The next morning at Heatsun and Moonsalt's base, Naomi paced anxiously, her thoughts in turmoil. She wasn't sure if she was ready for the conversation that awaited.
Meanwhile, Heatsun and Moonsalt had already sent a call to Jim. They made it clear that it wasn't a mission or any matter of planetary defense - it was personal.
When Jim arrived, his expression was composed, though a flicker of curiosity lingered in his eyes. He bowed respectfully to his parents.
Jim: "You called for me? Is everything alright?"
Heatsun nodded, motioning for Jim to sit. Naomi remained standing, still hesitant, but Heatsun's firm gaze encouraged her to stay.
Heatsun: "We need to talk. It's about you."
Jim stiffened slightly. He hated conversations like this - ones that revolved around himself.
Jim: "If this is about my duties, I assure you-"
Moonsalt: "It's not about your duties, Jim."
He fell silent, noticing the unusual warmth in his mother's voice.
Heatsun: "It's about how you see yourself. And how you've convinced yourself that you're nothing more than a tool for Soluna."
Jim's jaw tightened.
Jim: "That's all I'm meant to be. Soluna's protector. My existence has purpose only because of what I can do for this planet."
Naomi's chest ached at his words. She wanted to speak, but her voice wouldn't come out.
Moonsalt: "That's not true. You've done more than protect this planet, Jim. You've inspired people. You've brought others together."
Jim shook his head.
Jim: "And I owe all of that to Edward. Without him, I wouldn't be standing here. He gave me everything - guidance, strength, purpose. I could never repay him for what he did for me."
Heatsun frowned, his voice firm.
Heatsun: "Is that why you refuse to think of your own happiness? Because you think you're in eternal debt to Edward?"
Jim lowered his gaze.
Jim: "It's not just a debt. It's gratitude. He gave me this path as a Warrior. The least I can do is dedicate my life to ensuring his legacy lives on."
Naomi finally clenched her fists, unable to remain silent any longer.
Naomi: "But what about your own legacy, Jim?"
Jim's eyes met hers, startled by the sudden intensity in her voice.
Naomi: "Father didn't help you so you'd chain yourself to an impossible burden. He wanted you to live - not just survive. And he definitely didn't want you to think you didn't deserve happiness."
Jim tried to respond, but the words wouldn't come.
At that moment, the door opened. Tim and Rei stepped in, their presence filling the room with a sense of familiarity. They had heard everything, thanks to the call from Heatsun.
Tim: "Jim, Mike and Heidi told us something about you and Naomi."
Rei nodded, her voice gentle.
Rei: "And it hurts us to see you like this. You're not just Soluna's warrior - you're our friend. Our brother. And you're more than whatever title you've given yourself."
Jim's stoic exterior faltered. Seeing the people he cared about confronting him like this made it harder to maintain his resolve.
Jim: "But... I can't. I can't forget everything Edward did for me. I don't deserve to stand anywhere near Naomi, let alone... care for her."
Naomi's heart sank. The mere thought of Jim believing he wasn't worthy of even her presence was unbearable.
Naomi: "And who decides that, Jim? You? You think I see you as someone unworthy?"
He didn't answer. His hands clenched tightly.
Heatsun: "Jim, Edward wanted you to meet Naomi long before now. He believed the two of you would get along - that you'd understand each other."
Jim's eyes widened in disbelief.
Jim: "He... wanted us to meet?"
Moonsalt: "He did. And he even said that if anything were to happen between you two, he believed you could make her happy."
Jim's breath caught in his throat. The weight of those words bore down on him, breaking the walls he had built around himself.
Jim: "But I..."
Tim instinctively stepped forward, his voice calm yet resolute.
Tim: "Jim. This isn't about what you owe to Edward. It's about what you owe to yourself. You don't have to be alone."
Rei nodded in agreement.
Rei: "And no matter what you choose, we'll support you. Because we believe in you, not just as Soluna's warrior, but as Jim - our family."
Jim's eyes burned, but he refused to let the tears fall. The turmoil within him was relentless, and yet... something had shifted.
Naomi said nothing further. She could only hope that somewhere beneath Jim's burdens, he would finally begin to see the truth.
_ _ _
Jim sat in silence, his fists clenched tightly against his knees. On the outside, he appeared stoic - a warrior who had faced unimaginable battles and conquered darkness itself. But inside, he was crumbling.
Naomi's words echoed in his mind, intertwining with the memories he fought so desperately to bury.
The warmth of Edward's guidance, the camaraderie of his allies, the laughter they shared - all of it haunted him. And then, the horror of Goblin's reign resurfaced. The agonizing screams of those he couldn't save, the weight of Edward's lifeless body in his arms.
He remembered the bitter words Goblin had spat at him during their final confrontation.
Goblin: "Friends and unity? They are nothing but fragile bonds waiting to break. One by one, they'll fall, and you'll be left alone."
Jim had refused to believe those words then. He fought, driven by the dream of unity. He had stood with Tim and Rei, encouraged them, and given his all to ensure Dark Void's defeat. But the victory didn't erase the pain. Goblin's voice had embedded itself within him, whispering doubt into his every thought.
And now, the thought of Naomi - the daughter of Edward, the man who believed in him - stirred something unbearable within him.
Deep inside, Jim knew that he felt something for her. She wasn't just Edward's daughter. She was Naomi. Intelligent, compassionate, and courageous. She understood him in ways few could. The moments they spent together, the way she spoke without judgment, how her presence brought warmth to the emptiness he tried to mask - it terrified him.
Because if he let her in, he would have something to lose. And Jim had lost far too much already.
He couldn't endure the possibility of watching Naomi fall. Not her.
His fear wasn't just of losing her, though. It was the unbearable thought that if anything happened to her, it would be his fault. Just like he blamed himself for the soldiers who perished under his command. Just like he carried the crushing guilt of Edward's death.
That's why he distanced himself from everyone. Not because he didn't care, but because he cared too much. He had pushed away his allies, those he once called family, under the belief that his absence would protect them. Even Tim and Rei, who had once relied on him as a pillar of strength, now led their lives with their son - without him constantly lingering.
But Naomi...
She had unknowingly broken through his walls. Despite his cold demeanor, she stayed. She smiled. She asked questions. She cared.
And that scared him.
Jim felt the tears sting his eyes, but he bit them back. A Solunar warrior had no right to weep.
Jim (whispering to himself): "I can't... I can't do this."
He was willing to carry the burden alone. That's what a protector did. That's what Edward had taught him.
Jim (thinking): If I stay away, she'll be safe. She'll live on. And I'll bear the pain. That's how it has to be.
He inhaled sharply, pushing every emotion deep within himself. His resolve hardened, even as his heart fractured. He knew what he had to do.
The only way to protect Naomi was to ensure she never grew too close. Because Jim wasn't meant to love.
He was meant to fight. Alone.
Jim sat there, his hands gripping his hair tightly as the overwhelming turmoil inside him reached its breaking point. The warmth in Heatsun and Moonsalt's eyes, the kindness in Tim and Rei's smiles, and even the silent support from Jeromy - it was unbearable.
He had tried to shut it all out, to convince himself that this loneliness was his duty. But the truth clawed at him, refusing to be ignored.
The tears he fought so hard to contain welled up, and in a burst of pain and frustration, he let out a gut-wrenching scream.
Jim: "Why? Why can't I just let it go?!"
The room fell into silence. Everyone froze, their eyes widening in shock.
Naomi's heart clenched. Without thinking, she rushed to him, instinctively reaching out. Her red hair brushed past her shoulders as she knelt before him, concern flooding her gaze.
Naomi: "Jim..."
Heatsun, Moonsalt, Tim, Rei, and Jeromy exchanged knowing looks. There was nothing more they could say - this was something only Jim and Naomi could confront. Slowly, they left the room, closing the door behind them.
Jim, watching them go, felt a strange sense of relief. He no longer had to pretend.
Jim: "You didn't have to stay."
Naomi: "I wanted to stay."
Her voice was soft, but resolute. Jim couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes, his green hair partially veiling his face.
Jim: "Why? After everything I've done? After how I've pushed people away? I... I'm not someone worth staying for, Naomi."
She shook her head, her hand gently reaching for his.
Naomi: "You think I don't know that you're suffering? That you're punishing yourself for things that were never your fault?"
Jim flinched, but Naomi continued, her voice trembling with emotion.
Naomi: "I admired you, Jim. Ever since I was little, I heard stories about the young prodigy who joined Celestic Justice. My father would talk about you with so much pride - how you kept pushing forward, how you fought not just for yourself, but for others. I wanted to meet you, even just once. But I thought... I thought I'd only waste your time."
Her words struck Jim like a dagger. He lifted his head, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Naomi: "When I finally met you, I saw the real you. You're not just some hero in stories, you are a normal person. You carry so much pain, but you still choose to protect others. And I..."
Her voice broke for a moment, but she pressed on.
Naomi: "I fell in love with that person. Not the warrior. Not the prodigy. You, Jim."
Jim's breath hitched. His hands trembled, and for a moment, he couldn't move.
Jim: "Naomi... I..."
But the walls he had built around his heart weren't so easily broken. His guilt surged once more, forcing him to confront the thoughts he had buried.
Jim: "You deserve someone better. Someone who isn't broken. Someone who doesn't fear losing everything."
Naomi: "But I don't want anyone else."
Jim clenched his fists, his voice cracking.
Jim: "Naomi, I've lost so much. My friends, my allies - Edward. I can't... I can't lose you too. If something ever happened to you because of me..."
He trailed off, his words hanging heavily in the air. But Naomi's gaze didn't waver.
Naomi: "That's not your choice to make, Jim. I know the risks. I know how dangerous your world is. But I also know how much you mean to me. And if you think I'm going to stand by and let you throw yourself into loneliness just to protect me - you're wrong."
Jim's heart pounded. He couldn't deny it any longer. Deep down, he wanted her. The way she stood by him, the way she understood him, even the way her fiery red hair contrasted against his own green - it was as if they were meant to complement each other.
Jim: "I... I think I like you too, Naomi."
The words spilled from his lips before he could stop them. Naomi's eyes widened, tears forming as she clutched his hands tightly.
Jim: "But I don't know if I can be what you deserve. I'm afraid. I don't know how to stop being afraid."
Naomi smiled softly, her touch lingering on his face.
Naomi: "Then let's face that fear together."
Jim's trembling subsided as he felt the warmth of her words. For the first time in what felt like forever, the crushing weight on his chest began to lift.
He didn't have to carry it all alone.
And maybe, just maybe - he could finally allow himself to love.