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"Hey Rhys, mind if I-" Kiara called out to a surprisingly empty cockpit. The Fatebinder, hung in geosynchronous orbit over the northern pole, was a dim speck in Earth's shadow; a piloting interface displayed a timer counting down from forty-five hours. No other instrumentation in the cockpit was active - even their Frame co-pilots - save for the auto-nav, environmental controls and life support readouts.
In the low light environment, Kiara's sensitive eyes beheld the majesty of humanity's ancient cradle - a faded blue orb crowned in light and dark. Some latitudes down, the Traveler floated above the City. Kiara shook her head and turned to exit the compartment, only to find that the rest of the ship appears to have entered a low-powered mode. Strips of light illuminated grooves in the bulkhead. Kiara felt for her husband - a beacon to her senses, as were many Sunbreakers - and traced him to the small observation deck where on the floor he was seated, clad only in his off-duty casuals. She slipped beside him, left arm curled around his right bicep, and put a hand under her chin in mock ponderance.
"What are we doing tonight, love?"
"Waiting," he said airily, eyes fixed upon the viewport. "If my math is right, we should be getting quite a view in a minute."
She didn't doubt his calculations, nor did she pretend not to know what that view was going to be. Leaning her head onto his shoulder she counted down the seconds until the northern lights entered her field of vision.
The lights were a vermillion curtain flung over the Arctic; flickering pillars and dancing lines covered the snowy tundra of the north and treated the couple to a view that almost took Kiara's breath away.
"I've orbited Earth a few thousand times," she started, "but I never get tired of this view."
"Me too."
Silence ensued. Kiara shuffled in her seat and brought Rhylan's arm around her shoulders - giving her enough room to tuck her head under her husband's chin and sit in the middle of his legs. The Titan brought both arms over Kiara's shoulders and spooned her; the display of affection elicited a soft trill from the Warlock, to which Rhylan responded with a hum.
"Why are you here anyway?" Kiara asked, her fingers trailing around Rhylan's. Rhylan does not answer for a beat.
He says finally, "To celebrate your birthday."
"W-what?" she sputtered. "How did you -"
"Meridia asked Ikora when you were rezzed. I'm calling that your birthday. It's more practical that way," Rhylan says. "I even got you gifts and a cake back home."
Kiara huffed, "That doesn't answer my question. If we're celebrating my birthday then why are we watching aurora borealis?" She feels her husband's shoulders shrug before her neck lights up in delightful sensation - the brush of Rhylan's lips against her nape. Kiara flushes, as crimson as any Awoken could be.
She turns her head around, eyes wide and cheeks flustered. Rhylan smiles at her in that disarming and honest way he only ever casts her way.
"Wanted to see if the lights are prettier than your eyes. They aren't."