The walk back home was filled with easy chatter, their voices carrying down the quiet streets. Talon and Jason argued over which game had been the best, while Alice rolled her eyes at their antics.
When they reached the crossroads, Kieran gave a small wave, heading toward his train stop. "See you tomorrow."
"Later, Kieran!" Talon called back.
The three of them continued on, their steps slowing as the reality of the day began to settle back in. But despite the weight of what lay ahead, Talon felt a small, persistent sense of contentment.
Moments like these reminded him that no matter how uncertain the future was, he wasn't facing it alone.
---
The rest of the week flew by, filled with laughter and a sense of bittersweet excitement for what lay ahead.
It felt like a fleeting reprieve, a final breath before stepping into the unknown.
Their test results had come in, and, unsurprisingly, both Jason and Talon had barely scraped by.
"Well, at least we didn't fail," Jason joked, holding up his holopad with mock triumph. "Minimal effort for maximum results."
Talon snorted, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. "Lucky for us Supers, the scores don't matter that much. We just needed to pass."
Kieran, meanwhile, had excelled. His results were nothing short of spectacular, earning top marks across the board. When Jason caught sight of Kieran's scores, he let out an exaggerated groan.
"Show-off," Jason teased, elbowing him lightly. "Trying to make us look bad, huh?"
"What? I studied," Kieran defended, though the faint flush in his cheeks betrayed his embarrassment.
"Fair point," Talon said with a grin. "But still, you're making us look bad."
Kieran smiled shyly, but Jason's teasing seemed to loosen his nerves a little.
But as the days passed, the inevitable moment approached. Tomorrow, Talon, Jason, and Kieran would embark on the next chapter of their lives.
As for today, well…
It was a day for goodbyes
---
The three of them stood near the academy gates, the early afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. Alice's transport was scheduled to arrive shortly, and the mood felt heavier than any of them had anticipated.
Alice had done it. Straight A's across the board. She'd qualified for officer training, her dream since they were kids.
Today, she was going offworld to begin her journey.
Talon turned to her, his expression softer than usual. "I'm so proud of you, Alice," he said, pulling her into a tight hug.
She smiled against his shoulder, her voice steady but quiet. "Thanks, Talon. You know this is all I've ever wanted."
When they broke apart, Jason stepped forward, his hands shoved into his pockets. For once, his usual bravado was gone, replaced by something quieter. "You're gonna do great," he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "But… it's gonna suck without you."
Alice raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning. "Oh, so you're actually going to miss me?"
Jason chuckled, his usual grin flickering back for a moment. "Yeah, I will."
For a second, none of them spoke. Then Alice closed the distance, wrapping her arms around Jason in a tight hug. "I'm gonna miss you too, idiot," she whispered, her voice cracking just slightly.
Jason swallowed hard, a tear escaping even if he tried to fight it, his usual confidence faltering. "Just… don't forget about us, alright?"
She pulled back, smiling through the emotion in her eyes. "Not a chance."
And then, without hesitation, she leaned up and kissed him lightly on the lips.
Jason blinked, stunned into silence.
"I..uh...I.. ah.."
Talon, watching the scene unfold, couldn't resist grinning and helping Jason out. "Alright, lovebirds," he said, crossing his arms. "Let's not make this too sappy, yeah?"
Alice rolled her eyes, though a small laugh escaped her. "You two take care of each other," she said, her tone more serious now. "And don't get into too much trouble."
"No promises," Jason quipped, though his grin wavered at the edges.
The hum of an approaching transport filled the air, cutting through the moment. Alice adjusted the strap of her bag and turned to Kieran, who was standing a little awkwardly on the sidelines.
"It was nice meeting you, Kieran," she said warmly. "Keep these two in line for me, okay?"
Kieran blinked, clearly caught off guard, but nodded quickly. "Uh, yeah. Sure. Safe travels, Alice."
Alice gave him a smile before turning back to Jason and Talon one last time. "Alright, you two. Be good."
And with that, she stepped onto the transport. The doors slid shut behind her, and through the glass, she gave them a final wave before the vehicle lifted off.
The three of them stood there in silence, watching as the transport disappeared into the sky.
"Well," Talon said finally, breaking the quiet. "That's that."
Jason nodded, his jaw tight as he stared after the fading ship.
"Yeah."
Kieran shifted uncomfortably, glancing between them, he did not know really how to cheer them up, so he mentioned the first thing he could think of.
"So… arcade?"
Talon and Jason exchanged a look. Jason let out a small laugh, but it was clear he was still sad. "Sure. Arcade."