A/N: Wow! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! (P.S. Congrats to those who figured out the groom-to-be) Another longish chapter, but oh well! I'm thinking that besides just being a crazy rom-com, this will focus a big deal on Vergura as well, because, you know, it's me. XD So this chapter is mostly taken up by a big Vergura flashback that I hope you squee about as many times reading as I did writing it :) On another note, I will be MIA for about a week, but I wanted to put this up for everyone, so it isn't perfect, (I'm still debating whether or not to put so much Vergura in, so let me know what you think) but I hope you like it.
Stanford and Agura exchanged a look that could only be described as horrific, shocked confusion.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Mrs. Ibaden, the first to break the awful silence, squealed in excitement. "You two know each other!"
"We don't know each other." Agura cut in before Stanford could speak. "I just…uhm, recognized him. From a magazine."
"Yes, and my mother told me about her." To Agura's immense relief, Stanford played along. "It's uh, very nice to meet you."
"You too." Agura responded automatically, already practicing her panicked call in the bathroom to Halla.
"Well, this is just lovely." Stanford's mother stood. The queen was a pale, elegant woman, with a few strands of gray hair in her overall blonde bun and Stanford's green eyes. "I'm so glad you two were able to meet. Would you be so kind as to join us in the dining hall for supper?"
"We would love to, wouldn't we dear?" Mrs. Ibaden turned to her daughter, and Agura forced a smile, noticing how much more formal her mother had become in the queen's presence. "Just give us a moment to freshen up." Mrs. Ibaden added hastily, noticing how their comfortable airport sweats clashed with the Victorian décor.
"Oh, of course." The queen clapped twice. "Eric will show you to your room." A butler appeared, wordlessly taking their suitcases and gesturing for them to follow him.
"Oh, Agura, isn't it grand?" Her mother exclaimed as they surveyed their room. It was indeed grand, with an impressive Victorian air and even a balcony. Agura opened her suitcase and pulled out a pair of jeans.
"It's great Mom." She said robotically; still trying to recover from shock.
Stanford. I'm marrying Stanford.
"Oh, no no no! You are not wearing jeans to a formal dinner at the royal palace!" Her mother exclaimed in disgust. "Go put on that dress I bought you." She demanded, and Agura sighed. Her mother came off as a ditz, but when she set her mind to it the woman was determined and stubborn as a mule.
"Okay." She listlessly agreed, taking her phone along with the altered dress and slipping into the bathroom.
I have to spend the rest of my life with Stanford.
"C'mon, Halla, answer…" She drummed her fingers impatiently on the counter.
I have to 'produce an heir' with STANFORD!
"Hey hey hey! You just missed Halla, but I'll be 'back girl'! Leave a mess-"
Agura jammed her fingernail into the end button. Even her sister's clever message recording (which, years ago, they had spent an entire night staying up and trying to perfect) couldn't ease the panic she felt. She tried another number.
"Hello?"
"Vert, thank God-"
"Agura! Hey, how's it going? You called at a normal hour!"
"Yeah, great," Agura rushed out, checking her watch quickly. "Look, I just-"
"Are you over there already? Did you meet the guy yet? How was your mom on the flight?" Vert chuckled.
"Her usual self, but that's not what I'm trying to tell you-"
"You should have pretended to be asleep! That's what I always did-"
"Vert!" Agura snapped.
"What?" Her boyfriend, her poor, wonderful, about-to-receive-the-shock-of-his-life boyfriend, asked innocently.
"It's Stanford."
There was silence, and then, a clatter.
"Vert?"
Scrabbling noises.
"Vert?" Agura worried. Had he fainted?
"Oh…my God."
"Vert! Don't scare me like that! Especially not at a time like this!" She snapped.
"I dropped the freaking phone!" Vert exclaimed. "Stanford! Of all the princes in the wor-in the MULTIVERSE, IT HAD TO BE STANFORD! Our Stanford!" He raged, and Agura heard the sound of something shattering.
"Vert…" She soothed, hoping it wasn't anything valuable.
"Okay, now I'm definitely coming over there." He said firmly.
"No! Our parents don't think Stanford and I know each other!" Agura said quickly.
"Okay, did you even tell your parents a thing since you joined the BF5?" Vert demanded.
"I….well….no." Agura admitted, and he sighed.
"Agura-"
"Okay, I know I don't have the best relationship with them, but you don't understand!" She hissed quietly, so her mother wouldn't hear.
"I understand that for a good portion of my life I didn't even have parents, and that I wish you would appreciate yours a little more." He said pointedly, surprising Agura with his cool tone so badly that she couldn't even think of a way to reply.
"Sorry." He said eventually. "I didn't mean it like that."
"It's okay. I'm sorry too." She responded, glad to end the uncomfortable silence. "We've really got to stop fighting during my life crisises, huh?" Agura joked in an effort to ease the tension.
"Probably." He chuckled, and she sighed in relief.
"It's only cause you're too good at making me a better person." She pretended to laugh, but meant every word. Vert did make her a better person; he had helped her through her constant obsession with control. With a mother like hers, Agura had never felt like she had any, and that had manifested into an almost neurotic obsession with it until finally, one day, he had stepped in. She remembered it all too well; they had stayed up all night working through glitches in a new training program, something that was certainly more up Sherman's alley but they had wished to correct it themselves all the same.
"Man, is it late." Vert had yawned as she scribbled furiously away on a sheet of paper. Every glitch, every problem, written down for further examination. "Or should I say early?" Vert corrected himself upon checking the time. There was no response from his second-in-command, and he sighed, trying a less subtle approach.
"Hey, Agura, it's like two in the morning. Wanna just finish tomorrow?" He suggested. The poor blonde had been dropping hints since the clock struck eleven, and simply couldn't understand why she had chosen to stay up, obsessing over every little detail.
"Almost done." She muttered, still hunched over the paper. Agura was in fact far from done; she had these bugs to correct, then test the program, then correct those bugs and run it again, in a never-ending cycle of perfection.
"You've been saying that since midnight." Vert groaned jokingly. "Come on; we can do this tomorrow and push the debut date back."
"No, we can't. We said it would be ready, and it will be." She found herself snapping. "We can't just change the entire schedule." This fact was practically gnawing at her nerves; when given a schedule the huntress clung to it like a lifestyle. The very idea of changing everything, the weeks of training they had planned out all falling to pieces, was enough to send her into a state of panic, and she worked with increased vigor, as if her efforts could stop it all from crumbling. Her mind was set on it now, and she was driven by pure compulsion. An interruption would probably send her into hysteria, and she fought to keep her emotions from her well-meaning leader.
"Agura…it's just a program. The team won't mind." Vert said slowly, examining her closely. She turned away, continuing to write as the letters grew smaller and more smudged. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine; just tired." She responded automatically. Why share your feelings when you've worked so hard and so long to hide them?
"Then go to bed." Vert laughed. "Seriously, this is crazy. We've been up for hours!"
"You can sleep. I have to finish this." She said firmly, finishing her writing and moving to the computer to reprogram the bugs.
"Well I'm not just gonna leave you here at this hour." Vert said, equally firm, as he followed her to the computer. She ignored him, holding the notepad in one hand and typing furiously at the blue keys with the other. "Can you just tell me why this is so important?"
Agura pretended not to have heard him, her fingers moving faster and faster, flying across the keyboard as if she could simply work the question away.
"Hey." Vert grabbed her hand tightly, stopping her frenzied state. "Seriously, what's going on?"
"I…I just have to do this." She managed, trying to free herself. "Just one more minute." She found herself pleading.
"No. It's late, and we're both exhausted." Vert shook his head, beginning to suspect from the desperation in her voice that something was seriously wrong. He pulled her gently towards their rooms. "Come on." Agura was panicking; she felt as if the very walls were closing in. She had to get to that computer, had to finish, had to stay in control.
"No." She surprised even herself, ripping her hand from his and making for the keyboard, typing faster than ever. It was like it was calling to her, as if everything would just fall apart if she didn't finish.
Just do this now, and you can keep control. Everything will be fine. Just finish typing, run the program, and fix it again. You can do it. Just keep control and don't let him stop you.
"Agura, this isn't healthy." Vert stopped her again, stepping between Agura and the keyboard with concern in his eyes.
"Please." She managed to overcome the sense of panic that was drowning her, threatening to topple the composure that now seemed built out of cards. "Just one more-"
"No." He said quietly, and he took her in his arms. It was a small action, hardly able to compensate for the mental anguish he was causing her, but just for a brief second, in the shock that came with him holding her tightly to his chest, Agura could feel it all melt away. The sense of panic, the craving for closure, to be able to say that yes, she had full control over this project…it was just gone. Vanished. She sighed in pure relief, allowing herself to lean against him just the slightest and thinking, for the first time, that maybe she couldn't do everything on her own.
"Agura." Vert said her name quietly, and she knew the question that was coming. His arms held her close, her head resting against his chest, and she didn't want to wreck the precious safety with her answer.
"Why do you do this to yourself?"
She sighed, this time not so much in relief, but heavier, a sigh of sadness. She wanted to forget the sad things, to just stay there in his arms forever, safe and secure. Protected.
"I don't know." She finally spoke, and he rubbed the small of her back in slow, comforting circles.
"I just...have this impulse." She began carefully. "Everything has to be perfect, in order. It's this constant feeling that if something isn't under control...everything will crumble, and I hate it, but at the same time, I don't know what I would do without it." Agura took a deep breath.
"And so I have to keep it under control, make sure everything is perfect, alphabetized and color-coded." She allowed the small joke, and then sighed. "I know...it sounds crazy. But I never had much control growing up, and that just boiled and churned until I felt like I had to control everything, and until I can, I have this terrible, panicky feeling inside, like I'm crawling out of my skin, and everything is falling apart around me." Agura bit her lip. She had never truly opened up to anyone about her problem...her condition. She was ashamed. What would Vert think of her? What would he say?
"I don't think it sounds crazy." Her leader said quietly. "But I do think you shouldn't let it run your life."
"There's nothing I can do. It doesn't go away, Vert. It never. Stops." She whispered, and for a moment, he was silent, his next words confusing her.
"Thank you."
"What?" Agura looked up to him in confusion.
"Agura, I've known you for a long time." Vert began. "And I always thought there was something...different about you. Something you were hiding; a wall that you had up." He said. "The way you always unpack the groceries before anyone else can put them away, or alphabetically sort Spinner's collection of video games. The way the plates come out of the dishwasher in ROY G BIV order every morning, or how your room is always spotless. The way you act when something goes wrong." Vert paused.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is, thank you. For telling me."
"Oh." Agura was surprised. She had poured out her darkest, most buried secrets, and he was thanking her? Just for sharing?
"Thank you for listening." She surprised herself by saying. "No one has ever...cared." Her voice cracked.
"I care." Vert said instantly, firm and resolute. He released his grip on her to stare her straight in the face. "I can promise you that I care. And I..." He paused. "I want to help. You shouldn't have to deal with this alone. We can have a sort of...partnership." He said awkwardly, and Agura gasped when she realized what he meant.
"Like..." She guided him on, desperate to hear the words.
"Like a relationship." He said quietly. "I'd like to date you, Agura, if that's okay. I think I can help, or at least, I want to try."
She was quiet, overwhelmed by the sudden declaration, when she realized he was waiting for a response.
"I'd like that. Really." She smiled, and suddenly there it was again, that burning, consuming need to complete the program. "I just need one-"
"No." Vert shook his head. "We'll finish it tomorrow. In the morning. We will find a way to stay on schedule, and everything will be fine." He said firmly, and though it would be some time before Agura could fully accept statements such as this, she was at least calmed. But her hands still shook, the need for control still coursed through her, and every cell was screaming to run and finish. But Vert held his arm around her tightly as he led her to her bedroom, and she was forced to take a deep breath and believe him when he said it would be okay. She opened her door, and he followed as she shot him a questioning look.
"I said you wouldn't have to go through this on your own." He explained, as she slowly and unsurely lay down on her side, wondering what he had in mind. To Agura's great relief, Vert simply lay down behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist and holding her close. Again that feeling of safety and protection filled her, and she sighed happily, managing to ignore the anxiety long enough to drift off into sleep.
They went like this for some time. The anxiety never truly left, and sometimes would come back in massive, brutal attacks that left her shaking and broken, crumbled by compulsion. The attacks were somewhat better now, before she had felt as if mere footprints on a floor she had just swept could trigger a launch of anxiety, but now Vert knew to look out for these things. It was truly amazing to her, how he could watch what was happening through her eyes and be able to offer the perfect form of comfort. For the little things he would simply come to her side and squeeze her hand, for the larger, he would guide her away from the room. It was these times when she needed him most, just to hold her and stop her and tell her everything would be alright, that sometimes it was okay to lose control, and she loved him terribly for it, more than she could ever admit.
"Agura?"
"What? Oh, sorry." Vert's voice snapped her out of the daydream and back into reality.
"I just asked if you were okay. You know, with all that's going on." He explained.
"Oh." In truth, the total loss of control hadn't occurred to her since the episode on the cliff. "Actually, I think I'm doing alright. It's kind of all been too much of a blur."
"Oh." Vert sounded almost disappointed. "Well, that's good for you, I guess." He said dejectedly, and Agura realized what was wrong.
"Vert, I still need you, you know that, right?" She asked slowly, and he sighed.
"I know, it's just…I feel so helpless! You're getting married, to Stanford for crying out loud, and I'm stuck over here. I should be there for you-"
"You are there for me. By keeping the Zones secure and Sage safe." Agura said firmly. "They need you there, and I can handle this."
"You sure?" He asked worriedly.
"Vert, you're a better boyfriend than anyone could ask for." She laughed and assured him. "I gotta go change, but I'll call you-"
"Not into that dress you sent me a pic of, right?" Vert asked suspiciously. "Because no way are you looking that hot for freaking Stanford." He cursed under his breath. "Stanford. GOD."
"Okay, well, technically you weren't even supposed to get it, my sister stole my phone and sent it, and although I do appreciate the compliment, my mother is making me wear it."
"Your mom wants you to wear that dress to a formal dinner?" Vert sounded incredulous.
"Okay, not with the exact pose and expression I sent it to you with, but yes. Oh, and she kind of thinks it was a different dress entirely." Agura said quickly.
"How exactly-"
"Minor alterations." Agura explained, and Vert chuckled.
"Good; I almost flew over right then and there just to see it in person."
"Just to see it, huh?" Agura grinned knowingly.
"Well, maybe do a few other things…" Vert teased. "Agh, come back! I miss you."
"I know you miss a few things." Agura laughed.
"I GET LONELY." Vert defended. "Hey, I gotta go before someone hears me."
"Ugh. Fine. Call you later." Agura sighed.
"I recorded Dance Moms for you!" He added in an effort to cheer her up. "Maddie-"
"Don't tell me!" Agura laughed. "Wait, did you watch it already? I thought you said you didn't like that show! You complain every time I turn it on."
"I…I just saw it in the preview!" Vert tried to defend himself, but she was already giggling.
"I knew you liked it! Watch it again with me when I get back?"
"I can't think of anything I'd rather do." He cooed pretentiously. It was one of their favorite things to do, make fun of happy-sappy-lovey-dovey couples. "Alright, I gotta go. Love you!"
"You too." Agura instinctively blew a kiss, then realized he wasn't there to see it. She sighed, and it quickly turned into a groan of exasperation.
Stanford. Of all people. She growled, wriggling into the dress and pulling out her hair, pinning it so that it was half up and half down, which at least made her mane look somewhat tame.
"Oh, Agura!" Her mother clasped her hands together in adoration as she stepped out of the master bathroom. "You look absolutely beautiful!"
"Thanks Mom." Agura replied with a smile.
"Except…this looks different from the dress I bought…" Her mother muttered suspiciously, eying the thigh-high slit with concern. "Maybe it isn't so appropriate for a dinner. Why don't you wear a skirt instead?" She suggested, making it clear that she thought the skirt should be slit-free and ankle-long.
"Whatever." Agura rolled her eyes, opening her suitcase yet again. They finally settled on a blouse Mrs. Ibaden has purchased (and mascara, to Agura's chagrin). Eric, the butler, was waiting outside the door, and took them down to the dining room, where Stanford and his parents were already sitting. Agura was guided to her seat at the massive mahogany table, of which only the end five seats were taken up. Stanford's father, a somewhat short, squat man with Stanford's red hair, sat at the end, the queen at his side and then Stanford. Agura was about to sit down when she realized that the royal family was looking up at her expectantly.
"Uhm, your Majesties." She curtsied awkwardly, taking a seat opposite her 'prince', her mother at her side. She looked down at her plate in dismay; there were at least six different forks lined up, and what etiquette her mother had managed to whip into her was rusty at best.
"Oh, Princess Agura, please! No need for such formality!" The Queen clapped her hands together, making Agura wince at the stiffness of what she had almost forgotten was her title. "Please, call me Sophia. After all, we'll be like family soon, no?"
"Of course." Agura smiled weakly. "Sophia."
"And this is my husband, King Steven." 'Sophia,' as Agura would certainly have trouble calling the regal woman, introduced. The King grunted.
"Your Majesty, please." He raised a gruff hand, and Sophia winced as Agura began to seriously wonder if arrogance was an inheritable trait.
"And of course, this is my son-" The queen was about to introduce Stanford when someone came barreling through the dining hall doors.
"Oh dear. Did I miss the party?"
Just when I thought this couldn't get any worse. Agura groaned, wishing she could sink to the floor.
"Ello, love." The young man grinned smugly at her.
For there stood none other than-
"Simon Ian Rhodes. The second, mind you. Hundred and eighty-eighth in line for the throne." He said pointedly at Stanford, swooping in to kiss her hand. "Such a pleasure to finally meet little Stannie's soon-to-be!" Agura managed to avoid wiping her hand off on the silk tablecloth.
"The pleasure is mine." She forced herself to say.
"Say…" Simon looked at her closely. "You look mighty familiar, love. Have we met?" Stanford and Agura exchanged a worried glance. If he recognized her as one of Stanford's "butlers", they were in big trouble.
"Weren't you in that racing movie?" She blurted out, knowing that no Rhodes (except for maybe Sophia) could resist an opportunity to talk about themself.
"Why, I certainly was! Fantastic little action flick. Fast cars, beautiful women…who could ask for more?" He winked, and despite her disgust, Agura sighed in relief. Hook, line and sinker.
"Simon, please. We were just about to enjoy a lovely dinner. Care to join us?" Sophia asked, and Simon nodded.
"Of course! What's our dear chef Edgar cooking up today?" Simon slid into the seat next to Agura, and she stiffened. Stanford actually paused from his glaring to shoot her an apologetic look.
"Chef Edmond." Sophia corrected her son.
"Whatever." Simon shrugged.
"Seared duck, I believe." Sophia added.
"Seared duck? Bleagh." Simon stuck out his tongue.
"Well, I'm sure he can make something else for you, dear!" Sophia said quickly, and Stanford shot Agura a nauseated look, which made her stifle laughter.
"Ignore him." The King said gruffly. "A real man needs to learn to eat duck."
"I am a real man, daddy, now go and tell Edgar to make me some mac and cheese!" Simon whined.
A/N: Couldn't resist.
"Edmond." Stanford muttered stiffly, but the aside went unnoticed.
"Oh, Simon, don't make a fuss, I'll go tell him right now!" Sophia stood, her elaborate gown swaying (and making Mrs. Ibaden, who was dressed in a simple skirt and blouse, green with envy) as she hurried to the kitchen. Stanford shot Agura a look that practically screamed 'What did I tell you?' just before she returned.
"Anyway, as I was saying, Stanford, Agura, why don't you two get to know each other a bit?" Sophia beamed, and Agura nearly choked on her water. After two years of doing laundry for the boys, she knew more about Stanford (not to mention the others) than she cared to admit.
"Of course." Stanford cut in. "Uhm, how was your flight, princess?" He asked uncomfortably, knowing full well Agura would sock him if he had called her that in any situation other than this one.
"Quite nice, thank you." She nodded, equally formal. Sophia and Nairi exchanged positive smiles, as if her answer had been equivalent to 'I do.' Satisfied that their work was done, the two mothers quickly made conversation.
"So, Prince Stanford," Agura began slowly. "This is a magnificent palace."
"Oh, it is, isn't it?" Simon cut in. "I mean, I've lived here my whole life, and I still think it's grand!"
"Right…" Agura held her tongue.
"Simon, why don't you go boil your head or something?" Stanford hissed quietly, in order to avoid Sophia's repercussion.
"But I'm having such a lovely time!" Simon slung an arm around Agura casually.
"Oh, Simon, let's not forget who I'm supposed to marry." Agura chuckled with an undertone of don't-make-me-knee-you as she removed his arm.
"Ooh, she's a feisty one." Simon winked at Stanford. "Fine, fine, I'll leave you two to converse." He rolled his eyes, making for the kitchen double doors.
"Edgar! That mac and cheese had better be Velveeta!"
Agura gave Stanford a look.
"I told you all along that he was mummy's little favorite." The Brit defended.
"That's all you have to say?" Agura hissed. Sure, his brother was a jerk, but they were getting married! Mountains and molehills, Stanford!
"You know, dinner won't be ready for some time now." Sophia leaned in. "Stanford, be a dear and show Princess Agura around the palace?"
"Just Agura is fine, please." Agura cut in. She had never liked the sound of her official title.
"Good idea Mum!" Stanford stood up immediately. "Come on, princess." He half-dragged Agura down the hallway. "We have a lot to talk about."
