Enjoy.

XXX

Going back to get some sleep was the best decision I had made since moving here.

You know how your voice gets deeper after a…heavy rest? It felt like my whole body just got doused with the same context. I felt heavy, slow, but comfortable. I blinked blearily as I reached up with a hand, pushing a few stands of loose hair from my face, thoughts too murky to really decipher. I sat up slow, resting my head on my hand as I took in several cleansing breaths, feeling my chest rise and fall as I stretched.

Nice.

I smiled a genuine happy smile as I reached both of my arms all the way behind my head with a few satisfactory cracks, and released my stored breath with a sigh of contentment. This was pretty good. I need to do this more often.

Sleep, not fight a Fallen Angel Warlord.

Today, was Saturday, a blessed day I could only experience once a week by law of man. On this day, I got to just chill and take things slow. I could chat idly with the storm spirits, or do a light workout at the beach, a little training, joke around with Ajax, or even just stare at the ceiling till the day ended.

At least, that's what my Saturdays are supposed to be.

Red suddenly dyed the air within my room, and I stared unimpressed at the demonic sigil that appeared on my floor. It shone brightly, before Rias appeared from it, dressed in her uniform with a pleasant smile.

"Ah, Gray, it seems I caught you just as you woke up."

"What gave it away." I said dryly, I sincerely hope she wasn't about to ask me about a Stray tonight or the world needed saving…its Saturday.

"Your bed hair." She said with a small giggle, and I didn't even bother trying to fix it as I knew it was going to be unruly till I ran hot water over it. I cleared my throat to try and clear the fatigue from my lungs.

"So? What's up?"

"Club activities, is your uniform clean?"

"It's Saturday."

"Yes, but Sona did us quite the favor during our last battle, one I fully intend to repay today with her request."

"What does she want? I'm not finishing that game." I said with a grunt, and she blinked as her train of thought derailed, "Chess? Did she challenge you? I didn't know you knew how to play."

I rolled my eyes, and rose from my bed on the floor, standing high and tall as I cracked my neck and headed for my bath, "She wanted to talk to be about it one time I was making lunch. I told her I knew how, and she wanted a game."

She laughed, "That bad huh?"

"I was making food, so I just played till I finished making it…I think she still has that board still set up on the barstool."

"It's unfinished?"

"Yeah." I nodded, "I don't plan on finishing it either, I'd like to call it a draw."

"Sona won't settle for that."

"She can't make me play; it's a draw no matter what."

"You're evil." I heard her chuckle, and I snorted before continuing about my business. Rias stared at my back as I started brushing my teeth. I had to hunch over in front of the mirror so I could see my pearly whites. She walked about my room as I ran the sink a bit to finish up, before poking her head in.

"How long until you're done?"

"We meeting at the School Grounds?"

"Yes, the Club Room."

"Go on ahead, I gotta shower and stuff."

"Or I could join you."

"Not a chance." I said flatly with the true spirit of a recently-awoken giant. She pouted, and I just laughed at her change of expression, "While that is a dream come true for any other man, I am quite aware that there is just not enough space…besides, you may not be bothered by your nudity, but I am. Are you hungry? I can make you something before you head out."

"…you're bothered by it?"

I blinked, my eyes glancing to the cracked open doorway that she was hanging her head through. "Well, I can't say I'm not fairly used to it at this point, but growing used to it…kinda sucks, you know?"

She was silent for a time, before I splashed some water on my face, what the hell am I saying! "Are you Hungry?" I repeated, "I can make something if you are real quick."

"How about I make us something." She said, a sudden fire lighting in her eyes, and I just kinda nodded slowly, "On the condition that my kitchen isn't on fire when I come down and there isn't a massive mess to clean before we head out, feel free."

"Who do you take me for!?" she shouted after me as I closed the door and turned the water on, "You know where everything is, I'll be done soon."

I waited to get in until after I heard her feet walk down the stairs, and I felt a small smile peek out the corner of my mouth. I had never actually sampled her cooking, but she seemed to at least tolerate mine, I wonder what skills she's got tucked away."

My morning shower was quick and simple, though I did try and take it a little slower so that she would have a little more time to prepare something. She could be going for a simple pan of scrambled…eggs.

Shit, there is no way she is going to make the meal my size is she? Fuck, I didn't think that through…maybe I can sneak something at the cafeteria when I start prep. I turned off the steaming water with a quick flick, and ducked under the door track so I didn't cause trouble. I shook my head out, following up with a quick towel, before running a hand down my jaw to check for any developing facial hair…nothing significant so far.

I finger-combed my hair over, added a quick toss, and numbly patted the cleared counter space…my uniform was not here.

…

Did she…

I could have sworn…

I stepped out of the bath, and checked the night stand, the table, the top of a little fridge…nope.

It wasn't here.

I sighed, mentally thanking the lords above my Mother wasn't coming home today, and I wrapped the towel extra tight around my waist as I opened my bedroom door, and walked down the stairs slowly, letting my loud footsteps carry the weight of my entrance as I knew she would most definitely hold onto my clothing until I asked for it, might as well make it brief.

I stepped off the stairway, and headed straight into the kitchen, scanning for my uniform, and spotting it on the windowsill above Rias's work station, where she happened to be.

It was quite the scene.

The early morning sun peeking through the windows lit her crimson hair into an almost golden fire. It seemed alive almost as it dyed the air around her in this dominating shade…but her eyes, focused and working, their green-blues shone through this ambience undeterred and untainted, two blue, entrancing lights amongst a red and gold glow.

She turned to me, and smiled, and time froze…just for a moment, as my mind's shutter snapped and took a photo for the rest of my life to remember.

Rias, smiling playfully with a small apron to cover her uniform, near the edge of a laugh as it tugged at her cheeks. Her deep hair tumbling like thunder, tucked behind her pale ear as it headed down behind her. Two blue eyes nestled between her unblemished features beckoned me to stare just a little longer…and the sun.

It made it all just…perfect.

"Gray?"

"Hmm?"

"Lost in thought?"

"You could say that?"

"What's on your mind…lost your uniform?" she said with a devilishly cute wink, and I just kinda laughed.

"I have… just kinda happy I get to be me right now."

She blinked, taking in my pleasantly smiling face, and she blushed, turning to the side so her hair draped over her face.

"B-breakfast should be ready soon. I tried to make extra, but I was afraid it wouldn't cook as fast."

"Don't stress it; I'll just make a big lunch." I said with a shrug, "I'll split it with ya."

She nodded, and I stood there for a few more seconds, before I blinked, and scratched my bare chest briefly almost as if to remind myself that I had essentially been staring at Rias in nothing but a bath towel for the last few minutes.

"Mind passing me my uniform or is this my new dress code for when you cook for me?" I said in a joking tone, hoping to hide my own embarrassment with bravado, and she just kept staring forward.

"Feel free to grab it."

I blinked, but shrugged, and walked behind her to reach over. I felt my grip get a firm hold on all the pieces, and then I felt a weight on my torso. I looked down, and saw Rias was leaning back against me, her head still tilted forward so I couldn't see her expression, her solitary red curl at the top of her head tickling my chest as she seemed to slowly rock her head side to side, a song playing in her mind perhaps.

I kinda didn't know what to do.

I just kinda stood there for a bit, watching the food with her as it hissed in a buttered pan, before I felt her head thud against me, and I looked down to see her looking up at me with a subtle blush.

"I'm…going to do this regularly."

I rose an eyebrow, my sense of wit announcing itself, "Steal my uniform or…"

Her blush flushed, before she elbowed me, and I faked a little pain as she just looked back down at her almost done meal.

"Issei should be bringing Asia and Xenovia with him to the clubroom, Kiba and Akeno were already aware of this and should be there on their own on time."

"Ok."

Shit! I forgot it was Saturday! I don't do prep!...damn, guess I'm going hungry.

"So we should have plenty of time to eat and chat." She said, and I tilted my head, trying to catch a side angle of her face, "Chat? Am I in trouble?"

"No no, nothing like that." she said with a small laugh, and I frowned at how quickly she denied it…it was more of an assurance that she wasn't mad over me actually not being in some form of trouble.

"So…what? Did I forget to unplug the air fryer in the school kitchen again?"

She stifled a giggle, "While it's true that she isn't particularly fond of that habbit, sharing a portion of your meal with her helps smooth over any hard edges she might have accumulated."

"The world is going to end again?"

"No."

"Issei went too far and I'm next up to try and curb him?"

"No, but good idea."

"Kiba's Gay and he's after me?" I said with mock horror, and she elbowed me again.

"No!"

"Then what? Sounds like everything is pretty good right about now."

"I want to know more about you."

I blinked, before tilted my head from side to side as I debated what kind of questions she'd ask, before I just shrugged and backed away, grabbing my uniform on the way as I fully planned on being dressed when we had this apparent chat.

"Not much to know, but if you're curious I can answer some questions." I said nonchalantly, but on the inside I was already preparing.

"Some", not "all". She may be my dearest friend, but that does not entitle her to learn of everything I am. I walked around the corner into the hall just out of sight, and tugged on my clothing as I heard Rias finishing up her servings. I walked back just in time to see her setting plates on the counter and pulling a stool for each of us. I smiled at her kindness, and laughed at her pout when I pushed my own stool back in.

"I sit on the floor, more comfortable for me." I said with a chuckle, and rested my plate in my lap after placing an extra-large napkin across it. It was probably a very filling meal for an average person…I can almost picture the apoplectic tears running down the Perverted Trio's faces if they had an inkling of knowledge of what transpired on this morning.

I took an experimental bite, and smiled widely, "Pretty good! Thanks again."

She blushed a little at the praise, and nodded. She pushed her own stool in, before seating herself across from me after taking a cushion to use as a seat on the floor. I paid it no mind, trying to pace myself through the meal so it didn't disappear too fast. If she wanted to chat it would be rude.

"So? What questions come to mind?"

"Do you mind if I ask a few personal questions?"

"Not at all, I'll answer some, maybe not all of them though." I said with a shrug, and she nodded. She stabbed some food for herself, before giving it a spin as if to cool it while she mulled her first question.

"You live alone with your Mother correct?" she asked, and I nodded, figuring it would be a…"family" related question.

"Yep, she's the best."

"You probably guessed, but I'm curious about your father…was he a giant like yourself?" she asked, taking a few bites after speaking to give me time to think.

"I don't know, I have no memories of him. My mother claims that he was quite the opposite, an incredibly short fellow. She said he was four feet tall, but I have a hard time believing it."

Rias's eyes seemed to fog off in thought as she considered that, before nodding, "Just you and your mom?"

"Yep, since I was born."

"That must have been hard."

"Maybe, maybe not…I don't really have much to complain about, I have a kick-ass mom." I said with a proud grin, and Rias just smiled with a humorous headshake.

"Did you ever play any sports? Any hobbies growing up?"

"I never played in sports competitively, I simply just didn't want too despite my school's obvious urgings. Hearing "Your one in a million!" over and over got really really old. As for hobbies, it was anything that I could do with my mother, or alone. Music being a staple. Free Running and Chess being other examples."

"You play chess with your mother?"

"Yeah, we both hate checkers and card games were hard since I had a hard time handling them without creasing them." I said with a shrug, "When I was growing up, my strength was something I had little control over…well, perhaps restraint is a better word. I had to learn to handle things gently. Chess was a good medium. Solid pieces were hard to break, and the board is fairly large and gives a calm scenario."

"That must have been hard." She said again, and I chuckled at her lost expression, "It was a learning curve, I couldn't use anything glass for a while. Mechanical pencils were difficult as well…oh, and ice cream cones…" .

I kinda dozed off into memory lane, remembering various hurdles one at a time…my mom was really patient thankfully.

"What about Free Running? What brought that on?"

"I was good at it." I said with a shrug almost immediately, it was an easy question. "Running as fast as you can, feeling the burning in your lungs and focusing only on where your feet will fall in front of you…it's cleansing. At least I found it so. I really enjoyed the fact that I could outpace full adults, and didn't want to lose it."

"Bullies?"

"…hmm, maybe antagonists are better words. It wasn't that I was being bullied, but rather just disliked."

"Really? How so?"

"I was always scouted for big events, people always wanted to ask me for help, I was the center of attention…for someone who spent most his time alone at home instead of being out and about, a lot of people thought it was unfair." I replied with a sigh, "I don't really know why they found it so frustrating, it's not like I could play a whole team on myself, everyone else still got offers and stuff."

"Did you try?"

"Sports? No. My mother was quite thorough in letting me know just how dangerous my size was. What if I tackled someone, and they went into a coma? What if I jumped up to dunk a ball, and the backboard shattered? 'Sports will have to wait till college'. That's what I was always cautioned with, but now, I don't think I will even then. Kind of too late now ha!" I said with a small laugh. If I wasn't a superhuman before, I definitely was now.

"So why avoid the spotlight? You seem to hate attention. Is it because of a past event?"

"I think you already know." I said with a small smile, "I'll do my part, but just because I can doesn't mean I will. I tried the goody two shoes act, all I got for it was more responsibilities and poor treatment. Not what I had in mind."

"Friends?"

"Nobody special. Some pleasant acquaintances, but nobody I would label "friend"."

She seemed saddened by that, and I frowned at that, "It's not like I needed friends you know. My mother is one kick ass lady, and her work friends are sociable enough with me. I didn't grow up in a cell."

She sighed as if she was a therapist chatting with a lost cause. I rolled my eyes "Is there anything else?"

"Yes." She said…she seemed to debate asking this question, before she decided to just go for it.

"Was there ever anyone…special?"

I felt my mouth sour, before I laughed it off, "What, in the head? Maybe, some kids definitely made me wonder."

She studied me closely, and I sighed, "Yes, but that is long over, and long gone. It hardly matters anymore."

"What was she like?"

I bit the urge to just tell her off, and tried to express my unwillingness to continue this conversation by heading towards the door, "It was back in grade school. I hardly remember."

"But you do."

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because she is the reason."

…?

The reason? For what? My changes? My personality? My current self? Maybe, but that's how everything is. Every experience shapes us, I can hardly blame anyone, much less her.

"I can safely say she isn't the "reason" for anything." I said calmly, but firmly. I don't know what exactly Rias means by that, but she isnt anywhere near here anymore, not to mention near completely gone from mind.

"She had no real impact on me regardless, nothing ventured nothing gained." I said over my shoulder as I walked through, before stopping the door with a leg as I waved her through, "C'mon, I doubt they are going to get anything done unless your there to crack the whip."

"They aren't slaves."

"Eh, I'm sure Issei wouldn't mind the title in the slightest." I said with a grin, and smiled as I put recent events behind me.

"So, what are we doing today that's so important? You only told me we were doing something."

"We are cleaning the Swimming Pool."

"Cleaning? How bad is it?"

"Pretty bad." She said with a giggle, and I thought about that for a minute, "So that's why you didn't ask me to bring a swim suit then, fair enough."

She came to an immediate halt, blinking in shock, before rearing on me, "Do you have one?!"

I was a little surprised by the sudden energy, "No, public things aren't my thing."

I watched hope seem to fade from her eyes, and she walked forward a little depressed, "I see, we won't be able to find anything for you at the school either…"

I laughed, "Gonna take a dip after its clean? Don't worry about it, I'll watch our stuff."

She sighed, and I just laughed at her mood change, she really didn't make life boring.

XXX

Thanks for reading. Stay safe.