Warm Up 1

A last sob leaves her lips, but she regains her composure, wiping away the tears quickly. "Thanks, K.J." His eyes widen before a sincere smile parts his lips. How much time has it been since someone last called him that? K.J? Even he had stopped referring to himself that way.

A name that represents calmer and easier times, when life was normal. His nickname, how they used to call each other most of the time when their group of friends was still intact. That nickname is—attached to a lot of good memories, even in the base, one of the last times it has been used.

A calm voice, almost serene and worry-free, escapes his mouth. "Thanks, Mary. You mean a lot to me." Friends. So simple to get them in theory, but always so hard for him. Always a step away. Too complex or too much most of the time.