A/N- Hiya folks, I'm gonna skip the in-between fights since I'd rather not
spend a lot of time on them. It'd be too many chapters and I don't have a
lot of time, so please bear with me as I get to the climax of it all.
Overview-
The days have rolled on. Allenby and the Shuffle Alliance have been fighting to the best of their abilities, whether against each other or with other opponents. Allenby has proven the success of her training by defeating Argo, George, Sai Saici, and Chibodee. Now she and her partner Sven are about to meet another great challenge in Domon and his God Gundam.
Chapter 9- Dinner
Allenby walked into the hangar, searching high and low for Sven. 'Where is that guy?' she wondered. 'It's so easy to lose him just in this one building!'
She placed her gloved hands to her mouth and called. "Sven! Where are you?!"
"Hi Allenby!" Sven waved to her from high over her head. He was emerging from Noble Gundam's cockpit, covered with oil as always. He wiped a smear off his face and grinned.
"You up for dinner with the Shuffle Alliance?" she asked him while he made his way down the ramp towards her.
"Sure thing! But can I get cleaned up first?" He reached up and pulled his bandanna off of his head to reveal his messy brown hair.
Allenby tried to suppress a giggle but failed. "Heh, heh. Ah, that's probably for the best."
They turned and left the dark hangar. Allenby glanced up at him. "By the way, what were you working on up there?"
Sven sighed. "Eh, I caught some problems in the system after your fight with Mr. De Sand yesterday. I figured I'd take care of them before we really had to hurry."
"Good idea." She said with a nod. "I'm facing the big guy tomorrow."
"I'm sure you'll do fine." He reassured her. "You defeated the entire Shuffle Domain already."
She emitted a sigh that seemed a little troubled. "Hai, but.he's the champion."
He placed his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry. You've given him trouble before. I have faith in you."
An incredible rush of warmth surged through her. Allenby smiled back up at him brightly, hope renewed in her eyes. "Thanks, Sven."
Once they had left the hangar, arms wrapped around each other like a couple of high school sweethearts, someone dressed in black emerged from the shadows. He made sure the two were gone before jumping up the ramp. He was bound for the cockpit of Noble Gundam!
........
The restaurant was packed downstairs, but a reservation made the entire upstairs area a place for a private party. The Shuffle Alliance gathered here, clad in expensive, formal outfits. Even Hoi and Min sported their best clothes as they sat at one of the red-clothed tables.
Chibodee held up a glass of whiskey. "Hey Domon! Tomorrow's your big match, eh?"
The Neo Japanese warrior smirked. "Hai, against Allenby."
Rain sighed. "This won't be an easy one, that's for sure."
"I'll have to agree with you on that." George said, pressing a hand to his bandaged face. "She's become a lot stronger since the last Gundam fight."
"And it's not even like she has the Berserker System!" Sai Saici added, his voice a little slurred from a little too much to drink.
"Speaking of the Neo Swedish fighter, there she is." Nastasha remarked, pointing to the stairs.
All of the boys gasped. Allenby no longer wore the pink vest, yellow gloves, and tight blue spandex. She was in a dark green kimono now, one that was lined with white trim. It seemed to match her hair and eyes perfectly. And even her hair seemed a little more tamed.
She scowled at the Shuffle boys as Sven led her by the arm to an open pair of seats. "Don't get used to this," she growled. "This is already embarrassing enough."
Sven leaned to whisper in George's ear. "Don't try to compliment her. I've already tried."
"I hear you." George replied with a nod.
Dinner got under way and everyone was enjoying a good meal. Chibodee and Sai Saici were the life of the party, cracking crude jokes and laughing for almost no reason what so ever. But that only made the sober ones laugh too.
"So Sven, what's your story?" Domon asked the young man who sat beside Allenby.
Sven dabbed his mouth with a napkin before telling his story. "Well, I grew up on the colony. My brother raised me and the other kids for most of the time since Dad died and Mom was sick. I went to college and the next thing I knew, I was hired to be part of the Gundam support team!"
"It comes so fast, doesn't it?" Rain asked. "One minute you're off doing your own thing and then you're helping with your nation's gundam."
"It was a shocker when they requested it." Sven agreed. But then he smiled at Allenby, who was chatting with Shirley and the girls. "But now, I'm glad I decided to become a crew member."
.........
Meanwhile, back in Neo Sweden's hangar, Noble Gundam's eyes lit up red for a brief instant. The man in black climbed out of the cockpit and descended onto the walkway. "That should do it."
...........
It was pitch black by the time the Shuffle Alliance and friends left the diner. Argo and Nastasha left for the hotel. "We shall see you all at the match tomorrow." The Russian woman declared.
The four girls had to literally drag Chibodee down the street. "Yeah, until tomorrow!" Cath said over her shoulder.
"So many pink elephants." Chibodee murmured between hiccups.
Domon shook his head before turning his attention to Sai Saici. "Hey Sai! You gonna be okay getting back to Cecil's?"
Sai Saici stared at him blankly. "Eh? Wha..you say.Bro?"
"That answers my question." The Japanese warrior leaned down and tossed the Chinese fighter up over one shoulder. Sai Saici, too drunk to do anything, simply hung there.
"Meet you back at the boathouse, guys." Domon said. "I'll take Sai Saici to Cecil's place." He wheeled on his heels and walked away into the crowds.
"Take care everyone." George said with a slight bow. Then he and Raymond departed as well.
Rain shrugged. "Well all, shall we go?"
They nodded. "Sure."
Upon reaching the docks, Hoi and Min ran on ahead, saying their goodnights in unison. Rain opened the door to her and Domon's room. "Allenby, you'd better get to sleep. You'll have some up on Domon since he'll probably be late."
"I'll be turning in soon." Allenby told her, Sven behind her. The young man was leaning on the railing, probably looking down at the fish by the pilings. Rain smiled knowingly to herself as she closed the door to get ready for bed.
Allenby walked up to Sven. "I'm probably not the only one who needs some sleep, you know."
He nodded, presenting her a drowsy smile. "Yeah, you're right." He got up off the railing and stretched out his back. "Come on, I'll walk you to your room."
She cocked an eyebrow. "Uh, Sven. It's six feet behind us."
He blushed. "Well, you could slip on the wet deck.or something."
She knew what he was trying to do and smiled. "Okay then." She looped her arm through his and strode the three steps to her bedroom door. Once they had stopped, she freed her arm gently, but was unable to free her gaze from his eyes. For the hundredth time, she felt like she could just melt right then and there.
The stars seemed to twinkle in his eyes. "Goodnight, Allenby."
Just then, Allenby noticed that their faces were only a few inches apart, strange because he was significantly taller than she was. He was leaning over to reach her! She rose up on her heels to meet him as well, but just as their lips were about to touch.
SLAM! "Min! You have to brush your teeth too! Come on!"
"Alright! Alright!" The deck lit up as Hoi and Min left their room.
The kiss cut short before it could even happen, Sven drew away and cleared his throat. "Ahem.well I'll.see you first thing tomorrow."
Allenby smiled, trying to hide the disappointment. "Right."
He turned and left her alone.
Overview-
The days have rolled on. Allenby and the Shuffle Alliance have been fighting to the best of their abilities, whether against each other or with other opponents. Allenby has proven the success of her training by defeating Argo, George, Sai Saici, and Chibodee. Now she and her partner Sven are about to meet another great challenge in Domon and his God Gundam.
Chapter 9- Dinner
Allenby walked into the hangar, searching high and low for Sven. 'Where is that guy?' she wondered. 'It's so easy to lose him just in this one building!'
She placed her gloved hands to her mouth and called. "Sven! Where are you?!"
"Hi Allenby!" Sven waved to her from high over her head. He was emerging from Noble Gundam's cockpit, covered with oil as always. He wiped a smear off his face and grinned.
"You up for dinner with the Shuffle Alliance?" she asked him while he made his way down the ramp towards her.
"Sure thing! But can I get cleaned up first?" He reached up and pulled his bandanna off of his head to reveal his messy brown hair.
Allenby tried to suppress a giggle but failed. "Heh, heh. Ah, that's probably for the best."
They turned and left the dark hangar. Allenby glanced up at him. "By the way, what were you working on up there?"
Sven sighed. "Eh, I caught some problems in the system after your fight with Mr. De Sand yesterday. I figured I'd take care of them before we really had to hurry."
"Good idea." She said with a nod. "I'm facing the big guy tomorrow."
"I'm sure you'll do fine." He reassured her. "You defeated the entire Shuffle Domain already."
She emitted a sigh that seemed a little troubled. "Hai, but.he's the champion."
He placed his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry. You've given him trouble before. I have faith in you."
An incredible rush of warmth surged through her. Allenby smiled back up at him brightly, hope renewed in her eyes. "Thanks, Sven."
Once they had left the hangar, arms wrapped around each other like a couple of high school sweethearts, someone dressed in black emerged from the shadows. He made sure the two were gone before jumping up the ramp. He was bound for the cockpit of Noble Gundam!
........
The restaurant was packed downstairs, but a reservation made the entire upstairs area a place for a private party. The Shuffle Alliance gathered here, clad in expensive, formal outfits. Even Hoi and Min sported their best clothes as they sat at one of the red-clothed tables.
Chibodee held up a glass of whiskey. "Hey Domon! Tomorrow's your big match, eh?"
The Neo Japanese warrior smirked. "Hai, against Allenby."
Rain sighed. "This won't be an easy one, that's for sure."
"I'll have to agree with you on that." George said, pressing a hand to his bandaged face. "She's become a lot stronger since the last Gundam fight."
"And it's not even like she has the Berserker System!" Sai Saici added, his voice a little slurred from a little too much to drink.
"Speaking of the Neo Swedish fighter, there she is." Nastasha remarked, pointing to the stairs.
All of the boys gasped. Allenby no longer wore the pink vest, yellow gloves, and tight blue spandex. She was in a dark green kimono now, one that was lined with white trim. It seemed to match her hair and eyes perfectly. And even her hair seemed a little more tamed.
She scowled at the Shuffle boys as Sven led her by the arm to an open pair of seats. "Don't get used to this," she growled. "This is already embarrassing enough."
Sven leaned to whisper in George's ear. "Don't try to compliment her. I've already tried."
"I hear you." George replied with a nod.
Dinner got under way and everyone was enjoying a good meal. Chibodee and Sai Saici were the life of the party, cracking crude jokes and laughing for almost no reason what so ever. But that only made the sober ones laugh too.
"So Sven, what's your story?" Domon asked the young man who sat beside Allenby.
Sven dabbed his mouth with a napkin before telling his story. "Well, I grew up on the colony. My brother raised me and the other kids for most of the time since Dad died and Mom was sick. I went to college and the next thing I knew, I was hired to be part of the Gundam support team!"
"It comes so fast, doesn't it?" Rain asked. "One minute you're off doing your own thing and then you're helping with your nation's gundam."
"It was a shocker when they requested it." Sven agreed. But then he smiled at Allenby, who was chatting with Shirley and the girls. "But now, I'm glad I decided to become a crew member."
.........
Meanwhile, back in Neo Sweden's hangar, Noble Gundam's eyes lit up red for a brief instant. The man in black climbed out of the cockpit and descended onto the walkway. "That should do it."
...........
It was pitch black by the time the Shuffle Alliance and friends left the diner. Argo and Nastasha left for the hotel. "We shall see you all at the match tomorrow." The Russian woman declared.
The four girls had to literally drag Chibodee down the street. "Yeah, until tomorrow!" Cath said over her shoulder.
"So many pink elephants." Chibodee murmured between hiccups.
Domon shook his head before turning his attention to Sai Saici. "Hey Sai! You gonna be okay getting back to Cecil's?"
Sai Saici stared at him blankly. "Eh? Wha..you say.Bro?"
"That answers my question." The Japanese warrior leaned down and tossed the Chinese fighter up over one shoulder. Sai Saici, too drunk to do anything, simply hung there.
"Meet you back at the boathouse, guys." Domon said. "I'll take Sai Saici to Cecil's place." He wheeled on his heels and walked away into the crowds.
"Take care everyone." George said with a slight bow. Then he and Raymond departed as well.
Rain shrugged. "Well all, shall we go?"
They nodded. "Sure."
Upon reaching the docks, Hoi and Min ran on ahead, saying their goodnights in unison. Rain opened the door to her and Domon's room. "Allenby, you'd better get to sleep. You'll have some up on Domon since he'll probably be late."
"I'll be turning in soon." Allenby told her, Sven behind her. The young man was leaning on the railing, probably looking down at the fish by the pilings. Rain smiled knowingly to herself as she closed the door to get ready for bed.
Allenby walked up to Sven. "I'm probably not the only one who needs some sleep, you know."
He nodded, presenting her a drowsy smile. "Yeah, you're right." He got up off the railing and stretched out his back. "Come on, I'll walk you to your room."
She cocked an eyebrow. "Uh, Sven. It's six feet behind us."
He blushed. "Well, you could slip on the wet deck.or something."
She knew what he was trying to do and smiled. "Okay then." She looped her arm through his and strode the three steps to her bedroom door. Once they had stopped, she freed her arm gently, but was unable to free her gaze from his eyes. For the hundredth time, she felt like she could just melt right then and there.
The stars seemed to twinkle in his eyes. "Goodnight, Allenby."
Just then, Allenby noticed that their faces were only a few inches apart, strange because he was significantly taller than she was. He was leaning over to reach her! She rose up on her heels to meet him as well, but just as their lips were about to touch.
SLAM! "Min! You have to brush your teeth too! Come on!"
"Alright! Alright!" The deck lit up as Hoi and Min left their room.
The kiss cut short before it could even happen, Sven drew away and cleared his throat. "Ahem.well I'll.see you first thing tomorrow."
Allenby smiled, trying to hide the disappointment. "Right."
He turned and left her alone.
