Alternate Realities

Marecal, Fluff date

The little music box barely required her concentration to charge the batteries which in the pre-caffeine dawn was a blessing. Mare fixed her headphones to her head and tucked the box in her pocked before she stepped out onto the steps of her building and tripped. She almost fell into Cal's lap. His hands on her hips and her thighs kept her upright as he came to standing and hugged her loosely.

She snatched her headphones off. "Cal? What are you doing here?"

"I came for a run."

"It's Tuesday."

"You're dressed an aweful lot like you're going for a run," he held his grin and gathered her fingers between his. He started her down the stairs.

"Yeah, but you have work."

"I took the morning off." He stretched his legs slightly still holding her hand.

"You took the morning off?"

"Mmmhmm."

"To run?"

"Yep."

"Really?"

"You ready, Barrow?" He dropped her fingers and started to run backwards.

"What's General McCanthos doing here?" Mare asked. Cal turned to follow her gaze. Mare accelerated past him. "Too slow, Calore!"

Delphie didn't have quite the same round-looping trail as the base in Piedmont. But they made use of the interconnected walking paths and the training trails on a routine basis. Mostly, they stuck to the residential area near the barracks and the family homes. A small shop capped each row of houses and one of those shops sold apple donuts Mare couldn't live without. So they started on one side and would end at the donuts shop.

Except, Cal swooped past her and prodded her on into the drill field and towards the hangars. She quirked her eyebrow and took his challenge, trading the lead back and forth until her side ached. The trees that edged the base provided the only shade in that part of the base. Under the rising sun, Mare needed that respite almost as much as she needed water–something they could also get easily at the drinking fountains between the buildings.

"You trying to kill me?" she heaved.

Cal at least had the sense to be legitimately winded.

"Come on, Barrow, don't quit now." He huffed, walking past her and into the trees. "At least don't stop in the sun."

"What do you care about the sun? You're living lava!" she shouted at his back. "Cal, come on. I need water, we have to head back."

Cal disappeared into the brush and swung from one arm around a tree trunk waiting for her to join him.

"So nice and cool in here, Mare," he taunted.

She stepped over the bushes and pushed a vine out of her way and did find the first shadow soothing while the way Cal stayed ten feet in front of her boiled her blood.

"I'm serious. I'm turning back. I'm gonna die of thirst," she said, but still she followed.

Then the light of the other side came into focus. Cal waited at the edge and held down a thick bush and a branch out of her way. The trees cast a shadow that headed westward, away from the ocean and towards the rolling hills that Mare now knew rose into small peaks just a day's journey away. In the shade, a blanket with water and a basket sat waiting, just for them.

"It's about to start, have a seat," Cal said.

Cal crouched to his knees and passed her the water she desperately wanted. She lowered herself beside him and looked at the empty space.

"What's starting?"

"A demonstration." He passed her a plate of soft, apple donuts.

"Of what?"

"Of my project... Just, wait."

From the hangars obscured by the grove of trees, Mare heard a small rustling. It was like leaves being burnt in a fire pit. Then the crackling sped up and deepened. And from over their heads, a rocked shot through the air, low to the ground, shaking the trees with wind and noise.

Mare covered her ears and Cal moved in closer, holding her. He adjusted so that she leaned against him. He rested his chin on her shoulder.

"That was a fast rocket." Mare stated. Rockets were fast, she wasn't extraordinarily impressed.

"That wasn't a rocket. Look." Cal pointed in the general direction the projectile had gone.

Mare watched the object bank a turn and come back towards them, arms extending. It hand arms. It also had legs. And it de-accelerated to a slower velocity and almost hovered. Then another joined it and another and another. A squad of six formed up into a V and began to drill awkward patterns.

"You made flying suits?"

"I did."

"You made flying suits and I'm not in one?" She shouted, almost smacking him, but that was a habit she'd been working on stopping.

"If I put you in a suit up there, who would spend our anniversary with me down here?"

"Anniversary? Cal, I think you need to check your calendar. It's not our anniversary it's Clara's birth... " She stopped, gaped, looked at the trees and then at the blanket. "This is the day you wanna pick out and celebrate?"

"It's hardly a bad day in my book."

"Are you serious right now? And do you think I'm gonna sleep with you while your rocket-pops up there are watching?"

Cal laughed, cinched her around the waist and forced her closer.

"I expect that after Clara's party." He paused and kissed her cheek. "When all the decorations are cleaned up." A kiss on her jaw. "And everyone has gone home." A nuzzle behind her ear. "Your dad's still gonna expect me to leave."

They both laughed.

"Just sit with me. Be close with me and that's more than enough." Cal assured.