Lead me to Salvation

[Garza]

After sitting down, I could hear her footsteps. There were a few before I could feel the warmth of her arms wrapping around my neck and resting on my shoulders. Her chin nestled on the dome of my head. Her voice was silent as she spoke about knowing that I was sorry. She didn't blame me. All I could think was that she should. If I had not been at the bar that day, Morna might have not gone there. Nor would I have been in the way of the fight. But I also wouldn't have been there to see him die. Because he probably wouldn't have died.

I still blamed myself. Even when she said that she was glad I was there to be there for him when she could not. I shook my head just ever so slightly. "Yeah, but now I have his memories and thoughts. Everything that he would do, could do, is now in my mind." I brought my hand up and rubbed on her arm. Letting her know I was fine. and that I would be fine. "Forget it. No need to throw our problems around." I was slowly drifting. I could feel it. It has been days since I last slept. While I had laid down in bed, that doesn't mean I really slept.

I slowly stood up. Trying to not bump Lexa. "I um. I need to go to sleep or I am liable to fall onto my face." I chuckled slightly as I moved away from her towards my own room. Stopping at the entrance to the cockpit, "Thank you. Like him, I'll be there for you."

[member="Lexa Imura"]

 

[Zayani Brin]

Lexa looked over at Asher and smiled warmly. "I know," She replied. She sat down in the pilot's seat to monitor everything for him while he slept. The thought that Morna was still in a sense alive made her feel a lot happier. Happier than she'd been for a long time. Though he'd never be there to hold her again, or share her life. That also made her feel sad. It was... Bittersweet.
[member="Asher Kellan"]

 

[Garza]

I waited for her response. A simple, "I know" was all I heard. I waited a second more before heading towards my room. While yes Lexa stayed in the Cockpit, there was no need to. The ship would alert me when we got close to exiting hyperspace. From where we were, and how long we have been in the ship thus far, it would probably be about two hours from now.

Opening the door, I left it as such as I took off my clothes. Left only in my pants, and socks, I laid down, and covered myself in a blanket from my waist down. it's wasn't cold. More so, I had it to cover me because I felt more comfortable with it on. And when my head actually hit the pillow, I fell asleep. A dreamless sleep for the first time in a long time.

[member="Lexa Imura"]

 

[Zayani Brin]

*Two Hours Later*

Lexa had been dozing off a little when the ship's systems let her know that they were exiting hyperspace. She jolted awake, shaking her head a little to get rid of her grogginess. She got up and made her way to Asher's bed compartment. She lightly knocked on the door, not wanting to intrude. "Asher? We've left hyperspace." Her voice was a little quiet, and would sound muffled on the other side of the door.
[member="Asher Kellan"]

 

[Garza]

Rubbing my face, I could feel the little stubble that was growing there. I might as well shave it. I was leaning up when the little bleeping in the compartment warned me that we were leaving. Running a hand through my hair. Bed head. Oh how I hated it. Making my hair all greasy and mangled up. I patted my hair down and combed it with my fingers.

I got a slight shiver from the colder room, rather than being in the warmth of the blanket. I heard a knock on my slightly ajar door. I could hear right after the voice of Lexa saying we left hyperspace. "No not quite. We have about five minutes before we really exit. The warning is there so people who are sleeping won't be suddenly thrown into a wall." I rubbed my eyes as I stood up and opened the door all the way. Forgetting that I was shirtless, it exposed the scars that I had all over my chest. Mostly from slugthrower, and knife wounds. Maybe a few blaster burns on my back, but I didn't care.

"Go ahead and come on in." I looked at her. Smiling a little as I still saw the remnants of sleep in her eyes. However, I didn't point it out to her. I moved to the closet and pulled out a brown shirt. Slipping it on as I asked, "Anything happen while I was asleep?" I then reached for a flannel button up shirt. Sliding it on and making sure to put the buttons in the right holes. I then began to shrug on a sweatshirt. I left the hood on the top of my head as I reached for my denim vest, and shrugged that on as well. letting the hood fall to my back, I slipped into my beanie. All while she was either explaining what happened or told me about what didn't happen.

"I recommend that we wear warm clothes when on Hoth since you know. It's so goddamn cold."

[member="Lexa Imura"],

 

[Zayani Brin]

Lexa studied the scars on Asher's body for a moment. There were so many. But she said nothing about them. She shook her head at his question. "Nope. I got a little sleepy, but nothing really interesting." She smirked as he began putting on a ton of layers, telling her to do the same. "Oh, I think I'll be alright." As she said this, flames appeared on her fingers. Cold never really bothered a Fire Shaper.
[member="Asher Kellan"]

 

[Garza]

I shook my head. While both of us has powers of Fire manipulation, The thing about Hoth is that if you got stranded, and were left alone in the cold, you would be left without clothing, and energy in your body runs out fast. Even if you were a legendary Fire shaper, energy takes a toll on those who are forced to survive. "At least humor me and dress somewhat warmer. I don't want to end up stranded and be stuck with you expanding too much energy to keep yourself warm without warm clothes."

Seeing as how I just had someone die in my life, in my arms literally, I didn't want to have that happen again. Especially the wife of the man's memories I held. However, I got a blast of a vision from my mind of Lexa walking over the berm of a snow covered hill in just a undershirt and what looked to be booty shorts. And as soon as it came, it left.

"I um...." My cheeks began to burn hot. I was sure that I looked like a red flame in a fire. "That is if you wouldn't mind?" No, no, no, no. I was not getting a crush on this dead man's woman. Noooooo. Defiantly not. I will not accept that. NOOOOOOOO. look away Ash. Look the hell away. and that's what I did. I looked away from her as I grabbed Morna's old sword and slid it onto my back. And proceded to pull out a chain weapon and wrap it around my right wrist.

[member="Lexa Imura"],

 

[Zayani Brin]

Lexa shrugged. She noticed that Asher zoned out for a moment. A few seconds later, he turned a bright shade of red. Was he.... blushing? This caused her to cock a brow as he turned away from her. She didn't press the matter, however, and instead leaned down and grabbed a jacket that was on the ground. It was black leather. Not the warmest thing, but it would give him a bit of closure. Slipping it on, she noticed that the sleeves were a bit long but it still fit pretty well. Lexa turned to him. "There. Does this make you feel any better?" She asked with her arms stretched out to let him see how it fit her.
[member="Asher Kellan"]

 

[Garza]

After I was finished doing that, I was just rummaging through the closet for anything. Anything at all that might be considered warm clothing. I was so close to just grabbing everything and forcing her to put it all on to avoid that stupid vision again. No, I could not be having these thoughts. And Just to make it better, I saw Lexa standing on a field of fire and lava. Nude and standing there for a moment before the vision faded to black again. GOD FETHING DAMNIT! NO I DID NOT WANT THAT IN MY HEAD RIGHT NOW!

I turned as Lexa called to me, asking if it was good enough. Gulping as though I was in trouble, "Um yeah... sure." I then hurriedly walked over to her and zipped up the jacket as I passed by her with the force. Trying to avoid contact with anything near her chest. Waling out I rounded the corner and tried to get to the cockpit before the five minutes were up. Or we would be flying around here. Literally with no belts to keep us from smacking into the walls. "Time's almost up!"

[member="Lexa Imura"],

 

[Zayani Brin]

Asher zoned out again, this time acting even stranger than before. He barely said a word and just zipped up Lexa's jacket while passing her extremely fast. What was wrong? Did she say something? She shook her head. She'd never understand men. She followed him into the cockpit and strapped herself into the co-pilot's seat. "Ready," She said.
[member="Asher Kellan"]

 

[Garza]

I sat down in my seat and quickly buckled up. Pulling the straps over my chest without looking as Lexa walked in to do the same. I didn't look at her as I placed my hands on the console and began to press buttons. It was a few seconds later, that there was a lurch in the ship as it came to almost a standstill in the void of space. below us was a white, giant marble that could have only been Hoth. I looked at the scanners to see no ship in the area around us, Clicking other buttons and such, I was silent as I started to bring us down towards the atmosphere of the planet. Speaking out loud to myself now in the process,

"Shields activated."
Frontal and side shields intensified."
"Flaps and rudders extended."

Continuing through the entire process of making the fiery decent into the planet to try and make it somewhat smooth.

[member="Lexa Imura"],

 

[Zayani Brin]

Lexa sat silently as Asher prepped the ship for orbital descent. When he was finished speaking, she looked over at him. "Asher, is something wrong? You were acting kind of weird back there..."
[member="Asher Kellan"]

 

[Garza]

Coming closer and closer to the surface of the planet, the ship cooled down and I began to turn off the shields. As that happened, Lexa asked me about earlier. I clammed up and shook my head. "Nope. Nothing wrong with yo- I mean me." I was mentally smacking myself in the head with a brick. Then slamming my head on the console. But really, I was just looking forward, Trying to avoid eye contact with her. No I was not going to say, "I saw you naked in my head." Nor was I going to mention anything about seeing her in bootyshorts.

No no no. I had to Aw damnit Ash. You looked at her! Indeed I did. I looked at her face as her expressions told me that she was really wondering why I was suddenly acting weird. "Okay, not everything is fine."

[member="Lexa Imura"],

 

[Garza]

Forget this post.

 

[Zayani Brin]

Lexa smirked. "Figured. You wanna tell me what's up?" She asked. She wasn't gonna force him or anything. It would be nice to get it out of the way, though.
[member="Asher Kellan"]

 

[Garza]

My heart almost stopped beating. She um.... She wanted to know.... what was wrong. Well nothing was wrong per say with her, or her figure. I mean, Yes I would "Tap dat" if I got the chance. But the idea that she just lost her husband, was kind of a friend of mine, and is a widow that is probably years older than me, I wasn't going to. Well, I would try my hardest not to. I turned back to the console and set the ship to autopilot to fly around the cold winds of Hoth. That way if something went wrong in my explanation, We didn't end up dying because she punched me when I had my hands on the controls. I then turned back to her and leaned down. hiding my face.

"Well I told you I have... his memories. What I didn't tell you is that I keep seeing different parts of his life in flashes every once in a while. And when we were in the room, I got a flash of you two on Hoth. And then a second one of you on some lava planet with you.... not completely.... covered." Indicating clothes by grabbing my jacket and flapping it just a little. I cringed waiting for a slap or a hit. "And well, It's kind of hard for me to get it out of my head with his age long of memories shoved on top of mine when I am younger. Dominating my own."

Having another flash, this time they were sitting on a couch in a very fine room. My- No Morna's arm wrapped around her while the fireplace in front of them glowed. looking to my right, I could see my hand and in it was a box. A small box that was open slightly to show a black ring with engravings on it. Once coming out of it, I saw that Lexa was still wearing the ring. Knowing that was the engagement ring. "And other visions of him proposing." I closed my eyes, knowing that soon I might see an image of the two of them getting married at the ceremony, or the point where he leaves her. I didn't want to see those. They were not my memories to cherish and to keep sacred. They were his not mine.

"Morna thought of you so passionately, that almost every vision, dream or flashback I see and experience, has some element of you in it."

[member="Lexa Imura"],

 

[Zayani Brin]

Lexa broke out into crazy laughter when Asher told her about the "less covered" memories. It was utterly hilarious! After a few minutes, she wiped tears from her eyes and settled down. "Well, at least I left a good impression," She joked. Then, he mentioned the memory of the marriage proposal. She looked down at her ring and played with it a little. "At first, He was all that filled my head. Every hour, every minute, every second. I used to dream that when he left, he just came right back the next day and promised that he'd bring me next time." She chuckled dryly. "I was young and naive. A little lost puppy who didn't understand that her master was dead. In some ways, I didn't want to understand. I just wanted to live with the false hope that he was out there somewhere, alive and well, ready to come home."
[member="Asher Kellan"]

 

[Garza]

She was laughing? I didn't know if it was good or bad, but when she started joking about how she left an impression on me, I closed my eyes. cringing. Knowing that she was right. But it changed. She started to go on about how she was a naïve girl who thought her master was still alive fighting to get back home. In truth, he was killed. I closed my eyes. Knowing some of the pain that she was feeling. Reaching out, I grabbed her hand. Looking right at her. "Don't ever think that there is a false hope in loving someone." I didn't know much about love, but I knew, I could feel it in my heart as though these thoughts were my own. "Love is what keeps people alive. It is what allows people to do great things. To perform great feats of strength. You just have to learn that for yourself."

Tapping my head with my off hand, "He knew that. and he fought for it every day of his life. I have no doubt that if could have chosen to live with you in the chance of being hurt, or die protecting you again, He would die again. Even when he knows your heart will weep for him." Only now did I realized that I was holding onto Lexa's hand. and I, myself, not Morna, felt as though I released something. I had no clue, but now I felt like there was less clutter in my head.

[member="Lexa Imura"],

 

[Zayani Brin]

Lexa could sense A small bit of something in Asher. It was barely noticeable, but she could still feel it. It came from him, leaving him just a few minutes after he spoke to her. In a way she felt as if part of herself went with it. She looked down at her hands. "To die for someone you love isn't strength. To live for them is. Death is easy. Life is fragile, harder to maintain. But if you can live for them, you can live forever." She knew this. She'd been doing it all her life. First, for a family she couldn't remember. Next, for a brother that left her and never came back. And now, for a husband that died for her. There were so many times she'd wished she could die with them. Disappear into the oblivion and find them on the other side. But she didn't. She stayed alive. A living testimony to the fallen, holding all of their memories inside her. Proof that they had existed, and had made their mark on the galaxy.
[member="Asher Kellan"]

 

[Garza]

I smiled. Agreeing with Lexa that dying for someone you love is not strength. I stood up from my seat and moved in front of her. Kneeling down in front of her. I grabbed both of her hands. "Lexa. You are right. Strength is not in death, but I do know, that it takes courage, and the willingness to give up all that you can do, what you can become, to save someone else so they can have the chance to better themselves." I looked at her. The ship just randomly flying around on Hoth while we spoke.

"Morna fought for you. He fought for others, and he fought for me. From his memories, I don't think there was ever a time where he thought about himself. He knew that he was powerful. But every step of the way he denied it. He wanted to be a..... a simple man who would do anything to protect what he cherished. And there were only two things on the list that he wanted to protect with his life. That was his family, and you."

I shook my head. I could feel my body becoming warmer the more I talked. almost as though the flames of the fire shaper were encouraging me to continue. So I did. "Here." Closing my eyes. I then pushed more information at her. Showing her instances in battle. With the Lords of the Fringe. The two of them were just Master and Apprentice. but he fought for her so he could allow her to be his Legacy. Later on it showed a battle where he used his own physical body as a shield over a bomb. Images of Lexa ran through his head. Flashing of her learning, and them sharing their first kiss. Another of when he was powerful enough to summon a storm that reached kilometers wide and raged in every direction. His only thought was of Lexa to keep him standing up on his own two feet. Even while after it showed him falling to his face. He got up with the intent of seeing her face again.

I could feel my body shake as I could feel all of his raw and unhampered emotions. I could feel how he was. I could sympathize how he felt. Feeling it for myself, I could almost feel like I was Morna in my past life. Was it true? or was I Asher Kellan. The thief on the streets. it was hard to tell with all of these emotions running through me.

[member="Lexa Imura"],