A Requiem for Romance •Paultryck•

•1•

(I know this is a bit of a touchy subject so I'm going to state that I only write about the characters and not their real life counterparts)

I wake with a jump, ripping myself from the nightmare that had earlier consumed my consciousness. A light sweat coated my forehead before I reach up and use the sleeve of my shirt to wipe it off. It was another dream. Another fucked up, vivid dream.

The sound of the gunshot continued to ring in my ears as rubbed my tired eyes and stood, needing to leave the stuffy quarters where I slept. My bare feet pad against the concrete floors as I walk toward the trunk that sat against the wall. A soft creak summoned from the chests hinges as I lift the lid to see a picture of the airship pilots, there stood twelve, two to each plane.

I look at the grainy photo, smiling at the co-pilot that stood beside me. A once butt out cigarette was held between his teeth as he smirked at the camera. I remembered that day with crystal-like clarity, it was warm, unseasonably if I may add, and the airships had just arrived, all of the pilots were so excited to see them. I was inside the warehouse, taking inventory when the short man barged in.

"Patryck! The airships came in, come look!" I snapped my head in the soldiers direction, dropping the pencil in shock before I drop the clipboard as well. Quickly dashing toward the exit.

I exit the fluorescent lit warehouse and wince as the bright, midday sun burns my eyes. I rub them and continued toward the delivery bay, I could already see the tail that rose higher than the warehouse, these would have to be stored in the hanger outside of the base. I stare up at the plane with wide eyes as I join the group, quickly brushing the hair from my face so I can get a better view of them.

"Beautiful aren't they?" Paul asks and slaps his gloved palm against my back rather harshly. I stand in awe with the other pilots, continuing to stare at them with shock. Turning, I look down at the shorter man and give him a smile in agreement.

"Absolutely stunning."

That was when we were only only co-pilots, a subtle rivalry rose between us before we understood each other's desire to impress the leader and be the best soldiers we could, and things continued to turn positive from there. I quickly pull my overcoat from the trunk and slam it shut, pulling myself from the memory. "Pull yourself together Pat." I mumbled and grabbed my red sweater, the colour used to be one of my favorites, that was until the incident. Yes, that's what I was calling it now. I groan and scratch at the wool that irritated my neck and pulled on the sashes that symbolized my position, they not only meant I was the number one pilot, but also showed I was the second hand man, I used to be third. But, we all know what happened to the original.

At least I do. I was there, I did it to him.

As I pull on my boots I walk out of the quarters and continued down a dingy hall, void of soldiers, they all were still sleeping. I pull a ribbon off my wrist and tie my hair back into a low ponytail, my bangs still stuck out and fell into my eyes like they always did. I had contemplated cutting my hair short or just letting it all grow out and then pull it back, but when I'd decide to visit the barber I'd always get sidetracked, not by work or some type of emergency. I just did it because I could.

Maybe I was subconsciously keeping myself from getting it cut off because I remembered Paul liked it. Maybe I just wanted to torture myself by keeping something that reminded me of him around. Maybe... just maybe I wanted to remember him. I turn left and walk down a long hall of rooms to find the one at the end, the leaders office. I look at the door, it was shut like usual but it wasn't like he was busy. Sure, he always was, but not enough for me not to bother, otherwise he would've sent a memo of some sort. I glance at a watch that sat on my wrist, narrowing my eyes as I read the time 5:58, he was probably working on strategy already. "Red leader? Are you ready to plan our response to the Green's revolution?"