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[Snake's standing near Heather's room in the hotel. He's leaning against the wall beside her door... With Otacon and Liquid gone, Snake knew he would be the one taking care of Heather. He knew she didn't need it, but... he felt he should watch out for her anyway. She was a lot like him; which meant she also had a habit of getting into bad situations.

Still, Snake was thinking about his discussion with Otacon, and he can't help but feel exhausted, frustrated, and saddened.]

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[ His throat rumbles a bit as he exhales, keeping the half-hug going for as long as it wanted, not making any moves to end it. He thinks about what to do to keep both their spirits up; he told Otacon he'd look after Heather, though thinking about how to do that was another obstacle. He decides to try and reassure Heather of some things instead. ]

I'm not mad at you. You're a good kid, Heather. You're loyal, strong, and you don't give up. I'm not brave enough to make promises like you do. It's complicated, that's all... I didn't mean to make you feel responsible.

_{[She looked up at that-- first surprised. Then sort of happy. ... Then it faded and she looked away again.]}

Heh... I don't think it's that brave to make promises that you don't keep.

_{[He was right about one thing: Heather was a good kid at heart. ... The problem was that she didn't always act like one. Oh lordy did she EVER not always act like one.]

[Maybe if she HAD tried a little harder to act like one, things would have turned out differently a few years ago. Faultless though she knew she was, certain occurrences might have been avoided. Not all of them, no-- but some.]

[She might have gotten home in time.]}

I know I'm not responsible, and I know it's complicated.

_{[She sat up a little, offering Snake a small but genuine (even if it didn't have much mirth to it) smile.]}

... But I did tell Otacon I wouldn't leave him alone, and... well.

_{[HERE SHE WAS IN GOLDENROD, while he rode out to face certain danger. ... Or at least watch someone he cared about face certain danger.]}

... And I told you I'd look out for him.

Not doin' such a great job at that right this second, either.

_{[She paused for a moment, thoughtfully looking out the window at the powdery snow drifting down past the shiny buildings outside.]}

... I was, though. While they were still around, I was.

[ Nods slowly. ] It's out of our hands now...

I told you to look after Otacon, I'm sure you tried your best. I didn't expect him to fall in love with Liquid of all people... I guess I was just assuming that he wouldn't because I wouldn't.

_{[Heather nodded-- ... and then made a sort of funny face, wrinkling her nose.]}

Well, he is technically your brother. That'd be kinda weird.

_{[MORE THAN KINDA.]}

Anyway...

_{[She pauses for a second, looking thoughtful again. When she speaks again, her voice is... flat. And surprisingly dark.]}

... Before I ever told Hal that it was okay to be in love with whoever he wanted to be in love with, I told Liquid to watch his step.

Way back in Azalea, I told him I'd kill him if he ever hurt him.

[ Tilts his head, a little surprised. He's briefly heard how angry and serious Heather can get, but it's always a surprise to hear it again... especially with how much she liked Liquid. ]

You told him that? How'd he take it?

_{[She shrugged.]}

Pretty well, all things considered.

I think he understood why I was saying it.

_{[She frowned, brows furrowing.]}

I was serious, too.

I like him, and I care about him, but... I was serious.

I believe you.

[ Nudges her with his shoulder. ]

You look like the kind that could kick someone's ass ten fold if you set your mind to it.

_{[She manages a grin.]}

That's been said about me, yeah.

Not sure Liquid believes it, but... _{[She lifts a scrawny arm and flexes it, as if there's... significant muscle (there really isn't).]} I've taken on worse than him and won.

_{[... She's only half joking, even if her tone is relatively lighthearted.]}

[ Snake smirks, rubbing his mustache a bit and smirking. He can't help it, she's really something. ]

Well, if you and I teamed up, Liquid wouldn't stand a chance.

_{[She grinned back.]}

Well, if he ever DOES step outta line, we'll be able to handle it.

I don't think he will, though. Not with Otacon.

_{[... She knew a little about what he was going to do in the future, back where he came from, but... that was there. This was here.]}

[Rubs the back of his head.]

Otacon's the last person I can imagine Liquid being able to deal with.

I sort've thought that, too. For awhile, mean.

But... I dunno. I watched him.

He's a bag of dicks sometimes, sure, but... he does care. He looked out for both of us. _{... Got kind of annoying sometimes, actually.}

... Hnn... I guess I wish I was naive like that, too. [ Rubs his face. ] The Liquid I know would have shot Otacon if he so much as tried to talk about Japanese animation.

Hey.

_{[She doesn't sound upset, but she DOES sound serious.]}

I know he's different in your time, but I've dealt with people who have no problem with killing innocents, too. I'm not as naiive as you think. He's not like that right now.

He could've snapped Hal's neck a long time ago. He's had plenty of chances.

_{[After all, they had been traveling together long before Heather came into the picture.]}

[Shakes his head.] Didn't mean it against you. I meant it more for me. If I could just pretend I knew nothing about him, that he was just another guy who hadn't tried to kill me, it'd make things easier.

Hn... yeah, I do kinda know how that feels.

_{[Although she would never, EVER admit it, she sometimes did wish that she could think of Claudia like she had when they were both children. Innocents. But the little girl who had drawn pictures of happy families and struggled not to cry when she lost at Go Fish was not the same as the monster who had ordered Harry's death.]}

I've never known Liquid being anything other than the vengeful man he is... From the first moment I met him, he wanted to kill me. Hn... He piloted a Hind D and tried to take me down with it.

Seeing him here... He's practically a tiger in a cage and I'm not looking forward to him breaking loose.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there's a chance Otacon has changed him for the better. But hell... That's not going to change what I've had to go through because of him... Because of who he becomes.

That goes for Big Boss, too.

_{[Heather sighed after a pause.]}

I... I know what you mean, but...

Where you are and who you're with can make all the difference. I don't know much about where you guys come from, or how different the company he kept might've been from the people he hangs with HERE...

But I know that I'dve turned out hella different if I hadn't been taken to a new place, with new people who actually cared about me-- a long time ago.

Maybe it'll all turn out pointless if we all wind up going home, but-- ... we're HERE right now, and he's got a chance to turn out different. Better, maybe.

Hell, maybe I wind up going psycho in the future of my world and killing everybody-- but here that hasn't happened yet and maybe something that happens here could prevent it from happening. I dunno. I can't know. Nobody can.

_{[... The ironic thing was that there had been times Heather had already teetered on the brink of staying herself or sliding down a slippery slope until she really would kill everyone. She had an inkling but you never really did know how close those things were unless they actually happened.]}

... Besides, we were able to convince him to leave you alone.

Would somebody have been able to do that in your world?

[Shakes his head, sighing.]

I know...

I know all that. It's just... really hard to forget. To put behind 10 years of this crap. I'm trying... Hell, I haven't fought with Liquid since Azalea. I didn't even chase after him when I found out about him and Otacon. ...But it's still hard.

... Yeah. I know.

I'm sorry... I didn't mean to make it sound like it should be easy.

_{[Heather rubs her eyes for a moment, scrubbing her hair out of her face. Something hard to do since it's more or less ALWAYS in her face.]}

I guess it's pretty dumb of me to just wish everyone could get along, huh?

... [Have another half-hug, Heather.]

Nno. Just an old guy like me being stubborn.

_{[She manages a smile at that, and allows herself to lean on his shoulder again. She's had plenty of experience with old guys being stubborn.]}

Hmn, well, I think you're allowed.

_{[He's sort of earned it.]}

... Well. [ Exhales. ] I'm gonna go buy some more smokes. I guess I've run out. [ Coughs a bit. ]

_{[She nods.]}

All right... _{[She wonders if she should offer to come with him-- .... but then again, better to stay away from the temptation. She has a feeling this month is going to see an awakening of that old craving.]}

... Hey Dave?

[ Looks to her again. ]

Hnn?

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