Red Horizon (The Martian Fanfiction)

Chapter 9

Olivia watched Mark move around the small kitchen area, her mind drifting in and out of the present moment as the ache in her body reminded her of the reality they were still trapped in. The small act of preparing coffee and rationed food felt almost absurdly normal in the grand scheme of things—like a fragile tether to the mundane in a world that had become anything but.

Her leg throbbed with every beat of her heart, a steady reminder of the fracture beneath the makeshift splint, but the pain was secondary now, dulled by the meds Mark had given her. Her ribs still ached, each breath causing a slight hitch in her chest, but she could manage. The bigger pain, the emotional weight, had lessened, though the memories of home still lingered like a dull ache in the back of her mind.

"Are you still alive over there, or did I put you into a food coma with the sheer anticipation of this gourmet meal?" Mark's voice pulled her out of her thoughts, that familiar humor back in his tone.

Olivia looked over at him, a smile playing on her lips. "Barely alive, but I'm hanging on. The promise of coffee is the only thing keeping me going."

Mark snorted, shaking his head as he grabbed two mugs from the storage bin. "Well, you're in luck. Martian coffee, now with 100% more dust than you'd ever want."

He crossed the small room with a careful step, holding out a cup to her. The smell of the coffee was faint but familiar, and Olivia took it gratefully, her hands trembling slightly as she brought the mug to her lips. The warmth of the cup felt good in her palms, and the first sip—though bitter and metallic from the filtration—was like a balm to her frayed nerves.

Mark sat down beside the bunk, leaning back against the wall with his own cup in hand. He took a long sip, sighing as if the liquid was more than just caffeine, like it was the one thing anchoring him to some semblance of normalcy.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, both of them drinking their coffee, both of them letting the moment settle. The tension of the night before still lingered in the air, but it felt quieter now, less suffocating. The storm had passed—both outside and within—and now, in the aftermath, there was only the quiet acceptance of where they were, of what they still had to face.

"So," Mark began after a while, his voice soft but carrying a note of curiosity. "What was your family like?"

Olivia blinked, caught off guard by the question. She hadn't expected him to ask, but then again, last night had laid everything bare. She had told him how much she missed them—her family, her life on Earth—and now, sitting in the soft glow of the Hab's lights, it seemed only natural that they'd talk about it. About the people they loved and the lives they had left behind.

She swallowed, setting her coffee mug down on the floor beside her. "They're... everything, really," she said softly, her gaze dropping to her hands. "My mom's always been the glue, you know? The one who holds everything together, no matter what. She's strong, but not in that overbearing way—more like she always knows how to make you feel safe. Even when things are falling apart."

Mark listened quietly, his gaze focused on her, his usual banter giving way to a more thoughtful silence.

"My dad's the quiet type," Olivia continued, her lips curving into a faint smile as she spoke. "Always there, always supportive, but he's not one for big speeches or emotional outbursts. Just... steady. He's the one who taught me to keep going, even when things get hard."

She hesitated for a moment, her throat tightening as she thought of her sister. "And my little sister, Chloe... she's a force of nature. Seventeen, full of energy, always getting into trouble but in that way that makes you laugh more than it makes you mad. She's... God, I miss her so much. She's probably driving my parents crazy right now."