DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN CODENAME: KIDS NEXT DOOR
A/N: Aaand we're back! Y'all probably hate me for leaving you with that cliffhanger for a couple of weeks. But not enough to not keep reading, right? 'Cause... well, that wouldn't really make sense.
Since I knew I'd have to wait to upload this chapter anyway, I did my best to sit down with it and not rush it like I have been. When I rush my writing, I tend to forget what my intentions were, and fail to do it any justice. If I want anyone to take my stories seriously at all, I need to do so myself, right? So, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It's still not the best, but it gets the job done. lol
CHAPTER 9: A CHINK IN HER ARMOR (Part 2)
Fanny took a deep breath and straightened up. "I... I don't know if I can..."
Kuki and Abby exchanged wide-eyed glances. They needed to think fast; this was not an opportunity they could let slip away. But what could they do?
"You know, I think it would be easier for us all to open up if we all shared something with each other!" Kuki said, glancing around the group.
Fanny rubbed the back of her neck. "Um... Okay."
"Alright! I'll start. Uh..." Kuki stared off into the distance for a few seconds. "What do you wanna know?"
"Have you ever liked another operative?"
Kuki thought for a moment. For a moment, the other girls weren't sure if she was even going to answer. "Uh... well, there's this one boy..."
"Who's that?" Abby asked, smirking.
Kuki blushed. "Not telling! Anyway, he's really nice... sometimes. And he's really sweet! ...Sometimes. And he's really fun to be around!"
Abby chuckled. "Sometimes."
"No! He's always fun! Well..." Kuki mumbled something to herself, at which Rachel giggled. "He is kind of immature. Sometimes. No one's perfect."
Fanny watched the Asian girl drift off into a state of thoughtfulness. "That's it?" she asked.
"Weeellll... there was this other boy..."
"Go on," Fanny said, leaning forward. "Tell us about him!"
"Well, I haven't known him for all that long, I guess. But he's funny, smart, considerate, kind, and... heh, he's really cute."
"How do you know him?" Rachel asked.
"He... helped us on a few missions. He even saved my life once."
Something clicked in Abby's mind. "Girl, you mean you like Numbuh 81?!"
Kuki's face reddened. "...Yes."
Rachel covered her mouth, trying to mask her laughter. "You like my head of defense?! Wow! I did not expect that! But... I can understand it. Who's this other boy competing with him?"
"They're not competing! And I'm still not telling!"
"Alright. So, does Numbuh 81 know you like him?"
"No. I don't know if he likes me."
"What if he does?"
"Well, it's only proper that the boy ask out the girl! If he does like me, then he'll say so!"
"Does the other boy?"
"I don't... know. Hey, did you ever like Numbuh 81? You guys are pretty close."
"Trent? No way. He's like a brother to me."
"Hopefully nicer than yo' real one," Abby muttered.
"So who do you like?" Kuki asked. "You can't be too busy to like someone!"
Rachel shook her head, but couldn't avoid Kuki's disbelieving stare. "Okay, I'll admit, I do like someone. But he's... unavailable... so I don't want to talk about it."
"Unavailable? Like how?"
Rachel frowned. "He has a girlfriend, Kuki."
Kuki blinked and looked away from her friend. "Oooh... I'm sorry.."
"That's got to be rough," Fanny whispered.
"It's fine. So why don't you say anything to Trent, or the other boy? Trent hasn't mentioned dating anyone. Is the other boy dating someone?"
"No!"
"So... Which one do you like more?"
Kuki's gaze fell to the floor. "I don't know..."
"Which one would yah rather be around?" Fanny asked, her voice gentler than Kuki had ever heard it.
"I... I'd have to think about it."
"You should do that before yah say anythin' to either."
"Yeah... I know."
Having excluded herself from the conversation up to that point, Abby sensed Fanny's defences had softened. Perfect. Maybe now they could get some answers out of her. Some tact would still be necessary, but Abby was confident in her persuasiveness.
"How much do you enjoy the company of yo' crush, Fanny?"
Fanny considered the question with an lofty gaze at the carpet. Then, with a smile, she said, "Honestly? Very much. Even if I can't ever act like it."
"Why can't you?" Kuki asked.
"Because... he expects me to be this big, mean, bossy leader, like everyone else does. It would be like askin' him to like a completely different girl."
"Except not at all," Rachel said. "I know there's more to you than being Head of Decomissioning. I know that you're a really great girl. I've no doubt this boy does, too."
"Oh, I do have doubts about that..."
"Then why not prove him wrong?" Kuki asked. "Talk to him alone, or something?"
"I don't think bein' alone with him is a good idea. I don't think he's big on gettin' all mushy, either. Thinks he's too much of a tough guy for that kinda stuff, like every other boy."
"Aw, c'mon, Fanny!" Abby said, shaking her head. "You've got to get over this thing you got against boys! They obviously ain't all bad. Sho'ly this boy you like proves that to yah."
"I... It doesn't mean anythin'."
"Huh? How can you say that?" Kuki asked, scratching her head.
"Look, pretendin' what I want to happen will happen, even if I do say somethin' to him, won't accomplish anythin'!"
"Dang, girl, how can you be so skeptical?"
"Because trust doesn't stop boys from hurtin' yah! Likin' one doesn't mean he's not a selfish jerk like all the rest!"
"You mean whatever boy first got on yo' bad side? That was a different time, with a different guy! Why let just some boy make-!"
"He wasn't just some boy!"
Even without an echo, Fanny's words rang out clearly and seemed to hang in the air. There was a noticeable amount of anger in her voice, but... it wasn't her usual rage. There was real emotion behind those words. Emotion that had been suppressed for who knew how long.
Now, it was time to release that emotion. Abby had opened the floodgate; the answer she sought would surely pour out, but that also meant seeing everything that came with it.
The girls were treading on unstable ground now. They knew this wouldn't be a pleasant subject- who knew if Fanny had ever opened up about this part of her past to anyone- but perhaps it went deeper than they had anticipated. They were far from prepared for this. Could anyone ever be?
Abby wasn't sure what she was expecting to discover, but she wasn't about to back out now. She mustered up all the courage she could, and asked, "What happened?"
Fanny retracted her legs so she could hold them to her chest. She was noticeably hesitant to respond, though no one was about to rush her. They were ready to be as sensitive as they needed to be. Still, the anticipation was difficult to control.
"It was a few years ago... when I had just joined the KND. I was a normal girl, I think. I liked Rainbow Monkeys and fluffy animals and pink things. But more importantly, I was eager to make a difference in the world. I was so excited when I was assigned to Sector W. I still remember the day I officially graduated from the Cadets Next Door.
"It was also the day... I met him for the first time.
"He was nine. He was... intimidating. Commanding. And a little scary... but... then he was funny, charming, sweet. Honestly, I liked him from the moment I first laid eyes on him. And when he saw me lookin' at him, he walked up to me, introduced himself, and told me what pretty green eyes I had. I just knew right then that this boy was special.
"We stayed in touch. We talked most days of the week. He worked directly for the Supreme Leader, but we still tried to see each other as often as possible, even if was was strictly business. Just seein' him made everythin' a little bit better, no matter what else was goin' on.
"Of course, it usually was work-related; the Kids Next Door was the most important thing in his life. That was probably part of why I wanted to make my way to the higher ranks so badly. I wanted to be important, to be one of the commanders leadin' the KND from Moonbase, especially since that was where he usually worked when not out on a mission. I had dreamt about succeeding in the KND long before I had met him, but, with him in the picture... it all seemed to make perfect sense.
"So, before I had even turned eight, I had become leader of Sector W. I still remember my promotion ceremony. All of my friends- I had made quite a few by then- were there. He was there, too. And he was so proud of me; gave me the biggest bear hug ever. It was the happiest time of my life. I was sure that I was exactly where I was supposed to be."
Fanny paused, realizing that she was smiling at the memory. She squeezed her eyelids shut, and waited until the smile had dissipated. This story wasn't meant for smiles. Her audience would soon understand that.
She took a deep breath, and continued. "One day, he surprised me with a picnic. He packed egg salad sandwiches... my favorite. When we finished eatin', he told me... that he was going on a secret mission, and... he might not make it back. I was so scared. I-I didn't want him to go! But he was the most stubborn...
"Anyway... the next day, he sends me a message: if I joined him on the mission, it would impress the Supreme Leader, and he'd be able to talk him into promotin' me to the same job as him. The job offer alone would've been amazin', but, workin' with him? The chance for that was more than I could've hoped for! I didn't care what I had to do. I would have done anythin'."
She paused, having let another smile formed. Once she corrected it, she continued. "I had no idea what I was gettin' myself into. It wasn't just a mission. It was an entire operation... a small war, really. I... I don't want to get into it- it's classified, anyway- but I've never felt so scared, or helpless... We were losin' operatives faster than we were completin' our objectives. It wasn't his job to protect me- I was supposed to be able to watch after myself- but he tried to. Even when he should've concentrated on the mission!"
Abby watched with wide eyes as Fanny covered her face with her hands. She could guess where this story was headed. It must have been difficult for Fanny to recall these events so vividly; asking her to continue would be selfish.
But, to Abby's suprise, Fanny pressed on. "There were only three of us left. Somehow, we made it to the end." She inhaled deeply. "But... then we were ambushed. I don't even know what happened. Just that it was only me and him when help finally arrived. And everything we had accomplished had been undone. All our efforts, our sacrifices... were in vain. The operation... was a total loss."
When she paused to take a breath, the quivering was painful apparent. It was enough to cause Abby to shift uncomfortably, and to bring Kuki to the verge of tears.
"Wait... Abby still doesn't understand... Why do you hate boys?"
"Because they all abandoned me when I needed them most!" Fanny screamed, tears flowing and fists shaking with rage. "Boys refused to return me to my Sector! Boys let me take all the blame instead of supportin' me! Boys treated me like a traitor! Boys... boys failed to save me when... when he was the only one... who could've..."
Fanny's outburst lost momentum as she succumbed to her sobbing. While Abby and Kuki were frozen in place, Rachel silently moved from her spot to embrace Fanny, allowing her to cry into her nightshirt. This scene played out for one of the longest minutes any of them could recall. None of them could do a thing but let their heart break with hers.
Eventually, Fanny's face emerged from Rachel's shirt, pink and tear-stricken. She sniffed, then wiped her eyes. "I... I'm sorry... I'm a terrible storyteller..."
"Don't be sorry, Fanny," Rachel said softly. "I told you, I'm always here for you. I was then, I am now."
"And I'll always be your friend, too!" Kuki exclaimed, surprising Fanny with an enthusiastic hug from opposite of Rachel. "I don't take that kind of thing lightly, yah know!"
It took a moment for Fanny to fully comprehend Kuki's promise, but when she did, she couldn't help but smile. "I'm... happy to hear that, Kuki."
Abby approached Fanny as well. "Don't expect Abby to get into the whole huggin' thing. But, she's got yo' back. And she's always just a high-priority transmission away."
Fanny giggled. "Thanks... all of you. I can't tell yah how great it feels to have a group of close friends again. H-hopefully this time it'll last longer, huh?"
The air lightened as the group allowed their laughter cauterize old wounds. Maybe the Sector V girls couldn't fully understand Fanny's past sorrows, and maybe Fanny wouldn't be able to totally recover from her traumatic past for a long time. But maybe, just maybe, she'd be willing to make that journey once she believed that she would never be walking alone.
Kuki released her Irish friend. "So, everyone is feeling pretty good now, right? Nothing to keep us from just having fun now?"
Abby chuckled. "Looks like we're conflict-free fo' the rest o' the night. Though Abby has the feelin' we're forgettin' about somethin'..."
A blinding flash. A deafening boom. The house shook. Next thing they knew, the girls were sitting in total darkness. Perfect reason to scream at the top of your lungs, right? They thought so.
A/N: Yep, some of that stage settin' goin' on here. lol I hope y'all found Fanny's little tale to be interesting. I've already gotten started on the full story, sooo...
So, if you've a moment, please do review and lemme know what you think. If not, thanks for reading. You're awesome.
And no, the story is not over.
- Marty
