How's it going? Finally, some romance! Just a taster, however, next chappy is where some real sexual tension starts, so tune in!

Disclaimer: If I owned the game, wouldn't this be the game, not fanfiction?

Mr. Brightside

Chapter 5

Do You Really Know the Muffin Man?

As the now-clean commander was grumbling about how fast his body digested food, a certain aqua-haired girl was just waking up.

'I need a latte' thought said girl as she dragged her little bum out of her nice warm bed. After going to the bathroom, she made her way slowly to the kitchen in order to obtain some caffeine. After stubbing her toe on the garbage can and uncharacteristically cursing a blue streak, she reached the fridge where she found...half a sandwich and a container of yogurt that was way past the expiration date.

'Oh yeah, I haven't went grocery shopping for about two weeks.' she remembered. Who has time to shop when the city you're living in is being torn apart by a bunch of animal things with some major ice on their heads and an army of shiny red robots?

"Looks like I'm eating out for breakfast," the grouchy mechanic mumbled to herself.

So, anticipating a nice, big, steaming cup of coffee, Kiera got up and got dressed in her normal attire, trying to brush her teeth and hair at the same time. By the time she was putting on her boots, her appetite had begun to kick in.

'I'll go to that one bakery with the really good donuts, it's not far from HQ,' thought the girl as she locked the door to her flat and set out into the practically empty street. She decided to walk today, since she doubted anyone would be at HQ this early, and she figured she could use the exercise any way. There were a few people out and about, most of the FL with the unlucky job of morning shift. They seemed to be removing the pieces of metal and debris from the canals running along the street. She liked the water, it reminded her of home, so she felt grateful towards the guys doing the cleaning.

The other people out on the street were either helping clean, or trying to get to work. One guy stood out amongst all the others. He wasn't doing much of anything, but leaning up against one of the walls, smoking a cigarette. He spotted Kiera and let out a low whistle as she walked past him.

Kiera tried her hardest to ignore him. Her destination, the True Haven bakery, was in sight and she just wanted to get her coffee without incident. This task became increasingly difficult as the guy had begun to yell some more, ahem, suggestive phrased at her, causing the little mechanic's knuckles to go white with rage.

Suddenly, she spun around on her heal and walked quickly over to the guy. Without warning, she punched the guy, right in the gut. The guy obviously shocked that this tiny little chick had just knocked the wind out of him, slumped against the wall, his mouth moving but no sound coming out.

Behind her, a few of the people had started to clap. Blushing, Kiera turned around in order to get to the bakery before anything else happened that could mortify her.

But, apparently today wasn't he r day, because as she looked towards where she wanted to go, not two buildings from where she was now, she saw something that made her face go pale. Leaning casually on one of the beams that held up the awning, was an oddly amused looking Torn, joining in on the clapping.

'There's no doubt about it, Mar hates me.' she thought.

An extremely hungry Torn had finally made it to where his breakfast lied, the True Haven bakery. The place had the best bake goods he'd ever tasted in his life and he could inhale a batch of their banana-nut muffins in one sitting. The smell of fresh bread wafted from the building, making his mouth water. He was just about to open the door when something caught his eye; a bob of aquamarine hair. Kiera.

He wasn't sure what he should do; say hi? Ignore her? Run! He couldn't say hi, that would creep her out. But he didn't want to be rude, surely she'd seen him. And running was for cissies, which he wasn't!

Before the commander could decide whether or not to act moderately friendly, something happened. Some guy had whistled a Kiera.

Now, Torn could find threats and bar fights funny, could call a random guy on the street every name in the book, but one thing set him off above all else: disrespecting a lady. That's just something a guy doesn't do. Ever. Especially someone he knows. Then, to dig himself further in a ditch, the asshole starts hitting on her. Torn, was, pissed!

Fortunately for the man, and Torn's murder record, the commander wasn't able to use the dagger that had conveniently found it's way to his hand. Kiera had got to him first. Torn was surprised the small mechanic could hit that hard.

Some of the people had started to clap, and he was surprised to find himself joining them. He leaned against a pole outside the bakery, curious to see what she'd do next. She turned around and looked to where he was. She looked absolutely mortified, and he had trouble not laughing as she headed towards him.

After concluding that Mar really did hate her, Kiera walked towards the bakery. She'd seen him and he knew it, so she couldn't tuck tail and run now.

The closer she got, the more he smirked. And the more he smirked, the more she found herself thinking she should punch guys out more often when he was around. He looked kinda hot when he smirked, she supposed. Well, it was better than a scowl any ways.

Torn had opened his mouth and was about to say something when she held up a hand to silence him.

"Don't even say it," she said with a half-hearted glare. He was still smirking.

"Wasn't gonna," he replied. He reached over and opened the door to the bakery for her, giving an exaggerated bow. This gesture was actually an attempt to annoy her further, but the only thing it made her do was giggle.

"What?" he stood up straight, only to find a smiling Kiera looking back at him. For some odd reason, this made stomach do a somersault. She was really pretty when she smiled.

"It's nothing," she replied, still smiling, "You just don't seem like the joking type, that's all." With that she walked through the door, which Torn was still holding open.

Torn followed her in, his appetite rekindled by the aroma of freshly baked scones. At the counter, Kiera was already ordering.

"I'll have a grande mocha latte and, how about an apple cinnamon bear claw, please." she asked the cashier, a rather spotty teenage girl who seemed addicted to fake tanning. The girl rang up her order without much enthusiasm, proclaiming her order to be number "14".

Torn, being he was next, stepped up to the cashier, who oddly enough, had found a new love of her job and began to spout out the café's mantra (Welcome to the True Haven Bakery, home of the Gianormus Muffin, available in 16 flavors! How may I help you?) in a fashion that made her look like she was an over excited game show contestant. Finally, Torn spoke.

"Um, I'll take the largest coffee you've got, err, two banana-nut muffins, a croissant, and uhh, four of those chocolate pastry, um, thingies. Oh, and throw in a couple of almond Biscotti, too." The, ahem, slightly hungry commander glanced up from the jar holding said Biscotti to find all patrons and staff within hearing distance looking at him with eyes the size of dinner plates. Krew sized dinner plates.

"Will that be, um, all, sir?" asked the orange toned girl serving him, a bemused look on he face.

"Yeah, for now," he replied, still aware of the people staring.

"Well, in that case, here's your number, and mine's on the back of your receipt," said the teen with a batting of the lashes.

A person behind him elbowed Torn away in order to get to the front of the line and Torn was pushed over next to a laughing Kiera. Torn took on an indignant look.

"What was so funny about that?" he asked with a mild glare.

"Where does all that food go? You eat as much for breakfast as I do in a week!" she replied, mercifully leaving out the part about the girl hitting on him.

He just rolled his eyes and moved over to the spot that said 'Pick Up' when their numbers were called.

Once both breakfasts were secured, Kiera suggested they just walk to HQ together, since they were both going to the same place. Truthfully, she was still hurt from 'the kiss' and wanted to be near someone who understood her. It wasn't like she expected them to have a big heart-to-heart that ended with them both crying and eating a tub of fudge ripple ice cream; that would be plain weird. But some company would be nice.

Torn just shrugged his shoulders, although he was secretly glad he didn't have to walk alone.

They walked in silence for a few moments, until Kiera, not being able to take the silence anymore, asked him the question he'd been dreading.

"Torn, are you alright?"

It may not have sounded clear to a passerby, but the dread-locked man knew exactly what she was talking about.

"Of course," he said giving a, hopefully, convincing eye roll, "Why should I care if Ashelin got a new boyfriend? There was never anything between us."

Kiera didn't believe him, so she tested him some more.

"So, you really don't care that my jerk of an ex stuck his tongue down Ashelin's throat? Not at all?"

Twitch. That's when she knew, no matter how many times he'd deny it, he did love her. He did care.

"No, not at all," he said. Then, going on the offensive, he added, "And I suppose you don't care that Jak dumped you in order to get laid either?"

He flinched. He hadn't meant for it to come out so harsh . He'd just been trying to get her off his back, not hurt her.

She'd stopped and was starring at the ground, desperately trying to hold back tears. Then, she looked back up at him and said, "Okay, so I DO care! I'd loved him since we were like eight and he just left me for some bimbo with huge boobs! I can't help it, okay!"

She'd let the tears flow freely down her face now, making small streams down her pale cheeks.

Torn was feeling horrible now. He'd gone and made her cry and all she'd been trying to do was help him. So, he did the only thing that came to mind at that moment- he hugged her. And she in return hugged him back, sobbing into his chest. He wasn't sure what he should do now that she was latched onto him and he was starting to feel awkward. So he just patted her back for a few minutes, then he decided he had to apologize.

"Look, I'm sorry for being so harsh. I deserve to get the wind knocked out of me like you 'admirer' back there."

This earned him a, slightly damp, giggle.

"Don't cry over that jerk, okay? He doesn't deserve you. You're much to good for him," Torn told her with a serious look on his face

Kiera wiped her eyes and gave him a big smile.

"Thanks Torn. I feel better now. Come on, let's take our time getting to HQ, I've got some hilarious stories you just have to hear."

jeez, this chapter took forever to type!