Fate VII: Bonding III
Commander Harsk walked through the NOL branch close to six in the morning. Normally his job didn't need him in the office until seven, but today was a different day for him. He walked into the building and headed into the power management level. This part of the building was always in use and its workers had what was probably one of the most boring jobs in the building.
"General," Jerry, the man currently on the clock, addressed his superior while saluting.
"At ease," Harsk said before taking a sip of his coffee. "How are the systems looking?"
"Same as always," Jerry told him. "Not sure why you expected anything to be different, the systems are pretty self-sustaining."
"What about external damage to the systems?" Harsk asked.
"You'd have to damage the console in this room in order to shut the systems down," Jerry told him. "And speaking of which, they don't allow drinks in here for a reason sir. No disrespect."
"None taken son," Harsk assured him. "Tell you what, why don't you clock out early? I'm sure your wife and kid would want to spend Christmas Eve with you."
"Are you serious, sir?" Jerry asked a little taken aback. "But, what about the NOL? They say that someone has to be in here at all times."
"Let me deal with the higher ups," Jerry assured him. "You've been pulling triple shifts all week, take an early Christmas break kid."
"Thank you sir!" Jerry said saluting. "Oh, and Merry Christmas!"
After Jerry had left the building Harsk gave a small chuckle. That part of his plan went smoother than he'd expected. He then walked over to the control console labeled 'Weather Control.' He then proceeded to take a sip from his coffee mug before 'spilling' the remaining contents on the control panel. The panel gave a small spark before fizzing out.
"Oops… well, this should make the next few days interesting," he said with a chuckle before leaving the room.
-Later: Noel's Apartment-
Noel yawned to herself as she got out her room. She'd been up late last night getting the decorations ready for Christmas. The most that they'd been able to accomplish was buying the supplies and bringing them to her apartment. She was going to set it up, but Makoto had promised that she'd take care of the decorations with Bullet the following morning. Noel hadn't wanted to push the job on Makoto, but her friend had a funny way of insisting and when Bullet came back later that evening with Ragna she'd promised she'd have it done by the time Noel came back from her date.
She was somewhat surprised when she walked into the kitchen to see Ragna at the table drinking some coffee while reading the morning newspaper. She'd expected he would've left by now to go jogging like he did every morning. What was keeping him this time?
"Morning," Ragna said as he looked up from his newspaper.
"Morning," Noel said in return. "I thought you'd be out a run."
"Not this morning," Ragna said with a small smile. "Take a look outside."
Noel was curious with what Ragna was getting at, but decided to follow his advice and looked outside on her balcony. When she saw what Ragna was referring to she let out a happy scream that woke up a snoring Bullet from the couch.
"What're you so damn giddy about?" she asked groggily, wiping the sleep out of her eyes.
"Look, Look!" Noel commanded. Bullet got off the couch as Makoto came out of her room to see what the commotion was about. Kagutsuchi was covered in a thick blanket of white. Snowflakes slowly drifted to the ground. There were already children outside in winter clothing throwing snowballs at each other and sledding down the streets.
"Looks like there was a glitch in weather control," Ragna commented as he came followed the group to the glass door. "Kind of convenient," he told them.
"If it stays for tomorrow we'll have a white Christmas!" Noel shouted excitedly. Makoto and Ragna gave a small chuckle, while Bullet looked at Noel in confusion; it was just snow. The former two however knew that Noel had always had a soft spot in her heart for snowy weather, especially when it was close to her birthday.
"I'll get breakfast started," Ragna told them.
"Okay," Noel said as she went back to watching the snow fall like a little kid. 'My birthday's tomorrow, I get to spend the entire day with Ragna, and on top of everything it's snowing! Can today get any better?'
-Meanwhile: The Forest Outside of Kagutsuchi-
Hakumen knelt in the forest, the old hero was deep in meditation. He'd been this way since late last night, so what he was currently doing could be referred to as sleep for him. His thoughts had been cleared several hours ago, but he stayed here, lest the nightmarish visions of past continued to hound him.
"Dang it! That's not right!" he heard Platinum complain. "Guess I'll just have to start over."
'What is that child doing?' Hakumen thought to himself. 'She never gets up this early.'
"Almost got it," Platinum said a short distance away. Though she was only a short distance away, she was hiding in the trees, preventing Hakumen from seeing what she was attempting. "Dang it!"
"Is something wrong Platinum?" Hakumen decided to finally voice.
"Ack!" Platinum shrieked. "Master Haku, I didn't think you were listening."
"Care to explain what you're doing?" Hakumen said as he slowly rose to his feet.
"NO!" Platinum shouted. "I-I'll show you, but can it wait until tomorrow?"
"I suppose," Hakumen said with a sigh before he realized her words. 'Wait, today is the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. And Platinum is in the middle of making something and is being secretive about it…' Hakumen then remember a certain Christmas day that long ago that he'd spent with his first apprentice. Despite what little Ragna had to work with he'd managed to provide gifts for not only Hakumen, but for Rachel and Valkenhayn as well. 'Damn it.' "Platinum?"
"Yes Master?" Platinum responded from through the trees.
"I am leaving for some time. Rest assured, I will return by nightfall. You are allowed to train or rest, it's up to you. Use the time as you see fit."
"Okay?" Platinum said as she left.
'Now I just to find a place that will sell her something that she'll like,' Hakumen thought to himself. 'While avoiding detection from people who have saved their shopping until the last minute… This will not be easy, I'll be surrounded by thousands of people at the mall… And I have very little money… So this is what it's like to be a father.'
-Two hours later: Downtown Kagutsuchi-
Noel and Ragna were looking through the clothing stores of Kagutsuchi trying to find a proper attire for Ragna when they visited Clark. Ragna had told Noel that he'd been fine shopping alone, but Noel had insisted on going with him, clingy to him like always.
"Are you sure the coat's necessary?" he asked. "I could always wear my red coat, right?"
"Yeah, but the problem is it's too…"
"Epic?" Ragna suggested with a laugh.
"Actually, that's kind of it," Noel admitted. "My friends are pretty regular people so I thought it would be nicer if you acted more like a regular person."
"Hey, I'm a pretty regular guy when you get to know me," Ragna told Noel.
"Well hopefully with this out they'll see you as a normal guy much quicker," Noel advised, explaining the method to her madness.
Ragna was now dressed in black dress shoes, black slacks, and a formal dark blue shirt. He completed the outfit with a black Peacoat and a crimson scarf. The Grim Reaper thought that this would be the closest he'd ever come to formal attire. He only hopped that Rachel wouldn't see him in this outfit… but it certainly wasn't a bad change from his normal attire.
"I'm gonna go pay for this," Ragna said as he got in line. It was then that he noticed that Noel was staring at the open pretzel stand across the street and let a small chuckle at the lieutenant's childishness. "Go on, I'll catch up with you after I'm done here."
"All right," Noel said with a smile as she left. She walked up to the stand. "One cinnamon pretzel."
"Sure thing kid," the man said as he used his tongs to put the pretzel in the wrapping paper. "Anything else?"
"Just a salt one to go with it," Noel said, remembering that was how Ragna like his pretzel. As she took the two pretzel and paid for them. She then walked over to an empty street bench to wait for Ragna.
"Well, isn't this a surprise!" a voice called out. Noel died a little on the inside, she knew who that voice belonged to. It was her bully of a co-worker Jill, who was coming towards her with a haughty sneer on her face. "Well, looks like flatness is eating for two. Trying to turn that cutting board of yours into something and stop looking like a little boy?"
'That's just mean!' Noel thought to herself. She's been insulted by Jill about her chest size before so this wasn't the first time, but saying that she looked like a little boy was a new low. "How do you even live with yourself?" Noel asked with a glare.
"Oh, now what's this? Little miss blonde finally developing a back bone? Maybe now that you have something to fill that empty space you might get-!"
"Be quiet," Noel said with force interrupting Jill. "Why are you even talking to me anyways?"
"Just thought I'd say hello and give you my thanks for that little report you sent out a few days ago. You know the one where you embarrassed me for thinking Sector Seven's behind the attacks! Thanks to you I have to go through reevaluation on Christmas! ON CHRISTMAS!" If Jill hadn't caused enough of a scene already see ripped of part off Ragna's pretzel and shoved it in her mouth.
"The report I filled said nothing about you," Noel attested. "I was just doing my job to-!"
"To make me look like a fool!" Jill shouted. It occurred to Noel that the two were attracting a lot of attention with their little scuffle. "Take this you little bi-!"
A dark clothed forearm got in the way and intercepted the slap to Noel's face. Jill was about to tell the person who interfered off, but that was before she realized who it was. He may have been in different clothing that she was used to seeing, but he was unmistakable with his silver hair and glaring red and green eyes. She felt that the glare he was giving her was staring right into their soul and for some reason she felt like he was about to steal it.
"Don't try it," Ragna said to her, his tone thick with venom. "You alright Noel?"
"I'm fine," she said as she stood, still holding the pretzels. "Come on, Ragna. Let's go."
Ragna nodded, before giving one last glare to Jill and leaving. "Care to explain what that was?" he asked.
"She's my coworker, namely that one coworker that always gets on your nerves. She's always like that… well she was a lot more aggressive this time around."
"And this is why I didn't get a desk job, well besides the fact that I'd suck at it." Ragna let out a chuckle. "Anyways do you think we should grab some Champaign for the Clark and May?"
"Normally I'd say yes, but May actually can't have alcohol," she told Ragna. The Reaper cocked his head to the side not getting it. "Ragna, she's pregnant."
"Aaaaaaaaand you were going to tell me this when?" Ragna questioned.
"When we went to buy them their Christmas gift," Noel told him. "I say we should get them something for the kid… By the way Ragna what gender do you think it'll be?"
"Where's this coming from?" Ragna questioned. "I don't know them so I wouldn't know what to think… I don't know, a girl, I guess?"
"Funny, that's what Clark was thinking. I was actually think that it'd be a boy like May did."
"So it's a battle of the sexes then, literally," Ragna thought to himself with a sigh. "I just know I'm going to lose this one, I never win anything when you're involved."
"Glad to know that you're aware of that," Noel said with a small giggle. "C'mon let's check the baby store in order to get something for them."
"Alright fine," Ragna said as he followed her. After a moment he realized what he'd just agreed to. Going into a baby shop, just him and Noel. A guy and a girl visiting a baby store together. 'Shit…' It was then that Noel linked arms with Ragna. 'And Noel just HAD to finish the image… What have I gotten myself into?'
-Meanwhile-
'What have I gotten myself into?' Hakumen thought to himself. As he observed the two stores in front of him. He knew that this was all his fault for not doing something until this late, but he had to do something. If Platinum was going through such work for him, he could at least get her something small in return.
Currently he was in front of the last two toy stores in Kagutsuchi open in front of him. The store on his right was a general toy store which seemed like a good place to start, he could get her a board game, but then she'd make him play with it, which he supposed he could stomach doing. The same would apply if he got her a deck of cards, not the most thought out gift, but at the very least she could play solitaire by herself. The store to his left… let's just stick with the store on his right.
Hakumen glanced over his shoulder and it seemed like he was the target of several stares. He'd been hesitant when everyone had started looking at him oddly, but then one person had suggested it was someone 'cosplaying' as Hakumen… something that he was quite relieved to hear, until they wanted him to recite his line from the movie about the six heroes. He had left there without saying a word.
The hero started walking towards the store towards one of their employees walked up to the store window and put up a sign. 'Completely sold out.'
"So this is what it feels like to be my first apprentice," he said disappointedly to himself before looking at option B. "Am I really going to…?" He shook his head. "I have little choice in this matter."
As he walked into the store he was greeted by a very cheery employee. "Welcome to 'Build a Beastkin!' How can I help you today?"
'This is demeaning, and not just for me. God rest your soul Jubei,' Hakumen thought to himself. "I am in need of a gift for my…" 'Apprentice? Pupil? Charge? Deceased war friend who's now in the body of a sixteen year old with their own personality?' "Niece," he decided.
"Oh, so that's who you're searching to buy for," the person told him. "Well I've got good news," she said gesturing to the empty shelves. "We still have one product left and the best part is it's our best seller! We just found it in its packaging at the back of the store. I can sell it to you for sixty platinum dollars!"
"Very well," Hakumen agreed as he went up to the register. That was when the woman pulled the product out from behind the desk. 'Dear god! Is that…?' Hakumen couldn't even begin to describe what was wrong with it, only that is was the second most evil thing he'd ever laid his eyes on, right under Terumi. "Are you sure this is the only one?"
"Geeze, I'd think you'd be happier. After all, this is very popular with young ladies."
"She's in her late teens," Hakumen decided to inform.
"Oh really?" the store clerk said. "Then she's going to be ALL over this thing!" Her words did the exact opposite of reassuring Hakumen. For the first time in his life, he was terrified.
'Note to self,' the former hero thought to himself as he begrudgingly paid and the woman wrapped Platinum's Christmas present. 'Next time, MAKE gift.'
-Later-
Noel knocked on the door to Clark and May's apartment. The door opened revealing the two. Clark had been described in an earlier chapter. May was a skinny girl with spiky blond hair. She was dressed in blue jeans and a red wool sweater.
"So I guess Clark didn't mishear you," she said a little surprised. "Well, nice to meet you Ragna."
"Likewise," Ragna said with a small smile.
"Please come inside," Clark said as he made way for the two. The two went inside and put their coats on the coat hanger. "So how did you and Noel meet?"
"It was a long time ago," Ragna told him. "She had just graduated from the academy with Makoto and I was just starting out as a bounty hunter. It took place in Ikaruga, just after the war had ended. It wasn't and easy job, but we lived through it."
"I take it that was before you became world-known?" May asked. Ragna gave a small nod. "So you and Noel go a ways back then."
"Yeah, we've met up on other jobs as well, but that one was probably our hardest since we were the most inexperienced then." He gave a small chuckle. "Even back then Makoto was still pulling pranks on me."
"And you always fell for them," Noel said with a grin. "Oh well at least now you're not letting her get away with it."
"What about you two," Ragna asked as he sat down on their sofa next to Noel. "How did you two meet?"
"Shortly after Clark transferred here from the academy," May told him. "I was actually working at a clothes shop downtown when we first started dating. It was ironic because when we first met I was actually helping him get some clothes set out with his first date. Apparently he was going out with a co-worker of his for drinks. I guess the date didn't go so well because he was actually back the evening to return the suit with in a bad mood. So I offered to buy him a drink to help improve his mood since I was about to get off."
"And I take it you hit it off from there?" Ragna asked. The couple in question had a small smile and light blush on their face.
"Yeah," Clark admitted. "I knew what time she was getting off at the next day so I bought her flowers as a way of saying thanks. After that, we decided to hit a movie together and we just got closer and closer."
"Cute," Ragna admitted. "Not to bring up bad memories, but what went wrong with the first date?"
Clark cringed slightly, just the thought of thinking about it irked him. "My date had a tendency to… put herself out there. She wasn't really dressed in appropriate attire and she enjoyed getting a lot of attention from other men, despite the fact she was on a date. When the third guy came over to ask for her number and if she'd ditch me and she flirted back with him I'd had enough." He let out a sigh. "Didn't help that after I left she decided to take one of the guys up on the offer. Her name was Jill."
"Wait, that's who it was?" Noel asked surprised. "We actually ran into Jill today. She tried to raise trouble with me, but Ragna managed to tell her off."
"How'd you manage to do that?" Clark asked Ragna somewhat impressed. From his experience, Jill wasn't an easy person to get rid of. "Say something to get her to back off?"
Noel giggled. "It wasn't so much what he said as it was how he said it. Also, he's pretty scary when he glares."
"Hey, I'm not that frightening am I?" Ragna asked a little hurt. Noel only gave a small giggle. "Whatever."
The four stayed there for a while and chatted with each other before they had Shepherd's pie for dinner. They left their gift that they got for the two before heading out.
"Thanks for coming with me," Noel said with a small smile.
"My pleasure," Ragna told her with his own smile before observing a group of kids in a snow fort. "It's nice to know that you've got friends a work that you can talk to." That was when he noticed the blonde wasn't beside him. "Noel?"
That was when Ragna was pelted in the back of the head by a snowball. The Reaper sighed as he slowly turned around to face his attacker. "All right Noel, let's stop the gam-" That was when he was smashed in the face by another snowball. "Noel!"
"Come on! How often do we get snow? We should have fun with this!"
"Noel I'm not-!" Another snowball to the face. "That's it!" Ragna knelt to grab a clump of snow before hurling it at Noel as hard as he could. Noel shrieked as she dived out of the way, hit the ground, and returned fire. The two spent the next two hours snowball fighting, sledding down the mountain, and even building a snowman.
"Heh," Ragna laughed to himself as he finished putting the final coal eye on their creation. "You always manage to wrap me into this kid stuff with you. Quick question, how?"
"Just part of my charm," Noel responded as she surprised Ragna by tackling him into a pile of snow.
"Geeze," Ragna groaned as he managed to sit up. "I guess so. Anyways I was going to give this to you tomorrow, but now seems like the right time," Ragna began as he brought out a wrapped gift with his Ars Magus storage ability. "Happy birthday, Noel."
"Ragna, you didn't have to get me anything!" Noel said in surprise.
"Course I did," Ragna assured. "Go on, open it."
Noel carefully undid the crimson ribbon and ripped off the green wrapping paper. As she undid the flaps she let out loud scream. "It's adorable!" The object in question? An adorable little panda plushy, Noel's favorite animal. "Where did you find this?"
"I found it a while ago in this small shop in Ikaruga. They seemed to specialize in this stuff, and they had a panda as their product of choice, so I decided to get this for you. And since everyone's going to be celebrating your birthday tomorrow, I thought I'd celebrate it with you today."
"Ragna y-you…" Ragna could see the tears coming from Noel's eyes. At first the Reaper was worried that he'd screwed something up, but that was before Noel smashed her lips into his. The two stayed there for a moment, enjoying the embrace as the snow gently feel around them. "Thank you. You've always been there for me, especially when I've needed you."
"Obviously," Ragna said, playfully poking Noel's forehead. "I'm not about anyone to mistreat you or disrespect you. You mean too much to me for that."
"Enough to watch 'Love Actually' with me tonight?" Noel asked hopefully.
"Don't push it, Home Alone," Ragna countered. The two tried to stare down each other, something Ragna wasn't used to getting from Noel. "We'll let Bullet and Makoto decide."
"Deal," Noel said as she got up and linked her hand with Ragna's as the two walked back to her apartment. The NOL officer rested her head on Ragna's shoulder as they walked, not wanting to lose this moment for anything.
Disclaim: I own nothing. 'Nuff said.
Authors Note: The Christmas chapter is up next. I don't really have anything to say, so here's the some review responses.
RKDWriter and IdeaPerson1097: Thanks, I sort of just came up with it though.
: I'm a little unsure with what you were trying to say, but hopefully you survive the 'fluff attack.'
Random Fan: I don't have that much of a plan as of right now, but I'll have something thought out for all of those events.
Ciao… I guess?
