Author's Note: I'm sure most of you figured it out. Rachel is usually paired with Nigel, Patton, Fanny, Tommy and Father and most of you know which two (and almost three) I ship and this chapter will make it obvious.
Disclaimer: Do I really need to say it? You guys got to know by now I'm not Mr. Warburton
As I entered the office, I thought of the strange case that I was in charge of. Finding a poet, not just any poet though, a poet of love. I looked at her. The one who had given me and my team this mission. The one, Rachel McKenzie better known as numbuh 362.
She had gotten a love note, lost it and now needed to find it. And me and the rest of Sector V were going to find it. But not before a change of clothing. I whispered this to the others just to get a look from Nigel Uno, that bald kid who happened to be my best friend. Well, one of them anyway.
"We're supposed to start looking for clues and you want to dress up?" Nigel raised an eyebrow at Hoagie. Kuki Sanban, however, had already plopped a brown hat on her head and began to skip out of the office. Hoagie shrugged and followed.
Well at least someone is cool enough to wear a detective outfit.
Both Wally and Abby looked at each other and began to leave the office leaving both leaders alone. "Maybe you should go along with the program," smiled Rachel
'Ughh. Fine, but I'm just going to wear a coat," groaned Nigel and grabbed a beige coat from the coat rack in the office and tried it on.
Rachel smirked, "that was quick. Guess you're not a dress-up kind of kid." Nigel shook his head. "Oh c'mon. It's fun to play games once in while. Loosen up, Nigel."
A rare playful smile popped up on Nigel's face. "You're one to talk."
Rachel blinked at the sudden come back but replied smoothly, "Oh really? Well," she stopped, trying to think of something clever. When nothing came, she said, "This isn't a mission like battling adults or something. So, when the others come back. You, Nigel Uno, will think more of this mission than just work an-"
"And find your mystery friend as well, I bet?" Nigel asked.
Rachel blushed, "Yea, and that too."
Nigel laughed and held his hand to shake, "Ok. I will." He took a deep breath and tried to hide the pink color that was building up on his cheeks as he shook hands with Rachel, but not for long, as the rest of the sector was walking back in.
Both Hoagie and Kuki were dressed in their usual detective outfits; Kuki even had a clipboard with her. Abby was wearing a blue hat, identical to those of Numbuhs 2 and 3, except it was the same blue color as her clothes. She was wearing a shirt that looked identical to her shirt-dress except shorter and she also had white pants on and a long white detective jacket.
Wally was wearing an orange shirt, similar to his usual except for the hood, and on top, a leather jacket that fit him just right, which was really small, when you think about it. He also had similar jeans except they were black.
"Where did you find those?" asked Nigel as he looked from one operative to another.
Abby replied, "the kids next door costume closet. Man, that place is as big as our tree house, they have everything, numbuh Five's going there to get a Halloween costume next year!"
The others nodded in agreement, Nigel groaned. "Are we here to talk about Halloween or find Rachel's letter?" He froze as he said it and looked around, but the others hadn't noticed that he had said Rachel's name instead of her codename.
Hoagie nodded, "Great idea. Numbuh 362, can you explain how the envelope or the letter looked like?"
Rachel began to think, "The envelope. It had a KND stamp on it, of course. It was light blue, the color looked almost aquamarine. It had my name on it in calligraphy, I didn't really pay attention to it at first because of the letter, but I've never seen writing like that. The sender's name wasn't on the envelope though."
Wally interrupted, "callusiwhati?" The others stared at him before Abby sighed.
"You know, the writing people used in medieval times," she answered almost impatiently before Rachel continued.
"Right. And, the letter, it wasn't written as neatly as the envelope but it- the words were so moving, and I don't know, after I read the poem, I just fainted, I have no idea how. The last thing I read was "Sincerely Yours and with Love from Your Secret Admire-" she paused. "I didn't even get to finish the word 'Admirer'. Oh, the letter was the same color as the envelope." She looked from operative to operative, stopping at Nigel, who's eyes were narrowed and looked as though he was in deep thought and then at Hoagie who was thinking to himself.
Right then, something hit me. Like the tomatoes during the third grade talent show last year. Colored paper was only available for kids at the Kewl Numbuh50colors' Den, KND for short. Convenient, eh?
Numbuh50colors. That guy sold paper, ink and whatever else that was able to be colored and kids would pay to have. He even sold Rainbow Ice, an ice cream filled with flavor and color alike. The culprit of Numbuh 362's poem had made a mistake. Numbuh50colors valued customer confidentiality but he had a weakness that only I knew. I, and the rest of my "I got a problem" group knew of. Chocolate.
"Numbuh50colors!" exclaimed Kuki brightly as she wrote something down on the clipboard with a purple crayon.
Hoagie astonishingly replied, "Yea! How'd you know?"
"He's the one that gives me my crayons, silly," answered Kuki showing the other the purple crayon in her hand.
"But that guy would never tell us who's bought light blue paper, he wouldn't even tell me who had bought the last scoop of Rainbow Ice," Abby acknowledged before licking her lips and imagining the colorful treat.
Hoagie grinned, "Don't worry about that." The others had no idea what he had in mind but followed him out to the store. Not a lot was said about the case during their walk. Kuki said that she needed more crayons, and something long that had to do with Rainbow monkeys which started a short fight between her and Wally. Rachel, Nigel and Abby were talking about the mass adult break out that happened a few weeks back. Hoagie was the only quiet one during the trip until they reached the last floor of moon base. "We're here!"
Author's Note: Was that good? Too short? I don't think so but it might be when posted. Next chapter will have more interaction between this fic's main shipping and Hoagie's thoughts. Also Hoagie's 3D program will come up, Abby's new obsession, and what colors will Kuki choose for her crayons! Who are the suspects of writing the letter, all that and more net chapter! And don't worry, color isn't a central part of the plot :P Flames are for campfires and have a Sooper day!