frankenstein complex ⇢ q.k | ✔

twenty-six

"What's Earth like?" You asked Kun as you prepared his injections that night.

"Tired of hearing about Dura-Jil?" He teased, settling in on his front.

"That isn't the only place you've lived," you pointed out. "And we're on our way to Earth. I'm curious."

"I didn't go to Earth when I was 15. I went there after."

He didn't say it, but you knew where he had been in between Dura-Jil and Earth. The program.

"When you enrolled in the Academy?" You disinfected the injection area.

"Yeah. Couldn't believe how blue that sky was..."

You aligned his first injection. "Is it a similar color the sky in the ag bubble?"

"Sometimes."

Click.

"But Earth has weather, and clouds," Kun continued, humor in his voice. "Central, the city that UHN Main is located in, it's got all four seasons. I think we'll be coming back in late summer. I kind of wish you could see snow. It's got a big military population, Central, obviously, but the city's so huge that if you can get a few blocks away from the UHN Main building itself, you can kind of forget that. As long as you don't see a solder in uniform."

As you listened to Kun gradually and sporadically paint you a picture of Earth, you could feel the soft, persistent smile on your lips, even as you had to switch out his med-pod, which didn't make him falter or stutter. He was telling you about a restaurant within walking distance of UHN Main that he used to frequent when he was on Earth between missions when the second med-pod clicked again, signaling it had finished. You disposed of the materials and sat back down next to him, up by the pillow he was resting his upper half on.

To your pleasant surprise, he didn't immediately roll over or sit up this time, simply looking at you over his arm. You ran a hand over his hair, dropping it down to rest it on his shoulderblade.

"I can't wait for you to get your adjustments," you sighed. "How long is the procedure?"

"An hour or so," he informed you. "I'll have Xiao wait with you."

"Dejun should be able to enjoy his shore leave with the rest of the crew."

"I'm sure he'll want to wait with you anyway. It's what friends are for."

You stretched a finger out to trace his cheek with your fingertip. "Does it hurt?"

"No, I feel fine," he promised. "Still doing good on two med-pods."

"I meant the adjustment."

"Oh, I'm under anesthesia for it. Don't feel a thing."

"And after?"

"A little stiff for a day or so, but after that, good as new."

Before you could respond, there was a rapid-fire series of knocks on your cabin door, and you exchanged a bewildered, concerned look with Kun. You stood up as Kun slowly began shifting himself into a sitting position.

Dejun was on the other side, and you didn't hide your confusion as you looked him up and down in his pajamas as he stood in the hall. "Uhm, hi?"

"Can I come in?" He requested quietly, his brow furrowed deeply, a look of worry cut deeply into his features.

"Sure." You stepped back, opening the door further for him to enter.