A/N: Hello again to everyone who is continuing along this story with me. As always, the reviews I've received have been so warm and supportive. I thank everyone for your words about my marriage and my new life in the Navy! My weeks can be a bit rough with long days of training, but I take comfort that I can turn to fanfiction in my free time and share in NanoFate with so many wonderful people. Zarosguth asked a question about my use of Ginga in some of my stories. I'll be answering that in the A/N at the bottom of this chapter, but for now let's pick up where we left off! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from or the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha anime, nor any other movie, actor, song, or character referenced or stated in this story.
UNBREAKABLE
by : ~Nissanity~
Chapter 3 – That Small Voice Inside (Part 2)
~Day 2 (cont'd)~
Nanoha loosened her necktie and unfastened the top button of the collar of her blouse as she waited in the booth, trying to relieve some of the stuffiness the humidity was causing that day. The cafe next to headquarters was one of her favorite places to eat when she wasn't up for another meal in the galley, and she was pleased to find the lunch rush was over with only a few tables around her still occupied. She had convinced Vita to cover for her that afternoon, even though the lunch hour for them had already passed. It was the only time her companions were free to join her that afternoon since their schedules had been jam-packed with meetings and conferences thus far.
She sighed contently, the few minutes alone in the quiet booth serving to calm her mind. It had been quite the hectic morning with the recruits as they struggled through the mud and muck caused by the rain the previous evening. Vita had already been frustrated with the new class and their inexperience as it was, without the added pressure of a compromised training field causing them to slip and fall in grand fashion every few seconds. Nanoha almost canceled her lunch meeting to provide interference from the co-instructor's hard line approach, but in the end she opted to proceed with her original plan. It was important for the new Enforcers to learn to handle all sorts of variables, she reasoned, including a short fiery trainer who loved to push them past their limits.
As had now become the norm when she had a few minutes alone, Nanoha's thoughts immediately turned to Fate. The clock was ticking down until her departure, and with each minute that passed Nanoha's anxiety grew. Work was serving as nothing but a constant reminder that the Enforcers were leaving on their next mission in a few days. The official details of the mission that had been released so far were sparse at best, although speculations to fill in the missing blanks were circulating in abundance. Nanoha knew better than to be sucked into the drama and get herself more worked up. She would find out all the specifics from her own source soon enough. She always did.
"Wow, you look like someone just ran over your puppy, Nanoha."
The familiar voice instantly elicited a groan from the instructor. This was not who she had expected to make an appearance during her quiet lunch that afternoon.
"Hello, Hayate," Nanoha replied coolly. "I didn't realize you would be joining us for lunch today."
"Well, here I am. I had a few minutes between meetings. So... surprise!"
Nanoha spotted Lindy and Arf carefully making their way through the cafe in her direction next. Fate's mother smiled broadly as she arrived beside the booth. "Look who we found on our way here, Nanoha! I insisted Hayate join us. I hope you don't mind?"
"Of course not," Nanoha said with a smile. She gestured to the opposite side of the booth for Lindy and Arf to take their seats. She then scooted towards the interior of the booth so Hayate could sit on the bench beside her. The waitress walked by and noted the unexpected guest that was now seated at the table. She journeyed towards to the front of the restaurant to get an extra menu and place setting.
Arf's ears twitched as she scanned the colorful menu in front of her. "I remember this place having good food," she said, her voice raised a little with excitement. "Doesn't look like anything has changed from the last time I was here, either."
The four women kept to small talk while they scanned the menu and placed their food and drink orders with their waitress. Nanoha opted for a small salad since her appetite seemed to have all but disappeared that afternoon. Arf and Lindy chose conservative meals themselves as well, while Hayate decided to stick with just coffee.
"My assistant was kind enough to get lunch for everyone at my last meeting," she explained. "I'm still full from that."
Nanoha reflected on the comment. "Wait, you have an assistant now? I don't remember you having one before. Well, other than Rein."
Hayate's eyes grew wide and she laughed nervously. "Yes, I have one now. She was assigned to me this morning. It's not an awkward situation for anyone in the slightest."
From the corner of her eye, Nanoha could see Lindy's lips form into a thin line, as if she were trying not to smile at the comment. There was more to the story than Hayate was letting on and Lindy was apparently in on the joke.
"What?" Nanoha said between the two. "I feel like you guys have some sort of secret or something."
Lindy tried dismissed the subject with a wave of her hand. "Oh, it's nothing to worry about. There are much more interesting things we could discuss. Like how are things going with my daughter, Nanoha? Fate looked as if she was on cloud nine this morning. She couldn't stop smiling when she spoke of you."
The turn in conversation to the blond immediately caused a smile to form on Nanoha's face as well, along with a fierce blush that blazed its way onto her cheeks. The thought of Fate having such a strong reaction when she spoke of her was cause for her own level of giddiness, it seemed.
"Things are going really good with Fate-chan," she confirmed. Her mind turned to the confession she had made to Fate the night before - three weighted words that gave voice to the feelings she had unknowningly harbored for so long. She turned a deeper red, the color nearly reaching her ears at that point.
"Ah, looks like someone has a secret of their own," Hayate teased and poked her flustered friend in the side. "Let me guess... It has to do with a concept that rhymes with 'schloooooove', right?"
"'Schlove'?!" Arf repeated with a laugh. "Geez, remind me never to play charades with you, Hayate."
"Wait, what? You don't talk during charades, Arf."
"You don't? I thought you did. What game is it I'm thinking of then?"
"I don't know, but that's like the number rule of charades. You can't talk."
Lindy turned her attention solely to Nanoha, ignoring the silly conversation currently taking place between Arf and Hayate. Nanoha's skin was still on fire across the table. "So, I take it you fully understand your feelings for her now, Nanoha?"
Nanoha closed her eyes and nodded in embarrassment. "You caught me, Lindy. Last night...I-I told her that I loved her."
With the news, Hayate immediately cried out and began to dance while still seated on the bench, causing the whole booth to shake with her jarring movements. Arf groaned at the sight of the brunette's arms flailing in the air and then fished her hand around in the front pocket of her shorts. Lindy smiled as well and brought her purse into her lap to rummage through it.
"Now what's going on?" Nanoha asked of the new spectacle.
"I won!" Hayate announced with great fanfare. "Yesterday was my day in the betting pool."
Fate's familiar placed a twenty dollar bill in Hayate's now outstretched hand first, who triumphantly took it before turning her attention to Lindy. She waited patiently with her palm extended to the ceiling, the first bill still resting on top of it.
"I didn't think they would move that fast," Arf said to Hayate and Lindy. She turned and winked playfully at Nanoha across the table.
"All that matters is that they are happy," Lindy declared as she set two ten dollar bills on top of Arf's wager. "It is money well spent in my opinion."
"You guys bet on our relationship?!" Nanoha asked Hayate in sheer disbelief.
"Only when you would tell each other that you were in love. That's all, I promise."
Nanoha first blinked at the concept of the bet. She then leaned back in the booth with her arms crossed guardedly over her chest. "Well, I did tell her that I love her... But she was asleep at the time. She hasn't said it back to me or anything."
Hayate's smug grin immediately vanished. Arf raised her eyebrows in surprise and even Lindy gave pause to the turn of events. She then took her money back from Hayate's still outstretched hand that now appeared frozen in place. Arf retrieved her money as well.
"Wait, it still counts!" Hayate protested once she had gathered her thoughts again. "Well, it halfway counts. I won the bet halfway. So you each owe me ten dollars."
"No way," Arf said, firmly shaking her head as she returned her money to her pocket. "The bet was when they said 'I love you' to each other. This doesn't count."
Lindy placed the money back in her wallet in her purse. "I'm afraid I must agree with Arf, Hayate."
Nanoha took a deep breath to control her emotions, although she was secretly pleased to find that in this situation, she actually had the upper hand over her friend. "You should all know that I have no plans on telling Fate-chan that I'm in love with her. Not anytime soon, at least."
Hayate's frustration at the situation continued to grow. She really hated losing at her own schemes and Nanoha knew it. "But I have my name down this whole week in the betting pool, Nanoha! I'll be out a lot of money."
"And how is that my problem exactly, Hayate?"
"Because, i-it just is! I, uh... Look when it comes down to it, I really just want you and Fate to be happy, so -"
"You're terrible!" Nanoha interrupted loudly, not about to let Hayate fabricate noble intentions regarding the wager in that moment. Watching her frustrated face was proving to be very satisfying in this case, though. Nanoha couldn't contain the smile her small victory against her sly friend had created. It wasn't often that she won in the battle of wits against Hayate. She was certainly going to allow herself to relish in the rare moment.
Lindy reached across the table to pat Nanoha's hand to get her attention. "You have our word that we will not tell Fate what you have told us today, my dear. It's against the rules for any of us to interfere anyway. Isn't that correct, Hayate?"
"Yeeeessss," Hayate groaned in defeat. "I can't say anything to Fate about it."
"Me, neither," Arf added. "And we won't tell you anymore of the dates we have bet on either. That way it won't be a factor."
Lindy opened up four creamer packets and stirred them into her cup of green tea. She then added three cubes of white sugar, a sight that still shocked Nanoha to this day. "Any particular reason why you're choosing not to reveal your feelings yet, Nanoha?" she asked her as she delicately stirred her drink.
Nanoha looked away to the table, suddenly finding a deep scratch in the tabletop fascinating. She absentmindedly ran her index fingertip back and forth over it. "Um, I guess right now things are going so good between us. And she's leaving in a few days, so she needs to focus on her next mission. She shouldn't have to try to figure out if she feels the same way about me yet. It's too much of a risk."
"That's very sensible of you," Lindy agreed with a knowing nod. "You have given yourself completely to someone else for the first time in your life. That's a big deal. Your heart is now invested in a way it hasn't been before, which makes you both very vulnerable. I think we all can understand why you might be cautious in taking another big step so soon with what's at stake."
"I'm trying to not let her leaving affect me so much," Nanoha added. "I can't say I'm succeeding, though. But I don't think Fate-chan has noticed. I wouldn't want her to see it."
"So, it's a lot harder this time around then?" Hayate asked, her tone turning much more gentle now. Nanoha appreciated the concerned gesture from her longtime friend, who was usually more prone to teasing her friends in attempts to cheer them up. She nodded in response but also attempted a smile.
"It is," she confirmed.
Lindy sighed quietly and closed her eyes. "I distinctly remember going through what you are experiencing right now, Nanoha. Trying to be so strong and supportive, and not letting them see how much their leaving hurts you inside. Nothing will change the fact that they must go, so you have to be strong for their sake. That way they can do what they need to do out there and eventually come back home to you."
Nanoha's breath caught in her chest and tears brimmed her eyes. To hear someone voice her concerns so poignantly, having experienced it themselves, was a comforting notion to counteract the pain. As if they shared a bond that few others might ever know. Lindy's jaw tightened and she swallowed hard as she stared blankly at the tea cup now clasped firmly in her hands. The pain over her deceased husband was present to that day, evident in the deepening creases around the older woman's eyes as she seemed to be fighting off her own tears. Nanoha's mind briefly turned to the idea of losing Fate in the same manner. She shook her head to clear her mind, the grief so intense with the thought she immediately had to push it away.
"Who had the chicken salad?" the waitress' voice suddenly rang out, instantly putting an end to the serious conversation they were having. The group looked up to find their server holding three plates of food in her hands beside their booth. They each shifted objects around on the table to accommodate for the additional dishware.
Just as the server was leaving, Arf glanced past her and noticed familiar short blue hair over by the coffee bar. The spunky woman she spotted was taking an iced mocha from the barista behind the counter. "Hey, that's Subaru over there, isn't it?"
All eyes turned to look across the cafe. "It is," Nanoha confirmed. The sugary concoction she held had enough whip cream and chocolate syrup on top of it to give them all cavities from across the restaurant. "She must be here getting coffee for her and Teana."
"I doubt she is getting anything for Teana," Arf mentioned as they all watched Subaru excitedly take the top of the whip cream into her mouth. "Rumor has it to two aren't speaking at the moment."
"Oh, really?" Hayate asked, her curiosity instantly aroused with the potential for good gossip. "Did they get into a fight or something?"
"No, not a fight exactly. I heard Subaru rejected Teana last night when she asked if they could try again. It's pretty awkward between them now."
Hayate grimaced and sucked in a breath. "Ooooh, crap! I should not have said what I did to Teana earlier then. I'm a terrible person."
"What did you say to her?" Nanoha asked.
"I asked her if she and Subaru had kissed and made up yet."
"Wow... You really are a terrible person, Hayate," she scolded her. "But that's what you get for interfering in other people's love lives."
The brunette's eyes grew wide. "Excuse me?! Nanoha, where would you and Fate be right now if I hadn't stepped in with you two?"
"We would have figured it out eventually."
"Yeah, okay. When we were all like eighty years old and you'd be all wrinkly and -"
"I must say, if anyone needs a push in the right direction... " Lindy casually interrupted as she placed her napkin in her lap, "it's Subaru and Teana. Wouldn't you agree, Arf?"
"Hmmm, yes. That's very true," Arf confirmed with a nod. "It's so obvious to everyone else. It has been for years now."
Nanoha watched the glean in Hayate's eye kick into overdrive as she continued to stare at Subaru across the cafe. She abruptly stood from the table and pulled five dollars out of her skirt pocket to cover her coffee plus tip. "I'll let everyone enjoy their lunches," she said in haste. "Nanoha, it's been lovely. Lindy and Arf... I'm sure I will be seeing you at the conference tomorrow morning."
"Yes, of course. Arf and I will look for you in the auditorium."
"Take care, Hayate," Nanoha added as she walked away.
The brunette gave a quick wave over her shoulder while practically running across the cafe. The three occupants remaining in the booth witnessed Hayate stalk Subaru just as she was about to exit. She playfully tackled the younger woman from behind, nearly causing her to spill her drink. Hayate proceeded to sling her arm around Subaru's shoulder and guided her out the front door of the cafe.
Nanoha picked up her fork and turned her attention to her salad. "God speed, Subaru," she joked.
"Are you feeling any better, Nanoha?" Lindy asked. "Hopefully getting something things off your chest helped a little?"
"Um-hmm. It did, actually. It makes me feel like I'm not going so crazy with my emotions. And that I'm not alone in all this."
"Well, Arf and I are always here to listen if you ever need to talk. We've both have been down your path ourselves. We know what it's like."
"Thank you, Lindy," Nanoha said, feeling a burden slowly being lifted off her shoulders with the kind offer. "I may have to do that sometime."
oOOOo
Teana stretched her arms high above her head as she and Fate walked through the main hall of headquarters, both having their sights set on the exit. "I didn't think these meetings would ever end today," the younger Enforcer groaned.
Fate nodded in wholehearted agreement. "We didn't even have a chance to find a replacement for Ginga yet, either."
"Yeah, and time's running out to get them trained before we leave," Teana added. "Better luck tomorrow, hopefully."
The sun nearly blinded the two as they walked out of the front entrance and towards the parking lot. The weather had changed dramatically from the night before. The sky was now a bright blue with only a few fluffy white clouds scattered around, although the humidity was now at a stifling level because of it. Fate retrieved her sunglasses from her uniform pocket and put them on. She then scanned the parking lot. "I guess Nanoha isn't out yet," she mentioned.
"I'll walk you to your car, Fate. I think I parked near you guys this morning."
Fate's thoughts turned to the meeting they had with Carim earlier, and more specifically the events in the office leading up to her arrival. There were aspects of it that continued to bother her throughout the afternoon. "Hey, Teana?"
"Hmmm?"
"Why was Hayate acting like that towards Ginga earlier? Making all those jokes and comments? I didn't get it."
Teana shrugged. "I guess if we were all distracted by a bunch of bullshit from her, there was less chance of drama. I also think Hayate wanted to see how far she could push Ginga's buttons. If you think about it, the two don't really know each other all that much."
Fate knew all too well that if Hayate was trying to get a rise out of her levelheaded ex-partner, she would have to work a lot harder to accomplish that feat. Years of being Subaru's sister had given her plenty of practiced patience to combat silliness like that. During the meeting, Ginga did her best to remain inconspicuous and neutral while the others in the room discussed the potential candidates to replace her on the next mission, and the entire time she continued to avoid eye contact with both Fate and Teana.
"I guess she wasn't wanting to speak to either of us today," Fate then noted. "I understand why she's upset with me, but I thought you two were still friends?"
A pained expression passed across Teana's features and Fate immediately felt bad for asking a question that might have hit a sore spot with her partner. Teana then smiled a little and shook her head. "Don't feel bad, Fate," she told her, as if reading her mind. "I think it's for her sister's sake. Subaru and I aren't really talking right now."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Did you guys get into a fight?"
When the two arrived at Nanoha's SUV, Teana crossed her arms and leaned her back against the passenger side door. "Not exactly. She told me last night that she wasn't ready to pursue anything romantic with me again. So we're taking some time apart for a while."
Fate's heart sank with the news. She had been hoping the two could work it out after all and find happiness together. There had been a strong attraction between the two for as long time as she had known them. But then again, they already had an established history that could be difficult to overcome as well. "Has she not gotten past what happened the last time between you two?"
"No, it's not that. I think she has forgiven me for the Vice thing."
"So it's something else then?"
Teana paused, now hesitating to divulge the true reason of why Subaru had rejected her. "I'll be honest, Fate," she said after a moment, "I'm not sure I should be telling you the reason why. I hope you can trust me when I say that."
"Oh..." Fate responded slowly. The comment took her aback a little, but she certainly wasn't the type to push for personal information from someone who wasn't up for sharing it. "It's fine, Teana. I'm just sorry that it didn't work between you two."
"Fate-chan!"
Fate turned at the sound of the familiar voice calling out to her from across the parking lot. She then broke out into a huge grin at the sight of Nanoha heading in her direction. Teana laughed at the sight and pulled away from the SUV.
"Alright, I'm going to leave you two lovebirds to do your thing. Have a good afternoon, Fate." Teana waved hello to Nanoha across the parking lot as she walked toward her own vehicle one aisle over. Fate opened the passenger door for Nanoha as neared the vehicle. The gesture earned her an affectionate peck on the cheek from the instructor before she climbed inside.
"My prince charming," she joked as she settled into the passenger seat.
"I try my best," Fate replied, now blushing. She was almost tempted to bring her hand up to where Nanoha's lips had brushed against, the spot now tingling. She was amazed that sometimes those little moments affected her as much as their most intimate encounters together. Snapping out of it, she instead crossed to the driver's side and climbed in behind the wheel.
Nanoha pulled the strap of her seat belt to buckle up. "Was Teana in a hurry today? She left pretty quick."
"Not exactly," Fate replied and pulled the SUV out of the parking lot. "She and Subaru are having some issues. I think she just wanted to get away while she could."
"I heard something about that at lunch today. Subaru turned Teana down after all, it seems."
Fate nodded. "That's what she said. She didn't really want to talk about it, though. Not that I blame her."
The passenger took the opportunity to snake her arm through Fate's and brought her head down to rest against her shoulder. The blond glanced over and smiled at the content women who had come to lean against her. It was one of those moments the two shared where they didn't need to say anything to understand what the other was thinking. They both recognized they were very lucky to have each other in the way they did now.
Vivio's school had already been dismissed and the students were standing outside the building when their SUV pulled into the parking lot. Vivio noticed their arrival and began to skip in their direction. The mothers were surprised to see her two closest friends at school, Rio and Corona, were also running close behind her in their direction.
When the heterochromatic eyes came to peer intently at her through the bottom of the passenger side window, Nanoha pushed the button for the automated window. Vivio was soon joined by two more sets of eager eyes boring holes into her. "Yes, Vivio? What is it?" she asked after the window had rolled down enough.
"Nanoha-Mama, can I spend the night at Rio's house tonight? Please?"
"Pllleeeeaaasssseeee?!" the other two chimed in. Across the parking lot, Nanoha and Fate could see Rio's guardian begin to walk in the direction of the SUV as well.
"Tonight, Vivio? No, sweetie. It's a school night. I'm sure you have homework to do."
A determined, stubborn look formed on Vivio's face. Fate knew the little girl was not about to go down without a fight. "Rio's mom already said it was okay. We're going to work on binds today. Please?!"
Rio's mother walked up behind the three girls and placed an affectionate hand on top of her daughter's head. "Hello, Nanoha. Fate. It really is fine. I'll make sure all three of them do their homework tonight and go to bed on time. Right, girls?"
"Right!" they all responded in unison.
Nanoha turned towards the driver's seat, grateful for times like this when she had the second parent there to consult with. "What do you think, Fate-chan?"
Fate pretended to mull the decision over. "Well... as long as she promises to do her homework and behave herself tonight," she replied in feigned hesitation, "I don't see any issue with it."
The three friends exchanged high fives all around and giggled. "Yes!"
"What do you say girls?" Rio's mother reminded them.
"Thank you!" they all exclaimed in unison. All three were gone in a flash and running together towards the car on the other side of the parking lot, their little backpacks swaying back and forth behind them.
"You have my number," Nanoha said to Rio's mother. "Please call if anything comes up and we need to come get her."
"I'm sure it will be fine," she assured her. She then winked playfully and grinned at both of the vehicle's occupants. "Have a good evening, you two."
Nanoha's mouth dropped slightly at the gesture and Fate's hand hovered frozen above the stick shift. Nanoha turned to face Fate after she left, a bit shell shocked. "Did she just...?"
Fate nodded in confirmation. "Yep. She sure did."
"Our daughter has a big mouth."
"That's the truth. So, I guess that leave us with the whole evening to ourselves then?" Fate mentioned as she drove the SUV out of the parking lot and in the direction of their house.
"Yes, it certainly does."
"Anything you would like to do in particular tonight?"
"Hmmm..." Nanoha murmured thoughtfully. It was rare for the two to have that much time alone together without work or their daughter to occupy their time. While she contemplated, Nanoha's thoughts turned to the notion that in a few short days she would be saying goodbye to Fate. The military would once again be in control, taking her across the universe and back and god knows where else. They had both given so much of their lives to the missions and the training and the needs of everyone out there who needed their help. The sacrifices felt endless.
But for one night... maybe they could take some of the time back for themselves.
"Yes, I want to go on a date with you," she announced.
Fate glanced towards the passenger seat. "A date?"
"Um-hmm. A real, honest-to-goodness date. The works."
"Alright, we could do that. And just where would we be going on this date?"
Nanoha smiled and relaxed into her seat. "Dinner first, of course. And after that... I have no idea. I'll let you surprise me."
oOOOo
"Almost ready, Fate-chan."
Fate closed her eyes and fell back against the couch cushions. "No problem, Nanoha. Take all the time you need," she replied telepathically. She pulled the sleeve of her blazer up so that she could look at her watch. It had been forty-five minutes since she had finished getting dressed in her black female-tailored suit with the dark red blouse beneath, an outfit she hadn't worn in quite some time. Nanoha was still getting ready for their date in their bedroom.
She felt nervous, and she imagined it akin to the way teenage boys felt on prom night as they waited for their dates to put the final touches on for the evening. It was the first official date she had ever been on in her life, which was ironic given that she was already in a committed relationship with the person she taking out that evening.
The remote control caught her eye on the coffee table and she leaned forward. Maybe she should watch TV to pass the time while she waited? Maybe read one Vivio's storybooks setting on the lower shelf of the table? She shook her head and leaned back again. No. She didn't want Nanoha to think she was bored or disinterested in their evening together.
"Why are you just sitting on the couch like that, Fate-chan?"
Fate instantly rose to her feet with her companion's sudden appearance in the doorway. Her long chestnut hair was in large curls and pulled into a messy but stylish hairstyle, with a few locks falling away to accentuate her face. Her long blue silk dress had a slit that traveled up her leg and nearly reached her waist, accentuating her slim figure beneath it. The six-inch heels perfectly matched her dress and raised her up to Fate's height. Her makeup was conservative, making sure to draw attention to those dazzling azure eyes first.
Fate openly stared at the woman in front of her.
Oh my god.
Nanoha was looking towards the blank television set while she placed the left earring in her lobe. "You could have turned on the television while you were waiting," she added. After successfully clasping the back of the earring, she stood up straight and smoothed the dress over her stomach and hips. "What do you think? Do I look alright?"
"Y-yes," Fate choked out in an uneven voice. She paused and looked away to clear her throat, took a breath to regain her composure and tried again. "You look absolutely beautiful, Nanoha," she then said with much more grace.
"Well I must, with that sort of reaction," Nanoha smiled in return. She leaned forward to gently touch her lips to the corner of Fate's mouth, careful not to transfer any lipstick in the process. She stayed closed and whispered, "Thank you for always making me feel beautiful, Fate-chan."
They were getting dangerously close to not leaving the house that night after all. Nanoha's intoxicating perfume filled Fate's senses and her eyes trailed over the flawless skin so close to her. "Anytime, Nanoha..."
Nanoha pulled away first, ending the tension that was now threatening to derail their plans for the evening. "I'll just get my purse," she said and headed towards the kitchen. "By the way, you look really nice tonight too."
The blond blinked and shook her head to clear the distracting thoughts from her mind. "Thank you."
"What time is the reservation?" Nanoha asked loudly from the next room over.
"In about thirty minutes," Fate replied, checking her watch again as she walked towards the front door of their home. "We should make it in time if we hurry."
"Okay, coming!"
Fate opened the door for Nanoha to exit first so that she could lock the door behind them. It was dusk now and the sunset above was a bright mix of orange and yellow with deep pink hues splashed intermittently. It was a beautiful summer sunset in Mid-Childa, a sight Nanoha had not stopped to appreciate in quite some time.
"It feels so nice out here," Fate mentioned as the two made their way down the sidewalk towards the vehicle parked in the driveway.
"It's too bad we can't just fly to dinner and save ourselves a lot of trouble. It's the perfect evening for it."
The Enforcer laughed at the notion. "That would break so many flight clearance rules."
Nanoha waited beside the vehicle for Fate to open the passenger door for her. "One of these days we should schedule a free-flight together. I miss flying with you."
"I do, too," Fate replied as Nanoha climbed inside. She got an eyeful of her date's toned left leg through the slit in the process, raising her blood pressure instantaneously. She closed the passenger door and willed her heart to slow down a bit.
That dress might just be the death of her tonight.
oOOOo
"Do you want the rest of this, Fate-chan?" Nanoha asked, holding the nearly empty wine bottle above the table.
"No, I'm good for now. I still need to drive later on tonight. You can have it."
Nanoha inspected the bottle with slightly glassy eyes and debated whether she should finish the remainder of the contents or not. Fate watched her silently shrug and pour the rest of the wine into her glass, thereby answering that question. The two had been seated in a quiet corner of the patio at the sushi restaurant they had chosen, the one that backed up to the wooden pier that skirted the bay. The moon was full that evening, basking the outside surroundings in a cool white glow, and the stars shined brilliantly above the water.
Neither woman had ever been to this elegant restaurant before, both too busy in their lives to attempt a trip there, even though it had been highly recommended by all their friends. The food was delicious and reminded them their childhoods in Uminari, where fresh fish was abundant and sushi was a somewhat common meal for them.
As the night progressed, Fate found Nanoha becoming more adorable with each passing minute. Her date was slightly tipsy after the wine she had consumed, and it had allowed her to relax significantly as the night wore on. She took a long sip from her glass and looked out towards the water again. She then set the wineglass down and leaned across the table.
"How much trouble do you think we'd be in if we went swimming right now?" she asked quietly, her face gravely seriously. She even glanced around the restaurant quickly to ensure no one else had heard her.
"In the ocean out there?" Fate questioned in returned. She too leaned across the table and looked Nanoha dead in the eye. "I don't think we'd get in trouble, but it's not really a good idea."
Nanoha pursed her lips. "Hmmm... Probably not. I don't even want to go swimming, honestly. I was just curious."
"Okay," Fate said with a smile. The waiter returned to the table with Fate's credit card and receipts to complete their meal. After calculating the tip and adding her signature to the bottom line, Fate stood from the table and extended her hand towards her date. "Shall we go?"
"Um-hmm." Nanoha left the mostly full wineglass on the table behind and stood up, choosing not to drink the remainder after all. She knew anymore would be too much. Even as she steadied herself on her heels using Fate's hand, she could feel the effects of the alcohol. It wasn't unpleasant, but she sure as hell didn't want to fall down on her face because of it.
As they walked along the edge of restaurant towards the exit, Nanoha linked her arm through Fate's and allowed herself to be escorted outside. A permanent smile had made its way to her features as the two proceeded onto the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Fate then guided them to the edge of the street and hailed a cab.
"I take it you know where we're going next, Fate-chan?"
"I do," she replied. "I can't tell you yet, though. It's a surprise."
Nanoha entwined their hands and hugged Fate's arm tighter against her body. "Sounds good."
A cab soon arrived and the two climbed inside the back passenger door and cuddled close together on the bench seat. Fate only told the driver the address of where they were going, who silently nodded and drove them towards their destination. Nanoha's vision was transfixed on the ocean beside them during their journey to the other side of the pier. As the two rode in silence, Fate enjoyed Nanoha's perfume teasing her senses again and the feel of her silky hair against her cheek.
When the taxi arrived at their destination, Nanoha sat up straighter to take in the bright stadium lights shining above them. She could also practically feel the bass in the loud music, which was slightly rattling the closed windows of the cab. She turned towards Fate and raised her eyebrows high, a look that Fate couldn't quite decipher.
"I-I thought this could be fun," was her cautious reply. "But we can go somewhere else if-"
Her insecurities were silenced when Nanoha abruptly covered Fate's lips with her own in a chaste but lingering kiss. Fate could feel Nanoha begin to smile before she pulled away, and when she looked into her eyes after she saw a familiar sparkle to them.
"It's perfect!" Nanoha declared excitedly. "But you know I'm going to kick your butt at all of this, right? Just sayin'."
Fate almost threw money at the cab driver before getting out of the vehicle. "You, my dear Nanoha... are sorely mistaken," she replied, fully accepting the challenge.
Nanoha didn't bother waiting for Fate to open the door for her, and instead exited the taxi in a flash and nearly ran across the parking lot towards the entrance. The sign above them read "Mid-Childa Fun Center" in neon red and yellow as they passed through the entrance. Fate had to run to catch up to her date, who was moving unbelievably fast in those high heels.
"What's first?" she asked as she finally came to stand beside Nanoha, who was now scanning the options in front of her.
"Umm... let's do miniature golf first. We can try laser tag after."
"You're sure you want to do laser tag in that outfit?"
"Don't ever underestimate what a woman can do in heels, Fate-chan. Oh, and I would a pink ball for this, please."
Fate laughed and walked towards the small stand to rent two putters, a pink golf ball, and then a yellow one for herself. She also gathered a golf pencil and two scorecards so they could keep track of who was winning.
"Thank you, Fate-chan," Nanoha said as she happily took a putter and both golf balls from her hands. She set the balls in the grooves of the rubber mat at the beginning of the first lane. "Mind if I go first?"
Fate indicated that she may go ahead and play. "Yes, of course. Take as many tries as you need, in fact."
Nanoha turned to face her and placed a defiant hand on her hip. "You can't get in my head, Fate-chan. I'll have you know I could have gone pro at mini-golf if I had wanted to."
"I'm sure you could have."
"You'll see..." the stubborn woman muttered under her breath as she lined up her shot. Fate waited patiently for her take a few practice swings before moving to strike the ball. "And, go!" Nanoha cried after finally making contact. The ball easily sailed past the first obstacle and bounced with precision towards the intended target. It struck one final wall before disappearing from sight. A hole in one on the first try.
Fate groaned and sagged her head in defeat. "I'm in for a long night, aren't I?"
Nanoha grabbed the blond's lapels in her hands and pulled her close, sealing her lover's fate with a victory kiss. She then giggled and patted her lightly on the chest. "You have no idea how right you are, Fate-chan."
oOOOo
Two rounds of laser tag, ten laps with the go-carts, and a match with the bumper cars completed the couple's evening at the amusement center. Despite Nanoha's bravado in the beginning, Fate soon caught up and evened the score between them. About halfway through they stopped keeping track officially of who was in the lead, although Nanoha was quick to claim she was each time the subject was brought up.
"I still can't believe we closed that place down," Nanoha mentioned as Fate pulled the SUV into the driveway at the conclusion of their date. The driver cut the engine and lights, although neither made a motion to exit the vehicle just yet.
"I can't believe you made that kid cry."
Nanoha laughed and playfully slapped Fate on the arm. "I did not. He was just being a sore loser. He was awful at laser tag."
Fate looked up and out the front windshield towards the sky above them. She couldn't remember the last time the stars had shined so brightly, nor the moons so full. "It's really beautiful out right now."
"It is. I had a great time tonight with you, Fate-chan."
"Me too, Nanoha. I'm glad we could do this together."
Nanoha stretched her arms out in front of her. "I think this the part of the date were I'm supposed to invite you in for coffee."
Fate's eyes reflected sheer confusion at the statement. "It's really late for coffee, isn't it?"
"Nyahaha! You really don't know what that phrase means, Fate-chan? You're kidding! I bet even Vivio knows what that euphemism is."
"Coffee...?" she contemplated quietly. "OHH! You don't mean actual coffee but, um... like, 'coffeeeee' right?" Fate emphasized the word with a slow punch in the air, as if driving the concept of it home.
Nanoha clutched at her sides and laughed even harder. "Ahhhh, I...I-I can't...!" she moaned, tears now threatening to escape.
"Well, I had never heard of the word 'coffee' used like that before, Nanoha!"
"Okay," Nanoha gasped after a moment, fanning her eyes in attempt to calm down and salvage her mascara. "Okay. Let's just head inside for now."
Fate exited the driver's side of the SUV and quickly crossed to the other side to open the passenger door for her. She held her hand out to assist her date out of the vehicle, who graciously accepted the offer. After shutting the passenger door though, she made no motion to move from her spot beside the vehicle. Nanoha raised her eyebrows at the mysterious action.
"Are we going inside or not, Fate-chan?"
"Not just yet. We still have to do one more thing," she replied. She took a step back and a familiar yellow aura suddenly appeared beneath her. The Enforcer transformed in the blink of an eye before Nanoha could recognize just what she was doing. She clutched her purse tightly afterward, fearing the worst with the sight of Fate now in her full combat gear.
"Did something happen and you need to go now?" she asked quietly, her voice laced with grief at the idea.
Fate surprised her by smiling in return. "No, nothing like that Nanoha. I pulled some strings earlier. I've been authorized for a fifteen minute free-flight tonight."
Nanoha fell further into a confused state until she felt a strong arm settle behind her knees. She was whisked off her feet and cradled into Fate's arms before she recognized what she was up to. "Fate-chan..."
"We don't have much time," was Fate's only reply as she began to hover a few feet off the ground. Her ascent into the atmosphere was kept a comfortable pace for Nanoha since she was still in her untransformed state. The air became much cooler as they approached the thin layer of clouds that separated them from an unobstructed view of the stars above.
They broke the foggy threshold, and Fate slowed to hover a few dozen feet above the layer of clouds. Nanoha curled deeper into Fate's protective arms as the serenity of the scene washed over her. Fate made sure to turn them so that Nanoha was facing the moon directly. She then wrapped her white barrier jacket around Nanoha to provide her with extra warmth.
"Are you doing okay?" Fate asked after a few minutes.
"Yes. I'm very happy right now. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect evening with you. You're so damn romantic sometimes, you know that?"
Fate looked down at the woman in her arms and flashed that crooked smile of hers. "Yep. And that's why you love me so much."
Sapphire eyes grew exponentially in response to the seemingly casual statement that Fate had just thrown out there. "W-what?" she stammered.
"What?"
Nanoha slowly shook her head. "What am I supposed to do with that...?" she asked quietly.
"I don't understand what you mean, Nanoha. With what?"
"With -" she began, but she stopped herself before she could say anything else. There really was no point in the over-dissection of her feelings, worrying about double meanings, stressing about love vs. love, was there now? She chuckled a little under her breath and laid her head back against Fate's chest before letting out a content sigh.
Fate kissed her on top of her head. "Did you figure it out, Nanoha?"
Nanoha closed her eyes. "I did. And you're right. It's exactly why I love you so much, Fate-chan."
oOOOo
The drone that was floating two-miles away perfectly captured the image of the two cuddling mages in the sky together. It's scope was set low enough to give the couple privacy though and still be within the Bureau's regulations about monitoring all free-flights above Mid-Childa. Hayate did her best to block her transmitter screen with her body during those fifteen minutes, but in a crowded place like Velvet she knew somebody would probably catch sight of something.
"And they lived happily ever after..." a voice said from directly behind her.
Hayate did not have to turn around to recognize the source of the comment. "Perhaps," she replied as she swirled the clear liquid around the olives in her martini glass. "I was hoping it was something you wouldn't have to see, though. That's why I left the office when I did."
Ginga came to sit beside her direct supervisor at the table, setting her half empty beer bottle down on the table with a thunk. "And yet you came here instead. It's pretty conspicuous."
"Are you jealous?"
"What, of them?" Ginga responded, pointing towards the transmitter screen. "There's not a chance in hell I'm telling anyone how I feel about that situation. Not after what happened."
Hayate took a slow sip of her drink, enjoying the burn in her chest as it went down. "I don't blame you."
"I do have a request for you, Hayate. Separate from that."
"Shoot."
"Please don't push my sister to be with Teana," she asked, her eyes turning serious. "She told me that you asked her a lot of questions about the two of them today. I know your new hobby lately has been matchmaking, but not with those two. Please."
The commander hummed as she set her glass down. Fate and Nanoha had disappeared from the frame and she assumed they had headed home. She shut down her transmitter screen and gave Ginga her full attention. "So, you don't think Subaru and Teana belong together?"
"I know they don't. You have no idea what happened last time. Just because two people are attracted to each other doesn't mean they should be together."
"You know what I like about you, Ginga?" the brunette asked, abruptly changing the subject. "You're deceptively challenging. Until recently, I thought you were a little kitten who couldn't hurt a fly. Now I see you actually have some pretty serious claws."
"Do I now?" she countered. "Other than defending the people I care about, what I have I done that was so vicious?"
"Well, there was the time... I mean..." Hayate replied, and then paused to give thought to the question. She found herself faltering in her attempt to label what it was she sensed in Ginga's personality exactly.
"That's what I thought," Ginga nodded when Hayate failed to produce an answer in a reasonable amount of time. "Maybe I'm not the villain you think I am. I just don't fit your narrative like you want me to. There's the difference."
Without another word Ginga rose from the table, snatched her beer from the tabletop and disappeared in the crowd. Signum, who had been standing nearby during the interaction, took the opportunity to join Hayate in the now vacant seat beside her. The brunette's eyes were wide, as if she had been physically slapped across the face and was still in shock.
"What was that all about?" the knight asked.
Hayate slowly turned to face Signum. A slow grin then began to form on her face, one filled with complete satisfaction. "Just Ginga being the best assistant I could ever ask for!" she exclaimed.
Signum shook her head and took a swig of her beer. "You're such a sadist weirdo," she said. She then patted her master firmly on the back in encouragement. "But do whatever makes you happy, kiddo."
A/N: Talk about good timing to discuss my views regarding Ginga, right? As mentioned above, Zarosguth asked in the review section why Ginga was often presented as wedge between Fate and Nanoha in my stories. Personally, Ginga is one of my favorite characters to work with because of the potential she has. I believe there is no way she could have gone through that horrific incident with the Numbers and come out exactly the same person she was before. When I picture her character, I think she still has noble intentions and cares deeply for those around her. But she also has this "bad-girl" aspect to her as well (my favorite character type), and she might be willing to try a few underhanded measures to get her way. The idea of her and Fate having anything romantic is pretty much a fan-driven aspect, given that there are limited scenes between the two in the series that would indicate the possibility. I'm a big fan of the FateXGinga predicament in the fandom though, and I'm more than willing to use it as a plot device in my stories too.
I guess that's it for now! Until next time ~Nissanity~