Falling

Chapter XII

"Keep up, Callie!"

The ginger clenched his jaw, glaring up at the girl as he climbed up the grate. "I told you to stop calling me that."

Nima shrugged, looking down at him. "And I told you not to be so damn slow. We can't always get what we want." She grinned and stepped back as he reached the hull of the ship's remains. "Now come on. We're almost there."

Cal huffed as he rose to his feet, jogging after her. He watched her scale up the Venator's tower decks much quicker than he knew he could despite working on Bracca for three years now. He scrambled after her though, wondering why the hell she would drag him all the way up here.

The noirette climbed through the broken wall of the command bridge and peered over at him as he came up. "Come on, you bantha!"

His grip tightened, but he bit his tongue and eventually reached her, taking her extended hand and allowing her to haul him up.

"Why are we here?" he asked breathlessly.

She was already leaving him behind. "You'll see."

"Nima."

She turned and gave him a smug grin, now walking backward. "I'll race ya."

He narrowed his eyes at her, but he couldn't help the slight twitch of his lips. Her smile grew as she began to turn back around, picking up her pace. He caught up to her stride trying to get slightly ahead. She sped up into a jog. He followed suit.

Soon, the two were sprinting down the hall, racing to the windshield up front, trying to shove and trip one another, laughing.

At the last second, Cal successfully managed to cut in front of her, slamming his hand on the controls to claim his victory and flashing a prideful smile. "I win."

She chuckled as she reached him and lightly punched his shoulder. "I let you win."

He scoffed and crossed his arms, but she wasn't paying attention to him anymore. His brows furrowed as he turned to follow her gaze. Upon seeing it all, his eyes widened. "Whoa."

The horizon glowed a dim orange, an effect of the two suns behind the clouds that partly covered the sky. The light that reached the shipyards cast many looming shadows between the Venators. The atmosphere was humid yet calm, the smell of petrichor in the air.

"It's nice, huh?"

Cal glanced at the noirette to see her gray eyes filled with the same amazement he was feeling. "You've been up here before?"

She nodded. "I come up here whenever the clouds start parting. Which is every couple of years. But it's always worth it." She dropped her gaze to the floor, hooking her thumbs in the loops of her belt. "Listen, I, uh... I've noticed a bit of a pattern with you."

His brows furrowed. "A pattern?"

"Your mood always plummets this time of year. Specifically this month."

He tensed slightly at the mention.

"I'm not gonna ask why," she assured. "I know it has something to do with before we met, but I know you refuse to talk about that." She paused, scuffing her boot almost in disappointment. "But anyway, I, um... I thought I could try to cheer you up."

"That's why we're here?"

She shrugged. "I thought you could use something to get your mind off... whatever you're thinking about."

He grinned slightly, nudging her. "I didn't know you could be sentimental."

"I'm not. I just want you to quit being so moody. It's exhausting."

He chuckled as he watched her dig through her bag.

"That reminds me," she murmured as she took something out. "Since I'm not sentimental as you claim, I made you something."

Now he couldn't help but smirk. "Wow."

Nima huffed and crossed her arms. "Y'know, I'm trying to be nice here, and all I'm getting is belittlement."

He raised his hands in defense. "Alright, sorry. You're right. I'll shut up."

She grinned then nodded her chin at him. "Give me your hand."

"What?"

She didn't repeat herself, simply grabbing his forearm and holding it up, tying something around his wrist.

Once she was done, he examined what she gave him. His eyes widened. "Is this...?"

"Yep."

He looked back down at the gift, a black leather bracelet intertwined with chromium. "Where did you find—"

"I'm not telling you. A girl's gotta have her secrets."

The ginger shook his head. "I can't take this."

"Too late. I already gave it to you."

"No, Nima, this... do you realize how rare chromium is? You could get so many credits for this. You'd be set for days."

She raised a brow at him. "And? I don't want it. Like I said, I'm not sentimental."

He stared at her incredulously as she walked back the way they came. "You're insane."

"Why thank you. I'll take that to heart. Now, c'mon, we'd better get back before the suns go down. I'll race you again."

He looked down at the gift for a moment then back at her. She was willing to part with such rare material... for him. The thought made his heart skip. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She flashed him a smirk over her shoulder. "Callie."

He grinned, shaking his head. "Oh, it's on now."

Nima yelped and laughed as she started sprinting back to their exit.

He grinned and shook his head in amusement as he began closing the distance between them.