A little something I put together (knowing I have other things in queue, shame on me) when organizing Nep pictures. I thought it would be fun to let an idea like this snowball and see where it will go. Trying a new thing here or there as well so here's hoping I pull it off well. No idea how idea this will be right away but that's half the fun I suppose.

Mina's taken extra care to make sure that the twins would be occupied for the day and took them out to play at the latest amusement park, simply named Super Lowee World. That isn't necessarily the kind of name I would've chosen for it, but I can't complain too much if it entertains people. I hope she's able to keep Ram and Rom busy for a while, I...I've finally decided to invite Vert over for a few games and then some, and I even pushed aside my current book to make sure I have time for her. I can't say I'm too happy about her taking her sweet time though, it's making it harder to decide on what to play. "Where are you..." I felt stupid for asking her if she wanted to hang out, and for feeling the way I did when I asked but...it's the only way to know for sure. What if our constant bickering can lead to something else and we're completely oblivious to it? I mean, Noire constantly goes on and on about how great having a rival like Neptune is, but it's obvious what she's getting at even though she's weird about it. I'll be damned if I end up like her though, I'd rather get shot down than to be left wondering who knows how long what could've been.

VRRRRR! VRRRRR! A soft vibration on my night stand-my phone! I ran over to my writing desk and checked to see who it was, and sure it enough it was Vert...with bad news. It looks like Chika fell ill, for real this time, and that she needs to run some errands for medicine and food, so she won't be able to make it today. I nearly crushed the phone in my hand and cursed the stupid emoticon she had left at the end of the message. Throwing it aside I turned to my bed, crouched down beside it, got a good grip and-

"Lady Blanc?" I was promptly interrupted by a brunette in a maid outfit, who had chosen the worst possible time to cross my path. "I-I can see you're busy but you have a guest..."

"If I'm busy then why the hell are you bothering me? If it's not for anything important kick their ass to the curb!" I wasn't going to let some new intern get in the way of my venting, so I went ahead lifted the bed slightly a few times to prepare myself for the flip. Damn Chika, it's bad enough that she torments Vert all the time but to actually make herself sick? On the one day I work up the nerve to ask her to come over? I hoisted the bed up high on last time before letting loose. She better not let me catch her alone or else-

"Heeeeeeeeey Blaaaaaaaaaaanc!" Neptune!? What the hell is she doing here? "Oh, are you moving stuff around? Let me help you with that!"

"What? No, get outta here dumbass!" Predictably she ignored me and put whatever was in her bag on my work desk in order to come over to 'help' me move my stuff around.

"Alrighty then, where are we moving this?" She jumped to the other side and stood there looking like a fool awaiting my instructions but I can't bring myself to vent like this with her around.

"I-I was actually getting ready to put the bed down here. If you want to make yourself useful get your ass over here and make sure I don't screw up." As I slowly let the bed back down Neptune skipped over to my side with a huge smile on her face and watched carefully as the bed made contact with the floor. "Why are you here anyway?" I asked as I sat down on the edge of what was supposed to be halfway across the room by now.

"Weeeeell, I was bored and thought 'who else might be bored' and you immediately came to mind." Tch, one of the few times you're right. "I figured I could get away with blowing work off to go be bored with you or something. Oh, I even got..." Her voice trailed off as she went to the bag she dropped off just a moment ago and pulled out two cups and handed one to me. "Here ya go!" Neptune didn't give me much of a choice and nearly forced the drink into my hands before taking a seat next to me. A seat...unusually close to me...

It was safe to say that she wouldn't quit staring at me until I took a sip. "Chocolate." I assumed she waited to drink hers to make sure I liked mine, and while I don't mind hot chocolate, she could've done a little better. The thought counts I suppose, although I can't imagine why she's doing all this...

"Oops, that's mine. I had yours custom brewed for you!" She snatched the cup away and swapped it with hers before I had a chance to say anything and took a sip. "Ahhh, hot cocoa's the best. What are you waiting for? Drink up already!"

I was a little hesitant about drinking right away initially because after getting a taste of the chocolate I was looking forward to finishing it. Now with her saying it was 'custom brewed' I'm a little wary, but she's here and I can't really get out of this situation. Maybe we could share that cup...wait, what the hell am I thinking!? I gripped my cup and took a bold swig and was hit by an unexpected hint of citrus. I paused and took another couple of sips afterward in an attempt to figure out what kind of tea this was, but nothing came to mind. "What is this?" There's no way Neptune was being this thoughtful...

She was in the middle of drinking her cocoa and bounced in place, as if she were waiting to surprise me with the answer. "Tangerine!" Was she always this thoughtful or have I just never noticed? "I knew you wouldn't be up for hanging out with me so I decided to get something special to bribe you with, and I think it's working~"

"You..." I hadn't noticed but I was drinking my tea at such a steady rate that it was gone before I could truly enjoy it. "Thank you..." Dammit, she's smiling at me. This stupid tea's warmed my face up and I can't tell if I'm blushing in fro-is she getting closer?

Her hips bumped into mine and she rested her head on my shoulder. "It's been a long time since I've felt like this..." She said as she simply held her cup in her lap, and let loose a long sigh, which set off all sorts of signals in my head.

"I think the boredom is getting to your head." I said, trying to sound as calm as possible, while standing up and getting away from Neptune. There's something wrong with her and the only way of helping her out that I know of is playing games. "I set up my console in here so you we can get straight to some of my new games if you want." I pointed towards the other side of the room with a large, HD TV and my console, along with a newly installed sound system that I think only she'd appreciate. She didn't budge and drank some more of her cocoa, which prompted me to take further measures. If she didn't jump at this chance she's beyond help. "I'll even let you choose the game..."

That did it. Neptune was finishing her drink and nearly choked on the last of it before looking at me as if I'd lost my mind. "What? You're going to let me...pick a game?" She stood up, putting her cup aside, and walked towards me while pointing at herself. "The very same me that usually tires everyone out when it's party time at her place? The me that usually can't make up her mind because it's pretty funny to see who'll fuss at me first when I take too long? The-"

I stood my ground and put a single finger on her mouth, silencing her instantly. "If you don't shut up and pick I'll tell do it for you." We both stood still and stared at each other until Neptune quietly slid past me, brushing against my shoulder, to go pick a game while I stared at my hand wondering what the just happened between us. That...isn't how I'd normally shut her up...I must've caught whatever she has and that's why I'm acting funny.

"How about Ultra Simian Sphere?" The tone of her voice completely changed from earlier, and she brought the game back to me for some reason. "If that's cool with you, that is. Nepgear's really clumsy around most of the fun tracks and Histy is Histy and..."

I nodded and remained silent to hide my confusion from her. I can't fathom what's even happening right now but did Neptune really...did she just ask if it was alright to play something? I'll need to focus on the game first before I even begin trying to figure what's wrong with us...

PLAYER ONE - WINS!

"You won...by a...monkey's hair...Blanc!" Neptune was out of breath as our final race came to a close and the lap times of our racers showed up. Sure enough our times were identical, save for the few times she lost balance on her Lowee Board that cost her precious milliseconds and the Banana Grand Prix.

"You've gone soft." I said as I stepped off my own board, slid it forward, and went to my bed to rest. "You used to be a lot tougher than this, you know. The you from back then would've easily been able to hold her own against me without even transforming." It's probably for the better that she's softened up, I can't imagine how Nepgear would've turned out if she had an influence like the old Neptune. Hm, I wonder how Ram and Rom would've ended up had I not changed as well.

"Sometimes being soft isn't all that bad, you know?" She said, recovering from her work out, as she ran over and jumped onto my bed with her arms spread out. She stayed sprawled down face first for a few seconds before turning over on her back to look at me. "Hey, remember Loweenie?"

"I try not to." How could I forget? That was one of the first things she called my console when she made her debut, and needless to say it pissed me off. I think we spent the very first day duking it out on the outskirts of Planeptune shortly after that. We didn't want to send the wrong message so we only fought in our normal forms and settled for a draw...until later that night... "Why? Are you going to start that crap again?"

"No, no..." What is she getting at? That was such a long time ago and we promised to put that behind us when Noire and Vert showed up. Neither of them would've known any better to hold back for the people's sake and that era of the Console War might've gotten messy. Neptune rose up and shoved my shoulder for no reason, so I pushed her. She pushed me again with a little more force so I pushed her back once again. I took the initiative this time and pushed her first this round, and to my surprise she grabbed my shoulder, threw me on my back and hovered over me using my shoulder for support. "...did you hate me back then?"

I stared up into her amethyst eyes to see that she was dead serious asking that. "I..." How could I hate the first person to shake up Gamindustri after so many years of nothing? Much less the first person that was willing to go toe-to-toe with my hotblooded self back then. "No, I didn't hate you back then. You were a rival worth a damn and-"

She closed her eyes and her face approached mine and before I knew it our lips were touching. My eyes widened in surprise as we lied there for what felt like an eternity but I didn't resist her, I just...accepted it. Neptune and I...we're...kissing... "Mmm..." She pulled away from me and gave me the gentlest of looks before trying to speak again. "Blanc, you wanna know why I really came here?" I was still at a loss for words, and breath, so she went on talking while I attempted to nod. "Boredom isn't the only reason I'm over here, I..." Her eyes welled up a little. "I got turned down by Noire again. I asked her if she wanted to get together to play something but she said she didn't have time for childish things and told me to be more responsible and gave me the usual again." This is so unlike her, Noire must've been much harsher than she's letting on...and games? Childish?

I transformed on the spot after hearing what I just heard and was ready to lay into her. "What!?" If it wasn't for those 'childish things' she wouldn't be half the goddess she was today! "I'm gonna...Neptune get the hell off of me! Where does she get off sayin' crap like that to you!?" I threw her off of me and tried leaving the room, but she transformed as well and grabbed me by the arm. "The hell's your problem? You're just gonna let her talk to you like that? You...Purple Heart wouldn't stand for this!"

"It's nothing to get worked up over."

Seeing her calmly hold me back from doing her a favor was starting to piss me even more. That's more unwinding on Noire I'll have to do for her sake now. "Don't bullshit me when you're tearing up like that! If I had said that you would've-"

"Thought about what you said and ask what would make you say something like that." Her words stunned me and she took that to her advantage, turning me back towards her and gripping my shoulders tightly. "I've always considered you a great friend, Blanc, even back when we were at odds with each other so I would've thought twice about a statement like that." I couldn't believe what I was hearing and turned away from her. "Lately I've realized that Noire isn't what I want...in a friend."

I calmed down a little but everything she said was throwing me for a loop and I couldn't decide whether to be mad or confused about the whole situation. "Then what DO you want...in a friend?"

Out the corner of my eye I saw a glimmer of a smile. "I want someone who isn't afraid to admit when they're wrong or too proud to compliment others when they do well. That someone has to be able to laugh when they're happy, or let others know when they need a shoulder to cry on. They have to know when to work hard and when to have fun and live a little. I want...you to be that friend."

My heart raced as she rambled on and on about what she wanted and I especially couldn't look her in the face after hearing her say she wanted me to be that person. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. No insults, no questions, nothing but a heavy sigh escaped my throat.

"You feel the same way, right?" I locked eyes with her when she put the focus on me and I still couldn't say anything to shut her up. Although...that faint smile she had quickly faded away and she let me go. "That's...sorry...I-I only meant to come over here to forget what happened to me and I let things out of hand. I shouldn't have kissed you without warning, my em-"

Sorry? You came over here for a good time and ended up spilling your guts, and you say 'sorry'? "Lay off with that apology crap!" I took her hands into mine and held on to them so tightly that she winced a little and decided to do the talking for a change. "You needed a breather and I was here for you, don't tell me 'sorry' for doing something that made you feel better. You're better than this! Where's the cocky Purple Heart that didn't take crap from anyone and fought for what she wanted?"

"I-"

"Shut up." I hovered to get eye to eye with her and nervously locked my fingers with hers. "The Purple Heart I know and fought for days on end would've dared me to do something about a stolen kiss. So..." I took a deep breath and brought my body up to hers...aggravating myself a little in the process. "...quit blubbering like an idiot, you look like an ass, and get back to doing what you do best!"

Neptune made several points earlier that got me thinking: Vert is better off without someone like me interfering with her weird manly games, MMOs and that annoying oracle of hers. I wouldn't have wanted to put up with most of that anyway, and if she had exposed Ram or Rom to the former she would've had hell to pay. "Well?" That confident smile of hers had returned and it looked like she was waiting for something. "Are you going to steal that kiss back...Lowimp? Or should I just chalk that up with the other things I have other you?"

I smirked at her attempt to bring back those stupid nicknames from ages ago and gently bumped my head against hers. I could feel her heart racing alongside mine as she pushed forward, provoking me even further with the easiest trick in her book. "I'm gonna steal more than that, Plaineptune." ...shit, now I remember why I never bothered making fun of her console, although of our insults were ever good.

"Hmph, clever as always I see. You'll have to fight for it!" Her eyes lit up and she tightened her grip on my hands, taking the lead in an attempt to overpower me.

"With pleasure!" I felt that old spark between us flare up as we began what would be the longest day, and night, of our lives...