From Life and of Fire
Chapter 7: Soothing Homecoming
A/N: I apologize profusely for not updating in ages. I've been horrendously sick and busy, and hence just kind of forgot about it for a while. I hope this chapter and future ones make up for that. Thank you to my many reviewers for loving me ^^.
Robin leaned her forehead exhaustedly into the lightly vibrating window. It had been an exhausting few days, to say the least. It had all begun the day after Lee showed them the folder full of legal information. She had gone to bed that night tired beyond all reason. The thoughts flowing around of danger and memory and Tokyo had startled her when she looked at the pages of blueprints and plans and identities that were far above her understanding. All of the hiding had taken her back to the time where she had to hide from her friends.
The next day had brought some satisfaction. Lee had taken them to his study, a grand room with portraits and bits of artistry unfamiliar to both her and Amon. He had gently explained the contents of the folder to them. First, he had carefully laid aside the legal documents that barely concerned them. Then he had showed them their new identifications and related documents. They were to be good friends and content roommates, studying at the university and originating from a location out of town.
Robin recalled staring in shock at the history of their lives. Soka Natori, formerly Amon, was a student from Japan who had moved away to study for his first few years of college in Europe. Manacelli Sara, formerly Sena Robin, had been a good friend of Natori's there. They were to perform an "independent research project" in Japan, without attending university classes or other such things. Lee said it was only safe to assume that the university was being watched, so it would be safest for them to avoid formal education.
From there, they had each been given a life and an identity. Lee claimed that a change in personality would not be necessary. They both acted fairly European. This had made Robin wonder as to Amon, no, Natori's true origins. He looked Asian, she had concluded. However, his culture and actions were very faintly European. She couldn't put a finger on it.
Now they were rolling on their way to suburban Tokyo, and into their future.
Amon sat at the other backseat window, equally distressed. He didn't like having his world cut out for him. He felt so dependent on this new identity. Not so much unconfident, more uptight rather. He knew he could act the part, and so could Robin. However, they were jumping on top of the nose of the enemy. There were so many things they could do, but all they were allowed was to sit and hide.
He knew she was overwhelmed by their new life. He would like it, if it weren't such a lie. It felt so odd, yet so normal. Best friends lived together during college and shared their dreams. This is what happened all the time in the anime that certain computer geeks showed during STN-J off- hours, but those relationships always ended up very graphical. Amon restrained his blush. He did not want to remember that, or see Robin in that way.
The subconscious Amon laughed at him. Yes, he did. He could imagine some random anime character chiding him about being nervous. He had a slender young redhead at the tips of his fingers. There was so little he had to do to attract her, because she was so open to him and to the idea that he was sullen naturally. No one had ever dealt with it before, yet still showed they cared. Robin was so ideal in that way.
Both were too wrapped up in their fantasies to notice that they had pulled up on a quiet street in a sweet, peaceful neighborhood, and that Lee was exiting from the car. They put pulled from their thoughts and climbed out, almost perfectly in sequence. It wasn't something they noticed. They had merely gotten into the habit of exiting cars at the exact moment so as to watch out for one another.
It was instinct. Not just sibling instinct, but more.
The neighborhood was pleasant. The house that had been chosen for them was small and comfortable, with two bedrooms and a large combined living room and kitchen unit, as well as two bathrooms. It was no distinctive color, just a mild grayish blue that seemed to mirror the soothing morning.
Robin liked it, and she felt Amon did too. It wasn't lavishly decorated inside or out: it was just a relaxing place where they could get away from the stress of STN-J for a while. She hoped she'd know him a bit better, and his mysterious past.
Amon felt nearly the same. Now that he was here, and looking at it, it wasn't so bad to be hiding away in this little misty alcove with Robin. There were a few extra rooms, and they could use the second bedroom for storage. Then his mind stopped. He shuddered inwardly. He hadn't meant to think that. Sleeping with a nude witch should be the last thing on his mind.
Unfortunately, it wasn't the last thing on Lee's.
The man proceeded to explain, confidently holding back his grin, the situation with furniture. They had a bed, plumbing and appliances, but that was it. The rest was coming later in the month and they would have to do for now. Robin heard the announcement and thought none of it for the moment. She merely plotted out gardens in her mind.
Lee did get the chance to watch Amon's ashen expression. As he walked past the stricken man to join Robin, he muttered jokingly, "Congratulations on the engagement." He then frolicked away, seeing as Amon was looking very oddly trigger-happy.
The afternoon left them in a flurry of wind, and the odd pair proceeded to the market a bit closer to the main section of their town, if one could call it that. It was more the neighborhood grocery store, and their lifestyle seemed to Amon as though it came out of an anime.
They brought back those and other necessary house products that Robin insisted they needed in a companionable silence. It wasn't necessary to discuss the situation, Amon reasoned. She would figure it out soon enough. Later that evening, Robin retired to bed as Amon sipped a spot of tea and stared blankly out the window. It had been a tiring day, and he padded into the dark bedroom with no regard to dishes and no regard to light for concern of waking Robin.
He felt too drained to pay attention to anything but sleep, and so he slipped into the customary pants and no shirt pajama set and slipped into bed, too exhausted to notice the soft breathing of the very naked Robin beside him.
Chapter 7: Soothing Homecoming
A/N: I apologize profusely for not updating in ages. I've been horrendously sick and busy, and hence just kind of forgot about it for a while. I hope this chapter and future ones make up for that. Thank you to my many reviewers for loving me ^^.
Robin leaned her forehead exhaustedly into the lightly vibrating window. It had been an exhausting few days, to say the least. It had all begun the day after Lee showed them the folder full of legal information. She had gone to bed that night tired beyond all reason. The thoughts flowing around of danger and memory and Tokyo had startled her when she looked at the pages of blueprints and plans and identities that were far above her understanding. All of the hiding had taken her back to the time where she had to hide from her friends.
The next day had brought some satisfaction. Lee had taken them to his study, a grand room with portraits and bits of artistry unfamiliar to both her and Amon. He had gently explained the contents of the folder to them. First, he had carefully laid aside the legal documents that barely concerned them. Then he had showed them their new identifications and related documents. They were to be good friends and content roommates, studying at the university and originating from a location out of town.
Robin recalled staring in shock at the history of their lives. Soka Natori, formerly Amon, was a student from Japan who had moved away to study for his first few years of college in Europe. Manacelli Sara, formerly Sena Robin, had been a good friend of Natori's there. They were to perform an "independent research project" in Japan, without attending university classes or other such things. Lee said it was only safe to assume that the university was being watched, so it would be safest for them to avoid formal education.
From there, they had each been given a life and an identity. Lee claimed that a change in personality would not be necessary. They both acted fairly European. This had made Robin wonder as to Amon, no, Natori's true origins. He looked Asian, she had concluded. However, his culture and actions were very faintly European. She couldn't put a finger on it.
Now they were rolling on their way to suburban Tokyo, and into their future.
Amon sat at the other backseat window, equally distressed. He didn't like having his world cut out for him. He felt so dependent on this new identity. Not so much unconfident, more uptight rather. He knew he could act the part, and so could Robin. However, they were jumping on top of the nose of the enemy. There were so many things they could do, but all they were allowed was to sit and hide.
He knew she was overwhelmed by their new life. He would like it, if it weren't such a lie. It felt so odd, yet so normal. Best friends lived together during college and shared their dreams. This is what happened all the time in the anime that certain computer geeks showed during STN-J off- hours, but those relationships always ended up very graphical. Amon restrained his blush. He did not want to remember that, or see Robin in that way.
The subconscious Amon laughed at him. Yes, he did. He could imagine some random anime character chiding him about being nervous. He had a slender young redhead at the tips of his fingers. There was so little he had to do to attract her, because she was so open to him and to the idea that he was sullen naturally. No one had ever dealt with it before, yet still showed they cared. Robin was so ideal in that way.
Both were too wrapped up in their fantasies to notice that they had pulled up on a quiet street in a sweet, peaceful neighborhood, and that Lee was exiting from the car. They put pulled from their thoughts and climbed out, almost perfectly in sequence. It wasn't something they noticed. They had merely gotten into the habit of exiting cars at the exact moment so as to watch out for one another.
It was instinct. Not just sibling instinct, but more.
The neighborhood was pleasant. The house that had been chosen for them was small and comfortable, with two bedrooms and a large combined living room and kitchen unit, as well as two bathrooms. It was no distinctive color, just a mild grayish blue that seemed to mirror the soothing morning.
Robin liked it, and she felt Amon did too. It wasn't lavishly decorated inside or out: it was just a relaxing place where they could get away from the stress of STN-J for a while. She hoped she'd know him a bit better, and his mysterious past.
Amon felt nearly the same. Now that he was here, and looking at it, it wasn't so bad to be hiding away in this little misty alcove with Robin. There were a few extra rooms, and they could use the second bedroom for storage. Then his mind stopped. He shuddered inwardly. He hadn't meant to think that. Sleeping with a nude witch should be the last thing on his mind.
Unfortunately, it wasn't the last thing on Lee's.
The man proceeded to explain, confidently holding back his grin, the situation with furniture. They had a bed, plumbing and appliances, but that was it. The rest was coming later in the month and they would have to do for now. Robin heard the announcement and thought none of it for the moment. She merely plotted out gardens in her mind.
Lee did get the chance to watch Amon's ashen expression. As he walked past the stricken man to join Robin, he muttered jokingly, "Congratulations on the engagement." He then frolicked away, seeing as Amon was looking very oddly trigger-happy.
The afternoon left them in a flurry of wind, and the odd pair proceeded to the market a bit closer to the main section of their town, if one could call it that. It was more the neighborhood grocery store, and their lifestyle seemed to Amon as though it came out of an anime.
They brought back those and other necessary house products that Robin insisted they needed in a companionable silence. It wasn't necessary to discuss the situation, Amon reasoned. She would figure it out soon enough. Later that evening, Robin retired to bed as Amon sipped a spot of tea and stared blankly out the window. It had been a tiring day, and he padded into the dark bedroom with no regard to dishes and no regard to light for concern of waking Robin.
He felt too drained to pay attention to anything but sleep, and so he slipped into the customary pants and no shirt pajama set and slipped into bed, too exhausted to notice the soft breathing of the very naked Robin beside him.
