Journeys Home

...the answer in itself, will be there.

December 31, 2019

If there's one thing Trigger hates, it's tight spaces with lots of people. This pub reminds him that places like this are why he prefers to spend a night like this staying in at his apartment.

Of all the places Count could've picked, why did he decide to go to Oured's most popular joint on New Year's Eve...

Not that Count was in any position to explain, what with him already halfway to passed-out after a few beers. Who knew he was such a lightweight?

Trigger was trying to muscle his way to the counter to get Huxian a stronger drink when out of the corner his eye, he spies a familiar head of dark hair. He stops and tries to get a closer look, to confirm what he saw.

No, mistaking it, that's him!

Trigger excitedly begins to make his way over to him.

"Pops-!" he calls, but stops short.

The man is with a group of three other people, and from the looks of it they seem to be very close as they laugh and joke together. But what made Trigger stop in his tracks is how different his teacher looks. His face looks the same as when he'd last seen him, but the subtle upturn at the corner of his eyes and the wider length of his smile makes him look far happier than he's ever seen him.

Trigger also doesn't miss how close he is with the woman he's sitting with. They aren't exactly making contact with each other, but the way they're leaning slightly into each other says everything.

Trigger smiles, happy for his teacher. It seems that whatever had been weighing on his soul has lightened up a bit, and in no small part thanks to the people around him.

Wait, isn't she that astronaut? The one I met after-

A pair of arms snake around Trigger's waist as someone presses into his back. "Hey, handsome. Come here often?" The warm breath of a whisper tickles his ear.

Still smiling, Trigger turns around to face the person behind him and, saying nothing, presses his lips against theirs. After a good few seconds of that, he breaks off for air, opening his eyes to meet those of his most trusted partner, who's wearing quite the blush along with a jackal's smile.

"Well, now, how unlike you to be so forward. The alcohol sinking in?"

Laughing, Trigger shakes his head. "No, it's not like that. Just saw something nice."

"Care to show me? I need something wholesome to clear my mind after coming back from the bathroom to find the other half of our double date macking on each other drunk."

Trigger frowns. "Great. Now I'm thinking about it." He turns his head to gesture over to where he saw his teacher, "They're right over-" but stops short as his eyes are caught by a different sight.

The first thing he notices is his flight suit, which sticks out against the far wall of the bar and against his wildly out-of-regs hair, gelled loosely and combed back like an old-school rockstar. But the strangest thing about this stranger is his lovingly goofy grin as he watches over Trigger's teacher.

The stranger notices Trigger staring and makes eye contact with him. With a sly wink, he presses an index finger to his lips in a shushing gesture.

"Sweetheart?" Trigger turns back to his partner. "What's wrong?"

"I- there's- do you see that guy? The one in the flight suit, next to the wall-"

Trigger turns around to find the stranger gone. No, it's like he was never there.

"Trigger? Are you okay?" Trigger faces his partner's worried expression.

Shaking his head with a smile, he places a hand on his partner's cheek. "Maybe those beers are getting to me. Just thought I saw someone I knew. That's all," he says reassuringly before moving in for another kiss.

Surprisingly, though, his partner halts his advances with a hand over Trigger's lips. "Now, hold on just a sec. While I am enjoying you getting all kissy, I'm gonna have to ask you to hold off for a bit."

Trigger pouts cutely. "And why is that?"

With a grin, his partner gestures to the nearest TV. Trigger looks to on screen where live footage is playing of the Ball, hanging from the clock tower in Bana City. The timer on the bottom of the screen reads only ten seconds left. Only now does he hear the sound of everyone else in the pub counting down.

Trigger turns back to his partner. "Always with the theatrics, you."

"Says Mister Three Strikes. Flown through any tunnels lately?"

Wrapping an arm around his partner's neck, Trigger's smile turns gentle as he leans in. "What can I say? Being with you always makes my heart race. Guess I just like returning the favor."

As the countdown reaches zero, the two welcome in another year for the world the same way they helped save it: together.