The Seventh Member of the Storm Hawks

I'd Wait

Nika smiled up at Aerrow, briefly remembering seeing his face being close to hers before she collapsed, though she was just overjoyed to see his face and back in the Condor. With his help she sat up and embraced him, ignoring the dull pain in her right arm, immediately Aerrow hugged her back – kissing her shoulder before resting his forehead on it. Nika began to cry, remembering what she had done to everyone especially Aerrow. "Shh shh... Don't cry." He murmured, feeling tears well in his eyes as well. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have-!" Nika cried before her sobs took over, Aerrow rubbed her back, holding her closer as if she would disappear again if he let her go. "But I didn't fight back! I-!" Nika exclaimed pulling away from him, Aerrow brushed away a few stray tears of hers shaking his head at her, he knew it wasn't her fault. "We all understand Nika, we're just glad you're back." He replied, Nika nodded slowly – surprised that everyone forgave her so easily, especially when she told no one that she planned to go to Cyclonia to trade herself for her brother.

Piper came into the room and helped Nika change out of her clothes into new ones, the crystal navigator suddenly hugged Nika close to her, crying softly. Nika hugged her back, "I'm so happy you're back, I thought I lost my best friend." Piper cried loudly, the brunette smiled sadly and hugged her tighter – one of the memories she had repeated in her head was when she first joined the Storm Hawks, becoming Piper's best friend in just a few minutes. Even though Nika couldn't really remember what she did while being controlled – she knew she missed Piper from the moment she woke up in her room on the Condor. "You ready to see everyone else?" The navigator asked, holding the Yarisian by her shoulders, a small grin on her face. "Yeah, but Piper?" Nika replied, maybe she could answer her question of how she got released from the crystal. "What's up?" Piper asked turning at the door, furrowing her eyebrows a little. "H-how, um... what happened? The first thing I remember was Aerrow being uh close to my face, how did I get released?" Nika stumbled over her words, glancing between her nails and Piper, who sighed softly – as much as she wanted to tell Nika what Aerrow did – it wasn't her place, plus Aerrow had looked rather stressed when he returned to the bridge. "Um... We'll go to the bridge and Aerrow will tell you when he's ready." Piper thought for a brief moment before taking Nika's wrist gently, dragging her to the bridge.

"NIKA!" Junko hollered, dropping his tools with a massive clang as he sprinted towards the wide eyed brunette, picking her up in his arms and spinning around a few times, letting out laughs and tears of joy, Nika cringed from the tight hug, not being able to her best friend back but she laughed with him. "Oh, I'm so making dinner tonight!" Junko grinned with a fist pump, much to the other Storm Hawk's despair as their faces curled into disgusted ones, Nika noted it from the corner of her eye. "How about the two of us make dinner?" She suggested trying to be friendly, trying not to laugh as Stork fell to his knees praising the sky above. "Great idea!" Junko smiled, giving her a pat on the back, making her stumbled forward into Finn. She pushed herself from him, with slightly red cheeks – not used to being close to the sharpshooter. "Uh, hey." Nika smiled, her blush disappearing. "Nice to see you back kid." He smiled, ruffling the brunette's hair – knowing it would peeve her off, instead she laughed. "Thanks for helping me, it means a lot-." Nika thanked before Aerrow placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder. "He destroyed the crystal, shooting it as Cyclonis dropped it." He smiled to Finn, not one bit jealous that Nika had blushed at him, he smiled as Nika's face dropped into shock before laughing and hugging Finn, with him hugging her back. "I owe you one, blondie." Nika smiled tearily, "Well Aerrow- shutting up." Finn replied with a knowing smile before seeing the redhead giving him a look and shutting his mouth. Radarr jumped from the table into Nika, she stumbled but wrapped her tanned arms around his body eventually Nika turned to Stork, he crossed his arms and looked at Nika rather bored. "Yeah, you're not touching me." He muttered, ignoring him Nika hugged him – her arms around the top of his shoulders, going against what he just said, Stork smiled and held Nika back with the Storm Hawks smiling at them. Piper leaned into Aerrow, her hand covering the side of her mouth, "She's asked about what happened – you should really tell her. Make it special for her." Piper whispered with an encouraging grin, remembering her conversation with Aerrow when he was really down in the dumps. In response the red head rubbed the back of his neck, a small blush on his cheeks as his eyes lingered on the grinning brunette as excitedly spoke to everyone else.