Finally back home. Your career within the Air Force takes you all over the country, Otter knows the feeling well enough that he won't hold it against you. He holds down the apartment in the meantime. But your return felt foreboding; you were set to return a couple of weeks later. Not today.

You didn't have a choice. A month and a half, since you'd seen him. A month and a half since you'd started feeling queasy, and tired— it was when you started vomiting that you had to be discharged and sent back home.

Otter's just pleased you're back. As soon as you're crossing the threshold, he's hugging you with an excited grin. It was a bit rough, his way of showing he'd missed you. The apartment feels empty without you.

"Ah, you cheeky girl— should've told me you were coming! Would've left this place proper clean."

He drew back, hands finding your jaw. There are pictures of both of you across the apartment, he always has a vivid image of you. And currently, you don't match it. You look sickly.

"You must be knackered, hm? Was it work?"