co_pilot | (no subject)

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The next leg of their tour is the European section - there aren't as many cities that were directly affected by the kaiju here, though the people seem no less effusive in their enthusiasm. Mako is at an equal disadvantage when it comes to the talk shows - her languages are better, perhaps, than Raleigh's, but she doesn't possess complete fluency in this particular part of the world.

The interviews are fairly easy to get through, though they always manage to end up fielding some question about the two of them.

("Mr. Becket, Ms. Mori, can you talk to me about the status of your relationship?")

Too many shared glances, too many moments alone; people don't want to talk about the losses of the past. They want gossip, sensational news. It's enough to make her want to scream, or tear her hair out in frustration.

She settles for the next best thing - the exercise room of the hotel they're staying in is empty at night, and there's enough space for her to wind through the movements that calm her.

She doesn't need to watch her form in the mirrors around the room; she merely closes her eyes, focuses on her breathing - and lets the stress slip away.

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Possibly yes.

But she doesn't say anything, just quietly slips her hand into his and walks out of the room, stopping to pick up her slippers on the way.

Navarra in northern Spain is their next stop. (Raleigh is no longer remotely jet-lagged.)

Yet again, Mako and he find themselves exiting yet another television studio trying to get back to their hotel.

Unfortunately, the paparazzi does not really feel like giving the rangers their space.

She doesn't know how the situation manages to devolve. One moment they're pushing their way through a stifling crowd of press and the next it becomes a jostling, shoving mob.

Someone tries to shove a camera in her face, and when the two of them decline to comment the reporter mutters something about Raleigh's parentage under his breath.

Mako's close enough to hear it, and it makes her stomach twist.

And it bothers her right up until the second she lays him out with a solid punch to the jaw.

"Mako!"

The cameramen are snapping even more wildly now, and the newly-injured reporter is screaming something in Spanish about la policia, and it's really time to go --

"What -- let's get out of here -- "

She's still brimming over with anger as he pulls her away, puts her in the back of their car, tells their driver to get them the hell out of there.

And then she turns her face away, towards the window, oblivious to the rising bruises on her knuckles.

Raleigh waits a good five minutes in silence before:

"What was it."

"You don't want to know."

Beat.

"It was about your mother."

Raleigh just raises an eyebrow as a reaction.

"I'm not surprised. Remember, they're just poking to see which button gets a reaction."

And Mako just gave them one.

"Why did you...?"

"The same reason you hit Hansen," she replies, matter-of-factly.

"That's why."

Raleigh opens his mouth to argue the point.

(Mako has never even met Raleigh's mother. Hansen insulted Mako herself.)

That would be useless though.

"Well. I appreciate the intent." Raleigh holds out his hand palm-up. Equally matter-of-fact, "Give it here."

She gently places her hand in his without a wince, looking away from the sight of her knuckles.

Most of them are bruised, with one split where she'd managed to give a fairly good clocking.

Scrappy.

Raleigh doesn't make any sympathetic noises, or kiss her knuckles to make it feel better, but he does hold her hand in his for the length of the car ride.

And maybe smiles at the fact that someone just punched someone else in the face in defense of his honor of all things. His life got weird.

The one act, if anything, helps with the lingering throb of pain in her hand more than any sympathy might.

She's quiet during the ride back, all the way up to their rooms.

But then they're standing facing two separate doorways, and this bothers Raleigh to a great degree all of a sudden.

He stops in front of Mako's door first. Later, he'll think it felt like walking her to her house. If either of them had a house. Ugh.

She hesitates in front of her door, turning back to face him.

Her shoulders sag with a sigh. "I'm sorry."

Don't be confusing, Mako.

"For what?"

"For - "

She waves a hand.

"It is all they will be able to bring up now."

"Are you kidding me? At least it will be a fun topic of conversation now."

"You are just glad I took the focus off of you."

And his romantic status.

"Well it was your turn.

"Can I make it up to you?"

"How?"

She still feels a little guilty, and the throbbing in her hand is only serving as a further reminder.

"You tell me. I could order room service and we can find a horrible movie to watch.

"What would you like?"

Wide open there, partner.

She nods once, agreeably.

"I would like that. Even the - horrible movie."

"Nice."

Raleigh points a finger out to both their doors.

"Which room?"

She moves to his, only stopping when she realizes she doesn't have the code to get in.

(It'll be better this way, she thinks, in case she falls asleep.)