It's like some uncontrollable force . . . like gravity. You can try to fight it as much as you like. But you're always going to fall.
Nanoha leaned backward and stared at the sun through an open hand, sunlight bathing her face through the open spaces between her fingers. The grass tickling her back felt warm against her flight instructor uniform, eliciting a contented smile from the young woman. She grinned as she felt the light breeze move her pony tail, a strand of brown hair ticking her cheek. The brunette reached to brush it away but someone took care of it. Blinking in surprise, she gazed upward into the face of a grinning bespeckled man with blonde hair tied back in a familiar green ribbon.
"Yuuno-kun?" The green-eyed man just smiled, nodding his head gently. He walked forward and and sat down on the grass beside Nanoha.
"Mou, Yuuno-kun has to see me with my hair messy," mumbled the brunette, hand now covering her eyes playfully. The man couldn't help but chuckle at the childish action. He reached and gently pulled the hand from the beautiful face.
"Why are you hiding from you students, Nanoha? Did you get tired of blasting them to smithereens?" He swiftly pulled his hand back from a half-hearted slap.
"Mou! You shouldn't listen to Hayate-chan! She's not serious half the time." Pouting sullenly Nanoha crossed her arms across her chest petulantly while lying down on her back.
"Nanoha." The gentle manner that the words were said in made Nanoha stop. A soft hand used to holding large tomes or dusting off delicate artifacts brushed her wrist. The brunette frowned.
"What's wrong, Yuuno-kun?"
The man gave her a lopsided grin. Carelessly he flopped onto his back, releasing her from his grip. Stretching his legs out he smiled, eyes closed in contentment. Curiously Nanoha rolled onto her stomach and examined the suddenly still figure. Blushing she repeatedly poked his cheek.
"Yuu-no-kun!" An emerald eye opened lazily, taking in the red faced woman.
"Ha, you're a tomato Nanoha."
"Mou! J-just tell me what's wrong, Yuuno-kun." A blonde eyebrow arched subtly. He sighed and shrugged.
"It's just . . . I was lonely at the library and I wanted to see you." Worriedly he studied the features of a face he had loved since he was nine. Nanoha looked shocked for a brief second, but hid it quickly with a shy smile.
"Oh . . . I see."
The blonde boy frowned. "You don't want me to see you?" he asked in a resigned tone.
"N-no! Of course not. When Yuuno-kun is here I feel . . . happy." The brunette gazed at her hands in front of her, looking away from the person beside her. To her surprise a warm arm wrapped around her waist. She glanced over in surprise. Yuuno was blushing terribly, his glasses almost fogging up in embarrassment. After a pregnant stillness the girl leaned into the touch and smiled.
"I missed you too, Yuuno-kun."
. . . . . . . .
Fate tiredly opened a blood shot eye, feeling the exhaustion seep into her body. Slowly she blinked and saw only the piles of paperwork, caging her in like an animal. Rubbing her eyes she pulled off her glasses, sitting up in her comfortable desk chair. Strangely, something soft fell from her back. Glancing over her shoulders she saw a simple blue blanket. She fisted the fabric in her hand, a frown pulling her brow into a furrowed line.
"Ah, so the enforcer lives."
Fate glanced to her right and smiled.
"Good morning, Hayate."
"Che, more like 'Good afternoon.'" The short-haired brunette jabbed a finger at the window behind her. "Look at the sky. It's an hour past noon."
Fate's eyes widened in surprise. The sky was a clear bright azure, so different from the pitch black darkness she had fallen asleep in. That was the same sky that Nanoha always loved. Nanoha . . . The blonde winced in pain.
Hayate pretended to not notice the troubled look on the girl's face. It was better to ignore than get the hurt expression on her face. The expression that made Hayate feel like a murderer. Technically she was a murderer, wasn't she? A murderer of love . . .
Straightening from the relaxed position against the wall the short girl ambled toward the door's opening. She paused before fully exiting the room. Hayate peeked at Fate from the corner of her eye.
"Are you alright . . . Fate-chan?" The blonde stopped arranging the papers on her desk and just stared blankly at the girl.
"What?"
The short haired brunette bit her tongue hard.
"Mm, nevermind." Casually she waved a hand as she left. Nevermind . . .
. . . . . . .
When did it start? This unimaginable feeling? My heart started to ache every time I saw you. It was almost too much to bear. But the worst part was when you never took notice. You just ignored it, like my feelings weren't obvious. What did you want from me? Shout my love from the roof tops like some silly movie? Would that have made you happy? Would that have made you mine?
. . . . . .
"Ne, Fate-chan?"
The blonde stiffened. Her fingers twitched, the cold pen in her hand dropping with a clatter on the desk. She swallowed and busied herslef with a stack of papers. They were too tall anyway. It was high time that they were trimmed down a bit.
"Fate-chan."
"Oh . . . what is it, N-nanoha?" Burgundy momentarily caught sight of slate blue. The agonized gleam in Nanoha's eyes made Fate stop trying to pretend that the brunette would go away.
The girl was dressed in her usual white and blue flight instructor uniform. Fate's breath hitched as her eyes examined the gorgeous figure.
"Do you hate me, Fate-chan?" The brunette stepped forward, resting her hands lightly on the desk, avoiding the small paper barriers.
The blonde avoided eye contact.
"Fate-chan . . ."
A cheerful-fake-smile replaced the frown. Reaching forward she lightly touched Nanoha's wrist.
"How-How could I hate the person who saved me from my terrible situation as child? Do you think me to be that ungrateful?" The wine red eyes blazed with unsaid emotion. The grip on Nanoha's wrist tightened uncomfortably. The girl ignored the tightness and leaned forward until the their foreheads almost touched.
"Ungrateful? It almost sounds like you owe me something, Fate-chan. Is that what you think of me as? Your savior?" Cold slate blue glared at begrudging burgundy.
"Yes. My savior and nothing more."
Nanoha almost felt tears well in her eyes. Almost.
"Oh, I see. So we're not friends anymore." The brunette drowned in the rich wine colored eyes. She felt like she could stare into the depths of her soul.
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
The brunette winced at the sudden venom in Fate's voice.
"When did I ever say that?"
The blonde just coldly stared into the slate blue.
Nanoha growled and pulled away breaking the eye contact. She turned and began to walk away. She couldn't handle Fate anymore. Ever since . . .
"How is Yuuno?" Was that amusement leaking into Fate's tone?
The brunette paused at the steel wrought door. Hesitantly she brought her finger tips to her lips, blushing.
"H-he's-" Nanoha stopped herself and cast a glance over at Fate. And then she left the blonde girl alone, unable to bear the red eyes of lonely regret.
They are the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. Like chips of rubies . . . or pools of a rich French wine. Regardless of what color they exactly are, they are full of emotion. The first time I saw them they were full of loneliness. And it was then that I knew what I wanted: I wanted those eyes to shine with happiness.
A/N So . . . This takes place before StrikerS. It is a prologue so don't worry if you're incredibly confused. All shall be explained in good time. Was the Yuuno/Nanoha exchange too forced? I'm not used to writing about them like that so please be honest. Please tell me what you think through a review. Thanks.