Disclaimer: I only own Peten. This will be the first time he'll not be tied to Middletown. Everything else is property of Ken Akumatsu. Don't sue. That'd be mean and you don't want to be a meanie.
Authors Notes: When it comes to love, I feel like my time would be better spent taking food from a hungry bear or lighting dynamite then forgetting what I was doing in this dark cave and why my candle is sparking. This mostly stems from the feeling that I think most women would rather spend time with someone else, so I don't bother
Aside from my emotional hang-ups, you should also note that I am one of the few writing for his own OC. I was late to the party when it came to character selection so you get what you get, I suppose. I did bring the better drinks though. It was a good party and you missed it.
This could be seen as a result from a good ending for Bard Moon Rising.
Operation Valentine: Freedom
From Dark Dragon Dave: Issued as an add-on to Operation Valentine
"What were you planning on doing?" Negi asks Peten. Peten is busy having one of his famous "space out" episodes. They were in the communal teachers workroom.
"Hey."
Peten snaps back. "Hello. What was that you were saying?"
"The day after tomorrow is Valentine's Day." Negi says. "I was asking what you and Eva-san were going to do?"
Peten looks at his watch. "You're kidding me. Crapspackle."
"You weren't going to do anything?" Negi asks, confused about the word Peten used.
"Not so much that, but what do you get the woman that means everything to you?"
Negi ponders this for a minute but not having any experience in the field doesn't have an answer. "I honestly have no idea."
"And add to that the fact she's worldly, intelligent, a vampire, and I have no idea what she likes." Peten sits in silence for a moment. "I'm in a hole aren't I?"
"Looks like it." Negi says. A hint of enjoyment in his voice.
Peten picks up on that. "Good luck with your class on Friday."
A sudden stunning realization hits Negi.
"That's what I thought." Peten says with a smile. He stands up. "I've got the perfect gift!"
"What's that?"
"It's only temporary, mind you. But it's better than nothing."
"Why do you insist on leaving me twisting in the wind?"
"A temporary release from the curse. I can do it, but I need some time. It'll only be a day but it's better than nothing."
"Y- Y- You're going to what?" Negi never thought that it would actually happen. And to admit, he had kind of forgotten his own promise to the vampire.
"Negi?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know something she might like? You've known her longer than me."
"Uh… I don't really know that much about her."
Peten slumps over. "You've let me down, man. You've let me down. I really don't feel like doing the same old flowers and candy routine. That seems so… Lame. That and I don't know if she'd really go for that."
"Yeah. She's not your typical girl."
"I'm going to need to have some time to ponder this. I know she'll love the whole freedom for a day but it would be irresponsible not to get a girl something on Valentine's Day."
Eva is trying to work Peten and her into an evening of sparring. Eva had kind of wondered how she stacked up against a bard.
"You're kidding me, right?" Peten asks, confused. "I really don't think I could bring myself to try and attack you. It just isn't in me."
"So you're saying that you could take me?" Evangeline asks him.
"No. I'm not. I was just saying that it wouldn't be right. It's awfully close to Valentine's Day and all…"
Evangeline didn't know what to make of that bit of information. "You were planning something?" She was slightly embarrassed.
Damn. He may have been good at speaking, but sometimes he placed his foot in his mouth instead. "Maybe." Peten chuckled nervously. "Nothing is final, but I had something in mind." Best to make it look like he had a plan.
"You don't have to do anything you know." Evangeline tells him. Peten had a feeling that this meant she was expecting something spectacular.
"You know I've got to do something. This'll be our first Valentine's Day together. It wouldn't be right not to make something of it." Peten said.
"Now I don't feel like sparring." Evangeline says. She looks at him in a manner that says she was interested in other things.
"Good." Peten thought. "There's no way I would willingly ever strike her."
Moving on. "So now what?" Peten asks.
"I don't know. I just don't feel like fighting." Evangeline says. This was the first time in a long time that someone is interested in doing something with her during the upcoming holiday. She had quickly gotten to a point where she had just brushed that day off as an over commercialized, card and candy pimping revenue fest for over fed corporations. But being on the receiving end of someone's affections for a change could alter ones outlook. It still didn't stop them from being over fed corporations, but that was irrelevant now.
"Come with me." Peten says and hold out his hand.
Evangeline grabs his hand and he clasps it. "Where are we going?"
Peten takes her through the house. Chachamaru was working and smiled a little as they walked by. After the Midhackon incident was over they'd been getting closer and closer. With Peten being able to truly be himself and her master enjoying every minute of it, she finds herself with more time for herself. Which was… Well, it isn't good going down that path. It tends to lead to a logical paradox and she didn't feel like being rebooted.
Peten wraps his arms around Eva and lifts off the ground.
"Sometimes, I forget that you can fly." Evangeline says.
Peten rotates to face some random direction. "Where do you want to go? Choose some direction."
"I don't get it. I can't leave the grounds."
"Just chose somewhere."
"Could I get a look around? I'd like to get a good long look before we start talking in hypotheticals." Evangeline says to Peten. Peten starts moving in a slow rotation. "I'd like to go anywhere."
"Let's say you had one whole day. Where would you wander?"
"North? I don't know." Evangeline tells him.
"Seems a bit bland, wouldn't you say? How about we go global with this? Where in the world would you go?" Peten asks, knowing full well he was going to take her where ever she wanted. It was within his power to do so. So he was going to do it. He may not be able to lift the curse but he could stall it and delay it from reinstating itself.
Cancelling it is something else. It's almost impossible to knock out someone else's curse. He might know how to, with the Arcane Infinity in his head, but it wasn't playing nice and was keeping itself hidden. Sometimes he and his mind didn't communicate as much as they should.
"You know where I'd really like to go? I've always wanted to visit Spain." Eva said. "I've been there before, but I've always wanted to go back."
"Spain? Righty-o then." Peten lowered himself and Eva down to the ground.
Once Evangeline is on the ground she turns to give him a questioning look. "You've got something up your sleeve don't you?"
"As I said, Maybe." Peten said with a smile that tells her you've hit the nail on the head but I won't tell you that you have.
Eva isn't sure how to proceed. "I told you that you didn't have to do anything."
Peten shakes his head. "Too late. I've got an idea now. And you're going to like it, I hope."
"I'm sure I will." Evangeline says. This is almost too much. Usually, to get this kind of devotion from someone she'd have to enslave their minds, but she's done nothing of the sort to Peten.
Time marches forward, stomping all in its path. It takes no prisoners as it continues into the next day, as it often does.
Takahata decides to strike up a conversation with Peten. He had heard from Negi about Peten and Eva.
"Peten-san," he says, "I heard that you and Evangeline are an item. I've also been told that you're planning on lifting the curse. Are you sure that's wise?" He sits in a nearby chair and then scoots it across to where Peten sat.
Peten looks at him. "I can only halt it for a day. Then I can't do it again. Thought it'd be a nice Valentine's Day gift. She wants to go to Spain."
"Curses are a little smart, aren't they?" Takahata says, then it hits him. "Spain?"
Peten looks around the room. He ends up behind Takahata in the blink of an eye. "You forget, bards are essentially wandering artists." Takahata turns to look at Peten to find him not there. "I'm one of the few who has found a reason to stay somewhere." Peten moved back to his chair in the time that Takahata used to turn.
"I can go places pretty easily." Peten tells him. "How about you, eh? Are you going to do anything for someone, say Shizuna? Or perhaps, Asuna? I can see she's got it bad for you. With Negi and now you, it seems I'm one of the few with an ordinary relationship around here."
"I hadn't thought of anything." Takahata admits. "I'm not cut out for love."
"That's a load. Look at you, gruff yet approachable. Tough but tender. Some women like that."
Takahata was lost on that last comment. "You think so?" He looked down at himself.
"Sure. You are a heck of a catch. I know back in the magic world, you could have your pick."
Takahata sighs. "I know that. I just don't believe I'm made for it."
"Everyone is. You just need to believe you are." Peten looks at his watch. "I've got class soon."
Friday came. Valentine's Day.
Both Peten and Eva had spent the day wanting to get through it as fast as possible.
Peten walks down the hallway. He dodges Negi coming around a corner. The teacher is being chased by most of his class. Peten places himself up against the wall and lets the crowd pass.
"Poor kid." Peten comments to himself and felt inspired. "Poor young boy of ten. Surrounded by girls all day. Oh, the stuff you've seen." He likes to make haikus.
Evangeline, Chachamaru, and him met up and nonchalantly made their way through the school. Just because there were those that knew better, didn't mean the whole place needed to know the same. They got to her place without incident.
"I hope you didn't do too much. It really isn't necessary." Evangeline protests.
"Oh, I'm hoping you'll like it. While we're on the subject…" He clapped his hands together and separated them to reveal a blue wrapped, small, rectangular, box. He usually reserves this trick for weapons or instruments. A gift was a better use than weapons, he thinks. "Experiences are good. But sometimes it's nice to get something a little more material."
She opens it and doesn't know what to think. A gold necklace is inside. "Thank you." She takes it and puts it on. "What do you think?"
"I like it." Peten said. "Although, don't think this is all I had. I've got more. Last thing I ever want to be is a one-trick pony." He looks lost in thought. "I've never seen a one-trick pony come to think of it." He shakes his head and holds out his hand. "Come with me."
Evangeline grabbed his hand. Everyday was a trip with Peten. Eva didn't know she went for the oddball kind. He lead her outside. "Um, what are you up to?"
"Remember the other day?"
"Yes."
The world warped around them. They found themselves at the edge of the barrier. "We're going to Spain."
"How?"
Peten got a sudden bad feeling. He really wanted for this to be the one that would let her free. "I'm sorry I couldn't think of the final one, but I do have this."
"Have what?" Evangeline asks.
Peten reaches out and touches the barrier. It ripples out from where he makes contact with it. "A free day. I can't end the curse on you permanently, but I can suspend it for 24 hours. You wanted to go to Spain, so we are going."
"But I haven't packed anything."
"I'll get them to give us some donations." Peten says with a glint of his eyes.
"Did you do that for this necklace?"
"Absolutely not. It's fully legal. I wanted you to know how much you mean to me and when it comes to that I'm not going to half-ass it."
Peten's hands flash blue. The barrier flashes orange in response. Magical energy fights magical energy as the two sides meet. The barrier shatters into thousands and thousands of clear hexagons. They briefly fly apart before lifting up and fading away. He presses a button on his watch which starts a timer. He motions for Eva to come try it out.
"Are you sure?"
Knowing full well it was effective he gives her a gentle push through and, as predicted, nothing happens. Evangeline didn't know what to do. She hasn't walked past the barrier in 15 years. "I- I never thought I'd ever…"
"Ready to go to Spain? And possibly a few other places since you know that it worked?"
"Yes, Yes I am."
"And since the curse is lifted, feel free to go in whatever form you wish. I don't mean to be a jerk, but it might look less… odd if you were glammered, but you can do whatever."
"I think I should look my best," Evangeline says, "I'll go glammered. I'll wait until we get there."
Peten holds out his hand again. "Shall we?"
"Of course."
The world bends and stretches. Japan falls into Spain and Spain acts like the family dog and makes love to Japan's leg. After a brief fling and the requisite coke habit, the two file for divorce citing "Irreconcilable Differences."
Evangeline stands on a street corner in Spain. The farthest she's been from Mahora in 15 years. The smell is the first thing she notices to be different. The sights and sounds are next. Evangeline McDowell, free to see the world, even if it is only for a day.
She hugs Peten. "Thank you."
"It's okay. I just wish I could have lifted it permanently, and I'm sure I know how but the Arcane Infinity isn't coughing up the goods. Besides, you helped save me, and no amount I do will ever make up for it. I owe you my life."
"Honestly, don't mention it." Evangeline tells him. "So now what?"
"That's up to you. Today, the world is your oyster."
"I'd like to get something to wear. These clothes won't fit if I go glammered."
Peten smiles. "Then let's find a clothing store."
An hour later they emerge from a trendy little boutique with a small selection. Peten and a glammered Eva, clad in all new clothes, leave carrying a few bags. They duck in an alley and Peten makes the bags disappear.
"So now what?" asks Peten. "It's your day."
"You know… With the removal of the curse, my magic has come back." Evangeline tells him. She pulls him closer. "We have all kinds of things we could do. That, and since we're a couple and it is Valentine's Day…"
Peten has a grin.
"But we'll save that for later." Eva says. "There are so many other things to do right now." She gives him a quick kiss and tells him, "Come on."
He's struck. "…Right." He follows her out of the alley with a goofy smile on his face.
"A hotel? Already?" Peten asks.
"No. For later." Evangeline says coyly. "I'd like to get a room now so we don't have to hunt later."
They enter the hotel, walk up to the concierge, and ask him for a room.
"Room?" asks the man behind the counter. "It's a little early, don't you think?"
"We just got here and we're a little jet lagged. What do you say?" Evangeline asks him.
"Ah. I understand where you're coming from," he chuckles. "I'll see what I can do." The man goes to a computer and checks what's available to the nice young couple that just came in.
"Damn." mutters Peten.
"What?"
"It's going to look odd if we don't have luggage."
"Just convince him we have some."
"Such a writers convenience." Peten complains to himself.
The concierge comes back to them. "We have many rooms. Would you like the honeymoon suite?"
"Sounds lovely." Evangeline says.
"Will you need help with your bags?"
Peten leans up on the counter. His eyes glint again. "Hey, our luggage got delayed at the airport so we'll be getting it later."
"Ah. I understand sir. That will come to 680 Euro."
Peten's eyes glint again. "We won a contest. We were to understand it was free."
"Oh that's right. I'm sorry sir." The influenced man understands. "Here is your key."
Peten snatches the key with one hand and pats the guy on the arm. "Thanks pal. You made my day."
The man gives him a knowing smile. "You are welcome, sir. And good luck to you."
He turns to Evangeline. "Shall we?"
"Yes. I'd like to go sightseeing." Evangeline tells him. "Seeing the same old sights around Mahora got old quick."
"It's your day." Peten says. "You go, I'll follow."
As they leave, after they get across the street, a crack instantly forms on the sidewalk surrounding the hotel.
"You know, I have yet to ask, where in Spain are we?" Evangeline asks.
"Barcelona, Catalonia." Peten says. "Or I hope. That's kind of where I was aiming. So there should be a few art museums, a waterfront, you name it."
"I think I'd like to go to an art museum."
"We need a guide." Peten comments. "Too bad I don't have one."
"Then let's just walk around and see what we can find."
After about 15 minutes of wandering they come across the Gothic Quarter.
"This brings back all kinds of memories. I never lived here, and only spent a small time in Spain, but the architecture is splendid. They don't make buildings like this anymore." Evangeline says.
"I can only imagine," Peten tells her, "how much you've seen."
"I'll have to tell you it all some time. The complete history of the woman you love."
"I'd love to hear it. Straight from the source."
"Later. We can save it for Sunday, at my place."
They spend about an hour walking around admiring the buildings and the small side streets, with there arches from one building to the next. The sun unable to brighten them because of the closeness of the buildings. They come across Placa de Sant Felip Neri. The bomb damage and bullet holes of a bygone civil war still have their shadows on the church and the walls of the older buildings. While admiring the buildings the square starts filling with children. A nearby school has let out for a recess and the romantic feeling of the area is gone for now.
"You want to do something for dinner?" asks Evangeline. "This place has gotten a bit noisy."
"Sure. Let's see what we can find."
There was a Hard Rock Café but decided to get food from somewhere a little more intimate. Hunting down a place to eat yields a nice bistro. They get a place to sit and think of what to order.
"May I take your orders?" The waitress asks.
"Yes." Evangeline says and follows up with, "and may we see your wine list."
"Right away, miss." The waitress retrieves the wine list and returns.
They order their food and drinks and the waitress takes it to the back.
"Not that it's any of my business," Peten asks, "but why Spain?"
"I just wanted to get away really. I've gotten so sick of Mahora in the last 15 years, anywhere would have been good. I just sort of chose this off the top of my head. So we can go somewhere else later. I'm sure we could fit some other places in, right?"
Peten answers "I go where you want."
"Since it is Valentine's Day, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why me?"
Peten raised an eyebrow. "…What?"
"You love me. Why?"
Peten thinks back. "Negi asked me a question similar to this a while back. I told him that you can't help who you love. You are amazing, beautiful, and amazingly beautiful. But when I get down to the point… All I can say is that I do love you, and that's all there is to it."
Evangeline thinks this over. "I love you too, but what about farther down the road? I won't age, you will. How are we going to handle you being 80 and me not changing?"
"I suppose, if you'll grant me the luxury, I will simply grow old and die in your presence. I know that may seem a little unfair to you."
"Just a bit, but I don't mind."
"I had thought of 'methods' of extending my lifespan. Lichdom passed through my mind."
Evangeline shook her head. "They all tend to be insane. I don't want you changing too much."
"Vampirism?"
"I couldn't do that to you."
"I don't like mummification, and zombification is useless. Any incorporeal transformation is just as useless." Peten says. "I might be beyond help."
"I think this may have been a poor subject to bring up. I don't want to ruin the day with this kind of talk."
They finished their meal and make good their escape. Saying that a their bill is obviously a coupon and that it entitled them to a free meal.
"I feel bad doing that sometimes." Peten says.
Evangeline counters that with, "don't let it bother you. If they can't be bothered to have the will enough to resist it's their own problem."
As they are leaving they feel the ground shake slightly. It passes as soon as it arrives. They look at each other and let it pass. Eva takes Peten around town some more and the morning works its way into the afternoon.
The duo works their way back to the hotel they ripped off. There it was, just as they left it. In a sink hole.
Wait, what?!
Apparently there had been a small underground aquifer that slowly ate away the soil around the building. It just happened that today was the day the ground let loose and the building plummeted ten feet into its' own basement. The basement had moved into the sink hole so that, by the time the first floor arrived, there wasn't anyone there. The building is entirely intact and everyone had made it out okay.
Or so it seemed there had been a sinkhole.
Peten and Evangeline look at each other. "I don't think that we'll be staying there." Eva remarks.
"No." Peten shakes his head. "I'm sorry. Is there somewhere else you wouldn't mind staying?"
"We could always go back I guess." She suggests.
"That's not why I did this. Maybe you'd like to go… Home, where you lived as a kid?" Peten asks.
This struck a chord with Evangeline. "…No I don't think so. We can always find someplace else to stay."
"If that's what you want." Peten pulls something from his back pocket. "I snagged this from the restaurant." He held out a pamphlet. "It covers various places of interest and places to stay. And they worked in their own little bit of propaganda, but we already ate there, so it doesn't matter."
"What's the closest?"
"Looks like it's only about three blocks away."
"Then we'll go there."
Peten closes the pamphlet and starts to walk off. He notices the counter guy from earlier. "Hey man." Peten says as he takes the key out of his pants pocket. He hands it over to the guy. "I don't think we'll be needing this key."
"That's okay, sir. So long as you and your lady there are okay."
"We weren't in at the time. Good luck with your sink hole."
"Good luck with the lady, sir."
"Yeah, I hope." says Peten. After turning away he muttered, "pervert."
Peten left the man next to the massive hole in the ground and headed for the next nearest place to stay. They got the last room in the other hotel under the same guise as before. They go into the room to find a really nice layout.
"Cheap at twice the price." Peten says. "Considering I didn't pay…"
The next "day" comes.
What? You don't actually think I'm going into it, do you? You sick, sick person. That's their business and I'm not going into it. You can come to your own conclusions.
Evangeline and Peten leave the hotel.
"It's currently Saturday in Japan and we have about…" Peten looks at the counter on his watch. "7 hours. So where to next?"
"I think it would be wrong if I took the day all to myself. Is there anywhere you want to go?"
Peten thinks for a moment. "Nah. I'm happy with wherever you want to go. And as I said, this is your day. I do want to apologize for timing this all wrong."
"Then how about we go someplace a little more light out?"
"The Famous Evangeline McDowell." A voice from behind them says. They turn to find a black cloaked man leaning up against the building. "I thought someone had destroyed you. But here you are," the man looks at Peten, "with your boyfriend. How sorry is that?"
"Do I know you?" asks Evangeline.
"No. But who hasn't heard of you? I could tell you at this point that I'm a hunter or some such nonsense, and that by taking you down I'll blah blah blah." The man smiles to reveal a bright white smile. "But simply wish to kill you."
"I won't let you do that." Peten tells the black cloaked men.
"Shut up, junior."
Peten moved to punch the black cloaked man but before the punch connected, the man twisted Peten's fist and lifted up sharply on it. There was an audible crack.
"Aaaah!" Peten screamed and kneels to the ground.
"Peten are you okay?!" Evangeline asks, kneeling down beside him.
"He broke my wrist. Damn it hurts." Peten says as he cradles his right wrist
The black clad man shook his head. "Tsk Tsk. Bad monkey gets hurt. You know, Eva, I thought you would go for someone a little more powerful than him."
"You want a fight, you've got one."
"Evangeline." Peten says.
"Yes?" She asks.
"You know how you wanted to stack up against a bard and I refused to fight you? My little interaction with that guy has revealed something. We can tell our own. He's a bard too." Peten says.
"He is."
Cloak interjects. "I am. And it's nice to see another bard in this world, even if it will only be temporary."
Peten activates his warping ability to move the group out to a deserted field.
"I can do that too you know." says the black clad man.
"Listen, Eva, before you fight him." Peten says. "He won't have my ability to fly. And I'm certain he doesn't have the Arcane Infinity in his head, but this could be a good analog for how you'd stack up against me."
"Right." Evangeline begins reciting her release and moving at the same time to avoid Cloaks' attacks.
Cloak jumps back and dodges the wave of darkness that would have washed over him had stayed where he was. He stomps on the ground and crack forms along the ground headed for Evangeline. The vampire saw this coming and stepped to the side.
"What was that?" Evangeline asks, totally unimpressed. The crack stopped. Suddenly the ground opens up and tries to swallow her. She lifts up off the ground that is no longer there. "Sink holes? Is that all you have? So far I'm unimpressed. Peten is far better than you."
"Watch." Cloak says. Molten rock wells up and bursts up into a giant pyroclastic pillar.
Evangeline sees the fire before it strikes and shoots an ice spell down. The fire and ice clash and forms a nice rock. As she dodges an incoming swarm of arrows made up of equal numbers of light, fire, and wind. The rock crashes down and lands in the lava spreading molten globules in a large radius around the impact.
Evangeline counters the arrows with a "Blizzard of Darkness"
"Eva! Behind you!" shouts Peten.
Evangeline stops her attack and moves out of the way of the blue armored, shield carrying, lance wielding, knights flying in her direction. Cloak is on the ground tossing out small, painted, pewter figures shaped like the knights. He tosses out 15 in total. Evangeline can't attack and dodge all of them at the same time. Peten sees this but knows he's useless in his current state.
"Come on, Arcane Infinity, give me something…" The book remains silent. "You obstinate piece of-"
"Keh heg hehehe." Cloak laughs and leaves his toys to do their work. He walks over to Peten. "So, fellow bard, you and her are lovers? Right?"
"Yeah. So what." Peten floats to a stand. "If you hurt her I swear I'll kill you."
"Aw. Who said I was going to kill her first? As a fellow bard, you know about setting the proper mood, no? Something I'm sure you did while you were at that hotel." Cloak says. "I'm going to kill her boyfriend, you, and throw her off her game."
"That might be a bad idea. You don't know her when she's angry." A massive amount of crystal explosions happen in the sky. They destroy all but three of the knights. The three that are unlucky enough to be left are shredded to bits. "Hope you brought your A game. We've dealt with knights before. And she's just getting started."
"Damn." he says. The next moment Evangeline was all over Cloak like the Narutaki's on cake.
She is seething with rage. She has a spell ready to take his head off. "You had better leave now or I will kill you." She points to herself and Peten. "This is our day. You should be glad you caught me in a good mood."
Peten mutters to himself while looking away. "I told you."
"You think you've won?" Cloak asks the enraged vampire.
"I've given you fair warning. You maybe a bard, but I have seen nothing that would lead me to believe it."
"Eva! Behind you again!" exclaims Peten. Eva evades a fireball from seemingly nowhere.
"He's using a trick out of your book." notices Evangeline. "He's got us looking one way while he's in another."
"I should sue." comments Peten. He uses his free hand to create a wall of force around them to stop another attack.
"Then I should be able to sense him. But I can't." Evangeline looks at Peten.
"A bards magic wavelength is they're own. I let you sense mine to try and stop Midhackon."
"That leaves one option. Peten please leave." Evangeline lays out her plan. "I'm going to raze the area, so make sure you don't get in the way."
"Right, I'll be right over there." Peten points to a place farther out in the field and runs farther out into the it. As he does so he notices the grass moving as the cloaked Cloak runs to him.
Evangeline notices this to. "You've made a huge mistake." She incants her "Blizzard of Darkness" again and launches it off at the spot in the field where the grass moved. It hits it mark and Cloak gets KO'd.
Peten, still holding his wrist, walks over to where Cloak lay. "Son of a-" A loud whump comes from Peten kicking the downed man.
"Let's go home." Eva says. "You've been hurt. But I'm sure you know some healing spells."
"I do, but the bones are still a little tender. I can solve the break but that doesn't solve the trauma."
"I have a wrapping bandage back at my place."
"You don't want to continue?"
"No. Apparently, I'm still a target even now. I think I'd like to finish up the day back at my place. Plus you're injured."
"If that's what you want. I must deliver." He holds out his good hand. She takes it again and he warps back to Mahora. "I wasn't expecting you to take it easy on me. That's unlike you."
"That's because I like you." Evangeline tells him. Peten smiles at her. "You know the day hasn't even technically begun and I'm already sick of it. Come on, we should bandage your wrist."
Evangeline and Peten walked back to her place. Content in the knowledge that… well I don't suppose there really was much of a point to the story.
End: Operation Valentine: Freedom
Afterthoughts: I think it is things like this are the reason I don't have a girlfriend. I'm a loser in love. Something I've come to terms with, but I don't let this fact bitter me.
Anyway, due to the delay in this fic, let me be the first to say… Happy Valentine's Day 2009.
E/N: Strike another one from the list. What's next?
