Lake Tahoe.

[dontchaserabbits]

The elevation in Lake Tahoe is something that requires getting used to. Raleigh's out of practice with altitude but settles in okay once once he downs the water bottle Tendo put in his rucksack like a doting mom. That man needs to get back with his kid, stop working so much.

"We're here," Mako's quiet voice announces, clear as a bell in Raleigh's ear.

"Mmm?"

"You fell asleep. Pay the nice driver so we can get out of the taxi?"

Comments

[dontchaserabbits]

Raleigh just breathes out (finally) once she leaves, staring up at the sky.

"Oh man. I am less than prepared for this one."

[co_pilot]

The porch that wraps the house is a perfect place for sitting after dinner, and Mako curls herself into the rocking swing that looks out onto the lake, fitting her back against Raleigh's shoulder and watching the sky turn orange and pink in turn.

"What are you thinking about?"

(It bothers her that she doesn't know now, she thinks. Not as readily as in the Drift.)

[dontchaserabbits]

"School. Weirdly enough. I definitely learned a lot in the Academy, but if I'm trying to figure out Life After Jaeger, then... maybe school."

[co_pilot]

"What would you study?"

[dontchaserabbits]

"Mechanical engineering. Or...something. Building and construction, but far more useful than a wall, hopefully."

[co_pilot]

She reaches down between them, slipping her hand into his, their fingers linking together.

"But not very far away?"

[dontchaserabbits]

"Remember what I told you?"

He's not going anywhere anytime soon. Especially not with her sitting next to him like this.

"Are there good universities in Japan?"

[co_pilot]

"A few," she says, fitting her palm to his.

"But - it does not have to be Japan, either."

[dontchaserabbits]

"So what? Do we throw darts at a map? Because apparently we have priorities, and geography is not one of them."

[co_pilot]

He's her home, now, and she'd be a fool to believe otherwise.

"There does not seem to be an alternative," she admits.

[dontchaserabbits]

"We'll figure something out. Maybe you'll get hired by some fancy government think tank and I'll make you dinner in between business trips."

Awfully domestic, Raleigh!

"...Sorry, that sounded...I don't know how that sounded."

[co_pilot]

"I like how it sounded," she says, her head tipping back to rest on his shoulder.

Her thumb finds the juncture between his and his index, circling the pressure point lightly.

[dontchaserabbits]

"You're going to make me sleepy doing that," Raleigh notes.



Still not actually looking at Mako, though. It feels a whole lot like...long-term planning.

("I never thought much about the future, until now. I never did have the best timing.")

"The world got a lot bigger lately."

[co_pilot]

"That would not be so bad."

Her own gaze has settled on a distant point, far beyond the water.

"You don't have to make a choice now."

[dontchaserabbits]

"The Working Group is still paying us, that is right.

"I haven't had to find a ration card in months. That's so weird."

[co_pilot]

Growing up, she'd never wanted for anything, though she'd lived a very minimal life. Now, she's content with little.

She draws his hand into her lap, traces the lifelines of his palm with her fingers.

[dontchaserabbits]

"Would you even want to go back to Japan? We could..."

Raleigh's voice drifts off at that point, straining at something.

"Go to see Masao's family? Right? The shop?"

[co_pilot]

"I would have you see it," she murmurs, and something in her heart swells at his recall of the memory.

"They would be very honored to meet you."

[dontchaserabbits]

"Likewise. It's on the list."

She's already met Yancy - as much as able. Jazmine...not an option at the moment. Mom or Dad aren't living, so.

Depressing.

"Always important to keep up with family."

[co_pilot]

"Sometimes family changes," she replies.

She knows that better than most. But he knows it too, she thinks, and takes his hand again.

[dontchaserabbits]

Is that what you are now? he wonders.

Raleigh raises Mako's hand so he can kiss her thumb knuckle. "We'll figure it out."

Says the man who is far more restless than the person he's talking to.

[co_pilot]

She smiles faintly.

"Did you still want to swim?"

[dontchaserabbits]

"Do I need to go get my suit?"

[co_pilot]

"Not if you don't want it."

[dontchaserabbits]

"Not a chance in hell."