If Lisa had been withdrawn and quiet before, that was nothing compared to how she was acting now. Ever since the bathroom incident she'd locked herself up in her room, refusing to show her face. She'd even forbidden Vulcan from seeing her, as he was the last person she wanted to see. She wished she could curl up into a little ball and shrink, disappearing until she no longer existed, and nobody remembered her. She kind of forgot how the incident was resolved; she did her best to block those memories from her mind. But seeing as how it had only happened a few days ago, she could still vividly remember some details, such as Maki rushing to cover her and the dress, Shinra grabbing Arthur and running away, and Vulcan's expression while looking at her being...appreciative.

She could also remember her body temperature rising, in both embarrassment and frustration at herself for letting it happen, and her desperate but feeble attempts to claim that what he was seeing wasn't what he thought. But who was she kidding? Why else would she buy such an uncharacteristically girly and pretty outfit? Who else would she be comfortable enough to wear it for? She could somewhat remember Vulcan cracking a joke, trying to break the tension and compliment her body, but her mortification refused her to remember it. What good was she if she couldn't even properly impress him?

You're nothing, Feeler.

Lisa seized up.

Nothing but a tool. Something to be used until you've outlived your usefulness.

"Shut up."

Look how far you've fallen. You couldn't resist your feelings for the boy I sent you to sabotage. Then you decide to play dress up for him and you get cold feet. Now here you are, locking yourself away when you're hurt or embarrassed, just like old times. Even when apart from me my influence has a hold on you.

"Stop it."

This is why you'll never live as a real person, Feeler. You will always be scared of me, reduced to a shivering mess when you fail to please someone. And one day you will face me again and admit that I'm right.

"I SAID-" Lisa reared back her fist to punch the wall, but stopped. She was breathing quickly, her heart racing. She remembered where she was, and she tried to calm herself, eventually getting her heartrate to go down. She dropped back on her bed, rubbing her face with both hands. God, this was annoying.

She'd been getting better at resisting the residual thoughts of her past life, but it wasn't something that went away easily. She didn't have any panic attacks from simply saying his name, but her inner thoughts and insecurities were still intertwined with his words.

There was a knock on her door.

"Lisa?" Vulcan called out. She didn't respond.

"Lisa, open up."

"Go away."

"No. We need to talk."

"I'd rather die."

"Oh come on, I'm not that ugly am I?"

Lisa shook her head. How that dork managed to fit in a joke in such inappropriate times but still manage to make her want to laugh was beyond her.

"Please open up. For me."

She sighed and got up from her bed and opened the door a crack. Vulcan stared down at her.

"Can I come in?"

"What do you need to talk about?"

"You."

"I'm fine."

"No you're not. I can see it on your face. You heard him again, didn't you?"

She looked away.

"I was with you while you were recovering, don't push me away now."

Lisa sighed and opened the door, letting him in. Vulcan closed the door behind and leaned against the wall, staring at her as she sat on her bed again, eyes downcast.

"Are you feeling better now?" He asked her.

"I don't know."

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm not...I'm fine, Vulcan."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you avoiding me?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Yeah, but it doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't?"

"Lisa, do you think I think less of you for buying that dress? I told you to have fun, didn't I? It sure looked like you did. You did a good thing, you took care of yourself. That's important, and I'm proud of you."

"Well, even beside that," Lisa blushed. "You saw me in my underwear."

"And Maki. And Iris, who was only wearing a towel and Tamaki, who was naked. You were one of the more modest ones. Besides, we were all half naked in my workshop anyway."

Lisa looked back down.

"So yellow, huh? Why that?" Vulcan referred to her dress.

"It was a cheerful color. It looked pretty enough."

"It was kind of dark though."

"Not that dark. It's dandelion."

"Ah. A pretty flower," he smiled at her. "I see now."

Lisa turned away, trying not to blush again.

"You shouldn't be talking about Iris like that. She's a nun." Her vain attempt at feigning ignorance was broken down just as quickly as she put it up.

"You know I'm not talking about her."

She looked down, fighting back her blush even in the dark room.

Vulcan could see she was getting flustered so he decided to back off. "Anyway, the captain wants to talk to you."

"What?" Lisa looked up at him.

"He's wondering how you're doing. The man has a lot on his plate already, but he's concerned about you. Come on out before dinner and talk to him."

Lisa thought about it. She still remembered that day clearly, when he risked everything for her, someone he didn't know, and gave her a chance to start over. He hadn't talked to her much since then, but her sincere gratitude hadn't gone anywhere. He deserved to get an update.

"Alright," she said.

Vulcan smiled as he got off the wall and opened the door. "That's the spirit. And seriously, don't worry about the bathroom thing. Everyone's got too much to worry about to have every little thing on their mind." He stepped through the door and turned back to her. "I'm glad you're doing well, Lisa."

He closed the door.

...

"Come in."

Lisa opened the office door she'd just knocked on. Stepping in, she saw the captain rifling through the drawers in his desk.

"You wanted to see me?"

"Oh? Lisa!" Obi looked up and his face brightened up into a smile. "It's good to see you!"

Lisa gave a small smile back at hearing that.

"So!" He leaned back in his seat. "Tell me. How are you doing nowadays? Has everything been comfortable for you here?"

"I'm doing fine," she answered truthfully. "This place is such a breath of fresh air from the workshop. As fun as it was, it's nice to have some sort of orderliness. And the lieutenant's cooking is a gift from God, I never would've expected him to be so good at it."

"Well, you'll find there's a lot more to him once you get to know him," Obi chuckled. "How are you getting along with the rest of the squad?"

"Everyone is so nice around here," Lisa found herself letting her guard down around the captain, and she truly appreciated that his focused stare was squarely on her. "The guys are easy to be around and Maki and the girls treat me so well."

"I heard you went shopping."

"Um, yeah. About that..."

Obi cocked his head curiously, wondering why she was suddenly looking away and fidgeting. A lightbulb went off in his head.

"Did Tamaki's Lucky Lecher Lure kick in?"

Lisa nodded slightly. Obi chuckled.

"Rest assured, I haven't heard much of what happened. Tamaki has that effect on everyone, so all I can say is welcome to the club. But more importantly, Iris told me you had fun with them. That's all that matters."

Lisa smiled. "Thank you."

Obi crossed his arms. "Is there anything I can do to help you? We haven't seen you in a few days, and I'm concerned for your health. The doctors said you needed time to rest, but locking yourself away because you got embarrassed about something sounds detrimental."

She shifted a little, trying for a smile. "No sir. I'm fine."

The captain raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. He'd seen that look on her face before. She'd given that same small, but hopeless smile to Vulcan before, when she tried to turn her back on him and rejoin Giovanni before he grabbed her and held her until Vulcan shot him. Just like before, she was trying to deflect others' concerns for her in order to appear strong.

"Lisa," he leaned forward in his chair and looked her in the eye. "Be honest with me."

She held his gaze, but had to look away.

"I'm glad you're liking it here and making friends with the others. We were all hoping for that after we rescued you. And as your friends we're worried about you. If there is anything of the sort, tell me what's bothering you and what I can do to help."

Lisa stared at the ground, silence constricting her. She could feel a heavy lump in her throat. Trying to make a sound felt like an impossibility.

"Please, Lisa."

She joined her hands behind her back, bracing herself as she opened her mouth, shakily taking a breath. She tried not to let little tears of embarrassment fall from her eyes.

"I still hear him."

"You mean..."

"Yes. Hearing and saying his name doesn't affect me as much anymore, but he's still there, lurking in my consciousness. If I think too deep about something, his voice echoes in my head. If I try to argue with myself he mocks me and berates me for being indecisive. If I want time alone he points out all the things I did wrong that day, and tells me how disappointed he is in me. It's like I never left the Nether."

"Have you told Vulcan about this?"

"Yes."

"And why hasn't he told me?"

"I asked him not to. There's so much going on in all of your lives, and I used to think you were just wasting your time with me, so I felt I needed to lift my own weight."

"Lisa," Obi's voice sounded understanding but concerned. "You don't have to do that here. This place is our home, and we are all each others' family. If there's anything that's troubling us we tell someone about it. This condition you have sounds troublesome. I know the doctors said you needed recovery time, but it sounds like you need a lot of it, and sealing yourself away will only prolong it."

Lisa had to admit she was a little embarrassed. Maki had already told her some of this that night on the roof, and she'd taken those words to heart. But the recent incident had dealt a major blow to her self confidence. She liked to think she'd taken a big step forward by buying that dress for Vulcan, accepting him into her new life just as he had done for her. But there were clearly some other issues going on.

"Don't get me wrong," Obi continued. "It's perfectly normal to be embarrassed over a weird situation, especially if it involves Tamaki." He shuddered, remembering all too well how her panties had once flown off out of her pants and landed on his desk, right in front of him. "But what matters in the end isn't what others think of you, it's what you think of yourself. Look at Shinra. He admitted to me his fears of what might have happened to his mom, and what his brother had gone through, and how it took him a while to get over people blaming him for their supposed deaths and the publicity he got. Or Tamaki. Her condition causes her a great deal of shame, but her dedication to the job keeps her going. Even Iris went through a time of doubt, but once she talked to Shinra, she regained her faith and she's never been stronger."

He softened his gaze. "I know that it sounds like I'm comparing you to the others and that I'm pressuring you to be like them. I apologize, that's one of people's least favorite things to hear, especially from an older figure. I know that what you went through affects you. That is perfectly understandable. And I was impressed, proud even, when you cooked for us and went shopping. That takes guts, and you're full of them. I just want you to know that."

Lisa smiled again, the tension in her body slowly dissipating. "Understood."

"Is there anything else I can do to help you?" He asked again.

"Umm..." she murmured. She looked like she wanted to say something, but was either forgetting it or was once again too embarrassed to say it.

He studied her movements as she once again fidgeted, looking away from him and looking like she wanted to move her arms from behind her. Suddenly, he felt he understood. He wasn't 100% sure, as his experience with children and teenagers was quite scarce, but the elder part of him took charge. He got up from his seat and walked around his desk over to her, standing in front of her. She looked up at him with confused but hopeful eyes.

"I think I know what you want," he gently said to her. "Now I could be thinking like a musclebound gorilla, so push me away if I'm wrong." And with that, he wrapped his big, protective arms around her.

Lisa gasped slightly as she felt his strong chest press up against her face. His heartbeat pulsed softly against her cheek and a warmth similar to the one she felt when Maki hugged her returned, but stronger. She relaxed into the embrace, accepting the unusual but kind gesture from her captain. Unlike Maki's hug, which assured her that everyone at the 8th cared about her, this one made her feel complete in herself. She still felt the care of the 8th, but what the captain was telling her was that she was strong. She didn't need to pretend to be anymore. True strength came from her willingness to share her troubles with him. It came from taking action into her own hands to make everyone else happy with dinner, to propose a day out with the girls. All those times she could hear those denigrating comments about her resolve, she had never realized they were trying to distract her from doing them again. An immense wave of satisfaction washed over her.

I beat you that time, she thought. You were just a sore loser. You were trying to make me feel I didn't deserve that win.

She got nothing back.

One day I will be free of you. Just wait. She sniffed. With a wrinkled nose, she realized she needed to be free of the hug as well. She pulled back slightly, letting the captain unwrap himself.

"Sorry. Was I wrong?" He asked.

"No, not at all," she shook her head. "Thank you for that. It's just...your B. O."

It was now his turn to get embarrassed. "Sorry. I work out every day. Guess I forgot to shower."

Lisa laughed, feeling relieved. Company 8 was filled with strange, quirky people. But maybe that was what she needed.

...

"Excuse me."

Hinawa turned around to see Lisa enter the kitchen. "Lisa. What are you doing here?"

"I don't mean to intrude, but I was hoping I could help you with preparing dinner."

The lieutenant turned around to resume chopping at his onions. He somehow didn't get teary eyed from doing it. Maybe it was the glasses. Or maybe it's because he never seemed to blink. "I appreciate it. Go check on those eggs for me."

Lisa rushed to the pan, seeing some beaten eggs sizzling. "Sir, why did you leave these unattended? These might overcook."

"My precision and attention to detail would never let such a thing happen." He chopped at a frighteningly quick pace. "Just as I never let my targets leave my sights on the battlefield, every inch of the kitchen is under my watch, even when my back is turned to most of it."

"Really? How does that work?"

"Practice," he said simply. "How do you think I manage to cook a meal for ten every day?"

"Good point," Lisa shook the pan. "Are we making...?"

"Yes. Omurice. I was inspired by your surprise meal for us the other day."

"W-wow. I didn't think you'd take inspiration from me of all people."

"Do not mistake me," Hinawa said sharply. "I am a perfectionist. I will tend to every one of my duties to the best of my ability, and I will use every possible way I know to do so." His tone softened a little, if such a thing was possible when describing him. "So feel free to cook for us more often. It will help me achieve my goal."

Lisa got the message. It was rather blunt and a little less than friendly banter, but she knew that in his own way the lieutenant was looking out for her. If she could get a sense of catharsis from doing something she loved, with the approval of the lieutenant, no less, then she was happy to do so.

"Yes sir."

After a short silence, Hinawa said "I believe in you."

"Sorry?"

"Your strength. It's there. From locking yourself in your room to coming here, making food for everyone else, you have all the markings of a Fire Soldier. You'll fit in just fine."

Now that was something she hadn't heard before. "Got it sir," she said, hiding a smile.

They continued to cook, and Hinawa continued to surprise her by asking her for advice, such as how much butter she uses and which cheese she'd recommend. It was probably a rare occurrence in the 8th, but Lisa found herself enjoying her time with him. When everything was set and cooked, Hinawa gave her an emotionless thumbs up. She smiled, a streak of ketchup on her cheek. She gave him a thumbs up back.

...

"Heck yeah, more omurice!" Vulcan happily dove in. The rest of the squad voiced their approval as they ate.

"Wow, this is even better than the last time!" Tamaki said while chewing.

"Do not speak with your mouth full," Hinawa said.

"Eek! Sorry!"

"Nice to have you back," Maki, who was sitting right next to her, said.

"Good to be back," She looked at the captain, who gave her a knowing look. His eyes shone brightly.

"It's real nice."

She rested her hand on the bench, but accidentally laid it over something soft instead. She looked down to see that she'd laid it over Vulcan's hand, who was sitting on her other side. He looked at her in a little bit of surprise, but just smiled. He moved his hand a little onto its side in case she wanted to hold it. Going along with the happy accident, Lisa took it. The future was looking brighter than ever.

A/N: I didn't want this to be just a repeat of chapter 1, so I hope I struck a good balance between covering new ground as well as expanding on earlier material. As repetitive as the hug was, I felt Lisa needed to feel a fatherly love since she'd gotten a motherly one before. I hope the messages she got from each hug were easy enough to differentiate.