread that kept him connected to mako as if trying to keep her from toppling off of a cliff’s edge.
there were a lot of loud and bitten off words interchanged between the doctors and nurses as they swarmed around mako ; much like in a way that flies swarmed around a corpse. but, the pilot reassured himself as he hovered near them that this was not to leech – but to repair. but as all of their efforts blurred together for him, his mind began to race with each pulse of the defibrillator.
he wasn’t sure how long it had been, only that the doctor was stepping away from her with a look on his face that NEARLY took cassian’s heart out. and before the doctor could speak, cassian was shoving him out of the way. before the doctor could affirm his fears, cassian roughly grasped the charge of the situation ; allowing himself a situational calm. the doctor protested, but cassian didn’t waver – the nurses looking to the doctor helplessly for guidance as, still in his ruined flight suit, he leaned almost the whole of his weight into chest compressions. and even as he barked orders, his eyes remained on her – trying to snuff out the insistent proof of the doctor’s unspoken words in the ringing of the heart monitor.
“ charge to 200 cc, “ he told one of the nurses, gesturing to the defibrillator. he wasn’t medically trained by far – he wasn’t a doctor, and had only known some of the english words they had been shooting off prior, but he had at least been trained in resuscitation in his ranger training more than a decade ago. the nurse looked to the doctor, who shrugged helplessly before nodding for them to charge it.
he stepped back long enough for the rushed clear! and the jerk of mako’s body – and nothing – before he was pressing in again, ignoring the strain of her ribcage under his hands before demanding another shock. he was panting, and sweating by the time they hit her with a second jolt.
it took a moment, with cassian’s wide and terrified gaze and a constant mantra of you can’t leave me here. what do i have without you? before he could’ve sworn he heard heaven’s angels in the form of the heart monitor coming back to life.
time, which had priorly been much too fast for him to keep pace with, slowed to a near halt as he took a stumbling step back. hearing tunneling from relief as a nurse guided him to sit down – another nurse already prepping for the transfusion. he thinks the doctor was once more asking for his permission, but cassian didn’t hear him. he was merely shaking his head with long, harsh breaths as he offered the doctor his arm.
IT HAD BEEN A LONG & ARDUOUS BATTLE between crimson typhoon& the most recent surge of kaiju that had reached the surface only minutes after the defeat of vicros. despite reaching the miracle line, the trio were able to contain the beast & destroy it swiftly —— their ‘ thundercloud formation ‘ as strong & merciless as ever. the marshal’s normally commanding presence took a backseat as he guided the triplets into victory, visibly shaken & sweating as every minute dragged out like an hour in his world. the only thing that seemed to occupy his mind was mako & if she was able to survive the deep wound she had received from earlier events. like any concerned father, his worry would double ——triple, revisiting all possible scenarios & disastrous outcomes that have less than a chance of truly occurring. stacker pentecost was a man who dealt with stress often, but he was not the type to show the weight of which he carried on his shoulders. the minute the kaiju was bested, he would not share in the victorious screams & praises uttered on deck. instead, he would hastily make his way down the hall, determined to reach his daughter & be with her if only for a minute. if —— she was still alive.
HE SOON REACHES THE MED BAY, practically bumping into the doctor who had taken charge of mako’s case. the medical professional was visibly shaken still by what had transpired, forcing the marshal to assume the worst. a world without mako mori ——the very idea was enough to haunt his very soul. luckily, his fears were dismissed when he affirms him that mako was alive& well—— the blood transfusion a big success. the doctor however, goes on to mention cassian’s insubordinate behavior, stressing that he physically assaulted him when taking control of the situation, despite her current status. eyebrows would raise as he would further go into detail, his heart dropping into his stomach as mentions that at one point during the whole scenario, mako mori was almost pronounced dead. DEAD? this doctor had the AUDACITY to complain to him that another pilot, despite not being a medical professional, took control of something HE should have been capable of & was the reason mako mori was still alive & breathing ? fingers curl into his palms, the temptation to deliver a punch across the elder man’s face increasing as he continued to rant about cassain’s unorthodox efforts. instead, he would do as any leader would do. “ thank you doctor, “ he replied dryly, his hands yanking the clipboard away from him so as to observe the results once more on paper. “ you are dismissed. get out of my sight. “ he hisses, eyes like daggers piercing deep into the doctor’s soul, who could do nothing but nod hastily in response. with a cold expression, he would shove his way past him, disgusted that he had allowed such an incapable professional enter his shatterdome ——his war effort. but that was now all in the past, shoulders relaxing as his eyes soon fall onto his adoptive daughter resting in bed, with the hero of the day slumped untidily in a chair right beside her.
ADMITTEDLY, IT WAS A VERY TOUCHING SIGHT. no doubt mako still had no knowledge of what had transpired during the last few hours. as much as he would like to allow the experienced pilot a chance to rest, stacker did not have all the time in the world to be here, as much as he would like to. slow strides would walk over to the hospital bed, breathing easy as the gentle beep of the monitor solidified her still beating heart. his hand would gently place itself atop of hers, a smile spreading up to his eyes. he had known this girl for so long, the idea of her almost leaving him alone on this earth enough to frighten him more than any kaiju he had ever faced. “ anata wa watashi o kowagatte shinimashita, “ tone shaky as stacker allows himself a steady breath to prevent the tears that threatened to fall. a soldier was never afraid to cry, but he would not do so with cassain still here. even if he was asleep, he couldn’t BARE the possibility. old habits die hard. well-built form would lean closer to the sleeping woman, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her forehead. in all the years he had come to see miss mako mori grow, this was one of the few times he had ever seen her so still & calm. it was an odd sight, but it also gave him great peace.
HE TAKES THE NEAREST PLASTIC CHAIR that remained in the room, planting it firmly right next to the sleeping pilot with a loud ‘ CLACK ! ‘ if the noise would not wake him, then his gentle hand would, shaking his arm until he received the response he desired. “ mister andor, “ he whispers softly, fighting the urge to completely give into his emotions & greet him with a smile. he was a damn HERO in his eyes for returning his daughter to her, but he still had to keep up appearances. clearing his throat, authoritative presence would return once more, arms crossed over his chest as piercing eyes meets his gaze. “ it appears the doctor was less than pleased with your efforts in the med room earlier. “ he’s watching for cassian’s expression, knowing the pilot would protest & come up with claims to back up his actions. unbeknownst to him, stacker was already on his side in terms of what happened, but he wouldn’t reveal that bit just yet. “ the way you behaved yourself in the face of imminent death was absolutely disgraceful. you assaulted a doctor & deliberately disobeyed their instructions, taking charge & giving orders when you yourself are not a medical professional. “ he pauses, eyes fleeting over to mako for a moment. if she were awake at this time, he’d have no doubt she already would be fighting every claim that left his lips. “ normally these charges would be enough to dismiss you from the program. but—— “ & the wall that separated the two figures would finally come crumbling down, stern countenance replaced with a warm & gracious smile —— a father’s gratefulness. “ if not for your quick actions, miss mori would not have made it alive. thank you, mister andor. rest assured, that ‘ doctor ‘ will no longer have a place to work in our program. i have already seen to it. “
A GENTLE HAND WOULD REST AGAINST the pilot’s shoulder, the closest he would ever get to physical affection with the other male. despite how grateful he was, he needed to maintain his professional persona, but that wouldn’t stop him from the next set of words that would utter his mouth —— the thoughts he had hidden deep inside, but given the situation, he felt it was the appropriate time to bring them to light. “ i’ve seen the way she looks at you, “ stacker begins slowly, unsure how the pilot would react to this. to him, an outside, it was so obvious what was transpiring between the two. but —— was he aware ? “ & i’ve seen the way you look at her. after everything that has happened in the last few hours, i don’t think i have ever heard of anyone going to such lengths to save the life of another jaeger pilot’s as you did with miss mori.
WARM SMILE —— A FATHER’S SMILE would crease across his skin, a shallow breath taken before he finally utters the words that would once frighten him to no end.
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.
cassian was WELL AWARE of the escalating threat of the KAIJU that waned over mankind . but, it was no longer his place . the pilot inside of him died with his father ; a ghost drift tethered between their two souls that ripped him apart from within when antonio andor finally succumbed to his injuries from bestia. he was long past WANTING to try again ; long past the ideal of picking back up the helmet and finding a new co pilot . if he was COMPLETELY HONEST with himself, perhaps the idea of opening himself to someone new was terrifying ; the bonds shared between co pilots was nothing that could be forged in nothing but fire and camaraderie . his father and himself was so SIMILAR in enough ways that the spark was always ever present ; and, the idea of taking up arms with anyone else was an ideal that cassian couldn’t quite accept .
ALBEIT – he wasn’t completely positive what drove him to accept mako’s invitation in the kwoon . perhaps it was the drive of competition that he had inherited from his father. perhaps it was petty ; regardless . here he was, and cassian had never backed down from anything BEFORE — he wasn’t about to start now .
there’s a breath – a flex of his fingers against the contact staff as he allows his shoulders, his back, to relax all the way down. “ i have nothing to prove, “ was his response, dark eyes darting over the other as he took in her stance .
with the relaxed clothing that he wore, it did showcase curves of muscles that he had retained over the decade he had been out of a jaeger ; but, he did not need BRUTE to win . his father had always exaggerated to cassian that brute alone did not win a fight – that he need to not sling the staff around like he was disconnected from it . it was an extension of himself. and, while cassian had never cared for DANCE – the best illustration that came to mind about sparring was that it was just as smooth and CALCULATED as a dance when done correctly –
the staff tips up under his arm, holding to the tip as he stepped forward in a diagonal ; his right arm making a move like he was making to flip her – ( of course he WOULDN’T ; he wouldn’t make a move so RASH so EARLY – ) hand moving to grapple at her left shoulder and pressing weight back, left leg even going as far as to slip behind her right ankle – as if to try and tip her source of balance. INSTEAD, much quicker, he’s flourishing the staff with his free hand and stopping the middle of the staff inches from her right forearm – dark eyes snapping up to meet her gaze in the heart beat that it took for them both to acknowledge it. “ one - zero – “ he told her, voice almost a snap as he took a single step back and away from her.
she was quick – he would give her that much. and, he would respect the fact that she was GOOD – but mako was obviously expecting a rusty FIGHTER due to his status of being away from the fray for a decade.
there’s a sharp breath drawing knives in his chest, side stepping and ducking under the quick flying staff that otherwise would’ve given QUITE THE BRUISE ; hand slipping against her ribcage and back in an almost intimate way in order to take a few steps to make his way behind her; the only sounds in his ears being his own BREATHING tight against his lungs, his heart in his ears, and the sounds of the staffs COLLIDING like bombs in his soul ; at this point , cassian’s body bent and crouched with the staff held above his head – stopping her staff two feet from his head before one hand released, a twist of his wrist turning it to stop a breeze from her ankle, two - zero – his brain bit out, almost not even aware that he hadn’t spoken it aloud, am i supposed to be impressed by this?
THE CONFIDENT PART OF HER MIND told her that this match was already as good as won. the warrior frequently trained every day in secret to perfect her move set, OBSESSED with the notion of becoming a jaeger pilot despite stacker pentecost’s constant rejections. cassian andor has not stepped inside the kwoon in YEARS —— certainly he still had the instincts necessary, but mako would assume his moves to be a bit more slowed than hers. hopefully her quick fire ones would be enough to wake up his former skillset, driving a need to want to jockey a jaeger once more & join the ranks of the jaeger pilots again. that was the plan, & she hoped it would work. she was confidant it would work.
FINGERS CURL TIGHTLY AROUND THE STAFF, prepping herself for his first move. it looked as though he was going for something grandiose already —— perhaps a flip of sorts. huh, never took him as one to jump right into it. mako is ready, making the move to counter & prevent said move, leaving her arms exposed. falling for his trap, her form freezes slightly as his hand grabs at her shoulder, the grip on her ankle forcing her to stop any other actions she could have used to get out of it. with a heavy dread, she sees the red staff stop right before her arm —— already a minute in & cassian andor had the lead. eyes incredulously stared into his as he steps away, shocked by how quickly he reacted & planned out his attack, his strategies marking him a win against the warrior. she had observed his skill set over & over, & yet it still did not give her enough preparation for what was to come.
BATON FLIPS AROUND HER FINGERS, A GRUNT leaving her lips as she moves to hit him, the former pilot ducking under her blow with ease. he somehow manages to get behind her, forcing the warrior to sharply turn around, staffs colliding & loudly clacking against one another with ferocity. already her breath was ragged, a fire in her eyes alight as she held her own against him, each move more vicious than the last. how in the —— still surprised by his sudden quickness, mako’s move set suddenly grows reckless & sloppy as she desperately wants to mark a point. raising the staff above her head, cassian is quick to stop her & before she knows it, he was two points already ahead.
PIERCING GLARE IS SHOT IN HIS DIRECTION, displeased with the initial turnout of this fight. how can someone who hadn’t fought in years still be so good ? she practiced every day of her life & now she was EMBARRASSING herself in front of him, looking like a damn rookie. silent scoff leaves her lips at his words, not even realizing that there were no words ever uttered. we are not finished yet mister andor. i do not give up so easily.
A FIERCE YELL LEAVES HER LIPS AS SHE CHARGES at him, no longer allowing any chance for an easy opening. obviously she had MISCALCULATED when observing his moves & she wouldn’t allow herself to be beaten so easily. especially by a has-been. the cracking sound of the baton echoes throughout the kwoon, each attempted move blocked despite her better efforts. if one were to remove the grunts & batons away from them, it would give off the appearance of a ferocious dance, with the two partners effortless moving as one to the beat of their own constructed concerto. mako was frustrated that she was unable to find an opening, yet unbeknownst to her, many of his moves matched her own —— his ferocity & drive very similar, almost to the letter. the idea came fleeting for a moment, but in many ways, it was as if she were fighting a more experienced version of herself. every time their batons met, she knew for a split second what he would do next, moving on to block that move as well. & in some instances, he would do the same. it was as if —— they were in each other’s minds.
AN IDEA SOON FORMULATES, but she does best not to dwell too much on it. with as much force as she could muster, her baton would push his off to the side, allowing her enough time to raise it over his head, making a move to hit him. as anticipated, the former pilot blocks it just as quickly & that’s when mako makes her move. her free hand moves to wrap around his wrist, the baton twisting effortlessly around her fingers as she makes no haste in quickly & harshly hitting his rib-cage. perhaps it was a bit BRASH of her, as she could of easily stopped the move just before it actually made contact, but she did not care. this was not just a battle —— this was her dignity at stake. “ two - one, “ she muttered, hint of a smirk twitching at her lips. that was for your earlier comment mister andor. do NOT test me.
SHE WAS SURELY SWEATING NOW, chest rising as her breaths come in heavy. mako had fought many recruits before & bested them all with ease, but cassian was a stark contrast to all of them. this was the ultimate test of her abilities, & she would give it her all, or die trying. perhaps that was a bit DRAMATIC of her, but she needed to win. legs would briefly step aback as he comes at her again, yelling as she attempts to block every move that he swung at her. it felt as though his baton was growing heavier in weight, no doubt in due part to the force he kept adding to it in his fury to try & bring her down. mako easily ducks around the former pilot, now out of his reach as she goes for another flurry of hits, her leg soon sweeping across his in a quick flourish, compromising his balance as she rushes over to his side, baton swung as if ready to hit across his face, but only stopping a few centimeters before. she already hit him once, no need to further embarrass him. two-two. is this all you have to offer ?
HE’S QUICK TO MOVE BACK AT HER AGAIN,& mako meets his speed just as easily. now that they were tied, she felt a surge of confidence wash over her —— but it was far from over. as the baton makes a move to mark a point at her side, she uses her underarm to trap it before cassian could retract it back. she grunts as there is an effort to move it from her, using all her upper strength to keep it entrapped there. finally, she is able to swipe the baton away from the former pilot, rushing over to the pilot as both batons are used at full force. one would sweep around his feet, while the other aimed at his side. the focus on these parts allowed her for her true intention. batons both come in swinging from opposite sides to meet at either side of his neck, panting as she takes a moment to breathe before uttering those words. at least, she thought she uttered them. three - two. backing away from him, she would toss his baton back at him, knowing well that he would catch it with ease. they had been so focused on their fight that mako had lost track of the reason WHY they were doing it. determined for a victory, she braces herself for his next set of moves, eyes ablaze as her pulse echoed in her ears. sweaty hands would grip at the baton a bit tighter, preparing herself for the move she hope would end this match once & for all.
