auniverse story. haha...ha. i tried... honest, i did.
disclaimer: the nanoha series isn't mine. i just wrote this thing using the characters
sorry, the characters are going to seem ooc partly due to the fact that it's an au and (more so) partly due to the fact that I suck at writing. so be warned in advance. without further annoyances, enjoy.
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You know how sometimes in class, teachers ask you to use one word to sum up yourself. Describe yourself, entirely. Well, I've got one for me: normal. Normal parents. Normal friends. Normal school. Normal lifestyle. Normal, normal, normal. Everything is so normal. I suppose any synonym of normal would work as well: average. Average looks. Average grades. I mean, it's not that my life is dissatisfying or anything, but sometimes I want...
More than just ordinary.
Summer has started. Everyday, that thought is pounded through my head a million times. If I'm not reminded of it by the empty dorms when I wake up every morning, then I am by my blurred vision from the heat waves in the afternoon, the squealing girls at work talking about their 'summer princes', and all the kids that seem to wander in the streets at odd hours of the morning. It's a cycle that happens every year. Summer starts and so does my summer job. Everything is just so very...normal. Boring.
...
..
.
Oh, shit.
Job.
My eyes snap open, and I realize, "I don't have a summer job yet." Sitting up in my bed, I look around my bed, searching for my phone. I spot a bit of pink on the floor and try grabbing it. "Ah, how did it get there...nghh, it's too far." I sigh and will myself to get out of bed, picking up my cell phone. "Mou... wonder why it didn't go off today." I rub my head in annoyance, " Guess I should go look at what jobs are available."
Oh right, introductions...introductions. I need to rehearse for the interviews...if there are any. Hopefully not, but just to be safe. "Nice to meet you, I'm Takamachi Nanoha. Or should I say... it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." I chew idly on a piece of toast. " I'm 19, and I'd like to apply for a position at your...umm... cafe? I guess...or a bar, I've worked at those before. Why I want a summer job? Nyahah..ha. Don't tell anyone, but it's actually this scheme I created so I could stay away from my family on breaks and holidays. Yeah... I probably shouldn't say that."
It's not that I don't love my family or anything. Mother and father still act like newlyweds which would be extremely cute if I weren't their daughter. I feel a bit awkward watching my parents be all affectionate and such. You'd think I'd get used to it, seeing it all through my life, for the most part. My older brother and sister are both really nice to me, but at the same time they interact really well with each other. So, I kind of feel like I'm in the way. An extra. I was born into a really loving household, I know that, but I feel as though... if I weren't there, nothing would change. Maybe I'm being the spoiled youngest child, but those are my thoughts. Anyway...so this summer job is my way of avoiding my family and hopefully occupy myself enough that I don't think about this. And who knows. I might find my own 'summer prince'.
Readying myself for the day, I grab a pair of blue jeans, a white spaghetti-strapped tank top, and a tan colored jacket just in case the weather drops later. I turn to face a mirror and am met by tired light lavender eyes. My light brown hair, which is slightly tangled, frames my face in a very ordinary way. Normal. Everything is just so very normal.
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After about an hour or two of walking into various cafes, bookstores, and small eateries, asking about employment, I decide to rest and calm my nerves. Luckily, I find a conveniently placed vending machine with soft drinks. I sigh as I press the button for coke. "Why can't anyone hire someone. Why does the staff have to be full everywhere?!" When I hear a clunk, I reach down and retrieve the drink from the compartment and open the can. I take a generous gulp of the soda, the iced beverage cooling and soothing my parched throat in the summer heat. My eyes flutter shut, a content sigh escapes my lips. That was nice.
I finish my soda. My eyes slowly open, and I feel as if I've been hit in the face by reality as the surrounding invades my senses. The summer heat and the sound of cicadas swim towards me, engulfing me in an overbearing hug. "Dammit. I still need to find a job." My irritated voice is laced with desperation. I look reluctantly at the entertainment district.
Each time a clothes store or cafe of sorts would decline my offer of services, I would unwillingly edge a bit closer to the district's borders. Working in the entertainment district is fine, but most of the available jobs are near its borders, close to the not-so-safe territory of the red-light district. I heave a deep sigh, hoping to get a job soon.
Stretching and relaxing, I sit outside on one of the benches. I look at the sky, noting that it's pretty late in the afternoon. Probably around four-ish. I got a job at a bar. Though now that I think about it...it seems more like a hostess club. Good news is that I'm not too close to the red-light district, but closer than comfortable. I also didn't have to go through much of an interview. The down side...is well... if it's a hostess club. Drinking with clients, entertaining clients,...flirting with clients? I sigh deeply. What have I gotten myself into? I stand up and walk into the club with the sign Red Rose.
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I look in the full body mirror at my outfit. I'm required to wear a pair of black pants and a red vest with rose-like patterns with an extremely low V cut in the front, showing off a good portion of my chest. I fiddle with the vest uncomfortably.
"You're new at this." I hear a familiar voice laced with amusement. I turn around to bright blue eyes and short brown hair.
"H-Hayate-chan. What are you doing here?" Shock clearly evident on my face.
"Hahaha. Nanoha-chan. Hahah-your face. Your face. Is. Priceless." Hayate says in between gasps, one hand on her stomach while the other is grasping my shoulder for support, as if her life depends on it.
Hayate-chan is a friend and classmate of mine at college. She's a pretty unique person. Her grades are above average, and she has some pretty... interesting hobbies. I've heard that she helps her relatives with cases every once in a while. Oh right, she doesn't live with her parents, she lives with four of her relatives, thought I don't know if they're cousins or aunts or uncles. She always refers to them by name or just as 'relatives'. I haven't met them yet, but I know they all work with the police in investigations. They solve crime cases, I think.
"Ha. Ha." Her laughing has subsided and she lifts her face to look at me. Her eyes are sparkling unnaturally, so I know she's trying to hold back her laughter. I frown. She smiles, widely. "Oh, I was asked to make designs for the outfit at this hostess club. This place is quite new, you know." That explains the short interview. "So, how do you like the outfit?" She steps back a couple feet and her eyes trail up and down my body. I feel my face heating up. She waits happily for me to reply.
"U-umm. Hayate-chan. What's with the front? There's only a vest. Isn't that a bit, well, lacking?"
"Hmm? Oh, too bad they rejected my idea for a maid outfit. You'd look good in it." Ignore that comment. "Well, they requested simple but stylish. I hope it was to their liking. I just figured, a top and bottom would seem pretty simple." After a pause, Hayate grins, "What do you think?"
"Eh? I-I think it looks nice, very st-stylish. Umm, well, the vest...is well, really low cut." I voice out nervously, hoping I didn't offend her. Instead, I see her grin widen, and I dread what she's about to say.
"Nanoha-chan. It's service, s-e-r-v-i-c-e." Hayate says in a sing-song voice. She places her hands on my shoulder and pushes me toward the boss's office. "Now come, you need to get your business cellphone." The boss didn't seem to be in, but Hayate quickly rummages through the desks for a cellphone, activates it, and hands it to me.
"Are you sure it's fine to just go and open all the drawers?" I say in amazement, watching as Hayate doesn't even bother to place things back. Hayate just smiles in amusement.
"Oh, I don't think I'd get in too much trouble." She says with a twinkle in her eye, her lips stretched into a wide smile. I feel as if I'm missing some sort of inside joke.
She quickly runs me through the do's and dont's of using the cellphone. Only use it for business to call clients. "Well, since you're new, you can hang out with Zafira at the door and call people in."
And with that, my job as a hostess officially began.
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"This shouldn't be too bad." I mumble to myself. "An eight hour shift. I can handle it. So that means I get off at one? At least today I just have to bring people in."
In between the 'welcome's, the 'please come to The Rose's, the 'thank you for your patronage's, and other polite flowery language, I was able to make conversation with Zafira.
"How long's your shift?" He questions quite abruptly.
"Eight hours. I get off at one."
"Ah. Welcome to The Rose. I hope you enjoy your stay." We both bow and use our hands to motion to the entrance. Sounds like I work at a hotel.
"One is pretty late. It's pretty dangerous around midnight. You've heard about the recent... happenings, I hope? It's not really safe for girls to be out so late." There is a hint of concern in his tone.
"Yeah, I've heard some pretty gruesome stuff. Is-" I almost ask, but I notice a potential client and quickly focus on grabbing another client. "Would you be interested in spending a relaxing evening at The Rose?" I bow low, catching the business man's attention. He saunters into the club room, eying me, or my chest to be exact. I gulp, hoping it went unnoticed. Crap, I hope I'm not requested.
"You're getting better." Zaphira states with approval. "You do know you have to drink with the clients, right?" He's half laughing now.
"Ugh, don't remind me." A frown appears slightly on my features and then changes into a smile.
"Thank you for your patronage, sir." We both say, again, in unison. Another bow.
I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn around to see Hayate-chan with that dreadfully delighted smile again. "You've been requested! You're amazing." Stop smiling like that. It always bad news. "The first day and you have what could be one of your regulars." She giggles.
"Hayate-chan, that's not funny." I frown, and she laughs even more. Apparently she finds my suffering entertaining.
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I look around. How long have I been in here? This club that I work in seems to give private rooms to VIP guests and little private corners for regulars and other patrons. "Ah, would you like some more beer, sir?" I flash a pretty smile and pour the liquid into his glass before he can respond. It seems I get bonuses on how long I can keep him to stay. Going on two hours, I think.
"You haf'ta driiink too!" He slurs while shoving the glass I just poured him at me. Dammit. Keeping him occupied drinking by himself doesn't seem to quite be working anymore. I smile sweetly. I've already had two glasses. I'm trying extremely hard not to get drunk, and I don't exactly know my limit, which doesn't help much either. I take the glass and take a huge gulp of the alcohol and hand it back to him. He, or rather... I don't remember his name. Anyway, he seems pleased and finishes off the drink and asks for a refill. God, this is going to be a long night.
"Sho, shweetie." He wraps his arm around my neck. Shit. "Wuts yer nam?" He practically bellows in my left ear. I shudder. Dear god, I think I'm going to go deaf. Shit, my stage name. Uhh, think quick!
Shit. Shit. Shit."Shi-, err I mean Sh-Shiroi" Okay, safe. That was close. I sigh quietly in relief.
"Shhhirroiii?" He slurs, trying to process the word.
"Hai!" I respond cutely, forcing a smile, hoping he doesn't ask me about the... name. Apparently my response works, and he's focused on me again. Oh, no. His arm tightens around my neck, and his face draws ever so slowly toward mine. Closer. Closer. My eyes widen slightly, and my breath catches in my mouth. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. I can feel the intoxication permeating from his very being, dreading the proximity of our bodies.
I take a small breath and close my eyes to calm myself. Okay think. What's a polite way to shove him far far away from me? I feel his presence close: almost an inch now. And...
BAM.
I feel pain. Immense pain. From my forehead. Then I feel a huge weight collapse on my lap. My eyes open quickly. "What the fu-" I look down at my client who seems to have passed out. I smile sweetly at him. I hate my job.
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Five cups of beer later it's one o'clock. After my first client fainted, I laid him on a couch and relaxed for about half an hour. Then as luck was totally on my side, I was bombarded with more clients. Thankfully slightly more civil, but they didn't stay quite as long as my first. I had two more clients whom each stayed an hour, about. I wanted to quit, but after four fucking hours of that first client, I've decided that I'm not leaving until I'm payed. Hayate-chan was nowhere to be seen, so I'd have to ask her to point me to the boss tomorrow or something.
After changing into my clothes, I stay in the locker room for a bit to let the alcohol hopefully diminish in influence. After about seven cups, or was it bottles, of beer, I know I'm drunk, but I'm convinced I can still walk home. I just need to rest a bit. My eyes flutter closed.
My eyes open to about ten other hostesses chattering and walking into the locker room. Banging open their locker doors, and changing. I reach for my cellphone and look drowsily at the digital numbers.
1:49 AM
I should be getting home. I can imagine my nice, soft, comforting bed just a walk away. I stand slowly, bid the other hostesses farewell and take my leave. I can walk without staggering... much. Which is an improvement to just staggering. Outside, the cool night breeze blows past me, chilling me quite thoroughly, and I'm glad because it wakes me from my drowsy state. I amble slowly toward my bus stop. If memory serves me right, this bus stops a block away from the dorms. I check the times and find that the bus will arrive in about half an hour. I sigh happily. Just a little bit longer until I can sleep on my bed.
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The streets are pretty devoid of life. I thought people tended to stay out late or maybe it's just this part of the city. A dimly lit street. The light flickering every couple seconds or so. Dead silence. The picturesque setting for a horror film. To add to this freakishly quiet setting, I see this hooded figure walking in my direction. Paranoia tells me to get away quickly. I walk, as casually as possible, around the corner of the block and quicken my pace a little. I turn to look behind me. "There, see. You're just being paranoid." I wait a couple seconds and sigh in relief. "As if someone would actually follo-" The same person comes around the corner, and I see a faint flicker of light near one of his hands. I quickly turn and start running. Was that metal? A blade? You have got to be kidding me. "Okay, okay. Calm down a bit. If I can avoid this guy for a couple more minutes, I could board my bus and get home." I mumble to myself while running as quickly as I can in my drunken state.
After a couple minutes of hiding and running, my breath coming out in gasps and wheezes, I notice my bus turning the corner which meant that it would be at the stop soon. I had two choices of action: chase the bus to the bus stop or meet the bus at the stop. The first requires me to run on two sides of the block, while the latter choice requires me to run through an alley that seems pretty clear. I take the second choice and dash through the alley as quickly as my legs can take me. My life depends on how quickly I can move, literally.
Nearing the end of the alley, I can hear the bus approaching. I can make it in time. I glance back and see the the familiar hooded person running toward me, knife in hand.
Thud. I crash into something. My shoulders are grabbed and I'm pushed violently into the wall. I yelp. My shoulder throbs painfully from the impact and my legs that were previously bursting with energy ache tiredly as I collapse to the floor. I look up weakly at what seems to be a person, not the hooded person. Behind him, in the distance, I see a bus pass by. Fuck. Two. Two of them.
"Thought you said everything was under control." The deep throaty voice of the new figure mocks.
"Shut up. I didn't think she'd take the alley." An irritated younger voice replies. The hooded figure arrives, stopping in front of me. "Quite a catch, don'cha think?" His eyes gleam with lust.
It's funny. Out of two choices, the one that seemed more possible turned out to be the worse scenario. Probably anyway. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the moment. Why me? What happened to normal. Boring. Safe. Things that happen in the news aren't supposed to happen to me. I groan inwardly. What a life.
The hooded guy crouches next to me, he lifts his dagger to my face. I'm tempted to kick him, but restrain myself, watching carefully as the other seems to look at me in amusement. The metal flickers dangerously close to my eyes. He traces slowly across my left cheek and up towards my eye. The blade hovers for a couple seconds before going down to my lips, opening my mouth. The taste of iron fills my senses. He places some sort of substance into my mouth. Fuck.
"Swallow." He commands, while bringing the knife slowly to my throat. Glaring, I swallow, slowly. "Good girl." He smiles and pats my head. Like a dog. He reaches for some rope and ties my hands together to some sort of old lamppost in the alley. The last thing I see before blanking out is him standing and smirking at me.
When I come to, I don't know how much time has passed. Maybe half an hour or more. The two people are still there. I look up slowly, clouded eyes not really registering what is happening to me. Before I can process much, the hooded figure has his knife to my throat again.
"Oh. Awake are we? Ready to have some fun?" His lewd tone hovering around my mind. Somehow, things seem to be slowed down, or something. My mind is a jumble of incoherent thoughts. His knife trails down my neck and down to my jacket, popping the buttons as it goes lower. He reaches my stomach and cold metal touches my skin. I gasp reflexively. He grins. I try screaming, but only muffles come out of my mouth. They gagged me. I can't. Do. Anything. Exhaustion slowly catches up to me as I start to fade from consciousness. I remember laughing. Disgusting laughter. And I feel as if I want to die. Quickly. Painlessly. Before I have to go through this.
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"Hey." A new voice. Amused and sinister. I open my tired eyes. A third figure is walking towards me. There were three of them? "Save some fun for me." That dangerously chilling voice again, and it sends a shiver down my spine.
I don't really understand what's happening, but the two people that were crowded around me back up, readying their knives. There's movement, quick and skilled, and then blood. Lots and lots of blood pooling under two figures. The hooded one falls next to me, a huge gash across his neck. His eyes wide in horror. I scream. As loudly as I can. Dead. He's dead. Killed.
"If you don't stop screaming, I'm going to leave you here." A dangerous chuckle. Calm down. Calm down. My screams dissipate, replaced by small gasps of breathe, irregular and desperate. "Better." The person kneels in front of me. Cloudy lavender orbs meet deep crimson ones. My breath catches in my throat as a smooth porcelain hand brushes across my cheek. A-A girl? Now that I think about it, her voice wasn't quite as low... as the others. Her hand retracts, and I notice her fingertips are wet. Am I crying? Suddenly, her hand grips the tape on my face and rips it off, roughly. An immense burning sensation invades my senses.
"GAHHH!" A sharp intake of air. "O-Oww!" I yell out hoarsely. A chuckle, again. I look up at her face, illuminated by the moon. Long golden tresses fall gently around her beautifully white skin and captivating wine colored eyes.
"Guess I came to the party a bit early seeing as the prize seems... untouched." I look at her eyes, and follow their gaze down to my pants. Unzipped and down to my knees. My face heats up as I go to fix my pants, but my arms, I forgot, are still tied to a post. Another chuckle. I frown slightly. This isn't funny. Her hands trail up my calf and gently pull my jeans up to my hips and zip them securely. My heartbeat quickens, and I try to stutter what I hope is a coherent 'thanks'. She either doesn't hear me or blatantly ignores me, I can't really tell anymore as exhaustion overtakes me.
She stands and unties my hands, and I notice that my wrists are raw from the rough texture of the rope. I wince slightly. I attempt to stand up, but I never get the chance as I feel smooth fingers grab me roughly by the collar of my jacket and pin me to the wall. I cough painfully as the air is forced out of my lungs. Despite my situation, I somehow feel safe with her presence around me.
"Are you going to kill me as well?" I bite back, glowering at her. She stares at me for a couple seconds before her grip on me tightens as a cruel smile emerges on her face. Fuck. What did I do that for?
"Oh hoh. Is that how you show respect to your knight in shining armor?" That smile stays plastered on her face, but her crimson eyes stay chillingly unreadable.
"Killers don't deserve respect." I counter hotly.
"I'd much rather prefer a less...ah, vulgar, title." She leans towards me, and as I feel her breath on my left ear making me shudder involuntarily. "Like, freelancer." What? Is she... I don't. My mind is swimming with confusion, but the safeness I feel around her has not faded and eats away at my conscious state.
I sigh tiredly. My thoughts a jumble of relief, anxiety, pain, comfort, worry, and contentedness, my eyes close as I welcome...
Blackness.
Sleep.
Escape.
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A/N:so that's the most I've ever written for anything. no joke. I've tried going over it as many times as i can to fix mistakes. you might notice my random changes in tense or... my obsession with commas. tell me what you think. reviews are happily embraced. i'll go work on the next chapter.