By Moony
Chapter Three: Mister Macky
Priss sat across from Linna at a transparent glass table. A line of modern paintings by obscure artists rested along the wall, and a giant fish tank graced the opposing side of the room. Priss leaned back in the plush blue leather of her chair, resting her head against a violet cushion, and she sighed.
"It's too early." She stated, her tone crackling with monotony. Linna smiled and glanced towards the door.
"It's not polite to turn down an invitation. Sylia called us for breakfast." She said. Her arm perched on the back of the matching sofa, one of her legs folded beneath her. She reached down to play with the hem of her pant-leg, her toes giving her impatience away as they wiggled uncontrollably.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Priss replied, "No need to lecture."
"Right, right, sorry." Linna turned around in her chair, her hands grasping the backing as she peered around to the door. "Where is she, anyway? SYLIA!!" She shouted, abruptly.
"So much for good manners." Priss muttered, amused. Linna's outburst seemed to work, however, as the door soon opened, revealing a stylishly dressed Sylia. Nene followed behind, her eyes flicking around the room anxiously. She wore clothing that made it clear Sylia had provided the wardrobe, but the younger girl didn't seem to mind.
"Good morning!" Linna chirped, turning back around in her seat. Sylia smiled, nodding as she sat in a chair opposite of Priss.
"Good morning, girls. Ready to eat?" She asked, her voice calm and cool, as always.
"Oh, please." Linna replied.
"In a moment. We're waiting on Nigel and Macky, first." Sylia explained, provoking a nod from the other girls. Priss cast a side-ways glance in Nene's direction, noting that the she tensed at the mention of Macky's name. She chewed on her lip, her eyes distant. She stared at nothing in particular, and Linna cast a questioning glance towards her host, who simply shrugged in response.
"That party's tonight." Priss said, simply. She studied Nene through her lashes, and Linna's eyes shot up and gave Priss a reprimanding message. Nene snapped back to attention, throwing her head back and laughing, dryly.
"Yeah, Priss, like I'd take him NOW. I'm not going to encourage what he--" She broke off before she could continue, the sound of the door opening drawing her attention. The others followed her gaze, watching Macky poke a hesitant head around the corner.
"Ummm, Nigel's just bringing some stuff up. He didn't really want me to come, but. . . I'm starving." He smiled apologetically.
"I say we get started, then. How are you, Macky?" Linna asked, greeting the teenage boy. She jumped, startled, when Nene shot towards the door like a bullet, grabbing Macky and pulling him into the room. Priss watched as Nene looked up into his eyes, eagerly.
"How did you do it?" She demanded, her words passionate.
"Uhhh. . ."
"Come on, what did you use??"
"Nene. . ."
Priss exchanged a look with Linna and shrugged. Glancing back at Macky, she tried to gather from their conversation what they were talking about, but. . .
Priss started. Nene looked up into Macky's eyes? She blinked. No, her eyes weren't deceiving her. Macky stood a good few inches taller than Nene. She recognized the clothes he wore as a set of Nigel's, and though it still hung loose on his body, it fit much better than it should have. As he spoke, she noticed his voice was a bit deeper, though not by much. Priss's eyes widened and she drew in a deep breath. When she released it once more, it came out as a strong, amused laugh. She threw her head back, her eyes clamped shut and her shoulders shaking. Nene and Macky stopped their discussion and turned to inspect the older woman. Sylia and Linna stared at her, silently.
"Kid, you're brilliant." Priss said, sighing and wiping at her eyes. Macky blushed, embarrassed.
"It's not like that." He hastily assured, "Without Nene, I wouldn't have been able to figure it out." He cast an appreciative smile in Nene's direction, but at the sight of it, she turned away, folding her arms across her chest. Linna leaned in and finally noticed the change, and she leapt up, clapping her hands in astonishment.
"That's amazing!" Linna said, in awe, "How'd you do it?"
Macky's modest grin faltered a bit, and he hesitated. "I reprogrammed myself. . ."
"Nearly killing himself in the process!" Nene interrupted, her voice irritated. Macky shook his head.
"Nene, it wasn't that bad! Yeah, it hurt a bit. . ." He admitted. The room fell silent as Nene shut her eyes, shuddering at the memory of the previous night. She tried to shake the memory away, not wanting to recall the fear she'd felt for Macky's life. Only two hours before, she'd thought she had lost him forever, and now he stood with her, trying to tell her it hadn't been that bad. She huffed in disgust, but said nothing as Nigel entered the room, carrying a tool kit.
Priss could tell by the expression on Nene's face that it had hurt a lot more than just "a bit." Seeing as Nene had already been there, already knew, and wasn't even wearing her own clothing, Priss had been able to gather that she had been the one Macky had turned to for help, when he realized he'd bit off more than he could chew.
"Was it worth it, Macky?" Nene asked. He turned to look into her eyes, and Nene shifted uncomfortably at the expression he gave her. She'd expected to pull the reprimanding, elder act that she usually did, but the look in his face made her falter.
"I don't really know, yet." He responded, quietly. He'd said it only for her ears, and she felt her skin grow warm as she tried to decipher his words.
"And that's Mister Macky, to you."