Welcome to the sixth revised iteration of my first Fanfiction story! APS maintains an interesting legacy among my work as being the oldest fic in my roster (fourteen years!) and has undergone lots and lots (and lots!) of revision and evolution with a great many hours sunk into it, even more now from yet-another voluntary facelift I'm apparently embarking on, as of 2/18/2022. APS is also the starting point for a truncated fic series I've had in my head for half of my life and partially written, and is seeing some love now after a LONG multi-year period of it and my interest in Code Lyoko gathering mental and digital dust. All in all, this story has seen loads of improvement since its materialization in 2008, and I hope readers past and present will still enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing and facelifting these stories.
This fic in particular is set in an alternately structured timeline of the original animated series, with elements of seasons two and three, but otherwise steering around the hasty escalation of season four, to the point of the battle against XANA dragging into high school classes and the glorious, tumultuous chaos of later teenage years and all the drama, heart-throbs and heartache mixed in.
HAVE FUN!
Lycée Kadic, Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris; 19:41p.m.
Seated shoulder to shoulder near one of several wide windows lining the wall of an outdoor cafeteria, mildly attentive to streaks of rainwater coalescing from the day's brooding overcast, four teenage students of wildly varying color, disposition and appetite sat around their usual table of congregation. Bound together by circumstance and the safe space of friendship, though absent of their fifth comrade, the quartet of second-and-third year youths consumed another of Rosa's ladled suppers, glancing at the encroaching darkness of the damp spring evening with intermittence.
Hard not to be wary of bad weather anymore.
Electing not to interrupt their own lull of conversing, having since ceased his ramble of confused mutterings about European diplomacy, Odd lifted a lukewarm bowl of broth to his lips, since emptied of its prior contents of beef and boiled vegetables. Swallowing the remainder of his vanishing meal and swiping a napkin across his face, he plunked the bowl onto the tray with a mild clatter of utensils, finding a startled Aelita wrinkling her nose at him from across the table. Pushing out his tongue in a playful gesture, she countered with a roll of her eyes beneath a crooked not-quite-smile. Inspecting her soup-stained lips, meandering along the soft split curvature that often lured his wayward glimpses, his vision rose to the pale geometry of her elfin nose. Migrating further into a repeating flit back and forth between her eyes, greeted by the gleam of emerald green fond and familiar to his memory, he stilled himself, awaiting their usual orbit elsewhere, looking on to the surrounding world with her boundless curiosity. Finding her tilting back into her chair with sinking posture, maintaining an ache-laden stare, his brow perked, depicting question marks springing up in his mind. Jaw parting to ask an innocent question out loud, he instead keep it within his gullet as Aelita's attention broke free, sinking to her tray of half-eaten supper below.
Hmm.
Lowering along her loosely flowing bangs, nearing her nose in length and looking nearly pink beneath the cafeteria's light, Odd turned toward the window past Ulrich's chewing cheek, listening to the increasing pattering of rain on the rectangular structure's flat roof. Panning back across Yumi's long-sleeved arm, finger prodding at her cell phone beside her tray, and then squinting at the noted absence of Jeremie in an otherwise vacant chair, he cautiously glanced back at Aelita once more. Finding her lowering a now-folded napkin onto her tray, features hardened in a pensive stare beneath her locks and just out of sight of the others, Odd's since-idled fingers tightened around the worn edge of the table.
...Alright, princess. What's going on in that kingdom of yours?
Rising to her feet just beside, nudging her chair back with a rattle, Yumi pointed aside to the weather as Ulrich also rose across from her, trays in hand.
"Gonna head home before the rain gets heavier."
"Right behind you."
Lamenting the denial of their leftover portions, Odd shot Ulrich a questioning expression as his German roommate paralleled the movements of the black-donned young woman.
"You don't live off-campus, Ulrich."
"Yeah, well, still have to go through the rain to get to the dorms."
"Hiroki got a ride in the car hours ago, so he doesn't have to walk in the weather... Spoiled little dork."
A flash of white light illuminated the windows from outside, but then for a moment, the power blinked in the cafeteria, bringing already withering conversation within to a silent halt as the small student body braced for the coming sound.
*KA-BOOM*
Shivering from the startling ferocity of the resultant clap of thunder, rattling glass and ceiling components alike, a rise of murmurs began as distinct pops of static electricity arced from the metal legs of the cafeteria's furniture. Gathering wits and exchanging apprehensive looks, the population within then froze again in captive alarm as the room's lighting flickered errantly, complaining with audible buzzes, and then outright failing, engulfing the room with the night's increasingly foreboding darkness. Looking on to the eerie glow of soft blue flashing through the streaked glass, angular arcs of electrons flashed and shot outward in the distance, localized around a nearby transformer, and the quartet of already paranoid youths stared at the blurred phenomenon, leaning nearer to the pane.
"Uhh."
"That doesn't look so good, huh?"
"We're all in here. Way too coincidental to be just be a bad storm."
Grunting in unfortunate agreement from Yumi's stern whisper, Ulrich eyed his slender roommate as he sprung out of his chair, hastily shoving both metal-framed seats further away.
"This entire room is full of metal. If any of that nastiness out there heads our way...!"
"We'll also be steamed vegetables."
Exhaling from Aelita's voice across, pushing upright and electing to abandon her supper anyway, Odd's expression cracked into a cheeky half-smile.
"You are what you eat, but I'm not about to end up like that!"
"Yeah? You think running out into the storm is better?"
"Better than being cooked inside a metal cage!"
Seemingly taking the hints of their increasingly louder conversation, the formerly lingering student body within began a panicked departure towards the cafeteria's doors, and after a subsequent flash and rumble, burst through the passages, allowing a cushion of rain-driven air to sweep through the room. With nary a word able to be spoken to any member of the vanishing population, tingling with concern and the misty moisture greeting their faces, the quartet hurried to the nearest open door, seeing dark profiles of students covering their heads with backpacks and coats from the ensuing rain, fleeing in various directions towards the dormitories in an apparent search for safer cover.
"Ooh-kay. Now its just us."
"That's even worse, we gotta move out, pronto."
"And go where?"
"Inside a bigger building like all of them. The dorms are made of brick, aren't they?"
"I think so."
"So we'll be safer in there while we figure out what's going on, yeah?"
Sweeping across his friends in a turn, Odd answered Ulrich's question with a nod.
"Sounds good."
"And to think I was about to walk home minutes ago..."
"Forget it Yumi. Not till this clears up."
"I'm sure your parents would rather you be here than out in the open."
Tilting toward Aelita's hand landing on her crossed arm, Yumi's bosom deflated in exhale.
"Anyway, lets split up. XANA or not, we can't be taken out as a group if we aren't together."
"Yes."
"Don't touch anything metal if you can... I mean, besides whatever you have to."
Greeted with distant rumbles echoing across the churning heavens, heads tilted and shook with tingles of consternation and genuine fear.
"Once any of us get inside, somebody contact Jeremie. He might not know what's going on out here."
Observing Aelita's furrowing brow, Odd leaned into a tilt, touching his shirt against his stomach.
"He's at the factory, right?"
"If not there, then his room."
"If he is out there, lets meet up in the boiler room first."
"Roger."
"Alright. You two head one way, Yumi and I will go another."
"Okay. You ready, Aelita?"
Glancing aside to her subtle nod, hearts raced as their older companions darted out of the doorway, feet splashing into standing water in a swift disappearance into the gloom.
"Good luck!"
Outwardly breathing after his shout, Odd knelt down and tugged firmly on the knots of his shoelaces, grimacing from the thought of sopping wet socks. Peeking to Aelita's magenta boots beside, he rolled up the fringes of his denim pants, springing upright beside the red-haired girl tucking her head into the hood of her pink hoodie.
"Ready for a race?"
"Mm, might beat you."
"We'll see about that!"
Bumping her with a playful nudge of his arm, Odd found himself discreetly amused by the sight of her comely features peeking out of the bright fabric oval, like that of an Eskimo. Hunching his shoulders from the distinct crackle of traveling arcs of electricity, sharing a wide eyed gape from the audible threat neither of them readily located, both teens abruptly shot out of the cafeteria's cover. Immediately blasted by the ensuing shower, furthermore by puddles splashing up along their legs, muffled grunts of exertion were nearly silenced by the chaos of waterlogged sound as they maintained a dogged sprint of equal speed, edging around corners and beneath any findable cover along their path. Navigating along the great flank of the dormitories, lined with steady rows of windowsills interrupting series of roof-borne streams, the teens sprinted across open ground beneath the bassy rumble of active thunder and whirled around in a turn, blasting through the dormitory entrance. Making distance from the sprung metal doors with haste, shoes and boots squishing and squeaking across tiled floor, both teens began into a slowing ascent up the structure's internal stairwell, finally pausing partway up to catch breath.
"Whoof, 'kay, uhm, now that we're out of that, lets get to my room."
Eying Odd with a quirking brow from his suggestion, pulling her damp hood back and combing wet locks across her brow, Aelita then leaned onto the handrail beside. Observing his alternating peers around them, scanning for any eavesdroppers or inbound passerby, his irides then pierced her upon meeting, already knowing her near-hour of silence during the meal was indicative of heavy and bothersome topics on her mind.
"I have towels. Also, I'm thinking we need to talk."
At first turning away from his matter-of-fact statement, she aligned back to her best friend as his hand alighted onto her damp shoulder.
"...Or, at least, you want to talk to somebody about something."
"I do."
Humming from her quiet affirmation, heart thumping with uncertainty, his other hand thumbed toward the hallway further.
"Well... You know you can come to me about anything. Let's go do that."
Sitting together in matching reclines against the horizontal panels of his bedframe, Odd watched the delicate slide of her palms along her bare legs, fingertips drifting around her calves and slowing to a stop on her flat feet. Sitting with a towel wrapped around his dark denim pants, with Kiwi sniffing and laying on the textile beside his cross-legged knee, his arms lowered to his lap, thankful the sleeves of his shirt seemed to be drying.
"Alright Aelita. You've been making faces, today and other days... Something going on?"
Mouth prying open, seemingly ready to answer, she flitted aside to his open and awaiting expression, only to discard whatever words were originally on her tongue.
"Could... Say that."
Piquing his curiosity further from her atypical response, his fingertips drug along Kiwi's fine fur in repeating passes.
"Mind if I ask what?"
Turning away to her hoodie hanging on the doorhandle, her lips pursed, and her digits curled around her ankles.
I don't mind. I'll talk to you about anything in the world, because you always seem to have time to sit and listen, even if you don't necessarily understand... Well... Maybe you do understand. I shouldn't assume anything. You're entirely correct, and I was hoping to talk to you, or even Ulrich, and here we are in your room. Yumi says all boys are dense but... You noticed me earlier, and I guess other days too from what you're saying.
Looking directly at him, his focus remained steadfast, confirming her thought.
You always notice when things aren't right. Always have. Alright you...
"Its Jeremie."
Recoiling slightly from her own abrupt blurt, only to seal it with a grimace, she listened to the seep of held breath leaving Odd's nose, only to find her own lungs had emptied too.
"I kind of figured."
Looking on to the thin carpet beneath with emotion welling up from pits deep inside, the ongoing rain against the window near occupied an otherwise silent moment.
"I just... I don't know what to think, about what he and I are anymore."
"You and Jer have been dating for a while now. Are you two not happy?"
A tiny sarcastic laugh escaped her throat, lifting Odd's chin from the unusual vocalization.
"If by dating, you mean sitting around and doing programming? Studying? Then yes. I'm ecstatic. I look forward to every moment. Quality time, doing the same things day after day. Arguing over precise details, and semantics, and... Just stupid little stuff. Its exhausting."
Heart sinking from her glum expression, he waited for her to continue, drinking in the frustration and emotion flowing free from the bottle in her chest.
"...You know, it's been over a year. Since we've done anything. gone anywhere new... I guess I keep pretending I'm alright with only doing what he's interested in, so he thinks I'm good with all of it. I don't know."
Shrugging, she smiled weakly.
"...Guess that's my fault huh? Didn't press the issue, so now its just normal routine until XANA interrupts it."
Odd watched her intently, burning from the unspoken situation being unveiled.
"Aelita, you know it would be alright, if you end it. Especially if you aren't happy or having any fun."
Meeting again, her expression grew weary around glassy eyes, facing the spoken course of action that had already undergone repeated analysis, lingering in darker doubt-laden places of her mind.
"...It doesn't matter if its a week, or a year or more. If there's one thing I do know about dating, its never good to keep dragging it out if things aren't working."
"Yes, but... I feel like I'm the only one between us that sees it like that."
"Then you're going to have to be the one that pulls the plug."
Her shoulders sank in a deflation of resignation.
"I know. Its always on me. Everything's on me, it seems."
"That's not true, and it shouldn't be that way. Relationships are a two way street. If one person is trying and the other isn't, what's the point, right?"
"Right."
Listening distractedly to the white noise of fierce spring weather, Odd looked to the ceiling, chin moving in small motions of contemplation.
"Aelita."
Turning as he leaned closer, her own heartbeat rose in a rush as he gently draped his arm from her shoulder.
"I'm going to be honest, and, mm, by that, I mean I really, truthfully, don't know how else to say this."
Watching him with intent, a creep of warmth migrated across her neck. From the uncertainty, his closeness, and probably his thumb caressing her collar with a comforting drift back and forth.
"Ah, okay." Go ahead. Be honest. Even though I can probably guess what you might say. Even though you always surprise me. Maybe that's one th-
"You're an amazing person and a great friend. You've been through more than I could ever imagine, and you just keep on going, and learning, and shining bright no matter what. I've always admired all of that about you."
Seeing her expression settle into a tender gaze of surprise, partly to his expectation, he wordlessly pleaded for a flash of lightning to better see her, chest thrumming with rapidity.
"I really like you, and I think you deserve better than having to put up with stuff like this. I know its probably not my place to say so... But I'd do anything to be someone better, for you."
A heavy inhale exchanged into a whimper, knuckles tightening around her legs from his salvo of honesty.
"Odd, you... You really feel that way?"
Mirroring her earlier speech, his digits pried at the faded fringe of the towel in his lap.
"I do."
"For how long...?"
Lowering to the dark textile, filtering through snapshot memories in his mind, he smiled, perfectly willing to oblige.
"A good while. I've just never showed it, really. I always figured you and Jeremie were bound to be together forever, so I guess I just shoved it down... But that's probably why it really started to hit me. Seeing the way you've been lately, and now everything you just told me about."
Leaning forward, Aelita snaked her arms around her knees, pulling her legs closer in a curl.
"You've always meant a lot to me, even if, you know... We probably aren't meant to be anything, with how everything is."
Flattening her bosom against her legs, Aelita grunted in objection.
"Who says?"
"What do you mean?"
"Who says we couldn't be something?"
Revealing her furrowed brow behind a toss of bangs, Odd swallowed.
"...Who's to say anything about that?"
Remained pinned back against the bed frame from her unwavering stare, Odd's shoulder blades tingled from the defiance in her demeanor.
"I, well... Nobody, really." Nobody besides... Everyone we know. Man...
Lowering her chin to her knee after his segmented answer, her expression softened, looking to his clasped hands in his lap.
"Aelita, I don't want you to go making any hasty decisions just because I've told you these things."
"Hasty? With what, shutting down something that hasn't felt right?"
"Y-Yes."
"You said it yourself. If I'm the only one trying, why bother?"
"Ahm..."
"Know what, if anything, I'm glad you've spoken from the heart. I've been too busy neglecting my own feelings just to keep things the same... Maybe being direct and honest like you are is how I need to be."
"Aelita..."
"Listen, Odd. Why do you think I come to you about these things? You've always given me worthwhile responses to my questions and thoughts, no matter how weird or random they are. I don't know how you do it, but the way you evaluate everything... Its simpler, and easygoing, and that's refreshing in a way."
"Everyone has their different perspectives of things."
"Well, I like yours, and I like talking to you. You're not restricted by rigid logic and values." ...And I guess it makes sense now why you're always so willing to listen to me.
Grunting with amusement, Odd shifted his shoulders.
"Thanks. I like to go with the flow, you know? Can't take everything in life too seriously... B-Besides important things, obviously."
"Obviously." I don't know. But I want to.
Tilting forward from her spoken echo, he gently pulled Kiwi's ear between his thumb and index finger.
"Those things, and our wants and wishes... All of that stuff changes around and comes and goes, so why limit yourself? There's a whole world full of everything, out there for us to experience. Don't keep yourself stuck in the same old boat, or you'll just end up sinking later on, barely knowing the sea."
Prying her arm from its place around her leg, her hand hovered over his knee, settling daintily onto his folded fingers that then opened to receive her.
"I've thought about all of this for a while now. Most of the time I come to the same conclusion though, not sure what would happen or what people would think... And that's assuming it doesn't end in some kind of disaster."
"What people would think?"
"Our friends."
"Right. But you just told me a moment ago that nobody else's opinion should matter."
"About my ending of things with Jer, and, if you and I, you know... What you said."
Faltering, partly from from the pleasant bloom of shared warmth between their hands, a tiny sigh issued from her throat as he gingerly captured her digits within his folding palm.
"What I said is how I feel, and you're right. We shouldn't give a damn what anyone else thinks about our feelings. They're ours to have."
"They are, and now that I'm talking over this whole problem to someone else for once, something inside me kind of wants to find out anyway."
Perking from the latter end of her speech, Odd's drifting thumb halted.
"Wait, find out... What?"
"What happens when we break up."
"Oof, well, I can tell you now it won't be fun, and longer ones are never easy because of the time involved, so don't go doing that thinking it'll be a cakewalk."
"I'm not expecting that." Didn't expect the things you've said either, but... Not that they're bad things... If you're really being honest.
"Okay. Just be ready for anything." Especially since some people named Jeremie don't handle unwanted news too well. Meanwhile the girl he never stopped talking about years back is planning on calling it quits... Yikes.
Throbbing with uncertainty from their shared revelations, both teens looked across to the mounds of Ulrich's unkempt bedding.
"I am. I'm ready, and I want something new. I want to be able to have things my way."
"That's good, and you will."
"Are you ready?"
Chest tightening from Aelita's open ended invitation, not entirely certain of its meaning, Odd bumped back against his bed once more.
"Ready for what?"
"To help me with this."
"With your... Hold on."
Producing a single nod, she met his quickly returning eyes with blooming intent.
"Be honest."
"I, uh, have been, this whole time."
"So, yes?"
"Aelita, wait, its not that simple."
"How is it not? You just told me you would do anything to be my number one. Didn't seem that hard for you to say."
"Actually, it kind of was." And I haven't really had reason to tell you how I've felt about you until recently... But you don't know that.
Reading his softening voice, her fingers pushed into his cupped grasp, nestling beneath his thumb and squeezing closer around the bumps of his left hand.
"Simple or not, I'm going to talk it over with Jeremie tomorrow or so, and once its all said and done, you can take me on a date later on, and we'll see how it goes with the two of us. Okay?"
Odd bit his lip, his entire being riddled with incredulity from her straightforward naivety.
What. Are you actually being serious? Yep, that face means... Definitely serious. I guess I'm not used to you talking like this. This doesn't even seem real. But I hope it is, cause I... "I just feel bad that you're suddenly want-"
"Nothing's sudden."
"Okay. Not sudden, still."
"We're coming to terms with things we've been thinking about for a while."
"Yeah." Even though I didn't expect this to actually happen. Besides silly daydreams, maybe. Where do we even begin with this anyway? Wouldn't this be a rebound for you? Or is it different because you don't...
"Odd."
His sink into contemplation rose again from her soft-spoken summon.
"If we do go on a real date, where would you take me?"
A laugh left his nose, chasing away the earlier dubiousness.
"Silly. If I told you, it would spoil the fun and surprises."
"Surprises?"
"Yes. Also, considering you would be my date, it would have to be extra creative and fun anyway."
"Ooh. I already like the sound of that."
"Me too."
Tingling from a bloom of elation in her chest, Aelita peeked toward him through her locks of darkened crimson.
"If our date goes well, would you give me a kiss?"
"Of course."
Tilting a little from his growing smile, encouraging one onto the corner of her lips, she let her bangs shift in a teasing pass across her sight.
"What kind of kiss?"
"One that's sweet, full of passion and admiration for who it's shared with."
Seeing a flicker of dilating interest dance across her brow, her cheek nudged against the bed behind in a settling turn.
"That sounds absolutely wonderful."
Heart thrumming from her flushed and hushed whisper, Odd leaned nearer to her, fully captivated by the youthful fascination emanating from her presence, steering him towards a construct of words that seemed too easy to speak.
"I could show you."
Tingling from his simple and confident offer, she brimmed with curiosity.
"Maybe you should."
Reeling each other closer from their flirtation, noses touched in a gentle drag past, revealing puffs of excitement issuing back and forth. With eyelids fluttering lower in anticipation, hesitating to allow either of to them to change their minds, to turn back in reconsideration, to backpedal from the proximity and sincerity and rampant warmth radiating through cheekbones, their lips then nudged together in a squish of intimate intersection. Keeping hold of his hand as it lowered to the floor between them, his opposite digits wiped across the towel and formed around the open edge of her chin, thumb dragging across her cheek as their single kiss endured, illuminating their insides with surges of gaiety and elation.
Ohhh wow. Fireworks. Been a while since, uh... This.
Nudging closer in playful little pushes back and forth, and then drifting apart, lips peeling away, Odd grinned as she bumped her forehead into his with a murmur, savoring the experience and nurturing fiery blooms of mirth inside.
Yeeaaahhhh. Can we do that again?
Jumping from the buzz of his cell phone laying near, his arm rotated out and flopped onto the carpet, plucking it into his grasp, and both of them gaped in realization from the contact ID displayed as he brought it near.
"Shoot."
"Oops."
"How long has it been?"
"Not sure."
Answering the call, Odd sheepishly tucked the device against his ear, bracing for a potential earful.
"Hey Ulrich, we're both ready to... Yeah. Didn't know how long you two wanted us to wait. Right. We'll go now, uhm, go ahead and get to the sewer. We won't be long."
Hanging up with a firm press of his thumb, he nodded toward Aelita, and she began pushing upright to her feet as he set the phone aside.
"Okay. Factory time."
Lifting her hoodie from the doorhandle and pulling the fabric over her head, Aelita frowned from the hint of moisture still on its sleeves. Turning back, freeing her hair from the folds with combing scoops and squinting into the darkness of rainfall beyond the dormitory window, she eyed Odd's dim silhouette to the right as he balled up the towel and cast it into a laundry basket.
So, we just kissed. Might be a little insane... But its alright.
Waiting until he stepped up beside her to open his dormitory door, small smiles of knowing revealed themselves from the arrival of hallway light outside of his door.
I think we're just used to crazy stuff happening, like all of this right now... Huge amounts of rain, and secret feelings.
Noisily shoving through another doorway with a slam of its middle lever, Odd and Aelita screeched to a halt just inside, catching breath.
"Tonight sure is wet and wild, huh?"
Eying him with a humored wrinkle of her nose, they froze when the light in the hallway vanished with a noisy buzz, leaving them in an unexpected void of darkness.
"Wow, uh, hold on."
Skin crawled and startled breaths left their lungs as lightning struck something nearby, producing a hint of a flash, and then the crackling roar of thunder rolling through the air outside. Fishing out their cell phones and shining newly illuminating screens of color at the other, squinting at their faint appearances, Odd moved his phone beneath his chin, spookily revealing his cheeky smile. Shining both of their phones at the surrounding walls, they then began an apprehensive wander down the hallway, wet shoes squeaking on the tile floor. Blinking in a start, and then smiling as her hand gripped his shoulder, his paced slowed as she kept in tow behind. Rounding the nearest corner into another pitch black tunnel, a familiar door appeared several paces ahead.
"There."
Wandering towards it, the hair on Odd's neck and arms rose with alarm as the door groaned open before them, only to then relax as Ulrich's face appeared around it, staring at his approaching light.
"Oh. About time you guys showed up. Heard you coming."
"Are the lights on in the tunnel?"
Peering further through the opening doorway, Yumi's phone turned to illuminate the three of them.
"No. Sewers are fine though. Just checked."
"Did you get a hold of Jeremie?"
"Nope, and its starting to bother me. He always has his phone on."
"Guess we'd better go meet him, huh?"
"You think? Not like we've been flying blind or anything."
Turning and beginning into the boiler room in a procession, stepping over a low pipe in a series of small hops, their senses hunted for more information amid the hum of steam-powered utility, with phone light reflecting in passing against the piping and curved surfaces. Squinting as Yumi pulled open the door to the tunnel beyond, revealing a series of industrial lights illuminating the passage, the Japanese teen led them into the tunnel in a single-file procession. Less than a minute of a quickening march later, another door swung open and all four heads peeked out into the sewer channel beyond, the dim gloom of night and dank smells of canal water greeting their senses as they made for their scooters and skateboards hidden further within.
"Don't normally come down here at night."
"Kinda creepy."
"Try spending a night in the factory alone. I bet that's an experience."
"Jimbo did, remember that?"
Trading quirks of interest, the quartet took hold of their respective vehicles.
"Did he talk about it?"
"His memory got wiped, so even if he'd rather not, he couldn't anyway."
"That's a shame. Knowing him it'd make for some great stories."
Crowding around the ladder to the suspension bridge above their heads, Ulrich crossed his arms as he was immediately greeted by raindrops through the open hatch.
"Who wants to go first?"
Turning his head to the others, and then noticing that the three of his friends already had fingers pressed against their noses, the brunette male leaned back with an upward roll of eyes.
"...Okay. I get it."
Swiftly climbing up the ladder, blinking and scowling from the exponential increase in moisture, he peeked over the dripping concrete toward the derelict industry just beyond.
Yeah, I'm ready to be done with today's weather.
Crawling out of the manhole, Ulrich crouched down low as Yumi appeared, kneeling beside him. Seconds later, Odd's head appeared, finding his roommate keeping his head low in a hunch.
"We need to get off this thing as soon as we can. We're out in the open!"
Heads rising from an ominous rumble above, a distant flash illuminated some of the clouds above, and seeing Odd extract himself from the shaft, Ulrich and Yumi then bolted into another sprint across the viaduct. Watching them disappear to the other side, Odd grunted, reaching for and grasping Aelita's clamoring hand, helping her up as she clambered up to his side.
"Just like before, you ready?"
Responding with a nod, they both turned and hurried across the viaduct under the rainfall, coming to a halt beneath the roof of the factory's erecting hall moments later. Sticking his tongue out at the relentless weather outside, answered by a rumble of thunder, he chuckled and revolved about face as Ulrich and Yumi slid down the available cables. Pausing in observance as Aelita cautiously descended afterward, the blonde leaned into a forward leap, grasping and lowering down the cable himself. Joining the others on the dusty and junk-strewn floor of the factory, rubbing the warm abrasions on his palms, he stood beside Aelita as the metal door of the elevator noisily lifted upward.
"Maybe we'll finally find out what's going on around here." Yumi muttered.
"Tell me about it. Jeremie can't answer his phone, we're having wonderful spring weather, XANA seems to be playing with electricity like usual..."
Stepping inside the elevator with the others and thumbing the large down button on the control panel, the brunette male turned back as the slotted wall unrolled and closed off the cool breeze, shoving his hands into his pant pockets as the other three eyed him with varying smiles.
"What?"
"We get it Ulrich, life is rough when you're saving the world."
"Glad you understand."
"Its rougher when you're feeling the grumps."
Eying Aelita's smile after her statement, he grunted as the elevator car began descending down the shaft.
"Grumps."
"Mmhm!"
"In all seriousness guys, be ready for anything down below."
Falling silent among the vibration and noise, not sure what to expect, bated breath was held and released as the car braked to a halt several stories underground. Watching the complex door twist and unlock next to them, greeting them with a cushion of equalizing air pressure amid the noise of retracting parts, their eyes collectively rose to a seated Jeremie, pattering away on the keyboard of the supercomputer.
Uh huh. Thought so.
Looking at Odd with a spike of heartache, his expression already hardened into a stern furrow, Aelita averted her vision to the projected hologram of Lyoko past Yumi's taller shoulder.
"Jeremie!"
Marching forward and leading the others, Yumi's arms crossed as the bespectacled prodigy turned to his arriving friends, expression devoid of concern.
"Hey."
"...Hey? Do you have any idea what's going on outside?" Ulrich snapped.
"Yes. I do."
"It has to be XANA. The weather is crazy right now, just like when it snowed last year." Yumi added, reinforced by Ulrich as he stepped up beside her, pointing directly at the chair's occupant.
"Is there a reason you wouldn't answer your phone earlier?"
"The battery is dead."
Gaping at the blonde from his even-voiced answer, moreso as he looked over his shoulder, directing the bystander's attentions to the supercomputer displaying the detection of an activated tower, Ulrich's pointed finger turned over into a questioning spread of his palm.
"You didn't think to charge it?"
"I forgot my charger cable. Look, you guys should get to the scanners. I'll virtualize you all when you're ready."
Turning to face the supercomputer in an apparent dismissal, resuming a fury of typing, the quartet of warriors exchanged a round of pointed expressions, turning back to the awaiting elevator in a shuffle of apprehension.
"Aelita."
Pausing, breath held as the others continued into the car, she peeked back from Jeremie's voice as he turned in the chair.
"Yes?"
"Wait until I virtualize the others, and then you can go."
Right, he doesn't know. But he will soon once I talk to him... This might be tough.
Continuing inside the compact room, shoulder blades tingling with unease, she flinched with a start as Ulrich slammed the up button on the control panel with his palm, flitting back to the door lock beside as it closed and locked in its complex fashion. Waiting until the elevator began to rise upwards, the brunette teen then turned around and looked at his other three friends.
"Please tell me I'm not the only one that noticed."
"I think we all did." Aelita mumbled.
"Since when does Einstein let his phone go dead?"
"Hold on. He calls us through the supercomputer anyway."
"Is his phone connected to it?"
"I have no idea."
"Could be Bluetooth."
"Point is, I don't like how he's talking and acting."
"Me neither. The kind of gully washer we just ran through up there isn't normal by any means."
"Look guys, we'll let him virtualize us right now, but if things get weird on Lyoko, don't hesitate to devirtualize one of us just in case."
"Good idea Yumi."
"Stick with me then." Ulrich grunted, squinting towards the brighter lumination of the reopening passage. Leading the others into a gathering around the access hatch in center of the scanner room, all four friends confirmed the plan with similar nods, turning and separating into individual scanners.
"They're all ready, Jeremie."
Seating herself on the circular handle of the hatch after her outward call to the ceiling, Aelita twisted around distractedly as each of the scanner doors shut and activated in sequence, waving to Odd for a fleeting moment just before his scanner shut out the sight.
This is going to be really tough. How do I tell Jeremie I want it to be over, and that I already kissed his friend? There's no way he will handle that well. Even if its better for me. At least, I hope it'll be better for me. I sure hope Odd is serious about how he feels and what he said.
After a duration of spoken commands and high energy whirring, she squinted as the dim room was blasted with light from all three scanners opening again. Rising to her feet, she stepped forward into the scanner Odd previously stood within, eyelids closing with a lift of her chin.
I guess I have to trust his word. He hasn't let me down yet.
Ice Sector, Lyoko
Fully materialized and on their feet, Odd, Ulrich and Yumi waited patiently for Aelita to appear with them, eying the barren polar environment with a series of orbits from the peace and quiet.
"Jeremie... Are you bringing Aelita here or what?"
"She's on the way."
Hearing a subsequent yelp in the distance, the trio whirled around in alarm, locating the source of the sound as she unceremoniously fell through the open air to the ice sheet beneath.
"Wha-"
"Aelita!"
A shouting Odd started into a run towards the girl as she crashed onto the surface a fair distance away, but was struck blindly by an inbound laser blast, tumbling head over heels onto the light blue surface, shoulder numb with taken damage.
Awesome. Lost life points already.
"Odd!"
"I'm alright!"
"Go to Aelita!"
"Trying to!"
Ulrich swiftly unsheathed his katana, absorbing and deflecting numerous shots of laser fire in front of Yumi, smiling discreetly as she flung both of her Tessen fans forward around him, taking a spare few seconds to watch them soar through the air, finding their mark on two Hornets quickly closing in and destroying both mere seconds after their arrival.
Rising to her feet from the unexpectedly high drop, Aelita twisted left and right with alarm, realizing her island of ice was surrounded by the deep blue of virtual water.
What... Great.
Peering towards her friends nearby, busily combating several monsters and evading their laser fire, she watched Odd screech to a halt at the edge of the ice on the opposite side, noticing then as the red wireframe of a monster's virtualization appeared in the sky near him. Thrusting her finger towards the arriving Tarantula as it appeared in full form, the monster then dropped free, crashing onto the surface and awkwardly finding purchase on its four metallic-plated feet. At first looking towards her in an eerie moment of acknowledgement, the monster then turned to Odd as he crouched readily, lurching forward and swinging at him with one of its legs, only to miss completely as he rolled aside and rise into a full sprint, luring the creature away.
Seconds later, further in the distance, another Tarantula virtualized in front of both Ulrich and Yumi, and Aelita put her hand over her mouth, only to watch a third Tarantula appear behind the second.
Ohh-kay, alright. I'm not going to stand here and be useless.
Sinking onto her knees, mentally linking the mainland and her icy island, she pressed her palms together.
XANA's played this game of isolating me before, and I'm not falling for it again.
Brandishing his blade defensively, Ulrich peeked to Yumi behind himself, only to exhale in disbelief as a fourth Tarantula landed on the slick surface. Spotting them both, it knelt down, stuck it's front legs out, and began firing a barrage of laser energy at them, sending both teens jumping and darting side to side in evasion.
"Ulrich, this is bad!"
"You're telling me!"
Busily cancelling inbound bursts with racing hearts, Yumi grimaced.
"Devirtualize me!"
"Now?!"
"Yes!"
"You sure that's a good idea?"
"I'm sure!"
Gritting his teeth with reluctance from eliminating an ally in the middle of the fray, he exhaled, and then whirled around in a rapid spin, slicing his Katana right through Yumi and kicking the leg of the Tarantula in front of him away just as it fired a burst of laser.
Sure Yumi. In the middle of a battle and you're bailing back to Earth...
Thrusting the katana up through the head of the Tarantula, he jogged backwards, clearing the area as the monster exploded in defeat, and blocking a new salvo of laser fire from the other two beasts.
Let me guess. Jeremie's up there full of XANA's bad mojo, and you're going to try to beat him up by yourself.
Sprinting over the large arch of ice she created, her body turned aside as she positioned her foot forward, sliding down the angled slope of the smooth formation with ease until she skidded to a halt on flat ground, kicking up a small cloud of virtual snow powder on the mainland. Rising upright in a pause, she surveyed the area again, noting the unexplained absence of Yumi, and watching with the rise of an eyebrow as Odd ran out from behind a pillar of ice with a Tarantula in tow.
"Jeremie, are you there?"
Hearing no answer, she shook her head, but her attention went back to the purple cat's fleeing as several additional bursts of laser were fired, watching him slide on all fours across the ice, shoving his right arm up and firing several laser arrows at the pursuing monster. With a moment of alarm, she began towards him as the monster rapidly stepped over him, trying vainly to strike him with it's leg.
Odd, can't you just...
Barely rolling out of the way of the metal foot as it struck the ice with a heavy thud, the Tarantula growled angrily from another miss, and Odd rose to his feet, launching up towards the creature and grabbing a firm hold of its snout.
...Okay. Never mind.
Wrapping his legs around its head, clutching onto the Tarantula as it tried desperately to throw him off with several shakes and jerks, he then let go of its snout, keeping himself on with his legs only.
"Yoo hoo! Down here!"
Proceeding to pound its snout repeatedly with his thick fists after his taunt, visibly frustrating the four-legged beast, the Tarantula tossed its head upwards in a forward motion and sent the blonde teen aloft - Proving to be a fatal action as Odd floated into the air, only to land astride of its segmented abdomen. With a simple aim of his wrist as the monster searched the sky above in vain, he fired several laser arrows point blank into its head and jumped off the creature in a departing backflip. Propping her arm on her side, observing Odd's flattening landing as the tarantula exploded in defeat, Aelita's eyed the feline as he shoved upright in a turn, but his arms then waved and pointed at her with frantic gestures.
*WHUMP*
Whirling around as the snowy ground shook beneath her feet, her mouth opened in an inhale as a large and slender crimson leg speared itself forcefully into the ice in front of her, causing her to start backing away from Krabe that now existed in frightening proximity.
Uhh, right! And while I've been standing here watching everything...!
Hurrying her retreat as another leg stabbed into the ice closer than before, Aelita's heart raced with adrenaline as it started to charge up its three-point laser, lifting up her hand in a late attempt at self defense.
"Energ-."
Speech cut short as Odd's arms surrounded her, her view was then overlaid with circular ripples of purple energy.
"Shield!"
Absorbing the impacts from the triple-shot laser, both of the warriors watched as a silvery flash chopped it's front-right leg off in a violent dispatch. With the creature's balance upset, it awkwardly fell forward onto its broad crimson head, remaining legs scratching at the ice in a fight to rise level again. Lifting his left arm just beside the still-present shield, Odd shot several laser arrows directly into the top of the Krabe, and Aelita braced herself as it stopped moving and exploded into pieces and datum in front of them both.
Closing her eyes, she relaxed back against the blonde in a slump as the shield vanished, and Ulrich sheathed his Katana as he stood next to them.
"Aelita, let's get you to that tower, huh? Before more of these things show up?"
"Where's Yumi?"
Looking up into the deep blue sky from a fumbling noise echoing, Ulrich pointed upward.
"Back on earth."
Listening with the others as further garbled audio came through, followed by faint crackles of electricity and a distinct feminine yelp, all three of them turned to the large pale obelisk in the distance, glowing with red energy.
"Let's go!"
Sliding in matching halts after a quick sprint up and around several sheer walls of the wintry landscape, Odd and Ulrich stood guard as Aelita continued running, phasing through to the inside and disappearing behind several digital ripples that faded into the structure's dark roots.
Good. Just a little longer, Yumi. Hang on.
Trading glances, continuing to monitor their surroundings, Odd's attention returned to the tower, watching as the aura around the top changed from red to white, releasing a held breath.
Nicely done, princess.
Phasing back out of the tower moments later, Aelita walked over between them, and all three teens looked back up into the sky when they heard a fumbling noise over the intercom.
"Is somebody there?"
"Yumi is... Jeremie is alright, and not possessed anymore."
Three separate sighs were released, and heads shook in response.
"I knew it."
"Are you alright?"
"Fine. A little sore, but..."
"Can you bring us back in?"
"Ah, sure, but... I've never materialized anyone before."
All eyes then rotated to Aelita's avatar, and she gazed into the digital heavens with a sigh and smile.
"I'll guide you through it, Yumi."
Scanner Room, Earth
Ulrich turned back as the hefty door in front of the elevator opened, watching as Yumi and Jeremie stepped out between its spreading componentry.
"Is everybody okay?"
"Oh yeah, you know, despite being chased, shot at, and almost crushed... I think we're okay."
Seeing Odd's arms cross after speaking, Jeremie eyed the others in turn, noticing they were all quiet.
"...How bad was I?"
"Four Tarantulas, two Hornets, and one Krabe, just for Aelita."
Counting his fingers, and then looking at the mentioned teen, she nodded in affirmation of Odd's tally, and Jeremie corrected his glasses.
"Four Tarantulas?"
"All in the same place. Odd played tag with one."
"Tag? I'd like to see you wrestle with a big monster like that, Ulrich!"
"Why bother, when you can stab them in the head?"
Odd rolled his eyes from the brunette's chuckle, and Yumi put her hand to her chin with amusement.
"Right. Should I do a return to the past?"
"No."
Odd and Aelita looked at each other, having accidentally spoken in unison, and then at Jeremie as he blinked.
"I'm sure they can fix whatever electrical things got blown up at school."
"Blown up?"
"Kind of. Could have been nature's doing too."
"A return trip only makes XANA stronger anyway." Aelita added, heart beating from the awkward silence of the other two as Jeremie touched his hand to his chin.
Blew out the power at school, and flooding rain. Interesting. "Alright then. Let's get back to school."
"As long as its done raining out there."
"You'll be fine, Ulrich."
Stepping in behind the others, Aelita peeked toward Odd as the door slid and locked shut, and the car rose upwards through the shaft with a rattle of winding cables.
Nobody knows. Its alright.
Migrating across the suspension viaduct spanning a smaller channel of the Seine river, the group's eyes wandered in the surrounding darkness, shoes wet from numerous standing puddles, evident of the prior torrential rainfall that had since ceased.
"Yep. Huge improvement."
"How do you survive winter, Stern?"
"Hibernation."
"Sounds more of Odd's nature."
Receiving several looks, the slender blonde shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm not afraid of cold and snow by any means, but sometimes you've gotta stay warm and rested. Keeps the grumps away."
Shooting Ulrich a comic expression, he grinned from his roommate's resultant glare. Just beside, Aelita filled her lungs with the cool night air as the quintet turned onto the local residential street bordering the canal.
"I think the weather smells wonderful. So at least I enjoy it."
"You're smelling ozone. Brought down from the atmosphere by the rain." Jeremie noted. "...Also called petrichor, in certain circumstances."
...And your factual response arrives, on schedule.
Peeping aside to Odd, who lifted his chin after reading her expression perfectly clear, his hands rose, fingers twiddling with building drama.
"The sweet smell of death from above. It waters your plants and cleans the streets, but when you're not looking, it quietly plots how to drown you."
Unable to resist a singular giggle from his one-eyed squint, Aelita looked beyond Odd's goofy expression as Ulrich set his hand onto his shoulder.
"You should make a horror movie about killer rain. Blockbuster material, right there."
Odd touched his thumb to the bottom of his chin, eyelids narrowing in consideration.
That'd be interesting. Acid rain maybe? Yes, I can see it now...
"That would be called hail."
Staring at Jeremie after his dry remark, Ulrich was drawn aside to Yumi's motions as she ran her hand through her jet black hair.
"Soo... Enough about the weather. Does anybody have plans for this weekend?"
Aiming at Aelita first, the red haired girl looked away in denial.
No, sorry Yumi. Can't exactly openly announce my intentions right now...
"Visiting my parents." Jeremie huffed. "They're getting tired of not hearing from me very often."
Eyes quietly drifted around between each other, and Aelita passively bumped Odd's elbow, garnering his attention for a fleeting moment.
So he's gone for this weekend. What's the plan?
"I guess I'll just hang around." Ulrich mumbled, looking over with the others as everybody's eyes fell upon Odd in sequence.
"Swimming!"
"Why?"
"After what we just dealt with?"
"Yup! Been waiting for the pool to reopen for a while now."
Lifting his phone from his cargo pants, Ulrich checked the time displayed on its screen.
"Might join you, but I might go skateboarding too." Not like I have anything better to do.
"If you do, then I'll come too." Yumi concluded. "Last thing I want to do is be stuck at home with Hiroki again."
"See? Nobody objects a visit to the pool."
"Regardless of already being soaked the night before, apparently."
"You'd better keep an eye on the water or it'll get yoouuu..."
Slapping his hand to his cheek in faux surprise, Odd faked a gasp from Aelita's drawl, receiving her teasing prods of her index finger.
"I almost forgot! I would've been a goner if you hadn't reminded me."
The five of them broke into hushed laughter as they found their way into the gated grove of trees that surrounded the Academy, but after a few moments, their footfall quieted as they weaved their way through the trees.
"I hope nobody minds that we've been out all evening."
Tiptoeing up the stairs inside the dormitories, the group found their way into the boy's hallway and crowded quietly around Jeremie's room. Watching him slip inside and shut the door, easily escaping reprimanding, Yumi sighed.
"I'm not even going to bother going home this late."
"Just stay in our room."
Eying Ulrich, and then Odd with consecutive furrows from their nods, she shook her head.
"You can't be serious."
"And if I am?"
Looking aside and weighing few other options, she rolled her eyes.
"If I get caught in your room, we're all screwed."
"Then keep it quiet."
Looking at Odd flatly as he smiled cheekily, she inhaled with reluctance.
You have your dog too. I forgot. "What about my parents?"
"Text them. Tell them you roomed with Aelita for the night cause of the weather."
"Mm. I hate lying to them though. Shouldn't I just room with Aelita anyway?"
Looking at the young woman in question, she was met with an unexpected negative shake of her head.
"Not with Sissi on the prowl. She's used to me being up late, but she'll detect you in seconds."
Rolling her eyes, Yumi drug her fingers along her cranium with fatigue.
"Wow, lame. Sure glad its the weekend... This would be twice as ugly if we had class tomorrow."
"Right?"
"Lets hurry up and hide you away before our cover is blown."
Migrating on tiptoes, the four of them crowded around the door to Odd and Ulrich's shared room, and after delayed clicks of a metal latch, Ulrich led Yumi inside and began searching drawers for a folded blanket.
After watching for a moment, Odd carefully closed the door, and was then pulled aside by Aelita, gently grasping his wrist as they met eye to eye.
"Where's Odd?" A muffled voice spoke.
Leaning toward the door frame, he listened to the shuffling within his dormitory.
"Right here."
"Yumi needs a pillow."
"I've got an extra one." Aelita whispered.
"Good."
Motioned towards the opposite stairwell further down the hall, their shoes padded along the carpeted floor, reaching and descending the stairwell together. Trying to stay as quiet as possible as they rounded two corners, hands sliding along the railings lining the walls, they rounded several corners, and Aelita took the lead, approaching her door in a stealthy tread. Grasping and gingerly twisting the handle and pushing the door open, she sidled inside with held breath, turning and beckoning for him to follow with a wave of her hand.
You... Okay.
Padding inside behind her silhouette, closing the door behind with a faint *click*, his revolution halted halfway, discovering Aelita was standing in close proximity to his shoulder, waiting patiently.
Hello.
Mouth opening, and then closing, his brow rose as both of his hands were taken, and he completed his alignment in place, facing her in the dark of the night.
"Della Robbia."
Smiling from her whisper, easily freeing one hand from her grip, he nudged his knuckles up beneath her chin.
"Princess Aelita."
Lowering into his digits more, chest fluttering, her nose flared with elated puffs.
"Thank you. For protecting me again."
"Ohh, its just part of the job."
Tilting and curving around her head, he pressed his lips into her cheek, hand flattening onto her collar.
"...But you're very welcome anyway."
A sigh of elation emptied her lungs, and she released his captured hand, curling her arms around him in a ready embrace. Returning the much-welcomed hug, nuzzling into her neck and taking in the scent of her freely cascading hair with discretion, Odd squeezed her tighter, firmly molding their bodies together in a soothing cuddle, freeing a murmur from Aelita's insides.
This feels so easy, and yet so strange. I know I said it, but am I really ready for something like this? I never expected to suddenly switch into something else, with Odd in particular. Saying what he has, and now this, and... I still have work ahead of me. Still have to talk to Jeremie and put up the shields for the meltdown I've been warned about.
Her heart beat with vigor from the ever-present bubble of resolve deep in her heart.
I guess we'll just be rebellious and clandestine in the meantime. Hiding more secrets. Sure never pictured myself being like this... But its exciting. I've seen it in his eyes already. I bet he feels exactly the same.
Hearing the hum of vibration in a pocket, both of their eyes opened from Odd's phone buzzing in his pocket.
I sure hope this works out somehow.
"I think I'm being waited on."
Relinquishing herself from the blonde and backpedaling into a turn, she fetched an errant pillow off of her bed and placed it in his still-open arms.
"Tomorrow?"
"Planning on the pool."
"Mmkay. Is that... A date?"
A smile bloomed on his faintly lit features.
"If you want it to be."
Settling into a tilt toward her shoulder, trying not to reveal the grin wanting to split her lips, Aelita stood firm as Odd padded backward and pulled open her door with a turn. Changing her mind late, she followed his movement as his profile would around the frame, causing him to pause, apparently attentive to her nearing footfall. Purposefully trapping himself between the door and the pillow in his grasp, he allowed her to close the distance, her hand shyly finding and clasping around his shirt sleeve.
"Good night."
"Night."
Aching as his clothing slipped out of her loosening grasp, entering the hallway in an accelerating departure, she reached after him, only to reroute to the door and push it shut.
A date! Does that mean... Well... Is that allowed? I haven't even had a chance to try and settle things.
Standing on her heel and pulling out of her magenta boots in alternation, she fought out of her hoodie and cast the damp garment aside towards an overdue basket of laundry, flouncing onto her bedding and dropping onto her backside.
I've been on a date, or two. I think the count is, um, not many. None with Odd, and none of them swimming. How do you date in a pool anyway?
Her arms moved back into a stretch, sock-covered toes lifting and reaching out above the carpet.
Guess I'll find out.