This is the first fanfiction that I have written in quite a long time, so I hope that it isn't too tacky. Please read and review! Plus, I'm not quite sure whether the second game was set in Macro or Cosmo Land, so I decided to go with Marco. Please tell me if I got it right, it's supposed to be set during the second game and carries on through to the third. The story is split in two parts, one for the second game, and one for the third. Enjoy!

Black Coffee

Chapter 1

(A month before the Marco Land invasion)

The same old desk, the same old papers, the same old lamp. Working a desk job in the Black Hole offices was never quite the fun job, and at times, it was repetitive, handling red tape and paperwork. But there was something rather enjoyable to it; even though he had a rather high authority within the army, he had his times out on the battlefront when he wasn't busy authorizing recruit papers and signing documents.

Such was the life of Hawke. A large, well built man with a white and grey short hairdo and the most serious of demeanours, everyone regarded him as a fearless and intimidating figure. Those who knocked his door knocked in fear.

The door burst open and a women dressed in rather gothic clothing came in. This was Lash, Hawke's secretary. Considered a 'perky goth' by all who knew her, she was rather childish. Given that, she was also young, and was also known to be quite scary when aggravated. She was bouncy when in a good mood, and also had a destructive manner when commanding forces.

"Hi Hawke!" she said out loud, coming in holding a mug. She placed the mug down on Hawke's desk, watching as he looked up.

"Good morning Lash" Hawke replied, his facial expression not changing. Lash started to giggle a little.

"Y'know, you always look funny in glasses!" she pointed out, a big black smile painted across her face. Hawke didn't reply to the observation, but instead took his glasses off, picked up his mug and took a sip.

He closed his eyes and tasted the coffee run into his mouth and down his neck. The office was cold, even when Hawke was wearing his large dark overcoat, he couldn't help but shiver now and then. But every morning, Lash would bring Hawke a mug of black coffee, Hawke's favourite drink. It always warmed him through the morning, and for some reason, Lash got it perfect every time. To him, it was a blessing at the beginning of a bleak day usually.

"Coffee good?" she asked. She always asked this. Hawke put the mug down.

"Yes, thank you" Hawke answered. Lash then seemed to jitter, as if she had remembered something.

"Oh yeah, Lord Sturm also says that we gotta be down in the main hall for his speech tomorrow. He says he's going to decide which four people he's going to take to help invade Macro Land!" she said excitedly. Hawke could remember the week perfectly. It begun with Sturm announcing his plan to launch a full scale invasion of Macro Land. He brought up his failure in Cosmo Land, and how he needed more CO's to help his invasion. A hundred were picked, Hawke and Lash included, to be tested through interviews and practice battles, to determine who would be best suited to aid Sturm in his invasion.

"...Ah yes. Thank you once again" Hawke replied in a monotone voice.

"Think we'll get through?" she asked. Hawke was unsure how well he performed, but he was different to the other candidates. He showed no fear, no resilience or mercy. Hawke was an excellent CO, he knew so himself, and his skills were often commented on. He knew he was feared, and he anticipated that fear would be a strong factor in defeating Macro Land.

"...Do not take this the wrong way" Hawke said. "I am not saying this to dampen your hopes. I wouldn't be too disappointed about not being selected" he explained. Lash gave a small pout.

"Well, he's obviously gonna pick you!" she said. "I mean, you make the guys here cry at night! You're tough and you smash whatever battle you're in. I can bet Lord Sturm decided on you before he told us all about this!" she hinted, Hawke gave a sigh.

"You seem to make me out as a monster" he said quietly.

"Okay, maybe I was going overboard..." Lash said quietly. "...but still, you're tougher than anyone I know"

"I may have traits..." Hawke explained. "...but you seem to have blotted out the fact that a hundred of us were selected for this process. I doubt Lord Sturm will have picked up a random number of soldiers and put them through the process. We are up against very skilled and gifted people. People with experience. We may have a chance, but all I'm trying to get across to you is that the chance we have is small" Hawke finished. Lash was quiet after that. Hawke took a look at her, she seemed a little depressed. Oh dear, he thought. Not now. Lash was prone to have fits when unhappy as well. Like some child. Hawke needed to say something to cheer her up, for a tantrum was the last thing he wanted to deal with this morning.

"...Although...you do have one trait that sets you apart from the rest of us" he told. Lash looked up.

"Huh, what's that?" she asked.

"Your ability to invent" Hawke answered.

"So what, I invent things" Lash moaned. "I don't think Lord Sturm really cares, it's a hobby, not a trait, or whatever you call it" Hawke sat up straight in his chair and took another sip of his black coffee.

"And can anyone else invent machines and contraptions like you can?" Hawke asked. Lash looked down and kicked her feet, then giggled.

"Yeah, I am the best, aren't I?" she admitted.

"I heard rumours about the Neotank design you patented recently, before the process began...rumours that a prototype has been constructed and field tested as we speak" Hawke explained. Lash's eyes opened up.

"Really?" she asked.

"Of course" Hawke replied calmly. Lash didn't buy it.

"Stop lying Hawke!" she whined. "I know you said that just because you wanted to make me feel better..." She pulled a puppy dog face at him, to which he didn't react, as usual. Hawke never reacted to Lash's antics. Lash couldn't even remember a time when Hawke smiled, not even on his birthday!

"Who am I to prove that?" Hawke said quietly, taking a deep breath and sipping his coffee again. "I heard it from the officers higher up in the command chain whilst passing by them. Then again, I would rather let time prove my story" he finished. "You may return to your desk now. Thank you for the coffee" he said, passing her the mug. She gave him a menacing smile.

"Enjoy it?" she asked.

"I recall answering that question already...you must be fond of my compliments" Hawke said slyly, his eyes closed and expression unchanged. Lash gave a frown at Hawke and strolled out of the room, closing his door rather loudly. Hawke watched the door, before looking back down at his papers and continuing with his day.