Ed and Sofie looked like they'd received their favorite toy for Christmas. Captain Darcy almost had to fight to keep Ed from turning on the worm drive in the hangar, and Sofie let her guard down just long enough for her wide-eyed delight to peek through. Kids... Darcy thought with a smile.

Time to take them out into space. "Ed, you'll be the pilot for now. Sofie, you take the other pilot seat. Remember to buckle up. Now Ed, put your left hand on the throttle- good, good, and right hand on the- yes, the stick there. Slowly ease the throttle forward, with a nice, gentle thrust, and-"

Ed punched the throttle forward.

Darcy flew back into the luggage pile as the Raving Maiden's fusion engines roared to life. They should have been thankful the hangar doors were open, because the ship tore out of the hangar and rocketed past the station's shield perimeter in a matter of seconds. "WHOA WHOA BOY! SLOW DOWN!" Darcy bellowed. Ed pulled back the throttle, and the reverse thrusters fired until they came to a full stop.

Darcy slapped Ed upside the head. "You tryna kill me, boy? When I give you instructions, I expect you to follow them. Got it?"
"Got it," Ed replied, head bowed.
The captain turned to Sofie. "Okay, you get to be pilot now. Warp us to the starbase at Horus II. Know how to do it?"

Sofie quickly slid into the pilot seat and buckled herself up carefully, almost giggling in excitement when she heard the satisfying click. She shook her head, trying to snap out of her weirdly hyper mood and watched as Ed took the throttle. She almost smiled at his childish giddiness as he bounced in his seat when the Captain give him orders.

She was finally here, right exactly where she wanted to be. And hell, she was going to do the best she could. Sofie smiled and ran a finger over the dashboard in front of her.

WHAM

Her back hit the chair and Sofie felt the breath being knocked out of her.
"Ed!" Her voice came out as more of a gasp then anything and she cleared her throat uncomfortably. By then the Captain had already reprimanded Ed and suggested that she take control.
"Tunnel us to the starbase at Horus II. Know how to do it?"
Sofie smirked and immediately tried to cover it up. Of course she knew how to steer a ship, her years poring over books should've paid off already.

Sofie placed a hand on the throttle quickly, just about touching Ed's hand. She drew her fingers away quickly before placing them back on the throttle and leaning towards the front, she inched the throttle forward gently. The Raving Maiden soared into the sky, passing wisps of cloud against the clean bright blue sky as it did and Sofie let herself relax her shoulders, leaning back in her seat she watched the view go by.

It was so pretty up here, nothing like the ugliness Sofie knew was happening below her. Here she was insignificant with no roles to play, no feelings to assume, no pretending to do. She was free.

"Warp us to the starbase at Horus II. Know how to do it?"
The corner of Sofie's mouth turned up slightly.

Ed's did too. Watch and learn, captain. She's the best dang pilot this side of the galaxy. Of course she can do it. He looked on with pride as Sofie commanded the other pilot seat, and watched in awe as her fingers danced along the control panel to select coordinates, tweak autopilot settings, and adjust flight controls. When her hand moved to take the throttle, Ed forgot to remove his, and their hands briefly touched. Though she swiftly curled her fingers away, the damage was done - the place where she touched him became sacred ground to the lovestruck man. Ed could still feel the tingle long after contact was lost. He blushed and released the throttle, struggling to hide his growing smile.

Sofie eased the throttle forward. The gentle acceleration pressed them into the backs of their seats, giving them a true, thrilling sense of flight that simulators could never fully replicate. The fusion rockets propelled the Raving Maiden through Crescent Prime's atmosphere, past the planetary shield barrier, and out into open space. The stars glittered like a million jewels in a midnight sea, and when the warp drive activated, every single one of them became like shooting stars, as if were wishing the young passengers safe travels on their maiden voyage out before fading into the black.

Captain Darcy let out an exaggerated sigh of relief and clapped his hands. "Your technique could use some improvement here and there, but that was a solid first try for a newbie pilot. Nicely done, m'girl. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a nap in my bunks. Do not disturb me until we arrive at our destination, understand? Good." Without waiting for their response, Darcy flung his jacket over one shoulder and lumbered down the hall to his quarters.

Ed looked at Sofie and grinned. "Your technique could use some improvement!" he mocked. "Screw that! You did great, Sofie. Flawless technique. That old geezer doesn't hold a candle to you; I bet he's just embarrassed you showed him up on his own ship. He seems like a nice guy, though. I'd bet anything he's got some wild stories to tell."

"Your technique could use some improvement here and there, but that was a solid first try for a newbie pilot. Nicely done, m'girl. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a nap in my bunks. Do not disturb me until we arrive at our destination, understand? Good." Sofie blushed and leaned back further in the seat, crossing her arms and quirking the corner of her mouth into a bashful smile. She watched as Darcy walked off and gave a small chuckle before stretching her arms over her head, the grin on her face only growing wider as she listened to Ed talk. She made a show of shielding her face with her hands and a laugh managed to escape her this time, filling the room as it echoed off metal walls. It had been so long since she had laughed that Sofie almost immediately muffled it. Taking one glance at Ed's smile and at her own open expression she remembered her old friends and how they had shared so many laughs together after funny stories. Those were times when she had been allowed to be happy, away from her father...her colleagues. This moment here with Ed reminded her of that and a wistful smile appeared on her lips. Again, she remembered that they wouldn't be able to know where she was, if she had achieved her crazy dream, if she was alive at all because they were buried under cold soil and their smiles were rotting from their faces but she was sure they were watching somewhere and that they would be happy to see her in such joy.

The room turned quiet as Sofie watched the stars pass by. She had never really allowed the loss of her friends to hit her but now that it did she wondered why. Her gaze strayed over to Ed. Maybe it was finally because she was feeling comfortable with him here? Maybe it was because she was in the sky again after so many years of dreaming of it. Or maybe it was simply because it was time for her to remember that again. She didn't know why it was exactly but found that amongst the planets, the dark navy sky and the soft light falling on Ed, she didn't really care.

Sofie caught onto the silence anticipating her reply.
"I'm waiting for the day that he tells those stories...imagine us doing that someday, Ed. When we have enough stories to tell."

Her laugh...stars above, her laugh was beautiful. It was brief, just a quick chuckle, but lovelier and more precious than he could fathom. Ed would give much to hear her laugh again. If there was any sound lovelier than her laugh, it was the sound of her voice, and the careful, intelligent thoughts it carried.

"I'm waiting for the day that he tells those stories. Imagine us doing that someday, Ed, when we have enough stories to tell."

Us.

That magical word, us. Throughout their training at the university, the constant stress and demands on their time made it near-impossible for them to explore the possibility of a relationship. In those rare moments when he was alone with his thoughts, he daydreamed about building a life with her, what life would be like, what she would be like. For the longest time, his pragmatic side brushed it off as silly, just a wistful dream that might never come true. So he contented himself to be her friend, choosing instead to value her as a temporary companion through this brief trial through life. It never occurred to him that she shared in his dreams.

Us.

Ed leaned closer, the corner of his mouth turned up slightly in a half smile. "Between you and me, I think we're off to a great start. We have a cool ship, a grand mission, and a boatload of destiny to spend."

His eyes drifted down to her hand as his mind trailed off into thought. At length, he added, "If I'm being honest with myself, though, I'm less interested in hearing Captain Darcy's stories than I am in hearing yours, Sofie. You're hardworking, kind, and tough as nails. I would love to find out more about this intriguing woman who stepped into my life a year ago, who in the space of a minute showed me her strength before weeping that she could have hurt me. What do you say we explore the possibility of Us? May we date, Sofie?"

He stretched out his hand and grinned.

"What do you say we explore the possibility of us? May we date, Sofie?"

Sofie flinched. It was a bad reaction, she knew and her cheeks heated up in response to her own actions but she wasn't used to this. People in her career, the ones who pursued romance anyways always had a hidden agenda up their sleeve. Relationships were just a way to mutually benefit from each other, they weren't suited for love, warmth and care. She'd never seen such a thing demonstrated in the people she was usually around with and for a lack of a better word, she would describe the whole experience as uncomfortable. However, for once she felt light and free. She could afford to be in love, to actually like someone could she? She could let down her defenses?



"YOU STUPID GIRL!" Hands grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and slammed her against the wall. Her head crashed against it and she felt a throbbing make it's way into her skull. Blood streamed down from her closed fists, results of her nails embedding themselves in her soft palms.
"You listen to me okay, Sofie?" Father knelt down in her front of her, his face livid and full of anger.
"Yes." Sofie answered, cracked lips brushing each other as she opened her mouth.
"You never cry in the face of death. It makes you weak." Father gestured at the picture of mother, one where she sat smiling, Sofie held tightly in her arms.
"But...it was mother. I loved her." She knew she shouldn't have said it but Sofie was too tired now, too upset, too angry to deal with any of the consequences she'd have to face.
SLAM!
Sofie tried hard to catch her breath as she went sliding down to the floor, blood from her fingers streaking her cheeks as she tried to rub her head.
"Love has no place in this world, in our paths we've chosen. You, child, you have to learn this...DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" His foot stomped down on her bare feet and she screamed.
"ANSWER ME!"
"Yes." She managed as she struggled to get up. She couldn't remain on the floor, no, it would only make him angrier.
"Good."
His mouth spread into a smile and as he turned to go his hands brushed aside the picture of her mother, causing it to land face down on the ground with the glass shattered and scattered in small glittering pieces around them. A tear dripped down her cheek.



"Ed, I..."
What was she going to say? She didn't know anything of love and he didn't know anything about her. Would he be so accepting knowing what she'd done in the past? How many people were broken and bloodied because of her? And as for her herself...was she willing to let another person in? Her mother had always told her that love was real, that it was out there somewhere so was this finally her chance? The questions plagued her as she struggled for an answer. Maybe she could try it out. Her mom would've liked that. If she was still here.
"You don't know me. And...I've...I just..." The words struggled to find themselves out of her mouth. How could she admit to him who she had used to be? Who she maybe still was? She longed for love yes, but what would his reaction be?

Finally, Sofie closed her eyes and grabbed his hand, softly.
"I'm not the person you think I am."

"Ed, I...You don't know me. And I've just...I just...I'm not the person you think I am."

The soft touch of her hand set his heart aflame.

I'd like to explore you to find out who you are, then.
It was a dirty thought.
It was a rotten, dirty thought.
His mind's eye imagined kissing her hand, kissing up her arm, taking her lips-
Disgust with himself welled up in his throat.

She's a lady. It would be wrong to treat her that way.
Look deeper.
She was just a girl.
Weaker than he was.
It would be easy, too easy, to take advantage of her.
How horrid, how wretched would he have to be to play so forwardly with her heart?
Pity for this sweet, delicate creature began to take root.

No! Love for pity won't last. Look deeper still!

Then it struck him.

Sofie was trusting him.

You don't know me. I'm not the person you think I am.

He was a fool not to have seen the vulnerability in her words, the raw, delicate core of her character opening up for him. He didn't deserve to know who she was. She didn't have to show him who she was. She was putting her whole future, her whole life at risk in opening up to him. To take that delicate core and smash it in the clutches of lust or pity would be a grave, unforgivable mistake. It took a great deal of strength for a woman to expose her vulnerability, to take a chance on a companionship that might someday destroy her.

It was strength, not weakness, that reached out to take his hand.

Could we truly be equal partners? Is such a thing possible?

Lust and pity melted away for something purer. The seed of brighter desires bloomed in his heart. At length, Ed's fingers laced themselves in hers until their palms kissed together.

"Neither am I."

He looked up to capture her gaze, and the slightest hint of a smile peeked through his face.

"So what do you say we find out together?"

Sofie's grasp on Ed's hand tightened imperceptibly. Maybe she was wrong to do this. She just knew what her father would've said (or rather done) and she bit her lip, a nervous tick. Her mom had always been open towards Sofie finding some love in the future at least, and some days they would crouch in the closet together (so as not to wake Father up) and giggle as Sofie recalled her embarrassing childhood crush stories. Those were simpler times and Sofie remembered the feeling of warmth that that love had given her. It was time for her to take a risk, she thought. Sofie had traveled all the way here and to complete her journey fully would mean that she had to have participated in some new experiences. In fact, she was already feeling proud of herself, for taking such a huge step. Self-confidence had never ever cropped up as easily as it did now. She smiled.
"Let's do this."
And with that she leaned slightly over the console and kissed Ed on the cheek, settling back down after she had done so. Her hands rose to cup her flaming red cheeks and she sighed.
In this moment Sofie didn't allow herself to think of anything else, of anyone else. She was purely, selfishly just thinking about her. And it felt good.

The way she bit her lip was so cute. Sofie smiled at him, a shy sort of smile that told him she was about to step out of her comfort zone.

"Let's do this," she said.

And kissed him on the cheek.

That spot became holy skin for the rest of the day. Ed turned bright pink and squealed like a girl hummed with the biggest grin on his face. "Amen to that. Let's do this thing."

This was going to be a good day.

A light started flickering by the warp drive display on Sofie's side of the control panel. Ed could feel a slight rumbling beneath his feet.

He turned a worried glance to Sofie.

Sofie felt the slight tremor in the control panel before Ed did and immediately her face turned pale, anxiety and happiness long forgotten in the wake of a threat to her dream.
"Darcy?" Her own voice felt far away to her ears. Sofie quickly reached over to slam down a button calling an alarm for the other passengers (if there were any) on the ship. They should at least be aware that they were facing trouble, right? She leaned in close to the microphone in front of her and spoke slowly.
"It seems that we have a slight problem. Please brace yourselves. Captain Darcy, please report to the front." She leaned back in her seat and spun towards a lever controlling the speed. Her fingers clutched at the rubber handle and she shakily lowered it. Nothing happened except for a sudden shake that reverberated through her bones.
"Ed?"