Red Horizon (The Martian Fanfiction)

Chapter 4

Olivia moved quickly, her hands shaking slightly as she pulled her suit from the locker, the fabric stiff and bulky in her grasp. The weight of the moment was finally hitting her. The storm, the aborted mission—it all felt surreal. But there wasn't time to think, only time to act. They had minutes before they needed to be out of the Hab, and every movement felt both rushed and painfully slow at the same time.

She tugged her suit on, the motions automatic from countless drills, but the usual ease of it was overshadowed by the gnawing anxiety in her chest. Her breathing was faster than she wanted it to be, and her heart pounded with a force that almost made her feel light-headed.

Across the room, Mark was already halfway into his suit, his expression more serious than usual as he adjusted the straps on his chest piece. He glanced over at Olivia, his sharp eyes taking in her tense body language, the way her fingers fumbled for a moment with the zipper on her suit.

He moved toward her without a word, his presence steady and calm in a way that cut through the frantic energy of the room.

"Hey," he said softly as he approached, his voice a quiet counter to the urgency buzzing around them. "Let me help."

Olivia looked up at him, surprised by the softness in his tone, but she didn't protest. She gave a small nod, allowing herself a brief moment of surrender to his offer. Her fingers stilled as he reached out, his hands brushing hers lightly before he took over, fastening the last section of her suit with practiced efficiency.

She could feel the warmth of his hands through the fabric, the gentleness of his touch grounding her in a way she hadn't expected. It was a small gesture, but in the chaos of the moment, it felt strangely intimate, like the world had narrowed to just the two of them for a few fleeting seconds.

Mark moved on to her helmet, lifting it from the table beside her. His eyes flicked to hers, holding her gaze for a beat longer than usual, something unspoken passing between them in the brief pause.

"Let's get you sealed up," he murmured, his voice still soft but with a hint of playfulness that felt like an anchor in the storm.

He slid the helmet over her head, his fingers brushing the sides of her face as he secured it in place. Olivia's heart fluttered in response, her breath catching in her throat. She could see the seriousness in his eyes, but there was something else there too—something softer, warmer.

The helmet clicked into place, and for a moment, his hands lingered on the sides of it, his thumbs gently pressing against the cool surface, as if he wasn't quite ready to step away.

"There you go," Mark said quietly, his tone almost affectionate now. His lips curved into a small, lopsided smile as he pulled his hands back, but he didn't move far.

Olivia blinked, her own smile tugging at the corners of her mouth despite the rush of the moment. The intimacy of the gesture wasn't lost on her, but she wasn't one to let it slide without comment.

"What, you think because you helped me with my helmet, we're best friends now?" she teased, her voice coming out more playful than she'd expected, a welcome relief from the tension that had been building in her chest.

Mark's smile widened, the familiar spark of mischief flickering back into his eyes, cutting through the tension in the air. "Oh, I think we're way past best friends, Livi."

She let out a small laugh, shaking her head slightly. Even with everything going on, even with the storm outside threatening to rip everything apart, Mark had a way of making her feel lighter, like the weight of the world—or, in this case, Mars—wasn't quite so crushing.

"Well, I appreciate the help," she said, her voice softening again as her eyes met his. "Even if you do have a habit of making everything dramatic."

Mark winked, his expression teasing but affectionate. "Hey, if you're going to be in a Martian storm, you might as well make it memorable."