In Times of War | Discontinued

Of Concerns and Thoughts

Akira ran throughout the Galra base, weaving through the drones and guards as he cut them all into pieces. There were other rebel fighters scattered around, fighting their battle, but he couldn't bring himself to focus on that. Instead he focused on two things: one, his mission - protect Leandro as he got the lion and take do as much damage to the Galra while there that he can - and two, worrying about Leandro.

He doesn't quite know why he is so worried - all of the rebels here have done a minimum of dozens of missions similar to this one. Hell, just him and Leandro have done missions where they barely made it out and he still wasn't as worried as he was now. So, Akira knew something was off. He figured he would think about it later, when he wasn't in the heat of battle. To satisfy his worrying though, he fought as close to Leandro's location as he could without being obvious or hindering the battle.

He held his daggers in hand and slashed through as many Galra as he could, but at some point there were so many reinforcements coming in that enough got past for Peter to call out.

"Leandro, whatever you're planning to do, do it now!" Akira fought more Galra, waiting for the call to retreat whilst simultaneously worrying about Leandro. He heard a - was that a lion's roar? - come from the room where Leandro was. Next thing he knew Leandro came through.

"I'm about to! Brace yourselves and retreat!" He faintly heard Harence telling Leandro to be careful and Leandro telling him he was, but he was more focused on fighting. Akira looked about his surroundings and fought his way to the entrance, where fellow rebels were also currently fighting their way towards. Soon after they had all gotten outside and begun their retreat away from the base and towards the rebel ships. Not a moment later a blue lion came from the back of the base (he couldn't quite see where) and settled itself into the front, blasting the Galra.

A fleeting thought about how this somehow sentient mechanical lion could've done something to or hurt Leandro and was simply shooting at whatever was in its way came through his mind, and Akira's face filled with worry.

"We're out, now retreat Leandro!", he called out through the radio. Akira waited for a moment, irrational panic spreading through him.

"I'm retreating now," Leandro's voice came through. Thank god he's safe. I'll be able to see him again and - his internal monologue was cut off by an image of Leandro and his soft curls, and the freckles covering his body, and his junker-like style, and those silly orange-lensed goggles that sit atop his curls. Akira came out of his thoughts for a minute - if only just a minute - to realize how close they were to the ship and to board once close enough. He stood next to Peter and Harence, to which they all exchanged waves and glances at each other before Peter and Harence started talking to each other, discussing who knows what.

He heard a thud come from outside and assumed it was a ship landing. He heard ships taking off and firing - the sounds of a battle - coming from outside. He could only hope Leandro was okay.

He was, because not much time had passed and then Akira was blessed with the sight of Leandro as he walked towards their group of friends. All three of them turned to look at him upon his arrival, wanting to greet him, but were all instead greeted with him looking to be in thought.

"Leandro," Peter said, hoping to catch his attention.

"Uh, Leandro? Buddy?" Harence called out, slightly concerned because Leandro always greeted them, and normally snapped out of whatever and replied after being called once. There still wasn't a response.

"Leandro?" Akira looked at him curiously. No answer yet.

"Leandro! Hey Leandro - Leandro!" he called in a few different tones varying between playful and concerned. Finally Leandro's head snapped up to him. Then Akira could fully see his face - did he look this pretty before? He wasn't sure. It looked like a new light had been shone on Leandro.

"You alright man?" Harence asked him, concern clear on his face. Leandro sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

"Of course! You know me, always cool," he said, adding finger guns at the end.

Peter groaned, "Yup, he's back." Akira looked at him, silently observing that face that he didn't realize was beautiful until now. Although he quickly realized he needed to say something before he was considered as creepy.

"So, were you actually having thoughts or what?" Akira teased.

"Actually yes, unlike someone I know," Leandro responded, taking the bait and teasing him back.

"Interesting," Peter said like he was making an observation, "Now tell me, what was this thought process about?"

"Well, it was about the lion," Leandro says, tone harboring an obviously edge to it.

"Right, how were you even able to fly that?" Peter said, teasing over and tone instead replaced with confusion and curiosity.

Akira was curious too, especially since he hadn't actually seen Leandro fly it, but rather the mechanical creature diving into the base and firing lasers.

"Yeah, I thought they hadn't flown in centuries and most likely wouldn't be able to be piloted until 'worthy people came along'?" Harence added before Leandro could even answer.

"I don't know. It just, roared to life when I came near and I ran into it and flew it. It almost felt like - like I had a bond with it? I know it sounds strange, but, I felt like I was pulled towards it," he answered, seemingly confused too.

"I don't know about the pulling and bond, but it sounds like you're the pilot of the blue lion," Akira added, trying to make his tone pretty indifferent as to not give away recent thoughts. Leandro took a moment to fully process what he had just said.

"What," he responded intelligently. Akira held back a chuckle, seeing as he was only just processing it too. Under other circumstances though? He wouldn't have held it back.

"Congratulations, you are a candidate for piloting the blue lion Leandro," Akira told him, sass making its ever-known presence.

"Uh, thanks." And they didn't talk about it all for the rest of the ride home.

Instead Akira was caught up in his thoughts - previous ones recurring before he realization dawned on him.

Oh no - oh my god hold on. Do I - I do. I have a crush on Leandro. ... Dammit.

Akira looked over at Leandro and blushed at the sight of him. It was nothing new - just Leandro standing there, observing Peter and Harence, pitching into their conversation every now and then. But at the same it was just Leandro. And then he laughed, and Akira looked away.

He's going to be the death of me, isn't he?

He looked back over to Leandro, where he was gesturing with his hands as he talked about something.

He is.