Day 161 - 1038 words - Prompt: n/a

[mekachu04]

They stood in silence for too long that night, still sitting in what had become their normal seats across from each other, but now….

 

Crowley was too angry for words. The Host had mad it clear they really didn't care about Crowley's feeling on the matter, and if he didn't like it there where plenty of other bases to transfer him too. again.

 

and he knew they'd do it if he raises a stink. the other pilots at the station knew something had happen, but as far as they could tell his flight had gone well, so they didn't understand.

 

no body understood. hell, even Aziraphale didn't understand. and Crowley knew that if he tried to explain it - tried to expose this dark side tot eh golden boys he'd not only be out on his ass, but Aziraphale would be left here alone once again.

 

and that was the rub - either way, the Host was still going to keep abusing pilots like Aziraphale. Crowley couldn't topple their system - their system got results. that's all people cared about in the end. so he could make a fuse and get kicked out, leaving Aziraphale behind. or he could keep his mouth shut and be with his friend.

 

as long as Gabriel was still down for the count - abuse his friend.

 

he threw his fork down in disgust; Aziraphale had mostly been poking his own meal at this point, the mood in the room having killed his appetite. the clatter of table ware startled him into dropping his own utensil and looked at Crowley worried. warily. afraid.

 

"I need some air." Crowley grumbled finally. he stood up abruptly, but thought about it for a moment before he stormed away. "you wanna go for a walk?"

 

he barely waited for Aziraphale's timid, 'sure' before he was marching off, the Host pilot falling in step behind him. they said nothing for a while, Aziraphale just a quite shadow as Crowley tried to walk his nerves back to conversation levels.

 

by the time they got out into the courtyards, Crowley had come to the term that he wasn't going to be calm enough to talk. but... "Explain it to me Aziraphale. explain how you can justify what happened out there?"

 

Because Aziraphale wasn't a wallflower. he wasn't... he wasn't someone how let people walk over him. Except he had in that suit he as just gone, and now Crowley could see that it was the same way outside the suit when he was around the rest of the Host pilots.

 

"are... are you familiar with the Principality Program?"

 

Crowley shook his head in the negative, slowing his pacing to force Aziraphale to walk beside him. "We.. i mean.. well, every one wants to be a Jaeger pilot, you know. a big giant robot fighting monsters. every child's dream come true. but.. there where a lot of problems in the early models."

 

Crowley nodded. a lot of pilots died before they figured out how to split the suit functions between two brains. the human system just couldn't handle it.

 

"Well, the Principalities where the pilots who... could.. manage the suit. on their own. n... non combat situations." Aziraphale stated, like he'd been following Crowley's line of thought. except know that thought train had jumped tracks, and Crowley stopped completely. complete and utterly confused.

 

Looking as if he expected this, Aziraphale gave him a look that told him he ought to have known better - "surely you had to have given that some thought before; how the suit moves around for maintenance or repairs, or simply from one hanger to the other. it's much easier to just pilot it here than try to manipulate it externally.  so as a Principality, we have a much more... innate knowledge of the suits structure than typical pilots. we work with the maintenance and the engineers or the small details. but - we're not like Commander Pentecost or anything, we can't pilot solo in combat more than any other Jaeger pilot. we might have the internal handled, but there's just too much external stimulus."

 

"But you where in that fight with me - you knew..." he trialed off, Aziraphale face pinched.

 

"Precipitates help shoulder the burden of the suit, yes. but.. we're not that good at the main controls. it's more. we let our pilots do the actual fighting, and we watch their back. we keep the suit running at optimal effectaincy with out link to what the pilot is planning, but other wise.." he shrugged, "we're their to keep you safe. physically and mentally. we shoulder the mental burden, and then we focus on the things you don't have the ability to watch - we're the eyes int he back of your head"

 

"that... that's not how piloting is supposed to work."

 

"It does seem like the others have a different approach, sure. but the Host's have never had an in combate fatality. I'm not sure we've ever even had an injury before. at least.. while linked. I can't do anything about anyone sense of balance once they unhook from the system."

 

there was something... so blase about that statement that Crowley had to stop and study his face. "How... how did Gabriel get hurt again?"

 

"He tripped.. on some loose wiring when he was getting out of the suit after a warm-up test."

 

Yeah - there was something there. Crowley stepped in close, and whispered - aware that the walls had ears -"did you trip your co-pilot?"

 

"I would of course told him to watch his step, but he'd already disengaged by then...."

 

"Why?"

 

here Aziraphale licked his lips, uncertain.

 

"Aziraphale?"

 

"I was.. hoping, since Micheal wouldn't be back before the kijui showed up.. that they'd have to pull a freelance pilot in from the station. it would look bad - the host leaving a perfectly usable suit behind while civilians where under attack."

 

Crowley looked at him dumbfounded. "you.. why... what if ... any freelance pilot?"

 

"well, there would really only be one choice - i've barely been given the chance to say two words to anyone else."

 

"you.. maimed your coworker so we could fly together?"

 

"I.. i wouldn't say maimed, he'll be just fine!" Aziraphale took a breath, that horrible nervous look stealing away across his features, "Too much?"

 

Crowley couldn't help but laugh, and he drew the anxious man into a hug, "you mad bastard!"