Red Horizon (The Martian Fanfiction)

Chapter 46

Mark stood beside the EVA suits, his hands moving with the kind of care that only came from months of shared struggle. The soft sounds of his movements filled the silence between them, but his mind was elsewhere. He knew what was coming—what they were about to face—and yet, in this moment, all of that seemed distant, overshadowed by the woman sitting in front of him. Olivia, whose strength had carried them through the darkest of days, was his anchor. They had been through hell together, and now they were standing on the precipice of something that could either save them or end it all.

He turned toward her, his gaze softening as it landed on her. Olivia was seated, her leg outstretched in the cramped space of the Rover, but even with the exhaustion etched into every line of her body, she radiated a quiet determination. Their eyes met, and for a heartbeat, time seemed to stop. They didn't need to speak—the weight of the moment hung in the air between them, heavy and unspoken, but understood. It had been this way for months now, words often unnecessary, replaced by shared glances and the knowledge that they were in this together.

"Let's get you into the suit," Mark said softly, his voice low and steady.

Olivia nodded, a small, tired smile playing on her lips as she shifted in her seat, trying to maneuver into position. But the pain in her leg made even the smallest movement difficult, and Mark was there instantly, his strong hand reaching out to steady her. His fingers wrapped around her arm with a firm but gentle grip, guiding her carefully so that she wouldn't strain herself further. It was a simple gesture, but one filled with the kind of tenderness that had grown between them over the long, grueling months.

Mark knelt beside her, taking his time as he helped her with the suit. He worked methodically, securing the boots first, making sure every strap was tightened just enough, but not too much. His hands lingered for a moment longer than necessary as they brushed over her legs, his touch gentle, almost reverent. He was careful, deliberate with each movement, as though this was more than just a routine task. As though it was his way of protecting her, of showing her—without words—that he would always be there, supporting her, holding her up when she couldn't do it herself.

Olivia winced slightly as she adjusted her weight, the familiar throb of pain shooting through her leg. Mark's brow furrowed with concern, and before she could say anything, he was there, his hand resting on her knee, offering the steady support she had come to rely on. His touch was warm, grounding her in the moment, and she found herself relaxing slightly under his care.

"You good?" Mark asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper, as though the very act of speaking might shatter the fragile intimacy between them.

Olivia exhaled slowly, her smile small but genuine. "Yeah. Thanks."

There was a softness in her eyes that made Mark's chest tighten. He had seen her at her weakest, seen her fight through pain that would have broken most people, but even now, as they stood on the brink of the unknown, she still managed to give him that same look. That same quiet strength that had carried them both through every impossible moment.

Mark quickly suited up himself, though his movements were more automatic, less deliberate. The task at hand was necessary, but the weight of it all seemed to fade in comparison to the woman in front of him. As he pulled the suit over his body, his thoughts drifted to the countless moments they had shared in this small, confined space. The long nights spent talking in whispers, the fleeting touches that had spoken of something more than survival. And now, as they prepared to leave everything behind, it all felt more real than ever.

Once he was suited up, Mark turned back to Olivia, and for a moment, they just stood there, facing each other in the dim light of the Rover. The hum of the equipment around them seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the sound of their breathing. Mark's eyes met hers, and in that moment, the world outside ceased to exist. There was only her—only the woman who had fought beside him, who had kept him sane in the endless isolation of Mars.