This is a sort-of follow up to my last Abyss fic, Almost. You don't have to read that to understand this one, but it wouldn't hurt if you did :)
Set about six years post-game, when Anise is all grown up and climbing ranks within the Order.
Anise had always liked being busy. She was never comfortable with the thought of sitting still and doing nothing, and as such, was always looking for something to do.
Still, she was only human. Passionate about work as she was, even she needed to sit back and take a break every now and then. Even if it took some reminding from those around her for her to do so.
"This is nice," she was saying to the pensive Colonel. "It's been a while since we did something like this, huh, Colonel?"
"Mm, yes, I believe so. With yourself far too busy quelling civil uprisings to spare a moment of tea with an old man, as it were."
She laughed, a grown woman's laugh. "Oh, you know I'll always have time for you, Colonel."
"Hmm, yes, I can certainly see that," He smiled pleasantly. "With you sneaking away from your ambassadorial duties to have tea with an elderly man… You have all the time in the world, surely." She pouted and resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Boo, I didn't sneak away… Having tea with the Emperor's right hand man should still count for some sort of duty, shouldn't it? And besides, you invited me!"
"Ah, did I? I must have forgotten, in my old age. My sincerest apologies..." This time, she did roll her eyes (but ultimately failed to keep the amused grin from spilling over her features)
"Oh, whatever. But you know I would've come even if you hadn't insisted, Colonel!" She poked around at the strawberry tart on the plate before her. "I'd much rather be having tea and scones with you than be sitting with those old men for another silly meeting."
He arched a single eyebrow at this, before taking a sip of Earl Grey. "Hm, is that so? I'm touched, really."
"Hey, what're you sounding all disbelieving for? It's true!"
"Nothing, nothing." He shrugged it off, and Anise didn't like the way the light glinted off his glasses like that. You'd think it would get less creepy over the years, but it really didn't. "I merely wondered if there were any truth to that statement. I have the feeling you'd rather be having afternoon tea with His Majesty, after all."
"Wha…?" Anise's eyebrows shot up while she tried to process this newest development. "C-Colonel, it's not… Wait, are you- Colonel, you're not jealous, are you?"
His own eyebrows rose a little, in mock surprise. "Oh, no, I'm afraid you misunderstand. Anyone remotely attracted to that man has my utmost pity and best wishes for good luck. I am far from envying you, Anise."
She was hard-pressed to keep from giggling outright. It wasn't easy to read the Colonel, but it was times like these that she wondered just who he thought he was fooling. "Don't worry, Colonel. You'll always be my favorite."
It wasn't easy to make him smile, either... But that little admission would have succeeded (maybe), if not for the fact that Emperor Peony himself had chosen that very moment to walk in, in time to hear Anise's latest sentiment. He gasped theatrically.
"But Anise! That's not what you said last night!"
Jade twitched. He was about to let the two know just what he thought of their antics when he realized Natalia had joined them, a few steps behind Peony, and had heard his latest outburst. He decided, leaning back to watch the princess' utterly scandalized expression sink in, that perhaps he'd let things run its course this time.