Breeze

With the arrival of spring comes lazy sunshine, dripping across the windows and roofs of Iron City. For you, it meets with the flowing Badlands wind, leaving your balcony a perfect mix of temperatures and textures. The half-sail shade you and Alita put up a couple of weeks back keeps the sun off your eyes as you say splayed across the balcony couch. Your head rests in Alita’s lap as you flick through one of the books from your collection. You feel her lovingly run her fingers through your hair, and she hums softly while she stares out over market square. The sounds of the spring market being raised form a comforting buzz in the background. Her movements grow a little more firm; switching from flowing strokes to a gentle massage. You sigh in content and a little peal of laughter comes from her. Looking up at her, you see the light and shadow play over her face as the wind moves the sail above. Her hair sways in the breeze, and you see the smile in the very corners of her eyes. Today is a perfect day for a dress, and the soft yellow one she’s chosen suits her cyborg body well. Without stopping the massage, she leans in and kisses your forehead. Your own smile grows, and you reach above to feel her smooth skin across your fingertips. She sits back up, and with a voice full of lazy curiosity asks.

“How’s your book?” You glance back down at it, lying half open on your chest.

“I like it." You pause, thinking for a moment. "It’s kinda strangely written.”

She glances towards it and then back to you.

“Could you read me something from it?”

Even in the lazy spring world around you, her enthusiasm seems to always lie just under the surface. You turn back to the book, snuggling deeper in to her lap as she massages in precise circles. You’ve seen the power behind those fingers, but you never feel safer than around her. After a few pages of flicking you find the quote you're looking for. Your voice is clear, and you feel Alita’s eyes on you as you read.

“He who would do battle with the many-headed hydra of human nature must pay a world of pain and his family must pay it along with him! And only as you gasp your dying breath shall you understand, your life amounted to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean!” You pause for effect; you can sense the Alita’s burning curiosity.

“Yet what is any ocean but a multitude of drops?” You put the book down gently and look back up at her. She stares out at the market, seemingly lost in thought. The people in the square scurry about in the preparations; ants teeming over a great nest. You go to break the silence, but she beats you to it.

“Do you really think we can make a difference?” It’s not often that she seems reflective like this, but you know the answer even before you say it. You reach above your head and lovingly trace a line up and down her leg before you speak.

“You made a difference to me.”

She breaks her vigil over the street below and smiles at you. She has many kinds of smiles; some cheeky and playful, others shy though proud. This one is special though. The warmth of her love is clear across her face, and together you share this spring moment. It last but an instant. It lasts forever. Her voice is soft; affection wrapped in a gentle touch.

“I love you.”

There’s only one response you can give.

“I love you too.”