light_a_spark | MCA#7 - Late Afternoon

Roy	Roy stared down at the letter in front of him. He knew it by heart by now and it still made the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end. Something was off about it and he could make plenty of guesses about what, none of them he was prepared to speak out loud to River and Lee. He'd promised Kerrigan that he would tell them if anything happened, but he more than a little pissed off at her that he already had to do it now and not in say... fifty years. He struggled, trying to get the anger under control as he glanced up at the clock. River and Lee would be here soon and there was no way he was going to allow River to just read his mind that easily.
River	The message she had received from Roy had contained no information other than to meet him, but it had still made River worried. She knocked lightly on the door.
Roy	Roy pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind and slipped the letter in his pocket before he got up to open the door. "Hey, River," he said softly, stepping aside so she could enter. "Come in."
River	She didn't try to read his mind, only sensed what came through naturally, which wasn't much. Entering the room, she gave Roy a questioning look. "News?"
Roy	Roy nodded, but didn't elaborate. "I called Lee too," he said as he closed the door. "Do you want to wait for him to get here first?"
River	"Your choice," River said. It was Roy's news to tell.
Roy	If he could get away with only having to say this once, Roy would take it gladly. "We'll wait then," he decided and motioned towards the couch. "Can I get you anything to drink?"
River	"Coffee, please." It wasn't important but it gave them something to do.
Lee	Lee arrived just slightly later and knocked on Roy's door.
Roy	Roy wasn't even in the kitchen yet and the coffee would have to wait. "Lee. Come in," Roy said the moment he opened the door. He stepped back already, moving towards the kitchen again. "Do you want coffee too?" It was being polite, not being a coward, really.
River	River sipped her own coffee, giving Lee a silent nod in greeting.
Lee	"No thanks," Lee said, shaking his head. "Had some earlier. I don't want to be bouncing off the walls."
Roy	Somehow Roy didn't think that would be a problem. He motioned for Lee to take a seat beside River and sat down in the armchair himself. "I've had some news about Kerrigan," he started, sure they would have guessed so by now.
River	Her mind was protected by a mental wall. She would listen to words spoken, first.
Lee	"Oh?" Lee asked, sitting down and raising his eyebrows. "So. What is it?"
Roy	Roy drew in a breath and he knew more than enough that avoiding the point and trying to dress it all up did absolutely nothing to soften the blow. He clenched his teeth and glanced up at both the students and he really wanted to hit Kerrigan for making him do this. "She was killed in action," he said, his voice soft but very clear.
River	River curled up, letting out a moan.
Lee	"Oh." Lee looked down, tapped his fingers against his knee and shook his head. "Oh. I'm sorry."
Roy	Roy grimaced a little, looking worried at River. There was no point in showing the letter, it was filled with empty words and nothing much to offer. "She died protecting people," he said quietly because if they knew Kerrigan, then they knew that was what she spent her life fighting for.
River	Yes, River knew, but that didn't make the pain go away. In fact it flooded her mind and she closed her eyes.
Lee	Lee wasn't good at this sort of thing. He was pretty sure he should comfort River somehow but he didn't know what to do or what to say or how to say it. So, he just kept his eyes focused on the ground and pretended to think of other things. "That's good, at least," he mumbled. "A good...way."
Roy	Roy wasn't much better at this than Lee was really and he wondered if maybe he should have asked Aly to be here as he was sure she was better at this. He nodded slowly, looking worried at both kids. "I'm sorry," he said just as quietly. "I wish I didn't have to tell you this. If there's anything I can do..."
Lee	"Yeah." Lee picked at a spot on his pants and shook his head. "Thanks, I'm good."
River	River didn't know what to say so she said, nothing, just tried to make that pain quiet down in her mind. It wasn't working. Finally she managed: "How? Details?" Learn from mistakes.
Roy	"I'm afraid I don't have any," he said softly. "She died defending New Gettysburg against the Protoss, that's all I know."
Lee	"Thanks for letting us know," Lee said weakly. "It's appreciated."
Roy	Roy nodded and glanced from Lee to River again. "The funeral's on Thursday," he said quietly. "If you want to go, I can arrange for a transport to take us there."
Lee	"I'd like to go," Lee said immediately.
River	"I'm going." River looked up, her gaze moving between Roy and Lee.
Roy	"Alright," Roy said. "I'll set up the transport."