docholligay:

Okay, I had NOTHING PLANNED for today, wasn’t gonna do it at all, but then @sittingoverheredreaming published her thing for Angstober day 3 and it was so amazing that I lost my shit and had to (after asking permission of course) write the prelude to her fic, It’s all written within her AU, idea all hers, etc, I’m just tagging along. 

Michiru
hated the smell of this place. Hated the harsh whiteness of the
walls. The noise of the calls over the loudspeaker. The hum of the
soda machine in the corner. Everything about it.

Outside
the glass-walled waiting room, she could see Mina gesturing wildly in
Rei’s face, Rei grabbing her by the shoulders and pushing her back
from the room. Her face was flushed, her eyes glossy with emotion.
Rei clasped her tightly and whispered something into her ear. Mina
nodded, rested her head on Rei’s shoulder for a moment, and then
walked away her irritation still evident, down toward the cafeteria.

Rei
watched her go, and took a deep breath before turning away from the
hall and walking toward Michiru.

Michiru
turned away from the door, wrapping Haruka’s thick cardigan sweater
around her body tightly.

“Michiru.”
Rei’s voice was soft, her hand placed tenderly on Michiru’s shoulder,
and somehow that made it worse. One more otherwordly thing in this
terrible place.

She
looked up, almost against her will, as Rei sat down beside her.
“We’ll be able to see her soon. Shift change is nearly complete. I
should get one of those Coca-Colas. She’ll want one, when she wakes,
you know.”

Rei
shook her head. “She’s coded twice.” Her voice was controlled, as
if she was trying to keep herself from the old, usual Rei, blunting
her sharpness for Michiru’s sake.

“I’m
aware.”

“She’s
trying really hard.”

Michiru
smiled and gestured carelessly. “Naturally. She has a great deal to
live for, Rei. We have a lovely home, and with the close of the War
our lives have seen such relaxation. We have a very bright and
charming six year old daughter who absolutely adores–” Her voice
broke, the cool effect gone from her face, and she bent forward.
“adores Haruka. Why wouldn’t she want to live?”

“I
don’t think wanting’s got anything to do with it, Michiru.” She
pulled the chair to be across from Michiru, and took Michiru’s hands
in hers. “She’s having a tough time.”

“She
needs to live.” Michiru hissed. Michiru had always walked that fine
line. She would give it all for Haruka, anything the world asked of
her. But it wasn’t, in the darkest parts of her heart, for Haruka.
Michiru needed Haruka, needed her light, needed her warmth. She was
cold and dark as an arctic winter without Haruka, how could she
possibly raise Himeka, broken as she was?

Rei
seemed to momentarily lose her carefully-constructed gentleness. “All
you’re doing is hurting her.” She regretted the words immediately
as Michiru held back a cry. “I just, I mean,” She put her arms
around Michiru. “Even the doctor said they’ve done all they
can…Michiru, she’s hooked up to so many things, and she’s so
uncomfortable. You love her more than this. I know you do. She’s
fighting because you won’t tell her not to. Love her.”

“I…”
Michiru was not often lost for words, and more than the looming loss
of Haruka, Rei felt the pain of watching a carefully-maintained
friend crumble in front of her. “It hurts, Rei. I can’t.” She
steeled herself, nodding. “No. I have to. Please tell the nurse I’d
like to speak to the physician.”

Rei
did not move, just held Michiru to her, and for the first time over
the entire course of their friendship, she felt Michiru shake in her
arms, weeping.