Hiding in my Skin, Broken from Within

Chapter 15: Walk You Home

Y'all want fluff and cute moments? Yer gonna get it :3

also the layouts of New Los Angeles's Commercial and Residential Districts may not be accurate. just go with it idc

Title for this chapter based on "Walk You Home" by Karmina

Hiding in my Skin, Broken from Within

Chapter 15 - Walk You Home

The morning light filtered softly through the small window on the door of the BLADE bunker on the shores of Sylvalum that Lucina and Captain Falcon spent the night in. Stirring from his slumber, Captain Falcon slowly opened his eyes, the lights on his visor turning on mere milliseconds afterwards.

"Morning already...?" he mumbled softly, quietly turning over in the bed he rested in.

For once, I didn't oversleep... maybe it's because... I have more to look forward to now...? Like Snake returning, and... He glanced over at Lucina, who was still sleeping peacefully.

Lucina... He quietly got out of bed with a sigh, his lips shaped into a subtle frown. It's kinda bittersweet... these next few hours may be the last I spend with you, for the sake of your safety. I'm sorry... I wish I could tell you. He hesitantly walked over to his slumbering companion and, after a moment of reluctance, gently shook her awake.

"Rise and shine, Lucina..." The Captain murmured gently.

"Uhh..." Lucina faintly groaned, slowly opening her eyes. Sluggishly turning over, she directed her somewhat still groggy gaze to meet the Captain's. "What... time is it...?"

Pulling out the FrontierNav device Elma gave him, Falcon turned on its holographic screen and looked at the time. "It seems to be 9:25 AM. We should give Elma a call to take us to New Los Angeles."

"Sounds like a plan," Lucina said, climbing out of bed and fixing her bedhead as best as she could. "Let's go."

Falcon opened the bunker's door and the two stepped outside. Walking down the steps onto the shore, Falcon pulled out his FrontierNav device and began to contact Elma. Within seconds, Elma's face appeared on the holographic screen.

"Yes, Captain?" Elma asked him.

"Hey, Elma," The Captain greeted her. "We're ready to head to NLA. Could you come pick us up?"

"Of course," Elma confirmed. "I'll be there soon." The holographic projection ended, and the Captain put his FrontierNav device away.

"Say... Captain...?" Lucina questioned, walking over to the Captain.

"Y-yes?" Captain Falcon asked, slowly turning to her.

"I... have a couple of questions to ask." Looking down and wiggling her left foot shyly, her first question was, "Are we...done with our training?"

"Ah..." The Captain stammered for a moment, then answered her, "...Do you feel satisfied with your training?"

"...Yes," Lucina said after a moment of hesitation. "I realize in hindsight that... even with all the training I've received, there are some times that it's best to run away... that I can't let pride or an unrealistic desire to do more than I'm capable of take over." For a second, Black Shadow's words echoed in her mind.

"Falcon has trained you well."

Even my enemy acknowledged it... and knew it still wasn't enough as he fought dirty...

"It wasn't your fault..." The Captain tried to reassure her, noticing her worried expression. "I should have warned you about Black Shadow and Blood Falcon more in advance."