Grounded Wings

"You did what?!"


Nana's hand came crashing down onto Aile's console -- and was followed up by a swift clip upside his head, just enough to get his attention, when the late flinch telegraphed the truth of his explanation. He'd allowed himself to be core-scarred, half-blinded ...


"I gave up what I had to, to stop the rift from taking over. That's not what my vision was a price for, Nana, that was my extra choice so I could keep traveling."


"You gave up memory --!"


"It worked, didn't it? He wouldn't have done any less. And --"


Aile paused, mouth set in a quirky if slightly grim little smile,


"I remember the important things. All the other details don't matter as long as I have those. It's no different from a cranial injury, really, except this was my choice and stopped the rift."


"Aile ..."


Shaking his head, he patted Nana's arm, the smile more genuine.


"I'll be fine. I went into it knowing what would happen, and it was my price to pay. I paid it happily."

"We'll be fine."

( under the cut --! )