[Audio]

[watersacrificed]

[A deep breath can be heard before Aqua starts to speak.]

Does anyone know how long Jim--Captain Kirk has been gone?

[When she speaks, it's clear she's doing her best to stay calm and concern, but there are notes of sadness there. She's holding back.]

Comments

[Action]

[watersacrificed]

[It's more than enough to have him right next to her. Having his arm around her shoulders is enough to make her lean on him and bow her head even more. There's a lump in her throat, one she's trying to swallow while her eyes sting with unshed tears.

All she can do is breathe at this point.

Breathe and not start sobbing on the poor guy.]

[Action]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

[When she bows her head, he squeezes her shoulder briefly in reassurance. He leans in a little to her, his motion mirroring hers. He can feel how she's just barely holding everything in.

His other hand moves to take one of hers, fingers curling gently. Then he speaks - his voice quiet and kind and very sincere.] Hey - you don't have to hold back. You're grieving, of course you are. There's nothing wrong with that.

...It's all right to cry.

[Action]

[watersacrificed]

[Aqua shakes her head, trying so hard to keep everything back and burying it in her. She had to this once before, to stop her grieving and try to focus on other things. Sadly, that's harder to do when she's with company. It was easier to do so alone, but she wouldn't want to go back to where she was before.

Her hand tightens and squeezes his as she takes in a slow, deep breath.]

It won't...do anything. Crying...lashing out...it won't do anything.

[Action]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

[He holds her tightly, and his thumb beginning to make a gentle circling motion across the back of her hand.

He nods solemnly.] Of course, Aqua-san.

[Action]

[watersacrificed]

[She gives him a slow nod, still trying to control her emotions. The even and controlled breathing was helping, but each breath she takes makes her lower lip quiver. Her hand continues to hold his in a tight manner. No matter how hard she tries to keep everything inside, she can't.

Aqua begins to lean on him, pressing her head against his shoulder. A tear slides down her cheek. It's followed by another until she's sobbing quietly against Koizumi. Later, she'll apologize for getting his shirt wet with her tears, but for now all all she can do is cry.]

[Action]

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

[Koizumi sees her walls crumbling even before they fall completely, but he knows there's nothing more he can do to help her right now, so he leans his head on top of hers and just holds her tightly, rocking gently back and forth.

He doesn't notice his shirt getting wet, and if he did he wouldn't care. It was a small price to pay for whatever little comfort he was able to give her by being here. He would tell her not to worry about it later - changing shirts is not exactly a chore.

He stays like that, quiet and uncomplaining, for as long as she needs.]