Note from the Author: Konnichiwa! Jeez, it's been forever since I posted a fic. Time to rectify that! I put a lot of effort into this one so I hope you enjoy. Set on Zi with the usual New Century Zero setting, but the time period is a little more like ours. Tried to keep most everyone in character, for the most part. This story is going to have roughly 4 or 5 chapters, we'll see how everything goes! I usually like/write stories with large amounts of angst or tragedy, but this story is mostly…for lack of a better word…fluffy. Arigato-gozaimasu!!!
Disclaimer: Sadly, tragically, unhappily, despairingly…Zoids is not mine. Crap. Double crap. Alas, at least there's FF.Net! Zoids is © 1987-2000 Tomy.
Chapter One: Christmas Time is full of stress…
"Twenty…thirty…forty…fifty…sixty-five…crap. I'm runnin' low on cash," he murmured, running his fingers over the crumpled bills. Bit Cloud stuffed the money back into his wallet and ran a hand through his hair, swinging his legs back and forth as he sat on his bed. The holidays were coming, and sixty-five dollars was definitely not going to get him through the month.
"Guess I'll have to stop at the bank on my way into town." Bit stood up and stretched, reaching into his closet and pulling out his wool jacket. He frowned slightly as he shrugged his shoulders underneath the stiff material, it was itchy and smelled of mothballs. But it was warm and warmth was more important at the time. Closing the door behind him the young pilot strolled down the hallway, past the rest of the team who were busying themselves with various things in the common room.
Bit was just going to walk right by, but thought better of it and stepped into the room, clearing his throat. He received no response. Narrowing his eyes in annoyance, he repeated the action more obnoxiously. Doc looked up from his zoid models, a completely clueless expression on his face.
"Did you want something son?"
"Uh…yeah. Well I was wondering…if I were to go …say …like Christmas shopping or something… what would you guys want?" 'He, very smooth cowboy. As if they don't think you're enough of an idiot…' Doc smiled brightly and stars seemed to shine in his eyes as he sat in thought.
"Well I was just thinking about how much I would looooove a new Lightning Saix model, but I also need a few more D-Mantis', oh! But wouldn't it be awesome if I got a Koenig Wolf!…" Bit sweat-dropped and let Doc babble until he just continued talking to himself and completely forgot that Bit was even in the remote vicinity. Recovering from Doc's childish antics, he turned to Jamie.
"What about you Jamie? Anything you've been thinking about?" The younger boy looked up from the laundry he was folding and smiled.
"Well, truthfully I could use some more floppy disks, and there's a new jet-simulation game out called Kamikaze Krusade that looked cool." Bit made a mental note about the game and looked to Brad.
"Brad, what about you?"
"Whatever." Bit frowned.
"C'mon, at least gimme some idea of what you want."
"Bit, I said I.Don't.Care." Bit's expression turned mischievous.
"Fine then Scrooge, Teletubbies© it is." Brad's eyes widened noticeably at the mention at the extremely frightening furry creatures, and quickly spoke.
"Okay, coffee is always a good idea, and I don't know… maybe some gift certificates to the gaming shop in town." Bit smiled in victory.
"That's more like it." He turned to Leena, last one left.
"Leena? What do you want for Christmas?" She tore her eyes away from the tiny snowflakes that fell outside the window and sighed.
"What?"
"I asked you what you wanted for Christmas." She seemed genuinely surprised that he would ask.
"Me?" Bit rolled his eyes.
"Yes, you. How many others Leenas are there in the room?"
"Oh, ummm…" she looked down at the floor, flexing her toes in her socks. "I don't know Bit. Surprise me." Bit gave an exasperated sigh.
"Fine. Surprise it is." He turned away and exited the room, muttering under his breath "Just don't be shocked if it's teletubbies…"
~*~*~*~*~*~*^_^~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~_^~*~*~*~*~*~*~*^_^U~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~o.o~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Would you like that wrapped, Sir?" Bit thought for a moment.
"Does it cost extra?" The cashier shook her head. "Well then sure, thanks." Bit sighed and absentmindedly watched her wrap the gift he had bought. There was only one person left on his list, Leena. 'I don't know Bit. Surprise me.' What could I get Leena? Hey, how about some cookies? That's sort of shallow, I could get her something nicer than that. Anyway if I made her cookies I would end up eating them myself, he thought, a smirk crossing his face.
"Sir? You're all set."
Bit thanked her and exited the store, bags in hand. He walked slowly down the sidewalk, casually window-shopping like so many others this time of year. Coming to the end of the street he happened upon a small bookstore. One would surely miss it, but we know that Mr. Bit Cloud has the eyes of a hawk.
"Rainy Day Books," he read off the faded sign over the old wooden door. Well, Leena loves to read so I guess this is as good a place as any to start. He went inside, and immediately the smell of dust entered his nose, causing him to sneeze. The place wasn't very well kept, but oh did they have books! Rows upon rows of volumes and collections, fiction and non. A few people browsed, while an old man with thick-rimmed glasses peered at him from over the top of a thick novel behind the counter.
There was a small sign on the side of one shelf that read "Poetry", with an arrow pointing to the back of the store. Bit followed the sign and came across a large section of books, and stood there for a few minutes trying to decide on one. He was about to pick a large collection of fantasy, when a loud "thud" resounded behind him. He turned around and saw a book lying on the ground. Bit placed his bags on a chair and stooped down to put it back on the shelf, but the gold lettering caught his eye.
The book was ancient, it practically crumbled in his hands. "From Me to You: A Collection of Modern and Abstract Poetry" was written across the cover, author unknown. Bit gingerly opened the book and flipped through the pages, reading a little here and there. The writing was incredible, and Bit made a decision to get that book for Leena despite it's less-than-perfect appearance. Gathering his things Bit brought the book to the front desk and laid it on the counter. The old man looked at him grimly, trying to seem at least faintly amused that he had a customer.
"Can I help you?" he asked in a raspy voice, with a complete lack of emotion.
"Uh yeah, I'd like to buy this book." Bit reached into his back pocket for his wallet, but stopped short at the look on the old man's face. His eyes seemed to water as he looked at what Bit intended to purchase. Suddenly he grabbed the book and clutched it to his chest, backing away a step.
"I'm sorry, but this one is not for sale." Bit frowned and leaned on the counter.
"And why not?" The man seemed at a loss for words, but his grip on the book did not weaken.
"I just can't allow it to be bought. Simple as that."
"That's not a very good excuse." The man sighed and stared at the book, turning it over in his hands.
"It's very old; a collectible."
"Well it's a book, what good is it if it sits on the shelf and never gets read?" Bit asked, motioning to the books behind him. Surprisingly, the man's expression changed. He actually seemed to smile.
"Y'know young man, you're quite right. All right, you can have it. Just take good care of it, will you?" Bit smiled and nodded. He pulled out his wallet again as the old man carefully wrapped it in tissue paper and handed him a ten.
"So, who's it for?" The man asked slyly, giving Bit a wink. Bit blushed slightly. "Aha, it's a girl!" the man concluded cheerfully. "Well I'm sure she'll enjoy it. Take care young man."
"You too, " Bit replied, placing the book in one of his shopping bags. With that he turned around and left the store, on his way back home to the Toros Base.
*~Owari~*
Author note: End of Chapter One! Yay! Be kind, review Next chapter up soon, I promise!
Disclaimer: Sadly, tragically, unhappily, despairingly…Zoids is not mine. Crap. Double crap. Alas, at least there's FF.Net! Zoids is © 1987-2000 Tomy.
Chapter One: Christmas Time is full of stress…
"Twenty…thirty…forty…fifty…sixty-five…crap. I'm runnin' low on cash," he murmured, running his fingers over the crumpled bills. Bit Cloud stuffed the money back into his wallet and ran a hand through his hair, swinging his legs back and forth as he sat on his bed. The holidays were coming, and sixty-five dollars was definitely not going to get him through the month.
"Guess I'll have to stop at the bank on my way into town." Bit stood up and stretched, reaching into his closet and pulling out his wool jacket. He frowned slightly as he shrugged his shoulders underneath the stiff material, it was itchy and smelled of mothballs. But it was warm and warmth was more important at the time. Closing the door behind him the young pilot strolled down the hallway, past the rest of the team who were busying themselves with various things in the common room.
Bit was just going to walk right by, but thought better of it and stepped into the room, clearing his throat. He received no response. Narrowing his eyes in annoyance, he repeated the action more obnoxiously. Doc looked up from his zoid models, a completely clueless expression on his face.
"Did you want something son?"
"Uh…yeah. Well I was wondering…if I were to go …say …like Christmas shopping or something… what would you guys want?" 'He, very smooth cowboy. As if they don't think you're enough of an idiot…' Doc smiled brightly and stars seemed to shine in his eyes as he sat in thought.
"Well I was just thinking about how much I would looooove a new Lightning Saix model, but I also need a few more D-Mantis', oh! But wouldn't it be awesome if I got a Koenig Wolf!…" Bit sweat-dropped and let Doc babble until he just continued talking to himself and completely forgot that Bit was even in the remote vicinity. Recovering from Doc's childish antics, he turned to Jamie.
"What about you Jamie? Anything you've been thinking about?" The younger boy looked up from the laundry he was folding and smiled.
"Well, truthfully I could use some more floppy disks, and there's a new jet-simulation game out called Kamikaze Krusade that looked cool." Bit made a mental note about the game and looked to Brad.
"Brad, what about you?"
"Whatever." Bit frowned.
"C'mon, at least gimme some idea of what you want."
"Bit, I said I.Don't.Care." Bit's expression turned mischievous.
"Fine then Scrooge, Teletubbies© it is." Brad's eyes widened noticeably at the mention at the extremely frightening furry creatures, and quickly spoke.
"Okay, coffee is always a good idea, and I don't know… maybe some gift certificates to the gaming shop in town." Bit smiled in victory.
"That's more like it." He turned to Leena, last one left.
"Leena? What do you want for Christmas?" She tore her eyes away from the tiny snowflakes that fell outside the window and sighed.
"What?"
"I asked you what you wanted for Christmas." She seemed genuinely surprised that he would ask.
"Me?" Bit rolled his eyes.
"Yes, you. How many others Leenas are there in the room?"
"Oh, ummm…" she looked down at the floor, flexing her toes in her socks. "I don't know Bit. Surprise me." Bit gave an exasperated sigh.
"Fine. Surprise it is." He turned away and exited the room, muttering under his breath "Just don't be shocked if it's teletubbies…"
~*~*~*~*~*~*^_^~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~_^~*~*~*~*~*~*~*^_^U~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~o.o~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Would you like that wrapped, Sir?" Bit thought for a moment.
"Does it cost extra?" The cashier shook her head. "Well then sure, thanks." Bit sighed and absentmindedly watched her wrap the gift he had bought. There was only one person left on his list, Leena. 'I don't know Bit. Surprise me.' What could I get Leena? Hey, how about some cookies? That's sort of shallow, I could get her something nicer than that. Anyway if I made her cookies I would end up eating them myself, he thought, a smirk crossing his face.
"Sir? You're all set."
Bit thanked her and exited the store, bags in hand. He walked slowly down the sidewalk, casually window-shopping like so many others this time of year. Coming to the end of the street he happened upon a small bookstore. One would surely miss it, but we know that Mr. Bit Cloud has the eyes of a hawk.
"Rainy Day Books," he read off the faded sign over the old wooden door. Well, Leena loves to read so I guess this is as good a place as any to start. He went inside, and immediately the smell of dust entered his nose, causing him to sneeze. The place wasn't very well kept, but oh did they have books! Rows upon rows of volumes and collections, fiction and non. A few people browsed, while an old man with thick-rimmed glasses peered at him from over the top of a thick novel behind the counter.
There was a small sign on the side of one shelf that read "Poetry", with an arrow pointing to the back of the store. Bit followed the sign and came across a large section of books, and stood there for a few minutes trying to decide on one. He was about to pick a large collection of fantasy, when a loud "thud" resounded behind him. He turned around and saw a book lying on the ground. Bit placed his bags on a chair and stooped down to put it back on the shelf, but the gold lettering caught his eye.
The book was ancient, it practically crumbled in his hands. "From Me to You: A Collection of Modern and Abstract Poetry" was written across the cover, author unknown. Bit gingerly opened the book and flipped through the pages, reading a little here and there. The writing was incredible, and Bit made a decision to get that book for Leena despite it's less-than-perfect appearance. Gathering his things Bit brought the book to the front desk and laid it on the counter. The old man looked at him grimly, trying to seem at least faintly amused that he had a customer.
"Can I help you?" he asked in a raspy voice, with a complete lack of emotion.
"Uh yeah, I'd like to buy this book." Bit reached into his back pocket for his wallet, but stopped short at the look on the old man's face. His eyes seemed to water as he looked at what Bit intended to purchase. Suddenly he grabbed the book and clutched it to his chest, backing away a step.
"I'm sorry, but this one is not for sale." Bit frowned and leaned on the counter.
"And why not?" The man seemed at a loss for words, but his grip on the book did not weaken.
"I just can't allow it to be bought. Simple as that."
"That's not a very good excuse." The man sighed and stared at the book, turning it over in his hands.
"It's very old; a collectible."
"Well it's a book, what good is it if it sits on the shelf and never gets read?" Bit asked, motioning to the books behind him. Surprisingly, the man's expression changed. He actually seemed to smile.
"Y'know young man, you're quite right. All right, you can have it. Just take good care of it, will you?" Bit smiled and nodded. He pulled out his wallet again as the old man carefully wrapped it in tissue paper and handed him a ten.
"So, who's it for?" The man asked slyly, giving Bit a wink. Bit blushed slightly. "Aha, it's a girl!" the man concluded cheerfully. "Well I'm sure she'll enjoy it. Take care young man."
"You too, " Bit replied, placing the book in one of his shopping bags. With that he turned around and left the store, on his way back home to the Toros Base.
*~Owari~*
Author note: End of Chapter One! Yay! Be kind, review Next chapter up soon, I promise!