[ ... but she knows why he's not answering. The Luke that kissed her under the stars and swore to her he was proud of his name would have said something. Something, at least -- but now he's silent, and just holding her even tighter.
And she knows what that means. And it makes her breath hitch in her throat as she swallows back a sob.
It's not fair. It's just not fair.
Bizarrely, she thinks of Noel. She thinks of going with Luke that day and finding Noel out by the Battle Dome and just ... talking to her. Three Replicas... all fighting for their humanity. And she remembers Luke standing by her side -- more uncertain than she, but willing all the same to fight. To show that they are worth something, that it's okay to be...
And it feels now like that moment couldn't be further away. Now Van's here, and Van's going to ruin everything. He's going to destroy everything Luke has worked so hard for, every bit of that shaky pride, and he's going to take Luke away from her.
Can she do anything but watch it happen? Are words enough, with someone like that here...? ]
Luke--
[ Her voice is fraught and tight, the edge of it betraying her hidden tears, but he won't get to comment on it. Because abruptly she kisses him hard, desperately, full of sadness.
There is an idea at the back of her mind. A dark and terrible idea. But ... there's just no way ... someone like her ... could deal with Van herself.
[action]
And she knows what that means. And it makes her breath hitch in her throat as she swallows back a sob.
It's not fair. It's just not fair.
Bizarrely, she thinks of Noel. She thinks of going with Luke that day and finding Noel out by the Battle Dome and just ... talking to her. Three Replicas... all fighting for their humanity. And she remembers Luke standing by her side -- more uncertain than she, but willing all the same to fight. To show that they are worth something, that it's okay to be...
And it feels now like that moment couldn't be further away. Now Van's here, and Van's going to ruin everything. He's going to destroy everything Luke has worked so hard for, every bit of that shaky pride, and he's going to take Luke away from her.
Can she do anything but watch it happen? Are words enough, with someone like that here...? ]
Luke--
[ Her voice is fraught and tight, the edge of it betraying her hidden tears, but he won't get to comment on it. Because abruptly she kisses him hard, desperately, full of sadness.
There is an idea at the back of her mind. A dark and terrible idea. But ... there's just no way ... someone like her ... could deal with Van herself.
...
Right? ]