Chapter Text
Chains rattle in a hallway in an unknown building, followed by the sound of heavy, reluctant footsteps as a pair of bomber guards escort a prisoner dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit to a destination still unknown. Lights flicker dubiously overhead as the trio continues their slow progress down the hall before reaching the end where one guard opens the door and the other escorts the prisoner inside where a single chair before a raised platform awaits. The guards bring the prisoner to the chair and sit him down, remaining by their side for several minutes until another door adjacent to the platform and the chair opens as several people –seven in number enter and file behind the raised platform. These seven are awfully familiar –as they should be since they are the…
GUARD:
The Panel of Astral Knights will have entered. The parole hearing will commence.
The Knights are all dressed in business attire and talk amongst themselves for a moment, they are all lined up in the order that they were encountered in –even the old BULZEEB.
ASHTARTH:
It’s about time you all came out. I’m so sick of dealing with him myself.
ZONIHA:
Says the guy who went and saved his miserable life, and was the first to manifest.
ASHTARTH:
I don’t expect an uncouth woman to understand the trials and tribulations of a gentleman!
BAELFAEL who is on the end leans over and shoots ASHTARTH a glare.
BAELFAEL:
Hey, I ain’t gonna stand for you calling my lady uncouth, windy.
ASHTARTH:
Oh? And what are you going to do about it?
BAELFAEL:
Yo, Bem, switch with me.
BEHEMOS gives BAELFAEL a glare and crosses his arms.
BEHEMOS:
And what do I gain from doing that?
BAELFAEL:
A front row seat to an asskicking?
ASHTARTH:
Pfft, as if.
MOLOK taps the table before him impatiently.
MOLOK:
Hey, hey, hey, we barely even exist now. Could we have one barely there meeting without fighting?
ZONIHA:
But, but….I like watching men hurt each other over me.
BAELFAEL and ASHTARTH exchange glances.
BOTH:
I’m sorry.
ZONIHA:
Miffed.
What’s that supposed to mean?!
ZHAEL leans on her arm and “tsks” the three from her position.
ZHAEL:
We are here for a reason everyone. If we’re to be upset with anyone it should be…
They all turn to the chair before them, their eyes glowing colors that match their armors and stare down at…
SHIRO:
…Wait, what the hell am I doing here?!
He glances at the guards on at his sides and then up at the knights.
SHIRO:
….Is this another one of those meta dreams? That’s it; I’m going to see a specialist.
He tries to move but his chains prevent him from standing.
BAELFAEL:
Mockingly.
Fleeing somewhere?
SHIRO:
I’m not fleeing; I’m getting the hell out of here!
ZHAEL:
Little brother, did we not make it clear that you would see us again?
SHIRO:
No, I haven’t talked to you….since…y’know.
ZHAEL:
Oh? But we sent a message through that cute albeit very creepy young lady.
SHIRO:
…Wait, you mean my classmate? That was you?
ZONIHA:
No duh, dumbass. You had your Daddy issues gumming up the works in here so we couldn’t come out until you dealt with that.
SHIRO frowns at this.
SHIRO:
Then how was Ashtarth able to talk to me?
ASHTARTH groans and drags a hand down his face.
ASHTARTH:
I told you before, heroes show up when they’re called and sometimes when they’re needed.
SHIRO tilts his head inquisitively and tries –but fails to move his arm.
SHIRO:
I didn’t call you.
ASHTARTH:
…But you needed me each and every time you picked a stupid fight or almost died.
SHIRO:
Touche. So I assume you guys have some cryptic information to give me so let’s have at it.
The knights trade glances, their expressions confused.
MOLOK:
Ummm, not really?
BEHEMOS:
While it’s true Ashtarth has a soft spot for you…
ASHTARTH:
Sputtering.
I d-d-d-do not! It’s just not gentlemanly to---
BEHEMOS raises his hand in ASHTARTH’S face, continuing to speak as he silently fumes.
BEHEMOS:
Our original plan was to haunt you in your dreams until you went insane or killed yourself.
SHIRO simpers laughing nervously.
SHIRO:
Ahah…but since we’re talking now you’re not going to do that right?
Silence reigns for several moments broken only momentarily by one of the Guards clearing his throat.
SHIRO:
SAY SOMETHING DAMMIT.
ZONIHA:
I think we should totally stick with that plan but….
SHIRO:
SAY ANYTHING BUT THAT, DAMMIT.
BAELFAEL:
Well, you did sort of reunite us with our fam, so it’s kind of hard to stay mad at you.
SHIRO:
Oh, right…how are they doing?
BEHEMOS:
Pardon?
SHIRO:
Those girls were important to you right? How did everything work out after that?
ZONIHA:
Incredulously.
Do you really care?
SHIRO:
Well yeah? You went through a lot because of them and me so….I just hope everything worked out in the end.
He bows his head.
SHIRO:
And apologize for letting you guys down.
MOLOK crosses his arms and lets out a hearty laugh.
MOLOK:
It’s like Bael said, it’s just hard to stay mad at you. Even after all of that you’re worried about us –who technically don’t exist anymore. It’s kind of sad in an endearing way.
SHIRO:
Mo’oldman…
ZHAEL:
Little brother, I’m sure you’d like to know what it’ll take for you to use our abilities in battle again, no?
SHIRO:
That’d be cool, yeah…but Regulus said something about knowing your favorite things?
MOLOK:
Amused.
He’s always been a perceptive pain in the ass.
ZONIHIA:
How the hell did he manage to get out of hell….
SHIRO:
Right?? I can’t figure it out myself….
ASHTARTH:
Don’t get off subject, moron. It’s like he said, if you want to call us you have to make it worth our while. After all our days of fighting for others are mostly over.
SHIRO:
Worth your while, huh….what do you guys want?
ZHAEL:
Non, non. That won’t do little brother –if we told you what to do, we wouldn’t have a reason to see you again would we?
SHIRO:
….so I have to figure it out on my own.
MOLOK:
Don’t sound so put off beansprout. You did meet all of us once, so it should be easy enough to remember what we were all about.
SHIRO:
You say that but…there’s one person here I haven’t met before.
Everyone glances over at BULZEEB who has his eyes closed and arms crossed.
BAELFAEL:
Uh, --Zeeb, this is gonna sound weird but do you have any hobbies?
BULZEEB opens one eye.
BULZEEB:
Darkness.
BEHEMOS:
And there you have it.
SHIRO:
…There I have what? I don’t get it, is his hobby darkness?
ZHAEL:
Look at the time! This dream sequence is about to end!
SHIRO:
Wait, wait, wait! It feels like you’re just trying to run away!
ZONIHA:
You say that but we don’t exist anywhere but inside your head. If anything you’re the one who’s running.
SHIRO:
WHY WOULD I RUN IF I’M ASKING THE QUESTIONS?!
UNCLE:
Um…if anything, it’s me with the questions.
SHIRO rises out of bed with a start, nearly bumping his uncle in the face.
SHIRO:
Unc …wait…ah, dammit they ran!
SHIRO’s uncle makes a face.
UNCLE:
Who ran now?
SHIRO:
Ah…uh, wait, why are you in my room?
POMMY pops up from behind his UNCLE and waves.
POMMY:
Shiro was sweating a lot and saying weird things so Pommy went to get help, myuu!
SHIRO:
O—oh. Sorry cheesepile…I’m good now though, no need to worry.
UNCLE:
You sure, kiddo?
SHIRO:
Yeah, thanks. No need to worry.
He gives SHIRO one more uncertain glance, but rises without asking any further questions and heads to the door.
UNCLE:
Well, if you do want to talk about it, you know where to find me.
He exits leaving POMMY and SHIRO alone.
POMMY:
Pommy knows, myuu! Shiro had a dream about the knights didn’t he?
SHIRO:
…That obvious?
POMMY:
Shiro always sweats a lot when he thinks of then, myuu!
SHIRO wipes his forehead and sighs.
SHIRO:
Can you blame me? It’s a touchy subject. Anyway, as much as it pains me to admit it, I need to talk to that –to Regulus.
POMMY shivers at this.
SHIRO:
Uh…is there something else I should know?
POMMY:
Regulus is…um, does Shiro have a minute, myuu?
Opening theme: As long as I am me….
Is it because I am me, that I know powerlessness and loneliness?
If I were someone else, would I still have experienced misfortune?
Would shooting stars in the sky and the moon in the skies look different from another’s point of view?
The dreams and wishes I’ve embraced hard enough to break –would they still be as meaningful?
The little things; my height complex, stubbornness, and how I wear my heart on my sleeve,
Are all a part of me. Light at times, heavy at others, but never more than I can shoulder.
I know I face forward only because I don’t want others to see these tears of frustration,
And I run forward --I’m too stubborn and prideful to give up, because until the end I will be me.
Tripping and falling along the way only means I have a new starting point to begin.
The soil I kick up as I run is the only time I’ll stop and smell the flowers.
As long as I am me, even if others snicker under their breath, I won’t stop, and won’t be stopped.
Episode 9: Quisling Quandary.
SHIRO’s face is something straight out of a horror movie –his eyes wide, his face drooping as he stares at something. Though perhaps this expression is appropriate as what he has eye on is REGULUS’s room decorated with skulls, torches, a gargoyle’s head hanging over a wall and what seems to be an open coffin in the center of the room which is apparently supposed to function as a bed.
SHIRO:
What in the holiest Pegasus’s name am I looking at.
POMMY:
Pommy saw it! Pommy saw Regulus rise from the grave this morning, myuu!!
SHIRO glances over at POMMY in horror.
SHIRO:
This makes his entire existence that much more confusing! Is he actually dead or not really?! A—Anyway, I’m almost positive this is some kind of joke to get to me…not that it matters since I need to see him regardless….do you know where he went?
POMMY shakes his –body(?) sadly.
POMMY:
Pommy was having a tough time keeping it together after seeing that, myuu…
SHIRO:
…I don’t blame you, honestly. Okay, I’ll just have to find him myself. It’s a weekend which is why I came home, so it’s not like he’s at the school.
SHIRO stands up and heads downstairs immediately, running past his uncle and grandmother. They begin to ask where he’s going, but before they can he’s already out of earshot.
MOMO:
Never thought I’d see the day where that lazy bones was out of bed on a weekend before noon.
UNCLE:
He’s really been acting strangely lately….though I’m headed out myself, so finding out what his deal is will have to wait till later.
MOMO:
Oh? Going to catch up with your old friends and that useless man?
UNCLE:
No, I’ve got other work to do, though I will be paying them a visit later. You really shouldn’t refer to Ein like that, ma…
MOMO:
Lazy shrug.
I call it like I see it.
SHIRO’s uncle laughs lightly, laces his shoes and leaves with a wave to his mother. MOMO gives him a gentle nod, not voicing her delight in having both of her boys back and the apprehension that comes along with it. After all, for them to both be home after so long must mean something major –more so than the funeral of her older son is on the horizon….
SHIRO pokes his head from around a wall at the train station where he had after great difficulty managed to find REGULUS who at the current moment seems to be minding his business albeit in a thoroughly creepy way. Despite it being a clear day of mild weather, he is completely dressed in black, and walks with a slow limp, and from what he can tell has gauze drooping from parts of his body. In short…
SHIRO:
….Is he a zombie?
SHIRO makes a face as he feels a strange sensation on the back of his head. He swats absently at it at first thinking it’s an insect, but when that doesn’t succeed he turns around to give whatever this is his attention and gets a face full of very familiar dark purple hair. Apparently REI is standing above him looking at REGULUS while impressively finding a means to annoy him as well.
SHIRO:
What are you doing here?!
REI doesn’t make eye contact as she answers.
REI:
Honestly I had no intention of wasting my valuable weekend on you but my dearest Kuro insisted.
SHIRO:
Wait, he’s here too?
KURO:
D—down here.
SHIRO glances downward and frowns at KURO who is on his hands and knees serving as her footstool.
SHIRO:
Don’t tell me you did this to go along with her gag….
KURO simpers.
KURO:
She said she wanted a better look….
SHIRO:
I really think you should consider this a sign of where your relationship is headed.
KURO:
We’re not in a relationship, I tell you.
REI:
Now, now Kuro. There’s no need to get all miffed about his misconception. I approve of your union and would never dream of coming between your more…tawdry escapades.
SHIRO:
Are you going to tell me why you’re here or….
KURO nods up at REI who reluctantly gets off his back allowing him to stand.
KURO:
You’re investigating our teacher right? Well, I want to help.
SHIRO:
Kuro…
KURO:
Look, I’m not telling you to tell me what’s going on –you’ve made it clear you either can’t or won’t, but teach is really suspicious, and as a base cadet I can’t just let that slide.
SHIRO crosses his arms and nods his head thoughtfully before shrugging.
SHIRO:
Fine, but we do things my way.
KURO:
Enthusiastically.
You got it! I’ve been hoping we’d work together again!
REI:
D’aww, you’re so cute when you’re happy my cocoa bean~
SHIRO:
Does she have to come too….?
REI:
I most certainly do. As a budding fan of the arts, I have to study my subjects to create a tale of intrigue, romance, and most of all true crime.
SHIRO:
You mean smut.
REI:
You say potato….
SHIRO:
Whatever, c’mon. We’re going to lose him if we hang out here.
KURO:
Good point. Let’s move!
The trio follow REGULUS from a distance as he continues to walk in an incredibly zombie like manner from the train station to town, where he seemingly stops at a butcher, glances over their wares and then in an eerie voice says…
REGULUS:
BRAAAINS.
SHIRO and KURO look horrified, while REI puts her hand to her mouth to stifle a laugh. To all of their surprise, however the butcher nods and takes out a side of –something and prepares to cut a piece of it for REGULUS.
BUTCHER:
You’re lucky mac, we just got a real nice cut in this mornin’.
REI:
Oh my, they do serve brains. Perhaps we should purchase some for Shiro?
SHIRO:
Har, har. That joke was totally not phoned in and super obvious.
KURO:
So is this like his final form or something?
SHIRO:
I—I’m not sure, honestly…I mean yeah, I know the guy but this is weird even for him. More like, why does that butcher seem to totally know what to do?
REI:
Don’t look now boys, but it appears professor revenant is on the move again.
The two glance over at REGULUS who has indeed begun to lumber away. SHIRO mutters a curse and prepares to follow him.
SHIRO:
Dammit, I want to believe he’s doing this to mess with us, but…
KURO:
Would he go this far?
SHIRO:
Maybe? Anyway we’re going after him.
They once again trail REGULUS from a distance as he lumbers away from the busling city to the outskirts, not too far from where SHIRO lives with his grandmother.
KURO:
Where’s he going now?
SHIRO:
Home, supposedly.
KURO:
That’s weird. I mean that means he might just live in your neighborhood…
SHIRO begins to sweat profusely, a reaction REI picks up upon.
REI:
Don’t tell me that he lives next door to you…or, no, with you?
KURO gasps and turns his head slowly toward SHIRO who smacks his face and pulls his hand downward.
SHIRO:
I don’t want to talk about it.
REI:
Teacher-student romances are forbidden you know. Though I admit the “forbidden fruit” angle is titillating.
SHIRO:
Seriously, why are you like this?
KURO:
Wait, he’s not headed to your house, bro!
SHIRO and REI look up when KURO says this, and notice that he is indeed taking a different path to a location unknown. The trio continue their pursuit from a distance and are equal parts shocked and…not surprised, really? At where they end up.
SHIRO:
Okay, this is just friggin’ uncanny.
REI:
Or appropriate, when one considers what we’ve seen.
KURO:
Okay, I think I’m freaking out.
REGULUS has taken a seat upon a headstone in a graveyard and has taken a thermos out from his black jacket along with a piece of his “brains” and seems to be having a picnic, though what really causes the trio discomfort is the hands popping out of the ground and accepting the parts of the “brains” from REGULUS as he tosses it about like one would to feed pigeons.
KURO:
Panicking.
FREAKOUT LEVEL RED.
REI takes his head and pats it gently while whispering something placating while SHIRO grows visibly more irate.
SHIRO:
What the hell is he even doing!? If this is some sort of joke then it’s gone too far already, dammit!
SHIRO marches out of their hiding place and stands before REGULUS for a moment, the two simply regarding each other for a moment until SHIRO approaches him and tugs at his black jacket.
SHIRO:
You can stop it now okay? You’re causing Kuro nightmares, and I need to talk to you about the whole issue of the knights….
SHIRO’s eyes bulge as a piece of REGULUS’s visor comes off and clatters to the ground revealing a face eaten by erosion.
REGULUS:
I tHoUghT I CaMe baCk frOM HeLl oKaY bUt iT TUrns oUT tHe UNDerwoRLD iS NOT forGIVing.
He reaches for SHIRO.
REGULUS:
PuT mE Out oF mY MISEry pLEaSE, LiKe yoU diD tHe OThErs.
SHIRO screams and runs as fast as he can away from REGULUS, past REI and KURO who stare back at REGULUS in horror and follow SHIRO’s lead, leaving REGULUS sitting on the grave making odd…whirring noises?
Later when the setting sun has left the sky aflame, a patron slides onto a stool in a certain restaurant, awaiting service. This patron is none other than REGULUS who is looking far less –(read not at all) like a zombie. He absently stares at the bottles on the shelf before him, recalling the conversation he had with the staff of the base only a few days earlier.
EIN:
You say you’ll “take care of it”, but how exactly…?
BONGO:
And what exactly are you taking care of, da bongo.
REGULUS folds his hands, a measured action to assuage his waning patience.
MERCY:
I’ll admit this is all rather intriguing, but look at it from our point of view. You suddenly show up saying there’s a problem that only you can take care of, right around the time one of our personnel suddenly has an “accident”. Maybe we Bombers don’t have noses, but we can sniff out when something’s suspicious.
There’s a murmur of agreement to MERCY’s summation of their collective feelings.
BONGO:
We’re going to need something more than your assurance to go on to trust you, da bongo.
REGULUS bows his head in thought –a maelstrom of negativity broiling in his craw and begging to be freed. Why should he have to put up with this when he’s trying to help them out? Why if he wanted to, he could take over this school and not break a sweat doing it! Not only that, he didn’t even have to come back here in the first place, because it’s not like he told SHIRO to leave his fruitless efforts on primus…
Ah.
REGULUS:
Because I owe it to that kid –to fix what I broke.
SHOUT:
What are you talking about?
REGULUS:
A lot of stuff was set into motion because I didn’t see the signs back when I had the chance to do something about them, and because I didn’t do anything, that kid –Shiro was in a bad way for a while –hell, he still sort of is in a bad way, but I can prevent that from happening.
He leans back in his chair –and with a sincerity that he himself had forgotten he was capable of asks them..
REGULUS:
And isn’t it your jobs as educators to keep kids from making mistakes that’ll ruin their lives?
EIN:
That’s true, but you did start off by technically blackmailing him…
REGULUS waves this away.
REGULUS:
Means to an end. Listen, I’ll make sure that class –the one I’m teaching gets results, and I am a man of my word.
SHOUT frowns.
SHOUT:
Supposing we do take that extremely vague assurance at face value, that doesn’t explain…well anything about you.
REGULUS:
You can ask the prof there. He did a background check on me when I first contacted him, otherwise proof or no, he wouldn’t have allowed me to step foot on this school.
EIN shifts uncomfortably, as REGULUS eyes him.
EIN:
I did, and quite frankly it’s all hard to believe, but….
MERCY, BONGO and SHOUT turn their attention to him.
EIN:
I can say without a doubt that Regulus does indeed have the training and experience to be a boon to our students, and even if I did fire him we’d still be on the hook for one teacher.
SHOUT:
That’s true…
EIN:
For now we’ll give him a trial run. He’s managed to work some magic already as it seems the students of his class have started taking their studies more seriously after a single lesson.
MERCY:
Oh? What exactly did you do?
REGULUS says this with an inappropriate amount of pride.
REGULUS:
Whooped their asses and explained to them why they’re not worth my time.
BONGO and SHOUT exchange glances while MERCY titters.
MERCY:
It’s unique, I’ll give you that. I don’t see what’s wrong with a trial run. I can always escort him out if things don’t work.
REGULUS:
I wouldn’t mind you escorting me for a drink after this is done.
MERCY:
Wink.
I don’t dine with those I don’t completely trust –personal policy you see.
REGULUS:
Shrug.
Suit yourself, I’d say that makes things more fun.
EIN:
Clears throat.
In any case, we’re letting you stick around on a trial basis Regulus, so don’t let us down.
REGULUS:
I’ll make sure I don’t.
Back in the bar, REGULUS thinks back to how it all began. Where he had failed to “fix” the problem…it was in a bar like this in what felt like a previous life. He sat alone at the counter, a martini in a wine glass before him, a slow jazz ballad playing in the background as neer-do-wells drink and congregate. REGULUS seems to be fine on his own until someone sits on the stool beside him, and waves away the bar tender when he comes to ask for his order.
SOMEONE:
Oh I’m good, thanks.
The person turns to REGULUS and offers his hand and a smile.
SOMEONE:
Pleased to meet you, Regulus! I’m your new trainee, Sirius.
REGULUS inclines his head to give the new recruit a once over –he is clad in white armor, and his eyes are a captivating blue hue. His voice has a jovial and mischievous quality to it –a rookie who has trouble on his speed dial and it in turn has his forwarding address.
REGULUS:
You’re late.
SIRIUS checks his watch and frowns.
SIRIUS:
Well, by thirty seconds, but…what is this? A job interview after I’ve already been hired?
REGULUS:
You could say that. I’m a fan of hands on training.
SIRIUS tilts his head inquisitively.
REGULUS:
What made you do this in the first place?
SIRIUS:
What? This job?
REGULUS:
What else?
SIRIUS:
Ah obviously, sorry. I uh---I guess I did it because I could? There’s not much else that someone with my skillset can do and be useful at so…
REGULUS:
Your skillset?
SIRIUS:
Getting in and out of trouble, heh.
REGULUS:
Oh? What do you mean?
SIRIUS:
It’s like….I dunno, I have an innate inability to be satisfied with things, y’know? There’s always a bigger score, a higher high, something else to be done. Even when I was a kid that’s the way I thought, and it’s been something of a positive and negative attribute.
REGULUS:
And what happens to those who get in the way of that ambition of yours?
SIRIUS:
Hm? What’s that mean?
REGULUS:
With every ambition come sacrifices, things we stand to lose. Have you given thought to that?
SIRIUS leans back almost falling off the stool before settling for tapping his chin.
SIRIUS:
I guess not. Though, that’s why I joined up with this organization…we’re all supposed to keep thinking of others to a minimum to reduce casualties and get the job at hand done. Operating from the shadows and not officially being anywhere or anything….
REGULUS:
It’s a sad life.
SIRIUS:
But imagine how much we could do for ourselves?
REGULUS gives him a look, and realizing he might have said something offensive, SIRIUS waves his hands in protest.
SIRIUS:
I mean before we can help other people we’ve gotta be able to take care of ourselves right?
REGULUS laughs quietly.
REGULUS:
I suppose you aren’t wrong. Why don’t we put that to the test right now?
SIRIUS gives him a look, and instinctly glances behind their perches his expression growing more fearful as he does.
REGULUS:
The gents behind us are quite thirsty for blood –ours, and have cleared out the bar while we’ve been talking. Shall we do something for ourselves?
SIRIUS:
This isn’t what I meant at all?!
A trio of bombers will bombs and upon being discovered abandon stealth and charge at REGULUS and SIRIUS, a fight ensuing. In the present REGULUS is shaken out of his reminiscence by the blunt end of a walking stick poking him in the head. On the other end of this is a bomber who has a grey helmet, white facial hair and small black eyes. He smirks upon getting REGULUS’s attention, clearly amused.
BOMBER:
Thinking of Sirius again are you?
REGULUS huffs.
REGULUS:
That obvious?
BOMBER:
You only drop your guard when you’re thinking about him. It’s a bad habit I’d recommend you do something about.
REGULUS:
If you weren’t my old supervisor, I’d consider that a personal attack.
BOMBER:
I should take it personally that you disappear after the Omni Cube incident without a word and then just remember my number a few weeks ago to ask for a bunch of favors. Can you even comprehend how many strings I had to pull to get that teacher to take a “vacation” so you could replace them? Oh and for that useless broken robot that you refuse to reveal your reasons for needing it…
REGULUS:
Thanks…for everything.
The bomber rolls his eyes and waves over the bartender.
BOMBER:
Just don’t make me look bad. Maybe you’re okay running around on the field despite your age, but I’m retired and damn content with it.
REGULUS:
You haven’t changed a bit. Still all about appearances…
BOMBER:
If you worried more about that, maybe you’d have a girlfriend. When the heck are you planning to settle down?
REGULUS shrugs.
REGULUS:
You think anyone would want to deal with the kind of past our line of work creates?
BOMBER:
Feh. You’re just not trying hard enough.
A pause.
BOMBER:
….Okay, seriously what did you need that broken robot for?
REGULUS kneeds his fingers and leans on them, thinking about whether he wants to reveal this information and after a moment shrugs.
REGULUS:
They say all work and no play makes for a dull person, yeah? That thing is my way of having fun.
The Bomber makes a face and shakes his head, as REGULUS enjoys a moment of levity in his head, as later that night SHIRO and KURO lie awake unable to forget what they saw, while REI sleeps soundly.
Ending Song: Passionate Orbit
Say, did you know, that heart beating in your chest…
Is a gift from the depths of this wide universe?
When we are born our guardian star breathes a silent prayer to the galaxy,
And in the break between dusk and morn, dyed silver-black hues it ends up in our hands.
As we experience our lives and are touched by the gentle but rusted hands of time,
Colors born from daily life drip from this gift from the galaxy yearning to be shared –to take orbit.
So when the time comes and your little universe yearns to orbit another’s –don’t be frightened.
Just clasp your hands together, and let those feelings bubble to the surface and become a star.
For each time two hearts intertwine and orbit one another,
A little more of the universe is filled with color.